Regions Of Province Research Articles

Progression of an emission inventory of China integrating CO2 with air pollutants: A chance to learn the influence of development on emissions

An emission inventory, involving both air pollutants (APs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs), is needed so that the questions of air pollution and climate change can be co-addressed, coordinated, and collaborated upon. In this study, an emission inventory, including both APs and CO2 (representing GHGs), was developed for China 2019 using two special measures. First, the framework of air pollution source classification was used for the integrative inventory and then the CO2 emissions for each sector/subsector/source in the GHG inventory were precisely arranged into the framework of APs by every possible means such as drawing on the constraints from the International Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC), which enabled the sharing of common or intrinsically connected activity data for both APs and CO2. Second, an attempt was made to deduce the activity data of various industrial processes through proper interpretation of the information carried in Pollutant Permits. The calculated emissions of APs and CO2 were found to be comparable to the results of other studies. Additionally, the average per capita CO2 and pollution equivalents (PEs) were 10.29 ± 6.75 tons and 11.72 ± 7.35 tons, respectively, over the provincial regions with per capita gross domestic product (GDP) lower than ￥70000 (about $10000). Whereas the average per capita CO2 and PEs dropped to 6.10 ± 1.83 tons and 6.70 ± 2.09 tons, respectively, over the provincial regions with per capita GDP higher than ￥70000. This somewhat supports the philosophy of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) regarding the close connection between emission and development. Moreover, the two emission intensities (for APs and CO2) were found to vary synchronously among the provinces, reflecting the inter-linked fates of the two emissions under the control measures oriented toward either APs or GHGs.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease Care in Canada: Has Quality of Care Improved in the Last Decade?

BackgroundPatients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) are at increased risk of comorbidity and death compared with the age-matched population. Specialized care is shown to improve survival. The purpose of this study was to analyze current measures of quality of care in Canada compared with those published by our group in 2012. MethodsA survey focusing on structure and process measures of care quality in 2020 was sent to 15 ACHD centres registered with the Canadian Adult Congenital Heart Network. For each domain of quality, comparisons were made with those published in 2012. ResultsIn Canada, 36,708 patients with ACHD received specialized care between 2019 and 2020. Ninety-five cardiologists were affiliated with ACHD centres. The median number of patients per ACHD clinic was 2000 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1050, 2875). Compared with the 2012 results, this represents a 68% increase in patients with ACHD but only a 19% increase in ACHD cardiologists. Compared with 2012, all procedural volumes increased with cardiac surgeries, increasing by 12% and percutaneous intervention by 22%. Wait time for nonurgent consults and interventions all exceeded national recommendations by an average of 7 months and had increased compared with 2012 by an additional 2 months. Variability in resources were noted across provincial regions. ConclusionsOver the past 10 years, ACHD care gaps have persisted, and personnel and infrastructure have not kept pace with estimates of ACHD population growth. Strategies are needed to improve and reduce disparity in ACHD care relative to training, staffing, and access to improved care for Canadians with ACHD.

Release Proceeding: the Zbiroh Manor Farm Estate in the Years 1670–1690

The present paper focuses on the release proceeding of the serfs on the Chamber estates of Točník, Zbiroh and Králův Dvůr in the years 1670–1690, i.e. during the office of the governor Ignatius Sebastian de Bois. The process was controlled by both provincial regulations, such as the Renewed Provincial Ordinance, and overlord regulations, such as the instructions for the governor. However, the exact release proceeding has not yet been described, so the thesis attempts to shed light on the process that both the serfs and the overlords had to undergo in order to issue a letter of release. The thesis concludes with the hypothesis that the mechanisms described are applicable to other chambered estates in the second half of the 17th century. The basis of the thesis are microhistorical probes, which, in conjunction with a quantitative-qualitative approach, allow to capture both the overall picture of the release proceedings and its individual aspects in detail.

Sosialisasi Peraturan Daerah Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan Nomor 5 Tahun 2022 Tentang Fasilitas Pencegahan dan Pemberantasan Penyalagunaan, Peredaran Gelap Narkotika, dan Prekursor Narkotika

One of the problems in South Sulawesi is the factor of narcotics abuse and distribution, so recently regional regulation No. 5 of 2022 concerning facilities for preventing and eradicating the misuse and illicit traffic of narcotics and narcotics precursors. The solution is conducting outreach by holding legal seminars in the KKN-T work program. This socialization aims to discover policies on prevention, abuse, and illicit distribution of narcotics and narcotics precursors. Therefore, from the results of the research and discussion, this legal seminar activity made us fully understand the effectiveness of the South Sulawesi provincial regulation number 5 of 2022. Concerning facilities for preventing and eradicating the abuse and illicit traffic of narcotics and narcotics precursors as well as the quality dimensions of a program ( P4GN), is considered effective. However, it is necessary to have adequate facilities and infrastructure as well as other programs that support eradicating, abusing, and illicit narcotics (P4GN). This paper aims to empower all the potential at all levels of society to consciously carry out movements to oppose/reject the abuse and eradication of illicit narcotics and narcotics precursors

SinoLC-1: the first 1 m resolution national-scale land-cover map of China created with a deep learning framework and open-access data

Abstract. In China, the demand for a more precise perception of the national land surface has become most urgent given the pace of development and urbanization. Constructing a very-high-resolution (VHR) land-cover dataset for China with national coverage, however, is a nontrivial task. Thus, this has become an active area of research that is impeded by the challenges of image acquisition, manual annotation, and computational complexity. To fill this gap, the first 1 m resolution national-scale land-cover map of China, SinoLC-1, was established using a deep-learning-based framework and open-access data, including global land-cover (GLC) products, OpenStreetMap (OSM), and Google Earth imagery. Reliable training labels were generated by combining three 10 m GLC products and OSM data. These training labels and 1 m resolution images derived from Google Earth were used to train the proposed framework. This framework resolved the label noise stemming from a resolution mismatch between images and labels by combining a resolution-preserving backbone, a weakly supervised module, and a self-supervised loss function, to refine the VHR land-cover results automatically without any manual annotation requirement. Based on large-storage and computing servers, processing the 73.25 TB dataset to obtain the SinoLC-1 covering the entirety of China, ∼ 9 600 000 km2, took about 10 months. The SinoLC-1 product was validated using a visually interpreted validation set including over 100 000 random samples and a statistical validation set collected from the official land survey report provided by the Chinese government. The validation results showed that SinoLC-1 achieved an overall accuracy of 73.61 % and a κ coefficient of 0.6595. Validations for every provincial region further indicated the accuracy of this dataset across the whole of China. Furthermore, the statistical validation results indicated that SinoLC-1 conformed to the official survey reports with an overall misestimation rate of 6.4 %. In addition, SinoLC-1 was compared with five other widely used GLC products. These results indicated that SinoLC-1 had the highest spatial resolution and the finest landscape details. In conclusion, as the first 1 m resolution national-scale land-cover map of China, SinoLC-1 delivered accuracy and provided primal support for related research and applications throughout China. The SinoLC-1 land-cover product is freely accessible at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7707461 (Li et al., 2023).

Navigating China's carbon neutrality journey: insights from policy instruments and implementation strategies across provincial regions.

China's critical reliance on well-crafted public policies, coupled with the effective execution of central government directives at the local level, drives the achievement of the "dual carbon" goal including the peaking of CO2 emissions and attaining carbon neutrality. Therefore, examining policy records can unveil the holistic strategy for attaining carbon neutrality during the period of peak CO2 emissions; at the same time, it can also highlight the potential obstacles in policy implementation. In this study, we adopt a policy instruments perspective to investigate data related to policies addressing peak CO2 emissions across 29 provincial administrative regions in China. We apply Nvivo12 software to conduct a quantitative literature assessment and content analysis to establish a theoretical framework for the policy process. This framework encompasses dimensions such as political feasibility, regional coordination, attributes of low-carbon initiatives, and policy refinement. Subsequently, we employ the model to carry out a retrospective analysis of policy documents pertaining to peak CO2 emissions in China. Our research findings underscore the pivotal role of political feasibility in shaping policy effectiveness, while also highlighting the facilitative influence of regional coordination, shedding light on the essential synergy between provinces and cities in achieving emissions reduction goals. Similarly, the estimated results highlight the motivating impact of specific attributes within low-carbon initiatives. Moreover, policy enhancements are identified as a critical driver in advancing the path toward carbon neutrality. Consequently, to achieve the objective of carbon neutrality, it is imperative for every province and city to sequentially reach the peak of CO2 emissions. Our research offers a comprehensive "China strategy," providing valuable insights to guide future policy formulation and accelerate progress toward sustainable environmental objectives.

Coupling coordination evaluation and driving path of digital economy and carbon emission efficiency in China: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis based on 30 provinces.

Enhancing the level of coupling coordination between the digital economy (DIE) and carbon emission efficiency (CEE) is not only an inevitable choice for achieving the goals of energy conservation and emission reduction and promoting green development in China, but also a key path to implementing China's "Double Carbon" strategy. Based on the relevant statistical data of 30 provincial-level regions in China from the period covering 2011 to 2019, this paper empirically analyzed the coupling coordination between the DIE and CEE and its influencing factors. In this study, an improved coupling coordination degree (CCD) model was used to evaluate the degree of the coupling and coordinated development of the DIE and CEE in provincial regions of China. Finally, based on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was employed to identify the realization path of the coupling and coordinated development of the DIE and CEE from the perspective of configuration. The results demonstrated that the coupling coordination between the DIE and CCE in China demonstrated a gradual upward trend, and exhibited regional differences, showing a decreasing trend of east > middle > west. Regarding the influencing factors, no single influencing factor could act as a necessary condition for the high CCD, the coupling and coordinated development of the DIE and CEE is a multifactorial synergy. There were five paths for the high degree of coupling coordination between the DIE and CEE, which were divided into three types: organization-environment-led type, environment-led type, and technology-organization-led type. Furthermore, technological innovation level and industrial structure could substitute for one another in some conditions, and environmental regulation and economic development level were synchronized. These conclusions provide a theoretical basis for countries to formulate policies to promote the coupling and coordinated development of their DIE and CEE.

Analisis Kelayakan Kampung Namicalung Menjadi Desa Wisata Sarung Tenun Legendaris Majalaya

Woven textiles, a vital aspect of Indonesia's cultural heritage, greatly influence the Nusantara archipelago's identity. Majalaya in West Java, known as the "Dollar City," has been a flourishing center for weaving since 1920, notably contributing to the production of woven sarongs, meeting 47% of national demand. In this textile-rich region, Namicalung Village has earned its place in history as a center for sarong weaving, notably recognized for its "poleng" motif. Namicalung's residents aspire to establish the village as a legendary sarong-weaving tourist destination in Majalaya, complying with Provincial Regulation Number 7 of 2020. In pursuing this development, Namicalung must meet specific standards regarding accessibility, amenities, attractions, and institutionalization. A "tourism village" blends attractions, accommodations, and supporting facilities, respecting local traditions and practices. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive feasibility analysis to provide practical guidance for Namicalung's development as a sarong-weaving tourism destination. The research methodology employs an analytical approach to assess various aspects, including tourism potential, infrastructure, economic impacts, and visitor experiences. The outcomes of this research hold significant value in evaluating the overall feasibility of transforming Namicalung Village into a Sarong Weaving Tourism Destination in Majalaya that can assist the local community and stakeholders in taking relevant steps toward the development of an attractive and sustainable tourism destination.

Digital Economy and Intelligent Manufacturing Coupling Coordination: Evidence from China

The digital economy uses its own digital information advantages to reduce the intensity of energy consumption brought by economic growth. Intelligent manufacturing achieves cost reduction and efficiency through the integration of manufacturing and intelligence as well as digitalization and information technology. The two have become a new engine for sustainable economic development at present, and they can promote and influence each other. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship between them. In this regard, this study aims to build a coupling coordination model of digital economy and intelligent manufacturing and to make an empirical analysis using the data of Chinese provincial administrative regions in order to provide a theoretical reference for promoting sustainable economic development. The research finds that (1) the digital economy and intelligent manufacturing are mainly cross-coupled from four aspects: infrastructure, technological innovation, product optimization and organizational change. The development level and speed of the former are significantly higher than those of the latter, and the gap does not decrease with time. The two have a strong correlation, but there is no high-quality coupling coordination. (2) The main obstacle factors to the digital economy lie in the imperfect supporting facilities, the short board of technological innovation and the lack of technological application capacity. Intelligent manufacturing lacks intelligent application and technological innovation. (3) Influencing factors such as opening to the outside world, economic development, high-level talent input, industrial structure and innovation emphasis have different effects on their coupling and coordinated development in different regions. (4) The spatial correlation test shows that the coupling coordination degree of each region is spatially positively correlated. This research helps to promote the coupling and coordinated development of the digital economy and intelligent manufacturing.

Can China's carbon intensity constraint policies improve carbon emission performance? Evidence from regional carbon emissions

Carbon Intensity Constraint Policies (CICPs) are vital for addressing climate change challenges and advancing sustainable development. Since 2010, China has rolled out three five-year CICPs. However, there is limited understanding of their impact on carbon emission performance (CEP). Addressing this, this study pioneers the exploration of the CICP's impact on China's CEP. Drawing from government intervention and green paradox theories, this study highlights a concerning scenario: local governments achieve emission targets via excessive intervention. For deeper insights, this study melds the overall technology frontier concept with a non-radial, non-angle directional distance function, introducing a novel efficiency model rooted in the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. This offers a CEP measure across 30 Chinese provincial regions from 2002 to 2019. Using the quasi-difference-in-differences (quasi-DID) and moderated mediation models, this study ascertains the presence of the green paradox, uncovers its reasons, and suggests mitigation strategies. The results indicate that high government intervention diminishes CEP. This negative effect intensifies under greater regional fiscal pressure. Alarmingly, local authorities' eagerness to meet targets shows a counterproductive, inverted N-shaped trend regarding CICPs' time-based influence on regional CEP. Moreover, the impact varies based on regional economic development levels and stages. This study has ensured the robustness of the findings via parallel trend tests, parallel exclusion policies, a strengthened quasi-DID framework, and diverse control variable configurations. This study underscores the need for more balanced government intervention. It offers valuable policy insights, guiding China's upcoming CICP phase to realize the ambition of peaking carbon by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

Traditional Balinese Architecture as a Tourist Attraction in Bali: an Architect's Perspective

The purpose of this research is to analyze the driving factors and inhibiting factors for the transformation of Balinese Traditional Architecture (ATB) designs in tourism facilities in Denpasar and Badung. Through a questionnaire as many as 48 samples from Architects working in Denpasar and Badung were analyzed through IFAS and EFAS and the Internal External Matrix, the general positions and strategies were obtained. The results of the study show that the main strength of internal factors is the existence of Provincial and Denpasar Regional Regulations regarding building layout which is a very meaningful back-up for implementing Balinese-style designs in tourist facilities. Meanwhile, the main driving factor from external factors is the development of tourism in Bali which is quite large. In this way, in the future, a mutually beneficial relationship will be created between Balinese Architecture and Tourism.

Research on the evaluation of ecological environment quality based on Fuzzy and PCA-AHP

Since the natural ecological environment tends to change slowly and the indicators are easy to quantify in a graded manner, while the social ecological environment tends to change rapidly under the intervention of human production and life, and it is difficult to quantify with the same grading standard in different regions and at different times. Therefore, we propose a Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model for the evaluation of the quality of natural ecological environment and a PCA-AHP comprehensive evaluation model for the evaluation of the quality of social ecological environment. Based on the hierarchical analysis method, 12 indicators were selected from five criteria levels, namely water and soil conservation, ecological stability, water conservation, soil improvement and air purification, and the affiliation degree of each indicator to the set of comments was calculated using the Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. Taking the evaluation of ecological and environmental quality of 31 provincial regions in China as an example, 12 indicators were selected from three criterion levels, namely natural conditions, social economy and environmental pollution, and the combined weight values of each indicator were calculated using PCA and AHP, and the final ecological and environmental quality ranking of each province was obtained based on the data of each of the 31 provinces. The two experimental results were highly consistent with the actual expert evaluations, verifying the rationality of the Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model and the PCA-AHP comprehensive evaluation model.

Does trade protection undercut the green efficiency of the marine economy? A case study

The development of the marine economy is closely related to trade openness. But does trade openness promote sustainable development of the marine economy? To understand the impact of trade openness on marine economy sustainable, this study examines the impact of trade openness on the green efficiency of marine economy. To this end, the green efficiency of the marine economy of 11 coastal provincial regions of China is measured by the undesired super-efficiency SBM technique, to examine the impact of trade openness on green efficiency of marine economy using a panel vector autoregressive technique from a perspective of North-South regional differences. The results show (i) the overall green efficiency of marine economy in China’s coastal areas needs to be improved, and a spatial distribution pattern is weak in the north and strong in the south; (ii) trade openness emerges as a positive factor contributing to the green efficiency of marine economy. It is evident that enhancing the level of trade openness is a pivotal pathway for promoting environmentally sustainable development in the maritime sector. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the stimulatory effect of trade openness exhibits significant regional disparities, with its impact being notably stronger in the southern coastal areas compared to the northern ones; (iii) the development level of the marine economy and the structure of the marine industry exert negative influences on the green efficiency of marine economy; (iv) bidirectional causal relationships are observed between the green efficiency of marine economy and three crucial variables, namely, trade openness, marine economic development level, and marine industry structure. In light of the aforementioned results, this study adopts a regional disparity perspective to offer practical recommendations for advancing the green development of marine economies in emerging nations such as China.

CHINA'S POLICY TOWARDS ETHNIC MINORITIES IN XINJIANG: HISTORICAL TRADITIONS AND PECULIARITIES OF TODAY

This article examines the historical and traditional knowledge of China's policy towards ethnic minorities, the main features and main aspects of the CCP's policy today, as well as the Xinjiang issue. The strategic status of Xinjiang and the potential for ethnic unrest lead to a higher level of concern for the Chinese authorities than other provincial regions. Today, official Beijing is faced with the question of whether it protects the rights of minorities from the world community and how it should honor its commitment to minority rights. According to the Chinese historical-traditional understanding, the conflict between ethnic minorities and the Han creates a contrast between civilization and degradation. According to the historical-traditional understanding, this difference concerns obvious «differences» in physical characteristics or language. This is mainly manifested in «cultural differences» with behavioral values and norms. What are the features of the «historical-traditional» approach to minority issues? What are the main factors influencing the ethnic policy of China, forcing the transition from cultural assimilation to the politicization of the ethnic problem? According to the concept and position of the Chinese authorities, the historical-traditional approach considers the unification of political unity, ethnic equality and cultural diversity in order to effectively solve the problem of minorities.

Midday Napping, Nighttime Sleep, and Mortality: Prospective Cohort Evidence in China

ObjectiveIn developed countries, midday napping and nighttime sleep duration have been linked to long-term survival; however, little is known about such effects in less developed regions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the associations of midday napping and nocturnal sleep with mortality in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. MethodsA nationwide cohort of 15,524 adults aged ≥ 45 years was enrolled from 28 provincial regions across mainland China and followed up from 2011 to 2018, using data from the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Midday napping and nighttime sleep duration were assessed using standardized questionnaires. Cox proportional hazards models with random intercepts for the surveyed provinces were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral factors, and health status. ResultsA total of 1,745 deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 7.1 years, and the mean (standard deviation) age was 59 (10.1) years at baseline. Compared with non-nappers, over 60 min nappers had a higher risk of all-cause mortality [HR: 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17–1.56], while no significant associations were observed among < 30 min nappers. Compared with sleep duration of 6–8 h/night, both short (< 6 h) and long (≥ 8 h) sleep duration were significantly associated with increased mortality, with corresponding HR (95% CI) estimates of 1.21 (1.05–1.38) and 1.26 (1.10–1.44), respectively. We observed significant patterns for greater risks associated with longer nap duration, with a Ptrend value < 0.001 for all-cause mortality. No significant evidence of an additive interaction was identified between midday napping and nighttime sleep. ConclusionLong midday napping and inappropriate nighttime sleep were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Chinese populations. Biological studies are needed to validate our findings and clarify the mechanisms underlying this association.

Implementasi Program Kampung Keluarga Berencana (KB) di Desa Teluk Kelansam Kecamatan Sintang Kabupaten Sintang

The Nawacita agenda, a priority agenda for President Joko.Widodo and his cabinet, consists of 9 flagship initiatives, and the power to implement them has been delegated to the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN). According to the provisions of Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government, specifically in the Division of Concurrent Government Affairs between the Central Government, Provincial Regions, and Regency/City Regions. in letter N (Division of Government Affairs in the Field of Population Control and Family Planning), a Family Planning Village Program (KB Village) policy was drafted in an effort to realize the development priority agenda. Decree of the Sintang Regent Number: 476/500/KEP-DKBP3A/2021 Concerning the Formation of a Regional Working Group (District Working Group) on Population, Family Planning, and Prosperous Family Development in Sintang District, particularly in Teluk Kelansam Village, Sintang District, mandated the establishment of the KKBPK in order to implement the KB Village Program at the district level. The goal of this research was to use the Charles O. Jones Theory to identify, describe, and evaluate the steps taken by the residents of Teluk Kelansam Village, Sintang District, Sintang Regency, as they implemented the KB Village Program policy. First, the findings indicate that the organization in question has the necessary institutional framework, personnel, financial resources, and physical facilities to function effectively. Second, application/application, which involves having a defined work program, work processes, and schedule of activities; third, interpretation, which includes compliance with rules, technical instructions, and implementation instructions.

“I’m not angry!”: language ideologies, misunderstanding, and marginalization among North Korean refugees in rural South Korea

Abstract This qualitative study examines the language attitudes and language use of two North Korean refugees living in the Gyeongsang provincial region of South Korea and actively trying to assimilate into mainstream Korean society. In interviews, the participants expressed a hierarchical view of three varieties of Korean (their North Korean Hamgyong dialect, the South Korean Gyeongsang dialect, and standard South Korean). They discussed how their North Korean accents exacerbated their marginalization, described the Gyeongsang dialect as “ignorant” and “rude,” and explained how and why they were trying to acquire standard South Korean. They also described how their North Korean accent continued to affect their communication with local South Korean speakers, who often perceived them as sounding angry and commanding. The participants had developed diverse communicative strategies in response to these language-related challenges, including smiling so as to not appear aggressive, remaining silent to avoid being outed by their speech, speaking carefully to appear more South Korean and avoid potential misunderstandings, and proactively revealing their North Korean background and seeking their interlocutors’ understanding in advance. Based on the findings, the study offers practical implications for language-support programs designed for North Korean refugees.

Utilization of basic medical insurance data in cancer-related researches in China

Objective: To explore the utilization of cancer-related data from basic medical insurance databases in China, and promote the application of medical insurance data in cancer prevention and treatment. Methods: Database PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI were used to select related research papers using data from basic medical insurance system in China published by December 2021. Descriptive analysis was conducted in terms of the number of publications, types of cancer, primary research contents and author affiliations. Results: A total of 65 papers were included in the study. The number of publications increased rapidly after 2016. The most studied cancer type was lung cancer, and healthcare costs were the most common research contents. Fujian, Beijing, and Anhui have made a better use of cancer-related medical insurance databases compared to other provincial regions. The accessibility of the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme data was limited due to the high regional barriers, while the accessibility of the urban basic medical insurance data was relatively high. The researchers from Peking University and Fudan University had higher utilization of basic medical insurance data compared with those from other institutions. Conclusions: The utilization of cancer-related data from basic medical insurance databases in China is limited because of poor accessibility, insufficient data sharing, and regional restrictions. Thus, it is urgent to improve data accessibility and promote the integration and utilization of regional medical insurance data.

Heterogeneity Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Vegetation Cover in Two-Tider Administrative Regions of China

Vegetation cover is a crucial component of regional ecological environments that plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance. This investigation utilized Google Earth Engine and MODIS NDVI products to examine the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of regional vegetation coverage based on the multi-year average NDVI in China. Using the multi-year average NDVI, multi-year change trend slope, coefficient of variation, and Hurst exponent, the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of provincial and prefectural administrative regions were quantified. The results indicated an upward trend in vegetation coverage from 2000 to 2021 at both provincial and prefectural levels, with growth rates of 0.032/10a and 0.03/10a, respectively. Moreover, the multi-year average NDVI significantly correlated with regional precipitation. Notably, vegetation growth was fastest in the Loess Plateau, while degradation was observed in southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang. Additionally, the degree of vegetation cover change in Ningxia and Macau was particularly prominent. These findings support the effectiveness of the Loess Plateau greening project and highlight the potential cost of economic and population growth on the ecosystem in eastern and southeastern coastal areas, where local vegetation degradation occurs. This study can serve as a valuable reference for ecosystem restoration and developmental planning at the administrative regional level, with the goal of enhancing vegetation management and conservation efforts in China.

Investigating the role of enterprises' property rights in China's provincial industrial energy intensity

Continuous decentralisation of the property rights of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) constitutes one of the most important market-oriented reforms in China. However, previous studies have seldom investigated the relationship between changes to enterprises' property rights and energy intensity. As industrial departments consume most of China's total energy, this study examines the influence of changes to enterprises' property ownership on industrial energy intensity across China's provincial regions. Based on a series of econometric analysis and China's 30 provincial regions between 2005 and 2019, the empirical results indicate that decentralising industrial SOEs' property rights is beneficial for controlling industrial energy intensity. This study also found that regions' degree of openness accelerated this effect. In particular, although the expansion of SOEs increases energy intensity, openness helps SOEs enhance energy sustainability. However, there is significant heterogeneity between different regions and periods. Furthermore, we investigate the roles of research and development (R&D) efficiency and structural change that explain how the decentralisation of SOEs' property rights influences regional industrial energy intensity. The results could help policymakers control the industrial energy intensity in the background of market-oriented reforms.