Research on Climate Push-Pull Effects and Carbon Reduction Benefits of Mountain Summer Tourism: A Case Study of Three Gorges Liangdu in Chongqing

Against the backdrop of global warming, there is an urgent need to quantify the climatic resource value and carbon reduction potential of mountain summer tourism. This study takes Three Gorges Liangdu in Chongqing as the research subject. Based on meteorological monitoring data and tourist questionnaire surveys from 2022 to 2024, we constructed a Coolness Index (CI) model and a carbon emission assessment framework to quantitatively analyze the climate push-pull effects and carbon reduction benefits of mountain summer tourism. The results show that: (1) Three Gorges Liangdu exhibits significant climatic advantages during midsummer (July-August), with daily mean temperatures 10.5°C lower than Chongqing's urban center. Days classified as "extremely cool" (CI≥10.0) accounted for 60.1% of the study period, demonstrating prominent climate push-pull effects; (2) In 2024, the net carbon reduction from summer tourism reached 5,680-13,644 tons, with reduced air-conditioning usage contributing 72%-83% of the total benefit. Carbon reduction effects showed significant positive correlation with length of stay;Transportation-related emissions accounted for 15%-20% of total emissions, suggesting that optimizing travel modes could further enhance carbon reduction potential. This study provides scientific support for efficient utilization of mountain climate resources and low-carbon tourism development, offering practical significance for achieving China's "dual carbon" goals.