Institutionalising social learning: Towards systemic and adaptive governance

This paper critically examines how public policy makers limit policy and other institutional design choices by a failure to appreciate (i) how situations may be characterised or framed; (ii) how practices that generate neologisms (invented terms or concepts) or reify (make into a thing) abstract concepts can displace understandings, and (iii) the epistemological bases of governance mechanism choices. An inquiry into the coining of the neologisms ‘wicked’ and ‘tame’ problems is reported and the implications for research and policy practice explored. As practices, neologising, reifying, categorising and typologising have unintended consequences – they remove us from the primary experiences and underlying emotions that provided the motivation for formulating these concepts in the first place. The failure to institutionalise the understandings and experiences that sit behind the invention of the terms ‘wicked’ and ‘tame’ problems (or similar framing choices such as ‘problematique’, ‘messes’, ‘lowland real-life swamps’, ‘resource dilemmas’ or ‘complex adaptive systems’) present systemic constraints to institutionalising social learning as an alternative yet complementary governance mechanism within an overall systemic and adaptive governance framework. Ultimately situations usefully framed as ‘wicked’,’ such as water managing and climate change are problems of relationship – of human beings with the biosphere. Re-framings, such as institutions as social technologies and other research and praxis traditions concerned with the breakdown of relationships may offer ways forward in the purposeful designing and crafting of more effective institutions.     

Cradle-to-cradle design: creating healthy emissions – a strategy for eco-effective product and system design

Eco-effectiveness and cradle-to-cradle design present an alternative design and production concept to the strategies of zero emission and eco-efficiency. Where eco-efficiency and zero emission seek to reduce the unintended negative consequences of processes of production and consumption, eco-effectiveness is a positive agenda for the conception and production of goods and services that incorporate social, economic, and environmental benefit, enabling triple top line growth.Eco-effectiveness moves beyond zero emission approaches by focusing on the development of products and industrial systems that maintain or enhance the quality and productivity of materials through subsequent life cycles. The concept of eco-effectiveness also addresses the major shortcomings of eco-efficiency approaches: their inability to address the necessity for fundamental redesign of material flows, their inherent antagonism towards long-term economic growth and innovation, and their insufficiency in addressing toxicity issues.A central component of the eco-effectiveness concept, cradle-to-cradle design provides a practical design framework for creating products and industrial systems in a positive relationship with ecological health and abundance, and long-term economic growth. Against this background, the transition to eco-effective industrial systems is a five-step process beginning with an elimination of undesirable substances and ultimately calling for a reinvention of products by reconsidering how they may optimally fulfill the need or needs for which they are actually intended while simultaneously being supportive of ecological and social systems.This process necessitates the creation of an eco-effective system of “nutrient” management to coordinate the material flows amongst actors in the product system. The concept of intelligent materials pooling illustrates how such a system might take shape, in reality.     

环境污染治理对区域工业经济发展速率的影响研究

环境污染治理对区域工业经济发展速率的影响,一直是该领域研究人员的讨论热点,对该方面进行研究,有利于社会经济的整体提升和生态环境的高效治理。分析了环境污染对区域工业经济发展产生的影响,将其划分为对人体健康的影响和对人们生活的影响,并在经济生产力大幅度下降,人类安全的影响,区域工业经济发展速率影响三个方面分别进行研究,依据研究结果分析环境污染治理对工业经济发展速率的影响,对工业废气治理与人均GDP关系、工业废水治理与人均GDP关系、工业固体废物治理与人均GDP关系的相关研究.     

基于矿山生态修复的生态产品价值实现主要模式与路径

生态产品价值实现是以市场化方式推进矿山生态修复与产业绿色转型发展的重要手段,是深入践行“绿水青山就是金山银山”理念的重要举措之一. 我国在该领域进行了诸多探索,积累了较为丰富的经验,但开采或废弃矿山治理恢复率仍远低于国际水平. 为了提升我国矿山生态修复与生态产品价值的转化能力,本文对国内外基于矿山生态修复的生态产品价值实现经验进行了归纳总结. 结果表明:废弃资源利用、指标权属交易、新型产业导入是价值实现的主要模式,要素整合、区域统筹、产业融合是主要路径. 各地区在实施过程中通常结合自身实际采取多模式、多路径组合的方式推进,以达到资源的多元利用与生态、社会、经济效益的多重显化. 总体而言,我国依托矿山生态修复的生态产品价值实现还处于起步阶段,应进一步加强顶层设计,不断健全成效评价标准体系和制度体系,推动修复矿山生态产品价值更加有序高效转化.      

Sustainable development and the water–energy–food nexus: A perspective on livelihoods

The water–energy–food nexus is being promoted as a conceptual tool for achieving sustainable development. Frameworks for implementing nexus thinking, however, have failed to explicitly or adequately incorporate sustainable livelihoods perspectives. This is counterintuitive given that livelihoods are key to achieving sustainable development. In this paper we present a critical review of nexus approaches and identify potential linkages with sustainable livelihoods theory and practice, to deepen our understanding of the interrelated dynamics between human populations and the natural environment. Building upon this review, we explore the concept of ‘environmental livelihood security’ – which encompasses a balance between natural resource supply and human demand on the environment to promote sustainability – and develop an integrated nexus-livelihoods framework for examining the environmental livelihood security of a system. The outcome is an integrated framework with the capacity to measure and monitor environmental livelihood security of whole systems by accounting for the water, energy and food requisites for livelihoods at multiple spatial scales and institutional levels. We anticipate this holistic approach will not only provide a significant contribution to achieving national and regional sustainable development targets, but will also be effective for promoting equity amongst individuals and communities in local and global development agendas.     

Assessing the socioeconomic effects of multiple-use MPAs in a European setting: A national stakeholders’ perspective

The designation of marine protected areas (MPAs) may have intense social and economic effects on human communities. Driven by overarching global and European policies and national legislations, current systematic conservation planning in the UK and France requires an ecosystem approach that takes into account not only nature but also the human activities that take place in an area. Here, we identified a set of 64 socioeconomic variables potentially relevant for marine and coastal stakeholders in a European context and a comprehensive set of 20 marine and coastal stakeholder categories. Ninety national organisations in the UK and France belonging to those categories and potentially affected by/interested in the designation of multiple-use MPAs were identified and surveyed. Results show that environmental NGOs, research centres, local councils, managing agencies and statutory nature conservation bodies perceived that they are positively affected by these MPAs, whereas fishers’ organisations, shipping and aggregate industrial organisations and recreational organisations perceived to be chiefly negatively affected by MPAs. On average, the ecological effects of multiple-use MPAs are perceived as ‘largely positive’, though 30% of respondents did not perceive any positive ecological effects from these MPAs. The social, economic and cultural effects of such MPAs are perceived as ‘moderately positive’. Most respondents perceived broad range (>10 km) and permanent ecological, social, economic and cultural effects from multiple-use MPA designation suggesting high societal expectations towards these areas. However, only five variables were perceived to vary in intensity after the designation of multiple-use MPAs: ‘research’, ‘environmental performance by citizens, businesses and towns’, ‘number of green businesses’, ‘tourism’ and ‘economic activities’. The most important ‘social’ variables for stakeholder organisations referred to local populations’ engagement with the MPA, tourism and research. The most important ‘economic’ variables were linked to fishing, shipping and aquaculture activities. These variables highlight relevant topics to be considered in MPA planning, designation and management processes, especially in the UK and France. There were statistically significant differences in the ratings of socioeconomic variables between many organisations belonging to the same intuitive stakeholder categories, suggesting the importance of including as wide a range of stakeholder organisations as feasible in MPA socioeconomic-related processes. Our methods and findings can help to inform and streamline ongoing and future participatory MPA planning, management and monitoring processes in Europe and in other regions with similar socioeconomic characteristics.     

环境生态视角下的产业共生理论与实践研究进展

产业共生是推进全球经济可持续发展的创新途径 ,主要实践载体是以高效的能源利用以及优化的资源配置特点的生态工业园区.目前产业共生研究现状中存在整体缺乏系统和深度,缺少可操作性的定量模型和评估方法及理论与产业实际过程的结合分析较少等问题,未来研究应该在总结大量产业共生实践案例的基础上,逐步建立各层面指标体系及量化方法,制定完善评价标准和综合评估技术,为生态工业园共生模式优化、共生网络稳定性和共生效率评估奠定科学依据.     

土地利用/覆盖变化对生态系统服务的影响：空间尺度视角的研究综述

作为连接自然过程与社会过程的桥梁与纽带,生态系统服务与人类福祉和可持续发展息息相关。土地利用/覆盖变化（Land Use/Land Cover Change,LUCC）是生态系统服务变化的重要原因之一,对生态系统服务的影响随着空间尺度的变化而变化。尺度问题一直是LUCC和生态系统服务理论研究与实践管理的重点与难点。系统理解LUCC对生态系统服务影响的尺度特征、尺度差异及尺度关联,对深入LUCC和生态系统服务的尺度效应研究、协调多层次管理机构的制度决策、缓解生态系统服务稀缺对社会经济发展的限制等具有重要意义。本文从空间尺度切入,基于国内外不同尺度LUCC对生态系统服务影响的理论研究和实践进展,总结归纳尺度的概念与内涵,整理介绍考虑空间尺度的研究框架,系统梳理LUCC对生态系统服务影响研究中的空间尺度选择、空间尺度特征及空间尺度关联,评析单一尺度和多尺度研究方法的特点。并提出未来研究中应在构建人文因素与自然因素相结合的研究框架、阐释LUCC对生态系统服务影响的尺度效应、完善LUCC对生态系统服务影响的尺度分析方法等方面开展更深入的研究。     

Availability,addiction and alternatives: three criteria for assessing the impact of peak minerals on society

The concept of ‘peaks’ in the production of natural resources has attracted attention in the area of energy production, with concerns about ‘peak oil’ driving recent research and investment in alternative sources of energy. There are fundamental and important differences between a peak in the production of oil and peaks in the production of metalliferous minerals, but in both cases production changes from ‘easier and less expensive’ early in a resource’s life to ‘difficult and expensive’ as time progresses. The impacts of this change in production circumstances require critical consideration in the governance of national and sub-national mineral endowments.This paper develops a framework for evaluating the impacts of changing patterns of mineral production. The framework considers three criteria: availability of a resource (considering its geological characteristics and geographical distribution); society’s addiction to the resource (its centrality and criticality to economic, social and environmental systems); and the possibility of finding alternatives (whether the resource can be substituted or recovered). An initial assessment against these criteria provides an overview of how a production peak might affect the production of minerals in Australia and the impacts that this might have on the Australian economy.Assessing important resources against these three criteria will be imperative in future considerations regarding the roles minerals and metals play as service providers in our economic, social and environmental systems. Additionally, this analysis should prompt a reassessment of the value of minerals beyond economic measures. Indicators derived from these criteria will inform strategies that can address future changes in production characteristics – meeting challenges with strong governance, and realising opportunities with proactive policy.     

区域环境-经济系统物质流与能流分析方法及实证研究

物质和能量流动是环境-经济系统正常运行的基本条件,研究原料、能源转化为产品和废弃物的代谢过程及环境影响,对于提高资源生产力,从根本上解决资源环境问题至关重要。参考区域物质流分析和能流分析方法,提出了区域物质流与能流分析的概念和研究框架,并对天津市1998-2007年间的物质流和能量流进行了实证研究。结果显示:2007年天津市物质消耗为97.25×10⁶ t,能源消耗为47.15×10⁶ tce,年均增长率分别超过10%和8%;外部调入物质约占直接物质输入量的46%,其中煤炭占了约40%,且完全依赖外部调入;资源消耗强度较高、产出率较低,导致资源大量消耗、污染物排放总量持续增长,这对区域资源环境产生了较大压力,环境容量总体处于饱和状态。最后针对存在的问题提出了相应措施与建议。     

Divergent perspectives on water resource sustainability in a public–policy–science context

Diverging perspectives toward environmental problems, their causes, and solutions can exacerbate controversy in participatory decision making. Past research has examined the lay–expert divide in perceptions about diverse risks, but relatively few studies have examined multidimensional perspectives on water scarcity across expert groups with different knowledge systems. We address this gap by examining conflicting perspectives across ‘lay’ residents and academic and policymaking ‘experts’ in Phoenix, AZ. We analyze ecological concern about water issues, risk perceptions regarding the factors contributing to scarcity, and policy attitudes pertaining to resource management alternatives. All three groups expressed substantial concern for broad-scale water issues, especially drought. Residents exhibited a heightened tendency to blame other people for water scarcity, in addition to opposition toward stringent approaches such as water pricing. While strongly supporting the acquisition of more supplies, policymakers exhibited lower concern about regional water use rates while displacing blame away from anthropogenic causes compared to both residents and academic experts. Scientists, on the other hand, stressed the need for stricter regulation of water demand. Findings point to the challenges of meshing different knowledge systems for collaborative research and policy making.     

New science for global sustainability? The institutionalisation of knowledge co-production in Future Earth

In the context of complex and unprecedented issues of global change, calls for new modes of knowledge production that are better equipped to address urgent challenges of global sustainability are increasingly frequent. This paper presents a case study of the new major research programme “Future Earth”, which aims to bring ‘research for global sustainability’ to the mainstream of global change research. A core principle of Future Earth is the co-production of knowledge with extra-scientific actors. In studying how the principle of co-production becomes institutionalised in the emerging structure of Future Earth, this paper points to the existence of three distinct rationales (logics) on the purpose and practice of co-production. Co-production is understood as a way to enhance scientific accountability to society (‘logic of accountability’), to ensure the implementation of scientific knowledge in society (‘logic of impact’), and to include the knowledge, perspectives and experiences of extra-scientific actors in scientific knowledge production (‘logic of humility’). This heterogeneous conception of knowledge co-production provides helpful ambiguity allowing actors with different perspectives on science and its role in society to engage in Future Earth. However, in the process of designing an institutional structure for Future Earth tensions between the different logics of co-production become apparent. This research shows how logics of accountability and impact are prominent in shaping the development of Future Earth. The paper concludes by pointing to an essential tension between being inclusive and transformative when it comes to institutionalising new modes of knowledge production in large research programmes.     

基于生态环境安全的区域规划战略环评初探

围绕区域规划战略环评的地位、实施现状及主要存在问题,建立了基于生态环境安全的区域规划战略环评的指标体系,探讨了“环境库兹涅茨曲线”和“压力一状态一响应”的评价技术方法,对构筑产业生态链、强化不确定性分析、重视累积影响评价等方面提出了建议。     

Environmental education: new paradigms and engineering syllabus

The issue of sustainability places particular demands on engineers to become more ‘connoisseur’ of the roots of the problems, in addition to being ‘trained’ in problem solution techniques that emphasize holistic approaches (for both the social and ecological environment). We have introduced the new E3 model, as outlined here, to chemical engineering students, with an integrated approach to translate ‘generic’ common-sense pollution prevention strategies (design, operation) into definite problems where engineering science can be put into action. New tools (such as minimization hierarchy and life cycle), as well as abilities both to identify and evaluate environmental problems, and to propose, select and implement solutions, provide methods for understanding a problem and for mitigating it through (re)design of a product or process, by emphasizing basic approaches to analysis, synthesis and integration. Additionally, control technologies can be systematized, including the best available selection procedures on which the emission limits are based. Awareness, institutional factors and normative-ethical aspects are also considered.     

Pursuing an integrated development and climate policy framework in Africa: options for mainstreaming

Climate change presents a major threat to the prospects for sustained economic development in Africa. In spite of this, climate change concerns do not feature prominently in the implementation of national and regional development programmes. The present paper identifies the likely trade-offs and synergies that may emerge from an integrated ‘development-climate’ approach to policy making. Also, the paper presents the case for the formulation and evaluation of an integrated policy approach based on four principle criteria, including; long-term environmental effectiveness, equity considerations, cost-effectiveness and the institutional compatibility of the policy combinations. What is more? The paper suggests specific options for mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation in various sectoral development agenda such as; agricultural intensification, poverty eradication, rural development, urban renewal, energy security of supply and trade. Given the wide divergence of socio-economic systems and the peculiar challenges faced by individual countries in the continent, further research is required on robust country-specific strategies for pursuing an integrated development-climate policy framework.     

Industrial symbiosis: the case for market coordination

Despite the fact that all successful, documented cases of industrial symbiosis to this day have been self-organizing, some authors and development officials have suggested that increased public planning might deliver better results in this respect than spontaneously evolved market coordination. This paper takes an historical approach to suggest that comprehensive planning is unlikely to live up to the expectations of its proponents.The essay is structured as follows. The first section provides short case studies of industrial symbiosis in highly different economic and institutional settings, the essentially free-market regime of Victorian England and communist Hungary (1948–1989). The available evidence suggests that market coordination proved much more favorable to the emergence of industrial symbiosis, despite the elaboration of a comprehensive policy to that effect in Hungary. Insights derived from the so-called “Austrian” critique of central planning are then used to explain this paradox. The analysis presented suggests that the Hungarian planners’ failure was not so much the result of the bad implementation of sound policies, but the logical outcome of a top-down approach’s shortcomings. Policy implications for the public planning of industrial symbiosis in a mixed economy are then derived and the case for self-organization is found more compelling. The creation of more innovative institutions that will force firms to “internalize their externalities” while leaving them the necessary freedom to innovate is viewed as an urgently needed and promising path towards increased, sustainable reuse of industrial by-products.     

长三角地区生态城镇化空间格局及影响因素

生态城镇化作为新型城镇化的重要组成部分,是生态文明理念的具体实践。以长三角地区41个城市为研究区域,构建区域生态城镇化指标体系,测度2000—2018年生态城镇化的发展水平,探究生态城镇化指数的时空演化特征及影响因素的作用机制。结果表明：（1）长三角地区生态城镇化水平整体呈上升趋势,高值区逐渐在浙江集聚,低值区在江苏北部和安徽北部集中,各城市生态城镇化指数差距逐渐缩小,区域生态一体化程度不断提高。（2）长三角地区生态城镇化水平的空间自相关性逐渐增强,其空间演化具有较强的变动性、依赖性和整合性,变动性自西至东逐渐减弱,依赖性自西北至东南逐渐增强。（3）财政投入水平、城乡收入差距、工业发展水平、土地投资强度、人口密集程度和科技发展水平对长三角地区生态城镇化水平的影响依次降低,在众多因素的综合作用下,各城市生态城镇化水平逐渐趋同。加强区域生态一体化建设,提高区域生态城镇化水平,是建设美丽中国的有效途径,也是实现区域高质量发展的必然选择。     

黄土高原沟道农业系统与优化模式

黄土高原沟道农业是现代人地关系耦合发展的一种新兴农业地域类型，其可持续发展对于区域农业提质增效、乡村振兴和黄河流域高质量发展具有重大现实意义。本文基于人地系统科学原理阐述了沟道农业的概念内涵、科学认知、优化模式及其保障政策。结果表明：（1）沟道农业可持续性应遵从“要素—系统”到“结构—功能”，注重“沟坡水土保持、流域生态建设与区域乡村振兴”的多目标有机结合。同时，处理好宏观与微观效益的关系以及不同尺度的沟道水土构型、农田景观、农业系统的层次体系，深化贯通式研究，全面揭示沟道农业发展演变过程及其微观作用机理。（2）总结了沟道农业优化模式，搭建了不同模式的框架图，建议完善相关的技术与制度保障体系，以支撑实现区域乡村振兴和黄河流域高质量发展目标。（3）新时期黄土高原现代沟道农业高质量发展应立足于人地系统科学前沿，全面构建现代沟道农业系统理论与方法，深入探究优化沟道农业生产方式和创新经营管理模式的新途径。（4）基于要素流、产业链、流通网，面向SDGs目标和乡村振兴、粮食与生态安全，深入探究不同尺度沟道农业状态评估与情景模拟，服务支撑区域现代化建设决策。黄土高原沟道农业系统特征与优化模式研究，是推动农业地理学研究理论与方法创新，进而为黄土高原农业高质量发展提供科学依据的重要途径。     

Critical success and limiting factors for eco-industrial parks: global trends and Egyptian context

The trend of clustering industries into regional estates or cities was adopted in the mid 1900’s. At present, the number of industrial estates in the world is estimated to be between 12,000 and 20,000 (UNEP, 1997) and this trend is continuing to rise in both developed and developing countries. The implementation of the EIP concept continues to evolve especially with the environmental threats and impact on climate change that industries pose. However, there is not yet a fully developed EIP that is operating; although some successful examples of regional by-product exchanges are functioning ( [Lowe, 2001], [Peck, 2002], [Lowe et?al., 1995] and [Chertow, 2000]). Actually, a significant number of projects have failed or have abandoned the goal of becoming an EIP. Furthermore the current body of knowledge on industrial ecology is not sufficient to provide practical solutions to the obstacles facing EIPs.This paper is based upon the Ph.D. Doctoral thesis research of D. Sakr. It was prepared to examine means to improve the uptake of cleaner production & industrial symbiosis in industrial areas in Middle East & North Africa Region focusing on Egypt as a case study. An extensive literature review was performed on eco-industrial development projects’ experiences around the world, in order to identify the critical driving and limiting factors for EIPs. This paper summarizes the lessons learned from worldwide EIP experiences as a basis for the planning and implementation of future EIPs. The paper reflects as well upon the Egyptian context for the identified EIP success and limiting factors. The identified key success and limiting factors are: the creation of symbiotic relationship, information sharing and awareness, financial benefits, organizational structure, and legal and regulatory framework.     

森林生态效益补偿的研究现状与展望

由于森林的生态效益外部性和公共物品的特性,较大部分难以通过传统的市场实现其经济价值。如何通过适当的措施将森林生态效益外部性内部化,部分或全部地实现森林生态效益的价值,对森林生态效益的提供者进行补偿,吸引全社会参与森林的保护与培育,即如何用经济杠杆解决森林生态效益的外部性和公平性,是急需解决的问题,也是当前国内外生态经济学研究的一个热点和难点问题。通过综合分析相关文献,理清生态效益补偿的概念,对森林生态效益补偿展开研究和探讨。对发达国家的森林生态效益补偿的理论和实践经验进行总结归纳,为我国建立森林生态效益补偿机制提供借鉴。分析国内森林生态效益补偿的具体实践,得出我国森林生态效益补偿制度中需要完善的方面。最后,提出我国今后森林生态效益补偿制度工作的研究方向。