Proximity economics and environment: assessment and prospects

The use of the theoretical tools provided by proximity economics to address environmental questions, and the emergence of analyses revitalising the role of the spatial dimension in environmental problems, date from the late 1990s. This paper first aims to provide a review of the research conducted in this field and second to suggest some future research directions concerning the respective roles of geographical proximity and organised proximity in the production and management of environmental problems. First, it deals with the topic of ‘geographical proximity and land-use conflicts’, a topic that is currently the most researched in this field. This is followed by a discussion of the role of organised proximity in the regulation of environmental problems. The paper then explores the relation between the uncertainty associated with environmental issues and relations of organised proximity. Next it outlines a few possible research directions, focusing more particularly on the roles of geographical proximity as a mode of regulation of environmental problems, and on the possible role of organised proximity in their production. The concluding section draws an overview of the departures and extensions that have resulted from taking into account environmental issues in the paradigm of proximity economics.     

The Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: seeking linkages for global environmental governance

ABSTRACT

Global environmental cooperation serves as an important part in the Chinese ideal of building a Community with a Shared Future for all Human Beings. The report of 19th CPC National Congress indicates that China is committed to proactive mitigation under the Paris Agreement and further participating in global environmental governance under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and both of which are largely integrated to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). BRI are also closely linked with South–South environmental and climate cooperation proposed by China from previous UN summits. Based on shared ideas, intersected agendas, and compatible governance approaches, BRI and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development grow increasingly relevant and they might form synergies based on increasingly interactive relations. In sum, seeking and intensifying the linkages between BRI and 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs) could address global environmental governance deficits and enhance cooperation among nations.     

A carbon footprint analysis in the textile supply chain

This research work focuses on the application of life-cycle assessment methodology to determine the carbon footprint of different players involved in a supply chain of the textile sector. A case study of a product by a textile leader company was carried out. This study demonstrates that, in the textile chain, the main contribution to the greenhouse effect is provided by the electrical and thermal energy used and by the transportation (since different production phases are delocalised in a wide range that goes from South Africa, Italy, Romania and all around the world, from the distribution centre to the stores). The Monte Carlo analysis has been used in order to obtain, for each calculated impact, not only the average value but also the distribution curve of the results characterised by uncertainty parameters. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the impact of management choices such as:

??a change in the transportation modality, from aeroplane to boat;

??a combination of road and rail transportation; and

??a selection among suppliers that allows the firm to cut environmental impacts.     

环境规制、空间溢出与地区产业竞争力

利用1999-2009年中国30个省大中型工业企业数据,考察了产业竞争力的影响因素,特别是环境规制的影响.通过非空间模型和空间Durbin模型检验了产业竞争力和环境规制的关系.在空间模型中,估算了直接和溢出效应.结果发现,环境规制变量的直接和溢出效应分别为-0.17和0.559,且统计上高度显著,进而其总效应也显著为正.这表明,环境规制有较高的正的空间溢出效应,这似乎有可能引发地区间的环境竞次竞争行为;如果忽略污染的空间溢出,将严重低估环境规制的作用.还发现,外商直接投资、科技人员数和产业规模对产业竞争力有显著的正的直接效应.进而提出政府应加快完善环境补偿的制度,一是中央政府应当建立健全环境补偿立法;二是完善环境补偿的管理体制,协调和指导跨地区的环境补偿;三是加大与环境补偿有关的财政转移支付力度.     

中国西部城镇化可持续发展路径的探讨

基于对中国西部地区城镇化进程的调研,本文探讨了西部地区城镇化可持续发展的路径,结合西部地区的现状与西部地区城镇发展的历史趋势,分析了中国西部地区城镇化发展的需求,阐析了其城镇化进程中的环境压力与阻力,提出了促进中国西部城镇化可持续发展的政策建议.目前,西部地区整体城镇化水平滞后,各省(区)间的城镇化发展水平极不均衡.而社会经济发展水平对于城镇化具有很大的促进作用,故未来相当一段时间内,西部地区社会经济发展是其区域城镇化进程的主要动力,同时西部地区尚处于城镇化与工业化发展的正相关期,工业化水平的提升对西部地区城镇化进程的推动作用不容小觑.城镇化进程的不断加快和工业化的快速推进过程中,西部地区本就脆弱的生态环境存在进一步遭受损失与破坏的威胁.这些将会导致西部地区生态环境状况的恶化转而成为其城市化的严重制约,给当地经济可持续发展造成一定程度的影响.据此,文中提出建议,未来西部城镇化建设过程中,应推行“二元”城镇化发展战略,增强中心城镇的辐射带动作用,培育中小城市和特色鲜明的小城镇;进一步完善西部城镇基础设施水平,以各级政府支持管理为先导和主导,尝试采用“公私营合作”(PPP)融资模式,重点推进交通及通讯设施建设;构建长期稳定的绿色城镇发展战略,推进城市绿色文化、建设绿色城市,筹措西部地区绿色城镇发展基金、发展城市绿色产业;立足功能分区并结合城镇化战略格局优化城镇化发展,依托国家主体功能区划优化城镇化发展格局,结合“两横三纵”城镇化战略格局推进城市群建设.     

中国西部环境政策回顾及建议

西部生态环境脆弱而屏障作用显著.在新一轮西部大开发的背景下,对过去西部地区生态环境保护与管理政策进行回顾和总结,辨析其实施成效与存在的问题,并进一步提出相关政策建议,对今后西部国土开发和生态环境保护具有重要意义.本文通过对我国西部生态环境政策进行梳理和分析,发现:①西部地区的生态环境政策在不同阶段具有不同特征,改革开放以前(1949-1977年)主要是开发带动治理,改革开放-西部大开发之前(1978-1999年)逐渐由开发转变为以保护为主,西部大开发十年期间(2000-2010年)开始全面实施生态环境保护和建设;②在空间上,通过自然保护区设置、生态移民、财政转移支付和差别化的生态环境政策,在一定程度上促进了生态、社会、经济的协调发展;③在各项政策和工程实施下,西部生态环境退化趋势得到明显缓解,同时,农牧民的生活条件和经济收入得到较大提高,在生态环境治理、全社会参与、环保投资等方面探索出诸多成功经验;④生态环境政策还存在一些亟待解决的问题,如生态环境建设多以各个部门主导,缺乏统一规划和政策协调,有些政策缺乏充足的科学依据,生态补偿政策缺乏总体还需进一步完善,环境政策实施效果评估,反馈环节还较薄弱等.针对这些问题,本文最后提出建议.     

环境审计制度选择影响因素的实证分析

随着环境问题的日益严重,污染治理工具的选择和实施成为社会各界普遍关注的焦点.本文选择150个国家的国别数据,采取logit模型对环境审计制度选择的影响因素进行分析.研究结果表明,经济发展水平、环境保护投资和社会信息化程度与一国是否开展环境审计成显著正相关;审计体制对环境审计的开展也具有显著性影响;而污染排放现状、邻国的决策对环境审计制度选择的影响并不显著.本文的研究表明,与传统命令——控制型规制工具的普适性不同,作为一种信息化的污染治理工具,环境审计是经济社会发展到一定阶段国家最高审计机关的选择.进一步,利用我国2007年-2011年的相关数据进行基于主成分回归的符合性检验,结果显示环境审计的概率值p皆高于50％,且逐年递增,表明我国现阶段实施环境审计的条件和时机已经基本成熟.本文的研究发现为我国最高审计机关“十二五”期间将环境审计作为一种独立的审计类型,在全国推行环境审计工作提供了理论依据.     

1949年以来中国环境与发展关系的演变

从IPAT方程出发,发现了环境影响随着经济发展或时间的演变依次遵循三个"倒U型"曲线规律,即环境影响强度的倒U型曲线、人均环境影响的倒U型曲线和环境影响总量的倒U型曲线。根据此规律,可以将该演化过程划分为四个阶段即:环境影响强度高峰前阶段、环境影响强度高峰到人均环境影响量高峰阶段、人均环境影响量高峰到环境影响总量高峰阶段以及环境影响总量稳定下降阶段。在环境演变的不同阶段,主要驱动力存在着明显的差异。在环境影响强度高峰前阶段,资源消耗或污染物排放增长更多地由资源或污染密集型技术进步驱动;在资源消耗或污染物强度高峰到人均资源消耗或污染物排放高峰阶段,主要由经济增长驱动;而在人均资源消耗或污染物排放高峰到资源消耗或污染物排放总量高峰阶段以及总量高峰以后的发展阶段,则主要由节约高效技术或污染减排技术进步来驱动。实证分析表明,中国目前环境与发展关系基本上处于经济增长主要驱动的环境影响强度高峰向人均环境影响高峰过渡阶段,这同时意味着中国要在短期内实现人均环境影响和环境影响总量高峰的跨越是异常困难的。     

中国环境效率评价及其影响因素实证研究

环境效率是实际污染排放和潜在污染排放的一种度量。本文运用包含污染排放的环境DEA模型,测算了1998-2007年中国省际环境效率,检验了其收敛情况。结果显示,全国环境效率总体水平较低,省际、区域间差距较大,表明现阶段实行地区间减排合作、推动环保技术在区域间扩散的现实必要性;分别从20032、005年开始,省际、区域环境效率差距逐渐缩小,存在一定的收敛趋势;同时,本文采用Tobit模型分析了影响环境效率因素,研究发现人均GDP对提高环境效率具有积极影响,而工业比重上升、财政分权度的提高以及贸易自由化对环境效率具有显著的负面影响。最后,基于实证研究的结果,就减少地区污染排放、提高我国环境效率给出了相关政策建议。