Reducing environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions:critical review and prospects

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.

Supply-side drivers of phosphorus emissions from phosphorus supply chains in China

Human activities interfere with natural Phosphorus(P)cycles by introducing increased levels of P emissions to air,land,and water.A supply-side analysis of P supply chains and associated P emissions can provide insights into underlying economic activities and transitions responsible for human-induced P emissions.Taking the China's Mainland as the case,this study constructs time-series physical input-output tables to describe P supply chains during 1949-2012.Subsequently,it identifies critical products and influencing factors of P supply chains enabling P emissions to the environment(including air,land,and water)from the supply perspective.The results show that phosphate rock,an important initial supplier of P from natural environment to China’s P supply chain,was responsible for 86%of P emissions in 2012.Moreover,food crops and livestock are important initial suppliers of P from soil to China’s P supply chain,through cultivation and pasturing,respectively.From 1949 to 2012,the change in primary input level was the largest driver of P emission increments,followed by changes in population,emission intensity,and primary input structure.On the contrary,changes in production structure reduced P emissions.These findings could support supply-side policy decisions on P emission control.