Environmental evaluation of localising production as a strategy for sustainable development: a case study of two consumer goods in Jamaica

The objective of this study was to compare the life-cycle environmental impacts of changed production structures for two consumer goods (high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shopping bags and beds) in Jamaica. A scenario technique was used to construct three alternative production structures for each product; each scenario reflecting an increase in local production in Jamaica which depended on an increased supply of input materials which may be sourced: (1) externally from overseas suppliers, (2) from post-consumer recycling, and (3) locally on the island of Jamaica. These three constructed scenarios were then compared to the existing supply chain or reference scenarios of the products. The results showed that for both case products the recycling scenario was most preferable for localising production, resulting in the lowest environmental impact. This was because the production of raw materials accounted for the largest effect on total environmental impact. As such, the most immediate environmental improvements were realised by lowering the production of virgin materials.     

Design for Sustainability (DfS): the interface of sustainable production and consumption

Nowadays design is faced with the challenge to contribute to the transition towards a sustainable society. Design for Sustainability (DfS) is the response to this challenge. It includes but goes beyond what Design for the Environment or ecodesign provides, by integrating social, economic, environmental and institutional aspects and by offering opportunities to get involved, express one’s own identity beyond consuming standardised mass products.DEEDS, a Leonardo research project, had the mission to embed sustainability in design and design in sustainability. For this behalf, the project partners approached the issue from the angles of design, sustainability science and sustainable consumption analysis, developing tools and rules (the SCALES principles) to support DfS and to incorporate it into design education and practice.The paper describes the framework conditions as explored by sustainable consumption research, the obstacles identified by DEEDS and gives hints how to overcome them based in the lessons learnt in the course of the project.     

区域农业生态系统可持续发展指标体系及其应用

建立可持续发展评价指标体系已成为区域水平上研究可持续发展的重要内容。论文从可持续发展概念与内涵入手,以杭州市萧山区为例,探讨了建立评价指标体系和指标定量化的方法。通过建立该区域农业生态系统可持续发展评价指标体系和可持续发展度模型,定量描述了系统在近10年来的波动变化状态。发展度模型包括发展位、发展势和协调度3个方面。研究表明,该区域发展位一直保持持续稳定的上升趋势;发展势也表明了系统整体状况愈来愈靠近系统规划值;系统协调度在波动中逐渐增长,表明各组分之间耦合关系加强;系统整体发展度在波动中逐渐提高。从研究可知,该区近10年来经济保持快速增长,人民生活水平、科技和卫生等领域得到很大改善,人口得到有效控制;自然资源保护和生态环境建设虽然近年来投入逐渐增加,但由于工业发展和人口增长很快,使该子系统仍需加大投入强度。     

Increasing the rate of sustainable change: a call for a redefinition of the concept and the model for its implementation

Mankind is committed to taking sustainable pathways in search of a state of sustainability. Thirty years after the “Limits to Growth” published by the Club of Rome the world is still far from the equilibrium of sustainable development (SD). Technology is postponing the depletion of natural resources but is not solving the problem itself, either because the technology is itself not sustainable or because the application of it is being mismanaged. This article attempts to analyze the wide gap between the strategies drawn up and the effectiveness of the actions taken in implementing sustainability. The paper addresses the issue of whether or not mankind can make the right choices and has the right infrastructure of pathways to do so. In short, an answer is sought to the question, “What are the prerequisites for the fastest rate of sustainable change?” This question is tackled by the four authors. They start from critical arguments concerning the effectiveness of sustainable change, explain the terminology used in the article and identify the main factors for increasing the rate of sustainable change, which are then discussed in detail in each part of the text (EG). Then, each from a different starting point, they comment on self-organization (US), sustainable innovation and cultural regions (HK), global cooperation and regional resources (MB) and sustainable research by universities (EG). The individual contributions, when taken together, form a discussion of the crucial factors or prerequisites for sustainable change. It is concluded that only cooperation between regions and regional stakeholders can give sustainable change the driving force needed to overcome global (political) friction and ensure that it moves forward in equilibrium and at a constant rate. Specific measures are put forward to maximize awareness within and among regions.     

Destratification and oxygenation efficiency of a water-lifting aerator system in a deep reservoir: Implications for optimal operation

Thermal stratification is a common phenomenon in lakes and reservoirs and has a significant influence on water quality dynamics.Heihe Reservoir is a canyon-shaped reservoir in Shaanxi Province with strong thermal stratification.Therefore,eight water-lifting aerators(WLAs) were installed in this reservoir,which could overcome thermal stratification and increase oxygenation with gas flows between 20 and 50 m3/hr,and oxygenate the hypolimnion with gas flows less than 20 m3/hr.To examine the destratification efficiency of the WLA system,we used a threedimensional hydrodynamic module based on MIKE 3 to simulate the thermal structure of Heihe Reservoir and compared the simulations with measured data.Results showed that operation of the WLA system promoted water mixing and effectively oxygenated the hypolimnion.Through the established energy utilization assessment method,the energy utilization efficiency of the WLA system was between 5.36% and 7.30%,indicating the capability of the technique for destratification in such a large reservoir.When the surface water temperature dropped to the theoretical mixed water temperature calculated by the energy utilization assessment method,reducing gas flow could save energy.This would prevent anaerobic conditions from occurring in the bottom water and maintain good water quality in Heihe Reservoir.     

基于参数最优地理探测器的福州市生境质量时空格局与驱动力分析

揭示生境质量的时空演变特征和影响因素可为区域可持续发展提供参考依据。基于2000年、2010年和2020年的土地利用数据,运用InVEST模型、土地利用转移矩阵和参数最优地理探测器等方法,综合分析福州市生境质量时空演变及其驱动因素。结果表明：福州市2000年、2010年和2020年生境质量指数分别为0.812、0.806和0.793,生境质量改善的面积小于生境质量退化的面积,福州主城区和东南沿海区域的生境状况亟须改善。3 km网格为本研究的最佳空间尺度,最佳数据离散化分类数为6,自然间断点法更能解释驱动因素的驱动程度。高程、坡度和夜间灯光是福州市生境质量空间分异的主要影响因素,坡度和夜间灯光的交互作用对生境质量变化的解释力最强。

     

The periodic review of biosphere reserves: a mechanism to foster sites of excellence for conservation and sustainable development

The past three decades have seen major changes in concepts of conservation, particularly the realisation that people living around ‘protected areas’ should play participatory roles in their management. Since 1974, the evolving biosphere reserve concept has foreshadowed these broader changes, most recently through the introduction of a periodic review process included in the 1995 Statutory Framework for the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). This paper briefly outlines the development of the concept and its implementation, presents the periodic review process, describes its application in the United Kingdom (UK), and concludes with some implications for the future.     

南麂列岛海域生态系统服务及价值评估研究

基于现场调查与公众调查,结合历史资料,利用市场价格法、影子工程法、旅行费用法等对南麂列岛国家级海洋自然保护区海域潮间带湿地和水域生态系统服务类型及其价值进行了评估研究.结果表明,2003年南麂列岛冉然保护区海域8项主要及部分次要生态系统服务总价值为24 258.23万元,其中供给服务、调节服务、文化服务的价值分别占23.79%、38.18%和38.03%,单位面积服务价值为12 772 元/ha.     

Technology strategies for sustainable metals production systems: a case study of primary aluminium production in The Netherlands and Norway

Many firms are embracing the environmental challenge by implementing incremental changes in their production systems. Nevertheless, radical innovations are also important for achieving sustainability goals. This paper focuses on the technology strategies leading to radical innovations in aluminium production systems. It conceptualizes the radical nature of innovations, and develops a framework for analysing the technology strategies of two aluminium smelters, Aluminium Delfzijl in The Netherlands and Hydro Aluminium in Norway. From the analysis, policy instruments are proposed for a transition towards sustainable aluminium production.     

Mercury levels and estimated total daily intakes for children and adults from an electronic waste recycling area in Taizhou, China: Key role of rice and fish consumption

In order to assess the potential health risks of Hg pollution, total mercury (T–Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations were determined in air, dust, surface soil, crops, poultry, fish and human hair samples from an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling area in Taizhou, China. High concentrations of T–Hg and MeHg were found in these multiple matrices, and the mean concentration was 30.7 ng/m³ of T–Hg for atmosphere samples, 3.1 μg/g of T–Hg for soil, 37.6 μg/g of T–Hg for dust, 20.3 ng/g of MeHg for rice and 178.1 ng/g of MeHg for fish, suggesting that the e-waste recycling facility was a significant source of Hg. The inorganic Hg (I–Hg) levels (0.84 μg/g) in hair samples of e-waste workers were much higher than that in the reference samples. Pearson''s correlation coefficients showed that strong positive correlations (p < 0.01) between hair I–Hg and time staying in industrial area (r = 0.81) and between MeHg and fish consumption frequency (r = 0.91), imply that workers were mainly exposed to Hg vapor through long-time inhalation of contaminated air and dust, while other population mainly exposed to MeHg through high-frequency fish consumption. The estimated daily intakes of Hg showed that dietary intake was the major Hg exposure source, and Hg intakes from rice and fish were significantly higher than from any other foods. The estimated total daily intakes (TDIs) of MeHg for both children (696.8 ng/(kg·day)) and adults (381.3 ng/(kg·day)) greatly exceeded the dietary reference dose (RfD) of 230 ng/(kg·day), implying greater health risk for humans from Hg exposures around e-waste recycling facilities.     

能源流视角下村落尺度能源消费结构比较及环境效应研究：基于河南省邑西里村、杨家村及山东省东桥头村的调查分析

加强村落尺度能源消费活动及其环境效应研究是实现农村能源可持续转型及绿色发展精细化治理的前提。但目前该领域存在明显知识空白,其原因在于缺乏基础数据和系统化数据采集体系及集成分析方法。基于对河南省邑西里村、杨家村以及山东省东桥头村的实地调研和半结构式访谈,采用定性和定量结合的方法开展能源消费活动及环境效应比较研究。结果表明：（1）村落尺度能源消费具有显著空间分异特征。邑西里村、杨家村和东桥头村人均能源消费量分别为505 kgce、889 kgce和1139 kgce;由能源消费产生的温室气体与污染物的种类分别为CO₂、CH₄、SO₂、N₂O、NO_x和TSP,单个家庭CO₂的产生量在2000—4000 kg;CH₄、SO₂、TSP和NO_x的排放量基本在1—5 kg;N₂O的排放量均在100 g以下。（2）居民生活环境和炊事供暖是影响村域能源消费的主要因素。其在邑西里村、杨家村和东桥头村的总用能占比分别为50.10%、79.08%和77.61%。（3）能源来源及消费结构具有明显的区位属性特征。杨家村距离市区较近,天然气成为当地居民的主要来源;邑西里村和东桥头村离市区较远,则以电力和煤炭为主。未来乡村地区的发展应该与当地的地域特征相结合,构建具有地方化特征的发展策略,实现农村能源的低碳健康发展。     

Improving the environmental performance of machine-tools: influence of technology and throughput on the electrical energy consumption of a press-brake

Machine-tools have been identified as one of the main energy-using products to be analyzed in an Ecodesign perspective, targeting the reduction of their environmental impact. Following this, machine-tool manufacturers are committed to anticipate eminent regulations and are looking for guidelines to improve their products on an effective and low-cost manner. This paper describes part of the energy consumption study followed in the frame of the Ecodesign of a commercial press-brake. All-hydraulic and all-electric commercially available systems, of different capacities and working in real production scenarios, have been included. From this study, a preliminary version of an LCI dataset for the bending process is proposed, structured in technology, machine capacity and usage mode categories, and using the bending cycle as the reference unit. The energy consumption per category was estimated based on a specific process energy model built as a function of the referred parameters. The contribution of the respective machine-tool structure to the environmental impact of the machining process is to be included, targeting the completion of such machining unit process dataset. The full LCA of an all-hydraulic system revealed the significant contribution of the machine-tool structure to the global life-cycle environmental impact of the machine (about 40%), while electricity during use phase contributes with about 46% to the total impact. This contradicts the general results published for other metal and non-metal forming processes, and is understood to be related with the discrete loading character of such forming processes here discussed.     

基于生产可能性边界的黄河三角洲湿地生态系统服务权衡强度

提出了一种基于生产可能性边界（PPF）的湿地生态系统服务权衡强度计算方法,包括湿地生态系统服务定量评估、权衡关系判定、PPF曲线绘制和权衡强度计算四个步骤。以黄河三角洲湿地为研究对象,对保护情景、现状发展情景及开发情景三种土地利用发展模式下的主导生态系统服务进行了定量化权衡分析。结果表明：各生态系统服务间呈现显著相关关系（R²≥0.9,P<0.01）,各发展情景下,栖息地质量与碳储量之间均为协同关系;物质生产与栖息地质量间均为权衡关系,排序为保护情景<基期<现状发展情景<开发情景;而对于物质生产与碳储量之间,在保护及现状发展情景下存在协同关系;而开发情景下转变为权衡关系。该模型通过灵活比较不同生态服务间权衡关系分析进行系列管理规划的方案优选,为实现区域可持续发展提供科学依据。     

Availability,addiction and alternatives: three criteria for assessing the impact of peak minerals on society

The concept of ‘peaks’ in the production of natural resources has attracted attention in the area of energy production, with concerns about ‘peak oil’ driving recent research and investment in alternative sources of energy. There are fundamental and important differences between a peak in the production of oil and peaks in the production of metalliferous minerals, but in both cases production changes from ‘easier and less expensive’ early in a resource’s life to ‘difficult and expensive’ as time progresses. The impacts of this change in production circumstances require critical consideration in the governance of national and sub-national mineral endowments.This paper develops a framework for evaluating the impacts of changing patterns of mineral production. The framework considers three criteria: availability of a resource (considering its geological characteristics and geographical distribution); society’s addiction to the resource (its centrality and criticality to economic, social and environmental systems); and the possibility of finding alternatives (whether the resource can be substituted or recovered). An initial assessment against these criteria provides an overview of how a production peak might affect the production of minerals in Australia and the impacts that this might have on the Australian economy.Assessing important resources against these three criteria will be imperative in future considerations regarding the roles minerals and metals play as service providers in our economic, social and environmental systems. Additionally, this analysis should prompt a reassessment of the value of minerals beyond economic measures. Indicators derived from these criteria will inform strategies that can address future changes in production characteristics – meeting challenges with strong governance, and realising opportunities with proactive policy.     

Supercritical fluid technology as a sustainable alternative method for textile dyeing:An approach on waste,energy, and CO2 emission reduction

The clothing industry is considered one of the most polluting industries on the planet due to the high consumption of water,energy,chemicals/dyes,and high generation of solid waste and effluents.Faced with environmental concerns,the textile ennoblement sector is the most critical of the textile production chain,especially the traditional dyeing processes.As an alternative to current problems,dyeing with supercritical CO₂(scCO₂) has been presented as a clean and efficient pr...     

Empirically based development of a framework for advancing and stimulating collaboration in the chemical industry (ASC): creating sustainable chemical industrial parks

Based on literature, we identify collaboration drivers and partner features for enhancing vertical and/or horizontal collaboration in the chemicals using industries. We further develop constructs for both types of collaboration. A survey-based analysis within the largest chemical cluster worldwide was carried out to verify and to test our literature-based constructs. Using our empirically based results, we develop and propose a framework for Advancing and Stimulating Collaboration (ASC) in the chemical industry. This framework can be used to increase collaborative arrangements within the chemical industry and thereby lead to more sustainable chemical product and process flows and management practices resulting in more sustainable chemical industrial parks.     

Assessing the high impacts of land use change: spatial characteristics of land uses and ecological compensation based on payment for ecosystem services model in a mountainous area,China

Most impacts on ecosystem services (ESs) are related to land use changes that may cause ecosystem fragmentation and loss of ecosystem functions. Spatial planning focused on sustainable landscape development should consider the local potential for providing ESs as well as ecological conservation due to land use changes. To better address the issues that are related to ecological and the ecological and environmental conservation, ecological compensation could coordinate the development of the energy, the economy, and the environment by internalizing environmental externalities and adjusting for the relationships with stakeholders’ benefits. In this study, we developed a framework for analyzing the spatial characteristics of land uses and calculating ecological compensation based on pay for ecosystem services (PESs) from 1995 to 2010 in the upstream of Min River, China. In terms of lacunarity analysis, we firstly explored the spatial patterns of land uses in these two periods that occurred at different spatial characteristic scales. We also observed a strong relationship between lacunarity values and the different distribution patterns of land uses. We then investigated changes in ESs in response to land use change through the assignment of per unit area ecological service value (ESV) method. The total value of ESs dropped from 449.97 billion yuan in 1995 to 441.35 billion yuan in 2010, exhibiting decreasing rate, mainly due to the degradation of woodlands. Soil formation and retention, gas regulation, and biodiversity protection were the three largest ESs, contributing about 50% of the total ESV. Considering the changed relation between social and economic indicators and ESV based on spatial visualization and analysis, we finally constructed a quantitative estimate model for ecological compensation taking a village as study unit and determined standard value so as to evaluate ecological compensation from 1995 to 2010. Spatial differences of the ecological compensation were significant among all the villages and towns. The maximum ecological compensation account (ranged from 1.68 to 8.54 billion yuan) appeared in the villages approximated to Li County, Heishui County, and Songpan County, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China. This proposed framework provides a better understanding of spatial characteristic scales of land uses and enables evaluation of the ecological integrity of landscapes. It also fills up the gap in the field of quantitative evaluation of regional ecological compensation and provides a feasible way to reconcile the conflicts among benefits in the economic, social, and ecological sectors.

     

基于生态系统服务均衡性视角的生态风险评估及管控优先区识别——以兰州市为例

生态系统服务是生态安全的前提和保障,将生态系统服务纳入生态风险评价,是当前生态风险评价研究的热点和前沿.本文以河谷型城市兰州市为例,首先采用InVEST模型评估研究区水质净化、水源供给、土壤保持3种生态系统服务.在此基础上,从均衡性发展视角,基于栅格单元构建区域生态系统服务综合指数算法,合成区域内各类生态系统服务,并分析兰州市综合生态系统服务时空特征.最后,结合生态系统服务正向逆向转化指数和传统生态风险模型,构建基于生态系统服务逆向转化的生态风险评估模型,从生态系统服务均衡性视角对兰州市生态风险进行评估,并识别管控优先区.结果表明：①2005-2015年,兰州市生态系统综合服务整体向好的方向发展,2005、2015年生态系统服务综合指数分别为0.15、0.12.其中,水源供给服务和土壤保持服务整体呈显著增加趋势,水质净化服务相对稳定.②兰州市发生生态系统服务逆向转化的生态系统以1、2、3级低生态风险为主,不同等级风险呈圈层递减的分布格局,不同等级的生态风险在各县区的分布差异较大.③生态风险管控的优先次序是：榆中县、皋兰县、永登县、红古区、西固区、七里河区、城关区、安宁区.其中,榆中县和皋兰县3级及以上风险区占比大于25%,属于重点优先管控区域,永登县是次重点优先管控区域.最后结合《甘肃省主体功能区规划》初步探讨了兰州市生态风险管控策略.     

When xenarthrans had enamel: insights on the evolution of their hypsodonty and paleontological support for independent evolution in armadillos

All xenarthrans known to date are characterized by having permanent teeth that are both high crowned and open rooted, i.e., euhypsodont, and with a type of hypsodonty different from that of the rest of Placentalia: dentine hypsodonty. Also, most xenarthrans lack enamel; however, its presence has been reported in the fossil armadillo Utaetus buccatus and in living Dasypus. Considering the divergence of Xenarthra from other eutherians that possessed enameled teeth, the absence of enamel is a derived character. Diverse specializations are known in the dentition of xenarthrans, but the primitive pattern of their teeth and dentitions is still unknown. Here, we describe the mandible and teeth of a fossil armadillo, Astegotherium dichotomus (Astegotheriini, Dasypodidae), from the early Middle Eocene of Argentine Patagonia, with teeth showing both true enamel and closed roots. It is the oldest xenarthran with mandibular remains exhibiting protohypsodonty and is therefore likely representative of ancestral cingulates and xenarthrans generally. Astegotherium supports a recent hypothesis based on molecular data that enamel loss occurred independently not only within xenarthrans but also within dasypodid armadillos.