Evaluation of Ecological Sustainable Development in the Yangtze River Delta Region Based on Ecological Footprint Theory.

The ecological footprint was employed as a quantitative indicator of resource inputs, enabling a detailed account of the structure of biological resources and energy occupancy, as well as the variation of resource productivity in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) Region. From 2004 to 2018, there were notable variations in the ecological productivity of different types of land on basis of China's equilibrium factor across the three provinces and one city in the YRD region. Jiangsu Province exhibited the highest ecological productivity of arable land, while Anhui Province exhibited the highest ecological productivity of forest land. Shanghai City exhibited the highest ecological productivity of pasture land, while Zhejiang Province exhibited the highest ecological productivity of water area. In 2018, the proportion of arable land within the total ecological carrying capacity of the YRD region reached 74.35%. Furthermore, the contribution of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces to the YRD's total ecological carrying capacity was 41.36% and 41.26%, respectively. In the construction of a new development pattern in the YRD region, which is dominated by the domestic cycle as the main body and mutually reinforced by domestic and international double-cycle, the YRD region should combine the utilization of natural forces with innovation in science, technology and cooperation mechanisms. Furthermore, the government should guide the concentration of social capital towards green industries. It is also recommended that the moderate reduction of ecological footprints should be encouraged, and that the security of biological resources and energy, the leadership in the field of cutting-edge science and technology should be ensured in YRD region. This will facilitate the formation of a new development pattern of higher-quality integration at the national level firstly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]