Examining the coupling relationship between industrial upgrading and eco-environmental system in resource-based cities in China.

Introduction: The long-term extensive development of resource-based cities makes them face problems such as resource exhaustion, industrial structure imbalance, ecological environment deterioration, which urgently need to carry out green transformation. Methods: In this study, Entropy-CRITIC-TOPSIS model and coupling coordination degree model were constructed to estimate and analyze the coordinated development level of industrial structure upgrading and ecological environment of 19 resource-based cities in Northeast China from 2010 to 2021. Results: The results showed that the coupling coordination situation between industrial structure rationalization and ecological environment in 19 resource-based cities were unsatisfactory, and the proportion of uncoordinated development between industrial structure rationalization and ecological environment was as high as 89.47%. In comparison, the coupling coordination situation between industrial structure advancement and ecological environment were relatively better, with all cities' industrial structure upgrading and ecological environment systems being basically coordinated or above. Discussion: This suggests that resource-based cities in Northeast China should still focus on improving the rational allocation of resources, environmental protection, and coordinated development of resource utilization. The conclusion of this study provides a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of domestic resource-based cities, and can also be used as a reference for domestic and foreign resource-based cities or regions.