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Sustainable evaluation of the eco-economic systems in the π-shaped Curve Area of the Yellow River basin of China: a study based on the 3D ecological footprint model

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Abstract

Sustainable evaluation of the eco-economic systems is crucial to resolve the contradiction between environmental protection and economic development and promote healthy urban development. This paper constructed an SEC framework for sustainable development index (SDI) evaluation of the eco-economic systems in the π-shaped Curve Area in the Yellow River basin based on the 3D ecological footprint (EF) model. The study was conducted from three aspects: the capital utilization scale and equity during the ecological supply and demand process, the development efficiency and capacity of the eco-economic systems, and the relations between the systems embodied by the coordination and security evaluation. Also, the SDI and its influence mechanism were studied using the fully arrayed polygon diagram and geographic detector. Findings include the following: EF depth is higher in cities with poor natural resources, while EF size is higher in cities with vast territories and rich resources. The arrangement of EF depth and EF size presents nearly a reverse trend, and the consumption of capital flow and capital stock complements each other. Cities can be classified as heavy utilization type, moderate utilization type, mild utilization type, and low stock appropriation type. From 2005 to 2019, the area’s SDI and the three aspects presented evident spatial heterogeneity and formed clusters. The role of government, energy consumption, scientific innovation, industrial structure, urbanization rate, population, economic level, and openness level impact SDI differently. This study proposed a new insight for the sustainability evaluation of eco-economic systems.

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Abbreviations

EF:

Ecological footprint

ef:

Ecological footprint per capita

EC:

Ecological carrying capacity

ec:

Ecological carrying capacity per capita

EPI:

Ecological pressure index

SCI:

System coordination index

HDI:

Human development index

ED:

Ecological deficit

ed:

Ecological deficit per capita

ES:

Ecological surplus

es:

Ecological surplus per capita

SDI:

Sustainable development index

NCS:

Natural capital stock

FPD:

Fully arrayed polygon diagram

GDP:

Gross domestic product

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Funding

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42130516)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Shaanxi Province, **’an, 710027, China

    Yifang Sun & Ninglian Wang

  2. Yan’an University, Shaanxi Province, Yan’an, **’an, 716000, China

    Yifang Sun

Authors
  1. Yifang Sun
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  2. Ninglian Wang
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Contributions

Yifang Sun: conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, formal analysis, investigation, data curation, writing—reviewing and editing, visualization.

Ninglian Wang: supervision, project administration, funding acquisition.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ninglian Wang.

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The work was original research that has not been published previously, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. All the authors listed have approved the publish.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Highlights

• An “SEC” framework for evaluating the eco-economic system was proposed.

• The influence mechanism of sustainable eco-economy was explored using geodetector.

• The comprehensive sustainability was measured using the fully arrayed polygon diagram.

• Cities can be classified into four types based on their footprint size and footprint depth.

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Sun, Y., Wang, N. Sustainable evaluation of the eco-economic systems in the π-shaped Curve Area of the Yellow River basin of China: a study based on the 3D ecological footprint model. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 75921–75935 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20948-x

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