Modeling Pollution Control and Performance in China’s Provinces

The paper constructs a pollution control performance (PCP) evaluation model by introducing the norm of n-dimensional space. The PCP of 30 Chinese provinces for the period of 2003–2008 is evaluated based on the model and the factors influencing China's pollution control are further examined. It is found that: (1) China's PCP has improved rapidly but there is a large regional imbalance with the PCP of Eastern China being much better than that of Central and Western China; (2) to improve the level of China's PCP, government policies should consider industrial structure adjustment, restricting industry entries and increased investment in pollution abatement and R&D

The Role of the Clean Development Mechanism in Achieving China’s Goal of a Resource Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Society

This paper examines the impact of the clean development mechanism (CDM) on China’s progress in building a resource-efficient and environmentally friendly society, referred to as a dual-goal society. It presents China’s CDM activities from the perspective of policy directions, administrative arrangements and capacity building as well as outlines the regional trends and distribution of CDM projects across China’s 30 provinces. Based on regression analysis of 2006–2009 panel data, the research was able to provide estimates at provincial level of the impacts of CDM activities on China’s CO2 emission intensity, SO2 emission intensity and industrial dust emission intensity. The study concludes that the active CDM projects are mainly located in the less-developed central and west China where they have provided increased opportunities for sustainable development. Furthermore, the successful implementation of CDM projects across the country has significantly decreased the emission intensity of CO2, SO2 and industrial dust, which means that these activities have enhanced China’s ability to build the desired dual-goal society