International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Research

15 pages, 1243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Corporate Sustainability Development Strategy and Corporate Environmental Governance—The Moderating Role of Corporate Environmental Investments

by Xiangyuan Ao, Tze San Ong and Boon Heng Teh

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4528; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054528 - 3 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

Environmental degradation and ecological devastation have become widespread global concerns in recent years as a result of the expansion of the international economy. China’s rapid economic development has been accompanied by a sloppy economic growth model that has damaged the local ecological environment. [...] Read more.

Environmental degradation and ecological devastation have become widespread global concerns in recent years as a result of the expansion of the international economy. China’s rapid economic development has been accompanied by a sloppy economic growth model that has damaged the local ecological environment. The Chinese government intends to improve the ecological environment by the end of 2020 in an effort to direct and improve these environmental issues. The strictest environmental laws became effective in 2015. In light of this, this research uses panel data analysis to examine the environmental strategy and environmental governance of Chinese corporations. This article analyses 14,512 samples of listed mainland Chinese enterprises from 2015 to 2020. This research investigates the connection between Corporate Sustainability Development Strategy and Corporate Environmental Governance, as well as the moderating effect of Corporate Environmental Investments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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15 pages, 2511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulation Study on the Optimisation of Replenishment of Landscape Water with Reclaimed Water Based on Transparency

by Dong Ao, Lijie Wei, Liang Pei, Chengguo Liu and Liming Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054141 - 25 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1312

Abstract

Water-scarce cities have fewer surface water (SW) resources available for ecological use, causing landscape water to deteriorate due to water shortage and fail to perform their intended landscape functions. As a result, many cities use reclaimed water (RW) to replenish them. However, this [...] Read more.

Water-scarce cities have fewer surface water (SW) resources available for ecological use, causing landscape water to deteriorate due to water shortage and fail to perform their intended landscape functions. As a result, many cities use reclaimed water (RW) to replenish them. However, this could cause concern among the people, as RW usually has higher nutrient concentrations, which may stimulate algae growth and deteriorate the aesthetic senses of the receiving water bodies. In order to assess the feasibility of using RW for this purpose, this study used Xingqing Lake in Northwest China as insight into the effect of RW replenishment on the visual landscape quality of urban landscape water. Water transparency (measured by SD) is used as an intuitive indicator to reflect the comprehensive influence of suspended solids and algae growth on the water’s aesthetic quality. Scenario analyses were carried out after calibrating and validating one-year data in MIKE 3 software with both SD and algae growth calculations, and the results showed that the low concentration of suspended matter in RW could compensate for the decrease in SD due to algal blooms caused by high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the effect on SD is especially pronounced under conditions that are not conducive to algal growth, such as good flow conditions and low temperature. In addition, to meet a SD ≥ 70 mm, the total water inflow required can be significantly reduced with the optimal application of RW. It is also indicated that partial or complete utilization of RW to replace SW for replenishing the landscape water could be feasible from the viewpoint of landscape quality, at least for the landscape water investigated in this study. This can provide a method for the improvement to urban water management practices by using RW for replenishment in water-scarce cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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16 pages, 7717 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Protection Effectiveness of Natural Protected Areas on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Based on Ecosystem Services

by Mengdi Fu, Jun Wang, Yanpeng Zhu and Yuanyuan Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032605 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1897

Abstract

Evaluating the protection effectiveness of natural protected areas is an important step in successful management. Adopting 330 natural protected areas on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau as research subjects, the regional dominant ecosystem service function was selected, and various temporal and spatial analysis methods were [...] Read more.

Evaluating the protection effectiveness of natural protected areas is an important step in successful management. Adopting 330 natural protected areas on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau as research subjects, the regional dominant ecosystem service function was selected, and various temporal and spatial analysis methods were employed to analyze the evolution characteristics and influencing factors of ecosystem service patterns from 2000 to 2020. Our results indicated that (1) the water conservation function stabilized after fluctuation and decline, the soil conservation function fluctuated upward, and the windbreak and sand fixation function exhibited an increase after a decreasing fluctuation. (2) The protection effectiveness of25 protected areas significantly improved, that of 151 protected areas improved, that of 84 protected areas stabilized, that of 56 protected areas worsened, and that of 14 protected areas significantly worsened. (3) The top three influencing factors in descending order were precipitation change > altitude > mining area density. (4) Remarkable protection results were achieved in national protected areas, established management institutions, earlier established areas (before 2000), and areas exhibiting alow built-up area density (<0.75%) and low mining density (<1%). Our study provides technical support for the construction and management of protected areas and improvement in ecosystem service functions on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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32 pages, 22753 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Quality, Health Risk Assessment, and Source Distribution of Heavy Metals Contamination around Chromite Mines: Application of GIS, Sustainable Groundwater Management, Geostatistics, PCAMLR, and PMF Receptor Model

by Abdur Rashid, Muhammad Ayub, Zahid Ullah, Asmat Ali, Tariq Sardar, Javed Iqbal, Xubo Gao, Jochen Bundschuh, Chengcheng Li, Seema Anjum Khattak, Liaqat Ali, Hamed A. El-Serehy, Prashant Kaushik and Sardar Khan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2113; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032113 - 24 Jan 2023

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4960

Abstract

Groundwater contamination by heavy metals (HMs) released by weathering and mineral dissolution of granite, gneisses, ultramafic, and basaltic rock composition causes human health concerns worldwide. This paper evaluated the heavy metals (HMs) concentrations and physicochemical variables of groundwater around enriched chromite mines of [...] Read more.

Groundwater contamination by heavy metals (HMs) released by weathering and mineral dissolution of granite, gneisses, ultramafic, and basaltic rock composition causes human health concerns worldwide. This paper evaluated the heavy metals (HMs) concentrations and physicochemical variables of groundwater around enriched chromite mines of Malakand, Pakistan, with particular emphasis on water quality, hydro-geochemistry, spatial distribution, geochemical speciation, and human health impacts. To better understand the groundwater hydrogeochemical profile and HMs enrichment, groundwater samples were collected from the mining region (n = 35), non-mining region (n = 20), and chromite mines water (n = 5) and then analyzed using ICPMS (Agilent 7500 ICPMS). The ranges of concentrations in the mining, non-mining, and chromite mines water were 0.02–4.5, 0.02–2.3, and 5.8–6.0 mg/L for CR, 0.4–3.8, 0.05–3.6, and 3.2–5.8 mg/L for Ni, and 0.05–0.8, 0.05–0.8, and 0.6–1.2 mg/L for Mn. Geochemical speciation of groundwater variables such as OH⁻, H⁺, Cr⁺², Cr⁺³, Cr⁺⁶, Ni⁺², Mn⁺², and Mn⁺³ was assessed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Geochemical speciation determined the mobilization, reactivity, and toxicity of HMs in complex groundwater systems. Groundwater facies showed 45% CaHCO₃, 30% NaHCO₃, 23.4% NaCl, and 1.6% Ca-Mg-Cl water types. The noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risk of HMs outlined via hazard quotient (HQ) and total hazard indices (THI) showed the following order: Ni > Cr > Mn. Thus, the HHRA model suggested that children are more vulnerable to HMs toxicity than adults. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis (HACA) showed three distinct clusters, namely the least, moderately, and severely polluted clusters, which determined the severity of HMs contamination to be 66.67% overall. The PCAMLR and PMF receptor model suggested geogenic (minerals prospects), anthropogenic (industrial waste and chromite mining practices), and mixed (geogenic and anthropogenic) sources for groundwater contamination. The mineral phases of groundwater suggested saturation and undersaturation. Nemerow’s pollution index (NPI) values determined the unsuitability of groundwater for domestic purposes. The EC, turbidity, PO₄⁻³, Na⁺, Mg⁺², Ca⁺², Cr, Ni, and Mn exceeded the guidelines suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). The HMs contamination and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health impacts of HMs showed that the groundwater is extremely unfit for drinking, agriculture, and domestic demands. Therefore, groundwater wells around the mining region need remedial measures. Thus, to overcome the enrichment of HMs in groundwater sources, sustainable management plans are needed to reduce health risks and ensure health safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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24 pages, 6998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation and Impact Mechanism of High-Quality Development in China’s Coastal Provinces

by Xiaojie Wang, Rongqing Han and Minghua Zhao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021336 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2438

Abstract

With economic expansion having moderated to a “new normal” pace, the eastern coastal provinces have been given a new historical task of high-quality development and become a window and frontier of China’s high-quality development. By designing and optimizing an index system of high-quality [...] Read more.

With economic expansion having moderated to a “new normal” pace, the eastern coastal provinces have been given a new historical task of high-quality development and become a window and frontier of China’s high-quality development. By designing and optimizing an index system of high-quality development levels and using the entropy-TOPSIS method, the study selected 21 indicators, include economic vitality, residents’ living standards, innovation efficiency and green development, and took China’s eastern coastal provinces as an example to study the characteristics of spatial-temporal variations in the high-quality development level from 2010 to 2020. Then, the study used the obstacle degree model to explore the factors that are obstacles to high-quality development. The results show that the high-quality development of the eastern coastal provinces presents an “up-down-up” fluctuation, with an increase of 40.1%. In particular, the development level of the residents’ living standards dimension is higher, and the high-quality development level of each province shows different degrees of growth and gradually tends to balanced development, with the high-quality development of Shanghai, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province in a dominant position. The spatial pattern of high-quality development in the study areas shows a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the east and low in the west, high in the north and low in the south”, in which the bipolar spatial effect of the innovation efficiency dimension is becoming more and more prominent, while the regional synergistic development effect of the residents’ living standard dimension is more obvious, and the high-quality development spatial pattern shows a “core-periphery” structure, and there is a path-dependent effect in time change, and agglomeration is produced by trickle-down effect in space. The obstacles to residents’ living standards are high, and the main obstacle factor has gradually changed from insufficient output in innovation to a reduction in the scale of foreign trade. In addition, the problems of unreasonable industrial structure and shortage of per capita public cultural resources still exist. In provinces with a high-quality development level and a relatively developed economy, the biggest obstacle factors are economic vitality and residents’ living standards. In provinces with a low level of high-quality development and a relatively backward economy, the biggest obstacle factors are green development and innovation efficiency, and there are both similarities and differences in the main obstacle factors among provinces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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19 pages, 3610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drivers and Decoupling Effects of PM_2.5 Emissions in China: An Application of the Generalized Divisia Index

by Shangjiu Wang, Shaohua Zhang and Liang Cheng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20020921 - 4 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1710

Abstract

Although economic growth brings abundant material wealth, it is also associated with serious PM_2.5 pollution. Decoupling PM_2.5 emissions from economic development is important for China’s long-term sustainable development. In this paper, the generalized Divisia index method (GDIM) is extended by introducing [...] Read more.

Although economic growth brings abundant material wealth, it is also associated with serious PM_2.5 pollution. Decoupling PM_2.5 emissions from economic development is important for China’s long-term sustainable development. In this paper, the generalized Divisia index method (GDIM) is extended by introducing innovation indicators to investigate the main drivers of PM_2.5 pollution in China and its four subregions from 2008 to 2017. Afterwards, a GDIM-based decoupling index is developed to examine the decoupling states between PM_2.5 emissions and economic growth and to identify the main factors leading to decoupling. The obtained results show that: (1) Innovation input scale and GDP are the main drivers for increases in PM_2.5 emissions, while innovation input PM_2.5 intensity, emission intensity, and emission coefficient are the main reasons for reductions in PM_2.5 pollution. (2) China and its four subregions show general upward trends in the decoupling index, and their decoupling states turn from weak decoupling to strong decoupling. (3) Innovation input PM_2.5 intensity, emission intensity, and emission coefficient contribute largely to the decoupling of PM_2.5 emissions. Overall, this paper provides valuable information for mitigating haze pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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12 pages, 4362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Domestic Sewage Treatment on Islands Using Ecological Treatment Processes: A Case Study of Haimen Island, Fujian Province

by Yuanmin Sun, Kunxian Tang, Hui Song, Degang Jiang, Shan Chen, Wulin Tu, Luchun Cai, Haiping Huang and Fei Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15440; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315440 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1562

Abstract

Islands are characterized by a lack of land and freshwater resources, public finances, and technical personnel. As a result, domestic sewage may not be effectively treated, which can lead to major pollution on islands and in the surrounding sea areas. In this study, [...] Read more.

Islands are characterized by a lack of land and freshwater resources, public finances, and technical personnel. As a result, domestic sewage may not be effectively treated, which can lead to major pollution on islands and in the surrounding sea areas. In this study, a pilot treatment of domestic sewage was conducted using an ecological treatment process (i.e., a constructed wetland and ecological pond) in an abandoned pond located on Haimen Island, Fujian Province, China. The pollutant indicators were monitored to analyze this treatment method at different treatment stages. The results showed that the combination of multiple ecological treatment processes had favorable treatment effects on various pollutants in the sewage. The treatment rates of the chemical oxygen demand (COD_Cr) and suspended solids (SS) surpassed 88%. The treatment rate of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and fecal coliform surpassed 93%, and all the indicators met or were close to the level I B emission standards for urban sewage treatment plants. Different treatment stages have different treatment effects on different pollutants. The constructed wetland played an important role in sewage treatment through plant absorption, substrate adsorption, sedimentation, and microbial decomposition, particularly for the TP, COD_Cr, and BOD₅. In contrast, algal photosynthesis in the ecological pond produced a large amount of dissolved oxygen, and the treatment effect was highest for the TN and NH₃-N. The treatment effects on the fecal coliform in the constructed wetland and ecological pond were very significant. Ecological treatment processes based on the combination of a constructed wetland and ecological pond have favorable treatment effects, low construction and maintenance costs, and pollution-free conditions, which are suitable for application in island areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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17 pages, 2957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contamination, Source Identification, Ecological and Human Health Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic-Elements in Soils of Typical Rare-Earth Mining Areas

by Jiajia Fan, Li Deng, Weili Wang, Xiu Yi and Zhiping Yang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15105; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215105 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2144

Abstract

The mining and leaching processes of rare-earth mines can include the entry of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the environment, causing ecological risks and endangering human health. However, the identification of ecological risks and sources of PTEs in rare-earth mining areas is less [...] Read more.

The mining and leaching processes of rare-earth mines can include the entry of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the environment, causing ecological risks and endangering human health. However, the identification of ecological risks and sources of PTEs in rare-earth mining areas is less comprehensive. Hence, we determine the PTE (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, V) content in soils around rare-earth mining areas in the south and analyze the ecological health risks, distribution characteristics, and sources of PTEs in the study area using various indices and models. The results showed that the average concentrations of Co, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were higher than the soil background values, with a maximum of 1.62 times. The spatial distribution of PTEs was not homogeneous and the hot spots were mostly located near roads and mining areas. The ecological risk index and the non-carcinogenic index showed that the contribution was mainly from Co, Pb, and Cr, which accounted for more than 90%. Correlation analysis and PMF models indicated that eight PTEs were positively correlated, and rare-earth mining operations (concentration of 22.85%) may have caused Pb and Cu enrichment in soils in the area, while other anthropogenic sources of pollution were industrial emissions and agricultural pollution. The results of the study can provide a scientific basis for environmental-pollution assessment and prevention in rare-earth mining cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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19 pages, 4673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coordinated Evolution and Influencing Factors of Population and Economy in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

by Yazhu Wang, Hui Zou, Xuejun Duan and Lingqing Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14395; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114395 - 3 Nov 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1780

Abstract

The degree of population–economy coupling and coordination is an important indicator of a region’s balanced development. This study examines the evolution of the population–economy coupling coordination pattern in the Yangtze River Economic Belt spanning from 2000 to 2019. It draws from the economic [...] Read more.

The degree of population–economy coupling and coordination is an important indicator of a region’s balanced development. This study examines the evolution of the population–economy coupling coordination pattern in the Yangtze River Economic Belt spanning from 2000 to 2019. It draws from the economic growth stage and related theories, and employs methods such as geographic concentration, center of gravity analysis, and the coupling coordination model. Accordingly, the population and economy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt form a core–periphery, with a decreasing center toward the periphery, and the east higher than the west. The spatial coupling situation of the population-economic center of gravity yields an inverted U-shaped curve, where their center of gravity separates and then converges, and the difference in regional development expands and then shrinks. Moreover, the population center of gravity lags behind that of the economy. The population–economy coupling and coordination degree shows a decreasing trend after rising fluctuations. Further, the study finds that regional economic development, government role, and market-led capital agglomeration are significant drivers of the population–economy coupling and coordination, with the industrial structural influence being spatially heterogeneous. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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14 pages, 4515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Land Use on Surface Water Quality Using Self-Organizing Map in Middle Region of the Yellow River Basin, China

by Liang Pei, Chunhui Wang, Yiping Zuo, Xiaojie Liu and Yanyan Chi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10946; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710946 - 2 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1805

Abstract

The Yellow River is one of the most important water sources in China, and its surrounding land use affected by human activities is an important factor in water quality pollution. To understand the impact of land use types on water quality in the [...] Read more.

The Yellow River is one of the most important water sources in China, and its surrounding land use affected by human activities is an important factor in water quality pollution. To understand the impact of land use types on water quality in the Sanmenxia section of the Yellow River, the water quality index (WQI) was used to evaluate the water quality. A self-organizing map (SOM) was used for clustering analysis of water quality indicators, and the relationship between surface water quality and land use types was further analyzed by redundancy analysis (RDA). The results showed that WQI values ranged from 82.60 to 507.27, and the highest value was the sampling site S3, whose water quality grade was “Likely not suitable for drinking”, mainly polluted by agricultural non-point sources ammonia nitrogen pollution. SOM clustered the sampling sites into 4 groups according to the water quality indicators, the main influencing factors for different groups were analyzed and explored in more depth in relation to land use types, suggesting that surface water quality was significantly connected with the proportion of land use types at the watershed scale in the interpretation of water quality change. The negative impact of cropland on surface water quality was greater than that of other land use types, and vegetation showed a greater positive impact on surface water quality than other land uses. The results provide evidence for water environment conservation based on land use in the watershed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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15 pages, 1837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution Characteristics and Restoration Application of Vegetation in Chengcun Bay Surrounding Areas of Yangjiang City

by Shan Chen, Yuanmin Sun, Kunxian Tang, Fei Zhang, Weilun Ding and Ao Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10399; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610399 - 20 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1583

Abstract

In recent years, global warming and sea level rise have further aggravated the risk of coastal erosion. Coastal vegetation plays an important role in resisting storm surges and alleviating coastal erosion. Therefore, screening plant species for the purpose of constructing ecological seawalls to [...] Read more.

In recent years, global warming and sea level rise have further aggravated the risk of coastal erosion. Coastal vegetation plays an important role in resisting storm surges and alleviating coastal erosion. Therefore, screening plant species for the purpose of constructing ecological seawalls to protect or repair damaged coastal zones has become a hot issue. In this paper, a field survey was conducted to investigate the vegetation in Chengcun Bay surrounding areas of Yangjiang City by combining a line survey and sample plot survey. By understanding the vegetation types, distribution and community structure in the bay’s surrounding areas and analyzing the restricting environmental factors of those plants, we put forward some countermeasures for coastal vegetation restoration in difficult site conditions from the aspects of plant species selection, vegetation configuration and restoration technology, so as to provide reference for ecological vegetation restoration in similar locations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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22 pages, 686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Green Development from the Perspective of Government Environmental Preferences

by Ruichao Liu, Xiaoyan Zhang and Pengcheng Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9964; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169964 - 12 Aug 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1823

Abstract

Green development is necessary for China to carry out high-quality economic development. As an important institutional arrangement in the vertical government structure, fiscal decentralization supports regional green development. Local government environmental preferences indicate local environmental protection awareness and affect the process of regional [...] Read more.

Green development is necessary for China to carry out high-quality economic development. As an important institutional arrangement in the vertical government structure, fiscal decentralization supports regional green development. Local government environmental preferences indicate local environmental protection awareness and affect the process of regional green development to a certain extent. Based on the review of relevant theories and literature, this study conducts an empirical analysis based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2007 to 2019 using a two-way fixed effects model and a panel threshold model. Both revenue decentralization and expenditure decentralization have a U-shaped nonlinear relationship with the green development efficiency calculated by the superefficiency SBM model, which includes undesirable output. Neither factor has a positive effect on green development efficiency at this stage, while local government environmental preferences are positively connected to green development efficiency. Furthermore, a moderating effect is observed in the relationship between fiscal decentralization and green development efficiency. Under the same level of revenue decentralization or expenditure decentralization, the stronger the environmental preferences of the local authority are, the higher the green development efficiency. This moderating effect is more significant in coastal areas than inland areas. Further research reveals a threshold for the moderating effect of local government environmental preferences on fiscal decentralization on green development. When the environmental preferences of local government are below the threshold, both revenue decentralization and expenditure decentralization significantly inhibit the improvement in green development efficiency. After the threshold is passed, the negative effects of both on green development efficiency are markedly curtailed. Then, the government performance appraisal system should be further optimized, fiscal decentralization reform should be strengthened, local financial investment in environmental protection should be expanded, and synergistic regional development should be promoted. China’s green development should be promoted to an advanced stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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20 pages, 3548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Coordinated Governance Mechanism of Cross-Regional and Cross-Basin Ecological Compensation in the Yangtze River Delta

by Zhen Yu and Qingjian Zhao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9881; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169881 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2241

Abstract

The development of a regionally integrated economy promotes the development of river basin ecological compensation toward cross-regional coordinated governance. The ecological compensation in the Yangtze River Delta has developed by leaps and bounds, which is conducive to the research on the collaborative governance [...] Read more.

The development of a regionally integrated economy promotes the development of river basin ecological compensation toward cross-regional coordinated governance. The ecological compensation in the Yangtze River Delta has developed by leaps and bounds, which is conducive to the research on the collaborative governance mechanism. Taking the ecological compensation policy data in the Yangtze River Delta as the research object, and using the social network analysis method, this paper analyzes the current situation of cross-basin cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta. A collaborative governance network is formed with 74 ecological compensation agreements, and the distribution law of the overall collaborative network is found. Using IAD to decompose the ecological compensation agreement rules, 303 institutional units were obtained, of which, 198 were selection rules, accounting for 65%. The research results show that: (1) The ecological compensation cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta region is mainly concentrated in the Jiaxing Jiashan, Wujiang District, Suzhou, and Qingpu District, Shanghai, forming a close cooperation triangle network, and Shanghai plays a strong “intermediary” role in it. (2) In institutional grammar analysis, the formulation of rules is biased toward choice rules and payoff rules, that is to say, the content of the rules is mostly how to cooperate and how to reward and punish but there is a lack of specific action scenarios and standards. The combination of social network and institutional analysis and development framework is conducive to the study of the ecological collaborative governance mechanism of the Yangtze River Delta, breaking the gap between different fields and regions, enhancing the enthusiasm for multi-subject governance in the Yangtze River Delta region, and giving full play to the effectiveness of multi-subject governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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21 pages, 2416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Population Size at the County Level under Limited Development Policy Constraints: Case Study of the Xihaigu Mountain Area, Northwest China

by Xueli Chen, Yongyong Song, Xingang Fan and Jing Ma

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9560; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159560 - 3 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2003

Abstract

Understanding the extent to which demographic changes may affect the prospects of sustainable development is a priority for both academics and policy makers. Accordingly, we attempted to explore the population growth limit of the Xihaigu Mountain area in China. To analyze the optimum [...] Read more.

Understanding the extent to which demographic changes may affect the prospects of sustainable development is a priority for both academics and policy makers. Accordingly, we attempted to explore the population growth limit of the Xihaigu Mountain area in China. To analyze the optimum population at the county level, the relationship curve between population size and environmental quality was fitted using panel data (2009–2018). The sustainable population size of each county was determined by integrating the population carrying capacity of land resources and optimum population. The results show that the relationship between regional population size and environmental quality conforms to an inverted N-shaped curve. To maintain sustainable development, the population size of Tongxin, Xiji, and Haiyuan should be in the range of 320,800–379,800, 315,800–416,900, and 333,500–416,900, respectively. The current population size of other counties should be maintained, and their surplus construction lands are acceptable to be used for environmentally friendly industries rather than population expansion. We demonstrated a practical approach to calculate a dynamic range of population size under the dual constraints of resource and environment, which overcomes the shortcoming of only considering the maximum carrying capacity to a limited extent. We also identified the population boundary in a “steady-state economy” and quantified planetary boundaries of population in Xihaigu Mountain area using a dynamic sustainable population size. The findings provide decision-making references for the local government. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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14 pages, 1930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Expansion Characteristics of Aquaculture Ponds and Variations in Ecosystem Service Value from the Perspective of Protecting Cultivated Lands: A Case Study of Liyang City, China

by Bochuan Zhao, Yongfu Li, Yazhu Wang and Guoqing Zhi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8774; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148774 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1792

Abstract

In the context of global food insecurity, a large amount of cultivated land in China has been occupied by aquaculture ponds, leading to a series of variations in the ecological environment. The Chinese government pays close attention to the problem. In order to [...] Read more.

In the context of global food insecurity, a large amount of cultivated land in China has been occupied by aquaculture ponds, leading to a series of variations in the ecological environment. The Chinese government pays close attention to the problem. In order to achieve sustainable development and ensure the safety of China’s cultivated land, the paper uses Liyang City as an example to discuss the spatial characteristics of the expansion of aquaculture ponds through occupying cultivated lands and analyzes the variations in ecosystem service value and cultivated land function. The conclusions are as follows: (1) 2073.24 hectares of cultivated lands were occupied for expanding aquaculture ponds in Liyang from 2009 to 2019, and there was a small number of new aquaculture ponds in the ecological protection area, which shows that the aquaculture ponds in Liyang City are at the stage of disorderly expansion; (2) the total value of ecosystem services increased by 1.43%; supply and support services values decreased, but the increase in regulation and cultural services values was sufficient to more than compensate for the mentioned losses; and (3) the expansion of aquaculture ponds leads to a decrease in the carbon storage of cultivated land, which in turn has negative impacts such as an increase in atmospheric carbon concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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16 pages, 3055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Zoning and Path Selection of Land Comprehensive Consolidation Based on Grey Constellation Clustering: A Case Study of Dongying City, China

by Yaoben Lin and Danling Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6407; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116407 - 25 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1745

Abstract

The functional zoning of land comprehensive consolidation and the selection of consolidation paths are the key content of the current land and space planning, and it is also an important measure to achieve regional sustainable development. At present, the research system on land [...] Read more.

The functional zoning of land comprehensive consolidation and the selection of consolidation paths are the key content of the current land and space planning, and it is also an important measure to achieve regional sustainable development. At present, the research system on land comprehensive consolidation is not yet mature. The previous research area is relatively small and not representative, and an effective method system has not been formed. Research on the selection of functional zoning and a consolidation path is also relatively scarce. There is an urgent need to construct the theory and method system of land comprehensive consolidation functional zoning and consolidation path selection. Taking Dongying City in China as an example, this paper constructs a zoning index system from four aspects including natural conditions, location advantages, social economy and land use. The entropy method is used to determine the weights, and GIS spatial data visualization is used to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of the index system. Based on the analysis, the grey constellation clustering method is used to divide the study area into four types of land comprehensive consolidation functional areas, and the results of functional zoning are adjusted according to the ranking of comprehensive index values, the principle of maximum similarity, and the continuity of natural space. The research results show that: ① There are 10 functional zonings for urban development and ecological protection land consolidation, and the main consolidation path should be the ecological country park consolidation model, which can effectively serve the urban ecological construction. ② There are nine functional zonings for rural development and cultivated land conservation consolidation, and their consolidation path should be based on a comprehensive rural improvement model that enhances the quality of the village and the development, utilization and protection of cultivated land resources. ③ There are 18 functional zonings for cultivated land improvement and ecological protection land consolidation, and the main consolidation path should focus on the cultivated land ecological improvement mode that emphasizes the quality of cultivated land and the improvement of regional ecological functions. ④ There are four functional zonings for ecological conservation and fallow recuperative land consolidation, and their main consolidation path should be the land ecological restoration and improvement model of construction land reclamation, cultivated land ecological conservation, and conversion of farmland to forest and grassland. The research results can provide references for Dongying City to formulate land and space planning, and can be extended to the design of comprehensive land remediation projects in other regions. It is of great significance to promote regional sustainable and scientific development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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23 pages, 410 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Fiscal Stress Improve the Environmental Efficiency? Perspective Based on the Urban Horizontal Fiscal Imbalance

by Youshuai Sun, Demi Zhu, Zhenyu Zhang and Na Yan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6268; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106268 - 21 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2037

Abstract

The resilience of the fiscal system has a driving effect on environmental governance, and it is always a challenge to solve the problem of matching fiscal power with administrative power. Based on the panel data of 193 cities in China from 2013 to [...] Read more.

The resilience of the fiscal system has a driving effect on environmental governance, and it is always a challenge to solve the problem of matching fiscal power with administrative power. Based on the panel data of 193 cities in China from 2013 to 2018, the data envelopment analysis method was used to evaluate the comprehensive indicators of urban environmental efficiency. The impact of fiscal stress on environmental efficiency is examined from the perspective of urban horizontal imbalance. We find that the smaller the fiscal stress, the higher urban environmental efficiency. The endogeneity is mitigated by using instrumental variables and the generalized method of moments, and the results are still robust after considering the interference of sample selection bias and variable estimation bias. At the same time, the impact of fiscal stress on environmental efficiency varies with spatial location, ecological strategic planning, economic development, and other factors, especially in southern cities, cities in the Yangtze River Basin, and cities in urban agglomerations, where reducing fiscal stress promotes environmental efficiency. In addition, green production and public environmental services are important channels for its role, and the rational allocation of self-raised funds can effectively moderate the improvement of environmental efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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18 pages, 2832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Industrial Structure Adjustment on Pollutants Discharged to the Aquatic Environment in Northwest China

by Chenyu Lu, Xianglong Tang, Wei Liu and Ping Huang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6146; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106146 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2174

Abstract

Northwest China is located along China’s Belt and Road Initiative routes and represents the frontier and core region for China’s construction and development of the Silk Road Economic Belt. In recent years, the conflict between economic development and environmental pollution has become increasingly [...] Read more.

Northwest China is located along China’s Belt and Road Initiative routes and represents the frontier and core region for China’s construction and development of the Silk Road Economic Belt. In recent years, the conflict between economic development and environmental pollution has become increasingly intense in this region, with the latter mainly caused by disorderly industrialization brought about by rapid urbanization processes. Inappropriate industrial structure is the primary reason for environmental degradation in Northwest China, which has limited precipitation and available water. Due to its fragile aquatic environment and unsustainable use of water resources, the pollution and degradation of the aquatic environment has become a bottleneck that severely restricts the sustainable development of China’s northwest region. In the present study, five provinces or autonomous regions in Northwest China were selected as the study objects. Based on the vector autoregressive (VAR) model, quantitative research methods, such as impulse response function and variance decomposition analysis, were applied to quantify the dynamics between industrial structure adjustment and changes in industrial pollutant discharges to the aquatic environment, so that the impact of industrial structure adjustment on pollutants discharged to the aquatic environment could be quantified and characterized. Therefore, the present study has both theoretical and practical significance. The conclusions are as follows: (1) In general, industrial structure in most provinces in Northwest China imposes a positive effect over the discharge of pollutants to the aquatic environment. Adjusting industrial structure and reducing the proportion of secondary industry present can to some extent promote reductions in the discharge of pollutants to the aquatic environment. However, such beneficial effects may vary among different provinces. (2) Specifically, for Gansu, province industrial structure adjustment could help reduce the discharge of pollutants to the aquatic environment effectively during the early stages, but this positive effect gradually weakens and disappears during the later stages. In Qinghai province, industrial structure adjustment could not help reduce the discharge of pollutants to the aquatic environment effectively during the early stages, but a positive effect gradually increases and continues to function later. The performance in Shaanxi and Xinjiang provinces was quite similar, with industrial structure adjustment helping to effectively reduce the discharge of pollutants to the aquatic environment over a long period of time. This positive effect can play a more sustained and stable role. For Ningxia province, industrial structure adjustment can not only help significantly reduce the discharge of pollutants to the aquatic environment but also displays a significant positive effect. (3) Given the specific conditions and characteristics of the region under study, relevant policies for industrial structure adjustment should be formulated and implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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18 pages, 4208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resource and Environmental Pressures on the Transformation of Planting Industry in Arid Oasis

by Jing Huang, Dongqian Xue, Chuansheng Wang and Jiehu Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 5977; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105977 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2061

Abstract

Controlling environmental pollutant discharge and water resource demand is crucial for the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas in arid oases. Taking Ganzhou, an arid oasis in Northwest China, as an example, we established an analysis framework for the relationship between the [...] Read more.

Controlling environmental pollutant discharge and water resource demand is crucial for the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas in arid oases. Taking Ganzhou, an arid oasis in Northwest China, as an example, we established an analysis framework for the relationship between the planting industry transformation and the resource and environmental pressures, from 2011 to 2020, through the methods of inventory, coefficient and quota accounting. The results showed that the planting scale of crops in oases has continuously expanded, with a structural dominance of corn seed production. Pollutant discharge showed a “Z”-type evolution trend, and the demand for water consumption continued to increase. The transformation of the planting industry and pollutant discharge showed coupled trade-offs and a synergetic alternating fluctuations coupling relationship, which was highly co-evolutionary with the demand for water resources. Crop planting exhibited four spatial patterns, namely the mixed planting area of grain and cash crops grown in mountain areas (GCPA), suburban scale vegetable planting (SVPA), planting of seed production corn (MSPA), and the compound planting area of grain crops, oil crops, vegetables, and other characteristic crops (CMPA). MSPA and SVPA had the highest total and average volume per unit area, respectively. The planting industry transformation and evolution of resource and environment pressures are closely related to changes in national strategies, regional agricultural policies, and environmental regulations. Therefore, studying their relationships provides a scientific basis for the formulation of suitable countermeasures, according to the development stage of a region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Environmental Problems and Countermeasures in the Process of Regional Development)

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