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.

The Research of the Tariff Revenue Impact on China Based on APEC List of Environmental Goods

In this paper, the development conditions of the trades of merchandises among APEC countries, which were based on the APEC environmental goods are retrospected and summarized. Considering the commitments to reduce tariff rates on the 54 types of goods in 2015, the international tariff revenue of each country on this kind of goods will be influenced to different extents. This article quantifies the potential loss of each country from the perspective of the tariff revenue loss and contrasts the results, in order to offer related advice and suggestions from the standpoint of Chinese participation of tariff reduction among environmental goods.

Investigating environmental quality among G20 nations: The impacts of environmental goods and low-carbon technologies in mitigating environmental degradation

Environmental goods and low-carbon technologies have long been identified as having the potential to drive long-term economic progress without compromising environmental quality. However, their exact role in mitigating environmental degradation are yet to be unravelled. In addressing this shortfall, the extant literature relied on research funding and patent application as proxies for green technologies. Having established the weaknesses in the use of these variables as proxies for green technologies, this study explored the role of trade in environmental goods and low-carbon technologies in boosting environmental quality among G20 nation using a panel dataset from 1994 to 2018. The study employed the Method of Moment quantile regression for the model estimation and the Ridge regression, Discroll-Kraay standard error, and the Newey-West standard error estimators to test the robustness of our findings. Our findings indicate that whereas environmental goods promote environmental quality, low-carbon technologies decrease same. Also, the study found economic growth to exert an aggravating effect on environmental quality, while foreign direct investments, natural resource rents, human capital development, and renewable energy consumption exert positive influence on environmental quality. Based on the findings of the study, G20 nations are encouraged to improve green market structures to improve the trade in environmental goods and low-carbon technologies. Also the share of renewable energy sources in the overall energy basket must be improved to help improve environmental quality.

Brazilian’s Legal Framework and Water Regulation

The legal framework of water regulation can assume different characteristics according to each country’s reality.The preservation and conservation of water and ecosystems depend on rules configuration in the Constitution and legal prescriptions.This manuscript presents the Brazilian legal framework and water regulation.The analysis confirms that in the Brazilian system water is regulated as environmental resource and environmental good.From a descriptive methodology,the article explains how the Brazilian legal system works.The article also remarks on the regulation of multiple uses of water,approaching the legal regulation among industrial,agricultural,and human consumption of water.The aim of the paper is to explain normative regulation of water in Brazil,including the court’s activities in cases of discharges of sewage directly into the rivers.

Analysis on the Choice of Economic Development Mode for an Area with Good Ecological Environment——A Case Study of Economically Coordinated Region of Wuling Mountain

[Objective] The study aimed at choosing a suitable economic development mode for an area with good ecological environment. [Method] Taking the economically coordinated region of Wuling Mountain as an object, two economic development ways existing in the region, namely the traditional and low-carbon economic development mode, were compared from development prospects, policy support and so forth. [Result] Given the development prospects and policy support, it is necessary to choose low-carbon development mode in an area with good ecological environment. Moreover, developing clean energy industry and tourism industry, and changing traditional ideas are the main measures to develop low-carbon economy. [Conclusion] The research could provide references for the selection of economic development mode for an area with good ecological environment.

Evolving concepts and opportunities in soil conservation

The terrestrial landscape has changed considerably compared to that of the early 20th century when soil conservation was first institutionalized.Large portions of the land are already intensively managed,and the remainder is increasingly receiving human interventions.Previous work on soil conservation focused attention on technological innovations,particularly control and mitigation of soil erosion.However,land degradation has continued and actually accelerated in many parts of the world,due mainly to demands for continued economic development,using technologies that are highly exploitive.In many cases,this has been facilitated by highly inadequate and unsympathetic institutional,legislative,and policy environments.The paper discusses some of the new driving forces,new international programs,and new potential partners in soil conservation.Increasingly,international efforts to mitigate land degradation are shifting from studies of the biophysical processes to improving the global,national and local enabling policy environment,as well as mainstreaming of soil conservation into national and regional policies and programs.Also,increased emphasis is placed on economic instruments and international markets,such as carbon trading,and incorporation of non-market values in ecosystem investment,such as payment for ecosystem services,certification schemes,etc.The paper discusses some of the opportunities for soil conservation that accrue from these new driving forces.