What the study found
The study found that Qingdao’s urban green development capacity, used here as a measurable proxy for urban sustainability, increased steadily from 2014 to 2023. It also found large differences across 24 coastal cities in eastern China, with the strongest cities reaching sustainability capacity levels nearly twice those of the weakest.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings offer a quantitative tool for measuring and benchmarking urban sustainability capacity. They also suggest the results provide empirical support for differentiated sustainability transition pathways in coastal cities and transition-economy cities.
What the researchers tested
The researchers built a multidimensional assessment framework covering economic development, technological innovation, green transformation performance, and green coordination capacity. They used the entropy weight–TOPSIS method, a ranking and evaluation technique, for a longitudinal analysis of Qingdao from 2014 to 2023 and a cross-sectional comparison of 24 coastal cities in eastern China in 2023.
What worked and what didn't
Qingdao’s composite score rose from 0.25 in 2014 to 0.81 in 2023, with growth accelerating after 2020 following structural and policy adjustments. Cities with stronger technological innovation intensity and institutional coordination consistently performed better, while inter-city disparities remained substantial.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond the study’s focus on Qingdao and 24 coastal cities in eastern China. The results are based on the specific framework and indicators used in this analysis.
Key points
- Qingdao’s green development capacity score increased from 0.25 in 2014 to 0.81 in 2023.
- The study found that post-2020 growth in Qingdao accelerated after structural and policy adjustments.
- Across 24 coastal cities, the highest sustainability capacity levels were nearly twice those of the lowest.
- Cities with stronger technological innovation intensity and institutional coordination performed better.
- The study used an entropy weight–TOPSIS framework to evaluate urban green development capacity.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Qingdao’s urban green development capacity rose steadily from 2014 to 2023
- Authors:
- Guang Qi Wang, Wei Chen, Yonghong Ma, Jianhui Yin
- Institutions:
- Harbin Engineering University, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin Engineering University, Northeast Forestry University
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-26
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with peer-reviewed research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.