ABSTRACT

Ensuring effective coordination among the economy, society, and environment is an essential issue in fostering the sustainable development of the construction industry (SDCI). However, previous studies on sustainability assessment within the construction sector have largely overlooked this aspect and inadequately addressed its spatial-temporal dynamic evolution. In this research, we propose an assessment framework of SDCI from the industry perspective and develop a sophisticated assessment model using a coupling coordination degree approach. By analyzing data from 30 provinces in China, we conduct an extensive spatial-temporal assessment of SDCI. The results reveal significant progress in China’s SDCI, with a notable transition from a mildly imbalanced state to a basic level of coordination. The coordination levels of SDCI exhibit remarkable spatial heterogeneity, not only in the east-west direction but also in the south-north direction. Overall, spatial disparities across the country are observed to be increasing. The inter-regional disparities serve as the primary source, while the intra-regional disparities demonstrate an upward trend. Furthermore, the coordination of SDCI in China tends to remain at the current level, indicating a characteristic of path dependence. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of spatial differentiation is likely to intensify. Based on these findings, we recommend that the Chinese government prioritize the coordination of SDCI and implement proactive policies to address the imbalances in development and path dependence. The insights provided by this study into the dynamic spatial-temporal evolution of SDCI offer a robust scientific basis for formulating effective SDCI policies.