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     

Engineering for problem solving in future: Eco-social market economy and eco-social tech

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关于促进我国循环经济法制建设的思考

循环经济作为一种有效平衡经济增长,社会发展和环境保护三者关系的全新经济模式,在我国的发展已是大势所趋.而这一系统工程建立的基础是相关法律法规的建立.目前,许多发达国家已经以立法的方法来保障循环型社会的建立和发展.加快我国循环经济法制建设需要对循环经济的内涵,发达国家的循环经济立法,我国循环经济法制建设的实践及其存在的问题进行系统研究,根据我国的实际情况,得出对中国的循环经济立法具有针对性的建议,在依法治国的当今中国,以法律形式对循环经济加以肯定和规范具有重要意义.     

云南省利用水泥回转窑处置危险废物的前景

利用独特的设备和水泥窑的工艺特点,用废物代替水泥生产中的原材料,合理处置危险废物,使环境治理和循环经济达到有效的结合,是一项废物处理和资源化的新途径,是水泥生产企业可持续发展的方向之一,具有广阔的发展前景。     

青岛市建设循环型经济社会的探讨

以青岛市为例,通过对传统型经济社会发展所面临环境问题的对比分析,阐述了发展循环经济、建设循环型经济社会对我国经济社会可持续发展的重要意义。指出为了实现2008年“绿色奥运”和生态型城市的建设目标,在青岛市发展循环经济,建立循环型经济社会的可能性和必要性。提出了青岛市发展循环经济、建设循环型经济社会的实施对策。     

发展循环经济的实践和思考

发展循环经济是国内走新型工业化道路的具体表现。介绍了葫芦岛市抓好项目链接，发展循环经济的实践，并提出了进一步发展循环经济工作的几点建议。     

生态经济论

本文按生态发展历史进程，论述了，论述了生态经济发展的必然性。     

宁西铁路的开通与沿线区域经济发展

宁西铁路的建成与开通对加强我国东西部地区之间的联系和促进沿线地区的资源开发、经济发展将产生重要的影响,沿线经济带正在逐步形成.从区域经济的角度,运用点-轴理论探讨了宁西铁路线与沿线经济发展区域一体化和形成经济带应注意的几个问题:加快沿线城镇建设,完善综合交通通道,强化铁路为地方经济服务功能,建立沿线区域经济协作体系.     

总结经验,进一步推进全国循环经济发展

作者全面阐述了当前我国发展循环经济的重要性、存在的问题,并提出了下一步工作的意见。