Evaluation of China’s Environmental Pressures Based on Satellite NO(2) Observation and the Extended STIRPAT Model

China’s rapid urbanization and industrialization have affected the spatiotemporal patterns of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) pollution, which has led to greater environmental pressures. In order to mitigate the environmental pressures caused by NO(2) pollution, it is of vital importance to investigate the influencing factors. We first obtained data for NO(2) 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 NO(2) pollution and its contributing natural and socio-economic factors. The results are as follows. Cities with high NO(2) pollution are mainly concentrated in the North China Plain. On the contrary, southwestern cities are characterized by low NO(2) 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 NO(2) pollution. In contrast, increases in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed may reduce NO(2) 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.