A temporospatial assessment of environmental quality in urbanizing Ethiopia

Jian Sun; Yang Hu; Yang Li; Lingfei Weng; Haonan Bai; Feidan Meng; Tao Wang; Huanzheng Du; Dong Xu; Sha Lu

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117431

A temporospatial assessment of environmental quality in urbanizing Ethiopia

J Environ Manage. 2023 Apr 15:332:117431. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117431. Epub 2023 Feb 3.

Authors

Jian Sun¹, Yang Hu¹, Yang Li¹, Lingfei Weng², Haonan Bai¹, Feidan Meng¹, Tao Wang³, Huanzheng Du⁴, Dong Xu⁵, Sha Lu⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Policy and Administration, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Rd., Chongqing, 400044, China.
² School of Public Policy and Administration, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Rd., Chongqing, 400044, China. Electronic address: wenglf@cqu.edu.cn.
³ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Rd., Shanghai, 200092, China; UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Rd., Shanghai, 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Cities' Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Shanghai, Shanghai, 200092, China.
⁴ UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Rd., Shanghai, 200092, China; Circular Economy Institute, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Rd., Shanghai, 200092, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Institute of Remote Sensing Science and Engineering, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
⁶ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Rd., Shanghai, 200092, China; Circular Economy Institute, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Rd., Shanghai, 200092, China.

PMID: 36739778
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117431

Abstract

Global environmental quality has been negatively affected by urbanization, particularly vulnerable in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanism and driving forces for the change of environmental quality with urbanization process is essential to improve the environmental sustainability. In this study, the compounded night light index (CNLI) and remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) were used respectively to evaluate the urbanization level and environmental quality in Ethiopia from 2010 to 2020. On this basis, a temporospatial assessment framework was proposed, followed by methods of coupling coordination degree, spatial autocorrelation, elasticity, and decomposition. The results showed that 63 out of 690 woredas experienced environmental deterioration. Socioeconomic effect, carbon intensity, and climate change were decomposed as drivers to environmental quality, with socioeconomic effects contributing >68% of environmental improvement, while carbon intensity and climate change were responsible for >51% and >58% of environmental deterioration from 2010 values. Continuous increase in impervious surfaces resulted in a six-fold increase in surface runoff, which raised the flooding risk in sub areas and rural landscapes. This demands reforms of climate strategies and proper livestock management.

Keywords: Coupling coordination degree; Decomposition analysis; Elasticity; Environmental quality; Remote sensing ecological index.

MeSH terms

China
Cities
Environmental Monitoring*
Ethiopia
Remote Sensing Technology
Spatial Analysis
Urbanization*