EIA application in China's expressway infrastructure: clarifying the decision-making hierarchy

China's EIA Law came into effect in 2003 and formally requires road transport infrastructure development actions to be subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EIAs (including project EIA and plan EIA, or strategic environmental impact assessment, SEA) have been being widely applied in the expressway infrastructure planning field. Among those applications, SEA is applied to provincial level expressway network (PLEI) plans, and project EIA is applied to expressway infrastructure development 'projects' under PLEI plans. Three case studies (one expressway project EIA and two PLEI plan SEAs) were examined to understand currently how EIAs are applied to expressway infrastructure development planning. Through the studies, a number of problems that significantly influence the quality of EIA application in the field were identified. The reasons causing those problems are analyzed and possible solutions are suggested aimed at enhancing EIA practice, helping deliver better decision-making and ultimately improving the environmental performance of expressway infrastructure.     

论加强环境保护基础设施建设

为进一步加强环境保护基础设施建设,促进我国环境保护事业的更大发展,各级人民政府和环保部门必须研究采用各种切实有效的措施。环保部门应当参与投资决策,确保资金投向基础设施建设;认真调查研究,选好选准基础设施项目,做好项目审批;采取各种措施和政策,加大投资力度;加强对基础设施建设的领导,加强投资监管,加快建设进度。     

以优化空间布局为途径的生态化产业园区规划设计研究

目前我国正在广泛开展产业园区建设,产业园区化在带来利益的同时,园区建设对生态环境也产生了一定影响。从景观生态化、基础设施生态化和建构筑物生态化三个方面进行分析研究,提供了一条生态化产业园区规划设计路径。     

农田水利设施抗旱效果评估:基于全国7省(市)的实证研究

农田水利设施建设薄弱被认为是导致灾情日益严重的重要原因。研究目的是评估不同农田水利设施在粮食生产中的抗旱效果。基于全国7省(市)、 123村和1 162户农户的大规模实地调研数据,在描述性统计分析的基础上,通过计量经济学模型,定量分析了农田水利设施的抗旱效果。研究结果表明,最近5 a内,有1/3的农户受旱灾而减产,减产25%以上的农户占到22%;大中型水库、 水池和水泵的抗旱作用显著高于河流引水渠道,文章对研究结果的政策含义做了讨论。     

Thermal rehabilitation of Romanian housing: a low cost assessment tool

The numerous buildings that currently require thermal rehabilitation in Romania means that substantial resources and a large number of competent people are required to carry out surveys and energy audits. However, commercial energy balance software is mostly unaffordable for those organisations involved in this process. This paper describes an energy balance programme – ENEFControl – developed to be a rapid, low cost, local tool able to assist in the choice of energy efficient solutions for buildings. To test the software, thermal and energy analyses were carried out on a 1970s built apartment block in Transylvania. Based on these analyses, three constructive scenarios were proposed for thermal rehabilitation. Compared to the performance of the analysed building, the thermal and energy performance of the retrofitted building in all three scenarios significantly improved. Since European Union accession in 2007, rapidly rising energy costs have affected the Romanian population. ENEFControl offers Romanian engineers and architects an opportunity to speed up the rehabilitation programme of buildings without the need for more expensive expertise and tools.     

长江三角洲的的生产力布局、基础设施与城市发展

随着社会经济的发展,长江三角洲的生产力布局也发生相应的变化,针对其现状特征和发展动向,论述了生产力布局的基本框架以及相关的基础设施、城市发展等问题。     

Adaptation Planning Support Toolbox: Measurable performance information based tools for co-creation of resilient,ecosystem-based urban plans with urban designers,decision-makers and stakeholders

Currently, most tools, guidelines and benchmarks for urban adaptation raise awareness on climate change impacts, assess the city’s vulnerability and/or address the need for adaptation on a policy-level. However, tools that have the ability to implement adaptation solutions in the actual urban planning and design practice seem to be missing. We developed and tested the Adaptation Planning Support Toolbox (APST) to fill this gap. This toolbox supports local policymakers, planners, designers and practitioners in defining the program of demands, in setting adaptation targets, in selecting from more than 60 blue, green and grey adaptation measures and with informed co-creation of conceptual adaptation plans. The APST provides quantitative, evidence-based performance information on (cost)effectiveness of adaptation measures regarding climate resilience and co-benefits. The APST can be used design workshops, to feed dialogues among stakeholders on where and how which ecosystem-based adaptation measures can be applied. Applications of the AST in various settings and context in cities on different continents have illustrated the added value of the toolbox in bringing policy and practice together with help of science. With more and more cities worldwide that will make the step from policymaking to actual adaptation-inclusive urban (re)development practice we foresee a growing demand for such tools.     

PPP模式在城市生活垃圾处理中的应用探讨

由于政府在城市生活垃圾的处理上所采用传统的环卫管理体制,导致在垃圾处理中存在严重的资金不足、效率不高等问题.为此,提出一种基于公私合作思想的垃圾处理的新模式.首先,引出公私合作的PPP模式,并从技术、经济和管理方面对PPP模式应用于生活垃圾处理的可行性进行论证;然后,通过分析政府与企业在垃圾处理过程中的地位,构建城市生活垃圾处理的新模型;最后,对政府和公司在应用PPP模式方面提出了行之有效的建议.     

Mainstreaming investments in watershed services to enhance water security: Barriers and opportunities

Watersheds are under increasing pressure worldwide, as expanding human activities coupled with global climate change threaten the water security of people downstream. In response, some communities have initiated investments in watershed services (IWS), a general term for policy-finance mechanisms that mitigate diverse watershed threats and promote ecosystem-based adaptation. Here, we explore the potential for increasing the uptake and impact of IWS, evaluating what limits its application and how institutional, financial, and informational barriers can be overcome. Our analysis complements the growing literature on individual programs by identifying levers at regional and global scales. We conclude that mainstreaming IWS as a cost-effective strategy alongside engineered approaches will require advances that (i) lower institutional barriers to implementation and participation in IWS; (ii) introduce structural market changes and standards of practice that account for the value of watersheds’ natural capital; (iii) develop practical tools and metrics of IWS costs and benefits; and (iv) share success stories of replicable institutional and financial models applied in varied contexts.