AccScience Publishing / AJWEP / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/AJWEP025220174
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Pollution governance through eco-industry integration: Implementing China’s Eco-environment Oriented Development planning model

Yayuan Zhang1 ,  Guoying Dong1 ,  Wenjia Song1 ,  Zechen Song2 ,  Xiuhong Li1* ,  Rongjin Yang3* ,  Le Zhang3 ,  Meiying Sun3
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1 State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
2 School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
3 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
AJWEP, 025220174 https://doi.org/10.36922/AJWEP025220174
Received: 28 May 2025 | Revised: 13 July 2025 | Accepted: 28 July 2025 | Published online: 3 December 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

In recent years, the eco-environment-oriented development (EOD) model has emerged as a novel approach in China’s ecological and environmental governance. This model integrates ecological restoration with industrial development, creating a virtuous cycle in which ecological improvements drive industrial growth, and industrial returns are reinvested to support environmental initiatives. This integration aims to enhance ecological, economic, and social outcomes in a holistic manner. The interrelation between ecological restoration and industrial development is central to the EOD model and is crucial for achieving value-closed-loop systems, financial sustainability, and long-term ecological–industrial synergy. For example, in some regions, restored ecosystems have attracted high-value industries through improved environmental quality and regulatory services, while industrial revenues have been redirected to fund further ecological projects. Despite its potential, research on such interrelations remains limited, with a lack of systematic frameworks for analysis and evaluation. To address this gap, this study focuses on the interrelation between ecological and industrial components within EOD projects, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms and practical implications. Through case study analysis, the study first clarifies the conceptual connotation and defining characteristics of these interrelations and establishes a preliminary theoretical framework for understanding ecological–industrial interrelation under the EOD model. It then explores two key dimensions—spatial interrelation and industrial chain interrelation—by analyzing their mechanisms and manifestations. The study further proposes evaluation approaches for each dimension and integrates them into EOD project planning processes to support interrelation-oriented planning and design. The findings offer a systematic methodology and theoretical basis for identifying, evaluating, and designing ecological–industrial interrelations, thereby enriching the theoretical foundation of the EOD model and facilitating its scientific planning and practical implementation.

Keywords
Eco-environment-oriented development model
Interrelation
Ecological–industrial relationship
Pollution governance
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
Xiuhong Li is an Editorial Board Member of this journal but was not in any way involved in the editorial and peer-review process conducted for this paper, directly or indirectly. Separately, other authors declared that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.
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Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Electronic ISSN: 1875-8568 Print ISSN: 0972-9860, Published by AccScience Publishing
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