Spatiotemporal Evolution and Spatial Correlation Network Characteristics of Urban Land Green Use Efficiency in China: A Network Centrality Analysis Perspective

The coordinated improvement of urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) requires an in-depth exploration of its spatial correlation network characteristics and impacts. However, the existing studies on the matter have not yet formed a unified evaluation index system, ignoring energy inputs and positive ecological outputs, and the spatial correlation analysis is limited to geographic proximity rather than revealing the characteristics of the network structure. Therefore, taking 283 Chinese cities as the research object, this investigation constructs an evaluation index system for ULGUE, based on its core attributes. It then examines the spatial correlation network structure and impact by conducting social network analysis and applying Pearson’s correlation coefficients. The results reveal the following: (1) Between 2003 and 2020, China’s overall ULGUE trended upward in stages, with reduced disparities among cities and a significant geospatial clustering phenomenon. (2) The spatial correlation network of China’s ULGUE increased gradually, transforming from a unipolar-dominant to a multi-core-led network structure centered around Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and Chongqing. Moreover, the overall balanced development of ULGUE in eastern, central, and western China was strengthened. (3) The spatial equilibrium of the ULGUE was impeded by a more efficient hierarchical structure of the network, while improved degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and closeness centrality had significant positive impacts on the ULGUE. These findings can serve as a theoretical reference for strengthening the coordinated improvement of ULGUE in China, offering significant insights for other developing nations that are seeking to make similar improvements.