An Ecological Compensation Model for Liuxi River Basin Based on Emission Rights

Abstract

Researches on standards of ecological compensation will raise awareness of protecting the ecological environment in the basin and maintain the economy’s and society’s sustainable development. This paper constructed an ecological compensation model on the Liuxi River Basin in Guangzhou, China. Data and statistics were acquired from the statistical yearbook in Guangzhou Statistical Information Network, including the total GDP, total wastewater discharge amount and total population of Guangzhou for 13 years (1995, 2000, 2005–2015). Then, SPSS was used to fit the scatter plot of volume of wastewater discharged per capita and GDP per capita, and the most accurate regression equation was selected. Most importantly, an ecological compensation model was constructed based on emission rights and it was then used to calculate the annual eco-compensation fee for Conghua, where the river’s upper part is located. The results showed that the amount of ecological compensation in 2017 was 33.821 billion Chinese Yuan, which should be used to compensate Conghua for the emission rights it had given up for protecting water quality of the Liuxi River. This study provided an effective reference to the government’s decision on continuous improvement of the “Guangzhou Ecological Compensation Plan for Liuxi River Basin”.

Review the Progress of the Compensation System for Ecological and Environmental Damage in China

“…An ecological compensation model for Liuxi River Basin based on emission rights shows that the ecological compensation amount for Conghua in 2017 is determined to be 33.821 billion Yuan, accounting for 84.5% of the district's total GDP. [1] It's a very big burden for the government.…”

“…To alleviate the deterioration of the ecological environment by holding offenders responsible for environmental pollution and ecological destruction and restore the damaged ecological environment, China has brought a crucial institutional innovation. Pilot Plan for Reform of the Ecological Environment Damage Compensation System (abbreviation: Pilot Plan) was promulgated by the central government 1 in 2015. Seven provinces were selected for plan piloting in 2016.…”