This paper establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system for assessing the low carbon competitiveness of cities. It employs the kernel density estimation, Dagum Gini coefficient, and spatial autocorrelation analysis to explore the spatial patterns and optimization policies of low carbon competitiveness in urban agglomerations within the Yellow River Basin. The main innovations: (1) Improving the concept of urban low carbon competitiveness, the paper constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system comprising structural, functional, and potential indicators of urban low carbon development. Additionally, carbon circular economy indicators are introduced. (2) The research findings reveal that low carbon competitiveness in urban agglomerations within the Yellow River Basin exhibits a spatial distribution pattern of "downstream > midstream > upstream". The spatial connection pattern of low carbon competitiveness in urban agglomerations within the Yellow River Basin is observed to intensify from local to regional urban agglomerations, as well as from upstream to midstream to downstream urban agglomerations. Generally, absolute differences in low carbon competitiveness within urban agglomerations exhibit an increasing trend as one moves from upstream to midstream to downstream, and from local to regional levels.