Equity Concerns over Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract

As a complicated concept with ethical implications, equity or fairness in the field of climate change mitigation concerns the relations not only between individual human beings but also between human beings and the nature. In this paper, after the review of equity between individuals, market and non-market attributes of emissions rights are distinguished and discussed. Based on the argument of equal per capita emissions rights, three types of emissions rights and the concept of minimum emissions rights as social security are proposed.     

The Concept and Theoretical Implications of Carbon Emissions Rights Based on Individual Equity

Abstract

Climate change has become a hot topic in international environmental negotiations. For post-Kyoto international climate regime negotiations, many countries have proposed a variety of frameworks to share the emission reduction responsibilities and allocate carbon emission rights, and have tried to quantify the emission reduction obligations of all countries based on the perspectives of international equity and individual equity. In this paper, the authors have distinguished the concepts of carbon emissions rights based on these two perspectives respectively, have analyzed the relationship between carbon emissions per capita and economic development, and have calculated and compared the proportion of cumulative emissions per capita of different countries in history and future, and then authors conclude that emission reduction obligations should be allocated based on each country’s conditions, including historical emissions, development stage, and future demands. Developed countries should take the initiative to significantly reduce their emissions because they have already accomplished their industrialization process. However, developing countries are still in the process of industrialization, which requires more emission rights to meet their development needs. For China, the concept of carbon emissions based on individual equity can be used as a theoretical tool for the allocating the international carbon emissions rights.     

自然权利的批判与辩护

环境伦理的突出功能表现在对人与自然关系的调整上。从法学视角切入．以“权利”作为分析文本．论述了人类中心主义与非人类中心主义在“自然权利”上的理论分歧．人类中心主义者从权利的一人性、权利义务的不对等性、主张自然权利的非现实性以及自然权利的不可操作性四个方面对自然的权利提出了批判．而非人类中心主义者指出权利撅念的在不断地扩展．人类中心主义不可能完全解决好人与自然的关系,自然权利存在着转化为在法律上具有可操作性的可能．并且自然权利理论已在法律实践领域拓展．对自然的权利进行了辩护。由此提出了“非人类中心主义”、“自然的权利”的环境伦理定位。     

The Concept and Theoretical Implications of Carbon Emissions Rights Based on Individual Equity

Climate change has become a hot topic in international environmental negotiations.For post-Kyoto international climate regime negotiations,many countries have proposed a variety of frameworks to share the emission reduction responsibilities and allocate carbon emission rights,and have tried to quantify the emission reduction obligations of all countries based on the perspectives of international equity and individual equity.In this paper,the authors have distinguished the concepts of carbon emissions rights based on these two perspectives respectively,have analyzed the relationship between carbon emissions per capita and economic development,and have calculated and compared the proportion of cumulative emissions per capita of different countries in history and future,and then authors conclude that emission reduction obligations should be allocated based on each country’s conditions,including historical emissions,development stage,and future demands.Developed countries should take the initiative to significantly reduce their emissions because they have already accomplished their industrialization process.However,developing countries are still in the process of industrialization,which requires more emission rights to meet their development needs.For China,the concept of carbon emissions based on individual equity can be used as a theoretical tool for the allocating the international carbon emissions rights.     

Environmental Rights: on the Perspective of Harmonious Development between Human Beings and Nature

The idea of environmental rights was first ascertained as a universal concern in the late 20th century and then became a fundamental part of environmental law along with the growth of serious disasters brought by the frequent occurrence of extreme environmental crisis. Generally speaking, the environmental rights safeguard and defend human rights and ultimately facilitate producing better conditions of life on earth by stretching and expanding the theory of traditional human rights. But there are endless debates since environmental rights appeared and various views of environmental rights, such as anthropocentric doctrine and organism's centre doctrine. Differentiated from the traditional research, this article reviewed environmental rights from the perspective of harmonious development between human beings and nature rather than from the perspective of law. Therefore, it is very important to clarify the relationship between human beings and nature based on the environmental rights and to promote the environmental rights to be embodied in the constitution. This article emphasized the importance of the practical significance of environmental rights, and built a concrete structure within the legal system that could promote the transformation of environmental law from ‘should have’ right to practical right, and promote the further development of environmental rights and their weightiness in the legal system.     

Understanding Human Development Potentials and Demands for Greenhouse Gas Emissions:with Empirical Analysis using time series and cross-sectional data

Based on an investigation of the meaning of development, the neo-classical economic approach to development, and the post-welfarist theory of development, this paper proposes a conceptual framework for understanding human development potentials, while undertaking empirical analysis using cross-sectional and time series data on human development. Human development is associated with basic necessities for subsistence, the quality of life, and political and civil rights, in addition to income indicators. Our analysis suggests that the concept of human development potentials has two dimensions: the rights of development and limits to human development. Both are largely ignored in the neoclassical theory of development. However, human development is not unbounded, which approaches to a relatively fixed constant at given economic, technological and institutional conditions. This conceptual understanding is supported by results from the empirical examination of the relationships between demands for carbon emis     

Sustainable management of transboundary river basins: a line of reasoning

This paper identifies a line of reasoning based on a number of concepts and tools to facilitate river basin management, which have been applied in a case study. For long-term sustainable river basin management, a balance is needed between the human use of the river and its basin, the ecological functioning of the river and receiving waters, and the river's capacity to supply goods and services. To find such a balance a framework is needed that illustrates and clarifies possible trade-offs between economic use and environmental supply by integrating scientific information on cause–effect chains on a catchment scale. A number of concepts and tools are proposed as a basis for this framework. The tools are: (1) indicators that describe the complex interactions and processes in rivers; (2) a suite of linked models that predict the economic, environmental and ecological effect of management measures; (3) an evaluation framework to rank different management alternatives on the basis of three objectives: economic efficiency, spatial equity in costs and benefits and environmental quality of the river and receiving lakes. The concept of environmental quality defines the potential of the river environment (i.e. natural capital) to contribute to human welfare. The concept of environmental functions is used to identify societal interest in natural capital. The concept and tools have been applied in a case study involving the evaluation of four management strategies on nutrient abatement in the Rhine basin. The result of the case study is that economic efficiency is in conflict with spatial equity and environmental quality. Spatial equity is in agreement with environmental quality. Electronic Publication     

土地利用变化对碳排放的影响

大气中温室气体浓度增加是人类面临的严峻挑战.土地利用变化已成为仅次于化石能源燃烧的第二大温室气体排放源.本文在界定土地利用变化碳排放作用机制及内涵的基础上,从农用地向非农用地转换、农用地内部土地利用以及非农用地内部土地利用三个方面综述了土地利用变化对碳排放的影响.农用地向非农用地的转换会增加碳排放量.农用地内部土地利用变化方面,农田转换为森林或草地能够使土壤和植被碳储量增加,但是土壤碳汇集速率存在一定的差异;农田、森林和草地管理措施对生态系统碳循环的影响目前还存在争议,但基本观点是合理的管理措施能够减少碳排放置.非农用地内部土地利用变化方面,从能源消耗角度考虑,二产用地向三产用地转换会减少碳排放量.因此合理组织土地利用对帮助我国实现碳减排承诺,发展低碳经济有重要意义.     

温室气体减排问题中的公平性与效率问题

《联合国气候变化框架公约》的最终目的是减少人为温室气体排放,稳定大气温室气体浓度,避免气候系统受到人为的危险干扰。本文指出,在承担温室气体减排义务时,公平性与时间效率,以及公平性与空间效率都是相互冲突的,并提出了兼顾公平性和效率的方案。     

良性发展论：可持续发展超越与丰富

本文介绍了良性发展的基本概念及内涵 ,同时也介绍了提出良性发展的思想过程 ,并对良性发展与可持续发展的关系作了初步的讨论。     

悖论下的失落:环境改良主义误区

美国的环境改良主义在人们的环境道德启蒙方面发挥了重要作用．但它在法律改良方面却并未取得预期效果。从法学的角度看。环境改良主义把适用于自然人的代理和监护制度直接适用于自然物是对人与自然物区别及法律本身性质的漠视；把人负有的保护环境的义务解读为自然物拥有权利的佐证不过是一种充满感情色彩的误读。假定自然物权利在伦理学上是成立的。但也并不意味着它在法律上同样成立。也就是说．道德和法律是相互渗透、相互影响和相辅相成的．但不是所有的道德都可以转化为法律。因此，环境改良主义应当重新审视道德与法律的关系。把主要精力放在人们的道德启蒙而不是法律的改良上。     

Carbon Budget for Basic Needs:Implications of International Equity and Sustainability

The fundamental way of satisfying the basic needs of human development is to secure the basic needs,limit luxurious and wasteful emissions,and ensure the fulfillment of climate targets,so as to achieve intra-and intergenerational equity.In this paper,the author discusses and analyzes a series of challenges that the development has to face,such as poverty elimination,urbanization,and industrialization,and the problems of increased consumption that is brought about by the improvement of living standards;the author distinguishes the stock emission,which does not need annual updating,and the flow emission of regular consumption;the author also defines the standards of energy consumption and carbon emissions that can meet the basic needs.On this basis,the author proposes the concept and method of carbon budget,compares this method with other means,and in particular,studies and analyzes the implications of international equity and sustainability of carbon budget as part of the international climate regime design.     

试论可持续发展的地域公平性

以对“人地关系”、“发展内涵”和“人的位置”等的系统认识为理性基础．所提出来的可持续发展观．非常强调公平性。经典的可持续发展概念对“公平性”的理解，主要是强调时间维度上的代际公平。我们从地理学的研究核心“人地关系地域系统协调共生理论。和区域可持续发展实证研究的理论和实践的双重角度．认为公平性不仅是时间维度上的代际公平．而且是空间维度上的地域公平和群际公平。就地域公平而言．我们认为．它不仅包括相关地域的公平性而且包括次级地域的公平性和背景地域的公平性。地域公平性的这样的理论认识。在指导区域可持续发展的实践中将具有重要意义。     

全球可持续发展面临的挑战与对策

全球可持续发展涉及可持续经济、可持续环境和可持续社会三方面的协调统一,要求人类在发展中讲究经济效率、关注环境和谐与追求社会公平,最终达到人的全面发展。自1992年联合国环境与发展大会以来,国际社会积极推动实施《关于环境与发展的里约宣言》、《21世纪议程》和《可持续发展首脑会议执行计划》,各种形式的国际和区域环发合作深入开展,各个国家为促进可持续发展付出了巨大努力,在消除贫困和实现千年发展目标方面取得一些成绩。但是,全球在经济、环境和社会发展方面正在面临着越来越复杂的形势,全球可持续发展事业依然面临严峻的挑战。本文从经济、环境与社会三个方面,系统分析了全球可持续发展面临的挑战。分析表明:全球经济发展依然不平衡,不稳定性在加大,而且世界贫富差距明显,发达国家对发展中国家的官方援助不足;全球能源结构没有根本性改变,CO2排放不断增加,气候变化问题突出,而且一些国家生态环境问题较为严重;世界总人口数不断增加,各国就业水平难以提高,各国教育水平非常不均衡,而且欠发达国家人均医疗卫生支出水平低,居民健康状况堪忧。针对全球可持续发展面临的挑战,本文提出了相应的对策:①坚持"共同但有区别的责任"原则。可持续发展没有统一的模式,各国的发展阶段、条件和能力的不同必须予以正视;要区别发达国家和发展中国家的不同国情,要充分尊重发展中国家的发展权利;要为发展中国家向可持续发展转型提供技术、资金和能力建设方面的强有力支持。②加强各国政府在环境领域的交流与合作。不仅要重视全球性环境问题,而且更要优先考虑区域性环境问题,特别是发展中国家和最不发达国家面临的生态环境问题。③积极推动全球社会朝向均衡、普惠和共赢的方向发展。世界上所有国家都应有权以平等的身份参与全球治理过程以及不断改进和优化治理机制,而且全球治理结构应该向发展中国家倾斜;要积极消除贫困、减少不平等现象、使增长具有包容性、使生产和消费更可持续;要增强人们做出可持续选择的权利,特别是妇女、年轻人、失业者以及社会最弱势和最脆弱群体的权利等。     

人文发展的基本需要分析及其在国际气候制度设计中的应用——以中国能源与碳排放需要为例

人文发展的基本需要途径从满足基本需要和限制奢侈浪费性排放出发，充分利用技术在实现低碳发展方面的潜力，保障气候目标的实现和代内与代际公平。本文在讨论发展所面临的消除贫困、城市化和工业化挑战的基础上，区分了生存水平和体面生活水平的基本需要，依据国际数据和科学研究成果，对基本需要进行了量化界定。并在此基础上，对满足13亿中国人体面生活水平的基本需要的能源和排放含义，进行了案例研究。最后探讨了基本需要途径在国际气候制度设计中的应用和前景。     

生态问题的哲学思考

人类在长期与自然的斗争中滋生起来的对自然的征服感和优越感以及在私有制条件下滋生起来的自我中心主义和实用利己主义 ,是产生生态问题的根本原因。生态问题启示我们应当正确认识和评价人的实践活动的正负效应 ,应当不断完善和发展人自身的本质力量 ,应当建立起一种双向的、新型的主客体实践关系 ,才能最终避免生态问题的产生。     

水资源所有权问题研究

我国水资源短缺和水污染问题严重,最根本的原因是水资源产权制度尤其是水资源所有权制度不合理。从水资源配置的效率与公平角度,依据产权经济学理论,对水资源所有权及其分配问题进行了探讨：对水资源所有者产权与他物权,江河湖泊等水体所有权和水体所蕴含水资源所有权进行了区分;以水资源是社会成员生存与发展的自然物质基础、水资源的竞用性和水资源自然供给的区域性为依据,探讨了江河、湖泊等水体水资源所有权的权属界定,水资源所有权在社会成员间的合理分配,国家与水资源所有权的关系和国家拥有的水资源所有权的性质;最后提出了既能保障社会成员生存与发展权利,又能实现资源配置效率与公平的以社会成员所有为主的水资源所有制。     

生态文明与中国环境立法

当今社会正处于工业文明向生态文明转变的过程中，而克服人类面临的严重环境危机，是建立生态文明的主攻方向之一。因此，我们不得不重新审视人与自然的关系，进一步修改完善我们的环境立法，从而规范预防各种破坏环境的行为，并最终实现经济、社会与生态环境的协调发展。     

循环经济学:学科特征与趋势展望

在比较分析有关循环经济学研究内容相关论述的基础上．从“自然-人类社会-空间”三维系统的角度，提出循环经济学的内涵．认为循环经济学是以缓解资源、环境、生态问题为目标，运用经济学方法研究物质流、能源流的运行机理、方式、技术、效率、机制的一门应用经济学科．并且从人地关系系统分解角度．分别界定了生态经济学、资源经济学、环境经济学与循环经济学的研究范畴．认为循环经济学是以人类系统与自然系统的相互关系及其所引起的人与人之间的相互关系为研究对象的．而生态经济学、资源经济学、环境经济学所涉及的只是人地关系中的子系统。据此，还进一步分析了当前我国循环经济学研究的主要方向、发展趋势。研究视角主要包括技术流程分析、深层生态分析和模式分析；今后的研究趋势则主要在于寻求理论创新、加强对循环经济模式的经济学分析，加强对于区域循环经济发展的长期分析、加强对于循环经济运行的多角度分析和加强循环经济学与相关学科的对比与借鉴研究。在此基础上构建包括理论体系、内容体系和方法体系在内的循环经济学研究的内容体系：     

美国的水权体系:原则、调适及中国借鉴

水权是现代水治理体系中的关键环节;合理的水权制度有助于水资源的优化配置。我国旧有的水资源管理模式中水权不明晰、水权制度尚未建立健全,因而无法适应市场经济发展和水资源高效可持续利用的需要。美国的水权制度与其发达的市场经济相适应,其经验可资借鉴。美国的水资源治理实践表明,建立在市场经济基础之上、以法律和制度为保障的水权制度,对于水资源的高效配置和可持续利用具有积极的促进作用。对水资源财产权的明晰界定是美国水权制度的基石;水权的取得及其权责范围均有明确的法律规定并受法律保护。在保护私有水权的同时,美国水权制度兼顾联邦和地方利益,同时避免外部性产生。各州对水权的确权和管理因各自人文和自然状况的差异而异,但对水资源"合理有益的使用"是各州共有的理念。美国的水治理理念正从偏重水资源的经济价值转向日渐重视水的环境及人文价值。社会公平、效率的增进、交易成本的降低是美国水权制度演进的内在动力。经历了漫长的历史演化,美国的水权管理体系已日臻成熟,但依旧存在不同层面的水权冲突,因此仍然在实践中不断修正调适。我国应学习借鉴美国水治理的有益经验,并积极探索美国经验的中国转化。本文对美国现行水权体系中水权的取得、水权的范围以及水权的变更与中止进行了系统总结,并在此基础上对中国的水权制度建设提出构想,包括:以立法确立和保障水权、建立市场导向的水价形成机制、运用水价杠杆实施有效的水资源需求管理、培育水权交易市场、构建区域性水权管理规范等。