Abstract
The sustainable development of the human settlements (HS) has become a global universal program. The comparison of cities in different countries is of great significance to provide international experience for future urban construction. Combined with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this paper establishes an evaluation index system for the sustainable development ability of urban HS and constructs a three-dimensional research framework of “development-coordination-sustainability,” which compares the sustainable development ability of the HS of Dalian, China, and Kobe, Japan, from 2005 to 2018 and explores the spatial evolution characteristics and obstacle factors of the HS of the two cities. The results show that (1) the development degree of the HS of the two cities is on the rise. The development level of Kobe is always higher than that of Dalian, and the gap is gradually narrowing; Kobe has advantages in natural and residential environment, while Dalian has advantages in cultural and economic environment. (2) The coordination degree of the development of the HS of the two cities has improved steadily, and the coordination degree of Kobe is better than that of Dalian. (3) The sustainability of the development of the HS of the two cities is fluctuating, and the average sustainable growth rate of Dalian is higher than that of Kobe. (4) The sustainable development space of the HS in Dalian presents a pattern of “high in the south and low in the north,” and the spatial characteristics of the subsystems are different; the main obstacles have changed from economic-natural to economic-natural-cultural-public services, and the obstacles to development in districts are different. (5) The sustainable development space of the HS in Kobe has a high level of development in the southeast, radiating to the surrounding area, and the spatial characteristics of the subsystems are different; the main obstacles have changed from economic-cultural-natural to economic-natural-population, and the obstacles to development in districts are different. Finally, it puts forward targeted suggestions for the sustainable construction of Dalian. This paper can provide methodological reference for quantitative assessment of the sustainable development of HS and provide policy reference for scientific planning of the construction of HS.
Highlights
As a complex, open, and dynamic giant system, the urban human settlements (HS) is an organic combination of material and nonmaterial environments needed by residents
Material, information, and population continue to gather in cities, it has brought about a series of Complexity unsustainable development problems, such as excessive consumption of resources, deterioration of the ecological environment, and disorderly expansion of urban space, etc. which affects the healthy development of human-land relationship and the improvement of the quality of HS
2018 are selected as representatives, and the overall urban HS of the urban areas of the two cities and the development level of each subsystem are matched spatially, using the natural breakpoint method, the development of HS is divided into three levels of low, medium, and high
Summary
Open, and dynamic giant system, the urban HS is an organic combination of material and nonmaterial environments needed by residents. Compared with the traditional HS, the sustainable HS emphasizes the simultaneous improvement of the growth rate and quality. It underlines the continuity, coordination, and stability of development including economy, ecological environment, spiritual culture, living conditions, and other factors. Material, information, and population continue to gather in cities, it has brought about a series of Complexity unsustainable development problems, such as excessive consumption of resources, deterioration of the ecological environment, and disorderly expansion of urban space, etc. The sudden arrival of the COVID-19 epidemic threatens urban development. It has caused economic losses, social turbulence, poverty issues, the destruction of health systems, education issues, etc. It has caused economic losses, social turbulence, poverty issues, the destruction of health systems, education issues, etc. on a global scale and has brought new and severe challenges to the sustainable development of the HS
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
