*4.2. Results Analysis*

As previously described, the sustainable green economy system was both vertically and horizontally analyzed. First, the overall development trends of the green economy development system were vertically analyzed, after which the coordination between the various internal green economy development subsystems were laterally measured and the restricting development factors explored.

Using Formulas (1)–(8), the entropy and entropy weights for the regional green economy development indicators in Shandong Province were calculated, the results for which are shown in Table 3.


**Table 3.** Entropy and entropy weights for the regional green economic development system indicators in Shandong Province.

As can be seen from the calculation results, the economic and social drivers in each subsystem accounted for a large proportion of the green economy development, followed by energy and environmental pressure, with the environmental state and technological response accounting for a relatively small proportion.

4.2.1. Comprehensive Evaluation Results from the Vertical Analysis

Based on the entropy weights for each layer, the green economy development level scores in Shandong Province were calculated using Formulas (9) and (10), the results for which are shown in Table 4.

**Table 4.** Development level scores in each subsystem of Shandong Province's sustainable green economy development system from 2010 to 2016.


Equations (11)–(15) were then applied to calculate the distance between the green economy subsystems and the ideal values from 2010–2016 and determine the closeness coefficients, the results for which are shown in Table 5.

**Table 5.** *D*<sup>+</sup> *<sup>i</sup>* , *D*<sup>−</sup> *<sup>i</sup>* and *Ci*. for the development of the green economy in Shandong Province from 2010 to 2016.


For further analysis, the green economy development trends were transformed from the tables into graphs, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the sustainability of the green economy in Shandong Province from 2010–2016 was generally rising and had good momentum. *D*<sup>+</sup> *<sup>i</sup>* decreased from 1.10 to 0.59, *D*− *<sup>i</sup>* . increased from 0.50 to 1.09, and the comprehensive closeness *C<sup>i</sup>* gradually increased from 0.31 to 0.83, indicating that the sustainable green economy was gradually developing towards an ideal state. The sustainable green economy system development comprehensive score from 2010 to 2015 increased from 0.34 to 0.66, indicating that Shandong's economy was continuing to develop at high speed. Although the comprehensive score in 2016 slightly decreased, it was still in a rapid development period. The progress made in recent years by Shandong Province was mainly due to the active implementation of the green economy development concept. Since 2010, the drivers and pressures and the state and response systems have been rapidly rising, the driving system has been slowly changing, and the state subsystem had the fastest rising speed, all of which was mainly due to the continuous economic and social development; however, the development speed was more moderate. Environmental protection has been gradually receiving attention, with environmental protection investment having increased substantially, which has led to a continuous improvement in the environment. At the same time, science and technology has strengthened to support economic development. However, the continuing economic growth has resulted in increased energy and environmental pressure, with the pressure on the green economy development being at a relatively high level from 2010–2015. The limited energy sources have restricted green economy development and has also caused harm to the environment.

**Figure 3.** Development level scores for each subsystem in Shandong Province's sustainable green economy.

**Figure 4.** *D*<sup>+</sup> *<sup>i</sup>* , *D*<sup>−</sup> *<sup>i</sup>* , and *Ci* for the green economy system in Shandong Province from 2010 to 2016.

In short, Shandong Province faces challenges and it is necessary to continuously coordinate the relationship between green economy development and the economic, social, energy, environmental, and technological subsystems.

4.2.2. Coordinated Development Results from the Horizontal Analysis

Using Equations (16)–(18), the coupling coordination degrees between the two subsystems and the four subsystems in Shandong Province were calculated from 2010 to 2016, the results for which are shown in Table 6.

**Table 6.** Coupling coordination degrees between the two subsystems and the four subsystems in Shandong Province from 2010 to 2016.


For further analysis, the green economy development trends were transformed into a graph, as shown in Figure 5:

**Figure 5.** Coordination degrees between the subsystems in Shandong Province.

As can be seen from Figure 5, the coordination between the internal sustainable developmental subsystems in Shandong Province were steadily developing from 2010 to 2016, with the coupling coordination index rising from a moderate imbalance of 0.23 to an intermediate coordination of 0.81. The overall system coordination degree was generally higher than the coordination degree between the two subsystems. These results clearly demonstrated that the coordinated development of the complex sustainable green economy is due to the interactions of the various internal subsystems.

The coupling-coordination degree index for the response-state subsystems changed the most rapidly, with the coupling coordination degree index increasing from a high imbalance of 0.04 to reluctant coordination at 0.59, which also clearly indicated that the response-state subsystem coordination had a significant impact on green economy development. This was mainly because the scientific and technological support was generating more environmental compensation mechanisms, which were slowly encouraging scientific and technological innovation.

The coupling-coordination degree index of the pressure-state subsystems changed in an inverted U shape. From 2014–2015, the subsystem coupling coordination index attained the maximum at 0.55, which was the reluctant coordination level, which put pressure on the energy and environmental subsystems. Therefore, to promote continual positive change in the environment, continuous coordination between the energy and environmental subsystems is needed.

The coupling-coordination degree index for the response-pressure subsystem fluctuated between 0.4 and 0.5, and was therefore approaching coordination. This was because the scientific and technological responses were beginning to alleviate the energy and environmental pressures; however, there is significant room for improvement as the scientific and technological progress needs to be transformed into a driving economic development force to ease the development pressure.

The coupling-coordination degree indexes of the drivers-pressures and response-state subsystem remained at a reconciliation level. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously increase the drivers to promote steady green economy progress and ensure the application of the scientific and technological innovations

In short, Shandong Province needs to pay attention to coordinating the relationship between the science and technology response and the economy, society, energy, and the environment by increasing investment in science and technology innovation, and ensuring the innovations are transformed into economic development drivers. To fully develop the green economy in Shandong Province, its economic dependence on resources needs to be reduced, environmental pollution controls further strengthened, and a resource-conserving and environmentally-friendly society more fully promoted.
