The value of urban open space: Meta-analyses of contingent valuation and hedonic pricing results

Urban open space provides a number of valuable services to urban populations, including recreational opportunities, aesthetic enjoyment, environmental functions, and may also be associated with existence values. In separate meta-analyses of the contingent valuation (CV) and hedonic pricing (HP) literature we examine which physical, socio-economic, and study characteristics determine the value of open space. The dependent variable in the CV meta-regression is defined as the value of open space per hectare per year in 2003 US$, and in the HP model as the percentage change in house price for a 10 m decrease in distance to open space. Using a multi-level modelling approach we find in both the CV and HP analyses that there is a positive and significant relationship between the value of urban open space and population density, indicating that scarcity and crowdedness matter, and that the value of open space does not vary significantly with income. Further, urban parks are more highly valued than other types of urban open space (forests, agricultural and undeveloped land) and methodological differences in study design have a large influence on estimated values from both CV and HP. We also find important regional differences in preferences for urban open space, which suggests that the potential for transferring estimated values between regions is likely to be limited.     

老工业基地建设中的环境成本内部化问题

环境成本内部化是协调人地关系发展的必然要求,是实现可持续发展的重要手段.从东北地区生态环境问题的现状入手,利用环境经济学中的环境成本论对其形成机理进行分析,结合生态环境问题产生的根源、区域生态环境建设的重要性以及实施的可行性,在东北老工业基地改造振兴的背景下,提出东北老工业基地环境建设的战略着眼点.     

Designing sustainable and economically attractive brownfield revitalization options using an integrated assessment model

We describe the development of an integrated assessment model which evaluates redevelopment options of large contaminated brownfields and we present the application of the model in a case study. Aiming to support efficient and sustainable revitalization and communication between stakeholders, the presented assessment model integrates three pinnacles of brownfield revitalization: (i) subsurface remediation and site preparation costs, (ii) market-oriented economic appraisal, and (iii) the expected contribution of planned future land use to sustainable community and regional development. For the assessment, focus is set on the early stage of the brownfield redevelopment process, which is characterized by limited data availability and by flexibility in land use planning and development scope. At this stage, revealing the consequences of adjustments and alterations in planning options can foster efficiency in communication between the involved parties and thereby facilitates the brownfield revitalization process. Results from the case-study application indicate that the integrated assessment provides help in the identification of land use options beneficial in both a sustainable and an economical sense. For the study site it is shown on one hand that brownfield redevelopment is not automatically in line with sustainable regional development, and on the other hand it is demonstrated that additional contributions to sustainability are not intrinsically tied to increased costs.     

Economic and environmental performance of electricity production in Finland: A multicriteria assessment framework

Meeting environmental, economic, and societal targets in energy policy is complex and requires a multicriteria assessment framework capable of exploring trade-offs among alternative energy options. In this study, we integrated economic analysis and biophysical accounting methods to investigate the performance of electricity production in Finland at plant and national level. Economic and environmental costs of electricity generation technologies were assessed by evaluating economic features (direct monetary production cost), direct and indirect use of fossil fuels (GER cost), environmental impact (CO₂ emissions), and global environmental support (emergy cost). Three scenarios for Finland's energy future in 2025 and 2050 were also drawn and compared with the reference year 2008. Accounting for an emission permit of 25 €/t CO₂, the production costs calculated for CHP, gas, coal, and peat power plants resulted in 42, 67, 68, and 74 €/MWh, respectively. For wind and nuclear power a production cost of 63 and 35 €/MWh were calculated. The sensitivity analysis confirmed wind power's competitiveness when the price of emission permits overcomes 20 €/t CO₂. Hydro, wind, and nuclear power were characterized by a minor dependence on fossil fuels, showing a GER cost of 0.04, 0.13, and 0.26 J/J_e, and a value of direct and indirect CO₂ emissions of 0.01, 0.04, and 0.07 t CO₂/MWh. Instead, peat, coal, gas, and CHP plants showed a GER cost of 4.18, 4.00, 2.78, and 2.33 J/J_e. At national level, a major economic and environmental load was given by CHP and nuclear power while hydro power showed a minor load in spite of its large production. The scenario analysis raised technological and environmental concerns due to the massive increase of nuclear power and wood biomass exploitation. In conclusion, we addressed the need to further develop an energy policy for Finland's energy future based on a diversified energy mix oriented to the sustainable exploitation of local, renewable, and environmentally friendly energy sources.     

环境政策的公平与效率分析

本文探讨了费用效益分配中的公平与效率问题，对环境管理、排污标准、环境税（费）、排污权交易等环境政策的公平与效率作了进一步的分析。     

工业污染治理项目经济评估方法及共改进

本文分析了工业污染治理项目经济评估的方法及其特点，并给出了深入此类研究的基本思路。     

Is there a common metals demand curve?

Previous studies have identified a single, stable and strong correlation between the price of metals and their consumption, such that low priced metals are always used in large amounts and visa versa. Some have interpreted this as evidence that metals share a common demand curve so that a single price elasticity of demand exists. This paper reviews and tests this hypothesis against a number of other possible explanations, including the idea that the relationship is an empirical curiosity. Modifications to the demand curve were tested by allowing metals to have different intercepts and price elasticities. The results from this analysis suggest that metals do not share a common demand curve and that the correlation identified between the price of metals and their level of consumption is an empirical curiosity. As such, the singular price elasticities published in past papers should not be used for assessing future rates of metals substitution.     

基于Adaboost集成BP网络原煤生产成本预测研究

为了提高传统BP神经网络预测模型精度,避免BP网络容易陷入局部极值、收敛速度慢等问题,将BP神经网络与Ada-boost算法相结合,提出了一种Adaboost集成BP神经网络模型.结合磁县观台煤矿原煤生产成本相关数据,建立了原煤生产成本预测的Adaboost集成BP神经网络模型,将该模型用于实际的原煤成本预测.结果表明：该模型预测精度高于传统的BP神经网络,收敛速度快,具有较强的鲁棒性,预测精度能满足实际预测需要,为原煤生产成本预测提供了一种新的途径,也为原煤生产成本控制提供了重要依据.     

内蒙古能源结构调整的CO_2减排成本初探

在全球气候变化问题不断升温的大背景下,低碳经济的概念频繁见诸报端。节能减排是内蒙古发展低碳经济的必由之路。优化能源结构,合理布局区域经济,是内蒙古实现节能减排,并保持经济快速发展的重要内容。因而,研究内蒙古能源结构调整引起的CO2减排成本变化非常有意义。     

基于AIS数据的中国沿海集装箱港口碳排放

为了精确有效地测量船舶在港碳排放,提出了一种基于海量船舶AIS (Automatic identification System)航行轨迹数据的港口碳排放计算框架,并结合上市港务公司经营数据,估算港口碳排放承担能力.以中国11个沿海主要集装箱港口为例,采用2018年全球4280艘集装箱船的AIS轨迹全年数据计算碳排放社会成本.结果显示:中国沿海集装箱港口碳排放量与船舶抵港艘次整体呈正相关,上海港是全球第一大集装箱港口,2018年其港口CO₂排放量最高,为69.3万t;船舶靠港作业时,在泊和锚泊状态CO₂的排放比例较高,占碳排放比例的65.8%;从CO₂排放社会成本来看,上海港域内的船舶碳排放社会成本最高,2018年需要支付2459.6万元,从承担碳排放社会成本的能力来看,连云港压力较大,每亿营业收入需要承担碳排放社会成本24.46万元.