The brief as an instrument of policy

A review of the use of planning and design briefs by local authorities in the United Kingdom was carried out in 1982–83 to test whether the role of the brief as an instrument of local policy and as a promotional tool in the development process was being fully exploited. The paper provides a state of the art review, presents a summary of the findings and offers some comments on the results. It concludes that most authorities now use briefs as part of their normal planning procedures, but that there is potential which is not yet being exploited.     

The business case for SDGs: an analysis of inclusive business models in emerging economies

In September 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were endorsed by the United Nations and adopted by all 193 Member States. The SDGs integrate the 5P’s: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership and clearly stress the need for all stakeholders to collaborate to create a sustainable world. Most importantly, the SDGs appeal to the central and diverse role that the business sector can play to deliver on the SDGs. This paper provides an analysis of inclusive business (IB) models as market-based solutions to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and benefit those at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). We investigate the IB models and their social impact in 20 organizations from emerging economies across five different sectors. The findings should help increase the uptake and scale of quality IB models and practices among the private sector, development communities, and governments to promote inclusive economic growth and social impact.     

Why bees are critical for achieving sustainable development

Reductions in global bee populations are threatening the pollination benefits to both the planet and people. Whilst the contribution of bee pollination in promoting sustainable development goals through food security and biodiversity is widely acknowledged, a range of other benefits provided by bees has yet to be fully recognised. We explore the contributions of bees towards achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our insights suggest that bees potentially contribute towards 15 of the 17 SDGs and a minimum of 30 SDG targets. We identify common themes in which bees play an essential role, and suggest that improved understanding of bee contributions to sustainable development is crucial for ensuring viable bee systems.     

Impact of human development on safety consciousness in construction

The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that the risk of fatal occupational injuries in developing countries is almost twice as high as in developed countries, indicating a potential relationship between the fatality rates and the development level. The human development index (HDI), based on life expectancy, knowledge level and purchasing power parity, endorsed by the United Nations Development Programme, is a widely accepted measure of the development level. This study investigates the relationship between the HDI and the fatality rates reported by the ILO. A 23-country data set is used to demonstrate the general trend of the relationship followed by country-specific analyses for Australia, Spain, Hungary and Turkey. The study conducted is limited to fatal occupational injuries in construction, where the accidents are notoriously high. The results demonstrate a statistically significant inverse relationship between the fatality rates and the HDI.     

The role of images of conspecifics as visual cues in the development and behavior of larval anurans

Tadpoles can alter their behavior, morphology, and life history in response to habitat change. Although chemical signals from conspecifics or predators play an important role in tadpole habitat assessment, little is known about the role of visual cues and the extent to which tadpoles rely on their vision for intraspecific social assessment. The aim of our experiments was to determine whether larval anurans use visual images of other tadpoles as indicators of density and to analyze how, and to what extent, images of conspecifics alone affect tadpole development, growth, and behavior. To assess this, we raised both Rana sylvatica and Bufo americanus tadpoles in aquaria with either quarter- or half-mirrored walls. Both physically increased density and increased density simulated with mirrors decreased tadpole growth and developmental rates, and increased activity in Rana tadpoles. Bufo tadpoles did not significantly alter their growth and development in response to visually increased density. Only true, i.e., physically, increased density had an effect on growth and activity in Bufo tadpoles. Our data show that images of conspecifics are used as visual cues by Rana tadpoles and can induce phenotypically plastic changes in several traits. This response to visual cues is taxon-specific. An erratum to this article can be found at     

环境成本核算研究的进展

环境成本核算作为环境管理的基础工作，在绿色国民经济核算体系构建，在涉及环境费用效益分析，在制定适当的环境标准、环境收费等政策时发挥着重要作用。在陈述环境成本的定义和分类以及国内外环境成本核算研究过程的基础上，指出可持续发展理论、总成本理论、外部性和边际机会成本理论以及基于SEEA核算体系的环境成本计量理论是环境成本核算的四大理论支柱，并对环境成本核算方法的研究进行了总结与分析。阐明了研究队伍综合化、宏观核算微观化、核算方法科学化是环境成本核算研究的发展趋势，时空范围的处理、环境服务产出的处理、内部环保外部化处理是环境成本核算研究的难点与热点问题。     

Temporal constraints and female preference for burrow width in the fiddler crab, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Uca mjoebergi</Emphasis>

We studied sampling behaviour and mate choice in the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi. Once a female selects a mate, she copulates in his burrow and remains there until releasing her aquatic larvae. U. mjoebergi occurs in habitats that are inundated only by the highest amplitude spring tides. Females can only release their larvae during these tides, and release before or after will result in complete failure of reproductive effort. Matings occur over a 5-day period near the end of neap tides. Our results suggest that within the mating period, females adjust their larval developmental rates by selecting specific burrows in which to incubate their clutches. We found that at the start of the mating period, females chose larger males as mates. Since male size was positively correlated to burrow width, females were selecting wide burrows and effectively incubating at lower temperatures. This would slow down the developmental rates of larvae. In contrast, females that mated late in the mating period selectively chose small males. By incubating in narrower, warmer burrows, these females may increase the developmental rates of larvae. We propose that females are selecting burrows to influence incubation rate and ensure timely release of their larvae. Female U. mjoebergi appear to adjust their preference for the direct benefits of mate choice to increase their reproductive success.     

不利风向条件下北部湾人为源对海口市PM2.5浓度影响的模拟研究

通过分析2013—2017年海口市风向频率、地面PM_(2.5)浓度及海口市所处北部湾地理位置,确定12月为北部湾对海口市最不利风向时间段.利用中尺度气象模式(WRF,Weather Research Forecast)驱动空气质量模型(CMAQ,Community Multi-scale Air Quality),设置一系列数值模拟情景,深入分析北部湾人为源对海口市PM_(2.5)浓度影响.结果表明:WRF/CMAQ能很好地再现北部湾气象场和PM_(2.5)浓度的时空分布.2013年12月,北部湾人为源对海口市PM_(2.5)平均贡献率约为45.4%,其中约有90%来源于海口市自身人为源,约有10%来源于广东广西片区,海南片区除海口外其余市县贡献可忽略不计.污染时段,北部湾和海口市自身贡献率均下降,平均贡献率分别为40%和36%,表明污染时段海口市PM_(2.5)主要源区不仅来自北部湾.通过分析后向轨迹,发现污染时段均会经过一个关键区——珠三角区域,表明珠三角区域很有可能也是造成2013年12月海口市PM_(2.5)污染的主要源区.清洁时段,北部湾和海口市自身贡献率均上升,平均贡献率分别为52%和48%,表明北部湾对海口市PM_(2.5)浓度影响在清洁时段更显著.因此,北部湾未来产业规划值得关注,因为这些产业很有可能使目前海口市清洁时段变为污染时段,导致空气质量下降.     

清洁发展机制项目运作关键问题分析与管理对策研究

清洁发展机制（CDM）项目要想能够顺利通过一系列审查并最终获得减排量,需要特别重视项目运作流程中的关键环节。针对中国CDM项目审批数量少,通过率低,耗费时间长等问题,本文在分析CDM内涵及项目运作流程的基础上,指出了中国CDM项目运作中面临的主要问题,提出了相应的管理对策与建议,期望能够为中国推进CDM项目实施提供帮助。