The Urbanization–Environmental Pollution Nexus: An Analysis Based on a Spatial Perspective

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of urbanization on environmental pollution by using provincial and municipal panel data from 2004 to 2015 in China. Using the spatial Durbin model, the study finds a notable difference between the impact of urbanization on residential and industrial wastewater and waste gas. Urbanization in China will significantly improve the emissions of residential wastewater and industrial waste gas in local and neighboring provinces. The effective improvement of energy use, or energy efficiency, plays a key role in reducing environmental pollution and can effectively curb the emission of pollutants.