Theoretical and Empirical Study on Urban Population Cawing Capacity： Case of Haidian District in Beijing

The measurement of urban population carrying capacity is the basis for cities＇ sustainable development. However, the traditional study on population carrying capacity which was based on food supply is not applicable to the single urban area. This paper built a model for the analysis of urban carrying capacity, and took Haidian District in Beijing as an example to calculate the urban carrying capacity of Haidian District in the future, which was the basis for the improvement of the population carrying capacity. This study would also provide a reference to the measurement of the urban population carrying capacity for other cities and districts in China.     

Theoretical and Empidcal Study on Urban Population Carrying Capacity:Case of Haidian District in Beijing

The measurement of urban population carrying capac- ity is the basis for cities' sustainable development.However,the traditional study on population carrying capacity which was based on food supply is not applicable to the single urban area.This paper built a model for the analysis of urban carrying capacity, and took Haidian District in Beijing as an example to calculate the urban carrying capacity of Haidian District in the future,which was the basis for the improvement of the population carrying capac...     

Fundamental issues and solutions in the design of China's ETS pilots: Allowance allocation,price mechanism and state-owned key enterprises

This paper analyzes the three main fundamental issues in the design of China’s ETS pilots,including allowance allocation,price mechanism and state-owned key enterprises,and proposed suggested solutions.For the issue of allowance allocation,we suggest that the gradual hybrid mode could be applied at the beginning,which starts with mainly free allocation and then increases auction ratio gradually.And grandfathering is a suitable method of free allocation.For the issue of price mechanism,we suggest a price floating zone with open market operation to reduce the uncertainty of prices.For the issue of state-owned key enterprises,we suggest a good coordination with SASAC,defining the state-owned property right and supervision right when state-owned key enterprises are involved into the carbon market,and the local government can set rules of allocation and transaction to limit their potential market power.     

Conceptualizing Discourses on Ecological City and Its Planning

Abstract

Ecological city (eco-city) and its planning approach are emerging concepts in urban study, urban planning, ecological economics, environmental policy and corporate environmental management. However, opinions remain divided over the connotation and denotation of the term “ecological city”, what key issues ecocity planning can solve, and its specific contents. In this study, we present 10 basic propositions that define the eco-city and clarify its key parameters, thereby providing the basis for discussing the assumptions and principles underlying different approaches to sustainable urban development. We then summarize the concept and principles of an eco-city, and define the main requirements for ecocity planning. We conclude that an eco-city is a city in which the urban population, scale of land use and intensity of human activities are limited to the regional resource and environmental carrying capacity, which does not cause increasing or irreversible damage to the regional ecosystem’s structure, functions and processes.     

Impacts of Suburbanization on Urban Eco-environment of Xi’an in China

Abstract

Suburbanization in large cities is an important phenomenon in the process of urbanization development in China in recent decades, which plays a very important role in promoting city development, whereas some side effects on the eco-environment appeared at the same time. This paper, taking Xi’an City in China as a case study site, analyzed the features of population suburbanization and industry suburbanization and pointed out the impacts of suburbanization on urban eco-environment. Based on the research, suggestions of countermeasures for urban planning and municipal management of Xi’an City in protecting urban eco-environment and conserving natural ecology were put forward in the end.     

Regional Study on Economical Supporting Capacity of Land Resources in Shandong Province

Abstract

Taking the land resources of 17 cities in Shandong Province as the basic data, the article studied on the economical supporting capacity of land resources in terms of the effect of land on economy. The author classified 17 cities of Shandong Province into four types according to the economical supporting capacity of land resources by quantitatively estimating the evaluation indices of the total amount of land resources, the potential of urban and other nonagricultural land, and the integrated economical supporting capacity of land resources, etc. The author proposes the questions requiring further study at the end of this article.     

Model Modification and Application on Carrying Capacity of Relative Resources

Abstract

Based on the retrospection of researches on carrying capacity, this article reviewed systematically the research progresses on carrying capacity of relative resources (CCRR). Then the viewpoint was put forward that CCRR is not an appropriate method of appraising the regional sustainability, but a sound way to obtain cognition for coordinating spatial location and flow of population and economy. However, as the most popular computing method of CCRR, the Weighting Linear Sum Model is defective in the random of weight choice and the neglect of matching among different resources. Therefore, this article established the Geometric Model on CCRR based on modifying Weighting Linear Sum Model, which can be used to appraise regions where resources are close matching. Employing the Geometric Model, the article empirically analyzed the population and economic CCRR in Hubei Province from 1978 to 2006. The result indicates that the population in Hubei Province is overloading while the economic carrying capacity is abundant compared to the whole country, and the economic insufficiency restricts the population carrying capacity. In the future, Hubei Province will become one of the core developing zones which are characterized by economic conglomeration.     

基于适度人口容量的生态文明城市建设研究——以广东省惠州市为例

生态文明城市是新型城镇化建设的目标,是实现经济发展、民生改善与生态保护协调统一的最佳方式。适度的人口容量、科学的城市规划和有效的城市治理是避免和减轻城市病的根本途径。本文从生态经济学和系统工程学跨学科的视角出发,构建了一个基于适度人口容量,人口流动和城乡均衡发展的生态文明城市建设路径的理论分析框架,并以广东省惠州市为例,根据土地功能定位和主体功能区定位,分别测算了惠州市的适度人口容量;基于人口自然变动和人口机械变动的趋势,预测了惠州市未来人口发展状况。研究发现,惠州市常住人口已略微超过基于土地功能定位测算的适度人口容量,但基于主体功能定位的人口密度模型测算表明,惠州市未来人口发展规模远低于适度人口容量,进而从总体上剖析了惠州市生态文明城市建设中适度人口容量和人口均衡发展方面带有普遍性的问题和原因。由此,揭示出生态文明城市的创建,必须基于人口承载力,走动态规划调控路子,协同推进经济建设、民生改善、生态保护、环境优化和制度改革,真正地促进流动人口市民化、城乡公共服务均等化和社会保障公平化。     

Non-agricultural Population,Employment and Land: An Econometric Study in an Integrated Framework

Abstract

This paper explored the relationships among nonagricultural population, employment and land in an integrated framework, taking account of rural-urban land conversion into Carlino–Mills’s model on the regional growth. Two-stage-leastsquares and ordinary-least-squares were employed. Recent data for district (grade) cities in China (from 1999 to 2005) were used. Our results showed that: first, urban population influenced non-agricultural employment, and vice versa, but the evidence that non-agricultural employment influenced urban population was stronger than the evidence that urban population influenced non-agricultural employment; second, urban population and non-agricultural employment both influenced ruralurban land conversion, but the evidence that urban population influenced rural urban land conversion was more stronger than the evidence that non-agricultural employment did. We also found that: first, the employment from the secondary industry influenced urban population in a positive way, and vice versa, but the employment from the tertiary industry influenced urban population in a negative way, and vice versa; second, the employment from the secondary industry influenced rural-urban land conversion in a positive way, but the employment from the tertiary industry influenced rural-urban land conversion in a negative way. We can conclude that the key of urbanization is to speed up the process of non-agricultural employment, especially the employment from the tertiary industry, which might promote non-agricultural population, employment and land harmoniously.     

Cooperative Game Among Cities in Urban Agglomerations and Economical Sustainable Development

Abstract

This paper analyses redounded profits of cooperation and non-cooperation among cities in urban agglomerations based on game theory. It discusses the problems of economical development among cities with feeble cooperation, and deduces the conclusion that only cooperation of cities produces the maximum profits and realizes Pareto efficiency for cities and urban agglomerations. The paper states that cooperation is the cornerstone of economic sustainable development in urban agglomerations in profits produced by cooperation among cities. Some suggestions to accelerate cooperation among cities are proposed.     

Benefits and Challenges of Urban Green Spaces

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the benefits, and challenges towards providing multifunctional urban green spaces. The results are based on critical analysis of study findings from different cities in Europe, America and to a lesser extent in Asia. Inner-city green spaces are especially important for improving air quality through uptake of pollutant gases and particulates which are responsible for respiratory infections. Due to their amenity and aesthetics, green spaces increase property value. To ensure multifunctional role of urban a green space is achieved, in particular the social and psychological role, certain standards of quantity, quality and distribution within the urban area should be adequately established. Green spaces need to be uniformly distributed throughout the city area, although each does not need to be extremely large but should be large enough to accommodate the city population.     

Carrying Capacity: An Overview

Abstract

The concept of carrying capacity is derived from ecology, with widespread contentions of its theoretical connotations and applications in the international academic community, especially the impact of human activities on the environment. Disputes on carrying capacity have been occurring not only among biologists and ecologists, but also among mainstream economists. Based on their efforts, the author makes an attempt to describe its origin, connotations, problems, measurement, and at the same time note the latest international progress in this field.     

土地功能视角下的土地资源人口承载力研究

长期以来，国内外对土地资源人口承载力的研究基本上都是围绕“耕地 粮食 人口”这一思路而展开的。在当前经济全球化、快速城市化的背景下，单一评价方法难以全面反映社会发展实际。从土地功能视角出发提出土地资源人口承载力评价的新体系：基于土地粮食视角的人口承载力、基于建设用地视角的人口承载力、基于土地经济关系视角的人口承载力。首次将土地经济关系引入土地资源承载力评价中，利用不同土地类型与国民经济部门的关系进行人口测算，可以真实反映当今经济社会下人口承载的实际状态。以攀枝花市、六盘水市为例进行了实证研究，仅从本区域评价结果来看，原有传统的土地粮食人口承载能力在此次评价中并不构成最大限制因素，而是建设用地或者土地经济关系等因素决定了人口承载力，这也证明了土地资源人口承载力研究方法的可行性和相对合理性     

Measurement and Spatial Distribution of Urban Land Use Compactness in Chaoyang District of Beijing, China

China is in the process of rapid urbanization, and wise land use is critical to the long-term sustainability of Chinese cities.Promotion of a compact city is typically believed to be helpful for sustainable land use management. However, given the fact that Chinese cities are characterized by high population densities, the applicability of a more compact solution to expand cities in China remains questionable; there is little evidence to support the many claims in its favor. In seeking to provide empirical data to explore the application of compact city theory in China, one of the key problems researchers face is the task of measuring the urban com-pactness, in order to objectively investigate the current characteristics of urban compactness. To meet this need, indices were developed for measuring the urban land use compactness, by which the spatial distribution characteristics of urban land use compactness were identified and applied to the Chaoyang District of Beijing. The conclusions can be made as follows: (1) comprehensive land use compactness in Chaoyang District has increased during the period of 2001-2007, especially the population density; (2) the spatial distribution of land use compactness has the characteristics of a ring structure, which shows a decreasing trend with its distance to the city center; (3) there is a strong positive correlation between urban land use compactness and location. The better the location is, the higher the land use compactness is.     

Quantifying and managing food-sourced nutrient metabolism in Chinese cities

Food supply and consumption are critical for sustaining urban system functions, and are key determinants of the quantity and pathways of nutrient flow in cities. Nutrient elements from urban food consumption are becoming major pollutant sources in urban environments. Therefore, understanding flow magnitude and pathways, the role of a growing population, and changing dietary structure and technology in future nutrient metabolism are essential to understand cities as ecosystems and urban environmental management. Taking the city of Xiamen, a rapid urbanizing area of Southeast China as a case study, we simulated urban metabolism of three major food-sourced nutrient elements (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus or CNP) over 1991–2010 and environmental emissions. Impacts of future population growth, dietary habit change, and waste treatment improvement on various environments were forecast by scenario analysis. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to test how different waste treatment technologies affect environmental emissions from food-sourced nutrients. Our results show that the food-sourced CNP had various metabolic fluxes through urban systems, with carbon mostly emitted into the air and nitrogen and phosphorus mostly discharged into landfills and water. Population growth and dietary structure change will accelerate increases of nutrient emissions to the environment, whereas enhancing current waste treatment technology can just alter emissions to different environments. Based on the results, we discuss how food-sourced nutrient metabolism can be better managed, to enhance connectivity between cities and their hinterlands and maintain environmental emissions within the carrying capacity of the cities.     

中部3省城市建设用地功能时空演化特征

定量识别区域城市建设用地功能演化特征与模式,是推进可持续城市建设用地开发利用与管理、助力新型城镇化等国家战略的重要基础。从人口承载、生产与消费、公共服务3个方面构建了城市建设用地功能评价指标体系与模型,以地级市为研究单元探究了2000~2014年期间我国中部3省多尺度城市建设用地功能演化特征与模式。研究结果表明:(1)中部3省城市建设用地人口承载、生产与消费、公共服务和综合功能总体呈改善趋势,但演化过程复杂;(2)不同尺度尤其是城市群地区城市建设用地功能演化特征差异明显。沿长江和城市群地区城市建设用地功能演化强度高,但城市群地区空间异质性较强;(3)城市建设用地功能演化以复合型演化模式为主,演化格局复杂。其中,城市建设用地人口承载功能演化模式类型最多,且局部地区呈衰退型演化格局;城市建设用地生产与消费、公共服务功能和综合功能演化模式类型相对较少,且大多集中连片分布,武汉城市建设用地综合功能加速改善型演化特征显著。如何深入探究城市建设用地功能演化模式形成机理,并系统制定多级城市建设用地可持续利用管理策略,是实现我国新型城镇化和"美丽中国梦"等战略的重要任务。     

Construction and demolition waste generation in cities in India: an integrated approach

ABSTRACT

This paper quantifies construction and demolition waste (C&DW) generation rate in Indian cities using bottom-up material flow analysis approach. A dynamic model was applied to different classes of cities in India to investigate how C&DW generation rate varies across different classes of cities. The data on construction and demolition activities in different classes of cities were estimated from information reported in secondary literature. The results show that urban areas in India generated over 150 million tonnes of C&DW in 2016, and almost 50% of waste was generated in small to medium towns. The paper concludes with discussion on opportunities for recycling of C&DW and closing the material loops in Indian cities.     

Quantitative Appraisement on Ecological Carrying Capacity in Coastal Rapid Developing Region of Hainan Province

Abstract

The ecological carrying capacity, an important indicator to evaluate the sustainable development of the ecosystem, means the potential ability of the natural ecosystem to carry socioeconomic development while the ecosystem is healthy. It is limited by the carrying capacity of natural resources and environment and the elasticity of the ecosystem. It will be greatly significant to study the ecological carrying capacity of Hainan Province, the first ecological province admitted by the State Environmental Protection Administration in China. Not only is the natural ecosystem reflected, but also the effects of human activities are emphasized by integrating the ecosystem health analysis into the ecological carrying capacity research. The research results, using the Factor Analysis tools of software SPSS, indicate that the ecological carrying capacity of Hainan Province fluctuated obviously from 1996 to 2005. The level of the ecological carrying capacity of Hainan Province was relatively high in 1996, and reached into trough from 1997 to 1999. It has steadily ascended to be above the middle level since the 21st century. The results also show that policy factors, especially the implementation of the ‘Ecological Province’ strategy, were important driving forces to influence the ecological carrying capacity. With the population rapidly increasing, the land and water resources per capita have decreased quickly. The amount of the ecological carrying capacity was promoted remarkably by socioeconomic development especially economic growth and technology applications. All of these will provide useful suggestions to establish and enact regional development policies, especially for protecting and reconstructing the ecology and environment of Hainan Province.     

城市生态系统承载理论探索与实证--以长江三角洲为例

为深入地探讨城市生态系统内部各要素的相互作用关系,将自然生态系统承载力理论扩展到城市生态系统,提出城市生态系统的承载机制概念。分别从微观作用与宏观表现两个角度提出承载机制模型,即承载递阶模型与水桶模型,初步构建了承载理论框架。在承载理论指导下,采用层次结构模型建立了承载机制评价指标体系,提出承载机制定量评估模型,由此可计算出城市生态系统承载指数,该指数是研究资源支持系统、环境约束系统与社会经济活动三者协调性以及城市生态环境对社会经济活动供容能力的重要判据。最后对长三角具有代表性的8个城市进行了实证研究。结果表明：长三角8个^城市的综合承载指数排序依次为：上海、南京、无锡、宁波、杭州、苏州、常州、扬州。     

基于工业总产值发展目标的城市生态承载力情景分析--以佛山市为例

本文以佛山市为例，在分析该市社会经济发展与资源，环境因素之间相关关系的基础上，以其产业发展规划中的工业总产值发展目标为基准和情景平台，通过单一目标，多因素，多途径下的情景分析，来模拟工业经济高速发展所可能出现的城市人口变化，对资源的要求，污染物排放量变化，评价城市发展对城市生态承载力的要求及其满足程度，找出制约当地经济发展的生态承载力限值因子，并根据分析结果对城市发展模式提出了建设性意见。