Evaluating the Impact of China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan on Industrial Sulfur Dioxide Emissions: An Empirical Analysis Using the Difference-in-Differences Approach

The rapid economic growth and accelerated urbanization of China have increased air pollution and threaten public health and environmental sustainability. In response, in 2013, the Chinese government introduced the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP), which targets industrial emissions. In this study, the Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach was utilized to assess the impact of the APPCAP on sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions using data from 300 cities spanning 2010 to 2022. The analysis showed that policy implementation substantially reduced SO₂ emissions in key regions, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta. Furthermore, these results were robust across various model specifications, thus confirming the effectiveness of APPCAP. In addition, our findings show that higher GDP levels and abundant water resources contribute to efficient pollution control, suggesting that economic development and resource management play crucial roles in enhancing environmental outcomes. Based on these insights, we recommend strengthening region-specific regulations, encouraging investments in clean technologies, optimizing water resource management, and promoting continuous monitoring to facilitate dynamic policy adjustments. Enhancing public awareness and engagement in environmental protection is also essential for sustaining long-term improvements in air quality.