Evaluating the impacts of global environmental assessments

There are currently no widely accepted procedures for comparing the performance of global environmental assessments (GEAs) and this may be a barrier to improving their methodology. To encourage greater self-reflection within the GEA community, it is proposed to introduce consistent evaluation approaches. Two elements from current evaluation practice are reviewed here that could be particularly useful for evaluating GEAs. The first are logic models which provide a transparent visual mapping of how activities in a GEA are intended to have impacts on policies. The second are performance metrics. It is proposed that GEAs adopt two kinds of metrics: (i) A common generic set for use in all GEAs to provide a basis for comparing the performance of GEAs, and (ii) a specific set of measureable metrics for each particular GEA derived from/linked to the generic set. Although many issues arise in applying these and other elements from evaluation theory and practice to GEAs, the potential benefits are greater comparability of GEA performance and new knowledge about how to improve them. This Short Communication is part of a Special Issue on solution-oriented GEAs.     

Anticipated Performance Index of some tree species considered for green belt development in and around an urban area: a case study of Varanasi city, India

It is well established that trees help to reduce air pollution, and there is a growing impetus for green belt expansion in urban areas. Identification of suitable plant species for green belts is very important. In the present study, the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of many plant species has been evaluated by analyzing important biochemical parameters. The Anticipated Performance Index (API) of these plant species was also calculated by considering their APTI values together with other socio-economic and biological parameters. Based on these two indices, the most suitable plant species for green belt development in urban areas were identified and recommended for long-term air pollution management.     

It’s All in the Numbers: Acreage Tallies and Environmental Program Evaluation

Increasingly, performance measurement is being used to hold federal agencies accountable, represent environmental progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of environmental programs. The need to track measurable outputs has created a tendency to present programmatic progress solely by quantifiable data, despite the inherent complexity of natural resource management. Wetlands and fire management programs are two specific environmental arenas that have come to overemphasize the tracking of acreage numbers to validate existing policy direction. In both of these arenas, we find the definition and categorization of "countable" acres to be inconsistent and unreliable. We explore this systemic flaw for both wetlands and fire programs and describe its implications for environmental policy and natural resource management more broadly. We conclude with recommendations for improved performance measurement in these arenas.     

环境因素数据质量审核方法研究

目的 解决大气环境试验站的气象数据报表存在数据缺失、数据超过边界、数据内部不一致、数据时间不一致等问题,采用数据质量审核技术找出缺失、可疑或错误的数据,对科研人员进行警示,使其能够追根溯源,分析存在问题的原因。方法 参照相关规程和标准,建立环境因素数据质量审核算法和审核流程,并使用计算机语言编程固化流程和算法,利用多线程算法对数据进行扫描,实现大批量气象数据的并行审核。结果 利用Python语言设计了环境因素质量控制软件,通过该软件的应用证明了该方法合理、有效,能够快速、准确地标注气象数据报表中存在质量问题的数据。利用软件统计了存在问题数据的数量和正确率。结论 通过加载数据测试,证明了环境因素数据质量审核方法和审核流程合理有效,利用设计的审核软件实现了气象数据报表快速审核,提高了审核效率,减少了科研人员的劳动强度,为进一步填补、修正和利用数据奠定了基础。     

Current status and trends of the environmental performance in European ports

This paper investigates the current status and trends over time in the environmental performance of European ports. The research is based on the provision of data from 79 European ports on issues related to their environmental management, environmental priorities and current environmental monitoring practices. This study updates previous environmental reviews, so that the trends over time are drawn. For instance, 90% of respondent ports stated that they have an environmental policy and 94% of ports have designated environmental personnel. The percentage of ports that have an Environmental Management System has increased by +33% in the last 9 years. Air quality, port waste and energy consumption emerged as the three major environmental priorities of the European port sector in 2013. The research also reveals the diversity amongst European ports in terms of size and physical surroundings. Some examples are presented on specific initiatives carried out by sector organisations about the Top-10 port priority issues. The future expectations of European ports on data collection and reporting are described.     

A taxonomy of performance influencing factors for human reliability analysis of emergency tasks

This paper introduces the process for, and the result of, the selection of performance influencing factors (PIFs) for the use in human reliability analysis (HRA) of emergency tasks in nuclear power plants. The approach taken in this study largely consists of three steps. First, a full-set PIF system is constructed from the collection and review of existing PIF taxonomies. Secondly, PIF candidates are selected from the full-set PIF system, considering the major characteristics of emergency situations and the basic criteria of PIF for use in HRA. Finally, a set of PIFs is established by structuring representative PIFs and their detailed subitems from the candidates. As a result, a set of PIFs comprised of the 11 representative PIFs and 39 subitems was developed.     

I-Risk: development of an integrated technical and management risk methodology for chemical installations

This paper presents an integrated quantitative risk assessment method for hazardous installations, taking into account management as well as technical design and producing risk level measures. The key components of the I-Risk methodology are the technical model, the management model and their interface. The technical model consists of developing a master logic diagram (MLD) delineating the major immediate causes of loss of containment (LOC) and associated quantitative models for assessing their frequency. The management model consists of the tasks, which must be carried out systematically in the primary business functions (such as operations, emergency operations, maintenance and modifications). A management audit quantifies the quality of these management tasks. The management–technical interface modifies certain parameters of the technical model on the basis of the quality of the safety management system of the specific installation. The methodology is exemplified through its application to the risk assessment of an ammonia storage facility. A detailed technical model simulating the response of the system to various initiating events is developed along with a detailed management model simulating the influence of the plant-specific management and organisational practices. The overall effect is quantified through the frequency of release of ammonia as a result of a loss of containment in a storage tank and in a pipeline.     

基于平衡计分卡的大气环境监测数据共享网站绩效评估研究

基于平衡计分卡原理,结合网站特点,建立了大气环境监测数据共享网站绩效评估模型。以共享网站的战略愿景为模型框架的中心,以财务、顾客、内部程序、学习与成长等4个基本维度为一级指标,构建了绩效评估指标体系,并采用层次分析法确定了各指标的权重。利用该模型对长三角区域空气质量预测预报系统和宁波市空气质量预报预警平台的大气数据共享模块进行实证研究,绩效评估结果均为良好。     

广东环境审计的现状分析

伴随着环保事业的深入开展,环境审计在环境管理监督方面有着极其重要的意义。广东环境审计已经贯穿到各级政府的施政过程中。为了更好地发挥审计监督功能,未来广东环境审计应加快立法进程,提高认识,充分利用审计资源开展联合审计和事前环境审计,并对环境管理体系运作结果进行绩效审计。     

现代内部审计营销策略

现代内部审计职业中,内部审计师面临着各种潜在冲突,在组织中的人际环境也很复杂。内部审计有必要借助营销手段,从组织的利益出发,识别、预期各级管理层的管理需求,通过内部审计服务赢得各级管理层的信任和支持,进一步建立各级管理人员甚至所有成员和内部审计师的良好关系,最终形成融洽的内部审计人际环境。内部审计师应设计并执行内部审计营销策略,这些策略包括了解客户对内部审计的看法、对董事会和高级管理层的营销、对整个组织的营销等。