The regional economic impact of reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Western Australia

This study analyses the general-equilibrium impacts of an international climate change response policy on the economy of Western Australia (WA), one of the most mining-based and energy-intensive states of Australia. It finds that emissions would fall by up to 11% from the base level in WA. However, such environmental benefits emanate at some costs to the state economy; in terms of foregone gross state product, the costs are up to 3% of the base level. Indeed, the actual costs and benefits depend on the precise design of the climate change response policy as well as on the other policies within which it operates. For example, when emission quota permits are sold to industries and no tradeable carbon credits (i.e. credits for the carbon sequestrated in Kyoto forests) are granted, emissions decline by about 8% and GSP falls by about 3% of the base levels. If carbon credits are tradeable, however, the environmental benefits could be increased and the GSP cost could be reduced substantially. Also, the reduced economic activity caused by emission abatement results in a modest fall in net government revenue, despite the additional revenue from permit sales in some cases. Accordingly, government’s fiscal package surrounding the emission permits would influence the emission abatement impacts on the economy. With regard to the effects on the structure of the state economy, the oil and gas industry suffers only a slight contraction but the energy-supplying sector as a whole contracts substantially. It is therefore not surprising that the impacts on the WA economy of curbing emissions by energy and transport industries alone are quite significant when compared to those resulted from all industries’ compliance with the abatement scheme. It needs to be noted that the model projections analysed in the paper are based on simplifying assumptions and tentative scenarios, and hence should be viewed with caution and not be understood as unconditional forecasts.     

Preliminary assessment of indoor industrial noise pollution in Kuwait

Sound is considered as a pollutant when it exceeds undesirable limits for the recipient. One of the significant environmental problems associated with industries is noise pollution generated by machinery. The main objectives of this study were to measure noise levels generated by machinery that the workers were exposed to at five industrial facilities in the State of Kuwait. Also, to assess if these levels were within acceptable standards, for Kuwait lacks environmental standards for such a pollutant. To achieve the objectives of the study two food manufacturing companies, a cement-brick making plant, a furniture factory and a car washing facility were selected for the purpose of the research.The study showed that workers operating machinery at the five facilities were exposed to high noise levels without any kind of ear protection. Noise levels recorded during the study were very high and exceeded the British Noise at Work Regulations of 1989. In Kuwait there are no regulations to abate noise in the working environment and workers are not required to wear ear protective muffs. The results of the study indicate that, the concerned environmental and health organisations in Kuwait should be compelled to establish noise level standards and controls to safeguard the health of workers and the public at large.     

城市生活垃圾填埋场的物质存量特征及其环境影响:以粤港澳大湾区为例

填埋场中的生活垃圾成分复杂,即使在封场后其存量垃圾仍将持续产生温室气体、恶臭、地下水污染等环境问题,是城市生态环境修复的重点领域之一.生活垃圾填埋场物质存量、组成成分和理化特征是掌握其潜在环境影响的关键.但是目前关于填埋场物质存量及其环境影响的研究还不多见.本研究以我国城市化程度最高、人口最为密集的粤港澳大湾区城市群为例,基于国内外报道的科技信息和统计数据,对11个城市的生活垃圾产生量、处理量、组成成分、填埋场存量及关键元素碳存量进行分析.结果表明:①粤港澳大湾区2017年生活垃圾产生量为26. 4 Tg,平均每年增长0. 8 Tg,其中卫生填埋处置占58. 9%;②总生活垃圾填埋处置量为230. 1 Tg,其中食物、塑料和纸类垃圾的累计填埋处置量最多,分别为109. 6、38. 9和29. 6 Tg;③2001～2017年,大湾区城市生活垃圾填埋场总碳输入量为50. 0 Tg,通过填埋气排放的碳为7. 1 Tg,通过渗滤液排放的碳为1. 5 Tg,累积碳存量为41. 4 Tg.本研究可为研究城市生活垃圾填埋场的环境影响提供基础数据,为大湾区城市生态环境修复提供科学依据.     

Sensitivity of stand dynamics to grazing in mixed Pinus sylvestris and Quercus pubescens forests: A modelling study

Only recently, studies of forest succession have started to include the effects of browsing by wild or domestic ungulates. We aim to contribute to this topic by analysing the influence of goat grazing on the long-term coexistence of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) in the low-elevation forests of an inner-Alpine dry valley. The forest gap model ForClim was first adapted to these site conditions by examining the site-dependent sensitivity of the model with regard to the species-specific parameterisation of the drought tolerance as well as the light demand of establishing and adult trees. In a second step, the behaviour of the model was investigated with respect to different grazing intensities and species-specific browsing susceptibilities. The last step was the application of a grazing scenario based on forest history, with 150 years of heavy browsing (by goats) at the beginning of the simulated forest succession, followed by less intensive grazing pressure.     

空气微生物研究方法进展与展望

着重论述了空气微生物气溶胶的研究方法,主要有培养基法和非培养基法。培养基法是传统的微生物研究方法,需要花费大量的时间和劳动力,只能够检测活的能够在培养基上生长的微生物,可以大致反映空气中的微生物气溶胶。非培养基法,主要是PCR法,具有敏感性高、快速、特异性强等特点,能够检测出环境样品中绝大多数的微生物,是一种微生物气溶胶检测的有效途径。最后指出实时持续的监测是将来空气微生物研究的努力方向和发展趋势。     

秦皇岛港建设绿色企业文化探析

建设绿色企业文化是秦皇岛港实现绿色发展的前提,对港口的发展有深远的意义和重要作用.秦皇岛港应从强化领导意识、提高职工素质、完善绿色制度体系、构建绿色企业形象等方面入手建设港口绿色企业文化.     

Prediction of Pb speciation in concentrated and dilute nutrient solutions

Despite the presence of numerous studies in the literature examining the phytotoxicity of Pb, there is a lack of precise quantitative data on limiting concentrations of Pb for plant growth. Using the PhreeqcI chemical equilibrium model, simulations were conducted to examine the speciation of Pb in concentrated and dilute nutrient solutions. Due to the higher P concentration of Hoagland's solution (1000microM), precipitation of chloropyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl) was predicted to occur at lower pH values, and at lower Pb concentrations, than for a dilute nutrient solution (2microM P). Although nutrient solutions prepared in the glasshouse were supersaturated (and Pb concentrations were substantially higher than predicted by modeling), they confirmed the importance of the P concentration in influencing the precipitation of Pb. Given the low solubility of Pb-phosphates, nutrient solutions with low P concentrations should be utilized, and plant growth should be related to measured Pb concentrations rather than to the quantity of Pb initially added.     

Evolution of a Mediterranean Coastal Zone: Human Impacts on the Marine Environment of Cape Creus

This study presents an integrated analysis of the evolution of the marine environment and the human uses in Cape Creus, a Mediterranean coastal area where intense commercial fisheries and recreational uses have coexisted over the last fifty years. The investigation synthesizes the documented impacts of human activities on the marine environment of Cap de Creus and integrates them with new data. In particular, the evolution of vulnerable, exploited species is used to evaluate the fishing impacts. The effects of area protection through the establishment of a marine reserve in the late 1990s and the potential climate change impacts are also considered. The evolution of the human uses is marked by the increasing socioeconomic importance of recreational activities (which affect species and habitats) in detriment to artisanal and red coral fisheries (which principally affect at a species level). Overall, populations of sedentary, vulnerable exploited species, hard sessile benthic invertebrates, and ecologically fragile habitats, such as seagrass meadows, the coralligenous and infralittoral algal assemblages have been the most negatively impacted by anthropogenic activities. Albeit human uses currently constitute the largest negative impact on the marine environment of Cap de Creus, climate change is emerging as a key factor that could have considerable implications for the marine environment and tourism activities. The establishment of the marine reserve appears to have had little socioeconomic impact, but there is some evidence that it had some positive biological effects on sedentary, littoral fishes. Results demonstrate that the declaration of a marine reserve alone does not guarantee the sustainability of marine resources and habitats but should be accompanied with an integrated coastal management plan.     

Factors affecting river health and its assessment over broad geographic ranges: the Western Australian experience

AusRivAS is an Australia-wide program that measures river condition using predictive models to compare the macroinvertebrate families occurring at a river site with those expected if the site were in natural condition. Results of assessment of 685 sites across all major rivers in Western Australia are presented. Most rivers were in relatively natural condition in the northern half of the state where the human population is low and pastoralism is the major land use. In the south, where the human population is higher and agriculture is more intensive, rivers were mostly more disturbed. AusRivAS assessment produced some erroneous results in rivers of the south-west cropping zone because of the lack of appropriate reference site groups and biased distribution of sampling sites. Collecting low numbers of animals from many forested streams, because of low stream productivity and samples that were difficult to sort, also affected assessments. Overall, however, AusRivAs assessment identified catchment processes that were inimical to river health. These processes included salinisation, high nutrient and organic loads, erosion and loss of riparian vegetation. River regulation, channel modification and fire were also associated with river degradation. As is the case with other assessment methods, one-off sampling at individual sites using AusRivAS may be misleading. Seasonal drought, in particular, may make it difficult to relate conditions at the time of sampling to longer-term river health. AusRivAS has shown river condition in Western Australia is not markedly different from other parts of Australia which, as a whole, lacks the substantial segments of severely degraded river systems reported in England.     

Information technologies and the sharing of disaster knowledge: the critical role of professional culture

A comparative survey of a diverse sample of 96 US and Italian emergency management agencies shows that the diffusion of new information technologies (IT) has transformed disaster communications. Although these technologies permit access to and the dissemination of massive amounts of disaster information with unprecedented speed and efficiency, barriers rooted in the various professional cultures still hinder the sharing of disaster knowledge. To be effective the available IT must be attuned to the unique settings and professional cultures of the local emergency management communities. Findings show that available technology, context, professional culture and interaction are key factors that affect the knowledge transfer process. Cultural filters appear to influence emergency managers' perceptions of their own professional roles, their vision of the applicability of technology to social issues, and their perspective on the transferability of disaster knowledge. Four cultural approaches to the application of IT to disaster communications are defined: technocentric; geographic,; anthropocentric; and ecocentric.