Assessing drivers of coordinated control of ozone and fine particulate pollution: Evidence from Yangtze River Delta in China.

Previous studies have focused on a certain atmospheric pollutant, and few studies that comprehensively considered the drivers to synergistic impact on multiple pollutants. This study uses panel data of 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) from 2005 to 2018. We aim to assess drivers of coordinated control for fine particulate (PM 2.5) and ozone (O 3) pollution using atmospheric remote sensing and spatial econometric model. Satellite image extraction shows that the key areas of pollution control are concentrated in the eastern coastal areas and northern cities. Here we show the empirical results of the Spatial Durbin Model indicating the drivers that significantly coordinated control of PM 2.5 and O 3 pollution: economic growth, urbanization, population density and energy intensity. The promotion of urbanization of YRDUA can help mitigate pollution, which proves that the new urbanization approach can improve environmental quality. Other significant drivers have their own adverse effects on PM 2.5 and O 3 pollution. Besides, the spillover effects of drivers are stronger than their local effects, which means that regional joint prevention and control will significantly improve the ambient air quality. As a result, policy recommendations are finally put forward such as promoting new-type urbanization, further standardizing the regional joint prevention and control mechanism, and exploring source management of PM 2.5 and O 3 pollution. • Data used in the study are collected from 41 cities in YRD from 2005 to 2018. • The atmospheric remote sensing and the spatial econometric model are utilized for analyzing. • Four key drivers identified can significantly coordinate control of PM 2.5 and O 3. • Spillover effects of drivers are significantly stronger than the local effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]