Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Exploring the Coordination Development of China's Green Finance and Green Consumption

Abstract The coupling and coordinated development of green finance and green consumption plays a critical role in enhancing the resilience of sustainable development across both economic and social systems. This study systematically examines the coupling coordination, spatial differentiation, temporal dynamics, and driving mechanisms of green finance and green consumption in 30 provinces of China from 2012 to 2023. To achieve this, we employ a combination of quantitative methods, including the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method, an improved coupling coordination degree model, the Dagum Gini coefficient, kernel density estimation, and the obstacle degree model. The findings indicate that the overall coupling and coordination between green finance and green consumption in China has exhibited an upward trend, yet notable regional disparities exist, displaying a spatial pattern of “high in the southeast and low in the northwest.” Inter-regional development differences are identified as the primary contributors to the observed coupling disparities, alongside significant temporal gaps. Moreover, since 2014, positive spatial correlations in coupling coordination have emerged, characterized by “high-high” and “low-low” agglomeration patterns. Green support is increasingly recognized as a key obstacle to green finance, while ecological environment and consumption-level factors constitute the main obstacles to green consumption. Based on these insights, we propose policy and practice recommendations emphasizing innovation-driven strategies, regional collaboration, and technological empowerment to promote coordinated development. This study contributes to understanding the socio-economic and policy implications of green finance and consumption, providing a quantitative foundation for sustainable development planning and decision-making.