Will progress in science and technology avert or accelerate global collapse? A critical analysis and policy recommendations

Industrial society will move towards collapse if its total environmental impact (I), expressed either in terms of energy and materials use or in terms of pollution, increases with time, i.e., dI/dt > 0. The traditional interpretation of the I = PAT equation reflects the optimistic belief that technological innovation, particularly improvements in eco-efficiency, will significantly reduce the technology (T) factor, and thereby result in a corresponding decline in impact (I). Unfortunately, this interpretation of the I = PAT equation ignores the effects of technological change on the other two factors: population (P) and per capita affluence (A). A more heuristic formulation of this equation is I = P(T)·A(T)·T in which the dependence of P and A on T is apparent. From historical evidence, it is clear that technological revolutions (tool-making, agricultural, and industrial) have been the primary driving forces behind successive population explosions, and that modern communication and transportation technologies have been employed to transform a large proportion of the world’s inhabitants into consumers of material- and energy-intensive products and services. In addition, factor analysis from neoclassical growth theory and the rebound effect provide evidence that science and technology have played a key role in contributing to rising living standards. While technological change has thus contributed to significant increases in both P and A, it has at the same time brought about considerable eco-efficiency improvements. Unfortunately, reductions in the T-factor have generally not been sufficiently rapid to compensate for the simultaneous increases in both P and A. As a result, total impact, in terms of energy production, mineral extraction, land-use and CO₂ emissions, has in most cases increased with time, indicating that industrial society is nevertheless moving towards collapse. The belief that continued and even accelerated scientific research and technological innovation will automatically result in sustainability and avert collapse is at best mistaken. Innovations in science and technology will be necessary but alone will be insufficient for sustainability. Consequently, what is most needed are specific policies designed to decrease total impact, such as (a) halting population growth via effective population stabilization plans and better access to birth control methods, (b) reducing total matter-energy throughput and pollution by removing perverse subsidies, imposing regulations that limit waste discharges and the depletion of non-renewable resources, and implementing ecological tax reform, and (c) moving towards a steady-state economy in which per-capita affluence is stabilized at lower levels by replacing wasteful conspicuous material consumption with social alternatives known to enhance subjective well-being. While science and technology must play an important role in the implementation of these policies, none will be enacted without a fundamental change in society’s dominant values of growth and exploitation. Thus, value change is the most important prerequisite for avoiding global collapse.

江苏淮河流域工业点源负荷空间分布特征研究

搞清流域工业点源的空间分异特征,可为水环境整治与工业规划提供参考依据。采用工业污染源普查数据建立污染源信息数据库,在GIS技术、密度分析法与ESDA方法支撑下,探析江苏淮河流域工业点源与工业污染负荷空间格局与特征。结果显示：工业点源集聚于城市、县城及专业乡镇,污染行业地域分异现象显著,其中,河流、港口及临湖地区成为高负荷工业点源集聚地区,化工、造纸、化纤与医药等行业的工业集中于临海、临河及临湖地区,饮料制造业、副食品加工业点源集中于工业化水平较低的北部流域的少数乡镇,工业氨氮多数来自化工业。在不同工业化水平下,工业污染负荷空间差异大,南部流域负荷整体水平高于北部,北部流域高负荷区分布于少数乡镇与城区     

Beyond behaviour change: technological artefacts and characterological development

Addressing the root causes of (un)sustainability entails fundamentally changing our ways of living. This requires going beyond technology and behaviour-oriented approaches common under the umbrella of sustainable development (SD). More fundamental change is required to increase the possibility of realizing ecological and psychological well-being. Here, such change is conceptualized as ‘characterological change’. Next to SD another domain is introduced: characterological development (CD). The potential role of design-interventions in CD is explored in this article. Two studies were conducted, a literature study and experts interviews, covering the fields of Design for Sustainable Behaviour, Persuasive Technology, Practice-Oriented Design and Philosophy of Technology. The literature study shows that current research and interventions predominantly fall within the domain of SD, leaving character and related notions largely unaddressed. The expert interviews (n = 10) show a consensus that (design) research concerning the relation between technological artefacts and human character would be valuable. Research challenges and opportunities for design towards ‘living the good life within ecological means’ are discussed.     

A Methodology Framework for Regional Land-use Change Studies based on Landsat TM images: A Case Study in Northeast China

Abstract

Land-use change is an important aspect of global environment change. It is, in a sense, the direct result of human activities influencing our physical environment. This paper analyzed the land- use change in Northeast China during 1985–2000 based on Landsat TM images. It divides Northeast China into five land-use zones based on the dynamic degree model of land-use: woodland/grassland-arable land conversion zone, dry land-paddy field conversion zone; urban expansion zone, interlocked zone of farming and pasturing and reclamation and abandon zone. The findings include the obvious increase of cropland area, paddy field and dry land increased by 75 and 276 thousand hm² respectively; urban areas expanded rapidly, areas of town and rural residence increased by 76.8 thousand hm²; areas of forests and grassland decreased sharply with the amounts of 1399 and 1521 thousand hm² respectively; areas of water body and unused land increased by 148 and 514 thousand hm² respectively. This paper also discusses the driving forces in each land-use dynamic zone and finds that some key biophysical factors affect conspicuously the conversion of different land-use types. The relation between land-use conversion and DEM, accumulated temperature (≤10°C) and precipitation was analyzed and represented. The land-use changes In Northeast China resulted from the changing macro social and economic factors and local physical elements. Rapid population growth and management changes can explain the shaping of woodland/grassland-cropland conversion zone. The conversion from dry land to paddy field in the dry land-paddy field conversion zone, apart from the change of physical elements promoting the expansion of paddy field, results from two reasons: one is that the implementation of market economy in China has given farmers the right to decide what and how they plant their crops, the other factor is originated partially from the change of the dietary habit along with the social and economic development. The conversion from paddy field to dry land is caused primarily by the shortfall of irrigation water, which in turn is caused by poor water allocation managed by local governments. The shaping of the reclamation and abandon zone is partially due to the lack of environment protection consciousness among pioneer settlers. The reason for the conversion from grassland to cropland is the relatively higher profits of farming than that of pasturing in the interlocked zone of farming and pasturing. In Northeast China, the rapid expansion of built-up areas results from two factors: the existence of a small number of towns and the huge potential for expansion of the existing towns and cities. The urban land expanded mainly in areas with a gentle topographic relief and low population density.     

基于技术扩散的全社会能源效率空间条件收敛分析

我国各地区能源效率存在明显的差距,如何缩小地区能源效率差距成为了能源经济领域的热点问题.本文依据2000-2010年中国30省面板数据,运用空间误差条件β收敛模型分析了技术扩散对全社会能源效率收敛的影响,研究结果表明:①2000-2010年间,全社会能源效率呈现2000-2002、2002-2005和2005-2010的三阶段特征,经历上升、下降、再上升的变化过程,其中,2005-2010年提升速度最快,其经验值得借鉴;②全社会能源效率的绝对β收敛呈现由收敛至发散的三阶段变化过程;③全社会能源效率存在显著的空间滞后现象,其增长率的空间相依性不显著,但空间因素对全社会能源效率β收敛的正面影响有加强的趋势;④技术扩散从总体上使全社会能源效率的收敛速度提高1.8倍以上,且影响程度逐渐增强;⑤外商直接投资有助于提升全社会能源效率及其收敛速度;⑥不同时段的技术扩散对全社会能源效率的影响不同,且技术引进和国内技术市场技术流入对收敛的作用不显著.因此,引进外资是缩小地区间全社会能源效率差距的重要措施.     

环境规制、空间溢出与地区产业竞争力

利用1999-2009年中国30个省大中型工业企业数据,考察了产业竞争力的影响因素,特别是环境规制的影响.通过非空间模型和空间Durbin模型检验了产业竞争力和环境规制的关系.在空间模型中,估算了直接和溢出效应.结果发现,环境规制变量的直接和溢出效应分别为-0.17和0.559,且统计上高度显著,进而其总效应也显著为正.这表明,环境规制有较高的正的空间溢出效应,这似乎有可能引发地区间的环境竞次竞争行为;如果忽略污染的空间溢出,将严重低估环境规制的作用.还发现,外商直接投资、科技人员数和产业规模对产业竞争力有显著的正的直接效应.进而提出政府应加快完善环境补偿的制度,一是中央政府应当建立健全环境补偿立法;二是完善环境补偿的管理体制,协调和指导跨地区的环境补偿;三是加大与环境补偿有关的财政转移支付力度.     

Economic Globalization and Industrial Pollution

Abstract

In order to study the relationship between economic globalization and industrial pollution, this paper developed the theoretical framework and used simultaneous equations. The result shows that economic globalization has influences on the industrial pollution mainly by the direct effect of scale, structure and technology as well as the indirect effect of income and policy. Considering all the factors, economic globalization, especially foreign direct investment (FDI), will reduce industrial pollution, in which technology spillover effect plays an important role.     

The Economic Effect of Mineral Resources Exploitation in Bijie Prefecture in Guizhou

Abstract

The exploitation of mineral resources plays an important role in promoting national economic development. Mining is an essential component of China’s industrial economy. Using grey correlation method to analyze the correlative effect of mineral resources exploitation to relevant industries, using national income method to calculate the pulling effect of mineral resources exploitation to economic growth and using graphs as well as tables to analyze the income distribution effect, the article obtains active economic effect of mineral resources development in Bijie, Guizhou. Moreover, from the view of resources-cored effect, the article analyzes negative effects such as single industrial structure brought by mineral resource development. Through analysis, we find that mineral resources exploitation to some extent brings active effects including gross domestic product growth, local financial revenue growth and relevant industries development; however, its negative effects should not be ignored. The negative effect can be lightened by diversifying industrial structure and prolonging industrial chain.     

冬奥会期间京津冀及周边区域空气质量时空特征、气象影响和减排效果评估

对比分析2015～2022年冬奥会期间(1月31日至2月20日)京津冀及周边区域44城市空气质量时空演变特征,量化同期气象、协同减排和跨区域传输对PM_2.5浓度及组分变化贡献,为不利气象条件下区域空气质量联防联控提供科学参考.结果表明,2022年44城市PM_2.5浓度为近8年农历同期最低(46μg·m^-3),优良天占比最高(83.3%),不存在重污染天.PM_2.5污染南重北轻,高值区主要集中在太行山沿线及燕山传输通道城市.2016年在春节中期未管控烟花爆竹燃放等源排放强度下,优良天占比93.5%,大气强扩散能力对空气质量改善至关重要.2022年静稳天气指数(SWI)同比增加2.1,大气扩散能力转差,44城市ρ(PM_2.5)均值和峰值同比下降14μg·m^-3和76μg·m^-3,北京减排对PM_2.5浓度降幅较未采取前增大96%,晋鲁豫地区在气象造成PM_2.5浓度上升的不利背景下,峰值下降87μg...     

西昌邛海沉积物重金属含量时空变化与污染评价

通过对四川省西昌市邛海沉积岩芯10种金属元素全量与表层沉积物7种重金属元素全量和赋存形态的分析,研究了近百年来重金属累积和污染的时空特征及其在表层沉积物中的潜在生态风险.20世纪70年代之前,沉积岩芯中金属元素含量均较为稳定;70年代沉积物中Al、Fe、K和Cr含量呈明显的峰值,与流域降水量增加及围湖造田和毁林开荒等导致的细颗粒表土侵蚀输入有关;90年代以来,随着流域土壤侵蚀强度降低,Al、Fe、K和Cr等含量总体呈下降趋势,而As、Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn含量逐渐升高或较为稳定.富集系数结果表明,沉积岩芯中Cd、Pb和Zn受到不同程度的人为污染;其中Cd污染最重,污染开始于20世纪60年代,90年代以来保持在中等污染水平.表层沉积物中,Cd在西北部湖区含量较高,其余重金属含量空间变化趋势不明显;Cd、Pb和Zn的有效态质量分数平均分别为95%、63%和48%,其中Cd以酸可提取态为主,Pb和Zn主要赋存于可还原态和可氧化态中;其余重金属有效态质量分数平均值小于27%.重金属全量与有效态含量结果均表明,表层沉积物中Pb和Zn为轻度污染或中度污染水平,Cd平均为中度污染水平,但在西北部湖区达到了重度污染水平.基于重金属全量与有效态含量分别估算的表层沉积物中人为源Cd、Pb和Zn的含量较为接近（P>0.05）,说明人为输入的重金属在沉积物中主要赋存于有效态中.综合沉积物质量基准、潜在生态风险指数评价结果及重金属赋存形态,表层沉积物中Cd具有较强的潜在生态风险,其余重金属表现为低生态风险.