Effect of Energy Development and Technological Innovation on PM2.5 in China: A Spatial Durbin Econometric Analysis

Abstract

Using the panel data of 29 provinces and regions in China, this paper analyzes the temporal and spatial characteristics of PM2.5 concentration. The spatial Durbin model is used to empirically examine the impact of energy development and technological innovation on PM2.5. The results show that the interprovincial PM2.5 in China showed an inverted “N” trend. There is a spatial agglomeration of interprovincial PM2.5, and the spatial autocorrelation is significant. The spatial autoregression coefficients of adjacent weights and distance weights are significantly positive, and PM2.5 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 PM2.5 in adjacent areas, which will increase the global PM2.5 concentration. The increase in the proportion of coal consumption increases the concentration of PM2.5 in the region and globally. The increase in energy consumption prices will reduce the PM2.5 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 PM2.5 in the region by 0.1285 percentage points and the concentration of PM2.5 in adjacent areas by 0.3058 percentage points, which will reduce the global PM2.5 concentration by 0.4343 percentage points. The increase in the number of granted patent applications will reduce the PM2.5 concentration of the adjacent regions and globally. The increasing level of infrastructure for technological innovation in the region will reduce the concentration of PM2.5 in adjacent areas. The increase in technical market turnover will reduce the concentration of PM2.5 in the region and the concentration of PM2.5 in adjacent areas, which will reduce the global PM2.5 concentration. In order to reduce the concentration of PM2.5 in China, we should continue to promote PM2.5 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.