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Earthquakes can cause serious damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure. The large amount of dust and particulate matter generated when these structures collapse and are damaged can quickly enter the air, leading to a decline in air quality. At the same time, earthquakes may cause secondary disasters such as fires and landslides, which will also produce large amounts of soot and particulate matter, which will have a negative impact on air quality. Therefore, earthquake disaster risk assessment studies are carried out to identify potentially hazardous areas and facilities in advance in order to reduce the air pollution problems that may be caused by earthquakes. Existing research on earthquake disaster risk assessment mainly evaluates earthquake risk from the perspective of geology or seismology, but there are few studies based on multidisciplinary assessment that integrates geology, seismology, engineering and social sciences into socioeconomic factors. To this end, based on remote sensing and GIS technology, this paper takes Qinghai Province, a seismically active area, as the research area, and integrates land use data, natural environment data, social environment data and seismic parameter zoning data to construct a comprehensive assessment model for earthquake disaster vulnerability and risk. The results showed that there were 5 very high-risk areas, 7 high-risk areas, 10 medium-risk areas, 11 low-risk areas and 12 very low-risk areas in Qinghai Province. The high-risk areas are mainly distributed in the central and western parts of Qinghai Province, where the earthquake breeding environment is sufficient, the scale of active faults is huge and the adaptability of the carrier is low. The results of an earthquake disaster risk assessment can provide a reference for the government to formulate environmental protection policies. According to the assessment results, the government can formulate targeted measures to strengthen air pollution control and improve air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of renewable energy as a pivotal green industry in decarbonizing the global economy and addressing the climate change is profound. The rise of China's regional renewable energy serves as a testament to its transition from an industrial powerhouse to a leader of sustainable growth, offering valuable insights for a sustainable future worldwide. This study analyzes renewable energy efficiency, alongside the factors that influence it, in Qinghai Province over 2000–2021. It uses a combination of the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index factor decomposition, Data Envelopment Analysis of Super-SBM models, and field research with a rounded approach. The study finds a robust increase in renewable energy capacity, particularly after 2016. Efficiency in renewable energy generally has risen, although periods of inefficiency were noted from 2014 to 2019. Despite fluctuations, the overall impact of factors such as renewable energy structure, electricity intensity, energy security, energy intensity, carbon productivity, and carbon emissions, all contribute positively to the development of renewable energy, notably in recent years. The paper concludes with a discussion of green industrial policies with wider implications for the renewable energy sector. • The rise of China's regional renewable energy offers valuable insights for sustainability. • Renewable energy capacity in Qinghai increased robustly over 2000-2021. • Renewable energy efficiency has risen but with inefficiency from 2014 to 2019. • Despite fluctuations, the overall impact of influencing factors promoted renewable energy, notably in recent years. • There is a need for stable green industrial policy, diverse energy mix, strengthening grid infrastructure, and promoting sustainable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons has often been cited as the rationale for the privatization of pastures throughout the world, yet rangeland degradation is still widespread. A significant body of ecological research has demonstrated negative impacts from limiting herd movement through fencing. The privatization of pastures has often followed heterogeneous patterns. We use a natural experiment in common grazing areas on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau where land use was privatized beginning in 1999 following different land use division patterns. We measure the relationship between land use privatization paths and grassland quality using satellite data from 1989 to 2011 in five different villages, and compare how well herder environmental perceptions match satellite data. We find that rangeland degradation has significantly increased following privatization of land use, and that grassland in small individually managed fenced plots is deteriorating more significantly than in larger fenced areas with group herding. We further find that herders' had accurate perceptions of the state of their pastures that closely match remotely sensed data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]