Scholarlink

<p>Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) is critical for alleviating regional water shortages and maintaining long-term environmental sustainability. This paper investigates the impact of IBWT on air quality, focusing on the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP). Using county-level satellite-derived PM2.5 observations from 2010 to 2022 within a difference-in-differences (DID) framework, the empirical results show that the MR-SNWDP resulted in an average 6.8% decrease in PM2.5 concentrations among recipient counties. These results remain robust across various specification tests. Regarding mechanisms, the reallocation of water across industrial, domestic, and ecological uses mitigates air pollution by lowering energy consumption, reducing pollutant volatilization, and strengthening carbon sequestration. Heterogeneity analyses show that the effects are more pronounced in plains and hilly areas, as well as in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, while slightly positive effects are observed in parts of the Central Plains urban agglomeration. Our findings illustrate the important relevance of integrated water resource control in fostering concurrent improvements in air quality.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Causal impact of the middle route of south-to-north water diversion project on air pollution: evidence from the difference-in-differences model

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月17日

查看全文
  • De Xiao,
  • Junkang Chen,
  • Xuhuan Hu

摘要

Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) is critical for alleviating regional water shortages and maintaining long-term environmental sustainability. This paper investigates the impact of IBWT on air quality, focusing on the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP). Using county-level satellite-derived PM2.5 observations from 2010 to 2022 within a difference-in-differences (DID) framework, the empirical results show that the MR-SNWDP resulted in an average 6.8% decrease in PM2.5 concentrations among recipient counties. These results remain robust across various specification tests. Regarding mechanisms, the reallocation of water across industrial, domestic, and ecological uses mitigates air pollution by lowering energy consumption, reducing pollutant volatilization, and strengthening carbon sequestration. Heterogeneity analyses show that the effects are more pronounced in plains and hilly areas, as well as in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, while slightly positive effects are observed in parts of the Central Plains urban agglomeration. Our findings illustrate the important relevance of integrated water resource control in fostering concurrent improvements in air quality.