International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eco-Innovation and Its Influence on Renewable Energy Demand: The Role of Environmental Law

by Muhammad Afaq Haider Jafri and Huizheng Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3194; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043194 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1580

Abstract

There is a consensus among the empirics regarding the positive role of renewable energy in mitigating the effects of climate change. Hence, it is vital to search for the factors that can promote renewable energy demand. As a result, this analysis investigates the [...] Read more.

There is a consensus among the empirics regarding the positive role of renewable energy in mitigating the effects of climate change. Hence, it is vital to search for the factors that can promote renewable energy demand. As a result, this analysis investigates the impact of educational attainment, environmental law, and innovation on renewable energy consumption (REC) in China. From empirical estimates, we confer that the long-run estimates attached to the environment-related taxes and environmental policy stringency are positive and significant, implying that both these factors increase the REC in China in the long run. Similarly, the estimated coefficients of environment-related technologies and patent applications are significantly positive, confirming that environmental and other technologies give rise to REC in the long run. Likewise, the long-run estimates of education are significantly positive in both models, which confer that REC increases along with an increase in average years of schooling. Lastly, the estimates of CO₂ emissions are significantly positive in the long run. These results imply that policymakers should invest in research and development activities that are crucial for promoting eco-innovation and renewable energy demand. In addition, strict environmental laws should be introduced to induce firms and businesses to invest in clean energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

20 pages, 400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Energy Consumption, CO₂ Emissions, Economic Growth, and Health Indicators

by Jing Li, Muhammad Irfan, Sarminah Samad, Basit Ali, Yao Zhang, Daniel Badulescu and Alina Badulescu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2325; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032325 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4862

Abstract

The health and wellness of people through life expectancy, mortality rate improvement, and sustaining the productivity of labor contributes a lot to national income. Infrastructure development consumes energy and releases carbon dioxide at different stages of the construction process. The current study explores [...] Read more.

The health and wellness of people through life expectancy, mortality rate improvement, and sustaining the productivity of labor contributes a lot to national income. Infrastructure development consumes energy and releases carbon dioxide at different stages of the construction process. The current study explores the nexus between CO₂ emission, energy consumption, mortality, life expectancy, and GDP in the top five carbon-emitting countries by using time series data from 1975 to 2015. The study used a cointegration technique to find the long- and short-run relationships between study variables. The study also used a structural break test to identify the break time. The results of the correlation matrix show strong positive correlation between CO₂ emissions and energy consumption. It also reflects a weak correlation with mortality and life expectancy in Japan and Russia. The results of the ADF test indicated that the series are stationary at first difference and provided evidence to use Johansen cointegration test for long- and short-run relationships between independent series. Vector error correction term and ECT method are used to find long-run relationships between cointegrated series and adjustment parameters. For the structural breaks of health indicators and energy consumption study, we used the Gregory Hanson structural break. Mortality rate and life expectancy rate of China, U.S., Russia, India, and Japan show relevant policy changes with economic policies of each country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

19 pages, 3501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysing the Effect of Energy Intensity on Carbon Emission Reduction in Beijing

by Gen Li, Shihong Zeng, Tengfei Li, Qiao Peng and Muhammad Irfan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1379; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021379 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1870

Abstract

Beijing has experienced rapid economic development since the reforms and opening up. However, the traditional development model based on excessive energy consumption has posed great challenges to the ecological environment. To curb environmental degradation and achieve sustainable social development, Beijing has proposed to [...] Read more.

Beijing has experienced rapid economic development since the reforms and opening up. However, the traditional development model based on excessive energy consumption has posed great challenges to the ecological environment. To curb environmental degradation and achieve sustainable social development, Beijing has proposed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As an important indicator of energy consumption, it is necessary to clarify how energy intensity (EI) affects carbon emissions (CE) to achieve carbon neutrality in Beijing by 2050. This study first decomposes the drivers of CE in Beijing from 2010 to 2020 using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method and comparatively analyses the impact of EI on CE. Then, the spatial Dubin model (SDM) is used to analyse the spatial spillover effect of EI on CE at the regional level. Finally, the macro moderating role of economic development in the effect of EI on CE is analysed. The results show that the effect of EI has been the main driver of CE reduction in Beijing. Among the industrial sectors, manufacturing and transportation have had the greatest success in reducing CE through EI reduction. At the regional level, there is a spatial spillover effect of EI on CE, and the effect of carbon reduction through the spillover effect of EI is greater than the direct effect of EI. Economic factors have an enhanced moderating effect on the process of EI affecting CE, and this moderating effect has threshold properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 739 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Empirical Analysis of Environmental Regulation’s Spatial Spillover Effects on Green Technology Innovation in China

by Xinyu Wang, Yuanze Chai, Wensen Wu and Adnan Khurshid

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021069 - 7 Jan 2023

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 2642

Abstract

Green technology innovation is one of the driving forces of industrial structure upgrading. This innovation is thought to be related to environmental regulation. The study uses panel data for 30 Chinese provinces and cities from 2009 to 2020 and presents a comprehensive research-based [...] Read more.

Green technology innovation is one of the driving forces of industrial structure upgrading. This innovation is thought to be related to environmental regulation. The study uses panel data for 30 Chinese provinces and cities from 2009 to 2020 and presents a comprehensive research-based explanation of how environmental regulations impact green innovation. This study employs the spatial Durbin model to analyze the spillover effect of the region. The results show that the total impact of environmental regulations is 0.223%, of which the direct effect is 0.099%. This impact includes the effects of both formal and informal environmental regulation. It indicates that ecological regulations significantly enhance green technology innovation. Furthermore, the spatial spillover effect is significantly positive at the 1% level with a coefficient of 0.124. Such spillover effects represent a learning effect of regional environmental regulation. Based on the results, the study suggests a few policy measures based on the detailed outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 3529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Environment–Economy Synergistic Improvement Effect of the “Two-Oriented Society” Pilot Area in China

by Chunying Cui, Dengke He and Ziwei Yan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010852 - 2 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1495

Abstract

The establishment of the “two-oriented society” pilot zone is China’s effort to explore an economic–environmental synergistic growth approach, and it is an important basis on which to solve the dilemma between economic development and environmental protection in less developed countries. By constructing an [...] Read more.

The establishment of the “two-oriented society” pilot zone is China’s effort to explore an economic–environmental synergistic growth approach, and it is an important basis on which to solve the dilemma between economic development and environmental protection in less developed countries. By constructing an inter-provincial panel dataset and taking the “two-oriented society” pilot area as a policy intervention event, a quasi-natural experiment was conducted to evaluate the observed differences in economic growth and pollutant emissions using counterfactual estimation. The results show that, during the policy intervention period, the emission of solid waste in Hubei and Hunan provinces was significantly reduced, and the level of haze particles in Hunan province was also remarkably suppressed; however, the environmental emission problems such as water pollution were not improved in comparison to the national level. At the same time, the economic growth rate of Hubei and Hunan provinces was clearly better than the counterfactual control group after the policy pilot, showing the economic promotion effect of the construction of the “two-oriented society” pilot zone. We conclude that the establishment of the “two-oriented society” provides a reference for a successful path to sustainable growth, and there is no absolute contradiction between economic growth and environmental friendliness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reduction Effect of Carbon Emission Trading Policy in Decreasing PM_2.5 Concentrations in China

by Zhixiong Weng, Cuiyun Cheng, Yang Xie and Hao Ma

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316208 - 3 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2028

Abstract

Carbon emissions trading is a market-based tool for solving environmental issues. This study used a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to estimate China’s carbon trading pilots to reduce PM_2.5 concentrations. The results of this quasi-natural experiment show that the carbon trading policy effectively reduces [...] Read more.

Carbon emissions trading is a market-based tool for solving environmental issues. This study used a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to estimate China’s carbon trading pilots to reduce PM_2.5 concentrations. The results of this quasi-natural experiment show that the carbon trading policy effectively reduces PM_2.5 by 2.7 μg/m³. We used a propensity score matching (PSM-DID) method to minimize selection bias to construct a treatment and a control group. The results show the policy effect is robust, with a PM_2.5 concentration reduction of 2.6 μg/m³. Furthermore, we employed a series of robustness checks to support our findings, which notably indicate that the effect of carbon trading on reducing PM_2.5 differs across regions over the years. The western region of China tends to be the most easily affected region, and the early years of carbon trading show slightly greater reduction effects. Our findings provide valuable policy implications for establishing and promoting carbon trading in China and other countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Digital Finance Promote Peak Carbon Dioxide Emissions? Evidence from China

by Mao Wu, Jiayi Guo, Hongzhi Tian and Yuanyuan Hong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14276; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114276 - 1 Nov 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2543

Abstract

This paper uses Chinese provincial panel data from 2011 to 2019, measures CO₂ emissions of provinces in China using the IPCC method, and explores the impact of digital finance on CO₂ emissions through the SAR model and SDM. Empirical study shows [...] Read more.

This paper uses Chinese provincial panel data from 2011 to 2019, measures CO₂ emissions of provinces in China using the IPCC method, and explores the impact of digital finance on CO₂ emissions through the SAR model and SDM. Empirical study shows that digital finance significantly reduces CO₂ emissions. Digital finance reduces CO₂ emissions by promoting energy industrial structure transformation and spreads to surrounding areas through spillover effects, contributes to increasing green patents granted and thus reduces regional CO₂ emissions, advances the green technological progress and therefore inhibits CO₂ emissions, but reduces the green technological progress in surrounding areas and increases CO₂ emissions due to the siphon effect. With the development of digital finance itself, the higher the level of financial regulation, green development and the green finance index, the better the effect of digital finance on CO₂ emission reduction. Additionally, digital finance significantly reduces CO₂ emissions in the south of China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 809 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Capital Formation, Green Innovation, Renewable Energy Consumption and Environmental Quality: Do Environmental Regulations Matter?

by Xueying Meng, Tianqing Li, Mahmood Ahmad, Guitao Qiao and Yang Bai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013562 - 19 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2020

Abstract

The world economy continues to witness a steady rise in carbon emissions, which makes it challenging to fulfill the terms of the Paris agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, countries worldwide enact environmental regulations to curtail environmental pollution to promote [...] Read more.

The world economy continues to witness a steady rise in carbon emissions, which makes it challenging to fulfill the terms of the Paris agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, countries worldwide enact environmental regulations to curtail environmental pollution to promote sustainable development. However, the importance of environmental regulations has not been fully validated in the previous literature. In addition, the concurrent roles of capital formation, green innovation, and renewability cannot be overlooked. Against this backdrop, this study selects data from G7 countries from 1994 to 2019 to explore the effect of environmental regulations, capital formation, green innovation, and renewable energy consumption on CO₂ emissions. In order to achieve the above research objectives, we employ the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR) for empirical analysis. The results reveal that capital formation significantly enhances environmental quality by reducing CO₂ emissions across all quantiles (10th–90th). Environmental regulations show a significant and negative impact on CO₂ emission mainly at the middle and higher emissions quantiles, while the effect is insignificant at lower quantiles (10th). Moreover, green innovation and renewable energy consumption mitigate CO₂ emissions across all quantiles (10th–90th), while economic growth deteriorates environmental quality in G7 countries. The panel granger causality results indicate the unidirectional causality running from capital formation, environmental regulations, and renewable energy towards CO₂ emissions, which implies that any policy related to these variables will Granger cause CO₂ emissions but not the other way round. Based on the findings, important policy implications are proposed to promote sustainable development in G7 countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Emission Reduction Target in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region: An Atmospheric Transfer Coefficient Matrix Perspective

by Yuan Wang, Zhou Pan, Yue Li, Yaling Lu, Yiming Dong and Liying Ping

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13512; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013512 - 19 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1576

Abstract

In recent years, the problem of atmospheric pollution has been concerning in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, due to the frequent haze. It has become a significant issue to improve regional air quality through appropriate emission reduction measures. In this study, considering the regional atmospheric [...] Read more.

In recent years, the problem of atmospheric pollution has been concerning in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, due to the frequent haze. It has become a significant issue to improve regional air quality through appropriate emission reduction measures. In this study, considering the regional atmospheric transmission of air pollutants, the WRF/CALPUFF model (the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the California Puff air quality model) was used to describe the impact of each city’s pollutant emissions on the concentrations of every city. Then, a new optimization model was designed to calculate the maximum allowable emissions of every city. The results showed that NOx and PM_2.5 emissions need to be reduced by 44% and 48%, respectively, in the traditional mitigation scenario (any city’s pollutant emissions are not allowed to increase). However, in the optimized scenario, NOx and PM_2.5 emissions should be reduced by 23% and 46%, respectively, to meet the national secondary standard. The emissions of cities with low transfer coefficients, such as Zhangjiakou, Qinhuangdao, and Chengde, could even be appropriately increased. This means that the optimized scenario could reduce the pressure on emission reduction. Although the optimization results are theoretical and idealistic, this research study provides a new idea for formulating emission mitigation policies in various regions to reduce the impact on the economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Regulation, Greenwashing Behaviour, and Green Governance of High-Pollution Enterprises in China

by Tingfa Zhang, Huaying Qin and Weishuang Xu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912539 - 1 Oct 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4259

Abstract

This study analyses the relationship between greenwashing behaviour, a lack of government supervision, and imperfect green certification mechanisms in China. To improve green governance and greenwashing governance in light of rent-seeking behaviour between high-pollution enterprises and third-party green certification institutions (GCIs), we construct [...] Read more.

This study analyses the relationship between greenwashing behaviour, a lack of government supervision, and imperfect green certification mechanisms in China. To improve green governance and greenwashing governance in light of rent-seeking behaviour between high-pollution enterprises and third-party green certification institutions (GCIs), we construct a tripartite game model for the green governance system using an evolutionary game and analyse the interaction and evolutionary trajectory between the three parties. Our results indicate that increasing local government incentives and penalties not only facilitate strengthened green governance by high-pollution enterprises that do not greenwash but also help third-party GCIs to decline to engage in rent-seeking. However, increased incentives lead to relaxed governmental supervision. In addition, the government’s incentives and penalties only meet conditions that each agent’s total incentives and penalties exceed its speculative gain, and green governance systems can be effectively prevented from resulting in unsatisfactory and unstable strategies. Moreover, the accountability that higher levels of government have to local governments effectively enables high-pollution enterprises’ refusal to greenwash and third-party GCIs’ refusal to engage in rent-seeking. Our results counsel further research on environmental regulation, green governance, and enterprises’ greenwashing, with theoretical and practical applications for both policymakers and enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumers in the Circular Economy: A Path Analysis of the Underlying Factors of Purchasing Behaviour

by Andrea Szilagyi, Lucian-Ionel Cioca, Laura Bacali, Elena-Simina Lakatos and Andreea-Loredana Birgovan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11333; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811333 - 9 Sep 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4675

Abstract

One of the major obstacles to the adoption of the circular economy is the lack of consumer interest and awareness. Despite this, the unique role of consumers in the circular economy is an understudied topic, as the literature tends to focus rather on [...] Read more.

One of the major obstacles to the adoption of the circular economy is the lack of consumer interest and awareness. Despite this, the unique role of consumers in the circular economy is an understudied topic, as the literature tends to focus rather on the application of circular practices in the organizational and industrial sectors. This paper aims to examine the individual-level factors that have an influence over circular purchasing behavior. Specifically, this paper elaborates an explicative path model of purchasing circular products that takes into account environmental concern, climate skepticism, and the attitudinal factor towards circular products. The final sample consisted of 566 respondents from Romania. Our findings showed that environmental concern has a positive significant impact on circular purchase behaviour and this relationship is mediated by the attitude towards circular products. Moreover, those with high levels of climate skepticism showed an increased level of perceived greenwashing among organizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 2263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Coastal Urbanization on Marine Pollution: Evidence from China

by Weicheng Xu and Zhendong Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710718 - 28 Aug 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3157

Abstract

The increasing marine pollution in China’s coastal areas has seriously affected the sustainable development of the economy and the living standards of residents. It is of great significance to explore the relationship between urbanization and marine pollution in coastal areas for the sustainable [...] Read more.

The increasing marine pollution in China’s coastal areas has seriously affected the sustainable development of the economy and the living standards of residents. It is of great significance to explore the relationship between urbanization and marine pollution in coastal areas for the sustainable development of coastal cities. Based on the marine pollution data and nighttime light (NTL) data of 46 coastal cities from 2006 to 2015, the paper discusses the impact of urbanization on marine pollution by using the generalized spatial two-stage least square method (GS2SlS), and analyzes the role of technological innovation, financial development, and human capital in the impact of urbanization on marine pollution by using the three-stage least square method (3SLS). Results show that China’s coastal marine pollution has a strong spatial spillover effect, and a U-shaped relationship exists between urbanization and marine pollution. Regional heterogeneity analysis shows that an inverted U-shaped relationship was found between coastal urbanization and marine pollution in the northern marine economic circle, while the eastern and southern marine economic circles have a U-shaped correlation. The heterogeneity of the urbanization pattern indicates that the relationship between different urbanization patterns and marine pollution in coastal areas is generally in a positive correlation stage, but the depth of urbanization occupies a dominant position. Further mechanism tests show that urbanization can effectively reduce coastal marine pollution and improve the marine environment through the technological innovation effect, financial development effect, and human capital effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The “Local Neighborhood” Effect of Environmental Regulation on Green Innovation Efficiency: Evidence from China

by Yanwei Lyu, Jinning Zhang, Fei Yang and Di Wu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610389 - 20 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

Current research has generally concentrated on the motivations of environmental policies on local green innovation while ignoring the effect they may have on green innovation in neighboring places. To obtain a thorough understanding and explanation of the influencing mechanism of environmental regulation (ER) [...] Read more.

Current research has generally concentrated on the motivations of environmental policies on local green innovation while ignoring the effect they may have on green innovation in neighboring places. To obtain a thorough understanding and explanation of the influencing mechanism of environmental regulation (ER) on green innovation efficiency (GIE), the super-slack based measure-data envelopment analysis (Super-SBM-DEA) method was applied to evaluate Chinese provinces’ GIE, a spatial Durbin model was developed to evaluate the effect of ER on GIE from the perspective of the “local neighborhood” effect, and a mediating effect model was built to analyze the transmission mechanism of the neighborhood effect of ER on GIE. The study indicated that China’s regional GIE is high in the east and low in the west, with large spatial variability and significant positive spatial clustering characteristics. The effect of ER on local GIE is “U” shaped, while the influence on green innovation efficiency in neighboring areas is an inverted “U” shape. The influence of environmental regulation on GIE in neighboring areas is mainly achieved through the transfer of local polluting industries to neighboring areas. Based on the results, policy recommendations from the perspectives of choosing environmental regulation tools and transferring polluting industries are made to promote and realize the coordinated development of ER and green innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

16 pages, 3399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Water Ecological Footprint and Countermeasures for Water Sustainability in Japan

by Yin Su, Qifang Zheng and Shenghai Liao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610380 - 20 Aug 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2100

Abstract

Water-related problems are mostly caused by water imbalances between supply and demand. This study adopts the ecological footprint method to conduct an empirical study on the sustainable utilization of water resources in Japan. According to the basic principles and calculation methods of water [...] Read more.

Water-related problems are mostly caused by water imbalances between supply and demand. This study adopts the ecological footprint method to conduct an empirical study on the sustainable utilization of water resources in Japan. According to the basic principles and calculation methods of water ecological footprint (WEF), the characteristics of Japan’s water ecological footprint were investigated from the time and space dimensions, and a comparative analysis was made with the water ecological footprint of China. The results show that: from 1980 to 2020, the total water ecological footprint in Japan showed a downward trend in both the traditional account and pollutant account, and its spatial pattern was characterized by the relation that the higher the urbanization rate, the larger the water ecological footprint. In terms of water ecological footprint efficiency, Japan’s agricultural water ecological footprint efficiency was the lowest, and the domestic water ecological footprint efficiency was the highest. The water resources policies and measures that Japan and other developing countries should take to ensure the sustainability of water resources were analyzed separately. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stakeholder Analysis of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Internet Recycling Industry

by Tingting Liu, Qian Zhang, Zichen Zheng, Shangyun Wu and Zhixiong Weng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10003; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610003 - 13 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2629

Abstract

With the acceleration of the digitization process and the popularization of the internet, the recycling of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a potential and emerging recycling method. Stakeholders in the WEEE internet recycling industry have different roles which need [...] Read more.

With the acceleration of the digitization process and the popularization of the internet, the recycling of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a potential and emerging recycling method. Stakeholders in the WEEE internet recycling industry have different roles which need to be clarified. The stakeholder structure and relationships, and stakeholder characteristics, lie at the core of recycling system governance. Therefore, it is necessary to identify stakeholders in the existing WEEE Internet recycling industry. This study selected 10 important stakeholders and classified them into key, potential, and marginal stakeholders using the Mitchell scale while analyzing their characteristics and interactions. The results showed that internet recycling companies, government, residents, and traditional recyclers are key stakeholders that are important for promoting the development of the industry. Based on the above analysis, policy advice is proposed to provide directions for the improvement of the WEEE industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Cleaner Production Ecosystem: An Analysis of Embodied Industrial Pollution in International Trade of China’s Processing versus Normal Exports

by Yuting Dang, Yating Song, Muhammad Mohiuddin and Dan Sheng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9900; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169900 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1803

Abstract

While promoting economic growth, industrial development is causing serious environmental problems and threatening human health. Studies on pollution transfer through international trade often over-estimate the actual embodied emissions in exports and ignore the industrial pollutants. By designing a non-competitive input-output model which differentiates [...] Read more.

While promoting economic growth, industrial development is causing serious environmental problems and threatening human health. Studies on pollution transfer through international trade often over-estimate the actual embodied emissions in exports and ignore the industrial pollutants. By designing a non-competitive input-output model which differentiates between processing exports and normal exports, we calculate the embodied domestic and imported industrial emissions in China’s processing and normal exports and imports. We also calculate the balance of embodied emission in trade (BEET) and the pollution terms of trade (PTT), as well as the decomposition of scale, structural, and technical effects on embodied emission in international trade. The results demonstrate that processing exports reduce domestic pollution by importing intermediate inputs; normal exports, on the other hand, have a considerable impact on domestic pollution. Bilateral trade between China and the US has the most detrimental impact on China’s local environment, followed by trade between China and Japan. China’s exports to Japan are more polluting per unit than those to the US and Germany. Technological upgradations and transformation of trade structure have helped to reduce the negative environmental consequences of China-US and China-Japan bilateral trade. Investment in technology and trade policy can lead to a cleaner production ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2600 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Economic Growth and Environmental Protection Achieve a “Win–Win” Situation? Empirical Evidence from China

by Zhen Yang, Weijun Gao and Jiawei Li

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9851; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169851 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5643

Abstract

Achieving a “win–win” situation regarding economic growth and environmental protection has become a common goal for sustainable development in all countries around the world. As the world’s largest developing country and the second largest economy, China has been striving to maintain economic growth [...] Read more.

Achieving a “win–win” situation regarding economic growth and environmental protection has become a common goal for sustainable development in all countries around the world. As the world’s largest developing country and the second largest economy, China has been striving to maintain economic growth while improving environmental quality to achieve its sustainable development goals. Applying the decoupling approach, a model widely used to quantify the relationship between the environment and the economy, this study analyzed the relationship between the economy and the environment, examining the decoupling performance of economic growth and environmental impacts in 30 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities to investigate whether economic growth and environmental protection have achieved a “win–win” situation. Nighttime light (NTL) data were used to measure the performance of economic growth. In addition, an environmental pressure index (EPI) assessment framework covering 6 primary and 11 secondary indicators was constructed to measure the environmental quality of China over time. First, NTL data proved to be a valid data source for assessing decoupling performance; second, environmental pressure at both the national and provincial levels significantly decreased during the study period; third, the relationship between the economy and the environment has been further improved, and economic growth and environmental protection have achieved a “win–win” situation. These findings offer an in-depth analysis of the decoupling of the economy and the environment in China and serve as a guide for future implementation strategies for sustainable development in various regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7029 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Coordinated Development between Urban Greening and Economic Growth in Chinese Cities during 2005 to 2019

by Zhen Yang and Weijun Gao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9596; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159596 - 4 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2011

Abstract

Balancing economic growth with environmental protection is vital for the sustainable development of cities and regions. However, urban greening has rarely been considered in extensive studies. This study incorporates urban greening into a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, in order to evaluate its [...] Read more.

Balancing economic growth with environmental protection is vital for the sustainable development of cities and regions. However, urban greening has rarely been considered in extensive studies. This study incorporates urban greening into a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, in order to evaluate its coordination with economic performance. A total of 286 cities in China between 2005 and 2019 were selected as specific study subjects. Meanwhile, clustering method was used to classify different clusters based on CCD values, the Gini coefficient analysis was applied to discover the CCD values inequality characteristics and the exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) method was employed to study the CCD values spatial aggregation features. The results indicate that the CCD values presented significant spatial heterogeneity. Spatially, the CCD values were divided into eight clusters, with those in the eastern region generally being higher than in the central and western regions. Temporally, the CCD in all cities showed an increasing trend, but more than 60% of cities were still in the uncoordinated or low-level coordination stage. In addition, inequality and spatial aggregation characteristics were observed in CCD values, both of which presented decreasing trends. Greening has a stronger influence on the linked and coordinated growth of the two systems; therefore, we propose policy recommendations for pursuing the development of environmentally friendly cities from different aspects. In summary, this research allows for a better understanding of economic and environmental relationships, thus contributing to the objective of creating sustainable cities and communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic and Developing a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Theory and Practice of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policies in China

by Shu Meng, Xin Gao and Lianfeng Duan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8797; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148797 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3126

Abstract

Under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the vitality of start-ups has been continuously suppressed, their income has been decreasing, and overall economic development has gradually declined. At this time, the government, as an effective subject, should present its due responsibility to make [...] Read more.

Under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the vitality of start-ups has been continuously suppressed, their income has been decreasing, and overall economic development has gradually declined. At this time, the government, as an effective subject, should present its due responsibility to make entrepreneurship more sustainable and form a sustainable entrepreneurship ecology that can cope with risks. This paper takes the innovation policy theory and practice from research regarding China’s COVID-19 cases. One example is exploring the formation of the government’s innovation entrepreneurship policy and its mechanism within industrial cluster theory. Furthermore, we explore the analysis of the practice situation and try to solve the obstacles in the process of sustainable development through the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem and platform system building. We hope to find an acceptable way for the sustainable development of entrepreneurial ecological theory research and provide effective research and practical support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supporting Design to Develop Rural Revitalization through Investigating Village Microclimate Environments: A Case Study of Typical Villages in Northwest China

by Kai Xin, Jingyuan Zhao, Tianhui Wang and Weijun Gao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8310; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148310 - 7 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2165

Abstract

China has the largest number of villages in the world, and research on rural microclimate will contribute to global climate knowledge. A three-by-three grid method was developed to explore village microclimates through field measurement and ENVI-met simulation. A regression model was used to [...] Read more.

China has the largest number of villages in the world, and research on rural microclimate will contribute to global climate knowledge. A three-by-three grid method was developed to explore village microclimates through field measurement and ENVI-met simulation. A regression model was used to explore the mechanistic relationship between microclimate and spatial morphology, and predicted mean vote (PMV) was selected to evaluate outdoor thermal comfort. The results showed that ENVI-met was able to evaluate village microclimate, as Pearson’s correlation coefficient was greater than 0.8 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was from 2.16% to 3.79%. Moreover, the air temperature of west–east road was slightly higher than that of south–north, especially in the morning. The height-to-width ratio (H/W) was the most significant factor to affect air temperature compared to percentage of building coverage (PBC) and wind speed. In addition, H/W and air temperature had a relatively strong negative correlation when H/W was between 0.52 and 0.93. PMV indicated that the downwind edge area of prevailing wind in villages was relatively comfortable. This study provides data support and a reference for optimizing village land use, mediating the living environment, and promoting rural revitalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Freedom, Education and CO₂ Emissions: A Causality Analysis for EU Member States

by Gamze Sart, Yilmaz Bayar, Marina Danilina and Funda Hatice Sezgin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 8061; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138061 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1936

Abstract

Environmental sustainability is one of three pillars of sustainability. However, a significant worldwide deterioration in the environment has been experienced since the Industrial Revolution, but the efforts to protect the environment date back to the 1970s. In this context, many economic and non-economic [...] Read more.

Environmental sustainability is one of three pillars of sustainability. However, a significant worldwide deterioration in the environment has been experienced since the Industrial Revolution, but the efforts to protect the environment date back to the 1970s. In this context, many economic and non-economic factors underlying environmental degradation have been investigated until today, but the influence of economic freedom indicators and education on the environment have been relatively less analyzed and the researchers have mainly focused on the influence of economic and institutional variables on the environment. Therefore, this paper investigates the reciprocal interplay among economic freedom indicators, education, and environment in EU member states over the 2000–2018 term by using a causality test with cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity and taking the research gap into consideration. The causality analysis indicates that market-oriented economic structure and education can be beneficial in combatting environmental degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

15 pages, 3284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Profile of Bacterial Community and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Typical Vegetable Greenhouse Soil

by Xuexia Yuan, Yong Zhang, Chenxi Sun, Wenbo Wang, Yuanjuan Wu, Lixia Fan and Bing Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7742; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137742 - 24 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2409

Abstract

The use of vegetable greenhouse production systems has increased rapidly because of the increasing demand for food materials. The vegetable greenhouse production industry is confronted with serious environmental problems, due to their high agrochemical inputs and intensive utilization. Besides this, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, carrying [...] Read more.

The use of vegetable greenhouse production systems has increased rapidly because of the increasing demand for food materials. The vegetable greenhouse production industry is confronted with serious environmental problems, due to their high agrochemical inputs and intensive utilization. Besides this, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, carrying antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), may enter into a vegetable greenhouse with the application of animal manure. Bacterial communities and ARGs were investigated in two typical vegetable-greenhouse-using counties with long histories of vegetable cultivation. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant phyla, while aadA, tetL, sul1, and sul2 were the most common ARGs in greenhouse vegetable soil. Heatmap and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) demonstrated that the differences between two counties were more significant than those among soils with different cultivation histories in the same county, suggesting that more effects on bacterial communities and ARGs were caused by soil type and manure type than by the accumulation of cultivation years. The positive correlation between the abundance of the intI gene with specific ARGs highlights the horizontal transfer potential of these ARGs. A total of 11 phyla were identified as the potential hosts of specific ARGs. Based on redundancy analysis (RDA), Ni and pH were the most potent factors determining the bacterial communities, and Cr was the top factor affecting the relative abundance of the ARGs. These results might be helpful in drawing more attention to the risk of manure recycling in the vegetable greenhouse, and further developing a strategy for practical manure application and sustainable production of vegetable greenhouses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

22 pages, 2300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Dilemma of Promoting Circular Logistics Packaging in China: A Stochastic Evolutionary Game-Based Approach

by Xinyang Xu and Yang Yang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127363 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2720

Abstract

The environmental pollution caused by logistics packaging in China has attracted increasing attention in recent years, and circular packaging is considered an effective means to solve the aforementioned problem. Therefore, this study considers the uncertainty of the external environment; constructs a stochastic game [...] Read more.

The environmental pollution caused by logistics packaging in China has attracted increasing attention in recent years, and circular packaging is considered an effective means to solve the aforementioned problem. Therefore, this study considers the uncertainty of the external environment; constructs a stochastic game model of circular logistics-packaging promotion, which consists of environmental regulators, logistics enterprises, and consumers; collects data related to logistics packaging in China to describe the current circular-packaging promotion dilemma; and conducts a parameter-sensitivity analysis. The results show that (1) after a short period of fluctuation, the environmental regulator will lock in the “strong regulation” strategy, whereas logistics enterprises and consumers will quickly lock in the “no promotion” and “negative use” strategies. (2) The change in the initial probability will affect the rate of strategy evolution of the gaming system. (3) The “strong regulatory” strategy of environmental regulators and the increase in the number of circular-packaging cycles can help establish a logistics-recycling-packaging system. (4) The increase in recycling incentives can cause consumers to shift toward “active use” strategies, but this has accelerated the rate at which logistics companies lock into “no promotion” strategies. (5) The increase in the intensity of random interference will raise the fluctuation of the evolution of the game subject. For logistics enterprises, moderate random interference helps them evolve toward the “promotion” strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1887 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Kinetic Model for Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production of Plant Biomass under High Salinity

by Jing Wang, Bing Liu, Meng Sun, Feiyong Chen, Mitsuharu Terashima and Hidenari Yasui

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6943; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116943 - 6 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2270

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anaerobic digestion and biogas production of plant biomass under high salinity by adopting a theoretical and technical approach for saline plant-biomass treatment. Two completely mixed lab-scale mesophilic reactors were operated for 480 days. In [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anaerobic digestion and biogas production of plant biomass under high salinity by adopting a theoretical and technical approach for saline plant-biomass treatment. Two completely mixed lab-scale mesophilic reactors were operated for 480 days. In one of them, NaCl was added and the sodium ion concentration was maintained at 35.8 g-Na⁺·L⁻¹, and the organic loading rate was 0.58-COD·L⁻¹·d⁻¹–1.5 g-COD·L⁻¹·d⁻¹; the other added Na₂SO₄–NaHCO₃ and kept the sodium ion concentration at 27.6 g-Na⁺·L⁻¹ and the organic loading rate at 0.2 g-COD·L⁻¹·d⁻¹–0.8 g-COD·L⁻¹·d⁻¹. The conversion efficiencies of the two systems (COD to methane) were 66% and 54%, respectively. Based on the sulfate-reduction reaction and the existing anaerobic digestion model, a kinetic model comprising 12 types of soluble substrates and 16 types of anaerobic microorganisms was developed. The model was used to simulate the process performance of a continuous anaerobic bioreactor with a mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration of 10 g·L⁻¹–40 g·L⁻¹. The results showed that the NaCl system could receive the influent up to a loading rate of 0.16 kg-COD/kg-MLSS·d⁻¹ without significant degradation of the methane conversion at 66%, while the Na₂SO₄–NaHCO₃ system could receive more than 2 kg-COD·kg⁻¹-MLSS·d⁻¹, where 54% of the fed chemical oxygen demand (COD) was converted into methane and another 12% was observed to be sulfide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Message Framing on Residents’ Waste Separation Willingness—The Mediating Role of Moral Identity

by Wei Li, Si Chen, Zhihao Wang, Guomin Li and Xiaoguang Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 5812; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105812 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2428

Abstract

With serious environmental problems increasing, waste separation has drawn much attention. Message framing is an important way to popularize separation knowledge and increase people’s separation willingness. Message framing was classified into positive and negative frames in this study, and then based on moral [...] Read more.

With serious environmental problems increasing, waste separation has drawn much attention. Message framing is an important way to popularize separation knowledge and increase people’s separation willingness. Message framing was classified into positive and negative frames in this study, and then based on moral identity theory from the social cognitive perspective, two dimensions of moral identity were introduced as mediating variables to construct a mechanism model of the influence of message framing on waste separation willingness. After a comparative study of three groups of subjects (N = 604), the following conclusions were drawn: (1) message framing positively influenced moral identity and waste separation willingness; (2) both positive and negative message framing positively influenced waste separation willingness through the partial mediating role of moral identity symbolization and internalization; and (3) the mediating role of symbolization was stronger in the effect of positive message framing on waste separation willingness, while the mediating role of internalization was stronger in the effect of negative message framing on waste separation willingness. The findings provide significant information for organizations to effectively carry out message strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Impact and Path of Environmental Protection Tax on Different Air Pollutant Emissions

by Weijiang Liu and Tingting Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4767; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084767 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2406

Abstract

Existing studies have examined the double dividend effect of environmental protection tax. However, less attention has been paid to the influencing factors and transmission paths of the pollution abatement effect of the environmental protection tax. Based on the panel data for 30 of [...] Read more.

Existing studies have examined the double dividend effect of environmental protection tax. However, less attention has been paid to the influencing factors and transmission paths of the pollution abatement effect of the environmental protection tax. Based on the panel data for 30 of China’s provinces from 2007 to 2019, this study discusses the environmental protection tax’s influencing factors and transmission paths on the emission scale and intensity of different air pollutants through the panel threshold regression model and mediating effect model. The results show that: (1) the environmental protection tax has a positive emission reduction effect on the emission scale or emission intensity of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO₂); (2) the abatement effect is stronger when per capita gross regional product is above the threshold value; (3) technological progress, economic growth, and industrial structure all have positive mediating effects. Therefore, the local environmental protection tax rate should be set with comprehensive consideration of regional economic development, industrial structure, and technological progress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

11 pages, 762 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Physicochemical Parameters on Struvite Crystallization Based on Kinetics

by Jinzhu Wu, Yifan Li, Baojian Xu, Mei Li, Jing Wang, Yuanyuan Shao, Feiyong Chen, Meng Sun and Bing Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7204; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127204 - 12 Jun 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3248

Abstract

The precipitation of struvite (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) is considered to be a promising method for the recovery of phosphate from wastewater. In this review, the kinetic models, which are commonly used to explain the process of struvite crystallization, are [...] Read more.

The precipitation of struvite (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) is considered to be a promising method for the recovery of phosphate from wastewater. In this review, the kinetic models, which are commonly used to explain the process of struvite crystallization, are described. The mixed-suspension mixed-product removal (MSMPR) model is based on the population balance equation (the size-dependent growth model and the size-independent growth model). Thereafter, the first-order kinetic fitting model that aligned with concentration changes in the substrate is summarized. Finally, the several physical and chemical factors that affected the efficiency of struvite crystallization are determined. The supersaturation ratio, which is seen as the driving force of struvite crystallization, is the main factor that influences crystallization; however, it cannot be used in practical applications of engineering because it is indirectly associated with the following factors: pH, the molar ratio of Mg:N:P, and the interference of foreign impurities. In this study, we present conclusions that should be used to guide further research studies, and encourage the engineering practice of wastewater treatment with struvite precipitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Green Environment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Circular Economy and Green Environment

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (27 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI