Urbanization strategy and environmental changes: An insight with relationship between population change and fine particulate pollution

Fine particulate (PM_2.5) pollution, along with the rapid urbanization process, has been given much attention in China during the recent decades. However, the relationships between urban population dynamics and PM_2.5 changes have not been well examined. We therefore analyzed their relationship using full-coverage remotely sensed PM_2.5 and population density data. The results showed that 1) both population density and PM_2.5 concentration increased rapidly from 2000 to 2014, especially in East and Central China, as well as China's high population density urban areas and the major cities; 2) A total of 723 million people was exposed to PM_2.5 pollution in 2014, an increase of 105 million from 2000; 3) most of the urban areas exhibited population density increase/decrease with PM_2.5 concentration increase, while a total of 42% of China's territory, mainly in East and Central China's rural areas were found to have population decrease but PM_2.5 concentration increase. We hope the results in this work can serve as an example to other countries in designing their urbanization strategy by paying more attention to environmental degeneration accompanying rapid development.

Capsule abstract: Most of urban areas were observed to have population density increase/decrease along with PM_2.5 concentration increase.