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Compared with other countries, China's local governments often adopt the land supply strategy of "low price and sufficient supply" for industrial land and "high price and limited supply" for commercial land in the allocation of land resources. The allocation of land resources is an important means to promote the rapid development of China's economy, and the impacts of land resource misallocation (LRM) on environmental pollution are increasingly apparent. This paper uses panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2009 to 2018 to discuss the relationship between LRM and environmental pollution. The ratio of the average price of commercial land to the average price of industrial land is used to measure the degree of LRM. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), spatial Durbin model (SDM), threshold model, and mediation effect model are used to study the direct effect, spatial spillover effect, nonlinear relationship, and conduction mechanism of LRM on environmental pollution. The results show that LRM significantly aggravated environmental pollution. This conclusion still holds after robustness tests including the substitution of dependent variables and IV estimates. The LRM aggravates environmental pollution through industrial structure and technological progress. Interestingly, the impact of LRM on environmental pollution also has a significant positive spatial spillover effect in adjacent regions. In addition, there is also evidence that the adverse effect of LRM on environmental pollution is nonlinear at different levels of industrial structure and technological progress. The threshold model shows that with the optimization of the industrial structure, the impact of LRM on environmental pollution shows a weakening trend of "inverted V-shaped", and with the advancement of technology, the impact of LRM on environmental pollution presents an "S-shaped" changing trend of "strong-weak-strong". • 1.Land resource misallocation (LRM) of 30 provinces in China are estimated. • The impact of LRM on environmental pollution is investigated. • A spatial Durbin model that addresses the effects of latent space spillovers is employed. • Threshold panel model is used to discuss the nonlinear relationship between LRM and environmental pollution. • LRM aggravates environmental pollution through industrial structure and technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the country with the highest carbon emissions, the main focus of China has become carbon reduction. At present, the governance of carbon reduction is mainly based on the division of administrative regions, which leads to the governance inefficiency and high costs because of spatial spillover and regional mobility of carbon emissions. The need for collaborative governance to promote carbon reduction performance has been recognized. However, because of differences in both costs and benefits between developed and less developed regions, a clear cost and benefit allocation mechanism must be established first. Fairness is very important when all members are to actively participate in collaborative carbon emission reduction efforts. In this paper, one of the regions renowned for collaborative governance—the Yangtze River Delta region—is used as example, and a cost-benefit allocation mechanism is constructed that incorporates members' fairness concerns. The carbon emission efficiency, carbon reduction efforts, and total carbon emission amount are compared under two scenarios: a cost-sharing scenario and a centralized decision-making scenario. The results indicate that, compared with the centralized decision-making scenario, the cost-sharing scenario achieved greater regional carbon reduction efforts, a higher carbon emission efficiency, and more total emissions. Furthermore, under the cost-sharing scenario, in less developed regions, fairness concerns increase carbon emission efficiency and total carbon emissions. The fairness concern in developed regions reduces the profit proportion, while the fairness concern in less developed region increases the profit proportion. The impact of fairness concern on carbon reduction is stronger in developed regions. • Carbon emissions from cost-sharing and centralized decision-making are compared. • Impacts of fairness concerns of local governments are considered. • A rational cost-benefit allocation mechanism is developed. • The centralized decision-making pattern is more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green innovation activities of enterprises often fall into the dilemma of financing constraints. Hence, it is urgent that the financial system develops and becomes innovative, especially for a developing country like China. Existing literature mainly explores the influencing factors of green innovation from the environmental regulation, economic growth and government subsidies perspective. However, few papers critically study how digital finance influences green innovations. To explore the internal influencing mechanism of digital finance on the quantity and quality of green technology innovation, panel data of 271 prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2019 in China is used. Based on theoretical analysis and empirical research, we get the following conclusions. First, digital finance can improve the quantity and quality of green technological innovation, which has become a significant driving force for green innovations in China. The results are still robust after the endogeneity tests. Second, the results of heterogeneous analysis indicate that the different dimensions of digital finance can improve green innovations. They include breadth of coverage, depth of use, and degree of digitization. The positive effect of digital finance is most substantial in eastern cities, followed by central cities, and weakest in western cities. Third, digital finance indirectly improves green innovation mainly by alleviating financing constraints. Our empirical results provide policy enlightenment for realizing the coordination of China's urban digital transformation and green economic development. • The effect of digital finance on the quantity and quality of green innovation is explored based on the actual background in China. • Digital finance has become a significant driving force for green innovation in China. • The different dimensions of digital finance can improve green innovations. • Digital finance plays a positive role in green technology innovation mainly by alleviating financing constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2000s, China has enforced regional collaboration as a way of resolving cross-diffused air pollution and jurisdictional limitations. It is, however, a hotly debated issue as to whether authority-driven regional collaboration can be sustained and effective, and no consensus has been achieved by the theoretical discussion. Despite extensive empirical research on the topic, most studies judged the sustainability of collaborations by analyzing the environmental outcomes within a short period after their initiation. To provide more comprehensive empirical evidence to the open question, this paper introduces the criterion of adaptivity to determine whether collaboration is sustainable. Taking the changing collaboration in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surroundings as a quasi-natural experiment, Difference-in-Difference model and Triple Difference Model are used to verify the adaptivity from two aspects. Results show that authority-driven collaboration adjustment yields better environmental outcomes. Additionally, the better environmental outcome is observed in original collaborators, implying that local governments can learn by doing and form interdependence through repeated collaborative actions. The adaptive collaboration, however, has two limitations. First, the collaboration mechanism is formed primarily based on performance evaluation and target assessment instruments, without showing adaptivity in reducing soft control indicators of air pollution. Second, the different regulation pressure between non-collaborating and collaboration cities results in undesirable spillover effects within a range of 40–100 km. This study not only contributes to empirical and theoretical studies on regional collaboration but also provides support to the improvement of the collaboration system in practice. • Process-adaptivity is introduced as the criterion to evaluate collaboration. • Authority-driven collaboration generates positive environmental outcomes. • Authority-driven collaboration is adaptive but limited to mandatory indicators. • Regional collaboration brings out negative spillovers within 40–100 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water rights trading is a market mechanism that promotes the conservation, protection and optimal allocation of water resources. This paper takes the water rights trading pilots' policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and then adopts the spatial difference-in-differences model to investigate the water-saving and wastewater-reducing effects of water rights trading pilots by using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2019. The results indicate that water rights trading has good environmental governance effects on water-saving and wastewater-reducing in the pilot areas. However, water rights transactions are mainly concentrated within provinces, and there is no spatial spillover effect. Besides, the pilot policy has more long-term dynamic effects in reducing sewage discharge than water-saving due to rebound effect possibly. The optimization of the industrial structure and environmental regulation play important roles in the realization of the policy effects of the water rights trading pilots. An important implication is that water rights trading pilots are worthy of promotion throughout China in view of the policy effects, and China should focus on inter-regional market transactions and industrial structure transformation to promote the optimization of the water rights trading mechanism. • Take the water rights trading pilots' policy as a quasi-natural experiment in China. • Adopt the spatial difference-in-difference model with the panel data of 30 provinces. • Evaluate the water-saving and wastewater-reducing effects and exploit its drive mechanism. • Has good environmental governance effects on water-saving and wastewater-reducing in the pilot area. • The optimization of the industrial structure and environmental regulation are important mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major carbon dioxide-emitting country, China set carbon trading market to reduce enterprise carbon emissions through the rational allocation of carbon quotas among different enterprises and regions. The market has also conducted a preliminary exploration for the country to achieve carbon dioxide emissions peak in 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060 while actively addressing the challenges of global climate change. This study analysed the emission reduction effect of China's carbon trading pilot policy, especially the role of carbon quota and carbon trading price. The analysis used county-level panel data from 1997 to 2017, regarded the implementation of the carbon trading pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and used the difference-in-differences method. The results showed that, first, the policy implementation not only reduced regional carbon emissions but also inhibited carbon dioxide emissions per capita, with long-term effects. Second, the carbon emission reduction effect brought by the carbon pilot policy showed significant heterogeneous results with the different degrees of regional carbon emissions and environmental supervision. The effect was greater in areas with higher carbon emission density and stronger legal supervision. Third, the difference in carbon quota allocations resulted in different emission reduction effects, among which the historical method had the strongest effect. The carbon quota price and number of enterprises participating carbon trading market were the key factors affecting carbon emission reduction. • This paper investigates the impact of carbon emission trading market on the carbon reduction. • China provides an excellent "Quasi-natural Experiment" for assessing the role of carbon emission trading market in environmental management. • It is found that policy implementation has significantly reduced various types of carbon emissions, and this reduction effect is long-term. • Stimulating the vitality of the carbon market and expanding the supply and demand of carbon quotas are the main ways to achieve carbon emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of road networks in emerging economies such as China causes significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This development is conflicting with China's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality. Thus, there is a need to better understand life cycle emissions of road infrastructure and opportunities to mitigate these emissions. Existing impact studies of roads in developing countries do not address recycled materials, improved pavement maintenance, or pavement-vehicle interaction and electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Combining firsthand information from Chinese road construction engineers with publicly available data, this paper estimates a comprehensive account of GHG emissions of the road pavement network to be constructed in the next ten years in the Shandong province in Northern China. Further, we estimate the potential of GHG emission reductions achievable under three scenario sets: maintenance optimization, alternative pavement material replacement, and EV adoption. Results show that the life cycle GHG emissions of highways and Class 1–4 roads to be constructed in the next 10 years amount to 147 Mt CO2-eq. Considering the use phase in our model reveals that it is the dominant stage in terms of emissions, largely due to pavement-vehicle interaction. Vehicle electrification can only moderately mitigate these emissions. Other stages, such as materials production and road maintenance and rehabilitation, contribute substantially to GHG emissions as well, highlighting the importance of optimizing the management of these stages. Surprisingly, longer, not shorter maintenance intervals, yield significant emission reductions. Another counter-intuitive finding is that thicker and more material-intensive pavement surfaces cause lower emissions overall. Taken together, optimal maintenance and rehabilitation schedules, alternative material use, and vehicle electrification provide GHG reduction potentials of 11%, 4%–16% and 2%–6%, respectively. • Road construction implies significant amounts of GHG emissions. • China's road expansion plans are at odds with its target of GHG neutrality. • We assess GHG emissions of Shandong's roads to be constructed through 2030. • We combine life cycle assessment based on primary data with a new optimization model. • Individual mitigation measures can reduce life cycle GHG emissions by up to 16%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cold and arid areas, variations of ambient temperature not only lead to a large amount of heat loss from anaerobic digestion reactors but also greater challenges in the stable production of biogas. Common temperature-controlled methods of biogas production, such as coal combustion, electric heating, biogas combustion and so on, are expensive and high energy-consuming. Openly, solar energy is economical and suitable for stable biogas production. However, no pilot studies have yet shown the feasibility of controlling the temperature of annual biogas production with solar energy in cold and arid areas. This paper first theoretically analyzed the energy balance between evacuated tube solar collectors and anaerobic reactors. Then a biogas production system was developed in Lanzhou City, China, consisting mainly of a 3 m3 insulated anaerobic reactor and a solar collector with 30 sticks Φ58 × L1800mm evacuated tubes. Annual batch experiments have been carried out to test the feasibility of stable biogas production at a temperature-controlled by solar energy in cold and arid areas. The results show that dry anaerobic digestion with 20% total solid (TS) can start and operate smoothly even under the condition of low solar irradiation for 3–4 consecutive days. The system can run stability by anaerobic digestion at 26 ± 1 °C in winter and spring, by mesophilic (37 ± 1 °C) and thermophilic (52 ± 1 °C) anaerobic digestion in summer and autumn, which implies a highly efficient operation strategy for agricultural and animal husbandry wastes treatment. These theoretical and experimental results provide a scientific basis and engineering reference for the application of biogas production temperature-controlled by solar energy and have important value for the efficient and low-cost anaerobic digestion treatment of agricultural and animal husbandry wastes in cold and arid areas. [Display omitted] • Annual performance of solar temperature-controlled dry anaerobic digestion. • Feasibility of annual biogas production in cold and arid areas. • Annual efficient dry anaerobic digestion control strategies in cold and arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the ability of environmental regulations to achieve an innovation-offset effect by increasing clean energy use is required. This study aims to verify this by analysing the impact of market-incentive environmental regulation on enterprises' clean energy consumption. Using China's sulfur dioxide (SO 2) emission trading system (ETS) for 2007 as a quasi-natural experiment, the difference-in-differences model and data obtained from the Chinese Industrial Enterprises Database and Chinese Industrial Enterprises Pollution Database were used to determine whether an ETS affects enterprises' clean energy consumption. The results show that an ETS encourages enterprises to utilise clean energy and has a significantly positive impact on enterprises' clean energy consumption. Moreover, this study finds that an ETS promotes clean energy consumption by improving the production of enterprises. This study verifies the rationality of China's SO 2 ETS design. • This paper is the first to examine the impact of emission trading system (ETS) on enterprises' clean energy consumption. • We adopt the difference-in-differences model in the empirical section. • The ETS increases enterprise's clean energy consumption. • The improvement of enterprises' production structure is an important mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its key role in high-tech industry and clean energy technology, cobalt has been regarded as a critical material in many countries. In this paper, material flow analysis was used to quantitatively track cobalt material flows in China throughout the entire life cycle from 2000 to 2021. Based on data pertaining to cobalt commodity trade, cobalt loss during raw material processing, and recovered cobalt, we analysed the actual cobalt consumption in China. During the study period from 2000 to 2021, the main findings were as follows: (1) China's cobalt raw material imports accounted for 84.7% of the total raw materials acquired, while the export of cobalt-containing end products amounted to 32.6% of the total production. (2) China's cumulative net import of all cobalt commodities reached 561 kt, and battery products accounted for 73.3% of the total cobalt consumption. (3) China recovered 77 kt of cobalt from end-of-life products, while 327 kt of cobalt was not recovered. (4) The cumulative cobalt loss during raw material processing reached 288 kt, with the highest loss occurring in refining (51.0%), followed by manufacturing and fabrication (26.5%), beneficiation (12.3%), and ore mining (10.2%). The overall utilization efficiency of cobalt was 73.8% throughout the entire life cycle. (5) China's actual cobalt consumption reached 497 kt, accounting for 51.9% of the apparent cobalt consumption. Moreover, 61.1% of the cobalt products produced in China was consumed domestically, while 38.9% was exported. The massive export of cobalt commodities resulted in China bearing a disproportionate responsibility for carbon emission reduction. The research results can provide a scientific reference for the reasonable adjustment of the trade structure of cobalt commodities and realization of the economic and efficient utilization of cobalt resources in China. • The utilization efficiency of cobalt was 73.8% throughout the entire life cycle. • Cobalt raw material imports accounted for 84.7% of the total raw materials acquired. • Cumulative cobalt loss reached 288 kt, 51.0% of which occurred in the refining stage. • China's actual cobalt consumption was about 51.9% of the apparent cobalt consumption. • 61.1% of China's cobalt products was consumed domestically, while 38.9% was exported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the gross trade accounting method and WIOD data, this paper quantifies the global carbon transfer from 2000 to 2014. The social network analysis and temporal exponential random graph model (TERGM) are employed to investigate the structural change and influencing factors of global carbon transfer network from a global value chains (GVCs) perspective. Results show that the deepening of the GVC division connection has enhanced the relations in global carbon transfer network, and the low reciprocity and high disassortativity lie in the difference in GVC division positions among economies. Block model analysis manifests that Plate Ⅱ acts as the engine plate in the network which consists of China and the other four economies. The GVC division connection and relative GVC division position significantly facilitate the formation of carbon emission transfer relations. Moreover, economies' attribute effects and endogenous network structure effects are non-negligible important determinants of network formation. [Display omitted] • Structural change of global carbon transfer network derives from the GVC division. • Global carbon transfer network has low reciprocity and high disassortativity. • Plate Ⅱ composed of China and the other four economies is the engine plate. • Temporal exponential random graph model is used to analyze the influencing factors. • GVC division connection and relative division position boot the network formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming and climate change are gaining traction in recent years. As a major cause of global warming, carbon emissions were centered to China's climate change policy initiatives. Nevertheless, the existing policy discourse has yet reached a consensus on the optimal modeling method for carbon emissions prediction that is well-informed of both policy goals and the time-series pattern of carbon emissions. This paper fills the gap by promoting a novel data-driven decision model for carbon emissions prediction that is based on the extended belief rule base (EBRB) inference model. The new decision model consists of three components: 1) an indicator integration method, which aims to generate a few group indicators from a large number of statistical indicators; 2) a new EBRB construction method, which aims to consider the management policy goals for constructing EBRB; 3) a new ER-based inference method, which aims to predict carbon emissions based on time series change of relevant factors. The effectiveness of the proposed decision model has been tested against carbon emissions management data from 30 provinces in China. Experimental results demonstrate that the model will offer powerful reference value in the policy decision-making process, which will help to meet policy requirements for carbon emissions. • Proposing statistical indicators integration method for group indicator. • Considering the management policy goals in EBRB construction. • Proposing an ER-based inference model based on time series analysis. • Providing a case study for carbon dioxide emissions prediction of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese officials play an important role in air pollution control. This paper used a sample of 282 prefecture-level cities in China to discuss the impact of promotion incentives of officials on air pollution from the perspectives of heterogeneity, mechanism and spatial effects. We found that the promotion incentives of officials reduced air pollution, and GDP per capita had positive moderating effects. The effects of promotion incentives were more significant in cities with less air pollution, in the central and western regions, for officials with higher education levels, or years after 2007. The promotion incentives could promote the development of green finance and green technology innovation, both of which were conducive to mitigating air pollution. Using the dynamic spatial Durbin model (DSDM), we found that the promotion incentives had negative spatial spillover effects. The promotion incentives in surrounding cities reduced air pollution in the local city; however, it had only short-run effects and no long-run effects. • The promotion incentives of officials could significantly reduce air pollution. • The effects of promotion incentives on air pollution have heterogeneity. • Green finance and green technology innovation have positive mediating effects. • Promotion incentives have negative spatial spillover effects in the short-run and no long-run effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-efficiency has been considered a valuable gauge for evaluating how efficient economic activities are in regard to resource inputs and eco-environmental pressures. Even though Ecosystem services (ESs) are inseparable from sustainable eco-environment, a paucity of literature has considered ESs in eco-efficiency research lines. Therefore, this study aims to construct a novel eco-efficiency evaluation framework by integrating ESs as natural capital input and measure it utilizing the Epsilon-based measure model for the county-level cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration (BTHUA) during the period 2005–2015. The spatial econometric technique is further performed to acquire quantitative evidence about whether ESs and other determinants impact eco-efficiency. The results revealed that eco-efficiency increased continuously in the whole BTHUA and BTHUA's optimized development functional areas, whereas eco-efficiency of BTHUA's sub-regions showed a significant temporal diversity. The average eco-efficiency values of cities in key development functional areas and restricted development functional areas showed the V-shaped trend (declining before 2010 and then rising). Interestingly, this study found that ESV economic loss may result in eco-efficiency decline for cities located in key development functional areas. From the spatial heterogeneity perspective, the city with high EE is mainly located in eastern BTHUA, whereas cities in the northern plateau areas, southwestern, and western BTHUA have relatively low EE. Furthermore, there existed a significant spatial autocorrelation and a spatial agglomeration heterogeneity, which suggests that the low-low correlation regions gradually being the most dominant spatial pattern. The results of spatial econometric model verified that water yield has the strongest positive effect on EE while soil erosion will lead to declining EE. This paper potentially provides new insights for future policy design of urban agglomeration sustainable deployment. • Ecosystem services (ESs) were incorporated into EE evaluation framework. • The epsilon-based model was used to measure EE of county-level cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. • Annual average EE increased continuously in the BTHUA. • ESV economic losses may lead to the EE decline in key development functional area counties. • Water yield has the strongest positive effect on EE while soil erosion will lead to declining EE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues for an efficient pollution tax rate system that reflects the differentiation of marginal health damages of the individual emission sources. Although China is the first country in the world to launch a regionally differentiated pollution tax rate program, due to the absence of marginal damage estimation, whether this policy is efficient and equitable remains unknown. In this paper, we build an Integrated Assessment Model to measure the marginal damage of SO2, NOx and PM2.5 emitted from 38 coal-fired power plants in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and evaluate the policy performance of tax rate systems with different differentiation magnitudes. Results show that the spatial variations are huge, the range of marginal health damages of coal-fired power plants in the BTH region between the lowest and highest emission source is $2375 to $33245 per ton for SO2, $307 to $4984 per ton for NOx, and $11513 - $163126 per ton for PM2.5. Shifting from the uniform tax rate system to the current partially differentiated tax rate system will increase the total health benefits by 51.6% but with some regions worse-off than the uniform tax rate system. If we incorporate the source-specific variations of marginal health damages into the tax rate system, such a fully differentiated tax rate system will further increase the total health benefits of current partially differentiated tax rate system by 43.1% with every region better-off. Furthermore, even though the policy benefits of both differentiated tax rate systems are much more unequally distributed than uniform tax rates, their impacts on environmental inequalities are better than the uniform tax rate system. Because uniform tax rate systems do not offset the original inequalities of environmental health burdens while differentiated tax rate systems achieve this buy efficiently allocate mitigation targets among regions with different burdens. Image 1 • This is the first study in China to measure source-specific air pollution marginal damages. • Marginal damages of coal-fired power plants in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region vary greatly. • The current tax rate system is more efficient and slightly more equitable than uniform systems. • We design a fully differentiated tax rate system based on marginal damages. • The fully differentiated tax rate is more efficient than current policy with higher equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote regional synergistic governance of haze pollution, this paper constructs a three-side evolutionary game model which includes a superior government and two local governments. Meanwhile, the evolutionary routines as well as stability strategy states of the game system are analyzed. As an embodiment of the innovation and originality of this paper, the heterogeneity of the game subjects and their influences on the game system are fully studied. The results show that the supervision and punishment of the superior government are necessary measures to form a stable synergistic governance model between heterogeneous local governments. In addition, it is an important guarantee for the effective implementation supervision to increase the reputation loss of the superior government's inaction. The conclusions of this paper are expected to provide some references for the government to formulate environmental policies. • A three-side evolutionary game model based on government heterogeneity is developed. • The evolutionary game routine and stability strategy state of regional synergy is explored. • The necessary conditions for the formation of the stable synergistic governance are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robustness and cost effectiveness are major concerns for sustainable stormwater management under deep uncertainty of climate change. Given that many traditional static planning strategies are not working with unpredictable future conditions, the possibility of system failure, and the lock-in effects, the Adaptation Pathway (AP) approach was adopted for dynamically robust and cost-effective planning in this paper. In order to increase optimization accuracy of multi-staged planning, a continuous definition of the AP optimization problem was raised by improving the simplified versions in existing studies. A case study in Suzhou, a provincial pilot Sponge City in China undergoing increasing annual rainfall and severe water environment deterioration, was included by integrating Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment-Low Impact Development model with optimization methods, aiming to persistently control the non-point source total phosphorus loading below an acceptable amount in the following unforeseen 20 years via multi-staged low-impact development (LID) construction. A novel optimization method developed by the authors in a companion paper, namely marginal-cost-based greedy strategy (MCGS), was successfully applied to efficiently solve the continuous version of the AP optimization problem. The popular genetic algorithm (GA) was used as a contrast. A weather generator was elaborated based on four Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios and 17 spatial downscaled general circulation models to simulate the unforeseen future annual rainfalls that helped with evaluating cost effectiveness of each prospective LID plan. Results showed that the adaptation pathways optimized by MCGS could save the whole life net present cost of an LID plan by 1%–60% compared with those optimized by GA, and the computational efficiency of MCGS was over 13 times faster than GA. • Deep uncertainty of climate change requires dynamically robust LID planning. • The Adaptation Pathway (AP) approach guarantees robustness and cost effectiveness. • The AP optimization problem was redefined in a continuous manner. • A greedy strategy was designed to optimize the adaptation pathway of LID placement. • The greedy strategy prevailed over the popular genetic algorithm significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting our environment while maintaining economic growth, requires a delicate balance among interlinked sustainable development policies. In this paper, we examine China's economic industries, including a high-resolution of the country's electricity sector during 2020–2030, using a multi-objective optimization model based on Input-Output analysis. This model, investigates the synergy and trade-offs of sustainable development goals in maximizing employment and GDP while minimizing energy and water consumption, CO 2 emissions, and five major pollutants to advance a sustainable industrial structure adjustment pathway for China. Our results reveal that there exists both synergies and trade-offs among multiple objectives, e.g., synergy among goals of minimizing air pollutant emissions and trade-offs between minimizing energy consumption and maximizing employment. Through the planned industrial restructuring period (2020–2030), the GDP, employment, carbon emission, and energy consumption will increase respectively by, 96.1%, 7.2%, 16.8%, 16.8%, and 6.3%, while pollutant emissions would decrease. Moreover, our research indicates that energy and water conservation should be prioritized in industrial structure adjustment strategies and policies. Our model demonstrates how the synergies and trade-offs among multiple policy targets can empower policy-makers, especially in developing nations, to make more informed and optimized industrial structure adjustment policies for sustainable development. • A multi-objective optimization model based on the Input-Output model is proposed. • Synergies and trade-offs among policy targets are examined. • The structural adjustment of economic sectors with fine-resolution power sectors is investigated. • The compromise solution and the most recommended policy priority are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate the conflict of economic development and ecological protection, China government initiates its national park plan in recent years. In this stage, addressing the benefit contradictories among stakeholders is of importance. Around this issue, this paper focuses on the one of most keen-edged topics in China, which is how to deal well with the coordination issue among local government, tourism development enterprise and local residents. To disentangle the complexly dynamic relationships among them, a set of mathematical models are built and derived, based on evolutionary game theory. The corresponding results indicate that the intensity of regulation by local governments, the degree of compensation to ecotourism development projects by tourism development enterprises, and the participation degree of local residents to the projects are closely related to ultimate game stabilization; some propositions are gained accordingly, which suggest the bounded conditions to achieve the optimal stabilization. To validate and broaden the results, the relevant numerical simulation and discussion are provided. • The stakeholders relationship about China's National Park Ecotourism is discussed. • The corresponding evolutionary game models are built and analyzed. • The optimal conditions of advancing the ecotourism of national parks are put forth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefit allocation of fair and justice is an inevitable guarantee for the long-term operation of the joint prevention and control of air pollution (JPCAP). The ignorance of interest demands of various governance subjects in the existing benefit allocation mechanism results in the widespread "free rider" behavior in the joint control and unsatisfactory effects of JPCAP. Given this, it is imperative to build a reasonable benefit allocation model. The innovation of this paper is proposing a benefit allocation model of JPCAP to achieve the symmetry between control costs and benefits based on environmental justice. The control objectives and total benefits of JPCAP are calculated through the adjustment of optimal removal rates. The interest demands of various control subjects and benefit compensation scheme are clarified by adopting an improved Shapley method, which comprehensively considers factors affecting environmental justice. An empirical analysis is conducted on SO 2 governance in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) and its surrounding areas. The results show that the benefit allocation model based on environmental justice can not only accurately evaluate the benefits of joint control, but also effectively achieve the symmetry between control costs and benefits. This study provides a scientific and reasonable theoretical basis for the benefit allocation of SO 2 control and can be extended to the researches and practices of other air pollutants control. • An optimization model is developed by considering removal costs and health benefits. • A benefit allocation model is established based on environmental justice. • The superiority of the benefit allocation model is demonstrated by sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a hybrid method integrated unbiased grey model (UGM) and artificial neural network (ANN) into an interval two-stage fuzzy credibility-constrained programming (ITFCP) framework is proposed for water resources allocation of the Yalong River research area. Through the grey correlation analysis and the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGboost) algorithm, the economic and social indicators are related to the water demands of different water sectors in different regions can be obtained for building water demand prediction model. According to the unbiased grey prediction of the socio-economic development data of each region in the Yalong River Basin (YRB), water demand prediction models are constructed by using neural network. The establishment of a hybrid two-stage interval fuzzy credibility-constrained programming model can analyze the uncertainties existing in the process of water resources allocation. Taking 2020, 2025, and 2030 as the planning years, the developed model studies and reveals the system benefits at different credibility levels, the water shortage of each user in sub-regions and the water resources allocation situation to provide suggestion for managers to optimize the allocation of water resources. Compared to the previous methods, this integrated model can help decision-makers set management policies more sustainably and profitably. • A simulation-optimization method was developed. • The method represents a combination of unbiased grey model (UGM) and artificial neural network (ANN). • Interval two-stage fuzzy credibility-constrained programming was used as a general framework. • The developed method was applied to support water management in Yalong River Basin, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the impact of high temperature and drought on the yield of major staple crops can provide important scientific support for the decision-making of agricultural sustainable development. Based on the temperature and precipitation data of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA 5 for northern China, this paper calculates three indexes, the standard precipitation index (SPI), standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and the extreme degree-day (EDD), from 1979 to 2017. Monthly SPI and monthly SPEI were calculated at 1 – to – 12 month lags, and EDD was calculated per crop growth season. The yield of winter wheat, spring wheat and summer maize in each province of the study area from 1979 to 2017 was de-trended, and the relative fluctuation of the yield of the three crops was calculated. The change trends of SPI, SPEI and EDD were analysed using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope. The single and interactive effects of high temperature and drought on crop yield were studied using multidimensional Copula function. The results show that: 1) Both high temperature and drought stress in northern China show an increasing trend. The drought trend in the study area detected based on SPEI was greater than the drought trend detected by SPI. The difference between SPEI and SPI in the winter wheat growing season was smaller than that in the spring wheat and maize growing seasons. 2) With the increase in EDD and the decrease of SPI/SPEI values, the probability of negative yield fluctuation gradually increased, and the probability of positive yield fluctuation gradually decreased. Under the same drought and high temperature conditions, the probability of yield fluctuation varies among different crops and different provinces. Drought has a greater impact on crop yield than high temperature. Both the single and interactive effects of drought and high temperature on yield are nonlinear. 3) Irrigation can effectively alleviate the impact of drought and high temperature on yield. In heavily irrigated provinces, the effects of both high temperature and drought on crop yield are not obvious. • The impact of high temperature and drought stress on yield is analysed by a probability model. • The effects of high temperature and drought on yield are non-linear. • Irrigation can offset some of the effects of high temperature and drought on yield. • SPEI may overestimate the impact of drought on yield while SPI may underestimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting in 2013, China's key polluting firms have been required to install continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) and to publish the data for real-time oversight and public scrutiny. However, the CEMS data has rarely been used in local environmental law enforcement because its quality is still of great concern. A lack of criteria to evaluate data quality is one of the causes. In this paper, we design a comprehensive analytical framework for evaluating the quality of CEMS data, which includes completeness, accuracy, and authenticity. To demonstrate the applicability of the framework, we build a CEMS dataset for key polluting firms in Henan province from 2017 to 2019 by scraping the CEMS data from a public platform. We then conduct a comprehensive evaluation using our proposed framework. Some data quality issues are identified. About one-third of the firms did not meet official guidelines for data completeness. When comparing the CEMS data with onsite measurement results, we observe statistically significant inconsistencies in about one-fifth of the firms. In addition, we find evidence that some firms might manipulate CEMS data by strategically turning down the CEMS when a pollutant's concentration is expected to exceed the limit. Our framework can be expanded by incorporating more evaluation methods and data. We suggest that government agencies should implement a comprehensive framework to enhance the quality of CEMS data, thereby facilitating its application in law enforcement. [Display omitted] • Data quality evaluation criteria of continuous emissions monitoring systems. • Evaluating completeness, accuracy, and authenticity of the data in China. • Policy recommendations for the data quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface water provides a basic resource for life and is vital for maintaining climate stability, hydrological cycles, and natural ecosystems. Lakes, which are an important part of surface water, play a crucial role in sustaining the hydrological balance and maintaining a healthy environment. The onset of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on lakes and the environment, however, have drastically changed the morphological characteristics of lakes, leading to undesirable negative effects on the ecological environment. In recent years, many lakes around the world are undergoing phenomenal changes due to climate change and human activities. These changes have greatly affected the availability of freshwater resources, leading to a series of regional ecological and environmental problems, which constrain the regional sustainable development. Changes in lake parameters often indicate environmental change. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to extract lake water information to reflect the water quantity changes in the lake, understand its implications, and come up with timely solutions. This paper summarizes the existing research methods of lake water estimation in China and abroad and draws the following conclusions: (1) In the study of lake water volume estimation, it can be roughly divided into with topographic data and without topographic data. The most representative methods are the estimation methods based on topographic parameters and the Triangle Irregular Network (TIN) model method. In the actual research process, most of the scarce data that are difficult to obtain are lake topographic data, prompting researchers to constantly put forward new methods; (2) From the perspective of research methods, estimation of lake water volume can be divided into remote sensing-based and non-remote sensing-based research. With the continuous improvement of scientific and technological levels, current geographical researchers tend to use remote sensing to monitor lake water volume; (3) Although researchers have proposed a series of models for lake water volume estimation for the long-time process. However, many models are based on the ideal static estimation process, which poses challenges for researchers to make a long-term dynamic estimation of lake storage capacity in the future. At the same time, the accuracy of the model can be a problem that researchers need to work out solutions in the future. Finally, combined with the current development of remote sensing technology, the application potential and the future prospect of remote sensing in lake monitoring are briefly discussed. • Lake water volume estimation, it can roughly be divided into with topographic data and without topographic data. • Estimation of lake water volume can be divided into remote sensing-based and non-remote sensing research. • The application potential and the future prospect of remote sensing in lake monitoring are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines and projects the water use and wastewater generation during and after the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in China, and discussed the water use/wastewater generation pattern changes among different sectors. Existing studies on the impact of pandemic spread-prevention measures on water consumption and wastewater treatment during the pandemic are reviewed. The water use and wastewater discharge in China through the COVID-19 period are then projected and analyzed using Multivariate Linear Regression. The projection is carried out for years 2019–2023 and covers an (estimated) full process of pre-pandemic, pandemic outbreak, and recovery phase and provides essential information for determining the complete phase impact of the COVID-19. Two scenarios, i.e. the recovery scenario and the business as usual scenario, are set to investigate the water use and wastewater generation characteristics after the pandemic. The results imply that in both scenarios, the water use in China shows a V-shaped trend from 2019 to 2023 and reached a low point in 2020 of 5,813✕108 m3. The wastewater discharge shows an increasing trend throughout the COVID period in both scenarios. The results are also compared with the water consumption and wastewater generation during the SARS-CoV-1 period. The implication for policymakers is the possible increase of water use and wastewater discharge in the post COVID period and the necessity to ensure the water supply and control of water pollution and wastewater discharge. • The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the water sector are reviewed. • Water use and wastewater discharge throughout the COVID-19 period are projected. • Water use in China shows a V-shaped trend from 2019 to 2023. • Wastewater discharge shows an increasing trend throughout the COVID period. • Water use and wastewater discharge during the SARS and the COVID-19 are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread concern about ecological degradation has prompted development of concepts and exploration of methods to quantify ecological quality with the aim of measuring ecosystem changes to contribute to future policy-making. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for ecological quality measurement based on current ecosystem functions and biodiverse habitat, compared with pixel-scale historical baselines. The framework was applied to evaluate the changes and driving factors of ecological quality for Chinese terrestrial ecosystems through remote sensing-based and ecosystem process modeled data at 1 km spatial resolution from 2000 to 2018. The results demonstrated the ecological quality index (EQI) had a very different spatial pattern based upon vegetation distribution. An upward trend in EQI was found over most areas, and variability of 46.95% in EQI can be explained well by change in climate, with an additional 10.64% explained by changing human activities, quantified by population density. This study demonstrated a practical and objective approach for quantifying and assessing ecological quality, which has application potential in ecosystem assessments on scales from local to region and nation, yet would provide a new scientific concept and paradigm for macro ecosystems management and decision-making by governments. • Proposes an ecosystem functions based ecological quality. • Comparing with historical baselines on the pixel scale. • Appling to measure ecological quality of Chinese ecosystems in recent 20 years. • The 46.95% variability due to climate change, while 10.64% by human activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertainty of the hydrological environment and unbalanced water resource allocation result in a high risk of irrigation water shortages in regional agriculture, which seriously affects the sustainable development of agricultural systems. In this paper, we propose a risk regulation based modeling approach for the optimal allocation of agricultural water resources in a complex stochastic environment. The approach includes a conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) model, two-stage stochastic programming (TSP) model, two-dimensional joint distribution probability (JP) model, fractal criteria, and a multiple forms of chance-constrained programming (CCP) model. The model can weigh the contradiction between the intended target and associated penalties attributed to unknown hydrological events, measure the risk between system benefits and expected losses in agricultural water allocation at different confidence levels, and address the randomness in the objective function and constraints (including the left end term, right end term, and left and right end terms). To verify the applicability of the method, it is applied to the Jinxi Irrigation District in China to optimize the allocation and risk regulation of limited water resources under the variable runoff conditions of the Songhua River and crop water demands in the irrigation area. By adjusting parameters such as risk preference and probability of violation, the risk of water shortages in the irrigation area can be regulated, and the multidimensional impacts of different water allocation schemes on agricultural economic benefits, social benefits, ecology and environment can be determined. The case study reveals that the CTSP-CCJP method is sensitive, applicable to complex and uncertain environments and important for the efficient use of agricultural water resources and risk reduction. • The stochastics of water supply and demand linkage are considered. • The multiparameter stochastic uncertainty is transformed. • The risks between system benefits and expected losses are balanced. • The sustainability of a risk regulation-based water allocation scheme is evaluated. • The impact of water scarcity on sustainable development is mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piloted in 2013, the Carbon Emission Trading (CET) policy is the most practical tool for emission reduction in China, however, midstream firms increase capital investment to cope with compliance costs, resulting in more expensive intermediate commodities that may hurt export benefits of industrial chain terminal. Based on the A-shared listed firms of Chinese metal industrial chain during 2008–2018, this paper applies the difference-in-difference model to explore the effects of CET on chain reactions of corporate activities. After a set of robustness tests, the results show that midstream firms accelerate capital deepening in response to CET and become more capital-intensive, but gain losses of outputs both in revenue and in quantity, accompanying cost pass-through to downstream firms, which are all contributed by the external pressure imposed by stakeholders and internal incentive from senior managers. Then, affected by price fluctuation in markets of production factors and carbon-intensive commodities, CET increases the cleanliness standards of midstream firms and promote their export benefits immediately, and cost pass-through generates more expensive intermediate products and results in export contraction of downstream firms, but precision machine manufacturing has seen export growth, as their products are more sensitive to technological breakthroughs than material costs. [Display omitted] • Midstream firms conduct capital deepening and become more capital-intensive. • Compliance costs transfer to downstream firms along metal industrial chain. • Export benefits increase in midstream firms but decrease in downstream firms. • Corporate activities are driven by internal incentive and external pressure. • Export benefits of downstream firms in precision machinery manufacturing increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the change laws of reconstructed soil quality and constructing succession models are the main components and tools of reconstructed soil quality evaluation for the supervision and management of reconstructed soil. However, the evaluation and management system of reconstructed soil quality suitable for the loess area needs to be improved. This paper aimed to clarify the succession law of reconstructed soil in an open-pit coal dump in the loess area on the temporal scale and to construct a succession model of reconstructed soil quality to evaluate and manage reconstructed soil. The Pingshuo coal mine, a representative open-pit coal mine in the loess area, is the study area. Field investigation and sampling, time-space substitution, and the combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. The reconstructed soil quality succession model was constructed based on the soil quality index method. Results: (1) As the reclamation period increased, the physical and chemical properties of reconstructed soil significantly improved, and reconstructed soil quality generally reached the quality of the original landform after approximately 15 years of reclamation. However, after long-term reclamation, soil physical properties still limited the improvement of reconstructed soil quality to a certain extent. (2) After long-term reclamation, the difference in reconstructed soil quality between layers gradually decreased, and the reconstructed soil condition of the 0–10 cm soil layer was obviously better than that of the other layers. (3) We quantitatively constructed and verified the reconstructed soil quality succession model that is suitable for the loess area, which can be used in conjunction with adaptive management for the evaluation and management of reconstructed soil in the loess area. In conclusion, this study is of great significance to meet the real needs of dynamic evaluation and management of reconstructed soil quality in the loess area and to enrich the soil evaluation and management system at home and abroad. • Reconstructed soil can be restored to a better condition than original landform. • The soil physical structure and properties limit the reconstructed soil quality. • Reconstructed soil quality differs significantly among soil layers. • A soil quality model is built with reclamation period as independent variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine spatial planning (MSP), which is a step-by-step approach for the ecosystem-based management (EBM) of global oceans, enables human activity and marine and coastal ecosystems conservation to occur simultaneously. It contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 14. However, the MSP, supposed as a transboundary policy-making process, is hampered by obstacles. Although existing studies have revealed significant obstacles and enablers for transboundary marine spatial planning (TMSP), they have not analyzed how these factors affect government decision-making. To fill this gap, this paper takes the Xiamen–Kinmen Sea area in China as an example and analyses the interaction between the Xiamen–Zhangzhou–Quanzhou (XZQ) governments, the Kinmen government, and an introduced transboundary institution using evolutionary game theory. Numerical simulation is used to analyse the impact of influencing factors on the behaviors of different actors. The results demonstrate that: (1) the initial probability of the three parties directly affect the final stability; (2) net benefits have a positive incentivizing effect on the performance of the Promotion Group; (3) the value of eco-environmental losses reflects the urgency of collaborative governance by implementing TMSP; (4) transaction costs do not undermine collaboration, but do reduce the willingness of governments to participate if they are too high; and (5) the appropriate value of the transaction cost allocation coefficient should not exceed 0.9. This research may serve as an essential reference for the Xiamen–Kinmen Sea area for implementing EBM and provide general insights into the design of incentive policy recommendations for other regions for developing TMSP in shared waters. [Display omitted] • A tripartite evolutionary game model to explore factors for TMSP is developed. • The players' evolution routine and optimal result for TMSP are revealed. • Initial possibilities affect the player's decision-making behavior. • The choice of the transboundary institution relies on the benefits from TMSP. • Transaction costs do not undermine the collaboration unless they are too high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone (O 3) pollution poses health risks and premature mortality, and gas stations are one of the largest sources of urban volatile organic compounds (VOCs, the main precursor to O 3). This paper investigates whether the government's call for night refueling, which can be regarded as a green nudge, can guide changes in consumer behavior and consequently improve environmental quality. Using a difference-in-differences (DID) estimation and weekly monitoring site air quality panel data, we analyze the effect of the Night Refueling Preferential Policy on O 3 concentrations. We find that the policy can reduce O 3 concentrations by 10% by encouraging consumers to refuel at night. The reduction in O 3 has brought great benefits to human health, leading to a 4–5‰ reduction in non-accidental mortality and a 6–8‰ reduction in cardiovascular mortality in Jiangsu province. The economic benefits of this policy would be approximately 62–189 billion Chinese Yuan (CNY) if it were implemented nationwide. The findings of this study suggest that the government can influence consumer behavior to promote environmental quality. [Display omitted] • The government's call for night refueling can reduce O3 concentration by 9% by drawing consumers to refuel at night. • The Night Refueling Preferential Policy can reduce non-accidental and cardiovascular death rates by 3–4‰ and 5–7‰. • The Night Refueling Preferential Policy can bring 57–174 billion CNY in economic benefits if it is implemented nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the firm level datasets from 2004 to 2014, this paper uses the difference in differences (DID) estimator to explore the effects of China's high-speed rail (HSR) on firms' environmental efficiency. We find that China's HSR lowered SO 2 intensity (SO 2 per unit output value) by approximately 7.9%. More importantly, firms reduce SO 2 intensity mainly through innovation, productivity improvement, and the agglomeration of firms. Our additional analyses show that these observed effects of HSR are mainly driven by firms in core cities, while the environmental efficiency of firms in the peripheral cities seems to be unaffected. Heterogeneous effects indicate that the HSR has a more significant effect on dirty firms, state-owned firms, foreign firms, and large firms. Our results suggest that HSR construction could have contributed to the China's environmental governance. • Using a difference-in-differences estimator, it is the first study to analyze the effect of China's high-speed rail (HSR) on firms' environmental efficiency. • The HSR can significantly improve the environmental efficiency of firms in the affected areas. The results indicate that China's HSR significantly reduced the SO 2 intensity of affected firms by an average of 7.9 percent. • The affected firms improve the environmental efficiency mainly through innovation, productivity improvement, and the agglomeration of firms. • Our additional analyses show that these observed effects of HSR are mainly driven by firms in core cities. Other heterogeneous effects of the HSR are also examined. • There are important implementations for the present, especially for environmental protection and green development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing production of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) in China every year, the co-firing of MSS and pulverized coal is getting more and more widely applied in large coal-fired power plants. The co-firing of MSS and pulverized coal will produce a large amount of particulate matter (PM) emissions, especially submicron particles. In this paper, the formation characteristics of submicron particles in the co-firing process of coal and MSS were studied in a drop tube furnace. The influence of the furnace temperature and the addition ratio of sludge on the particle size distribution and element composition of submicron particles in MSS, pulverized coal combustion and co-firing was mainly studied. The experimental results show that the furnace temperature has an influence on the formation of PM 0.4. For sludge combustion, increasing the furnace temperature will promote the formation of PM 0.4. The main reason is that increasing the furnace temperature promotes the gasification of Si, S, Fe, and P to form the precursor of PM 0.4 or PM 0.4. At same furnace temperature, the volume concentration and mass concentration of PM 0.4 produced from pulverized coal combustion are less than that of sludge. Different from sludge combustion, co-firing of pulverized coal and sludge has a synergistic effect on eliminating PM 0.4 formation. Increasing the addition ratio of sludge can decrease the volume concentration and mass concentration of PM 0.4. This is because that aluminosilicates formed during co-firing promotes the scavenge Si, Ca, Fe, thereby reducing the precursors of PM 0.4 and the mass yield of PM 0.4. Increasing the furnace temperature in co-firing can inhibit the formation of PM 0.4. When the furnace temperature is between 1100 °C and 1300 °C, increasing the furnace temperature will reduce the Fe content and increase the content of Si, Ca, Na, K, and P in PM 0.4. However, the reduction of Fe and the increase of Si, Ca, Na, K, and P in PM 0.4 offset each other, resulting in an insensitive relationship between the mass yield of PM 0.4 and the furnace temperature. • The effect of temperature and addition ratio on the formation of PM 0.4 were studied. • Increasing the temperature will help the formation of PM 0.4 from sludge combustion. • There is a synergistic effect exists co-combustion of coal and sludge. • Increasing the temperature for co-firing can reduce the formation of PM 0.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how human disturbance and hydrologic elements affect the spatial distribution pattern of plant diversity in the watershed, taking Shamu watershed in the World Natural Heritage Site as a case study. Spatial analysis of multisource remote sensing and plant diversity plots data were conducted using linear mixed effects models and structural equation models. Results revealed that the distribution of plant diversity in the watershed is mainly affected by human disturbance. However, under similar human disturbance levels, hydrologic elements also affect the plant diversity within the watershed. The topographic undulation and surface runoff significantly promote plant diversity, while the river network density, the watershed shape factor, the river longitudinal gradient do not. The influence of topographic undulation is more obvious than that of runoff on plant diversity, but the effect of topographic undulation and runoff on plant diversity is getting weaker from upstream to downstream within the watershed. In addition, the impact of hydrologic elements on plant diversity is mainly regulated by environmental factors Pre and Tem. The findings clarify how human disturbance and hydrologic elements affect plant diversity distribution within the watershed, optimizing the conservation theory of plant diversity resources and scientifically guiding the region's sustainable development. • Human disturbance contributes most to plant diversity. • Surface runoff and topographic undulation promote plant diversity. • Precipitation and temperature regulate the hydrological impact on plant diversity. • Weaker restrictions of hydrologic elements on plant diversity in downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphogypsum is one of the typical by-products of phosphorus chemical industry. As a strategic industry related to the national livelihood of China, phosphorus chemical industry has accumulated and produced a significant amount of phosphogypsum. In general, phosphogypsum contains approximately 80%–95% calcium sulfate dihydrate, and less than 5% toxic and harmful elements. In this paper, toxic and hazardous components in phosphogypsum were efficiently solidified and stabilized by highly targeted solidification and stabilization technology. Calcium carbide slag or lime was used as an alkali-base neutralizer of phosphogypsum, and polymeric ferric sulfate or polymeric aluminum chloride as a directional solidification stabilizer to analyze the leaching toxicity of the mixed powder in 1, 3, 5 and 15 days. The experimental results demonstrate excellent solidification and stabilization effect with the leaching pH of 6–9, the leaching concentration of P, F and heavy metals of less than 0.5 mg/L, 10 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L, respectively, which meets the requirements of relevant international standards. Mechanistic analysis indicates that the solidification and stabilization of toxic and hazardous substances in phosphogypsum is perfectly achieved owing to the generation, adsorption and encapsulation of insoluble substances. This technology can reduce the costs and difficulty in the phosphogypsum treatment, and has extensive application potentials. • A high targeted solidification/stabilization method for toxic and harmful substances in phosphogypsum was proposed. • The powder reaction is adopted for the first time in the harmless treatment of phosphogypsum. • The addition of phosphogypsum is more than 90%, which reduces the cost of phosphogypsum treatment and simplifies the treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC), that is stabilized by fine soil particles (i.e., silt plus clay, <53 μm), is important for soil organic carbon (SOC) persistence and sequestration, due to its large contribution to total SOC (TSOC) and long turnover time. Our objectives were to investigate how climate, soil type, soil texture, and agricultural managements affect MOC contributions to TSOC in China. We created a dataset from 103 published papers, including 1106 data points pairing MOC and TSOC across three major land use types: cropland, grassland, and forest. Overall, the MOC/TSOC ratio ranged from 0.27 to 0.80 and varied significantly among soil groups in cropland, grassland, and forest. Croplands and forest exhibited significantly higher median MOC/TSOC ratios than in grassland. Moreover, forest and grassland soils in temperate regions had higher MOC/TSOC ratios than in subtropical regions. Furthermore, the MOC/TSOC ratio was much higher in ultisol, compared with the other soil types. Both the MOC content and MOC/TSOC ratio were positively correlated with the amount of fine fraction (silt plus clay) in soil, highlighting the importance of soil texture in stabilizing organic carbon across various climate zones. In cropland, different fertilization practices and land uses (e.g., upland, paddy, and upland-paddy rotation) significantly altered MOC/TSOC ratios, but not in cropping systems (e.g., mono- and double-cropping) characterized by climatic differences. This study demonstrates that the MOC/TSOC ratio is mainly driven by soil texture, soil types, and related climate and land uses, and thus the variations in MOC/TSOC ratios should be taken into account when quantitatively estimating soil C sequestration potential of silt plus clay particles on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As small scale green infrastructures, rain gardens have been widely advocated for urban stormwater management in the contemporary low impact development (LID) era. This paper presents a simple method that consists of hydrological models and the matching plots of nomographs to provide an informative and practical tool for rain garden sizing and hydrological evaluation. The proposed method considers design storms, infiltration rates and the runoff contribution area ratio of the rain garden, allowing users to size a rain garden for a specific site with hydrological reference and predict overflow of the rain garden under different storms. The nomographs provide a visual presentation on the sensitivity of different design parameters. Subsequent application of the proposed method to a case study conducted in a sub-humid region in China showed that, the method accurately predicted the design storms for the existing rain garden, the predicted overflows under large storm events were within 13–50% of the measured volumes. The results suggest that the nomographs approach is a practical tool for quick selection or assessment of design options that incorporate key hydrological parameters of rain gardens or other infiltration type green infrastructure. The graphic approach as displayed by the nomographs allow urban planners to demonstrate the hydrological effect of small scale green infrastructure and gain more support for promoting low impact development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landfill odors have created a major concern for the Chinese public. Based on the combination of a first order decay (FOD) model and a ground-level point source Gaussian dispersion model, the impacts from odors emitted from the 1955 landfills in China are evaluated in this paper. Our bottom-up approach uses basic data related to each landfill to achieve a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of impact of landfill odors. Results reveal that the average radius of impact of landfill odors in China is 796 m, while most landfills (46.85%) are within the range of 400–1000 m, in line with the results from previous studies. The total land area impacted by odors has reached 837,476 ha, accounting for 0.09% of China's land territory. Guangdong and Sichuan provinces have the largest land areas impacted by odors, while Tibet Autonomous Region and Tianjin Municipality have the smallest. According to the CALPUFF (California Puff) model and an analysis of social big data, the overall uncertainty of our calculation of the range of odor impacts is roughly −32.88% to 32.67%. This type of study is essential for gaining an accurate and detailed estimation of the affected human population and will prove valuable for addressing the current Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) challenge in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental water problems have become increasingly severe, with the coal-water conflict becoming one of the most difficult issues in large scale coal mining regions. In this paper, a bi-level optimization model based on the Stackelberg–Nash equilibrium strategy with fuzzy coefficients is developed to deal with environmental water problems in large scale coal fields, in which both the groundwater quality and quantity are considered. Using the proposed model, and fully considering the relationship between the authority and the collieries and also the equilibrium between economic development and environmental protection, an environmental protection based mining quotas competition mechanism is established. To deal with the inherent uncertainties, the model is defuzzified using a possibility measure, and a solution approach based on the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker condition is designed to search for the solutions. A case study is presented to demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of the model, and different constraint violation risk levels and related results are also obtained. The results showed that under the environmental protection based mining quotas competition mechanism, collieries attempt to conduct environmentally friendly exploitation to seek greater mining quotas. This demonstrates the practicality and efficiency in the proposed model of reducing the coal-water conflict. Finally, a comprehensive discussion is provided and some propositions is given as a foundation for the proposed management recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper details the development and application of an integrated environmental decision support system (EDSS) for water pollution control based on total maximum daily load (TMDL). The system includes an infrastructure, simulation, and application platforms. Using the water pollution control of Beiyun River in China as a case study, the key development processes and technologies of the EDSS are discussed including relations and links between various environmental simulation models, and model integration, visualization and real-time simulation methods. A loose coupling method is used to connect the environmental models, and an XML file is used to complete data exchange between different models. Project configuration and scheme configuration are used for simulation data organization. The integration approach is easy to implement and enables different development languages and reuse of existing models. The EDSS has been applied to water environment management of Beiyun River, and can be applied to other geographic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small hydropower (SHP) possesses significant economic, technical, and environmental advantages, and accounts for a large proportion of hydropower development in China. However, the concentrated, cascaded, and diversion-type development of SHP has resulted in long-distance dewatering of river sections, and inter-basin water transfers have led to severe exploitation of water resources and damage to river ecosystems. In this paper, the Datong River Basin, a secondary sub-basin of the Yellow River Basin in China, was selected as the illustrative case, which includes 22 hydropower projects (HPPs) and three inter-basin water diversion projects (WDPs). A nexus system model was established that used weighted multi-objective programming to consider three main objectives: the water resources utilization (local water withdrawal and inter-basin water transfer), energy production (by cascaded HPPs), and riverine environmental conservation. The Tennant method was used to estimate the environmental flows (e-flows) at the cross-sections immediately downstream of the dam/sluice gate and immediately downstream of the hydropower plant of diversion-type HPPs. The decreased percentage of regulated flow in comparison with runoff and the guaranteed rate of e-flow at the control cross-section were introduced to assess the degree of environmental impact to the river. Using a historical series of runoff data during 1956–2016 as the model input (i.e., implicit stochastic method), the Multi-start solver of nonlinear programming of LINGO software was used to conduct optimizations and analyses for multiple scenarios (with/without e-flow, with consideration of various levels of e-flow, and with/without water resources utilization). The sectoral linkages relating to the water-energy-ecosystem (WEE) nexus were quantitatively identified. The possible influences of different boundary conditions (i.e., initial/final reservoir storage, inter-basin water diversion capacity, and climate change) on the WEE nexus were further explored. The present study aims to provide an exemplar for the optimal operation and scientific management of a complicated water resources system in a regulated river with cascaded SHP and inter-basin WDPs. [Display omitted] • Regulated rivers with concentrated SHP and WDPs are facing environmental challenges. • The e-flows are determined using the Tennant method for the diversion-type HPPs. • A nexus model is developed that uses implicit stochastic multi-objective programming. • The water-energy-ecosystem nexus linkages are explored for the Datong River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we identify the causal effects of the industrial transfer policy (ITP) on carbon emissions. Specifically, we treat the demonstration zones of undertaking industrial transfer in China as a quasi-natural experiment and evaluation its carbon mitigation effects using the difference-in-differences (DID) and matching DID strategies. Our findings suggest that the ITP exerts a significant negative impact on carbon emissions. In particular, both the DID and matching DID estimates indicate that the ITP leads to mitigate carbon emissions by approximately 4.9 and 4.7 million tons, respectively. We also investigate the heterogeneous carbon mitigation effects of the ITP. Moreover, various checks and falsification tests are also presented to confirm the causal effects, including the placebo test, concurrent events test, alternative measures of the ITP and carbon emissions, alternative estimation method and matching technique. The results indicate that our key conclusion, the carbon mitigation effect of the ITP is robust. These results indicate that policymakers should seize the carbon mitigation dividend of the ITP to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Policymakers should also reduce the regional development differences, improve the level of opening to the outside world, strengthen the construction of green demonstration zones for industrial transfer to mitigate carbon emissions. • The carbon mitigation effects of the demonstration zones of undertaking industrial transfer in China are investigated. • The industrial transfer policy leads to mitigate carbon emissions by approximately 4.7 million tons. • The heterogeneous carbon mitigation effects of the industrial transfer policy are examined. • The results are supported by robustness and falsification checks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution and ageing populations are two of the most important issues facing in the development of all countries around the world, and the resulting debate between air pollution and labour supply has become increasingly intense. This paper uses data from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS data), exploring the impact of perceived air pollution on labour supply of the migrants based on the perspective of the heterogeneity of different groups' sensitivity to air pollution. After overcoming the reverse causality between perceived air pollution and labour supply using an instrumental variables approach, we find that there is a significant negative effect of perceived air pollution on labour supply. At the same time, this negative effect shows some heterogeneity in terms of the presence of susceptible persons in the family, workers' income levels and household registration. Therefore, in the current economic and social development, in addition to improving measured air quality, it is also necessary to focus on improving the perceived air quality of citizens, as well as improving the working environment of the vulnerable groups in the labour market and protecting their basic labour rights and interests, which is of positive significance for the continuation of the demographic dividend and providing impetus for high-quality and sustainable economic development. • Perceived air pollution has a more direct impact on labour supply. • There is a significant negative effect of perceived air pollution on labour supply. • There is heterogeneity in the effects of perceived air pollution on labour supply. • Vulnerable groups are more negatively affected by perceived air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides play a significant role in increasing agricultural yields. However, the overuse of chemical pesticides on crops is a major challenge faced by China, which damages human health, threatens food security, and increases production costs. This paper provides empirical evidence on the relationship between crop insurance and pesticide use. Based on micro-survey data collected from 3410 households, we estimate a control function (CF) approach and find that farmers who purchase crop insurance use 33.30% lower pesticides than those who do not. A series of robustness tests confirm these findings. The results of the moderating effect analysis suggest that rice cultivation training, experience, schooling years, and agricultural laborers can negatively moderate the effect of crop insurance on pesticide use. Furthermore, we also find that the treatment effect of crop insurance is stronger for farmers who are most inclined to purchase crop insurance. • We examine the effect of crop insurance on pesticide use using control function approach. • Crop insurance is a crucial way to reduce pesticide use. • We built the theoretical framework of the effect of crop insurance on pesticide use. • We revealed the heterogenous effect of crop insurance on pesticide use. • The treatment effect of crop insurance is stronger for farmers who are most inclined to purchase insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of expressway construction projects (ECPs) poses overwhelming challenges to the physical environment around the world. The challenges are supposed to be addressed with the enforcement of environmental policies (EPs). In this regard, developed countries have gained rich experience in EP formulation while developing countries are making efforts to improve policy decision-making on environmental sustainability. This study compares ECP-related EPs (EREPs) between China and the US by conducting a historical analysis with materials from 1960 to 2018 and text mining-based evaluation with materials from 2009 to 2019. The comparison results indicate that (1) an EREP framework is composed of two systems, namely outer factors and inner EPs; (2) the upper-level EPs exhibit a periodic and plan-dominating trend in China and an explanatory tendency in the US; (3) Chinese EPs are focused on pollution mitigation, whereas US EPs highlight the impacts on human health; (4) Both attach less importance to environmental protection measures at the project-level EPs. This paper provides a longitudinal comparison and analysis of EREPs in two huge countries, implying that EREPs are a snapshot of national rules and backgrounds. The findings lay a foundation for future research to examine the innovation of environmental policies, especially for those countries with massive expressway construction projects and the related environmental issues. • Comparing environmental policies (EPs) for expressway projects in China and the US. • EPs exhibit a periodic trend and are committed to controlling pollution in China. • US EPs shows an explanatory tendency and highlight the impacts on human health. • There is a lack of diversity of environmental protection measures in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government management is the main tool to solve environmental pollution. Considering the unique fiscal decentralization institution in China, this paper investigates the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on urban haze pollution in China from the perspective of spatial econometrics. The Generalized Spatial Two Stage Least Squares (GS2SLS) method is employed to treat the spatial correlation of air pollution. Based on a panel dataset comprising 276 Chinese cities during 2004–2018, we find a positive effect of FDI on urban haze pollution. For one standard deviation increase in FDI, the average annual PM2.5 concentration increase by 1.5%, ceteris paribus. Evidence also suggests that this effect varies across regions with different levels of fiscal decentralization. Through the test of the moderating effect and the threshold effect, we found that the higher of the fiscal decentralization, the weaker of the impact of FDI on haze pollution. This study proposes a new solution for sustainable development: increasing the financial autonomy of local governments to restrain the attraction of non-cleaner investment. • Examining the impact of FDI and fiscal decentralization on haze pollution in Chinese cities. • The GS2SLS method is employed to treat the spatial correlation of air pollution. • An increase in FDI by one standard deviation causes a 1.5% increase in average annual PM2.5 concentration. • The higher of the fiscal decentralization, the weaker of the impact of FDI on haze pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the food waste collection and transportation (C&T) system in a pilot project in Suzhou by using a novel performance evaluation method. The method employed to conduct this analysis involves a unified performance evaluation index containing qualitative and quantitative indicators applied to data from Suzhou City. Two major inefficiencies were identified: a) low system efficiency due to insufficient processing capacity of commercial food waste facilities; and b) low waste resource utilization due to low efficiency of manual sorting. The performance evaluation indicated that the pilot project collection system's strong points included strong economics, low environmental impact and low social impact. This study also shows that Suzhou's integrated system has developed a comprehensive body of laws and clarified regulatory responsibilities for each of the various government departments to solve the problems of commercial food waste management. Based on Suzhou's experience, perspectives and lessons can be drawn for other cities and areas where food waste management systems are in the planning stage, or are encountering operational problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wetland system possesses diverse functions such as preserving water sources, mediating flooding, providing habitats for wildlife and stabilizing coastlines. Nonetheless, rapid economic growth and the increasing population have significantly deteriorated the wetland environment. To secure the sustainability of the wetland, it is essential to introduce integrated and systematic management. This paper examines the resource management of the Jiading Wetland by applying group model building (GMB) and system dynamics (SD). We systematically identify local stakeholders' mental model regarding the impact brought by the yacht industry, and further establish a SD model to simulate the dynamic wetland environment. The GMB process improves the stakeholders' understanding about the interaction between the wetland environment and management policies. Differences between the stakeholders' perceptions and the behaviors shown by the SD model also suggest that our analysis would facilitate the stakeholders to broaden their horizons and achieve consensus on the wetland resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use suitability analyses are of considerable use in the planning of mega-cities. An Urban Development Land-use Suitability Mapping (UDLSM) approach has been constructed, based on opportunity and constraint criteria. Two Multi-criteria Evaluation (MCE) methods, the Ideal Point Method (IPM) and Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA), were used to generate the opportunity map. The protection map was obtained by means of constraint criteria, utilizing the Boolean union operator. A suitability map was then generated by overlaying the opportunity and protection maps. By applying the UDLSM approach to Beijing, its urban development land-use suitability was mapped, and a sensitivity analysis undertaken to examine the robustness of the proposed approach. Indirect validation was achieved by mutual comparisons of suitability maps resulting from the two MCE methods, where the overall agreement of 91% and kappa coefficient of 0.78 indicated that both methods provide very similar spatial land-use suitability distributions. The suitability level decreases from central Beijing to its periphery, and the area classed as suitable amounts to 28% of the total area. Leading attributes of each opportunity factor for suitability were revealed, with 2256 km 2 , i.e. 70%, of existing development land being overlaid by suitable areas in Beijing. Conflicting parcels of land were identified by overlaying the resultant map with two previous development blueprints for Beijing. The paper includes several recommendations aimed at improving the long-term urban development plans for Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflict management in PAs (Protected Areas) is becoming increasingly important in the context of the rapid development of nature-based tourism. Literature proposes the Index of Conflict tendency between Tourism development and ecological Protection (ICTP) to analyze the tendency of conflict from a spatial perspective, but this index does not consider the factor of seasonality which is important in tourism. The current study considers seasonality and proposes the CVD (Coverage- Variation- Duration) framework to conduct a spatio-temporal analysis of the ICTP. The applied research based on the case of China's V–PAs (a specific category of PAs) reflects that the CVD framework can describe the spatial distribution of the ICTP from a seasonal perspective. The study finds that, among V–PAs in China, 42.16% of the areas with high ICTP of V–PAs have obvious seasonal variations, which shows that PAs conflict management must incorporate the factor of seasonality. The study also shows that 8.98% of V–PAs have large-scale coverage of areas with high ICTP, revealing priorities for conflict management. 3.96% of V–PAs have large-scale coverage of areas with high ICTP showing seasonal changes. Management in these areas should pay attention to seasonal changes to become more effective. The CVD framework proposed in this paper is operable and extendable and can provide analytical tools for PAs conflict management, and promote ecological protection and more sustainable tourism development in PAs. • Index of Conflict tendency between Tourism development and ecological Protection (ICTR) is revisited. • The Coverage- Variation- Duration (CVD) framework is proposed. • Conflict tendency in protected areas (PAs) presents visible seasonal change. • 42.16% V–PAs in China have obvious seasonality of ICTP. • 8.98% V–PAs in China have large-scale coverage of areas with high ICTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]