Water Pollution and Environmental Governance of the Tai and Chao Lake Basins in China in an International Perspective

The Tai and Chao Lake basins are currently facing a serious water pollution crisis associated with the absence of an effective environmental governance system. The water pollution and the water governance system of the two basins will be compared. The reasons for water pollution in both basins are similar, namely the weak current water environmental governance system cannot deal with the consequences of the rapidly growing economy. China’s water governance system is a complicated combination of basin management with both departmental management and regional management. There is an absence of legal support and sound coordination mechanisms, resulting in fragmented management practices in the existing water environmental governance system. A comparison is made for the Tai and Chao Lake basins and Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Based on China’s present central-local governance structure and departmental system, an integrated reform of basin level and water environmental governance in China should learn from international experiences. The reforms could consist of improved governance structures, rebuilding authoritative and powerful agencies for basin management, strengthening the organizational structure of the basin administrations, improving legislation and regulatory systems for basin management and enhancing public participation mechanisms.

The Global Science of Integrated Water Governance

Abstract： This study discusses the benefits of establishing a broader discipline of water science, based on the organizing mechanism of PES-W （payments for ecosystem services on the watershed scale）. PES-W is derived from an extension of governance analyses of 163 watershed-based PES （payments for ecosystem services） programs, and from the integrative decision mechanism of IPES （integrated payments for ecosystem services） to generalize the PES approach. PES-W reflects three interrelated perspectives fundamental to the global science of integrated water governance： （1） the ecological and economic perspective to integrate human incentives for integrated water resources governance; （2） the sociological and ecological perspective to form partnerships for meta-monitoring and recta-funding for integrated watershed governance; and （3） the scientific and sociological perspective to develop organizing botmdaries based on technology, lifestyle, entrepreneurship and organizing infrastructure for integrated aquatic ecosystem governance. This study is intended to communicate with the international scientific communities for establishing an advanced, academic, and practical multidisciplinary field of the global science of integrated water governance as a critical condition for sustainable development in human societies.

A Study of the European Union’s Path for Constructing Digital Governance Rules and the Logical Implications of the Path

The European Union(EU)seeks to build a Europe fit for the digital age.For this purpose,the EU has accelerated the process of catching up with digital technology and issued a number of legal and regulatory documents to establish a digital governance rule regime with EU characteristics.This paper analyzes the EU’s path towards the construction of digital governance rules.This path is composed of three aspects,i.e.,strict digital supervision,differentiation of the free market,and multi-stakeholder governance.This three-step path has intrinsic logical implications.That is,strict digital supervision is applied to defend the EU’s unified market and values;differentiation of the free market takes the principle of adequate protection as the core to make the EU an exporter of rules;multi-stakeholder governance brings multiple stakeholders together in the governance to deal with the ethical anomie that arises during the use of big data.By setting up a series of digital governance rules,the EU seeks to achieve rule dominance to gain regulatory power for global digital governance.However,due to multiple constraints,there is a long way to go,and there are obstacles in the way.

A review of science–policy interface for water governance in the Caspian Sea

Science and policy have been interlinked for decades and perform essential nexus conditions in the governing aspects of environmental scenarios.This review paper examines the present challenges in the science–policy interface in terms of water governance in the Caspian Sea and identifies effective conditions that may be used in the current context to enhance the mechanism.The evaluation of the science–policy link in the water policy of the Caspian Sea reveals a gap between knowledge producer and governance system,impeding the translation of scientific information into action.Complicated and context-dependent solutions make it challenging to establish effective science–policy processes in the Caspian Sea water governance settings.Establishing a common governing authority,implementing water and resource management regulations,and protecting the natural environment through legal frameworks are crucial steps to address these concerns and ensure sustainable development.Collaboration among coastal states is essential in environmental,economic,and social aspects of regional development.However,the lack of a comprehensive approach,coherent activities,and effective utilization of national and regional power has hindered efforts to halt the environmental degradation of the Caspian Sea.Local governments need to recognize their responsibility to protect and utilize the Caspian Sea for present and future generations,considering both environmental and human security.The interlinkage of the Caspian Sea water governance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)water governance principles offers a framework for policymakers to assess gaps and make necessary amendments to existing mechanisms.Effective science–policy interaction,engagement of diverse stakeholders,institutionalizing agreements,and addressing collective action issues are critical for successful water governance.

Empowering Conditions for Good Water Governance-a Sustainable Model： Vilanculos Case Study （Mozambique）

This article shows the results of the project Empowering conditions for good water governance-a sustainable model： Vilanculos case study （Mozambique）, co-financed by the European Community. This project had the aim of improving sanitary conditions and increasing economic and financial sustainability of water services for the population of Vilanculos. The project has been developed and deployed with cooperation between Acque del Chiampo （an Italian water utility, near Vicenza）, the University of Brescia and the Vilanculos public water service utility, Empresa Mo^ambicana de Agua （EMA）. The paper reports analytical praxis for water distribution measurements, capable of providing essential data about the water network performances, to assess the eventual need for actions in order to solve possible and effective problems of the water service. These practices involve flow and pressure analyses, pinpointing of the network＇s criticalities and leakages by in-situ inspections along the network, managing the valves together with water service utility, as well as the use of a water distribution model to simulate the effects of the proposed interventions and specific software to automatically register bills and payments.

The Local Process of Governance in Integrated Water Resource Management： An Example of the Wadi El K^bir Watershed （Northeast of Algeria）

Alternatives to the sectoral and public policies and regulations of environmental and water resources＇ protection, and the experiments of integrated management have been rapidly multiplied since the year 1990. Water constitutes a principal stake of these environmental policies in the majority of the countries and especially in the countries of North Africa as Algeria, where this resource is threatened by repeated dryness and by the impact of the climate change. The integrated water resource management reflects today the world tendency of the governments to exploit and preserve this resource by a way based on a process of governance, which passes by the dialog of diversified actors （various sectors）. According to this policy and to the promulgation of the Algerian National Report on State effective implementation and coordination mechanisms are required. How this principle of integrated water management will be executed with various scenarios in Algeria and what are the main difficulties that can be met？ Or, more exactly, what are the variables that can influence the operation of the local water process governorship？ This analysis will be carried out through the example of the Wadi El K6bir watershed located in the northeast of Algeria, which is real natural area of water supply that feeds the communities, the natural and artificial basins, and preserves the perenniality of the existing natural ecosystems especially the one of the natural park classified by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization （U.N.E.S.C.O） in 1989 as the inheritance of humanity and six other sites classified according to the Ramsar convention as wetlands of international importance to be preserved.

An Overview of the New Listing Rules and Corporate Governance Best Practice in Sri Lanka

Corporate governance represents institutional structures and incentive mechanisms that are implemented in order to mitigate the principal-agent problem and to thus promote the long-term competitiveness of the firm. The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of corporate governance best practice and the new listing rules in Sri Lanka. The paper discusses the evolution of the corporate governance best practice giving special reference to the new listing rules in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan stock market overview and the importance of best practice governance for the developing economy of Sri Lanka. Corporate governance practices in Sri Lanka has made a progress towards best practice, but, this paper argues, that substantial reforms need to be implemented to effectively promote and sustain the accountability and transparency.

Rebuilding and Integration of Rural Governance System Based on the Combination of Self-governance,Rule of Law and Rule of Virtue

The proposal that"the rural governance system based on the combination of self-governance,rule of law and rule of virtue should be completed"was put forward in the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.There are many challenges for the development and difficulties for the governance of rural social transformation in the new era,so"the combination of self-governance,rule of law and rule of virtue"is realistically essential,having the objective inevitability and practical possibility.The fundamental and central role of the villagers'self-governance should be brought into full play to construct"the rural governance system based on the combination of self-govermance,rule of law and rule of virtue"under the guidance of the spirit of the 19th National Congress ofthe Communist Party of China,by taking the rule of law as the legal assurance and rule of virtue as the social affection support,managing to complete and optimize the rural governance system,realize the good and right governance in the rural society,boost the modernization construction process of the national governance ability,and realize the great objective of comprehensive rural vitalization of the"stability of the rural areas,development of the agriculture and happiness of the farmers".

The Fulfillment of Government Responsibilities in the Collaborative Governance of Rural Water Pollution

Rural environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious, which has become an important problem to be solved urgently in our country under the background of the new era. Protecting the ecological environment is one of the important functions of the government, and protecting the rural water environment is the unshirkable responsibility of the local governments. As the main body of rural water pollution control, how to define and fulfill the local governments’ responsibilities is of great significance to the advancement of the overall governance work. This paper starts from the local governments, which are the important main body of rural environmental governance. By comparing the similarities and differences between the performance of government responsibilities under the traditional governance model and the collaborative governance model, clarifies the governance responsibilities of the local governments. And further explores the effective measures for the government to play the main role, fulfill the main responsibilities, and participate in the collaborative governance of rural water pollution.

Research on the Realization Path of Consultative Governance of River Basin Water Environment in China

As a new way of governance,deliberative democracy has an inherent compatibility with river basin water environment governance.Consultative governance of river basin water environment is an important way to build an ecological civilization in the river basin.It involves three different levels of government-level democratic coordination,government-enterprise-society consultation and cooperation,and independent consultation between citizens and their governance mechanisms.To realize the consultative governance of river basin water environment,the concept and system construction of consultative governance should be incorporated into the system and mechanism construction of river basin water environment administration.

Digital Development Rights in Developing Countries:Where the Governance Rules for Cross-Border Data Flows

The digital development rights in developing countries are based on establishing a new international economic order and ensuring equal participation in the digital globalization process to achieve people's well-rounded development in the digital society.The relationship between cross-border data flows and the realization of digital development rights in developing countries is quite complex.Currently,developing countries seek to safeguard their existing digital interests through unilateral regulation to protect data sovereignty and multilateral regulation for cross-border data cooperation.However,developing countries still have to face internal conflicts between national digital development rights and individual and corporate digital development rights during the process of realizing digital development rights.They also encounter external contradictions such as developed countries interfering with developing countries'data sovereignty,developed countries squeezing the policy space of developing countries through dominant rules,and developing countries having conflicts between domestic and international rules.This article argues that balancing openness and security on digital trade platforms is the optimal solution for developing countries to realize their digital development rights.The establishment of WTO digital trade rules should inherently reflect the fundamental demands of developing countries in cross-border data flows.At the same time,given China's dual role as a digital powerhouse and a developing country,it should actively promote the realization of digital development rights in developing countries.

Legal System Governing on Water Pollution in Iran

In the present era, water contamination represents one of the considerable environmental problems. Population growth along with ever increasing industrial developments has resulted in the contamination of most of the water resources in the world, bringing about serious problems for humans and other living organisms. According to the human life on earth depends on the way different water resources are exploited, the most important way to preserve the quality of water resources is to codify appropriate regulations and standards and develop plans for proper and principled implementation of them. Therefore, it seems to be necessary to take required actions to manage water resources optimally. In this regard, one of the most significant legal tools is the law. Following a descriptive-analytic approach, the present research aims to consider legal challenges in the context of water contamination briefly. Investigations indicate that, given the limitations in water resources, in future, water contamination will raise serious problems for the country should the solutions and measures required for tackling this issue are not well incorporated into respective regulations. As such, in order to systemize the activities within this scope, it is necessary to codify a comprehensive act about different water-related topics, so as to cover all separate and sparse pieces of regulations on water. Further, acquiring help from experts when preparing the regulations with an emphasis on the inhibitory role of penalties, roles of NGOs and culture-making in the society will contribute to the successful legal protection of the quality of water resources.

Global Governance in Cyberspace: Process,Conflict and China’s Proposals

In recent years,problems such as cyber warfares,cyber espionages and cyber crimes have become global public nuisances and always challenge the authority of the sovereign states. Therefore,the governance of the derivative problems concerning the global cyberspace has become an issue of importance in the international law. To overcome these challenges,sovereign states begin to get involved in cyberspace and seek international cooperation,so as to promote the evolution of the international rule of law in cyberspace. Currently,the cyberspace is filled with contradictions and conflicts. The cyber hegemonic states monopolize basic resources for cyberspaces,and their liberalism of double standards is the best tool to maintain their centralized and dominant situations. Moreover,the differences on governance problems between different camps leads to the significant institutional supply shortage. Accordingly,as a responsible power,China should advocate the Chinese solution and wisdom so as to create the reform of global cyberspace governance system. Possible specific measures include clarifying the governance structure of sovereign state-orientation,adhering to the model of shared governance with multilateral approach and multi-party participation.

Operating Rule Classification System of Water Supply Reservoir Based on Learning Classifier System

An operating rule classification system based on learning classifier system （LCS）, which learns through credit assignment （bucket brigade algorithm, BBA） and rule discovery （genetic algorithm, GA）, is established to extract water-supply reservoir operating rules. The proposed system acquires an online identification rate of 95% for training samples and an offline rate of 85% for testing samples in a case study. The performances of the rule classification system are discussed from the rationality of the obtained rules, the impact of training samples on rule extraction, and a comparison between the rule classification system and the artificial neural network （ANN）. The results indicate that the LCS is feasible and effective for the system to obtain the reservoir supply operating rules.

Unequivocal ICT in Enhancing the Essence of Democracy and Good Governance

It is true and sooth as far as Abraham Linkan’s definition of democracy being implausible in a vast global democratic system. The definition of democracy of Abraham linkan is certainly palatable and practically realizable in those ancient times for states, then existed were smaller and nanoscopic and people could directly participate and realize the collective decisions (Abraham Linkan defamation―of the people, by the people, and for the people). In modern democracies, the Abraham Linkan’s defamation was fast losing its relevance and people were groping in the dark. The citizens were challenging in the system on its essentials/prerequisites the state in modern times not only shirking its responsibility but also getting insulated. It was/is at this juncture the dawn of ICT on the horizon made people redeem nuances of participatory democracy development rhythm of true democratic ideals ICT’s initiation in good governance heralded a new phase of participatory democracy development attended to the glorious of direct democracy. The emergency of the ICT filled the vacuum existed between govt. and citizens. It also narrowed down the gap between citizens and govt by holding out their responsibility in terms of development governance in veritably transparent manner. ICT, in other words, the net-work of information, are accessible to all decision-makers and also felicitated in decision-makers to have a direct access to the existing situation and there by strengthening the decision-making process. ICT by its inner strength restored the democratic strength to the citizenry. Thus, the main properties of ICT, such as transfrancy, participation, rule of low, efficiency and effectiveness, etc. propped up the governing entity get entrenched in good governance. Also, it opened new visas for creative discourse based on ICT’s utility in the field of planning and designing of strategies of development at all levels of governing pyramid. The ICT’s fold opportunities for both ruling and being ruled such that a citizenry could collectively constituency observe the action of ruling class as it is entailed to and in turn the government, in principal, has responsibility to focus on and positively respond to. Hence, ICT as a potential agency bridges the gap in all aspect of system yielding place for communion development. The role, ICT in a wider-democratic system and good governance, was also discussed. Conclusion is also drawn keeping in riew its futuristic perspectives and prospects.

Evaluation of the Impact of Government Policy on the Overuse of Groundwater in the Minqin Basin in China

The existing literature simply concludes that the irrational behaviors of local people and natural factors are the major reasons for overuse of groundwater. Using the OLS and ARIMA (BJ) Statistical Methods and Trend Analyses, this article finds that government policy, as measured by four proxy variables, is a very important factor that strongly influences the overuse of groundwater at the collective level. This means the government is a very important actor in the game of groundwater usage. Although these findings cannot clearly separate government effects from local effects, using a Trend Analysis, they reveal that these significant effects are strictly consistent with variations in government policy. Moreover, they show that government policy effective at the county level strongly impacts the overuse of ground-water by influencing the behavior of the local people and that policy at the operative level impacts four policy domains: population, cultivated land, water assignments and peasant income.

On the Duty of the Government to Safeguard the Right to Water

The right to water is an emerging sort of human rights aiming to protect the right to water indispensable for the survival and development of individuals. From the perspective of International Human Rights Law, the paper analyzes the standards stipulating the international obligations to safeguard the right to water, inspects the state quo of the protection of the right to water in China and demonstrates the lawful suggestions to safeguard the right to water.

Analysis of New Model of "Rule by Three Committees" and Discussion on Construction of Villagers' Self-governing Organizations in China

This paper introduces the operation model of "rule by three committees", including the members of "three committees", functional constitution of "three committees", and relationship between restriction and coordination of "three committees". By referring to the villagers' self-governing system in China, and the relevant provisions in Constitution and Village Committee Organization Law, we take into account the legitimacy of "rule by three committees". In terms of the details of system design, we perfect the new model of "rule by three committees" as follows: make the conditions of holding office stringent and ensure the quality requirements of members of "three committees"; standardize the procedures of election, and guarantee the equitable election of members of "three committees"; perfect dismissal procedure, and strengthen the supervision on members of "three committees".

Reform of the Irrigation Sector and Creation of Functional and Sustainable Irrigation Water Users Associations (AUEI) in Niger: Capitalization of the Experience of the Konni AHA

During the 1980s, as part of a policy of liberalization, following budgetary cuts linked to the implementation of structural adjustment programs, management responsibilities for AHAs were transferred from ONAHA to cooperatives concerned. Due to lack of financial resources, but also because of poor management, everywhere in Niger we are witnessing an accelerated deterioration of the irrigation infrastructure of hydro-agricultural developments. Institutional studies carried out on this situation led the State of Niger to initiate a reform of the governance of hydro-agricultural developments, by streng-thening the status of ONAHA, by creating an Association of Irrigation Water Users (AUEI) and by restructuring the old cooperatives. Indeed, this research aims to analyze the creation of functional and sustainable Irrigation Water User Associations (AUEI) in Niger in a context of reform of the irrigation sector, and based on the experience of the Konni AHA. It is based on a methodological approach which takes into account documentary research and the collection of data from 115 farmers, selected by reasoned choice and directly concerned by the management of the irrigated area. The data collected was analyzed and the results were analyzed using the systemic approach and the diagnostic process. The results show that the main mission of the AUEI is to ensure better management of water, hydraulic equipment and infrastructure on the hydro-agricultural developments of Konni. The creation of the Konni AUEI was possible thanks to massive support from the populations and authorities in the implementation process. After its establishment, the AUEI experienced a certain lethargy for some time due to the rehabilitation work of the AHA but currently it is functional and operational in terms of associative life and governance. Thus, the constraints linked to the legal system, the delay in the completion of the work, the uncertainties of access to irrigation water but also the problems linked to the change in mentality of certain ONAHA agents constitute the challenges that must be resolved in the short term for the operationalization of the Konni AUEI.