Environmental performance and spillover effects on productivity: evidence from horticultural firms

This study investigates the effect of environmental investment and related spillover effects on productivity in the agricultural sector by using a panel data of horticultural firms in Andalusia (Southern Spain). The results indicate a positive relationship between firm investment in environmental practices and productivity improvement, also showing the presence of positive environmental spillovers. In a second-stage of analysis, the incidence of environmental factors in firm specific individual technical efficiency is estimated. This analysis also shows the link between environmental knowledge diffusion and horticultural firms' performance.     

What influences the pattern of pollutant releases? An investigation of firms’ siting and households’ sorting decisions in Ontario,Canada

The relationship between the pattern of pollutant releases and neighborhood characteristics has been in the center of environmental justice debates for the last decades. One part of the discourse revolves around the question if the siting decision of polluting firms or the sorting decision of households is the explanatory factor for the pattern of pollutant releases. The aim of this study is to contribute to the discussion by investigating the potential correlation between polluting facilities and socioeconomic characteristics of neighborhoods in Ontario, Canada, using data from the Canadian census and National Pollutant Release Inventory. The analysis shows that when the results are considered from the perspectives of the siting decision of firms and sorting decision of households’ hypotheses, the results weigh in favor of the sorting decision of households.     

Risk-based siting considerations for LNG terminals – Comparative perspectives of United States & Europe

Siting regulations and industrial standards for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals are evolving along different paths within Europe and the United States (U.S.). The 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 190 continues to delineate the United States process to adopt and revise safety regulations pertaining to LNG terminals and peak shaving plant sitting.¹ Embodied in these regulations are rich legal and regulatory traditions that are unique to the U.S. perspective. For example, the public is encouraged to petition existing regulations and to comment on regulatory proposals. Litigation within the U.S. court system is another means by which industry and the public may seek regulatory change. This approach promotes public involvement in governmental oversight and creates a distinctive obligation and accountability for U.S. regulatory agencies, which uniquely shape technical, safety, risk mitigation, and societal risk perspectives for siting LNG terminals.European traditions shape siting regulations for LNG terminals as well. Though American siting guidance includes references to the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 59A and 49 CFR, Part 193, European developers also apply the guidance within EN 1473 – a risk-based case-by-case analysis directive.^{2, 3 and 4} The NFPA 59A standard is applied for a basis to examine property line spacing as they pertain or may relate to off-site hazard impacts. The European approach applies the assessment and suitability of code compliance and the application of accepted engineering practices. In addition the approach incorporates the application of empirical risk assessments and computational modeling to reach an understanding of risk exposures. European policies set limits on the population’s cumulative exposure to facility risks and require LNG facility developers not to exceed established risk criteria.This paper describes how the U.S. and Europe site LNG terminals, identifies key differences in their risk-based approaches, and explains why these differences exist. This discussion also examines historical precedents that have influenced regulations and approval processes for siting LNG terminals within each continent.     

Directing technical change from fossil-fuel to renewable energy innovation: An application using firm-level patent data

In this paper we provide an analysis of directed technical change in the sector of electricity generation. We rely on patent data in fossil-fuel (FF) and renewable energy (REN) technologies for 5471 European firms over the 1978–2006 period. The novelty of our approach is in the focus on firm׳s heterogeneity in driving technological change. We make a distinction between small specialized firms, which innovate in only one type of technology, and large mixed firms, which innovate in both technologies, to analyse how REN patents can replace FF ones at the sector level both through a shift in innovation activities within existing firms and through firms׳ entry and exit. We use zero-inflated count data estimation techniques to identify the factors that affect specialized versus mixed firms׳ patenting behaviour both at the intensive (i.e., levels of innovation) and extensive (i.e., technological entry) margins. We further investigate the implications of our firm-level estimations for reducing the gap between REN and FF innovation at the aggregate level. We establish two key findings: (1) a decrease in the FF-REN technology gap mainly comes about through technological entry of specialized REN firms following an increase in REN market size; (2) increases in FF prices, FF market size, and FF knowledge stocks all increase the technology gap by increasing mixed firms FF innovation rates. An important implication of our results is that policies aimed at increasing REN innovation should focus on helping small firms to start and sustain innovation in the long-run.     

Lessons learned from recent incidents: Facility siting, atmospheric venting, and operator information systems

Recent incidents have focused attention on a number of technical and management systems that need to be addressed by industry. A multiple layer of protection approach is essential for the prevention of incidents and/or reduction of consequences. Safety culture and operational discipline are the overall embracing factors that influence the safety performance of a facility. However, as recent events have indicated, there are a number of technical and engineering issues that must also be developed and implemented appropriately. Some of these issues that could lead to incidents with catastrophic consequences include facility siting and atmospheric relief venting. Impact of operator information systems on the prevention of releases of hazardous materials from their containment is also another significant factor that should be given appropriate attention.

This paper describes these three topics based on the findings from recent incidents and historical data. Engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and industry practices are discussed for facility siting, atmospheric relief venting, and operator information systems. Finally, a summary of gaps and needs in technology, standards, and practices is presented.     

Ecological planning proposal for Kruger National Park

This article discusses an application of the ecological planning model proposed by Van Riet and Cooks. The various steps outlined in this model have been applied to Kruger National Park in South Africa. The natural features of Kruger National Park, which form the basis of such an ecological planning exercise and from which the various land use categories, values, and zoning classes can be determined, are discussed in detail. The suitability of each of the various features is analyzed and a final zoning proposal for Kruger National Park is suggested. Furthermore a method for selecting a site for a new camp is illustrated by referring to the site for the new Mopane rest camp which is now under construction in the Kruger National Park. The conclusion is reached that the proposed ecological planning model can be used successfully in planning conservation areas such as Kruger National Park and for the selection of the most desirable sites for the establishment of new rest camps. Its suitability as a practical model in such planning exercises is proven by the fact that the siting proposals of two new camps based on this model have been accepted by the National Parks Board, the controlling body of Kruger National Park.     

Helping the small business sector: an evaluation of the work of two agencies

The paper is concerned with the impact of small business advice agencies on their clients. The work of two agencies (an Enterprise Agency and a local authority Development Unit) operating in the same geographical area (Swale in Kent) is evaluated using a survey of clients as evidence. It is concluded that both agencies are meeting real and distinctive needs among start‐up and established small businesses in the area, and have established effective systems for the delivery of their services. Quality of staff is confirmed as a key factor influencing client satisfaction with the agencies. The impact of the agencies on busines efficiency is ambiguous; it is suggested that major beneficiaries of the work of the agencies are the banks.     

商用低温核供热站潜在事故环境影响和厂址选择

介绍了国外核供热站安全评价和潜在事故环境影响估计.根据我国拟建中200MW核供热站潜在事故后果初步分析结果表明,商用核供热站靠近城市不会给公众带来不适当的风险.此外在我国和国际核安全法规和导则框架内还讨论了核供热站的应急计划和选址准则.由于核供热站的高安全水平,在其周围不需要场外应急撤离计划,人口分布不应是核反应堆选址的决定因素.但从尽可能合理低的辐射防护原则考虑,建立约2km半径的限制发展区和必要的环境辐射应急监测及应急通讯则是有利的.     

Heterogeneous firms and the environment: a cap-and-trade program

Currently, cap-and-trade programs are a cornerstone of many countries' climate change policies and proposals. This paper investigates the economic and environmental effects of different climate change policy designs in a general equilibrium setting with heterogeneous firms and monopolistic competition. The analysis predicts that the cap on emissions perfectly defines the environmental quality but has no effect on firms' profits, or decisions to enter or exit the market. In contrast, increasing the share of free allocations of emission allowances, as opposed to auctions, has no effect on environmental quality but reallocates resources among firms toward the most productive ones which has an impact on firms' entry and exit decisions, the mass of firms, and the composition of the market. Firm heterogeneity magnifies these economic effects of changes in the initial allocation of allowances. The paper provides a decomposition of the change in aggregate emissions which takes account of the changes at sector level, across the firms within a sector, and at the firm level.     

中国农资生产企业中是否存在“以污染换取增长”现象?

现代农业生产过程中农药、化肥、农用塑料薄膜等农业生产资料被广泛使用,排放出大量有机物和无机物,造成了比较严重的农业面源污染。然而,以往研究大多集中于对农业生产过程中直接污染的分析,较少讨论农业生产资料生产过程中所造成的污染。实际上,农资产品的生产过程中往往也会产生大量环境污染,努力降低农资生产企业的环境污染也应是治理农业面源污染的一个重要组成部分。本文基于农资生产企业的微观数据分析了农资生产企业的环境污染状况对其未来年平均销售增长率的影响,检验农资生产企业中是否存在"以污染换增长"现象。在文中我们采用农资生产企业被征收排污费的情况来衡量其环境污染程度,采用企业的年平均销售增长率来衡量其未来业绩表现,进而进行了实证分析。实证分析结果显示,被征收排污费的农资生产企业中普遍存在着"以污染换取增长"的现象。实证结果表现为,如果农资生产企业被征收排污费占销售收入的比重越高,则该农资生产企业未来的销售增长率也相应越高。该研究结论对于我国农资生产企业排污费征收机制的设计和行业环境规制都具有重要的参考价值和借鉴意义。首先,我们建议环境保护部门和农业管理部门在未来应该适当提高农资生产行业的环境准入门槛,防止环境污染严重的企业进入该产业,并逐步淘汰部分高污染的农资生产企业。其次,环境保护部门应该进一步优化排污费的征收机制设计,努力降低农资产品生产过程中所造成的环境污染和生态破坏。最后,建议对农资生产企业的环保技术投资进行补贴。