Water security: Old concepts,new package,what value?

“Water security” has come to infiltrate prominent discourse in the international water and development community, and achieving it is often viewed as a new water sector target. Despite the elevated status that the concept has increasingly acquired, understandings of the term are murky and quantification is rare. To promote a more tangible understanding of the concept, this paper develops an index for evaluating water security at a country level. The index is comprised of indicators in five components considered to be critical to the concept: (i) basic needs; (ii) agricultural production; (iii) the environment; (iv) risk management; and (v) independence. Achieving water security in these components can be considered necessary but insufficient criteria to measure the achievement of security in related areas such as health, livelihoods, and industry. After populating indicators with data from Asia‐Pacific countries, results are interpreted and the viability of methods is discussed. This effort comprises an important first step for quantifying and assessing water security across countries, which should spur more concrete understanding of the term and discussion of its added value.     

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.     

“Life just keeps throwing lemons”: the lived experience of food insecurity among Aboriginal people with disabilities in the West Kimberley

This paper reports findings of a qualitative study conducted in collaboration with Aboriginal people with disabilities and their carers residing in the rural and remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, specifically the impact of chronic food insecurity on their daily lives. Nutritious food is important to maintaining health, particularly for Aboriginal people with disabilities who are at the greatest risk of a range of chronic health conditions, illnesses and secondary disability. In the remote areas of the West Kimberley, the high cost of living, including food expenses and the generally low incomes of residents mean that food insecurity is common. A large portion of the population living in remote and rural areas of the Kimberley is Aboriginal, and chronic illness and disability are twice as likely among this group. Lack of access to nutritious food has a cyclical interaction with disability, resulting in secondary impairments and ill health, which leads to greater economic exclusion and further food insecurity. Participants in this research consistently reported that they coped with food insecurity by fishing and crabbing on their traditional lands, “in country”. This link between land sovereignty, food sovereignty and food security for Aboriginal Australians has echoes with global food sovereignty movements.     

中欧可再生能源电力安全困境分析与合作路径

本文主要是为中欧可再生能源电力安全合作路径提供相关的政策建议。通过中欧双方可再生能源政策的相互比较,得到以下结论:1中国能源密度下跌的原因是节能减排政策的实施使用,不断提高能源效率和减排将是未来中国政府的核心任务;2把新能源外交与能源节约联系在一起,与欧盟之间加强中欧新能源合作,抓住机会引进新能源技术、设备和成果,以加强我们在新能源领域的竞争力;3建立战略目标和政策协调机制,以促进新能源外交政策的梳理,协同推进新能源外交战略目标的发展;4探索欧盟与中国的合作新机制,减少现有的国际机构或政府新成立的多边集团对短期商品价格冲击的影响,缓解短期的商品供应缺口和价格冲击;5在维护能源安全上,中欧双方有着共同的利益,也面临共同挑战。与欧盟在能源技术、能效管理、标准、法规、能源市场和监管等方面合作,推动中国节能和增效,对控制能源消费总量,实现能源生产和利用方式变革等都具有现实意义。     

基于最小累积阻力模型的贵阳市景观生态安全格局构建

贵阳市是我国典型的喀斯特地区,水土流失严重,生态环境脆弱。在生态重要性、景观连通性和生态需求分析的基础上进行生态源地识别,根据土地覆被状况、人为干扰程度和夜间灯光数据构建了生态阻力面,基于最小累积阻力模型识别生态廊道网络,在此基础上构建了贵阳市域和市区的景观生态安全格局。结果表明:(1)贵阳市最重要和重要生态斑块总面积5 393.43 km2,主要分布在西部和北部;生态用地斑块的景观连通度总体较高,其中园地最好,林地最差;生态需求较高的区域主要分布在人口密集的城市建成区周边。生态源地占总面积的18.56%,集中分布于北部及西南部红枫湖、百花湖等区域;(2)贵阳市生态廊道总长为933.58 km,其中关键廊道长287.6 km,沿东北向西南方向延伸。现状廊道遍布市域,主要为河流水系;潜在廊道和关键廊道98%都为林地,主要分布于北部和西部生态环境较好的山地丘陵区;(3)市区景观生态安全格局中,生态源地主要集中在百花湖、红枫湖、香纸沟、相思河等风景区,花溪湿地和南明河作为市区关键廊道纵贯南北。最后,在此基础上提出了"保护和建设并重、区县间统一规划的"生态系统管理对策,为贵阳市生态环境建设提供切实可行的科学指导。     

Balancing Water Resources Development and Environmental Sustainability in Africa: A Review of Recent Research Findings and Applications

Sustainable development in Africa is dependent on increasing use of the continent’s water resources without significantly degrading ecosystem services that are also fundamental to human wellbeing. This is particularly challenging in Africa because of high spatial and temporal variability in the availability of water resources and limited amounts of total water availability across expansive semi-arid portions of the continent. The challenge is compounded by ambitious targets for increased water use and a rush of international funding to finance development activities. Balancing development with environmental sustainability requires (i) understanding the boundary conditions imposed by the continent’s climate and hydrology today and into the future, (ii) estimating the magnitude and spatial distribution of water use needed to meet development goals, and (iii) understanding the environmental water requirements of affected ecosystems, their current status and potential consequences of increased water use. This article reviews recent advancements in each of these topics and highlights innovative approaches and tools available to support sustainable development. While much remains to be learned, scientific understanding and technology should not be viewed as impediments to sustainable development on the continent.     

Sustainable development—Food security—Agroecology

Basic scenarios of sustainable development for the world community and approaches to the problem of ensuring food security are discussed. The conservation of agricultural resources is the key element of food security. The structure and main objectives of agroecology are characterized in brief.     

基于自动监测监控技术的环境安全防控系统的设计与应用

采用先进的物联网、云计算和模型仿真等技术,陈述了基于自动监测监控技术的环境安全防控系统的设计和应用。该系统利用物联网、GIS等先进技术,将重点源企业、河流断面、放射源等纳入到统一的环境监控网络中,全方位构建区域内环境安全防控大格局。根据城市环境应急现状,建立三级环境安全防控体系,实现对环境安全事故的有效预防、控制和处置。     

危化品泄漏事件中应急监测的安全防护距离计算与监测布点方案

通过建立大气湍流扩散模型,结合大气、地形条件等环境基本资料和危化品的性质,计算出危化品泄漏突发事件的应急防护范围,为人群撤离和监测布点监控,提供安全保障。     

全球气候变化下的中国粮食安全问题研究

粮食是人类生存的基础,保障粮食安全是“2030年可持续发展议程”的重要目标之一。论文基于粮食系统视角,从全球气候变化对粮食系统的作用、保障粮食安全对全球气候变化的影响,以及应对全球气候变化的粮食安全适应性策略出发,揭示粮食安全与全球气候变化的相互作用,系统梳理全球气候变化下的中国粮食安全问题。研究结果表明：1）全球气候变化导致粮食系统不确定性增加,且对中国粮食生产的影响加剧;2）粮食需求是全球气候变化的主要驱动力,粮食生产要素的重新配置加剧了全球气候变化;3）多尺度有机结合应对全球气候变化保障粮食安全需在微观上“藏粮于技”实现提质增效,在中观上“藏粮于地”注重生态建设,在宏观上坚持市场为主导完善粮食政策体系。全球气候变化背景下,保障粮食安全研究呈现从单一学科、单一维度、单一手段向依靠多学科开展多尺度、多要素、系统综合集成研究保障粮食安全转变,从高碳粮食系统向低碳高效粮食系统转变的趋势。