Improvement Of Environmental Quality Research Articles

Rural Environmental Quality Evaluation Indicator System: Application in Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province

The evaluation of rural environmental quality plays an important role in improving farmers’ quality of life and in realizing a livable, workable, and beautiful countryside. Taking Shangluo City in Shaanxi Province as the study area, 16 indicators across five systems were selected to evaluate the rural environmental quality. The following methods were used in the evaluation: the hierarchical analysis method, the expert scoring method, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The results show the following: (1) The rural environmental quality assessment value of Shangluo City is adequate. (2) In the system layer, the toilet renovation and infrastructure scores were high; however, the household sewage treatment and the construction and management mechanisms need to be improved. (3) According to an IPA quadrant diagram, the importance and satisfaction values for each index varied significantly. The management of black, foul-smelling water bodies and action on environmental remediation emerged as key to improving rural environmental quality. This study can provide a reference for the comprehensive improvement of rural environmental quality in other areas of Shaanxi Province.

Can environmental regulation foster incremental enhancement and quality improvement in green technological innovation under the background of the digital development?

Can environmental regulation foster incremental enhancement and quality improvement in green technological innovation under the background of the digital development?

Severity of environmental degradation and the impact on quality of life in Africa

Considering the mounting impacts of environmental degradation on the global ecosystem, this study offers an empirical contribution to the debate on whether there exists a significant nexus between environmental degradation and quality of life in Africa. Towards this end, we employ several econometric techniques to account for cross-sectional dependence, causality, and also present results based on IV-Lewbel 2SLS regression. Using a sample of African countries, the results indicate cross-sectional dependence due to spill-over effects from common factors in Africa, while the panel cointegration test affirms that environmental degradation have long-term consequences for quality of life only in sub-Saharan African region. Moreover, our results reveal a unidirectional causality between environmental degradation variables and quality of life at both the continent and sub-Saharan African region levels while a bi-directional causality between these variables are revealed for North Africa. On this evidence, our conjecture is that increased mineral extraction, greenhouse gas emissions, and deforestation, amongst other factors, may be driving this result. Hence, improvement in environmental quality in the continent would have an increasingly beneficial effects on the well-being and survival of the populace. The varied impacts across regions also suggest that policy initiatives toward mitigating the effects of environmental degradation should consider regional dynamics of the continent.

Program of Improving Quality of Village Residential Environment in Ngabang District

Management of the Environmental Quality Improvement Program for Village Settlements in Ngabang District, Landak Regency. The increase in population in Landak Regency is also accompanied by an increase in the number of poor people, this is an existing reality. Its government, which holds the power, should try to overcome this problem. This program aims to help poor people who live in poor environments. This Rural Settlement Program is carried out in Ngabang District, Landak Regency. This study aimed to find out the implementation of the program to improve the quality of the village residential environment in Ngabang District, and about community initiatives and participation in the program to improve the quality of the village residential environment in Ngabang District, Landak Regency. Research methods and data analysis were done using descriptive qualitative techniques. The results of this research indicate that in order for the program to improve the quality of the village residential environment to achieve its targets, coordination between the agencies involved is needed. Before it is implemented, the government needs to socialize the program with the community. Transparency is needed in the program to avoid intervention by groups who do not understand and require participation from the community, so that the implementation gets the expected results.
 Keywords: culture, progress, regional strategy, Border Dayak Community

Characteristics and Release Risk of Phosphorus from Sediments in a Karst Canyon Reservoir, China

With the continuous improvement of surface water environmental quality in China, sediment has gradually become the focus of research on internal pollution in reservoirs. To investigate the forms, distribution, and migration patterns of phosphorus in karst canyon reservoir sediments, we employed an improved sequential graded extraction method to determine phosphorus content in the sediments of the Wanfeng Reservoir. We studied the spatial distribution characteristics and release risk of phosphorus form in the sediments. The results showed that the total phosphorus (TP) content ranged from 79.37 to 438.04 mg·kg−1, while inorganic phosphorus (IP) content ranged from 77.32 to 424.64 mg·kg−1. Iron–aluminum-bound inorganic phosphorus (Fe/Al-Pi) accounted for 36.41% and was found to be the dominant form of IP. Organic phosphorus (OP) content ranged from 1.84 to 13.59 mg·kg−1, with weakly adsorbed organic phosphorus (H2O-Po) being the dominant form of OP. Potentially active inorganic phosphorus (NaHCO3-Pi) showed a highly significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) with Fe/Al-Pi, residual phosphorus (Res-P), and TP. This indicates that potentially active phosphorus (NaHCO3-P) is a significant potential source of phosphorus (P) in the reservoir. Biologically active phosphorus (BAP) content ranged from 66.97 to 201.46 mg·kg−1, with BAP/TP ratios ranging from 55.6% to 59.6%. The risk of phosphorus release from Wanfeng Reservoir sediments is high. The release of various forms of phosphorus from sediments is one of the important factors leading to the deterioration of water quality in the reservoir area in the future. To effectively manage water ecology in karst canyon reservoirs, it is essential to reduce the risk of endogenous phosphorus release.

The Load-Bearing System from the Perspective of Sustainable Building

The building sector has a great potential to achieve goals for sustainable development by promoting environmental quality, economic effectiveness, and social improvement. One aspect that can possibly be considered in this context is the design of the building structure. The purpose of this case study is to investigate how the choice of a load-bearing system of building can affect the amount of concrete and steel reinforcement used in the foundation and its impact on the economy and environment. An alternative structural system of an existing building is proposed. The load-bearing frame walls and spread concrete foundations under walls are replaced by load-bearing timber columns that are placed on separate concrete footing pads. The results show that the amount of concrete and steel in the proposed system have considerably been decreased compared to the reference building. Consequently, this results in minimizing the construction costs as well as the resulting emissions of carbon dioxide into the environment.This case study reviews practical engineering design aspects that can be used by structural and construction engineers to help achieve sustainability goals of the built environment.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water of Changshou Lake Reservoir, Chongqing

To understand the water pollution status and environmental risks of Changshou Lake, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) in the water were collected and analyzed during different seasons. The study investigated temporal and spatial variations, distribution characteristics, pollution levels, and health risks associated with heavy metals in Changshou Lake. The results showed that all six heavy metals were below than the Class Ⅰ standard of the Surface Water Environmental Quality Standard (GB 3838-2002), but recent years have witnessed an increasing trend, with Cu, As, and Pb showing a significant increase (P<0.05). The temporal and spatial distributions of these heavy metals were different. Temporally, Cr and Cd concentrations in surface water were higher in summer, As and Zn were higher in spring, and Pb and Cu were higher in autumn and winter. Spatially, the concentrations of Cr, As, Cu, Zn, and Pb showed higher concentrations in the southern outlet of the reservoir, the northwestern Longxi River inlet, and the central part of the reservoir, whereas Cd was higher in the northern stagnant area. The overall levels of heavy metals in the water body of Changshou Lake were low, with Cr and Cu slightly polluted, while other heavy metals were identified as having an insignificant pollution level. Drinking water was the primary exposure pathway to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic heavy metals in surface water bodies. The health risk values of Cr and As in water bodies were high, ranging from 6.2×10-10 to 3.0×10-4 and 5.1×10-8 to 3.9×10-5, respectively. The corresponding contribution rates for children and adults to the total health risk were high, with Cr accounting for 87.18% and 87.20%, respectively, while As accounted for 12.73% and 12.71%, respectively. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize environmental risks associated with Cr and Cu, as well as the health risks associated with Cr and As in Changshou Lake These findings provide a scientific foundation for water pollution control and environmental quality improvement in Changshou Lake, and rational development and utilization of water resources.

Indoor environmental comfort in an antarctic research station: A case study

The indoor environmental quality of research stations requires attention and constant improvement due to the harsh polar climatic conditions. We conducted a case study at an Antarctic research station from March 2021 to November 2022. Indoor and outdoor condition monitoring and questionnaire surveys with the occupants were conducted to obtain environmental parameters and subjective evaluations. Twenty-six participants were surveyed, and 355 sets of measurement data and subjective questionnaires were obtained. An analysis of environmental evaluations and adaptation behaviors demonstrated that more than 80% of the participants expected the indoor temperature to remain unchanged, and over 40% desired improvements in humidity, air quality, and overall environmental quality. Opening windows was the most common environmental adaptation behavior made by participants. However, they had high expectations for the overall environment, indicating the demand for diverse and effective environmental adaptive options in interior design. Moreover, we analyzed the weighting coefficients of the influence of various environmental evaluations on overall environmental perceptions and the correlations between them. The results revealed the importance of the thermal environment and air quality on overall evaluations. Regressions yielded thermal neutral temperature ranges of 18.4–21.3 °C and acceptable temperature ranges, at which 90% of participants were satisfied, of 21.6–26.7 °C. These results could guide future assessments of the indoor environmental comfort at Antarctic stations and help create polar building environments suitable for work and life.

Research Progress on the Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Water by Activated Persulfate Using Biochar-Loaded Nano Zero-Valent Iron.

Biochar (BC) is a new type of carbon material with a high specific surface area, porous structure, and good adsorption capacity, which can effectively adsorb and enrich organic pollutants. Meanwhile, nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) has excellent catalytic activity and can rapidly degrade organic pollutants through reduction and oxidation reactions. The combined utilization of BC and nZVI can not only give full play to their advantages in the adsorption and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants, but also help to reduce the agglomeration of nZVI, thus improving its efficiency in water treatment and providing strong technical support for water resources protection and environmental quality improvement. This article provides a detailed introduction to the preparation method and characterization technology, reaction mechanism, influencing factors, and specific applications of BC and nZVI, and elaborates on the research progress of BC-nZVI in activating persulfate (PS) to degrade organic pollutants in water. It has been proven experimentally that BC-nZVI can effectively remove phenols, dyes, pesticides, and other organic pollutants. Meanwhile, in response to the existing problems in current research, this article proposes future research directions and challenges, and summarizes the application prospects and development trends of BC-nZVI in water treatment. In summary, BC-nZVI-activated PS is an efficient technology for degrading organic pollutants in water, providing an effective solution for protecting water resources and improving environmental quality, and has significant application value.

The health and welfare effects of environmental governance: Evidence from China

Environmental regulations aim to reduce pollution and improve air quality and the health of residents. However, there is a lack of research focusing on the health and welfare effects of low-carbon city pilot policies. In this context, this study takes China’s low-carbon city pilot policy as an entry point, focuses on the health effects of public environmental governance, and systematically investigates the effects and mechanisms of low-carbon city development on the health of middle-aged and elderly people by applying the difference-in-differences method. The study finds that low-carbon city (LCC) policy significantly improves the physical and mental health of middle-aged and elderly people, and the main transmission mechanism is the reduction in air pollution and improvement in social capital. These results hold following a series of robustness tests. Furthermore, low-carbon city construction can reduce hospitalization and outpatient costs for people over 45 years old by up to 3 % and 15.5 %, respectively. The findings of this study provide useful policy insights for ensuring sustainable improvement in environmental quality and public health.

Development of ultra-low emission prediction model for steel enterprises based on ARIMA

The iron and steel industry is an important raw material industry in the country, but also a large air pollutant emission. In the face of the increasing environmental standards and requirements of the country, promoting the implementation of ultra-low emissions in the steel industry, significantly reducing pollutant emissions, promoting continuous improvement of environmental quality[1], and accelerating green low-carbon transformation and high-quality development are the general trend and industry needs. According to the promotion requirements of ultra-low emission work in Baoshan Base, the ultra-low emission application system was developed to meet the ultra-low emission control requirements. Using the ultra-low emission monitoring data of Nanjing Mei shan the parameters p, d and q were first determined, and then the ultra-low emission differential autoregressive moving average (ARIMA) prediction model was established.

Optimization strategy of community planning for environmental health and public health in smart city under multi-objectives.

As population density increases, environmental hygiene and public health become increasingly severe. As the space where residents stay for the longest time and have the most profound impact on their physical and mental health, the quality of the environment in urban communities largely determines the degree to which residents engage in physical activity, bear the risk of pollution exposure, and obtain healthy food. Therefore, in order to ensure the physical and mental health of residents, this study proposes community planning guided by environmental hygiene and public health, and establishes an environmental health assessment system for this purpose. This system evaluates the community environment from four aspects: land use, service facilities, site convenience, and environmental quality. Established the diversity, density, road network connectivity and facilities accessibility nine criteria, as well as the land function of mix, plot ratio, food environment, network ring and connected index, pavement risk level, green configuration and neighborhood material environment disorder degree of 27 indicators of community built environmental evaluation index system. The data is collected through field survey, questionnaire distribution, resident interview and data mapping, and the established evaluation index system is used to evaluate the construction environment of the community. The experimental research data included population data, CAD plan, land use data, street data, POI point data, building data and bus station data, etc. 273 questionnaires were distributed, 264 were recovered, 8 invalid questionnaires were removed, and 256 valid questionnaires were obtained. These experiments confirm that land use, service facilities, site convenience, and environmental quality have a significant impact on the built environment of communities, with impact weights of 0.513, 0.227, 0.135, and 0.125, respectively. The above weights are calculated based on the index judgment matrix and the eigenvectors. The scores of land use, service facilities, site convenience, and environmental quality for the study subjects were 3.44, 1.46, 0.94, and 0.51, respectively, among them, the land use score is less than 3.85, the 1 service facility score is less than 1.71, the site convenience score is less than 1.01, and the environmental quality score is less than 0.94; indicating that the community has serious problems such as single land use types, pollution exposure, and difficulty in obtaining healthy food. Therefore, community planning and transformation based on land use, service facilities, venue convenience, and environmental quality can effectively improve the physical and mental health of residents. In the specific community transformation plan, artificial intelligence and data-driven methods can be used to optimize the land use plan, service facility configuration, site convenience transformation and environmental quality improvement, so as to formulate the optimal community transformation plan and improve the comfort and happiness of community residents. In the future, on the basis of the existing research, the selection of community types will be further enriched and the research cases will be expanded. And through the in-depth practical study of the case, the constructed evaluation index system is optimized and improved to make it more scientific. At the same time, as urban renewal and design have entered the era of stock planning, based on the more perfect evaluation index system, more specific and detailed system discussion of the built communities with public health problems, in order to provide more detailed services for the construction of a better and healthy living environment in the future.

Do renewable energy and human capital facilitate the improvement of environmental quality in the United States? A new perspective on environmental issues with the load capacity factor

Recently, countries have been making intensive efforts to alleviate the burden on the environment and to make environmental conditions sustainable. In this context, our study aims to investigate the long-term impact of renewable energy consumption (REC) and human capital (HC) by considering the load capacity factor (LCF). We also investigate the long-term impact of economic growth (Y) and non-renewable energy consumption (NREC) on the LCF. In this context, we analyze annual data for the U.S. for the period 1965–2018 using the newly developed augmented ARDL (AARDL) approach. The long-term empirical results show the following. i) Increases in Y negatively affect LCF and deteriorate environmental quality. ii) Increases in NREC negatively affect LCF and accelerate the deterioration of environmental quality. iii) REC has no significant impact on environmental quality. iv) Increases in HC support the improvement of environmental quality. The empirical results show that contrary to expectations, renewable energy consumption does not have a significant impact on environmental quality in the U.S., whereas human capital is an important factor in improving environmental quality. In this context, US policymakers should pave the way for more investment in eco-friendly renewable energy investments and human capital to establish sustainable environmental quality. Policymakers should also take steps to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Are Design Strategies for High-Performance Buildings Really Effective? Results from One Year of Monitoring of Indoor Microclimate and Envelope Performance of a Newly Built nZEB House in Central Italy

As buildings are one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, they have a key potential for energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality improvement. Therefore, the development of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs) is strategic to respond to these challenges and to design and retrofit sustainable highly performing buildings. Actually, the nZEB target can also be reached with highly insulated wooden technologies. However, they must be critically revised and adapted when taking into account the warm climate peculiarities. The paper contributes to this attempt by dealing with the implementation of a methodology specifically focused on the long-term assessment of the real building envelope performance. The methodology is applied to a recently built wooden nZEB detached single-story dwelling constructed in 2017 in central Italy. One year monitoring data were collected about the envelope in-field dynamic performance and the indoor microclimate and well-being conditions. The theoretical design-stage data and the monitored data were compared. The positive aspects as well as the critical issues of nZEB target in the Mediterranean climate context and the performance gap were underlined. Accordingly, the main aspects to be considered in the design of nZEBs envelope were highlighted.

ІНТЕГРАЦІЯ ПРИНЦИПІВ SMART-CITY ТА ЗАПРОВАДЖЕННЯ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНИХ ІННОВАЦІЙ У ПРОЦЕС ПІСЛЯВОЄННОЇ ВІДБУДОВИ БЛАГОУСТРОЮ АДМІНІСТРАТИВНО-ТЕРИТОРІАЛЬНИХ ОДИНИЦЬ

The article explores the possibilities and challenges of integrating Smart City principles and energy innovations into the post-war reconstruction process of administrative-territorial units. In today's world, where environmental pollution and efficient use of energy resources are becoming increasingly critical, implementing energy-efficient projects in urban development has become necessary for community development. One of the essential aspects of successfully implementing energy-efficient projects is their integration into the city's strategic planning. To address challenges such as financial constraints and technical difficulties, implementing energy-efficient projects will bring numerous benefits, including emission reduction, energy consumption reduction, and improvement of urban environment quality. Since many urban amenities in Ukraine having suffered damage during the war, there is an increased opportunity for the restoration of progressive and modern spaces using advanced technologies. This new stage of reconstruction includes adopting innovative approaches, such as using alternative energy sources, implementing energy-saving systems, introducing Smart City principles, greening territories, and more. This opens up opportunities for creating modern, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient spaces that improve the quality of life and restore administrative-territorial units' infrastructure. The article explores key concepts such as smart technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable development while presenting the fundamental principles and mechanisms for implementing these principles in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Utilizing the case-study method, the article highlights the best practices for implementing Smart City principles worldwide. Additionally, the authors examine the advantages and obstacles associated with adopting these principles.

Industrial Heat Source-Related PM2.5 Concentration Estimates and Analysis Using New Three-Stage Model in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region

The prevalent high-energy, high-pollution and high-emission economic model has led to significant air pollution challenges in recent years. The industrial sector in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region is a notable source of atmospheric pollutants, with industrial heat sources (IHSs) being primary contributors to this pollution. Effectively managing emissions from these sources is pivotal for achieving air pollution control goals in the region. A new three-stage model using multi-source long-term data was proposed to estimate atmospheric, delicate particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations caused by IHS. In the first stage, a region-growing algorithm was used to identify the IHS radiation areas. In the second and third stages, based on a seasonal trend decomposition procedure based on Loess (STL), multiple linear regression, and U-convLSTM models, IHS-related PM2.5 concentrations caused by meteorological and anthropogenic conditions were removed using long-term data from 2012 to 2021. Finally, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal variations in IHS-related PM2.5 concentrations in the BTH region. The findings reveal that PM2.5 concentrations in IHS radiation areas were higher than in background areas, with approximately 33.16% attributable to IHS activities. A decreasing trend in IHS-related PM2.5 concentrations was observed. Seasonal and spatial analyses indicated higher concentrations in the industrially dense southern region, particularly during autumn and winter. Moreover, a case study in Handan’s She County demonstrated dynamic fluctuations in IHS-related PM2.5 concentrations, with notable reductions during periods of industrial inactivity. Our results aligned closely with previous studies and actual IHS operations, showing strong positive correlations with related industrial indices. This study’s outcomes are theoretically and practically significant for understanding and addressing the regional air quality caused by IHSs, contributing positively to regional environmental quality improvement and sustainable industrial development.

Impact of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Resources on CO2 Emission: Empirical Evidence from SAARC

When assessing sustainability performance, researchers often ignore the implications of combining energy, economic, and environmental factors. To address this void, we assess the consequence of energy dis-aggregation proceeding carbon emissions in SAARC nations. The majority of energy resources are renewable and non-renewable, which contributes to a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. This study aims to provide a thorough understanding of the energy utilization dioxide emissions nexus. The panel data sets covering the period 1971-2020 for the SAARC nations have been used for analysis. The data set was used to assess the effect of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on emissions of carbon dioxide by factoring in other CO2-producing variables such as urbanization, primary and secondary education, globalization, and economic development. Panel Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) was used to examine the connection. According to research comparing the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption upon Carbon dioxide emission, whereas non-renewable energy consumption increases CO2 emissions, renewable energy consumption decreases them. Urbanization, globalization, primary education, and economic growth increase carbon emissions, while secondary education contributes to environmental quality improvement via CO2 reduction. Therefore, increasing the usage of renewable energy and enhancing awareness through higher education may help SAARC nations to reduce pollution emissions.

Climate finance in developing countries: green budget tagging and resource mobilization

ABSTRACT Information on the benefits of green budget tagging (Green budget tagging refers to itemization and linking of every budget item with climate action, mitigation, adaptation, or both) in developing countries could help boost the uptake of this practice and in turn help these same developing countries to mobilize climate-related development finance. We apply double differences in means econometric analytical approach to evaluate the association between green budget tagging (GBT) and target outcome variables of climate-related finance and CO2 emissions. The results show that all 32 developing countries that have undertaken green budget tagging are also associated with larger inflows of climate-related finance. Among the adopters, climate-related finance inflows have been significantly larger for countries with externally-initiated green budget tagging than for those with internally-initiated tagging. The results also show that a minimum level of climate-related finance is required to achieve CO2 emissions reduction. However, the current mean yearly inflow of climate-related development finance falls short of the level that drives emissions reduction. These findings point to the importance of green budget tagging and to the need to upscale climate-related finance inflows to propel improvement in environmental quality. Although green budget tagging is a useful tool for mobilizing external development finance, current external finance inflows are insufficient to achieve ambitious emission reductions. Immense effort is therefore required to mobilize the adequate scale of climate-related finance from both external and other sources.

Illuminating the contributions of fintech, mineral resources, and foreign direct investment in alleviating environmental issues: An empirical analysis

The present study uncovers the complex relationship of financial technology (Fintech), mineral resources, and foreign direct investment with carbon mitigation by considering twenty economies in the Middle Eastern and North African region. Employing the CS-ARDL model, we meticulously account for time-invariant characteristics and distill the net impact of these key factors on carbon emissions. Our analysis spans the two-decade period from 2000 to 2020 and the robust empirical findings illuminate a promising way forward to mitigate environmental challenges for the region under consideration. Notably, according to the results, mineral resources emerge as a linchpin in promoting clean energy adoption across the selected economies and ultimately helping to control carbon emissions. Furthermore, fintech and FDI both are significant sources of increased funds availability for environmentally friendly projects and those emerging as catalysts for accelerating clean energy adoption and achieving carbon mitigation targets in the region. In short, our study underscores the pivotal role played by fintech, mineral resources, and FDI inflow in shaping the energy landscape for a clean environment. The study suggests that improvement in fintech promotes access to capital, promotes sustainable development, fosters knowledge and wise use of mineral resources, and ultimately helps to improve environment quality. In conclusion, this study offers valuable policy recommendations to empower policymakers in charting the sustainable use of mineral resources and advancing the fintech future for a healthy natural environment for the MENA region.

Market or regulation? The competition effect between green finance and environmental enforcement on environmental quality and its "dominate-follow" pattern.

Current research on environmental instruments often isolates the two mainstream types, market-based and regulation-based, overlooking their real-world interactions. In response, the intensity gap variable (EII_GAP) is constructed to link various instruments into a united system. Thus, based on the spatial econometrics of the spatial panel Durbin model (SPDM), the collective effects between market- and regulation-based environmental instruments on environmental quality are explored. Moreover, the political strategies for maximizing environmental benefits are discussed. Results show that the interaction pattern between market- and regulation-based environmental instruments on environmental quality is characterized by competition rather than cooperation. A unit widening in the intensity gap leads to 17 to 18% and 12 to 18% units of environmental quality improvement in local and adjacent areas, respectively. Furthermore, the "dominate-follow" approach as the most effective mode for maximizing environmental effects is proposed. This study recommends employing one type of instrument as the dominant while the other as the auxiliary. In provinces where one kind of environmental instrument takes domination, the environmental quality could be increased by around 8 to 113% after taking another contrary instrument as the auxiliary.