Spatial network structure characteristics and influencing factors of haze in Europe based on weighted network approach

Abstract Haze pollution in Europe has always been one of the topics of concern. It is very rare to investigate the haze transport and its influencing factors among European countries from the perspective of complex network. Different from binary networks, this paper constructs a weighted and directed network of European haze based on the data of European countries from 2010 to 2019. Based on the European haze network, the structural characteristics of the haze network are investigated, the path, direction and strength of haze transfer are identified, and the influencing factors of the haze network are explored. It is found that the spatial association network of haze in Europe presents a complex network structure and shows the features of small-world. The haze network in Europe shows a typical “core-periphery” structure. Germany, France, UK, Netherlands and Italy are at the center of the network. The results of block model analysis show that Luxembourg, Cyprus, Lithuania, Ireland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Latvia, Portugal, Denmark, Estonia, Malta and Iceland play the role of “net receiver” in the European haze network; Belgium, Czech, Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland and Norway play the role of “two-way spillover” in the haze network; Romania, Sweden, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia and Spain play the role of “agent” in the haze network; Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, UK and Poland play the role of “net spillover” in the haze network. The results of QAP analysis show that the differences in industrial structure, environmental regulation intensity, energy consumption, science and technology level, automobile exhaust emissions and vegetation density play a significant role in promoting the formation of the haze network in Europe. Based on the perspective of complex networks, this paper provides policy suggestions for cross-border collaborative governance of haze in Europe.