Narrow Results

The establishment of the Equator Principles provides strict industry standards for promoting green environmental protection. Ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin are major national strategies and frameworks in China. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for promoting the efficient development of the Yellow River Basin and to explore the imbalance between the development level and the development quality of green finance in various regions of the Yellow River Basin. The study implements an evaluation index system to quantify the economic development level and green finance development level of the Yellow River Basin. Moreover, a panel model analyzes the impact mechanism of green finance on the high-quality development of the basin as well as the moderating role of government supervision. The results show that most cities in the Yellow River Basin of China are at a medium level of green financial development, and some cities have a low level. Green financial development can promote high-quality development, and green regulatory and fiscal policies play a moderating role in this process. This study makes relevant policy recommendations for improving top-level design and preserving the environment.

Agricultural water use is a crucial component of the water supply and demand balance in the Yellow River Basin, accounting for an average of 75% of the total water usage annually. Understanding the mechanisms influencing the evolution of agricultural water use in various cities within the Yellow River Basin is of significant practical importance for maintaining a stable water balance and promoting high-quality agricultural development in the region. The factors affecting the evolution of agricultural water use are categorized into seven major groups: water resource endowment, water use conditions, hydraulic construction, among others. These encompass 21 quantitative indicators such as total water resources, grain sowing area and agricultural production policy indicators (APPI), which can either drive or inhibit agricultural water use. By comparing and analyzing the influencing factors selected in different studies, and considering the differences between various methods, the comprehensive contribution rates of these factors are calculated to identify the driving and inhibiting factors affecting the trend of agricultural water use in the Yellow River Basin. The study reveals that different time periods and cities have distinct driving and inhibiting indicators for agricultural water use. Overall, time series analysis shows that the GDP of the primary agricultural economy (${\mathrm{\text{GDP}}}_1)$ is often a driving indicator of agricultural water use, while annual precipitation (AP), water-saving irrigation machinery (WSIM) in agricultural modernization, and APPI are often inhibiting indicators. The findings provide a basis and guidance for formulating effective water resource management strategies and agricultural development policies.