An Analysis of the Impact of China’s Pollution Reduction Policy on Sulfur Dioxide Emissions

Abstract

This study analyzed the effectiveness of China’s policy to reduce of sulfur dioxide. China’s 12SUPth/SUP Five-year plan on national economic and social development emphasized environmental protection and low-carbon economic development. Sulfur dioxide was one of the major gases to affect air pollution and climate change and its control became a key policy agenda in the environment and energy sector. As the absolute amount of sulfur dioxide emissions in China came from the industrial sector, the control of the coal-based energy was especially urgent. This study analyzed the factors that influenced the sulfur dioxide emissions and the policy effects to reduce sulfur dioxide in China from 2003 to 2012 based on regional data. The air pollution treatment investments showed the biggest impact together with energy conservation policy in reducing sulfur dioxide emissions. However, pollutant emissions charge did not show a relevant policy effectiveness in all regions as the amount of charge would be smaller than economic benefit from non-compliance. Rationalizing pollutant emissions charge is, therefore, a key policy task for further reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions.