Research on Sustainable Development of Xi’an City Based on ecological Footprint Model

Abstract

This paper evaluates the sustainable development of Xi’an city with the ecological footprint method. Based on the ecological footprint method, it calculates the per capita ecological footprint of Xi’an city from the year 2000 to 2017. With the calculation result, the paper forecasts the per capita ecological carrying capacity and per capita ecological deficit, and draws the following conclusion: during the study period, ecological deficit occurs every year, and the ecological deficit in each year exceeds global average per capita ecological deficit. Besides, both ecological footprint and ecological deficit have a tendency to increase year by year, and the growth rates of both are higher than the growth rate of ecological carrying capacity. According to the calculation results of ecological footprint, ecological carrying capacity and ecological deficit of Xi’an city from the year 2000 to 2017, the GM (1, 1) model is used to predict the above three indicators. The predicted results show that the load of ecological environment in Xi’an region is over the ecological carrying capacity caused by the production and living activities of human beings. The resources and environmental system are under great pressure, and the regional development mode is in an unsustainable state. It is a necessity to reduce ecological footprint by improving industrial economic efficiency, cultivating the consumption habits of energy saving and environmental protection, promoting investment in environmental protection and stimulating technological progress, so as to promote the sustainable development of Xi’an city.