Analysis of China's regional differences in water consumption based on spatial structural decomposition analysis model

Characterization and regional linkage analysis of PM2.5 emissions driven by energy consumption in mainland China, 2007-2017

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution poses a serious threat to public health, and there has been a recent resurgence in PM2.5 pollution levels in China. Inter-provincial trade has further complicated the allocation of responsibility for PM2.5 emissions. An in-depth analysis of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP), a highly effective environmental policy, offers new perspectives and avenues for reflection. Using the multi-regional input-output model and structural decomposition analysis model, this study provides insights into the interlinkages of PM2.5 emissions, and their influencing mechanisms among different regions from the perspective of source emissions by quantifying the dynamics of production-related PM2.5 emissions (PEp) associated with energy consumption and the key driving socio-economic factors in the pre-and post-APPCAP phases. The results indicate that PEp initially increased and then decreased over the study period. In the pre-policy stage, only five provinces exhibited a decrease in PEp, and this number increased to 21 provinces post-policy. Manufacturing and energy utilities consistently account for significant PEp contributions, particularly in Shanghai, Inner Mongolia, and Shanxi. This study finds that pre-policy, the industrial structure effect, the demographic effect, and the level of affluence effect primarily drove PEp increases. The post-policy decrease was influenced by industrial structure and consumption pattern effects. Although China's PEp remains higher than the consumption-based PM2.5 emissions (PEc), significant provincial variations exist. Notably, while changes in PEp do not always align with PM2.5 concentration changes, simultaneous reductions following policy implementation signal positive progress in pollution control. This underscores the necessity of continuously optimizing policy strategies to accommodate regional characteristics.

Unequal prefecture-level water footprints in China: The urban-rural divide

Water is vital for inclusive human well-being and economic growth, but water and its benefits are not equally distributed to all. The water gap between city dwellers and rural folks was not well understood. In this paper we assessed prefecture-level urban and rural water footprints (WFs) in China, using an improved multi-region input-output (MRIO) table with resolved urban and rural final consumption data. The assessment provided a quantitative foundation for evaluating and explaining urban and rural water use inequality from the consumption perspective. The results showed that per capita urban WF was on average 2.1 times per capita rural WF. The urban-rural WF divide constituted an important contribution to spatial WF inequality, in addition to provincial-level and prefecture-level differences. Compared to previous provincial-level WF analyses, this high-resolution prefecture-level urban and rural analysis showed clear evidence of economically developed urban areas as hotspots of large WFs. Specifically, our results provided a quantitative assessment revealing that 10 % China's population (urban residents in 51 prefectures) appropriated 25.8 % of the national WF. The dominant driving factor for urban-rural per capita WF disparity in all the prefectures was the consumption level, accounting for on average about 84 % of the disparity. There is an urgent need to leverage socio-economic development and urbanization against equitable and sustainable water use. The results have implications to equitable and sustainable water management from a broader macro-economic view.

Identifying the socioeconomic determinants of industrial hazardous waste generation: South Korea as a case study

The South Korean government has set an ambitious target to reduce industrial hazardous waste (IHW) as part of its transition towards a circular economy. Moreover, effective management of IHW within the country has become crucial, given that IHW trade is regulated by the Basel Convention. Despite the urgent need for well-founded environmental policies, there is a lack of essential information on the characteristics and determinants of IHW generation, which hinders the effectiveness of existing IHW policies. To address this information gap, this study developed a South Korean extended IHW input-output model for 2008 and 2018 to characterize IHW generation and applied structural decomposition analysis to identify the socioeconomic determinant of change of IHW generation. The results reveal that consumption, export, and direct IHW intensity change of 'Chemical', 'Electronic and electrical equipment', 'Basic metal', and 'Other service' emerge as dominant determinants for IHW growth. Conversely, technology change, including technological structure change and direct IHW intensity change, of 'Basic metal' and 'Other service' is the key driver for IHW reduction. In addition, an intriguing aspect of the study relates to the supply chain's influence on IHW generation. The indirect growth of IHW resulting from expanding exports and consumption contributes nearly twice as much to the overall increase in IHW as direct IHW growth. These valuable insights pave the way for the South Korean government to establish holistic and customized environmental policies regarding IHW. It emphasizes the importance of considering expanded global system boundaries, technological advancements, and purchasers' consumption patterns as dominant factors in formulating these policies. Furthermore, this study not only provides crucial guidance for the government's decision-making but also suggests strengthening environmental management and monitoring practices.