Measuring carbon in forests: current status and future challenges

To accurately and precisely measure the carbon in forests is gaining global attention as countries seek to comply with agreements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Established methods for measuring carbon in forests exist, and are best based on permanent sample plots laid out in a statistically sound design. Measurements on trees in these plots can be readily converted to aboveground biomass using either biomass expansion factors or allometric regression equations. A compilation of existing root biomass data for upland forests of the world generated a significant regression equation that can be used to predict root biomass based on aboveground biomass only. Methods for measuring coarse dead wood have been tested in many forest types, but the methods could be improved if a non-destructive tool for measuring the density of dead wood was developed. Future measurements of carbon storage in forests may rely more on remote sensing data, and new remote data collection technologies are in development.     

The environmental issue facing asymmetric oil price shocks and renewable energy challenges: evidence from Tunisia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present paper investigates the environmental issue in Tunisia when considering both renewable energy challenges and asymmetric oil prices shocks....     

上海城市水环境质量改善历程与面临的挑战

上海市排污总量大,污染负荷重.历史上,黄浦江曾经黑臭,苏州河则在20世纪70～90年代终年黑臭,地表水污染一度成为困扰上海环境的一个主要问题.20世纪80年代以来,上海加大了对城市受污染河流的治理力度,开展了一系列工作,其中苏州河修复是最具代表性的一项.苏州河治理耗资157亿元,历时20年.在实施了苏州河污水合流一期、苏州河环境综合整治一、二、三期项目后,苏州河黑臭现象消失,水质持续改善,滨河风貌明显改观,受到各方面高度评价.与此同时,上海城市水环境质量总体趋好,而要进一步稳定和持续改善全市水环境质量,深化整治势在必行,水环境工作者面临新的挑战.     

Development policy cooperation with China in the environmental sector: principles and focal areas

Environmental conservation is a focus of German development policy and thus also a focus of cooperation with the People's Republic of China. Development that is environmentally sound and makes careful use of natural resources is not only important for the people of China, in terms of preserving the source of their livelihood and helping to improve their living conditions. It is also, given the scale involved, of global relevance. This paper provides comprehensive information on the background to the environment issue, possible solutions to the problems, and suggestions on the financing of environmental technology.     

论中国上市公司环境信息披露的现状及其完善

环境信息披露是上市公司信息披露制度的重要内容,是促进环境保护和可持续发展的重要举措.考察和分析了中国20家重污染行业上市公司2007年年报中环境信息披露的情况,并采用Sustainability公司制定的评分标准对中国3家通过可持续发展报告披露环境信息的上市公司进行了评分评级.最后,针对中国上市公司环境信息披露中存在的问题,提出了完善环境信息披露制度的若干建议.     

China's natural wetlands: past problems, current status, and future challenges

Natural wetlands, occupying 3.8% of China's land and providing 54.9% of ecosystem services, are unevenly distributed among eight wetland regions. Natural wetlands in China suffered great loss and degradation (e.g., 23.0% freshwater swamps, 51.2% costal wetlands) because of the wetland reclamation during China's long history of civilization, and the population pressure and the misguided policies over the last 50 years. Recently, with an improved understanding that healthy wetland ecosystems play a vital role in her sustainable economic development, China started major efforts in wetland conservation, as signified by the policy to return reclaimed croplands to wetlands, the funding of billions of dollars to restore degraded wetlands, and the national plan to place 90% of natural wetlands under protection by 2030. This paper describes the current status of the natural wetlands in China, reviews past problems, and discusses current efforts and future challenges in protecting China's natural wetlands.     

The challenges in the identification of Escherichia coli from environmental samples and their genetic characterization

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Escherichia coli bacteria are an essential indicator in evaluations of environmental pollution, which is why they must be correctly identified. This...     

The SUCOZOMA program: results and challenges

The research program Sustainable Coastal Zone Management (SUCOZOMA), which was started in 1996 by the Swedish Foundation of Strategic Environmental Research, was motivated by the recognition of increasingly severe global, regional and national coastal problems. The program approached the complex issues of coastal eutrophication, fishing practices, and overexploited coastal resources, with a concerted effort involving multidisciplinarity, stakeholder cooperation, and a focus on the problems perceived as most serious by the public and decision-makers. As the program was concluded in 2004 it had resulted in the completion or near-completion of 22 doctoral dissertations and approximately one hundred publications. More than 40 scientists were involved in the program. G?teborg University was the host university, but important research teams have also been located at Stockholm University, the Beijer Institute, and the Kristineberg Marine Research Station of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and within the National Board of Fisheries. During the program, networks of stakeholders were established and SUCOZOMA had contributed to numerous political and administrative processes relevant for integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). SUCOZOMA program results can be grouped into different categories. Many of the projects in the two phases of the program produced results which can be defined as technical or practical and available for direct implementation in, e.g. mussel cultivation, restoration and safeguarding of spawning areas, seal-safe fishing gear or sustainable fishing of underexploited species. Other results can be characterized as policy oriented, and the impact of these can only be fairly evaluated as new policies are put into effect. SUCOZOMA resulted in important new knowledge regarding coastal science and management, but also concerning the organization required to conduct an end-user oriented multidisciplinary program effectively.     

Leveraging collective action and environmental literacy to address complex sustainability challenges

Developing and enhancing societal capacity to understand, debate elements of, and take actionable steps toward a sustainable future at a scale beyond the individual are critical when addressing sustainability challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, biodiversity loss, and zoonotic disease. Although mounting evidence exists for how to facilitate individual action to address sustainability challenges, there is less understanding of how to foster collective action in this realm. To support research and practice promoting collective action to address sustainability issues, we define the term “collective environmental literacy” by delineating four key potent aspects: scale, dynamic processes, shared resources, and synergy. Building on existing collective constructs and thought, we highlight areas where researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can support individuals and communities as they come together to identify, develop, and implement solutions to wicked problems. We close by discussing limitations of this work and future directions in studying collective environmental literacy.     

Development and practices of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in China

The paper introduces the research and practices of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in China, including the definition of plan environmental impact assessment (PEIA), its political and legal basis, mode for combining SEA into integration of environment and development in decision-making (IEDD). Then, an operational procedure and methods used for SEA in China, and particularly the enforcement framework of SEA, i.e. subject of implementation, object of SEA, elements and scope, analysing the correlation of different implemented subjects and their responsibility, are discussed. Nine practical case studies are exemplified in this paper, and finally some proposals are given.     

Measuring technical efficiency associated with environmental investment: does market competition and risk matters in banking sector

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This paper investigates the impact of several comprehensive risks such as credit risk, capital risk, liquidity risk, and insolvency risks on Pakistani...     

From chemical risk assessment to environmental resources management: the challenge for mining

On top of significant improvements and progress made through science and engineering in the last century to increase efficiency and reduce impacts of mining to the environment, risk assessment has an important role to play in further reducing such impacts and preventing and mitigating risks. This paper reflects on how risk assessment can improve planning, monitoring and management in mining and mineral processing operations focusing on the importance of better understanding source–pathway–receptor linkages for all stages of mining. However, in light of the ever-growing consumption and demand for raw materials from mining, the need to manage environmental resources more sustainably is becoming increasingly important. The paper therefore assesses how mining can form an integral part of wider sustainable resources management, with the need for re-assessing the potential of mining in the context of sustainable management of natural capital, and with a renewed focus on its the role from a systems perspective. The need for understanding demand and pressure on resources, followed by appropriate pricing that is inclusive of all environmental costs, with new opportunities for mining in the wastes we generate, is also discussed. Findings demonstrate the need for a life cycle perspective in closing the loop between mining, production, consumption and waste generation as the way forward.     

Advancements in solar technologies for sustainable development of agricultural sector in India: a comprehensive review on challenges and opportunities

Agriculture is the main occupation of the majority of people in India. The majority of the population in India is dependent (directly or indirectly) on agriculture as an occupation. The agriculture sector requires more freshwater and power for better yield in the current scenario. Nevertheless, the ever-increasing rate of energy consumption, limited fossil fuels, and rising pollution have made the expansion of renewable resources essential. Due to the suitable solar potential available in India, the deployment of solar energy has been more as compared to other renewable resources. The current study aims to discuss the various technologies, initiatives and policies of solar energy usage in agriculture. This work delivers an assessment of the advancement of solar energy vis-à-vis agricultural applications through the greenhouse concept and photovoltaic approach in India. Various agricultural applications of solar energy, such as solar water desalination system, solar water pumping system, solar crop dryer system for food safety, etc. are discussed as a means to promote solar-based technology. It also highlights the scenario of solar energy in India with important accomplishments, developmental approaches, and future potential. In-depth studies of various policies and government initiatives including those in research and development are also discussed. The current survey on solar technologies will be an aid to agribusiness frameworks to comprehend the statuses, obstructions, and extent of advancement. Finally, some future recommendations for further developments in this approach are discussed. This work sheds light on varied areas of solar energy-assisted agricultural systems as a potentially sustainable and eco-friendly pathway.

Graphical abstract

     

Preliminary investigation of greenhouse gas emissions from the environmental sector in Taiwan

The United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC) asks their Parties to submit a National Inventory Report (NIR) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on an annual basis. However, when many countries are quickly growing their economy, resulting in substantial GHG emissions, their inventory reporting systems either have not been established or been able to be linked to planning of mitigation measures at national administration levels. The present research was aimed to quantify the GHG emissions from an environmental sector in Taiwan and also to establish a linkage between the developed inventories and development of mitigation plans. The "environmental sector" consists of public service under jurisdiction of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration: landfilling, composting, waste transportation, wastewater treatment, night soil treatment, and solid waste incineration. The preliminary results were compared with that of the United States, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, and Korea, considering the gaps in the scopes of the sectors. The GHG emissions from the Taiwanese environmental sector were mostly estimated by following the default methodology in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guideline, except that of night soil treatment and waste transportation that were modified or newly developed. The GHG emissions from the environmental sectors in 2004 were 10,225 kilotons of CO2 equivalent (kt CO2 Eq.). Landfilling (48.86%), solid waste incineration (27%), and wastewater treatment (21.5%) were the major contributors. Methane was the most significant GHG (70.6%), followed by carbon dioxide (27.8%) and nitrous oxide (1.6%). In summary, the GHG emissions estimated for the environmental sector in Taiwan provided reasonable preliminary results that were consistent and comparable with the existing authorized data. On the basis of the inventory results and the comparisons with the other countries, recommendations of mitigation plans were made, including wastewater and solid waste recycling, methane recovery for energy, and waste reduction/sorting.     

Paradigm changes in freshwater aquaculture practices in China: Moving towards achieving environmental integrity and sustainability

Contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to global food security is linked to increased fish consumption. Projections indicate that an additional 30–40 million tonnes of fish will be required by 2030. China leads global aquaculture production accounting for 60% in volume and 45% in value. Many changes in the Chinese aquaculture sector are occurring to strive towards attaining environmental integrity and prudent use of resources. We focus on changes introduced in freshwater aquaculture developments in China, the main source of food fish supplies. We bring forth evidence in support of the contention that Chinese freshwater aquaculture sector has introduced major paradigm changes such as prohibition of fertilisation in large water bodies, introduction of stringent standards on nutrients in effluent and encouragement of practices that strip nutrients among others, which will facilitate long-term sustainability of the sector.     

Correction to: Advancements in solar technologies for sustainable development of agricultural sector in India: a comprehensive review on challenges and opportunities

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -