Spatial Dependence of SO2 Emissions and Energy Consumption Structure in Northern China

Abstract

China has made achievements in SO2 emissions reduction in recent years. However, the emissions of SO2 in northern China remain high, which need to be reduced. To effectively control SO2 emissions in northern China, this paper from the perspective of the coordinated treatment of air pollution discusses the impact of energy consumption, economic development, and environmental regulation on SO2 emissions in 14 provinces and regions by the Spatial Lag Model (SLM), Spatial Error Model (SEM), and Spatial Durbin Model (SDM). The study shows that (1) there is an obvious spatial dependence between SO2 emissions and energy consumption; (2) the increase in the scale of industry enterprise can exacerbate SO2 emissions in local and adjacent regions; and (3) the consumption of electricity suppresses SO2 emissions in the local region, and increases SO2 emissions in adjacent regions, which indicated that the electricity transmission can transfer the emissions of SO2. Therefore, in the treatment of SO2, it is necessary to fully consider the characteristics of SO2 transfer in the electric power industry.