Evaluation of a Market in Wetland Credits: Entrepreneurial Wetland Banking in Chicago

Abstract: With the rise of market‐led approaches to environmental policy, compensation for permitted discharge of dredge or fill material into wetlands under Section 404 of the U.S. Clean Water Act has been purchased increasingly from entrepreneurial third‐party providers. The growth of this practice (i.e., entrepreneurial wetland banking) has resolved many challenges associated with wetland compensation. But it has also produced (1) quantifiable temporal loss of wetland ecological functions, (2) spatial redistribution of wetland area, and (3) a degree of regulatory instability that may pose a threat to entrepreneurial compensation as a sustainable component of wetland‐compensation policy. We used achieved compensation ratios, lapse between bank credit sale and the attainment of performance standards, distance between impact and bank site, and changes in bank market area to examine these 3 factors. We analyzed data from a census of all such transactions in the Chicago District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, compiled from site visits, Corps databases, and contacts with consultants and Section 404 permittees. Entrepreneurial banking provided compensation at a lower overall ratio than nonbank forms of compensation. Approximately 60% of bank credits were sold after site‐protection standards were met but before ecological performance standards were met at the bank site. The average distance between bank and impact site was approximately 26 km. The area of markets within which established banks can sell wetland credits has fluctuated considerably over the study period. Comparing these data with similar data for other compensation mechanisms will assist in evaluating banking as an element of conservation policy. Data characterizing the performance of entrepreneurial wetland banks in actual regulatory environments are scarce, even though it is the most established of similar markets that have become instrumental to federal policy in administering several major environmental protection laws.     

黄河流域水质和工业污染源研究

为科学评价黄河流域的水质状况及工业企业污染源现状,根据黄河流域2018—2019年地表水和饮用水水源地水质监测数据,建立了综合反映流域水环境质量和可定量分析排名的城市水质指数;利用大数据技术分析工业企业水污染物排放数据,研究建立了企业环境信用动态评价体系。研究结果表明:2018—2019年,黄河流域城市水环境质量得到一定程度的改善,城市地表水环境质量优和良等级数量从17个增加到19个,饮用水水源地优等级城市数量从7个增加到11个;但黄河流域中游地区水污染问题较为严重,需要重点加强水污染控制。水质污染主要以点源工业污染为主,COD和氨氮排放量较多,COD和氨氮年日均排放浓度平均值分别为51.1、3.1 mg/L,工业废水处理率偏低;山西、陕西、河南等\"高\"风险企业数量较多,分别达到3 047、1 630、1 442家。建议加强黄河流域上下游、左右岸、干支流协同配合,加大水污染防治工作的深度和力度。     

对新农村建设中农信社业务发展的思考

面对农村金融市场日益激烈的竞争环境和新农村建设对农信社业务发展提出的新要求,农信社要更加关注、全面分析业务发展中存在的问题,树立支农新理念;重视市场调研,准确定位;加大业务发展创新力度;强化服务水平和质量,以加快农信社业务的发展。     

绿色信用制度理论研究：文献综述与展望

绿色信用制度是实现可持续发展的本土实践创新,因此,加强绿色信用制度的理论研究对完善中国生态文明制度体系具有重要价值。该研究基于文献研究方法,首先系统梳理绿色信用制度构建背景、理论内涵和对经济绩效的影响机理。其次,从政府、市场和社会发挥作用角度,分别选择绿色信用监管制度、绿色信贷制度和绿色信用披露制度作为绿色信用制度的三类典型制度,研究其对绿色经济效率的影响。最后,针对绿色信用制度理论研究现状开展简要评论和展望。研究认为：①绿色信用制度以法律法规规章为基础、以信息共享应用为重点、以夯实现代市场基础为目标的中国式现代化绿色创新制度,旨在信息不对称背景下创设有利奖惩环境,提升绿色经济效率。②绿色信用制度具有动态性、权衡性、见效快等典型特征,在事前承诺、事中监管和事后奖惩等制度实践中,既要重视政府、市场和社会机制的耦合交互,丰富绿色信用工具箱,又要结合实际权衡利弊相机使用。③研判绿色信用监管、绿色信贷和绿色信用披露等绿色信用制度对绿色经济效率的传导路径,既要考虑企业“创新补偿”“遵循成本”等要素配置效应,又要研究区域异质性下“创新驱动型”“成本节约型”等空间配置效应。研究缺陷及未来展望包括以下三点：①对绿色信用制度涉及主体及行为关系缺乏更为细致考察。要聚焦政府、企业、中介机构等参与主体,从微观角度更准确把握绿色信用制度对绿色经济效率的影响机理。②对绿色信用制度内部各项子制度关系及互动演化缺乏深入讨论。要权衡绿色信用制度可能性边界,加强绿色信用制度内部和外部关联制度的耦合交互,加快构建与绿色经济高质量发展相适应的绿色信用制度理论体系。③对绿色信用制度对微观绿色偏好影响及引导缺乏关注。要重视国情特色、历史传统和绿色偏好对制度建设的潜在影响,研究在既有法律秩序和道德秩序区间内维持绿色信用制度弹性和开放性的实践路径。     

The UK landfill tax and the landfill tax credit scheme: operational weaknesses

The UK Landfill Tax and the related Landfill Tax Credit Scheme have now been in operation since October 1996. There have been a number of reviews to assess its operation and effectiveness that have led to some minor amendments. However, there continue to be concerns about operational weaknesses of the tax and the credit scheme. In particular, there is the risk that the tax may be evaded and there are fears that a lack of transparency and independence may undermine the fundamental principles of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Following a recent report, the Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has set up an inquiry. This paper looks at some of the specific concerns that have been raised and the implications for waste management.     

企业环保信用评价政策实施研究

2013年《企业环境信用评价办法(试行)》印发后,各地在健全环保信用评价制度上做了不少探索,一些专家、学者也对企业环保信用评价制度做了一些研究,但针对全国实施情况和地区实施差异性的总体研究和深度总结较少。本文在系统搜集我国31个省、自治区、直辖市所发布的企业环保信用评价政策文件的基础上,从评价范围、评价方法和评价结果等方面对结合地方特点制订的21份文件进行剖析,并对政策实施效果及执行中存在的问题进行总结归纳,最后提出加快立法进度、完善政策体系和强化结果应用等对策建议。     

Contribution of cooperative sector recycling to greenhouse gas emissions reduction: A case study of Ribeirão Pires,Brazil

Solid waste, including municipal waste and its management, is a major challenge for most cities and among the key contributors to climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through recovery and recycling of resources from the municipal solid waste stream. In São Paulo, Brazil, recycling cooperatives play a crucial role in providing recycling services including collection, separation, cleaning, stocking, and sale of recyclable resources. The present research attempts to measure the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved by the recycling cooperative Cooperpires, as well as highlight its socioeconomic benefits. Methods include participant observation, structured interviews, questionnaire application, and greenhouse gas accounting of recycling using a Clean Development Mechanism methodology. The results show that recycling cooperatives can achieve important energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and suggest there is an opportunity for Cooperpires and other similar recycling groups to participate in the carbon credit market. Based on these findings, the authors created a simple greenhouse gas accounting calculator for recyclers to estimate their emissions reductions.     

论档案行政管理部门在社会信用体系建设中的作用

本文着重论述了完善的社会信用体系对于规范市场经济秩序，促进我国经济的持续、稳定、健康发展有着十分重要的意义。为此，档案行政管理部门应该主动找准自己的位置，履行自己的职责，并有所作为。从而充分发挥档案行政管理部门的自身优势，倾力打造跨行业、跨部门的信用档案信息平台。使全社会形成一种有序的竞争环境。     

对我国商业银行理性发展住房信贷业务的探讨

随着国家宏观调控政策的不断出台,商业银行作为房地产业的主要融资部门,作为政策的执行者之一,为了房地产业的健康发展,应在防范风险的前提下,理性地发展住房信贷业务.