Pollution Reduction Research Articles

Effect assessment and policy optimisation of synergy between pollution and carbon reduction in the Yangtze River Delta, based on composite-system co-ordinating-degree model

Context The growth of contemporary industry has led to significant problems with carbon emissions. The Chinese government has set particular emission reduction goals and places a high priority on this issue. Aims Synergy effect of Chinese policies for reducing pollution and carbon emissions are analysed from two subsystems including pollution reduction and carbon reduction, by using the four provinces and cities of the Yangtze River Delta as the research objects. Methods Composite-system co-ordinating-degree model was used to evaluate order degree, internal co-ordinating degree and composite-system co-ordinating degree, with provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020 of four provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Delta being analysed as well. Key results First, the order degree of pollution-reduction and carbon-reduction subsystems in the Yangtze River Delta showed a slow-rising trend; second, the level of internal synergy degree of two subsystems was not readily apparent; and last, but not least, co-ordinating degree of composite system of pollution-reduction and carbon-reduction subsystems were at a low level. Conclusions Overall based on the above research conclusions, we propose several efficiency-enhancing policies, including optimisation of regional target co-ordination, further improvement of regional management-system design, establishment of regional resource-sharing mechanism and technological innovation system. Implications The efficiency-enhancing policies mentioned above contribute to advancing the construction of the national 无废城市 [‘Waste-Free City’] initiative and promoting the realisation of the national 双碳 [‘carbon peaking and carbon neutrality’] goals.

Bioaugmentation of Industrial Wastewater and Formation of Bacterial–CaCO3 Coupled System for Self-Healing Cement

This study investigates the potential of bioaugmentation with Bacillus species to enhance wastewater treatment and develop a bacterial–CaCO3 system for self-healing cement applications. Utilizing microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), this study evaluates the dual functionality of Bacillus licheniformis and B. muralis strains. For wastewater treatment, the bioaugmentation process achieved significant pollutant reductions, including a 99.52% decrease in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), a 92.13% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD), and a substantial removal of heavy metals and nutrients. This process also produced high concentrations of CaCO3 precipitate enriched with viable bacterial cells, demonstrating an eco-friendly approach to improving water quality. For self-healing cement applications, bioaugmented CaCO3 crystals were coated with nutrient and sodium silicate layers to form a bacterial–CaCO3 coupled system. This system demonstrated a 92% recovery in compressive strength after 180 days, highlighting its ability to autonomously repair microcracks in cement-based materials. The layered encapsulation strategy ensured bacterial viability and a controlled activation mechanism, offering a scalable and sustainable solution for infrastructure resilience. This dual-function approach addresses critical environmental and construction challenges by linking efficient wastewater treatment with innovative self-healing material development, contributing to global sustainability and circular economy goals.

Do Water Pollutant Reduction Projects Promote or Limit Carbon Reduction? Evidence from Building a Beautiful China

The total control of major water pollutants (TCMWP) is a critical strategy for improving water quality in China, with the added benefit of yielding climate-related advantages. This study uses the emission factor method to quantify the reductions in pollutants and carbon emissions resulting from China’s implementation of TCMWP. A synergy scale for pollution and carbon reduction was constructed to assess the co-benefits of reducing the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Furthermore, to account for regional variations in energy structure regulation strategies, whether aggressive or unified, we developed Pollutant Synergistic Carbon Reduction Pathways at the Regional (R.PSCRP) model framework level to evaluate the carbon emission reduction potential of TCMWP during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. The study revealed that China’s unified TCMWP employs different but highly effective combinations of emission reduction paths across different regions. Notably, new renovations and expansions of wastewater treatment facilities (NRE-WWTFS) and pipeline network construction and renovation (CR-PNK) together accounted for 89.3% of the total emission reduction. The construction of key water pollutant reduction projects plays a significant role in reducing carbon emissions at the district level compared to direct discharge practices. Additionally, indirect emissions resulting from TCMWP implementation account for approximately 50% of the total carbon reduction achieved. By aligning either harmonized or independent energy adjustment targets, regions were able to achieve substantial pollution and carbon reduction benefits, ranging from 7.5 to 8 million tons of CO2-equivalent.

Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction Technology Based on Pressure Swing Physical Adsorption Method in Power Enterprises

With the increasing global attention to environmental issues and climate change, power companies, as an important energy production sector, are facing severe challenges in reducing pollution and carbon emissions. In view of this, this study is based on the metal organic framework MIL-101(Cr), physically encapsulating metalloporphyrins and synthesizing a FeTPP@MIL-101(Cr) complex. Then, the surface characteristics and adsorption performance of the composite are evaluated, and the pressure swing physical adsorption method is introduced to achieve the goal of carbon reduction and pollution reduction. The ICP-OES loading results showed that the corresponding encapsulation amounts in MIL@-A and MIL@-B composites were 5.24% and 3.20%, respectively. Moreover, when the temperature increased from 273 K to 298 K, the adsorption capacity of all test gases on the three samples showed a decreasing trend. Under ideal atmospheric pressure conditions, the adsorption capacity of MIL@-A encapsulation for CO2 did not decrease and increased, while the adsorption capacity for N2 was relatively small, but still had a certain adsorption capacity. The above results indicate that combining the pressure swing physical adsorption method with FeTPP@MIL-101(Cr) complexes can effectively adsorb pollutants generated by power enterprises, achieve predetermined goals, and help promote clean production in power enterprises.

Toward Global Sediment Management: Lessons Learned From a Multidimensional Risk Assessment

ABSTRACTSediment from the Serbian Great Bačka Canal (GBC), which has long been classified as toxic waste due to high pollutant concentrations, exemplifies the sediment management challenges in Europe, where regulations vary by country. Serbian legislation primarily focuses on total metal concentrations relative to prescribed limits. Our study addresses this limitation by using an integrated approach to assess sediment pollution's detrimental effects at the ecosystem level. This approach is particularly relevant for the GBC, an environmental hotspot historically impacted by severe pollution from untreated industrial wastewater and population growth. Although previous research on the GBC has predominantly focused on chemical analyses, often overlooking broader environmental and health impacts, our study aims to evaluate whether ecotoxicological tests provide a more comprehensive assessment of sediment quality compared to traditional methods. Although only copper concentrations surpassed national limits, multiple metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exceeded international sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Sequential extraction revealed that 50% of copper was immobilized in the residual fraction, and ecotoxicological tests with Myriophyllum aquaticum indicated potential toxicity. Human health risk assessments showed a low risk of carcinogenic effects from PAHs, but a higher risk associated with zinc and copper. These findings highlight the urgent need for pollution reduction and ecological restoration in the GBC and similar river systems.

Distribution dynamics, spatial differences, and convergence of synergistic pollution and carbon reduction in China.

Carbon and pollution reduction are highly synergistic elements of green development, and the detailed derivation of the synergistic relationship is urgently needed. Based on the research perspective of coupling coordination, this paper firstly bases on the research perspective of coupling synergy, takes 30 provinces in China as the research object from 2011 to 2022, and constructs a coupling coordination degree model to measure the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction; secondly, kernel density and Dagum coefficient are used to analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics, spatial differences and sources of differences in the synergistic effects of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in China as a whole, in the three major regions and in each province; finally, the Moran index is applied to test the spatial agglomeration characteristics of the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and the spatial panel model is applied to test its β-convergence. The study shows that (1) during the study period, the level of synergistic effect on carbon reduction in China changed from good coordination to good coordination, and the synergistic effect in the western region was significantly better than that in the eastern and central regions; (2) the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in China as a whole and the three regions showed obvious spatial differences, but the differences were gradually narrowing, and the supervariable density was the dominant factor of the overall differences; (3) as a whole, the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction among provinces has a spatial agglomeration effect, and the level of synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction across the country and east and west regions has a significant absolute β convergence trend, while there is a significant conditional β convergence trend across the country and the three major regions, and the eastern and central regions with a low synergy level have a higher convergence rate, indicating that as time goes by, under the influence of various factors, the synergistic effect will converge to the steady state level. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the spatial patterns and regional differences in the synergistic effects of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in Chinese provinces and also to provide a quantitative basis for the full implementation of the synergistic regulation of pollution reduction and carbon reduction.

Green Transformation of Industrial Structure of Jiaxing City Driven by Synergizing the Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions

The "Implementation Plan for Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions" emphasizes the need to explore mechanisms for pollution and carbon emission reductions, strengthen efforts for synergistic reduction, and accelerate the green and low-carbon development in different types of cities. Thus, this study established a multi-objective optimization model for the industrial structure of the city based on green total factor productivity （GTFP）, which was applied to Jiaxing, an emerging coastal city. The results indicated an overall 8% increase in GTFP across various industries in Jiaxing from 2016 to 2019. The top three economic sectors - chemical products； electricity and thermal production and supply； and communication equipment, computers, and other electronic devices-ranked 12th, 15th, and 5th in GTFP, respectively. Conversely, industries with the top three GTFP rankings-other manufacturing products, specialized equipment, food, and tobacco-ranked 19th, 12th, and 14th in GDP, respectively. Given the mismatch between economic output and environmental benefits among different industries, deepening industrial structure adjustment and promoting synergistic pollution reduction and carbon reduction are imperative. The chemical industry （decreasing by 2%） and the electricity and thermal production and supply industry （decreasing by 1%） crucially need industrial transformation. This can be achieved by setting higher environmental thresholds, reducing the growth rate of fixed asset investment, and curbing the final consumption of these industries to enhance the efficiency of existing facilities. Meanwhile, the service industry （increasing by 5%） should be rapidly developed, while other industries can continue to grow at their current pace. The city-level industrial structure optimization model established in this study can effectively support future decision-making for the dual control of total carbon emissions and intensity, foster new-quality productivity, and promote carbon peaking and green low-carbon high-quality development in different cities.

Based on AHP, The Ecological Environment of Fenhe River Basin Is Evaluated

he evaluation of the ecological quality of the Fenhe River Basin is of great significance for the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin and Shanxi Province. In this paper, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to evaluate the ecological environment of Fenhe River Basin. Firstly, based on the relevant research literature, the ecological environment evaluation index is determined, and the influencing factors of the evaluation index are determined. Secondly, the weight of different influencing factors is determined based on AHP method, and the weight of evaluation index is obtained. Finally, the ecological environment of Fenhe River Basin in different years was analyzed by weight analysis results and expert scoring method. The results show that the ecological environment evaluation indexes of Fenhe River Basin are : water loss, soil loss, water pollution and vegetation reduction; the influencing factors of the evaluation index are : rainfall factors, soil and water conservation measures, reservoir construction, industrial water use, coal mining, engineering construction, solid waste pollution, urban development, industrial structure change, population change; from 2000 to 2020, the ecological quality of the Fenhe River Basin continued to improve, indicating that the policies and measures adopted for ecological management were effective. The ecological deterioration near the main stream and tributaries of the middle and lower reaches of the Fenhe River is related to the pollution of mine environment and industrial sewage.

Recycling of Reclaimed Water in China: Current Situation, Development Trend, and Countermeasures

Recycling of reclaimed water is an important way to develop water resources and reduce pollution discharge. At present, the utilization rate of reclaimed water is low in China and the recycling system is inadequate. Therefore, from the perspective of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" dual carbon propulsion and "water resources protection, water environment governance, and water ecological restoration" three water co-governance, this study first systematically combined the water resources situation, water supply structure, urban domestic sewage collection and treatment, and recycling of reclaimed water in all provinces （municipalities and autonomous regions）. Data collected in 2022 showed that the capacity of municipal sewage treatment was approximately 62.689 billion cubic meters annually, the capacity of reclaimed water production was approximately 28.98 billion cubic meters annually, and the utilization rate of reclaimed water was approximately 28.76%. There were 20 provinces with the utilization rate of reclaimed water less than 25%, among which the utilization rate of reclaimed water was less than 5% in Shanghai, Chongqing, Xizang, and Jiangxi. The situation of water resources did not match the development of the utilization rate of reclaimed water. Therefore the utilization paths of reclaimed water must be broadened and the utilization rate of reclaimed water must be improved crucially. Moreover, the related policies, laws, and regulations and standards of reclaimed water in China were listed. The technical and benefit feasibility analysis of reclaimed water utilization was carried out, and the development trends and existing problems of reclaimed water utilization in China were investigated. Finally, the countermeasures and suggestions of the recycling of reclaimed water from the aspects of technology development, management policy, fund guarantee, and publicity incentive are proposed, to promote the resource treatment of sewage, realize the synergistic reduction of pollution and carbon emissions in sewage treatment, help achieve the goal of carbon peak carbon neutrality, and accelerate the construction of a beautiful China. This study can provide reference and guidance for regional recycling of reclaimed water.

Modular chem‐bio upcycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) to glycolic acid and 2,4‐pyridine dicarboxylic acid

AbstractUpcycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) into valuable products represents a promising avenue for advancing carbon neutrality and circular economy. Here, we demonstrate a modular strategy for converting waste PET into glycolic acid (GA) and 2,4‐pyridine dicarboxylic acid (2,4‐PDCA), achieving an upcycling process and 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. We conducted comprehensive studies on PET hydrolysis, PET‐derived ethylene glycol (EG) photooxidation, and PET‐derived terephthalic acid (TPA) bioconversion. Utilizing a plasmon‐active CuPt nanoalloy, EG oxidation proceeds at mild conditions with impressive EG conversion (94.78%) and GA yield (71.98%). Two Escherichia coli strains were employed to convert TPA into 2,4‐PDCA, achieved a 91.03% molar yield. This work successfully accomplishes the comprehensive utilization of waste PET through an environmentally friendly and economically viable strategy, leading to a significant reduction in PET plastic pollution while simultaneously generating substantial economic benefits.

Additively manufactured metamaterials for acoustic absorption: a review

ABSTRACT Noise pollution, a major concern in modern life, contributes to various mental and psychological problems. In this study, we concentrate on the recent developments in metamaterials, particularly additively manufactured acoustic-absorbing metamaterials. These have demonstrated enormous potential for noise reduction across a broad range of frequencies. The current review attempts to classify these additive-manufactured acoustic absorbing metamaterials as perforated, slotted, cellular, and hybrid. Herein, we present a detailed study of the efficiencies and applicability of each subclass, as well as a critique of the experimental research undertaken within each subclass. The review focuses on the subtle features of their operation by evaluating the effect of varying key parameters on the sound absorption capabilities of these metamaterials. Through this comprehensive review, we aim to highlight the current status of this evolving area and motivate more study and innovation in pursuit of effective noise pollution reduction measures.

Change in aerosol optical depth in Chinese urban agglomerations during the early phase of dual-carbon actions

Dual-carbon policies were implemented by Chinese government to mitigate climate warming; however, changes in aerosol optical depth (AOD) during early phases of these actions (2020-2022) remain unclear. Thus, AOD variations during this period were investigated compared to the baseline (2015-2019 mean) across seven urban agglomerations (UAs) using multi-source data. Significant temporal variations in AOD anomalies (ΔAOD) were observed at annual and seasonal scales, with varying magnitudes. On average, AOD decrease by -0.210, -0.225, -0.180, and -0.038 in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD), Guanzhong Plain (GZP), and Liaozhongnan (LZN), respectively. In contrast, increases of 0.041 and 0.057 were observed in Pearl River Delta (PRD) and Tianshan Mountains northern foothills (TSBP), while Lhasa metropolitan area (LS) remain stable (0.0001). In 2021, the most significant decrease in AOD was recorded in YRD, whereas the greatest declines in other urban areas were noted in 2022. The largest ΔAOD in LZN, BTH, and YRD occurred in autumn, while the peak ΔAOD in GZP was observed in spring. In contrast, the highest ΔAOD in PRD, TSBP, and LS occurred in summer. These temporal variations in ΔAOD can be attributed to dual-carbon policies, natural and meteorological anomalies, along with the impacts of stringent lockdown policies and abrupt dust events. Path analysis indicated that the effects of various drivers on ΔAOD were interconnected. When interactions among these factors were considered, their influences on ΔAOD were found to be either amplified or altered, highlighting the importance of accounting for interactions within the human-nature-meteorological system in formulation of atmospheric pollution policies. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ΔAOD variation mechanisms and provide valuable insights for the development of air pollution reduction strategies at the UA scale.

Magnetically retrievable carbon-wrapped CNT/Ni nanospheres as efficient catalysts for nitroaromatic reduction.

We present a facile strategy for synthesizing magnetically retrievable carbon-wrapped CNT/Ni nanospheres (C-wrapped CNT/Ni) that enhance the catalytic performance of metals for environmental pollutant reduction. Structural and compositional analyses using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) confirmed the phase purity, morphology, and structure of the C-wrapped CNT/Ni. XRD, Raman, and EDS data validate the formation of the nanospheres, while FESEM images reveal uniform Ni nanospheres wrapped with a carbon layer through interconnected, evenly dispersed CNTs. Initially, Ni nanoparticles were anchored onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes to form magnetic CNT/Ni nanospheres, which were then coated with a carbon layer to prevent aggregation, improve Ni particle stability, and introduce additional surface functionalities. The catalytic efficacy of C-wrapped CNT/Ni was assessed through the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP). The reaction rate constant (k app = 0.6167 min-1) with C-wrapped CNT/Ni is approximately six times higher than that with bare Ni nanospheres (k app = 0.1056 min-1). This enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effect between the spherical Ni core and the wrapped carbon layer, mediated by the interconnected CNT, which promotes efficient hydride formation. Additionally, C-wrapped CNT/Ni demonstrates exceptional reusability in the 4-NP reduction process. The integration of these features within a single framework suggests its significant potential for diverse engineering and environmental applications.

Resistance of particleboards made from Eucalyptus sp. wood and sugarcane bagasse to xylophagous organisms

Particleboards bonded with adhesives from renewable sources, containing agroindustrial residues in their composition, offer not only diversification of raw materials and reduction of environmental pollution but also desirable physical properties to the product. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the biological resistance of composites produced with different proportions of Eucalyptus sp. wood particles and sugarcane bagasse, bonded with a tannin-based adhesive, to xylophagous organisms. The composites were made with wood particles sized 0.53–4.0 mm, in proportions of 70, 80, 90, and 100%, and sugarcane bagasse (0.5 mm) in proportions of 10, 20, and 30%. After homogenization, the particles were glued with tannin adhesive (100%) or tannin-lignosulfonates (80–20%), and hot-pressed (160 °C) at a pressure of 3.92 MPa for 10 min. From the produced panels, samples of 2.5 × 2.5 × 1.27 cm and 5.0 × 5.0 × 1.27 cm (length × width × thickness) were used for tests with the fungi Gloeophyllum trabeum (brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (white rot), and drywood termites, for periods of 12 weeks and 45 days, respectively. The results indicated that increasing the proportion of sugarcane bagasse improved the panels’ resistance to the tested fungi. However, it facilitated the access of drywood termites to the interior, ensuring greater survival. Panels bonded with 100% tannin adhesive resulted in higher mortality.

An evaluation method for synergistic effect of air pollutants and CO2 emission reduction in the Chinese petroleum refining technology

The screening and evaluation of co-control technologies for pollution reduction and carbon mitigation represent a crucial prerequisite for researching pathways toward pollution and carbon reduction within petroleum refining industry. A systematic assessment method for technology synergies in pollution reduction and carbon mitigation remains deficient in China. In this study, we propose a method for evaluating the synergistic effects of technologies in pollution reduction and carbon mitigation in the petroleum refining industry. This model evaluates the synergistic control efficacy of technologies from multiple perspectives, including pollution-carbon synergy, synergistic reduction of pollutant-carbon emissions, cost-benefit analysis, and environmental benefits. The developed methodology is validated through its application to typical petroleum refining technology. The results confirm the synergistic benefits of pollution and carbon reduction through five petroleum refining technologies. With the increase in carbon trading prices, bio-jet fuels (T1) and microalgae carbon sequestration (T5) technologies have greater application potential. This study provides a scientific basis and theoretical support for the realization of collaborative control of carbon pollution in the petroleum refining industry.

Air pollution reduction co-benefits associated with low-carbon transport initiatives for carbon neutrality in China by 2060

Low-carbon transport policy measures will contribute to greenhouse gas emission reductions, as well as improvements in air quality via air pollutant emission reductions. Here, we developed a regional transport energy model by integrating a transport demand model and an energy system model to explore the associated air pollutant emission reductions achieved by low-carbon transport initiatives when projecting a path towards carbon neutrality. Several scenarios were created to identify the effectiveness and feasibility of low-carbon strategies using the Avoid–Shift–Improve (A-S-I) framework including “Technology”, “Regulation”, “Information”, and “Economy” instruments. Significant reductions in air pollutant emissions alongside transport decarbonization in China could be realized by implementing policy measures to establish effective transport demand management, a modal shift in transport use, and technological improvements. In particular, the “Improve” strategy was more effective in delivering significant reductions in air pollutant emissions than were the “Avoid” and “Shift” strategies, but the policy effects of each A-S-I pillar varied greatly for different pollutants and across different regions. An air pollution reduction strategy for the transport sector should be designed in an integrated manner based on a series of different strategies and tools.

Catalytic performance of PdCu supported on mesoporous MCM−41 with different morphologies for reduction of aqueous oxyanion pollutants

Catalytic performance of PdCu supported on mesoporous MCM−41 with different morphologies for reduction of aqueous oxyanion pollutants

Releasing characteristics and influencing factors analysis of nitrogen-containing gaseous pollutants in wastewater treatment plants with sequencing batch reactor process

The discharge of nitrogen-containing gaseous pollutants from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) has caused a certain threat to the surrounding environment and human health, which has attracted wide attention in recent years. This study investigated the release characteristics of nitrogen-containing pollutants at different treatment stages in WWTP with sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process, including nitrogen-containing odorous gases (NH3 and dimethylamine) and nitrogen-containing greenhouse gases (N2O), all of which achieved the highest release in the aeration stage, with emissions of 35.2, 12.5mg/(m2·d) and 229.7mg/L, respectively. Besides, the emission factors of NH3 and dimethylamine were calculated for 0.0091 and 0.0026g/m3, and the carbon emission of N2O was estimated for 158.4kg of CO2 per day. Furthermore, the pilot experiment of SBR showed that the odorous gas decreased first and then increased with the increase of aeration intensity and sludge concentration, and increased with the increase of influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration. This study provides theoretical and data support for the emission reduction of nitrogen-containing pollutants in SBR process WWTP.

Emission reduction strategies and health: a systematic review on the tools and methods to assess co-benefits

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to review the current literature on the health co-benefits of emission reduction strategies and the methods and tools available to assess them.DesignSystematic review conducted...

The impacts of socioeconomic development and climate change on long-term nutrient dynamics: A case study in Poyang Lake

The anthropogenic activities associated with rapid socioeconomic development affect global climate change and the water quality of lake ecosystems. However, the impacts of socioeconomic and climate changes on lake nutrient dynamics require additional study. In this study, we used a long-term dataset (1987–2021) of Poyang Lake to identify the nutrient dynamics and assess the impacts of social and climatic factors on nutrient concentrations. The filtering trajectory method (FTM) suggested that in Poyang Lake, nutrients first increased and then decreased, with TP reaching its highest value of 157 μg/L in 2015. The study employs a combination of structural equation modeling (SEM) and FTM to identify the complex interactions between socio-economic and climatic factors affecting nutrient concentrations in Poyang Lake. The SEM results revealed that socioeconomic factors rather than climate change determined the long-term changes in TN and TP. Additionally, FTM results verified that GDP, urbanization (Ur) and P-fertilizer (Pfer) were the key drivers of TN; Ur, population (P), and sewerage treatment rate (STR) were the primary factors of TP. Through generalized additive models (GAMs), we observed that GDP accounted for 86 % of the temporal variability in TN and 45.7 % of that in TP, exhibiting inverted U-shaped relationships with both TN and TP. Air temperature (AT), a climatic factor accounted for only 44.6 % and 14.8 % of the variation in TN and TP, respectively. In addition, Pfer explained 66.0 % of the variation in TN, and STR explained 50.4 % of the variation in TP with a peak TP at the STR threshold of approximately 80 %. Our findings highlight the importance of Pfer and STR as critical indicators for watershed nutrient management. The identification of key temporal drivers and nutrient trajectories provides a scientific basis for developing management strategies. The results highlight coordinated control strategies for water pollution and carbon reduction as essential measures for mitigating climate change.