Sustainable wood-based nanotechnologies for photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants in aquatic environment

•Wood and its reassemblies are ideal substrates to develop novel photocatalysts. •Synthetic methods and mechanisms of wood-derived photocatalysts are summarized. •Advances in wood-derived photocatalysts for organic pollutant removal are summed up. •Metal doping, morphology control and semiconductor coupling methods are highlighted. •Structure-activity relationship and catalytic mechanism of photocatalysts are given. Wood-based nanotechnologies have received much attention in the area of photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants in aquatic environment in recent years, because of the high abundance and renewability of wood as well as the high reaction activity and unique structural features of these materials. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of the current research activities centering on the development of wood-based nanocatalysts for photodegradation of organic pollutants. This review begins with a brief introduction of the development of photocatalysts and hierarchical structure of wood. The review then focuses on strategies of designing novel photocatalysts based on wood or its recombinants (such as 1D fiber, 2D films and 3D porous gels) using advanced nanotechnology including sol-gel method, hydrothermal method, magnetron sputtering method, dipping method and so on. Next, we highlight typical approaches that improve the photocatalytic property, including metal element doping, morphology control and semiconductor coupling. Also, the structure-activity relationship of photocatalysts is emphasized. Finally, a brief summary and prospect of wood-derived photocatalysts is provided.     

Maritime spatial planning: opportunities &; challenges in the framework of the EU integrated maritime policy

In recent years, maritime spatial planning (MSP) has become an internationally emerging, promising tool for the implementation of integrated ocean management. MSP provides the appropriate framework for public authorities and stakeholders to coordinate their action across sectors and administrative boundaries, and to optimize the use of natural resources. In November 2008 the European Commission adopted the Communication “Roadmap for Maritime Spatial Planning: Achieving Common Principles in the EU” (COM(2008) 791 final) aiming to facilitate the development of MSP by Member States and to stimulate its implementation at national and EU level. Core element of this Roadmap is a set of ten key principles for MSP in Europe. Although endorsed as valid and comprehensive, further discussion and research is needed to identify challenges, measures and tools for the key principle’s practical application. This special issue of the Journal of Coastal Conservation: Planning and Management (JCCPM) seeks to contribute to this discussion. Its purpose is to shed light from different angles on the various aspects of the mentioned ten key principles and provide lessons learned from experience in different maritime areas around the world. Taking a more scientific, rather than a political point of view, the following articles will debate the different principles, their practical handling, as well as the consequences linked to their application.     

有机食品及其发展

叙述了有机食品的概念、标准及发展有机食品的现状，并分析了我国发展有机食品的优势及其前景。     

Time perspective and climate change policy

The tendency to foreshorten time units as we peer further into the future provides an explanation for hyperbolic discounting at an inter-generational time scale. We study implications of hyperbolic discounting for climate change policy, when the probability of a climate-induced catastrophe depends on the stock of greenhouse gasses. We characterize the set of Markov perfect equilibria (MPE) of the inter-generational game amongst a succession of policymakers. Each policymaker reflects her generation's preferences, including its hyperbolic discounting. For a binary action game, we compare the MPE set to a “restricted commitment” benchmark. We compare the associated “constant-equivalent discount rates” and the willingness to pay to control climate change with assumptions and recommendations in the Stern Review on Climate Change.“…My picture of the world is drawn in perspective…. I apply my perspective not merely to space but also to time”—Ramsey.     

Green payments and dual policy goals

We use a mechanism design framework to analyze the optimal design of green payment policies with the dual goals of conservation and income support for small farms. Each farm is characterized by two dimensions of attributes: farms size and conservation efficiency. The policymaker may not be able to use the attributes as an explicit criterion for payments. We characterize optimal policy when conservation efficiency is unobservable to policymakers, and when farm size is also unobservable. An income support goal is shown to reduce the conservation distortion caused by asymmetric information. The cost of optimal green payment mechanisms is shown to depend crucially on whether large or small farms have greater conservation efficiency.     

Tax policy and secondary material use

Legislative interest in policies to stimulate resource recovery has pointed out the need for an analysis of the determinants of materials flows. This paper characterizes the flows of virgin and secondary materials and explores in detail points where the two materials become substitute commodities. Econometric models specified at these points of substitution in the wastepaper and scrap steel industries are used to analyze various policy options being considered by Congress.     

Green payments and dual policy goals

We use a mechanism design framework to analyze the optimal design of green payment policies with the dual goals of conservation and income support for small farms. Each farm is characterized by two dimensions of attributes: farms size and conservation efficiency. The policymaker may not be able to use the attributes as an explicit criterion for payments. We characterize optimal policy when conservation efficiency is unobservable to policymakers, and when farm size is also unobservable. An income support goal is shown to reduce the conservation distortion caused by asymmetric information. The cost of optimal green payment mechanisms is shown to depend crucially on whether large or small farms have greater conservation efficiency.     

Frontier science and challenges on offshore carbon storage

● The main direct seal up carbon options and challenges are reviewed. ● Ocean-based CO₂ replacement for CH₄/oil exploitation is presented. ● Scale-advantage of offshore CCS hub is discussed. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is an imperative, strategic, and constitutive method to considerably reduce anthropogenic CO₂ emissions and alleviate climate change issues. The ocean is the largest active carbon bank and an essential energy source on the Earth’s surface. Compared to oceanic nature-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR), carbon capture from point sources with ocean storage is more appropriate for solving short-term climate change problems. This review focuses on the recent state-of-the-art developments in offshore carbon storage. It first discusses the current status and development prospects of CCS, associated with the challenges and uncertainties of oceanic nature-based CDR. The second section outlines the mechanisms, sites, advantages, and ecologic hazards of direct offshore CO₂ injection. The third section emphasizes the mechanisms, schemes, influencing factors, and recovery efficiency of ocean-based CO₂-CH₄ replacement and CO₂-enhanced oil recovery are reviewed. In addition, this review discusses the economic aspects of offshore CCS and the preponderance of offshore CCS hubs. Finally, the upsides, limitations, and prospects for further investigation of offshore CO₂ storage are presented.     

Glyphosate detection: methods,needs and challenges

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Glyphosate is considered toxicologically harmful and presents potential association with human carcinogenesis and other chronic diseases, including mental and...     

Cement industry: sustainability, challenges and perspectives

Cement-based materials, such as concrete and mortars, are used in extremely large amounts. For instance, in 2009 concrete production was superior to 10 billion tons. Cement plays an important role in terms of economic and social relevance since it is fundamental to build and improve infrastructure. On the other hand, this industry is also a heavy polluter. Cement production releases 5–6% of all carbon dioxide generated by human activities, accounting for about 4% of global warming. It can release huge amounts of persistent organic pollutants, such as dioxins and heavy metals and particles. Energy consumption is also considerable. Cement production use approximately 0.6% of all energy produced in the United States. On the other hand, the chemistry underlying cement production and its applications can be very helpful to overcome these environmental issues. In terms of manufacture, there are many alternative materials that can be used to minimize carbon dioxide production and reduce energy consumption, such as calcium sulfoaluminates and β-Ca₂SiO₄—rich cements. Using residues from other industrial sectors can also improve the sustainability of cement industry. Under adequate conditions, waste materials such as tyres, oils, municipal solid waste and solvents can be used as supplementary fuel in cement plants. Concrete can be used for encapsulation of waste materials such as tyres, plastics and glasses. In this review, we discuss some aspects of the cement industry associated with environmental science. Other issues such as economic aspects, the chemistry of cement manufacture and its properties are also presented. Special attention is given to the role that cement chemistry can play in terms of sustainability. The most relevant aspects are outlined, such as the use of alternative materials, new possibilities and also the recycling of materials. It is also argued that an important aspect is the role of research and development necessary to improve cement sustainability.     

Mapping opportunities and challenges for rewilding in Europe

Farmland abandonment takes place across the world due to socio‐economic and ecological drivers. In Europe agricultural and environmental policies aim to prevent abandonment and halt ecological succession. Ecological rewilding has been recently proposed as an alternative strategy. We developed a framework to assess opportunities for rewilding across different dimensions of wilderness in Europe. We mapped artificial light, human accessibility based on transport infrastructure, proportion of harvested primary productivity (i.e., ecosystem productivity appropriated by humans through agriculture or forestry), and deviation from potential natural vegetation in areas projected to be abandoned by 2040. At the continental level, the levels of artificial light were low and the deviation from potential natural vegetation was high in areas of abandonment. The relative importance of wilderness metrics differed regionally and was strongly connected to local environmental and socio‐economic contexts. Large areas of projected abandonment were often located in or around Natura 2000 sites. Based on these results, we argue that management should be tailored to restore the aspects of wilderness that are lacking in each region. There are many remaining challenges regarding biodiversity in Europe, but megafauna species are already recovering. To further potentiate large‐scale rewilding, Natura 2000 management would need to incorporate rewilding approaches. Our framework can be applied to assessing rewilding opportunities and challenges in other world regions, and our results could guide redirection of subsidies to manage social‐ecological systems.     

无公害农产品生产与生态农业

分析了无公害农产品生产与生态农业建设的关系 ,认为生态农业是无公害农产品生产的有效途径。此外 ,探讨了有关无公害农产品生产的技术与管理体系。     

清洁生产政策及其未来走向

2002年6月31日,<清洁生产促进法>在全国人大常委会上获得通过,这是我国清洁生产工作中的一个重要里程碑.本文回顾了近年来我国清洁生产领域相关政策的制订和实施情况,分析了<清洁生产促进法>提出的清洁生产促进手段和制度,讨论了如何根据<清洁生产促进法>的要求,建设适合中国国情的清洁生产政策体系,以及在建设这一体系时所应注意的问题.     

Environmental policy for spatial and persistent pollutants

Traditional economic models of alternative pollution policies notwithstanding, all discharges are persistent to some degree (assimilation is not instantaneous), and their distributions vary spatially. Utilizing an optimal control framework to capture the dynamics of persistence, the efficiency of economic incentives and regulations are juxtaposed when the goal is to obtain arbitrary environmental standards at least social cost. For generality, the considered pollutant is regarded as spatially variant, and standards are allowed to differ among regions. Theoretically optimal policy parameters are derived. As in the case of spatial, nonpersistent discharges, the property of persistance alone is demonstrated to invalidate the typically maintained economic advantage of price-guided policies over regulatory policies.     

Corruption, political competition and environmental policy

This paper examines the interplay between corruption, political competition, environmental policy and environmental outcomes. An important feature of the model, which has been neglected in the existing literature, is that corruption may occur at different levels of government, such as the payment of bribes to politicians who determine policies, or bureaucrats who administer environmental regulations. We analyse the relationship between political competition and environmental outcomes in a model of stratified corruption and identify the benefits and limits of political competition. Our results suggest that while political competition may yield policy improvements, it cannot eliminate corruption at all levels of government.     

Analysis of the current situation of environmental policy of China and establishment of distributed environmental policy framework

In this study, China’s current macro-environmental policies as well as their implementation and management tools are analyzed. By using the basic economic methodology, detailed studies are conducted focusing on the implementation effect of contemporary China’s typical environmental policy of the total pollutant discharge quantity control type, and also the two types of environmental management tools are compared from the perspective of implementation costs and policy uncertainty. By introduction of distributed management tools into the implementation of environmental policies, market-oriented means and the methods of economic analysis are introduced into environmental policy decision-making mechanisms, which could afford a new method for changing the current relatively low efficiency of environmental policy, solving the problem of “government failure” in environmental policy implementation, and providing a new way to make environmental policy system more flexible and more efficient. It is of great practical significance to solve China's current structural, complex and accumulative environmental problems.     

硒的土壤生态环境、生物地球化学与食物链的研究现状

综述了硒的自然生态环境及全球土壤中硒含量与分布、形态及转化 ,决定植物硒含量及食物链系统中硒水平的关键因素 ,植物对硒的吸收和积累与遗传因子的关系 ,硒在植物组织中主要的存在形式 ,植物中硒的形态与生物有效性和生物利用率研究的意义 ,对食物链中的硒水平进行调控的方法及今后硒研究的前沿问题。     

Ambiguity,reasoned determination,and climate-change policy

This paper examines climate-change benefit-cost analysis in the presence of scientific uncertainty in the form of ambiguity. The specific issue addressed is the robustness of benefit-cost analyses of climate-change policy alternatives to relaxation of Savage's original axioms. Two alternatives to subjective expected utility (SEU) are considered: maximin expected utility (MEU) and incomplete expected utility (IEU). Among other results, it is demonstrated that polar opposite recommendations can emerge in an ambiguous decision setting even if all agree on Society's rate of time preference, Society's risk attitudes, the degree of ambiguity faced, and the scientific primitives. We show that, for a simple numerical simulation of our model, an MEU decision maker favors policies which immediately tackle climate change while an IEU decision prefers “business as usual”.“Each agency shall assess the costs and benefits of the intended regulation, and recognizing that some costs and benefits are difficult to quantify, propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its cost.” Executive Order 12866 of the US President.