• Energy Research

Scholars have different observations and undertandings over the relationship between the economic development and environment protection, since the ''Environmental Kuznets Curve'' hypothesis has been raised. The integrated utilization of resources and the collaborative industrial development in North China have improved economic development, and caused nonnegligible environmental pollution simuatenously. Currently, North China is at the critical point to achieve industrial green development. This research analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution patterns and influencing factors of industrial wastewater discharge in North China by using exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and spatial econometric model. The results show that the industrial wastewater discharge shows an inverted ''U'' shape in time, reaching a peak in 2010 and then fluctuating down; spatially, it shows a significant spatial aggregation, while the spatial divergence also appears. Industrial structure is an important factor in promoting wastewater discharge, while economic development has an obvious inhibitory effect on pollution, but the influence of technological progress is not obvious.

This study uses an evolutionary game model to analyze the interplay between Macao residents’ willingness to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) and the government’s promotion strategies. It assesses the effectiveness of incentives like tax exemptions and price reductions. Despite these initiatives, challenges such as high initial costs, limited vehicle range, and long charging times continue to hinder the widespread adoption of EVs in Macao. Government subsidies increase the appeal of EV purchases, but if not managed carefully, they risk creating dependency. Simulation analysis shows that an active purchasing strategy by Macao residents can stabilize the model’s development. However, to achieve wider market penetration and environmental goals, this study highlights the need for the government to align subsidies with market dynamics and for residents to increase their environmental awareness. This study outlines actionable strategies for policy-makers, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure improvements and financial incentives in promoting electric mobility. Policy-makers should focus on expanding the network of charging stations to enhance the convenience and viability of EV usage. Additionally, implementing targeted financial incentives, such as subsidies or tax breaks, can lower the cost barrier for potential EV buyers, thereby increasing the attractiveness and adoption of electric vehicles.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) plays an important role in China’s development strategy. With recent GDP growth and high population density, solid waste generation has emerged as a significant challenge for the region. This study sought to clarify GBA’s solid waste management policies by constructing a two-dimensional policy analysis framework covering nearly 99 available policy texts. This quantitative method provides an explanatory framework for solid waste management policy in GBA, identifying the main policy objectives and instruments as well as making comparisons. Additionally, given the variations in policy format resulting from regime differences, this paper utilizes a novel approach to encode the documents. The results of the study indicate that both Macao and Hong Kong have made greater progress than Shenzhen in waste management development. While Shenzhen is primarily focused on source control, Macao and Hong Kong have transitioned to the recycling stage, with Hong Kong having a more advanced system. It is recommended that Shenzhen increase its engagement in information sharing, learning, and collaboration with Macao and Hong Kong. Moreover, it is observed that Shenzhen’s waste management approach relies heavily on administrative measures, whereas Macao and Hong Kong have implemented social participation-oriented and economic incentives-oriented policies, respectively. There is also an adaptation deviation between Waste Collection and Treatment Development (WCTD) and the policy instruments used to achieve it in the three cities. It is imperative that the three governments utilize their policy tools in an effective manner and have a rational use of power and the performance of functions. These findings can provide recommendations for promoting inter-city learning and collaboration in the GBA.

This paper discusses the compensation standard for exhaust pollution and devises a compensation mechanism for Macao's tourism-related transport sector based on an integration of chemical exergy and universal exergy, using data on gasoline consumption by automobile sector retrieved from the transportation industry. The results reveal that: (1) the exergy values of air pollutant emissions increased from 1.53 × 1012 kJ in 2010 to 2.03 × 1012 kJ in 2019 (an increase of 1.33 times), and the exergy of CO, NOx, and SO2 emissions accounted for 77.5%, 20.4% and 2.1% of total exhaust emissions in Macao respectively. (2) In 2019, the monetary value of emission exergy, and the environmental costs of air pollution, were 1.7 times greater than in 2010. (3) If Light Rail Transit is compensated for, then the mean interval's values of the upper and lower limits of the compensation standard are 0.55 USD and 0.05 USD, respectively. When gasoline tax is used as a means of compensation it is necessary to raise its rate by about 8% based on the tax rate. A three-stage bargaining game model is used to provide evidence that this compensation standard is practical and acceptable.