Impoverished sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)is under increasing environmental pressure from global environmental changes.It is now generally accepted in academic circles that economic development in SSA countries can cause en...Impoverished sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)is under increasing environmental pressure from global environmental changes.It is now generally accepted in academic circles that economic development in SSA countries can cause environmental pressure in other countries.However,there is research gap on the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressure in SSA countries and whether economic assistance causes spatial spillovers of environ-mental pressure between SSA countries.To better understand the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures in SSA,a dynamic spatial Dubin panel model was developed.It helped us explore the spatial spillover effects of economic assistance on environmental pressures in recipient countries based on the panel data from 34 SSA countries.The results show that economic assistance had a positive stimulating effect on environmen-tal pressures of recipient countries,which means that the degree of human disturbance to the environment has deepened.Due to the regional correlation effect,neighboring countries were saddled with environmental pres-sures from the target country.Moreover,environmental pressures have time inertia,which can easily produce a snowball effect.The decomposition of effects shows that the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures is relatively minor.Environmental pressures have spillover effects,so to deal with diffuse risks,joint regional prevention and control policies should be developed.展开更多
The characteristics of low pressure plasma produced by a gas discharges lie in thatthe energy of the electrons are much higher than that of the heavy particles in the system. Inthis paperl the low-pressure plasma trea...The characteristics of low pressure plasma produced by a gas discharges lie in thatthe energy of the electrons are much higher than that of the heavy particles in the system. Inthis paperl the low-pressure plasma treatment technology for the environmental contaminantswas synthetically studied, and the reaction processing and mechanism between the low-pressureplasma and the environmental contaminants were theoretically analyzed. At last, the prospectsand existing problems on the application of low-pressure plasma in the field of environmentalprotection were discussed.展开更多
We use emergy-based urban metabolism analysis in this study to investigate the local coupling and telecoupling between urbanization and the eco-environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Our analysi...We use emergy-based urban metabolism analysis in this study to investigate the local coupling and telecoupling between urbanization and the eco-environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Our analysis encompasses the last 35 years spanning the period between 1980 and 2014. In addition, we analyze urban metabolic efficiency and environmental pressure in these couplings. There are three main conclusions of this study. First, we show that the total metabolic emergy value of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration has increased over the last 35 years, and that external elements have replaced internal ones as the leading contributors to urban metabolism in this region. The proportion of metabolic emergy derived from external elements increased from 30.87% in 1980 to 67.43% in 2014. The emergy extroversion ratio has continued to increase over our study period, while the development of this urban agglomeration had become progressively and more heavily reliant on external elements. Second, over the study period, the metabolic emergy intensity of elements of local coupling and telecoupling in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration has declined at an accelerating rate, from 1.15×10^(21) Sej/100 million RMB in1980 to 9.69×10^(19) Sej/100 million RMB in 2014. This reflects a continuous increase in the economic efficiency of this area.Correspondingly, emergy use per capita increased from 7.8×10^(15) Sej/person in 1980 to 5.83×10^(16) Sej/person in 2014, suggesting a gradual rise in the level of social welfare in this urban agglomeration. However, we also observed a consistently elevated environmental loading ratio(ELR) in our analysis in terms of metabolism of local coupling and telecoupling elements. This result indicates that environmental pressure has also increased constantly within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Third,our analysis shows that the ELR of metabolic emergy from internal elements increased from 8.30 in 1980 to 43.46 in 2014, while the ratio from external elements increased from 4.15 to 92.03. Thus, we quantitatively investigated the dependency of development within this urban agglomeration on external elements as well as the resultant environmental load. The conclusions of this study provide the basis for quantitative policy-making in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, optimizing economic structures, improving economic efficiency, controlling environmental pollution, and promoting the coordinated development of this region.展开更多
Under the globalization, the coastal China becomes a hot area of the international manufacturing investment due to its priority location, excellent environment, lower labor and land costs, etc. However, the fast indus...Under the globalization, the coastal China becomes a hot area of the international manufacturing investment due to its priority location, excellent environment, lower labor and land costs, etc. However, the fast industrialization has aroused the great demolishment to the local ecological environment. For example, the heavy water eutrophication in Taihu Lake has affected the source of drinking water for the cities around the lake. Anyway, in order to keep the economic increase and reduce the resource ex- pense and pollution at the same time, it is necessary to encourage the greening of industrial enterprises actively for sustainable de- velopment. On the basis of the investigation of industrial enter- prises in Wuxi city within Taihu Basin, the relatively developed region in coastal China, this paper analyzed the development process of green industry. This article concluded that governmen- tal principal is the main pressure for enterprises to protect envi- ronment while the market factor plays a part role. Moreover, en- terprises in the high technology development zone work better in environmental protection than those in the villages and towns, while the large enterprises work better than those small enterprises.展开更多
Interregional trade facilitates the transfer of implied human economic well-being(HEW)and integrated environmental pressure(IEP).The mismatch between them leads to environmental inequality.A comprehensive evaluation i...Interregional trade facilitates the transfer of implied human economic well-being(HEW)and integrated environmental pressure(IEP).The mismatch between them leads to environmental inequality.A comprehensive evaluation index system for HEW is constructed.Based on the multiregional input-output(MRIO)model,the HEW,water,carbon,and land footprints of the Hexi Corridor Economic Belt in China were measured in 2012,2015,and 2017.Three types of environmental footprints were integrated into the IEP,and structural decomposition analysis(SDA)was used to explore the interregional transfer and driving factors of changes in HEW and IEP.A regional environmental inequality(REI)index was constructed to assess the environmental inequality among cities in the Hexi Corridor.Results show that environmental inequality in the Hexi Corridor is severe and intensifying.The focus is that Jiuquan absorbs more HEW from other cities in the interregional trade,but transfers IEP to Jiayuguan and other places.The main factors affecting the flow changes of HEW and IEP are production structure and final demand structure.Due to differences in resource endowments,Jiayuguan bears great environmental pressure without sufficient economic compensation,which is unfavorable for regional coordinated and sustainable development.Therefore,it is recommended to introduce clean production technology,transfer polluting production to reduce the productive environmental footprint of Jiayuguan,develop high-tech,and promote the growth of regional HEW driven by surrounding cities.The study findings help address environmental inequality and promote sustainable growth of economic well-being in Western China and provide a reference for similar research.展开更多
Rapid socioeconomic development has caused numerous environmental impacts.Human production and consumption activities are the underlying drivers of resource uses,environmental emissions,and associated environmental im...Rapid socioeconomic development has caused numerous environmental impacts.Human production and consumption activities are the underlying drivers of resource uses,environmental emissions,and associated environmental impacts(e.g.,ecosystem quality and human health).Reducing environmental impacts requires an understanding of the complex interactions between socioeconomic system and environmental system.Existing studies have explored the relationships among human society,economic system,and environmental system.However,it is unclear about the research progress in the effects of socioeconomic activities on environmental impacts and the potential directions of future research.This critical review finds that existing studies have identified critical regions,sectors,and transmission pathways for resource uses,environmental emissions,and environmental impacts from supply chain perspectives.Moreover,scholars have characterized the impacts of socioeconomic transitions on resource uses and environmental emissions.However,existing studies overlook the dynamic nature of the interconnections among human society,economic system,and environmental system.In addition,the effects of socioeconomic structural transitions on environmental impacts remain unknown.This review proposes four prospects and possible solutions that will contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions among human society,economic system,and environmental system.They can help identify more effective solutions to reduce environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions.展开更多
1 Introduction The transformation of agrifood systems represents one of the most critical challenges of our time,particularly for regions supporting large populations while facing complex environmental,social and econ...1 Introduction The transformation of agrifood systems represents one of the most critical challenges of our time,particularly for regions supporting large populations while facing complex environmental,social and economic pressures.China and Africa,collectively home to over 2.9 billion people,exemplify both the urgency and the diversity of approaches needed to build resilient,sustainable and inclusive food systems.While both regions have achieved significant progress through various agricultural and food policy initiatives over recent decades,they now confront a new generation of complex,interconnected challenges.展开更多
基金This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.72104246,71874203).
文摘Impoverished sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)is under increasing environmental pressure from global environmental changes.It is now generally accepted in academic circles that economic development in SSA countries can cause environmental pressure in other countries.However,there is research gap on the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressure in SSA countries and whether economic assistance causes spatial spillovers of environ-mental pressure between SSA countries.To better understand the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures in SSA,a dynamic spatial Dubin panel model was developed.It helped us explore the spatial spillover effects of economic assistance on environmental pressures in recipient countries based on the panel data from 34 SSA countries.The results show that economic assistance had a positive stimulating effect on environmen-tal pressures of recipient countries,which means that the degree of human disturbance to the environment has deepened.Due to the regional correlation effect,neighboring countries were saddled with environmental pres-sures from the target country.Moreover,environmental pressures have time inertia,which can easily produce a snowball effect.The decomposition of effects shows that the impact of economic assistance on environmental pressures is relatively minor.Environmental pressures have spillover effects,so to deal with diffuse risks,joint regional prevention and control policies should be developed.
文摘The characteristics of low pressure plasma produced by a gas discharges lie in thatthe energy of the electrons are much higher than that of the heavy particles in the system. Inthis paperl the low-pressure plasma treatment technology for the environmental contaminantswas synthetically studied, and the reaction processing and mechanism between the low-pressureplasma and the environmental contaminants were theoretically analyzed. At last, the prospectsand existing problems on the application of low-pressure plasma in the field of environmentalprotection were discussed.
基金supported by the Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China: “Coupled mechanism and interactive coercing effects between urbanization and eco-environment in mega-urban agglomerations” (Grant Nos. 41590840 & 41590842)
文摘We use emergy-based urban metabolism analysis in this study to investigate the local coupling and telecoupling between urbanization and the eco-environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Our analysis encompasses the last 35 years spanning the period between 1980 and 2014. In addition, we analyze urban metabolic efficiency and environmental pressure in these couplings. There are three main conclusions of this study. First, we show that the total metabolic emergy value of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration has increased over the last 35 years, and that external elements have replaced internal ones as the leading contributors to urban metabolism in this region. The proportion of metabolic emergy derived from external elements increased from 30.87% in 1980 to 67.43% in 2014. The emergy extroversion ratio has continued to increase over our study period, while the development of this urban agglomeration had become progressively and more heavily reliant on external elements. Second, over the study period, the metabolic emergy intensity of elements of local coupling and telecoupling in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration has declined at an accelerating rate, from 1.15×10^(21) Sej/100 million RMB in1980 to 9.69×10^(19) Sej/100 million RMB in 2014. This reflects a continuous increase in the economic efficiency of this area.Correspondingly, emergy use per capita increased from 7.8×10^(15) Sej/person in 1980 to 5.83×10^(16) Sej/person in 2014, suggesting a gradual rise in the level of social welfare in this urban agglomeration. However, we also observed a consistently elevated environmental loading ratio(ELR) in our analysis in terms of metabolism of local coupling and telecoupling elements. This result indicates that environmental pressure has also increased constantly within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Third,our analysis shows that the ELR of metabolic emergy from internal elements increased from 8.30 in 1980 to 43.46 in 2014, while the ratio from external elements increased from 4.15 to 92.03. Thus, we quantitatively investigated the dependency of development within this urban agglomeration on external elements as well as the resultant environmental load. The conclusions of this study provide the basis for quantitative policy-making in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, optimizing economic structures, improving economic efficiency, controlling environmental pollution, and promoting the coordinated development of this region.
基金Under the auspices of the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China (No.40371031).
文摘Under the globalization, the coastal China becomes a hot area of the international manufacturing investment due to its priority location, excellent environment, lower labor and land costs, etc. However, the fast industrialization has aroused the great demolishment to the local ecological environment. For example, the heavy water eutrophication in Taihu Lake has affected the source of drinking water for the cities around the lake. Anyway, in order to keep the economic increase and reduce the resource ex- pense and pollution at the same time, it is necessary to encourage the greening of industrial enterprises actively for sustainable de- velopment. On the basis of the investigation of industrial enter- prises in Wuxi city within Taihu Basin, the relatively developed region in coastal China, this paper analyzed the development process of green industry. This article concluded that governmen- tal principal is the main pressure for enterprises to protect envi- ronment while the market factor plays a part role. Moreover, en- terprises in the high technology development zone work better in environmental protection than those in the villages and towns, while the large enterprises work better than those small enterprises.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP),China(No.2019QZKK0608)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(No.2023MS154).
文摘Interregional trade facilitates the transfer of implied human economic well-being(HEW)and integrated environmental pressure(IEP).The mismatch between them leads to environmental inequality.A comprehensive evaluation index system for HEW is constructed.Based on the multiregional input-output(MRIO)model,the HEW,water,carbon,and land footprints of the Hexi Corridor Economic Belt in China were measured in 2012,2015,and 2017.Three types of environmental footprints were integrated into the IEP,and structural decomposition analysis(SDA)was used to explore the interregional transfer and driving factors of changes in HEW and IEP.A regional environmental inequality(REI)index was constructed to assess the environmental inequality among cities in the Hexi Corridor.Results show that environmental inequality in the Hexi Corridor is severe and intensifying.The focus is that Jiuquan absorbs more HEW from other cities in the interregional trade,but transfers IEP to Jiayuguan and other places.The main factors affecting the flow changes of HEW and IEP are production structure and final demand structure.Due to differences in resource endowments,Jiayuguan bears great environmental pressure without sufficient economic compensation,which is unfavorable for regional coordinated and sustainable development.Therefore,it is recommended to introduce clean production technology,transfer polluting production to reduce the productive environmental footprint of Jiayuguan,develop high-tech,and promote the growth of regional HEW driven by surrounding cities.The study findings help address environmental inequality and promote sustainable growth of economic well-being in Western China and provide a reference for similar research.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFF1301200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.71874014).
文摘Rapid socioeconomic development has caused numerous environmental impacts.Human production and consumption activities are the underlying drivers of resource uses,environmental emissions,and associated environmental impacts(e.g.,ecosystem quality and human health).Reducing environmental impacts requires an understanding of the complex interactions between socioeconomic system and environmental system.Existing studies have explored the relationships among human society,economic system,and environmental system.However,it is unclear about the research progress in the effects of socioeconomic activities on environmental impacts and the potential directions of future research.This critical review finds that existing studies have identified critical regions,sectors,and transmission pathways for resource uses,environmental emissions,and environmental impacts from supply chain perspectives.Moreover,scholars have characterized the impacts of socioeconomic transitions on resource uses and environmental emissions.However,existing studies overlook the dynamic nature of the interconnections among human society,economic system,and environmental system.In addition,the effects of socioeconomic structural transitions on environmental impacts remain unknown.This review proposes four prospects and possible solutions that will contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions among human society,economic system,and environmental system.They can help identify more effective solutions to reduce environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions.
文摘1 Introduction The transformation of agrifood systems represents one of the most critical challenges of our time,particularly for regions supporting large populations while facing complex environmental,social and economic pressures.China and Africa,collectively home to over 2.9 billion people,exemplify both the urgency and the diversity of approaches needed to build resilient,sustainable and inclusive food systems.While both regions have achieved significant progress through various agricultural and food policy initiatives over recent decades,they now confront a new generation of complex,interconnected challenges.
