Cities and the SDGs: Realities and possibilities of local engagement in global frameworks

City action is critical to achieving global visions for sustainability such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, SDG ‘localisation’ is complex procedure, with divergent outcomes depending on context and diverse city processes. This paper considers the operational challenges faced by city actors in taking on the SDGs, and subsequent implications for initiating local (and global) sustainability transitions. We analyse emergent approaches to SDG localisation within the Asia–Pacific, using a policy analysis framework (transition management) to assess transformation potential. We find that SDG localisation can influence urban sustainability, but effective implementation requires sufficient data, resourcing, and guidance—which are not readily, nor equally available to all city governments. City-to-city peer learning can accelerate SDG uptake, but realising the transformative ambition set out by the SDGs will require an approach to localisation that clearly demonstrates why and how any city government can and should engage with global sustainability frameworks.     

江苏省典型农田耕作层土壤——谷物籽粒中镉的迁移转化特征

于2013年—2014年通过野外调查和盆栽试验的方法,采集江苏省境内典型农田耕作层(0~20 cm)土壤及其对应点位的水稻/小麦籽粒,分析其中的ω(Cd)(全量、0.01 mol/L CaCl_2提取态含量和0.05 mol/L CaCl_2提取态含量),及Cd在土壤—谷物籽粒系统中的迁移转化特征。结果表明,水稻籽粒(糙米)中ω(Cd)与土壤p H值呈负相关,与0.01 mol/L CaCl_2提取态含量呈正相关,且相关性在0.01水平下显著,而糙米中ω(Cd)与土壤中Cd总量以及土壤中的ω(有机质)的相关性较弱;麦粉ω(Cd)与0.01 mol/L CaCl_2提取态含量、土壤中总ω(Cd)和土壤ω(有机质)呈显著正相关,而面粉中ω(Cd)与土壤p H值的相关性较弱,说明淹水可以有效降低水稻对Cd的吸收。     

Persistence and vertical distribution of termiticide fipronil in modified ground board test

Fipronil termiticide belongs to phenyl-pyrazole class of chemical compounds. It has broad-spectrum activity particularly against house hold pests such as cockroaches, mosquitoes, locusts, ticks, and fleas at both larval and adult stages. At high dosage it can be used to control subterranean termites in building foundations. To evaluate long term efficacy against termites the persistence and vertical distribution of fipronil was studied under natural weather conditions of Dehradun, India. Fipronil was applied at four concentrations i.e. 0.05, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5% a.i ha⁻¹ by drenching 17 × 17 in.² plot prepared as per modified ground board test. Soil samples were collected after 22, 38 and 56 months of treatment up to the depth of 75 cm. The soil core was cut into five distinct sections i.e. 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, 45–60 and 60–75 cm depth. The residues were extracted by shaking 20 g soil sample with acetone. The acetone extract was concentrated and cleaned-up over florisil column. Fipronil residues were estimated on GLC at 220, 260, and 300°C oven, injector and detector temperature respectively. Fipronil was found to persist beyond 56 months after application. Two metabolites viz. desulfinyl and sulfide-fipronil were detected in sampling after 22 months of application that also dissipated with time. Fipronil residues were found up to 60 cm depth. The residues in deeper layers dissipate slowly with time and after 56 months of treatment residues were detected only up to 30 cm depth.     

Using accelerometer,high sample rate GPS and magnetometer data to develop a cattle movement and behaviour model

The study described in this paper developed a model of animal movement, which explicitly recognised each individual as the central unit of measure. The model was developed by learning from a real dataset that measured and calculated, for individual cows in a herd, their linear and angular positions and directional and angular speeds. Two learning algorithms were implemented: a Hidden Markov model (HMM) and a long-term prediction algorithm. It is shown that a HMM can be used to describe the animal's movement and state transition behaviour within several “stay” areas where cows remained for long periods. Model parameters were estimated for hidden behaviour states such as relocating, foraging and bedding. For cows’ movement between the “stay” areas a long-term prediction algorithm was implemented. By combining these two algorithms it was possible to develop a successful model, which achieved similar results to the animal behaviour data collected. This modelling methodology could easily be applied to interactions of other animal species.     

重庆市劳动力流动的影响因素及对策建议

改革开放以来,劳动力流动已经成为一种十分普遍和非常重要的社会经济现象。运用经济计量模型,实证考察了流动距离、预期收益、人力资本比率对省际劳动力流动的影响效应,并由此得出劳动力流动的政策建议。     

Concentrations and elemental composition of particulate matter in the Buenos Aires underground system

Total suspended particulate (TSP) samples have been collected at six stations in the C and B lines of the Buenos Aires underground system and, almost simultaneously, at six ground level sites outside and nearby the corresponding underground stations, in the Oct 2005/Oct 2006 period. All these samples were analyzed for mass and elemental Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations by using the Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique. Mostly, TSP concentrations were found to be between 152 μg m⁻³ (25% percentile) and 270 μg m⁻³ (75% percentile) in the platform of the stations, while those in outside ambient air oscillated from 55 μg m⁻³ (25% percentile) to 137 μg m⁻³ (75% percentile). Moreover, experimental results indicate that TSP levels are comparable to those measured for other underground systems worldwide. Statistical results demonstrate that subway TSP levels are about 3 times larger on average than those for urban ambient air. The TSP levels inside stations and outdoors are poorly correlated, indicating that TSP levels in the metro system are mainly influenced by internal sources.Regarding metal concentrations, the most enriched element in TSP samples was Fe, the levels of which ranged from 36 (25% percentile) to 86 μg m⁻³ (75% percentile) in Line C stations, while in Line B ones they varied between 8 μg m⁻³ (25% percentile) and 46 μg m⁻³ (75% percentile). As a comparison, Fe concentrations in ambient air oscillated between 0.7 μg m⁻³ (25% percentile) and 1.2 μg m⁻³ (75% percentile). Other enriched elements include Cu and Zn. With regard to their sources, Fe and Cu have been related to processes taking place inside the subway system, while Zn has been associated with outdoor vehicular traffic. Additionally, concerns about possible health implications based on comparisons to various indoor air quality limits and available toxicological information are discussed.     

特长公路隧道集中排烟方式研究

纵向通风排烟是我国长大公路隧道发生火灾时通风的主要形式,目前开始应用一种新型的特长公路隧道纵向通风集中排烟方式。本文借助CFD三维数值模拟技术,对两种排烟方式在火灾时的烟气控制效果进行了对比分析,研究了顶部设排烟道时,不同排烟开口大小和排烟口间距对隧道火灾时排烟效果的影响。研究表明:顶部设排烟道排烟较纵向通风排烟有较好的烟气控制效果,排烟口的设置间距和开口大小将影响隧道火灾时的排烟特性。     

Environmental movement in Lebanon

The paper reviews and assesses the evolution of the environmental movement in both the public and the private sector in Lebanon. It studies the public sector involvement in the environmental movement by reviewing the commitments made by the government to the local, regional and international communities. The paper presents a summary of all the decisions, decrees, and laws pertaining to environmental protection that the Lebanese government has instituted over time, as well as all the conventions and agreements that the country has ratified and/or signed. Compared to the Arab world in the Middle East and North Africa, Lebanon is relatively more active and integrated in the world community. Using the total number of established environmental organizations and the level of reported activities aimed at spreading environmental awareness and educating people as indicators of private sector involvement in the environmental movement, the paper concludes that the post war era is characterized by a significant increase in the number of established organizations. It also concludes that there is a co-movement between economic and environmental variables. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Environmental SLAPPs in the UK: threat or opportunity?

Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) brought against the environmental movement in the UK since the 1990s are examined. SLAPPs, a form of Green backlash, have been mobilised across a wide range of policy areas that have seen vigorous campaigning and protest by the movement, including roads, GMOs and, more recently, climate change. SLAPPs are typically regarded as a threat, designed to close down democratic free speech and protest. However, in the UK, there are some notable cases where the environmental movement has been able to use agency to convert what may appear as a legal threat into a positive legal or media opportunity.     

The design of cyclonic pre-heaters in suspension cement kilns

Cement manufacturing consumes two main types of energy: fuel and electricity. On average, energy costs represent 40% of the total production costs per ton of cement. The challenge is to reduce the consumption of energy to about 3000 MJ/ton clinker without the consumption of massive additional amounts of electricity, which is normally associated with additional fuel-saving measures. This can only be achieved by implementing sound thermal energy optimization measures. Energy-efficient suspension cement kilns are now widely applied and use a cascade of cyclonic pre-heaters of moist particulate feedstock, with heat transfer from hot kiln exhaust gas to particles being a function of heat transfer coefficient, temperature difference and gas–solid contact mode and time. The gas–solid contact mode and time depend on particle movement in cyclones, which has previously been studied by positron emission particle tracking. Heat transfer is governed by Nusselt–Reynolds equations, with gas velocity and properties being a function of the temperature profile along the cascade of cyclones. A stepwise approach of the design thus combines changing hydrodynamics and heat transfer along the successive cyclones, with the overall thermal balance of the cascade as control. This approach leads to major design recommendations, as developed in the present paper.