Sustainability evaluation and spatial heterogeneity of urban agglomerations: a China case study

Abstract To promote the development of the western region in China, it is necessary to build an indicator system to scientifically measure the level of sustainable development in Western China. Based on the construction of a sustainable development level evaluation indicator system, this study employs the panel data entropy model to evaluate the sustainable development level of four state-level urban agglomerations in Western China from 2009 to 2018. Then, the geographical detector model is used to measure the spatial heterogeneity degree of the sustainability index and detect the factors influencing the spatial heterogeneity. The results show that (1) the innovation environment and economic growth are the core factors influencing the sustainable development level. (2) The sustainable development level of the cities within the urban agglomerations varies considerably. The sustainability level of central cities and provincial capital cities is significantly higher than that of outlying cities. (3) From the perspective of time, the sustainable development level of the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration and Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration shows a rising trend; the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration fluctuates greatly; and the Hohhot–Baotou–Ordos–Yulin urban agglomeration is decreasing. (4) The spatial heterogeneity level of sustainable development among cities in the western urban agglomerations is high, economic factors play a leading role in the spatial heterogeneity of sustainable development, and the western region needs to emphasize regional coordinated development.