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The Haze Nightmare Following the Economic Boom in China: Dilemma and Tradeoffs

Author

Listed:
  • Jian Sun

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    The author contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jinniu Wang

    (Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
    Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
    Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610041, China
    International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Yanqiang Wei

    (Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Yurui Li

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Miao Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

Abstract

This study aims to expand on a deeper understanding of the relationship between rapid economic development and ensuing air pollution in China. The database includes the gross domestic product (GDP), the value added of a secondary industry, the per capita GDP (PGDP), greenhouse gases emissions, and PM 2.5 concentrations. The results indicate that China’s PGDP has continued to rise over the past decade, and the rate of PGDP slowed down from 1980 to 2004 (slope = 5672.81, R 2 = 0.99, p < 0.001) but was significantly lower than that from the year 2004 to 2013 (slope = 46,911.08, R 2 > 0.99, p < 0.001). Unfortunately, we found that total coal consumption, annual steel production, and SO 2 emission had been continually growing as the overall economy expands at temporal scale, with the coefficient of determinations greater than 0.98 ( p < 0.001). Considering the spatial pattern aspect, we also found a significant relationship between GDP and greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, severe air pollution has negatively impacted the environment and human health, particularly in some highlighted regions. The variation explained by both total SO 2 emission and total smoke and dust emission were 33% ( p < 0.001) and 24% ( p < 0.01) for the rate of total pertussis at temporal scale, respectively. Furthermore, at the spatial scale, pulmonary tuberculosis rates and pertussis mainly occurred in area with serious air pollution (economically developed region). It can be summarized that the extensive mode of economic growth has brought a number of serious environment and human health problems. Thus, a new policy framework has been proposed to meet the goals of maintaining a healthy economy without harming natural environment, which may prove integral, especially when coupled with long-term national strategic development plans.

Suggested Citation

  • Jian Sun & Jinniu Wang & Yanqiang Wei & Yurui Li & Miao Liu, 2016. "The Haze Nightmare Following the Economic Boom in China: Dilemma and Tradeoffs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:4:p:402-:d:67470
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xiao Gong & Jianing Mi & Chunyan Wei & Ruitao Yang, 2019. "Measuring Environmental and Economic Performance of Air Pollution Control for Province-Level Areas in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Guo, Bingnan & Feng, Yu & Lin, Ji & Wang, Xu, 2024. "New energy demonstration city and urban pollutant emissions: An analysis based on a spatial difference-in-differences model," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 287-298.

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