An experimental investigation of explanations for inconsistencies in responses to second offers in double referenda

This paper demonstrates the potential for induced preference experiments to test previously unverified explanations of observed behavior in contingent valuation surveys. The NOAA Panel on Contingent Valuation called for experimental evidence on potential biases in the double referendum format. We test Carson, Groves, and Machina's (Incentives and informational properties of preference questions, Plenary address to the European Association of Resource and Environmental Economists, Oslo, Norway, June 1999) simple cost uncertainty and weighted averaging explanations of inconsistent responses to follow-up offers in such double referenda against a baseline of certainty and truthful preference revelation. The results find evidence to support the Weighted Average hypothesis. Results regarding the cost uncertainty hypothesis are more ambiguous and merit further investigation.     

An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy

This paper provides an introduction to some of the fundamental principles and approaches in environmental economics which are of significance to achieving an integrated sustainability science. The concept of a circular economy, introduced by the late David Pearce in 1990, addresses the interlinkages of the four economic functions of the environment. The environment not only provides amenity values, in addition to being a resource base and a sink for economic activities, it is also a fundamental life-support system. Environmental economists have suggested that, taking these four functions as an analytical starting point, unpriced or underpriced services should be internalised in the economy. In Europe significant advances have been achieved in the pricing of externalities by means of truly interdisciplinary analysis which accounts in detail for the environmental consequences. The monetary estimates reached as a result of such interdisciplinary research are gradually being applied to the economic analysis of environmental policy priorities. Although such figures provide only a partial and incomplete picture of the environmental costs at stake, they support and inform the analysis of the virtues of a circular economy for individual resources as well as for sustainability as a future trajectory.     

岗南水库沉积物间隙水有色溶解有机物的时空分布特征及差异分析

有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)作为溶解性有机物的重要组分,影响着水体中污染物质的形态特征和迁移转化过程.本研究运用紫外-可见光谱技术(UV-vis)以及三维荧光光谱(EEMs)技术结合平行因子分析法(PARAFAC),对岗南水库自入库河口到坝前主库区四季演变过程中沉积物间隙水CDOM的分布、光谱特征以及来源进行解析.结果表明,岗南水库沉积物间隙水CDOM的相对浓度a_(254)、a_(260)、a_(280)和a_(355)存在显著的季节差异,并且相对浓度大小为夏季春季秋季冬季;沉积物间隙水CDOM的E2/E3、E3/E4、E4/E6以及S_R存在显著的季节差异,呈现冬季高夏季低的特征;秋冬季的E2/E3以及E3/E4明显高于春夏季,并且秋冬季的E3/E4大部分均大于3.5,表明秋冬季沉积物间隙水CDOM具有更小的分子量和更低的腐殖化程度;三维荧光光谱通过PARAFAC解析出3种组分,分别为类酪氨酸(C1)、短波类富里酸(C2)和降解的腐殖类物质(C3),并且3种荧光组分间具有显著的正相关性(P0.001);岗南水库沉积物间隙水的CDOM总荧光强度和各荧光组分荧光强度呈现显著的季节差异,总荧光强度以及各组分的荧光强度呈现春季的最高、秋冬季次之、夏季最低的分布特征;秋冬季各个荧光组分占比不存在显著差异,春夏季各个荧光组分占比不存在显著差异,秋冬季与春夏季各个荧光组分占比存在显著差异;秋冬季沉积物间隙水CDOM生物源指数(BIX)和荧光指数(FI)均高于春夏季,表明秋冬季CDOM的自生源强于春夏季,与腐殖程度指标(HIX)的结果相吻合;PCA结合Adonis分析显示沉积物间隙水CDOM的光谱特征呈现显著的季节差异(P0.001);并且组分C1、C2、C3以及水质参数[氨氮、硝氮、亚硝氮、溶解性总氮以及溶解性总磷]均有很好的线性回归方程.综上,通过对岗南水库沉积物间隙水CDOM光谱特征进行研究,可以为分析岗南水库有机物污染特征和水质管理提供技术支持.     

重金属离子对肺表面活性物质单层膜的影响

为了探究重金属对肺表面活性物质（PS）膜的影响,利用Langmuir–Wilhelmy膜天平,研究了不同种类和浓度的重金属离子与PS单层膜的相互作用.发现Cr³⁺、Cu²⁺、Hg²⁺、Pb²⁺、Cd²⁺、Ni²⁺6种重金属离子均使PS单层的π-A等温线G-LE相变阶段外扩,而Fe³⁺可诱导单层缩合.随后,选取Cd²⁺,Cu²⁺,Hg²⁺,Fe³⁺4种离子进一步探究了重金属浓度对PS单层膜表面活性的影响规律,进行了可压缩模量分析,并结合红外光谱（FTIR）和原子力显微镜（AFM）探究其作用机理,发现Cu²⁺,Fe³⁺和Hg²⁺均会以浓度依赖的方式与PS单层的极性头部发生络合作用,形成复合物,改变膜的稳定性;而Cd²⁺的影响明显弱于其他3种金属离子,但也能使得PS单层有序性增强.     

青铜峡铝厂氟污染对广武乡玉米影响的调查分析

监测了青铜峡铝厂东南方向４．５ｋｍ的广武乡玉米叶，得知含氟量为４３．９４－１６６．１ｍｇ／ｋｇ，对照样品树新林场玉米叶的含氟均值为１３．１５ｍｇ／ｋｇ，广武乡的玉米受到了严重的氟污染，农作物减产严重。     

Economic development and environmental protection: an ecological economics perspective

This paper argues on both theoretical and empirical grounds that, beyond a certain point, there is an unavoidable conflictbetween economic development (generally taken to mean 'materialeconomic growth') and environmental protection. Think for a moment of natural forests, grasslands, marine estuaries, salt marshes, and coral reefs; and of arable soils, aquifers, mineraldeposits, petroleum, and coal. These are all forms of 'natural capital' that represent highly-ordered self-producing ecosystemsor rich accumulations of energy/matter with high use potential (low entropy). Now contemplate despoiled landscapes, eroding farmlands, depleted fisheries, anthropogenic greenhouse gases,acid rain, poisonous mine tailings and toxic synthetic compounds.These all represent disordered systems or degraded forms of energy and matter with little use potential (high entropy). The main thing connecting these two states is human economic activity. Ecological economics interprets the environment-economyrelationship in terms of the second law of thermodynamics. The second law sees economic activity as a dissipative process. Fromthis perspective, the production of economic goods andservices invariably requires the consumption of available energy and matter. To grow and develop, the economynecessarily 'feeds' on sources of high-quality energy/matter first produced by nature. This tends to disorder and homogenizethe ecosphere, The ascendance of humankind has consistently been accompanied by an accelerating rate of ecological degradation, particularly biodiversity loss, the simplificationof natural systems and pollution. In short, contemporary political rhetoric to the contrary, the prevailing growth-oriented global development paradigm is fundamentally incompatible with long-term ecological and social sustainability. Unsustainability is not a technical nor economic problem as usually conceived, but rather a state of systemic incompatibilitybetween a economy that is a fully-contained, growing, dependent sub-system of a non-growing ecosphere. Potential solutions fly inthe face of contemporary development trends and cultural values.     

Incorporating natural capital into economy-wide impact analysis: a case study from Alberta

Traditionally, decision-makers have relied on economic impactestimates derived from conventional economy-wide models. Conventional models lack the environmental linkages necessary for examining environmental stewardship and economic sustainability, and in particular the ability to assess the impact of policies on natural capital. This study investigatesenvironmentally extended economic impact estimation on a regionalscale using a case study region in the province of Alberta knownas the Foothills Model Forest (FMF). Conventional economic impactmodels are environmentally extended in pursuit of enhancingpolicy analysis and local decision-making. It is found that theflexibility of the computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelingapproach offers potential for environmental extension, with a solid grounding in economic theory. The CGE approach may be the tool of the future for more complete integrated environment andeconomic impact assessment.     

长江流域等重污染行业经济和污染贡献率剖析

应用"污染贡献率"这一指标,分析了长江、黄河、珠江和松花江流域COD和氨氮排放的重污染行业以及地区分布,指出了各流域COD和氨氮排放的控制重点.同时分析了各流域重污染行业的经济贡献率,最后结合行业的污染贡献率和经济贡献率以及行业在地区所占的比例,提出了几点重要的结论.     

海面溢油的荧光光谱鉴别法述评

介绍了荧光光谱技术在鉴别海面溢油中的应用和进展。根据荧光光谱的三维特性 ,分别阐述了普通荧光光谱、同步荧光扫描光谱、可变角同步扫描光谱、三维荧光光谱等不同荧光光谱的“指纹”信息特征 ,并介绍了导数荧光法、低温荧光法、磷光光谱法等辅助鉴别方法     

Concurrency: a system design approach to environmental management and sustainability

The lessons of history indicate that mismanagement of natural resources and the environment often leads to potentially adverse consequences.The increasing interest in economic development,particularly in the developing countries of the world coupled with increasing population pressures and the globalization of economic activity is placing noticeable stresses on the ultimate sustainability of both human and environmental systems.Sustainable development is not a new concept.It has been an area of concern for different elements of society for some time.Yet efforts to understand the implications of sustainable development have not,until recently,been formalized.We have focused singularly on economic development and environmental quality as if they were mutually exclusive.This paper focuses on the concept of concurrency as both a conceptual framework and practicable method of understanding and implementing the ecology and economy of sustainability.