Energy policy evaluation in practice: the case of production subsidies and DEN-B in the Netherlands

This paper describes how energy policy can be evaluated in practice. The goal is to make policy makers aware of how an evaluation can be based on scientific principles and to help economists appreciate how an evaluation can be performed if strong empirical evidence is lacking. We have built a basic evaluation framework and have applied this to a selection of Dutch energy policy instruments, namely production subsidies and their complementary non-financial instrument, DEN-B. Our evaluation criterion was effectiveness, defined as the extent to which policy instruments contribute to achieving policy goals. The evaluation was based on existing ex post evaluations complemented by interviews and other available data. We conclude that production subsidies and DEN-B were (partly) effective. Furthermore, the Dutch government increased effectiveness by reconsidering the design of production subsidies. We also formulate lessons for future policy evaluations and energy markets policies.     

A review of vulnerability indicators for deltaic social–ecological systems

The sustainability of deltas worldwide is under threat due to the consequences of global environmental change (including climate change) and human interventions in deltaic landscapes. Understanding these systems is becoming increasingly important to assess threats to and opportunities for long-term sustainable development. Here, we propose a simplified, yet inclusive social–ecological system (SES)-centered risk and vulnerability framework and a list of indicators proven to be useful in past delta assessments. In total, 236 indicators were identified through a structured review of peer-reviewed literature performed for three globally relevant deltas—the Mekong, the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna and the Amazon. These are meant to serve as a preliminary “library” of potential indicators to be used for future vulnerability assessments. Based on the reviewed studies, we identified disparities in the availability of indicators to populate some of the vulnerability domains of the proposed framework, as comprehensive social–ecological assessments were seldom implemented in the past. Even in assessments explicitly aiming to capture both the social and the ecological system, there were many more indicators for social susceptibility and coping/adaptive capacities as compared to those relevant for characterizing ecosystem susceptibility or robustness. Moreover, there is a lack of multi-hazard approaches accounting for the specific vulnerability profile of sub-delta areas. We advocate for more comprehensive, truly social–ecological assessments which respond to multi-hazard settings and recognize within-delta differences in vulnerability and risk. Such assessments could make use of the proposed framework and list of indicators as a starting point and amend it with new indicators that would allow capturing the complexity as well as the multi-hazard exposure in a typical delta SES.     

Global trends and development of energy services industry in China

Energy service is an effective way to promote energy conservation by market mechanisms, including energy saving services, energy procurement, supply of many varieties of energy, supply of renewable energy technologies, energy-related consulting services, risk management, etc. China is a major energy consumer but energy is in short supply, and the efficiency of energy use is low. China’s energy service industry has expanded rapidly, in terms of both the number of new Energy Service Companies entering the market and amount of capital invested in Energy Performance Contracting projects, but the energy service sector in China is still at an early stage of development. Developed countries began early in developing the energy service sector and their energy service market is mature, and the experience of developed countries shows that energy services play a significant role in advancing energy saving and emission reduction. Under the new situation, China needs combine energy services experience of developed countries, and take following measures to accelerate China’s energy services rapid and healthy development, including the long-term aspects of policy planning, energy-saving core technology, finance and capital investment, public sector reductions, personnel training, and so on.     

烟草烟雾对室内空气颗粒物浓度的影响

采用电称冲击低压系统(ELPI)将无烟室和吸烟室内的空气颗粒物(0.03～10.00 μm)分成12级,对其粒子数和质量浓度进行测定.结果表明,吸烟室PM0.03～10.00的日平均粒子数和质量浓度分别是无烟室的1.50、1.13倍.烟草烟雾对室内颗粒物粒子数的影响集中在0.03～1.00 μm粒径段;对室内颗粒物质量浓度的影响表现为双模态结构,峰值分别在0.20～0.70、5.00～8.20 μm粒径段.烟草烟雾颗粒物的粒子数和质量浓度随烟雾消散时间的增加而减少,粒径越小,减小的越明显;烟草烟雾颗粒物在室内消散缓慢,会在长时间内造成影响,应引起足够关注.     

GC/MS法测定润滑油基础油中多环芳烃

对润滑油基础油中多环芳烃的气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)测定方法进行了研究,探讨了样品的提取,固相萃取柱净化等前处理方法,同时也对仪器测定条件进行了优化.结果表明,在检测润滑油基础油中多环芳烃时,经优化的GC/MS法的加标回收率和精密度均达到较满意的水平.     

碳羟基磷灰石对水中Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附性能研究

利用废弃蛋壳为原材料,水热法合成碳羟基磷灰石(CHAP),并利用X射线衍射、扫描电镜、能谱分析手段对其结构进行了表征.将CHAP作为含铬废水的吸附剂,考察了pH、Cr(Ⅵ)初始浓度、吸附时间等对Cr(Ⅵ)吸附行为的影响.结果表明,初始质量浓度为50 mg/L的Cr(Ⅵ)溶液,在常温(22±2) ℃、溶液pH为3.0、CHAP用量为5 g/L时,30 min基本达到吸附平衡,Cr(Ⅵ)去除率为98.3%,饱和吸附容量达29.85 mg/g.CHAP对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附行为符合Langmuir吸附等温式和Freundlich吸附等温式,相关系数分别为0.998 4和0.922 6.通过10%(体积分数)H2SO4对吸附Cr(Ⅵ)的CHAP进行再生,再生率最高达95.8%.     

不同类型填料的三维电极/Fenton试剂法处理苯酚废水

采用不同类型填料对三维电极/Fenton试剂法处理苯酚模拟废水进行研究.结果表明.不同类型活性炭填料对苯酚去除率有很大影响,粒炭不适合做粒子电极,采用5.0 mm柱炭处理效果较好;采用石英砂与活性炭混合填料的处理效果比单一活性炭填料好,但苯酚去除率提高不明显;电解槽反应器中按比例投加涂膜活性炭和活性炭混合填料能明显提高苯酚去除率;当涂膜活性炭与活性炭体积比为1,2时,苯酚去除率最高,达96.8%.     

县域跨界水污染补偿机制在嘉兴市的探索

嘉兴市构建的县域跨界水污染补偿机制,不仅是一项流域水污染防治制度刨新,而且是浙江省跨行政区水污染补偿政策的重要支撑和有力保障.通过对大量数据的统计分析,提出了3种补偿标准,并运用跨界水污染补偿模型,模拟测算了2个市级断面和2个县级断面的补偿额.模拟测算结果不但能描绘出县域跨界水污染的现状,而且能够明确补偿对象和补偿额,对流域水质根本改善具有重要意义.     

金融危机为中国环境保护事业带来新契机的探讨

由美国次贷危机引发的金融危机已对全球经济产生巨大冲击,也将给世界环境保护工作带来负面效应.客观分析了此次金融危机对中国环境保护带来的挑战和契机,明确指出应充分利用这次契机,除依靠国家宏观经济政策的扶持外,还要通过产业内部调整和完善来积极应对.大力促进中国环境保护事业的新发展.     

China's grazed temperate grasslands are a net source of atmospheric methane

A budget for the methane (CH₄) cycle in the Xilin River basin of Inner Mongolia is presented. The annual CH₄ budget in this region depends primarily on the sum of atmospheric CH₄ uptake by upland soils, emission from small wetlands, and emission from grazing ruminants (sheep, goats, and cattle). Flux rates for these processes were averaged over multiple years with differing summer rainfall. Although uplands constitute the vast majority of land area, they consume much less CH₄ per unit area than is emitted by wetlands and ruminants. Atmospheric CH₄ uptake by upland soils was ?3.3 and ?4.8 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1 in grazed and ungrazed areas, respectively. Average CH₄ emission was 791.0 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1 from wetlands and 8.6 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1 from ruminants. The basin area-weighted average of all three processes was 6.8 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1, indicating that ruminant production has converted this basin to a net source of atmospheric CH₄. The total CH₄ emission from the Xilin River basin was 7.29 Gg CH₄ y^?1. The current grazing intensity is about eightfold higher than that which would result in a net zero CH₄ flux. Since grazing intensity has increased throughout western China, it is likely that ruminant production has converted China's grazed temperate grasslands to a net source of atmospheric CH₄ overall.