Abstract
This study adopted the two-stage super-efficiency network slack-based model (SBM) to measure the green development performance index (GDPI) of 30 provinces in China. The Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition was used to analyze the regional differences and their sources in China’s green development performance. The results are as follows: first, the green development performance showed a declining trend from 1997 to 2017. The improvement of environmental governance efficiency was the key to achieving green development progress. The green development levels of coastal areas were significantly higher than those of inland provinces. Second, the regional imbalance in China’s green development performance was gradually worsening. The inter-regional differences were the primary source of the overall differences. The intra-regional difference of green development within the northwest was the largest. Third, among the eight regions, only the southwest region had σ convergence in green development performance; in addition, absolute β convergence and conditional β convergence were divergent, thereby confirming the regional imbalance of the widening regional differences in China’s green development performance. This study aimed to provide a scientific basis and effective reference for further advancing China’s regional coordinated development strategy.
Highlights
Harmony between economic growth, environmental protection, and sustainable development after industrialization are global concerns
From the green development level of each economic region, the green development performance index (GDPI) from high to low are followed by the southern coast (1.1989), the northern coast
By comparing green development performance between provinces and between economic regions, we find that the areas with high green development performance mostly concentrate in economically developed coast areas where the energy-saving and emission reduction standards are stringent, and the pollution treatment technology is advanced
Summary
Environmental protection, and sustainable development after industrialization are global concerns. The green development model emphasizes the improvement of resource use efficiency and environmental damage avoidance. The improvement of green development performance is in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Green development performance integrates two constraints in economic development. It reduces resource consumption and improves environmental quality [1]. The higher the value, the higher the level of green development
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