We have arrived at a critical juncture when it comes to understanding the numerous ways in which trade interacts with climate change and energy(trade-climate-energy nexus).Trade remains crucial for the sustainable dev...We have arrived at a critical juncture when it comes to understanding the numerous ways in which trade interacts with climate change and energy(trade-climate-energy nexus).Trade remains crucial for the sustainable development of the world's greatest trading nation:China.After clarifying the linkages within the trade,climate change and energy nexus,this article delves into China's specific needs and interests related to trade,climate change and energy.Then it explores the ways in which trade can contribute to China's needs,to sustainable energy development and to the goals of the global climate agreement that is under negotiation.One main findings are China is a key participant in negotiations on trade liberalization of environmental technologies and services.These negotiations are in China's interests in terms of innovative industries,technological upgrading,employment and public health.China could stand up for the interests of other emerging and developing countries and serve as an example in terms of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.Beyond trade barriers issues of domestic(energy)regulation such as fossil-fuel subsidies as well as investment,competition-policy,tradefacilitation and transit issues related to clean energy need to be addressed.Building trust between relevant actors across sectors and national borders will be of the essence in order to foster long-term cooperation on technological innovation.As a way forward,different approaches towards the governance of trade and climate change will be highlighted.Besides discussing the specific aspects of Chinese participation in global trade and climate change governance,this paper aims at offering broader insights into the nexus between trade,energy and climate governance in China.展开更多
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines 17 individual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that guide the needs of practice for many professional disciplines around the world, including engineering, res...The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines 17 individual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that guide the needs of practice for many professional disciplines around the world, including engineering, research, policy, and development. The SDGs represent commitments to reduce poverty, hunger, ill health, gender inequality, environmental degradation, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation. If a typical reductionist approach is employed to address and optimize individual goals, it may lead to a failure in technological, policy, or managerial development interventions through unin- tended consequences in other goals. This study uses a systems approach to understand the fundamental dynamics between the SDGs in order to identify potential synergies and antagonisms. A conceptual system model was constructed to illustrate the causal relationships between SDGs, examine system structures using generic system archetypes, and identify leverage points to effectively influence intentional and minimize unintentional changes in the system. The structure of interactions among the SDGs reflects three archetypes of system behavior: Reinforcing Growth, Limits to Growth, and Growth and Underinvestment. The leverage points identified from the conceptual model are gender equality, sustainable management of water and sanitation, alternative resources, sustainable livelihood standards, and global partnerships. Such a conceptual system analysis of SDGs can enhance the likelihood that the development community will broaden its understanding of the potential synergistic benefits of their projects on resource management, environmental sustainability, and climate change. By linking the interactions and feedbacks of those projects with economic gains, women's empowerment, and educational equality, stakeholders can recognize holistic improvements that can be made to the quality of life of many of the world's poor.展开更多
In the global context, the relationship between human beings and nature has been discussed in various fields of study. This paper introduced three of the important challenges in this relationship, which have, thus far...In the global context, the relationship between human beings and nature has been discussed in various fields of study. This paper introduced three of the important challenges in this relationship, which have, thus far, been only partially or implicitly acknowledged in design and planning. The aim was to elucidate the key disregarded and neglected aspects in the human-nature relationship that need to be considered in different phases of the design and planning of future projects. This paper will thus inform the designers and planners about the previously overlooked but important challenges in the human-nature relationship, which must be moved to the foreground of the design and planning processes. These challenges include the definition of the term “nature”, the reciprocal effects among scales and adhering to or going beyond environmental sustainability. As the main conclusion, the paper shows how these challenges can improve the mutually supportive interaction between human beings and nature in the field of design and planning. Specifically speaking, the paper discussed how to convert the overlooked challenges in the human-nature relationship into potentials in the design and planning process. The main applied methods for this paper were a review of the related literature and the appropriate analysis.展开更多
Allelopathy was defined in 1996 by IAS (international allelopathy society) as any process involving secondary metabolites produced by plant, algae, bacteria and fungi that influences the growth and development of ag...Allelopathy was defined in 1996 by IAS (international allelopathy society) as any process involving secondary metabolites produced by plant, algae, bacteria and fungi that influences the growth and development of agricultural and biological systems. Rice allelopathy against weeds was reported since 1989, which offers an integrated weed management with substantially reduced herbicide usage. Application of allelopathic rice cultivars is thought a resources conservation and environmental friendly way of weed bio-control, and could promote the sustainable development of agriculture. Screening or evaluating the allelopathic potential rice variety is the first step. In this paper, a new bioassay method was set up by the allelopathic potential of 9 rice lines on the target weed barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli), and comparing with bioassay methods such as relay seeding in filter paper (RSF) and relay seeding in agar (RSA). The results indicated that three methods had a same tendency in evaluating the allelopathic potential of rice; there existed a significant difference among different bioassay methods, and an interaction between bioassay methods and rice lines. The method of root exudates (RE) with the highest value and a correlation efficiency of 0.98 was considered as ideal bioassay method for evaluation of allelopathic potential.展开更多
As the most desirable option for sustainable development of tourism industry, ecotourism still suffers from lack of a clear-cut and widely accepted definition, posing many risks and threats in its practices. Based on ...As the most desirable option for sustainable development of tourism industry, ecotourism still suffers from lack of a clear-cut and widely accepted definition, posing many risks and threats in its practices. Based on collection and collation of various concepts and explanations of ecotourism both at home and abroad, this paper reflects on the current connotations of ecotourism in terms of four aspects, namely, objects of ecotourism, ecotourists, nature of ecotourism as well as the relationship between ecotourism and communities. In-depth analysis was performed in an effort to revise the misinterpretation of ecotourism and provide implications for ecotourism initiatives. The main conclusions and fruits of this article include: 1) The objects of eeotourism should go beyond natural, pristine, or even only primitive natural areas to including cultural resources together with their natural context which also deserve preservation. 2) Tourism operators, compared to tourists, have more leverage and hence should shoulder more responsibilities for conservation. 3) Ecotourism should serve as a principle to guide tourism initiatives towards sustainability, rather than merely a special tour package. 4) The theoretic foundation was laid for community participation in ecotourism.展开更多
文摘We have arrived at a critical juncture when it comes to understanding the numerous ways in which trade interacts with climate change and energy(trade-climate-energy nexus).Trade remains crucial for the sustainable development of the world's greatest trading nation:China.After clarifying the linkages within the trade,climate change and energy nexus,this article delves into China's specific needs and interests related to trade,climate change and energy.Then it explores the ways in which trade can contribute to China's needs,to sustainable energy development and to the goals of the global climate agreement that is under negotiation.One main findings are China is a key participant in negotiations on trade liberalization of environmental technologies and services.These negotiations are in China's interests in terms of innovative industries,technological upgrading,employment and public health.China could stand up for the interests of other emerging and developing countries and serve as an example in terms of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.Beyond trade barriers issues of domestic(energy)regulation such as fossil-fuel subsidies as well as investment,competition-policy,tradefacilitation and transit issues related to clean energy need to be addressed.Building trust between relevant actors across sectors and national borders will be of the essence in order to foster long-term cooperation on technological innovation.As a way forward,different approaches towards the governance of trade and climate change will be highlighted.Besides discussing the specific aspects of Chinese participation in global trade and climate change governance,this paper aims at offering broader insights into the nexus between trade,energy and climate governance in China.
基金This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (1243510).
文摘The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines 17 individual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that guide the needs of practice for many professional disciplines around the world, including engineering, research, policy, and development. The SDGs represent commitments to reduce poverty, hunger, ill health, gender inequality, environmental degradation, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation. If a typical reductionist approach is employed to address and optimize individual goals, it may lead to a failure in technological, policy, or managerial development interventions through unin- tended consequences in other goals. This study uses a systems approach to understand the fundamental dynamics between the SDGs in order to identify potential synergies and antagonisms. A conceptual system model was constructed to illustrate the causal relationships between SDGs, examine system structures using generic system archetypes, and identify leverage points to effectively influence intentional and minimize unintentional changes in the system. The structure of interactions among the SDGs reflects three archetypes of system behavior: Reinforcing Growth, Limits to Growth, and Growth and Underinvestment. The leverage points identified from the conceptual model are gender equality, sustainable management of water and sanitation, alternative resources, sustainable livelihood standards, and global partnerships. Such a conceptual system analysis of SDGs can enhance the likelihood that the development community will broaden its understanding of the potential synergistic benefits of their projects on resource management, environmental sustainability, and climate change. By linking the interactions and feedbacks of those projects with economic gains, women's empowerment, and educational equality, stakeholders can recognize holistic improvements that can be made to the quality of life of many of the world's poor.
文摘In the global context, the relationship between human beings and nature has been discussed in various fields of study. This paper introduced three of the important challenges in this relationship, which have, thus far, been only partially or implicitly acknowledged in design and planning. The aim was to elucidate the key disregarded and neglected aspects in the human-nature relationship that need to be considered in different phases of the design and planning of future projects. This paper will thus inform the designers and planners about the previously overlooked but important challenges in the human-nature relationship, which must be moved to the foreground of the design and planning processes. These challenges include the definition of the term “nature”, the reciprocal effects among scales and adhering to or going beyond environmental sustainability. As the main conclusion, the paper shows how these challenges can improve the mutually supportive interaction between human beings and nature in the field of design and planning. Specifically speaking, the paper discussed how to convert the overlooked challenges in the human-nature relationship into potentials in the design and planning process. The main applied methods for this paper were a review of the related literature and the appropriate analysis.
文摘Allelopathy was defined in 1996 by IAS (international allelopathy society) as any process involving secondary metabolites produced by plant, algae, bacteria and fungi that influences the growth and development of agricultural and biological systems. Rice allelopathy against weeds was reported since 1989, which offers an integrated weed management with substantially reduced herbicide usage. Application of allelopathic rice cultivars is thought a resources conservation and environmental friendly way of weed bio-control, and could promote the sustainable development of agriculture. Screening or evaluating the allelopathic potential rice variety is the first step. In this paper, a new bioassay method was set up by the allelopathic potential of 9 rice lines on the target weed barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli), and comparing with bioassay methods such as relay seeding in filter paper (RSF) and relay seeding in agar (RSA). The results indicated that three methods had a same tendency in evaluating the allelopathic potential of rice; there existed a significant difference among different bioassay methods, and an interaction between bioassay methods and rice lines. The method of root exudates (RE) with the highest value and a correlation efficiency of 0.98 was considered as ideal bioassay method for evaluation of allelopathic potential.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No.90102013)
文摘As the most desirable option for sustainable development of tourism industry, ecotourism still suffers from lack of a clear-cut and widely accepted definition, posing many risks and threats in its practices. Based on collection and collation of various concepts and explanations of ecotourism both at home and abroad, this paper reflects on the current connotations of ecotourism in terms of four aspects, namely, objects of ecotourism, ecotourists, nature of ecotourism as well as the relationship between ecotourism and communities. In-depth analysis was performed in an effort to revise the misinterpretation of ecotourism and provide implications for ecotourism initiatives. The main conclusions and fruits of this article include: 1) The objects of eeotourism should go beyond natural, pristine, or even only primitive natural areas to including cultural resources together with their natural context which also deserve preservation. 2) Tourism operators, compared to tourists, have more leverage and hence should shoulder more responsibilities for conservation. 3) Ecotourism should serve as a principle to guide tourism initiatives towards sustainability, rather than merely a special tour package. 4) The theoretic foundation was laid for community participation in ecotourism.