Atmospheric pollution reduction effect and regional predicament: An empirical analysis based on the Chinese provincial NOx emissions

Lei Ding; Chao Liu; Kunlun Chen; Yalin Huang; Beidi Diao

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.03.016

Atmospheric pollution reduction effect and regional predicament: An empirical analysis based on the Chinese provincial NO_x emissions

J Environ Manage. 2017 Jul 1:196:178-187. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.03.016. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

Authors

Lei Ding¹, Chao Liu², Kunlun Chen³, Yalin Huang⁴, Beidi Diao⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Industrial and Commercial, Ningbo Polytechnic, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315800, China; Laboratory of Geographical Environment and National Park, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
² Laboratory of Geographical Environment and National Park, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China; School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China. Electronic address: liuccug@163.com.
³ Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, China.
⁴ Laboratory of Geographical Environment and National Park, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China; School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.

PMID: 28284940
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.03.016

Abstract

Atmospheric pollution emissions have become a matter of public concern in recent years. However, most of the existing researches on NOx pollution are from the natural science and technology perspective, few studies have been conducted from an economic point, and regional differences have not been given adequate attention. This paper adopts provincial panel data from 2006 to 2013 and the LMDI model to analyze the key driving factors and regional dilemmas of NOx emissions. The results show that significant regional disparities still exit on NO_x emissions and its reduction effect 27 provinces didn't accomplish their corresponding reduction targets. Economic development factor is the dominating driving factor of NO_x emissions during the study period, while energy efficiency and technology improvement factors offset total NO_x emissions in the majority of provinces. In addition, the industrial structure factor plays a more significant role in reducing the NO_x emissions after 2011. Therefore, the government should consider all these factors as well as regional heterogeneity in developing appropriate pollution mitigating policies. It's necessary to change NOx emissions control attitude from original key areas control to divided-zone control, not only attaches great importance to the reduction of the original key areas, but also emphasizes the new potential hotspots with high NO_x emissions.

Keywords: China; LMDI; NO(x) emissions; Pollution reduction; Regional predicament; Spatial-temporal characteristics.

MeSH terms

Air Pollution*
Economic Development*
Industry
Risk