Analysis of Regional Disparities, Dynamic Evolution, and Convergence of Environmental Facilities and Infrastructure Development Levels in China

With the rapid advancement of urbanization in China, the issue of imbalanced regional distribution of EFI has become increasingly prominent, given its role as a core component of ecological civilization construction. To scientifically identify spatial disparities in environmental facility development across China’s urban agglomerations, this study examines 138 cities within China’s ten major urban agglomerations. By constructing a multidimensional comprehensive evaluation index system, and employing entropy weighting, the Dagum Gini coefficient, kernel density estimation, and the spatial β-convergence model, this study systematically analyzes regional differences in China’s EFI development levels from 2014 to 2024. This study found that the overall level of EFI in China exhibits a gradient pattern, characterized by “higher in the east and lower in the west, stronger in the south and weaker in the north.” The Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta regions consistently rank in the top tier, while the Central Plains and Guanzhong regions lag significantly behind. Regional disparities follow an inverted U-shaped trend, widening initially and then narrowing, with the gaps primarily stemming from interregional interactions. Spatial agglomeration is evident among urban agglomerations, and late-developing regions such as Chengdu–Chongqing and the Middle Yangtze River region are converging at a relatively rapid pace. Based on these findings, it is recommended to strengthen cross-regional coordination mechanisms, implement differentiated development strategies, and accelerate the transition to smart infrastructure to promote the balanced and coordinated development of EFI, thereby supporting high-quality, green, and low-carbon regional development.