In an era governed by economic crisis, deep recession and lack of funds, the perspective of sustainable development drives local government to a more focused and constant effort to adapt to their daily requirements no...In an era governed by economic crisis, deep recession and lack of funds, the perspective of sustainable development drives local government to a more focused and constant effort to adapt to their daily requirements not only in respect to the central state but also towards the growing needs of the local society. As the need for planning actions in accordance with the principles of sustainable energy remains urgent, municipalities continue to envision and to respond to their role in helping to create a better future for generations to come. Thereupon the vision of the Municipality of Hersonissos, as firstly recorded in its Business Plan for 2011-2014, was, and still is, its＇ development in an Economic, Tourist and Cultural pole by adopting and applying the basic principles of sustainable development. At the same time the Municipality＇s rigid vision, planning, and evaluation, oriented by environmental protection, highlighted the need for networking on European level as although cities are different, their problems are often common. Thus on April 18, 2011, the Municipality of Hersonissos, joined the European Union initiative ＂Covenant of Mayors＂ [1] with the common aim of the fight against climate change. This article presents the significant initiatives taken in this direction in the last decade and their results not only on economical level but also along their social impact. It also aims to point out a municipality＇s vital role in knowledge and technology diffusion within the local society as sustainable energy development can be deployed not only by the private sector but also by the public.展开更多
This paper proposes a simple low cost SIR （sustainability index for roads） that can be easily implemented by any local government that has a flexible pavement road network. The SIR includes the three pillars of sust...This paper proposes a simple low cost SIR （sustainability index for roads） that can be easily implemented by any local government that has a flexible pavement road network. The SIR includes the three pillars of sustainability, economic, social and environmental. The economic pillar is development from a new perspective of pavement deterioration from the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation＇s Pavement Management System. The new perspective is easily seen when the deterioration is plotted in three dimensions. This new exponential curve provides an equation for the return on investment in a road network, in terms of a future pavement condition index versus the annual rehabilitation budget. The environmental pillar will be developed by determining which road rehabilitation treatments cause the most environmental damage and recreating the new curve with these treatments being incrementally removed. The resulting curves will provide the annual cost of minimizing environmental damage and the loss of pavement condition index for minimizing environmental damage. The social pillar is, consultation with the community on what pavement condition index they are willing to fund, that is, balancing annual cost, environmental damage and desired pavement condition. This more efficient reporting conforms with the USA Government Accounting Standards Board requirements but not necessarily with the International Financial Reporting Standards. This new SIR reduces the current financial reporting requirement for local govemments in Queensland, Australia and can greatly improve comparability of financial reporting, where local governments calibrate the pavement deterioration factors in their Pavement Management Systems and use the newly developed regional rulebase.展开更多
This study examines the state of liveability in emerging urban centers of Ago-lwoye and Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State. The study used primary and secondary data. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were...This study examines the state of liveability in emerging urban centers of Ago-lwoye and Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State. The study used primary and secondary data. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze research questions that bother on urban liveability. Results of the analyses show that in the two urban centres the following are not in very good condition： neighborhood road quality, garbage collection, state of cleanliness, street light, state of security, pollution, water supply, drainage system, and power supply. Most of the residents are not satisfied with the state of liveability in Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo towns. Statistical test result shows among others that there is no significant variation in the level of urban dwellers＇ satisfaction with their neighbourhood condition. In order to improve urban liveability in the two urban centres, government should provide all necessary infrastructural facilities and services. While roads are to be improved and maintained, electricity and water supply should be provided. Community associations should also be encouraged. They should be more involved in activities that will improve liveability in the urban centre. They should constitute themselves as pressure groups, working on the government to improve the liveability of the urban centre.展开更多
An international consensus is emerging around the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) proposed by the Chinese government, with a growing number of countries seeing it as a way of jointly exploring new international economic...An international consensus is emerging around the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) proposed by the Chinese government, with a growing number of countries seeing it as a way of jointly exploring new international economic governance mechanisms. Meanwhile, with the crisis of neo-liberalism, economic globalization has arrived at a crossroad. In particular, incessant voices speak out against globalization, making the quest for a new way of promoting global development a major challenge. In this context, more and more political elites and scholars consider that the BRI opens up a possible new globalization path, amongst which inclusive globalization warrants exploration. On the basis of a brief analysis of the course and mechanism of global economic expansion and the limitations of neo-liberal globalization, along with the putting into practice of the BRI, this paper outlines some of the core features of inclusive globalization, i.e., inclusive growth with effective and efficient government regulation; inclusive infrastructure development; inclusive development paths chosen nationally that suit national conditions; inclusive participation; and cultural inclusiveness. Although these features are not sufficient to characterize fully inclusive globalization, they do identify some directions for future research, and provide elements of a discursive construction of the BRI.展开更多
文摘In an era governed by economic crisis, deep recession and lack of funds, the perspective of sustainable development drives local government to a more focused and constant effort to adapt to their daily requirements not only in respect to the central state but also towards the growing needs of the local society. As the need for planning actions in accordance with the principles of sustainable energy remains urgent, municipalities continue to envision and to respond to their role in helping to create a better future for generations to come. Thereupon the vision of the Municipality of Hersonissos, as firstly recorded in its Business Plan for 2011-2014, was, and still is, its＇ development in an Economic, Tourist and Cultural pole by adopting and applying the basic principles of sustainable development. At the same time the Municipality＇s rigid vision, planning, and evaluation, oriented by environmental protection, highlighted the need for networking on European level as although cities are different, their problems are often common. Thus on April 18, 2011, the Municipality of Hersonissos, joined the European Union initiative ＂Covenant of Mayors＂ [1] with the common aim of the fight against climate change. This article presents the significant initiatives taken in this direction in the last decade and their results not only on economical level but also along their social impact. It also aims to point out a municipality＇s vital role in knowledge and technology diffusion within the local society as sustainable energy development can be deployed not only by the private sector but also by the public.
文摘This paper proposes a simple low cost SIR （sustainability index for roads） that can be easily implemented by any local government that has a flexible pavement road network. The SIR includes the three pillars of sustainability, economic, social and environmental. The economic pillar is development from a new perspective of pavement deterioration from the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation＇s Pavement Management System. The new perspective is easily seen when the deterioration is plotted in three dimensions. This new exponential curve provides an equation for the return on investment in a road network, in terms of a future pavement condition index versus the annual rehabilitation budget. The environmental pillar will be developed by determining which road rehabilitation treatments cause the most environmental damage and recreating the new curve with these treatments being incrementally removed. The resulting curves will provide the annual cost of minimizing environmental damage and the loss of pavement condition index for minimizing environmental damage. The social pillar is, consultation with the community on what pavement condition index they are willing to fund, that is, balancing annual cost, environmental damage and desired pavement condition. This more efficient reporting conforms with the USA Government Accounting Standards Board requirements but not necessarily with the International Financial Reporting Standards. This new SIR reduces the current financial reporting requirement for local govemments in Queensland, Australia and can greatly improve comparability of financial reporting, where local governments calibrate the pavement deterioration factors in their Pavement Management Systems and use the newly developed regional rulebase.
文摘This study examines the state of liveability in emerging urban centers of Ago-lwoye and Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State. The study used primary and secondary data. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze research questions that bother on urban liveability. Results of the analyses show that in the two urban centres the following are not in very good condition： neighborhood road quality, garbage collection, state of cleanliness, street light, state of security, pollution, water supply, drainage system, and power supply. Most of the residents are not satisfied with the state of liveability in Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo towns. Statistical test result shows among others that there is no significant variation in the level of urban dwellers＇ satisfaction with their neighbourhood condition. In order to improve urban liveability in the two urban centres, government should provide all necessary infrastructural facilities and services. While roads are to be improved and maintained, electricity and water supply should be provided. Community associations should also be encouraged. They should be more involved in activities that will improve liveability in the urban centre. They should constitute themselves as pressure groups, working on the government to improve the liveability of the urban centre.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41530751National Social Science Foundation of China,No.17VDL008The Project of Bureau of International Cooperation of the CAS,No.131A11KYSB20170014
文摘An international consensus is emerging around the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) proposed by the Chinese government, with a growing number of countries seeing it as a way of jointly exploring new international economic governance mechanisms. Meanwhile, with the crisis of neo-liberalism, economic globalization has arrived at a crossroad. In particular, incessant voices speak out against globalization, making the quest for a new way of promoting global development a major challenge. In this context, more and more political elites and scholars consider that the BRI opens up a possible new globalization path, amongst which inclusive globalization warrants exploration. On the basis of a brief analysis of the course and mechanism of global economic expansion and the limitations of neo-liberal globalization, along with the putting into practice of the BRI, this paper outlines some of the core features of inclusive globalization, i.e., inclusive growth with effective and efficient government regulation; inclusive infrastructure development; inclusive development paths chosen nationally that suit national conditions; inclusive participation; and cultural inclusiveness. Although these features are not sufficient to characterize fully inclusive globalization, they do identify some directions for future research, and provide elements of a discursive construction of the BRI.
