Examining the interplay among water-energy-environment-economy in the Yellow River Basin holds paramount importance for ecological conservation and fostering the high-quality advancement in this region. This research establishes a theoretical framework for understanding the water-energy-environment-economy interplay and proposes a comprehensive evaluation index system targeting for holistic development of the water-energy-environment-economy system. Analyzing data from 57 cities in the Yellow River Basin in 2002–2022, this research employes the coupling coordination model, spatial autocorrelation model, and obstacle model for in-depth analysis. The findings indicate: (1) The overall development of water-energy-environment-economy in the Yellow River Basin demonstrates a steady upward trajectory, with distinct evolution patterns in each subsystem. (2) The coupling coordination degree in water-energy-environment-economy exhibits a gradual improvement, with the coupling coordination values showing the sequence of Lower reaches > Upper reaches > Total average > Middle reaches. (3) Coupling coordination degree reveals a spatial pattern of high values in peripheries and lower values in the central areas, suggesting a certain spatial agglomeration. (4) Water resources per capita emerges as the primary obstacle factor in the Yellow River Basin, with its obstacle degree on the rise. Building upon these insights, the paper presents targeted policy recommendations.

中文翻译：

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黄河流域水-能源-环境-经济耦合协调分析及障碍因素


审视黄河流域水、能源、环境、经济的相互作用，对于黄河流域生态文明建设、推动高质量发展具有重要意义。本研究建立了理解水-能源-环境-经济相互作用的理论框架，并提出了针对水-能源-环境-经济系统整体发展的综合评价指标体系。本研究通过对黄河流域57个城市2002—2022年的数据进行分析，运用耦合协调模型、空间自相关模型和障碍物模型进行深入分析。研究结果表明：（1）黄河流域水-能源-环境-经济总体发展呈现稳定上升的轨迹，各子系统具有明显的演化规律。 （2）水-能源-环境-经济耦合协调度逐渐提高，耦合协调度值呈现下游>上游>总体平均>中游。 （3）耦合协调度呈现出外围高、中心低的空间格局，具有一定的空间集聚性。 （4）人均水资源量成为黄河流域首要障碍因素，且障碍程度呈上升趋势。基于这些见解，本文提出了有针对性的政策建议。