Europe＇s mountains cover nearly half of the continent＇s area and are home to one fifth of the European population. Mountain areas are hotspots of biodiversity and agriculture has played a multifunctional role in def...Europe＇s mountains cover nearly half of the continent＇s area and are home to one fifth of the European population. Mountain areas are hotspots of biodiversity and agriculture has played a multifunctional role in defining and sustaining mountain biodiversity. Ongoing trends of agricultural decline are having negative impacts on mountain biodiversity. This paper presents results from an interdisciplinary European research project, BioScene, which investigated the relationship between agriculture and biodiversity in six mountain study areas across Europe to provide recommendations for reconciling biodiversity conservation with social and economic activities through an integrated rural development strategy. BioScene used scenario analysis and stakeholder participation as tools for structuring the analysis of alternative mountain futures. Three main BioScene scenarios were evaluated： Business as Usual （BAIT）, Agricultural Liberalisation （Lib）, Managed Change for Biodiversity （MCB）. BioScene brought together ecologists, economists, sociologists and rural geogra- phers, to carry out interdisciplinary analysis of the scenarios： identifying key drivers of change, assessing the biodiversity consequences and evaluating costeffectiveness. BioScene used a sustainability assessment to integrate the research outputs across natural and social science disciplines to assess the broader sustainability of the scenarios in terms of biodiversity, natural resources, rural development, social development, economic development and institutional capacity. The sustainability assessment showed that the MCB scenario was potentially the most sustainable of the three BioScene scenarios. Through the reconciliation of potentially conflicting objectives, such as conservation, economic development and human livelihoods, and with a strong participatory planning approach, the MCB scenario could represent an alternative approach to BaU for sustainable rural development in Europe＇s mountains. BioScene confirms the necessity for natural and social scientists to work together to seek solutions to environmental problems. Interdisciplinary research can assist with the definition of integrated strategies with the potential to reconcile the ecological, social and economic parameters that determine a sustainable future for European mountain areas.展开更多
From the realism of science, and taking the guide of EINSTEIN’s Relativity as guide, this article called in question the present theory of the sustainable development by the rational thinking of philosophy and a clos...From the realism of science, and taking the guide of EINSTEIN’s Relativity as guide, this article called in question the present theory of the sustainable development by the rational thinking of philosophy and a close logic inference. It is found that there are many paradoxes to the theory. Through more deepening and meticulous inference, we arrived at philosophic language of science about the sustainable development. The sustainable development is "non-sustainable development", and the non-sustainable development is "the best sustainable development". While carrying out philosophical principle thinking and repeating science demonstration for the sustainable development, this article got further confirmation that the existence of human being at the minimum environment cost may help them obtain motive power of the sustainable development. In fact, this foundation motive power exists in the flow of development in different organization levels, meanwhile it exists in strategy of intuition living of the ancient people. Only in relative lower environment cost to live can we get the support system of science for the sustainable development, and be able really to achieve the basic goal of the sustainable development.展开更多
This brief conceptual paper contributes a sustainability theoretic perspective of an urbanization paradigm known as Compact City. Compact City is an urban planning and development concept which promotes relatively hig...This brief conceptual paper contributes a sustainability theoretic perspective of an urbanization paradigm known as Compact City. Compact City is an urban planning and development concept which promotes relatively high population density associated with an integrated and mixed-use land district. It is enabled by transit-oriented development and results in low transport-related energy consumption and reduced the GHG （Greenhouse Gases） pollution. Compact City conserves the natural capital of land mass and subscribes to the strong sustainability ethics. ICT （Information and Communications Technology） could be deployed to optimize the Compact City operations by first tackling some of the development problems associated with Compact City and also unleashing new urban innovations and functionalities to achieve sustainable urbanization. The paper suggests and elucidates several general systemic synergies archetypes such as co-benefits, cascading, ICT infrastructure reuse, etc., which could be leveraged to facilitate the emergence of compact green smart and resilient city. These archetypes are solutions to the Compact City paradigm thus conductive to the development ofa Sustainability Science of Compact City.展开更多
South Africa is facing enormous financial, environmental and social challenges posed by abandoned mines. This investigation focused on field verification of 850 abandoned mines and associated rehabilitation challenges...South Africa is facing enormous financial, environmental and social challenges posed by abandoned mines. This investigation focused on field verification of 850 abandoned mines and associated rehabilitation challenges in the Limpopo Province. The investigations included desktop studies, standardised field-based ranking system and sampling. The waste material samples were analysed using XRF （X-ray fluorescence spectrometry） at the Council for Geoscience Laboratory. Approximately 5% of 850 abandoned mines in the Limpopo Province require urgent rehabilitation either due to high concentrations of metals from mine dumps or presence of open shafts. For example, copper concentrations at Messina and Spoedwel were 9,719 ppm and 56,160 ppm, respectively. Birthday Gold Mine in Giyani area is characterised by un-safe open shafts and un-stable grounds which poses safety problems and limits the future land-use. Although these investigations have been conducted, it is not possible to rehabilitate all abandoned mines mainly due to limited financial resources. The abandoned mines close to human settlement are given priority due to their immediate threat to people. This study recommends that rehabilitation of abandoned mines should take cognisance of the sustainable future land use that will favour the creation of jobs and nature conservation.展开更多
For China, green industrial revolution induced by global climate change poses not only the greatest challenge, but also the greatest opportunity. In the perspective of China's basic national conditions, and especi...For China, green industrial revolution induced by global climate change poses not only the greatest challenge, but also the greatest opportunity. In the perspective of China's basic national conditions, and especially its natural conditions, China's green development is the inevitable path of choice for the realization of sustainable development and scientific development. The essence of China's modernization 2050 is green modernization, taking the three-step strategy towards China's own green development and energy conservation and emission reduction. In combination with the 12 th Five Year Plan, its innovative positioning is "green development plan".展开更多
China kept sustained and rapid economic growth in 30 years, at the same time, bringing a high consumption of resources and greatly damaged ecological environment, so that the resource application and ecological enviro...China kept sustained and rapid economic growth in 30 years, at the same time, bringing a high consumption of resources and greatly damaged ecological environment, so that the resource application and ecological environment which support China ＇ s economic growth are deteriorating, the situation in the vast western region is particularly prominent. Therefore, you must carefully study the new sustainable development model of economic theory under the guidance of scientific concept of development, from the strategic height of a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable economic and social development and the characterized situation of China＇ s regional economic reality.展开更多
文摘Europe＇s mountains cover nearly half of the continent＇s area and are home to one fifth of the European population. Mountain areas are hotspots of biodiversity and agriculture has played a multifunctional role in defining and sustaining mountain biodiversity. Ongoing trends of agricultural decline are having negative impacts on mountain biodiversity. This paper presents results from an interdisciplinary European research project, BioScene, which investigated the relationship between agriculture and biodiversity in six mountain study areas across Europe to provide recommendations for reconciling biodiversity conservation with social and economic activities through an integrated rural development strategy. BioScene used scenario analysis and stakeholder participation as tools for structuring the analysis of alternative mountain futures. Three main BioScene scenarios were evaluated： Business as Usual （BAIT）, Agricultural Liberalisation （Lib）, Managed Change for Biodiversity （MCB）. BioScene brought together ecologists, economists, sociologists and rural geogra- phers, to carry out interdisciplinary analysis of the scenarios： identifying key drivers of change, assessing the biodiversity consequences and evaluating costeffectiveness. BioScene used a sustainability assessment to integrate the research outputs across natural and social science disciplines to assess the broader sustainability of the scenarios in terms of biodiversity, natural resources, rural development, social development, economic development and institutional capacity. The sustainability assessment showed that the MCB scenario was potentially the most sustainable of the three BioScene scenarios. Through the reconciliation of potentially conflicting objectives, such as conservation, economic development and human livelihoods, and with a strong participatory planning approach, the MCB scenario could represent an alternative approach to BaU for sustainable rural development in Europe＇s mountains. BioScene confirms the necessity for natural and social scientists to work together to seek solutions to environmental problems. Interdisciplinary research can assist with the definition of integrated strategies with the potential to reconcile the ecological, social and economic parameters that determine a sustainable future for European mountain areas.
基金Under the auspices of National Excellent Youth Foundation of China(No.40125003)
文摘From the realism of science, and taking the guide of EINSTEIN’s Relativity as guide, this article called in question the present theory of the sustainable development by the rational thinking of philosophy and a close logic inference. It is found that there are many paradoxes to the theory. Through more deepening and meticulous inference, we arrived at philosophic language of science about the sustainable development. The sustainable development is "non-sustainable development", and the non-sustainable development is "the best sustainable development". While carrying out philosophical principle thinking and repeating science demonstration for the sustainable development, this article got further confirmation that the existence of human being at the minimum environment cost may help them obtain motive power of the sustainable development. In fact, this foundation motive power exists in the flow of development in different organization levels, meanwhile it exists in strategy of intuition living of the ancient people. Only in relative lower environment cost to live can we get the support system of science for the sustainable development, and be able really to achieve the basic goal of the sustainable development.
文摘This brief conceptual paper contributes a sustainability theoretic perspective of an urbanization paradigm known as Compact City. Compact City is an urban planning and development concept which promotes relatively high population density associated with an integrated and mixed-use land district. It is enabled by transit-oriented development and results in low transport-related energy consumption and reduced the GHG （Greenhouse Gases） pollution. Compact City conserves the natural capital of land mass and subscribes to the strong sustainability ethics. ICT （Information and Communications Technology） could be deployed to optimize the Compact City operations by first tackling some of the development problems associated with Compact City and also unleashing new urban innovations and functionalities to achieve sustainable urbanization. The paper suggests and elucidates several general systemic synergies archetypes such as co-benefits, cascading, ICT infrastructure reuse, etc., which could be leveraged to facilitate the emergence of compact green smart and resilient city. These archetypes are solutions to the Compact City paradigm thus conductive to the development ofa Sustainability Science of Compact City.
文摘South Africa is facing enormous financial, environmental and social challenges posed by abandoned mines. This investigation focused on field verification of 850 abandoned mines and associated rehabilitation challenges in the Limpopo Province. The investigations included desktop studies, standardised field-based ranking system and sampling. The waste material samples were analysed using XRF （X-ray fluorescence spectrometry） at the Council for Geoscience Laboratory. Approximately 5% of 850 abandoned mines in the Limpopo Province require urgent rehabilitation either due to high concentrations of metals from mine dumps or presence of open shafts. For example, copper concentrations at Messina and Spoedwel were 9,719 ppm and 56,160 ppm, respectively. Birthday Gold Mine in Giyani area is characterised by un-safe open shafts and un-stable grounds which poses safety problems and limits the future land-use. Although these investigations have been conducted, it is not possible to rehabilitate all abandoned mines mainly due to limited financial resources. The abandoned mines close to human settlement are given priority due to their immediate threat to people. This study recommends that rehabilitation of abandoned mines should take cognisance of the sustainable future land use that will favour the creation of jobs and nature conservation.
文摘For China, green industrial revolution induced by global climate change poses not only the greatest challenge, but also the greatest opportunity. In the perspective of China's basic national conditions, and especially its natural conditions, China's green development is the inevitable path of choice for the realization of sustainable development and scientific development. The essence of China's modernization 2050 is green modernization, taking the three-step strategy towards China's own green development and energy conservation and emission reduction. In combination with the 12 th Five Year Plan, its innovative positioning is "green development plan".
文摘China kept sustained and rapid economic growth in 30 years, at the same time, bringing a high consumption of resources and greatly damaged ecological environment, so that the resource application and ecological environment which support China ＇ s economic growth are deteriorating, the situation in the vast western region is particularly prominent. Therefore, you must carefully study the new sustainable development model of economic theory under the guidance of scientific concept of development, from the strategic height of a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable economic and social development and the characterized situation of China＇ s regional economic reality.
