Perverse Incentive Structure and Policy Implementation Gap in China's Local Environmental Politics

The obvious paradox within China's environmental politics is the big gap between the central government's policy and its implementation outcomes at local levels. Despite concerns about implementation at the local level, much about the role of central governments in China's local environmental politics is still poorly understood. This article examines how the incentive structure set by the central authorities affects the policy implementation gap at the local level. Drawing on fieldwork and document analysis, this article argues that the incentives set by the central government regarding environmental policy implementation at local levels are perversely structured, meaning that the central government provides much more incentive for local governments' non-implementation or poor implementation of its environmental policies than it provides for full implementation. The central government's failure to encourage—politically, financially, as well as morally—local government officials to appropriately implement environmental policies can partly explain the production of the policy implementation gap at the local level. This implementation gap cannot be overcome by efforts at the local level unless the central government takes significant measures to address the perverse incentive structure embedded in the overall structure of China's local environmental politics.     

适应性环境管理模式在大型赛事筹备中 的应用（下） ——应用实例

将适应性环境管理的模式应用于深圳第26届世界大学生夏季运动会生态环境保障工作,对生态环境保障总目标层层分解落实,由第三方评估机构对任务逐项跟踪管理,定期评估各部门绩效,根据外部条件和内部因素的变化对工作方案和阶段性目标进行动态调整,最大限度地降低了环境管理工作的不确定性。经过六个月的实践应用,大运赛事期间深圳市生态环境保障工作取得了十分显著的成效。     

环境影响评价中的公众参与机制研究

通过梳理分析环境影响评价相关法中公众参与的规定,对照UNEP有效的公众参与五要素,剖析环境影响评价中公众参与机制的不足,并提出完善环境影响评价中公众参与机制的对策。     

Minimizing disruptions caused by damming and ensuring the health of downstream ecosystems

In view of the Brazilian Ten‐Year Energy Expansion Plan 2021, this article presents a discussion on environmental flow (e‐flow). The authors analyze the literature to show the evolution of publications concerning e‐flow releases from the perspective of ecosystems services preservation considering results from different case studies from throughout the world. Finally, two main recommendations are drawn regarding e‐flow are: (1) performing a holistic approach to e‐flow planning, including hydrological, hydraulic, water quality, habitat, and riparian zone considerations; and (2) installing in new structures adequate bottom outlets to allow a range of adjustable e‐flow from reservoir dams to reproduce natural flow variations.     

Changes in Streambed Composition in Salmonid Spawning Habitat of the Elwha River during Dam Removal

One uncertainty associated with large dam removal is the level of downstream sediment deposition and associated short‐term biological effects, particularly on salmonid spawning habitat. Recent studies report downstream sediment deposition following dam removal is influenced by proximity to the source and river transport capacity. The impacts of dam removal sediment releases are difficult to generalize due to the relatively small number of dam removals completed, the variation in release strategies, and the physical nature of systems. Changes to sediment deposition and associated streambed composition in the Elwha River, Washington State, were monitored prior to (2010‐2011) and during (2012‐2014) the simultaneous removal of two large dams (32 and 64 m). Changes in the surface layer substrate composition during dam removal varied by year and channel type. Riffles in floodplain channels downstream of the dams fined and remained sand dominated throughout the study period, and exceeded levels known to be detrimental to incubating salmonids. Mainstem riffles tended to fine to gravel, but appear to be trending toward cobble after the majority of the sediment was released and transported through system. Thus, salmonid spawning habitats in the mainstem appear to have been minimally impacted while those in floodplain channels appear to have been severely impacted during dam removal.     

Designing and Implementing a Network for Sensing Water Quality and Hydrology across Mountain to Urban Transitions

Water resources are increasingly impacted by growing human populations, land use, and climate changes, and complex interactions among biophysical processes. In an effort to better understand these factors in semiarid northern Utah, United States, we created a real‐time observatory consisting of sensors deployed at aquatic and terrestrial stations to monitor water quality, water inputs, and outputs along mountain to urban gradients. The Gradients Along Mountain to Urban Transitions (GAMUT) monitoring network spans three watersheds with similar climates and streams fed by mountain winter‐derived precipitation, but that differ in urbanization level, land use, and biophysical characteristics. The aquatic monitoring stations in the GAMUT network include sensors to measure chemical (dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, nitrate, and dissolved organic matter), physical (stage, temperature, and turbidity), and biological components (chlorophyll‐a and phycocyanin). We present the logistics of designing, implementing, and maintaining the network; quality assurance and control of numerous, large datasets; and data acquisition, dissemination, and visualization. Data from GAMUT reveal spatial differences in water quality due to urbanization and built infrastructure; capture rapid temporal changes in water quality due to anthropogenic activity; and identify changes in biological structure, each of which are demonstrated via case study datasets.     

滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征及其与水环境因子的关系

研究了滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征及其与水环境因子的关系.在滇池流域29条入湖河流2009年7～8月进行大型底栖动物群落调查,并在2008年9月～2009年8月进行逐月17项水环境指标监测,目的是阐明滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征,识别影响大型底栖动物群落特征的主要水环境因子,比较大型底栖动物群落Shannon-Weaver多样性指数与水环境质量评价空间分布格局的特点.滇池流域入湖河流丰水期共检出大型底栖动物3门7科8属(其中环节动物门4科5属,软体动物门2科2属,节肢动物门1科1属),群落结构以环节动物门的水丝蚓属(耐污生物)为优势属;TN、 NH⁺₄-N、 TP和DO是影响大型底栖动物群落特征的主要水环境因子,分别为2.03～32.00、 0.34～26.66、 0.09～3.20、 0.10～6.80 mg/L;大型底栖动物群落Shannon-Weaver多样性指数与水环境质量评价的空间分布格局一致,均为流域北部入湖河流(王家堆渠、新运粮河、老运粮河、乌龙河、大观河、西坝河、船房河、采莲河、金家河、盘龙江、大青河、海河、六甲宝象河、小清河、五甲宝象河、虾坝河、老宝象河、新宝象河和马料河)污染状况严重程度>流域南部入湖河流(淤泥河、老柴河、白鱼河、茨巷河、东大河、中河和古城河)>流域东部入湖河流(洛龙河、捞鱼河和南冲河).     

石油化工场地环境评价

介绍了石油化工场地环境评价的程序和方法,内容主要包括石油化工场地环境评价的基本内容、土壤和地下水监测点位的布设、样品的采集与保存、样品的预处理及分析、质量控制等.     

EDSS及其在EIA中的应用

区域环境系统是由人-地相互作用而形成的开放的和复杂的社会、经济与环境的复合巨系统,由此产生的复杂环境问题给环境决策带来了诸多的不确定性,而环境决策支持系统(EDSS)可以辅助环境保护决策工作者提高决策的科学性和有效性.叙述了EDSS的概念,全面回顾了30多年来国内外环境决策支持系统在水环境规划与管理、大气环境质量管理、城市固体废物管理等研究领域的应用进展,并举例重点分析了其在环境影响评价(EIA)中的应用.同时具备强大数据更新能力和环境质量分析预测功能的EDSS,是解决EIA工作中复杂问题的有力工具.基于近年来新技术的发展,EDSS将在智能化,3S技术及多媒体技术应用等方面得到进一步发展,并在环境规划与管理和EIA等工作中发挥更加重要的作用.      

电子废弃物回收管理现状与研究

针对我国电子废弃物的巨大产生量和废弃量,分析了我国电子废弃物的来源与流向,以及管理过程中收集、贮存、重复使用和再生利用等几个环节的现状。提出针对我国国情,在电子废弃物立法、产业化以及回收体制等方面的可行性建议。