The Synergistic Relationship between Rural Environmental Pollution and Industrial Structural Change in Heilongjiang, China

摘要

Heilongjiang, a traditional agricultural province in China, is suffering from serious rural environmental pollution, which harms peasant health and hinders sustainable economic development. Rural environmental degradation is intensifying gradually, causing great harm to rural residents, the global agro ecological environment, and significant restriction of sustainable agricultural production. To further analyse the issues of rural environmental pollution in Heilongjiang and explore the dynamic relationship between rural environmental pollution and industrial structure change, this study analysed three problems related to rural environmental pollution based on the rural environmental data of Heilongjiang from 2000 to 2014. Municipal panel data were established for an empirical study on the relationship between rural environmental pollution and industrial structure change. Results demonstrated the following: Pesticide usage in Heilongjiang increased gradually, and domestic pollution emissions were high within the study period. A significantly positive correlation existed between rural industrialization and the intensity of pollutant emission. Industrial pollution emissions in rural areas were influenced by the industrial structure. The rural areas with higher proportions of industrial output to economic aggregate had poor environmental quality. Finally, some suggestions to improve rural environmental pollution in Heilongjiang were proposed. This study can serve as reference and has practical significance in comprehending the status of the rural environmental pollution in Heilongjiang in North China and the effects of industrial structure change on rural environmental pollution.