Eco-efficiency evaluation of iron rod industry in Nepal

This paper presents the eco-efficiency of energy intensity, material consumption, water use, waste generation, and CO₂ emission in terms of production value in net sales (US$) per environmental influence using empirical evaluation. Evaluation has been considered only within production process boundary of iron rod industry. Evaluation of eco-efficiency tried to couple the economic and environmental influences of industry to know economic and environmental excellence. Eco-efficiency of iron rod industry was quantitatively analyzed and determined that energy, material consumption, water use, waste generation, and CO₂ emission eco-efficiency have been increased gradually along with increased production during analysis period of five years (2001–2005). It was possible due to installing heat recovery unit along with innovative processes modification. While comparing each year's eco-efficiency of all above-mentioned parameters, eco-efficiencies were increased that indicates less resource use and less waste released. As a general statement of overall comparison and characterization of eco-efficiencies of five years duration, iron rod industry was eco-efficient in all aspects. Eco-efficiency being an emerging trend has not yet been implemented in Nepal. It is further recommended to adopt the eco-efficiency evaluation in other industries. In addition, it is high time to augment the provision of eco-efficiency concepts in industrial policy and legislation concerned.     

Environmental response indicators for the industrial and energy sector in Flanders

Environmental reporting with quantitative indicators is becoming popular worldwide. However, environmental response indicators, which describe the reaction of societal actors to environmental problems and to government policy, still remain under investigation. This paper describes the collection of potential response indicators for the industry and energy sectors in Flanders, the quality assessment, and the identification of a core set of suitable response indicators. The selected core set consists of four indicators: eco-efficiency (a mainstream indicator for decades), the presence of an environmental management system, the amount of environmental expenditures and the use of sustainable energy. This core set is applied to the Flemish situation in order to assess the environmental performance of the industry and energy sectors. The core set allows identification of areas where the industry and energy sectors are performing better than other sectors, as well as areas where additional efforts are needed.     

Partnerships in creating agile sustainable development communities

The key to clean, renewable and healthy futures for society(s) can be seen in the need to consider how all infrastructure areas such as water, waste and transportation, energy are treated. And to focus attention on the emerging commercial technologies (such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) that will be available regionally and then globally within the next five to ten years. Planning and investing now for that future will prove to be prudent and cost effective. Public-private partnerships, known as “civic markets“ can create and provide “funds” such as public bonds along with private sector innovation and markets on the regional, state and national levels. Similar bond funds have been passed by the electorate in California, most recently for stem cell research (USA$3 billion). Public support to promote funding for sustainable communities has also been demonstrated with bond funds for water, forests and land preservation.“Agile energy systems” are flexible and adapt to change effectively and efficiently for economic, environmental and social benefits, the triple bottom line. However, there needs to be collaboration between the pubic and private sectors in creating them. Such civic markets can from new associations of communities, cities and nation-states that might be useful to plan public policies and create the “government market“ in terms of procurement and coordination of public resources for renewable energy on-site and central grid power generation. One suggestion is to form an “Association of Agile Energy Cities or communities.”     

基于隐含能的行业完全能源效率评价模型研究

针对各行业能源利用效率的评价比较问题,考虑能源、经济、环境之间相互依存和相互制约的关系,基于隐含能思想提出了行业完全能源效率的概念,构建了评价指标体系,并将投入产出模型和数据包络分析方法相结合建立了评价模型,模型综合考虑了行业生产中能源消耗和碳排放对经济社会发展与环境演变的作用与价值.通过实证分析,对北京市42个行业的完全能源效率进行了评价,鉴别其在生产全流程能源消费中存在的问题,并给出了提高行业完全能源效率的潜力和改进途径.实证研究结果表明,北京市第一产业的完全能源效率很低,有些服务业的完全能源效率也较低,相反地有些工业行业的完全能源效率却比较高.这说明,为了实现节能减排目标,政府不应该简单地限制所有工业行业发展,也不应该盲目地鼓励发展所有服务业,而应该参考各行业的完全能源效率情况,在充分衡量其对经济社会发展的贡献之后做出综合决策.     

Effectiveness of the Local Adaptation Plan of Action to support climate change adaptation in Nepal

A key challenge in climate change adaptation in developing countries as a whole, and to handling global change in particular, is to link local adaptation needs on the one hand, with national adaptation initiatives on the other, so that vulnerable households and communities can directly benefit. This study assesses the impact of the Nepal government’s efforts to promote its Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) and its applicability to other least developed countries (LDCs). Based on data gathered from two field studies in Nepal, the research shows that the Nepal’s LAPA has succeeded in mobilizing local institutions and community groups in adaptation planning and recognizing their role in adaptation. However, the LAPA approach and implementation have been constrained by sociostructural and governance barriers that have failed to successfully integrate local adaptation needs in local planning and increase the adaptive capacity of vulnerable households. This paper describes the mechanisms of suitable governance strategies for climate change adaptation specific to Nepal and other LDCs. It also argues the need to adopt an adaptive comanagement approach, where the government and all stakeholders identify common local- and national-level mainstreaming strategy for knowledge management, resource mobilization, and institutional development, ultimately using adaptation as a tool to handle global change.     

Pro-active behaviour induction by integration of sustainability in business strategic management: INOVE project case study

INOVE was a regional partnership project and had two main goals: finding and helping to implement solutions for real business problems, in order to increase their competitiveness according to sustainable development; and dissemination of new concepts, methodologies and tools of sustainability. Members of the partnership were: INETI, CEISET, eight companies, a polytechnic institute and a university.Knowledge transfer was implemented during 15 workshops and simultaneously was put in practice on companies' sites by mixed teams.Economic indicators were definitely positive; environmental indicators such as materials, water and energy consumption, waste generation and liquid and gaseous emissions were improved and social issues such as stakeholders' information and involvement were introduced into the business strategy of the companies.     

Renewable energy from palm oil – innovation on effective utilization of waste

Protecting the environment has been the priority of many sectors in our endeavor to ensure sustainable development. Implementation of green energy development based on the use of biomass is in the right path in adopting a holistic approach in the promotion of renewable energy. Malaysia has very substantial potential for biomass energy utilization given its equatorial climate that is ideal for dense tropical forest growth and agricultural vegetation. Biomass power potentials from wood processing and palm oil were estimated at 280 TJ and 250 TJ, respectively. By the year 2010, the biomass energy potential is expected to increase to 820 TJ. The paper describes the effective use of biomass as the first of the renewable energy sources to be developed for large-scale applications, especially in the palm oil industry and the methodology for energy harness by innovative utilization of waste from palm oil cultivation and processing.     

The challenge of waste minimisation in the food and drink industry: a demonstration project in East Anglia,UK

Waste minimisation in the food and drink industry leads to many of the improvements demonstrated in other sectors—energy efficiency, reduction of raw material use, reduction in water consumption and increasing reuse and recycling on site. Such improvements in environmental performance produce a directly beneficial effect on the profitability of business.The East Anglian Waste Minimisation in the Food and Drink Industry Project has demonstrated that significant amounts of food-grade material are rejected from the production line for their unsatisfactory quality, whether visual, physical, microbiological or compositional (chemical or biochemical). The Project has demonstrated that waste reduction of 12% of raw materials can be achieved and that this makes significant contributions to company profitability by improving yields per unit output and by reducing costs associated with waste disposal. Evidence also shows that there is potential for further improvements through improving dialogue between producers, retailers and consumers.The East Anglian Waste Minimisation Project has demonstrated that the packaging of food products presents considerable challenges to the food and drink industry. Significant opportunities exist for modifying both primary and secondary food packaging. However, whilst packaging requirements principally consider health and safety, the demands of the major supermarket chains and consumers have taken little or no account of criteria designed to meet the wide-ranging demands of waste minimisation.Optimising the opportunities for waste minimisation in the key areas of putrescible wastage and packaging, and improving consensus and dialogue are essential catalysts between purchasers, including both consumers and the major supermarkets, and between food producers and manufacturers. These food and drink sectors must identify the process options that result in a lower waste burden, pursuing contractual agreements that reinforce and support the selection of such options.     

德国发展环境保护的举措与实效

德国政府在改善生态环境，治理环境污染方面采取了一系列行之有效的措施。通过对大气、水源、噪声、废物等污染源的治理，改善了人们的生存环境；行政手段与经济手段并举，加快了产业结构的调整和能源结构的升级，为德国社会和经济的可持续发展奠定了基础。     

上海废电池回收实证分析及相关宣传教育对策探讨

回顾了上海市废电池回收过程;通过对2个试点项目实施效果的分析,指出了目前废电池回收存在的误区及原因。在相关宣传教育方面,指出针对废电池回收的宣传教育并未随政策改变而作相应调整,宣传教育形式比较单一,内容相对陈旧,效果不理想。提出了提高公众认识、调整宣教内容、在环境宣传教育中增强专业性和创新性等建议。     

废旧煤矿区域生态环境保护方式改革与分析研究

煤炭能源长期在中国的能源结构中占据主导地位,是中国不可或缺的一次性能源。煤炭资源的开发和利用极大的促进了中国的经济发展,推进了现代化建设的路程。但同时对煤炭资源的过度开采也导致了严重的生态环境问题。尤其是对废旧矿区的处理不恰当造成了矿区周围地表塌陷,空气污染,植被破坏等一系列问题,废旧矿区周边逐渐发展成为严重受损生态系统。对中国当前废旧煤矿区域已出现的生态环境问题以及潜在的环境和安全隐患进行调查和分析,提出通过恢复植被等方法对废旧煤矿区生态环境治理方法和技术措施。     

餐厨垃圾与生活垃圾焚烧协同处理探讨

目前餐厨垃圾处理处置项目存在投资及运行成本高等问题。本文针对规模小的餐厨垃圾处理项目,提出餐厨垃圾与当地生活垃圾焚烧项目协同处理的技术方案。该协同处理方案能够实现餐厨垃圾处理与生活垃圾焚烧项目的人员共享、设施共享、能源互通,且占地小、物流顺畅,大幅度降低了餐厨垃圾处理的投资和运行成本,是一种可行的适合于小规模餐厨垃圾处理项目的技术方案。     

Problems of Syrdarya river basin management

Prior to independence, Central Asian countries were closely interconnected through the regional management incorporating water, energy, and food sectors. This approach, supported by the central government of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), functioned effectively — meeting the needs of both upstream and downstream countries. However, after independence, Central Asian countries started prioritizing their own economic development policies without due account to regional concerns such as joint use of water resources, leading to instability. In this study, the case of Syrdarya basin was investigated to show how such strategies create tension in the region, since primary focus is given to national interests, without consideration for regional problems. To address this issue, an integrated approach to incorporating water, energy, and agriculture is needed. It is suggested that a single sector approach on water alone does not lead to stability, and a multi-sectoral approach is necessary to ensure sustainable development. Countries sharing benefits from the river have to be responsible for costs of operation and maintenance of the water facilities.     

工业废气在循环流化床锅炉中的掺烧应用

介绍了东方化工厂两台循环流化床锅炉掺烧工业废气改造的背景及原则,叙述了火炬气回收及供气系统、燃气燃烧器、PLC控制三个主要系统的布置、选择、设计等情况,论述了锅炉掺烧火炬气后的安全、掺烧比例的确定、掺烧位置的选择等三个需要重点关注的问题,分析了项目实施后所取得的节能效益、环保效益,是同行业回收利用工业废气,实现节能降耗的一种有效方式,具有很好的参考价值和推广意义。     

中国城市碳排放核算研究——以无锡市为例

为分析城市温室气体减排潜力、比较不同城市的碳排放水平提供基本方法和数据,将城市温室气体排放源分成工业能源、交通能源、居民生活能源、商业能源、工业过程和废物等6个单元,建立了一套针对城市的温室气体排放核算方法体系,并以无锡市为例,对我国城市碳排放特征进行了探索.结果显示,无锡市工业能源单元碳排放量占全社会温室气体排放量的比例最大,为68%~71%;其次为工业过程单元和交通单元,分别为13%~19%和6%~10%.城市碳排放总量在2004~2008年间增长迅速,人均碳排放量和单位GDP碳排放量均高于世界水平.     

An exploratory research of the application of natural capitalism to sustainable tourism management in Taiwan

Natural Capitalism (NC) is a groundbreaking blueprint for a new economy and may catalyze the next industrial revolution. Some successful examples such as car design and green architecture have shown that the concepts of NC can be implemented in various economic activities. However, few applications of this new paradigm have been investigated in tourism even through tourism has become one of the important economic activities.The purpose of this study was to determine if the concepts of NC can be utilized in the diverse tourism sectors in Taiwan. In addition, the major obstacles of using NC within each tourism sector were also studied. Thirty-seven senior tourism facility mangers were invited to provide their opinions via a structured questionnaire. Several findings, important to stakeholders of different tourism sectors in Taiwan, such as, were found: (1) lodging is the most likely tourism sector to implement NC, (2) travel agents and tour operators have difficulty promoting the concept, and (3) there are major obstacles for employees to understand and implement the ideas of NC in their work. The curriculum in tourism education should be redesigned to strongly emphasize the relationship between tourism and NC.     

电子废弃物资源循环体系构建研究

随着人们淘汰的电子废弃物日益增多,电子废弃物对环境的污染越来越严重,电子废弃物虽然含有大量危险有害化学物质,但其中的稀贵金属却具有很好的回收利用价值,文章通过电子废弃物资源循环体系研究,提出了建立电子废弃物法律法规体系、政府职能体系、资源回收体系、绿色行为体系的新思路,解决了电子废弃物资源循环利用过程中存在的法律漏洞问题、政府监督和管理缺位问题、电子废弃物回收路径不畅通问题和人们绿色消费意识不强等问题.     

Factors affecting resource use optimisation of the chemical industry in the Northern Ostrobothnia region of Finland

To gather data on the resource efficiency of the chemical sector, a questionnaire was sent to the chemical companies in the Northern Ostrobothnia region of Finland. Resource use optimisation was investigated by analysing measures and attitudes toward waste prevention. The survey revealed that legislation is the main driver for change in the chemical industry. The analysis showed a clear lack of monitoring practice as well as a lack of understanding of major concepts, such as that of the nature of waste. Process optimisation to reduce raw material losses and energy consumption is a key utilised practice. Practices aimed at water usage reduction are rarely employed. Lack of information, regulative restrictions set on waste materials and lack of human resources are barriers to waste reduction practice. Improving information, education and training of employees in waste issues and increasing environmental awareness are essential for companies in the Chemical Industry in Northern Ostrobothnia to move toward resource use optimisation.     

循环经济进程中甘肃省能源可持续利用思路探析

基于循环经济的3R原则,深入分析甘肃省的能源开发利用中存在的诸多能源问题:能源利用效率低,浪费严重;能源结构不合理,工业耗能比重过大;能源环境问题日益严重.提出今后能源开发建设的基本思路是调整能源结构,重点是转向可再生能源和新能源.并就如何实现能源和循环经济协调发展提出一系列战略重点和主要措施.     

Review of drivers and barriers for nuclear power in the UK

There has been resurgence in interest in new nuclear power stations over the last couple of years. The UK Government has taken steps to encourage the private sector to build new stations in the UK, a change in its previous neutral stance toward nuclear power. This paper examines the change in government policy asking what drivers have led to this decision and what barriers were preventing new nuclear power in the past and what barriers are still faced by both government and industry. Three main drivers are discussed: security of energy supply; diminishing energy generation capacity; and climate change. The paper also examines other key factors that play a part in facilitating a shift in government policy, namely economics, public perception and waste management policy. Barriers are identified through examination of public perception, and policy. The changes to the planning system are also discussed. The paper concludes by comparing drivers and barriers for other technologies and contrasting the UK experience with that of other countries.