Interprovincial Differences in Air Pollution in the Background of China’s Carbon Neutrality Target

Qi Zou, Jinhui Zhao, Yingying Sun, Chao He and Zhouxiang Zhang
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Qi Zou: Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Jinhui Zhao: Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Yingying Sun: Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Chao He: Hubei Key Laboratory of Petroleum Geochemistry and Environment, Wuhan 430100, China
Zhouxiang Zhang: Hubei Ecological Environment Monitoring Center Station, Wuhan 430070, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: Increasing air pollution, particularly in terms of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and ozone (O 3 ), caused by large-scale fossil fuel combustion, affects human health and economic activities in China. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal trends of carbon emissions, carbon emission intensity, and concentrations of PM 2.5 and O 3 in 30 provincial-level administrative regions of China during 2010–2019. Overall, an increasing trend was observed in carbon emissions, with high emissions occurring in Shandong, Hebei, and Jiangsu in particular. The highest growth rates of carbon emissions were 169% and 117% in Xinjiang and Ningxia, respectively. Conversely, the carbon emission intensities and concentrations of PM 2.5 and O 3 decreased across the study regions at different rates. The western and central regions experienced the greatest decrease in carbon emissions in 2019 compared with that of 2010, followed by those in the northeastern and eastern regions. Spatiotemporal variations suggest that pollution control is essential for improving air quality and offsetting the negative impact of increased energy consumption. Overall, this study shows that pollution control policies lead to short-term improvements in air quality, and hence that the implementation of stringent environmental protection policies is essential.

Keywords: carbon emission; carbon emission intensity; reduced emissions; regional differences; government policies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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