Integrating SDGs into China’s ecological civilization construction: Practical indicators and progress assessment

•We try to identify the link between SDGs and China’s ECC in terms of practical indicators;•Analyze the progress of China's ECC by using the constructed indicator system;•It provides a practical basis for China to synergistically promote ecological civilization and achieve the SDGs. Incorporating the internationally recognized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national strategies is essential for achieving these goals within the specified timelines. To this end, China is advancing the construction of ecological civilization, aiming to promote economic growth while safeguarding the environment. This study seeks to establish a connection between the SDGs and China’s efforts in Ecological Civilization Construction (ECC) by developing a set of practical performance evaluation indicators consistent with the global SDG framework. The research employs various methods, including entropy weighting, coupling coordination models, the Dagum Gini coefficient, and Kernel density estimation, to assess SDGs indicators based ECC performance in China from 2011 to 2022. It explores the spatiotemporal variations in ECC performance across different regions and provinces, evaluates the coupling and coordination between subsystems, examines regional disparities, and investigates the dynamic evolution of these disparities. The results show that: (1) overall, ECC performance in China has been on the rise, with the eastern region performing notably better than other regions; (2) the coupling coordination among subsystems is still in its early stages, indicating considerable progress is required to reach a higher level of ecological civilization; (3) although there are disparities in ECC performance, they are not severe and are mainly due to inter-regional differences; (4) absolute disparities in ECC performance between regions and provinces are gradually diminishing. These findings are crucial for China to enhance its ecological civilization comprehensively, promote sustainable development, and achieve the SDGs within the designated time frame.