Does an energy efficiency label alter consumers' purchasing decisions? A latent class approach based on a stated choice experiment in Shanghai

In this paper we conducted a hypothetical choice experiment in Shanghai, China, to examine whether the China Energy Efficiency Label influences consumers' choices of air conditioners and refrigerators. A latent class approach was applied to observe both heterogeneities among the respondents and product brands. Our results suggested that consumers in Shanghai were well aware of the China Energy Efficiency Label and tended to pay more attention to products with such labels. In addition, air conditioners and refrigerators affixed with a hypothetical label that indicates saving in electricity bills compared with a standard model received significant preferences, which suggested that the more information manufacturers provide, the more their products would be preferred by consumers. Finally, weighted by class probability, the willingness to pay values for more energy efficient refrigerators were higher than those for more energy efficient air conditioners, implying that Shanghai consumers have greater incentive to pay more for appliances they use more frequently.     

Willingness to pay for safe drinking water: Evidence from Parral, Mexico

A referendum-format contingent valuation (CV) survey is used to elicit household willingness to pay responses for safe and reliable drinking water in Parral, Mexico. Households currently adopt a variety of averting and private investment choices (e.g., bottled water consumption, home-based water treatment, and installation of water storage facilities) to adapt to the existing water supply system. These revealed behaviors indicate the latent demand for safer and more reliable water services, which is corroborated by the CV survey evidence. Validity findings include significant scope sensitivity in WTP for water services. Further, results indicate that households are willing to pay from 1.8% to 7.55% of reported household income above their current water bill for safe and reliable drinking water services, depending upon the assumptions about response uncertainty.     

分离剂甲酸溶液浓度和温度对于铝塑湿法分离的影响研究

主要针对无菌复合包装废弃物中去除了纸浆后的铝塑部分的湿法分离工艺进行研究,选用甲酸作为分离溶剂,分析其反应机理。并着重对分离过程的影响控制因素进行实验研究,就不同的分离剂浓度、不同反应温度以及不同液固比条件下铝塑分离的效果及反应速率的变化分别进行分析研究,寻找铝塑片分离各影响因素之间的关系,为工业化生产应用提供参考,以提高无菌复合包装废弃物的再生利用率。     

退耕还林:农户、地方政府与中央政府的博弈关系

自退耕还林工程实施以来,该工程进展顺利,并取得了显著的成绩.但随着财政补贴陆续到期,却未能解决退耕还林农户的长远生计问题.从博弈论的视角探讨退耕还林实施中的行为主体关系有利于该工程成果的巩固和工程的持续推进.文章首先评述退耕还林的相关文献,然后,用动态博弈模型分析农户与政府以及中央政府与地方政府的利益互动关系.文章得出的关键结论有:在贴现因子足够大的条件下任何短期的机会主义行为所带来的收益都小于长期合作所带来的长远收益,农户和政府采取长期合作是理性的选择行为;在中央政府先行动的情况下,地方政府实施退耕还林工程所带来的收益要大于中央政府后行动所带来的收益.基于上述结论,文章提出要确保国家政策的稳定性从而提高政府的信誉度、永久性地对退耕还林农户发放财政补贴、提高农户的贴现值从而稳定其预期、确保地方政府执行退耕还林工程的收益等政策建议.     

Nature Documentaries,Connectedness to Nature,and Pro-environmental Behavior

We investigate the effects of nature documentaries on pro-environmental cognition and behavior. Of central interest is the concept of connectedness to nature, which describes an individual's sense of being connected to nature. Based on previous research showing that a direct nature experience in zoos can increase connectedness to nature, we questioned whether watching a nature documentary could increase connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior. An experiment using one control group (watching a documentary about Einstein's theory of relativity) and one treatment group (watching a nature documentary) revealed that a mediated nature experience is not sufficient to elicit an increase in connectedness to nature. However, we found that exposure increased actual donation behavior for animal and environmental protection organizations. It is important to note that nature documentary exposure increased pro-environmental donation behavior only in those already having a strong sense of connectedness. We discuss real-world implications for donation-accepting, non-profit organizations.     

An overview on biogas generation from anaerobic digestion of food waste

Food waste is an inevitable type of waste in every city, and its treatment technology evolves with time. Due to the high organic content and high biodegradability of food waste, anaerobic digestion becomes a commonly accepted treatment method to deal with it. This review article summarizes key factors for anaerobic digestion and provides useful information for successful anaerobic digestions. Reasonable temperature and pH are essential for a successful and productive anaerobic digestion process. A good inoculum to substrate ratio triggers a profitable food waste digestion. Good mixing and small particle sizes are important factors too. In addition, the pros and cons of different reactors to food waste digestion are highlighted. Moreover, co-digestion of food waste with animal manures, sewage sludge, and green waste were introduced.     

影响食品行业社会组织参与食品安全风险治理能力的主要因素研究

事实再次证明,单纯由政府主导的食品安全监管模式已无法满足人们对于食品安全的消费需求。政府和市场在食品安全风险治理中出现的政府公权和市场私权的"双重失灵",迫切需要社会组织的参与。本文通过深度访问和问卷调查的形式,基于主成分分析方法将影响食品行业社会组织参与食品安全风险治理能力的影响因素指标融合为互不相关的综合指标,并由此构建了多元线性回归模型,研究了影响食品行业的社会组织参与食品安全风险治理能力的主要因素。研究结果表明,社会组织的公信力、与政府的关系、政府支持力度、社会组织的信息公开程度、专职人员的数量与质量等因素与其参与治理能力存在较强的正相关;社会组织法定代表人年龄、现职国家机关公务人员在组织内担任职务的比例与其参与治理的能力存在较高的负相关。因此,社会组织在食品安全的风险治理中是否能发挥自身独有的优势,弥补政府和市场在食品安全风险中的双重失灵,内在地取决于社会组织的外部环境、内部治理结构与内部管理水平。构建具有中国特色的食品安全社会共治体系亟需逐步完善社会组织的立法,明确社会组织的法律地位,确保社会组织在法律框架下按照各自的章程自主性地开展的各种活动,政府在法律框架下履行支持社会组织发展的职能力度;同时优化内部人员结构,建设具有数量充足、能力结构基本完备的工作人员队伍,并依据改革要求,优化法定代表人的结构,建立诚信信息服务平台,提升自身的社会公信度,由此保障社会组织在参与食品安全风险治理过程中的独立性,发挥自身专业性、自治性等优势。     

气候变暖背景下火干扰对森林生态系统碳循环的影响

人类活动所引起的温室效应及由此造成的气候变化和对全球生态环境的影响已受到国际社会的普遍关注。火干扰作为森林生态系统重要的干扰因子,对森林生态系统碳循环产生重要影响以及对未来气候变化的响应更是人们关注的重点。正确理解气候变暖、火干扰与森林生态系统碳循环之间的因果循环关系,了解气候变暖背景下火干扰对森林生态系统碳循环的影响,对制定科学合理的林火管理策略、充分发挥林火管理在森林生态系统碳循环和碳平衡以及缓解碳排放中的作用均有重要的意义。系统论述了气候变暖、火干扰与森林生态系统碳循环之间的逻辑循环关系,并对相关的研究进展进行综述。重点剖析了气候变暖对火干扰的影响,气候变暖背景下火干扰对森林生态系统碳循环的影响,并提出了全球变暖背景下科学有效的林火管理策略与措施,以及今后需要加强的一些研究领域及方向。     

山区公路强震灾害链影响与控制——以映卧公路为例

地震可以引发多种灾害链,尤其是强震。震区环境不同,引发的灾害链也不同。汶川特大地震发生后,映秀至卧龙公路两旁次生地质灾害尤为严重,先后多次中断震中交通生命线,严重影响公路的安全运行和灾后重建。由于山区公路环境具有特殊性,通过对震后映秀至卧龙公路边坡现场调查资料分析,山区公路强震灾害链主要可以分为公路自身系统及其灾害链和公路社会系统及其灾害链,并详细阐述了它们的形成过程和对山区公路环境的深刻影响。在此基础上,针对不同的链式影响提出了不同的灾害防治措施,以求达到断链的目的,将损失最小化。同时也为将来发生强震后山区公路的抢通与恢复重建提供一定的参考。     

环境约束下的中国工业效率地区差异评价

为了对中国各地区工业进行环境约束下的效率评价,采用超效率DEA方法,利用2005~2009年各地区工业的面板数据,对31个省市的工业进行了环境约束下的效率测算,揭示了中国工业效率的总体发展情况及各地区间的差异。在进行超效率DEA评价的过程中,利用工业环境影响的社会支付意愿代表环境投入,弥补了过去研究中在处理非期望产出问题上的不足,并通过比较不同模型的评价结果,反映了环境问题对各地区工业的效率影响程度上的差异。根据效率评价结果,利用投影寻踪方法加权评分,反映了各地区工业效率的综合状况,从区域情况来看呈现东部优于中部与西部,而中部优于西部的态势。最后,根据效率评价结果,对各区域中的特殊省份进行了简要的分析,并提出了各地区工业的效率改进建议