Indicators for sustainable energy development in Mexico

This article presents a summary of a study on the application to the Mexican energy sector of a core set of indicators for sustainable energy development (ISED), developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The study focused on the elaboration of socio‐economic and environmental indicators related to energy production and use, and was aimed at assessing Mexico's existing energy policies and identifying strategies and possible policies that could bring about improvements in major priority areas: energy intensity, atmospheric emissions, energy import dependency and use of renewables. While positive trends have been observed in relation to energy intensity and atmospheric emissions, Mexico is becoming more dependent on imports of gasoline, natural gas and other high‐value secondary energy sources, while exporting significant amounts of primary fuels, such as crude oil. Also, no significant increase has been observed in the use of renewable sources of energy. Social, economic and environmental policies need to be formulated for the energy sector and related investments (public and private) reinforced so that all economic sectors have access to energy from cleaner and more diverse sources.     

Monitoring the sustainability of Russia's energy development

This article presents an assessment of Russia's energy sector, its current state and planned future direction. The analysis of Russia's energy trends is based on a set of indicators for sustainable energy development (ISED), developed under the leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The article discusses Russia's Energy Strategy to 2020, and outlines major developments and challenges of the country's energy system. Russia's energy priorities, captured in the Strategy to 2020, emphasize securing a stable and uninterrupted energy supply; reducing energy intensity and improving energy efficiency; developing the domestic energy resource base; reducing negative environmental impacts; and ensuring affordable energy for the poorer segments of the population. Energy needs and challenges are discussed in relation to the three aspects of sustainability as defined in Agenda 21: economic, social and environmental. Concerns are expressed regarding environmental repercussions of energy development, in particular since Russia's 1998 economic rebound. There are also concerns, despite the economic recovery, that anticipated increases in energy tariffs may exceed the affordability of poorer segments of the population.     

Energy indicators and sustainable development: The International Energy Agency approach

The International Energy Agency (IEA), together with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN‐DESA, Eurostat and the European Environmental Agency, has recently published a comprehensive joint‐agency overview of energy indicators for sustainable development. The IEA's contribution to this publication is based on the IEA energy indicator approach. This approach has been developed and used by the IEA over a number of years. The indicators advocated by the IEA are relatively disaggregated to allow for meaningful analysis of sustainability issues in the energy sector. Using a decomposition approach helps reveal the causal links between human/economic driving forces, energy use and emissions. This article presents examples of IEA's work with indicators and an overview of the methodology used, including an explanation of the link to sustainable development. It also provides an example of a simplified indicator analysis of India, to illustrate the importance of improved data systems in developing indicators that can provide meaningful policy analysis.     

Improvements in financing for sustainability in solid waste management

Contributing elements toward the development of a sustainable solid waste management system in Tucumán, Argentina, are described. Changes in the working environment for the wastepickers have been instrumental in providing a livable wage and diminished health and environmental risks to the wastepickers and to neighboring residents. Income levels to the wastepickers are now approximately 1.75 times minimum wages in Tucumán and are being driven almost entirely by the recycling of plastics. Educational improvements in Tucumán, which are assisting sustainability of the solid waste system, are being significantly improved by the operation of a pilot scale project, by demonstrating opportunities to government officials and school children. Improved financial sustainability to the solid waste management system is also potentially available from carbon credit trading opportunities, presenting the opportunity for 1.2 times the income available from recycling efforts.     

电厂山区性河流取水工程安全设计分析

通过对代表性山区河流电厂的取水工程安全实例分析 ,根据取水方式不同 ,建议应采取的措施分为 :直接在天然河道上布置取水构筑物时 ,取水头部上下端加设三角形挡沙板 ,取水口上游设导沙丁坝 ,抬高取水头高程和进水底槛高程 ,并且可考虑设置两套取水系统 ,枯水期直接利用河道取水头取水 ,洪水期从移动式泵车取水 ;在河道上设置拦河低坝取水时 ,必须设置配套取水防沙设施 ,如排沙闸或冲沙闸 ,进水闸前设导沙坝 ,冲刷闸前设导沙坎 ,泄洪闸前设冲沙廊道和导流堤 ,还可在河道上设置潜水丁坝等。     

专用铁路开采沉陷信息综合处理系统

依据现行铁路规程、规范 ,以随机介质理论、概率积分法、条件模拟、系统工程方法等为基础 ,应用数据仓库原理、专家系统理论、CAD技术、人机交互技术以及系统集成技术 ,针对专用铁路开采沉陷与治理的特点 ,开发了矿区专用铁路开采沉陷信息综合处理系统 ;实现了实测数据分析与处理、信息预测预报、模型计算、图件绘制、报表与曲线输出、措施知识库管理等的系统化和自动化。笔者介绍了该软件系统的总体目标、系统设计、关键技术及系统构成和主要功能。     

对“撞了白撞”问题的思考

在《中华人民共和国道路交通安全法》公布前后有关“撞了白撞”被否决的宣传对交通安全不利。“撞了白撞”的演绎存在片面性 ,“撞了白撞”被否决的宣传不符合自然科学规律 ,存在理论上的误区。人们应该清楚的认识到 :获得交通事故损害赔偿并非获得了交通安全保障 ;行人、非机动车等交通“弱者”在一定条件下可转化为交通“强者”。对法律、法规的宣传 ,既要讲究法律原则和社会道德准则 ,也要讲究科学性。     

现行环境经济核算的局限及建议

随着社会经济发展向着可持续发展战略的转变，资源、环境、经济之间的协调发展日益引起人们的重视，进行环境经济核算已成为最紧迫的现实问题。本文通过分析现行国民经济核算在反映可持续发展要求上的不足和传统环境经济核算的局限性．提出了建立综合的环境核算与经济核算相结合体系的建议和初步框架。     

The ecohealth system and the community engagement movement in foundations: A case study of mutual benefits from grants funded by the United Nations Foundation

Ecohealth is a process for identifying key environmental determinants causing mortality or morbidity and combating them by mobilizing multiple social sectors. Evolving out of the concept of environmental health, ecohealth provides a framework for long‐term sustainability. The health outcomes anticipated by environmental interventions are part of a long‐term agenda and require fundamental groundwork for the growth of community‐driven development. Building long‐term sustainability requires that two key approaches be developed through ecohealth. The first is the strengthening of local community institutions, whether formal or informal. The second is building financial mechanisms that are more diversified and less reliant on a single donor. As a result, the ecohealth system provides an opportunity for foundations to empower communities, build cross‐cutting cooperation, and gain knowledge through projects. If people's environmental behaviour is to change and be sustained in the long term to produce desired health outcomes, this will require all members of society to be capable of functioning within the existing institutional infrastructure. This means that not only do formal institutions need to become more accessible but also that concepts relating to local informal institutions must be incorporated into ecohealth projects. It is imperative that we identify and understand relevant local institutions and how they can be transformed so that new environmental forms of behaviour can be sustained and result in positive health outcomes. The intersection of environmental and health concerns provides an ideal area in which the gap between government and civil society can be bridged — not only providing solutions to ecohealth concerns, but building government capacity in general and making these positive changes sustainable in the long term. This article is a case study, based on several United Nations Foundation grants. It outlines the significance of traditional community organizations, the breadth of their long‐term relations with communities, their resources, and the adoption of sustained forms of behaviour. In addition, the article highlights the role that international foundations can play in creating innovative financing mechanisms through community‐based foundations.     

水泥土搅拌桩复合地基静载试验检测法的安全度分析

在检测水泥土搅拌桩复合地基的承载力能否达到设计要求时 ,最常用的方法是单桩静载试验法和复合地基静载试验法。工程实践中发现 ,采用这两种静载试验方法得到的检测结果存在较大差异。笔者根据水泥土搅拌桩的基本特性 ,结合工程实例 ,对这两种静载试验检测结果存在的差异及其安全度进行比较分析 ,得出单桩静载试验法结果的安全度高于复合地基试验法结果的结论 ,因此 ,提出了一些合理化建议