Abstract
Based on the features of energy consumption and economic development in China, since single pollutant can hardly express the situation of environmental pollution, we propose a pollution emissions index that can reflect the level of environmental quality, measure China’s 28 provinces’ environmental quality from 1995 to 2010 with a dynamic objective evaluation method based on the overall differences first time. Then panel data model was applied to analyze the impact of energy consumption and economic development on China’s and regional environmental quality. The results showed that emissions index varied among different regions and there was great potential for emission reduction; there was a significant positive correlation between emissions index and scale of economies and industrial structure; there was a negative correlation between emissions index and energy efficiency, energy prices and degree of opening up. Policy implications are as follows: 1) reduction policies should be made in line with local conditions; 2) the eastern region is the key areas of emissions reduction; 3) to improve energy efficiency is an important way to reduce emissions.
Highlights
In the past 30 years, China has experienced sustained and rapid economic growth, which is partly simulated by the extensive mode of economic growth aimed to GDP onesided
Based on the features of energy consumption and economic development in China, since single pollutant can hardly express the situation of environmental pollution, we propose a pollution emissions index that can reflect the level of environmental quality, measure China’s 28 provinces’ environmental quality from 1995 to 2010 with a dynamic objective evaluation method based on the overall differences first time
In the condition of the other factors unchanged, when GDP increase by 1%, pollution emissions will increase by 0.05% from the national angle; from the western angle, the pollution emissions will increase by 0.07% and is significantly higher than national level
Summary
In the past 30 years, China has experienced sustained and rapid economic growth, which is partly simulated by the extensive mode of economic growth aimed to GDP onesided. The rate of environmental pollutants emissions decreased as well These indicate it is possible that achieving the strategy of sustainable development through improving energy efficiency and energy consumption structure in the constraint of economic growth. The study can help to find out the potential cause of the difference of the environmental pollution in different areas, provide a scientific basis on formulating the effective measures of reducing pollution emissions, and contribute to the long-term sustainable economic development of China. Overall, it is undoubtedly significant in both theory and practice to correctly
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