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Sun J, Zheng L, Zhan M. New path to green transformation: Exploring the impact of corporate governance on environmental information disclosure quality of new energy companies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 373:123789. [PMID: 39742773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2024] [Revised: 11/29/2024] [Accepted: 12/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025]
Abstract
An essential aspect of improving market openness, fostering investor trust, and allowing the establishment and implementation of sustainable development policies lies in enhancing the disclosure quality of new energy firms. This study examines the influence of corporate governance on the disclosure quality of new energy companies listed on the Chinese A-share market. The analysis is conducted using a two-way fixed-effects model and particularly focuses on the role of green transformation in this relationship. Research indicates that the use of corporate governance practices may significantly enhance the level of transparency in new energy enterprises. An examination of heterogeneity reveals that the impact of corporate governance on the quality of disclosure in new energy companies is more pronounced in organizations that have a greater size, fewer financial constraints, and are in different stages of development or decline. An examination of the mechanism demonstrates that corporate governance may facilitate the transition towards environmentally friendly practices and improve the amount, quality, and durability of green technology innovation. This, in turn, significantly enhances the quality of reported information. Furthermore, the threshold analysis reveals that under green transition values less than 0.2704, corporate governance hinders the disclosure quality of new energy companies. Conversely, corporate governance enhances the disclosure quality of new energy companies only when the green transition value exceeds 0.2704. The present research offers empirical findings about the influence of corporate governance on the quality of disclosure in new energy firms and provides theoretical support for the enhancement of corporate governance structure and the facilitation of the green transition.
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Wen H, Shang J, Nghiem XH. Can new-type infrastructure lead to regional green well-being? Evidence from China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 373:123915. [PMID: 39733679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 12/20/2024] [Accepted: 12/24/2024] [Indexed: 12/31/2024]
Abstract
New-type infrastructure has an increasingly important role to play in realizing green well-being. By employing China's prefecture-level data from 2003 to 2021, we explore the influence of new-type infrastructure on green well-being and its impact mechanism. The results show that new-type infrastructure significantly improves regional green well-being (even under the presence of robustness tests and without policy intervention). Theoretically, new-type infrastructure can generate the leading effect of residents' demand, the promoting effect of industrial structure, and the guarantee mechanism of environmental governance which in turn, improve regional green well-being. Findings also confirm that new-type infrastructure may substantially boost household income, promote economic serviceability, and enhance green governance capacity. The green well-being effects of new-type infrastructure also display regional heterogeneity which tend to be greater in cities with well-designed digital infrastructure and low-carbon development. Finally, economic density and innovation may result in regime changes in the green well-being effects of new-type infrastructure. These findings offer insights and implications for regional green well-being development.
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Villar-Rúa S, Acuña-Alonso C, Álvarez X. Estimation of the ecological integrity of the Guadiana River using Partial Least Squares Path Modelling and simulation scenarios. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176305. [PMID: 39293764 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2024] [Revised: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
Ecological integrity is fundamental to human life and ecosystems, so its assessment and management are crucial. This concept assesses ecosystem health by examining physico-chemical and biological characteristics, riparian vegetation and macroinvertebrate communities. In recent decades, water resources have undergone significant changes due to various factors that have contributed to the physical, chemical and biological pollution of water. To address this problem, a specific model has been developed using the Partial Least Squares Path Modelling methodology to analyse and quantify the main factors affecting the ecological integrity of the Spanish part of the Guadiana River (Spain). The variables analysed at the different sampling points in the catchment include forest cover, anthropogenic pressure, water quality and biological integrity. Water quality and biological integrity, in turn, constitute the concept of ecological integrity. The model predicts 60.3 % of the physico-chemical water quality and 56.6 % of the biological integrity, showing that ¨Forest cover¨ negatively impacts water quality (W = -0.476) by reducing pollution, while ¨Anthropogenic Pressure¨ positively impacts it (W = 0.680) by increasing pollution. Based on the modelling, three future scenarios were designed, from the lowest to the highest pressure considering changes in riparian forest quality based on QBR and changes in the number of reservoirs: a favourable scenario with high riparian forest quality and no reservoirs; an intermediate scenario with good riparian forest quality and no change in the number of reservoirs; and an unfavourable scenario, characterised by very poor riparian forest quality and an increase in the number of reservoirs. In this context, the importance of the conservation and enhancement of riparian vegetation as a nature-based solution is highlighted, as well as the pressure generated by industrial activity and agricultural practices on the ecological integrity of the study area. The favourable scenario, with very good quality riparian vegetation, improves water quality by up to 85 %, positively impacting the ecological integrity of the river. In contrast, the unfavourable scenario, with extremely degraded riparian forest, would decrease water quality by up to 62 %, negatively affecting ecological integrity. Modelling and future scenarios is an essential tool in the decision-making process to improve environmental governance and water security. In addition, the PLS-PM methodology allows the identification and quantification of relationships between complex variables, providing a solid basis for the design of effective environmental management strategies.
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Finewood MH, Vail E, Meierdiercks KL, Bennett C, Read L. The Importance of Capacity-Building in Watershed Groups: Lessons from the Hudson River Watershed, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 74:1086-1100. [PMID: 39292236 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-02045-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Municipalities face challenges meeting environmental protection and conservation goals due to a lack of resources, capacity, and political will. As a result, grassroots environmental organizations often emerge to help meet these challenges by filling gaps in governmental operation and structure. At the watershed scale, environmental organizations and groups are critical for effective watershed governance, often helping with collaboration as well as providing municipalities with additional support and resources. Despite the vital role environmental organizations and groups can play, they continue to face challenges such as insufficient resources, inconsistent leadership, and lack of organizational structure, thus limiting the contributions they can deliver. In this manuscript, we present case study research on watershed groups exploring their capacity to meet their mission and goals. Drawing from a needs assessment study conducted in the Hudson River watershed in 2019-2021, we found that while watershed groups are generally in need of technical resources, participation, and funding, our research suggests capacity (such as internal structure, strategic planning, and leadership) is most important for successful and sustainable groups. Therefore, we argue that support for capacity is more likely to help sustain groups and their long-term beneficial impact. To make this argument we present qualitative interview and focus group data to articulate watershed group goals, challenges, and needs, with an emphasis on capacity-related themes that emerged around expertise, leadership, structure, and planning. We then conclude with recommendations that can be applied to other watershed groups in the United States, and likely beyond.
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Chong Y, Zhang Y, Di D, Chen Y, Wang S. Digital transformation and synergistic reduction in pollution and carbon Emissions--An analysis from a dynamic capability perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 261:119683. [PMID: 39098712 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Pollution control and carbon emission reduction pose significant challenges for developing countries, and achieving synergistic reductions in pollution and carbon emissions (SRPCs) has emerged as the optimal choice. Digitization, a prevailing trend in the current era, presents new opportunities for realizing the SRPC. We utilize data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2022 to investigate the impact of corporate digital transformation on the SRPC. The research reveals the following. (1) Enterprise digital transformation significantly promotes the SRPC, a conclusion validated through a series of robustness tests. However, the SRPC resulting from digital transformation is characterized by weak synergy, which is primarily observed in the coordinated reduction in air pollution and carbon emissions. (2) This effect is notably stronger for companies near environmental regulatory authorities, those receiving government environmental subsidies, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs). (3) Enhancing managerial collaborative management capabilities, promoting corporate technological innovation capabilities, and alleviating financing pressure are the primary mechanisms at play. This research provides important policy and practical insights for promoting the SRPC in the context of digitization, fostering sustainable development.
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Ou Y, Chen K, Ma L, He BJ, Bao Z. Coordinating public and government responses to air pollution exposure: A multi-source data fusion approach. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 370:123024. [PMID: 39447363 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 09/25/2024] [Accepted: 10/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
Aligning public demand with government supply of clean air aids in efficient air pollution control and enhancement of public happiness. However, comparative empirical analyses of public and government attention to air quality changes are still sparse due to data and methodological constraints. Here, we adopt multi-source data fusion approaches to assess the impacts of air pollution exposure on public and government attention. Specifically, remote and social sensing data, alongside keywords extracted from textual data, are utilized to quantify air pollution exposure and corresponding public and government attention levels in 273 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2019, and a two-stage least squares regression model is employed to tackle reverse causality issues underlying the exposure-response relationship. Our findings reveal that, on average, a unit increase in PM2.5 levels would result in a 17.7% growth in public attention and a 12.7% rise in government attention, respectively, suggesting that demand-driven public attention tends to be more sensitive to air quality changes than policy-driven government attention. Results for the spatial-temporal heterogeneity further demonstrate that public attention varies across time and space, whereas government attention remains relatively consistent. Additionally, we have identified 116 cities exhibiting disparities between the public and government responses to air quality changes, calling for environmental policy refinements to better serve the needs of residents. This study emphasizes the necessity of public engagement in environmental governance and offers rich policy implications for air pollution control in China.
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Jiang Q, Cheng S. Conflict or coordination? The cross-departmental interaction in local environmental governance of China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 260:119657. [PMID: 39034019 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Organizational coordination has been regarded as a vital factor to determine the environmental governance efficiency of local authority, while existing empirical studies mainly discuss the vertical decentralization but largely ignore the horizontal cross-departmental interaction within single government. Based on the data of 31 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2017, this paper uses a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) approach, two-way fixed-effect models and dynamic panel regression with system generalized method of moments estimation (SYS-GMM) to investigate the environmental strategic interaction between two representative departments (finance department and environmental protection department) within local governments. The results indicate, on the whole, their environmental governance strategies show a significantly co-directional coordination. However, the cross-departmental interaction obviously varied in different periods and regions (even showed as conflict sometimes), and was synchronized with the dynamic trade-off between economic and environmental targets of China. This research helps understand the inner logic of environmental governance of Chinese government, and can be valuable guidance for other countries to accomplish multi-departmental sustainable development goal.
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Nasar-U-Minallah M, Jabbar M, Zia S, Perveen N. Assessing and anticipating environmental challenges in Lahore, Pakistan: future implications of air pollution on sustainable development and environmental governance. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:865. [PMID: 39212804 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12925-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Urban environment and air quality are changing primarily due to land use land cover (LULC) changes, economic activity, and urbanization. Air pollution has been increasingly acknowledged as a major issue for cities due to its extensive effects on health and well-being. As the second most populous city in the country, Lahore faces alarming levels of air pollutants, which induced this study to focus on the pervasive issue of air pollution in Lahore. For this, the study collected air pollutants data from the Environmental Protection Department of Punjab and analyzed them using the ARIMA model. In the research results, both the observed data and predictive models uncovered concerning trends in pollutant concentrations, ultimately portraying a concerning picture for air quality management. Carbon monoxide (CO) levels show a consistent rise, surpassing Pakistan's environmental standards by 2025. Similarly, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations escalate, exceeding prescribed standards. Ground-level ozone (O3) also demonstrates a substantial increase, surpassing standards by 2025. Both PM2.5 and PM10 exhibit marked upward trends, projected to exceed recommended limits, particularly PM10 throughout the study year. The Air Quality Index exhibits an observable upward trend, fluctuating between 70 and 442 from 2015 to 2020. Similarly, a positive correlation was found between population growth and land use conversion into residential areas. Projections suggest a continuous increase, potentially hitting a severe level of 500 during winter by 2025. These findings point to an impending air pollution crisis, demanding urgent action to address the hazardous situation in the city. The study recommends that urban air pollution should be reduced, and the negative health effects of air pollution should be minimized using vegetation barriers, screens, and greening initiatives. Strict regulations and monitoring initiatives need to be put in place in big cities to monitor pollution and vegetation.
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Tasseron PF, van Emmerik THM, Vriend P, Hauk R, Alberti F, Mellink Y, van der Ploeg M. Defining plastic pollution hotspots. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173294. [PMID: 38763189 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the natural environment poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health, prompting urgent needs for monitoring, prevention and clean-up measures, and new policies. To effectively prioritize resource allocation and mitigation strategies, it is key to identify and define plastic hotspots. UNEP's draft global agreement on plastic pollution mandates prioritizing hotspots, suggesting a potential need for a defined term. Yet, the delineation of hotspots varies considerably across plastic pollution studies, and a definition is often lacking or inconsistent without a clear purpose and boundaries of the term. In this paper, we applied four common definitions of hotspot locations to plastic pollution datasets ranging from urban areas to a global scale. Our findings reveal that these hotspot definitions encompass between 0.8 % to 93.3 % of the total plastic pollution, covering <0.1 % to 50.3 % of the total locations. Given this wide range of results and the possibility of temporal inconsistency in hotspots, we emphasize the need for fit-for-purpose criteria and a unified approach to defining plastic hotspots. Therefore, we designed a step-wise framework to define hotspots by determining the purpose, units, spatial scale, temporal scale, and threshold values. Incorporating these steps in research and policymaking yields a harmonized definition of hotspots, facilitating the development of effective plastic pollution prevention and reduction measures.
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Sarkar MSK, Sarker MNI, Sadeka S, Ali I, Al-Amin AQ. Comparative analysis of environmental sustainability indicators: Insights from Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33362. [PMID: 39027531 PMCID: PMC467052 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This study analyses environmental sustainability indicators (ESIs) and explores their governance challenges in developing countries (Bangladesh and Thailand) and advances possible remedies in light of the practices of a developed country (Japan). A comparative analysis of countries' performance based on the ESIs could help identify useful practices from countries with high ESI to improve the poor ESI countries. While it is broadly understood that renewable energy and effective governance support environmental sustainability, our findings extend this knowledge by detailing how these factors interact specifically within the contexts of developed and developing nations. The analysis delineates the complex relationship between GDP growth, fossil fuel reliance, and sustainability efforts, offering a detailed examination of the variance in ESI performance across these countries. Beyond established notions, this study empirically validates the relationships between environmental sustainability (ES) and its influencing factors, providing a country-specific analysis that emphasizes the differential impact of renewable energy adoption, governance quality, and economic policies on environmental sustainability in Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. The results also revealed that Bangladesh's performance in terms of majority ESIs ranges from bad to worse, while Japan exhibits good performance in all its ESI indicators except for emissions. Thailand's ESI performance indicates its vulnerability to climate disasters and slow growth of renewable energy. The ESI measures of Thailand have shown its susceptibility to climate-related calamities and a slowdown in the rate of renewable energy implementation. A noticeable discrepancy in the execution of regulatory frameworks was noted between developing countries, such as Bangladesh, and industrialized ones, such as Japan. The outstanding results of Japan's ESI may be credited to the successful practices of its citizens and their strong devotion to the rule of law.
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Fan L, Li X, Koizumi N. Environmental regulation effect on health poverty in China. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33523. [PMID: 39091927 PMCID: PMC11292523 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
How does government spending on environmental protection benefit people's health? The current paper analyzed 2010 and 2018 data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) database to measure the impact of province-level environmental regulations on the health of local population. The study also applied the Alkire Foster method to develop the multidimensional health poverty (MHP) score, a new index intended to measure the health status of individuals in a holistic manner. Our results indicated that more fiscal spending on environmental regulation could improve health of the local population, especially among low-income population living in the rural areas. Further, the size of health benefit differs by the type of environmental regulation. More specifically, regulations focusing on preventing environmental pollution can achieve more sizable health benefits than remedial ones. Finally, fine inhalable particle (PM2.5) has the largest mediating effect on the relationship between environmental regulation and public health. These results provide several policy implications, which highlight the importance of: scaling up fiscal environmental expenditure and optimizing the structure of environmental expenditure with more emphasis on rural areas where more low-income population are located; shifting from ex-post accountability to ex-ante prevention; and strengthening regional cooperation in environmental protection among local governments, and establishing a cross-regional coordination mechanism.
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Ren Y, Hu Y, Yu Y. Collaborative effect of the energy conservation and emission reduction fiscal policy in China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 258:119431. [PMID: 38906447 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Government-led national comprehensive demonstration cities for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Fiscal Policy (ECERFP) are pivotal for China in addressing environmental governance. Using a panel dataset covering 278 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2019, this study adopts the staggered difference-in-differences (DID) approach to investigate the synergistic impacts of ECERFP on pollution and carbon reduction. The findings indicate that ECERFP contributes to a 3% improvement in pollution reduction performance, a 1.5% enhancement in carbon reduction performance, and a 4% overall increase in combined pollution and carbon reduction efforts. Furthermore, the study examines the heterogeneous effects of ECERFP on environmental performance. ECERFP significantly influences the synergistic efforts in pollution and carbon reduction by fostering green innovation, enhancing energy allocation, and optimizing industrial structures. This study both theoretically and empirically outlines the specific pathways and mechanisms through which "incentive-based" green fiscal policy promotes synergistic pollution and carbon reduction, thus providing a pragmatic foundation for enhancing the role of fiscal policy in environmental governance.
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Liu Z, Sun J. A comprehensive study on non-governmental actors in shaping grassland ecological compensation within legal frameworks. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5489. [PMID: 38448478 PMCID: PMC10917782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56146-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Ecological compensation has emerged as a crucial institutional framework for managing the interplay between ecological preservation and economic development in China. This study focuses on the specific case of grassland ecological compensation to investigate the protection of rights and interests of non-governmental subjects. By utilizing data derived from questionnaire responses, this study examines the legal rights, obligations, and responsibilities associated with grassland ecological compensation. Statistical techniques such as Z-distribution, chi-square test, and non-parametric measures of correlation are employed to analyze the collected data, which are presented using tables and graphs. Furthermore, this research evaluates the current state of rights and interests of compensation subjects engaged in ecological compensation practices, aiming to enhance our comprehension and assessment of the extent to which the ecological compensation system safeguards the rights and interests of individuals. The findings show that a substantial number of respondents see current grassland ecological compensation methods in China as reasonable but insufficient, indicating a need for method diversification. There's a clear preference for a shared responsibility model over government-only funding, especially in regions with large grassland areas. This highlights the necessity for adaptable laws and a legal framework that accommodates diverse stakeholder needs. Additionally, the importance of clear property rights is emphasized for sustainable land use. The study suggests legislative reform towards a more equitable and effective approach to grassland conservation, providing valuable recommendations for refining and advancing the ecological compensation system.Author name 1 (Ziqi Liu) mismatch between ms and metadata. We have foolowed metadata. Kindly check and confirm.The metadata is right. Thank you.
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Secchi S. The role of conservation in United States' agricultural policy from the Dust Bowl to today: A critical assessment. AMBIO 2024; 53:421-434. [PMID: 37889461 PMCID: PMC10837406 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01949-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Historical evidence shows that environmental issues have been secondary to United States' agricultural policy since the first farm bill in 1933. The farm sector has undergone massive changes in technology and farming practices, but the environmental problems it causes have remained ancillary to productivist goals. Agri-environmental policy has continued to rely on subsidies and voluntary farmer participation, while combining environmental objectives with price and income support aims. The faith of agri-environmental programs is largely determined by what is desirable for safety net purposes, and in times of high crop and livestock prices and increased environmental pressures conservation is particularly underfunded. Additionally, monitoring and program assessment are poorly structured. This is particularly concerning today given the threats of climate change and agriculture's contribution to it. A major rethinking of these taxpayer-funded programs is necessary to improve their effectiveness. Programs should focus on environmental outcomes and monitoring and assessment should be strengthened.
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Bakhsh S, Zhang W, Ali K, Anas M. Energy transition and environmental stability prospects for OECD economies: The prominence role of environmental governance, and economic complexity: Does the geopolitical risk matter? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120358. [PMID: 38412728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The global increase in temperature and climate change signals the need for humanity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles. The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the UAE emphasized this, urging nations to commit to the Paris Agreement and pursue a greener, carbon-free future. In recent decades, climate change has become a critical issue, primarily because of the extensive use of fossil fuels and conventional energy resources. Economic growth has led to an increase in energy consumption and widespread environmental damage. The present study empirically explores whether any changes in environmental governance, economic complexity, geopolitical risk, and the interaction term influence energy transition and environmental stability in OECD economies over the period 1990-2021. Novel econometric methods, including Westerlund co-integration and the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR), are employed to address complexities such as cross-sectional dependency and panel causality. The key findings from the MMQR technique showed a positive link between environmental governance and economic complexity in driving sustainable energy transitions, thus bolstering environmental resilience in OECD countries. However, economic complexity counterbalances environmental stability. Significantly, geopolitical risk acts as a moderating variable, enhancing the effects of governance and complexity on sustainable energy practices and environmental stability. Based on these insights, this study recommends strategic initiatives, including investment in eco-friendly technologies, to fast-track the shift to clean energy and strengthen environmental resilience in OECD countries. These strategies align with the broader objectives of global sustainable development, offering a path towards a greener and more sustainable future.
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Chen Q. Pollutant reduction effects of vertical environmental reform in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:16805-16818. [PMID: 38324157 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32107-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The vertical environmental reform in China has led to the change of environmental management system from territorial management model to vertical management model. This study uses the data of 263 prefecture-level cities in China to examine the effects of China's vertical environmental reform on pollutant emissions, including industrial sulfur dioxide, wastewater emissions, and industrial fumes emissions. The findings demonstrate that vertical environmental reform resulted in a reduction in industrial sulfur dioxide, wastewater emissions, and industrial fumes emissions. And the governance effects is gradually enhanced with the passage of time, which are long-lasting effects. The above conclusions are still valid after a series of robust estimates including mitigating selection bias, placebo test, changing the dependent variables, and mitigating heterogeneous treatment effects. According to heterogeneity analysis, the vertical environmental reform has reduced the increase of pollutants caused by financial pressure and official associations, and treats border pollution problems more effectively. Under the decentralized governance system, the implementation of vertical environmental management helps to reduce local pollutant emissions. This conclusion provides the latest evidence from China for the academic debate on the advantages and disadvantages of territorial environmental management and vertical environmental management and also provides policy implications for the government's environmental governance.
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Ismail IH, Khatib SF, Abbas AF, Ali Khan MNA, Sulimany HGH, Bazhair AH. Crisis and environmental governance decisions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from European countries. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25673. [PMID: 38370258 PMCID: PMC10867342 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on environmental governance decisions within publicly listed European companies. It utilizes a comprehensive analysis of publicly available data regarding these firms and check the environmental governance practices during the pandemic, informed by risk society theory which describes modern societies marked by ongoing risks and uncertainties primarily stemming from technological and scientific advancements. The regression and robustness analysis has been performed on how companies have responded to the crisis, specifically in terms of their approaches to environmental sustainability and governance. Covid-19 has a significantly positive impact on environmental governance (EG), with a coefficient of 18.73 and a p-value of .000. Other variables like human development (HD), size, and free cash flow (FCF) positively affect EG, while corruption (Corrupt) and leverage (Lev) have a negative influence. Robust analysis confirms the negative impact of Covid-19 on EG, with a coefficient of 18.46 and a p-value below .01, consistent across different subsamples. However, it also underscores the challenges companies have encountered in upholding their sustainability efforts amid the crisis. In sum, this research offers valuable insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected environmental governance decisions, with potential implications for policymakers, regulators, and business leaders striving to advance sustainability in the post-pandemic landscape.
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Chu Z, Chen P, Zhang Z, Chen Z. Other's shoes also fit well: AI technologies contribute to China's blue skies as well as carbon reduction. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 353:120171. [PMID: 38278110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology represents a disruptive innovation that has garnered significant interest among researchers for its potential applications in ecological and environmental management. While many studies have investigated the impact of AI on carbon emissions, relatively few have delved into its relationship with air pollution. This study sets out to explore the causal mechanisms and constraints linking AI technologies and air pollution, using provincial panel data collected from 2007 to 2020 in China. Furthermore, this study examines the distinct pathways through which AI technology can ameliorate air pollution and reduce carbon emissions. The findings reveal the following key insights: (1) AI technologies have the capacity to significantly reduce air pollution, particularly in terms of PM2.5 and SO2 levels. (2) AI technologies contribute to enhanced air quality by facilitating adjustments in energy structures, improving energy efficiency, and strengthening digital infrastructure. Nonetheless, it is important to note that adjusting the energy structure remains the most practical approach for reducing carbon emissions. (3) The efficacy of AI in controlling air pollution is influenced by geographical location, economic development level, level of information technology development, resource dependence, and public attention. In conclusion, this study proposes novel policy recommendations to offer fresh perspectives to countries interested in leveraging AI for the advancement of ecological and environmental governance.
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Jiang Y, Xiao Y, Zhang Z, Zhao S. How does central-local interaction affect local environmental governance? Insights from the transformation of central environmental protection inspection in China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117668. [PMID: 38007082 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, one of the most important and innovative policy initiatives introduced by the Chinese government in the field of environmental protection and ecological civilization construction is the Central Environmental Protection Inspection (CEPI). CEPI is seen as a vital tool to encourage local implementation of environmental protection responsibility. Over the course of its operation (eight years), CEPI has transformed from the "campaign" phase to the "convention" phase. It is noted that while provincial governments face a common high-pressure environment created by CEPI, governance scenarios, behaviors, and performance vary across the country significantly. To better understand local governments' environmental governance behaviors under the transformation of CEPI, an integrated analysis framework consisting of two key elements, "central dominance" and "local proactiveness", is constructed based on the central-local interactions under the principal-agent model. Based on this framework, we conducted a multi-case comparative analysis of four classic cases, with the following findings. (1) Along with the operation of CEPI and its transformation, the interaction between the central and local governments leads to four governance scenarios: "control-active cooperation", "control-passive cooperation", "guidance-active promotion", and "guidance-passive promotion". (2) Influenced by various factors such as pressure by the central government, local governments' capabilities and governance motivations, local governments form governance behaviors with varying degrees of proactiveness and autonomy. (3) After examining the governance performance of varying behaviors, it is found that local government's "active promotion" behavior can achieve higher governance effectiveness in the "convention" phase. Therefore, it is of policy implication that local governments should be guided to transit from "passive cooperation" to "active promotion". This paper has important guiding significance for understanding local environmental governance behaviors under strong top-down institutional pressure.
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Lodhi I. Extract or conserve? The Hartwick-rule and sustainable environmental governance. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24631. [PMID: 38322846 PMCID: PMC10844106 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The legal safeguards for sustainable environmental governance are often inadequate, inefficient, and amenable to political maneuverings. Australia recently approved the Carmichael coal mine, rail, and expansion of the Abbot Port projects. These projects, along with many others in the region, have dire consequences for the groundwater system (Currell et al., 2017) [5], the Great Barrier Reef (Kroon et al., 2016; Grech et al., 2016) [6,7], and climate change (Taylor and Meinshausen, 2014) [8]. Here we show that incorporating the Hartwick-rule in economic analysis renders many of these projects unviable with or without the opportunity and externality costs. The Hartwick-rule dictates that exhaustible resource extraction can ensure weak sustainability if resource rents can be invested in such a way that the produced capital outweighs the consumed natural capital (Hartwick, 1977) [9]. We put forward two main arguments; one, resource rents belong to the society and many projects are only viable when these rents are invested with a certain growth rate; second, economic analysis shall incorporate the Hartwick-rule and shall be applied prior to recourse to the legal safeguards. Our analysis can be applied to any non-renewable natural resource extraction decision making.
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Wang H, You M. A conceptional game theory analysis of environmental public interest litigation of China. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24884. [PMID: 38318044 PMCID: PMC10839607 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
China introduced civil and administrative public interest litigation (PIL) through a series of pilot projects and legislative revisions in recent years. Now a procuratorate has the standing to bring civil PIL cases against polluters and administrative PIL cases against administrative agencies in its jurisdictions while a qualified non-governmental organization (NGO) has no geographic limits and may bring civil PIL cases against polluters anywhere in mainland China. Previous literature focused on the use of PIL for redressing environmental damages in individual cases. This paper studies the function of PIL beyond individual cases with game theory. This paper uses data collected through autoethnography, interviews, databases of judgements, statistics, and previous literature. This paper finds that local procuratorates and NGOs brought a large number of environmental PIL cases and changed the behavior patterns of local governments and their environmental protection agencies as well as that of polluters. Before the introduction of PIL rules, governmental officers of local governments and their environmental protection agencies were more discretionary and selective in environmental law enforcement and were more cooperative with polluters. After the law introduced PIL rules, they are now less discretionary in environmental law enforcement, less cooperative with polluters, and more likely to strictly enforce the environmental law. This paper models the interaction between local governments and polluters before the introduction of environmental PIL as an infinitely repeated game and reveals the ensuing cooperation. This infinitely repeated game was broken by new players introduced by the PIL, i.e., the procuratorate, NGOs, and the court, which changed the behavior patterns of the local government and its environmental protection agencies as well as that of polluters. This paper concludes that the function of PIL beyond individual cases lies in that it breaks the chain of infinitely repeated game between the local government and polluters and thus changes their behavior patterns.
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Du X, Ullah S. Environmental governance-public supervision and participation nexus under state supervision system and carbon neutrality targets in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:14208-14217. [PMID: 38273081 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31974-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
China is now experiencing severe environmental issues due to its rapid socio-economic advancement. Environmental governance is crucial to preserving China's rapidly degrading natural ecology. Public supervision and participation are important factors that effectively promote environmental quality. Therefore, this analysis primarily examines the relationship between China's public participation and environmental governance. Hence, the primary focus of the analysis is to investigate the asymmetric impact of public participation on environmental governance from 1996 to 2020. We have employed the nonlinear QARDL model that estimates the short- and long-run impact across different quantiles. The study's results support that long-run estimates for positive change in environmental NGOs (ENGOs) are significantly positive for almost all quantiles, while those for negative change in ENGOs are negative and have a significant impact at higher quantiles. In the short run, the estimates of positive change in ENGOs are positive and significant; however, the negative change in ENGOs does not significantly impact environmental governance at lower quantiles. The Wald test also confirms the asymmetric impact of ENGOs on environmental governance across various quantiles in short and long run. The findings of this analysis underscore the critical role of public supervision and participation in influencing environmental governance in China.
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Cao F, Zhang L, Wu W, Han S, Wu Z, Wu Y. Challenging the nexus of power: The gaming dilemma of collaboration between government and enterprises in environmental management. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23472. [PMID: 38169894 PMCID: PMC10758809 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
This study presents a novel approach to analysing environmental governance by Chinese governments through the lens of a tripartite evolutionary game model. The key novelty of our research lies in the explicit incorporation of a reputation mechanism into the evolutionary game analysis, which significantly influences government decision-making, environmental governance strategies, and the dynamics of the relationship between government and polluting enterprises. By assessing the marginal effects of conventional governance and mobilization-based governance on the environmental mechanism, as well as the collusion behaviours between government and polluting enterprises, our study sheds light on previously unexplored aspects of environmental governance. Our findings indicate that the reputation mechanism plays a crucial role within the evolutionary game system of environmental governance, exerting a substantial impact on government decision-making. Furthermore, we demonstrate that policy interventions, such as increasing the cost of penalties under regulatory policies, can encourage compliance strategies among enterprises. Additionally, our research highlights the high sensitivity of reputation signals towards local government's environmental governance strategies, directly impacting their credibility and influencing the adoption of proactive environmental governance strategies. Moreover, we emphasize the role of the central environmental inspection system as a means to facilitate the transmission of environmental governance pressures between central and local governments, ultimately fostering a green development concept and promoting coordinated development between the economy and ecological civilization. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the intricacies of environmental governance in China and underscores the importance of reputation mechanisms and policy interventions in promoting sustainable development.
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Flye ME, Sponarski CC, McGreavy B, Zydlewski JD. Leading the charge: A qualitative case-study of leadership conditions in collaborative environmental governance structures. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 348:119203. [PMID: 37862885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Collaborative governance structures are increasingly common among natural resource managers. While studies have assessed the conditions under which collaborative action occurs, little emphasis has been placed on the role leadership may play in joint-jurisdictional systems. Management of species under the Endangered Species Act offers an opportunity to assess the collaboration of federal, state, and tribal resource agencies. The Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was managed under a structure called the Atlantic Salmon Recovery Framework (ASRF) from 2011 to 2019. Using the ASRF as a case study, we examined the influence of leadership approaches on perceived program efficacy, member buy-in, and experience through semi-structured interviews. Participant reflections revealed three major leadership themes that participants found inadequate: (1) shared goals, (2) transparency, and (3) trust. Collaborative approaches that foster these leadership conditions may increase adaptive capacity and the likelihood of sustained success in this, and other, environmental governance structures.
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Song C, Majeed MT. Digital inclusion to enhance energy sustainability: public participation and environmental governance in the new media era to achieve energy sustainable goals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:123633-123642. [PMID: 37991612 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30837-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Renewable energy not only helps to safeguard the environment and slow down climate change but also supports economic growth and energy security. The significance of renewable energy sources is expanding as more people throughout the globe understand how important it is to switch to clean energy sources. Therefore, empirics are in search of the factors that can promote renewable energy production. This analysis investigates some of the novel determinants of renewable energy production, such as digital inclusion, public participation, and environmental governance, which have not been examined previously in any study. For empirical analysis, the study employs the ARDL and QARDL estimation techniques using Chinese data from 1998Q1 to 2021Q4. The analysis findings confirm that digital financial inclusion, ICT, and GDP are vital in boosting both short and long-run renewable production. Green investment, environmental governance, and carbon emissions also significantly and favourably impact long-run renewable energy production. In the Quantile ARDL model, digital financial inclusion is positively linked to renewable energy production at most of its quantiles in the short and long run, while the ICT, GDP, environmental governance, and carbon emissions are positively linked to renewable energy in most quantiles in the long-run only. The Wald test confirms the asymmetric impact for all variables in the long run, which implies that policymakers should consider the positive and negative changes in these factors while devising policies for enhancing renewable energy production.
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