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How to Evaluate Ecological Civilization Construction and Its Regional Differences: Evidence from China

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  • Xiaohan Yan

    (School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China)

  • Qun Sun

    (School of Management, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China)

Abstract

Ecological civilization construction (ECC) has positive significance for the sustainable development of China, and it has specific Chinese characteristics. This paper design an index system of ECC based on environmental, societal and economic dimensions. Panel data for the 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2021 were collected from the statistical yearbook released by the Chinese government, and then we evaluated ecological civilization construction by using the entropy TOPSIS method and the coefficient of variation. This paper’s findings are as follows: firstly, the level of ECC in China presents a rising trend, with the level of ECC in China riing from 0.355 in 2012 to 0.553 in 2021. Secondly, China’s ECC has experienced three stages: a rapid rise period (2013–2016), a gradual decline period (2017–2019) and a steady rise period (2020–2021). Thirdly, the level of ECC in China is high in the central region and low in the eastern region and western region. Fourth, the dispersion degree of ECC in the 30 provinces of China first reduced and then expanded, and the dispersion degree of ECC ranges from high to low in the eastern region, western region and central region, respectively. Fifth, although there is a regional imbalance in the level of ecological civilization construction in different regions of China, their coefficients of variation from 2012 to 2021 are less than 0.2. Finally, some suggestions are proposed to improve ECC based on research findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohan Yan & Qun Sun, 2023. "How to Evaluate Ecological Civilization Construction and Its Regional Differences: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:16:p:12543-:d:1219871
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    Cited by:

    1. Yutong Xiao & Jun Chen & Peng Yin, 2025. "Institutionalization of Ecological Civilization Construction in China: Measurements and Influencing Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Xu He & Shian Zeng, 2024. "Measurement, Spatial-Temporal Evolution, and Optimization Path of the Level of Coordinated Development of Ecological Civilisation: The Case of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Guofeng Wang & Mingyan Gao & Yudai Tang & Baohui Zhao, 2025. "Spatial–Temporal and Decoupling Effect of Agricultural Carbon Pollution Synergy in Ecologically Fragile Areas," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Wei Sun & Lidan Zhang, 2025. "The Influence of the National Pilot Zone for Ecological Conservation on the ESG Performance of Heavily Polluting Enterprises: An Empirical Investigation Using the Double-Difference Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-22, June.
    5. Haifa Jia & Pengyu Liang & Xiang Chen & Jianxun Zhang & Wanmei Zhao & Shaowen Ma, 2025. "Spatio-Temporal Evolution, Factors, and Enhancement Paths of Ecological Civilization Construction Effectiveness: Empirical Evidence Based on 48 Cities in the Yellow River Basin of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Xiansheng Xie & Shaozhi Chen & Rong Zhao, 2023. "A Preliminary Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Ecological Product Value Realization in China Based on the DPSIR Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-26, November.

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