The Cause and Correlation Network of Air Pollution from a Spatial Perspective: Evidence from the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region

Peiqi Hu, Kai Zhou, Haoxi Zhang, Zhong Ma and Jingyuan Li ()
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Peiqi Hu: School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
Kai Zhou: Policy Research Center for Environmental and Economic, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100029, China
Haoxi Zhang: School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Zhong Ma: School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
Jingyuan Li: School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Based on the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), this study evaluates the spatial spillover effect of PM 2.5 concentration in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) and its surrounding areas from 2000 to 2016, analyzes its main influencing factors and verifies the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). In addition, Social Network Analysis (SNA) is used to measure the regional air pollution transmission network. The results are as follows: (1) A significant inverted U-shaped EKC with spatial spillover effect between the sampled 48 cities was verified. (2) Industrial structure had both local and spillover effects on air pollution with a U-shaped curve; technological progress exerted a negative spillover effect on air pollution, while traffic evidenced positive local and spillover effects; meteorological conditions showed different impacts on air pollution. (3) Heze, Tianjin, Xingtai, Shijiazhuang and Liaocheng are the top five cities in the centrality of the air pollution correlation network, indicating air pollution in these cities have significant impacts on other cities within the network; while Sanmenxia, Weihai, Yuncheng, Langfang and Zhumadian are the bottom five cities, which indicates that the air pollution of these cities has the least correlation with other cities. The policy suggestions for 48 cities involve: building up a regional joint prevention and control mechanism, enhancing the supervision of cities located in the centrality of the air pollution correlation network, accelerating high-tech and service-oriented industrialization, encouraging technological innovation in energy conservation and environmental protection and implementing vehicle regulation.

Keywords: environmental kuznets curve; Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and its surrounding areas; spatial durbin model; social network analysis; air pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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