Spatial spillover effects of official development assistance on environmental pressure in sub-Saharan African(SSA)countries

Impoverished sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)is under increasing environmental pressure from global environmental changes.It is now generally accepted in academic circles that economic development in SSA countries can cause environmental pressure in other countries.However,there is research gap on the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressure in SSA countries and whether economic assistance causes spatial spillovers of environ-mental pressure between SSA countries.To better understand the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures in SSA,a dynamic spatial Dubin panel model was developed.It helped us explore the spatial spillover effects of economic assistance on environmental pressures in recipient countries based on the panel data from 34 SSA countries.The results show that economic assistance had a positive stimulating effect on environmen-tal pressures of recipient countries,which means that the degree of human disturbance to the environment has deepened.Due to the regional correlation effect,neighboring countries were saddled with environmental pres-sures from the target country.Moreover,environmental pressures have time inertia,which can easily produce a snowball effect.The decomposition of effects shows that the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures is relatively minor.Environmental pressures have spillover effects,so to deal with diffuse risks,joint regional prevention and control policies should be developed.

Application of Low Pressure Plasma Technology in the Field of Environmental Protection

The characteristics of low pressure plasma produced by a gas discharges lie in thatthe energy of the electrons are much higher than that of the heavy particles in the system. Inthis paperl the low-pressure plasma treatment technology for the environmental contaminantswas synthetically studied, and the reaction processing and mechanism between the low-pressureplasma and the environmental contaminants were theoretically analyzed. At last, the prospectsand existing problems on the application of low-pressure plasma in the field of environmentalprotection were discussed.

Reducing environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions:critical review and prospects

Rapid socioeconomic development has caused numerous environmental impacts.Human production and consumption activities are the underlying drivers of resource uses,environmental emissions,and associated environmental impacts(e.g.,ecosystem quality and human health).Reducing environmental impacts requires an understanding of the complex interactions between socioeconomic system and environmental system.Existing studies have explored the relationships among human society,economic system,and environmental system.However,it is unclear about the research progress in the effects of socioeconomic activities on environmental impacts and the potential directions of future research.This critical review finds that existing studies have identified critical regions,sectors,and transmission pathways for resource uses,environmental emissions,and environmental impacts from supply chain perspectives.Moreover,scholars have characterized the impacts of socioeconomic transitions on resource uses and environmental emissions.However,existing studies overlook the dynamic nature of the interconnections among human society,economic system,and environmental system.In addition,the effects of socioeconomic structural transitions on environmental impacts remain unknown.This review proposes four prospects and possible solutions that will contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions among human society,economic system,and environmental system.They can help identify more effective solutions to reduce environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions.