The implementation of environmental policies is crucial for improving environmental quality and bolstering governmental legitimacy. It serves as a key indicator of the environmental performance of local governments. However, significant regional disparities exist in the outcomes of policy implementation, influenced by a variety of factors, including material resources and social contexts. This study investigates the relationship between policy implementation and environmental performance by conducting an empirical analysis using panel data regression models, covering 30 provincial units in mainland China from 2008 to 2023. The findings reveal that the effectiveness of policy implementation varies across different types of pollutants. Specifically, policy content factors—such as the delegation of authority and policy revision frequency—play a substantial role in air pollution control, while the role of implementation agencies and the availability of resources are critical in water pollution management. In contrast, flexible policy measures are most effective in solid waste governance. Additionally, regional governments exhibit varying capacities in addressing air, water, and solid waste pollution. The study concludes that there is a pressing need for the establishment of an integrated, cross-regional environmental management framework to ensure a more equitable and effective approach to mitigating environmental pollution.
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