Key role for nuclear energy in global biodiversity conservation

Modern society uses massive amounts of energy. Usage rises as population and affluence increase, and energy production and use often have an impact on biodiversity or natural areas. To avoid a business‐as‐usual dependence on coal, oil, and gas over the coming decades, society must map out a future energy mix that incorporates alternative sources. This exercise can lead to radically different opinions on what a sustainable energy portfolio might entail, so an objective assessment of the relative costs and benefits of different energy sources is required. We evaluated the land use, emissions, climate, and cost implications of 3 published but divergent storylines for future energy production, none of which was optimal for all environmental and economic indicators. Using multicriteria decision‐making analysis, we ranked 7 major electricity‐generation sources (coal, gas, nuclear, biomass, hydro, wind, and solar) based on costs and benefits and tested the sensitivity of the rankings to biases stemming from contrasting philosophical ideals. Irrespective of weightings, nuclear and wind energy had the highest benefit‐to‐cost ratio. Although the environmental movement has historically rejected the nuclear energy option, new‐generation reactor technologies that fully recycle waste and incorporate passive safety systems might resolve their concerns and ought to be more widely understood. Because there is no perfect energy source however, conservation professionals ultimately need to take an evidence‐based approach to consider carefully the integrated effects of energy mixes on biodiversity conservation. Trade‐offs and compromises are inevitable and require advocating energy mixes that minimize net environmental damage. Society cannot afford to risk wholesale failure to address energy‐related biodiversity impacts because of preconceived notions and ideals.     

Sustainable tourism management and development of a Greek coastal municipality

A process is presented to facilitate the sustainable management and development of tourist destinations. Based on a specific reforming of the Limits of Acceptable Change planning system and combined with the Tourism Carrying Capacity concept into a common framework, specific steps are described to integrate environmental, social and economic information of a tourist destination into indicators, which are afterwards compared with reference conditions. The Leopold matrix is applied to identify and classify restrictions of development and provide the basis for negotiations between managers, stakeholders and local communities. Through a feedback process of continuous monitoring and adjustment, the aim is to focus developmental activities on restricting factors until all indicators upgrade to reference. A case study at a Greek coastal municipality (Ilida – western Greece) is applied to demonstrate the process. Activity zones are identified and 18 indicators are selected. Results suggest high potential for tourism development of the area. However, low scores are assigned to 8/18 indicators, reflecting restrictions, requiring priority under a sustainable development plan. The proposed process offers managers and stakeholders the ability to easily visualize/identify restrictions and assign developmental priorities within a step-by-step upgrading process, toward the sustainable management and development of tourist destinations.     

Designing individualisation of eco information: a conceptual framework and design toolkit

Eco-labelling is the practice of eco information provision that most directly addresses consumer behaviour. Nowadays, consumers are facing difficulties in perceiving and understanding existing eco labels. In previous work, we proposed the conceptual framework of eco information individualisation which tailors eco labels according to the specific needs of individual users using contextual technologies. This paper extends the conceptual framework by introducing a more structured way of considering the personal data and product data requirements, and reports the development of a design toolkit that aims to support designers in the designing of individualised eco information. A design workshop was carried out to introduce the concept to designers, and evaluate the usability and usefulness of the toolkit. Positive responses were received. The design outputs generated from the workshop were considered largely feasible and have the potential to be developed into digital prototypes. These indicate that it is possible for designers to learn to design eco information individualisation in a short time. This paper is a step towards a greater understanding of designing individualised eco information.     

长江下游中华绒螯蟹成蟹资源现状(2007~2011年)

根据2007~2011年在长江安徽段和江苏段的中华绒螯蟹成蟹汛期调查结果,研究了长江下游中华绒螯蟹的资源变动特征。中华绒螯蟹平均体重在空间分布上基本呈现由上游至下游逐步下降的趋势,在时间上各江段变动规律各有不同,最大平均体重出现于2010年的安庆江段,为0.25kg;最小平均体重出现于2008年的靖江江段,为0.05kg。安徽段总捕捞量为9.07~30.44t,汛末瞬时资源量为3.01~6.07t,总资源量为12.09~36.50t;江苏段总捕捞量为6.76~48.28t,汛末瞬时资源量为2.85~10.19t,总资源量为9.88~55.92t。近5a长江下游中华绒螯蟹汛期捕捞强度为0.75~0.86,捕捞压力处于高位,加之长江下游中华绒螯蟹幼蟹、蟹苗捕捞作业逐步恢复,中华绒螯蟹资源仍面临着严峻的问题。为促进中华绒螯蟹资源的可持续利用,建议全江禁捕,建立中华绒螯蟹保护区,加大增殖放流力度、加强科学研究及渔政管理。     

企业实施清洁生产的必要性及效果分析

介绍了企业通过推行清洁生产、发展循环经济所取得的效果。发展清洁生产和循环经济是企业预防和控制污染的有效途径,是实现可持续发展战略的必然选择,有利于企业技术进步,提高管理水平,增强综合竞争能力。     

辽宁省休闲农业旅游经济发展探析

介绍了休闲农业旅游经济的发展历史及概念、内涵,结合辽宁省的现状及优势,提出了在发展休闲乡村旅游产业时应因地制宜、突出特色、打造精品、加强管理、提高质量,走政府主导、民众参与、依靠核心竞争优势的可持续发展之路.     

可持续发展视角下自然资源综合利用效益评估方法与实证

在自然资源统一调查监测评价的背景下,研究制定一套自然资源综合利用效益评价模型,对于监测各地自然资源利用效益状况、诊断自然资源利用问题、提出高效利用对策等具有重要意义。基于可持续发展理论,构建自然资源综合利用效益评价指标体系,并以2018年全国分省的自然资源综合利用效益进行实证,结果发现：（1）全国自然资源利用经济效益呈现东南地区向中部、东北部、西北部递减的趋势;（2）不同区域自然资源利用效益的限制因素不同;（3）评价结果总体上符合各省市的实际情况,指标体系可以结合评价尺度和区域进一步完善。研究成果可以丰富自然资源利用效益的理论体系以及评价的技术手段,并为提高自然资源利用效益、实现资源的可持续利用服务。     

中国反食物浪费监测与评估体系建设

《中华人民共和国反食品浪费法》的颁布与实施,标志着中国的食物浪费从理论研究转向实践应用。为了推动食物浪费的减量,亟需构建覆盖全国的、系统性的监测和评估体系并实现食物浪费的定量监测与评估。本文面向《中华人民共和国反食品浪费法》实施过程政府及社会中各界的主要关切,通过系统梳理国内外食物浪费的相关研究,辨析了食物浪费的定义及主要演变,论述了全球食物浪费监测与评估情况。在此基础上,本文重点分析了中国食物浪费监测与评估进展,提出了通过餐厨垃圾,将食物浪费从传统概念向广义概念延伸的理念,并提出了适合中国国情的反食品浪费监测与评估指标。本文旨在为中国相关政府部门开展食物浪费的监测和评估提供科学参考,从而为全球可持续发展目标12.3的实现提供借鉴。     

行政等级与城市规模对生态福利绩效的影响研究

基于广义数据包络分析法（DEA）和随机抽样Bootstrap法,使用2015—2018年全国288个地级及以上城市的面板数据,研究行政等级、城市规模对生态福利绩效的影响,分析城市规模在行政等级影响生态福利绩效中的路径作用。结果表明：我国288个地级及以上城市的生态福利绩效水平整体均值不高,但随时间推移呈上升趋势且近年来增速逐渐加快;行政等级和城市规模均对生态福利绩效起显著正向影响,技术进步显著提升城市的生态福利绩效,外资依存度显著降低城市的生态福利绩效;城市规模是城市行政等级影响生态福利绩效的重要路径,行政等级越高,城市规模越大,生态福利绩效水平越高。基于以上结论,为协调经济、环境、社会实现可持续发展提出政策建议。     

The contribution of non‐timber forest products towards sustainable rural development: The case of Candelilla wax from the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico

The promotion of development projects based on the commercialization of non‐timber forest products has increased in recent decades, showing a positive contribution to rural development; yet it has led to controversial approaches in resource preservation. This paper examines the case of Candelilla wax from the Chihuahuan Desert in northern Mexico, identifying its potential contribution to poverty alleviation in marginal areas, and its unique opportunity to access potential markets of a wide variety of industries all around the world. In this paper, the authors base their analysis on three main aspects: social, economic and environmental. Potential benefits that could be obtained from the collaboration of private institutions, development organizations, policymakers and rural producers through integrated rural development projects are featured.