Is economic fitness helpful in achieving environmental sustainability in BRICS economies?A risk exposure perspective

A country’s ability to create complex goods and diversify its lines of products is essential for addressing all types of vulnerabilities.Quantifying a country’s vulnerability to extreme climatic events,such as droughts,superstorms,and other natural disasters,and its capacity for successful adaption,is an essential global need that has been ignored.This study examines the role of economic fitness(EF)in addressing climate change risk ex‐posure in BRICS countries in the context of the environmental Kuznets curve using panel data from 1995 to 2015.Panel threshold methodology is employed to ascertain the nonlinear relationship between EF and climate change risk exposure(i.e.,Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Country Index(ND-GAIN)).In addition,empirical associations were estimated using panel-corrected standard errors,Driscoll-Kraay standard errors,and feasible generalized least squares estimation techniques.These findings demonstrated an inverted N shaped link between EF and ND-GAIN.Moreover,even after controlling for significant ND-GAIN influencing variables such as gross domestic product per capita,financial development,and urbanization,our robustness checks revealed significant and consistent findings.

The Impact on Environmental Kuznets Curve by Trade and Foreign Direct Investment in China

Based on data of trade, foreign directinvestment (FDI), economic development andenvironmental conditions in China’s 30 provincesbetween 1990-2002, this paper deals with the impacton Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) of tradeand FDI in China. The results show no direct impacton EKC of trade, on the one hand. However, tradecontributes significantly to economic growth, andhas played a positive role in introducing advancedpollution prevention technology and environmentalmanagement methodology to China. Therefore, aproactive trade policy will help solve the environmentalpollution problem brought by economic growth. Onthe other hand, there is a positive correlation betweenFDI and pollutant emission, which proves that FDIdoes have some negative influence on environmentin China due to hasty introduction of foreign capitaland inadequate environmental management systemin China.

An Empirical Study on the Environmental Kuznets Curve for China's Carbon Emissions:Based on Provincial Panel Data

Based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory, the authors choose provincial panel data of China in 1990-2007 and adopt panel trait root and co-integration testing method to study whether there is Environmental Kuznets Curve for China＇s carbon emissions. The research results show that： carbon emissions per capita of the eastern region and the central region of China fit into Environmental Kuznets Curve, but that of the western region does not. On this basis, the authors carry out scenario analysis on the occurrence time of the inflection point of carbon emissions per capita of different regions, and describe a specific time path.

Environmental Pollution and Economic Growth in China: A Test of the Environmental Kuznets Curve

We apply a two pronged approach to analyze the presence of Environmental Kuznets Curve, EKC, in three types of emissions in the People’s Republic of China from 1994 to 2014: a structural breakpoint analysis and a model based test. We apply it to PM2.5, industrial waste and domestic water pollution time series, and find evidence of EKC in all three types of emissions that require appropriate policy.

Green technical innovation, environmental expenditure, and the environmental Kuznets curve:a dynamics model

The relationship between the emission of pollutant and economic growth has attracted a lot of attention in the environmental debate of the recent decades. Based on some theoretical and empirical research on environmental Kuznets curve （EKC）, this paper introduces the environmental technical innovation and environmental investment into Salow growth model to discuss the relationship between GDP per capital and the emission of pollutant By the dynamic simulation and parameters analysis, the results of the model indicate： （1） when ＂green＂ technical progress and environmental investment are fixed, the relationship between GDP per capital and the emission shows the linear relationship; （2） ＂green＂ technical progress can lead to the positive growth rates with a decreasing level of emission, which is compatible with an EKC; （3） the proportion of the environmental investment can lead the different growth rates and level of emission. These results can explain that developing countries are ＂too poor to be green＂.

Probe into Environmental Kuznets Characteristics and Causes of Wastewater, Waste Gas, and Solid Wastes in Wuhan City

Environmental Kuznets characteristics and causes of waste water, waste gas, and solid wastes in Wuhan city was researched; By comparing the variation of “three wastes”, i.e. waste water, waste gas, and solid wastes, the model between standardized per capita GDP and values of “three wastes” discharge was established and the causes were analyzed based on the theory of environmental economics. The results show that 1) the total amount is fluctuantly increasing, but the discharges of the three kinds are temporarily different, 2) the curve conforms to the three-power function, in which the curve descends from 1985 to 1994, and the curve preliminary shows the environmental Kuznets characteristics from 1995 to 2001, 3) the simulated calculation illustrates that the turning point of this environmental Kuznets curve would be over 25007.25 Yuan per caprta, and 4) the economic development, changing of industry structure, energy resource structure, and environmental policies are the main factors leading to the Environmental Kuznets Curve in Wuhan city.

Study on the Internal Relationship between Porter Hypothesis and Environmental Kuznets Curve

Based on theoretical derivation,this paper aims to analyse the internal relationship between Porter Hypothesis and Environmental Kuznets Curve.Conclusions were made:(1)In terms of theoretical analysis and empirical researches,the existence of inverted U-shaped EKC and U-shaped Porter Curve has its rationality,most of the controversy come from the misuse and diversity of empirical methods;(2)The progress of Porter Hypothesis also relys on economic growth,which is compatible with EKC;(3)Similar to EKC,a threshold effect exist in the process of technological progress.Environmental regulation is a driving force to promote the widespread use of green technology and reach the threshold.(4)In the process of speeding up economic development,government should gradually increase the intensity of environmental regulation.

Estimating Design Loads with Environmental Contour Approach Using Copulas for an Offshore Jacket Platform

Jacket-type offshore platforms are widely used for oil, gas field, and energy development in shallow water. The design of a jacket structure is highly dependent on target environmental variables. This study focuses on a strategy to estimate design loads for offshore jacket structures based on an environmental contour approach. In addition to the popular conditional distribution model, various classes of bivariate copulas are adopted to construct joint distributions of environmental variables. Analytical formulations of environmental contours based on various models are presented and discussed in this study. The design loads are examined by dynamic response analysis of jacket platform. Results suggest that the conditional model is not recommended for use in estimating design loads in sampling locations due to poor fitting results. Independent copula produces conservative design loads and the extreme response obtained using the conditional model are smaller than those determined by copulas. The suitability of a model for contour construction varies with the origin of wave data. This study provides a reference for the design load estimation of jacket structures and offers an alternative procedure to determine the design criteria for offshore structures.

Prediction of Long-Term Extreme Response of Fish Cage Using Environmental Contour Method

The fish cage design requires accurate predictions of long-term extreme loads and responses.Compared with the time-consuming full long-term analysis method integrating all the probability distribution of the short-term extremes,the environmental contour method gains much attention in predicting the long-term extreme values due to the less computational effort.This paper investigates the long-term extreme response of a fish cage using the environmental contour method.The fish cage is numerically simulated based on the lumped-mass method and the curved beam theory.Based on the one-dimensional(1D)and two-dimensional(2D)environmental contour,the extreme responses,including the surge and heave motions,mooring force,and vertical bending of the floater,are predicted for different return periods and compared with the full long-term analysis results.Results indicate that the 1D method greatly underestimates the extreme values.The 2D environmental contour method with a higher percentile level,namely90%,provides reasonable estimations and seems to be suitable for the long-term value analysis.Sensitivity studies show that the mooring arrangement and the bending stiffness have great effects on the bending moment and the mooring force and the mooring line pre-tension has minor effects on the fish cage response.

能源Kuznets曲线:发达国家的实证分析

关于经验环境库兹涅茨曲线(Environmental Kuznets Curve,EKC)文献已经很多了,但就环境质量与经济增长之间是否存在EKC一直没有得出结论。本文采用非线性回归和拟合的方法,对世界货币基金组织(International Money Fund,IMF)发布的28个发达国家从1970到2004年间的人均能源消费、能源消费总量和人均GDP数据进行回归分析,验证能源消费与收入之间是否存在倒U型曲线关系。结果表明,28个发达国家中有17个国家出现人均能源消费与人均GDP之间的倒U型曲线关系,能源消费总量与人均GDP之间也同样出现倒U型曲线关系,其中有10个国家人均能源消费出现拐点,在这10个国家中,除法国、荷兰和瑞士外的其它国家能源消费总量也都出现拐点。

民族地区经济增长与环境污染的Kuznets曲线实证分析——基于1999—2008民族地区面板数据

改革开放以来民族地区经济取得了快速增长,但随之而来的环境问题却日益突出。截取1999—2008年西部大开发以来民族地区经济环境10年面板数据,对民族地区经济增长与环境污染库兹涅茨曲线进行实证检验,可得出三点结论:一是民族地区各省区的环境库兹涅茨曲线大多数呈现倒N形,且多数地区的经济水平处于倒N库兹涅茨曲线两个拐点的中间,说明各地区在越过其相应曲线的第二个拐点前,按照现在的发展趋势,经济发展将继续加重环境污染。二是民族地区总体上处于经济增长同环境质量相互竞争的阶段。必须加快经济发展来缩小与全国的差距,早日跨越拐点。三是民族地区在加快经济发展的同时必须加大环境保护力度,要通过各种途径降低拐点的高度,争取早日越过拐点,以促进经济和环境的可持续发展。

基于Panel Data和SEA的环境Kuznets曲线分析——与马树才、李国柱两位先生探讨

针对当前学者研究中国环境Kuznets曲线存在的问题,本文使用了面板数据模型和空间计量模型,以克服使用时间序列模型时样本数量偏少和使用截面数据时易引起空间自相关性等问题。结果表明中国有部分环境指标满足环境Kuznets曲线的倒U型特征。

六安市经济增长与环境污染关系的研究——基于环境Kuznets理论的实证分析

根据六安市2001～2010年数据,选取工业“三废”、化学需氧量（COD）以及二氧化硫（SO2）排放量为环境指标,人均GDP为经济指标,借助SPSS和EXCEL软件系统,对人均GDP与污染物排放量之间的关系进行了分析.结果表明,工业废水排放量与人均GDP的曲线呈倒“U”型和“U”型相结合的曲线型;工业废气排放量及化学需氧量与人均GDP的曲线呈倒“U”型;工业固体废弃物排放量与人均GDP的曲线无转折点,呈曲线上升型;二氧化硫排放量与人均GDP则呈现出正“N”型.固体废弃物的处理是目前六安市环境朝着良性方向发展的关键所在.

环境Kuznets曲线的启示

许多研究者对人均国内生产总值与主要污染物浓度指标进行回归分析后发现这两者存在倒U型关系,这种关系被称为环境Kuznets曲线。通过对现有研究的梳理可以发现造成这种倒U型关系的原因是多方面的,而这为我国控制环境质量恶化提供了多方面的启示。

Relationship Between Economic Growth and Water Environmental Quality of Anshan City in Northeast China

Based on the decomposition model of environmental quality and univariate regression model,the relationships of industrial wastewater drainage with economic scale,economic structure,and technological level in Anshan,a mining city in Northeast China,were studied. The results showed that,due to scale effect,the drainage of three important industrial wastewater pollutants(COD,NH3-N and petroleum) increased 8505t,671t and 384t,respectively,and due to structure effect,those pollutants drainage increased 3996t,174t and 120t from 2001 to 2006. While due to technological effect,the drainage of COD,NH3-N and petroleum reduced 4452t,458t and 331t,and due to cross effect,those pollutants drainage reduced 7270t,575t and 476t simultaneously. Meantime,the relationships between household consumption structure and domestic sewage discharge were analyzed,and domestic sewage discharges in different income levels were also compared. The results showed that,the domestic sewage discharges would increase 376t with 1000 yuan(RMB) increased in the traffic and communication consumption,and they would be 344t,219t,428t,1873t,respectively,in housing consumption,food consumption,medical consumption,miscellaneous commodity consumption. The proportion of domestic sewage discharge increased for high income residents significantly,but reduced for lower income residents. The industrial wastewater pollutants drainage tends to be reduced by technical progress,while domestic sewage discharge will be a more important factor for urban water environment quality.

The Environmental Impacts of Informal Economies in China: Inverted U-shaped Relationship and Regional Variances

This paper aims to the debate on the nexus between informal economies and the environment by investigating the long-term dynamic impacts of China’s informal economies on pollution and considering regional differences in informal economies’ pollution.This paper uses the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes(MIMIC) model to estimate the size of informal economies and employs econometric models to examine their relationships to pollution based on provincial-level panel data from 2000 to 2017. The results indicate that informal economies’ effects on environmental pollution are not purely positive or negative. Rather, our model indicates that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between informal economies and pollution in the long run in China;this means that the level of environmental pollution increases at first and then decreases with the growth of informal economies. Further analysis shows that while this inverted, U-shaped relationship is significant in different regions of China, it is affected by different environmental impact factors. The paper concludes by discussing the policy implications for environmental protection and sustainable development.

Study on the Emission Reduction Effect of Environmental Protection Tax—An Empirical Study Based on the Change of Pollution Charge Standard in China?

This paper reflects the actual effect of China’s environmental protection tax by empirically analyzing the environmental effect of the emission fee, in order to provide reference for China’s environmental tax reform. Based on the traditional environmental “Kuznets” model, the factor of environmental tax is added to verify the effect of environmental governance of environmental tax. The results show that: 1) the improvement of sulfur dioxide emission charge standard can effectively inhibit industrial sulfur dioxide emission, which verifies the existence of environmental effect of pollution levy policies. 2) The improvement of sewage charge standard has better inhibitory effect on sulfur dioxide emission per unit GDP than on sulfur dioxide emission. 3) There is regional heterogeneity in the “emission reduction” effect of sulfur dioxide emission charges in the eastern, central and western regions of China. Pollutants should be taxed differently according to regional differences. 4) Economic growth and sulfur dioxide emission show an inverted “U” shape, China is still in the stage before the inflection point of EKC. Economic growth still takes environmental damage as the cost, and the “emission reduction” effect of technological progress is not ideal, which reveals the urgency of increasing technological development in the field of green environmental protection under the current situation.

宁夏环境质量与经济增长关系的Kuznets曲线

近年来,宁夏在经济取得快速增长的同时,环境质量却在下降,且宁夏的生态环境相对脆弱,因此,研究宁夏环境质量与经济增长之间的相互关系显得尤为重要。依据环境库兹涅茨曲线的理论(Environmental Kuznets Curve),通过选取宁夏1995—2013年的环境与经济数据,利用计量软件EViews拟合了工业污染物及生活污染物的环境库兹涅茨曲线,且结合宁夏的实际情况进行了分析。结果表明,宁夏的经济增长与环境质量之间的库兹涅茨曲线的形状取决于不同指标的选择,宁夏环境质量整体呈现恶化趋势,需要加强工业废气排放与工业固体废物排放的治理,需要依靠环保科学技术促进污染物减排。

巢湖流域环境Kuznets曲线分析

研究了1978～2010年问合肥市的统计数据，利用SPSS软件对合肥市经济指标和环境指标之间的关系进行拟合，对其关系是否符合环境库兹涅茨曲线（EKC）倒“U”型模型进行验证，并从产业结构和环境治理效率两方面对其不同类型的环境库兹涅茨曲线进行分析，结果表明：合肥市经济指标与环境指标之间的关系不全符合环境库兹涅茨倒“U”型曲线，存在“U”和“N”型曲线类型；经济结构的改变和污染治理的效率会对环境污染程度产生影响。

Study on the Decoupling Indicators between Economic Development and Environmental Pollution

Decoupling theory and application are introduced firstly, and then the status and prospect of decoupling relation between environmental pollution and economic growth are analyzed. Finally, choice criteria and connotation of decoupling indicators are studied.