Abstract
To promote the development of the western region in China, it is necessary to build an indicator system to scientifically measure the level of sustainable development in Western China. Based on the construction of a sustainable development level evaluation indicator system, this study employs the panel data entropy model to evaluate the sustainable development level of four state-level urban agglomerations in Western China from 2009 to 2018. Then, the geographical detector model is used to measure the spatial heterogeneity degree of the sustainability index and detect the factors influencing the spatial heterogeneity. The results show that (1) the innovation environment and economic growth are the core factors influencing the sustainable development level. (2) The sustainable development level of the cities within the urban agglomerations varies considerably. The sustainability level of central cities and provincial capital cities is significantly higher than that of outlying cities. (3) From the perspective of time, the sustainable development level of the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration and Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration shows a rising trend; the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration fluctuates greatly; and the Hohhot–Baotou–Ordos–Yulin urban agglomeration is decreasing. (4) The spatial heterogeneity level of sustainable development among cities in the western urban agglomerations is high, economic factors play a leading role in the spatial heterogeneity of sustainable development, and the western region needs to emphasize regional coordinated development.
Highlights
As the pace of global urbanization increases, the proportion of the world’s urban population has grown from 30% in 1950 to 55% at present [1]
Urban construction and living environment each have one in the top 10. This shows that the sustainable development of the western region relies mainly on economic development, and economic growth and innovation have a great influence on the sustainable development level evaluation indicator system
The evaluation indicator system of sustainable development is constructed from eight dimensions of Economic Growth, Industrial Structure Optimization, Urban Innovation Environment, Urban Construction, Residents’ Quality, Coordinated Development of Urban and Rural Areas, Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction, and Living Environment, using the panel entropy value method, estimates the 2009–2018 sustainable development index of urban agglomeration in the west of China
Summary
As the pace of global urbanization increases, the proportion of the world’s urban population has grown from 30% in 1950 to 55% at present [1]. By 2050, 68.4% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities [2]. Resource consumption, environmental pollution, and the sustainability of cities will experience considerable challenges [3]. Research on urban sustainability is becoming crucial [4]. As an underdeveloped area in China, the western region lags behind the central and eastern regions owing to backward economic development, poor natural conditions, and unreasonable industrial structures. By measuring the sustainability level of urban agglomerations in Western China, this study discusses the various factors that promote or hinder the development of urban agglomerations and proposes a path for the sustainability of urban agglomerations in underdeveloped areas, which would be crucial for realizing the leapfrog development of backward regions and coordinated regional development
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