Impact of urban innovation ability on industrial pollution governance in Chinese cities: taking the Yangtze River Economic Belt as an example

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jan;30(5):13283-13316. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-22913-0. Epub 2022 Sep 21.

Abstract

This paper uses spatial measurement method, by selecting panel data from a total of 106 cities in 11 provinces and municipalities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2006 to 2018, to conduct an empirical study on the impact mechanism of urban innovation ability on industrial pollution governance. The results show that there is a significant negative correlation between urban innovation ability and the degree of industrial pollution, and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt have a significant spatial connection. Specifically, this paper finds that urban innovation ability can have a positive impact on urban industrial pollution governance through industrial selection, production technology innovation, pollution discharge technology innovation, and environmental pollution treatment, which will help cities reduce industrial pollution; The industrial pollution governance level of individual cities is not only affected by the innovation ability of the city, but also by the innovation spillover of the surrounding cities. Area surrounded by cities with high urban innovation ability will benefit from the spillover of the surrounding cities. The industrial pollution governance level of individual cities is not only affected by the innovation ability of the city, but also by the innovation spillover of the surrounding cities. Areas surrounded by cities with high urban innovation ability will benefit from the spillover of the surrounding cities, thus improving the industrial pollution control and regional ecological environment. Based on this, this paper proposes relevant policy recommendations for urban industrial pollution governance from the perspective of improving urban innovation ability.

Keywords: Impact mechanism; Industrial pollution governance; Spatial measurement; Urban innovation ability.

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Cities
  • Economic Development
  • Environmental Pollution* / prevention & control
  • Industry
  • Rivers*