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。     

CONFLICT AND COOPERATION OVER INTERNATIONAL FRESHWATER RESOURCES: INDICATORS OF BASINS AT RISR1

ABSTRACT: In this paper we seek to identify historical indicators of international freshwater conflict and cooperation and to create a framework to identify and evaluate international river basins at potential risk for future conflict. We derived biophysical, socioeco‐nomic, and geopolitical variables at multiple spatial and temporal scales from GIS datasets of international basins and associated countries, and we tested these variables against a database of historical incidents of international water related cooperation and conflict from 1948 to 1999. International relations over freshwater resources were overwhelmingly cooperative and covered a wide range of issues, including water quantity, water quality, joint management, and hydropower. Conflictive relations tended to center on quantity and infrastructure. No single indicator—including climate, water stress, government type, and dependence on water for agriculture or energy—explained conflict/cooperation over water. Even indicators showing a significant correlation with water conflict, such as high population density, low per capita GDP, and overall unfriendly international relations, explained only a small percentage of data variability. The most promising sets of indicators for water conflict were those associated with rapid or extreme physical or institutional change within a basin (e.g., large dams or internationalization of a basin) and the key role of institutional mechanisms, such as freshwater treaties, in mitigating such conflict.     

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。     

国际碳排放权交易模式的更替发展与协同优化路径

实现碳中和是各国应对气候变化的共同选择。碳市场作为以碳排放权交易为核心的市场机制是加速全球碳排放目标实现的重要途径之一。尽管当前全球碳市场的发展仍呈现区域性和碎片化状态，但随着能源危机的加剧，极端气候灾难的不确定性增多，未来通过碳市场领域的国际合作实现全球碳市场的协同以应对气候变化仍是大势所趋。本文试图通过对国际碳市场进行回顾和类型化总结，并就《巴黎协定》下国际碳交易模式的协同困境从技术、制度和参与程度三个维度开展分析。作者认为，如欲加快全球碳交易的协同进程，应尽快完善国际碳交易中的技术适用细节,提升碳交易相关制度的适用力度,扩大碳交易相关制度的适用范围,加强发展中国家的碳市场的基础建设，拓展发展中国家碳交易市场建设支持来源，最终建立全球碳价格统一机制。提前布局研究碳市场的跨境连接方案对于中国而言极具现实意义，本文最后对中国参与全球碳交易市场的国际合作前景作出了展望。     

近年来中国边境贸易研究的问题与发展趋势

自古以来,边境贸易是我国对外经济交流的主要方式.近年来对我国边境研究较多,主要集中在我国边境贸易发展的历史总结、政策规范、边境贸易与区域经发展等方面,但对边境贸易与边境安全、边境贸易过程中跨境民族问题和我国边境贸易的优势等方面的研究较少.随着研究的不断深入,针对边境贸易出现了边境地区当地居民参与边境贸易过程、边境贸易与大尺度区域经济发展、"区位论"视角下的边境贸易等新动向.     

最严格水资源管理制度政策效果仿真研究——以江苏为例

为探索中国最严格水资源管理制度实施成效，本研究运用系统动力学方法构建最严格水资源管理制度政策效果仿真模型，以江苏为例，首先从横向比较研究的视角，设置无政策和政策延续两种情景，分析有无政策时用水总量、用水效率和水功能区纳污的管控效果；然后从纵向比较研究的视角，分析政策实施后2013—2030年用水总量、用水效率和水功能区纳污控制效果的演化情况。结果显示：①横向对比，相对于无政策情景，政策延续情景下的区域水资源需求总量、万元GDP用水量以及污废水中的COD排放总量均有不同幅度的下降，且降幅逐年扩大，政策成效显著；②纵向对比，政策延续情景下，2030年区域水资源需求总量将超过国家最严格水资源管理制度考核要求近20亿m³，2025年万元GDP用水量降幅低于“十四五”节水型社会建设规划目标近2%，2030年污废水中的COD排放总量将比2021年升高近24%，政策管控水平仍需进一步提升。     

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THE MIDDLE EAST1

ABSTRACT: Water is, and most likely will continue to be, one of the main concerns and potential causes of instability in the Middle East (ME). The contribution of the existing renewable water resources is limited and can not fulfill the long-term projected gap between water supply and demand for most of the countries in the ME. An integrated regional approach for fulfilling this gap was preferred. A regional institutional framework was proposed for the implementation of this integrated regional approach and consists of a regional water board operating through three units for technical, implementation, and management aspects of project and activities. An analysis of the regional water supply and demand development, the design and policy making of the proposed institution, technology and water markets, cooperation, actors and beneficiaries, finances, and expected obstacles and constraints to the establishment and sustainable operation of the proposed institution are included.     

Integrated water management of the Brahmaputra basin: Perspectives and hope for regional development

Water is strongly linked with the overall development framework of the Brahmaputra basin. However, the absence of integrated management of Brahmaputra water resources and lack of coordination among the riparian states constitutes an ongoing threat to future development plans within the basin. Brahmaputra's abundant hydropower potential can help give riparian countries a safer energy future that is the key driving force behind the prospect of potential cooperation. This paper analyses the current status of Brahmaputra water resources and identifies the perspectives of riparian countries regarding the development of the Brahmaputra basin. It also identifies the opportunities for cooperation and regional development through integrated water development and management of the Brahmaputra basin. It is essential to develop an integrated water resources management approach involving all riparians to foster regional development and overcome the prospect of severe water conflict along the Brahmaputra basin.     

Delving into the “Institutional Black Box”: Revealing the Attributes of Sustainable Urban Water Management Regimes1

van de Meene, Susan J. and Rebekah R. Brown, 2009. Delving into the “Institutional Black Box”: Revealing the Attributes of Sustainable Urban Water Management Regimes. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1448‐1464. Abstract: This paper is based on the proposition that the transition to sustainable urban water management has been hampered by the lack of insight into attributes of a sustainable urban water regime. Significant progress has been made in developing technical solutions to advance urban water practice, however it is the co‐evolution of the socio‐institutional and technical systems that enable a system‐wide transition. A systematic analysis of 81 empirical studies across a range of practice areas was undertaken to construct a schema of the sustainable urban water regime attributes. Attributes were identified and analyzed using a framework of nested management regime spheres: the administrative and regulatory system, inter‐organizational, intra‐organizational, and human resources spheres. The regime is likely to involve significant stakeholder involvement, collaborative inter‐organizational relationships, flexible and adaptive organizational cultures, and motivated and engaging employees. Comparison of the constructed sustainable and traditional regime attributes reveals that to realize sustainable urban water management in practice a substantial shift in governance is required. This difference emphasizes the critical need for explicitly supported strategies targeted at developing each management regime sphere to further enable change toward sustainable urban water management.     

基于城市体系的中部6省区域旅游合作研究

城市是区域经济发展的依托,区域旅游合作水平的高低同样与区域城市体系的发育程度紧密相关。以中部6省城市体系为构架,对中部6省省际间区域旅游合作进行了探讨,并从节点优化、线路组织、市场拓展等方面提出了6省间区域旅游合作的构想,以期为中部六省区域旅游合作程度的进一步加深提供一定的借鉴。     

我国区域大气污染防治协作历程与展望

建立横向跨区域大气治理的联防联控协调机制是解决区域性大气污染的重要手段。我国自20世纪90年代开始探索通过区域协作解决区域性大气污染问题，经过30多年的发展，区域大气协作取得阶段性成效，但是区域协作的内在动力和持续性不足，难以满足未来区域大气环境管理需求。本文从理念形成、实践探索、机制完善等层面系统回顾了我国区域大气污染防治协作发展历程，结合“大气十条”以来重点区域联防联控工作重点和机制创新，总结了空气质量改善、统一标准体系建设、重污染天气应急体系建设、环境监管模式创新、科技支撑等方面取得的主要成效。基于未来我国区域大气环境管理需求，从综合管理体系、立法保障、规划统筹、信息共享等方面提出进一步完善的对策建议。     

Authority Pooling and Regional Organic Agriculture Standard-Setting: Evidence from East Africa

A key characteristic of global organic agriculture governance through standards is the coexistence of regulatory fragmentation and regional integration. To reduce barriers to organic trade, especially for market participants from developing countries, international and transnational entrepreneurs increasingly promote the setting of organic agriculture standards (OAS) in different world regions, for example, in East Africa, the Pacific, or Asia. Although scholars from different disciplines have done a lot of research on the role of standards in global governance, we still know little about why and how regional standard-setting processes evolve. Applying findings from regime analysis, entrepreneurship, and political authority, the article introduces the concept of authority pooling. It argues that legal, moral, and technical authority sources interact in a blurred functional division of labour between the public and the private sector in standard-setting. The article presents results from a within-case study of the development of the East African Organic Products Standard using the process-tracing method. It detects the underlying causal mechanism by which international and transnational entrepreneurs pooled different authority sources and, thus, significantly influenced political actors in East Africa to set the first regional OAS in the developing world.