Vol 8, No 3 (2021)

China’s investment policy, coupled with the country’s significant economic growth, has led to an increase in Chinese direct investment exports to developing countries, particularly in Africa. One of the forms of China-Africa economic cooperation is the creation of special economic zones (SEZ), which should in the future become centers of attraction for foreign direct investment (FDI) and the development of industrial production.

The article analyzes the main special economic zones of China on the territory of African countries. The placement, projects implemented on their territory, and companies engaged in foreign direct investment on the continent within the framework of the considered SEZs are reflected.

The article presents the results of a study of the dynamics of the location and level of air pollution in large cities of the world, special attention is paid to the 30 most polluted cities in the world. It was revealed that for the period 2017–2020, in general, the level of air pollution in cities around the world has decreased. Among the regions of the world in terms of the number of the most polluted cities, South Asia (where 27 cities out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world are located), East Asia and Southeast Asia stand out. Among the countries of the world in terms of the number of the most polluted cities in the world, India (where 22 cities from the 30 most polluted cities in the world are located), China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia stand out. The leading factors of the formation of the ecological situation in the most polluted cities of the world, depending on their localization, have been identified: 1) emissions of vehicles (in all cities); 2) emissions from industrial sites and factories (in all cities); 3) meteorological conditions (in the cities of India); 4) features of economic activity - the presence of artisanal kilns for baking bricks (in the cities of Bangladesh and Pakistan); 5) burning of waste and stubble of agricultural crops (in the cities of India); 6) transboundary pollution (in the cities of India and Pakistan). Options for improving the ecological situation in cities are proposed: 1) improve the regulation of emissions from vehicles and industrial sites and factories at the local level; 2) prioritize sustainable and clean energy sources; 3) promote low-cost, active and carbon-neutral travel options; 4) use technologies and initiatives of smart cities.

The article examines the spatial variation in the population of Germany's largest cities over the period 1987-2019. An analysis of the 22 largest cities shows that the population change has taken place in different regions of the FRG. The article divides the 22 cities into 3 groups according to their population size.  The main spatial differences and their causes are identified, such as: There are no specific patterns for the first and second groups, because the cities are located in the north, south and south-west. The third group is located mainly in the west. This is connected with the closure of polluting industries. It should be noted that after the unification of the FRG and the GDR in 1990, part of the population migrated to the west, where economically more developed cities are located. An analysis of the settlement systems from 1987 to 2019, using Zipf curves, shows that the actual curve has now become closer to the ideal curve. This indicates that the country's urban settlement system is stable and well-formed.

In the Siberian Federal District (SFD), more than 80% of the population live in cities. Cities are often located next to industrial plants - stationary sources of harmful emissions. Siberia is an industrially developed region, it is the Siberian region that accounts for most of the harmful emissions in Russia.

The article studies the problem of atmospheric air pollution in Siberian cities. Data on the dynamics of emissions of harmful substances were analyzed (mainly) by sectors of the economy, by country, as well as separately by cities of the Siberian Federal District (SFD). After the analysis, it was concluded that the main part of emissions in the SFD from stationary sources is accounted for by mining and manufacturing.

The authors revealed that among the most environmentally disadvantaged cities in Russia include those located in the Siberian Federal District. These are Norilsk and Novokuznetsk. A quarter of the cities of the SFD belong to cities with high and very high levels of atmospheric air pollution. Over the past 10 years, the level of environmental pollution has remained unchanged in most cities of the SFD. The equipment is becoming obsolete, and production requires better re-equipment. Until this happens, it will not be possible to achieve significant success in improving the ecological condition of cities.