Climate change,Atlantic storm activity and the regional socio-economic impacts on the Caribbean

Forecasting the likely economic losses arising from North Atlantic hurricanes is high on the agenda of both Caribbean and North American stakeholders. This paper develops a general equilibrium framework to conduct an impact assessment of climate change and hurricane formation. General equilibrium analysis accounts for not only primary effects but also feedback effects. The model simulations suggest that output losses occurring due to hurricanes are likely to have economy-wide effects. However, the rural economies of the region are likely to suffer the greatest (relative) effects. The findings of this study suggest that rural livelihoods should be mainstreamed in any adaptation initiatives adopted by the region. Ignoring these neighbourhood features in adaptation plans could negatively impact on poverty and unemployment in rural areas.     

Recent climate change in the Prince Edward County winegrowing region,Ontario, Canada: implications for adaptation in a fledgling wine industry

There is mounting evidence that climate change is already having an impact on the wine industry, with effects being region specific. In order to understand the capacity of regional wine sectors to adapt to changing climate, it is useful to document the conditions that are important to producers and to identify adaptation and management strategies that are employed in the industry. This paper analyzes climatic conditions and adaptation strategies in the wine region of Prince Edward County Ontario, Canada. Wine producers identified the climate variables most important to their operations and described strategies they use to manage climate-related conditions. The identified variables were analyzed for trends over the study period 1987–2011, and interview data were analyzed in order to categorize adaptive strategies. Results indicate that the wine sector is very sensitive to climate, and the region is already experiencing the effects of climate change, especially with regard to increasing growing season mean minimum daily temperatures, increasing total summer rainfall, and later onset of fall frosts. Adaptive strategies employed by producers are largely learned though collaborative efforts and trial and error. The adaptations are mostly tactical and reactive in the short term, but with continued climate change, these strategies may develop into strategic, anticipatory measures. Climate change has the potential to present both challenges and opportunities to Prince Edward County wine producers, and adaptations will continue to require strong networking and collaborative efforts.     

Explaining Agricultural Expansion, Resource Booms and Growth in Latin America

The following paper examines the main factors determining long-run agricultural land expansion in Latin America compared to other tropical regions. Given the importance of natural resource-based sectors for most economies in Latin America, the impact of price-induced "resource booms" on economic growth in the region is explored. In addition, the paper examines whether there is an inherent "boom and bust" pattern of economic development associated with agricultural land expansion in Latin America, and the extent to which economic policies in the region exacerbate this problem. The paper concludes by examining the role of targeted policies in alleviating the structural obstacles to Latin American agricultural and economic development.     

Probabilistic impacts of climate change on flood frequency using response surfaces I: England and Wales

The impacts of climate change on hydrology are an important focus of research around the world, but the use of large ensembles to drive impact models is not necessarily straightforward and has to be redone when new projections are released. Here, an alternative sensitivity framework approach is demonstrated, using a set of typical response surfaces alongside the probabilistic UK Climate Projections (UKCP09). These projections comprise sets of 10,000 changes in a number of variables, available for 10 river-basin regions covering England and Wales. Estimates of the potential range of impacts on 20-year return period flood peaks are presented for different types of catchment in each region. Regional average impact ranges are compared for a number of time horizons and emissions scenarios. Results show clear differences in impacts between catchments of different types and between regions. South-East England has the highest impacts with the greatest uncertainty range, while the Dee region has the lowest impacts and smallest uncertainty range. Regional differences are due to both spatial differences in projections and a differing regional balance in the number of catchments of each type. Ease of application of multiple projections is a clear advantage of this sensitivity-based approach to impact assessment, which could be extended to other regions and sectors.     

基于ARDL模型长三角碳排放、能源消费和经济增长关系研究

碳排放量、能源消费量和经济增长间存在着密切的关系。长三角地区(研究该区域为上海、浙江、江苏,简称长三角,下同）碳减排措施的实施是否会影响长三角地区的经济增长,能源消费量、能源结构和碳排放量间存在何种联系,这些均是在长三角碳减排政策制定中亟待考虑的问题。利用1990~2010年,长三角的能源经济样本数据,使用ARDL模型和格兰杰因果检验模型（Granger）定量的研究了上述几个因素之间的关系。研究发现：当碳排放量、能源消费和经济增长分别为回归变量时,均存在其它解释变量和每个回归变量间的长期稳定的协整关系。在长期关系中,存在经济增长对碳排放量的负向弹性影响。能源消费对经济增长的影响为正,能源消费每增长1%,经济增长0.67%。碳排放量对经济增长的长期影响为负,碳排放量每增长1%,经济则减少0.49%。Granger因果关系的研究表明：滞后长度分别为3,4时,存在从经济增长到能源消费和碳排放量倒的单向因果关系。不存在从能源消费和碳排放量到经济增长的单向因果关系,且亦不存在碳排放量和能源消费的双向因果关系。在长三角,制定和实施适当的节能减排政策将不会阻碍该地区经济增长。节能减排政策的制定,应首先考虑能源结构优化,降低长三角高碳能源的消费比重     

环境规制对中国区域绿色经济效率的影响机理研究——基于超效率模型和空间面板计量模型实证分析

基于2000~2015年中国各地区面板数据,在构建绿色经济效率测度指标体系的基础上,运用超效率DEA模型测算中国绿色经济效率,通过对所构建模型普通线性回归得到的残差进行Moran’I指数的计算和检验,发现其存在显著的正相关性,并在此基础上利用空间计量模型分析环境规制水平及其他相关因素对绿色经济效率的影响。结果表明：（1）2000~2015年中国东中西部绿色经济效率和环境规制水平均呈波动上升趋势,并且伴有较为明显的空间差异性特征。但随着时间的推移,各区域绿色经济效率与环境规制水平差异有所减小,呈现收敛的趋势。（2）绿色经济效率与环境规制水平基本呈现出东部地区>中部地区>西部地区的空间分异特征,并随着时间推移两者均出现空间结构不断优化、区域差异逐渐收敛等向好趋势。（3）环境规制水平对绿色经济效率的影响呈现一个先促进后抑制的倒“U”型过程,其中,东中西部地区的环境规制水平对绿色经济效率的影响分别处于不同的阶段;经济发展水平、产业结构高级化和科研水平与绿色经济效率呈现显著的正相关关系,而利用外资水平与绿色经济效率则呈现显著的负相关关系。     

人类活动对安庆沿江湖泊湿地影响的初步研究

湖泊湿地不仅具有丰富的资源,还有着强大的环境功能和生态效益。人类大规模的开发利用湖泊湿地资源,在获取大量生产、生活资料的同时,也给湖泊湿地生态系统带来了负面影响,如湖面减少,水质下降,生态环境退化等。安庆沿江湖泊湿地为省级自然保护区,相对长江中下游大湖普遍退化而言,该湿地有着良好的自然性,正吸引着有关专家和研究组织的重视和关注。对安庆沿江湖泊湿地资源和功能展开分析,并从水利建设、围湖垦殖、森林砍伐和水土流失、农业污染、公路建设及渔业开发等方面探讨了人类活动对湿地的影响。提出了保护安庆沿江湖泊湿地资源和环境的建议和对策,以促进湿地资源与环境的可持续发展。     

土地利用规划环境影响评价的实例研究——以贵州省毕节地区为例

土地利用规划环境影响评价是针对土地利用的宏观结构调整与布局对环境可能造成的影响作出的预测性评估。当前我国的土地利用规划环境影响评价工作刚刚起步,国内还没有形成公认的范例,旨在通过实例研究建立一个适用于土地利用规划环境影响评价的方法。选用综合指数和协调度指标相结合的方法对贵州省毕节地区的土地利用规划环境影响进行评价,并且系统地探讨了基于该方法的评价指标体系的建立。结果表明,毕节地区土地利用规划修编方案对生态、社会和经济环境的综合影响属中等水平协调,通过适当的环境影响减缓措施加以改善即可。     

近60年中国持续极端降水时空变化特征及其环流因素分析

极端降水具有较强的持续时间不确定性，持续多天的极端降水事件往往具有较大的致灾性，但目前从极端降水持续性角度进行极端降水变化及其环流因素的研究还非常缺乏。利用1961~2018年中国逐日降水格点数据集以及大气环流指数数据，定义持续了2天及以上的极端降水为持续极端降水事件，研究其在中国不同区域发生频次、持续日数以及持续极端降水总量、持续极端降水最大降水量的时空变化和影响因素。结果表明：（1）近60年来，中国持续极端降水事件在较为干旱的地区(蒙新地区、青藏地区)高发且持续时间长，但在较湿润的地区（东部地区）持续极端降水事件强度更高。（2）中国持续极端降水事件的频率和强度均呈现出增加的趋势，但在区域尺度上，东部地区没有明显的变化趋势，越干旱的地区增加趋势越大。各个指数变化趋势的空间分布格局相似。（3）持续极端降水事件对总降水的贡献率呈现出缓慢的增长趋势，东部地区增长趋势不明显。（4）西太平洋副高、南海副高、西太平洋暖池、亚洲区极涡、北半球极涡和中国持续极端降水事件有着显著的相关关系。区域尺度上，西太平洋副高对蒙新地区和青藏地区的影响最大，东部地区则受到西太平洋副高和西太平洋暖池的较大影响。总体上西太平洋副高对于中国持续极端降水事件影响最大，西太平洋副高强度的加强往往会引起中国持续极端降水增多。     

前沿技术进步、技术效率和区域经济差距

采用1998-2009年中国30个省市的人均GDP与当年全国人均GDP的差值作为区域经济差距指标,运用核密度估计方法观察了我国区域经济差距的变动状况。从核密度图可知,我国区域经济呈现出收敛的态势;通过随机前沿模型从全要素生产率中分解出前沿技术进步和技术效率,利用1998-2009年28个省市的面板数据,检验了全要素生产率对区域经济差距的影响。实证结果显示,前沿技术进步能够显著的缩小区域经济差距,其中对于东部地区的效果较为显著,技术效率则能够扩大东部地区的经济差距,对于中部和西部地区的影响不显著。政策含义是缩小东部地区经济差距的主要途径是加大对科技创新领域的投入,加强对欠发达地区的技术支持;对于中部地区和西部地区而言,则应该是加大市场化水平、对外开放水平和地方支出比重。     

Converging impact assessment discourses for sustainable development: the case of Flanders,Belgium

The scientific field of impact assessment encompasses various ‘traditions’, each reflecting a set of particular policy objectives. This paper analyses two types of impact assessment. Regulatory impact analysis focuses on better regulation and competitiveness, while sustainability assessment fosters a holistic approach centred on the values of sustainable development. Through an analysis of the political discourses at the level of the European Union and at the sub-national level of the Flemish Region of Belgium, elements of convergence between the better regulation and sustainable development discourse are identified. The paper analyses how integrated impact assessment can be an integrative tool that allows to merge both discourses and to implement them in day-to-day decision-making. The potential of the existing Flemish regulatory impact analysis framework to be the starting point of an integrated assessment scheme for sustainable development is advocated and motivated.     

Differences in responses of herpetobionts and geobionts to impact from the Kosogorsky Metallurgical Plant (Tula region,Russia)

The influence of the Kosogorsky Metallurgical Plant (KMP; Tula region, Russia) on the abundance and biodiversity of carabid beetles and soil macrofauna and on the trophic activity of soil biota was studied. Metal concentrations in the impact plot were many times higher than those in the control plot located on the same transect. As the transect approached KMP, both the abundance of soil invertebrates (geobionts) and trophic activity of the soil biota remained unchanged, whereas the abundance and diversity of carabids (herpetobionts) decreased drastically. It is suggested that the impact of the KMP on herpetobionts is accounted for by modification of the structure of ecosystems and that herpetobiontic and geobiontic groups of the macrofauna respond differently to this impact because of differences in the ecological mechanisms of population response.     

Attributing changes in land cover using independent disturbance datasets: a case study of the Yucatan Peninsula,Mexico

Detailed observations of natural and anthropogenic disturbance events that impact forest structure and the distribution of carbon are essential to estimate changes in terrestrial carbon pools and the associated emissions and removals of greenhouse gasses. Recent advances in remote sensing approaches have resulted in annual and decadal estimates of land-cover change derived from observations using broad-scale moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250 m–1 km imagery. These land-use change estimates, however, are often not attributed directly to a cause or activity and are not well validated, especially in tropical areas. Knowledge of the type of disturbance that caused the observed land-cover changes is important, however, for the quantification of the associated impacts on ecosystem carbon stocks and fluxes. In this paper, we provide estimates of the amount of forest land-cover change in a Mexican forested region and propose an approach for attributing the cause of the observed changes to the underlying disturbance driver. To do so, we collate geospatial and remote sensing data from a variety of sources to summarize statistics about the major disturbances within the Yucatan Peninsula, an “early action” region for the reduction of emissions from deforestation and degradation, from 2005 to 2010. We combine the datasets to develop rules to estimate the likely disturbances that caused the observed land-cover changes based on their spatially explicit location. Finally, we compare our observed disturbance rates to those detected using classified land-cover data derived from MODIS.     

Environment security: an empirical study of industrialization and the impact on environment in the Dhaka division, Bangladesh

Dhaka division is the main central industrial zone in Bangladesh. Along with the great growth in industry in the region, there have also been increased and sometimes critical levels of toxic pollution to the environment. Although much has been researched in the region on the degradation of the environment, the slow improvements in environment protection drive the question of what is the environmental security climate in Dhaka division. The study of four plants (textile, leather tanning, cement and fertilizer) in Dhaka division aimed to find out the impact of each on the environment. The study took place within Tejgaon, Hazaribagh, Narsingdi and Narayangang and investigated the impact of those plants on air, water and land. Among the different polluters, the results indicated that textiles polluted most. All participants indicated that the industries were the cause of at least one ailment within 6?months. It is recommended to governments and plant owners that they not only remain diligent about policy on environment protection, but that they also humanize efforts so as to follow those policies through to the end. The loss of life and quality of life may have larger impacts that daily profitability and livelihood.     

A mathematical model to investigate the impact of overgrowing population-induced mining on forest resources

Here, we develop a mathematical model which investigates the impact of growing population and rampant mining on forest resources, present in an urban region. In order to demonstrate the effect imposed by the overgrowing population on the environment, population pressure is incorporated in the model, which augments mining activities in the given region. The obtained model is studied qualitatively using stability theory of differential equations, while it is quantitatively analyzed through numerical simulation. The results of the model reveal that a whopping increase in unchecked mining activities, induced through excessive population growth, leads to declination of forest resources in a region. Therefore, sustainable mining is suggested through control measures imposed by the government on mining activities.     

气候变化对长江源地区高寒草甸生态系统的影响

近十几年来,长江源区气候暖干化趋势明显,冰川退缩、湖泊萎缩、草场退化、土地沙漠化、水土流失等环境问题日益严重。高寒草甸是长江源地区主要的植被类型之一,在全球变化影响下,以耐低温寒冷的嵩草属（Kobresia）植物为建群种的高寒草甸将面临更严重的生态胁迫。以长江源地区高寒草甸生态系统为研究对象,采用国际通用的生物地球化学模型模拟高寒草甸生物量、生产力和土壤有机质等的动态变化,并综合考虑人类活动对生态系统生产力和营养元素生物地球化学循环的影响,探讨了全球气候变化对高寒草甸生态系统可能造成的影响。     

Population,development,and environment in India

High population growth and continued economic development have caused serious environmental damage in the Asia Pacific region.However,the recent experience is that the pace of environmental degradation is faster in developing countries than in developed countries.To this end,the study seeks to assess the impact of population pressure on India’s environment,with particular reference to the degradation of natural endowments like land and water resources and the resultant environmental pollution in the six regions of India.The rapid economic growth and expansion of infrastructure development in recent decades have not come without serious environmental consequences particularly in the southern,northern,and western regions.But in the eastern,north-eastern,and central regions of the country,environmental damage has been mainly due to rapid population growth.     

Uncovering causes and effects of desertification using a Leopold matrix in Binh Thuan Province,Vietnam

Vietnam is a coastal country projected to be heavily affected by climate change.Binh Thuan Province is part of the driest region of Vietnam and is prone to desertification.An expert panel participated in developing a Leopold matrix which allowed for identification of desertification impact factors on the province's socioeconomic activities and assessment of the strength of cause-effect relationships in terms of magnitude and importance.Land use planning,surface water,and the length of the dry season are considered the most important causes,with the overall highest scores for both magnitude and importance in the cause-effect relationship.The largest effects of the different factors are perceived on water supply for agriculture and household use.Water availability and land use planning are important remedial action domains,while drought and land cover require monitoring to assess impacts.The indicators of cause and effect can be used in a longer-term general monitoring and assessment framework to combat desertification in the area.     

过江通道建设对相对落后地区发展的影响——以江苏省南通市为例

苏通大桥及沪崇苏通道的建设将引致区域交通格局的演化，从而对相关地区经济社会发展产生深远影响。对于相对落后的南通市而言，快速过江通道建设既是促进发展的良好机遇，同时也将带来新的挑战和威胁：（1）交通可达性改善明显，南向联系趋于便捷，运输成本相应减小，要素集聚呈现加速态势，但优质要素面临流失威胁；（2）产业规模迅速扩张，但以低层次产业为主，进一步加大了产业层次提升的压力，同时建设用地的盲目扩张和散乱布局，使得空间开发无序风险加剧；（3）进入上海都市圈的紧密圈层，有望成为长江三角洲北翼重要的次中心城市，但面临的竞争压力也不断增大。为促进南通市的可持续发展，政府部门应在推进都市区建设、促进要素集聚、空间资源的合理和统筹利用等方面制定科学有效的区域政策。     

过江通道建设对相对落后地区发展的影响——以江苏省南通市为例

苏通大桥及沪崇苏通道的建设将引致区域交通格局的演化,从而对相关地区经济社会发展产生深远影响。对于相对落后的南通市而言,快速过江通道建设既是促进发展的良好机遇,同时也将带来新的挑战和威胁：（1）交通可达性改善明显,南向联系趋于便捷,运输成本相应减小,要素集聚呈现加速态势,但优质要素面临流失威胁;（2）产业规模迅速扩张,但以低层次产业为主,进一步加大了产业层次提升的压力,同时建设用地的盲目扩张和散乱布局,使得空间开发无序风险加剧;（3）进入上海都市圈的紧密圈层,有望成为长江三角洲北翼重要的次中心城市,但面临的竞争压力也不断增大。为促进南通市的可持续发展,政府部门应在推进都市区建设、促进要素集聚、空间资源的合理和统筹利用等方面制定科学有效的区域政策。