Effect of Energy Development and Technological Innovation on PM 2.5 in China: A Spatial Durbin Econometric Analysis

Using the panel data of 29 provinces and regions in China, this paper analyzes the temporal and spatial characteristics of PM 2.5 concentration. The spatial Durbin model is used to empirically examine the impact of energy development and technological innovation on PM 2.5 . The results show that the interprovincial PM 2.5 in China showed an inverted “N” trend. There is a spatial agglomeration of interprovincial PM 2.5 , and the spatial autocorrelation is significant. The spatial autoregression coefficients of adjacent weights and distance weights are significantly positive, and PM 2.5 pollution in adjacent areas has a positive effect on the region. From the view of energy development, the increase in energy intensity will significantly increase the concentration of PM 2.5 in adjacent areas, which will increase the global PM 2.5 concentration. The increase in the proportion of coal consumption increases the concentration of PM 2.5 in the region and globally. The increase in energy consumption prices will reduce the PM 2.5 concentration in the region and globally. From the view of technological innovation, the increase in sales revenue of new products of industrial enterprises above the scale will reduce the concentration of PM 2.5 in the region by 0.1285 percentage points and the concentration of PM 2.5 in adjacent areas by 0.3058 percentage points, which will reduce the global PM 2.5 concentration by 0.4343 percentage points. The increase in the number of granted patent applications will reduce the PM 2.5 concentration of the adjacent regions and globally. The increasing level of infrastructure for technological innovation in the region will reduce the concentration of PM 2.5 in adjacent areas. The increase in technical market turnover will reduce the concentration of PM 2.5 in the region and the concentration of PM 2.5 in adjacent areas, which will reduce the global PM 2.5 concentration. In order to reduce the concentration of PM 2.5 in China, we should continue to promote PM 2.5 regional collaborative governance. In terms of energy development, it is necessary to reduce energy intensity, optimize energy structure, implement energy substitution, and rationalize energy prices. In terms of technological innovation, it is essential to increase sales revenue of new products of industrial enterprises, raise number of granted patent applications, vigorously improve level of infrastructure for technological innovation, and enhance technical market turnover.