An Analysis of Energy and Environment Efficiency of China＇s Iron and Steel Industry

Due to heavy energy consumption and low technical efficiency, China＇s iron and steel industry is trapped in the dilemma ＂large but not strong＂. This situation not only exerts enormous pressure on energy security but also on increased carbon emission and environmental pollution. The contribution of this study is to calculate the energy and environment efficiency of China＇s iron and steel industry and to analyze the factors affecting this efficiency. An index of energy and environment efficiency is introduced based on Directional Slacks-based Distance Measure Model. This index is adopted to measure the energy and environment efficiency of China＇s iron and steel industry using 2,382 firm observations during 2001 to 2005. In addition, Hierarchy Linear Model （HLM） is applied to analyze the factors which can influence the efficiency with both firm-level and province-level data. The conclusions are as follows： The energy and environment efficiency of China＇s iron and steel industry did not have a significant change during the research period. A firm＇s age, size, ownership, product category and the economy of its province have significant influence on its energy and environment efficiency.

Frame Work of Data Envelopment Analysis—A Model to Evaluate the Environmental Efficiency of China'S Industrial Sectors

Objective To evaluate the environmental and technical efficiencies of China＇s industrial sectors and provide appropriate advice for policy makers in the context of rapid economic growth and concurrent serious environmental damages caused by industrial pollutants. Methods A data of envelopment analysis （DEA） framework crediting both reduction of pollution outputs and expansion of good outputs was designed as a model to compute environmental efficiency of China＇s regional industrial systems. Results As shown by the geometric mean of environmental efficiency, if other inputs were made constant and good outputs were not to be improved, the air pollution outputs would have the potential to be decreased by about 60% in the whole China. Conclusion Both environmental and technical efficiencies have the potential to be greatly improved in China, which may provide some advice for policy-makers.

Environmental Efficiency Analysis of China’s Vegetable Production

To analyze and estimate the environmental efficiency of China’s vegetable production. Methods The stochastic translog frontier model was used to estimate the technical efficiency of vegetable production. Based on the estimated frontier and technical inefficiency levels, we used the method developed by Reinhard, et al.[1] to estimate the environmental efficiency. Pesticide and chemical fertilizer inputs were treated as environmentally detrimental inputs. Results From estimated results, the mean environmental efficiency for pesticide input was 69.7%, indicating a great potential for reducing pesticide use in China’s vegetable production. In addition, substitution and output elasticities for vegetable farms were estimated to provide farmers with helpful information on how to reallocate input resources and improve efficiency. Conclusion There exists a great potential for reducing pesticide use in China’s vegetable production.

Measuring Chinese Marine Environmental Efficiency:A Spatiotemporal Pattern Analysis

Environmental efficiency standards are often used to evaluate the costs of oceanic economic development. A variety of statistical analyses were applied in this study to quantify the marine environmental efficiency of 11 Chinese coastal provinces and municipalities between 2000 and 2014. Results initially reveal that environmental efficiency measures that incorporate undesirable outputs are more consistent with real production conditions and thus the use of marine economic and environmental efficiencies supplement and complement one another. Second, overall marine environmental efficiency across China tends to be low and can be spatially characterized by a transformation such that the inefficiencies noted in 2000 have subsequently been transformed to comprise a three-tiered structure that encompasses northern, central, and southern cores. Third, variation in absolute and relative marine environmental efficiency differences for the coastal regions of China have been consistent over time; values initially decreased before increasing again in a fluctuating manner over the time period of this analysis. Fourth, data show that the Pearl River Delta area has experienced the highest rate of change in marine environmental efficiency over time when economic zones are used as basic research units, although values have nevertheless fluctuated significantly. Fifth, values for total factor productivity as well as technical efficiency and change across the Chinese marine economy all fluctuated over time but increased. Data show that changes in marine environmental efficiency across China can primarily be attributed to progress in marine science and technology. Finally, levels of capital investment and marine industrial pollution intensity are not significantly correlated with marine environmental efficiency. Indeed, both marine industrial structural levels and environmental protection technologies have had a positive effect on environmental efficiency while levels of investment in marine scientific research as well as the scale of economic development, the marine economy, and the degree of external openness have all exerted negative effects on this key variable.

Coupling Relationship Among Technological Innovation,Industrial Transformation and Environmental Efficiency:A Case Study of the Huaihai Economic Zone,China

The 14th Five-Year Plan period is a critical period for China to achieve high-quality development. Based on super-efficiency slacks-based measure(SBM) model, grey-related analysis(GRA) and other models, this paper studies the heterogeneity of the coupling relationship among technological innovation, industrial transformation and environmental efficiency in the Huaihai Economic Zone during the period of 2005-2019. In addition, it analyzes the coupling mechanism of single and binary systems to the ternary system, which is of great significance for the collaborative symbiosis among systems. The findings are as follows. 1) The technological innovation, industrial transformation and environmental efficiency(TIE) systems of the Huaihai Economic Zone had significant spatial-temporal heterogeneity. Although their evaluation value fluctuated, the development trends are all positive. Ultimately, technological innovation is characterized by being high in the northeast and low in the southwest around Xuzhou, while other systems are relatively staggered in space. 2) The coupling of TIE systems is in transition, lack of orderly integration and benign interaction. However, the developing trend of interaction is also upward, and a spatial pattern driven by Xuzhou and Linyi as the dual cores has gradually formed. Moreover, the coupling is mostly manifested as outdated technological innovation and industrial transformation. Except for the final coordination of regenerative cities, the other resource types are all in transition. Cities in all traffic locations are still in transition. The overall system interaction of cities on Longhai Line(Lanzhou-Lianyungang Railway) is relatively optimal, and cities on Xinshi Line(Xinxiang-Rizhao Railway) are accelerating toward synergy. 3) The coupling status of TIE systems depends on the development of the single system and the interaction of the binary(2E) system. The coupling is closely related to technological innovation and Technology-Industry system,and is hindered by the inefficient interaction of Technology-Environment system. Specifically, the synergy of regenerative cities is attributed to the advantage of a single system and the effective integration of 2E systems. Beneficial from the advantages of environmental efficiency, the cities on Xinshi Line promote the synergy of the 2E and TIE systems. Therefore, while the Huaihai Economic Zone stimulates the development potential of the single and 2E systems, it is necessary to amplify the superimposition effect of systems in accordance on the basis of resource and location.

Static and Dynamic Analysis on the Environmental Efficiency of 267 Cities in China during 2004-2012

This study mainly investigates the environmental efficiency of 267 Chinese cities from 2004 to 2012 through a metafrontier,directional and super-efficiency approach. First,we explore the regional and time heterogeneity of environmental efficiency. Then,we compare the technological gap ratio in different regions and years. Lastly,we analyze the technological and management potential in different regions. We determine that the gap between environmental efficiency under group frontier and metafrontier widened from 2009 to 2012,indicating that environmental efficiency varies in different regions in China. The technology gap ratio has decreased in the four regions. This result confirms that the regional heterogeneity of environmental efficiency has increased. Thus,strengthening environmental management is crucial. China must improve green innovation to decrease energy consumption and abate carbon emissions.

Evaluation of Energy Use and Environmental Efficiency in China＇s A statistical analysis by province based on the SBM model

The world today is .faced with the critical challenge of developing industries .for both high technological efficiency and possibly less impact on resources and the environment. This paper employs the Slacks-based measure （SBM） to conduct an empirical analysis of China＇s industrial environmental efficiency between 1998 and 2008. We.found a slight decline in SBM nationwide due to the combined effects of resource^environmental constraint as well as technological progress. From a static perspective, there is a clear disparity in coordination among regions, particularly between western regions and eastern coastal regions. From a dynamic perspective, there is limited change in the coordination of industries with natural resources and the environment in coastal and central regions, but a marked decline in the northeast and western regions. This contrast can be traced to the .following reasons： the capital-intensive structure of the economy and the high proportion of large industrial enterprises that restrict the improvement of SBM environmental efficiency. Higher living standards, indigenous innovation, acquisition of new technologies, and foreign direct investment will be conducive to industries＇synchronous development with natural resources and the environment.

Environmental efficiency and its determinants in the development of China's western regions in 2000-2014

In this study, we measure the environmental efficiency of western China in 2000-2014 by the super-efficiency slacks-based measure model which considers the undesirable outputs. The results show that the environmental efficiency of western China is low and rank behind in the national level. The environmental efficiency is lower than the traditional efficiency which reflects that the economic growth in 2000-2014 has paid high environmental costs. The difference between the traditional efficiency and environmental efficiency experienced "inverted U"-type trend change. The environmental efficiency of the western provinces presented differentiated developing trend and the differences between the western provinces were enlarging. The environmental efficiency of the western regions was not only lower than that in the eastern regions with a big gap but also lower than that in the central regions. Through the convergence test, we found that the environmental efficiency gap between the western and the eastern regions was gradually expanding; meanwhile, the environmental efficiency gap between the central and the western regions was narrowing. This paper also analyzes the determinants of environmental efficiency by the tobit model and then addresses.

Monitoring Efficiency Evaluation of the Well-water-level Observation Network in China

In order to understand the monitoring efficiency status of the well-water-level observation network in China after the completion of the 10 th "Five-year Plan " digital network project,and to provide a basis for the future network optimization and equipment updating, the monitoring efficiency of the well-water-level observation network was evaluated. On the whole,61. 8% observing stations have good monitoring effectiveness,the observation environment of 73. 5% of observing stations meets the monitoring requirements of well-water-level. The operation status of the network is as a whole getting better,operation rates of 75% observing instruments are above 95%. Most well water levels can monitor crustal stress changes and seismic activities. However,some observation stations,due to inherent deficiency in wells,environmental disturbance,instrument aging,and low-level operation and maintenance,need to improve the monitoring efficiency level by taking measures such as observation environment improvement,equipment updating,and management training. About 6. 5% of the stations need to stop observation due to the unqualified observational environment.

Reconciling Industry and Environment： Optimal Regulation Intensity for Industries

Constrained by the dual mission of supporting industrial growth and reducing emissions, China＇s traditional emission reduction-oriented environmental policies unavoidably face a dilemma. Taking environmental efficiency as the exclusive indicator for the relationship between environmental performance and industrial development, the author calculated the environmental efficiency of China＇s industries under different pollutant disposability assumptions, while also considering environmental pollution. In addition, based on the assumption of industry heterogeneity, the author examined the non-linear relationship between China＇s environmental regulation and environmental efficiency and calculated the optimal regulation environment for industries. According to this study, when impact of undesirable outputs （pollutant emissions） is considered, environmental regulation and environmental efficiency are positively correlated, which to some degree validates the Porter Hypothesis. At present, environmental regulation has significant positive effects on clean production industries but shows a lag effect on pollution-intensive industries. The degree of environmental regulation and environmental efficiency show an ＂inverted U＂shaped relation and display three thresholds. It should be noted, however, that the relationship between regulation and efficiency may vary across industries. These findings have clear policy implications： China should adjust its traditional emission reduction-oriented environmental polices by targeting environmental efficiency. At the same time, rather than continually increasing the level of environmental regulation, the government should establish standards for individual industries that emphasize flexibility.

Evaluating the environmental efficiency of the U.S.airline industry using a directional distance function DEA approach

This study applies a directional distance function(DDF)data envelopment analysis(DEA)model to measure the environmental efficiency of 12 U.S.airlines 2013–2016 by considering flight delay and greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions as joint undesirable outputs.First,the environmental efficiency of airlines is compared using the CCR DEA(without flight delay)and DDF DEA(with flight delay).We find that several airlines experienced substantial changes in environmental efficiency scores when flight delay is considered.Secondly,a tobit regression is used to explore whether the environmental factors of fleet age,ownership type,freight traffic,market share,and carrier type affect airlines’environmental efficiency.The results demonstrate that all of these factors significantly influence airline performance.

Current Status of Green Financing in Korea and Political Implications

This research shows the current status and the future prospects of green financing in Korea. Green financing is currently on the initial stage in Korea, just like the green growth policy. Thus, banks are contextually not willing to invest or loan in the green technology or industry for profitability, because the high uncertainty （risk） exists and because Korean people have little concern on green financing, though they have recognized the necessity of green growth. Therefore, the reinforcement of government＇s role is suggested in this research. The public financial agencies are now very important in popularizing the green financing in Korea, and the most effective policy will be the credit guarantee for green technologies or companies provided by public agencies, as shown in the financing policy for the small and middle enterprises. Regarding public efforts, banks should try to perform green financing for both their own profitability and social benefit together with the step-by-step approach, according to the growth stage of green industry and green financing.

Three novel dendritic chitosan derivatives for inhibiting acid corrosion of petroleum pipelines

In the process of exploration and development of oil and gas fields, the acidic environment of oil reservoir, production and transport processes cause corrosion of pipelines and equipment, resulting in huge economic losses and production safety risks. Corrosion inhibitors were widely used in oil industry because of simple operation process and economical. In this study, three environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors were synthesized based on the natural polysaccharide chitosan. Corrosion inhibition of three dendritic chitosan derivatives (We name them BH, CH and DH) on mild steel in 1 mol/L HCl solution with natural ventilation system was evaluated by weight loss experiment, electrochemical analysis and surface morphology characterization. The experimental results showed that when the three dendritic chitosan derivatives added in the corrosive medium were 500 mg L^(−1), the corrosion inhibition efficiencies were all more than 80%. Based on quantum chemical calculation, inhibition mechanisms of three dendritic chitosan derivatives were investigated according to molecular structures. The results showed that the benzene ring, Schiff base and N atom contained in the molecule were the active centers of electron exchange, which were more likely to form a film on the carbon steel surface, thereby slowing or inhibiting corrosion. The results also predicted the corrosion inhibition effect BH > DH > CH, which was consistent with the experimental conclusion.

The energy efficiency and environmental protection campaign demands policy incentives

The hottest topic now among Europe's automotive industry is CO2. The European Union has set the goal. By 2012, all Europe-based car makers would have to reduce the per car CO2 level to as low as 120-130g/km from the current 160g/km.

An Integrated DEA Model Allowing Decomposition of Eco-Efficiency:A Case Study of China

A common feature of previous studies about the application of data envelopment analysis(DEA) to determine environmental and economic efficiencies is that the two were analyzed in separate models or frameworks. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the economic efficiency and environmental efficiency with a single model. This paper proposes an integrated DEA model, based on a modification of the directional distance function, which allows us to decompose the eco-efficiency(EE) into the economic efficiency(ECE) and environmental efficiency(ENE). The ECE characterizes the ability of gaining economic benefits while the ENE characterizes the ability to control pollutant emissions in production activities. Identification of ECE and ENE can help decision makers of different regions detect what kind of factor(economic inefficiency or environmental inefficiency) is the main source of eco-inefficiency. This can help decision makers more targeted to improve EE. To illustrate the feasibility of our approach, a case study of 30 regions in China is presented. The empirical results show that almost all regions have very high economic efficiencies. The environmental inefficiency is the main source of eco-inefficiency. The differences of environmental efficiencies lead to the differences of eco-efficiencies in the east, central and west areas, while the economic efficiencies do not have significant differences among these areas. The economic efficiencies showed an opposite "V" shape and the environmental efficiencies showed a decreasing trend during the period 2010–2014.

Regional Environmental Performance and Its Determinants in China

A growing awareness of environmental quality hasplaced increasedpressure on China to improve environmental protection and regulations in the country. How have the regional economies in the country performed in terms of environmental efficiency？ The answer to this question is yet to be explored in the case of China. The objective of this paper is to present a quantitative analysis of environmental performance in China＇s regional economies and to examine the determinants of regional variation in performance. The findings are used to draw policy implications for environmental protection and are helpful in the discussion of China＇s future sustainable development.

Sustainability performance analysis of environment innovation systems using a two-stage network DEA model with shared resources

The term environmental innovation system refers to an innovation network composed of enterprises,universities,and research institutions involved in the development and diffusion of environmental technology,with the participation of a government.An environmental innovation system not only exerts important impact on the achievement of carbon neutrality but also affects social and economic activities.Investigations on environmental innovation system performance constantly assume a singlestage independent system while ignoring its internal structure.However,such systems are composed of environmental innovation research and development(R&D)and environmental innovation conversion subsystems.A two-stage data envelopment analysis(DEA)model is developed in this study to analyze the efficiency of Chinese regional environmental innovation system by opening the"black box"and considering shared resources.Empirical results indicated that China presents high overall environmental innovation efficiency although some regions need to improve.Regions with low efficiencies in both environmental innovation R&D(EIR)and environmental innovation conversion(EIC)subsystems should expand their investment in and strengthen the management of environmental innovation resources.Regions with low EIR efficiency should improve the absorption and transformation of environmental innovation achievements.Regions with low EIC efficiency should increase investment in the commercialization of environmental innovation achievements and encourage green economy industries,such as new energy,art,tourism,and environmental protection.

Fuel efficient,environmental protection,green manufacturing The orientation of China's auto industry--experts

Green manufacturing is a new way out for the auto industry—ZHAO Hang, president of CATARC The green manufacturing means a lot, in terms of the manufacturing process, material and techniques. China spares no efforts to producing vehicles and it

Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Application for Rice Production in the Taihu Lake Region,China

To determine the optimal amount of nitrogen(N) fertilizer for achieving a sustainable rice production at the Taihu Lake region of China,two-year on-farm field experiments were performed at four sites using various N application rates.The results showed that 22%-30% of the applied N was recovered in crop and 7%-31% in soils at the rates of 100-350 kg N ha 1.Nitrogen losses increased with N application rates,from 44% of the applied fertilizer N at the rate of 100 kg N ha 1 to 69% of the N applied at 350 kg N ha 1.Ammonia volatilization and apparent denitrification were the main pathways of N losses.The N application rate of 300 kg N ha 1,which is commonly used by local farmers in the study region,was found to lead to a significant reduction in economic and environmental efficiency.Considering the cost for mitigating environmental pollution and the maximum net economic income,an application rate of 100-150 kg N ha 1 would be recommended.This recommended N application rate could greatly reduce N loss from 199 kg N ha 1 occurring at the N application rate of 300 kg N ha 1 to 80-110 kg N ha 1,with the rice grain yield still reaching 7 300-8 300 kg DW ha 1 in the meantime.