QAP correlation analysis.

Green development, an essential part of sustainable development transformation, is spatially correlated intra- and inter-regionally. However, previous research has not fully addressed the spatial characteristics of green development. This study investigates the spatial correlation structures, core–peripheral positions, and factors impacting the spatial network formation of China’s green development. Based on the green development evaluation index system modified by the entropy method, this study applies social network analysis, block model analysis, and quadratic assignment procedure analysis to data from 30 provinces in China. The results confirm the spatial spillover effect is overwhelmingly present in China’s green development. The findings further distinguish the core roles of provinces including Hunan, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Henan, and Xinjiang, and underline factors of green economic growth, governmental policy support, spatial adjacency, and geographic distance as significantly affecting the spatial network formation of China’s green development. Policy recommendations for green development are then put forward.