Sustainable consumption and production: Trends, challenges and options for the Asia-Pacific region

This paper highlights current trends in consumption and production patterns in Asian developing countries and emerging economies. It describes the main challenges and opportunities for Asian countries making the transition towards sustainable consumption and production patterns. The main challenge for Asian economies is to address the unsustainable consumption patterns of urban consumers, which entails a policy shift from the current focus on pollution and inefficient industrial production. In view of future consumption trends and the global convergence of consumption patterns, the characteristics of the emerging 'global consumer class' are examined, with particular focus on urban ecological footprints and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the difference between urban and rural consumption is discussed, together with opportunities for low-carbon urban development in the megacities of Asian developing countries. To conclude, the paper presents an overview of current policy measures taken in Asian countries to green economic development and realise sustainable consumption and production patterns.     

Enrichments of Trace Metals in Particulate Matter From the Southern East China Sea, North of Taiwan

This study investigates the distributions and enrichments of trace metals in suspended and sinking particulate matter from southern East China Sea (ECS) north of Taiwan during the period April 1992 to April 1993. According to these results, concentration of suspended particulate matter in the inner shelf of southern China Sea, the upwellinginfluenced shelf break, and in Kuroshio water are 1.30 (surface)-4.2 (bottom) mg1^-1, ca. 0.4 mg1^-1 and 0.1-0.2 mg1^-1, respectively, reflecting various influences of terrestrial inputs. A benthic nepheloid layer (BNL), apparently owing to resuspension of local and/or remote bottom sediments, formed over the shelf region. Temporal variations in trace metal contents and enrichments in suspended matter from the shelf region reflect the variation of metal inputs from Chinese rivers, particularly from the Changjiang runoff. the enriched metals are more likely to be derived from anthropogenic input, rather than from biological accumulation. in addition, a decrease in metal contents and an increase in salinity confirm the transport of suspended particulate metals from the East China Sea shelf to the open ocean. the feature of metal plume in the intermediate layer (550-800m) of Kuroshio water also verifies this occurrence. Moreover, the sinking particles collected from a sediment trap on the upper slope are relatively enriched in lithogenic matter and trace metals, suggesting the deposit of anthropogenic metals in the slope area.     

东湖磷酸酶活力及其生态学意义研究

本文对东湖磷酸酶活力(PA)的来源,不同湖区活力水平的比较,及其与主要环境因子的关系作了初步研究。结果表明,东湖水柱中磷酸酶活力主要来自藻类,底泥中则主要来自细菌;在东湖磷浓度波动范围内,磷对碱性磷酸酶活力(ALPA)无明显抑制,实验室条件下相当于环境水平的磷浓度不能抑制PA;光照促进藻类PA的增加;溶解氧有利于藻类PA提高,对细菌PA则相反。     

Vulnerability and resilience to climate change in Sorsogon City,the Philippines: learning from an ordinary city?

Sorsogon City is a rapidly urbanising coastal area in the Philippines. Its location, combined with a rapidly changing and growing urban fabric, leaves it vulnerable to both incremental climate change and associated extreme weather events. In this paper, UN-HABITAT data are used to draw out the climate change vulnerabilities and policy responses in Sorsogon City. Vulnerability “hotspots” highlight the spatial intersection of socio-economic justice concerns, particularly in terms of vulnerability to increased cyclone activity. We discuss vulnerabilities of Sorsogon City and its citizens to climate change and measures undertaken through various social, environmental and technical systems and interventions to increase resilience. The paper also attempts to unpick the relationship between the neat, concise reported city and the complexities of urban life using the Sorsogon experiment to consider the limitations of such approaches to governing climate change. We group these under four headings: social simplification in the absence of data; over-governance (and under-representation); quick wins versus strategic investment; and stretching the ecological and vulnerability footprints of the city. The experience of Sorsogon City is then extended to reflect on issues of governance and planning in other Asian coastal cities.     

Household susceptibility to hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin

The hydrological conditions of the Lower Mekong Basin support a multitude of ecosystem services. Processes that influence water flow in the Mekong River will thus have implications for the tens of millions of people whose livelihoods depend on these services. This study presents an assessment of livelihood susceptibility to hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin. Using an index‐based approach, susceptibility scores were calculated for 2,703 households. Using those scores, we compared average household susceptibility across the basin, among countries and among eco‐zones. Due to their greater livelihood dependency on water‐related activities, mean household susceptibility was higher in Vietnam than in Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand. Households in Northern Laos also had high susceptibility, which was attributed to their low adaptive capacity. The findings suggest that policies aimed at reducing vulnerability to hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin should account for geographic context. Further, they highlight how policies may be able to strategically target the most susceptible households, but that poorly designed policies have the potential to exacerbate vulnerability. In the face of high uncertainty surrounding hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin, our assessment of susceptibility should help inform precautionary water management policies and provide baseline information needed for more comprehensive vulnerability assessments.     

Roofing as a source of nonpoint water pollution

Sixteen wooden structures with two roofs each were installed to study runoff quality for four commonly used roofing materials (wood shingle, composition shingle, painted aluminum, and galvanized iron) at Nacogdoches, Texas. Each roof, either facing NW or SE, was 1.22 m wide x 3.66 m long with a 25.8% roof slope. Thus, there were 32 alternatively arranged roofs, consisting of four roof types x two aspects x four replicates, in the study. Runoff from the roofs was collected through galvanized gutters, downspouts, and splitters. The roof runoff was compared to rainwater collected by a wet/dry acid rain collector for the concentrations of eight water quality variables, i.e. Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+), Mg(2+), Al(3+), EC and pH. Based on 31 storms collected between October 1997 and December 1998, the results showed: (1) concentrations of pH, Cu, and Zn in rainwater already exceed the EPA freshwater quality standards even without pollutant inputs from roofs, (2) Zn and Cu, the two most serious pollutants in roof runoff, exceeded the EPA national freshwater water quality standards in virtually 100% and more than 60% of the samples, respectively, (3) pH, EC, and Zn were the only three variables significantly affected by roofing materials, (4) differences in Zn concentrations were significant among all roof types and between all roof runoff and rainwater samples, (5) although there were no differences in Cu concentrations among all roof types and between roof runoff and rainwater, all means and medians of runoff and rainwater exceeded the national water quality standards, (6) water quality from wood shingles was the worst among the roof types studied, and (7) although SE is the most frequent and NW the least frequent direction for incoming storms, only EC, Mg, Mn, and Zn in wood shingle runoff from the SE were significantly higher than those from the NW; the two aspects affected no other elements in runoff from the other three roof types. Also, Zn concentrations from new wood-shingle roofs were significantly higher than those from aged roofs of a previous study. The study demonstrated that roofs could be a serious source of nonpoint water pollution. Since Zn is the most serious water pollutant and wood shingle is the worst of the four roof types, using less compounds and materials associated with Zn along with good care and maintenance of roofs are critical in reducing Zn pollution in roof runoff.     

东洞庭湖世界涉危鸟类多样性的分析研究

为了探讨湿地自然保护区综合措施的实施对鸟类多类性的影响,本文分析比较了东洞庭湖自1992年加入国际《湿地公约》后,在1992-1996年间世界濒危鸟类多样性的动态变化。自1992年加入国际《湿地公约》后,尽管对洞庭湖湿地及其内栖息的生物采取了诸多保护措施,但仍发现世界濒危鸟类多样性的值并未如人们所期望迅速有所回升,而是呈弱递减趋势。东洞庭湖湿地的世界濒危鸟类多样性大小状况为:1992-1993>1993-1994>1994-1995>1995-1996。因为湿地环境的客观改善勿容质疑,为此得出结论:鸟类多样性的恢复存在滞缓期。并且作者对退化湿地生态系统的恢复途径进行了讨论,提出合理化建议:(1)应该根据湿地演替的规律进行认为辅助演替。(2)保证湿地环境的稳定性,增加净生产力,使鸟类的基础饵料丰富充足。     

Differences in urban and rural accident characteristics and medical service utilization for traffic fatalities in less-motorized societies

Introduction

Fatalities from traffic accidents in less-motorized societies are an important global issue. We aimed to characterize the geographic differences of fatalities in such societies to facilitate the development of targeted interventions.

Method

This study linked police reports, hospital data, and vital registration data from Taiwan with special reference to accident factors in pre-hospital deaths and medical care in hospital deaths.

Results

A higher percentage of pre-hospital deaths were observed following rural as compared to urban traffic accidents. The deaths due to rural accidents can be attributed to lower use of restraints (i.e., helmets or seat belts), lower percentage of motorcyclists, and more highway accidents. A higher percentage of victims in rural accidents were transported to distant medical centers rather than to local hospitals.

Conclusion

Specific interventions, such as intelligent emergency medical systems, campaigns for helmets and seat belt usage, enforcement of helmets and seat belt use, and speed control measures should be targeted to rural areas.

Impact on industry

Cooperation between the vehicle industry and emergency medical providers in rural traffic accident rescue teams may decrease the numbers of deaths in these regions.     

不同水质目标下居延海(东)水环境容量分析

分析居延海(东)水环境容量及变化趋势,为居延海(东)的水资源利用及保护提供依据。根据水质监测数据,运用数学模型计算居延海(东)2018-2020年不同水质目标下的化学需氧量、高锰酸盐指数、总磷和总氮的最大容量。结果表明:居延海(东)水质常年保持在Ⅳ~Ⅴ类之间;在Ⅱ类水质目标下,4项水质指标容量均超载,特别是化学需氧量和高锰酸盐指数严重超载;Ⅲ类水质目标下,化学需氧量和总氮超载,高锰酸盐指数和总磷有部分剩余容量;化学需氧量的现状水质容量已超过Ⅳ类水质目标的容量,是居延海(东)的主要污染因子。     

The use and effectiveness of the site of special scientific interest designation in the east midlands region of the nature conservancy council

This paper looks at the use and effectiveness of the Site of Special Scientific Interest designation in three counties in the East Midlands region of the Nature Conservancy Council, namely Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. Using unpublished sources within the NCC an analysis is made of the SSSI system in practice since its inception in 1949. A number of findings relating to weaknesses in the designation and the operation of the designation system emerge. Each of these findings is discussed in turn with the presentation of the appropriate evidence from the county case studies.