Research on Evolution Pattern and Spatial Correlation between Economic Development and Environmental Pollution Centers of Gravity

Abstract

The coordinated development of environment and economy is an important way to achieve sustainable development. As the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been included in the national agenda, Guangdong province faces a turning point in its economic, social, and environmental development. Taking Guangdong province as an example, this paper analyzes the spatial evolution and correlation of economic development and environmental pollution by means of center of gravity (COG) and geo-information system (GIS). The results show the shift of economic development COGs are smaller than that of environmental pollution. Environmental pollution COGs are negatively correlated with economic scale and quality COGs, whereas it is positively correlated with economic growth COG, which depends on the industrial structure and local policies. The continuous transformation of the industrial structure of the Pearl River Delta Region (PRD) is conducive to improving its environment and promoting economic development of Non-Pearl River Delta Region in Guangdong province (Non-PRD) through bilateral causality. As the receiving place of industrial transfer, eastern Guangdong has obvious effects of environmental pollution transfer from the secondary industries. In this study, the logical spatial evolution path of the economic development and environmental pollution COGs is established. It provides theoretical and practical references for the study of interrelationship between economy and environment.