Trade Liberalization and Pollution: An Input–Output Study of Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Mexico

This paper examines the environmental effects associated with Mexico's participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The objective is to provide quantitative estimates of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from changes in the level and structure of production and consumption activity in Mexico following a liberalization of trade. The quantitative analysis was performed using input–output methods with fuel use modifications to account for CO₂ emissions before and after NAFTA's implementation. As a result of NAFTA, CO₂ emissions are expected to increase from the anticipated increase in the size of the Mexican economy. While total emissions increase as a result of tariff elimination, there is also a shift in the structure of production and final consumption away from those sectors that are the most C02 intensive.     

Carbon Trading with Imperfectly Observable Emissions

The Kyoto Protocol foresees emission trading but does not yet specify verification of (uncertain) emissions. This paper analyses a setting in which parties can meet their emission targets by reducing emissions, by investing in monitoring (reducing uncertainty of emissions) or by (bilaterally) trading permits. We derive the optimality conditions and carry out various numerical simulations. Our applications suggest that including uncertainty could increase compliance costs for the USA, Japan and the European Union. Central Europe and the Former Soviet Union might be able to gain from trading due to higher permit prices. Emissions trading could also lower aggregate uncertainty on emissions.     

浅议建筑物结构的加固与改造

喷射混凝土是借助喷射机械,利用压缩空气或其他动力,将按一定配合比的水泥、砂、石子及外加剂等拌和料,通过喷头喷射到受喷面上,在较短时间内凝结硬化而成型的混凝土,达到补强加固的目的。这种加固方法具有施工方便,施工速度快,不需要模板,施工成本低等特点。介绍了混凝土建筑物加固改造中目前常用的施工技术,为新、旧建筑物的加固改造提供了可供选择的几种施工方法。     

烟草杀虫剂废水治理新工艺

烟草行业生烟叶在储存中会使用一部分杀虫剂,杀虫剂废水为烟草行业较难治理的一种废水,文章根据该杀虫剂废水的特点采用最新水处理研究成果:电絮凝+分子筛交换柱+活性炭过滤,获得满意处理效果。     

Carbon information on vegetables: How does it affect the buying process?

Information on the climate impact of a food product has practically not been communicated in Germany, even though it could provide important acknowledgement of producers’ actions in low‐carbon production. So far, carbon labelling has predominantly been discussed without taking into account German consumers’ opinions (proven by empirical data) on this issue, even though involving the consumer in the considerations of a Carbon Label is essential for its success. Especially the question, if information on the product carbon footprint is a considerable factor within the search process of a purchase decision, was of special interest in this work. To answer these questions, we analysed consumers’ information‐seeking behaviour using an information display matrix (IDM) experiment with 232 participants. The IDM is a process tracing technique which allows to track the information search in a buying process. Our results show that basically the place of origin is the most important criterion for the purchase decision, followed by price and production method (conventional/organic). In contrast, the sustainability information (i.e., carbon footprint and water consumption) are at a low level of importance. Comparing two locally produced products with the help of a multinominal logistic regression‐model, it seems that the group of consumers preferring organic products is influenced in the purchase decision by the carbon footprint information. In summary it can be stated that although some people may be basically interested in carbon labelling of fresh food, the purchase decision would probably be hardly influenced by a carbon label on vegetables at present. The majority of people are more concerned about factors like origin and price so that Carbon Labelling would only be a viable option for a small group of consumers.     

江西森林碳储量空间分布特征及其价值分析

利用立木蓄积量、森林面积及森林土壤碳储量等基本监测数据,对江西省森林生态系统的碳储量和碳汇及其经济价值进行了估算。结果表明:江西省森林生态系统碳储量为1 286.37×106t,年碳汇能力为53.92×106t,其经济价值分别为3 923.429亿元和164.47亿元,江西省森林生态系统平均碳密度为147.57 t/hm2。预计江西省年2010年到2020年间森林生态系统碳汇潜力278.09×106t碳或1 020.59×106t CO2,由此产生的经济效益平均每年可达53.01亿元。同时还对江西省11个市的森林碳储量、碳汇及其经济价值进行了估算,得出了全省各市森林生态系统碳储量和空间分布特征以及各地的森林碳汇林地价格。     

基于碳价格与环境能源关联分析的中国碳交易市场研究

碳交易市场发展是当今各国高度关注的一个问题。节能减排技术落后、国际碳价格波动、话语权缺乏,导致我国碳交易市场发展受阻。运用灰色关联分析方法、供求关系理论,对价格与环境能源问题进行相关性分析;据分析结果阐析我国碳交易市场多种问题产生的深层次原因;研究中国碳交易市场的发展对策,以期为企业进行相关营销活动提供决策参考。     

徐州离低碳城市有多远

城市是低碳经济、低碳产业的重要场所,也是低碳生活、低碳社会的重要载体,城市低碳是各国低碳转型、实现可持续发展的重要方面。根据低碳概念的历史沿革、低碳城市评估体系,从经济发展、能源消耗、生态环境、科技水平、二氧化碳排放等方面论述了徐州离低碳城市有多远。并在分析徐州的产业结构和能耗特征的基础上,提出徐州低碳城市建设的具体思路。     

陕西省能源消费碳排放分析

通过分析1995—2009年陕西省三大产业能源碳排放总量及六大部门碳排放变化情况,以及该段期间内产业结构、经济规模与能源结构三大因素对能源消费碳排放的影响,从中发现,经济规模效应、产业结构效应是正向决定性因素,能源结构效应是负向决定性因素。陕西省应调整能源结构,在进一步提高天然气和电力等低碳能源在能源结构中的使用比例的同时,必须发展其他形式的能源;调整产业结构,促进低碳绿色产业发展,一方面,政府应当利用经济手段和行政手段,限制高碳产业的发展,另一方面,运用适当的财政政策引导、鼓励和扶持低碳产业的发展和绿色产品的开发,从而促进产业竞争力的提高,减轻传统产业的锁定效应。     

Sustainable development. With or without mankind?

The author challenges the conventional wisdom that the main risk to Western development is environmental degradation caused by mankind. Concern over the greenhouse effect and global warming have more to do with millenium fever than reality. There is still very little evidence to suggest that these environmental phenomena result from human activity. What we do know is that there have been major cyclical fluctuations throughout history. The author cautions against implementing ‘scientistic’ policies in the face of such doubts, just because it is trendy to do so.