Geographic approaches to resolving environmental problems in search of the path to sustainability: The case of polluting plant relocation in China |
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| Affiliation: | 1. EHESP School of Public Health, Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Rennes, France;2. INSERM U1085-IRSET – Research Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rennes, France;3. French Environment and Energy Management Agency, Angers, France;4. Program in Public Health, Chao Family Cancer Center, University of Irvine, CA 92697, USA;5. Air Quality Monitoring Associations (AASQA), Airparif, Paris, Air PACA, Marseille, France;6. Lorraine University Medical School, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France;1. School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China;2. Institute for Low Carbon Economy and Trade, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China;1. School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China;2. School of Public Administration, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing 100029, China;3. Center for Environmental Progress, Newyork City, NY 10044, USA;1. South China Research Center for Market Economy and Regional Economy Research Center, South China Normal University, School of Economics and Management of South China Normal University, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China;2. College of International Programs, Guangdong University of Finance, No.527, Yingfu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510521, China;3. School of Management, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Science), Jinan 250353, China;1. School of Law and Business, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China;2. School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;3. Department of Smart City Industry, Shanghai Digital Industry Development Co., LTD, Shanghai 200125, China;4. School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, 430074, China;5. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia;6. School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;7. Postdoctoral Workstation, China Construction Bank, Postdoctoral Research Station, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China |
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| Abstract: | This paper applies a spatial perspective to environmental problems in search for the paths to sustainability, using polluting plant relocation in China as a case study. It examines how environmental improvement in one place may lead to environmental degradation in another place, how geographic concepts such as location, distance, spread and backwash effects, and land use models can help understand such phenomenon, and what the implications are for the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and development policies. Field research was conducted from 2006 to 2012 in Chinese cities of Beijing, Dalian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Ningbo. It involved intensive site observations and in-depth interviews with government officials of environmental protection, economic development, and business recruitment, and grassroots environmentalists. The results indicate that environmental improvement in all these cities has led to environmental degradation in their suburbs and rural areas due to relocation of polluting plants. Environmental spread and backwash effects may help explain the severe intra-regional environmental and economic disparities and environmental injustice. The powerful and wealthy may achieve rapid economic growth and environmental recovery at the expenses of the powerless and poor, leading to environmental poverty and sustainability disparities. |
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| Keywords: | Environmental Kuznets curve Development policy Sustainability China Environmental poverty Environmental land-use model Cancer villages Environmental justice |
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