Ecological Indicators (Mar 2024)
Aligning territorial spatial planning with sustainable development goals: A comprehensive analysis of production, living, and ecological spaces in China
Abstract
Territorial spatial planning serves a primary instrument for optimizing the utilization of production, living, and ecological spaces (PLEs), significantly influencing on social, economic, and ecological sustainability. The correlation aligns with the objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To comprehensively grasp the impact of territorial spatial planning on SDGs, particularly how changes in land use types and functions shape sustainable development, our study employed data encompassing land use and SDG scores across 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2015. Utilizing Spearman coefficients, we meticulously examined the relationship between PLEs and SDGs. Our findings illuminated that PLEs based on land function (PLEs-LF) wield a more substantial influence on SDGs compared to those grounded in the proportion of land use types (PLEs-LUT). The former exhibited synergistic or trade-off relationships with 16 SDGs, whereas the latter demonstrated associations with 14 SDGs, underscoring the importance of concurrently considering both land use space and function in land sustainability research. Moreover, the positive impact of living space and function on social SDGs, particularly in poverty reduction, health, and gender equality, contrasts with ecological space and function, which exhibits trade-offs. The economic realm manifests no significant synergy or trade-off between production space and economic SDGs. Additionally, it is imperative not to overlook the preservation of fostering sustainable development in the oceans while simultaneously terrestrial ecological diversity. Our research imparts valuable insights, particularly for developing countries like China, facilitating a more effective implementation of SDG practices in land and providing guidance for territorial spatial governance and planning.
