Examining the global environmental impact of regional consumption activities — Part 2: Review of input-output models for the assessment of environmental impacts embodied in trade

This paper offers a detailed review of recently described single- and multi-region input-output models used to assess environmental impacts of internationally traded goods and services. It is the second part of a two-part contribution. In Part 1 [Turner, K., Lenzen, M., Wiedmann, T. and Barrett, J. in press. Examining the Global Environmental Impact of Regional Consumption Activities — Part 1: A Technical Note on Combining Input-Output and Ecological Footprint Analysis; Ecological Economics.] we describe how to enumerate the resource and pollution content of inter-regional and inter-national trade flows with the aim to illustrate an ideal accounting and modelling framework for the estimation of Ecological Footprints.A large number of such environment-economic models have been described but only in the last few years models have emerged that use a more sophisticated multi-region, multi-sector input-output framework. This has been made possible through improvements in data availability and quality as well as computability. We identify six major models that employ multi-sector, multi-region input-output analysis in order to calculate environmental impacts embodied in international trade. Results from the reviewed studies demonstrate that it is important to explicitly consider the production recipe, land and energy use as well as emissions in a multi-region, multi-sector and multi-directional trade model with global coverage and detailed sector disaggregation. Only then reliable figures for indicators of impacts embodied in trade, such as the Ecological Footprint, can be derived.     

A review of recent multi-region input-output models used for consumption-based emission and resource accounting

The interest in consumption-based emission and resource accounting has grown significantly. Many studies juxtapose consumer emissions (carbon footprint) and producer (territorial) emissions of greenhouse gases in order to demonstrate the effects of trade on the national emission budget. To this end, a respectable number of studies have been undertaken worldwide in order to estimate emissions embedded in international trade of numerous countries and world regions. Input-output approaches, and increasingly multi-region input-output (MRIO) models, are commonly chosen as they provide an appropriate methodological framework for complete carbon footprint estimates at the national and supra-national level. With increasing processing capabilities of computers and a wider availability of economic accounts, environmental accounts and trade data such models are now being implemented on a wide scale.After a brief overview of salient single-region input-output studies I provide an in-depth review of the most recent multi-region input-output models used for the purpose of consumption-based environmental accounting. The main methodological features and important results are described for around twenty studies covering the years 2007 to 2009. This is followed by a detailed review of studies dealing with uncertainty in MRIO analysis, an area which has not received a lot of attention so far. I conclude that further research is mainly needed in two areas, a) improvements in data availability and quality and b) improvements in the accuracy of MRIO modelling.     

Regional economic impact of oil spills

This article demonstrates an approach of coupling an environmental model to I-O analysis which aims to quantify the regional economic impact of an environmental accident. The model is implemented with the data of a potential oil spill interacting with the salmon aquaculture industry in Northern Norway. The production loss in salmon aquaculture and the regional income impact is computed and discussed. The approach used in this article could be a model for estimating the regional socio-economic impact of environmental factors like water and air pollution.     

电子废弃物回收处理系统环境绩效评估方法及应用

基于生命周期工具,从物质代谢效率和生态环境效益两方面建立了电子废弃物回收处理系统的环境绩效评估指标与方法,并以废弃手机为研究对象,分析现阶段我国回收处理系统的环境绩效水平及其改进潜力。结果显示,废弃手机回收处理系统在物质代谢效率指标方面表现出较好的绩效水平,但在生态环境效益方面尚存进一步优化的空间。通过情景设置开展优化分析结果表明:生产者主导回收情景在各项环境绩效指标上均略有改进;区域产业链配套情景下运输距离的减少仅对人体健康改善指标起到优化效果;鼓励部件再使用情景和先进资源化技术情景可显著提升废弃手机回收处理系统的环境绩效,前者优化效果主要表现在生态环境效益指标上,后者优化效果更均衡。     

环境信息披露机制与企业发展——以日常耐用品生产企业为例

日常耐用消费品与人们的生活息息相关,其环保程度,对大众的身体健康有着重要影响。企业通过信息披露机制反映自身关于企业污染、治理方面的信息,可反映企业产品的环保程度,有利于消费者更好地了解企业,更好地反映产品的品质信息。企业披露高质量的环境信息,有利于建立良好的社会形象,有利于发展与消费者、政府间的互信机制,有利于强化企业产品的差异化程度,增强产品市场竞争力。     

A New Matrix Theorem: Interpretation in Terms of Internal Trade Structure and Implications for Dynamic Systems

Economic systems often are described in matrix form as x = Mx. We present a new theorem for systems of this type where M is square, nonnegative and indecomposable. The theorem discloses the existence of additional economic relations that have not been discussed in the literature up to now, and gives further insight in the economic processes described by these systems. As examples of the relevance of the theorem we focus on static and dynamic closed Input-Output (I-O) models. We show that the theorem is directly relevant for I-O models formulated in terms of difference or differential equations. In the special case of the dynamic Leontief model the systems behavior is shown to depend on the properties of matrix M = A + C where A and C are the matrices of intermediate and capital coefficients, respectively. In this case, C is small relative to A and a perturbation result can be employed which leads directly to a statement on the systems eigenvalues. This immediately suggests a solution to the well-known problem of the instability of the dynamic Leontief model.     

基于价值工程理论的旅游不动产项目可行性分析研究

价值工程理论通过分析对象的功能和成本,并通过创新手段提升对象价值,＂以最低寿命周期成本可靠地实现必要功能＂。随着土地利用的功能复合化以及人类需求的多样化,旅游业与房地产业出现了在同一环境要素上功能重叠的现象,并发展了旅游不动产这一业态。文章通过简析价值工程与旅游不动产的发展,研究了价值工程原理应用于旅游不动产的着眼点,即功能、寿命周期成本和价值,阐述了价值工程理论应用于旅游不动产项目可行性分析的内容和要求。     

Assessing the Employment Impacts of Environmental and Natural Resource Policy

This paper provides an introductory guide for environmental andresource economists to methods of assessing the impact of environmentaland natural resource policy on employment. It examines five basicapproaches to evaluating the effect of a policy action on employment:1) supply and demand analysis of the affected sector; 2) partialequilibrium analysis of multiple markets; 3) fixed-price, generalequilibrium simulations (input-output (I-O) and social accounting matrix (SAM) multiplier models); 4) non-linear, general equilibriumsimulations (Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models); and 5) econometric estimation of the adjustment process, particularly timeseries analysis. The basic modeling structure and data requirementsfor each of these approaches are described. Simple examples of theirapplication to evaluation of environmental and natural resourcepolicy are developed and the relative merits and applicability of each are discussed.     

Biofuel policies and the environment: Do climate benefits warrant increased production from biofuel feedstocks?

We examine whether climate benefits warrant policies promoting biofuel production from agricultural crops when other environmental impacts are accounted for. We develop a general economic-ecological modelling framework for integrated analysis of biofuel policies. An economic model of farmers' decision making is combined with a biophysical model predicting the effects of farming practices on crop yields and relevant environmental impacts. They include GHG emissions over the life cycle, nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, and the quality of wildlife habitats. We apply our model to crop production in Finland. We find that under current biofuel production technology the case for promotion of biofuels is not as evident as has been generally thought. Only reed canary grass for biodiesel is unambiguously desirable, whereas biodiesel from rape seed and ethanol production from wheat and barley cause in most cases negative net impacts on the environment. Suggested policies in the US and the EU tend to improve slightly the environmental performance of biofuel production.     

An integrated scenario analysis for the metal coating sector in Europe

Although new paint products and technologies have been developed, the sector of paint application still contributes substantially to total volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Recent environmental legislation, especially the EU Solvent Emission Directive 1999/13/EC and its transposition into national law, coming into force in 2007, will have an important influence on the sector structure and the associated supply chain, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper summarises a comprehensive scenario analysis to explore possible future trajectories for the sector. The main focus is on paint application activities, considering in particular the consequences of new environmentally friendly products and technologies which can be used by SMEs. Four different scenarios representing possible future states of the sector are evaluated, taking into account environmental, technical and socio-economic aspects along the associated supply chain and life cycle. The scenarios allow the formulation of recommendations and guidelines for policy makers and industries. This example confirms that interdisciplinary scenario analysis is a suitable approach to investigate possible future development of an industrial sector.     

投入产出模型在规划环评中的应用探讨

本文首先介绍了适用于规划环评的两种投入产出模型,然后探讨了其在规划环境影响评价中的应用,并重点分析了其应用的技术路线,同时指出在应用时需要加以注意的几个问题.     

秸秆气化发电系统的生命周期评价研究

本文以2MW秸秆简单气化—内燃机发电系统为具体研究对象,建立了基于生命周期分析方法的数学模型和支撑数据库,对系统边界、环境影响指标、决定系统环境性的重要参数进行了讨论。同时,对秸秆气化发电系统进行了生命周期评价,全面分析了秸秆气化发电过程中不同排放物和能源消耗对环境的影响。最后,得出秸秆气化发电是一种环境友好型的能源生产方式,发展秸秆气化发电要注意对其排放物的处理等结论。     

区域配电网全寿命周期成本优化研究

为了有效控制配电网运营成本和提高效益,针对新一轮电力体制改革的深入改革,区域配电网全寿命周期成本优化已成为一个重要研究方向。本文首先借助系统动力学模型分析了配电网复杂成本构成和筛选了影响成本的关键因子,并采用了改进蒙特卡法对关键影响因子进行混合抽样,得出配电网各关键因子对区域配电网全寿命周期成本影响的综合灵敏度系数;其次,建立了以关键影响因子对配电网全寿命周期成本总影响量最小为目标的成本优化模型,以及提出了GAACS组合算法对模型进行求解;最后,选取了某省的10kV配电网区域进行了实例分析,结果可得,经济条件对配电网成本影响最大,以及技术条件差的区域降低成本能力较大。。     

系统动力学-投入产出分析整合方法的区域发展协调性研究

将资源环境价值体现在经济核算中,建立绿色国民经济核算体系,全面考虑资源环境与社会经济发展之间的相互作用和相互影响,已成为世界性的热点议题。本文根据物质平衡原理和系统整体性、相关性理论,针对区域社会经济环境复合系统的特点,提出了系统动力学—投入产出分析整合方法,用于研究区域发展协调性,将环境成本和资源价值纳入区域投入产出分析中,为构建区域绿色经济核算体系准备了方法。     

Justifying the incorporation of the materials balance principle into frontier-based eco-efficiency models

Frontier-based models are an alternative to traditional eco-efficiency ratio indicators. This paper considers two different types, environmentally adjusted production efficiency models and frontier eco-efficiency models, and tries to find justification for incorporating the materials balance principle (MBP) in them. Similar importance is attached to the economic and environmental outcomes of a production process. Like economic outcomes can be derived from inputs and outputs and respective prices, some cases allow for deriving environmental outcomes from the production function with the MBP. After an overview of attempts to incorporate environmental issues in production efficiency models and some reflections why MBP has been neglected in environmental economics and production efficiency analysis, the paper gives basic principles to incorporate the MBP in conventional production efficiency methods and shows how this adjustment leads to a more diversified diagnosis of eco-efficiency. Finally, potentialities and bottlenecks are discussed. Exploiting the MBP in production efficiency and eco-efficiency analysis will facilitate more pro-active eco-efficiency research.     

Structural Decomposition Analysis of Physical Flows in the Economy

Many environmental problems can be attributedto the extraction and emissions of physicalsubstances. Increasing our understanding of theeconomic and technological driving forcesbehind these physical flows can contribute tosolving the environmental problems related tothem. The input-output framework is a usefulsetting in which to integrate detailedinformation about economic structure andphysical flows. In this article a specificmethod in input-output analysis is reviewed,namely Structural Decomposition Analysis (SDA).It is based on comparative static analysis,which decomposes historical changes of a policyvariable into determinant effects. SDA has beenapplied, for example, to analyze the demand andtechnological driving forces of energy use,CO₂-emissions and various other pollutantsand resources. This article examines thetheoretical aspects of structuraldecomposition, in particular those concerningphysical flows and environmental issues.Furthermore, the article includes an extensivesurvey of empirical studies.     

基于主成分分析的安徽省科技投入产出水平评价研究

基于国内外对科技投入产出水平的研究,结合安徽实际情况,通过建立一套指标体系,使用因子分析法,对安徽省各地市科技投入产出水平进行了综合分析与评价。结果表明,合肥都市圈引领全省,后发地区潜力较大,皖江带城市辐射带动有待增强,对加快提升全省各市科技投入产出水平具有相当的参考作用。     

Need for speed? Exploring the relative importance of patents and utility models among German firms

Despite the wide use of two-tiered patent systems (patents and utility models (UMs)), there is little empirical evidence about how often UMs are actually used, what kind of firms use them to protect their intellectual property, and how firms rank them relative to patents. We offer such an analysis using data from Germany. We find that larger firms are more likely to use both protection methods. Moreover, a short life cycle of products and services is associated with an increased likelihood to use UMs. The features and functioning of the German UM system are of broader interest because it has been a benchmark for several second tier patent protection systems around the world.     

电动汽车的全寿命周期环境影响分析

本文以全寿命周期理论为基础,对电动汽车在全寿命周期过程内对环境造成的影响进行了全面分析,并将电动汽车与燃油汽车对环境造成的影响进行比较。结果表明,电动汽车在全寿命周期过程内对环境造成的污染小于内燃汽车,在可持续发展的理念下,政府应大力推动电动汽车产业的发展。