Sustainable development in the Baltic sea region. Governance beyond the nation state

After the end of the Cold War, the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) developed into a highly dynamic area of cross-border cooperation and transnational networking. Three forms of governance beyond the nation state and appropriate case studies are presented here: (1) the Helsinki Convention as an international regime; (2) Baltic 21, the world's first regional Agenda 21, as an international policy network; (3) the Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) as a transnational network. The achievement of sustainable development in the BSR undoubtedly requires a fruitful combination of national governance and these forms of international and transnational governance. In this respect, international policy networks, such as Baltic 21, and transnational networks, such as the UBC, promise to provide new approaches that can complement international and intergovernmental cooperation between nation states. Furthermore, it must also be taken into account that governance in the BSR will soon become embedded in European governance and lead to the Europeanisation of the Baltic Sea Area.     

Sustainable development in the Baltic sea region. Governance beyond the nation state

After the end of the Cold War, the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) developed into a highly dynamic area of cross-border cooperation and transnational networking. Three forms of governance beyond the nation state and appropriate case studies are presented here: (1) the Helsinki Convention as an international regime; (2) Baltic 21, the world's first regional Agenda 21, as an international policy network; (3) the Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) as a transnational network. The achievement of sustainable development in the BSR undoubtedly requires a fruitful combination of national governance and these forms of international and transnational governance. In this respect, international policy networks, such as Baltic 21, and transnational networks, such as the UBC, promise to provide new approaches that can complement international and intergovernmental cooperation between nation states. Furthermore, it must also be taken into account that governance in the BSR will soon become embedded in European governance and lead to the Europeanisation of the Baltic Sea Area.     

长三角区域环境联合执法机制完善研究

开展跨区域联合执法是解决长三角跨界环境问题的重要途径。长三角区域环境联合执法的实质在于打破传统属地管辖模式,在一定程度上实现行政管辖权的共享。目前,长三角区域在建立区域合作机构、开展环境合作活动、统一环境执法依据等方面已经进行了积极探索,但依然存在执法主体不规范、执法权限不充分、执法依据不统一等问题。长三角区域环境联合执法所采取的横向府际协同模式以及统一执法与联合执法相结合的模式具有一定优势,需要在此基础上加以改进。未来需要规范联合执法队伍的组建,通过区域合作和中央批准的方式建立联合执法队伍并对执法主体进行明确授权,充分发挥现有机构的监督协调作用,以及通过分区域、分行业、分时段的方式逐渐统一执法依据。     

“一带一路”视域下环境保护问题的战略定位与治理体系

环境保护是"一带一路"建设的重要议题,它所面临的挑战更多源于沿线国家和地区经济发展任务繁重与生态环境先天脆弱之间的矛盾。仅仅依靠单个政府部门或某一政策,或者仅仅依靠单个国家或地区的某一倡议与行动,均不足以应对"一带一路"建设中的跨国环境风险,这将倒逼国内与国际社会提升环境保护的战略地位,构建新型环境治理体系。"一带一路"沿线的各地政府不仅要发挥生态环保的示范作用,还要建立横向若干部门和纵向各级政府的协同治理机制,完善环境保护跨国合作制度,鼓励企业、NGO组织与民间力量、智库共同参与环境治理。     

The Transboundary River Nestos and Its Water Quality Assessment: Cross-Border Cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria

Transboundary water resources require the cooperation of the countries involved, not only on the various uses of the water, but also on overall water quality and the protection of ecosystems. Transboundary rivers and their management constitute a contemporary issue of great significance. Cooperation between neighboring countries is not always easy, due to different socio-economic and political conditions. Therefore, the different needs and priorities between the countries involved need to be solved first. Since pollution does not stop at a State border, it is an example of something that can be solved only at the cross-border level. This paper presents the cross-border cooperation between two transnational Institutions; the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece) and the University of Sofia (Bulgaria), within the framework of Interreg programs. The first collaborated attempt was to carry out a coordinated program for monitoring the pollution of the Nestos River. The second was the protection and restoration of the ecosystem through the education of young engineers and the transfer of experiences and scientific knowledge across the borders.     

Sustainability Appraisal of Water Governance Regimes: The Case of Guanacaste,Costa Rica

Sustainability appraisals produce evidence for how well water governance regimes operate and where problems exist. This evidence is particularly relevant for regions that face water scarcity and conflicts. In this study, we present a criteria-based and participatory sustainability appraisal of water governance in a region with such characteristics—the dry tropics of NW Costa Rica. Data collection included 47 interviews and three stakeholder workshops. The appraisal was conducted through a collaborative and iterative process between researchers and stakeholders. Out of the 25 sustainability criteria used, seven posed a significant challenge for the governance regime. We found challenges faced by the governance regime primarily clustered around and were re-enforced by failing coordination related to the use, management, and protection of groundwater resources; and inadequate leadership to identify collective goals and to constructively deliberate alternative ways of governing water with diverse groups. The appraisal yielded some positive impact in the study area, yet we found its application provided only limited strategic information to support broader problem-solving efforts. Insights from this study suggest key starting points for sustainable water governance in the Central American dry tropics, including investing in increasingly influential collective organizations that are already active in water governance; and leveraging policy windows that can be used to build confidence and disperse more governing authority to regional and local governing actors that are in-tune with the challenges faced in the dry tropics. We conclude the article with reflections on how to produce research results that are actionable for sustainable water governance.     

区域大气污染协作治理的驱动机制研究——以长三角地区为例

区域大气污染协作治理本质上是以地方政府为主体的横向协作行为,地方政府的协作意愿与行动策略是决定区域协作进程的重要因素。本研究通过构建区域大气污染协作治理的驱动模型,分析影响区域协作进程的关键因素。在此基础上,以长三角区域为例,通过分析大气点源治理、移动源管控、重污染天气应急管理和重大活动空气质量保障等四类协作议题的协作进程及其驱动机制,识别差异化协作进程的形成原因。最后,本文从强化地方政府区域协作考核力度、建立区域大气环境生态补偿机制、加强区域协作机构的组织能力建设和完善区域协作治理的基础性技术支撑等四方面为构建区域大气污染防治长效协作机制提出政策建议。     

地方政府间环保合作机制研究——以海峡西岸城市群为例

区域环境的合作治理在城市群发展的背景下已经成为政府环境保护的重要内容,环保合作事务中各个政府部门的关系、合作的机制、组织行政、效果评估等方面都引起了学者的广泛关注。然而,大部分研究主要关注府际合作中静态的、程式化的制度关系,对合作发展的总体过程、各合作主体之间、事件之间的动态联系研究较少,这将阻碍我们深入理解城市群的环保合作机制。基于此,本文运用过程视角对海峡西岸城市群的合作历程进行梳理,追溯其发展轨迹,对合作主体和议题的演化进行分析,对海西城市群府际之间的动态合作治理机制进行深入挖掘,并针对合作机制的不足提出相应的改善措施。     

区域环境司法协作的实践表征及发展理路探析

环境司法协作是促进区域、流域环境整体性治理的重要保障。但当前相关研究侧重某个重点区域、流域的环境司法协作分析，亟待对京津冀、长三角、成渝、长江、黄河等区域、流域环境司法协作实践进行全面的考察和规范分析。可以依据协作目的、内容、空间，将多元化的环境司法协作样态分为政策回应型协作与程序便利型协作、纵向协作与横向协作、省（区、市）内协作与跨省协作等。针对规范性、结构性、机制性等困境，区域环境司法协作需要从纵向协作迈向纵横协作结合、从协议型协作迈向立法型协作、从低位阶协作迈向高位阶协作。未来还需要加强区域、流域、陆海统筹下的立法协同，探索“共享法庭”及其配套治理体系与能力的纳入与应用，推动大数据、区块链、人工智能等新兴技术与司法的深度融合，从而对区域环境司法协作进行全面的规范性补强、结构性调适、协同配合机制的建构及数字化司法转型。     

北京市开展区域水环境合作探究

通过分析北京市地表水资源、水环境质量现状及存在的问题，得出生态环境用水严重短缺是制约北京市水环境质量全面改善的根本原因，并对此提出全面加强区域水环境合作、改善北京市水环境的基本思路，及与周边地区开展水环境合作的途径及建议。