RETRACTED: An integrated framework for assessing the dynamics of urban eco-resilience in China’s urban agglomerations
Qiming Yang, Ronghui Zhou
Abstract
Urban agglomerations in China are increasingly challenged by rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate-induced vulnerabilities, making the assessment of urban eco-resilience both urgent and complex. Despite growing interest in resilience research, there remains a lack of comprehensive, data-driven frameworks that integrate ecological, socio-economic, and spatial dimensions to assess eco-resilience dynamics over time. This study aims to construct and apply an integrated analytical framework to evaluate the temporal evolution and spatial heterogeneity of urban eco-resilience across major Chinese urban agglomerations from 2000 to 2023. Employing a multi-dimensional resilience index system combined with a spatial Durbin model (SDM) and entropy-TOPSIS method, the research evaluates resilience performance in 19 key urban clusters, including the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions. Empirical findings reveal five key insights: (1) eco-resilience shows an overall upward trend, with significant inter-regional disparities; (2) economic development and green infrastructure positively influence resilience levels, while land-use conflict and air pollution remain detrimental; (3) spatial spillover effects are significant, particularly in coastal regions; (4) innovation and policy efficiency amplify regional adaptive capacity; and (5) resilience gaps have widened between core and peripheral cities due to uneven resource allocation. The results underscore the need for differentiated, region-specific resilience strategies, and policy coordination mechanisms to enhance eco-resilience equity and sustainability across urban agglomerations. The study offers practical implications for urban planners and policymakers to strengthen ecological security through integrated and spatially targeted resilience policies.