Decoupling Analysis between Economic Growth and Air Pollution in Key Regions of Air Pollution Control in China

Abstract

The Chinese government has implemented a number of environmental policies to promote the continuous improvement of air quality while considering economic development. Scientific assessment of the impact of environmental policies on the relationship between air pollution and economic growth can provide a scientific basis for promoting the coordinated development of these two factors. This paper uses the Tapio decoupling theory to analyze the relationship between regional economic growth and air pollution in key regions of air pollution control in China—namely, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and surrounding areas (BTHS), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and the Pearl River Delta (PRD)—based on data of GDP and the concentrations of SO2, PM10, and NO2 for 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2019. The results show that the SO2, PM10, and NO2 pollution in the key regions show strong and weak decoupling. The findings additionally indicate that government policies have played a significant role in improving the decoupling between air pollution and economic development. The decoupling between economic growth and SO2 and PM10 pollution in the BTHS, YRD, and PRD is better than that in other regions, while the decoupling between economic growth and NO2 pollution has not improved significantly in these regions. To improve the relationship between economic growth and air pollution, we suggest that the governments of China and other developing countries should further optimize and adjust the structure of industry, energy, and transportation; apply more stringent targets and measures in areas of serious air pollution; and strengthen mobile vehicle pollution control.

Assessment of the Carbon Emission Reduction Effect of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in China

“…In 2018, China promulgated an updated version of APPCAP, that is, the Three Year Action Plan to Beat Air Pollution, which aims to further strengthen the joint prevention and control of air pollution [ 16 ]. Thus, to eliminate the effect of the Three Year Action Plan to Beat Air Pollution, the sample of this study included 285 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2007 to 2017, excluding the cities dismantled and established during the research period, and the cities with severe data loss and inaccessibility.…”

“…In particular, the goals of air pollutant concentration control were initially proposed in the 12th Five-Year Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control in Key Regions issued on 29 October 2012, and strengthened in the 12th Five-Year Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan issued on 10 September 2013 [ 15 , 16 ]. As the first comprehensive plan for air pollution prevention and control, APPCAP comprises a series of detailed contents, including ten key actions and 35 concrete measures, detailed assessment plans and clear accountability models for local governments, and substantial measures and supporting policies [ 5 ].…”

“…Since carbon emission plays a vital role in China’s battle against air pollution, the air pollution policies during 11th Five-Year Plan mainly focused on total emission reduction, and this trend was basically extended during 12th Five-Year Plan [ 14 ]. The implementation of APPCAP indicates that the goals of air pollution control began to focus on the environmental quality, while the success of this policy for air pollution control has been confirmed by many studies [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Therefore, considering the inertia of the emission control-oriented policy, the questions as to whether and how APPCAP affects carbon emission still deserve in-depth research against the background of carbon peak and carbon neutralization.…”

The Historical Nexus between Air Quality and Economic Development: Evidence from China

“…This research revealed a strong correlation between the pollution of the air and the growth of the economy. The study indicated that interventions from relevant authorities to help improve the situation by lowering pollution and maintaining economic growth were essential [5].…”

The Role of Industrial Structure Upgrading in Moderating the Impact of Environmental Regulation on Air Pollution in China

“…The traditional economic growth model has caused resource exhaustion and is difficult for sustainable development [3].Frequent air pollution has a significant impact on human health [4,5]. It is showed that air pollution has serious impact on the general public and has become a major bottleneck for China's sustainable development [6]. In recent years, China's government attaches great importance on increasing the environmental investment and promoting the upgrading of the industrial structure.…”