In the quest for sustainable urban development, understanding the intricate interplay between regional integration and the green efficiency of urban land utilization has become undeniably critical. A recent study focusing on China’s Yangtze River Delta—a dynamic and economically vital urban agglomeration—ushers in fresh insights into this complex relationship. Employing advanced analytical frameworks, the research meticulously unpacks how the degree of intercity connectivity synergizes with environmentally conscious land use, ultimately driving high-quality economic growth in one of Asia’s most bustling regions.
The Yangtze River Delta, as a flagship region spearheading China’s economic expansion, offers a rich context to investigate the coupling coordination between regional integration and urban land’s green efficiency. Regional integration, which entails the seamless economic, social, and infrastructural connectivity among cities, is often posited as a catalyst for shared prosperity. However, its impact on urban sustainability parameters, particularly the efficiency of land use that factors in ecological considerations, is less explored. This study steps into this knowledge gap by employing an enhanced gravity model—a method typically used to quantify interaction potentials among urban nodes, effectively capturing the multifaceted flow of people, goods, capital, and information across different cities.
Significantly, the research broadens traditional efficiency analysis by integrating environmental variables into a super-efficiency Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model. This sophisticated modeling technique not only computes the relative efficiency of urban land utilization but also accentuates green efficiency aspects. Green efficiency here refers to the maximization of economic output using urban land resources while minimizing environmental impact, a cornerstone of sustainable urban planning.
Chronologically, the study maps the trend of both regional integration and urban land utilization green efficiency from historical data spanning several years. Remarkably, findings indicate a synchronized upward trajectory for these two facets, underscoring how progressive intercity collaboration goes hand in hand with more efficient and environmentally responsible land use. This Concordance illuminates a positive feedback loop, where enhanced infrastructural and economic links drive economies of scale and innovation, which then contribute to greener urban development practices.
Delving deeper, the analytic framework employs coupling coordination models—a tool borrowed from system dynamics—to gauge the extent and quality of interrelation between these two domains. The results reveal a substantial strengthening of coupling coordination across the Yangtze River Delta cities, characterized by notable spatial clustering. This clustering suggests that geographic proximity and intercity cooperation intensify mutually beneficial dynamics, amplifying positive outcomes for both economic integration and sustainable land utilization.
Equally illuminating are the factors identified as key drivers or impediments to this coupling coordination. Industrial structure upgrading emerges as a pivotal force, highlighting the role of transitioning towards higher value-added and less environmentally taxing industries in fostering regional synergy and green land use. Concurrently, economic scale—the size and mass of economic activity within cities—suggests that bigger urban centers can leverage their assets to achieve better integration and land use efficiency, likely owing to richer resource pools and innovation capabilities.
External accessibility, including transportation networks and logistical connectivity, also plays a crucial role. Efficient access to regional and national hubs helps cities tap into broader economic and environmental benefits by facilitating smoother flows of goods and people, reducing redundancies and unnecessary land consumption. Government intervention, encompassing policy frameworks, planning regulations, and subsidies, is another critical enabler, underscoring the importance of coordinated governance in fostering and managing coupled growth sustainably.
Intriguingly, the research points to the contrasting effect of excessive road area within urban settings. While roads are necessary for connectivity and mobility, surplus road infrastructure appears to hinder the coupling coordination relationship. This paradox highlights the potential downsides of indiscriminate expansion of road networks, which can lead to urban sprawl, increased carbon emissions, and lowered land use efficiency, thereby dampening the environmental gains from integration.
Spatial econometric modeling enriches the analysis by accounting for spatial dependencies—geographic spillovers and interactions—among cities within the regional system. This approach surfaces nuanced spatial heterogeneity in how factors influence the coupling coordination, suggesting location-specific policy interventions. For instance, metropolitan cores may require different strategies than peripheral cities to optimize their integration and green land use profiles.
The policy implications stemming from this comprehensive study are profound. To harness the full potential of regional integration for sustainable urban development, policies must emphasize industrial upgrading, enhance economic scales through strategic investments, and bolster external accessibility with sustainable transport systems. At the same time, deliberate control over urban infrastructure expansion, particularly road networks, is necessary to prevent adverse effects on land use efficiency.
This research stands as a clarion call for integrated regional development paradigms that transcend traditional economic objectives and embed environmental stewardship into the core planning and governance models. The Yangtze River Delta’s evolving experience serves as a blueprint for other urban agglomerations globally that aspire to reconcile growth with sustainability.
By systematically analyzing the coupling coordination relationship, this work bridges disciplinary divides between regional economics, urban planning, and environmental science, leveraging advanced quantitative models to deliver actionable insights. The study’s methodological rigor combined with its policy relevance exemplifies how data-driven approaches can illuminate complex urban phenomena and guide sustainable futures.
As urbanization accelerates worldwide, the delicate balance between fostering economic ties and preserving ecological viability becomes increasingly precarious. This study not only delineates this balance in the context of one of China’s most influential urban regions but also advances the conceptual and methodological tools necessary to replicate such analyses elsewhere.
The Yangtze River Delta, with its dynamic urban nodes interconnected through economic, social, and infrastructural arteries, highlights the transformative power of regional integration when harmonized with green urban development goals. This dual advancement is critical for meeting China’s ambitious environmental targets and ensuring that urban land resources contribute positively to long-term economic and ecological resilience.
In conclusion, the study showcases that advancing urban land utilization green efficiency alongside regional integration is not merely a theoretical ideal but an achievable policy objective, contingent on strategic planning, targeted interventions, and continuous monitoring of spatial dynamics. The findings underscore the imperative for policymakers to adopt sophisticated analytical tools and embrace a holistic vision of urban development that reconciles growth with sustainability.
This landmark research not only contributes to academic discussions but also provides a practical roadmap for urban administrators, planners, and policymakers aiming to achieve synergistic development in complex urban regions. Ensuring efficient, green, and coordinated urban growth remains paramount as cities worldwide navigate the challenges of the 21st century.
Subject of Research: Regional integration and urban land utilization green efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta region of China.
Article Title: Exploring the coupling coordination relationship and influencing factors between regional integration and urban land utilization green efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta, China.
Article References:
Zhang, Y., Gao, T., & Sun, Y. Exploring the coupling coordination relationship and influencing factors between regional integration and urban land utilization green efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1660 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05923-4
Image Credits: AI Generated
