National greenhouse gas inventory capacity: An assessment of Asian developing countries

The transparency framework of the Paris Agreement (PA) will be elaborated from the existing arrangements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Yet, the capacities of developing countries to regularly report national GHG inventories vary, and their needs for capacity building are closely linked with efforts and achievements of previous inventory preparation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the status and changes in the capacity of 37 developing countries in Asia by using a matrix of capacity-indicators. Indicators were composed for four assessment categories: (1) international engagement of a country in the GHG inventory-related process; (2) institutional capacity to produce a GHG inventory; (3) existing technical capacity available to develop a GHG inventory; and (4) actual technical capacity applied to produce a GHG inventory. The paper also analyzed the scale of international support and variations in meeting with capacity building needs. Eleven countries were identified as having low capacity over time, while 9 improved their capacity. Seventeen countries, including 7 countries with established capacity, continuously had relatively high capacity over time. International support was scarce in the majority of Asian developing countries with the most capacity building needs. Improvements in basic technical capacity available for GHG inventory preparation, such as statistics and the scientific expertise, were found to be a key necessity for countries to respond to the PA’s enhanced transparency framework. Based on these findings, the study recommended increasing support for improvements in basic technical capacity, especially in countries where existing capacity is low and support is limited. Such capacity building efforts are also beneficial for countries to form and implement nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and other economic and development policies.     

经济发达地区土地可持续利用主要矛盾及其成因分析

本文从阐述土地利用的主要矛盾特征入手，分析了经济发达地区土地利用矛盾的自然成因及战略偏差、结构偏差及利益偏差等深层实质，提出了解决我国尤其是经济发达地区日益尖锐的土地利用矛盾以及实现土地资源可持续利用的根本途径。     

Lessons for long-term social recovery following the 2004 tsunami: Community,livelihoods, tourism and housing

The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 galvanized world attention like no other natural disaster before. Unprecedented amounts of aid were given and a record number of international aid agencies were involved in relief and recovery operations. Major reviews of the response to the disaster have suggested that the immediate relief effort was better than expected. However, weaknesses in the longer term recovery work were identified within months of the disaster and yet the same weaknesses were being confirmed four and five years later. Even though many studies have been published on the tsunami disaster there are still many lessons to be learnt, particularly in relation to social recovery as distinct from the restoration of destroyed or damaged infrastructure. This paper presents an overview of the findings of a study that was conducted over a period of four years across five different tsunami-affected local areas of Sri Lanka and southern India. The study focused on lessons to be learnt in relation to rebuilding community, restoring livelihoods, recreating an appropriate tourism industry and providing relevant housing and planned settlements for disaster survivors. The paper argues that ‘build back better’ is possible, but only if ‘asset replacement’ strategies are replaced by integrated physical and social planning to address local needs in culturally appropriate ways. Much of what the authors advocate may seem to be little more than ‘common sense’ and many of our findings echo those of many other post-tsunami evaluations. Yet patient and well-integrated approaches to disaster recovery are all too rare in a world that is experiencing so many natural disasters. Because the 2004 tsunami evoked an unprecedented global response it is important to ensure that the lessons of the recovery effort are clearly learnt and this paper aims to convert research findings into a clear strategy for long-term social recovery.     

Emerging trends in informal sector recycling in developing and transition countries

Optimistic estimates suggest that only 30–70% of waste generated in cities of developing countries is collected for disposal. As a result, uncollected waste is often disposed of into open dumps, along the streets or into water bodies. Quite often, this practice induces environmental degradation and public health risks. Notwithstanding, such practices also make waste materials readily available for itinerant waste pickers. These ‘scavengers’ as they are called, therefore perceive waste as a resource, for income generation. Literature suggests that Informal Sector Recycling (ISR) activity can bring other benefits such as, economic growth, litter control and resources conservation. This paper critically reviews trends in ISR activities in selected developing and transition countries. ISR often survives in very hostile social and physical environments largely because of negative Government and public attitude. Rather than being stigmatised, the sector should be recognised as an important element for achievement of sustainable waste management in developing countries. One solution to this problem could be the integration of ISR into the formal waste management system. To achieve ISR integration, this paper highlights six crucial aspects from literature: social acceptance, political will, mobilisation of cooperatives, partnerships with private enterprises, management and technical skills, as well as legal protection measures. It is important to note that not every country will have the wherewithal to achieve social inclusion and so the level of integration must be ‘flexible’. In addition, the structure of the ISR should not be based on a ‘universal’ model but should instead take into account local contexts and conditions.     

Community-Based Participatory Research Helps Farmers and Scientists to Manage Invasive Pests in the Ecuadorian Andes

Participatory research has not been a conspicuous methodology in developing nations for studying invasive pests, an increasing threat to the sustainable development in the tropics. Our study presents a community-based monitoring system that focuses on three invasive potato tuber moth species (PTM). The monitoring was developed and implemented by young farmers in a remote mountainous area of Ecuador. Local participants collected data from the PTM invasion front, which revealed clear connection between the abundance of one of the species (Tecia solanivora) and the remoteness to the main market place. This suggests that mechanisms structuring invasive populations at the invasion front are different from those occurring in areas invaded for longer period. Participatory monitoring with local people may serve as a cost-effective early warning system to detect and control incipient invasive pest species in countries where the daily management of biological resources is largely in the hands of poor rural people.     

Agrometeorology from science to extension: Assessment of needs and provision of services

After a historical introduction, recent achievements in agrometeorology and their limitations are highlighted. It is then discussed what determines what we do in agrometeorology. It is argued that the needs in the livelihood of farmers should push the scientific support systems and it is exemplified that this is possible. This analysis has serious consequences for science, training, education and extension in agrometeorology. This applies most strongly for developing countries or tropical studies elsewhere. Farmers’ livelihoods should be connected through agrometeorological services. Farmer or Climate Field Schools are introduced as a new approach to do so. Examples from China are given in which such schools or classes could be used. Finally a pilot project approach for agrometeorological services is discussed in which this could be prepared.     

“一带一路”沿线国家水资源禀赋及开发利用分析

水资源是基础性的战略资源,开展“一带一路”沿线国家水资源研究对于促进“一带一路”的科学建设具有重要意义。基于世界银行与联合国粮农组织水资源数据库,从水资源开发利用角度入手,分析“一带一路”沿线国家水资源自然禀赋、利用状况,在此基础上进一步分析水资源开发潜力。结果表明：（1）从水资源禀赋来看,“一带一路”沿线国家地表水、地下水和水资源总量均以俄罗斯、中国、东南亚和南亚地区相对较高,中亚、西亚等地区相对较低;人均水资源量则以中东欧、俄罗斯和东南亚地区较高,西亚、南亚地区较低;“一带一路”沿线国家外来水依赖率整体表现为跨境河流下游高,上游及海岛国家低。（2）就水资源利用而言,“一带一路”沿线国家用水量整体呈现“东多西少”的格局,人均用水量表现为“中亚最高,周边较低”的特点;用水结构亚洲国家多以农业用水为主,中东欧国家则多以工业用水为主。（3）水资源开发潜力分析发现,阿拉伯半岛地区各国水资源开发潜力很低,中东欧及东南亚地区水资源开发潜力很高。     

The WWDU (Work With Display Units) Conference as a Platform for Occupational Health and Safety in the Past—And as a WWCS (Work With Computer Systems) Conference in the Future

The real burden of occupational diseases, specifically work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and its impact on workers’ productivity is not known. The situation is critical in developing countries where only cases that cause workers’ disability are recorded. In this study, the incidence of MSDs in Colombia was estimated by using the age and gender specific double incidence rate of repetitive strain injuries diseases in Finland for 2002. The results showed that the estimated number of MSDs recorded in Colombia during 2005 was 23,477 cases at the rate of 11.6 cases per 10,000 workers. The estimated total cost of these MSD cases relative to workers’ productivity was US $171.7 million, representing around 0.2% of Colombia’s Gross Domestic Product for 2005. The systematic appraisal of the incidence of MSDs and their associated cost on workers’ productivity are necessary in developing countries to reduce the costly impact on productivity and to increase workers’ well-being.     

An Ergonomics Study of a Semiconductors Factory in an IDC for Improvement in Occupational Health and Safety

The study aimed to conduct an ergonomic intervention on a conventional line (CL) in a semiconductor factory in Malaysia, an industrially developing country (IDC), to improve workers’ occupational health and safety (OHS). Low-cost and simple (LCS) ergonomics methods were used (suitable for IDCs), e.g., subjective assessment, direct observation, use of archival data and assessment of noise. It was found that workers were facing noise irritation, neck and back pains and headache in the various processes in the CL. LCS ergonomic interventions to rectify the problems included installing noise insulating covers, providing earplugs, installing elevated platforms, slanting visual display terminals and installing extra exhaust fans. The interventions cost less than 3 000 USD but they significantly improved workers’ OHS, which directly correlated with an improvement in working conditions and job satisfaction. The findings are useful in solving OHS problems in electronics industries in IDCs as they share similar manufacturing processes, problems and limitations.     

我国欠发达地区城市化研究进展及前瞻

在分析欠发达地区城市化影响因素、发展战略、模式及动力机制的基础上，认为我国现阶段关于欠发达地区城市化的研究主要有两点不足：一是缺乏对以人的素质作为城市化推动力的研究；二是在研究空间结构上缺乏对行政区交界处落后地区城市化的研究。为此，关注对人的研究、扩大空间范围应是今后研究的方向。