Three-dimensional Ecological Footprint Model Research Articles

Measuring and decomposing natural capital use in Xinjiang from a regional-industry perspective

Accurately portraying the mechanism of the flow of natural resource consumption between regions and its impact on ecology is of crucial value in deepening the understanding of the coordinated relationship between population, resources, environment and development. Consequently, this promotes the sustainable development of the natural economy and society. Based on a regional-industrial perspective, this study used a localized three-dimensional ecological footprint model to measure and decompose natural resources in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2020. In doing so, the study clarified the supply, demand, and flow utilization of natural capital in Xinjiang, the balance of spatial and temporal allocation of resources, the coupling between economic growth and resource consumption, and the coordination between industrial structure and ecological environment. The results showed that (1) Xinjiang's per capita ecological deficit grew from 2.096 to 11.667 in 2005–2020. Moreover, the energy footprint was a decisive part of the ecological deficit throughout the study period. Furthermore, the trend of increased ecological pressure was higher in northern and eastern Xinjiang than in southern Xinjiang. (2) The overall Gini coefficient of Xinjiang's ecological carrying capacity was at the critical value of spatial equilibrium (0.4), with differences between the groups: Northern & Southern Xinjiang > Northern & Eastern Xinjiang > Eastern & Southern Xinjiang. The reasons for this inter-regional economic disparity are related to fiscal expenditure/GDP, level of urbanization, and regional industrial output. Overall, the decoupling relationship between environmental pressures and economic growth was optimistic. (3) From an industrial perspective, the levels of industrial structural efficiency and the industrial ecological harmony index were still relatively low, but the overall trend was on the rise. (4) Resource endowment, economic development, consumption structure, and population had significant driving effects on the ecological footprint, whereas environmental protection, science, and technology could inhibit its growth to a certain extent. This study aimed to provide an in-depth analysis of the current situation and problems of natural resource use in Xinjiang and provide theoretical and practical references for sustainable development in the region.

Assessment of Urban Agglomeration Ecological Sustainability and Identification of Influencing Factors: Based on the 3DEF Model and the Random Forest.

The evaluation of ecological sustainability is significant for high-quality urban development and scientific management and regulation. Taking the Chengdu urban agglomeration (CUA) as the research object, this paper combined the three-dimensional ecological footprint model (3DEF) and random forest to evaluate the ecological sustainability of the study area and identify the influencing factors. The study results indicate that: (1) From 2000 to 2019, the ecological sustainability of Chengdu urban agglomeration was divided into four types, and the overall ecological sustainability of this region showed a downward trend. The areas with higher ecological sustainability were mainly distributed in the northern part of the urban agglomeration (Mianyang City) and the southern part (Leshan City and Ya'an City), while the cities in the central region (Chengdu City, Meishan City, and Ziyang City) had lower ecological sustainability. (2) The main factors affecting the ecological sustainability of urban agglomerations are industrial wastewater discharge, industrial smoke (powder) dust discharge, and green coverage of built-up areas, followed by urbanization and population size. Through this study, we have two meaningful findings: (a) Our research method in this paper provides a new way to study the factors affecting the ecological sustainability of urban agglomerations. (b) The results of the identification of influencing factors might be the reference for urban environmental infrastructure construction and urban planning.

Assessing the Ecological Risks Based on the Three-Dimensional Ecological Footprint Model in Gansu Province

It has become a hot topic in sustainable development to determine how to use data series to predict the trajectory of ecological footprints (EFs), precisely map biocapacity (BC), and effectively analyze regional sustainability. The sustainability of the ecological system in Gansu province must be investigated because the province is situated in western China and serves as a significant economic and transportation hub. We used the EF model to compute the per capita EF and BC of Gansu province from 2010 to 2020. We created a three-dimensional ecological footprint (EF3D) model by incorporating the ecological footprint size (EFsize) and ecological footprint depth (EFdepth) into the EF model and the EF3D of Gansu province from 2010 to 2020 was measured. The EF3D value was estimated using the gray GM (1, 1) prediction model in order to determine the sustainability condition of Gansu province during the next ten years. Finally, the risk of ecosystem loss in the province of Gansu was ultimately assessed using an ecological risk model (EVR). The results show that Gansu province’s per capita EF and BC displayed generally rising trends and the province is experiencing unsustainable development. The region’s projected future consumption of natural capital was estimated by the results, and the EF3D of Gansu province is expected to increase significantly in the future. These findings have a certain reference value for adjusting the industrial structure and utilizing resources in Gansu province. Furthermore, these findings will assist Gansu province in achieving sustainable development policy recommendations.

Dynamic change and driving force of natural capital in Qinghai Province based on the three-dimensional ecological footprint, China

Natural capital is a basic condition for human survival, and its utilization evaluation is the core issue of regional sustainable development. Based upon the improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model, this study discusses the dynamic changes in natural capital time series and spatial patterns in Qinghai Province from 2011 to 2020. The driving factors of ecological footprint change were revealed using partial least squares (PLS). The results demonstrate that (1) from 2011 to 2020, the per capita ecological footprint of Qinghai Province will increase from 2.505 hm2/person to 3.125 hm2/person. The per capita ecological capacity is affected by resource endowment and is maintained at 3.982–4.160hm2/person, thus indicating a weak downward trend year by year. (2) During the study period, the per capita EFdepth, of Qinghai exhibited an overall growth trend and increased from 1.299 hm2/person to 1.419 hm2/person. The per capita EFsize was primarily affected by the ecological capacity and reached the highest value of 1.352hm2/person in 2019. The three-dimensional model demonstrates that the per capita EFsize (bottom area) changes slightly during the four periods. (3) Over the past 10 years, the capital flow occupancy rate of Qinghai Province has increased from 26.23 % to 30.90 % with an average annual growth rate of 1.65 %, this indicating a large potential for natural capital utilization. (4) The PLS model revealed that energy consumption, ecological construction, social consumption, population, and economic development are the primary factors affecting the increase in natural capital utilization in Qinghai Province. This study aims to provide a reference for promoting regional sustainable development goals, for achieving coordinated development of resources, the environment, and the social economy, and for accelerating the construction of ecological civilization.

Natural capital accounting of cultivated land based on three-dimensional ecological footprint model-- A case study of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

The fairness of the utilization of cultivated land resources is essential for the balanced development of the region, but there are few researches to analyze it. Against the background of the urgent need for farmland protection and ecological compensation, this paper takes cultivated land as the research object and uses a three-dimensional ecological footprint model to account for and analyze the utilization of natural capital stock and flow of cultivated land in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from 2009 to 2016 in terms of footprint breadth and depth, so as to provide reference for cultivated land protection, ecological compensation and even coordinated regional ecological-economic development. The results show that from 2009 to 2016, the ecological footprint breadth of cultivated land in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region was generally low and the footprint depth was generally high, and the ecological footprint depth of cultivated land in the region as a whole tended to increase, except for Zhangjiakou and Chengde, which were able to achieve self-sufficiency in flow capital, 85% of the cities showed the phenomenon of depletion of cultivated land flow capital and intensification of stock capital depletion. After 2010, the overall Gini coefficient of the ecological footprint of cultivated land in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area was less than 0.4, and the use of natural capital from cultivated land was relatively balanced. The study concludes that under the strategic role of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration and collaborative development, the equity of natural capital utilization of cultivated land in each city in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has been improved, but the level of creating and utilizing natural capital flows of cultivated land still needs to be improved, and ecological protection of cultivated land needs to be further strengthened; the excessive depletion of natural capital of cultivated land caused by agricultural production can be used as a reference basis for cross-regional ecological compensation of cultivated land, thus supporting the ecological value of cultivated land. Over-consumption of natural capital from agricultural land caused by agricultural production can be used as a baseline for interregional ecological compensation of agricultural land, thus supporting the realization of the ecological value of agricultural land.

Evaluation and Prediction of Ecological Sustainability in the Upper Reaches of the Yellow River Based on Improved Three-Dimensional Ecological Footprint Model.

Ecological footprint is an important method for regional sustainable assessment. Scientific assessment of the ecological sustainability of the upper reaches of the Yellow River is of great significance to the realization of a win–win situation for the ecological environment protection and economic development of the entire Yellow River basin. Based on the improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model, this paper measures and spatially portrays the ecological footprint per capita depth (EFdepth), ecological footprint per capita size (EFsize), and ecological footprint per capita 3D (per capita EF3D) of the upper Yellow River region from 2011 to 2020. Then, the ecological footprint diversity index (EFDI), integrated land stress index (Icomprehensive), ecological stress index (ETI), and ecological coordination coefficient (ECC) are used to evaluate its ecological safety and sustainability. The results of the study indicate that: (1) From 2011 to 2020, the three-dimensional ecological footprint of all provinces and regions in the upper reaches of the Yellow River was in a fluctuating upward trend as a whole, and NMG had the highest growth, from 2.6256 hm2/person to 3.3163 hm2/person, with an average annual growth rate of 2.36%. (2) In the past 10 years, the ETI index of the upper reaches of the Yellow River increased from 2.13 in 2011 to 3.28 in 2020, which is a serious insecurity. The EFDI index fluctuates slightly, but increases year by year. (3) The capital flow occupancy rate of the upper reaches of the Yellow River has been above 86.67%, and fluctuated during the study period, reaching a peak of 88.61% in 2020. (4) In the four periods, the number of land comprehensive pressure states and ecological security pressure states of the provinces and regions in the upper reaches of the Yellow River show a distribution pattern that the northeast region is better than the southwest region. This study is expected to provide scientific reference for land use in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, building the ecological security barrier of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.

Assessment of eco-environment impact and driving factors of resident consumption: Taking Jiangsu Province, China as an example

Taking Jiangsu Province as an example, this paper uses a three-dimensional ecological footprint model to analyze the sustainable development of the region, and on this basis, the PLS model is used to reveal the important driving factors of the three-dimensional ecological footprint of Jiangsu Province. The analysis shows that: (1) the ecological and environmental impacts of residents’ consumption in Jiangsu Province are increasing year by year, and the carrying capacity of the ecological environment is decreasing year by year. (2) The resources of cultivated land and forestland used by the consumption of Jiangsu residents are decreasing year by year per capita, and the resources of occupied construction land are increasing year by year. The change of cultivated land resources is the main factor affecting regional natural capital flows. This study recommends that the government rationally allocate land resources and strictly control the scale of land usage for urban construction. (3) Due to the consumption by the Jiangsu residents, the ratio of stock usage to flow usage of natural capital will increase year by year, among which the ratio of stock usage to flow usage of natural capital will increase most significantly for grassland and water bodies. This study recommends that modern animal husbandry and fishery development would help increase the yield per unit area of grassland and water bodies. (4)The expansion of urban scale and the improvement of residents’ consumption level are the main driving forces for increasing the three-dimensional ecological footprint in Jiangsu Province. The expansion of ecological construction, the improvement of science and technology, and the rapid economic development play a positive role in alleviating the increase of three-dimensional ecological footprint. In the future, the sustainable development of Jiangsu can be realized by changing the consumption mode, optimizing the energy utilization structure, further strengthening the ecological construction, and improving the level of science and technology.

Ecological carrying capacity and sustainability assessment for coastal zones: A novel framework based on spatial scene and three-dimensional ecological footprint model

The ecological carrying capacity (ECC) assessment in coastal zones is essential for sustainable coastal management, but there remains a lack of a more effective assessment method to be applied across broad contexts. In this study, we proposed the concept of spatial scene, a geographical unit with a coordinate position, and high unification in social-economic attributes, land cover, ecological function, and externalities, to substitute for the land use/land cover (LULC) in the traditional three-dimensional ecological footprint (EF3D) model, thereby establishing a novel framework for coastal ECC (CECC) assessment. The coastal zone of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) was chosen to examine the applicability and reliability of our framework. Results showed that the CECC estimated by spatial scene in the study area reached 0.1877 gha per capita, totaled 3.99 million gha in 2019, and the scenes of marine capture and forest provided the largest CECC. The per capita ecological footprint size (EFsize), ecological footprint depth (EFdepth), and EF3D reached 0.1684 gha, 14.35, and 2.42 gha, respectively, representing unsustainable development in the GBA coastal zone. The EF3D mainly distributed in scenes of grassland, forest, industrial, marine capture, coastal intertidal and offshore (CIO) port-shipping, traffic station, dryland, and CIO industrial-urban, while only the scenes of services and CIO tourism-entertainment were within CECC and therefore sustainable. Hong Kong, Huizhou, and Dongguan had the largest per capita EF3D. Compared to our results, the CECC and EFsize estimated by the traditional EF3D model were respectively 18% and 6% lower, while their EFdepth and EF3D were respectively 21% and 13% higher, which should be attributed to the significant differences in classification standard and scale between spatial scene and LULC. Our results showed higher correlations and more significant relationships with total gross domestic product (GDP), marine GDP, and main energy EF than those based on the traditional LULC, indicating a better reflection of the economic development status, energy consumption structure, and marine economic development modes by our framework. It is recommended to accelerate the industrial transformation and upgrading, and strengthen the conservation of ecological, agricultural, and marine space, in order to promote the sustainable development of GBA coastal zone. Our study revealed that our framework is capable of serving as a more effective and accurate method for assessing CECC and sustainability.

Spatial effects and influencing factors of natural capital utilization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Clarifying the regional natural capital utilization and its spatial effects and influencing factors has important theoretical and practical significance for regional sustainable development. Here, we used a three-dimensional ecological footprint model, exploratory spatial data analysis, a spatial Markov chain, and a spatial panel Durbin model to explore the spatial effects and influencing factors of overall and subcategory natural capital flow and stock occupancy of 112 prefecture-level cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2008 to 2018. The results showed that the total, per capita, and subcategory natural capital flow and stock occupancy increased during the study period. Most of the regions with low overall and subcategory natural flow occupancy were located in the East, whereas most of the regions with high overall and subcategory natural flow occupancy were mostly located in the Central and Wes-tern area. However, their stock occupancy behaved differently. Except for farmland stock, the overall and subcategory natural capital flow and stock occupancy showed spatial agglomeration. The traditional and spatial Markov chain presented a "Matthew effect" and a "spatial spillover effect" in natural capital flow and stock occupancy. Economic growth and industrial structure positively affected natural capital flow and stock occupancy. Population growth positively affected natural capital flow occupancy. Urbanization rate negatively affected natural capital flow occupancy, and positively impacted natural capital stock occupancy. Government intervention negatively affected the farmland flow and fossil fuels land stock occupancy. Environmental governance negatively affected the natural capital flow occupancy, but positively affected the natural capital stock occupancy. Environmental pollution positively affected natural capital flow and stock occupancy.

西北地区三维生态足迹生态安全评价及驱动力分析

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 西北地区三维生态足迹生态安全评价及驱动力分析 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202101110109 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目（51874306）；自然资源部退化及未利用土地整治工程重点实验室开放基金课题（SXDJ2019-4） Ecological security evaluation and driving force analysis of three-dimensional ecological footprint in Northwestern China Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51874306)；Fund of Key Laboratory of Degraded and Unused Land Consolidation Engineering，Ministry of Land and Resources(SXDJ2019-4) 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:西北地区生态脆弱，进行生态安全评估和驱动力分析具有重要意义。选取土地利用影像和植被净初级生产力产品叠加细化均衡因子和产量因子，利用三维生态足迹改进模型测算和空间刻画西北地区2009-2017年的足迹深度，足迹广度和区域三维生态足迹；然后基于上述结果计算生态压力指数、生态协调系数、生态足迹多样性指数、流量资本占用率和存量资本流量利用比描述生态安全变化；最后用STIRPAT扩展模型结合主成分回归模型分析三维生态足迹演变的主要驱动因素。结果表明：（1）2009-2017年研究区的区域足迹广度总体上呈现为先升后降的趋势，2009年最低为3.116 hm2/人，2016年达到最高为3.796 hm2/人；区域足迹深度研究期内一直上升，从2009年的11.550 hm2/人上涨为19.031 hm2/人；三维生态足迹研究期内也一直增加，由6.006 hm2/人增加为9.760 hm2/人。（2）研究区2009-2017年整体生态安全持续恶化，生态压力不断增大，其中宁夏生态安全形势严峻，新疆和陕西生态环境脆弱，甘肃生态安全程度相对较差，青海生态安全良好；不同地区地类的安全状况基本不同，但共同点为林地最为安全，化石能源用地最不安全。（3）驱动力分析模型表明，研究区经济、社会和技术发展对资本的占用有传导机制。人均GDP、城镇化率和人口是研究区增加生态资本占用的因素，万元GDP能耗是除新疆外共有的缓解资本亏损的因素，经济发展仍依靠消耗资本能源，需加大科技水平投入，提高能源利用效率；产业需要加速转型，完善经济体制，降低对资本的依赖性。 Abstract:The eco-environment is fragile in the Northwestern China. It is of great significance to conduct ecological security evaluation and analysis of driving forces. This study selects land use images and net primary productivity products to refine equivalence factors and yield factors. The improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model is used to calculate footprint size, footprint depth, and three-dimensional ecological footprint of Northwestern China from 2009 to 2017. The footprint size and footprint depth from 2009 to 2017 are spatially visualized. We adopt the ecological pressure index, ecological footprint diversity index, ecological coordination index, occupancy rates of capital flows and use ratios of stock-flows to describe quantitatively changes in ecological security. Finally, the extended STIRPAT model combines with the principal component regression model to analyze the main driving factors that affect the evolution of the three-dimensional ecological footprint. The results showed that:(1) the ecological footprint size from 2009 to 2017 displayed the tendency declining at the beginning and rising up later. The lowest value was 3.116 hm2/cap in 2009, and the highest one in 2016 was 3.796 hm2/cap. The ecological footprint depth has been increasing from 11.550 hm2/cap in 2009 to 19.031 hm2/cap in 2017. The three-dimensional ecological footprint has also been increasing from 6.006 hm2/cap to 9.760 hm2/cap during the study period. (2) From 2009 to 2017, the ecological security of the study area continued to deteriorate. Among them, the ecological security situation in Ningxia was severe, the ecological environment in Xinjiang and Shaanxi was fragile, the ecological security was relatively poor in Gansu, and the ecological security in Qinghai was good. The security status of the productive land types in different regions were different, but the similarity was that forest land was the safest and fossil energy land was the least safety. (3) The driving force analysis model indicated that the economic, social and technological development of the study area had a transmission mechanism for the occupation of capital. Per capita GDP, urbanization rate and population were the factors that increased the occupation of ecological capital. The energy consumption of per 10,000 yuan of GDP was a factor that alleviated capital losses except Xinjiang. Economic development still relied on the consumption of capital and energy. It needed to increase the level of investment in science and technology, improve the energy structure, and increase the efficiency of energy utilization. The industry should accelerate the transformation, improve the economic system, and reduce the dependence on capital. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

基于改进三维生态足迹模型的洞庭湖区生态可持续时空演化研究

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 基于改进三维生态足迹模型的洞庭湖区生态可持续时空演化研究 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202106161595 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家社会科学基金项目（15BJY051）；湖南省水利科技项目（2015-254-19）；长沙理工大学水利工程学院研究生科研创新项目（2020-05） Temporal and spatial evolution of ecological sustainability in Dongting Lake area based on the improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:洞庭湖是长江流域重要的调蓄湖泊，也是中国重要的农产品主产区。科学评估洞庭湖区生态可持续状态，揭示其时空演化特征，对探究其生态可持续影响因素与作用机理，降低生态赤字具有重要意义。基于碳足迹与生态足迹理论构建了改进的三维生态足迹模型，填补了化石能源无法核算生态承载力的问题，同时调整了不同土地利用类型的参数因子。在对洞庭湖区25个区县进行可持续发展的动态评价分析中，计算了2000-2019年生态赤字、足迹广度与深度的时空分布特征。研究结果表明：（1）近20年来洞庭湖区的人均生态足迹增长速度远高于人均生态承载力，致使人均生态赤字在时间维度上不断增大，空间维度上呈湖滨向周边地区扩散的趋势；（2）洞庭湖区除林地之外的土地利用类型均存在自然资本存量的消耗，且表现为高生态赤字；（3）三次产业结构的分配、土地利用的变化、居民对生活质量的提高以及生态保护政策的有效实施等均会对洞庭湖区的可持续发展产生较大影响；（4）改进后的化石能源账户相较于传统账户的计算方法更能反映真实的碳排量与碳吸收量。研究以期为洞庭湖区土地利用、生态保护以及促进社会经济可持续发展提供科学参考。 Abstract:Dongting Lake is not only an important regulation and storage lake in the Yangtze River Basin, but also a major agricultural product producing area in China. We evaluated the ecological sustainable development status of Dongting Lake area scientifically and revealed the characteristics of temporal and spatial evolution of the region, which could be used to explore the influencing factors and mechanism of the ecological sustainability of the Dongting Lake area. At the same time, this study reduced the ecological deficit of Dongting Lake area. The improvement of three-dimensional ecological footprint was mainly based on carbon footprint calculation method and ecological footprint theory, which solved the question that ecological carrying capacity cannot be calculated in the fossil energy account. In addition, the equilibrium factor and yield factor of Dongting Lake area were adjusted according to the concept of "provincial hectare". Finally, the dynamic evaluation and the analysis of sustainable development of 25 counties in Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone, the per capita ecological deficit, the breadth and depth of per capita ecological footprint from 2000 to 2019 were calculated. The main results could be concluded as follows:(1) During the 20-year study period, the per capita ecological footprint in Dongting Lake area increased faster than the per capita ecological carrying capacity, which caused the per capita ecological deficit increased in the temporal dimension. Meanwhile, the spatial dimension showed the trend of diffusion from the center to the periphery of Dongting Lake. (2) Among all land use types in Dongting Lake area, the forest land wasthe only account of ecological surplus. All accounts of the cultivated land, grassland, water area, construction land and energy displayed high ecological deficit. (3) The distribution of three industrial structures, the change of land use, the improvement of residents' quality of life and ecological environment policies were important influencing factors in the study area. (4) Compared with the traditionally ecological footprint calculation method, the carbon emission and carbon absorption calculated by the improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model are closer to the real value. The research was expected to provide scientific reference for land use, ecological protection, promoting social and economic sustainable development in Dongting Lake area. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Ecological sustainability and its driving factor of urban agglomerations in the Yangtze River Economic Belt based on three-dimensional ecological footprint analysis

The impact of human activities on regional resources plays an important role in regional sustainable development, especially in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) which has an important strategic position in China. Problems such as uneven distribution of resources and unbalanced regional economic development are severe in the YREB. This study applies a three-dimensional ecological footprint model for investigating ecological sustainability of urban agglomerations in the YREB. An appropriate ecological compensation method is used for supporting the sustainable development of the research areas. Simultaneously, a series of ecological compensation schemes among provinces and the corresponding driving factors can be presented. Results show that the average ecological footprint increases from 2.19 ha/cap in 2000 to 3.38 ha/cap in 2015 with a growth rate of 54.34%, in which the Yangtze River Delta City Group and the Middle Yangtze City Group occupy the most of regional ecological footprint growth. The average ecological carrying capacity decreases from 0.205 ha/cap in 2000 to 0.189 ha/cap in 2015, which is mostly contributed by cropland and forest. The factors associated with per capita gross domestic product and consumption levels of urban and rural residents are the main driving factors affecting the ecological footprint. A small ecological footprint can be obtained from the three-dimensional model compared with the traditional model, but it is more accurately reflects the regional real environmental pressure. In terms of ecological compensation, the Yangtze River Delta City Group (−320.74 billion ¥ RMB) is considered as compensation spender, and the Middle Yangtze City Group (228.35 billion ¥ RMB) and the Chengdu-Chongqing City Group (92.39 billion ¥ RMB) are presented as compensation beneficiaries. The YREB is generally in an ecologically unsustainable state, but it is also limited by two main factors related to the rapid economic development and the improvement of people's living standards. Findings are intended to provide references for other similar areas in the world, which are with the problem of unbalanced development between economy and ecology.

The spatial spillover effect of transportation networks on ecological footprint

In the context of rapid urbanization and regional development worldwide, the efficient and rational spatial distribution of transportation networks is vitally important in achieving sustainable development. In this study, we used an adjusted three-dimensional ecological footprint model (EF3D) to assess regional sustainable development. We explored the driving factors and spatial influence of transportation networks on the EF3D in the urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR), China, in 2010 and 2017, integrating the STIRPAT model and spatialeconometricmodel alongside the transportation network in the research framework. The results show that the EF3D has been reduced by 1.46% from 2010 to 2017. Although the overall level of sustainable development in UAMRYR has improved, 94.69% of the county units were still in ecological overshoot in 2017. In addition, population density, GDP per capita and the proportion of non-tertiary industries had positive local influences on EF3D. At the county level, EF3D had positive spatial autocorrelation, and the spatial spillover effect of EF3D was confirmed through the transportation network, indicating that the spatial influence of the transportation network was an important factor in explaining EF3D. Population density and GDP per capita had negative and positive indirect spatial effects, respectively. In the future, the function of transportation systems should be improved to transfer the population pressure of cities and increase natural capital flexibility to reduce the EF and ultimately achieve balanced development.

Fairness analysis and compensation strategy in the Triangle of Central China driven by water-carbon-ecological footprints.

This study proposes water-carbon-ecological footprints to form footprint family indicators for identifying the ecological compensation and regional development equilibrium in the Triangle of Central China (TOCC). The occupation of natural capital stock and flow consumption can be illustrated using a three-dimensional ecological footprint model, and Gini coefficient is integrated into the evaluation framework for fairness measurement from various aspects. Quantificational ecological compensation standards can be given with considering indicators associated with ecological resource conversion efficiency and willingness to pay. Results reveal that ecological and carbon footprints in the TOCC demonstrate rising trends from 2000 to 2015, while its water footprint presents a fluctuating trend. The majority of average Gini coefficients exceed the threshold value of 0.4 under different footprints, thereby indicating poor overall fairness of regional development. Water footprint in Jingmen, Xiangtan, and Yichun show relatively higher compensation expenses, while Yichang, Zhuzhou, and Fuzhou exhibit higher received compensation values compared with other cities. Carbon footprint in Wuhan, Loudi, and Xinyu indicate high compensation expenses due to their overuse of biological resources. Maximum amounts of compensation expense appear in Nanchang and Wuhan from the perspective of ecological footprint. This study can provide a theoretical reference for sustainable development in the TOCC by performing a comparative analysis with Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration and developed countries.

Improvement and application of the three-dimensional ecological footprint model

The ecological footprint (EF) is an important tool for assessing ecological resource occupancy. The three-dimensional (3D) EF changes the EF from a plane to a column, and the bottom (EFsize) represents the human appropriation of the annual natural resource flow provided by the earth, while the height (EFdepth) represents the number of years required to regenerate the resources consumed within 1 year. According to the difference in the human demands for the productive functions of land, this paper improves the 3D EF model based on three sub-items, namely, the basic land footprint (including the footprint of cropland, grazing land and fishing grounds), which captures the demands of the physical part of food and clothing; forest land footprint, which captures wood and carbon absorption demands; and the built-up land footprint, which captures production and living space demands. The improved model is a 3D structure with three different heights. The bottom shows human appropriation of annual natural flows of the sub-items, and there is competition between the sub-items. The sub-heights are related to the overshoot of the sub-items. The forest land footprint depth is earlier and deeper than the 3D EF, and the footprint depth of the built-up land and basic land kept the natural depth. Therefore, humans perceive climate change, but their daily survival is not significantly affected. The flow occupancy ratio (orflow) and the accumulated ecological debt depth (EFdepthaccum) are introduced to analyse the closeness to the overshooting state and the years of using existing resources to eliminate historical ecological debt, respectively.

Analysis of water–carbon–ecological footprints and resource–environment pressure in the Triangle of Central China

Existing index system on the resource–environment pressure (REP) measure is mostly based on the multi-index comprehensive evaluation method. However, the selection of evaluation indices is highly affected by subjective factors, potentially resulting in poor comparability of results. With these concerns, this study proposes Footprint Family indicators to quantitatively evaluate the spatial–temporal variations in REP. Water–carbon–ecological footprints are grouped together to form a suite of indicators of ecological pressure, carbon emission, and water resource stress indices. A three-dimensional ecological footprint model is developed with considering footprint depth and size. The proposed method is then applied to the Triangle of Central China (TOCC). Results indicate that the average REP values in Poyang City Group, Chang-Zhu-Tan City Group, and Wuhan City Group reach 1.05, 1.27, and 3.05, respectively. The REP in Poyang City Group increases from 0.511 in 2000 to 1.846 in 2015, with an annual increase of 6.5%. The REP in Chang-Zhu-Tan City Group increases from 2.27 in 2000 to 4.18 in 2015, with an annual increase of 4.1%, whereas that in Wuhan City Group is relatively high, especially in Ezhou (9.17), Qianjiang (6.96), and Wuhan (8.95). Increased trends of ecological footprint exist in Poyang City Group, Chang-Zhu-Tan City Group, and Wuhan City Group, with average growth rates of 5.55%, 4.41%, and 5.70%, respectively. The carbon footprint in the northcentral TOCC (such as Wuhan and Loudi) is high, whereas that in the southeast TOCC is relatively low, especially in Fuzhou. The general performance of water resource system in TOCC is relatively ideal, with average surpluses of 0.546 × 104, 2.234 × 104, 6.311 × 104 m2/cap in Wuhan City Group, Chang-Zhu-Tan City Group, and Poyang City Group, respectively.

Assessing Ecological Carrying Capacity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Based on a Three-Dimensional Ecological Footprint Model

As one of the most developed and competitive metropolitan areas in the world, the contradiction between resource depletion and sustainable development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GHMGBA) has become a crucial issue nowadays. This paper analyzed the natural capital utilization patterns in GHMGBA during 2009–2016 based on a three-dimensional ecological footprint model. Ecological carrying capacity intensity (ECintensity) was calculated to optimize the accounting of ecological carrying capacity (EC). Ecological footprint depth (EFdepth) and ECintensity were quantitatively investigated and influencing factors were further explored based on a partial least squares (PLS) model. Results showed that GHMGBA had been operating in a deficit state due to the shortage of natural capital flow and accumulated stock depletion. The highest EFdepth occurred in Macao (17.11~26.21) and Zhongshan registering the lowest (2.42~3.58). Cropland, fossil energy and construction land constituted the most to total ecological deficit, while woodland was continuously in a slight surplus. Natural capital utilization patterns of 11 cities were divided into four categories through hierarchical clustering analysis. Driving factors of EFdepth, ECintensity and three-dimensional ecological deficit (ED3D) were mainly students in primary and secondary education, disposable income, consumption expenditure, R&D personnel and freight volume. Our findings could provide guidance for decision-makers to develop resource utilization portfolios in GHMGBA.

Tracking national sustainability of critical natural capital and the socioeconomic drivers in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with a strategic policy framework for pursuing societal prosperity without undermining environmental sustainability. However, very few studies have focused on the assessment of the environmental sustainability of nations partnering the BRI. Following a precautionary principle that the strong sustainability lies in the maintenance of critical natural capital stocks, this paper attempts to determine the state of land as critical natural capital for biomass production and carbon dioxide sequestration in BRI countries using an improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model, and explores the socioeconomic drivers behind using spatial econometric models. Our time-series analysis for the period 1996–2016 shows that the use of land as natural capital in most BRI countries has been operating in a state of environmental unsustainability over a long period of time. Forest and cropland are found to be major sources of natural capital flows, while suffering from severe depletion of natural capital stocks simultaneously. Overall, the appropriation of natural capital flows remains relatively stable but uneven, with rich appropriation of flows in Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The depletion of natural capital stocks primarily shows an increasing trend, with intensive stock depletion mainly in West Asia, East Asia and South Asia. Overall, population density and per capita GDP are identified as major contributors to BRI’s environmental unsustainability, whereas the proportion of exports in GDP and the proportion of built-up area considerably drive the decline in unsustainability. These findings suggest that tackling environmental unsustainability due to inappropriate land use constitutes a major challenge for BRI nations, thus underpinning the necessity of environmentally friendly policies in the pursuit of SDGs.

The use of land natural capital in the Guanzhong region based on a revised three-dimensional ecological footprint model

The use of land natural capital in the Guanzhong region based on a revised three-dimensional ecological footprint model

Exploring the dynamic, forecast and decoupling effect of land natural capital utilization in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, China

Natural capital utilization in ecologically sensitive areas is an important subject for ecologically sustainable quantification. Research on the natural capital flow and stock is helpful to analyze the utilization of natural capital and promote its sustainable development. Thus, we attempted to combine the three-dimensional ecological footprint model with the decoupling model and GM(1,1) model to analyze the current and future state of land natural capital utilization, and then analyze the status of decoupling between economic development and the sustainable use of the land natural capital. The results showed that: (1) Overall, the land footprint and land capacity in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir area increased. The occupation of the land natural capital flow increased, and the footprint depth first increased and then decreased. (2) The utilization ratio of capital stock to the flows of cultivated land increased, and the space for sustainable utilization of natural capital was larger. The gray prediction showed that the ratio of capital stock to the flows in all the districts and counties of the study area will increase from 2022. (3) A decoupling relationship existed between the utilization ratio of the stock flow and Gross Domestic Product as a whole, indicating that the pressure of economic development on the sustainable utilization of natural capital has always existed. This study has a certain reference value to construct an ecological civilization in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir and formulate relevant policies on the increase of rural land natural capital.