Hierarchical methodological framework to improve Policy Environmental Assessment:Based on policy layer research

This study explores the current implementation challenges of the Policy Environmental Assessment(PEA),including the implementation of a far richer,more diverse(at macro level),and better understanding of PEA and integration with decision making.The results contribute to the analysis of PEA through different hierarchies of assessment.Stemming from the theory and practice of policy,a concept of PEA hierarchies is proposed including the uppermost PEA,upper-lower PEA,and lowermost PEA.Afterward,the differences of the three hierarchies are interpreted,in terms of aims,principles,processes,and methods.The evaluation of the policy environmental impacts from different lens helps solve the complexities of policies and identify opportunities for improvement of PEA.

City Network Evolution Characteristics of Smart Industry: Evidence from Yangtze River Delta, China

The dual-path model of industrial evolution and spatial progression has been widely acknowledged and incorporated into the strategic planning to promote the development of urban industries and regional collaborations.However,current research on inter-enter-prise city networks mainly focuses on the single sector of flows on all enterprise branches,such as product value chains and production factors,but neglects that of particular industry department.Built upon the new economic geography and city networks theory,this paper develops a methodological framework that focuses on the analysis of city network evolution characteristics of smart industry.Particu-larly,a conceptual model of smart industry enterprise-industry-city is proposed and then applied to a case study of smart industry in the Yangtze River Delta Region,China.Using enterprise supplier-customer data,a city network of smart industry is constructed and sub-sequently analyzed with the proposed model.Findings indicate that the smart industry network in Yangtze River Delta Region exhibits a hierarchical structure and the expansion of the network presents a small-world network characteristic.The study not only makes a meth-odological contribution for revealing the industrial and spatial evolution path of the current smart industry,but also provides empirical support for the formulation of new economic development policies focused on smart industries,demonstrating the role of city clusters as carriers of regional synergistic development.

Process Philosophical Adventures of Applied Ontology

The paper is devoted to the new sphere of applied process ontology. It first makes a short review of the recent investigations in that area. Then it stresses on the importance of applied process ontology. Next the main methodological approaches of applied process ontology are considered： the ＂top down＂ and ＂bottom up＂ approaches. It is argued about the necessity and fruitfulness to combine both ＂top down＂ and ＂bottom up＂ approaches, and not to rely on one of them only. An example is given of the important role of process ontology as general methodological framework for the building up of regional formal ontology. Finally, the idea of variable ontological categories is stressed on and argued for its fruitfulness.

Sustainable Livelihood Security in the Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone:Ecologically Secure,Economically Efficient or Socially Equitable?

Sustainable Livelihood Security(SLS)remains a rarely considered yet important issue for rural sustainability and natural resource management.Particularly in China,rural SLS research in a typical area is urgently needed,but insufficient under the background of National Rural Revitalization and Ten-year Fishing Ban of Yangtze River.Focusing on the policy-targeted inland lake area,we proposed a Livelihood Security Analysis(LSA)framework by establishing an adaptive indicator system and integrating multiple econometrical and geographical methods.This study aims to evaluate the SLS in Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone comprehensively from the three aspects of ecology,economy and society,analyze their spatial patterns,identify the main constraints,and finally give specific suggestions for improving rural sustainability management.The results showed that rural SLS in the inland great lake area tended to be vulnerable mainly due to the lagging economic efficiency and unbalanced social equality,and mediated by regional ecological characteristics.The overall SLS and Ecological Security Index(ESI)were higher in the north and lower in the south,while Economic Efficiency Index(EEI)and Social Equality Index(SEI)were at the middle level and circularly distributed around Nanchang City.The dominating factors which have greatly shaped the spatial pattern of SLS include rural per capita electricity consumption,fishery breeding area,population dependency ratio,urbanization rate,and fishery population.The obstacle degree is ranked as economic system>social system>ecological system.An outdated economy and incomplete social services are the main constraints,characterized by weak electricity consumption,limited beds in hospitals,low urbanization rate,deficient agricultural machinery power,and a small agricultural output value.Therefore,one urgent need is to activate the rural economy by reinforcing rural electric power facilities and promoting agricultural mechanization.In addition,transforming the peasants/fishermen to the non-agricultural sector should be accelerated,which will help to reduce ecological pressure,boost urban-rural integration and narrow the income gap.