Toward inclusive list-making for trade liberalization in environmental goods to reduce carbon emissions

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC)is contemplating expanding its list of environmental goods(EG)for trade liberalization to fight climate change.In support of doing so,this study proposes that a long list that retains controversies is better for carbon emission reduction than a short common list.This study examines four mechanisms of longer lists:enlarging market scales,enriching product mixes,enhancing product sophistication,and enriching trade patterns.Using China’s emerging EG trade during the 2001-2015 period as a case study,this study compares four EG lists with different EG.The results show that:(1)a longer list reduces carbon emissions from both imports and exports,making domestic regions with different advantages have better chances of improving carbon efficiencies.(2)Product sophistication reduces the emission gap between trading partners,regardless of the length of EG lists.(3)China’s EG exports contribute to carbon reduction in leading regions,while EG imports provide laggard regions with better chances of reducing carbon emissions.These findings provide three implications for future list-making:it is important to(1)seek a long and inclusive list rather than a short common list,(2)shift the focus from environmental end-use to the technological contents of products,and(3)balance the demand of laggard regions to import and the capacity of leading regions to export.

Infrasound observations at Syowa Station,East Antarctica:Implications for detecting the surface environmental variations in the polar regions

Characteristic infrasound waves observed at Antarctic stations demonstrate physical interaction involving environmental changes in the Antarctic continent and the surrounding oceans. A Chaparraltype infrasound sensor was installed at Syowa Station （SYO; 39°E, 69°S）, East Antarctica, as one of the projects of the International Polar Year （IPY2007-2008）. Data continuously recorded during the three seasons in 2008-2010 clearly indicate a contamination of the background oceanic signals （microbaroms） with peaks between 4 and 10 s observed during a whole season. The peak amplitudes of the microbaroms have relatively lower values during austral winters, caused by a larger amount of sea-ice extending around the Lutzow-Holm Bay near SYO, with decreasing ocean wave loading effects. Micro- baroms measurements are useful tool for characterizing ocean wave climate, complementing other oceanographic and geophysical data. A continuous monitoring by infrasound sensors in the Antarctic firmly contributes to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty （CTBT） in the southern high latitude, together with the Pan-Antarctic Observations System （PAntOS） under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research （SCAR）. Detailed measurements of the infrasound waves in Antarctica, consequently, could be a new proxy for monitoring regional environmental change as well as the temporal climate variations in the polar regions.

Concept of common interests of mankind in the global environmental protection

The concept of common interests of mankind in the environmental protec-tion spurred -by the internationalized and globalized environmental problems are discussed in this paper. While making challenges for many principles and rules of international law and the traditional conception of national security, the concept does play its role in strengthening the environmental protection. However, it cannot be neglected that diflerent national interests pose an obstacle to the realization of the common interests of mankind in the envirormental protection. The article concludes that whether the concept plays its greater role in the environmental protection will depend on many factors, such as the spread of environmental awareness, the revision of the traditional conception and the balanced development of the world economy.

The emergence of global environmental awareness

An effective plan for global ecosystem management must be developed in the next 10 or 20 years. Awareness of the need has recently emerged, but still no integrated resource management system is universally accepted. A fragmented management approach has not been effective. Any successful course of action must be based on three assumptions: (1) that science can determine how ecosystems function, (2) once this is known, the social/political system will be able to protect ecosystems to the extent needed for the survival of human society, and (3) reality will take precedence over political expediency because Mother Nature cannot be fooled. This discussion focuses on the transition from awareness to taking effective action.

Global Environmental Change and National Security of China

The concept of security has been redefined since the 1990s. As one of the important factors threatening human security, global environmental change has become a new challenge to the national security and social development. The national security problems caused by global environmental change, on one hand, are closely related to the global environmental problems, and, on the other hand, are manifested in the conflicts of international affairs. The global environmental change severely challenges the future development of China. When it comes to the study on human dimensions of global environmental change in China, much more attention should be paid to issues of important environmental change that may have great impacts on the national security of China, to the scientific assessment of the vulnerabilities of the natural and socialeconomic system of China to the impacts of global environmental change, and to the active establishment of the national risk management system, in which global environmental change should be included, so as to make contribution to sustainable development and construction of harmonious society of China.

Development of a global high-resolution marine dynamic environmental forecasting system

A project entitled‘Development of a Global High-resolution Marine Dynamic Environmental Forecasting System’has been funded by‘The Program on Marine Environmental Safety Guarantee’of The National Key Research and Development Program of China.This project will accomplish its objectives through basic theoretical research,model development and expansion,and system establishment and application,with a focus on four key issues separated into nine tasks.A series of research achievements have already been obtained,including datasets,observations,theories,and model results.

A MODIS Time Series Data Based Algorithm for Mapping Forest Fire Burned Area

Burned area mapping is an essential step in the forest fire research to investigate the relationship between forest fire and cli- mate change and the effect of forest fire on carbon budgets. This study proposed an algorithm to map forest fire burned area using the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiameter （MODIS） time series data in Heilongjiang Province, China. The algorithm is divided into two steps： Firstly, the ＇core＇ pixels were extracted to represent the most possible burned pixels based on the comparison of the tem- poral change of Global Environmental Monitoring Index （GEMI）, Burned Area Index （BAI） and MODIS active fire products between pre- and post-fires. Secondly, a 15-km distance was set to extract the entire burned areas near the ＇core＇ pixels as more relaxed conditions were used to identify the fire pixels for reducing the omission error as much as possible. The algorithm comprehensively considered the thermal characteristics and the spectral change between pre- and post-fires, which are represented by the MODIS fire products and the spectral index, respectively. Tahe, Mohe and Huma counties of Heilongjiang Province, China were chosen as the study area for burned area mapping and a time series of burned maps were produced from 2000 to 2011. The results show that the algorithm can extract burned areas more accurately with the hiehest accuracy of 96.61%.

Geography Education for Sustainable Development

Increased pressure on the earth’s resources has led to what is increasingly referred to as the climate crisis.While a whole range of environmental parameters have been transformed through such pressures,the effect of human activities on the climate is symbolic of the nature of the human footprint upon our planet and makes the lack of any coherent political leadership in most countries even more alarming.The discipline of Geography has a distinct advantage in developing a more holistic understanding of global environmental challenges in that it reaches across all the sciences(including social sciences and humanities).Geographical education therefore represents an important vehicle for citizens of all ages to help them understand the complexity of the sustainability goal and what can(and should)be done to achieve a more sustainable future.In this essay,I reflect on three approaches that are available to individuals and communities towards taking the steps to sustainability.The philosophy embodied by the International Year of Global Understanding(IYGU)is suggested as a particularly valuable tool for geography educators.The activities of the International Geographical Union(IGU)offer important opportunities for geographers to learn from each other and promote best practice in geographical education.As‘the science for sustainability’,Geography has an increasingly important role to play in developing the knowledge and the skills to equip future generations with the tools to adapt to and mitigate potentially catastrophic global environmental change.

Integrating Sustainable Development into Global Institutions:Reforming the United Nations

This article will briefly outline the origins,structure and functions of United Nations Environment Program and the Commission on Sustainable Development in the context of the goals of ecologically sustainable development(ESD).Economic development,social development and environmental protection form the three interconnected parts of ESD.The achievements of the key UN environmental institutions and programs in opening up the global system to civil society,the private sector and a diversity of actors and interests,promoting the role of poverty alleviation as part of ESD through the Millennium Development Goals,and facilitating important Multilateral Environmental Agreements should be recognized.However,with these notable exceptions,organizations such as United Nations Environment Program and the Commission on Sustainable Development have become weak in scientific and technical leadership,global policy,co-ordination(inside and outside the UN) and has few achievements in the international and national implementation of obligations and standards in Global Environmental Governance-including enforcement,compliance and effectiveness.This article will outline the key reasons for this inadequacy.Attention will also be focused on the way forward through of a new United Nations Environment Organization.This will require a clarification of purpose and function(within the UN system and as part of global governance structures) as well as consideration of whether it depends on system-wide UN reform.It is recommended that medium and long term strategies for reform are necessary.

Special Issue on "Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes"

High altitude and high latitude regions on Earth are experiencing rapid changes in climate, with impacts on polar organisms and the environment. The persistent cold and sometimes inhospitable conditions create unique ecosystems and habitats for polar organisms.

The Global Educational Environment Within Global Management of Knowledge

The previous studies have outlined the major theoretical perspectives that have been developed within the global education of planning development. They have explored the application of these perspectives to the central substantive theme emerging from global educational analysis of planning organisation and behaviour, that is, the process of managerial control. This study focuses upon the global educational environment within global management of knowledge and substantive parameters set by the previous studies. It carries out this task in a number of respects. First, it reviews the various explanations that have been offered for the historical development of modern planning--both as a unique organisational form and as a distinctive educational worldview. Second, it considers various conceptions of managerial work that have evolved within educational analysis since the inception of the corporate system enters into global education societies during the early years of the 21st century. Third, it assesses the implications of empirical research on the three major levels of planning that haw： crystallised within contemporary corporate hierarchies. These are made up by the elite group of staffs and senior lecturers, and the middle strata of line workers, who are the superintendents of production. A concluding section evaluates the general contribution educational analysis has made to our understanding of the nature of managerial work.

Inviting Contributions to a Special Issue on "Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes"

Dear Colleagues, We would like to invite you to submit manuscripts to a special issue of the journal Advances in Polar Science （APS） on ＂Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes＂.

Indonesia-United States Relations: Implementation of President Joe Biden’s Environment Policy

This research aims to discuss the US environment policy implementation under President Joe Biden that likely applies Washington zero-emissions policies to Indonesia.It describes President Biden’s environment policy implementation and how it might affect both countries’relations.Climate change causes many environmental problems in many countries.Extreme changing weather phenomena are increasingly intense lately and often occur.This paper elaborates on the bilateral cooperation approach through descriptive analysis and qualitative research by conducting literature studies analysing the result.President Biden has brought the US back into the Paris Climate Agreement on January 20,2021.Noticeably,it will bring the world to gain new energy and optimism to the agendas of global climate change.It reintroduces the US to Paris Agreement as an international treaty agreed in 2015 to prevent earth’s worsening temperature increase.President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement in 2017,although the US is known as the world’s biggest carbon emitter.This study reveals the US environment policies might impact Indonesian economic trade strategies and the national environmental policy implementation,where Jakarta is seriously pursuing sustainable environment development in particular.

A long-term Global LAnd Surface Satellite(GLASS)data-set for environmental studies

Recently,five Global LAnd Surface Satellite(GLASS)products have been released:leaf area index(LAI),shortwave broadband albedo,longwave broadband emissivity,incident short radiation,and photosynthetically active radiation(PAR).The first three products cover the years 19822012(LAI)and 19812010(albedo and emissivity)at 15 km and 8-day resolutions,and the last two radiation products span the period 20082010 at 5 km and 3-h resolutions.These products have been evaluated and validated,and the preliminary results indicate that they are of higher quality and accuracy than the existing products.In particular,the first three products have much longer time series,and are therefore highly suitable for various environmental studies.This paper outlines the algorithms,product characteristics,preliminary validation results,potential applications and some examples of initial analysis of these products.

Towards Gratitude to Nature： Global Environmental Ethics for China and the World

This paper asks what should be the basis of a global environmental ethics. As Gao Shan has argued, the environmental ethics of Western philosophers such as Holmes Rolston and Paul Taylor is based on extending the notion of intrinsic value to that of objects of nature, and as such it is not very compatible with Chinese ethics. This is related to Gao＇s rejection of most--if not all--Western ＂rationalist＂ environmental ethics, a stance that I grant her for pragmatic reasons （though I remain neutral about it theoretically）. Gao argues that the Daoist notion of living in harmony with nature can instead become the basis of a Chinese environmental ethics. However, the involved Daoist conception of living in harmony with nature is, in my view, based on an aesthetic property. The paper argues that despite the appeal of the Daoist view for a Chinese environmental ethics, an aesthetic property cannot provide the basis for a global environmental ethics. The paper also considers another version of Daoist environmental ethics, which does not rely on an aesthetic notion, but I argue that it too fails as such a candidate. As an alternative, the paper considers and applies contemporary Western thinkers on gratitude （such as Robert Emmons and Elizabeth Loder）, proposing that gratitude to nature （environmental gratitude） can indeed provide the needed basis.

Plants and Global Environmental Change:A Special Issue Highlighting Younger Scientists

Humans are changing the global environment to such an extent that they are changing global climate （IPCC 2007; http：//www.ipcc.ch/）. The pace, if not the eventual extent, of this climate change may be rare in Earth＇s history, and these rapid changes in climate will have profound negative impacts on biodiversity of the planet and on the quality of human life （Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; http：llwww.maweb.orgll en/Index.aspx）. It is already widely believed that the Earth has entered a new geological period termed the Anthropocene, in recognition of the impact that humans are having on the Earth, and it is predicted that human-caused changes to Earth＇s environment and climate will likely be the foremost problems facing humans in the coming decades.

The future of global land change monitoring

Land change science co-evolves with remote sensing technology.The world has witnessed an exponential growth in Earth observation satellites since 1972,and concurrently,land change research has experienced transformative advancement.This review summarizes the major milestones in global land cover and change mapping in a chronological order,from the pioneering efforts in the 1980s to the latest innovations at present,illustrating the tremendous progress in monitoring global land change from space.The second part of the review presents a critical synopsis of the recent progress in land change research,focusing on the technical aspects of temporal trends characterization,change mapping and area estimation,as well as the applied aspects of driver attribution and the complex consequences to the Earth system and human society.The last part of the article offers insights in the strategic directions of land change monitoring,including generation of analysis ready data,application of artificial intelligence algorithms,reconstruction of historical land change records,and near-real-time land change monitoring.Land change science will continue to play a vital role in addressing a wide range of global challenges,including climate change and carbon sequestration,food security,sustainable energy transition,natural disaster relief and environmental change in conflicted societies.

Rapid development methodology of agricultural robot navigation system working in GNSS-denied environment

Robotic autonomous operating systems in global n40avigation satellite system(GNSS)-denied agricultural environments(green houses,feeding farms,and under canopy)have recently become a research hotspot.3D light detection and ranging(LiDAR)locates the robot depending on environment and has become a popular perception sensor to navigate agricultural robots.A rapid development methodology of a 3D LiDAR-based navigation system for agricultural robots is proposed in this study,which includes:(i)individual plant clustering and its location estimation method(improved Euclidean clustering algorithm);(ii)robot path planning and tracking control method(Lyapunov direct method);(iii)construction of a robot-LiDAR-plant unified virtual simulation environment(combination use of Gazebo and SolidWorks);and(vi)evaluating the accuracy of the navigation system(triple evaluation:virtual simulation test,physical simulation test,and field test).Applying the proposed methodology,a navigation system for a grape field operation robot has been developed.The virtual simulation test,physical simulation test with GNSS as ground truth,and field test with path tracer showed that the robot could travel along the planned path quickly and smoothly.The maximum and mean absolute errors of path tracking are 2.72 cm,1.02 cm;3.12 cm,1.31 cm,respectively,which meet the accuracy requirements of field operations,establishing the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.The proposed methodology has good scalability and can be implemented in a wide variety of field robot,which is promising to shorten the development cycle of agricultural robot navigation system working in GNSS-denied environment.

A time series for monitoring vegetation activity and phenology at 10-daily time steps covering large parts of South America

It is widely accepted that natural resources should only be sustainably exploited and utilized to effectively preserve our planet for future generations.To better manage the natural resources,and to better understand the closely linked Earth systems,the concept of Digital Earth has been strongly promoted since US Vice President Al Gore’s speech in 1998.One core element of Digital Earth is the use and integration of remote sensing data.Only satellite imagery can cover the entire globe repeatedly at a sufficient high-spatial resolution to map changes in land cover and land use,but also to detect more subtle changes related for instance to climate change.To uncover global change effects on vegetation activity and phenology,it is important to establish high quality time series characterizing the past situation against which the current state can be compared.With the present study we describe a time series of vegetation activity at 10-daily time steps between 1998 and 2008 covering large parts of South America at 1 km spatial resolution.Particular emphasis was put on noise removal.Only carefully filtered time series of vegetation indices can be used as a benchmark and for studying vegetation dynamics at a continental scale.Without temporal smoothing,subtle spatio-temporal patterns in vegetation composition,density and phenology would be hidden by atmospheric noise and undetected clouds.Such noise is immanent in data that have undergone solely a maximum value compositing.Within the present study,the Whittaker smoother(WS)was applied to a SPOT VGT time series.The WS balances the fidelity to the observations with the roughness of the smoothed curve.The algorithm is extremely fast,gives continuous control over smoothness with only one parameter,and interpolates automatically.The filtering efficiently removed the negatively biased noise present in the original data,while preserving the overall shape of the curves showing vegetation growth and development.Geostatistical variogram analysis revealed a significantly increased signal-to-noise ratio compared to the raw data.Analysis of the data also revealed spatially consistent key phenological markers.Extracted seasonality parameters followed a clear meridional trend.Compared to the unfiltered data,the filtered time series increased the separability of various land cover classes.It is thus expected that the data set holds great potential for environmental and vegetation related studies within the frame of Digital Earth.

The ADV/ASV AATSR aerosol retrieval algorithm:current status and presentation of a full-mission AOD dataset

An advanced along-track scanning radiometer(AATSR)global multi-year aerosol retrieval algorithm is described.Over land,the AATSR dual-view(ADV)algorithm utilizes the measured top of the atmosphere(TOA)reflectance in both the nadir and forward views to decouple the contributions of the atmosphere and the surface to retrieve aerosol properties.Over ocean,the AATSR single-view(ASV)algorithm minimizes the discrepancy between the measured and modelled TOA reflectances in one of the views to retrieve the aerosol information using an ocean reflectance model.Necessary steps to process global,multiyear aerosol information are presented.These include cloud screening,the averaging of measured reflectance,and post-processing.Limitations of the algorithms are also discussed.The main product of the aerosol retrieval is the aerosol optical depth(AOD)at visible/near-infrared wavelengths.The retrieved AOD is validated using data from the surface-based AERONET and maritime aerosol network(MAN)sun photometer networks as references.The validation shows good agreement with the reference(r=0.85,RMSE=0.09 over land;r=0.83,RMSE=0.09 at coasts and r=0.96,RMSE=0.06 over open ocean).The results of the aerosol retrievals are presented for the full AATSR mission years 2002–2012 with seasonally averaged time series for selected regions.