Search Results (637)

Digital technologies could facilitate green development by enhancing energy efficiency. However, existing research on coupling coordination between digital infrastructure and green development remains scarce. To fill this research gap, this study analyzes the spatio-temporal variations and barriers of coupling coordination. An evaluation index system is established and then the coupling relationship and the barrier factors between digital infrastructure and green development are analyzed. A provincial analysis is conducted by using data from China. The results in the study indicate (1) coupling coordination between digital infrastructure and green development exhibits a relatively low state, characterized by an overall upward trend; (2) noteworthy disparities are observed in the spatio-temporal pattern of the coupling coordination degree, reflecting the overall evolutionary trend from low to high coupling coordination, along with the characteristics of positive spatial correlation and high spatial concentration; and (3) obstacle factors are analyzed from the aspects of digital infrastructure and green development, emphasizing the construction of mobile phone base stations and investment in pollution control, among other aspects. This study contributes valuable insights for improvement paths for digital infrastructure and green development, offering recommendations for optimizing strategies to promote their coupled development. Full article

The ongoing advancement of urbanization has significantly amplified its impacts on the water environment. Understanding the coupling relationships between urbanization and the water environment (UAWE) is crucial for Chinese policymakers aiming to promote sustainable urban development. In this study, a comprehensive UAWE evaluation model was developed to examine the development trajectories in Neijiang City from 2012 to 2022. Methodologically, a comprehensive evaluation approach was applied to assess urbanization and water resource trends over this period, followed by the development of a Coupling Coordination Degree Model (CCDM) to quantify their synergistic relationship. The results showed that the coupling between the comprehensive urbanization index and the water environment system evolved over time, as reflected in the following key findings: (1) Neijiang underwent three distinct stages from 2012 to 2022 in terms of coupling and coordination between urbanization and the water environment: Basic Coordination (2012–2015), Good Coordination (2016–2020), and Excellent Coordination (2020–2022). (2) Urbanization exerted varying impacts on subsystems of the water environment, with the pressure-response subsystems exhibiting marked volatility from 2012 to 2022. The impact intensity followed the order spatial urbanization > economic urbanization > social urbanization > population urbanization. These findings offer valuable theoretical and practical insights for aligning urban sustainability goals with effective water environment protection measures. This study provides essential guidance for policymakers in Neijiang and similar regions, enabling the development of tailored strategies for sustainable urbanization and enhanced water management. Full article

To support carbon peaking and neutrality goals in the city transportation sector, this paper accounts for CO₂ emissions from the transport sector in Xuzhou City, North Jiangsu Province, from 1995 to 2023. This study explores the relationship between transport-related carbon emissions and economic growth, using the TAPIO decoupling index. Meanwhile, a carbon emission prediction model based on the STIRPAT framework is constructed, with scenario analysis applied to forecast future emissions. Results show three decoupling stages: the first, dominated by weak and expansive negative decoupling, reflects extensive economic growth; the second features weak decoupling with expansive coupling, indicating a more environmentally coordinated phase; the third transitions from expansive negative decoupling and weak decoupling to strong decoupling and expansive coupling, suggesting a shift in development patterns. Under the baseline, low-carbon, and enhanced low-carbon scenarios, by 2030, the CO₂ emissions of the transportation industry in Xuzhou will be 10,154,700 tons, 9,072,500 tons, and 8,835,000 tons, respectively, and the CO₂ emissions under the low-carbon scenario and the enhanced low-carbon scenario will be reduced by 10.66% and 13.00%, respectively. Based on these findings, the study proposes carbon reduction strategies for Xuzhou’s transport sector, focusing on policy regulation, energy use, and structural adjustments. Full article

Urban expansion will squeeze the green space system and cause ecological fragmentation. The question of how to expand cities more scientifically and build eco-cities has become an important topic of sustainable urban construction. This paper takes Shanghai as a research case. A deep neural network combined with an attention mechanism model measures the comprehensive level of the built environment and green space pattern of urbanization and quantitatively analyzes the coordinated relationship between the two using the coupled degree of coordination model. Subsequently, the K-Means clustering model was used for spatial clustering to determine the governance and construction directions for different spatial areas and was, finally, combined with the LightGBM model plus SHAP to analyze the importance and threshold effect of the indicators on the degree of coupled coordination. The results of the study show that (1) the core area of the city shows a high state of coordination, indicating that Shanghai has a better green space construction in the central city, but the periphery shows different imbalances; (2) three different kinds of areas are identified, and different governance measures as well as the direction of urbanization are proposed according to the characteristics of the different areas; and (3) this study finds that the structural indicators of the built environment, such as Average Compactness, Weighted Average Height, and Land Use Diversity, have a significant influence on the coupling coordination degree and have different response thresholds. The results of the study provide theoretical support for regional governance and suggestions for the direction of urban expansion for sustainable urbanization. Full article

PM_2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm) pollution is one of the most common problems triggered by the acceleration of urbanization. The coordinated development of cities and the environment has been a topic of significant interest in recent years. Based on the spatiotemporal relationship between the evolution of urbanization levels and PM_2.5 concentrations, and starting from multiple factors characterizing urbanization, this study constructs a coupling coordination degree model between PM_2.5 and urbanization levels to explore the interaction and degree of coordination between urbanization and PM_2.5 in Guangdong Province from 2000 to 2021. The research reveals that the conflict between the urbanization process and PM_2.5 pollution in various cities of Guangdong Province is gradually easing. The year 2011 was a turning point as the PM_2.5 pollution levels in cities that were in an uncoordinated phase began to improve. The coupling coordination degree between urbanization and PM_2.5 pollution in Guangdong Province exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity. The coupling coordination degree in most coastal cities is higher than that in inland cities. Cities in economically underdeveloped regions also face relatively lower pressure from pollution emissions. These regions are characterized by lagging urbanization, and their coupling coordination degree is slowly increasing as urbanization progresses. In economically developed regions, the coupling coordination degree between urbanization levels and PM_2.5 pollution has reached a basic level of coordination, although the specific types vary. Full article

Aiming at the economic problems of industrial users with wind power, photovoltaic, and small hydropower resources in clean energy consumption and trading with superior power grids, this paper proposes a distributed pumped storage capacity optimization configuration method considering clean energy systems. First, considering the maximization of the investment benefit of distributed pumped storage as the upper goal, a configuration scheme of the installed capacity is formulated. Second, under the two-part electricity price mechanism, combined with the basin hydraulic coupling relationship model, the operation strategy optimization of distributed pumped storage power stations and small hydropower stations is carried out with the minimum operation cost of the clean energy system as the lower optimization objective. Finally, the bi-level optimization model is solved by combining the alternating direction multiplier method and CPLEX solver. This study demonstrates that distributed pumped storage implementation enhances seasonal operational performance, improving clean energy utilization while reducing industrial electricity costs. A post-implementation analysis revealed monthly operating cost reductions of 2.36, 1.72, and 2.13 million RMB for wet, dry, and normal periods, respectively. Coordinated dispatch strategies significantly decreased hydropower station water wastage by 82,000, 28,000, and 52,000 cubic meters during corresponding periods, confirming simultaneous economic and resource efficiency improvements. Full article

Against the backdrop of ecological civilization construction and regional coordinated development strategies, functional zone (MFOZ) planning guides national spatial development through differentiated policies. However, a prominent conflict exists between the ecological protection responsibilities and regional development rights in restricted and prohibited development zones, leading to a vicious cycle of “ecological protection → restricted development → poverty exacerbation”. This paper focuses on the synergistic mechanisms between ecological compensation and targeted poverty alleviation. Based on the capability approach and sustainable development goals (SDGs), it analyzes the dialectical relationship between the two in terms of goal coupling, institutional design, and practical pathways. The study finds that ecological compensation can break the “ecological poverty trap” through the internalization of externalities and the enhancement of livelihood capabilities. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including low compensation standards, unbalanced benefit distribution, and insufficient legalization. Through case studies of the compensation reform in the water source area of Southern Shaanxi, China, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union, this paper proposes the construction of a long-term mechanism integrating differentiated compensation standards, market-based fund integration, legal guarantees, and capability enhancement. The research emphasizes the need for institutional innovation to balance ecological protection and livelihood improvement, promoting a transition from “blood transfusion” compensation to “hematopoietic” development, thereby offering a Chinese solution for global sustainable development. Full article

Against the backdrop of the profound restructuring in global climate governance, China’s energy management system is undergoing a comprehensive transition from dual energy consumption control to dual carbon emissions control. This policy shift fundamentally alters the underlying logic of energy-focused regulation and inevitably impacts the economy–energy–environment (3E) system. This study innovatively constructs a “Triangular Trinity” theoretical framework integrating internal, intermediate, and external triangular couplings, as well as providing a granular analysis of their transmission relationships and feedback mechanisms. Using Guangdong Province as a case study, this study takes the dual control emissions policy within the external triangle as an entry point to research the restructuring logic of dual carbon emissions control for the coupling coordination mechanisms of the 3E system. The key findings are as follows: (1) Policy efficacy evolution: During 2005–2016, dual energy consumption control significantly improved energy conservation and emissions reduction, elevating Guangdong’s 3E coupling coordination. Post 2017, however, its singular focus on total energy consumption revealed limitations, causing a decline in 3E coordination. Dual carbon emissions control demonstrably enhances 3E systemic synergy. (2) Decoupling dynamics: Dual carbon emissions control accelerates economic–carbon emission decoupling, while slowing economic–energy consumption decoupling. This created an elasticity space of 5.092 million tons of standard coal equivalent (sce) and reduced carbon emissions by 26.43 million tons, enabling high-quality economic development. (3) Mechanism reconstruction: By leveraging external triangular elements (energy-saving technologies and market mechanisms) to act on the energy subsystem, dual carbon emissions control leads to optimal solutions to the “Energy Trilemma”. This drives the systematic restructuring of the sustainability triangle, achieving high-order 3E coupling coordination. The Triangular Trinity framework constructed by us in the paper is an innovative attempt in relation to the theory of energy transition, providing a referenceable methodology for resolving the contradictions of the 3E system. The research results can provide theoretical support and practical reference for the low-carbon energy transition of provinces and cities with similar energy structures. Full article

As China shifts from rapid to high-quality development, urban growth has exhibited allometric patterns. This study evaluated land use efficiency from the perspective of architectural space, focusing on 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from 2010 to 2020. A land development intensity index was constructed at both the provincial and municipal levels using the entropy weight method, integrating floor area ratio, building density, and functional mix. The spatiotemporal characteristics of land development intensity and population density were analyzed, and a coordination coupling model was applied to identify mismatches between land and population. The results reveal: (1) Temporally, the imbalance of “more people, less land” in the Yangtze River Delta diminished. Spatially, leading regions exhibit a diffusion effect. Shanghai showed a decline in both population density and development intensity; Zhejiang maintained balanced development; Jiangsu experienced accelerated growth; and Anhui showed signs of catching up. (2) Although the two indicators showed a high coupling degree and strong correlation, the coordination degree remained low, indicating poor quality of correlation. The land-population relationship demonstrated a fluctuating pattern of “strengthening–weakening” over time. Shanghai exhibited the highest coordination, while more than half of the cities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui still needed optimization. (3) Unlike previous findings that linked such patterns to shrinking cities, in this transformation stage, the number of cities where land development intensity exceeded population density continued to grow in advanced regions. This study first applied 3D building data at the macro scale to support differentiated spatial policies. Full article

As critical zones for ecological conservation, national parks necessitate integrated management of transportation corridors (TCs) and ecosystem service value (ESV) to advance ecological civilisation. This study investigates the TC-ESV mutual construction mechanism in the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP). This research employs the TOPSIS method to measure the development level of TCs, applies the equivalent factor method to calculate the ESV, and uses a coupling coordination model and local spatial autocorrelation analysis to evaluate their interaction patterns. The results show that TC development in the GPNP has been increasing, accompanied by a significant rise in ESV. A coupling coordination relationship exists between TCs and ESV, with notable spatial differentiation. TCs not only increase the market ESV by reducing distribution costs and facilitating the outward flow of ESV, they also improve the accessibility of national parks, promote ecotourism and cultural services, facilitate the movement of people and the exchange of knowledge, and enhance the ability of local populations and migrants to realise the ESV in the long term. However, challenges persist, including ESV conversion difficulties and TC construction’s potential impacts on ESV realisation. Therefore, we propose optimised green transport corridors and differentiated ecological compensation mechanisms, and by analysing the interaction between them, the innovation of this paper is to provide an innovative framework for sustainable spatial governance of ESV conversion and TC development in national parks, enriching the interdisciplinary approach. Full article

As China’s economy shifts from rapid development to high-quality development, exploring the harmony between human activities and the ecological environment has become the focus of many scholars. As the center of human activities, urbanized areas have complex and diverse impacts on the ecological environment. Previous studies have mainly focused on highly urbanized areas of importance in China, and there are fewer studies covering all prefecture-level cities across the country. Therefore, this study measured the spatial and temporal characteristics of urbanization and eco-environment quality (EEQ) in all prefecture-level cities in China from 2000 to 2020 and explored the coupling coordination degree (CCD) relationship between urbanization and EEQ through the CCD model. The results showed that the average EEQ showed a fluctuating upward trend, with the southern and northeastern regions scoring significantly higher than the western and northern regions. In terms of spatial evolution, most prefecture-level cities had small changes in EEQ, with changes ranging from −0.05 to 0.05 per decade. The average urbanization showed a rapid increasing trend, spatially distributed with high values in the east and low values in the west. In the North China Plain and along the southeast coast, urbanization was concentrated in high-value areas, showing a trend of rapid growth. From 2000 to 2020, the average CCD between urbanization and EEQ showed a continuous increasing trend, from 0.32 to 0.37, indicating a medium imbalance. However, the proportion of low-coordination and moderate-coordination prefecture-level cities increased continuously, from 31.5% and 1.0% in 2000 to 35.3% and 1.9% in 2020, respectively. This indicates that Chinese urbanization efforts are constantly being optimized and moving toward the goal of sustainable development. The results of the study provide a scientific reference basis for coordinating the relationship between urbanization development and EEQ, and they support the formulation of policies for urbanization planning and high-quality economic development in China. Full article

To promote Chinese-style modernization, we must unremittingly promote the all-round revitalization of the countryside. Industry and agriculture are inseparable. The light industry is a traditionally dominant industry in China and is closely linked to the revitalization of rural areas. The coordination and resonance between the high-quality development of the light industry and rural revitalization is a significant area of research. This study developed models for coupling coordination degree and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis. It utilized data from 2012 to 2022 to empirically analyze the relationship between the high-quality development of China’s light industry and rural revitalization. Both of the systems had reached a condition of moderate coupling and showed dynamic interactive coupling. The degree of coupling coordination is affected by multiple variables, like economic development and scientific and technological innovation. There are two ways to promote the two to achieve a highly coupled and coordinated state. Therefore, this study opens up a novel methodological perspective and innovative path for research in related fields. Full article

This study investigates the coupling coordination between carbon emission efficiency (CEE) and carbon balance (CB) in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), aiming to support high-quality regional development and the realization of China’s “dual carbon” goals. Based on panel data from 74 cities in the YRB between 2006 and 2022, the Super-SBM model, Ecological Support Coefficient (ESC), and coupling coordination degree (CCD) model are applied to evaluate the synergy between CEE and CB. Spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms are analyzed using kernel density estimation, Moran’s I index, the Dagum Gini coefficient, Markov chains, and the XGBoost algorithm. The results reveal a generally low and declining level of CCD, with the upstream and midstream regions performing better than the downstream. Spatial clustering is evident, characterized by significant positive autocorrelation and high-high or low-low clusters. Although regional disparities in CCD have narrowed slightly over time, interregional differences remain the primary source of variation. The likelihood of leapfrog development in CCD is limited, and high-CCD regions exhibit weak spillover effects. Forest coverage is identified as the most critical driver, significantly promoting CCD. Conversely, population density, urbanization, energy structure, and energy intensity negatively affect coordination. Economic development demonstrates a U-shaped relationship with CCD. Moreover, nonlinear interactions among forest coverage, population density, energy structure, and industrial enterprise scale further intensify the complexity of CCD. These findings provide important implications for enhancing regional carbon governance and achieving balanced ecological-economic development in the YRB. Full article

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI), as a nature-based solution, has gained widespread recognition for its role in mitigating urban flood risks and enhancing resilience. Equitable spatial distribution of GSI remains a pressing challenge, critical to harmonizing urban hydrological systems and maintaining ecological balance. However, the complexity of matching GSI supply with urban demand has limited comprehensive spatial assessments. This study introduces a quantitative framework to identify priority zones for GSI deployment and to evaluate supply–demand dynamics in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) using a coupled coordination simulation model. Clustering and proximity matrix analysis were applied to map spatial relationships across districts and to reveal underlying mismatches. Findings demonstrate significant spatial heterogeneity: over 90% of districts show imbalanced supply–demand coupling. Four spatial clusters were identified based on levels of GSI disparity. Economically advanced urban areas such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen showed high demand, while peripheral regions like Zhaoqing and Huizhou were characterized by oversupply and misaligned allocation. These results provide a systematic understanding of GSI distribution patterns, highlight priority intervention areas, and offer practical guidance for large-scale, equitable GSI planning. Full article

As a flagship city of China’s reform and opening-up policy and the core engine of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen faces dual challenges of economic development and ecological conservation during its rapid urbanization. This study systematically investigates the relationship between urbanization and ecological quality in this high-density megacity over the past three decades (1990–2020) using multi-temporal Landsat imagery, incorporating an enhanced Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI), impervious surface extraction techniques, and a Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model. Key findings include: (1) Impervious surfaces expanded from 458.15 km² to 709.23 km², showing a tri-phase pattern of rapid expansion, steady infill, and slight contraction, with an annual growth rate of 1.47%; (2) Ecological quality exhibited a “decline-recovery” trajectory, with RSEI values decreasing from 0.477 (1990) to 0.429 (2000) before rebounding to 0.491 (2020), demonstrating phased ecological fluctuations and restoration; (3) The CCD between urbanization and ecological environment improved significantly from “marginal coordination” (0.548) to “primary coordination” (0.636), forming a distinct “west-high-east-low” spatial pattern with significant clustering effects. This study reveals a novel three-dimensional synergistic pathway (“industrial upgrading-spatial optimization-ecological restoration”) for sustainable development in megacities, establishing the “Shenzhen Paradigm” for ecological governance in rapidly urbanizing regions worldwide. Full article