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Can the establishment of National Key Ecological Functional Zones improve air quality?: An empirical study from China

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  • Guangqin Li
  • Lingyu Li
  • Xing Li
  • Yu Chen

Abstract

Drawing on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from satellite raster data and matching with the county-level socio-economic data from 2008 to 2015 in China, this paper investigates the impacts of the establishment of National Key Ecological Functional Zones (NKEFZ) on environmental quality by employing the difference-in-differences method, which was stablished in June 2011. The results indicate that the establishment of the NKEFZ significantly decreased the concentration values of PM2.5, a drop of about 20% during the study period, after the paper controls for other factors affecting air quality. The robustness tests using the maximum and medium concentration values of PM2.5 show similar results. Through further analysis, the paper finds that the establishment of NKEFZ can improve the ecological utilization efficiency of land.

Suggested Citation

  • Guangqin Li & Lingyu Li & Xing Li & Yu Chen, 2021. "Can the establishment of National Key Ecological Functional Zones improve air quality?: An empirical study from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0246257
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246257
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    1. Shuai Chen & Mengyang Hou & Xiuying Wang & Shunbo Yao, 2024. "Transfer payment in national key ecological functional areas and economic development: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 4075-4095, February.
    2. Wang, Mingzhe & Huang, Hai & Xiong, Jie & Yuan, Zhe & Zeng, Keya, 2023. "Impact of ecological reserves on the local residents’ health: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    3. Meiyu Liu & Guofeng Zhang & Du Yang, 2022. "Do the National Key Ecological Function Zones Promote Green Development? Evidence from the Yanshan–Taihang Mountainous Area in Hebei Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.

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