Significant but Inequitable Cost-Effective Benefits of a Clean Heating Campaign in Northern China

Meng, Wenjun1; Zhu, Lei2; Liang, Zhuang2; Xu, Haoran1; Zhang, Wenxiao1; Li, Jin1; Zhang, Yuanzheng1; Luo, Zhihan1; Shen, Guofeng1; Shen, Huizhong3; Chen, Yilin3; Cheng, Hefa1; Ma, Jianmin1; Tao, Shu1,3

2023-05-31

10.1021/acs.est.2c07492

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY   影响因子和分区

0013-936X

1520-5851

Residential emissions significantly contribute to air pollution. To address this issue, a clean heating campaign was implemented to replace coal with electricity or natural gas among 13.9 million rural households in northern China. Despite great success, the cost-benefits and environmental equity of this campaign have never been fully investigated. Here, we modeled the environmental and health benefits, as well as the total costs of the campaign, and analyzed the inequality and inequity. We found that even though the campaign decreased only 1.1% of the total energy consumption, PM2.5 emissions and PM2.5 exposure experienced 20% and 36% reduction, respectively, revealing the amplification effects along the causal pathway. Furthermore, the number of premature deaths attributable to residential emissions reduced by 32%, suggesting that the campaign was highly beneficial. Governments and residents shared the cost of 2,520 RMB/household. However, the benefits and the costs were unevenly distributed, as the residents in mountainous areas were not only less benefited from the campaign but also paid more because of the higher costs, resulting in a notably lower cost-effectiveness. Moreover, villages in less developed areas tended to choose natural gas with a lower initial investment but a higher total cost (2,720 RMB/household) over electricity (2,190 RMB/household). With targeted investment and subsidies in less developed areas and the promotion of electricity and other less expensive alternatives, the multidevelopment goals of improved air quality, reduced health impacts, and reduced inequity in future clean heating interventions could be achieved.

PM2.5 clean heating campaign cost analysis health benefits inequality

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

Chinese Academy of Science["XDA23010100","2019QZKK0605"] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China["41991312","41830641","41922057","41821005"]

Engineering ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Engineering, Environmental ; Environmental Sciences

WOS:001007338000001

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

20232714357351

Air quality ; Cost benefit analysis ; Cost effectiveness ; Energy utilization ; Housing ; Natural gas ; Rural areas

Urban Planning and Development:403.1 ; Air Pollution Control:451.2 ; Gas Fuels:522 ; Energy Utilization:525.3 ; Cost and Value Engineering; Industrial Economics:911 ; Industrial Economics:911.2 ; Management:912.2

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Web of Science

1.Peking Univ, Sino French Inst Earth Syst Sci, Coll Urban & Environm Sci, Lab Earth Surface Proc, Beijing 100871, Peoples R China
2.Beihang Univ, Sch Econ & Management, Beijing 100191, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Meng, Wenjun,Zhu, Lei,Liang, Zhuang,et al. Significant but Inequitable Cost-Effective Benefits of a Clean Heating Campaign in Northern China[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,2023,57(23):8467-8475.

Meng, Wenjun.,Zhu, Lei.,Liang, Zhuang.,Xu, Haoran.,Zhang, Wenxiao.,...&Tao, Shu.(2023).Significant but Inequitable Cost-Effective Benefits of a Clean Heating Campaign in Northern China.ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,57(23),8467-8475.

Meng, Wenjun,et al."Significant but Inequitable Cost-Effective Benefits of a Clean Heating Campaign in Northern China".ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 57.23(2023):8467-8475.