Causal interactions between environmental degradation,renewable energy,nuclear energy and real GDP: a dynamic panel data approach

Renewable energy as well as nuclear energy are low carbon power that presents the life cycle emissions of greenhouse gases than fossil fuel energy. However, analyzing the relationship between the consumption of renewable energy, consumption of nuclear energy, CO₂ emissions and economic growth is crucial for the economic and energy policy decision; we address this question for developed countries. This paper deals with the relationships between nuclear energy, environmental degradation, real GDP and renewable energy. We apply a panel data model for a global panel consisting of nine developed countries during the period 1990–2013. The group studied consists of Canada, France, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the USA. The empirical findings suggest that: (1) a causal link between emissions and real income, (2) a unidirectional causality running from renewable energy to nuclear energy, (3) a unidirectional causal relationship running from capital to environmental degradation, (4) a unidirectional causal relationship running from income to nuclear energy consumption, since the growth hypothesis is valid, (5) a unidirectional causality running from capital to income, (6) no an outstanding role of renewable energy use in the contribution of CO₂ emissions.     

Energy production and sustainability: A study of Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant

The increase in energy demand due to economic and population growth necessitates the expansion of the Brazilian energy supply. Hydropower energy, a renewable energy source, arguably clean, presents an energy solution for many countries such as Brazil, with large hydric reservoirs, which help them reduce energy dependence on fossil and imported fuel sources. However, it must be emphasized that without careful planning, the creation of hydropower plants will cause severe social and environmental damage due to the large areas that need to be flooded for the implementation of these plants. The installation of hydropower plants floods vast forest areas, causing loss of biodiversity, displacement of native Brazilian people and riverside populations, and changes to the water acid levels and the natural course of rivers. To mitigate these effects, authorities must first conduct a study on installation possibilities and potential socio‐environmental consequences, to be interpreted and used by the agents involved. Aiming to analyze the social‐environmental impacts of the hydropower plants, this research seeks to investigate the capacity of mitigation of the negative effects of the implementation of the hydropower plants, specifically with regard to the Belo Monte plant, Brazil.     

中国环境污染的库兹涅茨曲线检验——基于1997～2006年的面板数据的实证分析

选取我国1997～2006年间省际大气污染、污水和固体废弃物（“三废”）等环境质量指标的面板数据，对中国经济发展与环境污染关系进行了库兹涅茨曲线检验。实证分析表明，在时间区间内经济增长对环境质量有缓慢的改善作用，其他因素对“三废”指标的作用并不确定。发展指标与环境指标更多地呈现N或倒N型曲线关系，环境库兹涅茨曲线在中国省级层面面板数据层面并不成立。     

Rapid population growth and environmental degradation: ultimate versus proximate factors

This philosophical review of 2 arguments about responsibility for and solutions to environmental degradation concludes that both sides are correct: the ultimate and the proximal causes. Ultimate causes of pollution are defined as the technology responsible for a given type of pollution, such as burning fossil fuel; proximate causes are defined as situation-specific factors confounding the problem, such as population density or rate of growth. Commoner and others argue that developed countries with low or negative population growth rates are responsible for 80% of world pollution, primarily in polluting technologies such as automobiles, power generation, plastics, pesticides, toxic wastes, garbage, warfaring, and nuclear weapons wastes. Distortionary policies also contribute; examples are agricultural trade protection, land mismanagement, urban bias in expenditures, and institutional rigidity., Poor nations are responsible for very little pollution because poverty allows little waste or expenditures for polluting, synthetic technologies. The proximal causes of pollution include numbers and rate of growth of populations responsible for the pollution. Since change in the ultimate cause of pollution remains out of reach, altering the numbers of polluters can make a difference. Predictions are made for proportions of the world's total waste production, assuming current 1.6 tons/capita for developed countries and 0.17 tons/capita for developing countries. If developing countries grow at current rates and become more wealthy, they will be emitting half the world's waste by 2025. ON the other hand, unsustainable population growth goes along with inadequate investment in human capital: education, health, employment, infrastructure. The solution is to improve farming technologies in the 117 non-self-sufficient countries, fund development in the most unsustainable enclaves of growing countries, break institutionalized socio-political rigidity in these enclaves, and focus on educating and empowering women in these enclaves. Women are in charge of birth spacing and all aspects of management of energy, food, water and the local environment, more so than men, in most countries.     

四川省水电行业环境监理试点工作实践与探讨

长期以来,我国对水电工程建设的环境管理实行环境影响评价和"三同时"制度,主抓环保审批和竣工验收两个环节,在工程施工阶段的环境管理相对薄弱,因此在水电资源开发的同时,也带来了一定程度的环境污染和生态破坏。为实现水电开发与环境保护的协调可持续发展,本文作者以某梯级电站为例,结合所参与的水电建设项目,对水电建设环境监理进行梳理和探讨,以期为水电建设项目环境监理的发展提供一定的理论及技术支持。     

基于半参数面板数据模型的江苏省经济增长与水污染排放关系实证研究

本文以江苏省为研究区域,采用1990—2013年江苏省市级面板数据,基于单位根检验和面板协整检验,运用可拓展的随机性环境影响评估模型(STIRPAT)和参数、半参数固定效应回归方法,对经济增长与工业COD排放之间的关系展开研究。研究发现,江苏省经济增长与工业COD排放之间存在倒U形曲线关系,即全省工业COD排放随经济的发展呈现先增长后降低的趋势,同时人口增长对水污染物排放影响很大,二者之间的环境库兹涅茨曲线表明了经济持续发展能够协调并能解决其与水污染排放之间的困境。本研究丰富了社会经济发展与水污染关系在市级尺度层面的实证研究,为"十三五"期间江苏省水污染治理提供了政策依据。     

Income,environmental considerations,and sustainable energy consumption in Africa

Evidence on income as a crucial driver of renewable energy consumption in Africa is mixed. But hydropower accounts for over 90% of renewable energy in sub-Sahara Africa alone. Yet, empirical evidence suggests that hydropower may not be as environmentally sustainable as believed and, as a legacy source of energy in Africa, may not accurately reflect attitudes on renewable energy motivated by environmental concerns. This paper examines the role played by economic performance in the rising sustainable energy consumption in Africa, focusing on the renewable energy sources that are compatible with sustainable development. The difference generalized method of moments, fully modified ordinary least squares, and dynamic ordinary least squares are employed to estimate the statistical significance of income, environmental sustainability proxy, and prices as important drivers of sustainable energy consumption in a panel of 10 African countries for the period 2000–2011—a time frame characterized by a rapid rise in renewables as a priority in environmental policy. With timing and measurement considerations on sources of renewables, results indicate that in contrast to recent literature, the rise in sustainable energy consumption in Africa is strongly driven by rising domestic incomes. In line with literature, however, there is a generally positive, albeit statistically insignificant relationship between sustainable energy consumption and levels of carbon emissions. Oil prices in real terms also correlate with sustainable energy consumption. Available data also show that countries with low energy security also coincidentally tend to have high small hydropower capacity, providing potential for sustainably reducing energy insecurity.     

Greening the Brazil,Russia, India,China and South Africa (BRICS) economies: Assessing the impact of electricity consumption,natural resources,and renewable energy on environmental footprint

Electricity consumption is a crucial factor in the environmental pollution process, and therefore, its impact needs to be carefully considered by policymakers. This study investigates the relationship between energy consumption, electricity generation, natural resource utilization, and environmental pollution in BRICS nations, which have a substantial share in global resource consumption. To this end, we employed a novel methodology, namely the Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQR), for the time period between 1990 and 2018, within the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory. The study's outcome shows that natural resources and renewable energy are efficacious and significant in curbing environmental degradation among the sample countries. The investigation reveals a positive correlation between electricity consumption and environmental degradation, thereby highlighting this vital resource's role in exacerbating the BRICS nations’ ecological footprint. The findings from this research can provide crucial insights for policymakers to achieve sustainable development and carbon neutrality in these countries.     

去学水电站生态流量泄放措施优化研究

水电站的建设会造成坝址下游河段减水,对水环境和水生生物造成不利影响,因此电站生态流量的确定和泄放措施的可行性对于维护河流生态环境至关重要。以硕曲河去学水电站为例,基于可行性研究阶段提出的生态流量泄放措施方案,采用数学模型和理论分析方法,从生态流量取水水温、泄洪洞事故条件下生态流量保证率以及水资源的合理高效利用等方面进一步对生态流量泄放方案进行了优化比选。提出的优化方案提高了生态流量取水口的布置高程,在泄洪洞之外单独布置生态泄放系统,并增设生态流量发电机组等。对比分析表明,该优化方案在改善生态流量的下泄水温、提高生态流量泄放保证率、合理高效利用水能资源等方面具有较大优势。本研究为水电工程中生态流量泄放措施保障等方面提供了科学依据和技术参考。     

Electric power and the environment: an analysis of pollutant emissions at Argentine state-owned electric power stations

This paper describes the impact on particulate and 'greenhouse gases' emissions of substitution policies implemented by Argentine state-owned electric power stations. Those policies involve the substitution, on the one hand, of hydroelectric and nuclear energy for conventional thermal energy and, on the other hand, of natural gas for fuel oil, diesel oil and coal. As additional investments are required in conventional thermal power stations to prevent environmental pollution, the investment savings generated by substitution policies have been calculated. While the environmental impact of hydroelectric, nuclear and natural gas facilities is locally significant and is experienced in geographical areas away from cities, there can be no doubt that the substitution policies implemented in the Argentine electricity sector have overall both ecological and economic benefits.     

Conditions for a 100% renewable energy supply system in Japan and South Korea

In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident, alternative energy paths have been discussed for Japan, but except for a few studies the assumption is usually made that Japan is too densely populated to be suited for a near-100% sustainable, indigenous energy provision. The studies emphasizing renewable energy have proposed the use of photovoltaic power as the main source of electricity supply, in combination with diurnal battery storage and supplemented by other renewable sources such as wind, hydro, and geothermal power. Here, an alternative approach is explored, with wind and derived hydrogen production as the main energy source, but still using solar energy, biofuels, and hydropower in a resilient combination allowing full satisfaction of demands in all sectors of the economy, i.e., for dedicated electricity, transportation energy as well as heat for processes and comfort. Furthermore, the possible advantage of establishing a regional energy system with energy interchange and coordinated management of the mix of renewable energy resources across a wider region is discussed. As the closest neighbor, the energy system of South Korea is considered, first regarding the possibility of a similar full renewable energy reliance, and then for possible synergetic effects of connecting the Korean and the Japanese energy systems, in order to be able to better cope with the intermittency of renewable energy source flows.     

Review and challenges of policies of environmental protection and sustainable development in China

China is confronted with the dual task of developing its national economy and protecting its ecological environment. Since the 1980s, China's policies on environmental protection and sustainable development have experienced five changes: (1) progression from the adoption of environmental protection as a basic state policy to the adoption of sustainable development strategy; (2) changing focus from pollution control to ecological conservation equally; (3) shifting from end-of-pipe treatment to source control; (4) moving from point source treatment to regional environmental governance; and (5) a turn away from administrative management-based approaches and towards a legal means and economic instruments-based approach. Since 1992, China has set down sustainable development as a basic national strategy. However, environmental pollution and ecological degradation in China have continued to be serious problems and have inflicted great damage on the economy and quality of life. The beginning of the 21st century is a critical juncture for China's efforts towards sustaining rapid economic development, intensifying environmental protection efforts, and curbing ecological degradation. As the largest developing country, China's policies on environmental protection and sustainable development will be of primary importance not only for China, but also the world. Realizing a completely well-off society by the year 2020 is seen as a crucial task by the Chinese government and an important goal for China's economic development in the new century, however, attaining it would require a four-fold increase over China's year 2000 GDP. Therefore, speeding up economic development is a major mission during the next two decades and doing so will bring great challenges in controlling depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution. By taking a critical look at the development of Chinese environmental policy, we try to determine how best to coordinate the relationship between the environment and the economy in order to improve quality of life and the sustainability of China's resources and environment. Examples of important measures include: adjustment of economic structure, reform of energy policy, development of environmental industry, pollution prevention and ecological conservation, capacity building, and international cooperation and public participation.     

创新型社会生活噪声污染防治体系构建研究

社会生活噪声具有量大、面广、分散、影响不持续、监管难度大等特点，本文以现代化环境治理视角和社会治理视角深入剖析了我国当前社会生活噪声污染防治存在的问题，结合社会生活噪声污染防治的特殊属性及其防治的有效实践，分析2021年新修订的《中华人民共和国噪声污染防治法》中防治措施的内在联系，提出构建创新型社会生活噪声污染防治体系。该体系要求在政府主导的环境治理领域充分发挥社会各界的力量，强化社会共治，新增公众自治，将环境治理同社会治理有机结合，既强调公众参与到政府主导的环境治理工作中，又强调社会各主体多元共治和自我管理，是社会生活噪声领域公众参与的升级版。最后，本文建议以宁静区域创建为切入点，通过有关监管部门联合发布宁静区域创建指导意见；地方政府落地实施，完善管理和技术指标体系；加大宣传教育，提高德治和自治水平，以点带面逐步拓展宁静区域范围，实现创新型社会生活噪声污染防治体系的实质有效性。     

Time preference,the environment and the interests of future generations

The behavior of individuals currently living will generally have long-term consequences that affect the well-being of those who will come to live in the future. Intergenerational interdependencies of this nature raise difficult moral issues because only the current generation is in a position to decide on actions that will determine the nature of the world in which future generations will live. Although most are willing to attach some weight to the interests of future generations, many would argue that it is not necessary to treat these interests as equivalent to those of the current generation. A common approach in this context is to use a system of discounting to evaluate future benefits and harms. This paper assesses the logic of discounting drawing on the writings of economists and philosophers. Much of the economic literature concerns the choice of an appropriate social discount rate. The social discount rate can be taken to reflect beliefs about the rights of future generations, a subject that has been extensively debated in the phioosophic literature. The writings of both economists and philosophers concerned with the weight to attach to the interests of future generations are reviewed and evaluated in this paper and the implications for environmental policy are discussed.     

From the erosion of crude oil prices to reorganization of the oil industry

Comparison of data on world energy consumption for 1986, 1987 and 1988 indicates that the consumption of all forms of energy increased during the period, but the demand for oil increased at a lesser rate than that of other energy sources. Although the pattern varies between countries, the overall picture is one of increased use of natural gas, coal, nuclear and hydropower as an energy source. Part of the reason for the low growth in oil demand is the oil conservation measures put in place when oil was much more expensive, but may partly be due to the scepticism of many people about the future movement of oil prices. The likely continuation of a low growth market for oil has led some oil exporting countries to move downstream in an effort to secure a dependable market for their oil and oil products.     

长三角区域环境污染根源剖析及协同治理对策

当前的长三角区域环境治理尽管取得了一定成效,但其治理成本过高且难以达到持久改善的效果。长三角环境污染的根源在于投资驱动型增长导致的结构性污染锁定,以及低端经济导致的能源升级障碍。因此,环境治理应着眼于区域增长方式转型和环境与发展关系的优化,关键问题在于如何改变经济增长的推动方式与路径依赖,如何在新常态经济格局下寻求新的经济增长点,以及如何协调好不同行政区划之间的利益冲突。当前长三角区域需建立区域一体化的环境协同治理机制,推进能源升级与产业去重化进程,促进地区间错位发展与联动发展,以新型城镇化调动新的增长潜力,结合智慧城市建设转变公共服务供给方式,优化城市布局。     

Allowing for sustainable growth under drastic immigration stress in Israel

Between 1990 and 1992 Israel's population grew by almost 10%, as a result of a sudden immigration influx. A national plan was prepared to accommodate this population growth in a sustainable manner. This paper reviews how the national plan set to accommodate such population growth without imposing undue environmental hardships on either current or future generations. Using a comprehensive environmental guidelines map and adjunct measures, the plan was able to point a way by which the population increase could be accommodated without damaging sensitive natural resources, increasing pollution to unacceptable levels or aggravating population exposure to hazards or nuisances. This plan thus provides a real‐world illustration of how, with adequate institutional structure, organization, scientific base and political resolve, a large population increase can be accommodated in a manner that does not preclude sustainability notions, even in a highly vulnerable environment.     

蓬莱市节能减排工作调研

山东省蓬莱市把节能减排与"转方式、调结构"紧密结合,不断调整优化产业结构,坚持以人为本,全面实施持续改善环境质量系统工程,加大污染防治力度,转变经济发展方式,优化产业布局,大力发展低碳经济,狠抓污染减排和总量控制,淘汰了一些工艺落后、消耗高、污染重的生产企业,资源利用率明显提升,初步形成了经济总量快速增长、单位产值能耗不断降低、生态环境持续改善的"多赢"局面。     

基于LMDI的我国能源消费因素分解研究

经济飞速发展使我国能源消费急剧增长，能源消费与能源供给、环境污染矛盾日益突出。在分析我国能源消费和能源消费强度变化趋势的基础上，运用LMDI法将我国1996--2010年能源消费变化分解为产出效应、结构效应和强度效应，探讨产出提高、结构调整、效率提高对我国能源消费和能源强度的影响。结果显示，生产规模扩大对能源消费起到正向的拉动作用，结构调整对缓解能源消费增长还有较大的上升空间，能源强度对能源消费的抑制效应自“十一五”期间起作用逐步显现。     

Heterogeneous effects of urbanization and environment Kuznets curve hypothesis in Africa

This work explores the heterogeneous effect of urbanization and nonrenewable energy consumption on the environment in 54 African nations. Panel data were used from 1996 to 2019. For estimation, panel quantile regression analysis, augmented mean group, panel threshold regression, and the environment Kuznets curve hypothesis were applied to check the relationship between income and carbon emissions. The study's outcome demonstrates that urbanization and nonrenewable energy consumption degrade the environment in Africa. Furthermore, an inverted U-shape relationship exists between economic growth and CO₂ emissions, confirming the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. The findings indicate that urbanization should be planned; otherwise, urbanization can cause environmental degradation. African countries must adopt green urbanization and use renewable energy and clean manufacturing technologies. The institutions are encouraged to execute the standard, regulatory environment, and policies to reduce carbon emissions. Countries throughout the African continent should actively respond to the issues by charting a separate and diverse route for urban development.