Understanding the effects of climate change on agricultural land green use efficiency (AGUE) is vital for shaping adaptive technologies and agricultural policies. Utilizing data from 30 Chinese provinces (2003–2022), this study applies the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model to assess how climate change impacts AGUE and its spatial–temporal variations. Studies show that China’s climate demonstrates significant interannual variability and spatial heterogeneity. The regression coefficient of the annual precipitation is positive and gradually decreases from the periphery to the center. AGUE across provinces is declining and exhibits significant spatial clustering characteristics. The spatial–temporal analysis indicates that the annual average temperature has a significant negative impact on AUGE, and the regression coefficient decreases from southeast to northwest. The regression coefficient of the annual precipitation is positive and gradually decreases from the periphery to the center. Extreme weather conditions have negative impacts of varying degrees on inter-provincial climate change. The findings provide a reference for the green transformation and development of agriculture in China.

This study aims to reveal the spatial-temporal evolution rule and driving mechanism of cropland multifunctionality in major grain-producing areas. Taking Henan Province as the research case, we establish a comprehensive evaluation index system covering production, living, ecological and cultural functions based on multi-source datasets spanning 2013–2022. It adopts the entropy weight method, spatial analysis and geographical detector (GeoDetector) model to analyze the spatial-temporal differentiation characteristics and influencing mechanism of cropland multifunctionality systematically. The results show that the overall level of cropland multifunctionality in Henan Province rose from 2013 to 2022. Its spatial pattern presents a feature of high in the south and low in the north, with obvious agglomeration in southern Henan. The production function is high in the east and low in the west with a stable pattern. The living, ecological and cultural functions all show a distribution of high in the south and low in the north, with prominent regional differences. Factor detection results indicate that average slope, population density and average annual temperature are the core driving factors. The overall influence of natural factors is stronger than that of socio-economic factors. Interaction detection shows that all factors produce a strengthening effect, mainly in the form of nonlinear enhancement effects. Based on this, the research has proposed targeted and differentiated strategies for the management of cultivated land. Specifically, southern Henan should consolidate its inherent multifunctional advantages and strengthen the coordinated development of production, ecological and cultural functions. Northern and western Henan needs to mitigate terrain and climatic constraints, optimize agricultural infrastructure, and improve overall cropland service capacity. Eastern plain areas should further stabilize grain production function while balancing ecological protection. Central urban agglomerations should coordinate urban expansion and cropland protection to restrain multifunctional degradation.