Search

Currently, the hazy weather in China is increasingly serious. It is urgent for China to reduce haze emissions in environmental governance. A feasible way is to control haze emissions by optimizing the input sources. This paper proposed an innovative method in which the haze emission is controlled by readjusting input indicators. The output efficiency of input indicators in 29 provinces in China is calculated through 7 input indicators (namely, SO emissions, NO emissions, soot emissions, coal consumption, car ownership, capital, and labor force) as well as GDP (desirable output) and PM emissions (undesirable output). The results showed that the input indicators are excessive in redundancy on condition that PM emissions and GDP are equal. The input indicators are high in redundancy rate except labor force. The redundancy rates of soot emissions, SO emissions and coal consumption are relatively high and, respectively, are 78, 67.18, and 61.14%. Moreover, all the provinces are redundant in inputs except Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai which are optimal in input-output efficiency. The redundancy of middle and western provinces, such as Ningxia, Guizhou, and Shanxi, is relatively large. The ideas and methods proposed in this paper can provide a reference for the future researches that aim to reduce the input indicators of undesirable output, and the empirical results can provide empirical support for the PM abatement in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the health and economic impacts of PM2.5pollution is of great importance for urban air pollution prevention and control. In this study, we evaluate the damage of PM2.5pollution using Beijing as an example. First, we use exposure–response functions to estimate the adverse health effects due to PM2.5pollution. Then, the corresponding labour loss and excess medical expenditure are computed as two conducting variables. Finally, different from the conventional valuation methods, this paper introduces the two conducting variables into the computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to assess the impacts on sectors and the whole economic system caused by PM2.5pollution. The results show that, substantial health effects of the residents in Beijing from PM2.5pollution occurred in 2013, including 20,043 premature deaths and about one million other related medical cases. Correspondingly, using the 2010 social accounting data, Beijing gross domestic product loss due to the health impact of PM2.5pollution is estimated as 1286.97 (95% CI: 488.58–1936.33) million RMB. This demonstrates that PM2.5pollution not only has adverse health effects, but also brings huge economic loss. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• A dynamic general equilibrium model about air pollution in china was established. • Empirical impacts of environmental regulation on air pollution in china were analysed. • Reasons about recent decline in china's air pollution were provided. In recent years, the average concentration of PM 2.5 in China's air pollution has generally declined, but literature discussing reasons for the decline are scarce. This study provides an explanation of the reasons for the decline in China's air pollution through theoretical model construction and simulation. Firstly, a DGE (Dynamic General Equilibrium) model, including time and space dimensions, is used to describe the mechanism for energy structure adjustment and environmental regulation affecting air pollution in China. Secondly, the parameters of the theoretical model are adjusted for simulation. The simulation results show that the government environmental control has positive policy effect, both in reducing air pollution and in promoting economic growth, while energy structure adjustment only works in curbing air pollution. Further simulations found that the effectiveness of government environmental control depends on whether there are regional differences in policy implementation and the choice of policy paths. Thirdly, panel data from 286 cities at prefecture level and above in China from 2010 to 2018 verified the simulation. The empirical results verified the availability of government environmental control and energy structural adjustment in improving air quality. From the analysis of heterogeneity, the government environmental control showed better air pollution control effect in big cities, and the policy effect of government environmental control was gradually improving over time. The following policy implications are proposed: research on alternative energy sources, adjustment of energy structure, and the coordinated development of government environmental control in various regions are the main strategies for improving air quality. Adopting the "fast first and then slow" governance policy, designing the "north first and then south," and "heavy first and lighter" air pollution control measures can achieve better control effects. Figure 1 Research framework [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]