Spatial-temporal patterns and evolution characteristics of the coordinated development of industrial economy, natural resources and environment in China

Development of the industrial economy inevitably causes consumption of natural resources and destruction of the ecological environment. How to coordinate these three subsystems is an important issue for the sustainable economic growth of all countries. Against this background, this paper discusses the spatial-temporal patterns and evolutionary characteristics of the coordinated development of China's industrial economy, resources and environment. Based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2004 to 2017, an indicator system is constructed, and the degree of coordinated development of the industrial economy, resources and the environment is analyzed by the entropy method, coupling coordination degree model and spatial autocorrelation method. The findings show that in China and its three main regions, the overall trends of the industrial economy, natural resources and environmental quality subsystems are increasing year by year, with linear, segmented, and fluctuating growth types respectively. The degree of coupling coordination among the three systems is generally on the rise but still at a low level; its spatial pattern shows a decreasing trend from the eastern region to the central and western region, a high trend in the south region and a low trend in the north region. And the coupling coordination displays positive spatial autocorrelation, the high-high agglomeration is mainly distributed in the eastern coastal areas, and the low-low agglomeration is mainly distributed in the western regions. Finally, based on the research findings, this paper proposes relevant policy recommendations to promote the sustainable development of China's industrial economy, resources and environment. •Clarifying the relationship among the industrial economy, natural resources and environmental quality.•Coupling coordination model and spatial autocorrelation method are used.•Constructing a comprehensive evaluation system of industrial economy, natural resources and environmental quality.•The spatial pattern of coupling coordinated degree shows a downward trend from the eastern region to the western regions.•There is a positive spatial autocorrelation of coupling coordination degree.