Географическая среда и живые системы (Mar 2020)

ANALYSIS TOOLS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION IN CHINA

  • Лукьянов Лев Евгеньевич

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18384/2712-7621-2020-4-57-69
Journal volume & issue
no. 4
pp. 57 – 69

Abstract

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Aim. The purpose is to reveal the relationship between the economic development and environmental situation in China. Methodology. The research provides an analysis of statistical data on the principle pollutants, CO2 emissions and China’s GDP. Environmental Kuznets curves based on these indicators are suggested for revealing the relationship between the economic growth and environmental degradation. These curves show that the economic development initially leads to environmental deterioration, but after a certain level of economic growth, the level of environmental degradation reduces. Decoupling effect graphs that show how the economic growth decouples from environmental degradation are suggested. The obtained results are interpreted. Results. The improvement of the environmental situation, expressed by decreasing emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, but accompanied by a continuous economic growth, is revealed. Relative decoupling for NOx and CO2 and absolute decoupling for SO2 in China is noted. Institutional factors for environmental situation improvement are identified for air emissions. Research implications. The results enable to evaluate the process of transit to the green economy model in China for detection of its accelerating factors.

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