Sustainability analysis of Chinese transport policy

SUMMARY

Whilst the world economy is developed, the life and development of human beings have been threatened by the imbalance between environmental and ecological aspects. Thus, sustainability is becoming increasingly the focus of various social fields. For most developing countries, a strategy with good sustainability for social development is of long-term significance to keep the economy in expansion. This paper first reviews the conceptual framework and up-to-date development of sustainability. Second, it reviews the current transport situation of China and its future demands. Third, the paper analyses transport policy from the viewpoints of energy consumption and environment pollution caused by transportation. It finally summarises suggestions for transport policy that China should consider in the future.     

Assessing sustainable development in urban areas using cognitive mapping and MCDA

As interest in sustainability-related issues has increased over recent years, so too has urban sustainability risen to the fore, in academic, practitioner, and policymaking circles alike. Urban sustainability requires a balance between environmental concerns, the economy, and social development in urban areas. However, over the years, there has been an exponential increase in urban density, accompanied by increased economic activity and high levels of consumption, which have hindered urban planning and made the sustainable management of urban areas more difficult. It has therefore become increasingly necessary to combine the interests of the various stakeholders involved in – or affected by – urban planning measures, in order to achieve a balance between their needs, those of the environment and future generations, and the need for economic development. Sustainability evaluation models can in this sense be considered a baseline condition for sustainable development. However, most existing evaluation systems present limitations in terms of criteria identification and the calculation of the respective trade-offs. To address these issues, the current study aims to combine cognitive mapping and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize the determinants of sustainable development in urban areas. The advantages and limitations of our proposal are also analyzed.     

The responses and prospects of sustainable development for Guangzhou and Hong Kong

The ability to achieve urban sustainability has become an indication of the competence of a municipal government aiming to gain world class status for the city. While both Guangzhou and Hong Kong are Chinese cities having their own formulation of urban sustainability, the implementation details and the actual sustainability blueprints are very different. As a result, the outcomes and prospects for urban sustainability are also different.

Hong Kong has adopted a less integrative and more institutionally-oriented approach for urban sustainability. Guangzhou has used the conventional approach to formulate an integrated sustainability programme for its local Agenda 21. Hong Kong's action plan emphasizes improving coordination, making objective assessments and achieving consistency in policy-making. Guangzhou, on the other hand, emphasizes the meeting of concrete environmental targets. Unfortunately, the new institutional arrangement and monitoring tools adopted by Hong Kong have not been able to achieve the original intent and neither is there the intention to go too far beyond the weak sustainability approach. On the contrary, Guangzhou has planned and attempted to incorporate industrial ecology in its development regime while heavily investing into pollution control programmes and pushing forward a green community programme at the grass-roots level.     

Relationships of the dimensions of sustainability as measured by the sustainable society index framework

This article presents a study of the interrelationships between the different dimensions of sustainability as measured by the sustainable society index framework. We examine the statistical relationships between the four indices making up the sustainable society index framework. The analysis uses the complete existing data set provided by Sustainable Society Foundation for the years 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 and for 151 countries. While the time period where data are available is quite short, we can make some preliminary observations about the apparent trends in the interrelationships of the different dimensions of sustainability. This study shows that the three dimensions of sustainability are far from all being synergic and positively correlated. There is a strong negative correlation between human well-being and environmental well-being. This is problematic from the point of view of the Brundtland Commission’s three-pillar definition of sustainability. However, the trade-off relationship between economic and environmental development measured by the economic well-being index and environmental well-being index is decreasing and the dimensions are becoming more de-linked. This trend is promising from the sustainability perspective.     

Land system architecture for urban sustainability: new directions for land system science illustrated by application to the urban heat island problem

ABSTRACT

Land system science (LSS) has expanded its research focus from the drivers of land-use and -cover change primarily in rural wildlands to include the social-environmental consequences of this change, urban areas, and sustainability practice. Land system architecture, interacting with the landscape mosaic approach in ecology, offers a special niche for the entry of rural areas and wildlands into urban sustainability research through examinations of the composition and configuration of ‘cityscapes’. Given the fine-grain data requirements of heterogeneous cityscapes, emergent land architecture-mosaic approaches have largely explored the urban heat island (UHI) problem, a topic that links LSS with the interests of urban climatology, engineering, and planning in city morphology or geometry. The subtle distinctions in the treatment of land configuration between land architecture-mosaic approaches and urban morphology-geometry approaches are identified. Several examples of the land architecture-mosaic approach illustrate the understanding gained about the UHI problem as well as its complementarity with morphology-geometry approaches. This understanding provides insights about the design of urban areas at the parcel to neighborhood scales to ameliorate extreme temperatures, an issue of increasing concern for urban areas worldwide and consistent with the sustainability problems identified by such international programs as Future Earth.     

Ecological planning for promoting urban sustainable development: A case study of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone,China

Based on the case study of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, China, this paper investigates the theories and application of ecological planning for promoting urban sustainable development. The stated significance of such development is to promote the co-ordination of relationships between man and nature, and man and the environment.     

天津城市中心区环境噪声污染及其防治对策

针对城市中心区环境噪声污染的现状及其防治工作中存在的问题，探讨了健全法制、从源头抓起、加强规划和基础设施建设等防治环境噪声污染的对策。     

The systems approach for sustainable development at catchment and parish group levels

SUMMARY

Sustainable development considers the development of urban and rural areas, and agriculture is an important element in reaching that aim. After decades of using synthetic pesticides, fertilisers and growth hormones in agriculture, farmers as well as the public, policy and decision makers require options to minimise the negative impacts of agricultural practices on the environment and humans consistent with so called sustainable development. Such options are possible, but require time and a range of approaches. Agricultural production systems in Kent belong to a system and so the systems approach becomes useful to solve their problems. Agricultural activities are interrelated, considering their hierarchical levels and their interactions. Hence, agroecology as a discipline using a systems approach suggests the catchment level as an appropriate unit for the analysis, design, development and evaluation of the ecological and socioeconomic interactions that take place within it. This kind of analysis ideally requires a multidisciplinary team, using disciplinary tools such as GIs and many sources of data. The combination of such a wide range of types of data in a systems approach to sustainability is described as a way to support the public, researchers, policy and decision makers.     

A regional-scale sustainable development index: the case of Baja California Sur,Mexico

Sustainable development, as a multi-dimensional concept, is difficult to measure. Some efforts using indicators and indices have appeared in recent years, but most were developed on a national scale. Use of sustainability indicators has proven valuable for attaining better management of the environment by minimizing information gaps and maximizing community capabilities in terms of economic, social, environmental, and institutional sustainability dimensions. However, at least in the case of developing countries, the potential exists that national sustainability measures, based on national level indicators, may mask problems in sub-national zones with highly unsustainable conditions. This paper proposes a methodology to evaluate sustainable development at a local level, the use of which could be helpful in comparing different regions within a country or even among different countries. National sustainability indicators should result from a combination (whether additive or proportional) of regional sustainability indicators, as developed in this paper.     

不同地被类型对城市热环境的影响研究

近些年来我国城市热环境急速恶化,特别是2013年我国南方多地出现突破历史极值的极端高温天气,严重影响了居民正常生活。本研究以深圳为例,运用气象站定点观测方法并首次引入运动样带观测方法对深圳市典型地被类型的气温进行监测、分析,探讨不同地被类型对城市热环境的影响。气象站定点监测实验从2011年6月至今,持续样带监测实验开始于2011年6月结束于2013年7月。本研究详细纪录了深圳市西丽大学城及其周边有典型地被类型的气温、太阳辐射、风向、风速等气象数据。根据不同城市景观分选出5种不同的典型城市地被类型：城市景观水、城中村、商业区、城市绿地、郊区。利用观测获得的具有高空间分辨度和高时间分辨度的实验数据对5种不同的地被类型进行分析比较,结果表明：5种不同城市景观的温度差异明显,商业区温度＞城中村温度＞城市景观水区域温度＞城市绿地温度＞郊区温度。城市绿化和景观水对城市热岛有明显的缓解作用,城市景观水可缓解城市热岛强度0.9℃,城市绿地可缓解城市热岛强度1.57℃。城市绿地的降温效果比城市景观水好,比城市温度的缓解效果强0.67℃。人类的周期性活动对区域城市热岛强度有明显的影响。一周时间内,商业区、城中村、城市景观水、城市绿地的城市热岛强度均呈“U”字形。周末四种地被类型的热岛强度比工作日要高,分别高出0.65℃、0.57℃、0.26℃、0.21℃。     

Development of a risk measure as a sustainable project selection criterion

SUMMARY

Sustainable decision-making requires consideration of technology, ecology, and the social and political infrastructure of society. While it may never be possible to identify with certainty what is sustainable and what is not, an attempt has been made in this paper to formulate a measure that permits one to compare the performances of project alternatives with respect to risk. An algorithm is presented for the evaluation of a risk criterion that can be used with other criteria in the process of selecting project alternatives. The intent of the risk criterion is to involve project stakeholders in the process of quantifying the risks associated with different project alternatives.     

城市污水对斑马鱼胚胎的影响

采用静态法,在实验室控制条件下,观察处理前后的城市污水对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应,并探讨其对斑马鱼胚胎可能的毒性机理。结果表明,兰州市安宁区M污水处理厂处理前的污水、处理后接触池出水和接触池出水入黄河排污口水对胚胎均有较高的毒性,其72 h EC50在21.384%～108.492%之间;对处理胚胎孵化成的仔鱼毒性也很明显。上述几种污水均降低斑马鱼胚胎的孵化率,增加胚胎及其孵化仔鱼的畸形。     

The activity of Polish non-governmental organisations regarding the implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development

The growing interest of citizens in environmental issues is reflected in the mission statements and actions of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), defined as bodies that are voluntary, non-profit and independent of public authority. The article analyses the activities of Polish NGOs with regard to the environmental dimension of sustainable development. The overarching research question posed in this article refers to the extent to which entities of the third sector adopt, implement and appropriately report the implementation of the principles of sustainable development. The empirical basis for the analysis has been found in the statements made by public benefit organisations, as well as in data concerning the activities of NGOs from publications covering the concept of sustainable development.     

A holistic approach to the development of sustainable agriculture: application of the ecosystem health model

Serious resource depletion has made sustainable agriculture an important and pressing issue for scientists, policy makers, and stakeholders worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Researchers have focused on methods to assess agriculture correctly, and to introduce sound solutions for sustainability, but have reached no agreement. In this paper, we introduce the theoretical framework of the agro-ecosystem health model, a new holistic approach, and apply it at a regional scale using four aspects (4S): sound structure, stable function, safe service, and sustainable development. We examine how 12 indicators of an agro-ecosystem health assessment (AHA) were selected using three dimensions based on this theoretical framework. In an AHA, we used an amoeba approach to examine a high-yield agro-ecosystem in Huantai County, Shandong Province, China. The results indicate that this model of ecosystem health can reflect the complex ecological, economic, and human conditions of an agro-ecosystem and evaluate these conditions using perspectives pertinent to system structure, function, and responses (services).     

重污染河道中浮游植物初级生产力特征

通过对苏州城市河道的调查研究发现,城市河道的浮游植物初级生产力与其它水体有明显不同。从2004年6月至2005年5月通过取样分析苏州苗家河水体浮游植物种类、数量和叶绿素a含量变化及采用黑白瓶法测定浮游植物产氧能力,结果表明:该河道氮、磷含量较高,浮游植物群落为绿藻-硅藻型,种类少,季节变化明显,水体中表层叶绿素a的含量低于底层。分析表层水体和底层水体叶绿素a的产氧能力发现,河道中浮游植物的光合产氧能力普遍较低。本文揭示了重污染河道中大量悬浮颗粒附着在浮游植物的体表,影响了浮游植物的光合产氧能力,是整个水体和底泥中的溶氧普遍较低的重要原因之一。探讨了重污染河道溶氧偏低产生黑臭的原因,为重污染河道的综合治理提供了参考。     

重污染河道中浮游植物初级生产力特征

通过对苏州城市河道的调查研究发现,城市河道的浮游植物初级生产力与其它水体有明显不同。从2004年6月至2005年5月通过取样分析苏州苗家河水体浮游植物种类、数量和叶绿素a含量变化及采用黑白瓶法测定浮游植物产氧能力,结果表明：该河道氮、磷含量较高,浮游植物群落为绿藻一硅藻型,种类少,季节变化明显,水体中表层叶绿素a的含量低于底层。分析表层水体和底层水体叶绿素a的产氧能力发现,河道中浮游植物的光合产氧能力普遍较低。本文揭示了重污染河道中大量悬浮颗粒附着在浮游植物的体表,影响了浮游植物的光合产氧能力,是整个水体和底泥中的溶氧普遍较低的重要原因之一。探讨了重污染河道溶氧偏低产生黑臭的原因,为重污染河道的综合治理提供了参考。     

The EU's double-track pursuit of sustainable development in the 2000s: how Lisbon and sustainable development strategies ran past each other

For almost a decade, the EU has pursued sustainable development not with one but with two overarching strategies: the so-called Lisbon Strategy and sustainable development strategies. While the Lisbon Strategy was a genuinely European policy response to global economic and social pressures, which was superseded by the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy in 2010, sustainable development strategies are ongoing cyclical processes that aim to better coordinate and integrate economic, social and, in particular, environmental policies at both the EU and Member State levels. This paper explores the horizontal governance linkages that existed between the two strategies. It first contrasts the Council rhetoric, emphasizing the complementarity of the two strategies with their different histories and governance arrangements. This paper then shows that the Council rhetoric of complementarity never materialized in the everyday governance routines of the two strategies, and provides three explanations for this finding. Based on these findings, this paper finally provides a brief outlook discussion on how to proceed with the governance of sustainable development in Europe.     

Materialphilia,biophilia, and sustainable use of the planet

SUMMARY

The intricate and complex relationships between transhumant pastoralists, livestock and environment at the high altitudes of Indian Central Himalaya has started to break down at an alarming rate. Some of the important factors attributed to this are depletion of grazing resources, commercialization of the rural economy, and integration of these communities with the mainstream of development through education and employment. Traditionally these livestock were assigned different roles in society depending upon their economic benefit and utility. The roles which once depended upon attitude to various risks, such as environmental, social and economic, have lost their significance due to changing of the production process. This paper gives an overview of the various types of roles the livestock played in the transhumant society, and how they are being replaced by the developmental process in the region, and whether the changes are sustainable for such remote regions in a developing country.     

The evolution of CSR life-history strategies in a plant model with explicit physiology and architecture

This paper introduces a functional-structural plant model based on artificial life concepts and L-systems. This model takes into account realistic physiological rules, the architecture of the plants and their demography. An original benefit of this approach is that it allows the simulation of plant evolution at both functional and life-history levels implementing mutations to the L-systems and a set of genetic parameter values. The conducted experiments focus on the evolutionary emergence of different life history strategies in an environment with heterogeneous resource availability and disturbance frequency. It is found that, depending on the encountered conditions, the plants develop three major strategies classified as competitors, stress-tolerators and ruderals according to Grime's CSR theory. Most of the evolved characteristics comply with theoretical biology or field observations on natural plants. Besides these results, our modelling framework is highly flexible and many refinements can be readily implemented depending on the issues one intends to address. Moreover, the model can readily be used to address many questions at the interface between evolutionary ecology, plant functional and community ecologies and ecosystem ecology.     

Understanding the major drivers for implementation of municipal sustainable policies in underground space

Because of the expanding population in our cities with its demands for more diversified services, we cannot afford a piecemeal type of urban underground growth. Utilization of the urban street system for buried utilities has a serious adverse effect on other street functions because of the continuing necessity to perform excavations for the repair of existing lines and the installation of new ones. The excavations not only are a serious cause of traffic delay and congestion but also create noise and aesthetic disturbances, and result in excessive street maintenance requirements and in shortened overall street life. Consider the enhancing effects in quietness on abutting properties and users of the street, and the benefits become very great. Unfortunately, the lack of data and the difficulty in quantifying the intangibles have made it impossible to arrive at a reasonably accurate figure of overall negative impact on the urban environment of street cuts. However, if drivers are sufficiently strong to merit the use of utility tunnels, then sustainable municipal policies improving living quality will be implemented.