Opportunities and constraints for Product-oriented Environmental Management Systems (P-EMS)

Product-oriented Environmental Management Systems (P-EMS) are a logical extension of current, often primarily process- of facility-oriented Environmental Management Systems. The Dutch government promotes P-EMS as part of its product-oriented environmental policies. The idea of P-EMS is to enable producers to make environmentally responsible decisions on product development and product strategies, in collaboration with suppliers and customers. This paper summarises example P-EMS projects in The Netherlands for two segments of industry, namely retail and manufacturing industry. Moreover two other initiatives will be covered that deal with the development of tools to facilitate P-EMS in two other industry sectors (food processing and building). Success factors that emerge from these initial experiences are: focus on partners that have a strong incentive to act, application of screening Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) or user-shells for LCA, and focus on improvements that can be implemented on the short term.     

家庭用水行为综合模型研究

水资源管理部门正在面临应对干旱,人口增长和水资源减少,气候变化的预言而仍要保证有足够水供应满足需求的挑战。为了发展有效的家庭需求管理程序,水资源管理者需要了解可能影响家庭水源使用的因素。通过检查和再分析当前的水消费行为模型,我们提出了一个理解家庭水消费的新模型。我们对信任在居民水消费中所发挥的作用进行了讨论,因为如果人们感觉身边的人并没有最小化水的使用那么人们便不会自觉节约用水（人际间的信任）。除此之外,如果人们不信任水资源管理部门,那么人们也不太可能节约用水（对社会公共机构的信任）。本文提出了为完全理解确定居民用水行为所涉及的因素,需要对水消费中信任度的作用进行研究。     

A strategic decision framework for green supply chain management

The number of organizations contemplating the integration of environmental practices into their strategic plans and daily operations is continuously increasing. Numerous initiatives have provided incentives for organizations to become more environmentally benign. Some of these regulation driven programs are mandatory, but increasingly numerous voluntary environmental programs are also introduced by organizations. Organizations view many of these environmental programs, which may include technological and organizational development projects, as possible alternatives for gaining or maintaining a competitive advantage. One environmental program area that continues to gain in importance is one that focuses on the external relationships among organizations. To help evaluate alternatives that will effect this relationship we present a strategic decision framework that will aid managerial decision-making. This decision framework is based on literature and practice in the area of environmentally conscious business practices. The focus of this paper will be on the components and elements of green supply chain management and how they serve as a foundation for the decision framework. We shall explore the applicability of a dynamic non-linear multiattribute decision model, defined as the analytical network process, for decision making within the green supply chain. Issues facing the modeling approach are also discussed.     

经济发达区农村居民点整理驱动力与模式——以浙江省嵊州市为例

农村居民点整理是优化用地布局、集约利用土地和建设社会主义新农村的重要措施。以经济发达区的浙江省嵊州市为例,研究农村居民点整理的驱动力和模式。研究表明:1996-2005年嵊州市农村居民点用地呈先增加后减少的变化趋势,农村居民点整理的政策驱动力包括耕地占补平衡政策和土地整理折抵建设用地指标异地调剂政策,经济社会驱动力包括市(县)域经济发展、城市化与农村经济社会发展。"三方共建"模式的特点是政府相关部门、村集体经济组织和村民三方共同出资共同实施。模式构成的关键因素反映出上述驱动力的影响作用。典型案例效益明显,如新增耕地率66.67%,资金平衡度228%,土地集约利用度提高176%等,耕作半径变化小,对人口城镇化和传统村落文化无显著影响。     

长江三峡库区移民道路工程地质环境质量损益经济评价研究

工程地质环境质量损益经济评价,是环境经济学的分支——地质环境经济学的重要组成部分,其核心是将工程与地质环境间相互关系的地学信息转换为易于政府决策部门使用的经济信息,以保证实现人类工程活动与地质环境保护相统一。三峡库区地质环境条件相对恶劣,对道路工程建设不利。因此,移民道路工程能否合理利用和保护地质环境将直接关系到移民道路地质环境质量损益经济评价的提标体系、评价模型等,丰富了地质环境经济学理论。评价结果,阐明了移民道路工程合理开发利用和保护库区地质环境的途径,对库区正在进行的移民活动,具有现实的指导意义。     

Regulatory and Mixed Policy Options for Reducing Energy Use and Carbon Emissions

This article discusses non-fiscal policy options to reduce energy demand and the resulting environmental impacts, and it reviews experiences with these options to date. Such policies include accelerating technology development and demonstration, stimulating product demand via procurement policies, applying efficiency standards to information-poor end-use sectors, and encouraging utility energy-efficiency programs. Efforts to implement such measures are underway in several industrialised countries and have begun in developing countries. Increasing energy efficiency is an important area for near-term carbon emission reductions, and a key strategy for cost-effective mitigation of global climate change. However, little of the energy-efficiency potential identified by technical studies will be realised in the absence of policies to reduce barriers to energy-efficiency investments. Performance standards can overcome the lack of information on the part of energy users, while technology procurement helps overcome the view of manufacturers that introducing efficient products is risky. The effects of these policy options on product markets are characterised, showing the synergy between different instruments and their potential to create and transform markets for energy-efficient products, systems and services. The existence of such energy-efficiency markets can stimulate new progress and innovation, providing the conditions in which the continuous process of technical improvement is significantly accelerated. Most policy analysis and discussions regarding climate-change mitigation have centred on various forms of carbon emission taxes and to some extent on tradable emission offsets or permits. This article concludes with an examination of why non-fiscal options are mostly absent from energy-economic models and climate-change policy studies, and we suggest approaches to include them more fully in energy-policy analysis and implementation.     

基于CGE模型的供水投资对经济影响研究——以黑龙江省为例

为缓解水资源供需矛盾,我国政府投入大量资金兴修水利。如何评价供水投资效果及其对国民经济产生的影响,以便于确定合理的投资定位与投资决策,已成为目前亟待解决的热点问题之一。构建黑龙江省静态CGE模型,根据黑龙江省近几年供水投资实际增长规模设计三种投资方案,定量估算一定的供水投资政策对黑龙江省经济总量、其他部门投资、不同部门的总产出和供用水量的潜在影响,结果表明:①供水部门投资能拉动国民经济发展,当投资增长规模约为40%~50%时,GDP增长速率最大;②供水部门投资增长会拉动高用水工业和农业部门投资上涨,导致一般用水工业、建筑业、一般用水服务业和高用水服务业投资下降;③各部门总产出增长率大小依次为高用水工业、高用水服务业、一般用水服务业、农业和建筑业,各部门用水量增长最快的是高用水工业,其次为高用水服务业、一般用水服务业和建筑业;④黑龙江省供水部门投资增长规模大于43%时,供水部门总产出方能满足用水需求,有利于保证城镇供水安全。综合GDP增长速率考虑,黑龙江省适宜的供水投资增长规模应为43%~50%。     

A strategy to deal with water crisis under climate change for mainstream in the middle reaches of Yellow River

Our planet is increasingly threatened by degradation in water quantity and quality due to climate change, population growth and development pressures. Water shortage is one of the most challenging environmental problems to humankind in the 21st century under the changing climate. Water shortages and scarcity escalate risks to food security and economic viability. For decades, water management has been dominated by supply oriented paradigm of expanding the capacity of accessible water (e.g. building dams). While large scale infrastructure projects provided effective solutions for chronic water crises in the past, they have come at expensive, irreversible and delayed ecological, economic and social costs. As more questions are raised concerning over reliance on infrastructure solutions, discussions about a sustainable future suggest a greater focus on the demand side of the equation is needed. In this paper, we use multi-recursive and runoff coefficient analysis methods to analyze the annual runoff of the mainstreams (Kuye River, Tuwei River, Wuding River and Jialu River) in the middle reaches of Yellow River. The main objective is to estimate the impacts of climate change and human activity on water resources in the study area and test the potential of water demand management to lessen the gap between supply and demand. Results show remarkable drop in the average annual runoff as a combined effect of climate change and human activity. Moreover, results show that human activities are the direct reason for the changes of river runoff, and the proportion of human activities account the biggest is Wuding river, next is Kuye river, Jialu river is smallest, these changes lead to the decrease of river runoff, and even drying up in recent years. This result highlights the importance of using WDM to diminish the increasing gap between demand and supply. Motivated by this, the paper presents a comprehensive framework for implementation WDM in the middle reaches of Yellow River. The framework includes a wide range of instruments: legislative, economic, technological and educational. The core step of the framework, collaboration among water planners, water service providers and end-users lies as an essential mechanism for achieving long term trade-offs between ecological and socio-economic water needs.     

Mitigation,adaptation, and climate change: results from recent research on US timber markets

This paper reviews recent studies that have addressed how US timber markets may adapt to climate change, and how US forests could be used to mitigate potential climate change. The studies are discussed in light of the ecological and economic assumptions used to estimate adaptation. Estimates of both economic impacts and carbon sequestration costs depend heavily on the assumptions and methods used, although some general conclusions can be drawn. Studies of economic impacts suggest that average market effects in the United States may range from +$1.3 to +7.4 billion per year by the middle of the next century. Estimates of the cost of sequestering carbon have generally increased over the last 10 years, with a current range of <1–73 million metric t per year of additional sequestration from afforestation projects costing $5–66 per metric t. Estimates of the potential for alternative methods for carbon sequestration, such as product markets and recycling, are as large as afforestation estimates, with up to 50 million metric tons per year of additional storage considered possible. Cost estimates have not been developed for these alternative methods, however.     

Linking corporate climate adaptation strategies with resilience thinking

Within modern society, business organizations have a co-evolutionary relationship with society and ecosystems. Business organizations face highly diverse risks which they have to recognize, reflect on and handle. Climate change and its impacts clarify the need for managing overall system risk. Research has shown that climate vulnerability of business organizations in the German food industry is characterized by impacts that, in particular, affect business organizations indirectly. Indirect climate change caused impacts are complex, uncertain and characterized by a high degree of unpredictability. They focus on the derived social, ecological, economic and cultural consequences of the direct physical impacts from a worldwide perspective. This paper shows that introducing resilience thinking helps to identify strategic risks and opportunities coping with climate change caused impacts in sense of corporate climate adaptation strategies. Furthermore, it is shown from a strategic management perspective that mitigation is a profound element of long term adaptation strategies.     

广东省CO2排放变化的社会经济影响因素

作为我国经济最为发达的省份之一,广东省社会经济可持续发展面临CO₂排放量增长的挑战.从多角度分析广东省CO₂排放变化的社会经济影响因素,有助于其实现低碳发展.基于投入产出模型,从生产、需求和供应角度分析1987—2015年广东省CO₂排放量的变化;此外,采用结构分解分析方法,从需求和供应角度量化广东省各种社会经济因素对CO₂排放变化的相对贡献.结果表明:①与生产端相比,需求侧和供给侧的研究有助于识别不同的关键行业,如建筑业（需求侧）、金融和保险业（供给侧）.②降低碳排放强度是减少广东省CO₂排放的主要因素,而人均最终需求水平和人均初始投入增加是推动广东省CO₂排放增加的主要因素.③生产结构、最终需求结构和初始投入结构变化导致CO₂排放量略有增加,表明广东省具有较大的通过调整结构性因素减排CO₂的潜力.综上,建议除了生产端CO₂减排措施外,广东省还应采取需求侧和供给侧相关措施,如优化消费行为、产品分配行为和初始投入结构等.      

Development projects for small rural communities in the Brazilian Amazon region as potential strategies and practices of climate change adaptation

Climate scenarios for the Amazon region (Brazil) indicate an increase in temperature and a precipitation decrease, affecting society and economic activities, particularly small-scale rural communities. The research aims to identify, describe and evaluate factors present in sustainable development projects for small rural communities (Type- A Demonstration Projects - PDA and Alternatives to Deforestation and Burnt Projects - PADEQ), already implemented, for recognizing its potential use as strategies for adaptation to climate change for small rural communities in the Amazon region. The researches, concerning fifteen projects in Rondonia, Para and Mato Grosso States, were developed through document analysis, technical visits, and interviews with stakeholders of three projects about the community perception, vulnerability and adaptation capacity. The analysis of documents regarding the potential success of the projects highlights their short history, important in the local context, prospects for continuity, and community participation in decision making. Few activities developed in projects could be associated with climate change adaptation practices. Two strategies and practices are the most important: the social organization and the process of awareness and training of the community, and the diversification of the types and forms of agricultural production. The interviews indicate that adaptation is implemented in projects, but without considering the pressures of climate variability and change. While these projects were not planned in the context of climate change, the greatest role of the projects relates to the strengthening of the already existing adaptation capacity, creating good conditions for incorporation of new strategies and adaptation measures, now clearly associated to the objective to reduce the vulnerability to climate change and variability impacts.     

Perception of people for the risk of Tianwan nuclear power plant

A questionnaire survey of residents’ risk perceptions related to Taiwan nuclear power plant in China was carried out to explore the determining factors that affect individual risk perception. This study proposed to pursue a more comprehensive understanding of factors that affected individual risk perception to nuclear power plants. Covariance structure analysis was conducted using risk perceptions of nuclear power as dependent variable and including interest and knowledge levels of nuclear power, acceptability, benefit perception, trust in nuclear power operation, and trust in government as independent variables. The use of the hypothesis of Elaboration likelihood model (ELM) was also proposed. The results showed that persons with higher levels of interest and knowledge of nuclear power had their own perceptions of risk closely associated with acceptability and potential benefits of nuclear power. In contrast, persons with no interest in and knowledge of nuclear power would have risk perceptions related to their trust in nuclear operation and the government, which partially supported the ELM hypothesis. All these results indicated that the government in China plays an important role in rational risk perceptions, and well-designed communication of risks will help the public to be involved in risk management and improve people’s rational acceptance of risk.     

黄山风景区旅游水供需系统安全及动态调控研究

山岳型风景区由于其独特的地形地貌条件,工程性供水难度大,随着区内床位数和游客量的不断增加,水供需矛盾更为突出,成为山岳型风景区旅游可持续发展的关键制约因素之一,黄山风景区尤具代表性。论文通过典型年分析法,对黄山风景区各月各供水片区的水供需系统进行深入分析,认为:①黄山风景区总体上供水量不足,缺水态势明显,且存在时间、空间、丰枯水期等方面的矛盾;②建立水供需动态调控模型,通过水库和引提水工程调节供水是改善黄山风景区供水短缺的重要途径;③通过现有各分片水库的调节和五里桥水库提水上山,可分别解决目前和中期供水问题,远期若建立钓桥水库,形成全山供水连片,可达到远期水供需平衡。     

Towards a resilience indicator framework for making climate-change adaptation decisions

Activities are already underway within the development community to improve climate-change adaptation decision making. In these and related efforts, a focus on building resilience is an important objective, one that resonates with development objectives. Compiling and applying indicators will help development practitioners consider resilience in projects, plans, and decision making. Exactly how to do this is a challenging, but important task. Drawing on diverse methods in the literature, this paper identifies factors important to understanding the evolution of resilience over time and space, and suggests a framework for developing indicators that analysts might select as useful for particular places or sectors. The paper lays the groundwork for an assessment framework that can make future development and adaptation choices more resilient. The framework is intended as a starting point for wider discussions of factors that contribute to building resilience and thus provide the basis to develop a toolkit of metrics and approaches. These discussions will need to bridge research on climate-change adaptation and resilience with practice.     

A scoping study on the costs of indoor air quality illnesses: an insurance loss reduction perspective

The number of indoor air quality (IAQ)-related health complaints in commercial buildings, and the frequency of litigation over the effects of poor IAQ is increasing. These increases have ramifications for insurance carriers, which pay for many of the costs of health care and general commercial liability. However, little is known about the actual costs to insurance companies from poor IAQ in buildings. This paper reports on the results of a literature search of buildings-related, business and legal databases, and interviews with insurance and risk management representatives aimed at finding information on the direct costs to the insurance industry of poor building IAQ, as well as the costs of litigation. The literature search turned up little specific cost information, but indicated that there is a strong awareness and growing concern over the “silent crisis” of IAQ and its potential to cause large industry losses. The source of these losses includes both direct costs to insurers from paying health insurance and professional liability claims, as well as the cost of litigation. In spite of the lack of data on how IAQ-related health problems affect their business, the insurance industry has taken the anecdotal evidence about their reality seriously enough to alter their policies in ways that have lessened their exposure.     

Effects of the reduction of pollution emissions on the economic performance of firms: an empirical analysis focusing on demand and productivity

This paper analyzes whether the reduction of pollution emissions improves a firm’s economic performance through the increase in sales to environmentally conscious customers and the cost reductions associated with the improvement in productivity. Because the selection of the control (end-of-pipe) or prevention (cleaner production) approach differently influences the effect through the improvement in productivity, this is also considered. Using panel data for Japanese manufacturing firms over the period 2002–2008, the findings indicate that firms that have reduced their pollution emissions can increase their economic performance through the increase in demand for their products and an improvement in productivity. However, the latter is conditional, and so the prevention approach is preferred.     

Improving sustainability through effective reuse of product returns: minimizing waste in a batch blending process environment

A case study of a successful reuse program in a batch blending production environment is presented. This program involves not only addressing the company's own potential waste, but also working with distributors and customers to take back and reuse product, thus eliminating the customers' burden of disposal. Implications of the program for downstream supply chain partners are identified and a structured approach for implementation is presented. Modification for use in similar production environments is possible, enhancing sustainability, while providing environmental as well as economic benefits.     

外环境因素对住宅项目环评的影响研究

房地产住宅区作为建设项目须经过环境影响评价,但是现有房地产住宅区的环评往往更侧重于小区施工及运营期对外部环境的影响,却忽略了外部环境对小区的影响。通过对引起住宅项目污染的外环境因素进行分析探讨,提出了在环评工作中有针对性的可行性解决方案建议。     

Economic benefits tied to ecodesign

This paper reports results of an empirical study conducted to assess the profitability of ecodesigned products. Indeed, the advantages related to ecodesign are numerous according to the literature on the subject. Not only is it considered to be an efficient environmental approach, it is also said to carry a number of economic advantages for the firms adopting it. Among these advantages, the potential reduction of costs and an increase in revenues are the most important drivers. Nevertheless, the economic benefits have not been demonstrated, only indicated as a potential outcome. The main purpose of the study was to assess the economic impact of ecodesigned products and to compare the results of French companies with those of Quebec.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 firms on their related ecodesign experience (15 in France, 15 in Quebec), the subsequent results were reached pertaining to the economic benefits tied to such an approach. In 24 cases, firms increased their profits with ecodesigned products. In three cases, profits are equivalent and in the three remaining cases, it is not obvious that the increased revenues compensate for the reduction of margin. French companies were found to be more profitable than the Quebec cases; this can be explained by the fact that French companies have a more systemic approach and therefore manage to make cost savings at several stages in the product life-cycle. We can conclude that the most important aspects to consider when getting involved in an ecodesign project is to focus on increased functionality of the product and to seek environmental and economic improvement on as many life-cycle stages as possible.