Measurement of Eco-efficiency of the Construction of Circular Economy in Shandong Province

Eco-efficiency is considered to be an effective tool of implementing the target of sustainable development and estimating developmental level of circular economy at different scales. Based on researches on regional eco-efficiency indices at home and abroad, an eco-efficiency evaluation index system was established for the construction of circular economy in Shandong Province, and used to evaluate the eco-efficiency of the province. Further more, re-coupling and/or decoupling of economic development with environmental pressure was discussed. Results show that though GDP in Shandong was rising rapidly with an annual growth rate reaching 13.08%, a declining trend with total water consumption and discharge of SO₂ and COD was observed during the period of 2000-2010. The eco-efficiencies of the various natural input factors, as a whole, were steadily increasing, especially with discharge of COD, emission of SO₂ and water consumption, of which the annual eco-efficiency growth rate reached 18.59%, 14.85% and 14.13%, respectively. All the three indices were in a strong decoupling state, while the rest remained in a weak decoupling state. Generally speaking, the contradiction between economic growth and environmental protection has been somewhat dulled, but the pressure of the large volumes of energy input leading to higher carbon emission is still very high.