Abstract Rapid urbanization has resulted in eco-environmental degradation, leading to the global implementation of green infrastructure strategies, such as the Green Heart, to balance urban development with nature conservation. The Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Green Heart in China represents an important example of addressing eco-environmental issues within urban agglomerations. However, current research lacks empirical assessments of its multifunctional effectiveness. This research develops a multidimensional framework that integrates 14 eco-environmental and socio-economic indicators spanning the years 2014 to 2022 to address this gap. Employing the CRITIC-entropy weighting and coupling-coordination degree model, the findings indicate that, despite a substantial increase in socio-economic effectiveness driven by growth in tourism-related infrastructure and economic output, eco-environmental effectiveness remained limited, as evidenced by a marked decline in water conservation volume and ecological corridor connectivity. The coupling-coordination degree improved from slightly uncoordinated to slightly coordinated, showing gradual but incomplete harmony in socio-economic development and eco-environmental conservation. The Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Green Heart planning presents potential for advancing a green development model; however, its eco-environmental challenges impede the realization of key eco-environmental objectives, thereby questioning its viability as a sustainability model and similar risks for other projects in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study offers a replicable framework for evaluating Green Heart planning and governance, delivering practical insights for sustainable urban planning in China and contributing to global discourse on green infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing areas.
He et al. (Sat,) studied this question.