Spatial effects of green logistics development on regional sustainable development in Guangdong Province, China

Green logistics has become a crucial driver of low-carbon transformation and sustainable regional growth, yet its spatial effects remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates how the development of green logistics influences regional sustainable development in Guangdong Province, China, with a particular focus on direct impacts and spatial spillover mechanisms. Using panel data from 21 prefecture-level cities for the period 2013-2023, a comprehensive evaluation framework is established to measure both green logistics and sustainable development. The entropy weight method is applied to construct composite indices, while benchmark regression and the Spatial Durbin Model are employed to capture causal relationships and spatial dependence. The empirical results show that green logistics significantly enhances local sustainable development and produces positive spillover effects in neighboring regions, forming a spatial diffusion pattern centered on Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Moreover, heterogeneity tests indicate that Western, Northern, and Eastern Guangdong derive greater marginal benefits than the Pearl River Delta, underscoring the importance of region-specific pathways. These findings underscore the need to strengthen green logistics infrastructure, leverage spatial externalities, and adopt differentiated policies tailored to local contexts. This study contributes to the literature by integrating spatial econometric techniques with environmental and regional development analysis, offering new evidence on how logistics systems support sustainability transitions in rapidly developing economies.