Sustainable Health Risk Management and the Role of Cross-Disciplinary Professionals in Developing Countries: Mexican Experience

The paper argues health risk management in Developing Countries cannot be sustainable unless it is conceived, planned, implemented and maintained by community-led multi-stakeholder groups using an integrated capacity building process with five components: (1) education and awareness raising; (2) strengthening information resources and decision making; (3) strengthening regulations and compliance; (4) improving basic sanitation infrastructure; and (5) stimulating the market for support products and services for health and environment sectors. Occupational and environmental health professionals with cross-disciplinary understanding are uniquely qualified to build much-needed bridges between stakeholders, risk science and policy. They should adopt a cost-effective mentality, adapting models/methods used in developed countries to developing country contexts, negotiating political obstacles and understanding cultural differences in risk sources, exposures and perceptions. Stakeholders – health professionals, community representatives, officials, NGOs/advocacy groups, industries, and providers of products/services – collaborate to detect needs, mobilize resources, design, develop, implement, consolidate and maintain interventions to priority problems. Field experience in Mexico supports the argument. This sustainability process is adaptable to other keystone development sectors like soil and water resources stewardship, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and energy.     

Optimal site selection for fluting paper mill from agricultural wastes in Golestan Province,Iran

Today, the issue of site selection for industrial units in developing countries which are poor in wood resources is considered as a vital matter and it is one of the key measures in the process of building industrial and giving service units. In every country there are some provinces and states which are more useful than other parts owing to primary infrastructures and facilities for industrialisation. As one of the suitable provinces of Iran, thanks to its lignocelluloses resources with 1,822,696 tons of exploitable waste, Golestan Province has a very good potential for building lignocelluloses products mills, such as fluting paper. For this end, in 2010, effective indices in fluting paper mill establishment were recognised in Golestan Province. Results showed that materials and products were the most important main indices and the preparation cost of raw materials was the most important sub-index. Finally, questionnaires were prepared for the best site selection and choices were evaluated according to the structure of interests and costs. The results of calculations performed through analytical hierarchy processes and in Expert Choice Software indicated that Gonbad City had the highest interest/cost ratio, and therefore, it is the best place for the establishment of floating paper mills from agricultural wastes in Golestan Province.     

Virtual water trade in industrial products: evidence from Malaysia

Virtual water embodied in international trade is equivalent to nearly one-third of global water withdrawal, confirming that trade plays a significant role in redistributing global water resources. This paper extends a virtual water analysis by measuring the extent to which virtual water embodied in traded industrial products affects the distribution of global virtual water. The distribution of global virtual water can be improved if trade in industrial products promotes virtual water outflows from water-abundant to water-scarce countries. Analyses were performed using an input–output model that can decompose water consumption into domestic demand and exports by destinations of trade. Focusing on Malaysia, the results indicate that trade in industrial products between Malaysia and its main trading partners have a limited capacity to improve the distribution of global virtual water. This limitation can be due to two reasons. Firstly, exports of Malaysian industrial products are mainly driven by less water-intensive sectors. Therefore, the amount of virtual water that outflows into other countries is also low. Secondly, trade in Malaysian industrial products largely involves water flows with other water-abundant countries. Only several water-scarce countries benefit from virtual water trade in industrial products with Malaysia, namely the Netherlands, Australia and China.     

Industrial pollution discharges from the West African region

Information on the type and quantity of industrial pollutants from major land-based sources entering the marine environment through direct coastal discharges or indirectly through rivers, as well as on the present status of industrial waste management (treatment and disposal) practices, are provided for the West African region. Most of the data utilized in this analysis were collected by six UNIDO experts who visited the eighteen countries of the West African region during the period of January through August 1980. Industrial operations were visited and information was collected from the various ministries involved with industrial development and environmental protection. Estimates of the mass of pollutants discharged to the ocean were based upon production rates used in conjunction with actual measurements made by the industries located in the countries visited; studies reported in the literature; and an extrapolation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Effluent Standards for various industrial sectors. The West African region was divided into five zones closely approximating the major currents of the Atlantic Ocean. The estimated pollution discharged by the industrial sector was calculated for each of the zones by adding the contribution from each country assigned to a zone.     

Water pollution footprints induced by industrial import and export in China

With the rapid development of foreign trade in China, industrial import and export has been an absolute subject in recent years. The huge trade surplus of import and export trade of industrial products brings not only high profits, but also pollution costs as well. Based on the concept of water pollution footprints (WPFs), this study applies the input-output method and calculates pollutant-producing coefficients of 20 major industrial sectors in China and investigates the WPFs caused by the import and export trades of these industrial sectors. The research results show that WPF resulting from exports exceeds that of imports from 2011 to 2015 in China. The net inflow of pollution footprint is mainly from paper mills, printing and stationery manufacturing, and textile industry; whereas a great number of WPFs are transferred to other countries by these sectors, such as metal mining and dressing industry and oil and natural gas exploitation industry.     

我国加入WTO对农业综合开发的影响及对策

本文首先分析了加入WTO对我国农业综合开发的不利影响和有利影响,不利影响主要在于国内市场分额被挤占、农产品质量差距明显等;有利影响主要是开拓国外市场、引进技术和资金等,文章结合我国的国情,提出我国农业综合开发在WTO框架下的应对措施。     

长江三角洲区域发展及区域互动的三大关键问题

在我国加入WTO、进入国际经济大循环的背景下，长江三角洲不仅要加强自身的发展，通过体制创新、技术创新建成为我国区域功能完善、产业布局合理、城乡关系协调、生态与环境优良的现代化示范区，更重要的是在长江流域和全国发挥经济带动作用，提高服务功能，成为我国与世界经济接轨并参与竞争的基地、我国高新技术产业与现代农业基地和支援西部大开发并提供知识经济服务的基地。但是长期的计划体制造成的地区分割与部门分割不利于产业的合理布局与重大基础设施建设的统一协调，也不利于共同进行生态建设与环境保护。从区域互动的角度就经济增长方式与产业布局、以港口为主的重大基础设施建设与协调、水土资源的环境保护与可持续发展三个方面进行了论述。     

A perspective on community and state interests in small-scale mining in India including the role of women

To achieve 8% growth of the Indian economy, the industrial sector must grow at 10% rate. The vision statements of various core sectors of the country show that the mining sector will have to expand greatly. India is among the top ten mineral producing nations in the world and the Indian mining industry indicates almost the full range of extractive mineral products. Small-scale mining is quite prevalent in India. Such mines constitute about 90% of total number of mines, 42% of the total non-fuel minerals and metals, 5% of the fuel minerals. Some 3,000 small-scale mines account for a work force of about 0.5 million people. Yet this sector is a neglected sector in Indian economy and still considered as an unorganized sector. This article examines the community and state interests in small-scale mining and the contribution of small-scale mines to employment, national mineral production, practices, and Indian policy on small-scale mining. It identifies drawbacks in the existing Government policy and discusses a possible role for the Government to upgrade the sector. This paper highlights the impacts of mining on women community, the socioeconomic characteristics of women as miners and on the productive roles that women play in mining. It also discusses how the pursuit of sustainable livelihoods, poverty alleviation, indigenous peoples right and gender equity in artesianal and small-scale mining be more effective when these communities are disadvantaged or neglected by government policies. The respective roles of the indigenous people and migrant workers in the social organization of ASM sectors in different parts of the country are discussed. Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

中国资源利用与产业结构的调整

产业发展与资源开发有密切关系,但产业不同其对自然资源的依赖程度也不同。从第一产业、第二产业到第三产业受自然资源直接影响的程度减弱。当代由于社会经济发展程度不同,存在自然资源结构、自然资源开发结构、资源开发导向经济结构、技术导向经济结构等区域类型。当前我国单位国民生产总值资源消耗大、浪费严重。这与产业结构陈旧落后,一、二产业比重大,重工业比重大,加工业水平低,产业规模结构不合理以及技术经济条件差等有密切关系。实现资源节约必须对产业结构进行调整,建立起资源节约型的产业体系。     

循环经济产业体系论纲

循环经济的核心是物质在产业间和产业与环境间的循环流动。发展循环经济要落实到具体的产业和企业上。需搞清具有物质循环利用关系的产业及其间的关系。为区别传统经济产业间的关系，避免走入用传统产业理论指导循环经济建设的误区，本文提出产业体系和循环经济产业体系的概念。并将若干与某种生产要素有关的产业相互联系、相互制约而构成的整体称为产业体系。以物质要素循环利用关系为纽带的产业体系称为循环经济产业体系。根据物质在环境社会系统中的流动模式。将循环经济产业体系中的产业分成物资产业、人的产业和环境产业三大类。要在传统（线性）经济的基础上发展循环经济。需理性地按生态学原理规范经济活动。重点强化废弃物再生和回用的环境产业。使之同物资产业和人的产业相协调。产业体系是对产业结构概念的发展。循环经济产业体系是循环经济理论和建设的重要内容。构建循环经济理论体系、出台有关法律法规和产业政策。是循环经济建设工作的重点。     

《巴黎协定》时代的气候融资:全球进展、治理挑战与中国对策

本文首先辨析了"气候资金"与"气候融资"两个基本概念,且通过对包括《巴黎协定》在内,最新的气候资金相关法律文件、信息通报、文献资料、智库报告的研究和系统梳理,指出全球气候融资发展趋势表现在全球气候融资缺口正在持续扩大;资金来源更加市场化;发展金融机构募集、管理和分配了大部分的公共资金;新型经济体用款权受到挤压,也呈现出更大的出资潜力;稳定的碳价格被认为是全球实现"零排放"长期减排目标的核心机制。与此同时,气候资金治理体系也处在关键的转型期,目前气候资金治理正在向"自下而上"的模式过渡,《公约》外平台承担了"气候风险主流化"的多重功能,但需要警惕"自下而上"的治理模式有绕过"共同但有区别责任"的风险,且绿色气候基金运作规则的导向性作用值得关注。据此,本文在最后提出了一系列治理建议。建议我国应积极影响国际气候资金机制运营规则和技术规则的制定,避免发达国家以及代表其利益的国际组织制定的标准片面地发展为国际规则;支持在全球设定渐进的、可预测的、可信的碳价格,并且肯定将气候与环境风险因素内生化的核心思想理念;与绿色气候基金开展多方位合作,推动气候公共资金治理规则转型;加强与世界银行在气候融资领域的合作;借G20平台逐步发展为气候融资政策突破和工具创新的引领者。     

Influences of Border Carbon Adjustments on China’s Foreign Trade

Abstract

The EU, the United States and other economies, with the intention to implement unilateral trade measures Border Carbon Adjustments, impose emission reduction pressure on developing countries. Once implemented, the measures will have great impact on China’s foreign trade. Using the input-output table in 2007, this paper had analyzed the influences on China’s foreign trade as a whole and sub-sectors in three tax rates scenarios. The results showed that the tariff level of China’s exports will increase by 3.6%–6.3% if the tax was levied on exports embodied emissions, and by 1.0%–1.7% if levied on export direct emissions. In 2007, the former total amount of carbon tax was about US$42.6–73.0 billion, 4 times that of the latter. Based on export embodied emissions, sectors largely influenced were non-traditional energy intensive ones, such as textile, et al. These sectors should be encouraged to carry out industrial upgrading, raising the value-added of export goods, and reducing their embodied emissions by reduction of energy intensity. Taking into account of the complexity of data collection, the tax levied on products direct emission is more operational. The results showed that the five top sectors most affected were other chemical materials, processing of petroleum and nuclear fuel, coking, smelting and rolling of ferrous metal and textile. Most of them were energy intensive sectors. Therefore, adjusting export products structure, and controlling too fast development of energy intensive industries are also important strategies in China.     

Influences of Border Carbon Adjustments on China’s Foreign Trade

The EU, the United States and other economies, with the intention to implement unilateral trade measures Border Carbon Adjustments, impose emission reduction pressure on developing countries. Once implemented, the measures will have great impact on China’s foreign trade. Using the input-output table in 2007, this paper had analyzed the influences on China’s foreign trade as a whole and sub-sectors in three tax rates scenarios. The results showed that the tariff level of China’s exports will increase by 3.6%-6.3% if the tax was levied on exports embodied emissions, and by 1.0%-1.7% if levied on export direct emissions. In 2007, the former total amount of carbon tax was about US$42.6-73.0 billion, 4 times that of the latter. Based on export embodied emissions, sectors largely influenced were non-traditional energy intensive ones, such as textile, et al. These sectors should be encour-aged to carry out industrial upgrading, raising the value-added of export goods, and reducing their embodied emissions by reduction of energy intensity. Taking into account of the complexity of data collection, the tax levied on products direct emission is more operational. The results showed that the five top sectors most affected were other chemical materials, processing of petroleum and nuclear fuel, coking, smelting and rolling of ferrous metal and textile. Most of them were energy intensive sectors. Therefore, adjusting export products structure, and controlling too fast development of energy intensive industries are also important strategies in China.     

Carbon emissions of china’s industrial sectors based on input–output analysis

This study uses an input–output model presenting the embodied carbon emission in the import–export procedure, as well as the responsibility allocation between China’s 35 sectors and 7 main trade partners from 1995 to 2011. Results indicate that the amount of carbon emissions in China’s industrial sectors is immense and that the industrial sectors are in serious imbalance. Such imbalance exists mainly in textiles, basic and fabricated metal, electrical and optical equipment, and machinery, among others. Based on the consumer-responsibility principle, the responsibility of 29 departments is reduced. Correspondingly, foreign sectors become more responsible. America, as China’s largest trading partner, should account for most of the total responsibility, followed by developed countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany.     

《21世纪议程》:行动与展望

1992年,联合国环境与发展大会通过了《关于环境与发展的里约热内卢宣言》、《21世纪议程》和《关于森林问题的原则声明》3项重要文件。之后,国际社会为推动"里约精神"的落实做出了积极努力:联合国可持续发展委员会每年举行会议,审议《21世纪议程》的执行情况;许多国家制定了国家和地方层面的《21世纪议程》或可持续发展战略;相关国际组织以可持续发展能力建设为主的活动也十分活跃。人类把发展与环境相协调作为行动准则,各国依据国情制定了促进环境与发展相协调的优先事项,使人类在实现可持续发展的进程中取得了积极进展:全球经济实现了大幅增长,发展中国家在全球经济格局中的地位不断上升;在消除贫困等社会发展方面取得显著效果,全球开始进入城市化时代;全球能源资源供应呈现多元化,资源节约集约利用成效显著。中国在经济发展滞后、贫困现象较严重背景下,承担了全球实施《21世纪议程》的旗舰角色;并依据本国的具体国情,选择性地学习与借鉴,摸索创造出具有自身特色的发展模式和道路,增加了世界可持续发展方式选择的多样性。20年来,尽管各个国家在可持续发展方面采取了积极行动,但是"里约精神"尚未全面转化为行动,在相关国际承诺与公约的履行方面还需付出巨大努力,仍然面临着重大挑战。如:以气候变化为代表的重大全球性环境问题对人类生存构成的直接威胁加大;生态超载背景下的发展空间争夺更趋激烈;全球性民生问题凸显,可持续发展面临的社会风险加大,等等。我们期待:通过"里约+20"大会,使得相关国际制度安排不断形成和完善,可持续发展进一步向全球行动转化;科技创新步伐加快,进一步推动全球向绿色发展转型;加快全球治理体系调整,新兴发展中国家成为全球可持续发展的重要推动力;全球共同努力解决重大资源环境问题,可持续发展领域的国际关系呈现竞争性合作。     

加入WTO后关于我国土地资源可持续利用与管理的思考

文章首先简要介绍了加入WTO给我国带来的发展机遇，分析了加入WTO对我国农用地的数量，质量、经营规模和粮食自给率的影响，并就加入WTO对国有企业的用地效益，房地产业与土地市场的冲击以及未利用土地的影响进行了探讨。最后，提出了适应WTO我国土地资源可持续利用与管理的对策。     

中国进入WTO以来与欧盟棉花贸易的虚拟水资源总量研究

中国在与欧盟国家的商晶贸易中,直接进口的是初级农产品,但闻接进口的却是隐藏在这些农产最中的虚拟水.研究这些潜在的水资源,对缓解我国水资源压力,保障粮食安全具有重要的现实意义.本文采用联合国粮农组织FAO的CROPWAT Model计算模型,借助CropWat for Windows计算软件,从资源当量转换的角度出发,计算中国自进入WTO以来与欧盟国家的棉花贸易中水资源转换以及虚拟水贸易情况.计算结果表明,2003-2005年中国在与欧盟的棉花贸易中,间接进口了151.28×106m3的水资源,相当于节约了国内同等数量的水资源.本文可以为解决中国日益短缺的水资源问题提供有益参考.     

中国种植业产品贸易自由化对环境影响的计量经济分析

入世后．中国将根据WTO的要求对农业贸易相关政策进行调整和改革，这将改变国内农业生产，进而影响到农村生态环境。在此背景下．本文首先界定了种檀业产品贸易自由化的涵义．并对其环境影响途径进行分析．然后利用计量经济方法着重分析了贸易自由化对国内种植业生产中化肥、农药使用的影响。研究结果表明，在种植业产品的贸易自由化中，进口渗透作用对缓解国内化肥、农药污染影响显着．而出口导向作用影响不明显。文章最后给出了减缓农产品贸易自由化的不利影响，发挥其有利影响的政策建议。     

加入WTO对我国城市垃圾处理行业的影响和对策

中国已经正式加入了WTO。环保产业是 2 1世纪的重头产业 ,而城市垃圾处理行业又是环保产业的核心之一。本文在分析我国城市垃圾处理行业发展状况的基础上 ,结合WTO及《WTO协议》的原则和规定 ,从机遇和挑战两个方面分析了加入WTO对我国城市垃圾处理行业的影响 ;并提出了应对策略     

农业贸易政策环境影响评价的案例研究

随着国际贸易自由化程度的提高,贸易与环境问题越来越引起人们的重视。对贸易政策进行环境影响评价。指导贸易政策的制定。是解决贸易所带来的环境问题的重要途径。了解中国入世后一系列的农业政策调整会在多大程度上影响环境。对于新的政策决策具有指导意义。本文在总结贸易政策环境影响评价研究步骤和方法的基础上。对农业贸易政策环境影响评价的特点进行讨论,并以河北省迁安市小麦种植业为例,进行农业贸易政策环境影响评价的案例研究。由于农业贸易政策直接作用于农业生产经营活动。再通过农业生产经营等活动间接地影响环境质量状况。本文借助转移矩阵方法进行分析评价。