China has made marked progress in promoting the development of eco-cities by making major urban areas greener and energy consumption more efficient, according to a report published on Thursday.

The per capita green space in the irreversible built-up areas in 284 major cities across the country stood at about 15.7 square meters in 2017, up by 0.7 sq m from 2016, according to the 2019 Report on the Development of China's Eco-cities, published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing on Thursday.

Prepared by the academy and three universities, including Shanghai University, the report also notes that sulfur dioxide emissions per 10,000 yuan of GDP in these cities wend down by 0.5 kilograms from 2016 to 1.26 kg the following year.

It also finds a decrease in energy consumption per unit of GDP. With a decrease of 0.03 metric tons from the previous year, standard coal consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP in these cities reached 0.82 tons in 2017.

The report defines eco-cities as those that could well coordinate economic and social development with environmental protection and efficiently utilize their environmental resources.

Based on an eco-cities health index, the report finds 15 of the cities "very healthy", including Shanghai and Beijing. Nine cities, however, were classified as "very unhealthy", such as Changzhi in North China's Shanxi province and Weinan in Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

The report notes a marked improvement in urban environment in major cities in the western region. Lanzhou, provincial capital of Northwest China's Gansu province, for example, went up in the ranking from 101st in 2016 to 53rd in 2017. Lhasa rose from 44th to 17th.