Zoning for synergistic reduction of pollution and carbon emissions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surrounding areas based on environmental justice principles

Promoting efficiency in pollution and carbon reduction is critical to achieving the “dual carbon” goal and building a beautiful China. However, current methods of synergistic governance in pollution and carbon reduction often overlook the environmental injustice resulting from the spatial spillover of pollutants, leading to suboptimal governance outcomes. Therefore, developing a more effective and equitable approach is urgent to enhance the enthusiasm of various regions to participate in synergistic governance and improve the effectiveness. The innovation of this work lies in the development of a new method for delineating the scope and prioritization of reduction of pollutants and carbon emissions (SRPCE) by incorporating environmental justice principles. First, the status and environmental injustices are analyzed in emissions, spatial transmission, and the trade transfer of pollutants and carbon. Then, cluster analysis is applied to identify SRPCE zones based on their synergistic effects under the framework of environmental justice. Finally, the Entropy-TOPSIS method is employed to prioritize SRPCE regions, using indicators related to pollution levels, natural conditions, and trade characteristics. As a result, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) and its surrounding areas are categorized into four distinct SRPCE zones and identify key regions for prioritization. This work provides novel ideas and theoretical guidance for cross-boundary governance of SRPCE.