Do EU pesticide standards promote environmentally-friendly production of fresh export vegetables in developing countries? The evidence from Kenyan green bean industry

Developed countries are major markets for developing country fresh produce. Demand by developed country consumers for spotless produce has encouraged developing country consumers to rely increasingly on pesticides in producing fresh export vegetables. However developed country pesticide standards enacted in response to reports of increased farmer and farm worker pesticide poisoning and the food safety scandals of the 1980s and 1990s require changes in the way growers use pesticides. The EU has especially developed stringent food safety standards relating to, among other things, pesticide usage. Under EU pesticide standards (EU-PS) farmers are trained by their buyers on safe use of pesticides and then closely monitored under contract. This paper looks at the impact of these standards on developing country farmers’ use of alternative pest management practices, pesticide protective clothing and the actual usage of pesticides. It finds that compliance with EU-PS increases the use of alternative pest management practices and protective clothing. However, EU-PS has mixed effect on the quantity of pesticides used. The paper also finds that farmer’s education and access to information play an important role in the use of alternative pest management practices. The paper concludes that EU-PS encourage the use of alternative pest management practices and pesticide protective gear in production of fresh export vegetables. The findings imply that EU-PS promote environmentally-friendly methods of production of fresh export vegetables in developing countries.     

Ecological Function Zoning for Environmental Planning at Different Levels

Environmental planning at different levels has been called for by environmental departments in China during last years to integrate environment consideration to economic development. Based on the accomplished environmental planning practice in Xiamen China, the paper suggests a general environmental planning process with ecological function zoning as its key steps, at the same time an effective method for ecological function zoning was formulated. The case studies of Dongfu suburban town environmental planning and Xiamen eco-city conceptual planning indicate that scientifically sound results of ecological function zoning can contribute to improving not only the adaptability and acceptability of environmental planning, also the environmental management and the decision-making. The experience shows that the ecological function zoning methods should be applied according to the principles of adaptive management, resource-based and community-based, so that it can integrate science into decision-making process, avoiding both narrow-minded viewpoints of planners and natural resource use conflicts among variety of stakeholders. Problems to be resolved in the future are also pointed out in the ending part.     

Relationship between carbon emissions and economic development: case study of six countries

There is much discussion within the sustainable development community regarding climate stabilization and particularly, finding environmentally equitable ways to address emission reductions. Knowing the current level of emission is only one variable in this complex picture. While the rate of emissions is clearly a problem, the overall increase in GHG concentration in the atmosphere is ultimately the main driver of anthropogenic warming. Therefore, it is also important to understand the cumulative emissions, those which have taken us to the current condition. This research presents a case study of six countries to compare the emissions per capita and cumulative emissions during the past 200 years. It is known that carbon emissions are closely related to economic activities, but here we show that some countries have reached per capita emissions plateaus at different levels while others are still rising. Specifically, one approach toward socioeconomic development, in terms of energy–economy, reaches a plateau at 10 Mt carbon per person, which the United Kingdom and South Korea have attained. The US occupies another emission regime at 20 Mt carbon per person. Developing economies such as India and China are considerably below these levels, and unless they follow other integrated economic/environmental solutions, they will continue to increase their per capita emissions during development.     

Comparison of marginal abatement cost curves for 2020 and 2030: longer perspectives for effective global GHG emission reductions

This study focuses on analyses of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, from the perspective of interrelationships among time points and countries, in order to seek effective reductions. We assessed GHG emission reduction potentials and costs in 2020 and 2030 by country and sector, using a GHG emission reduction-assessment model of high resolution regarding region and technology, and of high consistency with intertemporal, interregional, and intersectoral relationships. Global GHG emission reduction potentials relative to baseline emissions in 2020 are 8.4, 14.7, and 18.9 GtCO₂eq. at costs below 20, 50, and 100 $/tCO₂eq., corresponding to +19, −2, and −7 %, respectively, relative to 2005. The emission reduction potential for 2030 is greater than that for 2020, mainly because many energy supply and energy-intensive technologies have long lifetimes and more of the current key facilities will be extant in 2020 than in 2030. The emission reduction potentials in 2030 are 12.6, 22.0, and 26.6 GtCO₂eq. at costs below 20, 50, and 100 $/tCO₂eq., corresponding to +19, −2, and −7 %, respectively, relative to 2005. The emission reduction potential for 2030 is greater than that for 2020, mainly because many energy supply and energy-intensive technologies have long lifetimes and more of the current key facilities will be extant in 2020 than in 2030. The emission reduction potentials in 2030 are 12.6, 22.0, and 26.6 GtCO₂eq. at costs below 20, 50, and 100 /tCO₂eq., corresponding to +33, +8, and −3 %, respectively, relative to 2005. Global emission reduction potentials at a cost below 50 $/tCO₂eq. for nuclear power and carbon capture and storage are 2.3 and 2.2 GtCO₂eq., respectively, relative to baseline emissions in 2030. Longer-term perspectives on GHG emission reductions toward 2030 will yield more cost-effective reduction scenarios for 2020 as well.     

江汉平原稻田冠层CO2通量变化特征及其影响因素分析

二氧化碳（CO2）、甲烷（CH4）、氧化亚氮（N2O）被认为是最重要的温室气体,在气候变化中扮演着重要角色,实地测定稻田生态系统CO2通量是农业源温室气体监测与控制技术研究的基本内容。采用涡度相关法对江汉平原稻田生态系统进行了通量观测,并对水稻不同生长阶段冠层CO2通量、潜热、显热通量变化特征及其影响因素进行了分析。结果表明：水稻各生育期冠层CO2、潜热、显热通量日变化均表现出明显的单峰特征,但幅度不同,这与太阳总辐射的日变化及下垫面作物叶面积指数大小关系密切。稻田系统作物呼吸与土壤呼吸排放CO2,排放通量一方面与温度的变化有关,另一方面也受灌溉、作物生长状况的影响;稻田光合作用吸收同化大气CO2,吸收通量与作物群体叶面积指数大小、光合有效辐射强度有关。不同生长期冠层CO2通量与温度因子（气温、5cm土层温度）、光辐射强度因子（时光合有效辐射曝辐量）的相关性均达到极显著水平（P<0.01）,其中,分蘖-灌浆乳熟期CO2净通量对时光合有效辐射曝辐量响应的灵敏度较大,可以通过直角双曲线模型来拟合评估CO2净通量     

Impacts of the Rising Opportunity Cost of Farm Labor on Agricultural Land Use Structure: Theory and Empirical Evidences

Abstract

Nowadays the rising of opportunity cost of farm labor comes to the forefront of attention in China. In order to understand its impact on agricultural land-use structure, a theoretical framework of household economics is formulated drawn on Low’s model. Under the theoretical framework, the impact of the rising opportunity cost of on-farm on cropping structure is deduced in theory. And then, using statistic and survey data, taking mountain area of southern Ningxia as an example, the theoretical assumes are verified. The results show that the rise of opportunity cost of farm labor leads to less diversified cropping structure.     

Comprehensive Assessment and Promotion Policy of Producer Services’ Competitiveness in Beijing City:A Comparative Analysis among Beijing,Tianjin,Shanghai,Guangzhou and Shenzhen

The five central cities-Beijing,Tianjin,Shanghai,Guangzhou and Shenzhen-of the three most important strategic regions in China,namely Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan region,the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta,are taken as a comparative analysis on urban producer services’ competitiveness,especially focusing on the comparative advantages and disadvantages of producer services in Beijing.Firstly,based on an integrated indicator system including one objective hierarchy,four standard hierarchies and 35 indicator hierarchies,the study applies factor analysis model and analytic hierarchy process model reformed by entropy technology to measure the comprehensive competitiveness of producer services in the above five cities.Secondly,Beijing has comparative advantages of capital resource,industrial base,scientific research resource and market scale,since it takes the first place of the five cities in the comprehensive competitiveness of producer services,the competitiveness of industrial development,business environment and living environment,only inferior to Shanghai in the competitiveness of talent capital.Thirdly,Beijing has comparative disadvantages in the level of producer services development,urban innovation capability and living environment.Finally,five proposals are put forth to enhance the competitiveness of producer services in Beijing,namely perfecting the system of laws and statutes,supporting the development of industry association,implementing scientific development planning,introducing preferential fiscal and taxation policies and strengthening human capital reserve.     

湖北九宫山甜槠群落结构与优势种的空间分布格局研究

通过对湖北九宫山国家级自然保护区甜槠群落建立的1ha固定森林样地进行植物群落调查,分析了样地内木本植物物种组成、区系成分、种群径级结构和空间分布格局,结果表明:(1)样地内木本植物(DBH≥1 cm)共有132种,隶属于42科78属,其中,杜鹃花科、壳斗科、樟科、蔷薇科、冬青科等是优势科,短柄袍、鹿角杜鹃、青冈、长叶石栎、甜槠等是优势种.(2)样地内植物科、属的分布类型均以泛热带分布类型为主,分别为30.95％和20.51％.(3)样地内所有木本植物个体的径级结构均呈倒"J"型,幼龄个体数量大,森林群落更新状况良好.(4)样地内木本植物个体的空间分布格局以聚集分布为主,部分优势物种在小尺度上呈聚集分布,而在较大尺度上则为随机分布.     

神农架大九湖亚高山泥炭湿地甲烷通量变化特征及其与产甲烷菌群落组成的关系

2018年12月～2019年11月,采用涡度相关法和高通量测序技术,以湖北省神农架大九湖亚高山泥炭湿地为研究对象,对甲烷(CH4)通量以及产甲烷菌群落组成进行相关研究.结果 及分析表明:大九湖泥炭湿地研究期间表现为CH4的源,CH4总排放量为9333.26 mg· m-2,CH4日平均排放通量为18.50 nmol·m-2·s-1,冬、春、夏、秋四季的CH4平均排放通量分别为6.46、4.62、36.81、25.92 nmol·m-2·s-1,存在明显的季节变化;研究区产甲烷菌优势菌群为Methanoregula(66.73％)和Methanocella(21.99％);对样本中产甲烷菌的Shannon指数进行双因素方差分析发现,同一季节不同深度的样本中产甲烷菌多样性存在显著差异,随着深度的增加,产甲烷菌的多样性指数呈下降趋势;同一深度不同季节的样本中产甲烷菌多样性存在显著差异;夏季产甲烷菌群落组成与CH4排放通量为强正相关关系,春季产甲烷菌群落组成与CH4排放通量为强负相关关系,Methanothermus与CH4排放通量为显著正相关关系,Methanolinea与CH4排放通量为显著负相关关系.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Perspectives for the long-term penetration of new renewables in complex energy systems: the Italian scenario

Renewable energy sources are mainly used in the electrical sector. Electricity is not a storable commodity. Hence, it is necessary to produce the requested quantity and distribute it through the system in such a way as to ensure that electricity supply and demand are always evenly balanced. This constraint is actually the main problem related to the penetration of new renewables (wind and photovoltaic power) in the context of complex energy systems. The paper analyzes some aspects in connection with the problem of new renewable energy penetration. The case of Italian scenario is considered as a meaningful reference due to the characteristic size and the complexity of the same. The various energy scenarios are evaluated with the aid of a multipurpose software taking into account the interconnections between the different energetic uses. In particular, it is shown how the penetration of new renewable energies is limited at an upper level by technological considerations and it will be more sustainable if an integration of the various energy use (thermal, mobility and electrical) field will be considered.