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Economic Growth Does Not Mitigate Its Decoupling Relationship with Urban Greenness in China

Author

Listed:
  • Min Cheng

    (Institute of Land and Urban-Rural Development, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Ying Liang

    (Dongfang College, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Jiaxing 314408, China)

  • Canying Zeng

    (Institute of Land and Urban-Rural Development, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Yi Pan

    (Institute of Land and Urban-Rural Development, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Jinxia Zhu

    (Institute of Land and Urban-Rural Development, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Jingyi Wang

    (Institute of Land and Urban-Rural Development, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China)

Abstract

Accompanied by China’s rapid economic growth, significant urban greening has occurred in Chinese cities, in particular in the urban core areas. In contrast, rapid urbanization and economic growth also led to a high probability of vegetation degradation in urban fringe regions. However, these significant spatial differences in urban greenness associated with economic growth in Chinese cities are not well understood. This study explored the spatiotemporal characteristics of the nighttime light (NTL) and annual maximum enhanced vegetation index (EVI max ) in urban areas from 2001 to 2020. A strong decoupling status between economic growth and urban greenness on the national scale was found. Overall, 49.15% of urban areas showed a decoupling status. Spatially, this percentage of urban areas with a decoupling status would significantly decrease when the long-term average NTL surpasses 51. Moreover, this significant threshold of decoupling status was found in 189 cities out of 344 (54.65%) in China. This threshold in each city showed significant spatial heterogeneity but can mostly be attributed to the gradient in the long-term average precipitation (P mean ) of each city during the period of 2001–2020. Specifically, a spatial increase in P mean of 100 mm responded to a decrease in the threshold of 0.4 DN ( p < 0.01). In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the threshold and the economic growth status of each city. Our results provide valuable insights for coordinating the development of urban greening and economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Min Cheng & Ying Liang & Canying Zeng & Yi Pan & Jinxia Zhu & Jingyi Wang, 2023. "Economic Growth Does Not Mitigate Its Decoupling Relationship with Urban Greenness in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:3:p:614-:d:1087794
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shushi Peng & Shilong Piao & Philippe Ciais & Ranga B. Myneni & Anping Chen & Frédéric Chevallier & Albertus J. Dolman & Ivan A. Janssens & Josep Peñuelas & Gengxin Zhang & Sara Vicca & Shiqiang Wan &, 2013. "Asymmetric effects of daytime and night-time warming on Northern Hemisphere vegetation," Nature, Nature, vol. 501(7465), pages 88-92, September.
    2. Jinlong Chen & Zhonglei Yu & Mengxia Li & Xiao Huang, 2023. "Assessing the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Vegetation Coverage in Urban Built-Up Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Jia, Mengyuan & Liu, Yan & Lieske, Scott N. & Chen, Tian, 2020. "Public policy change and its impact on urban expansion: An evaluation of 265 cities in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
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