Evaluation of China's Environmental Pressures Based on Satellite NO₂ Observation and the Extended STIRPAT Model

China's rapid urbanization and industrialization have affected the spatiotemporal patterns of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution, which has led to greater environmental pressures. In order to mitigate the environmental pressures caused by NO₂ pollution, it is of vital importance to investigate the influencing factors. We first obtained data for NO₂ pollution at the city level using satellite observation techniques and analyzed its spatial distribution. Next, we introduced a theoretical framework, an extended stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology (STIRPAT) model, to quantify the relationship between NO₂ pollution and its contributing natural and socio-economic factors. The results are as follows. Cities with high NO₂ pollution are mainly concentrated in the North China Plain. On the contrary, southwestern cities are characterized by low NO₂ pollution. In addition, we find that population, per capita gross domestic product, the share of the secondary industry, ambient air pressures, total nighttime light data, and urban road area have a positive impact on NO₂ pollution. In contrast, increases in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed may reduce NO₂ pollution. These empirical results should help the government to effectively and efficiently implement further emission reductions and energy saving policies in Chinese cities in a bid to mitigate the environmental pressures.