An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy

This paper provides an introduction to some of the fundamental principles and approaches in environmental economics which are of significance to achieving an integrated sustainability science. The concept of a circular economy, introduced by the late David Pearce in 1990, addresses the interlinkages of the four economic functions of the environment. The environment not only provides amenity values, in addition to being a resource base and a sink for economic activities, it is also a fundamental life-support system. Environmental economists have suggested that, taking these four functions as an analytical starting point, unpriced or underpriced services should be internalised in the economy. In Europe significant advances have been achieved in the pricing of externalities by means of truly interdisciplinary analysis which accounts in detail for the environmental consequences. The monetary estimates reached as a result of such interdisciplinary research are gradually being applied to the economic analysis of environmental policy priorities. Although such figures provide only a partial and incomplete picture of the environmental costs at stake, they support and inform the analysis of the virtues of a circular economy for individual resources as well as for sustainability as a future trajectory.     

Dynamics and Causation of Environmental Equity, Locally Unwanted Land Uses, and Neighborhood Changes

/ Why are some environmental risks distributed disproportionately in the neighborhoods of the minorities and the poor? A hypothesis was proposed in a recent study that market dynamics contributed to the current environmental inequity. That is, locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) make the host communities home to more poor people and people of color. This hypothesis was allegedly supported by a Houston case study, whereby its author analyzed the postsiting changes of the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighborhoods surrounding solid waste facilities. I argue that such an analysis of postsiting changes alone is insufficient to test the causation hypothesis. Instead, I propose a conceptual framework for analysis of environmental equity dynamics and causation. I suggest that the presiting neighborhood dynamics and the characteristics of control neighborhoods be analyzed as the first test for the causation hypothesis. Furthermore, I present theories of neighborhood change and then examine alternative hypotheses that these theories offer for explaining neighborhood changes and for the roles of LULUs in neighborhood changes. These alternative hypotheses should be examined when analyzing the relationship between LULUs and neighborhood changes in a metropolitan area. Using this framework of analysis, I revisited the Houston case. First, I found no evidence that provided support for the hypothesis that the presence of LULUs made the neighborhoods home to more blacks and poor people, contrary to the conclusion made by the previous study. Second, I examined alternative hypotheses for explaining neighborhood changes-invasion-succession, other push forces, and neighborhood life-cycle; the former two might offer better explanation.KEY WORDS: Environmental equity and justice; Locally unwanted lane uses; Siting; Market dynamics; Invasion-succession; Neighborhood changes     

Sustainability: a Dissent

Abstract:  Broadly conceived and considered in its many usages, sustainability has grave defects as a planning goal, particularly when used by conservationists: it confuses means and ends; it is vague about what is being sustained and who or what is doing the sustaining; it is uninspiring; it is little more than Pinchot-era conservation (and thus ignores the many lessons learned since then); it need not be linked to land, to the land's functioning, or to any ecological science; it need not include a moral component; it is consistent with the view of humans as all-powerful manipulators of the planet; and, in general, it is such a malleable term that its popularity provides only a facade of consensus. When sustainability is defined broadly to include the full range of economic and social aspirations, it poses the particular risk that ecological and biodiversity concerns will be cast aside in favor of more pressing human wants. Given these many defects, the conservation movement should discard the term in favor of a more alluring goal, attentive to nature and its ecological functioning. A sound goal would incorporate and distill the considerable ecological and moral wisdom accumulated since Pinchot's day while giving conservationists the rhetorical tools needed to defend the land against competing pressures. In our view, conservation would be well served by an updated variant of "land health," Aldo Leopold's ecologically grounded goal from the 1940s. Land health as an independent understanding should set the essential terms of how we live and enjoy the earth, providing the framework within which we pursue our many social and economic aims.     

酸性法测定高锰酸盐指数加热时间的选择

酸性法测定高锰酸盐指数，会因实验条件的差异产生不同的结果。对不同加热时间，加热方式等因素进行了试验，结果表明加热时间以水浴加热沸腾３０ｍｉｎ或电炉直接加热８ｍｉｎ为宜。     

论环境外交的发展趋势和特点

简要阐述了环境外交兴起的原因及其３个阶段的发展过程，在此基础上较详细介绍环境外交的概念和含义，并较深入地概括了环境交区别于其它外活动的６个特点，作者认为，研究并掌握上述基本问题，对于建立环境外交学的科学体系，促进环境外交的发展，发展环境保护事业，具有非常重要的作用意义。     

销毁遗弃化学武器的环境风险评价方法研究

为履行《禁止化学武器公约》，各缔约国销毁化学武器的工作已启动。根据当前世界上化学武器的销毁情况，并针对二战期间在中国遗弃的化学武器的特点，给出了一套适应化学武器销毁流程的环境风险评价方法和技术。这套方法对将在我国进行的销毁遗弃化学武器风险评价工作有一定的实际意义。     

浅谈沈阳市在可持续发展方面存在的问题及对策

提出了沈阳市在可持续发展方面存在的一些问题，针对性地提出搞好环境保护是实施可持续发展的关键，并论证了应当采取的对策．     

戴明循环理论在规划环评工作程序中的应用初探

通过分析现阶段我国规划环评的现状和存在的问题,结合国内外规划环评及其工作程序的研究成果,提出使用戴明循环理论对现阶段的规划环评工作程序进行改进,使程序层次化、工作细分化,增强整个规划环评工作的可操作性,使规划环评工作落实到单位和人,明确责任,减少部门间冲突.戴明循环理论的引入,提高规划环评的评价效果和效率,为规划环评提供了一个有效科学的评价方法,有助于规划环评的顺利开展,使环境问题从源头上得到控制,适应建设和谐社会的需要.     

沈阳市“十一五”期间的空气污染防治

根据沈阳市环境空气面临的问题,确定“十一五”期间空气环境质量保护目标、指标,提出改善空气环境质量的对策措施,保证沈阳市大气环境质量的持续改善。     

环境税收制度的效益分析及其对比优势探讨

环境税收制度是未来中国环境政策改革的突破口，相对于其它的环境政策如排污收费与排污权交易等，环境税收其经济效益与环境效益明显，开征环境税收有重要的意义，但在短期内，我国实施环境税收制度的条件尚不成熟，环境政策体系应该采取税费并存，并逐步过渡到以环境税为主的方式。