Coupling coordinated development between social economy and ecological environment in Chinese provincial capital cities-assessment and policy implications

The natural environmental degradation is specifically challenging in rapid urbanization areas where social economic development needs to swallow large amounts of resources and emit a great deal of pollutants (wastewater, solid wastes, and air pollutants). Coordinated development of social economic development and ecological environmental development is very necessary for sustainable urban development. We examined the coupling coordinated development situation among the vital urban areas-China's 31 provincial capital cities. Results show the cities are classified into four categories: joint high class (7 cites), social economy-high class (5 cites), joint-low class (9 cites), and ecological environment-high class (10 cites). We also discussed key issues existing in the coupling coordinated development. Beijing, Hangzhou, etc. show the best coupling coordinated degrees, presenting harmonious relationship between advanced social economy and sound eco-environment. Yinchuan and Lhasa rank at the bottom in the studied cities in terms of coupling coordinated development, they need to promote social economic development conforming to the unique ecological environment and capacity to achieve coordinated development. The overall spatial pattern of coupling coordinated development can be verbalized as east and south high, west and north low. Urban development paths for various areas and policy implications were provided based on this study. This study provided a scientific basis and guidance for promoting ecological civilization construction and sustainable development. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.