Search

Evaluation of the coordinated development level of urbanization is an essential step in the implementation of sustainable development strategies. In this study, we constructed a comprehensive evaluation indicator system for the coordinated development of urbanization by considering the coupling effect of urbanization on land, population, and economic, social, and ecological aspects. We used this system to evaluate the urbanization coordinated development level of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 2000 to2020. The spatial distribution and evolution were analyzed and explored at the regional, urban, and county scales. The results showed that (1) the coordination development level of urbanization in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was gradually increasing. It rapidly increased from 2000 to 2015 and entered a period of steady development after 2015. (2) From the perspective of spatial distribution, the level of urbanization coordination in the Greater Bay Area was higher in the eastern part than in the western part and higher in the central part than in the periphery. There was obvious spatial agglomeration in which high coordination areas were concentrated near the Pearl River estuary. (3) At different scales, the level of regional coordination showed slight variations despite the overall positive trend. The results of this study can aid in decision-making regarding the sustainable development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The interaction between urbanization and the eco-environment is usually viewed as an effect–feedback framework. Its coupling system is composed of urbanization and eco-environment subsystems. In this paper, the coupling degree (CD) and the coupling coordinated degree (CCD) are used to reflect the coupling interaction and coupling coordination between the urbanization subsystem and the eco-environment subsystem. Based on the dynamic relative quantities of urbanization and eco-environment data in the Pearl River Delta, CD and CCD values were calculated, and the spatiotemporal evolution trend of coordination was analyzed. The results show that (1) from 2000 to 2015, the nine cities in the Pearl River Delta had high CD values and CCD values. Though they had different performances in different periods, they were all in a coordinated class, including good coordination (GC), moderate coordination (MC), and bare coordination (BC). (2) In terms of temporal evolution, the coupling coordination between urbanization and the eco-environment in the entire Pearl River Delta greatly improved. (3) From the perspective of spatial distribution, the coupling coordination of the central region was higher than that of the peripheral regions, and that of the west bank of the Pearl River was higher than that of the east bank of the Pearl River. These results can help local policy makers enact appropriate measures for sustainable development.