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Accompanying China's accession to the World Trade Organization, the rapid development of the Chinese economy has led to increasingly serious environmental issues. However, the inherent mechanisms underlying the impact of Environmental Information Disclosure (EID) policy and trade on the environmental effects of Chinese paper enterprises remain unclear in the context of the era's requirement for a resource-conserving and environmentally-friendly society. The pollution problem in the papermaking industry has received attention worldwide, and how to balance the environmental and development issues of papermaking enterprises is an urgent issue that needs to be solved in the academic community. This study explores the impact mechanisms of EID policy and trade on the environmental effects of enterprises from the perspective of financial constraints. Utilizing the PSM-DID model, the study investigates the moderating effects of financial constraints on the EID policy and import-export trade. The findings reveal that both external and internal financial constraints have negative, detrimental effects on the environmental effects of the EID policy and trade. These constraints impede research and development investment and technological upgrades, hinder productivity improvement, and hamper the realization of "regulatory and trade innovation effects". This study enriches our understanding of the mechanisms by which trade affects the environmental effects of Chinese paper enterprises and further identifies the impacts of Chinese EID policy and trade on pollution emissions by enterprises, providing a theoretical basis and practical foundation for the government in formulating financial, environmental, and trade policies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

"Carbon peaking and carbon neutralization" is an important measure to promote China's ecological and environmental protection and high-quality economic development, and the innovation and application of green technology are critical factors in achieving the "double carbon" goal. Based on the number of citations of green patents of listed enterprises in 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020, this paper uses GGDP to replace traditional GDP and calculate carbon emission intensity. Based on the relevant panel data at the provincial level, this paper constructs a spatial Durbin model to analyze the impact mechanism of whether the promotion and application of green technologies promote regional carbon emission reduction. The specific research results are as follows: (1) Through regression of the core explanatory variables with a one-stage lag, it is verified that the promotion and application of green technology has a significant positive promoting effect on regional carbon emission reduction, and there are significant spatial spillover effects and "learning by doing" effects. (2) In the part of heterogeneity test, the impact of green technology promotion and application on carbon emission reduction presents apparent regional heterogeneity and factor endowment heterogeneity. (3) The mediating effect test verifies the mediating effect of energy structure and industrial structure on the influence of green technology promotion and application on regional carbon emission reduction. (4) In the part moderating effect test, it is verified that marketization level and new infrastructure construction have a positive moderating effect in their influencing process, financial development, and government support will weaken the influence of green technology promotion and application on carbon emission reduction effect, and human capital level has a nonlinear regulating effect. The research conclusions of this paper provide necessary enlightenment for the coordination and unification of China's economic transition to innovation-driven and green and low-carbon development. • The impact of GTPA on reduction in China was analyzed from a macro perspective. • The GS and FDL plays a negative moderating role in the influence process. • The HCL plays a nonlinear moderating role in the influence process. • The GTPA can significantly reduce regional CEI except in Western China. • Regions with high EDL and high GTI have better carbon reduction effects of GTPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broflanilide is a newly-developed meta-diamide insecticide, proposed for the control of a wide variety of chewing pests on many crops. In view of the proposed use of broflanilide and its environmental fate, it may be exposed to consumers and non-target organisms, which adversely affect human and the environment. In this paper, a rapid, sensitive and valid UPLC-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous analysis of broflanilide and its two major metabolites, DM-8007 and S (PFP-OH)-8007, in cauliflower. Then, the dissipation behaviors and final residues of broflanilide and its two major metabolites in cauliflower from eight sites with different climatic conditions in China were studied via the described analytical method. In addition, the acute toxicity test of 9.5 % suspension concentrate of broflanilide, broflanilide standard, DM-8007 and S (PFP-OH)-8007 were conducted to non-target terrestrial organisms. Risk assessment for human and non-target terrestrial organisms in cauliflower production was evaluated based on the maximum annual application rates and intervals. The results showed that the highest residue of broflanilide detected in cauliflower samples was all lower than the corresponding MRLs (2 mg/kg) in Japan. Chronic food dietary risk estimates for broflanilide do not exceed 50 % for all the Chinese population groups. Moreover, broflanilide is of low acute toxicity to birds and earthworm, while broflanilide and its metabolites is classified as highly toxic to adult honeybees. Acute risks of broflanilide to birds and earthworms were deemed to be acceptable in a realistic worst-case scenario, while its risk to adult honeybees and ladybug was unacceptable. A protection statement for honeybees and ladybug is required to recognize the high toxicity of broflanilide on related product labels. The study will be conducive to provide guidance for the rational application of broflanilide in cauliflower production. [Display omitted] • Chronic food dietary risk does not exceed 50 % for all the Chinese population. • Broflanilide is of low acute toxicity to birds and earthworm. • Broflanilide and its metabolites is highly toxic to adult honeybees. • Acute risk to adult honeybees and ladybug was unacceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive anthropogenic activities have led to drastic changes in land use/land cover (LULC) and impacted the carbon storage in high-groundwater coal basins. In this paper, we conduct a case study on the Yanzhou Coalfield in Shandong Province of China. We further classify waterbodies by using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) to better investigate the process of LULC transformation and the forces driving it in four periods from 1985 to 2020 (i.e., 1985–1995, 1995–2005, 2005–2015, and 2015–2020). We modeled the spatiotemporal dynamics of carbon storage by using InVEST based on the transformation in LULC and its drivers, including mining (M), reclamation (R), urbanization and village relocation (U), and ecological restoration (E). The results indicate that carbon storage had depleted by 19.69 % (321099.06 Mg) owing to intensive transformations in LULC. The area of cropland shrank with the expansion of built-up land and waterbodies, and 56.31 % of the study area underwent transitions in land use in the study period. U was the primary driver of carbon loss while E was the leading driver of carbon gain. While the direct impact of M on carbon loss accounted for only 5.23 % of the total, it affected urbanization and led to village relocation. R led to the recovery of cropland and the reclamation of water for aquaculture, which in turn improved the efficiency of land use. However, it contributed only 2.09 % to the total increase in carbon storage. Numerous complicated and intertwined processes (211) drove the changes in carbon storage in the study area. The work here provides valuable information for decision-makers as well as people involved in reclamation and ecological restoration to better understand the link between carbon storage and the forces influencing it. The results can be used to integrate the goals of carbon sequestration into measures for land management. [Display omitted] • The carbon storage impacted by LULC driving processes in high groundwater coal basins was investigated. • 56.31 % of the study area has undergone land use transition during 1985–2020. • The carbon storage decreased by19.69 % during the study years. • Urbanization and village relocation was the primary driver of carbon loss, ecological restoration was the leading driver of carbon gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity has threatened the sustainability of human life, ecosystem evolution, and socio-economic development. However, previous studies have often lacked a comprehensive consideration of the impact of water quality and existing solutions, such as inter-basin water transfer and unconventional water resources, on water scarcity. In this paper, an improved approach was proposed to quantify water scarcity levels by comprehensively considering surface water quality and multiple solutions. China's water scarcity was first assessed at a high spatial resolution on a monthly basis over the 5-year period from 2014 to 2018. Then, the driving factors including water quality and solutions were identified by a geographic detector model. Finally, an in-depth investigation was conducted to unravel the effects of water quantity solutions (i.e., inter-basin water transfer and unconventional water use), and water quality solutions (i.e., improving surface water quality) on alleviating water scarcity. Based on monthly assessments considering water quality and multiple existing solutions, the results showed that over half of the national population (∼777 million) faced water scarcity for at least one month of the year. Agricultural water use and inadequate water quality were the main driving factors responsible for China's water scarcity. Over four-fifths of the national population (∼1.10 billion) could benefit from alleviated water scarcity through a combination of water quantity and quality solutions. However, the existing solutions considered were insufficient to completely resolve water scarcity in China, especially in Northern China, persisting as a challenging issue. The results obtained from this study provided a better understanding of China's water scarcity, which could contribute to guiding future efforts aimed at alleviating water scarcity and ensuring water security in China. • Water scarcity assessment incorporated water quality and multiple existing solutions. • China's water scarcity was assessed at a high spatial resolution on a monthly basis. • Over half of the national population faced water scarcity for at least one month of the year. • Agricultural water use and inadequate water quality were the main driving factors. • Over four-fifths of the national population could benefit from alleviated water scarcity by the combined water quantity and quality solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting green and low-carbon development has become the consensus of the policymakers and the academic, with green transformation of enterprises being the top priority. This paper adopts the difference-in-difference model to investigate the effect of green credit policy on green transition in China, by utilizing the "Green Credit Guidelines" (2012 Guidelines) policy as a quasi-natural experiment. Using panel data from publicly listed companies in China, an empirical investigation is conducted, we explain the dependent variable from two dimensions: economic performance and environmental performance, leading to the following results. First, the green credit policy affects the economic performance and environmental performance of treated firms positively, and the robust tests confirm the reliability of this primary conclusion. Second, the indirect impact of green credit policy on green transition can be explained through two mediating mechanism channels including internal capacity building and external market attention. In addition, the proposal of "Dual Carbon Targets" makes the impact a slight change. Finally, heterogeneous test also shows that the implementation effect of green credit policy is better in non-state-owned enterprises with high political relevance. These findings are providing valuable insights to promote green transition by designing more effective green credit policies. • We identify the effect of green credit policy on green transition. • We employ multiple econometric models to ensure the robustness. • We provide the empirical evidence for heterogeneity. • We investigate the intermediary channels from two ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, one of the most important and innovative policy initiatives introduced by the Chinese government in the field of environmental protection and ecological civilization construction is the Central Environmental Protection Inspection (CEPI). CEPI is seen as a vital tool to encourage local implementation of environmental protection responsibility. Over the course of its operation (eight years), CEPI has transformed from the "campaign" phase to the "convention" phase. It is noted that while provincial governments face a common high-pressure environment created by CEPI, governance scenarios, behaviors, and performance vary across the country significantly. To better understand local governments' environmental governance behaviors under the transformation of CEPI, an integrated analysis framework consisting of two key elements, "central dominance" and "local proactiveness", is constructed based on the central-local interactions under the principal-agent model. Based on this framework, we conducted a multi-case comparative analysis of four classic cases, with the following findings. (1) Along with the operation of CEPI and its transformation, the interaction between the central and local governments leads to four governance scenarios: "control-active cooperation", "control-passive cooperation", "guidance-active promotion", and "guidance-passive promotion". (2) Influenced by various factors such as pressure by the central government, local governments' capabilities and governance motivations, local governments form governance behaviors with varying degrees of proactiveness and autonomy. (3) After examining the governance performance of varying behaviors, it is found that local government's "active promotion" behavior can achieve higher governance effectiveness in the "convention" phase. Therefore, it is of policy implication that local governments should be guided to transit from "passive cooperation" to "active promotion". This paper has important guiding significance for understanding local environmental governance behaviors under strong top-down institutional pressure. • CEPI is one of the most important policy initiatives introduced by the Chinese gocernment in eco-environmental protection. • The interaction between the central and local governments leads to four different governance scenarios. • Governance scenarios,behaviors and performance of local goverments vary acorss the country significantly under CEPI. • Local government's "active promotion" behavior can achieve higher governance effectiveness in the "convention" phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretically, agricultural insurance influences farmers' use of pesticides by changing the expected income of agricultural production. Full-cost insurance, with high guarantee and high compensation characteristics, may significantly affect farmers' pesticide use. First, this paper constructs a production function to characterize and compare the marginal incomes of insured and uninsured farmers under risk uncertainty and analyses how insured farmers can increase marginal income by increasing or reducing factor inputs. Considering scale differentiation, it discusses pesticide use strategies different types of farmers may adopt to maximize household utility. Second, using survey data of the pilot counties of full-cost insurance for wheat in Henan Province, China, the simultaneous equation model is used for empirical testing. The results reveal the following: (i) Farmers' insurance participation and pesticide application behaviour are not mutually independent. (ii) For the whole sample, full-cost insurance for wheat has a significant pesticide reduction effect. (iii) However, considering scale differentiation, pesticide application decreases significantly among insured ordinary farmers but does not change significantly among insured large-scale farmers. Third, policy measures are proposed to activate the green development function of agricultural insurance. • Construct a production function and a utility function to conduct mechanism analysis. • Estimate simultaneous equation model based on pilot area household level dataset. • Analyse the effect of full-cost insurance on pesticide input behavior. • Find full-cost insurance significantly reduces the pesticide use of ordinary farmers. • But insignificant effect on the pesticide use of large-scale farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero-valent iron (ZVI)-based materials are among the most widely used engineered particles in the field of environmental remediation. To provide a comprehensive overview of the status and trend of the research on them, this study conducted a quantitative and visual analysis of 6296 relevant publications obtained from Web of Science between 1994 and 2022 using CiteSpace software. By using the bibliometric method, this work systematically analyzed the knowledge structure, research hotspots and trends of ZVI-based materials in this field. The results show that the research on ZVI-based materials in this field developed rapidly over the past 28 years. China is the greatest contributor with the most published articles and collaborations. Still, the USA has the most academic influence with the highest average citations per article. Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tongji University are the primary establishments that produced the greatest number of publications and had the highest h-index. Keyword cluster analysis indicates that the primary research topics are related to reductive dechlorination, sulfate radical, arsenic removal, graphene oxide, porous media, peroxymonosulfate, groundwater remediation, and permeable reactive barrier. Meanwhile, keyword burst analysis reveals that the primary research hotspots and frontiers of ZVI focus on its modification, the refractory and emerging contaminants treatment, persulfate activation, and electron transfer. However, no keywords or topics related to the environmental impact and toxicity of ZVI-based materials are available in the keyword clustering and burst analysis results, indicating this direction deserves more attention in future research. Through a comprehensive and in-depth bibliometric analysis, this paper provides new insight into the research hotspots and development trends of the research on ZVI-based materials in environmental remediation. [Display omitted] • Application of scientometrics to analyze ZVI in environmental remediation. • 6296 publications of ZVI-based materials in environmental remediation were analyzed. • The most influential countries, institutions, and authors were identified. • Research hotspots and trends of ZVI in environmental remediation were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial silicon (Si) from biogeochemically weathered rocks and soils into oceans must pass through several water bodies, resulting in some Si immobilized. Hence, the knowledge on Si distribution characteristics in different water bodies at a basin scale is helpful to understand Si immobilization. A total of 65 surface sediments and corresponding overlying water samples were sampled from six water bodies (Dianchi Lake, DL; Dadu River, DR; Tuojiang River, TR; Honghu Lake, HL; Donghu Lake, DhL; Taihu Lake, TL) in the Yangtze River Basin of China, total dissolved Si (TDSi) in overlying water and exchangeable Si (Ex-Si), active non-biogenic Si (NBSi), and total acid dissolved Si (TADSi) in sediments were analyzed. Water chemical parameters (pH, EC, and TDP) and sediment components (LOI, TN, TP, and TADFe) showed that the water environment characteristics of six water bodies differed. TDSi differed among regions and between lakes and rivers, significantly higher in water bodies in the upper reaches and rivers than the middle or lower reaches and lakes (p < 0.05), respectively. Ex-Si in sediments in the upper reaches was significantly higher than in the middle or lower reaches (p < 0.05), except for DhL, whose Ex-Si was the highest. Mean TADSi and active NBSi were significantly higher in lakes than rivers (p < 0.05). Oxidation of sediments significantly increased TDSi in overlying water and active NBSi in sediments (p < 0.01). Si forms in six water bodies significantly depended on components of the sediments (e.g. active Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Fe, and Al 3+ ) and water chemical parameters (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that immobilization of Si in water bodies in the Yangtze River Basin depends on the types of water bodies and sediments, lakes and Fe-Al dominated sediments have a high potential to immobilize Si, but anthropogenic interference should not be ignored., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)