Where is the future of China's biogas? Review, forecast,and policy implications

This paper discusses the history and present status of different categories of biogas production in China,most of which are classified into rural household production,agriculture-based engineering production,and industry-based engineering production.To evaluate the future biogas production of China,five models including the Hubbert model,the Weibull model,the generalized Weng model,the H-C-Z model,and the Grey model are applied to analyze and forecast the biogas production of each province and the entire country.It is proved that those models which originated from oil research can also be applied to other energy sources.The simulation results reveal that China＇s total biogas production is unlikely to keep on a fast-growing trend in the next few years,mainly due to a recent decrease in rural household production,and this greatly differs from the previous goal set by the official department.In addition,China＇s biogas production will present a more uneven pattern among regions in the future.This paper will give preliminary explanation for the regional difference of the three biogas sectors and propose some recommendations for instituting corresponding policies and strategies to promote the development of the biogas industry in China.

THE HUMAN RIGHT TO ACCESS CLEAN ENERGY1

This paper proposes the existence of a human right to access clean energy in view of trends favoring greater resortto renewable energy sources within several parallel policy contexts. The existing international framework for theprotection and promotion of human rights may be applied to support an entitlement to access energy for individualbenefi t. However, the application of human rights norms to an appropriate energy source must also be compatiblewith the contemporary sustainable development agenda. This includes balancing economic development, sustainablyusing natural resources, environmental protection and poverty alleviation. A human rights approach must also besuffi ciently receptive to similarities and differences in the energy strategies of developed and developing States. It isargued that a human right to access clean energy more accurately refl ects intergovernmental concerns for both humandevelopment and environmental sustainability. While such a right can be employed to satisfy basic human needs, enhanceliving standards, maintain good human health and alleviate poverty, it can also contribute to the effi cient useof existing natural resources, the prevention of climate change and environmental protection.

The Social Group Distinction of Nationalists and Globalists amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The primary discussion in this article is the classification of the typical reactions of social groups in various nations as nationalist and globalist.Subject to the new coronavirus pandemic,nationalists have adopted extreme national security policies,namely,“the nation’s interests prevails;”globalists have adopted moderate policies by complying with the faith of society in the recommendations of the scientific community.The disparate contrasts in values and actions between the two groups are extensively manifested in domestic disease control,attitude toward the World Health Organization,identification of the disease’s source,vaccine research,international cooperation,and social reaction.This research indicates that nationalists largely consist of conservative country leaders,“social elites,”populists,and individuals in the middle-lower class,many of whom uphold racism and extreme nationalism,and that globalists largely consist of international organizations and regional leaders,medical practitioners,intellectuals andphilanthropic entrepreneurs,the middleupper class population.This social group distinction is clarified in accordance with converse ethical value perspectives,ideologies,social group-economic interests,and even national competition positions.Regarding cultural and institutional basics,nationalists uphold neoliberalism,social Darwinism,the law of jungle,and individualism,whereas globalists advocate for social democracy and collectivistic ethnic codes.The two parties have been competing for the high moral ground during and the pandemic,thereby profoundly affecting the relationships of nations worldwide.

From Price to Gain:The Evolution of Household Income Volatility and Consumption Insurance in Urban China

This paper exploits a novel and unique opportunity to reveal the evolution of income volatility and consumption insurance from 1992 to 2014 in urban China.We found that(i)the average household experienced a downward trend in income and consumption volatility.Although the global financial crisis in 2008 caused a slight spike,it did not reverse the downward trend.(i)Households'ability to smooth income shocks improved significantly,and the consumption insurance against permanent(transitory)income shocks increased from 0.6172(0.8307)to 0.7453(0.8742)-that is,the transmission of permanent(transitory)income shocks to consumption decreased by 33.46(25.69)percent from 2004 to 2014.(ii)Welfare analysis indicates that the positive insurance effect counteracted the negative effects of lower economic growth in the 2010-2014period.Income and consumption volatility,and consumption insurance were heterogeneous across income sources,consumption categories,and various demographic characteristics,which have important implications forunderstandingChina's economictransition.

小康社会目标下的居民生活能源需求预测

从居民的基本需求着手,运用混合能源投入产出模型,预测我国在2020年全面实现小康社会条件下,由居民最终消费引起的能源直接和间接需求。结果表明,2020年我国由居民衣食住行等基本生活需求所产生的一次能源总需求将在2002年的基础上增加14.2亿t标煤;其中间接需求占86%。从能源需求结构来看,煤炭的增长速度最低,但仍然占一次能源60%以上;石油和一次电力需求增长较快,石油需求全部来自于经济系统的中间消耗,而电力需求中40%来自于直接生活能源消费。在能源效率和经济结构不变的条件下,这意味着2020年我国的一次能源需求将至少达到29.40亿t标煤,排放二氧化碳约66.55亿t。上述结果仅考虑了居民部门的最终消费;如果考虑累计资本形成和净出口贸易增长的影响,能源消费和碳排放值会更高。因此,提高能源利用效率,引导居民合理节约的消费行为,是我国可持续发展目标下的必然要求。

The China Dream and the American Dream

Since Xi Jinping invoked"The China Dream"as a key concept in November 2012,this phrase has come to dominate discussions of China’s future.This paper will examine the China dream phenomenon first by placing it in the context of debates that have been raging in Chinese civil society over the past few years.It will analyze the works of20 prominent"China dreamers"in terms of debates over the proper relationship between(1)politics and economics,(2)equality and hierarchy,(3)civilization and civility,and(4)nationalism and statism.The other main context for the China dream concept is the American dream.While it is common to dismiss the American dream as crass materialism,this essay will examine how it stresses the complementary ideals of freedom and equality.More importantly,it will examine how the American dream has been used as a critical tool to comment on problems in the United States,and relate this to examples in the PRC where the China dream is being used as a critical tool as well.

湖北省县级公立医院经济运营效率分析

目的:了解湖北省县级公立医院改革试点医院2011年-2013年经济运行状况及经营效率,发现其中存在的问题。方法:通过定性与定量、t检验与对比分析等方法,研究经济运行现状及其变化发展趋势。结果:试点医院固定资产收益率低于流动资产收益率,改革前后收益率无显著差异。业务收支在2012年扭亏为盈,但低于全国平均水平。卫生人员服务效率逐年提高,药品收入逐年下降。结论:提出了合理配置和利用卫生资源、强化医院财务风险管理制度、保障医务人员劳动价值体现、健全政府补偿机制等政策建议。

China and Africa:Friendship and Revival In the New Century

China’s emergence as a key player in Africa, the impact of its presence and its challenges to traditional Western pre-eminence in African economies are one of the hallmarks of the 21st century. Two-way trade, which stood at less than＄1 billion in 2000, has surged to nearly＄40 billion in 2006, while in the same period China’s share of

A Pragmatic Observational Feasibility Study on Integrated Treatment for Musculoskeletal Disorders：Design and Protocol

Background：Musculoskeletal disorders（MSD） comprise a wide range of conditions,associated with an enormous pain and impaired mobility,and are affecting people＇s lives and work.Management of musculoskeletal disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary team approach.Positive findings have been found in previous studies evaluating the effectiveness of complementary therapies,though little attention has been paid to evaluating of the effectiveness of integrated packages of care combining conventional and complementary approaches for musculoskeletal conditions in a National Health Service（NHS） setting.Objective：To determine the feasibility of all aspects of a pragmatic observational study designed：（1） to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of integrated treatments for MSDs in an integrated NHS hospital in the UK;（2） to determine the acceptability of the study design and research process to patients;（3） to explore patients＇ expectation and experience of receiving integrated treatments.Methods：This is an observational feasibility study,with 1-year recruitment and 1-year follow-up,conducted in Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine,University College London Hospital Trust,UK.All eligible patients with MSDs newly referred to the hospital were included in the study.Interventions are integrated packages of care（conventional and complementary） as currently provided in the hospital.SF-36 Health Survey,short form Brief Pain Inventory,Visual Analogue Scale,and modified Client Service Receipt Inventory will be assessed at 4/5 time points.Semi-structured interview/focus group will be carried out before treatment,and 1 year after commence of treatment.Discussion：We intend to conduct a pragmatic observational study of integrated medical treatment of MSDs at a public sector hospital.It will inform the design of a future trial including recruitment,retention,suitability of the outcome measures and patients experiences.

Resilient and Inclusive Prosperity within Planetary Boundaries

The current model of economic growth generated unprecedented increases in human wealth and prosperity during the 19th and 2Oth centuries. The main mechanisms have been the rapid pace of technological and social innovation, human capital accumulation, and the conversion of resources and natural capital into more valuable forms of produced capital. However, there is evidence emerging that this model may be approaching environmental limits and planetary boundaries, and that the conversion of natural capital needs to slow down rapidly and then be reversed Some commentators have asserted that in order for this to occur, we will need to stop growing altogether and, instead, seek prosperity without growth. Others argue that environmental concerns are low-priority luxuries to be contemplated once global growth has properly returned to levels observed prior to the 2008 financial crisis. A third group argues that there is no trade-off and, instead,, promotes green growth： the （politically appealing） idea is that we can simultaneously grow and address our environmental problems. This paper provides a critical perspective on this debate and suggests that asubstantial researc＇h agenda is required to come to grips with these challenges. One place to start is with the relevant metrics： measures of per-capitawealth, and, eventually, quantitative measures of prosperity, alongside a dashboard of other sustainability indicators. A public andpoliticalfocus on wealth （a stock）, and its annual changes, could realistically complement the current focus on market-based gross output as measured by GDP （a flow）. This could have important policy implications, but deeper changes to governance and business models will be required.

China’s role in scaling up energy storage investments

Accelerating the planning and development of a new power system that is more renewable energy-based is a strategic priority of achieving“dual carbon”goals(peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and becoming carbon neutral before 2060)in China.The large-scale development of energy storage technologies will address China’s flexibility challenge in the power grid,enabling the high penetration of renewable sources.This article intends to fill the existing research gap in energy storage technologies through the lens of policy and finance.Results indicate that policy uncertainties in renewable energy might undermine domestic investor confidence in energy storage technologies,while insufficient economic incentives may crowd out private sector participation.Drawing on international best practices,blended concessional finance,supported by development partners,can play a significant role in closing energy storage financing gaps in China and in countries of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).To deliver on China’s domestic and international climate commitments,this article makes three policy recommendations:(1)moving forward with a carbon pricing agenda that incentivizes energy storage investments in China;(2)tapping the potential of the domestic capital market to close financing gaps for novel energy storage technologies;(3)scaling up energy storage supply chains in BRI countries through multilateral cooperation.