Beyond Rio: Sustainable energy scenarios for the 21st century

Reaching the economic, environmental and sustainability objectives of all societies requires overcoming several major energy challenges; it necessitates rapid progress in multiple areas. The scenario pathways presented in this paper describe transformative changes toward these goals, taking a broad view of the four main energy challenges faced by society in the 21st century: providing universal access to modern energy for all; reducing the impacts of energy production on human health and the environment; avoiding dangerous climate change; and enhancing energy security. The overarching objective of the paper is to provide policy guidance on how to facilitate the transformation of the energy system to achieve these multiple energy objectives. Particular focus is given to the required pace of the transformation at both the global and regional levels, and to the types of financial and policy measures that will be needed to ensure a successful transition. Synergies and trade‐offs between the objectives are identified, and co‐benefits quantified. The paper makes an important contribution to the scenario literature by approaching the global transition toward sustainable development in a more integrated, holistic manner than is common in other studies.     

Water balance characterization of the early 21st century drought in the western United States

Monthly temperature and precipitation data for 923 United States Geological Survey 8-digit hydrologic units are used as inputs to a monthly water balance model to compute monthly actual evapotranspiration, soil moisture storage, and runoff across the western United States (U.S.) for the period 1900 through 2020. Time series of these water balance variables are examined to characterize and explain the dry conditions across the western U.S. since the year 2000. Results indicate that although precipitation deficits account for most of the changes in actual evapotranspiration and runoff, increases in temperature primarily explain decreases in soil moisture storage. Specifically, temperature has been particularly impactful on the magnitude of negative departures of soil moisture storage during the spring (April through June) and summer (July through September) seasons. These effects on soil moisture may be particularly detrimental to agriculture in regions already stressed by drought such as the western U.S.     

Energy — the pathways to the turn of the century

Summary An earlier version of this paper was originally presented at The American Association of University Women, Michigan, State Division, USA. The paper deals with two main issues: In the first place that there is no single energy source that will solve the energy problem. The solution will come through what has been called An Energy Family Approach. Secondly, that government regulations, which were primarily written in the days when America was viewed as a country with no limits, must be relaxed.Gerald T. Westbrook works for Dow's Hydrocarbons Department as Energy Project Manager. Prior to this current assignment he had been Project Manager in Dow's Functional Products and Systems Department for Business Development concentrating on water purification technologies for the energy industries. He has had over twenty years experience in various technical and functional areas with Dow Chemical in the United States and Imperial Oil Ltd. in Canada. Experience in the energy field has included petroleum refinery design and operations analysis; electric power plant planning, and water systems development; new advanced battery development; and energy economics and forecasting.     

Industry's role in air quality improvement: Environmental management opportunities for the 21st century

More than 200 years ago, Adam Smith, the founder of modern economics, wrote in the Wealth of Nations that “…consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attention to…that of the consumer.” In recent years, the rapid growth of the world economy has given Adam Smith's maxim new meaning. The age-old desire for consumption grows unabated and increasing numbers of consumers around the world are attaching new value to the environmental quality of goods and services and expressing concern over the environmental impacts of industrialization. That concern is growing because more than 70 percent of the world's urban population live in areas where the air is seriously polluted and as many as 750,000 people—the majority in developing countries—die each year of ailments caused by air pollution.¹ Over the past 25 years, corporations throughout the world have made dramatic changes in the way they do business as more people come to understand how the ecological system works and how polluted air and water endanger human health. The key to increasing industry's participation in the drive for higher standards of air quality is the growing realization that effective environmental management, technological development, and technology dissemination are cost-effective and profitable business strategies. Global competition is making firms around the world more customer-conscious and, to the extent that consumers demand products that minimize environmental degradation and enhance the quality of their lives, businesses in every industry must respond in order to survive.² This article examines how changes in business practices, driven by a better understanding of how natural environments function, are converging to provide new opportunities for environmental management that go beyond regulatory compliance to reduce air pollution. Although sound and well-enforced environmental regulations are an essential foundation for improving air quality, command-and-control systems alone are unlikely to achieve the lower levels of pollution that will be necessary to achieve sustainable development in the 21st century. In cooperation with government, businesses in every industry can play crucial roles in achieving higher standards of air quality while at the same time maintaining acceptable levels of economic growth. We explore three ways in which corporations can contribute to environmentally sustainable development: (1) by adopting proactive environmental management systems that focus on air pollution prevention; (2) by developing new technologies for air pollution control and reduction; and (3) by transferring air pollution control and prevention technologies through international trade and investment.     

成都城市热环境的空间特点及对策

简要介绍了城市热环境的形成因素、机理和危害;基于《成都市城市热岛效应的遥感研究》成果,分析了成都城市热环境所具有的环型特征及其成因;探讨了改善热环境的方法和对策措施。这对于环境保护、城市的可持续发展,建设＂世界现代田园城市＂等具有现实意义。     

山东半岛城市群城市就业结构变动特征分析

通过对山东半岛城市群就业结构的分析,揭示出山东省城市就业结构的一般规律。从对城市群各城市的分析来看,第一产业的就业人员占据较大比重,城市化水平较低。第二产业的从业人员比重较稳定,第三产业的就业比重总体上升,但其中的传统性行业的就业比重趋于下降而新兴行业比重提高。     

南充市城市空气质量变化及达标分析

为了掌握南充市近年来城市空气质量变化及其达标情况,对南充市城区2008～2012年SO2、NO2和PM10的质量浓度数据进行统计分析,并计算各个站点的空气污染指数和空气质量指数。结果表明,3种污染物浓度值都有明显的下降趋势,S02浓度在0．002～0．052mg／m^3之间变化;N02浓度值从0．042mg／m^3下降到0．029mg／m^3;PM10浓度在0．060～0．063mg／m^3之间波动。南充市空气质量冬季较差,夏季较好。在5个监测点中,炼油厂空气质量最差,优良率为92．9％（85．1％）;高坪空气质量最好,优良率为99．1％（98．3％）。相关性分析表明,南充市空气污染源主要是工业燃煤和机动车尾气。     

基于分形理论的皖江城市带城镇体系结构研究

运用分形理论对皖江城市带城镇体系的规模分布和城镇空间结构进行了具体分析,得出如下结论:在城镇规模分布方面,城市规模结构分布较为集中,中等位序的城市较多,首位城市作用不显著,人口分布低水平均衡;在城镇空间结构方面,城镇之间的空间关联程度、空间相互作用一般,空间布局较分散。在此基础上,提出了未来皖江城市带城镇体系发展的相应对策。     

Ecological impacts of early 21st century agricultural change in Europe – A review

The impacts of agricultural land use are far-reaching and extend to areas outside production. This paper provides an overview of the ecological status of agricultural systems across the European Union in the light of recent policy changes. It builds on the previous review of 2001 devoted to the impacts of agricultural intensification in Western Europe. The focus countries are the UK, The Netherlands, Boreal and Baltic countries, Portugal, Hungary and Romania, representing a geographical spread across Europe, but additional reference is made to other countries. Despite many adjustments to agricultural policy, intensification of production in some regions and concurrent abandonment in others remain the major threat to the ecology of agro-ecosystems impairing the state of soil, water and air and reducing biological diversity in agricultural landscapes. The impacts also extend to surrounding terrestrial and aquatic systems through water and aerial contamination and development of agricultural infrastructures (e.g. dams and irrigation channels). Improvements are also documented regionally, such as successful support of farmland species, and improved condition of watercourses and landscapes. This was attributed to agricultural policy targeted at the environment, improved environmental legislation, and new market opportunities. Research into ecosystem services associated with agriculture may provide further pressure to develop policy that is targeted at their continuous provisioning, fostering motivation of land managers to continue to protect and enhance them.     

聊城市城市绿地系统的景观设计

城市绿地是城市生态系统的重要组成部分,不仅具有重要的生态功能,还与城市空气污染物、城市环境质量和人类健康密切相关。在探讨聊城城市绿地系统现状及存在问题的基础上,以景观生态学理论为指导,依托城市特色,提出了构建聊城市城市绿地系统的基本思路和绿地系统建设的方案与内容。     

Urban waterfowl population: Ecological evaluation of management and planning

An urban population of ducks in Puyallup, Washington, USA was studied for 14 consecutive months beginning in November 1978. Observations were made weekly from four study sites where ducks would congregate at early morning hours. Factors contributing to the presence of waterfowl in Puyallyup included abundant food supplies and a creek corridor that connected fragmented habitats in the urban area to the larger rural populations of waterfowl. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were the most abundant of the 13 species observed and were the only ducks remaining during the nesting season. Habitat size and complexity were important factors influencing the species diversity of a particular site. Nesting success of mallards was poor due to limited distribution of nesting habitat, intraspecific aggression, and human disturbance. Both site-specific and more broad-based strategies are suggested for managing and planning for duck populations in urban areas.     

论二十一世纪环境文明

人类社会进入21世纪，工业文明带来严重的环境污染已成为全球性问题。人们在建设物质文明和精神文明的同时，呼唤有一个优美的生存环境。可持续发展战略已忧为社会经济发展的主旋律。环境文明成为人们生活新的追求和社会经济发展新的目标。环保产业的充分发展，环境污染得到有效控制，社会各行各业和所有产品都达到环保标准，生态协调平衡，这就铸成21世纪环境文明。     

滇中城市群产业结构与用地结构关联研究

城市群产业结构与用地结构的协调发展有利于提高滇中城市群用地的空间绩效,优化城市群产业结构,提升城市群的整体功能.运用比例变化指数和Granger因果关系方法研究了滇中城市群产业结构和土地利用之间的变化关系：滇中城市群产业结构变化滞后于城市土地结构变化,城市土地结构变化和产业结构变化的差距呈先增加后减少的趋势,即滇中城市群产业结构和土地利用结构由非同步变化逐渐进入同步变化轨迹;短期内,滇中城市群产业结构变化促进了优化土地利用,土地利用变化又反作用于产业结构,但滇中产业结构和用地结构未出现同步变化规律,说明滇中产业结构和土地的因果关系结构要在长期发展才可能实现.     

21世纪初中国环境展望及策略

21世纪环境保护工作面临着巨大的压力 ,同时也存在着历史的机遇。从我国人均资源占有量较低 ,科学技术落后 ,城市化加快等方面阐述了21世纪环境保护面临的严峻形势 ,着重分析了推行总量控制、清洁生产、城市可持续发展、生态环境保护、环境外交等方面采取的措施及有关政策。     

走近21世纪的绿色居室

随着当今全球环境污染状况的加剧,有识之士设计了一种高度环保的独立别墅方案。所幸,在 2030年,这种住房在东方大都市——上海的城区里得到了大规模普及,家家户户在政府的倡导下住进了这样一座座室外环境优美,室内舒适典雅的高级环保别墅,由于此项措施的得力开展,阻断了困扰我们 200余年的重大污染源——生活污染,上海市内的整体环境质量明显好转。 　　我们一行四人相约穿过时空隧道,在主人的陪同下,走近这环保别墅。 过道 　　打开房门,是一条长长的过道。通常它是装点居室、显示主人品位修养的地方。不过今天却让我们有些奇怪…     

城市绿化规划研究初探--以长沙市雨花区为例

城市绿化规划是城市生态规划的基本内容。本文以长沙市雨花区为例，运用景观生态学原理，分析了城市绿地系统建设存在的问题，提出了城市生态绿地系统规划的基本内容和生态对策，可为一些城市的生态建设提供参考依据。     

城市垃圾处理产业化探讨

随着城市的发展和人口的增加，我国城市垃圾问题日益严重。目前，我国城市垃圾处理主要存在着两方面的问题：即资金问题和技术问题。垃圾处理产业化是解决问题的出路，但需政府为其创造良好的投资运营环境，在制度上保证投资商的回报预期。     

芜湖市开发区对城市空间结构演进分析

城市空间结构的演进是对城市经济发展的一种适应性.开发区是20世纪90年代以来我国工业经济发展的一种空间形式,对我国城市经济发展和空间结构演进有着重大影响.开发区建设成为芜湖市重要的经济增长点,带动了整个城市经济的发展.在此基础上,从开发区布局建设对芜湖市城市空间结构的影响即导致城市空间增长、城市形态变化及城市地域结构变化等方面阐述了开发区与芜湖城市空间结构演进的关系.