Environmental innovation strategies: When and why NGOs go beyond public regulations

The concept of environmental innovation strategies (EIS) is introduced and discussed. The notion refers to the conduct by which non-governmental organisations (NGOs) act as policy entrepreneurs seeking to address environmental issues by going beyond the provisions of public regulations. Environmental innovation is understood as the product of a process of social interactions between heterogeneous types of actors, including NGOs. Three social mechanisms are introduced in order to capture the conditions enabling and motivating NGOs to pursue EIS, as well as the politics through which EIS are produced. These mechanisms are then discussed in the light of two in-depth case studies in Indonesia and Switzerland. The findings highlight the institutional frustration and mix of concerns that push NGOs to engage in EIS, as well as the non-spontaneous nature of environmental innovations. Innovation represents, in the end, a game of power that should be analysed as such.     

How do Consumers Perceive Electric Vehicles? A Comparison of German Consumer Groups

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) are currently being discussed as a promising means to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability of today's transport systems. While technological progress and cost reduction are certainly crucial topics for their successful diffusion, consumer acceptance is another issue that warrants further analysis. Based on a large online survey (N?=?969), we compared four consumer groups which differ in their likelihood to purchase an EV with regard to their socio-demographic characteristics, their willingness to pay (WTP) and their perceptions of EVs. The findings indicate that early users in Germany are most likely to be middle-aged men living with their families in a multi-vehicle household who have a higher WTP for an EV. Perceived compatibility of an EV with personal needs seems to be the most influential factor on the stated willingness to purchase an EV. With regard to the promotion of EVs, strengthening their environmental advantages and providing financial incentives for purchase are rated as important measures by a majority of the sample, while performance characteristics which are comparable to conventional vehicles seem to be less important for most participants. Based on the data analyses, we provide recommendations for measures regarding the further development and promotion of EVs.     

强可持续理念下绿色创新效率与生态福利绩效耦合协调的时空特征

从强可持续理念出发,基于改进的SFA模型对中国2004-2015年30个省份的绿色创新效率及生态福利绩效值进行测度,结合耦合协调度模型对两系统的耦合协调度进行分析,同时考虑其空间特征及演变规律。结果表明：（1）中国生态福利绩效值在空间上已形成由北京—浙江—广东—陕西构成的四角极点支撑,并不断向沿线地区辐射。（2）2004-2015年两系统的耦合度均值C∈[0.666, 0.680],整体处于较高强度耦合阶段,而协调度均值则整体处于初级协调阶段 （D∈[0.512, 0.565]）,未来仍有较大的优化空间。（3）从空间格局上看,地区间的耦合协调度差距显著,高值区（中高级协调）主要集中在东部沿海地区,且已形成由广东—浙江两个高级协调发展极核辐射的“U”型发展轴带;初级协调阶段的地区连片扩张趋势明显。相比较而言,西北地区仍处于中国绿色创新效率与生态福利绩效耦合协调的最后梯队,受周边地区辐射影响较小,增速缓慢。     

长江经济带工业企业绿色创新效率的演变规律

在考虑非期望产出的前提下,采用超效率非期望两阶段网络DEA法测算2008~2016年长江经济带工业企业绿色创新效率,运用对数平均权重分解法（LMDI）对其影响因素进行分解,并估算各因素的实际贡献份额和区域差异.结果发现：长江经济带整体工业企业绿色创新效率均值为0.2710,即样本期内并未实现DEA有效,呈现出从下游地区向上游地区依次递减的趋势;并且下游与中游、上游地区工业企业之间的平均绿色创新效率水平差距呈现出逐渐扩大趋势,发展态势明显不平衡;整体上自身创新效应对工业企业绿色创新效率影响最大,剩余依次为工业企业消化吸收效应、购买国内技术效应、引进技术效应、技术改造效应和工业污染治理效应;新产品开发经费效应在第一和第二阶段一直处于主导地位;吸收消化经费和购买国内技术经费对工业企业绿色创新效率的正向促进作用明显;吸收消化和购买国内技术经费的增加在两阶段中的表现一致,但第二阶段的效应量下降明显;各因素对工业企业绿色创新效率的贡献差异呈现自东向西的减弱趋势,但中部地区的效应量不高;从时间变化趋势来看,长江经济带平均效应量整体呈现增加的趋势,但在"十二五"期间总效应量则呈现递减趋势.此外,上游和中游地区各因素效应量促进了工业企业绿色创新效率的提升.     

一流本科专业建设背景下的安全工程实践教学探索

为探索一流本科专业建设背景下安全工程专业实践教学新模式,增强安全工程专业学生的创新精神和实践能力,分析河北工业大学安全工程专业实践教学数据.指出实践教学在专业实验、课程设计以及实习环节中存在的问题,针对这些问题提出并实施增加综合实验比例、组织课程设计规划教材编写、采取校企双赢模式共建实习基地、构建"双实操,一参观"过程...     

A global community-sourced assessment of the state of conservation technology

Conservation technology holds the potential to vastly increase conservationists’ ability to understand and address critical environmental challenges, but systemic constraints appear to hamper its development and adoption. Understanding of these constraints and opportunities for advancement remains limited. We conducted a global online survey of 248 conservation technology users and developers to identify perceptions of existing tools’ current performance and potential impact, user and developer constraints, and key opportunities for growth. We also conducted focus groups with 45 leading experts to triangulate findings. The technologies with the highest perceived potential were machine learning and computer vision, eDNA and genomics, and networked sensors. A total of 95%, 94%, and 92% respondents, respectively, rated them as very helpful or game changers. The most pressing challenges affecting the field as a whole were competition for limited funding, duplication of efforts, and inadequate capacity building. A total of 76%, 67%, and 55% respondents, respectively, identified these as primary concerns. The key opportunities for growth identified in focus groups were increasing collaboration and information sharing, improving the interoperability of tools, and enhancing capacity for data analyses at scale. Some constraints appeared to disproportionately affect marginalized groups. Respondents in countries with developing economies were more likely to report being constrained by upfront costs, maintenance costs, and development funding (p = 0.048, odds ratio [OR] = 2.78; p = 0.005, OR = 4.23; p = 0.024, OR = 4.26), and female respondents were more likely to report being constrained by development funding and perceived technical skills (p = 0.027, OR = 3.98; p = 0.048, OR = 2.33). To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to formally capture the perspectives and needs of the global conservation technology community, providing foundational data that can serve as a benchmark to measure progress. We see tremendous potential for this community to further the vision they define, in which collaboration trumps competition; solutions are open, accessible, and interoperable; and user-friendly processing tools empower the rapid translation of data into conservation action. Article impact statement: Addressing financing, coordination, and capacity-building constraints is critical to the development and adoption of conservation technology.     

循环流化床锅炉结渣特性研究

循环流化床燃烧技术是近年来在国际上发展起来的新一代高效、低污染清洁燃烧技术,生物质燃料是具有广阔发展前景的新型燃料。本文通过循环流化床锅炉中混燃时的结渣问题进行了分析研究,并对解决发电厂锅炉结渣问题给出了相应的技术措施。     

环境保护和环境监测中的气相色谱法运用分析

气相色谱法是环境监测中的常用技术类型,其能协助相关部门快捷、精确地了解环境被污染现状,有针对性地拟定治理方案。本文在阐述气相色谱法技术原理的基础上,分条列举该技术用于环境保护与监测领域中的优劣势,较详细地探究其具体实践应用,以期对技术完善与推广有一定促进作用。     

保护环境 共建我们的家园

随着人类社会的进步,经济文明的发展,全球的环境问题日益严重,建设绿色的家园成为全世界人民的迫切愿望和各国政府的责任。我国作为一个发展大国,如何保护环境,解决环境污染问题,笔者认为解决环境问题的基本思路是首先政府要转变观念,通过立法、税收等强制性手段来保护环境,通过技术创新来解决环保中的技术问题,将环境污染的程度降到最低。     

水污染治理行业的创新与问题研究——江苏省宜兴市水污染治理行业调研报告

本研究认为,创新支撑了宜兴水污染治理行业的不断发展与其在全国的领先地位,同时也是水污染治理企业间出现分化的决定性因素;经济实力、产业集聚、环保法规与产业政策共同作用,打开了宜兴水污染治理行业的创新局面;而制度性障碍则成为当前水污染治理行业创新过程中的主要不利条件。