Waste management in semi-urban areas of India: appropriate technological strategies to overcome financial barriers

The public health and environmental pollution problems due to inadequate treatment and inappropriate disposal of liquid and solid wastes generated in small and medium towns (referred to as semi-urban areas) of India receive insufficient attention. A field study of four towns in the State of Tamil Nadu was conducted to evaluate the current waste management practices in such semi-urban areas (SUAs). The study reveals that financial barriers for waste management arise due to a combination of policy and technological constraints. Based on the results of a preliminary waste characterization study and other observations made during the field study, reed bed channels and a semi-mechanized aerobic windrow composting process for the treatment of wastewater and municipal solid wastes, respectively, are recommended as appropriate technological options. The recommended technologies utilize existing arrangements for waste disposal, and aid an integrated resource recovery and reuse strategy that takes advantage of the geographic location and socioeconomic characteristics of SUAs to achieve lower waste management costs. Financial viability of the recommended technological approach is demonstrated through a comparative evaluation of competing treatment systems, and an estimation of costs and recoverable benefits resulting from waste reuse.     

沈阳郊区城镇的环境质量特点--浅析新城子区的环境特点

我国北方有众多中小城镇 ,其环境质量大都有一定特点。本文根据多年的环境监测资料 ,以沈阳郊区新城子区年 ,季间的环境质量变化 ,研究其污染特性和特点 ,分析不同时空变化的环境质量。争取中小城镇的环境综合治理提供技术依据。大气污染主要集中在冬季 ,燃煤污染仍然是主要污染来源 ;水环境污染以城镇生活污水为主 ,而且环境水的缺少又给环境带来了巨大的压力     

A review on current status of municipal solid waste management in India

Municipal solid waste management is a major environmental issue in India. Due to rapid increase in urbanization, industrialization and population, the generation rate of municipal solid waste in Indian cities and towns is also increased. Mismanagement of municipal solid waste can cause adverse environmental impacts, public health risk and other socio-economic problem. This paper presents an overview of current status of solid waste management in India which can help the competent authorities responsible for municipal solid waste management and researchers to prepare more efficient plans.     

三峡工程对重庆城市排水管渠设施的影响及对策探讨

长江三峡水库建成后，因水位提高给库区内沿江城市现有城市排水设施带来了一定的影响。本文就三峡工程对重庆城市排水管渠设施的影响作了一些剖析，并对重庆城市排水管渠的建设提出了对策及设想。     

21世纪城市固体废弃物管理服务对策探讨

近十余年，我国城市垃圾排放量的年平均增长速度约为7％～9％。城市垃圾处理也愈来愈受到政府与公众的重视。目前，我国正处于城市化加速发展期，大量农村人口涌入城市，对原本脆弱的环卫工作带来了更大的挑战。本项旨在研究呼和浩特市垃圾收集、转运、处置、管理现状及存在问题，提出了基于垃圾收集、转运、处理和管理的服务对策：固体废弃物管理服务体系应以创造就业、削减贫困和公众参与为目标；社会文化层面鼓励资源的高效利用，强调废弃物减量和循环利用；城乡结合促进物质循环；探索固体废弃物填埋的有效替代途径；倡导健康环保的消费观念和生活方式等。     

滨海区域雨水综合利用规划研究——以青岛高新区为例

雨水综合利用规划是区域建设规划的重要组成部分,应与区域给水、排水、防洪排涝等各专业规划同步进行。结合滨海区域建设现状及规划布局,针对不同下垫面及建设进度提出"分散式"与"集中式"雨水综合利用模式,在已经大规模建设城区,采用"分散式"雨水利用模式,可对雨水有效利用。在雨水利用规划中提出规划相关指标要求,对类似滨海区域进行雨水综合利用规划有一定的借鉴意义。     

Rural energy transitions in developing countries: a case of the Uttam Urja initiative in India

In most developing countries, at the household level, traditional burning of biomass or use of inefficient technologies for domestic applications like lighting is common, triggering concerns related to fuel or technology switching. The paper focuses on opportunities to promote cleaner energy options through development of value chains delivering improved energy efficiency and access in developing countries. We discuss the example of Uttam Urja, a field project involving the dissemination of photovoltaic lighting technologies in rural areas of India. We focus on the challenges of introducing radical innovations into the residential energy sector in developing countries. For the purpose of this paper the Uttam Urja project is conceptualized as an ‘experiment’ and analysed using the Strategic Niche Management (SNM) framework. The paper emphasizes that to effect socio-technical transitions to clean energy options on the ground, it is desirable to focus on technology customization and innovative financing to cater to the needs and concerns of end users.     

Stimulating learning and innovation in networks for regional sustainable development: the role of local authorities

Inter-organizational collaboration in networks and partnerships is supposed to promote the potential for learning and innovation needed for environmental transformation and sustainable development. This paper aims at exploring the roles of local authorities (LAs) in actor-networks related to regional sustainable development, and examining their potential in stimulating learning and innovation related to sustainable development. From empirical case studies it is suggested that LAs can act as ‘teachers’ or ‘tutors’ in the networks. From further analysis, drawing also from literature on partnerships, innovation management, socio-technical change, and educational science, it is proposed that in the short run both the ‘teacher’ and ‘tutor’ approach would promote incremental innovation rather than the radical system innovations needed for sustainable development. However, there is potential for stimulating more long-term, radical change if the LA takes on the role of a ‘teacher’. This approach may favour close collaboration in long-lived, multi-actor networks with potential to (i) serve as forum for continuous dialogue on sustainable development at a community level, (ii) stimulate experimentation and learning needed for system innovations, and (iii) provide a basis for strategic niche management for development and testing of new technologies.     

中国城市垃圾典型可行焚烧技术的综合评价

中国城市垃圾处理的主要方式正在由卫生填埋向垃圾焚烧转变. 基于中国城市垃圾焚烧处置需求特征分析,建立了技术评价指标体系,采用层次分析法,从技术的可靠性、经济性和适用性三方面,对国内外现有4种主要城市垃圾焚烧技术进行了综合评价. 结果表明:流化床技术和层燃技术在技术成熟度、技术能力和二NFDA1英污染控制等方面相对可靠,适用于我国多数大城市的垃圾焚烧处置. 国产流化床焚烧技术更加适应当前国内垃圾分类水平较差的大部分城市;层状焚烧技术则比较适用于城市垃圾管理水平高、垃圾分类较好、热值较高、垃圾处置集中度高和规模较大的城市;旋转焚烧和热解焚烧技术则较适用于垃圾成分复杂、尺寸不均匀的小城镇、工业园区垃圾处置或医疗废物处置,但二者均需加强二NFDA1英排放控制.      

Urban CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions in Xi’an and Bangalore by commuters: implications for controlling urban transportation carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries

China and India together have more than one third of the world population and are two emerging economic giants of the developing world now experiencing rapid economic growth, urbanization, and motorization. The urban transportation sector is a major source of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in China and India. The goal of this study is to analyze the characteristics and factors of CO₂ emissions produced by commuters in Chinese and Indian cities and thus to identify strategies for reducing transportation CO₂ emissions and mitigating global climate change. Xi’an in China and Bangalore in India were chosen as two case study cities for their representativeness of major cities in China and India. The trends of CO₂ emissions produced by major traffic modes (electric motors, buses, and cars) in major cities of China and India were predicted and analyzed. The spatial distributions of CO₂ emissions produced by commuters in both cities were assessed using spatial analysis module in ArcGIS (Geographic Information System) software. Tobit models were then developed to investigate the impact factors of the emissions. The study has several findings. Firstly, in both cities, the increase of vehicle occupancy could reduce commuting CO₂ emissions by 20 to 50 % or conversely, if vehicle occupancy reduces, an increase by 33.33 to 66.67 %. It is estimated that, with the current increasing speed of CO₂ emissions in Xi’an, the total CO₂ emissions from electric motors, buses, and cars in major cities of China and India will be increased from 135?×?10⁶ t in 2012 to 961?×?10⁶ t in 2030, accounting for 0.37 to 2.67 % of the total global CO₂ emissions of 2013, which is significant for global climate change. Secondly, households and individuals in the outer areas of both cities produce higher emissions than those in the inner areas. Thirdly, the lower emissions in Xi’an are due to the higher density and more compact urban pattern, shorter commuting distances, higher transit shares, and more clean energy vehicles. The more dispersed and extensive urban sprawl and the prevalence of two-wheeler motorbikes (two-wheeler motorbike is abbreviated as “two-wheeler” in the following sections) fueled by gasoline cause higher emissions in Bangalore. Fourthly, car availability, higher household income, living outside the 2nd or Outer Ring Road, distance from the bus stop, and working in the foreign companies in Bangalore are significant and positive factors of commuting CO₂ emissions. Fifthly, “70-20” and “50-20” (this means that generally, 20 % of commuters and households produce 70 % of total emissions in Xi’an and 20 % of commuters and households produce 50 % of total emissions in Bangalore) emission patterns exist in Xi’an and Bangalore, respectively. Several strategies have been proposed to reduce urban CO₂ emissions produced by commuters and further to mitigate global climate change. Firstly, in the early stage of fast urbanization, enough monetary and land investment should be ensured to develop rail transit or rapid bus routes from outer areas to inner areas in the cities to avoid high dependency on cars, thus to implement the transit-oriented development (TOD), which is the key for Chinese and Indian cities to mitigate the impact on global climate change caused by CO₂ emissions. Secondly, in Bangalore, it is necessary to improve public transit service and increase the bus stop coverage combined with car demand controls along the ring roads, in the outer areas, and in the industry areas where Indian foreign companies and the governments are located. Thirdly, Indian should put more efforts to provide alternative cleaner transport modes while China should put more efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions from high emitters.     

长江中游省会城市碳足迹深度时空演变及其影响因素

碳足迹深度指数表示区域存量资本的耗费程度,分析其时空演变及影响因素对区域差异化碳排放管控具有促进意义. 借鉴三维碳足迹改进模型计算长江中游省会城市碳足迹深度,引入夜间灯光数据拟合碳足迹深度指数,分析长江中游省会城市碳足迹深度的时空演变及分布特征,运用空间分位数模型对碳足迹深度影响因素开展研究. 结果表明:①2010—2019年,武汉市、南昌市、长沙市碳足迹深度指数均呈上升趋势. 2010年,长江中游省会城市归一化碳足迹深度指数呈现武汉市>南昌市>长沙市的特征,2015年、2019年均变为武汉市>长沙市>南昌市,各市归一化碳足迹深度高值范围均以城市的中心城区向四周扩张. ②2010—2019年,武汉市、南昌市、长沙市归一化碳足迹深度指数均在1%的显著性水平上高值聚集,由空间趋势面可知,长江中游省会城市归一化碳足迹深度指数在东西方向表现为“中间高、两边低”,而南北方向则由“北高南低”发展为“中间低、两边高”的分布格局,且北部明显高于南部. ③人口密度、工业总产值、能源总量、人均碳排放等影响因素对碳足迹深度的作用均为正向,各影响因素在碳足迹深度不同分位点的相关系数差异显著. 针对武汉市、南昌市、长沙市分别提出差异化建议:武汉市应积极发展产业转型,合理优化土地利用结构;南昌市应形成多循环工业体系,减少对生态用地的侵蚀;长沙市应加大力度发展绿色产业,打造低碳技术.      

在可持续发展中推进我国生态型小城镇建设

随着我国城市化的发展,小城镇建设也成了城市化过程中的一个重要环节。建设好小城镇即是走出一条我国农村社会现代化,农村人口城市化的路子[2]。我国小城镇建设的环境问题[3],是缺乏环境规划和环保能力薄弱、生活污染严重、乡镇企业布局分散、村镇建设与周围环境亲和性差。针对目前小城镇建设存在的问题,从社会经济环境可持续发展的战略高度对小城镇的生态建设思路进行了有实际意义的讨论。     

震后灾区重建城镇生活垃圾的无害化处理对策

针对生活垃圾所产生的环境危害,及其处理过程中存在的二次污染,结合我国城镇发展过程中生活垃圾处理方面存在的问题,提出了灾区震后重建城镇生活垃圾综合处理的无害化对策。     

试谈小城镇发展与环境对策

从辽宁小城镇发展状况入手，分析小城镇发展中存在的主要问题以及当前制约小城镇发展的主要因素，在此基础上提出全省小城镇环境保护总目标和分阶段目标以及小城镇健康发展的环境对策。     

An integrated approach to achieving campus sustainability: assessment of the current campus environmental management practices

Universities can nowadays be regarded as ‘small cities’ due to their large size, population, and the various complex activities taking place in campuses, which have some serious direct and indirect impacts on the environment. The environmental pollution and degradation caused by universities in form of energy and material consumption via activities and operations in teaching and research, provision of support services and in residential areas could be considerably reduced by an effective choice of organizational and technical measures. Although many environmental protection measures can be seen at some universities, but a more systematic and sustainable approach to reducing the negative impacts of those activities and making the campuses more sustainable, is generally lacking. Therefore, this paper proposes a framework of a more suitable approach to achieving campus sustainability that could remedy the limitations of the current environmental management practices in universities and ensures more sustainability through the integration of three strategies, namely: university Environmental Management System (EMS); public participation and social responsibility; and promoting sustainability in teaching and research.     

Commercial development of energy—environmentally sound technologies for the auto-industry: the case of fuel cells

The economic importance of energy and environmental issues is continuously increasing, affecting both process and product design in business. The energy crisis in California in 2001 made this basic issue universal. New technologies are expected to reduce pollution derived both from production processes and products, with costs that are still unknown and in competition with more mature technologies high. Nevertheless, until now there is still little, but growing knowledge concerning the process of technological innovation in the fields of energy and environment.In this paper we analyze the development of zinc air fuel cell (ZAFC) and its transfer from a research laboratory to potential mass production. ZAFC are a new ‘environmentally sound technology’, proven to have commercial value, that can be used for substituting internal combustion engines (ICEs) and meeting zero emission vehicles (ZEV) regulations. Although ZAFC performances are higher than traditional electric batteries ones, commercial costs are still high. Hence the pathway to mass production may come from stationary application of fuel cells for power.In contrast to the conventional ‘paradigmatic’ approach, we argue that the existing economic and organizational literature concerning technological innovation is not able to fully explain steps followed in commercializing energy—environmentally sound technologies. Existing models mainly consider adopting problems, which are due to market uncertainty, weak application, lack of a dominant design, and problems in reconfiguring existing organizational routines. Above all ‘market power’ exists in terms of control over technological innovation and its commercial application. Barriers are erected that prevent new technologies such as fuel cells from becoming adapted. Through pro-active government intervention, such as the case in California, new advanced technologies can move rapidly into the marketplace.From this discussion we draw some conclusions and issues for further research concerning policy making for sustaining the process of technological transfer and firms’ strategies in technological innovation.     

西北农村地区小城镇人口集聚与人居生态环境研究

运用统计方法,分析西北农村地区人口集聚与人居生态环境建设发展现状。西北农村地区小城镇发展在总体上落后于全国平均水平;今后小城镇发展的战略重点是城乡之间的互动关系,但今后相当一段时期内,绝大多数的农村人口仍将长期居住在乡村;人口集聚与环境协调发展的目标是实现小城镇由外延粗放型发展向注重质量的集约型发展;目前农民住房建设发展阶段为迅速发展时期,并且具有现阶段的迫切性和时间上的长期性的综合特点。据此,提出了西北农村地区小城镇人口集聚与人居生态环境协调发展的具体对策。     

Subsistence over symbolism: the role of transnational municipal networks on cities’ climate policy innovation and adoption

Urban areas account for the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions, and increasingly, it is city governments that are adopting and implementing climate mitigation policies. Many municipal governments have joined two different global city networks that aim to promote climate policy development at the urban scale, and there is qualitative evidence that such networks play an important role in motivating cities to adopt climate policies and helping them to implement them. Our study objective is to test this proposition quantitatively, making use of a global database on cities’ environmental policy adoption, and also taking into account a large number of other factors that could play a role in climate policy adoption. Controlling for these other factors, we find that network membership does make a significant difference in the number of different measures that city governments adopt. We also find that there are significant differences between the two different networks, suggesting that the nature of the services that such networks offer their members can play an important role. Our findings lead to the provision of a set of global mitigation strategies: First of all, joining the city networks can lead to a generation of global strategies which can result into climate mitigation benefits. However, cities are required to select the network which provides proper tailor made policies. Second, in the absence of concrete international commitments at the local level, city networks lay the ground for global governance and enable cities to adopt policies independently and proactively. Third, consideration of co-benefits of climate policies can optimize the development of global strategies.     

生态农业发展与小城镇建设

以3家生态村为例说明乡镇企业在生态农业产值中占据主导地位。通过对乡镇企业的经济效益、环境效益和社会效益以及小城镇发展的优越性分析可知，乡镇企业不宜在农村发展，应该在小城镇中发展，农村生态建设要立足农业，通过减少土地的人口承载量，提高劳动生产率和增加农民收入。     

我国中小城镇污水治理现状

随着近几年中小城市发展进程的加快,城市中日益暴露出各方面的问题与弊端,污水治理问题显得尤为突出和严重。污水排放大量增加对我国中小城市水环境造成了严重的污染和破坏,因此对污水处理技术的选择与考量十分迫切。基于我国国情,我国是发展中国家,财力有限。因此用于基础设施上的资金在大城市和中小城镇之间的分配比重严重失衡,中小城镇污水的处理率相对较低。这就决定了中小城镇在选择污水处理技术时,首先要考虑的因素必须是经济、高效、节能和简便易行。