Exploring the use of computer models in participatory integrated assessment – experiences and recommendations for further steps

Integrated assessment (IA) can be defined as a structured process of dealing with complex issues, using knowledge from various scientific disciplines and/or stakeholders, such that integrated insights are made available to decision makers (J. Rotmans, Enviromental Modelling and Assessment 3 (1998) 155). There is a growing recognition that the participation of stakeholders is a vital element of IA. However, only little is known about methodological requirements for such participatory IA and possible insights to be gained from these approaches. This paper summarizes some of the experiences gathered in the ULYSSES project, which aims at developing procedures that are able to bridge the gap between environmental science and democratic policy making for the issue of climate change. The discussion is based on a total of 52 IA focus groups with citizens, run in six European and one US city. In these groups, different computer models were used, ranging from complex and dynamic global models to simple accounting tools. The analysis in this paper focuses on the role of the computer models. The findings suggest that the computer models were successful at conveying to participants the temporal and spatial scale of climate change, the complexity of the system and the uncertainties in our understanding of it. However, most participants felt that the computer models were less instrumental for the exploration of policy options. Furthermore, both research teams and participants agreed that despite considerable efforts, most models were not sufficiently user-friendly and transparent for being accessed in an IA focus group. With that background, some methodological conclusions are drawn about the inclusion of the computer models in the deliberation process. Furthermore, some suggestions are made about how given models should be adapted and new ones developed in order to be helpful for participatory IA. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Participatory integrated assessment of adaptation to climate change in Alpine tourism and mountain agriculture

Winter tourism and mountain agriculture are the most important economic sectors in a major part of the Swiss Alps. Both are highly sensitive to changing climatic conditions. In the framework of the CLEAR project, results from climate impact research in the field of tourism and agricultural production were used to investigate the perception of climatic change by stakeholders and to assess possible adaptations. We used a participatory integrated assessment (PIA) to involve the knowledge, values and experiences of the various social actors in tourism and agriculture (e.g., skiers, tourism managers, farmers) in the research process. Whereas climate change may have various severe direct impacts on the tourism industry, depending on the region, agricultural production may generally benefit from changed climatic conditions. But because of the dependence of farmers on “off-farm” income, the loss due to declining winter tourism in specific areas may cause more important indirect effects. However, the two sectors may adapt actively by choosing from a variety of strategies, and the loss of income from the tourism industry may support the re-evaluation of the various functions agriculture plays in mountain regions, beyond the production of food. The study demonstrates the suitability of the PIA approach to elucidate the interactions between different stakeholders and their perception of the climate change phenomena. A similar participatory approach could be a useful tool to transfer research results and expert knowledge to the political process addressing adaptations to climate change. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Self‐protective reactions to peer abusive supervision: The moderating role of prevention focus and the mediating role of performance instrumentality

Across 3 studies, we apply a self‐protection perspective of observed mistreatment to examine a moderated mediation model on “when” and “why” third parties are motivated by peer abusive supervision. We hypothesize that prevention‐focused third parties will increase their performance effort as a response to peer abusive supervision, and this effect is mediated by performance instrumentality. In a field study of working adults (Study 1) and an experimental study that manipulated peer abusive supervision (Study 2), we found that peer abusive supervision interacted with third parties' prevention focus to predict their performance effort such that peer abuse was positively related to third parties' performance effort only for those high on prevention focus. Results were replicated in a second field study of working adults (Study 3). Further, we found support for the mediating effect of performance instrumentality. The theoretical and practical implications of our results are discussed.     

环境监测超标数据的审核确认

环境监测数据审核是环境分析质量保证工作的一个重要环节,此项工作对监测数据是否准确可靠有一定影响。简述了环境监测超标数据审核确认的必要性以及超标数据的审核确认方式,针对目前存在的监测指标定性定量不准确、标准物质存在衰减状况、评价标准选择不准确等问题,提出,监测部门对于超标数据必须严格审核和把关,确保监测数据的真实性和准确性,真正服务于环境执法和环境管理。     

我国开展政策环评的必要性及其基本框架研究

政策环评对决策科学化和民主化具有重要意义，我国2014年修订的《环境保护法》也为开展政策环评提供了一定法律依据。然而，由于我国政治体制和决策模式与西方国家明显不同，政策环评不能照搬国外模式，必须基于自身国情探索中国模式。为此，本文对国际上比较有代表性的政策环评实践进行了总结，对我国开展政策环评的必要性进行了分析，并探讨了我国开展政策环评需要考虑的关键问题，包括政策环评的目的、对象、重点和程序等。具体而言，对于实施政策环评的目的，可表述为健全决策机制、促进环境公平和凝聚社会共识三个方面；对于评价对象，在广义上可包含目前环境影响评价法尚未覆盖的所有高层次决策，在狭义上可将政府部门制定的行政法规、规章和规范性文件等作为重点；对于评价重点，建议整合"以影响为核心"的战略环评和"以制度为核心"的战略环评两种类型的优点，兼顾影响评价和制度评价；对于评价程序，政策环评应基于完全理性决策模式，与政策过程充分融合，在不同阶段分别发挥不同作用。     

我国生态功能区划的目标、原则与体系

阐述了我国开展生态功能区划的背景,分析了全国生态功能区划的基本目标和任务。以生态系统科学为基础,明确了开展生态功能区划的基本原则——生态系统完整性原则。在生态系统完整性原则下。定义系统、系统边界、系统等级和认识生态系统的尺度。对生态功能区划与自然区划、农业区划以及生态地域划分之间的联系与区别进行了分析,指出从单一要素的各种自然区划,到以整体生态系统为基础的生态功能区划是协调人与自然关系、寻求自然资源保护与人类对资源的永续利用之间的平衡的认识进步。在生态系统完整性原则上,提出了我国生态功能区划体系的框架。论述了流域在生态和社会经济方面的重要性。认为以大流域为基本区划单元的划分是构建我国生态功能区划的基本方式．“生态热点”地区规划是必要的、灵活的辅助手段．     

Public acceptance of large-scale wind energy generation for export from Ireland to the UK: evidence from Ireland

Although international trade in energy may offer a flexible and cost effective means by which European countries could meet their renewable energy targets, developers in the exporting nation can face local opposition for reasons which are not always clear. Using focus groups and a public survey, we contrast perspectives between local stakeholders and wind farm operators and investigate the community impacts associated with large-scale wind energy for domestic use and export from Ireland to the UK. Although the export of renewable energy from Ireland to the UK is currently on hold, our findings suggest that significant investment is required by the state and wind farm operators in better information provision, trust building, effective instruments to internalise wind farm externalities and co-management arrangements before Ireland can fully capture the benefits of wind exports to the UK.     

火电厂清洁生产与环境管理一体化实施初探

火电厂清洁生产的推行,需运用系统的观点,运用清洁生产审核这一重要的技术手段,提出方案并实施.火电厂清洁生产的持续性特点,需要建立火电厂环境管理体系来支持.文章从技术手段和管理手段的角度,提出火电厂清洁生产与环境管理体系一体化实施的观点.     

电解铝生产清洁生产审核

为电解铝生产企业提供清洁生产审核时的参考，结合现阶段我国电解铝行业生产特点及污染成因分析，从工艺改造、节能降耗、物料循环利用等方面，重点讨论了铝电解行业实施清洁生产审核的总体思路及遵循原则。     

金沙江流域(云南段)水环境保护思路和实施重点

在分析金沙江（云南段）环境现状和“十五”期间水质发展变化的基础上，提出金沙江（云南段）水环境保护的思路和实施重点。