江苏省秸秆类农业生物质能源分布及其利用的效益

分析了江苏省秸秆类农业生物质能源在不同作物及地区间的分布状况,并选择3个典型的秸秆发电项目作为案例,采用成本 收益分析、货币价值折算及CDM（清洁发展机制）项目分析等方法,重点研究了江苏省生物质能源利用的经济、资源和环境效益。研究结果表明：江苏省秸秆资源以粮食作物为主,约占918%,全省秸秆资源呈由北向南逐渐递减的阶梯式分布;目前的秸秆发电企业处于亏损状态,最主要的制约因素是秸秆发电等生物质能源产业的资源环境外部性得不到应有的补偿;与燃煤发电相比,秸秆发电节省原煤的同时减少了大量的污染排放,如果其资源环境效益的货币价值得以实现,不仅可以补偿企业的经济亏损,还可为企业带来可观收益;另外,CDM项目为生物质能源产业实现其资源环境价值提供了有效的途径     

高炉渣资源化生产绿色建材的环境效益评估——基于生命周期的视角

高炉渣是钢铁厂高炉炼铁产生的矿渣,具有较高的资源化价值,可用于生产多种绿色建材产品。熔融高炉渣经水急冷后形成的粒化高炉矿渣,粉磨成矿渣微粉可作为水泥混合材和混凝土掺合料。以高炉渣资源化过程为研究对象,采用生命周期清单分析方法,并基于GaBi 4软件平台,对我国某建材企业综合利用高炉渣生产矿渣硅酸盐水泥和商品混凝土全过程的能源消耗、原材料消耗和温室气体排放进行了分析,进而从节能、降耗和碳减排三方面评估其环境效益。结果表明,与普通硅酸盐水泥相比,矿渣硅酸盐水泥可分别实现节约能源1 911 MJ/t(节能26%),降低原材料消耗1 158 kg/t(降耗27%),减少碳排放236 kg/t(碳减排26%);与复合硅酸盐水泥相比,矿渣硅酸盐水泥可实现节约能源352 MJ/t(节能6%),降低原材料消耗278 kg/t(降耗8%),减少碳排放47 kg/t(碳减排7%)。与不掺加矿粉的普通商品混凝土比较,掺矿粉的商品混凝土可实现节约能源97 MJ/m3(节能5%),降低原材料消耗7 kg/m3(降耗0.3%),减少碳排放12 kg/m3(碳减排5%)。高炉渣资源化生产矿渣硅酸盐水泥和商品混凝土具有明显的环境效益。     

Application of Tabu Search Algorithm With a Coupled AnnAGNPS‐CCHE1D Model to Optimize Agricultural Land Use1

Abstract: A principal contributor to soil erosion and nonpoint source pollution, agricultural activities have a major influence on the environmental quality of a watershed. Impact of agricultural activities on the quality of water resources can be minimized by implementing suitable agriculture land‐use types. Currently, land uses are designed (location, type, and operational schedule) based on field study results, and do not involve a science‐based approach to ensure their efficiency under particular regional, climatic, geological, and economical conditions. At present, there is a real need for new methodologies that can optimize the selection, design, and operation of agricultural land uses at the watershed scale by taking into account environmental, technical, and economical considerations, based on realistic simulations of watershed response. In this respect, the present study proposes a new approach, which integrates computational modeling of watershed processes, fluvial processes in the drainage network, and modern heuristic optimization techniques to design cost effective land‐use plans. The watershed model AnnAGNPS and the channel network model CCHE1D are linked together to simulate the sediment and pollutant transport processes. Based on the computational results, a multi‐objective function is set up to minimize soil losses, nutrient yields, and total associated costs, while the production profits from agriculture are maximized. The selected iterative optimization algorithm uses adaptive Tabu Search heuristic to flip (switching from one alternative to another) land‐change variables. USDA’s Goodwin Creek experimental watershed, located in Northern Mississippi, is used to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed approach. The results show that the optimized land‐use design with BMPs using an integrated approach at the watershed level can provide efficient and cost‐effective conservation of the environmental quality by taking into account both productivity and profitability.     

盘龙江上段截污工程社会效益和生态系统服务价值评估

通过背景资料收集、问卷调查、条件价值评估等方法,对昆明市盘龙江上段截污工程的社会效益进行了评估,估算了环境整治后盘龙江上段的生态系统服务价值。研究结果表明：昆明市盘龙江上段综合整治具有良好的社会效益,体现出较高的生态系统服务价值。     

共享骑行减污降碳效益研究

共享骑行作为一种新兴的绿色出行方式,凭其便捷、经济、共享的特点,已发展成为一种重要的城市出行交通方式。共享骑行作为一种绿色交通出行方式,可替代能源消耗型交通出行方式,具有明显的减污降碳环境效益。然而,目前关于共享骑行环境效益的定量研究,主要集中在“降碳”方面;对于“减污”的研究较少,尚未见公开发布的核算方法学。本文对共享骑行的“降碳”效益方法学进行了梳理并定量核算了“降碳”效益;对于“减污”效益,采用“降碳”核算方法学的思路进行了定量核算的方法探索。在此基础上,结合某大型共享骑行公司的用户骑行数据,对共享骑行“减污降碳”的环境效益按照有地铁城市和无地铁城市进行了分别核算。结果表明：(1)共享骑行具有显著的“减污”和“降碳”协同环境效益;(2)共享骑行“减污降碳”环境效益在无地铁城市比有地铁城市更为突出;(3)共享电单车比共享人力单车具有更高的环境效益。最后,本文对所采用的核算方法的局限性进行了分析,并提出了共享骑行环境效益核算未来的研究探索方向,包括共享骑行激励政策的制定、不同尺度或区域共享骑行环境效益核算以及出行替代率的方法学研究等。     

四川省企业环境经济效益的分析评价

目前对于企业环境经济效益的分析评价,缺乏科学易行的方法。本文根据污染物排放量与经济效益间的关系,提出了单位等标污染负荷利税法,即每排放单位等标污染物所产生的年利税值。据此对四川省6个行业44家企业的环境经济效益进行了统计分析,并对其应用Excel模糊聚类进行了分级评价。结果表明:不同企业间单位等标污染负荷利税值存在多个数量级差异。造纸、纺织企业环境经济效益最差,体现了行业性弊病。制药、建材、机械电子行业企业环境经济效益整体较好,但仍有部分"粗放型"企业环境经济效益差。部分机械电子、化工企业依赖技术革新,环境经济效益优良。与定性分析评价方法相比,单位等标污染负荷利税法更能发现"高产值、高污染"下的误区,该法结合应用Excel模糊聚类分析,可简易、客观分析评价不同企业、行业甚至不同经济规模单元间的环境经济效益。     

重点区域生活垃圾焚烧行业实施大气污染物超低排放的可行性技术路线研究

随着中国城镇化建设进程的不断加快,生活垃圾焚烧行业迅猛发展。在钢铁、焦化以及燃煤电厂等行业已实施超低排放的情况下,推行生活垃圾焚烧行业超低排放,对进一步改善大气环境具有积极意义。国内一些省份和城市已经或者正在制定生活垃圾焚烧行业地方标准,积极推动行业污染物超低排放。笔者结合各地经验,探讨了4种不同技术方式、不同运行成本的超低排放可行性技术路线,为重点区域垃圾焚烧实施超低排放提供参考和依据。     

Sustainable development in East Africa: impact evaluation of regional agricultural development projects in Burundi,Kenya, Rwanda,Tanzania, and Uganda

Investments in agricultural technologies, capacity building and policy harmonization are needed to support sustainable development across Africa. Regional development projects can facilitate the adoption of agricultural technologies and innovations across nation-state borders and generate benefits for shared prosperity. This paper uses panel data from 1,160 smallholder households including beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries from five countries in East Africa - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. From a pool of over 90 projects implemented over a span of 15 years, 23 regional projects are included in this study. The major economic benefits to smallholder participants are higher crop productivity and income, access to adaptable technologies, access to markets, higher livestock and milk production, gender equality, enhanced food security, resilience and capacity building for uptake and scaling up of future innovation platforms. For example, the adoption of low-cost tissue culture banana by the beneficiaries increased their incomes by 15% in Rwanda while the adoption of appropriate land and water management technologies increased the potato yields from 2.8 tons (USD 2,840/ha) to over 7.5 tons (USD 7,410/ha) in Kenya. The beneficiaries ensured value added to commodities like bananas (for export) and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (a nutrition-sensitive intervention for enhancing domestic intake of vitamin A) in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Additionally, milk production increased from 6 to 11 L per cow per day in Uganda and from 6 to 8 L per cow per day in Tanzania, with increases in sales generating USD 115 per cow per month above the non-beneficiaries. These results are supported by previous studies on technology adoption, investments in agriculture and well-being outcomes. Our findings with the higher farm income Difference-in-Differences (DiD) estimator for the female beneficiaries compared to male beneficiaries might have important implications for investing in regional development projects that will close the gender gap in agricultural productivity in Africa. Regional projects can also support post-conflict development efforts for food security and peace in fragile contexts such as in Burundi. Our findings might serve as an input to the African Union's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, localization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to food security and agriculture in Africa and an input to monitoring, evaluation and learning.     

Crash and injury prevention estimates for intersection driver assistance systems in left turn across path/opposite direction crashes in the United States

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this research study was to estimate the number of left turn across path/opposite direction (LTAP/OD) crashes and injuries that could be prevented in the United States if vehicles were equipped with an intersection advanced driver assistance system (I-ADAS).

Methods: This study reconstructed 501 vehicle-to-vehicle LTAP/OD crashes in the United States that were investigated in the NHTSA National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS). The performance of 30 different I-ADAS system variations was evaluated for each crash. These variations were the combinations of 5 time-to-collision (TTC) activation thresholds, 3 latency times, and 2 different response types (automated braking and driver warning). In addition, 2 sightline assumptions were modeled for each crash: One where the turning vehicle was visible long before the intersection and one where the turning vehicle was only visible within the intersection. For resimulated crashes that were not avoided by I-ADAS, a new crash delta-V was computed for each vehicle. The probability of Abbreviated Injury Scale 2 or higher injury in any body region (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale [MAIS] 2+F) to each front-row occupant was computed.

Results: Depending on the system design, sightline assumption, I-ADAS variation, and fleet penetration, an I-ADAS system that automatically applies emergency braking could avoid 18–84% of all LTAP/OD crashes. Only 0–32% of all LTAP/OD crashes could have been avoided using an I-ADAS system that only warns the driver. An I-ADAS system that applies emergency braking could prevent 47–93% of front-row occupants from receiving MAIS 2?+?F injuries. A system that warns the driver in LTAP/OD crashes was able to prevent 0–37% of front-row occupants from receiving MAIS 2?+?F injuries. The effectiveness of I-ADAS in reducing crashes and number of injured persons was higher when both vehicles were equipped with I-ADAS.

Conclusions: This study presents the simulated effectiveness of a hypothetical intersection active safety system on real crashes that occurred in the United States. This work shows that there is a strong potential to reduce crashes and injuries in the United States.     

Sharing conservation burdens fairly

We examined how, from the point of view of justice, the burdens of paying for conservation should be shared. I resisted simple answers to the question of who should pay for conservation that lean on a single moral principle. I identified 3 relevant principles that relate to who causes conservation challenges, who has greater capacity to carry burdens, and who stands to benefit from conservation. I argue for a distinctive pluralist framework for allocating conservation burdens that grants a proper role to all 3 principles. A multistep process can be used to put the framework into practice. First, identify cases in which conservation is necessary. Second, consider whether people knew or could have been expected to anticipate the consequences of their activities and whether they had reasonable alternatives to acting the way they did. Third, turn to facts about benefits; when no culprit for conservation challenges can be found, ask who benefits from acts of conservation. In the second and third stages, consideration must also be given to ability to pay.