Estimating willingness to pay for environment conservation: a contingent valuation study of Kanas Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China

The primary objective of this study is to estimate publics' willingness to pay (WTP) for environment conservation and analyze factors influencing WTP. A questionnaire survey based on the contingent valuation method (CVM) was carried out at Kanas Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China. Seventy-three percent of the 412 respondents were willing to pay at different levels, and the mean WTP value was RMB 54.60 ($8.03). The results of this survey struck an optimistic note that publics were willing to contribute to improve environmental quality. Logistic regression analysis was employed to compare the characteristics of those who were and were not willing to pay. Chi-square tests were administered to identify the relationships between various explanatory factors and WTP. Conclusions and implications of the empirical study can be provided to policy makers and site managers. In a wider sense, the findings of this study should make a good contribution to the literature related to WTP for environment conservation of natural attractions.     

Assessment of transport performance index for urban transport development strategies — Incorporating residents' preferences

The performance of urban transport depends on a variety of factors related to metropolitan structure; in particular, the patterns of commuting, roads and public transport (PT) systems. To evaluate urban transport planning efforts, there is a need for a metric expressing the aggregate performance of the city's transport systems which should relate to residents' preferences. The existing metrics have typically focused on a measure to express the proximity of job locations to residences. A Transport Performance Index (TPI) is proposed in which the total cost of transportation system (operational and environmental costs) is divided by willingness to pay (WTP) for transport plus the willingness to accept (WTA) the environmental effects on residents. Transport operational as well as the environmental costs are derived from a simulation of all transport systems, to particular designs of spatial development. Willingness to pay for transport and willingness to accept the environmental effects are derived from surveys among residents. Simulations were modelled of Surabaya's spatial structure and public transport expansion. The results indicate that the current TPI is high, which will double by 2030. With a hypothetical polycentric city structure and adjusted job housing balance, a lower index occurs because of the improvements in urban transport performance. A low index means that the residents obtain much benefit from the alternative proposed. This illustrates the importance of residents' preferences in urban spatial planning in order to achieve efficient urban transport. Applying the index suggests that city authorities should provide fair and equitable public transport systems for suburban residents in the effort to control the phenomenon of urban sprawl. This index is certainly a good tool and prospective benchmark for measuring sustainability in relation to urban development.     

Valuing Flood Risk Reductions

A choice experiment is used to estimate how Vietnamese households value a flood risk reduction. The empirical analysis is conducted on a sample of households located in the Nghe An Province, one of the provinces which is the most affected by floods in Vietnam. The results reveal that there is a high level of heterogeneity in preferences across households. We compute the willingness to pay (WTP) for a flood risk reduction, and we identify how it relates to different attributes of flood management policies (reduction of economic losses, reduction of human losses, political level in charge of implementing the flood management policy). In particular, the marginal WTP for reducing the flood fatality rate, which can be interpreted as the value of statistical life (VSL), varies from 2 517 million VND (approximately 120,818 USD) to 3 590 million VND (approximately 172,323 USD) depending on the model considered. The VSL represents between 77 and 111 times the annual household average income in our sample, a result in line with previous estimates in similar countries.     

Exploring the “not in my backyard” effect in the construction of waste incineration power plants - based on a survey in metropolises of China

Waste incineration power plants have become the best option in face of the increasing amount of garbage in China's cities. However, constructing waste incineration power plants will cause “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) effect in the public. To identify variables causing this effect and measure the effect quantitatively, we designed and carried out a random survey in four metropolises in China. Of the 3133 questionnaires distributed, 3066 are thought to be effective. Males, persons with higher educational levels, or with higher income, or having underaged children in their families, or thinking their neighborhoods are upscale ones are willing to pay more to avoid the construction of waste incineration power plants in their surroundings than others. In addition, provided that the respondents deem that the construction of waste incineration power plants would have an impact on their lives, they are willing to pay more no matter they own their departments or not. Finally, the estimated willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid the waste incineration power plants is 105 yuan to 133 yuan per month. Hence, the government should treat the NIMBY syndrome well in the construction of waste incineration power plants, with WTP being one perspective to persuade the public.     

The value of the environment – Is it a matter of approach?

This paper discusses why estimates of the benefits of reduced air pollution differ in accordance with the approach used. Estimates based on bottom-up studies of the damage costs related to air pollution usually turn out much lower than estimates based on assessments of the utility of reduced air pollution, obtained for instance by willingness to pay assessments. This is usually explained by the fact that the willingness to pay approach includes the utility aspect of non-market values, and for this reason, it is often preferred to the damage cost approach. This is, however, not the whole story. The paper shows why alternative approaches should not be considered as being in conflict, but rather as means to get supplementary information necessary to put a value on environmental quality. Information from bottom-up assessments of damage costs and from studies of the willingness to pay is used in a macroeconomic model to carry out an evaluation of the social costs of energy saving measures in Hungary.     

Valuing biodiversity attributes and water supply using choice experiments: a case study of La Campana Peñuelas Biosphere Reserve, Chile

The main objective of this study is to assess public economic preferences for biodiversity conservation and water supply and to analyse the factors influencing those preferences. A survey based on the choice experiment method was carried out at Peñuelas National Reserve, Chile, an area that is threatened by both occasional forest fires and the growing housing market. The input of local administrators was used to define environmental attributes of the area related to biodiversity conservation and water supply. Attributes were selected for analysis by the choice experiment. The selected attributes were the following: existence of endemic orchid species, chances of observing animals with scenic attraction, additional protection for an endemic amphibian, and availability of drinkable water in the future. A monetary variable consisting of an increase in the rate for entry to the area was also incorporated to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for additional protection for the selected attributes. Three hundred four Chilean visitors to the reserve were randomly selected for interviews. Econometric analysis based on the Theory of Utility Maximization shows that visitors are willing to pay to protect the selected attributes. WTP values for the attributes range from CHP $2,600 ($5.4) to $6,600 ($14) per person per visit. The results of this research provide reserve managers information about tradeoffs that could be used to enhance public support and maximise the social benefits of nature conservation management programmes.     

Factors affecting waste generation: a study in a waste management program in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Information on waste generation, socioeconomic characteristics, and willingness of the households to separate waste was obtained from interviews with 402 respondents in Dhaka city. Ordinary least square regression was used to determine the dominant factors that might influence the waste generation of the households. The results showed that the waste generation of the households in Dhaka city was significantly affected by household size, income, concern about the environment, and willingness to separate the waste. These factors are necessary to effectively improve waste management, growth and performance, as well as to reduce the environmental degradation of the household waste.     

An Analogy on Assessment of Urban Air Pollution in Turkey Over the Turn of the Millennium (1992–2001)

Rapid industrialization and urbanization in Turkey, especially over the last twenty five years, has provided better living standards to its residents, but it also caused a decrease in environmental quality. In late 1970's, air quality monitoring activities were started in some major cities by individual researchers in Turkey. It was just around the 1990's that a countrywide program on continuous air pollution monitoring in major province centers and selected large towns was launched. The impact of air pollution on people depend on various factors, such as existence and magnitude of coal powered energy generation plants, type of urban heating and their efficiency, and the numbers and specifications of vehicles. In this study, current Turkish urban air quality over the turn of the Millennium (1992–2001) is studied in the light of the country's worst cities in terms of outdoor air quality, the number of upper respiratory diseases, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia cases in these provinces reported by the state medical treatment facilities in 2001. The population that is under outdoor urban air pollution hazard was computed. A comparative analysis between the provinces that use natural gas and others that use fossil fuels was also completed in order to project monetary gains if the studied provinces will transform their indoor heating and industrial operations to be run by natural gas or other cleaner energy sources. If natural gas use in air polluted urban centers could be realized in the near future, approximately 212 to 350 million US dollars per annum could to be saved just by reducing health related problems caused by outdoor air pollution.     

一种新的城市群大气环境承载力评价方法及应用

针对中国国土资源环境承载力评价研究理论与方法存在不足的情况,以全国主体功能区中处于优化开发区域的5个城市群为例,用一种新的方法评价城市大气环境纳污承载力。以城市大气污染防治标准为基础,根据不同级别城市空气污染指数所对应的天数占全年监测天数的比例,确定5个城市群的城市大气环境纳污承载力底限水平得分。评价结果表明,快速增长的经济给大城市的大气环境带来巨大压力,处于优化开发区的珠三角城市群的大气环境纳污承载力得分87.13,为较高承载级别。其他城市群得分从高到低依次为辽中南(78.73)、京津冀(77.92)、长三角(77.23)、山东半岛(76.32),均为中承载级别。要使这些城市群保持良好的空气环境,必须加大污染防治力度,优化国土规划空间布局,在大力发展经济的同时,兼顾其对环境的负面影响。     

2005—2010年沙尘天气影响我国城市环境空气质量分析

根据2005年建成较完整的环保重点城市空气质量日报监测网后的监测数据,分析2005—2010年期间,影响113个环保重点城市空气质量的沙尘天气过程次数范围在每年5~14次之间,平均每年10次左右,总计59次。在此期间,影响113个重点城市空气质量的沙尘天气过程累计的影响时间总计130 d,平均在每年22 d左右。影响环保重点城市的沙尘天气过程主要集中在3—5月,在部分年份的1—2月、6月和11—12月也有出现。受沙尘天气影响,113个重点城市总共的超标天次平均每年在332 d次左右,每年范围在147~546 d次之间。其中,受沙尘暴天气影响的重污染天次平均每年在40 d次左右,每年范围在14~78 d次之间。受沙尘暴天气影响的超标天和重污染天主要出现在3~5月。近年来沙尘天气对我国尤其是北方地区的影响程度很大。每年沙尘天气过程对我国城市空气质量影响的时间不短,尤其在春季对我国东中部地区城市造成了很严重的影响,近年大范围的沙尘天气过程还影响到了我国东南包括台湾地区和香港澳门地区。     

Public perceptions of air quality and quality of life in urban and suburban areas of London

A comparative study was undertaken at two different sites (one urban, one suburban) in Greater London in order to examine whether there was a relationship between publicly available air quality data and the public's perception of air quality. Perceptions of air quality and its role as a potential quality of life indicator was also investigated. A total of 200 people were interviewed in Wood Green and Wimbledon in 1999 and air quality data were obtained simultaneously from the nearest appropriate monitoring station. The study has enabled a comparison between the public's perception of air quality and the actual monitored concentration values. The survey results reveal how seriously the public regards air pollution from road traffic in terms of their quality of life and identifies the attitudes of the public to nuisance from road traffic. The results reveal that the public's perception of air quality is not a reliable indicator of the actual levels of air pollution in their area. The results also revealed that air pollution issues generated as a result of road traffic are of high importance in terms of people's quality of life when compared to other aspects of their quality of life. The study revealed that residents in the urban area (Wood Green) were more disturbed by road traffic than residents in the suburban area (Wimbledon). Out of all the disturbances listed, it was found that residents were more disturbed by vehicle-derived fumes, dust and dirt than other aspects of road traffic related nuisance. The TELETEXT/CEEFAX service on air quality was little used by the public as a means of obtaining information on air pollution.     

Indifference curves as a tool for environment impact assessment

Use of indifference curves, defined as functionality between development index and pollution load to evaluate environmental impact, is proposed. Existing Battelle environmental evaluation methodology is subjective in its approach. The use of indifference curves lends a more objective approach to environment assessment methodology. The extent of environmental damage we are prepared to accept, for a development, can be explained by Willingness to Pay and Willingness to Accept approach. The application of proposed approach has been demonstrated taking an example of Power plant set up in forest area. The curves clearly show that cost of EMP considering mitigation of ecological damage is higher than the EMP mitigating impacts of air and water pollution only. The example stresses the need for willingness to accept along with willingness to pay.     

基于神经网络方法的城市空气质量日报技术

运用神经网络方法,将城市空气质量状况与大气污染物对空气质量的损害程度相关联,采用了"基于大气污染损害率的API法"评价概念,模拟发布长春市空气质量日报,同时公布次要污染物,并与API法进行同时段比对实验与综合分析。     

基于GIS的珠三角区域空气质量实况发布平台介绍

地理信息系统是在计算机软件和硬件支持下，对整个或者部分地球表层空间中的各类地理信息数据进行采集、存储、管理、运算、分析、显示和描述的技术系统。根据中国发布的环境空气质量新标准，提出了基于地理信息系统的区域空气质量实况发布平台的总体设计思路，介绍了这一平台的开发与运行环境、主要功能模块设计和实现方法。该平台已成功应用于珠江三角洲区域。通过广东省环境保护公众网信息平台，实时更新各个站点最新的空气监测数据，为广东开展环境整治工作以及居民日常出行提供参考。     

重庆市北碚区空气质量改善效果评估分析

基于2014—2020年重庆市中心城区北碚区环境监测数据及地面观测气象要素，分析了北碚区大气污染特征，利用KNN算法建立大气污染的评估模型，对空气质量改善效果进行评估。结果表明，重庆市中心城区北碚区的PM_2.5浓度逐年呈明显下降趋势，O₃浓度除夏季有一个弱的下降趋势外，其余3个季节和年平均值整体均呈上升趋势。全年以优良天气为主且呈增加趋势。O₃与气温、日照时间呈正相关，与相对湿度呈负相关性，PM_2.5与气温、降水及风速呈负相关。基于KNN算法对空气质量改善状况评估表明，减排对O₃污染平均贡献率在-4.7%左右，对PM_2.5污染平均贡献率为-52%,气象条件对O₃污染的平均贡献率在17%左右，对PM_2.5污染的平均贡献率在-7%左右。该大气污染评估模型能够有效地评估空气改善效果。     

基于分形求和模型的克拉玛依市空气质量评价

以克拉玛依市4个区2012年的大气自动监测数据为样本，基于分形求和模型，分析大气污染物的分布特征，利用分维数确定污染物浓度分布的随机程度，计算 SO2、NO2、PM10的大气环境背景值与标准值，确定适合于评价区域的ORAQI指数计算公式，并与 API指数作对比。ORAQI指数计算结果显示，克拉玛依市全年环境空气质量基本呈现“U”字形变化，春夏季大气质量好于秋冬季，全年空气质量有明显的季节变化，4个区中克拉玛依区空气质量相对较差，乌尔禾区空气质量最好。相对于 API指数的均匀分布结果，ORAQI指数具有更好的次要污染物体现能力，可以综合体现所评价的各项污染因子的贡献。     

Environmental Modeling and Methods for Estimation of the Global Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to global health outcomes. A methodological framework for evaluating the global health-related outcomes of outdoor and indoor (household) air pollution is presented and validated for the year 2005. Ambient concentrations of PM2.5 are estimated with a combination of energy and atmospheric models, with detailed representation of urban and rural spatial exposures. Populations dependent on solid fuels are established with household survey data. Health impacts for outdoor and household air pollution are independently calculated using the fractions of disease that can be attributed to ambient air pollution exposure and solid fuel use. Estimated ambient pollution concentrations indicate that more than 80% of the population exceeds the WHO Air Quality Guidelines in 2005. In addition, 3.26?billion people were found to use solid fuel for cooking in three regions of Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia and Pacific Asia in 2005. Outdoor air pollution results in 2.7?million deaths or 23?million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) while household air pollution from solid fuel use and related indoor smoke results in 2.1?million deaths or 41.6?million DALYs. The higher morbidity from household air pollution can be attributed to children below the age of 5 in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. The burden of disease from air pollution is found to be significant, thus indicating the importance of policy interventions.     

城市绿色发展竞争力评价研究

提出城市绿色发展竞争力概念,探讨环境质量与经济社会发展水平之间的关系,从城市空气环境质量、地表水环境质量、声环境质量、集中式饮用水源地水质和生态环境质量等"硬环境"着手,结合衡量城市经济发展程度的工业GDP指标,构建评价指标体系,用单位工业GDP的环境代价来表征城市绿色发展竞争力水平,并以安徽省省辖市为例进行了实例研究。     

Characteristics and sources of non-methane hydrocarbons and halocarbons in wintertime urban atmosphere of Shanghai, China

The characteristics and sources of major hydrocarbons and halocarbons in the wintertime ambient air of urban center of Shanghai, a mega city of China, were investigated. Propane, toluene, ethyl acetate, and benzene were the most abundant hydrocarbons. The majority of species showed significant variability in mixing ratios with occasional episodic increases. The more common use of liquefied petroleum gas fuel for taxis and light motorcycles was believed to lead to high levels of ambient propane over the urban center of Shanghai. Correlating with toluene, dichloromethane, and 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE), abundant chloromethane (up to a daily mean of 1.61?±?0.99 ppbv and a maximum of 5.34 ppbv) was mainly associated with industrial emissions, although biomass burnings exist widely in east China. The Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday period with no industrial activity over China provides a platform for the study of industrial emissions over the urban atmosphere of Shanghai. The normal weekly cycles were characterized by higher and more variable mixing ratios during weekdays which dropped during weekends. Enhanced mixing ratios were observed in the fortnight before the CNY holidays due to increased industrial emissions as a result of overtime production to make up for the holiday losses. During the CNY holidays, lower level and less variable mixing ratios were observed. A benzene/toluene (B/T) ratio of 0.6?±?0.4 (mean?±?std.) for the morning rush hour samples was identified to be the characteristic ratio of vehicular emissions. However, a B/T ratio of 0.4?±?0.2 from vehicles and other sources was derived for the ambient air.     

西北部主要城市环境空气质量特征与预报影响因素分析

西北部地区经济和工业的快速发展导致各项污染物排放对空气质量影响形势较为严峻,近几年频发的重污染过程严重影响了当地居民的生产生活,因此开展西北部主要城市的空气质量预报工作十分必要。研究选取西北部主要城市展开讨论、分析,并初步总结了主要城市2013—2015年的空气质量分布特征、预报影响因素、预报要点等,为环境监测系统预报工作人员在未来预报业务工作中提供参考。