Desertification and Sustainable Development of the Heihe River Basin in Arid Northwestern China

The Heihe River Basin of northwestern China is one of several areas severely affected by desertification. This article outlines the status of desertification in this basin. There are mainly 5 types of desertification in the Heihe River Basin, namely soil and water erosion, sandy desertification, soil aridization, soil salinization and vegetation degradation. Among the 5 types of desertification, the main desertification type is sandy desertification with an area of 10 771.97 km2; Second type is soil salinization with an area of 10 591.82 km2; Next to the soil salinization is the type of soil and water erosion with an area of 5 747.68 km2 and the other types of desertification in the Heihe River Basin are soil aridization with just area of 1 369.96 km2 and vegetation degradation type with an area of 1 490.48 km2 respectively. Both natural and man-made factors are responsible for the causes of desertification development, among which the latter is the main driving force for desertification in the basin.     

The impact of global change on economic values of water for Public Irrigation Schemes at the São Francisco River Basin in Brazil

Economic values of water for the main Public Irrigation Schemes in the sub-middle region of the São Francisco River Basin, in northeastern Brazil, are determined in this study using an integration of a global agro-economic land and water use (MAgPIE) with a local economic model (Positive Mathematical Programming). As in the latter, the water values depend on the crops grown, and as Brazilian agriculture is strongly influenced by the global market, we used a regionalized version of the global model adapted to the region in order to simulate the crop land use, which is in turn determined by changes in global demand, trade barriers, and climate. The allocation of sugarcane and fruit crops projected with climate change by the global model, showed an impact on the average yields and on the water costs in the main schemes resulting in changes in the water values locally. The economic values for all schemes in the baseline year were higher than the water prices established for agricultural use in the basin. In the future, these water values will be higher in all the schemes. The highest water values currently and in the future were identified in municipalities with a significant proportion of area growing irrigated sugarcane. Being aware of current water values of each user in a baseline year and in a projected future under global climate and socioeconomic changes, decision makers should improve water allocation policies at local scale, in order to avoid conflicts and unsustainable development in the future.     

Implementing water users’ association in Shiyang River Basin,China: a review from local’s perspective

This paper investigates the effectiveness of three WUAs in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China, drawing upon empirical evidence collected through mixed methodologies. Results show significant discrepancies between understanding, motives and experiences regarding WUAs among different water stakeholders. These discrepancies are affected by a complex interaction of a variety of factors, including geographical locations, socio-economic and political contexts, personal experiences, knowledge gaps, incentives and value systems rather than ordinary socio-demographic variables. It has also shown that in a traditionally clientelistic society such as China social networks and the pattern of relations between different levels (either cooperative or exploitative) can be more important in participatory irrigation management than the existence of formal institutions or regulation. Furthermore, the roles of social networks on water governance are not necessarily positive, including collective exploitation, corruption especially rent-seeking and collusion. It concludes that for WUAs to be effective, they have to be context specific better understanding and strategic uses of social networks with shared water motives and goals among different stakeholders.     

Water Environmental Degradation of the Source Area of the Yellow River on Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

1 INTRODUCTION Environmental changes caused by mankind's exploitation and regional climate changes have long been a severe problem in the world, especially in the arid and semiarid areas because of their ecosystems' vulnerability (Chen & Qu, 1992; Wang & Cheng, 1999; Liu et al., 1999). During the last half-century, especially the last 30 years, drastic environmental changes have occurred owing to exploitation and development, which have invoked society's concerns. In the Qinghai-Tibet …     

Stakeholder responses to future flood management ideas in the Rhine River Basin: nature or neighbour in Hell’s Angle

Summary This article identifies responses of stakeholders to future management of the Rhine River Basin, notably to the plan Rhine In The Future. This plan foresees the construction of a bypass between the rivers Rhine and IJssel, the Green River. The Green River would be a nature reserve area that can be flooded during high water discharges. The inhabitants of the area would be permanently relocated. Their defence of stakes will be coloured by patterns of acting and thinking that belong to respectively postmodernity, modernity and pre-modernity. These different colourings show in negotiation skills, levels of organisations, alertness, power positions, and access to local and outside resources. Most local stakeholders appreciate the postmodern environmentalism that leads to the greening of river management, but regret the loss of their strong, pre-modern, social cohesion. Whereas they consider national interests in a rather balanced way, they doubt the necessity of the bypass for safety reasons. They have confidence in financial compensations for relocation, but will negotiate about these compensations with skill and determination. Their tactics will be reinforced by collective efforts that stem from their social cohesion.One professor says it will be dryer, the other one says it will be wetter.We all have mobile telephones so we know it when the water comes.The social cohesion of this community will be lost forever.When youre not bought out youll be the real victim.We like to have a nature reserve area around here.     

期权理论在排污权初始分配中的应用

排污权交易是当前总量控制目标下最具潜力的环境政策,它兼有环境质量保障和成本效率优化的特点.在对国内外排污权交易和初始分配充分考察的基础上,提出了在排污权初次分配中引入期权机制的尝试,并对这种方法的理论基础作了分析和讨论.     

Land cover change explains the increasing discharge of the Paraná River

Regional Environmental Change - Over the past 40 years, the discharge in South America’s Paraná River basin has increased despite no evidence of significant rainfall increases...     

The Empirical Analysis of the Impacts of Income Distribution Gap on Consumption Demand： Based on the Statistic Data of Chinese Urban Residents in 2000-2010

This paper analyzes the impact of income distribution gap on consumption demand from a theoretical view, and draws the conclusion that there is an inverse relationship between income distribution gap a...     

Research on Methods of Ecological Security Assessment of the Middle and Lower Reaches of Liaohe River Based on GIS

1INTRODUCTIONResources and environment crisis are accompanied byincreasing economic development pressures and rapidpopulation growth in many countries of the world(RobSwart,1996).Ecological security is a hotspot.Majorityof scholars have taken in the hot discussions of ecologicalsecurity of different regions,most of which is differentfrom their background of subjects(Alex F.Mc Calla,1999;Xiao Duning,Chen Wenbo and Guo Fuliang,2002).With the development of GIS,GPS,RS and modeltechno…     

Once there was a river: a benefit–cost analysis of rehabilitation of the Jordan River

The Jordan River is among the world’s most famous and culturally and historically significant waterways. The lower stretch of the river, however, has been a victim of development in a water scarce region, with current flows less than 5 % of historical levels. Furthermore, as it functions as an international border in a region of conflict, access to the river and its potential as a tourist attraction has been limited. Recently, there have been numerous calls for rehabilitation of the river. This study presents a first estimate of the economic benefits of such rehabilitation and compares them to the estimated costs. Identical contingent valuation method surveys were administered in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. Evidence from this study shows that, despite the large opportunity costs of increasing environmental flows, rehabilitation of the lower Jordan would produce positive net economic benefits. This is true even though the study estimated only the benefits to local populations, and not to international tourists or those outside the region. Net benefits are maximized when taking a regional, as opposed to strictly national, approach.     

湖域工业点源初始排污权配置定额模型与算法研究

针对湖域工业点源初始排污权定额配置问题,以“公平、效率、可行”为配置原则,通过引入权重系数的字典序最小化最大值方法,构建了基于多主体多种初始排污权多期配置的字典序定额模型,并给出求解算法。进而以江苏省太湖流域27类主要工业行业的初始氨氮排污权单期配置为例,从行业初始排污权短缺率与行业治污效益两方面,对比分析了基于等短缺率定额模型、等环境容量比例定额模型、字典序定额模型计算得到的3种定额配置方案效果。结果表明：相对于另外两种定额模型,字典序定额模型所得配置方案可实现平均行业短缺率最小(4613%),平均行业治污效益最大。研究也表明在“公平、效率、可行”配置原则下,字典序定额配置方法能够更为有效的促进企业治污技术提标升级和区域产业结构升级     

基于纳污红线的河流排污权优化分配模型

实行水功能区限制纳污红线的水资源管理制度,在理论和实践中必须要建立河流污染物总量控制管理制度,而实行污染物总量控制,首先要确定河流排污权的初始分配方案。结合我国现行流域水功能区划成果,以水功能区作为排污权初始分配主体开展排污权分配研究,提出由河流环境保护部门确定河流总体排污权,首先通过纵向配置将排污权分配给水功能区,然后通过横向配置将初始排污权分配给排污者的一种纵向加横向分配模式。以资源分配的公平性和效率为管理目标,并以污染物总量控制、浓度控制、企业生产连续性等为约束条件,建立了河流排污权多目标分配优化模型。最后利用多目标演化算法对算例进行了求解,验证了方法的可行性,且此分配方式所获得的环境节余容量最大     

Risk identification and regulatory system design for the carbon market

Currently, the global carbon trading systems are fragmented and belong to different governments or are under the jurisdiction of different regions, resulting in a series of new problems, such as how to link dispersed trading systems, how to compare the emission reduction of various markets and other issues. Since the development of the international carbon market is relatively immature with uncertain life expectancy and volatility during its short history, and there is a lack of quantitative data on the long-term record, the market could provide few risk management tools. Meanwhile, with the launches of China’s regional carbon trading pilots in seven provinces since 2013 and combined with the national voluntary emission trading system, carbon trading will become an important mechanism for China in achieving its emission reduction target. In the first stage, the carbon finance market is at least faced with mechanism design risks, market supply risks and compliance risks. Therefore, to secure the development of the carbon market and for public interest, relevant government departments of China should identify the risks facing the market and should make the basic principles and goals, such as ensuring effective trading and pricing mechanisms to avoid fraud and price manipulation, and balancing transparency and confidentiality of information. Consequently, the governments should develop a comprehensive carbon finance regulatory system covering regulatory legislation, regulatory institutions and their authorities, regulatory scope as well as regulatory objects.     

鄱阳湖流域排污权初始分配模式的比较研究

排污权初始分配是排污权交易的起点和基础,在分配模式和实证研究方面需要加强。采用地区人口法、经济总量法、历史排污量法、环境容量法和综合分配法5种模式研究了鄱阳湖流域11个地市水污染物化学需氧量(COD)与氨氮的初始排污权分配。结果表明:COD和氨氮初始排污权在地市之间的分配格局相似;南昌、新余与鹰潭3市按经济总量模式分配的排污量明显高于其它模式,上饶、吉安两市人口分配模式高于其它模式,景德镇、九江两市历史排污量模式高于其它模式,赣州市环境容量模式高于其它模式,宜春市综合模式高于其它模式。综合分配模式为赣州市排污权总量最高,南昌、九江、吉安、宜春、抚州和上饶6市次之,景德镇、萍乡、新余、鹰潭4市最低。总体来看,排污权配额因分配模式不同而有所差异,综合分配模式得到的初始排污权最为合理。建议鄱阳湖流域严格执行综合分配模式下的各地市初始排污权分配额度,确保区域经济社会与生态环境的协调发展。     

论构建中国用能权交易体系的制度衔接之维

用能权是具有公私法双重属性的管制性财产权。用能权交易是我国推进绿色发展的一项制度创新,对实现能耗总量和强度"双控"目标具有重要意义。用能权交易制度旨在从供给侧实现节能降耗目标,与其并行的节能减排市场化机制还包括节能量交易和碳排放权交易。节能量交易与用能权交易的规制对象、规制手段、制度设计目的和约束功能相近,故两者存在制度重复建设问题。用能权交易和碳排放权交易的制度设计目的具有协同性、规制对象有交叉,但两者在用能权指标和碳排放配额初始分配、履约等方面存在制度衔接不畅问题。通过法学和制度经济学分析,对用能权交易、节能量交易和碳排放权交易的制度整合与重构提出了建议。中国应当取消目标节能量交易制度,并以核定用能权交易取代项目节能量交易。用能权交易和碳排放权交易的制度衔接层面,应当打通用能权交易体系和碳排放权交易体系,建立联合履约机制,即允许用能单位或排放单位在满足一定条件的情况下使用用能权指标、核定用能权、碳排放配额或核证减排量履约。用能权指标与碳排放配额在履约方面的衔接机制重点在于一级市场的对接。用能权的初始分配仅仅是为重点用能单位设定节能义务的过程,应当以公平为原则,并且采取免费分配的方式。相对于用能权交易制度,碳排放权交易制度则是为了控制排放单位对碳排放空间这一资源的过度利用。因此,在碳排放配额初始分配环节,政府应当通过有偿分配的方式以实现国家对碳排放空间这一稀缺资源的所有者权益。建立核定用能权和核证减排量的联合履约机制,既允许用能单位购买核证减排量抵消其超额耗能,也允许排放单位购买核定用能权以抵消其超额排放,并对抵消比例设定限制。     

Energy and economic impacts of an international multi-regional carbon market

The establishment of a global multi-regional carbon market is considered to be a cost effective approach to facilitate global emission abatement and has been widely concerned.The ongoing planned linkage between the European Union’s carbon market and a new emission trading system in Australia in 2015 would be an important attempt to the practice of building up an international carbon market across different regions.To understand the abatement effect of such a global carbon market and to study its energy and economic impact on different market participants,this article adopts a global dynamic computable general equilibrium model with a detailed representation of the interactions between energy and economic systems.Our model includes 20 economic sectors and 19 regions,and describes in detail 17 energy technologies.Bundled with fossil fuel consumptions,the emission permits are considered to be essential inputs in each of the production and consumption activities in the economic system to simulate global carbon market policies.Carbon emission permits are endogenously set in the model,and can be traded between sectors and regions.Considering the current development of the global carbon market,this study takes 2020 as the study period.Four scenarios(reference scenario,independent carbon market scenario,Europe Union（EUh-Australia scenario,and China-EU-Australia scenario） are designed to evaluate the impact of the global carbon market involving China,the EU,and Australia.We find that the carbon price in the three countries varies a lot,from $32/tCO₂ in Australia,to $17.5/tCO₂ in the EU,and to $10/tCO₂ in China.Though the relative emission reduction（3%） in China is lower than that in the EU（9%） and Australia（18%）,the absolute emission reduction in China is far greater than that in the EU and Australia.When China is included in the carbon market,which already includes the EU and Australia,the prevailing global carbon price falls from $22 per ton carbon dioxide（CO₂） to $12/tCO₂,due to the relatively lower abatement cost in China.Seventy-one percent of the EU’s and eighty-one percent of Australia’s domestic reduction burden would be transferred to China,increasing 0.03%of the EU’s and 0.06%of Australia’s welfare.The emission constraint improves the energy efficiency of China’s industry sector by 1.4%,reduces coal consumption by3.3%,and increases clean energy by 3.5%.     

不同碳减排政策对内外资企业竞争力的影响比较

一方面,由于我国内外资企业的生产效率和碳排放效率差距较大,不同的碳减排政策势必会对内外资企业的市场竞争力带来不同的影响;另一方面,已有文献大多在完全竞争的框架下对不同减排政策的实施效应进行分析,而事实上我国碳减排政策所覆盖的产业大多是不完全竞争甚至是寡头垄断。由此,我们基于内外资企业存在低碳技术差距这一新的研究视角,通过构建两阶段博弈模型来比较分析相同碳强度减排目标下强制减排、碳税与碳交易等三种减排政策对内外资企业产量、市场份额及其社会总产量的影响,从而有利于我国从妥善处理内外资关系的角度制定更有针对性的减排政策。结果表明:(1)三种减排政策都降低了内资企业的产量和市场份额,且内外资企业低碳技术差距越大时内资企业的市场份额下降越多。(2)强制减排降低了社会总产量,碳税和碳交易同等幅度地减少了社会总产量。(3)最优税率仅仅是减排目标的增函数。(4)市场出清的碳交易价格和碳税税率相等,且其数值仅与减排目标正相关,而与碳排放权的分配无关。(5)碳交易比碳税更有利于"保护"内资企业的市场竞争力。相关政策启示如下:(1)尽快确定普适的碳排放核算标准,核算出各行业内外资企业的低碳技术差距;(2)尽快在全国范围内启动碳交易机制,建立促进缩小内外资企业低碳技术的机制;(3)在碳交易市场条件不成熟的行业可以率先推出碳税政策;(4)政府应该根据内外资企业低碳技术差距来对不同行业采取最适宜的减排政策,而非"一刀切"。     

碳交易背景下中国石化行业2020年碳减排目标情景分析

石化行业作为中国八大典型高碳排放产业之一,也是碳市场参与的重要行业.在国家2020年碳排放强度目标的约束下,客观评价其行业减碳的压力,对于政府部门科学制定各个行业碳排放配额的分配方案具有重要支撑作用.同时,亦对于通过低碳转型升级实现行业的可持续发展和支撑国家的工业减排目标具有理论和现实意义.本文针对石化行业9个子部门,结合我国经济发展的总体背景和趋势以及石化行业的相关数据,以2010年为基准情景,在2020年国家碳排放强度分别下降45％和50％的减排约束目标下,构建了一个动态CGE模型——PCCGE,借助GAMS软件模拟分析,预测了到2020年国家和石化行业经济总量、能源消费结构和碳排放量及碳强度等的变化趋势.研究结果表明,相比基准情景,在45％、50％的碳强度减排目标下,国家和石化行业的经济增长、能源消费结构和碳排放强度等指标分别受到一定程度影响,其中,50％的减排目标对国家整体经济增速影响更为明显;对煤炭、石油这两种高碳能源的需求产生了较显著的约束效应;相比国家45％-50％的低碳发展目标,石化行业减碳承受压力达到60.63％至64.78％,面临着艰巨的减排任务与挑战.最后,文章结合低碳市场化背景提出了如下建议:科学预测典型离碳行业的减碳潜力,谨慎应对石化等行业企业参与碳市场交易过程中碳配额指标的制定与分配;充分利用技术创新和能源结构调整等战略,提高可再生能源的使用规模,促进能源消耗结构的优化和调整;构建石化行业节能低碳技术产学研协同创新体系,解决共性节能技术瓶颈;实施石化行业企业低碳发展战略,建设完善碳排放管理体系是行业节能减碳的重要手段.     

流域初始水权分配研究进展

当前我国水资源存在短缺和使用效率低下等问题,其最核心的解决办法就是建立水权市场,而其中的关键在于界定初始水权。通过界定初始水权,在各流域行政区域之间合理地分配。简要介绍了流域初始水权分配的最新研究进展和动态,主要包括分配原则、分配指标体系、分配方法和分配机制等方面。对这些研究进行了评述并且指出了存在的问题。由于水资源分配的特殊性,涉及到水量、水质和其它一些因素,单纯的分配水权难以获得成功。在此基础上,探讨了流域初始水权分配的未来研究方向,即在考虑到了水权、排污权和林权等集成的基础上,综合考虑初始水权分配的原则、指标体系和机制等,并且在分配方法上由单一目标模型向多目标模型发展,不确定性和模糊优化模型是未来流域水资源分配模型的发展方向。