Abstract
As the fifth-longest river globally, the Yellow River is of great importance to the world’s ecological protection. Due to its location as an essential ecological barrier and economic zone, it is imperative to balance energy support and ecological management in the basin. In this process, improving energy efficiency is crucial solution. Distinguished into upstream, midstream, and downstream, we measured the trajectory of green total factor energy efficiency over the past fifteen years using the Super-Epsilon-based model. Further, we identified the heterogeneity of energy efficiency within different river basins with the help of kernel density estimation. We used it to analyze the geographical and policy reasons affecting energy efficiency fluctuations. Finally, we constructed high, medium, and low GDP growth scenarios, and used a long short-term memory neural network model to predict energy efficiency forecasts in each scenario. The study results clarified that the overall energy efficiency showed an upward trend since 2013. Among them, the most significant improvement in energy efficiency was observed upstream, while the energy efficiency in the middle and lower stream showed a decreasing trend. Regarding future development trends, an economic growth rate of 6.5% was most favorable for energy efficiency compared to 6% and 7%. This finding reminded us to be alert to the ecological condition of the lower Yellow River basin. In addition, maintaining an appropriate economic growth rate is helpful for the balance between development and ecology.
Highlights
IntroductionWith the deterioration of natural conditions [2] and over-exploitation, the Yellow River basin has experienced ecological fragility and water shortage in recent years [3]
The green total factor energy efficiency of 96 prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River basin is measured during 2004–2019 using the super efficiency EBM model
The division of upstream, midstream, and downstream is in line with the realistic characteristics of energy efficiency development in the Yellow River basin and is crucial for heterogeneity exploration of the study results
Summary
With the deterioration of natural conditions [2] and over-exploitation, the Yellow River basin has experienced ecological fragility and water shortage in recent years [3]. The ensuing environmental problems, such as large-scale pollution [4], climate warming, rapid population growth, and urban focus [5], further challenge the soil properties [6] of the Yellow River basin. These problems constrain the high-quality development of resources [7] and pose a severe threat to the ecological sustainability of the whole basin and even the world
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