On the basis of analyzing urban SDGs monitoring and evaluation, this paper expounds the conceptual connotation of geospatial enabled monitoring and its differences from traditional statistical-based monitoring for urban SDGs. Meanwhile, through document comparison and analysis, the development and latest progress of urban SDGs monitoring and evaluation has been revealed, suggesting a transformation of urban SDGs monitoring and evaluation from traditional statistical-based monitoring to geospatial enabled monitoring. In addition, this paper systematically analyzes the research progress and current situation of geospatial enabled monitoring from the aspects of monitoring index system, geospatial data acquisition for monitoring, and monitoring ideas and methods. Results showed that the number of urban SDGs indicators is too large and the relationship is complex, with the lack of clear core and key indicators, which need to be optimized and improved according to the specific situation. The lack of standard, public and directly available data requires the development of appropriate methods for spatial data generation and multi-source data utilization, and the establishment of data products for urban SDGs monitoring and evaluation. Besides, the lack of scientific and efficient monitoring and evaluation methods is also one of the main problems facing the current urban SDGs studies. Finally, through the analysis of current challenges in urban SDGs monitoring, future research in geospatial enabled monitoring for urban SDGs are proposed, including the establishment of scientific and efficient monitoring and evaluation methods, the establishment of a standardized and unified monitoring index system, the construction of data production sharing and monitoring and evaluation knowledge service platform, and the strengthening of the application research of big earth data and related disciplines support for the monitoring and evaluation of urban SDGs.

"The Earth's Critical Zone" is a cutting-edge concept proposed in response to the global challenges entailed by sustainable development. Geographers have developed various analytical tools and methods to shed light on the functional structure and dynamic evolution of the global critical zones. However, these analysis methods primarily focus on the perspective of geographical element circulation and material exchange. The intricate interactions between human activities, societal systems, and Earth Critical Zones remain unclear. This article begins by tracing the origins of the Earth's Critical Zone concept before expanding its reach by combining the theoretical knowledge and understanding of human-Earth relations acquired from the regional development experiences of Chinese geographers. In the context of globalization, modernization, and urbanization, the development of human society has become intricately intertwined with the Earth's surface system, involving extensive links based on fundamental mechanisms, interaction patterns, and processes. The concept of the "critical zone of human-earth interaction" is introduced to better comprehend these interactions. A theory with the kernel as "source-flow-confluence" is established for the critical zone of the human-earth interaction concept. The theory of critical zone of human-earth interaction effectively integrates the temporal and spatial processes of the surface of the Earth's natural and humanistic elements in research perspectives. It establishes the link between the intricate operational logic, societal practices, and the existing theoretical framework of the Earth's critical zone. The theory of critical zone of human-earth interaction will help geographers better interpret the development pattern and process of the critical zones. This theory could help the government scientifically formulate spatial, environmental, and social development policies, supporting the high-quality usage of national land resources and the efficient symbiosis of natural and social systems.

Carrying capacity, a concept entrenched in the natural resources and environmental field for nearly two centuries, has continually evolved to address the conflicts and sustainability of the human-nature relationship. This paper introduces an analytical framework for understanding carrying capacity within the context of the human-nature relationship. It systematically reviews the progression of international carrying capacity studies, analyzes global research trends, and compares these with Chinese studies, highlighting key research directions in China. Historically, carrying capacity traces its roots to (neo)Malthusian theories. Its evolution spans four distinct stages: resource carrying capacity (since the 1800s), environmental carrying capacity (since the 1970s), ecosystem carrying capacity (since the 1990s), and natural system carrying capacity (since the 2010s). The concept of carrying capacity varies widely across global disciplines and even within the same discipline, showcasing diverse applications. Carrying capacity has sparked controversy due to its connection to political economy theories and factors such as technological progress, market mechanisms, and spatial and temporal constraints. Therefore, it is imperative to engage in a restrained and explicit discussion and application of carrying capacity. Presently, China's carrying capacity studies align closely with the international community, capitalizing on regional-scale studies employing a holistic and systematic human-nature relationship approach. However, there is an opportunity for enhancement in terms of global-scale perspectives and the integration of natural and social sciences theories and methodologies. This paper proposes fostering innovation and application in carrying capacity research within the Chinese context. This entails integrating various disciplines and theories, exploring scale effects and mechanisms, utilizing model-data fusion and integration, applying case studies in various spatial units and typical zone types, and improving policy systems and institutions.

The rise of global neoliberalism and reflexive governance has driven the political flows at the global level. Policy movements thus have shown new dynamics and characteristics. Political science, within the sphere of rational formalism, whose dependence on traditional frameworks, as well as the neglect of geographic mobility in sociology, have limited the explanatory power of existing concepts. The geographical orientation and spatial correlation of policy mobility offer the possibility of a theoretical breakthrough by introducing human geography in the policy research. Based on the literature in geography, this study traces the process of resembling rolling conversation through transdisciplinary research on policy mobility, and further clarifies the conceptual connotations, commitments, and research starting points of policy mobility. As an effective conceptual tool for understanding how policymaking operates, how policy knowledge and models flow, and how these mobilities shape places in the context of neoliberal globalization, policy mobility seeks to clarify the geographic positions, power relations, spatial characteristics, and social and geographical formation processes that are involved in the movements of policies. Policy mobility thus becomes a core field in the social sciences exploring "ideas in motion" and "production of mobilities". In addition, the theoretical orientation and research elements in the study of policy mobility also enhance the explanatory powers of literature from other disciplines to this subject. To a certain extent, this study compensates for the lack of empirical analyses of ideas and knowledge in mobility studies and insufficient research on power theory in human geography. It provides an important research field for applying geography in transdisciplinary research.

Under the background of rapid global warming, the hydrological regime in the Arctic river basins, where permafrost is widely developed, has changed significantly. These changes not only altered the local ecological environment, but also had far-reaching impacts on the global climate system and socio-economy. Therefore, the study of hydrological processes in Arctic river basins has become a hot-spot issue at the forefront of the international scientific community. Based on a thorough review and critical analysis of domestic and international literature, this paper systematically summarizes the research findings and latest progress on the spatial and temporal changes of the runoff of major Arctic rivers, as well as the driving mechanisms behind these variations. In addition, the patterns and spatiotemporal differences in runoff changes between Eurasia and North America were analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the direct and indirect effects of precipitation changes (e.g., precipitation amount, rain/snowfall fractions) and permafrost degradation on Arctic runoff are thoroughly examined. Despite significant progress in data accumulation and scientific understanding in current Arctic hydrological research, considerable challenges persist, such as the scarcity of ground observations and the difficulty of quantitatively assessing the interactions among climate, snow/permafrost, and hydrological processes. Thus, establishing a robust observation network in the Arctic river basins and developing cold region hydrological models with account for the Arctic specifics are fundamental for gaining in-depth insights into the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic hydrological system. This is also crucial for addressing the risks of water-related disasters and enhancing water resource management in the Arctic region.