Multicity comparative assessment and optimized management path of sustainability of the economy–energy–environment system: A case study of core cities in China's three major economic circles

Abstract

Coordinated and stable development of economy–energy–environment (3E) systems represents a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of humankind. Following the research idea of “indicator system construction—3E system evaluation—obstacles identification—optimization management,” this article innovatively constructs a multiangle and comparable methodology system for evaluation and optimized management of the 3E system and considers the core cities of three economic circles in China as cases for empirical research. The results show that all the coordination degree levels were of good or high quality, which was at the highest level in the country. The sustainability degree of the three cities showed an upward trend; of these, Beijing had the highest sustainability degree, followed by Guangzhou and Shanghai. Obstacle degree analysis shows that technology investment and energy factors were common factors hindering sustainable development of the 3E systems of the three cities, and each city also had its own unique factors that acted as obstacles. On this basis, this article formulates region-specific policy recommendations in order to provide a useful reference for top-level design for the government. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:875–887. © 2023 SETAC.