The Spatiotemporal Evolutionary Trend and Driving Factors of the Coupling Coordinated Development between Regional Green Finance and Ecological Environment

Based on the 30 inland provincial samples of China from 2003 to 2019, this article analyzes the evolutionary characteristics of the coupling coordination between green finance and the ecological environment (CCFE) using ArcGIS 10.5 software and employs the spatial Durbin model to analyze the driving factors of the CCFE. The results can be concluded as follows: (1) the CCFE of China is at a moderately low level, with a fluctuating upward trend. Spatially, it presents a spatial distribution pattern—higher in the east and lower in other regions. In terms of types, the regions of the CCFE are more in primary coordination and basic un-coordination and less in moderate un-coordination and moderate coordination. There are more regions of the green finance lagged type, and relatively few regions have achieved the financial ecological synchronization type. (2) The CCFE hotspots are concentrated in the Pearl River Delta, with a spatial “increase–decrease” development trend. Additionally, the CCFE cold spots are concentrated in the upper Yellow River Basin, with a relatively stable spatial scope. (3) The CCFE shows a positive spillover effect and accumulative delivery effect in the economic geospatial space. The population urbanization rate and the number of granted patent applications have a significant positive impact on the CCFE, and the percentage of secondary industries to GDP has a negative impact accordingly. Spatially, the percentage of secondary industries to GDP and the number of granted patent applications of nearby provinces in the economic geospatial space have a negative impact on the local CCFE. (4) The impact and spatial effect of different factors on the CCFE are obviously different. Finally, policy implications on the coordinated development of green finance and the ecological environment are also made.