The political ecology of Yukon forestry: managing the forest as if people mattered

Over the past several decades a growing interest has emerged in the relationship between forest dependent communities and their use of non-timber forest resources (NTFR—i.e. berries, roots, barks). Motivated in large part by international concerns over the loss of biological and cultural diversity, efforts are now being made to conserve the world's remaining forests by repositioning NTFR to the forefront of the forest management process. Together with the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, we have undertaken an assessment that: 1) addresses the role of NTFR in fulfilling basic human necessities and well-being of community members, and 2) identifies the perceptual differences that exist among First Nation and non-First Nation community members regarding the security and future availability of forest resources. Based on our findings, we argue that if the true value of the forest is to be understood, and thus sustained, those involved in management must consider the full array of products and services the forest provides. Thus the conventional and over-simplified view that the forest is to provide primarily for commercial timber must be challenged in light of the multiplicity of values community members gain from forest use.     

Prioritising development planning in the Indian semi-arid Deccan using sustainable livelihood security index approach

This paper presents the status of sustainable livelihood security index (SLSI) of Karnataka, the most drought prone state in the Southern part of India. Computation of ecological security index, economic efficiency index and social equity index, and finally SLSI were carried out at the district level for the entire state, using empirical data. The selected indicators were first normalised, and then using estimated weights, indices were computed. The results indicate that the state has a very low SLSI with only 27.6% of total geographical area (TGA) and 21.7% of population being placed in the ‘sustainable’ and ‘highly sustainable’ categories (covering 10 districts) while only 34% of the TGA covering six districts falls in the ‘moderately sustainable’ category. The remaining area, confined mostly to the northern parts of the state, comprising 14 districts (51.8% of the state’s TGA) is categorised as ‘less sustainable’ and ‘very less sustainable’ exposing 44.4% (27.14 million) of state’s population to the perils of uncertain rainfall, high soil erosion rates, high social inequality and poor resource use efficiency. There is an urgent need to reorient development programmes and prioritise development investments in these vulnerable districts so that they are provided resources and opportunities to improve their ecological (more forest cover and less soil erosion), economic (higher agricultural productivity) and social (improved health and education facilities and rural infrastructure) status and achieve sustainable levels of livelihood.     

Uneven distribution of urban green spaces in a coastal city in northwest Mexico

ABSTRACT

Extent and distribution of urban green spaces (UGS) in Mazatlan (Mexico) are analysed using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Vegetated areas (2,270?ha), a third of the urban area in 2015, were reclassified into green spaces (GS), urban tree (UT) and open spaces (OS), based in the normalised difference vegetation index, relating them with demographic and socioeconomic data. UGS allocation per capita amount 55?m², mainly represented by the UT class, with the largest patches associated with low developed and very high marginalised areas, and also with very low marginalised sectors, while the lowest allocation correspond to medium and low marginalisation, highly populated sector, without significant correlations. Despite the USG allocation, it is required a better urban planning to maintain public UGS and to protect the local flora, threatened by the introduction of exotic, ornamental species (64% of UT), to guarantee the provision of ecosystem services to the population.     

Equity Concerns over Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract

As a complicated concept with ethical implications, equity or fairness in the field of climate change mitigation concerns the relations not only between individual human beings but also between human beings and the nature. In this paper, after the review of equity between individuals, market and non-market attributes of emissions rights are distinguished and discussed. Based on the argument of equal per capita emissions rights, three types of emissions rights and the concept of minimum emissions rights as social security are proposed.     

基于配额指标重要性视角的中国碳排放配额再分配

提出用与碳排放“同步变化程度”来衡量配额指标重要性的思想,对中国各省份碳排放配额进行再分配.首先在公平和效率原则基础上选取碳排放的影响因素作为分配指标,其次采用灰色关联分析法分别测算出各地区各指标与碳排放量的同步变动程度,以得到各地区各指标在配额分配中的比重.最后测算出我国29个省区2020~2030年的碳排放配额与排放空间.结果表明,人口基数及经济发展指标对各地碳排放有较强的同步变动关联性,因此应该被赋予更高的权重;配额最多的地区包括广东、北京、江苏、山东、上海,最少的地区则包括宁夏、贵州、青海、吉林、新疆.盈余分析发现,北京地区的碳排放空间有较多盈余;浙江等5个省区已达较饱和状态;山东等4个省区则处于较严重的溢出状态,在未来10年内需承担较重的减排压力.     

上海市入境旅游市场发展潜力与旅游外汇收入的关系研究——基于灰色预测和灰色关联分析法

利用灰色预测法对上海市入境旅游11个国家和地区的赴沪旅游者人数和旅游外汇收入进行了预测,推断出上海市入境旅游市场中不同国家和地区的市场潜力;运用灰色关联分析法,探索不同市场潜力等级的入境旅游国家和地区与上海市旅游外汇收入间的关系.针对亚洲和欧美各国家或地区的实际情况,提出了针对性的对策和建议.     

我国板材家具污染物质散发状况及分析

为了对我国板材家具(以下简称家具)污染状况和污染形成因素进行全面的了解,文章通过文献调研和实验数据分析描述了我国家具污染物的释放情况;并针对家具污染,从家具原材料、生产工艺、我国控制标准的完善程度以及国外的标识体系进行了分析和探讨。结果表明,家具对室内空气的污染有较大影响,家具污染的主要原因有原料环保要求不达标、生产工艺不合理以及我国标准的不完善。因此我们应借鉴国外一些标志体系,逐渐完善我国标准和法规,并加强执法力度。     

Drivers of social equity in renewable energy at the municipal level: the case of local Japanese energy policy and preferences

ABSTRACT

Recent research has allowed us to quantify the costs and benefits of adopting renewable energy in specific municipalities, but how do these outcomes vary among communities at the national scale? This study uses survey responses from 47 Japanese municipalities to model these impacts and identifies key technological, social, and demographic factors that shape which communities benefit more from the renewable energy transition. On average, introducing renewable energy improves social equity, any financial burden on electricity prices is born most by wealthier residents, not the poor, and towns are predisposed to benefit from renewables no matter the amount introduced. To improve these impacts, towns can increase the amount of solar they host, or they can adjust the amount of CO2 emissions, PM emissions, tax revenue, jobs gained, or unpopular renewable power plants in their town. However, preferences and demographics matter as well. Age, education, and local preferences in favor of employment and community development all significantly relate to equity potential outcomes. Policymakers should consider adjusting their local energy priorities using these levers if they hope to engineer a renewable energy transition that is both positive and popular for their constituents.     

有关全球气候变化问题上的公平性分析

从《联合国气候变化》了发，对人类社会应对气候变化中的“公平”性问题，从不同角度进行了系统讨论。对发展中国家和发达国家在公平原则下责任、义务及优先事项的差别进行了分析，提出并分析了以人均碳排放权相等为标准，到目标年（例2100年）各国人均碳排放量及过渡期内（例1990-2100）人均累积碳排放量两个趋同的碳排放权分配原则。     

Equity Concerns over Climate Change Mitigation

As a complicated concept with ethical implications, equity or fairness in the field of climate change mitigation concerns the relations not only between individual human beings but also between human beings and the nature. In this paper, after the review of equity between individuals, market and non-market attributes of emissions rights are distinguished and discussed. Based on the argument of equal per capita emissions rights, three types of emissions rights and the concept of minimum emissions rights as social security are proposed.