The potential for mitigating climate change is growing worldwide,with an increasing emphasis on reducing CO_(2)emissions and minimising the impact on the environment.African continent is faced with the unique challeng...The potential for mitigating climate change is growing worldwide,with an increasing emphasis on reducing CO_(2)emissions and minimising the impact on the environment.African continent is faced with the unique challenge of climate change whilst coping with extreme poverty,explosive population growth and economic difficulties.CO_(2)emission patterns in Africa are analysed in this study to understand primary CO_(2)sources and underlying driving forces further.Data are examined using gravity model,logarithmic mean divisia index and Tapio's decoupling indicator of CO_(2)emissions from economic development in 20 selected African countries during 1984-2014.Results reveal that CO_(2)emissions increased by 2.11%(453.73 million ton)over the research period.Gravity centre for African CO_(2)emissions had shifted towards the northeast direction.Population and economic growth were primary driving forces of CO_(2)emissions.Industrial structure and emission efficiency effects partially offset the growth of CO_(2)emissions.The economic growth effect was an offset factor in central African countries and Zimbabwe due to political instability and economic mismanagement.Industrial structure and emission efficiency were insufficient to decouple economic development from CO_(2)emissions and relieve the pressure of population explosion on CO_(2)emissions in Africa.Thus,future efforts in reducing CO_(2)emissions should focus on scaleup energy-efficient technologies,renewable energy update,emission pricing and long-term green development towards sustainable development goals by 2030.展开更多
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand the ancient land routes that connect China to the Mediterranean Sea and corresponding ocean- based routes, is expanding global cooperation with profou...China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand the ancient land routes that connect China to the Mediterranean Sea and corresponding ocean- based routes, is expanding global cooperation with profound socioeconomic and ecological implications. As China and associated countries are developing specific policies to implement the initiative, it is important to analyze and integrate major relevant issues. In this article, we discuss several major challenges facing the Belt and Road region: complex natural features, mismatched resources, shared ecological issues, and diverse socioeconomic conditions. To meet the challeng-es, we apply the integrated framework of telecoupling (socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances) and propose to enhance infrastructure connection, transboundary actions, scientific and cultural exchanges, and institutional innovations within the Belt and Road region;and collaborate with more interna-tional organizations and countries beyond the Belt and Road region for a prosperous and sustainable world.展开更多
基金supported by the National Water Pollution Control and Treatment Science and Technology Major Project(No.2017ZX07101001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41690142 and 41371535)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.SWU019047)。
文摘The potential for mitigating climate change is growing worldwide,with an increasing emphasis on reducing CO_(2)emissions and minimising the impact on the environment.African continent is faced with the unique challenge of climate change whilst coping with extreme poverty,explosive population growth and economic difficulties.CO_(2)emission patterns in Africa are analysed in this study to understand primary CO_(2)sources and underlying driving forces further.Data are examined using gravity model,logarithmic mean divisia index and Tapio's decoupling indicator of CO_(2)emissions from economic development in 20 selected African countries during 1984-2014.Results reveal that CO_(2)emissions increased by 2.11%(453.73 million ton)over the research period.Gravity centre for African CO_(2)emissions had shifted towards the northeast direction.Population and economic growth were primary driving forces of CO_(2)emissions.Industrial structure and emission efficiency effects partially offset the growth of CO_(2)emissions.The economic growth effect was an offset factor in central African countries and Zimbabwe due to political instability and economic mismanagement.Industrial structure and emission efficiency were insufficient to decouple economic development from CO_(2)emissions and relieve the pressure of population explosion on CO_(2)emissions in Africa.Thus,future efforts in reducing CO_(2)emissions should focus on scaleup energy-efficient technologies,renewable energy update,emission pricing and long-term green development towards sustainable development goals by 2030.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(41371535,41001098,71303198,41201444)the China Scholar ship Council,U.S.National Science Foundation,Michigan AgBio Research,and Michigan State University.
文摘China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand the ancient land routes that connect China to the Mediterranean Sea and corresponding ocean- based routes, is expanding global cooperation with profound socioeconomic and ecological implications. As China and associated countries are developing specific policies to implement the initiative, it is important to analyze and integrate major relevant issues. In this article, we discuss several major challenges facing the Belt and Road region: complex natural features, mismatched resources, shared ecological issues, and diverse socioeconomic conditions. To meet the challeng-es, we apply the integrated framework of telecoupling (socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances) and propose to enhance infrastructure connection, transboundary actions, scientific and cultural exchanges, and institutional innovations within the Belt and Road region;and collaborate with more interna-tional organizations and countries beyond the Belt and Road region for a prosperous and sustainable world.
