Application of Environmental Carrying Capacity in Regional Environmental Impact Assessment: A Case Study on Shandong Rencheng Economic

The analysis of environmental carrying capacity (ECC) is one of the most important methods to regional environmental impact assessment (REIA). The purpose of this paper is to establish a simple and practical method to assess ECC of economic development area in China. A simple assessment indicator system (AIS) which mainly contained 16 important indicators was constructed and accordingly the comprehensive assessment of ECC was given.The comprehensive assessment of ECC of Shandong Rencheng economic development area (SREDA), which is an economic development area besides the eastern route of the South-to-North water diversion project in China, was carried out according its comprehensive planning of 2010. This work would contribute greatly to decision-support and policy-making processes, and REIA in the process of sustainable development of economic development areas.