Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Burkina Faso: Suggestion of multi-agent methodology as a complementary support in elaborating a policy

In order to better manage artisanal and small-scale gold mining, the Burkinabe authorities have planned to build a suitable methodological support as an aid to elaborating appropriate policies and actions. The developed methodology concerns (a) at a spatial level, the generation and analysis of a geological resources map needed by the artisanal miners and (b) at a socioeconomic level, analysis of the miners' activity. This paper reports and discusses the results of our suggestion to also introduce the use of an approach known as multi-agent system (MAS) as a complementary part of this initial methodology, at a downstage level to the above two analysis stages. MAS methodology could be used to develop simulation models to forecast the future of the activity. MAS is appropriate for describing the dynamics of systems where it is impossible to obtain all output data of a model from a purely mathematical or statistical transformation of input data. Our suggestion involves (i) demonstrating the capacity of the approach to simulate all parameters needed by mining policy makers and (ii) evaluating to what extent the methodology is accepted by them, as well as, at a more scientific level, the literature regarding mining system simulation.     

Small-scale mining in Ghana: The government and the galamsey

This paper argues that the current formalization system for small-scale gold miners in Ghana has been undermined and the small-scale mining laws no longer capture the reality of the sector’s activities. The paper will examine the small-scale mining system and shows that registered and unregistered actors operate not only in parallel but are actually intertwined and highly dependent on one another. The paper shows that the perceived dichotomy of formal and informal actors in the sector does not actually exist. The sector has instead evolved into a highly intertwined group of semi-formal sectors operating with varying degrees of legal registrations. The paper concludes that political leniency and law enforcement corruption has resulted in a booming small-scale gold system under poor government control. The paper recommends that politicians move to enact reforms to regularize the small-scale mining sector and curtail ubiquitous environmental and occupational safety problems. Anti-corruption initiatives and law enforcement reforms are the most urgent. However, reforming the laws is also necessary to capture and regulate the technological innovations the sector is currently using.     

The Environmental sustainability of mining in Australia: key mega-trends and looming constraints

At first ‘sustainable mining’ could be perceived as a paradox—minerals are widely held to be finite resources with rising consumption causing pressure on known resources. The true sustainability of mineral resources, however, is a much more complex picture and involves exploration, technology, economics, social and environmental issues, and advancing scientific knowledge—predicting future sustainability is therefore not a simple task. This paper presents the results from a landmark study on historical trends in Australian mining, including ore milled, ore grades, open cut versus underground mining, overburden/waste rock and economic resources. When complete data sets are compiled for specific metals, particular issues stand out with respect to sustainability—technological breakthroughs (e.g. flotation, carbon-in-pulp), new discoveries (e.g. uranium or U), price changes (e.g. Au, boom/bust cycles), social issues (e.g. strikes), etc. All of these issues are of prime importance in moving towards a semi-quantitative sustainability model of mineral resources and the mining industry. For the future, critical issues will continue to be declining ore grades (also ore quality and impurities), increased waste rock and associated liabilities, known economic resources, potential breakthrough technologies, and broader environmental constraints (e.g. carbon costs, water). For this latter area, many companies now report annually on sustainability performance—facilitating analysis of environmental sustainability with respect to production performance. By linking these two commonly disparate aspects—mining production and environmental/sustainability data—it becomes possible to better understand environmental sustainability and predict future constraints such as water requirements, greenhouse emissions, energy and reagent inputs, and the like. This paper will therefore present a range of fundamental data and issues which help towards quantifying the resource and environmental sustainability of mining—with critical implications for the mining industry and society as a whole.     

A SWOT analysis of environmental management practices in Greek Mining and Mineral Industry

Over the last two decades, mining and mineral exploration companies have adopted various environmental management practices in response to society’s pressure for better environmental protection. The literature highlights a number of benefits and challenges for companies adopting environmental management practices with the Greek Mining and Mineral Industry (GMMI) facing similar issues. In order to analyze the challenges faced by the GMMI, a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis was conducted, which examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by the industry when adopting environmental management practices. The analysis prescribes policy recommendations both for the government and industry which, if adopted, could facilitate improved environmental performance.     

492Q发动机分层进气燃烧净化节油系统研究

492Q发动机分层进气燃烧净化节油系统的研究,是为了使国产492Q发动机的油耗水平下降,同时也降低其排放对大气的污染。为此,采用稀薄燃烧原理,使发动机在空燃比(AF)为18左右也可正常燃烧,达到降低油耗,同时也减少了CH、CO、NO_x的排放。      

立地条件对麻栎人工林碳储量的影响

在江淮山地丘陵区,通过样地调查,研究了坡向和w对麻栎（Quercusacutisima）人工林系统碳密度及其空间分布的影响。结果表明：阴坡（SHS）树木碳密度显著高于阳坡（sus）（P〈0．05）,Wt镕i《1低的立地（sus）树木碳密度显著高于w、高的（suss）（P〈0．05）。3种立地条件下麻栎各器官碳密度分配均为：干碳密度〉根碳密度〉枝碳密度〉叶碳密度。SUS和SHS林木分配较多的碳同化物供给树干生长,SUSS林木分配较多的碳同化物供给根系和枝的生长。凋落物碳密度在SUS和SHS之间没有显著差异（P〉0．05）,而SUSS则显著低于SUS和SHS（JPl〈0．05）。整个剖面（0～50cm）土壤有机碳密度SHS显著高于SUS和SUSS（P〈O．05）,SUS和SUSS之间没有显著差异（P〉0．05）。麻栎人工林系统总碳密度大小为SHS（146．9t·hm^2。）〉SUS（116．9t·hm^-2）〉SUSS（102．6t·hm^-2）,SHS显著高于其他2种立地条件（P〈0．05）,SUS与SUSS之间没有显著差异（P〉0．05）。3种立地条件下均为土壤碳密度〉树木碳密度〉凋落物碳密度,凋落物碳密度占林分总碳密度的比例仅为2．1％～3．6％。SUS和SHS土壤碳密度占林分总碳密度的比例低于SUSS,而树木碳密度占林分总碳密度比例则相反。由此可见,在江淮山丘区,w较低的阴坡（SHS）最有利于麻栎人工林碳储量的累积,相对于w、较高的立地（suss）,较低的Wf±镕6砾1（sus）更有利于树木碳储量的增加。     

模拟酸雨对北亚热带天然次生林土壤呼吸的影响

于2009年3月～2010年1月在南京市郊龙王山北亚热带天然次生林进行模拟酸雨试验,以便携式土壤CO2通量观测仪对不同酸雨强度处理下的林地土壤呼吸速率进行原位测定,研究酸雨对森林土壤呼吸的影响.结果表明,在本试验阶段,4个酸雨强度处理CK(pH值6.4,去离子水)、T1(pH值4.5)、T2(pH值3.5)、T3(pH值2.5)的平均土壤呼吸速率分别为(3.20±0.21)、(3.34±0.30)、(3.51±0.06)、(2.99± 0.23)μmol/(m2·s),酸雨各处理的土壤呼吸季节变化规律显著.由于森林植被生长期季节变化明显,将其分为非生长季1(2~4月)、生长季(5~10月)、非生长季2(11月~次年1月)3个阶段.配对t检验分析各阶段土壤呼吸速率的结果表明,在非生长季1,模拟酸雨未抑制土壤呼吸作用,T1和T2酸雨处理反而促进了土壤呼吸作用;在生长季,高强度模拟酸雨T3显著抑制了土壤呼吸作用;在非生长季2,也出现了模拟酸雨促进土壤呼吸作用的现象;对于整个观测阶段而言,低强度模拟酸雨处理未显著改变北亚热带天然次生林的土壤呼吸,仅高强度模拟酸雨T3显著抑制了土壤呼吸作用.不同酸雨强度处理下的土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度的指数回归关系均达显著水平(P<0.01),CK、T1、T2、T3处理的Q10值分别为3.04,2.73,2.83,2.51,模拟酸雨处理降低了北亚热带天然次生林土壤呼吸的温度敏感性.     

Conservation agriculture and climate resilience

Agricultural productivity growth is vital for economic and food security outcomes which are threatened by climate change. In response, governments and development agencies are encouraging the adoption of ‘climate-smart’ agricultural technologies, such as conservation agriculture (CA). However, there is little rigorous evidence that demonstrates the effect of CA on production or climate resilience, and what evidence exists is hampered by selection bias. Using panel data from Zimbabwe, we test how CA performs during extreme rainfall events - both shortfalls and surpluses. We control for the endogenous adoption decision and find that use of CA in years of average rainfall results in no yield gains, and in some cases yield loses. However, CA is effective in mitigating the negative impacts of deviations in rainfall. We conclude that the lower yields during normal rainfall seasons may be a proximate factor in low uptake of CA. Policy should focus promotion of CA on these climate resilience benefits.     

Do energy efficiency standards hurt consumers? Evidence from household appliance sales

We build novel welfare-based price indices for major household appliances that leverage changes in same-model prices and how consumers substitute between exiting, continuing and new models. We then evaluate how minimum energy efficiency requirements and changing criteria for Energy Star™ labels affected these indices in the U.S. between 2001 and 2011, a period of time when some appliances experienced standard changes while others did not. We find that prices declined while quality and consumer welfare increased, especially when standards become more stringent. We also find that much of the price index decline can be attributed to standards-induced innovation, or cannibalism, not to inter-manufacturer competition. Our results also add to a growing body of evidence that the Consumer Price Index exaggerates inflation due to inadequate account of quality and substitution to new goods.     

Redistribution and pollution taxes with non-linear Engel curves

This paper analyses optimal corrective taxation and optimal income redistribution. The Pigouvian pollution tax is higher if pollution damages disproportionally hurt the poor due to equity weighting of pollution damages. Moreover, under general utility functions, optimal pollution taxes should be set below the Pigouvian tax if the poor spend a disproportionate fraction of their income on polluting goods. However, if Engel curves are linear, optimal pollution taxes should follow the first-best rule for the Pigouvian corrective tax even if the government wants to redistribute income and the poor spend a disproportional part of their income on polluting goods. The often-used quasi-linear, CES and Stone-Geary utility functions all have linear Engel curves. If Engel curves are linear, and if pollution taxes are not optimised, Pareto-improving green tax reforms exist that move the pollution tax closer to the Pigouvian tax. Simulations demonstrate that optimal corrective taxes should be Pigouvian if the demand for polluting goods is derived from a LES demand system, but deviate from the Pigouvian taxes if demand for polluting goods demand is derived from a PIGLOG demand system.