*Article* **A New Framework of Green Transition of Cultivated Land-Use for the Coordination among the Water-Land-Food-Carbon Nexus in China**

**Shandong Niu, Xiao Lyu \* and Guozheng Gu**

School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China; 2010005@stu.neu.edu.cn (S.N.); 2010006@stu.neu.edu.cn (G.G.)

**\*** Correspondence: lvxiao@mail.neu.edu.cn; Tel.: +86-187-6931-9508

**Abstract:** As a fundamental solution to the ecological problems of resources and environment, the Green Transition of Cultivated Land-use (GTCL) has become an inherent requirement for promoting ecological progress and implementing the food security strategy in the new era. This paper proposed a theoretical framework of GTCL and constructed a GTCL development index system based on four aspects: water, land, food and carbon; then, by applying a comprehensive evaluation model, a coupling coordination model and exploratory spatial data analysis, the development level of GTCL in China's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 was evaluated and the spatial and temporal rates of change of "water, land, food and carbon" (WLFC) and their coupling coordination were finally analyzed to reveal the "water, land, food and carbon" effect of GTCL. Results showed that the systemic changes of WLFC and its coupling coordination degree of GTCL presented a spatial and temporal coincidence with a high degree of consistency; from 2000 to 2020, the overall GTCL rate in all Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions showed a "W"-shaped fluctuation uptrend. In the past five years, the development level of GTCL was higher in Northeast China, followed by Central China and North China, while South China was at a low level. In addition, WLFC showed a more obvious "W"-shaped fluctuation, with higher coupling coordination in Northeast China in good coordination and lower coordination in East China and Southwest China. Therefore, according to the results of the study, areas were divided into: benefit leading area, quality improvement area, connotation tapping potential area, ductile development area and ecological reserve area for the regulation of GTCL in all Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

**Keywords:** cultivated land protection; Green Transition of Cultivated Land-use (GTCL); Water-Land-Food-Carbon (WLFC); coupling coordination
