Methods for estimating the uncertainty in emergy table-form models

Emergy studies have suffered criticism due to the lack of uncertainty analysis and this shortcoming may have directly hindered the wider application and acceptance of this methodology. Recently, to fill this gap, the sources of uncertainty in emergy analysis were described and analytical and stochastic methods were put forward to estimate the uncertainty in unit emergy values (UEVs). However, the most common method used to determine UEVs is the emergy table-form model, and only a stochastic method (i.e., the Monte Carlo method) was provided to estimate the uncertainty of values calculated in this way. To simplify the determination of uncertainties in emergy analysis using table-form calculations, we introduced two analytical methods provided by the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), i.e., the Variance method and the Taylor method, to estimate the uncertainty of emergy table-form calculations for two different types of data, and compared them with the stochastic method in two case studies. The results showed that, when replicate data are available at the system level, i.e., the same data on inputs and output are measured repeatedly in several independent systems, the Variance method is the simplest and most reliable method for determining the uncertainty of the model output, since it considers the underlying covariance of the inputs and requires no assumptions about the probability distributions of the inputs. However, when replicate data are only available at the subsystem level, i.e., repeat samples are measured on subsystems without specific correspondence between an output and a certain suite of inputs, the Taylor method will be a better option for calculating uncertainty, since it requires less information and is easier to understand and perform than the Monte Carlo method.     

Generating better energy indicators: Addressing the existence of multiple scales and multiple dimensions

High energy prices and the growing concern for “Peak Oil” have put energy analysis, once again, on the front burner. However, before speculating about possible roadmaps regarding our energy future, it would be wise to develop better quantitative analyses. This paper flags the existence of systemic epistemological flaws in the current use of aggregate energy indicators and presents an alternative approach capable of dealing with the issue of multiple dimensions and multiple scales. Starting from a critical appraisal of the aggregate indicator “Economic Energy Intensity” it shows that economic and biophysical variables are often correlated and that their value is determined by characteristics which can only observed across different levels and scales. Complex metabolic systems (systems that use energy to maintain and reproduce themselves) are operating simultaneously at different scales. This implies that changes in the characteristics of parts, defined at the local scale, and changes in the characteristics of the whole, defined at the large scale can only be obtained after establishing a scaling mechanism in the analysis. In order to deal with the issue of scale in energy accounting, we propose to make a distinction between three different categories: (i) primary energy sources (PES) - establishing a link between energy quantities and the associated requirement of biophysical gradients, at the large scale, on the interface black-box/context; (ii) energy carriers (EC) - defining the set of energy inputs required by technical devices for expressing useful functions, at the local scale, within the parts operating inside the black-box; (iii) end uses (EU) the set of functions to be expressed by society across hierarchical levels for reproducing itself. Finally, the paper presents examples of quantitative results obtained using an innovative method of analysis - Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM). We conclude that by using this new accounting method it is possible to generate a better understanding of external and internal constraints determining the desirability and viability of the metabolic pattern of societies.     

污水处理行业温室气体核算模型开发及减排潜力分析

城镇污水处理行业是我国现代化进程中不可或缺的一部分,它承担着城镇污水处理和减排的重要作用,在运行过程中不可避免会产生大量的温室气体。本研究基于污水处理过程中的温室气体排放机理及排放因子法,构建了污水处理温室气体核算模型,并应用于国内典型的某厌氧—缺氧—好氧工艺的污水处理厂。研究结果表明,开发的模型能够有效识别出厌氧—缺氧—好氧工艺温室气体排放占比较高的环节,该环节为污水处理过程中电耗和污水处理过程中的甲烷排放,其在整个温室气体排放系统内占比高达93.09%。污水处理厂可以采取减小曝气量的措施使溶解氧达到2 ～ 3 mg/L,从而降低污水处理系统曝气电耗;另外,优化泵及鼓风机的运行,选用变频调速水泵等措施,可以降低污水提升环节能耗,达到温室气体间接减排的目的。污水处理厂还可以采取甲烷产能回收利用措施,将CH₄燃烧产生的能量作为污水处理系统内的能源供应,这样不仅可以有效减少污水处理厂的能耗,而且可以实现污水处理过程中温室气体排放减量化。     

环渤海海洋产业绿色GDP核算

绿色GDP核算是反映经济-环境系统交互作用,继而进行综合计量的重要工具.以可持续发展为主题,借鉴联合国环境经济核算方法,以环渤海地区为研究区,选取数据可得性最好的2013年为核算期开展GGOP(海洋产业绿色GDP)核算研究,并以辽宁、河北、天津和山东4个省级行政区为研究单元进行拆分.结果表明:2013年环渤海地区GOP(海洋产业生产总值)约为1.97×1012元,GGOP约为1.84×1012元,占GOP的93.44%,资源耗减、生态系统破坏、环境损失和环境活动分别扣减了GOP的2.54%、0.16%、1.70%和2.15%.环渤海地区2013年的渔业没有造成资源耗减,而对海洋油气资源的开采造成的资源耗减损失约为5.02×1010元.通过围填海造成的生态系统破坏损失约为3.11×109元.环渤海地区海洋产业污染物产生的虚拟成本约为3.36×1010元.国家和省级海洋部门对渤海的环境管理活动支出约为4.42×109元;环渤海地区海洋环境和资源利用投入研究经费约3.81×1010元.环渤海各省市中,辽宁省扣减比例为5.30%,其中环境损失占扣减总值的44.77%;河北省与辽宁省相近,扣减比例为5.04%;天津市扣减比例最大,为13.09%,其中资源耗减占扣减总值的69.74%;山东省扣减比例为4.34%,其中环境管理活动支出占扣减总值的50.82%.研究结果扩展了绿色GDP核算方法的适用范围,探索了绿色核算在海洋经济中的核算方法和核算技术,有助于环渤海各省市海洋经济发展调控政策的制订.      

区域资源产出率核算方法研究

资源产出率是科学评价循环经济发展水平的核心指标,国家及部分省已开展了相关研究.然而在市域及县域层面,资源产出率核算还缺乏统一的方法,制约了其应用.选择鹤壁市作为典型研究区域,基于物质流分析方法,重点探讨了采用测算方法对区域资源产出率进行核算.研究结果表明,测算方法利用常规公开统计数据,对市县域层面资源产出率进行核算基本可行,可为市县域资源产出率核算提供参考.     

旅游活动的碳核算方法及研究趋势

旅游活动低碳化是新时期旅游业发展及其应对气候变化行动的根本需求。旅游活动碳核算作为低碳旅游研究的核心基础，旨在通过量化分析旅游活动的相关碳排放以准确评价其对气候变化的影响，进而为低碳旅游建设提供决策和数据支持。采用文献归纳及对比分析等方法，对过去一段时期的旅游碳排放及低碳旅游研究做了全面综述，发现当前旅游碳核算多基于公式模型模拟估算和滞后的公开数据，在测算过程中受边界模糊、数据获取困难、模型普适性差等因素影响，核算结果存在不确定性且不具备可比性。同时，不同主体低碳旅游内涵的差异导致对核算结果的需求不同，与实践寻求存在脱节。因此，未来亟需建立统一的旅游行业碳核算规范与标准体系，确定旅游碳排放核算方法及其基线，拓展低碳旅游研究深度及广度，开展低碳旅游科学示范点建设，重视政策制定实践性方面的研究。     

Sustainability analysis of SEEA indicators for non-renewable resources

Despite the fact that the non-renewable resources industry contributes greatly to regional and national gross domestic product(GDP),it casts massive negative impacts on the environment,which fails to be deducted from economic growth.Hence,sustainable development of non-renewable resources(extraction and processing)is playing an essential role in boosting economic growth continuously.The System of Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting(SEEA)proposed by the United Nations Statistics Division(UNSD)provides a brand-new perspective for sustainability study.This paper designs a fundamental approach of green accounting for non-renewable resources based on SEEA.Three main aspects of the accounting are extracted to explore the way of analysis for sustainability indicators,which are not touched upon by SEEA.Main analyses are as follows:(1)the analysis on the influence of the change of the discount rate in user cost(UC);(2)correlation analysis between environmental degradation and pollutants emission intensity;(3)analysis of the accounting results of green GDP and green GCF(gross capital formation).Then taking petroleum resources in Shandong Province as an example,this paper will calculate and analyze green data based on the accounting and analytical approaches discussed above.However,sustainability indicators studied in the paper are just associated with past economic activities,while investigation into the factors of the change of sustainability indicators is the one most critical point in relevant policymaking.     

自然资源核算的生态足迹模型演进及其评论

生态足迹模型作为从生态角度对自然资源进行核算的方法,其发展经历了从一维模型向二维模型,并从二维模型向三维模型的演进过程,论文从科学问题、模型内涵、应用指向和解释能力等4个方面对生态足迹模型演进作了梳理和评论。研究结果表明：1）生态足迹模型是自然资源核算的一个生物物理性工具,弥补了主流的国民经济核算体系下自然资源价值核算的不足。2）一维模型开创性地引入生态生产性土地概念开展自然资源消费核算,以此来测算人类活动对生态的占用情况;二维模型在自然资源消费核算维度的基础上,引入自然资源生态承载能力维度,开拓了自然资源承载力评价的新视野;三维模型进一步从流量和存量两个维度理解自然资源生态承载能力,以圆柱体体积表达生态足迹,生动刻画人类活动对所处区域的生态压力。3）一维模型是二维、三维模型的基础,但它们解决的科学问题各有不同,从而所适用的研究尺度、应用指向也有所差异。4）生态足迹模型属于静态分析模型,无法解释生态经济社会系统的动态变化情况;二维和三维模型属于封闭模型,其计算结果不能准确反映区域生态的真实状况。最后,探讨了生态足迹模型进一步优化的方向。     

建立和完善物流成本核算规范体系

降低物流成本，提高物流效益是现代物流的目标。建立科学规范的物流成本核算体系，是实现这一目标的先决条件和基础性工作。针对我国物流成本核算方面落后的现状，借鉴物流管理先进国家经验，制定我国物流成本核算规范，保证企业物流成本核算有据可依，有章可循。     

教育系统会计集中核算的利弊及对策

教育系统会计集中核算，是指在不改变单位内部理财机制、资金支配权和财务管理的职能下，取消单位现有的银行账户，由核算中心统一在银行开设账户，集中办理资金支付结算，集中进行会计核算，集中管理会计档案。财政管理体制改革的一项重要内容就是实行会计集中核算制度。