IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i14p2556-d249236.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Driving Forces of Point Source Wastewater Emission: Case Study of COD and NH 4 -N Discharges in Mainland China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhaofang Zhang

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Weijun He

    (College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Juqin Shen

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Min An

    (College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Xin Gao

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu

    (College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
    Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Liang Yuan

    (College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Yang Kong

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Chengcai Zhang

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Jin Huang

    (College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

Abstract

Excess consumption of water resources and environmental pollution have become major challenges restricting sustainable development in China. In order to prevent the pollution of water resources, policymakers should have reliable emission reduction strategies. This paper aims to contribute new knowledge by analyzing the spatial-temporal characteristics and driving forces of point source emission. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 -N) emission variations in 31 provinces and municipalities of mainland China during the years 2004–2017 are analyzed. The results obtained using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method indicate that: (1) the COD and NH 4 -N emission effects have similar temporal characteristics. Technology improvement and pollutant emission intensity are the main factors inhibiting the incremental COD and NH 4 -N emission effects, while economic development is the main driving factor of COD and NH 4 -N emission effects. Population increases play a relatively less important role in COD and NH 4 -N emission effects. (2) The spatial features of COD and NH 4 -N emission effects show differences among provinces and municipalities. The reduction of COD emission effects in each province and municipality is obviously better than that of NH 4 -N emissions. (3) In the eastern, central, and the western regions of China, the total COD emission effect shows a downward trend, while apart from the central region, the NH 4 -N emission effect appears to be rising in the east and west of China. Therefore, increasing investment into pollution treatment, promoting awareness of water conservation, strengthening technological and financial support from the more developed eastern to the less developed central and western regions, can help to reduce the COD and NH 4 -N emissions in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhaofang Zhang & Weijun He & Juqin Shen & Min An & Xin Gao & Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu & Liang Yuan & Yang Kong & Chengcai Zhang & Jin Huang, 2019. "The Driving Forces of Point Source Wastewater Emission: Case Study of COD and NH 4 -N Discharges in Mainland China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2556-:d:249236
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/14/2556/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/14/2556/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ang, B. W., 2004. "Decomposition analysis for policymaking in energy:: which is the preferred method?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(9), pages 1131-1139, June.
    2. B. W. Ang & Ki-Hong Choi, 1997. "Decomposition of Aggregate Energy and Gas Emission Intensities for Industry: A Refined Divisia Index Method," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), pages 59-73.
    3. Ang, B. W., 2005. "The LMDI approach to decomposition analysis: a practical guide," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 867-871, May.
    4. Hettige, Hemamala & Mani, Muthukumara & Wheeler, David, 2000. "Industrial pollution in economic development: the environmental Kuznets curve revisited," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 445-476, August.
    5. Kunlun Chen & Xiaoqiong Liu & Lei Ding & Gengzhi Huang & Zhigang Li, 2016. "Spatial Characteristics and Driving Factors of Provincial Wastewater Discharge in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Ang, B. W. & Lee, P. W., 1996. "Decomposition of industrial energy consumption: The energy coefficient approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(1-2), pages 129-143, April.
    7. Shen, Junyi, 2006. "A simultaneous estimation of Environmental Kuznets Curve: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 383-394.
    8. Zhou, Yuanchun & Ma, Mengdie & Gao, Peiqi & Xu, Qiming & Bi, Jun & Naren, Tuya, 2019. "Managing water resources from the energy - water nexus perspective under a changing climate: A case study of Jiangsu province, China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 380-390.
    9. Xin Gao & Juqin Shen & Weijun He & Fuhua Sun & Zhaofang Zhang & Xin Zhang & Liang Yuan & Min An, 2019. "Multilevel Governments’ Decision-Making Process and Its Influencing Factors in Watershed Ecological Compensation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-28, April.
    10. Inman, Alex & Winter, Michael & Wheeler, Rebecca & Vrain, Emilie & Lovett, Andrew & Collins, Adrian & Jones, Iwan & Johnes, Penny & Cleasby, Will, 2018. "An exploration of individual, social and material factors influencing water pollution mitigation behaviours within the farming community," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 16-26.
    11. Hamilton, Clive & Turton, Hal, 2002. "Determinants of emissions growth in OECD countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 63-71, January.
    12. Min An & Weijun He & Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu & Zaiyi Liao & Zhaofang Zhang & Liang Yuan, 2018. "Spatial Patterns of Urban Wastewater Discharge and Treatment Plants Efficiency in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yongyi Cheng & Liheng Lu & Tianyuan Shao & Manhong Shen & Laiqun Jin, 2018. "Decomposition Analysis of Factors Affecting Changes in Industrial Wastewater Emission Intensity in China: Based on a SSBM-GMI Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-23, December.
    2. de Freitas, Luciano Charlita & Kaneko, Shinji, 2011. "Decomposition of CO2 emissions change from energy consumption in Brazil: Challenges and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1495-1504, March.
    3. Md. Afzal Hossain & Jean Engo & Songsheng Chen, 2021. "The main factors behind Cameroon’s CO2 emissions before, during and after the economic crisis of the 1980s," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 4500-4520, March.
    4. Lin, Boqiang & Ouyang, Xiaoling, 2014. "Analysis of energy-related CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions and reduction potential in the Chinese non-metallic mineral products industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 688-697.
    5. Fernández González, P. & Landajo, M. & Presno, M.J., 2014. "Tracking European Union CO2 emissions through LMDI (logarithmic-mean Divisia index) decomposition. The activity revaluation approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 741-750.
    6. Jialing Zou & Zhipeng Tang & Shuang Wu, 2019. "Divergent Leading Factors in Energy-Related CO 2 Emissions Change among Subregions of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Area from 2006 to 2016: An Extended LMDI Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.
    7. Lin, Boqiang & Lei, Xiaojing, 2015. "Carbon emissions reduction in China's food industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 483-492.
    8. Wang, Wenchao & Mu, Hailin & Kang, Xudong & Song, Rongchen & Ning, Yadong, 2010. "Changes in industrial electricity consumption in china from 1998 to 2007," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 3684-3690, July.
    9. Wang, Miao & Feng, Chao, 2018. "Decomposing the change in energy consumption in China's nonferrous metal industry: An empirical analysis based on the LMDI method," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2652-2663.
    10. Lei Liu & Shanshan Wang & Ke Wang & Ruiqin Zhang & Xiaoyan Tang, 2016. "LMDI decomposition analysis of industry carbon emissions in Henan Province, China: comparison between different 5-year plans," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(2), pages 997-1014, January.
    11. Li, DuoQi & Wang, DuanYi, 2016. "Decomposition analysis of energy consumption for an freeway during its operation period: A case study for Guangdong, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 296-305.
    12. Vaninsky, Alexander, 2014. "Factorial decomposition of CO2 emissions: A generalized Divisia index approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 389-400.
    13. Ang, B.W. & Liu, Na, 2007. "Handling zero values in the logarithmic mean Divisia index decomposition approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 238-246, January.
    14. V.V. Krivorotov & A.V. Kalina & S.E. Erypalov & P.A. Koryakina, 2021. "Energy Efficiency of Russian Copper Companies as a Basis for Ensuring Their Global Competitiveness," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 20(3), pages 428-460.
    15. Åsa Löfgren & Adrian Muller, 2010. "Swedish CO 2 Emissions 1993–2006: An Application of Decomposition Analysis and Some Methodological Insights," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 47(2), pages 221-239, October.
    16. Perillo, Frederico & Pereira da Silva, Patrícia & Cerqueira, Pedro A., 2022. "Decoupling efficiency from electricity intensity: An empirical assessment in the EU," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    17. Román-Collado, Rocío & Cansino, José M. & Botia, Camilo, 2018. "How far is Colombia from decoupling? Two-level decomposition analysis of energy consumption changes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 687-700.
    18. Ang, B.W. & Huang, H.C. & Mu, A.R., 2009. "Properties and linkages of some index decomposition analysis methods," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 4624-4632, November.
    19. Lin, Yuancheng & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou, 2023. "The carbon reduction potential by improving technical efficiency from energy sources to final services in China: An extended Kaya identity analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    20. Wang, Qunwei & Chiu, Yung-Ho & Chiu, Ching-Ren, 2015. "Driving factors behind carbon dioxide emissions in China: A modified production-theoretical decomposition analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 252-260.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2556-:d:249236. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.