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Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Analysis of Sustainable Development in China Based on the Footprint Family

Author

Listed:
  • Jing Zhao

    (Division of Student Affairs, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China)

  • Caihong Ma

    (School of Resource and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China)

  • Xiangui Zhao

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China)

  • Xiaoyu Wang

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China)

Abstract

The existing index systems on sustainable evaluation are mostly based on a multi index comprehensive evaluation method. The main disadvantage of this approach is that the selection and assignment of evaluation indexes are greatly influenced by subjective factors, which can result in poor comparability of results. By contrast, the Footprint Family (including ecological footprint, carbon footprint, and water footprint) is not affected by subjective factors. The Footprint Family also covers the basic tenets of sustainable development. This paper proposes use of a sustainable development evaluation index system based on the principle of the Footprint Family, and including the ecological pressure index ( EPI ), the ecological occupancy index ( EOI ), the ecological economic coordination index ( EECI ), the GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emission index ( CEI ), the water resources stress index ( WSI ), and the sustainable development index ( SDI ). Furthermore, a standard for grading the evaluated results based on global benchmarks is formulated. The results of an empirical study in China were the following. The development situation deteriorated from 1990 to 2015. The results showed that the SDI decreased from a medium level (grade 5) to a lower-medium level (grade 4). The results of this empirical study also showed that the method of evaluation can avoid the influence of subjective factors and can be used in the evaluation of sustainable development for various temporal and spatial conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Zhao & Caihong Ma & Xiangui Zhao & Xiaoyu Wang, 2018. "Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Analysis of Sustainable Development in China Based on the Footprint Family," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:246-:d:129804
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wackernagel, Mathis & Rees, William E., 1997. "Perceptual and structural barriers to investing in natural capital: Economics from an ecological footprint perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 3-24, January.
    2. Ferng, Jiun-Jiun, 2014. "Nested open systems: An important concept for applying ecological footprint analysis to sustainable development assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 105-111.
    3. Siche, J.R. & Agostinho, F. & Ortega, E. & Romeiro, A., 2008. "Sustainability of nations by indices: Comparative study between environmental sustainability index, ecological footprint and the emergy performance indices," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(4), pages 628-637, July.
    4. Ness, Barry & Urbel-Piirsalu, Evelin & Anderberg, Stefan & Olsson, Lennart, 2007. "Categorising tools for sustainability assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 498-508, January.
    5. Stern,Nicholas, 2007. "The Economics of Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521700801, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Decun Wu & Jinping Liu, 2020. "Threshold Effects of Restraining Factors on China’s Provincial Ecological Footprint in the Process of Urbanization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Parvaneh Sobhani & Hassan Esmaeilzadeh & Seyed Mohammad Moein Sadeghi & Isabelle D. Wolf & Yaghoub Esmaeilzadeh & Azade Deljouei, 2022. "Assessing Spatial and Temporal Changes of Natural Capital in a Typical Semi-Arid Protected Area Based on an Ecological Footprint Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.

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