Haze Governance Research Articles

Is Improvement of Innovation Efficiency Conducive to Haze Governance? Empirical Evidence from 283 Chinese Cities.

In recent years, haze pollution has had a wide impact in China. This research systematically studies the influence mechanism of haze pollution from a new perspective of urban innovation efficiency. We use a generalised space two-stage least squares method to analyse the correlation between urban innovation efficiency and haze pollution. The periodic and regional influences of urban innovation efficiency on haze pollution is explored using a threshold regression model. Through the mediating effect model, we accurately identify the transmission mechanism of urban innovation efficiency affecting haze pollution. The results show a significant inverted ‘U’ relationship between improvement of urban innovation efficiency and haze pollution. The regional innovation activities of innovative cities differ greatly from those of non-innovative cities. The effect of innovation efficiency improvement in innovative cities on haze governance is better than that of non-innovative pilot cities. In eastern cities with a higher level of economic development, the improvement of innovation efficiency has a stronger impact on haze governance. Industrial structure and population agglomeration have a mediating effect on the impact of urban innovation efficiency on haze pollution, providing directions for the rational formulation and effective implementation of haze governance policies in China, as well as in other countries.

"Political blue sky" in fog and haze governance: evidence from the local major international events in China.

The trade-off between economic development and environmental protection has always been a significant and tough issue for local governments. Studies found that some local governments took temporary measures to control air pollution and created “political blue sky” in certain periods. We collected daily air quality index (AQI) data and individual pollutant concentration data of four cities in China which have hosted major international events in 2019. The air quality of the cities taken temporary measures to control air pollution had an obvious improvement during the events. Furthermore, the improvement mainly occurred in pollution indicators, such as PM2.5 and PM10, which are more valued and sensitive to the public. The sustainability analysis demonstrates that the air quality deteriorated again after the event, indicating that “political blue sky” comes at the cost of retaliatory pollution.

Game behavior among multi stakeholders in the process of haze control*

The contradiction between economic development and pollution control is becoming increasingly prominent, which is a huge problem that China’s economic development transformation must face and solve at this stage. Among them, the governance of haze is the crux because of its great impact on health. The game behavior of haze governance involves many subjects. After considering the specific situation of the game in reality, this paper constructs a mixed strategy model of multi stakeholders, including the central government, local government, enterprises and the public. In addition to the direct participation of local governments and enterprises in the game, the central government and the public indirectly participate in the final game results through supervision and public opinion. Based on the analysis of the game results, in order to better control the haze and achieve green development, enterprises should strengthen environmental self-discipline, local government and central government should cooperate effectively, and the public should actively participate in it to form a strong influence of public opinion.

Research on Optimization Strategy of Regional Haze Governance Based on Synergy Effect——A Case of Central Plains City Group

As an atmospheric pollution, haze governance involves economic restructuring, energy change, environmental science, laws and regulations and other aspects, is an important measure to improve people’s livelihood and optimize the mode of economic development. Through the analysis of the causes of haze and based on the synergistic effect, taking the Central China urban agglomeration as an example, from the perspective of public management, this paper puts forward the optimization strategy of regional haze co-governance, by constructing government departments 、 different levels 、 inter-regional intergovernmental coordination mechanisms, mechanisms for communication between local government and enterprises, citizen and local government、 enterprise’s supervision mechanism, scientific research institutions and government、 enterprise’s decision-making staff and technical support mechanism, to form a multi-subject, multi-pronged, seamless haze governance structure, which will prevent and control the tragedy of public sharing, promote the governance of public goods such as the atmosphere, break the administrative limitations of the administrative region, crack the decline of the Central Plains, and the development collapse of central region. It is of great significance to avoid the ecological overload and atmospheric pollution of the Central Plains urban agglomeration and to build a beautiful Central Plains.

Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of haze days and associated factors in China from 1973 to 2017

In recent years, more haze days have been detected with the intensification of air pollution in China. Haze is a serious environmental problem that is influencing human health. This study focuses on revealing the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of haze, haze formation factors, and health risks in China since the reform and opening-up. The purpose of this study is to provide a reference for haze governance and develop suggestions for public health. In this study, haze was identified by visibility and meteorological data from 1973 to 2017. Haze days and visibility on haze days were calculated during this period. By using standard deviation ellipse analysis and principal component regression, we calculated the variation of the haze barycenter, standard deviation in the haze area, and contribution rates of the main influencing factors in nine typical regions. Haze seasonal variation and health risk assessment were also analysed in this study. The results show that the changes in haze in China present as five periods: 1973–1979, 1980–1989, 1990–2001, 2002–2010, and 2011–2017. Haze days in the majority of typical cities in central and eastern China show a tendency of growth or fluctuating growth, and the variation intensified after the 1990s. In most areas, there were about 100 haze days, and the visibility on haze days was approximately 7 km until 2017. The main body of the haze area in China is approximately a diamond-shaped pentagon with BEIJING, CHENGDU, NANNING, GUANGZHOU, and SHANGHAI as the apexes. In addition, GANSU and northeast China are also influenced by haze. The haze situation in typical areas has grown since 1973. The haze centres tended to move outwards, especially from 2002-2010, which was a turning point for haze variation. For most regions, pollutant emissions as well as economic and governance factors were the main contributing factors. Haze has obvious seasonal variation in China. Haze in winter is the heaviest, and then haze in autumn, summer and spring becomes relatively mild. The haze health risk increased sharply and expanded from 1973 to 2017. High- and extremely high-risk areas are still concentrated in the diamond region of the haze area and have expanded along or surround main traffic lines and major cities. Through analysis of the contributions of haze factors in various regions of China, this study suggests that the most important means of haze governance comprise four aspects: I) a reduction of exhaust emissions, II) the implementation of green consumption, travel, and behaviour concepts, III) enhanced governance, and IV) urbanization that is as balanced as possible; furthermore, the development of cities such as enclaves should be promoted to avoid health risks to large cities.

Economic Development and China’s Urban Haze Pollution: Based on Spatial Correlation Networks

China’s urban haze pollution has manifested prominent regional characteristics and spatial interaction, and such spatial interaction has evolved into a spatial network-based structural form. By use of the 2014–2016 real-time monitoring data of 160 Chinese cities, the authors precisely identify the forms of spatial correlation networks, reveal their overall features and microscopic models, and then construct spatial network weights to conduct empirical tests on the relationship between haze pollution and economic development. Studies show that spatial correlation networks featuring compactness, connectivity and superposition have already come into being in China’s urban haze pollution. Cities within the spatial correlation networks of haze pollution are interconnected in a triangle model. In different spatial correlation networks, the Environmental Kuznets Curve of urban haze pollution shows different states. The spatial network of socio-economic correlation, rather than entirely natural correlation, is more suitable for the current situation of haze pollution, which is a forceful retort to the opinions of Reductionism and Natural Determinism. The conclusions indicate that to address China’s haze pollution, it is advisable to keep exploring and improving the inter-regional prevention and control mechanism within the framework of economic cooperation, step up the top-level design and public participation of haze governance, and further consolidate the achievements of Blue Sky Protection Campaign.

Research of Spatial and Temporal Evolution Mechanism and Countermeasures of Haze Spatial Pattern in China: Visual Field Based on Dynamic Evolution and Spatial Agglomeration

In this paper, spatial domain verification of the haze of dependence and the dynamic evolution process of the spatial panel data model was based on the estimation of different factors that influence on the horizon haze effect and spillover effect from the perspective of spatial economics. The study found that the provincial space is dependent on Chinese haze; the influence of haze on neighboring provinces of the spatial spillover effect factors is obvious during the period of 2000∼2015; the effect of elastic coefficient of industrial structures on the haze near the space overflow area energy is high; thus the industrial structure has a significant inhibitory effect on the haze; the role of regional industrial transfer haze governance has been very fruitful; population, economic growth, financial development, and fiscal decentralization to reduce haze inhibiting the spillover effect of regional haze were increasing. In the formulation of haze-related policies and development planning, the government departments must take into account the spatial mechanism of regional haze and influencing factors and realize the overall reduction of haze amount in time dimension and spatial dimension in China.

WSN-aided haze pollution governance: modelling public willingness based on structural equations

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been well investigated and widely used in environmental surveillance, climate data collection, etc. However, research on statistical analysis and decision making aided by WSNs, especially in the area of environmental hazards and risk governance, are rarely presented. In this paper, common factors are extracted, among which the optimal model of haze governance willingness is designed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The relationships between the influencing factors of public haze governance willingness are then analysed. The results show that haze governance and willingness will be affected by the perception of haze risk, quality, measurements and economic expenditure factors. The life impact, travel inconvenience, maximum duration, and the suffering times from haze are the most basic factors affecting haze governance willingness. To achieve the governance of haze, haze measurement and monitoring via a WSN-based network with the collaboration from the public will be feasible and effective.

Research on haze mode countermeasures of PPP comprehensive treatment in the whole process

This paper designs third party governance market, carbon cycle trading two kinds of PPP governance haze model. Analyse the tasks of each stage (Source control, process control, end control) and the relationship between the three main bodies (government, public, haze governance corporation).In order to ensure the normal operation of PPP mode, five guarantee mechanisms have been established(Policy guarantee mechanism, Contractual credit mechanism, Negotiation competition mechanism, Win-win mechanism and Subsidy supervision incentive mechanism).The function and running process of each mechanism are determined, and the haze mode of the whole process of PPP is innovated, which has a good reference significance for the comprehensive management of haze.

Haze Attitudes and the Willingness to Pay for Haze Improvement: Evidence from Four Cities in Shandong Province, China.

Background: Given the health and welfare impacts of haze, haze reduction governance challenges Chinese policy-makers. Surprisingly, there have been no studies of the differences in the public’s willingness to pay (WTP) for haze governance within a province. Yet haze reduction policies are implemented at the provincial level. Based on the contingent valuation method, data on WTP for haze governance across four industrial cities in Shandong province were collected using a questionnaire survey. Method: A combination of stratified sampling and non-probability sampling methods were used, yielding a valid sample of 1006 respondents. The Heckman sample selection model was used to analyze factors determining WTP and WTP amount. Results: 53% of respondents were unwilling to pay for haze reduction, while less than 1% of these respondents were satisfied with Shandong’s air quality. About half (47%) of the respondents were willing to pay, on average, US$14.14 per household per year for haze governance. We found that there were significant inter-city differences in the WTP and WTP amounts: those with a higher income, education, haze knowledge, and haze concern were WTP; age, marital status, and subjective indicators displayed a negative relationship with WTP amount. About two thirds of the non-payers, and those with poor environmental knowledge, argued that air quality improvement was mainly the responsibility of governments (39.3%) and polluters (25.6%), instead of ordinary citizens. Further, 27% of non-payers said that their income was too low to contribute to a pollution tax and 6.3% claimed that they did not believe the funds would be used effectively for environmental conservation. Conclusions: City-specific differences in WTP may caution against “one size fits all” policies. The study indicates that the government may need to target policies to specific cities and the characteristics of residents in those cities by age, education, and income groups and residents’ subjective evaluation of the government and the haze problem and those responsible for pollution.

Supervision mechanism for pollution behavior of Chinese enterprises based on haze governance

Abstract In recent years, severe haze issue has affected every Chinese citizen and it has been attracting more and more attention from both researchers and practitioners. Enterprise is viewed as the culprits causing the haze, and so, it is also an important subject for preventing haze. The aim of the study is to find a government supervision mechanism that can encourage companies to actively prevent haze. Using evolutionary game, two kinds of government's supervision mechanisms are established, namely, “Centralized supervision” and “Long-term regulation”. The conclusion shows that “Long-term regulation” is better than “Centralized supervision”. Because long-term regulation has lower management costs and broader management scope in the long run. And the larger the ratio of the cost of enterprise's abiding by the law to that of violating the law is, the more effective the “Long-term regulation” mechanism will be. As long-term regulatory mechanisms are required to pre-set air quality thresholds, government agencies should promptly adjust the value and make it public. In addition, increasing the initial proportion of enterprises complying with the law is crucial for supervision. And government should create an external environment to encourage enterprises to comply with laws.

Analytical Review on the Trends and Present Situation of Large-scale Sustainable Energy Storage Technology

Energy storage technology is to achieve large-scale access to renewable energy sources; the key technology for improving efficiency, safety and economy of power systems is also to increase the ratio of clean energy to power generation, and effective means of promoting haze governance. By the end of 2015, the total installed capacity of the global energy storage equipment was about 167 GW, about 2.9% of the world's total installed power; the energy storage equipment in China is 22.8 GW, about 1.7% of the total installed power of the country. By 2050, China's energy storage equipment will reach 200 GW; the market size will reach more than 2 trillion RMB. The existing energy storage technologies include pumped storage, compressed air energy storage, flywheel energy storage, superconducting storage, lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries, sodium sulfur batteries, liquid flow batteries and super capacitors. Different energy storage technologies are applicable to different applications and fields, depending on system power and discharge time, the main application areas of energy storage technology can be divided into three parts: energy management, power bridging and power quality management. Future energy storage market development will focus on distributed energy storage, distributed photovoltaic PV + energy storage, Micro grid, distribution network side and user side and other fields. In recent years, China's energy storage industry has accelerated the pace of development in terms of project planning, policy support and capacity layout, in the next few years, with the rapid development of renewable energy industry, the energy storage market will also enjoy rapid growth. However, the energy storage industry in this country is still in the initial stage of development, and it is mainly based on demonstration and application, the commercial application of energy storage faces the high cost of storage and the imperfect market of power exchange. Energy storage technology route is not mature, lack of energy storage, effective price and effective incentives are both opportunities and challenges.

Self-Powered Electrostatic Filter with Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Formaldehyde Based on Built-in Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Recently, atmospheric pollution caused by particulate matter or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has become a serious issue to threaten human health. Consequently, it is highly desirable to develop an efficient purifying technique with simple structure and low cost. In this study, by combining a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and a photocatalysis technique, we demonstrated a concept of a self-powered filtering method for removing pollutants from indoor atmosphere. The photocatalyst P25 or Pt/P25 was embedded on the surface of polymer-coated stainless steel wires, and such steel wires were woven into a filtering network. A strong electric field can be induced on this filtering network by TENG, while both electrostatic adsorption effect and TENG-enhanced photocatalytic effect can be achieved. Rhodamine B (RhB) steam was selected as the pollutant for demonstration. The absorbed RhB on the filter network with TENG in 1 min was almost the same amount of absorption achieved in 15 min without using TENG. Meanwhile, the degradation of RhB was increased over 50% under the drive of TENG. Furthermore, such a device was applied for the degradation of formaldehyde, where degradation efficiency was doubled under the drive of TENG. This work extended the application for the TENG in self-powered electrochemistry, design and concept of which can be possibly applied in the field of haze governance, indoor air cleaning, and photocatalytic pollution removal for environmental protection.

Longing for the Blue Sky—With Green Building to Resist Haze

At the Fifth Plenary Session of the Eighteenth National Committee of the Communist Party of China, the "Five Development Concepts", including the Green Development, have been established, which fully embodies the ecological civilization of our party under the new situation. In this paper, based on extensive research, from the energy structure of China to start, get coal is the main source of haze pollution, especially in winter haze. Through the analysis of energy-saving environmental protection industry, in the "13th Five-Year" period, energy conservation and environmental protection industry will maintain nearly 20% of the high-speed growth. The use of green building to resist haze, through the active promotion of new energy technologies in green building applications, to accelerate the implementation of "green building action program" and the Internet + green building a new model to help strengthen the haze governance, improve air quality.

应对北京雾霾防治的电力行业低碳发展研究

北京市经济飞速发展的同时，严重的环境问题随之而来。尤其是近几年，雾霾天气频发，大气污染已经成为经济发展的阻力。雾霾污染成因复杂，气象原因只是其中的外因，大量污染物的排放是雾霾形成的根本原因。在积极应对雾霾的背景下，北京市电力行业在低碳发展的道路上做出了很大的努力，雾霾防治初见成效，但是离国家标准还存在一定差距，雾霾治理仍是北京市亟待解决的重要问题之一。本文从宏观和微观两个层面深度解析北京市电力行业发展与雾霾之间的关系，为其进一步低碳清洁化发展和北京雾霾防治提供理论依据。 With the rapid development of Beijing’s economy, serious environmental pollution problems ac-companied, especially in recent years. Frequent haze air pollution has become the resistance of economic development. The cause of haze is complicated. Not only the weather, but also the dis-charge of a large number of pollutants is the root cause. It has been made a lot of efforts in the low-carbon development of Beijing power industry. But there is still a gap from the national standard. At present, haze governance is still one of the important issues that the city needs to address. On the macroscopic and microscopic aspects, this paper analyzes the relationship between the development of power industry and the haze in Beijing, and provides the theoretical basis for further low carbon clean development and Beijing haze management.

雾霾治理中加速更新老旧机动车政策法律问题研究

近年来雾霾天气问题愈发猛烈，经济发展和人民身体健康都造成了严重的损害。机动车排放污染作为造成雾霾天气的主要因素之一，一直是雾霾治理工作的重点。同等行使里程条件下，一辆国I标准汽油小客车的排放相当于六辆以上国V标准小客车。因此，雾霾治理的一项重要举措就是加速更新老旧机动车。通过分析机动车污染排放数据，本文以北京市为例剖析了与更新老旧机动车政策有关的法律问题。发现现在实施的补贴和限行措施都存在着一定的问题。通过进一步对美国加州雾霾治理的成熟经验进行研究；笔者为构建我国更新老旧机动车政策长效实施机制，提出推动机动车污染防治专门立法和引入排污权交易两个层面的建议。 In recent years, the haze weather problems have caused serious damage to economic development and people’s health. As one of the main factors causing haze weather, the motor vehicle emission pollution has always been the focus of the haze governance. Under the same exercise mileage, the emission of one national I standard petrolic car is equivalent to six national V standard petrolic cars. Therefore, an important measure of governance haze is to accelerate the update of the old motor vehicle. This paper takes Beijing as an example to analyze the legal issues related to the renewal of the old motor vehicle policy by the analysis of motor vehicle pollution emission data. It is found that there are some problems in the subsidy and the limit line. Through further research on the mature experience of the United States California haze governance, the author puts forward two proposals for constructing the long term implementation mechanism of China’s renewal of old motor vehicles policy. One is to promote the legislation of Motor vehicle pollution prevention and control; the other is to introduce the emission trading.

A Data-Driven Simulation Model for China Haze Monitor and Governance

Recently, the China haze becomes more and more serious, but it is very difficult to model and control it. Here, a data-driven model is introduced for the simulation and monitoring of China haze. First, a multi-dimensional evaluation system is built to evaluate the government performance of China haze. Second, a data-driven model is employed to reveal the operation mechanism of China’s haze and is described as a multi input and multi output system. Third, a prototype system is set up to verify the proposed scheme, and the result provides us with a graphical tool to monitor different haze control strategies.