Exploring the dynamic equilibrium relationship between urbanization and ecological environment -- A case study of Shandong Province, China.

• The comprehensive indices of urbanization and ecological environment are constructed by the comprehensive evaluation model. • There is a long-term equilibrium between urbanization and the ecological environment. • In the long term, the development of urbanization will not degrade the ecological environment. To realize the coordinated development of urbanization and ecological environment is a research hotspot in recent years. There is a very complicated relationship between them. Understanding their relationship is key to realize their coordinated development. In this paper, the long-term dynamic balance behavior between urbanization and ecological environment was studied by means of long-term equilibrium model and error correction model (ECM) based on the data of Shandong Province. In order to comprehensively reflect urbanization and ecological environment, this paper employed comprehensive evaluation model to construct comprehensive index of urbanization and ecological environment respectively, and used coupling coordination degree (CDE) and relative development degree model (RDE) to study the dynamic changes of the two. The results showed that: (1) The relationship between urbanization and ecological environment in Shandong Province is becoming more and more harmonious, and the coupling coordination type between them has gradually developed from extremely uncoupling (EUC) type to highly coupling (HC) type; (2) In the long run, there is a long-term equilibrium relationship between urbanization and ecological environment in Shandong Province, and this equilibrium can be achieved through short-term dynamic adjustment. Therefore, a correct understanding of the short-term and long-term development laws between them can provide the corresponding theoretical basis for policy makers, and shorten the time for urbanization and ecological environment to reach an equilibrium state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]