SPATIOTEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF THE COUPLED AND COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOW-CARBON ECONOMY, GREEN FINANCE, AND ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of the coupled and coordinated development levels among China's low-carbon economy, green finance, and ecological environmental quality. By optimizing the traditional coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and utilizing various analytical tools, this research reveals the spatiotemporal evolution patterns, development trends, and regional differences in the coordinated development of these three aspects-namely, low-carbon economy, green finance, and ecological environment quality. The research findings indicate that significant progress has been made in the coordinated development of these areas in China, which have now attained a primary coordination state. However, clustering algorithms, the Dagum Gini coefficient, and kernel density estimation reveal an increasing imbalance in regional coordinated development. The coupled and coordinated development level in the eastern regions is relatively high and stable, while the central and western regions, though improving, still lag behind. Notably, the eastern coastal regions exhibit a high degree of spatial agglomeration effects, whereas certain areas in the central and western regions demonstrate lower development levels and spatial agglomeration. Furthermore, the spatial Markov chain analysis results indicate that regions with strong coupled and coordinated development remain stable, whereas regions with low levels exhibit greater fluidity and potential for improvement.