Long-run dynamics of renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions and economic growth in the European union

This paper examines long-run and short-run dynamics of renewable energy consumption on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and economic growth in the European Union. This study employs cointegration tests, Granger causality tests and vector error correction estimates to examine the direction of Granger causality, the long-run dynamics of economic growth and energy variables on carbon emissions. This study analyses time series data from the World Development Indicators over the period from1961 to 2012. The results of this study support a link between renewable energy consumption, economic growth, industrialization, exports and CO₂ emissions in the long-run and short-run. The results support that the sign of the long-run dynamics from the endogenous variables to the CO₂ emissions variable is negative and significant, which implies that the energy and environmental policies of the European Union aimed at curbing CO₂ emissions must have been effective in the long-term. Furthermore, renewable energy consumption and exports have significant negative impact on CO₂ emissions in the short-run. However, industrialization and economic growth have positive impact on CO₂ emissions in the short-run. The results suggest that both economic growth and industrialization must have been achieved at the cost of harming the environment. The finding suggests that the increasing consumption of renewable energy tends to play an important role in curbing carbon emissions in the region.     

Perceived importance of sustainability dimensions in the Portuguese metal industry

The growing interest of stakeholders regarding the contribution of organizations to Sustainable Development is influencing organizational behavior and strategic planning. The purpose of the present paper is to analyze the perception of the importance of organizational sustainability dimensions in a relevant economic sector: the metal industry. Survey data was collected from a sample of 211 Portuguese industries, and non-parametric statistical tests were used to validate five research hypotheses regarding the importance of the economic, environmental, social and cultural dimensions of sustainability. The results obtained demonstrate awareness of the sampled industries regarding all sustainability dimensions, recognizing that their importance has been increasing over the years, and prospecting that this importance will continue to increase in the future. The industries in this sample revealed different degrees of perceived importance for the different sustainability dimensions: the highest importance was given to the economic dimension, and culture was considered the least important sustainability dimension. However, the perception of the respondents is that these differences will be less relevant in the future. The results also show that companies with certified management systems reveal a higher perceived importance regarding sustainability dimensions. Also, industries with higher values of annual turnover, number of employees and export sales tend to give higher degrees of importance to sustainability dimensions. Considering the economic, environmental and social impacts of metal industries at an international level, the awareness of this industrial sector regarding the importance of sustainability is a relevant step to the commitment towards Sustainable Development.     

草莓有机与无机种植系统能流和经济流的比较研究

通过３年田间试验，比较分析了草莓有机与无机种植系统的能流、经济流及对土壤环境的影响。结果表明，有机系统草莓产量、经济效益均高于无机系统；有机系统能量产投比仅为无机系统的２５％，但投入的绝大部分为可再生能源；有机系统土壤有机质、微生物量高于无机系统，具有更好的土壤条件     

草莓在有机与无机种植系统中的能流和经济效益的比较

本文运用了生态经济学的原理，对草莓在有机和无机种植系统内能量流动、物质转化以及经济效益进行了比较研究。结果表明：两处理区施用几乎相同氮量的有机肥（１７５ｋｇ／ｈｍ￣２）和无机肥（１６４ｋｇ／ｈｍ￣２），其有机区草莓的生长发育、产量均明显好于无机处理区；有机草莓的光能利用率和氮素产出／投入分别比无机草莓提高了６４．２４％和５７．７２％；同时证明，优质有机肥可改善草莓的良用品质，并提高经济效益。     

运用科学发展观促进人与自然的和谐

科学发展观是一个全新的理念和思维方式，是由旧发展观的扬弃和转换创新的．科学发展观是以人为本作为核心内涵；把握住全面、协调和可持续发展作为本质内涵．运用科学发展观来解救中国生态危机，促进经济社会发展跨越．     

黄河三角洲及珠江三角洲生态足迹分析

利用遥感解译数据,分析了解珠江三角洲及黄河三角洲自然资本的供需状况,通过分析两大三角洲地区的生态足迹,探讨在经济发展程度不同的情况下,人类对生态环境的影响程度。并借鉴珠江三角洲经济发展过程中出现的问题,对黄河三角洲今后发展可能出现的问题提出预防措施,以减少对资源的不合理需求,提出正确的功能定位,制定正确的发展方向。研究结果表明,(1)黄河三角洲和珠江三角洲的生态足迹需求均高于全国0.8hm2/人的平均水平,珠江三角洲地区生态足迹需求为1.5403hm2/人;黄河三角洲地区生态足迹需求为1.3514hm2/人。(2)化石燃料的供需状况是影响两大三角洲地区生态赤字的关键因素,珠江三角洲地区对化石燃料的需求占总生态足迹需求的72.67%,位居全国第一位;黄河三角洲地区对化石燃料的需求占总生态足迹需求的49.85%。(3)珠江三角洲除林地尚有少量生态盈余外,其他生态足迹需求均存在明显的生态赤字。受城市化及工业化进程的影响,黄河三角洲化石燃料用地和耕地资源已出现生态赤字。(4)与西方一些发达国家相比,两大三角洲的生态足迹均呈现“低需求,低供给”的特点。     

生态经济学的价值观

农业产品因投入劳动和消耗自然界的资源形成价值。农业产品在生产和流通过程中，伴随其本身的价值，还会产生其经济效益。利用生态循环中可以再生的资源，可产生生态经济效益，运用先进的农业技术可产生技术经济效益，流通领域中的供求优势可产生社会经济效益。     

传统生存方式变迁对农村环境的影响

随着农村社会经济的发展,农户的生存方式开始逐步由传统的生存方式逐步转变为现代的生存方式。在具体的案例研究过程中,我们既可以看到传统生存方式的环境友好的一面,也可以看到传统生存方式变迁过程中农户经济行为变化对于农村环境的不利影响。与此同时,社会经济发展过程中,新的现代生产生活要素的介入,在不断使农户的生活逐步走向现代化的同时,也带来了种种环境问题。总之,农村环境问题的产生既有传统生存方式本身存在的问题,也来自于生存方式变迁过程中新的外部物质的介入,因此,对于农村环境的改善需要同时从这两方面着手,在改善农户生存方式的同时,更要从根本上控制外部的污染物质的介入。     

无锡市跨世纪经济发展的制约因素及对策建议

面对世纪之交,无锡市制定了“两个率先”的战略目标,这就要求在经济发展过程中注重各种资源条件的支撑以及它们的优化组合。从经济运行的角度讲,影响和制约经济发展的主要因素是把握市场的能力以及投入经济活动的各种资源要素（包括劳动力、资金和各类物资资源）和科技进步率的高低。本文就这些生产要素在未来经济发展中的供给能力及将起的作用进行了分析,认为无锡市面临老龄化和就业困难的双重压力,外资的引入仍受宏观政策影响,外延式的调整发展模式难以持续,提出无锡市可持续发展应加强人力资源的管理和培训,依靠科技进步和高新技术产业支撑精制的发展方式,逐步形成重效益的快速发展态势,严格环保政策和规范土地市场等。