Work

Atmospheric Pollution in Chinese Cities: Trends and Persistence

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: This paper applies fractional integration to investigate the behaviour of various pollutants in seven Chinese cities. The objective is to establish if the series exhibit long memory and if time trends are statistically significant over the sample period going from January 2014 to November 2022. The results suggest that the steps recently taken by the Chinese authorities to reduce emissions and improve air quality have already had some effect: in most cases the air pollutant series are in the stationary range, with mean reversion occurring and shocks only having temporary effects, and there are significant downward trends indicating a decline over time in the degree of pollution in China. It is also interesting that in the most recent period, the Zero-Covid policy of the Chinese authorities has led to a further fall. On the whole, it would appear that the action plan adopted by the Chinese government is bringing the expected environmental benefits and therefore it is to be hoped that such policies will continue to be implemented and extended to improve air quality even further.

Source: Heliyon

DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38211

Authors: Guglielmo Maria Caporale, Nieves Carmona-González, Luis Alberiko Gil-Alana

Institutions: Brunel University of London, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Universidad de Navarra

Language: English

Topic: Environmental and Air Quality Management

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,950