Eco-economic evolution, emergy evaluation and policy options for the sustainable development of Tibet

As economies and ecological support systems become more interdependent, new disciplines are needed to "bridge the gap" of understanding between societies and nature. It is now clear that neither ecology nor economics alone can address the problems of our global commons. New measures of wealth, of value, of contributions and production are needed that acknowledge the "natural capital" and "ecosystem services" provided from healthy environments. A new interface is now being recognized termed "eco-economics". It is an ambitious and necessary attempt to understand the affairs of humanity and nature as a single, interdependent system. New tools are being invested to measure wealth. services and production fairly and equitably. In this report we use systems analysis approach to study the combined ecological-economic system of Tibet We use an alternative measure of value, based on real contributions to system performance, termed EMERGY, spelt with an "M". It is an accounting unit of total contributions, direct and indirect. used in generating a product or service. It is a concept derived from understanding whole systems, their interactions and interdependence, and the resources driving and maintaining them. This broader approach will help us to investigate Tibetan resources utilization and potentialities and exchange. Emergy analysis allows comparison and incroporation of environmental costs and benefits with variables of traditional economic costs and benefits to provide a more comprehensive perspective for public policy directives. Through this research, we think: 1) China has made a great effort in making Tibet develop from a closed regional system to a more and more opened regional system which is very important to the sustainable development of Tibet. 2) The increase of economic development and population growth has a close relationship with the total emergy storage and use in transportation. Education in modern science and technology increased the shared emergy of Tibetans to modern science and technology and stimulated the process of matching material and energy imports from outside with local resources. 3) There is great potential to develop hydropower and geothermal reserves that may stimulate not only economic development but also the better use of environment. 4) The better trained population can increase the empower of Tibet eco-economic system. Future development needs all kinds of talent exchanges with the outside system to develop education. 3) Compared with the Tibet economic system, Taiwan economic system is much more competitive. GNP and emergy use are very useful functions for comparing the competitive power of different ecological economic systems.

Emergy analysis of paddy farming in Hunan Province, China： A new perspective on sustainable development of agriculture

The multi-functionality of paddy farming has become a hot issue recently. Paddy farming provides numerous ecosystem services that are crucial to human well-being. However, evaluation of the contribution of paddy farming to human well-being usually focus on its economic value, while its non-market services are usually ignored. Only evaluating the market profits or market relative benefits cannot reflect comprehensively the contribution of paddy farming to people's well-being. This will affect people's choices for or against paddy farming activities and people's opt for invest or not invest in it. A comprehensive evaluation of paddy farming can provide an important reference for the government and society to conserve the multi-functionality of paddy farming and achieve sustainable development. To this end, this paper reports a case evaluation of paddy farming in Hunan, the largest rice producing as well as rice yield province in China, and uses emergy theory to make a comprehensive evaluation for paddy farming. The emergy evaluation results of the paddy ecosystem in Hunan are as follows: in 2010, the input emergy of the paddy ecosystem in Hunan is 2.51E+22 sej and the output emergy is 6.31E+22sej. For the input emergy, the part from natural resources is 1.96E+21 sej and the part from human society is 2.32E+22sej; for the output emergy, the part from products is 2.22E+22 sej, the part from impositive externality is 4.16E+22 sej and the part from negative externality is –7.41E+20 sej. Taking the non-market outputs into consideration, the gains from the human economic society's 1 $ input in paddy farming, emergy sustainability index(ESI) and emergy profit rate are respectively 2.73 $, 3.53 and 151.31%. If the evaluation leave out the non-market output, the three indexes are only 0.96 $,1.24 and 30.67%. The research results show that non-market services of paddy farming contribute significantly to human well-being. Therefore, in order to protect the multi-functionality of paddy farming and achieve the sustainable management,the government should take reasonable measures and make incentive plans.

Emergy-based study on eco-economic system of arid and semi-arid region:a case of Gansu province,China

Taking Gansu province as a model case,this study provides an integrated analysis on the eco-economic system of arid and semi-arid region based on emergy synthesis theory. Through calculating the values of renewable emergy flow,non-renewable resources,imported emergy,exported emergy,waste emergy,and total emergy during the period of 1978-2007,the performance of Gansu eco-economic system was analyzed. The results indicated that the renewable emergy flow within the province basically remained steady state which was estimated at 2.99×1022 solar emjoules (sej) from 1978 to 2007. The imported emergy and exported emergy were estimated at 3.75×1017 sej and 2.99×1020 sej in 1978 and increased to 1.07×1022 sej and 1.44×1022 sej respectively in 2007. The nonrenewable emergy flow was estimated at 1.62×1022 sej and increased to 1.85×1023 sej,with annual growth rate of 8.7%,while the estimated total emergy was 4.58×1022 sej in 1978 and increased to 2.11×1023 sej in 2007,with annual growth rate of 5.41%. Our results indicate a deteriorate situation between economic development and environmental protection in the region. The rapid economic growth in the past thirty years was based on a great consumption of nonrenewable resource and caused continuous decrease in the capacity of sustainable development. The environmental loading ratio was 0.53 in 1978,increased to 6.06 in 2007,indicating a rapid degradation of the regional environment quality. We calculated that the actual population was 1.53 times the renewable resource population in 1978,increased to 7.06 times in 2007. During the period of 1978-2007,the emergy rose from 2.45×1015 sej/(capita·a) to 8.07×1015 sej/(capita·a). Our analysis revealed that the emergy density presented a trend of gradual increase,and then the emergy currency ratio in Gansu decreased from 7.08×1013 sej/Chinese Yuan to 7.82×1012 sej/Chinese Yuan.

A joint use of emergy evaluation, carbon footprint and economic analysis for sustainability assessment of grain system in China during 2000–2015

The rapid growth of grain yield in China accelerates a discussion on whether the grain system in China is sustainable. To answer the question, a comprehensive assessment from economic and environmental points is necessary. This study jointly used economic analysis(ECA), emergy evaluation(EME) and carbon footprint(CF) to analyze the environmental and economic sustainability of the grain production system in China based on the national statistical data during 2000–2015. Results showed that the costs of maize, wheat, rice and soybean had increased by 252-346% from 2000 to 2015, causing the lower profit of grain system in recent years. The situation resulted in a serious problem on economic sustainability of grain system in China. Meanwhile, the emergy sustainability index(ESI) of maize, wheat, rice and soybean systems were increasing during 2000–2015, and the CF on unit yield of the crops had been reduced by 10-30% in the study period. The results reflected the improved environmental sustainability of grain system in China during 2000–2015. Nevertheless, the emergy flow of industrial inputs for the crops were increased by 4-22% in the study period, and the CF from the inputs presented a growth rate of 16-23% as well during the same period. The results implied that the grain system in China was relying more on fossil-based inputs. Finally, according to the key points of cost, emergy and CF, we suggest that improving labor efficiency, advanced agricultural practices and optimizing cropping pattern will be effective ways to further improve the economic and environmental sustainability of grain system in China.

Emergy Analysis of Agro-ecosystem in Poyang Lake Area

By using emergy analysis theory and methods, we conduct quantitative analysis on the input and output of emergy, and sustainable development of agro-ecological system in Poyang Lake Area. The results show that compared with the national average, the environmental loading ratio is relatively low in this area; the net emergy yield rate is high; the sustainable development ability is strong. Finally according to the results of emergy analysis, corresponding countermeasures are put forward as follows: develop agriculture based on the existing rich natural resources; increase technological inputs; develop circular agriculture; promote sustainable agricultural development.

An emergy evaluation of the seven years’development of Qianyanzhou ecological experimental station

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Sustainable Utilization of Agricultural Land in Chengdu Metropolitan Area Based on Emergy Analysis

[Objectives]This study aimed to analyze the sustainable use of agricultural land in the Chengdu metropolitan area from 2006 to 2016.[Methods]Using Odum's emergy theory,an index system was constructed to evaluate the sustainable use of agricultural land,including total emergy input-output ratio,industrial emergy input-output ratio,environmental load index and sustainable use index of agricultural land based on emergy,to reflect the sustainable use of agricultural land in the Chengdu metropolitan area.The data base was a unified standard that was converted from various types of energy stored and flowing in the agricultural land system of the Chengdu metropolitan area,that is,emergy.[Results]From 2006 to 2016,the total emergy input-output ratio of agricultural land in the metropolitan area fluctuated and decreased,lower than the national average.The industrial emergy input-output ratio was generally in a fluctuating downward trend.The environmental load index of agricultural land in the metropolitan area was lower than the national average.However,it has been on the rise since 2012.During the corresponding period,the sustainable use index of the region also showed a downward trend.[Conclusions]The utilization rate of emergy in this area was low.The dependence of industrial emergy input-output ratio on industrial subsidiary energy and the degree of agricultural mechanization are constantly improving.The environmental resources in this area still have room for accommodation and have not been fully utilized.The sustainable use of agricultural land has been declining.

Emergy evaluation of aromatics production from methanol and naphtha

Aromatics are traditionally produced by the catalytic reforming of naphtha.However,with the demand of aromatics increasing and the reserves of petroleum resources declining,measures should be made to reduce the dependence of aromatics production on petroleum resources.Methanol-to-aromatics is proved to be an effective way to replace traditional naphtha-to-aromatics path.In order to compare the economic and environmental performance of aromatics production from naphtha and methanol,this paper carries out an emergy evaluation for each system by sorting out the simulation and literature data.Based on the emergy data collected,the emergy indices of each system are calculated.The results show that the sustainabilities of methanol-to-aromatics systems are higher than that of the naphtha-toaromatics system,indicating the advantages of aromatics production from methanol.Among the methanol-to-aromatics systems,the aromatics from biomass-methanol system has the highest sustainability,indicating that the biomass based methanol-to-aromatics system is worth promoting.The sustainability indexes of methanol-to-aromatics systems based on coal and coke oven gas are less than 1,which means unsustainable.Meanwhile,the sustainability of natural gas based system is slightly higher than 1.The economic and environmental benefits of these systems can be optimized by improving resource utilization and reducing investment costs.Furthermore,the combination of different raw materials for methanol production should be considered.

Comprehensive emergy evaluation and optimization of corn straw power generation system: a case study

Biomass energy has become an important measure to alleviate ecological environment security and energy supply security in China.Emergy accounting method is used to analyze and evaluate economy,environment,and sustainability of corn straw generation system,which includes corn planting subsystem,collection and transportation subsystem,and corn straw power generation subsystem.The key substances that need to be optimized in the system are identified by using sensitivity analysis.Based on the position of key substances in the system,emergy accounting optimization methodology is conducted.Corresponding optimization design scheme is proposed based on the '3R' (reduce,reuse,and recycle) principle of circular economy.Current study shows that emergy yield ratio,emergy investment ratio,environmental loading ratio,and emergy sustainability index of the corn straw power generation system are 3.69,2.68,1.61,and 2.29,respectively,which are better than wind power generation system and thermal power generation system.In addition,it is proposed that the fertilizer alternative plan and the transportation redesign plan can replace 50,000 tons potash and reduce equipment resources by 20% and energy resources input by 30%.Economy and sustainable development of the system is significantly improved.The optimization design method based on the '3R' principle proposed in this paper can provide a useful reference for the research in the field of resource recycling.

Energy and Emergy Analysis to Evaluate Sustainability of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants: Application to a Constructed Wetland and a Sequencing Batch Reactor

The aim of this study is to assess the sustainability of two wastewater treatment systems by energy and emergy analyses. The first system is a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) which is a concrete and electricity dependent intensive process. The second is a constructed wetland, usually considered as an extensive process. The two studied facilities have similar treatment capacity and removal efficiencies. This study sheds new light on the comparison of wastewater treatment plants. We defined a new unit, the “Functional Efficiency Index” (or FEI) to describe the energetic efficiency of the facilities, expressed in kJ per year and per kg of removed COD. The energy analysis showed that, after its construction, the constructed wetland system uses only renewable energy, in marked contrast to the SBR, totally dependent on electricity which is considered here as a non renewable. The emergy analysis showed no significant differences between the two processes, but energy and emergy indices are in favour of the constructed wetland process and thus confirm its sustainability.

Simulation Technology of Environmental Impacts by Zero-energy Residential Buildings Based on Emergy Analysis Method

This paper presents a simulation technology of environmental impact for the building. By emergy analysis method,emergy costs of building( or construction engineering) can be calculated in the life cycle. It includes the engineering cost, environmental cost and social cost of building. Through integrating GIS technology with multi-agent technology,life cycle substance and energy metabolism of building( construction engineering) can be simulated and their environmental influence can be dynamically displayed. Based on the case study of entries works‘Sunny Inside'by Xiamen University in 2013 China International Solar Decathlon Competition,we discovered the changing pattern of surrounding environmental impact from waste streams of the zero-energy building and ordinary construction. The simulation results verified and showed the Odum principles of maximum power. This paper provides a new research perspective and integration approach for the environmental impact assessment in building and construction engineering. The result will help decision-making in design and construction engineering scheme.

Agro-ecosystem Emergy Evolution and Trend in Hunan Province

Using the emergy analysis method,we conduct trend analysis of changes in the total emergy,input and output structure,various emergy indicators of agro-ecosystem in Hunan Province during the period 1999-2008.The results show that during the study period,total emergy input basically remained stable,but the emergy input structure was constantly optimized,of which the input of non-renewable industrial assistant emergy increased by 38.4%,from 4.00E +22 sej to 5.53E +22 sej,and the input of renewable organic emergy declined from 1.32E +23 sej to 1.20E + 23 sej;total emergy yield and yield efficiency of this system were promoted dramatically,and in 2008,the total emergy yield reached 1.69E +23 sej,increasing by 23.8% as against that in 1999,the net emergy yield ratio rose from 0.79 to 0.96;since the environmental loading ratio also tended to rise constantly,from 1.12 to 1.79,the sustainability index of this system also experienced the slow downward trend,from 0.71 to 0.54,always less than 1,indicating that the agriculture in Hunan Province is the high consumption-driven ecosystem in general,with obvious features of extensive development.

Sustainable Use of Agricultural Land in Zhoukou City Based on Emergy Analysis

Taking Zhoukou City in Henan Province as an example,we select the statistics during the period 2000-2009,and use emergy analysis method to research the sustainable use of agricultural land in Zhoukou City. The study results show that: ( i) The agricultural input is mainly based on resources purchase input,which accounts for more than 90% of total emergy input; the industrial energy input is to a large extent dependent on the input of chemical fertilizer and pesticide; precipitation significantly affects the input of renewable environmental resources. ( ii) The agricultural output is mainly based on farming and animal husbandry,with the proportion reaching 99% ; the proportion of fishery and forestry is too low; the agricultural output structure is relatively simple. ( iii) The use of agricultural land has achieved initial success in terms of economic sustainability,but in terms of ecological sustainability and social sustainability,it is at a low level; the sustainable use index shows the great vitality and development potential of agricultural system; unsustainability is reflected in considerable input of chemical fertilizer and pesticide,and simple agricultural output structure.

Emergy Estimation of the Main Forest Biomass in Shangri-La,Tibetan Area of Yunnan Province

[Objectives]To calculate and study the biomass emergy of main forests in Shangri-La,Tibetan area of Yunnan Province.[Methods]Four main forest biomass values of P.likiangensis and A.georgei,P.densata,Q.aquifolioides and P.yunnanensis in Shangri-La,Yunnan were determined by emergy method.[Results]The energy of the four kinds of forests was 2572252.4906×106 J,the emergy was 10767.3366×1020sej,and the economic value was 43756.8411×0.1 billion yuan.The total economic value was 41.56 times of GDP and 5494.94 times of forestry output value in 2020;the emergy storage density was 9271.7959×1010 sej/m2,and the per capita emergy reserve was 741.2202×1016 sej/person;the per capita macro value was 30.122081 million yuan,which was 875.59 times that of the per capita GNP of 34402 yuan in 2020.[Conclusions]The value of forest ecological assets was mainly distributed in P.likiangensis and A.georgei in four main forests and arborous layer in vertical layer.The value of forest biomass in Shangri-La is much higher than that of developing forestry economy,and it is a valuable and potential asset.We should strengthen the protection of forest ecological environment and maintain forest assets.

Sustainable Development of Wuhan City Based on Methods of Conventional Ecological Footprint and Emergy Ecological Footprint

This article uses the conventional ecological footprint method and its improved model of ecological footprint to analyze the state of the sustainable development of Wuhan City in 2009, the results show that the per capita ecological deficit calculated by the method of emergy ecological footprint is 3.8629 hm2, and the per capita ecological deficit calculated by the method of conventional ecological footprint is 2.0169 hm2. The results obtained by the two methods respectively show that current development of Wuhan is unsustainable. The emergy ecological footprint method introduces the energy flow to reflect the relationship between human resource demand and supply of nature to human and adopts parameters—emergy conversion rate and energy density to calculate the ecological carrying capacity data which is more accurate.

Emergy Analysis of Sustainability of Eco-economic System in Sichuan's Baisha River Valley

Using emergy analysis method,I conduct quantitative analysis of social,economic and natural systems in Sichuan's Baisha River valley during the period 2002-2006,through the establishment of indicators.I compare the emergy of Baisha River valley,with that of Xinjiang's Manas River valley and Sichuan Province,and evaluate the sustainable development conditions in Baisha River valley,in order to provide corresponding reference for the development and utilization of Baisha River valley in the future.The results show that from the perspective of emergy input of economic system,Baisha River valley is a typical ecological and economic zone with rich resources to be developed;in terms of the development of natural conditions and utilization of ecological resources,the resource utilization intensity of Baisha River valley is weak and the environmental loading ratio there is low,thus the level of emergy yield needs to be improved;the system of Baisha River valley has enormous capacity for sustainable development and good potential for development.

Emergy Evaluation of Treatment Methods for Solid Medical Waste in Bujumbura-Burundi

Introduction: Treatment of solid medical waste (SMW) is a complex task requiring the proper practices with specific treatment methods corresponding to each type of SMW during pretreatment and final treatment. This study targeted three treatment methods identified as the main used by the majority of health care facilities (HCFs) and treating a large amount of SMW. It aimed: 1) to evaluate the current practices by calculating the emergy investment and emergy costs that are required to treat one ton of SMW through the three treatment methods and 2) to evaluate and compare better technologies and provide policy suggestions for the final treatment of SMW in Burundi. Materials and Methods: This study used the emergy methodology to evaluate the relative efficiencies of three treatment methods used for to treat SMW in twelve HCFs in Bujumbura. Results and Conclusion: The total emergy input was 1.36E+20 seJ/yr, 3.54E+17 seJ/yr, and 1.681E+18 seJ/yr for low temperature incinerator, landfill and organic pit, respectively. Conclusion: Rapid improvement of organic pit by ensuring its maintenance, the gradual replacement of low temperature incinerator by high temperature incinerator with air control pollution and landfill by sanitary landfill are highly recommended by respecting its maintenance (fence, roof and monitoring evaluation) for reducing the risk.

Assessments on emergy and greenhouse gas emissions of internal combustion engine automobiles and electric automobiles in the USA

Increasing energy consumption in the transportation sector results in challenging greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and environmental problems.This paper involved integrated assessments on GHG emissions and emergy of the life cycle for the internal combustion engine(ICE)and electric automobiles in the USA over the entire assumed fifteen-year lifetime.The hotspots of GHG emissions as well as emergy indices for the major processes of automobile life cycle within the defined system boundaries have been investigated.The potential strategies for reducing GHG emissions and emergy in the life cycle of both ICE and electric automobiles were further proposed.Based on the current results,the total GHG emissions from the life cycle of ICE automobiles are 4.48 E+07 kg CO2-e which is320 times higher than that of the electric automobiles.The hotspot area of the GHG emissions from ICE and electric automobiles are operation phase and manufacturing process,respectively.Interesting results were observed that comparable total emergy of the ICE automobiles and electric automobiles have been calculated which were 1.54 E+17 and 2.20 E+17 sej,respectively.Analysis on emergy index evidenced a better environmental sustainability of electric automobiles than ICE automobiles over the life cycle due to its higher ESI.To the authors’knowledge,it is the first time to integrate the analysis of GHG emissions together with emergy in industrial area of automobile engineering.It is expected that the integration of emergy and GHG emissions analysis may provide a comprehensive perspective on eco-industrial sustainability of automobile engineering.

EMERGY analysis for sustainability evaluation of the Baiyangdian wetland ecosystem in China

t This study presents a quantitative and ecological benefit evaluation of the Baiyangdian wetland in China between the years 2000 and 2006.Methods of EMERGY analysis were applied to illustrate the wetland ecosystem,to evaluate the economic and environmental inputs and consequent yields,and to assess the sustainability of the Baiyangdian wetland.The indicators for the integrated ecological and economic system,such as EMERGY yield ratio(EYR)(7.51),EMERGY investment ratio(EIR)(4.52),environmental loading ratio(ELR)(2.92),EMERGY exchange ratio(0.41),and EMERGY sustainable indicator(ESI)(2.57)were calculated,compared,analyzed,and discussed.The non-renewable investment in Baiyangdian was greater than renewable investment,leading to the unsustainable development of the system.High EYR indicated that the Baiyangdian integrated system had created huge profits for its people,while ELR and ESI revealed that human behavior has been a heavy burden on the environment,and countermeasures should be taken by the Chinese government to relieve and resolve these problems.Potential management methods were also proposed in this paper.

南方红壤丘陵水土流失防控与循环农业模式构建及其应用(英文)

[目的]构建南方红壤丘陵水土流失防控与循环农业模式,并分析其应用效果。[方法]分析我国南方红壤山地水土流失的成因和长期治理却收效不显著的原因,提出南方丘陵水土流失区综合防控的基本思路,并在此基础上进一步分析各种模式的关键技术、经济效益、生态服务功能和固碳增汇效果。[结果]南方丘陵水土流失区综合防控的基本思路即:将水土流失防治与现代农业生产相结合,构建"果(茶)-草-畜-沼"水土流失综合防控的循环农业模式;应用效果分析表明,在南方丘陵区建立循环农业模式以防控水土流失效果显著,能同时满足生态、经济和社会效益的协调发展。[结论]该研究建立了一种适合南方红壤山地水土流失治理与农业保护性开发的有效模式,可带动山区生态恢复与乡村农业经济的可持续发展。