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Abstract Mining as a part of anthroposphere is one of the main activities for the world economy and creating social welfare. However, such activities entail the damages to the four other spheres of the environment including atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. These negative effects along with some of the socio-economic impacts of mining activities threaten access to sustainable development (SD) objectives. Nevertheless, the impact assessment on SD indexes is important for keeping mining activities in line with the principles of SD. The present study was conducted to develop a generic procedure for impact assessment of mining activities on SD indexes. To achieve this goal, by taking advantages of two dimensional (2D) assessment matrix and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making techniques, a hybrid approach for assessing the impacts of mining activities on the criteria related to SD indexes was proposed. Fourteen SD criteria including eight environmental, three social and three economic criteria were suggested for this purpose. Compared to other similar studies, the proposed approach is preferred because of its specific impacting factors for each mining project and considering the relative weight of each impacting factor on 2D assessment matrix. The proposed approach was verified in two iron ore mines in Iran. The results showed that the relative score of overall impacts of mining activities on SD indexes in these two mines is 38% and 46%, which indicate the medium severity level of overall impacts in these two mines. Therefore, the proposed approach can be used as a reliable decision support system to evaluate the impacts of mining activities on SD indexes and determine the severity level of impacts on each SD criterion. Graphical abstract Image 103742 Highlights • A hybrid sustainable development (SD) assessment matrix was developed. • The impacts of mining activities on SD indexes were evaluated. • This approach is effective in evaluating the status of SD in a mining region. • This approach is responsible for determining the priorities for corrective actions. • The outcomes of the matrix can be useful for mine closure and reclamation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel bio-fertilizer technology that utilizing paddy rice residues (bran and husk) through composting was assessed in the context of life cycle assessment application to circular bio-economy. The bio-fertilizer can recycle the nutrients in residues to replace synthetic fertilizer within the rice production system. To evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of this circular rice production system, a hybrid life cycle assessment model was developed to estimate social-economic impact. The model combined the multi-regional input-output database (Exiobase), with engineering process data of conventional and circular rice production systems from the Agrocycle project. The gross value added and employment in each system were compared at functional unit and sectoral level. The results indicated the efficiency of fertilizer application has a significant effect on social-economic impacts. The circular system has the potential to increase the gross value added and employment in conventional rice production, but the circular rice system could not improve both economic and social impacts at the same time. The results indicated the circular system did not necessarily achieve more positive social-economic impacts than the convention linear system. Considering the circularity and efficient use of resources, the bio-fertilizer technology should not be dismissed. To derive better social-economic performance from the circular rice supply chain, further developments are required, such as technology development to reduce unit production cost and infrastructure development to support bio-fertilizer production. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The first hybrid life cycle assessment model for rice production system. • Gross value added and employment of conventional and circular rice supply chain were evaluated. • Gross value added and employment opportunity reallocated from fossil fuel based sector to bio-economy based sector. • The total positive social-economic impacts of the circular rice system are not necessarily more than for the conventional rice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The textile/apparel industry is of great importance to the economy in terms of trade, employment, investment and revenue all over the world. This sector is however characterised by substantial losses, due to production excesses on the one hand, and the "throw away" culture on the other. This state of affairs suggests that textile recycling is needed. Apart from the environmental and ecological advantages which can be brought about by the re-use and recycling of textiles, there are many benefits of a socio-economic nature. This paper analyses current trends on textile recycling, the barriers impeding greater recycling, and outlines the socio-economic advantages of moving towards a circular economy. Some examples of on-going initiatives are discussed, together with some of the measures that may be used to further reduce the current waste deriving from the apparel sector. Graphical abstract Image 1084 Highlights • The apparel industry is economically important all over the world. • Production excesses lead to losses, so textile recycling is needed. • There are socio-economic, environmental and ecological advantages brought about by recycling of textiles. • There are measures that may be used to reduce the current waste deriving from the apparel sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Guangdong is one of China's fastest developing provinces, and thus faces the challenge of reducing CO 2 emissions whilst fostering economic growth. In order to advance the goal of developing a low-carbon economy in China, this study explored influencing factors, change trends, and reduction potential in relation to CO 2 emissions in Guangdong Province using a provincial dataset covering the period 1995 to 2014. We used extended STIRPAT (stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology) model and the technique of ridge regression in order to identify key influencing factors behind Guangdong's CO 2 emissions. We also forecasted emission trends and estimated reduction potential in the period 2015–2030. Our empirical results indicate that economic development, population growth, urbanization, fixed asset investment, and industrialization level all positively affected CO 2 emissions during the period studied, while the impacts of energy consumption structure and technology progress were found to be negative. Scenario simulations reveal that the aggregate CO 2 emissions of Guangdong Province will increase continuously up to 2030 under all of the twenty scenarios developed and tested in this study; despite this, we argue that the potential for emission reduction remains large. An optimal scenario was identified after cross-sectional comparison. Our analysis casts new light on the importance of exploring socioeconomic determinants and reduction potential in relation to emissions, in order to plan for rapidly developing regions like Guangdong. The empirical findings have significant implications for the Chinese government in implementing policy measures in order to promote low-carbon development. Highlights • The influencing factors, change trends and reduction potential of CO 2 emissions in Guangdong are explored. • Extended STIRPAT model, ridge regression and scenarios analysis are utilized. • Economic growth, population, urbanization, fix asset investment and industrialization positively affected CO 2 emissions. • Technology and energy consumption structure have a negative impact on CO 2 emissions. • An optimal scenario to promote low-carbon strategy for Guangdong government is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract While human socioeconomic activity leads to climate change, the latter also affects the former; socioeconomic and climate systems have considerable interactions. Some studies have looked at the effects of climate change on labor productivity and gross domestic product, yet they have not considered the interaction between socioeconomic and climate systems. This study therefore examined that aspect as well as the economic impact of climate-change-induced labor productivity change. Business-as-usual and two emissions reduction scenarios—2°C and Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5—were adopted. Data analysis employed a computable general equilibrium model and a simple climate model. The results show that global economic impacts of climate-change-induced labor productivity change have not been large. A negative effect on economic activities was found when the relationship between climate change and labor productivity was considered in the economic model. Although such impacts were larger in the business-as-usual scenario, that was not the case in the 2 °C scenario. The results suggest that greater levels of climate change are in accordance with greater socioeconomic impact at the global level. In particular, impact on high-temperature regions was found to be considerable. Interestingly, not all regions experienced economic loss from climate change. Some in the low- to medium-temperature zones received a positive economic effect because of comparative advantage caused by differences in labor productivity changes among regions. The coupled modeling scheme ultimately was effective in evaluating the interaction. Expanded assessment of climate change, mitigation, and adaptation will aid further understanding of the interaction of climate change and socioeconomic activities. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Economic impact of climate-change-induced labor productivity change was assessed. • A model considering interaction between human and climate systems was applied. • The model considered the relationship between labor productivity and temperature. • The global economic impact owing to labor productivity change was found to be low. • Negative impacts were large for hot regions, though some received positive impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Better management practices (BMPs) for shrimp farming are a standardized set of farming practices to ensure the environmental and financial sustainability of shrimp farming systems. Uniform implementation of the BMPs poses a challenge if most of the shrimp farms in a given region are small (<2 ha). The adoption of BMPs and the associated economics were studied in two districts of Andhra Pradesh, the state that leads India's shrimp production. The overall rate of adoption was approximately 73%. Using factor analysis, all the partly adopted BMPs were categorized into six thematic factors: optimized input supply, improved management practices, routine maintenance, social responsibility, group approach, and culture-system-related and other practices. The ordinary least square regression model explained the factors that influenced the decision to adopt a given practice. These factors included key socio-economic variables such as age, education, and membership of farmers associations. Partial budget analysis revealed that adopting all the recommended BMPs in full would decrease the net returns from each crop by 16.6%. Although adopting the BMPs is voluntary, the practices crucial to the success of a crop were adopted by all the farmers (almost as if it were mandatory to adopt them), whereas those that involved significant costs were left out. Although small farmers can be persuaded to adopt the BMPs through awareness programmes, upgrading their holdings to a size at which a standardized farming system is feasible needs substantial investment. The governments of shrimp-exporting nations should improve their regulatory structure to embrace an inclusive governance model involving all the key actors in the value chain to make the small scale shrimp farming sustainable. Highlights • Farm level adoption of Better Management Practices for sustainable shrimp farming and the associated economics were studied in detail. • Factors influencing the adoption of BMPs were found. • Institutional regulatory framework of shrimp farming was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Some wastes are illegally dumped on public/private areas, causing several aesthetic, environmental, economic and social negative impacts and representing a public hazard. These sites need to be treated and managed and this task is often a responsibility of municipalities, representing high costs. However, there is a lack of strategies for the municipal management of these degraded areas that minimize costs, restore the ecological value of the area and eliminate the public hazard. This work proposes a conceptual model for the management of illegal dumping degraded areas by municipal services, based on a social life cycle assessment (SLCA). The model proposed is an open-participatory management tool which supplies the information needed for the waste management strategy for illegal waste deposit sites. Methods to evaluate and apply SLCA in this context are scarce. Therefore, SLCA is presented as a tool that can be applied to organisations in strategic analysis and structuring complex decision-making processes in order to identify optimisation potentials. It combines an environmental and a socio-economic assessment, contributing to the full assessment of products and services within the context of sustainable development. The framework intends to promote the improvement of social conditions and the socio-economic performance of a product throughout its life cycle for all the stakeholders involved within the context of sustainable development. Illegal deposits sites of Construction and Demolition Wastes (CDW) in municipalities are used as a case study for model implementation. The outputs of this model are: i) understanding the real situation of the illegally deposited wastes; ii) management practices comparing and integrating environmental, social, and economic objectives; iii) open-participatory management; iv) orientations to strategy definition; v) use of the life-cycle product principle contributing to a circular economy; and vi) assisting with municipalities performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper deals with the geographically uneven distribution of urban sustainability experiments. It focuses on largely neglected demographic, socio-economic, and socio-cultural characteristics to explain where and why experiments are likely to emerge — or not. In doing so, it presents the first quantitative study to examine a systematic relationship between the incidence of experiments and neighbourhood-level indicators. Theoretically informed by transitions studies and urban geography, the study draws on unique data from an urban agriculture initiative consisting of nearly two thousand individual projects across metropolitan London. Applying spatial statistical analyses, its results suggest that, on the one hand, gentrifying and, on the other hand, income-deprived neighbourhoods provide distinct urban milieux in which initiatives emerge disproportionately often. In contrast, already gentrified or otherwise advantaged urban neighbourhoods are found to have a disproportionately low number of projects. The paper discusses the socio-spatially variegating roles of experiments and identifies implications of these findings for our theoretical understanding of the emergence of sustainability experiments, their interrelationship with differing socio-economic and cultural contexts, and their expected significance for wider societal sustainability transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new generation of bike-sharing services is emerging in China. With this service, bikes can be unlocked and paid by using a smartphone and then picked up and left anywhere at users' convenience. The unprecedented development of dockless bike-sharing services results in considerable socioeconomic and environmental benefits but also creates new urban issues. One of the most severe issues is users' inappropriate parking behaviour. To solve this problem, electric fence (or geo-fence) policy and technology have been introduced in China to guide users to park bikes in designated zones. In this paper, we first propose a methodological framework to support electric fence planning for dockless bike-sharing services. We then apply our framework in a case study of Shanghai using a big dataset of bike trips. Results show that when the number of planned electric fences is 7,500, our electric fence plan can cover 91.8% of total parking demand. In addition, our plan can ensure that at least 95.8% of all bikes can be docked at one of planned electric fences and can help efficiently and accurately determine suitable locations for setting up planned electric fences. Highlights • We discuss electric fence (geo-fence) policy and technology used to regulate inappropriate parking behaviour. • We propose a methodological framework to support electric fence planning. • We apply our methods in a case study of Shanghai and present the results in six scenarios. • We adopt a big data approach to support our analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract How to protect the Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) has become a practical problem to be solved due to its number increasing rapidly. To promote the industrial integration development (IID) in IAHS sites was an essential measure regarded widely. This paper first reviewed IID theories, and then analyzed resources characteristics in IAHS sites and IAHS conservation requirements. Then based on these aspects, an IID theoretical framework was built for IAHS sites. In the theoretical framework, the definition and connotation and the principles that IID should abide by were proposed first, and then an implemented procedure of IID was built. The implemented procedure drew an IID route for IAHS sites, which describes the key indexes of assessment on the IID level, how to analyze resources characteristics, which resource types can be used, how to achieve industrial integration, how to organize operating entities of industries and how to balance benefits of stakeholders. The theory indicated the distinctiveness and key aspects of IID in IAHS sites and suggested how to promote the IID in IAHS sites and which themes are research priorities. Highlights • Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) conservation is a crucial work for IAHS sites. • Promoting Industrial Integration Development (IID) in IAHS sites is an essential protective measure. • IID in IAHS sites is restrained by conservation conditions but also has many resources advantages. • This paper proposes a theoretic framework of IID in IAHS sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract China's recent rapid socioeconomic development has caused its land use patterns to evolve rapidly. Land use changes are significantly influencing carbon emissions in China. Thus, assessing carbon emissions from land use change patterns is significant for sustainable socioeconomic and ecological development. This study applied a geographic information system and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate provincial-level carbon emission efficiency in China during 1999–2014. The results indicate that China's total carbon emissions and carbon sequestration from land use showed annual rising trends but with an increasing difference in growth. At provincial level, the highest provincial emissions were 3–4 times greater than the lowest. In addition, carbon sources increased 20 times faster than carbon sinks. The contribution of carbon emissions from construction land to total carbon emissions was greater than 90%, also, the contribution of carbon sinks from forest land to total carbon sinks was greater than 90%; Carbon emissions were most intensive in Northeast China, and they gradually decreased in a radiating pattern to the north, west, and south. Among 31 provinces, only Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Heilongjiang showed effective reductions in carbon emissions. The spatial disparities in carbon emissions were likely due to differences in technological efficiency and scale of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The socioeconomic and environmental impacts of informal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Ghana are assessed in this paper. The paper includes a case study of an informal ASM-affected community located in the Western Region of Ghana. A two-phase mixed-method approach consisting of literature reviews, questionnaires, interviews, and water quality assessments was employed. The informal ASM was found to be a significant source of livelihood for many rural people who have few employment alternatives. However, it was observed to promote truancy, child labor, teenage pregnancy, and environmental degradation. Water quality was significantly affected by turbidity, followed by manganese and iron, leading to a water quality index at least 500% higher than the upper limit for potability. The authors describe economic, political, social, regulatory, and technological factors as major drivers for the informal ASM. Formalization of the informal ASM in Ghana could minimize the socioeconomic impacts and ensure environmental performance. Highlights • Informal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a major source of livelihood. • Informal ASM poses significant threat to health, safety, security, and the environment. • Economic, political, social, regulatory, and technological factors drive informal ASM. • Turbidity is the major water quality issue of ASM-affected waters in Ghana. • Measures to ensure sustainability and environmental performance of ASM are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are increasingly challenged to improve their competitiveness. Performance indicators stand as an important element to interpret the success of the policy regime adopted by the municipality. Cities with a set of superior economic, social and environmental indicators have the potential to present better living conditions for their inhabitants. In this context, the aim of this research is to analyze whether the indicators published by Brazilian cities are aligned with the approach of a smart or sustainable city. The research used a set of 3150 data points regarding the performance of these cities. It analyzed the performance of the 150 best cities, divided into three groups of interest identified as small cities, medium-sized cities and big cities, on a set of 21 indicators. The set of identified indicators shows the attention of the cities to socioeconomic and information and communication technologies issues, thus revealing that Brazilian city managers are more interested in positioning their cities as smart than sustainable. Analysis of the general indicators of the cities, supported by the number of inhabitants, indicated that big cities present superior performance in relation to medium-sized cities, and that the latter perform better in relation to the small cities. However, small cities in the individualized analysis of social indicators present a better-performing set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite much attention has been focused on the importance of green entrepreneurial orientation, its impacts on environmental and financial performance remains unclear. Drawing on dynamic capability theory, we hypothesized that green entrepreneurial orientation has positive influences on two types of firm performance. The relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance is moderated by green technology dynamism and knowledge transfer and integration. We tested the research hypotheses using data from 264 Chinese firms. The results indicate that green entrepreneurial orientation has positive influences on both environmental and financial performance. In addition, green technology dynamism only negatively moderates the relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and environmental performance, while knowledge transfer and integration positively moderates the relationships between green entrepreneurial orientation and environmental and financial performance. This study enhances our understanding on green entrepreneurial orientation, described as a dynamic capability, can exploit new ideas and encourage innovativeness, show a propensity to catch potential opportunities, and take risks in transforming the social economy into the social-ecological economy. This study provides suggestions for firms to achieve competitive advantages under conditions of uncertainty and for effective knowledge transfer and integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global water crisis has become the third biggest threat to the world, how to deal with water-risk becomes essential for enterprises. Water disclosure is an important means for enterprises to convey information about water management and water risk to external stakeholders. Based on signaling theory and legitimacy theory, this study examines the impact of water disclosure on corporate risk-taking and the moderating effect of organizational legitimacy. The study chooses 334 listed companies in Chinese high water-risk industries and selects 2010 to 2015 as the water disclosure observation period. The results show that water disclosure is negatively related to corporate risk-taking, and the relationship between the two varies with the difference in property rights and the relative level of water information disclosure. A further study finds that, organizational legitimacy plays a significant moderating role on the impact of water disclosure on corporate risk-taking. The study reveals the impact mechanism of water disclosure on corporate risk-taking, will cause more effective water disclosure and water management that is beneficial to the continued development of enterprises and entire social economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution and its health risks to human beings have been becoming increasingly serious in China, and the health status of the individuals is not only affected by their environment but also by their own characteristics and socio-economic status. Based on the survey data of China Family Panel Studies (2014), three hierarchical linear models at three levels of individual, family, and community were developed to investigate the influencing factors of individual health status. The results indicate that: (1) there exists significant difference among individual health status, of which 16% and 9.11% are caused by the family and community levels, respectively; (2) the average health status of men is better than that of women by 6.95%. As for the difference in health effects produced by gender, total household income can reduce this difference; (3) age has significant negative health effects, while the level of education has positive effect on individual health status; and (4) the health effects of pollution is mainly reflected by its interaction with gender; in particular, when men and women face the same level of pollution exposure, men are more susceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial structures in China's resource-based cities are unlikely to materially change in the short term, and the large quantities of air pollutants emitted by residents' energy consumption cause serious air pollution. It is therefore urgently required to frame policies that can be adopted to realize the sustainable development of a social economy under the constraint of atmospheric environment in China's resource-based cities. In this paper, we develop a dynamic optimization model by using input–output analysis with gross regional product (GRP) maximization as the objective function. This model contains three submodels: the socioeconomic submodel, atmo-environmental control submodel, and energy submodel. The model is applied to Tangshan City, a typical resource-based industrial city, to conduct a dynamic simulation with 13 terms from 2013 to 2025 and based on the data in 2012. The goal for the model operation is to realize the optimal development of a social economy under the restrain of certain emission levels of air pollutants. This goal is achieved by introducing a comprehensive policy that includes a residential clean energy promotion policy and an industry emission reduction policy, and industrial restructuring also plays a role by industrial subsidies. The simulation results demonstrate that sulfur dioxide ( S O 2 ) and nitrogen oxides ( N O x ) can be reduced by 53% and 45%, respectively, in Tangshan City in 2025 compared with their values in 2012 with an annual GRP growth rate of 6.2%. The total output of the clean energy in the simulation period is 41.4 million tons of standard coal. The goal of improving the atmospheric environment and sustainable development of social economies in resource-based cities can be achieved by coordinating the relationship among economic development, atmospheric environmental protection, and energy consumption through a dynamic optimization model with a comprehensive policy and industrial restructuring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops an integrated model for dynamically predicting the energy potential of straw resources and assessing regional energy, environmental, and socioeconomic benefits of straw utilization for energy production. Jilin Province, China is taken as an empirical study area. The quantity of straw resources is estimated by principal component analysis and autoregressive integrated moving average model considering panel data of six influential factors and grain yield. The regional energy, environmental, and socioeconomic benefits of straw utilization through three bioenergy conversion technologies (direct-combustion power generation, briquette fuel and cellulosic fuel ethanol) are quantitatively evaluated referring to Global Bioenergy Partnership's sustainability indicators. The results indicate that the quantity of straw available for energy production has continuous rising trend spanning 15 years (2016–2030) and could amount to 47.10 million t (Mt) by 2030. According to local government planning within 15 years, three straw-energy industries could contribute to a net profit of 2.2 billion USD. The accumulative mitigation amount of greenhouse gases, SO 2 , NO x and PM 2.5 is 700.25 Mt, 3.99 Mt, 2.05 Mt and 3.94 Mt, respectively in contrast to fossil fuels burning and open-burning of straw. In total 166.05 thousand employments could be created. The methods and results presented are expected to provide decision makers with guidance for regional development of bioenergy industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan has achieved the decoupling of economic growth from air-pollutant emissions since the rapid decrease in air-pollutant emissions in the 1970s and the further-abatement period. Air-pollutant emissions also decreased in China recently. We analyzed the factors driving the changes in air-pollutant emission, which enabled us to identify each factor's contribution and compare the further-abatement period in Japan with the primary reduction stage in China. This study performed the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index analysis to decompose the industrial-emission changes (SO 2 and NO x ) in Japan and China into the socioeconomic factors that drive these changes. Results showed that changes in these factors, especially energy intensity and economic level, contributed differently to the emission reduction in Japan and China because the two countries differed in emission-reduction periods. The decline in emission coefficient, measured by emissions per unit of energy consumption, was the most important contributor to emission reduction in Japan. The other factors did not exert considerable influence. However, energy intensity decrease in China significantly contributed to emission reduction besides emission coefficient, and economic growth had a substantial negative impact on emission reduction. Differences also appeared in contributions from the industrial and economic structure between the two countries. Some factors may have reached their limitation after the rapid reduction period and thus contributed less significantly in the further-abatement period. A tendency toward a similar condition to Japan was also observed in some factorial contributions in China. From a sectoral perspective, emission change was distributed evenly among sectors in Japan than in China. Based on the comparison between the two countries and the “new normal” that China is experiencing, we provided insights for China for further abating industrial air-pollutant emissions in succeeding years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviewed the prospects for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) development and promotion in West Africa as well as lessons learnt and challenges with a focus on climate change and variability. It was evident from the literature that West Africa is vulnerable to climate change and variability, on account of its socio-economic and physical characteristics. As climate change and variability persists, the region's quest to use agriculture as the mainstream opportunity to deliver on set targets of the sustainable development goals will be strongly challenged without appropriate interventions. Adopting CSA seems to be a suitable strategy to achieving food security while also mitigating and adapting to climate-related risks. Among numerous CSA technologies, the review found (1) agroforestry (farmer-managed natural regenerations), soil and water conservation technologies (zai, half-moon, tie/contour ridges, conservation agriculture) and (3) climate information services as highly valued promising options for climate change adaptation and risk management in West Africa. In addition, institutional settings at the community, national and regional levels such as the establishment of multi-stakeholder innovation platforms, national science policy dialogue platforms on CSA in parts of West Africa and the formulation of the West Africa CSA Alliance were found to be crucial in promoting capacity development and awareness of CSA technologies and innovations in the region. The review found that CSA still faces a number of challenges, including: lack of clear conceptual understanding, limited enabling policy and financing. The prospects of CSA in West Africa hinge on the capacities of farming households and the region's national institutions to understand the environmental, economic and social challenges in the context of climate change, and consequently self-mobilize to develop and implement responsive policies at appropriate scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an inexact multi-objective optimization model integrated with ecosystem service value was developed for supporting sustainable land-use management in Took Mu Qinqi in the northeast of Inner Mongolia Province, China. It was an attempt to incorporate ecosystem service evaluation model within a general modeling framework in typical semi-arid region. The ecosystem service value was modified according to the development of eco-environment and social economy in Took Mu Qinqi based on the study of land ecosystem service value in China. The modified ecosystem service value provided input parameters for the optimization model. The results showed that the ecosystem service value of grassland was the highest among the six land-use categories, with about 97% and 83% of the total value for East and West Took Mu Qinqi, respectively. It indicated that grassland played an important role in ecosystem service. The results also showed that the total economic benefit produced by the optimal land use pattern increased by [11.5, 12.6], [5.66, 6.36] × 10 12 RMB ¥ compared with the current land-use pattern for East, West Took Mu Qinqi, respectively. The total ecosystem service value produced by the optimal land-use pattern also increased by [5.9, 9.1], [3.4, 4.5] × 10 12 RMB ¥ compared with that produced by the current land-use pattern for East, West Took Mu Qinqi, respectively. It indicated that the optimal land-use pattern generated by the multi-objective model was better than the current land-use pattern either from the point of economic benefit or from the point of ecological benefit. The optimization model of land-use structure based on ecosystem service value could satisfy the social, economical, and environmental development, which provided a new way to solve the key technical problem in land-use planning in typical semi-arid region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research contributes to the literature on the management of firm–local community relationships in polluting industrial agglomerations. Taking as reference a previous quantitative study on residents' perceptions of economic benefits and risk in the vicinity of two Spanish petrochemical complexes (Castellón and Tarragona), the aim of this paper is to analyse how companies in the two areas have built and manage, individually and collectively, their relations with the local community, while assessing the extent to which a more committed management has resulted in a more favourable perception by the public. For this purpose, we conducted in-depth interviews with managers of the main companies on the two sites. The results show different patterns of behaviour by firms in the two industrial agglomerations. Companies located in the area of Tarragona, where citizens' perceptions were more favourable, have historically been more committed to building stronger socio-economic links with the local community and encouraging a sense of community, and to making greater efforts to engage local residents through a process of dialogue. Moreover, the existence of a collective strategy in Tarragona, coordinated through a local industry association, has also played an important role in facilitating the industry's relationship with the local community. The findings of the study suggest the need to consider the industrial agglomeration and the firms' collective actions in research on relationships with the local community alongside actions by individual companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the People's Republic of China (PRC) established in 1949, central planners have made much efforts to greening the capital city, Beijing. However, with the increasing population and consumption in the city, the increasing environmental risks continually flow into the local social-economic-ecological system (SEES) through ecological intercorrelation from neighborhoods, so that the thresholds of risks challenge the urban resilience of Beijing and the surrounding area. Thereby, we analyze the 139 selected indicators to deeply understand the systematic risks across temporal scale during 1978–2015 in Beijing. Results show the development pathway of Beijing experienced three stages from “entrance”, “soar” to “coursing”. In the current new stage, the ecological impacts and resource use per capita are main constrains to future development in Beijing. This implies to a framework of urban growth for a demonstration pilot path of eco-urbanization in five aspects: 1) strategic clarification of the growth space; 2) design the urban growth path based on ecosystem planning with functional landscape architecture; 3) higher standards of industrial establishments with advanced environmental assessment and monitoring; 4) construction of environmental infrastructures with smart resource recycling; and 5) based on strict implementation of institutions and regulations to maximize the function of market allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surge in energy consumption and CO 2 (carbon dioxide) emissions is exacerbating global warming. The Chinese government has promised to reduce CO 2 emission by 60%–65% per unit of GDP over the 2005 level by around 2030. Analyzing the factors influencing CO 2 emissions is one of the key aspects involved in effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, we add climatic factors based on socio-economic factors, and adopt the extended STIRPAT model to investigate the mechanism driving emissions by the co-action of natural and socio-economic factors. The results show that the 1995–2014 emissions in China's Zhejiang province had an upward trend with growth rates varying between intermediate periods. The order of the factors' elasticity coefficients is urbanization rate (0.181) > GDP per capita (0.180) > population (0.177) > energy intensity (0.170) > trade openness (0.170) > cooling degree days (0.127) > mean temperature anomaly (0.116). Economic development and urbanization were the main factors promoting CO 2 emissions in 1996–1999, while economic development and foreign trade were the main factors in 2000–2014. Policy makers should pay more attention to keeping a healthy pace of economic development, introducing more low energy consumption and low pollution enterprises and encouraging technological innovation. Improving the quality of urbanization, guiding a sustainable lifestyle, adjusting the structure of foreign trade and curbing energy intensity are also expected to reduce emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological innovations are seen as means to optimize the efficient and clean use of vital resources in social-biological-economic systems. However, partial theoretical perspectives and experiences of their effects can lead to significant oversight of their potential and limitations. There is a need to manage technological innovations for sustainable growth from a holistic perspective, systemically and systematically. To do so, we present and validate an ontological framework, map the current body of knowledge, and identify the emphases and gaps in the domain. The ontological framework is constructed from the common terminology of the domain. The analysis is based on a map of 375 research papers published in the most prestigious journals relevant to the domain. The results show significant gaps in the research to fulfil the potential. Future research can be directed to fill these gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future scenarios modeling has been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of urban stormwater infrastructure and to cater to potential future changes. The changes of quantity and quality of urban stormwater, and attributable to climate change and urbanization, were examined and tested in four urban catchments based on future scenarios modeling. Based on our findings, we observed that there were different degrees of performance corresponding to 2-, 10-, and 100-year design storms. However, the general patterns and insights deduced were similar: (1) the peak runoff and water quality appeared to be impacted more significantly by urbanization factors than that due to climate change; (2) the influence from urbanization (increase intensity of land use and population density) was found to be more significant than that from land-use changes alone; (3) catchments with relatively rapid developing rates appeared to produce more serious adverse influence on the stormwater quabntity and quality; and (4) low impact developments as key adaptation practices could be potentially effective in mitigating adverse impacts of future changes on urban stormwater system. The methodology developed in this study could be useful for urban stormwater planning and testing the plan against future change scenarios as a result of urbanization and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of quality of life (QoL) cannot be based on a single criterion because QoL includes social, economic, environmental, and geographic metrics, as well as people's perceptions of the sustainability of an area. Quantification and spatial visualization of QoL allows policymakers to determine the effects of their policies and strategies on a city's overall environment. We develop a subjective and objective composite assessment of QoL, which is achieved by integrating socioeconomic and geo-physical condition with local people's perceptions of the importance of objectively measured attributes of city life. Shanghai, China's largest city, is selected as a case study. We find that QoL in Shanghai has steadily improved during the last 20 years, with relatively higher QoL scores in the city center and sub-center regions. Also, the improvements in social environment and transport accessibility have played dominant roles in contributing to QoL enhancement. Results of such composite assessment could be used to plan the future layout of city infrastructure, allocation of resources, or even the locations of a community's amenities and services, in an effective manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have seen a blossoming of sustainability initiatives of various kinds in recent years, the variety of institutional and socio-economic contexts brings about an equally plural interpretation and implementation of these sustainability change processes. This study focuses on the organizational change processes in six different universities across five countries (Belgium, Chile, Finland, Sweden & the United States of America), by way of a qualitative analysis of in-depth expert interviews. We apply the social issue maturation framework to identify, describe and assess patterns of change across HEIs, with a focus on engineering schools as the inherent inter-disciplinarity of engineering provides a promising entry point for sustainability reflection and action. Our findings indicate that sustainability processes often begin as ad hoc processes which grow and mature over time as a range of different actors join in. The commitment of a small team of ‘sustainability champions’ is a key factor for success, as is at least a tacit support from the institution’s hierarchy. Sustainability in HEIs is increasingly connected with sustainability in the private sector and with other public actors. Moreover there is a growing acknowledgement of the interactions between society, industry and academic engineering programs and projects. Ideally, sustainability change processes are gradually up-scaled from isolated efforts to coordinated actions, involving both academic and non-academic actors within and outside the institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The joint examination of input flows and the stocks of households provides novel perspectives for socio-economic metabolism (SEM) research. Our study aims to compare household level material flows and stocks, and economy-wide material inputs, and to explore influential factors affecting the level of metabolism at household level. Household diaries and inventories (n = 73) were used to assemble household-level data regarding material flows and stocks. The mean value of the extrapolated annual material inputs 2.16 tons per household member, while household stocks represented 1.17 tons per household member excluding building stocks, and 46 tons if buildings were considered in the estimation. According to our results, material inputs and stocks are depending on household size and income exclusively. Amount of the direct input flows of the economy exceed the direct input flows of households significantly. Household inputs represent 10.3% of the Hungarian direct material consumption (DMC). For better understanding, the material balance of Hungary was compiled and extended using an additional layer of the flows’ functions. With regard to input flows, every increment in direct inputs evokes multiple increment on macroeconomic scale. Since several input flows are assumed to be driven by the amount of stocks, an increment in material stocks will add further material consumption surplus to this effect. Improvements in production processes can narrow multiplicative effects especially in food supply chains and construction activity. Similar characteristics in material flow and stock relations of three countries (Japan, Germany and Hungary) highlight that the decoupling is not possible without accumulation of lower amount of material in the societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the Rise of Central China Plan, the central region has had a great opportunity to develop its economy and improve its original industrial structure. However, this region is also under pressure to protect its environment, keep its development sustainable and reduce carbon emissions. Therefore, accurately estimating the temporal and spatial dynamics of CO 2 emissions and analysing the factors influencing these emissions are especially important. This paper estimates the CO 2 emissions derived from the fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes of 18 central cities in China between 2000 and 2014. The results indicate that these 18 cities, which contain an average of 6.57% of the population and 7.91% of the GDP, contribute 13% of China's total CO 2 emissions. The highest cumulative CO 2 emissions from 2000 to 2014 were from Taiyuan and Wuhan, with values of 2268.57 and 1847.59 million tons, accounting for 19.21% and 15.64% of the total among these cities, respectively. Therefore, the CO 2 emissions in the Taiyuan urban agglomeration and Wuhan urban agglomeration represented 28.53% and 20.14% of the total CO 2 emissions from the 18 cities, respectively. The three cities in the Zhongyuan urban agglomeration also accounted for a second highest proportion of emissions at 23.51%. With the proposal and implementation of the Rise of Central China Plan in 2004, the annual average growth rate of total CO 2 emissions gradually decreased and was lower in the periods from 2005 to 2010 (5.44%) and 2010 to 2014 (5.61%) compared with the rate prior to 2005 (12.23%). When the 47 socioeconomic sectors were classified into 12 categories, “power generation” contributed the most to the total cumulative CO 2 emissions at 36.51%, followed by the “non-metal and metal industry”, “petroleum and chemical industry”, and “mining” sectors, representing emissions proportions of 29.81%, 14.79%, and 9.62%, respectively. Coal remains the primary fuel in central China, accounting for an average of 80.59% of the total CO 2 emissions. Industrial processes also played a critical role in determining the CO 2 emissions, with an average value of 7.3%. The average CO 2 emissions per capita across the 18 cities increased from 6.14 metric tons in 2000 to 15.87 metric tons in 2014, corresponding to a 158.69% expansion. However, the average CO 2 emission intensity decreased from 0.8 metric tons/1000 Yuan in 2000 to 0.52 metric tons/1000 Yuan in 2014 with some fluctuations. The changes in and industry contributions of carbon emissions were city specific, and the effects of population and economic development on CO 2 emissions varied. Therefore, long-term climate change mitigation strategies should be adjusted for each city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure treatment technologies have been developed in Europe to better use animal manures and to reduce their environmental impact, but the adoption of these technologies in practice is regionally diverse and still limited. Also, little is known about the opinions of stakeholders towards manure treatment. This study aimed to identify stakeholder perceptions of (1) which factors can facilitate and hinder the implementation in practice, (2) which technologies have the most potential for successful adoption, and (3) how farm characteristics and scale of treatment operations affect priorities for technology adoption. This analysis used data from a survey of various stakeholders engaged in manure treatment in four European countries (Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain) that have large areas of high animal density, but diverse socio-economic, political and environmental conditions. Pressure from governmental regulations was perceived as a key factor that stimulated manure treatment in all four countries (70% of respondents). Processing manure to produce bioenergy was considered important in Denmark and Italy, but less important in Spain and the Netherlands. The major barriers to technology adoption were related to economic factors -lack of investment capital (60% of respondents), high processing cost (52%) and a long payback period (45%), while there was relatively little concern regarding transport and noise burden and health risks. Slurry separation and anaerobic digestion were perceived to have the greatest potential for a common adoption. Other preferred technologies were more country-specific (e.g. acidification in Denmark, composting in Spain, and drying and reverse osmosis in Netherlands). Manure treatment was considered to be less applicable at small livestock farms. Separation, composting and acidification were perceived to be more applicable at farm scale, while drying, anaerobic digestion, reverse osmosis at large, industrial scales. Our results imply that manure treatment will remain a regional activity. Policy measures and outreach strategies to alleviate the main barriers to the adoption of manure treatment are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources are of fundamental significance as the basis of human life, economy, and society. Especially as the essential socioeconomic factors, water resources transferred through merchandise trade of China's mega-cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing) play an increasingly crucial role in China's regional water use allocation. On the whole, the four municipalities in China are all embodied water recipients along supply chains. However, it is found that embodied water transfers (including direct and indirect water) related to these mega-cities have exacerbated the regional water use imbalance and affected the water use efficiency of China as a whole to some extent. In consideration of the increasing trading exchanges among cities and regions, ignoring water transfers embodied in trades will lead to failure in depicting actual water demands. In such a context, the embodied water demands and transfers of China's municipalities are analyzed systematically, and the water use efficiencies and allocation imbalance are assessed for the first time. Outcomes of this study through systems accounting of water use profiles of China's mega-cities can be strong supports for reasonable allocation and utilization of China's water resources, showing important implications for water pressure mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Office buildings are now responsible for a large portion of the durable building stock's total energy consumption and play a key role in determining urban sustainability. Based on remote sensing and GIS data as well as statistical analysis methods, we found that building construction characteristics, socio-economic conditions, climate conditions, and microclimate contributed 32.27%, 18.37%, 13.84%, and 10.66%, respectively, to office building energy carbon emissions in China. Floor area, number of energy consumers, regional scientific investment, and heating degree days had positive relationships with office energy usages. Among these, the number of energy consumers had the greatest effect on OEC and heating degree day had the least effect. Technological progress may reduce energy demand, but the energy waste of office workers in buildings that adopt more energy-saving appliance, or admire for more comfortable temperature environment could offset these savings. Most of the taller buildings surveyed were constructed recently and equipped with energy-saving appliances, but these savings may have been offset by greater use of energy associated with higher income level, and greater support for energy spending from the government. These results provide baseline information for designing emission reductions programs and further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop-livestock-forest (CLFi) and crop-livestock (CLi) systems are among the most recent agricultural developments in Brazil, and aligned with the principles of cleaner production. Such integrated systems can provide at least three types of product from the same land area over a defined period. This paper presents a holistic sustainability evaluation using life cycle assessment to compare combinations of integrated and conventional systems in the Brazilian Cerrado region. The study assesses a comprehensive set of indicators in the three sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic, and social (socio-eco-efficiency). By prioritizing CLFi, the production area to meet the demand of grains, meat and energy for 500 Brazilians, from 2007 to 2014, reached 70 ha, while the conventional systems would need 420 ha to meet the same demand. This result shows that it is possible to increase production to meet the growing food global demand without the need of expanding the agricultural frontier, preserving the remaining forestland. CLFi combinations systems decreased 55% in climate change potential (2389 t of CO 2 equivalent), when compared to the conventional systems. It was also observed that the more integrated systems improved the quality of employment, promoted future generation investments in society, and decreased the total production costs in 54%, when compared to conventional systems. Therefore, intensification achieved through good practices such as association, rotation, and succession by an agroforestry system, optimization of inputs (including water, energy, fertilizers, and crop protection agents), land use, soil quality, biodiversity and social aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding spatiotemporal urbanization is one of the key questions related to sustainable urbanization in the drylands of northern China (DNC). However, urban expansion in the DNC has not been quantified and assessed effectively due to a lack of reliable data and methods. In this paper, we investigate urban expansion in the DNC at multiple scales, ranging from the whole region to four dryland subtypes, and six urban agglomerations in the DNC from 1992 to 2015. We also simulate urban expansion in the DNC from 2015 to 2050 by coupling the scenario framework of the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) with the Land Use Scenario Dynamics-urban (LUSD-urban) model. Despite of the uncertainty in the research, our findings provide useful insight into the past and the future urban expansion in the DNC. The results indicate that the urban land in the DNC expanded rapidly from 4110 km 2 in 1992 to 20,969 km 2 in 2015. Furthermore, the urban land in the DNC will continue to expand from 20,969 km 2 to 22,987–36,622 km 2 by 2040, with an annual growth of 80.72–403.48 km 2 under all SSPs. Thus, it is suggested that effective measures are urgently needed to facilitate sustainable urban development in the DNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for reliable and adequate power supply in Nigeria has brought about a surge of interest in renewable energy generation, particularly from wind, solar, hydro and biomass resources including municipal solid waste. Waste-derived energy raises unique interest because of the magnitude of benefits to environmental protection and socio-economic advancement. The successful operation of Waste-to Energy (WtE) facilities in Nigeria requires continuous supply of solid waste and enabling environment amongst other factors. This study conducted a state-level assessment of the WtE potential of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Nigeria. Our findings show that the electricity generation potential for the different states in Nigeria varied from 31 to 205 MW, depending on state’s waste generation capacity. The country’s annual electricity generation potential from MSW was estimated to be 26,744 GWh/year, with 89% of the states having sufficient generation capacity at minimum regulatory electricity generation requirement of 50 MW. But, based on current realities such as poor collection efficiencies, Nigeria’s exploitable WtE capacity from MSW was below 3800 GWh/year, with all the states having less than 50 MW capacity. On-site power generation such as dedicated power station for industrial estates and corporate users can be a feasible form of distributing energy generated from WtE facilities. The outcomes of this study are important in informing the siting of WtE facilities in Nigeria and for enabling policy framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on analysis of the wetland water resources system in Beijing city, this paper established a system dynamics (SD) model for the water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) in Beijing city. Using a computer simulation of the SD model, the variation trends from 2006 to 2030 in population, economy, water supply and demand, and pressure on the water environment were derived for Beijing, from which 12 core variables of the model were chosen as the WRCC evaluation indices. Five cases were designed in this study. The results indicate that the WRCC will continue to decline annually by following the status quo (Case 1), since the water environment will have difficulty in supporting the long-term social and economic development of Beijing. The status quo of Beijing’s socioeconomic development is therefore not sustainable. In order to address this problem, five optimization cases were put forward to improve the WRCC, and the carrying capacities and trends of the cases were compared and analyzed. Under Case 5, the WRCC (0.8 in 2030) will increase by 50%, compared to that in Case 1 (0.4 in 2030), while the water supply and demand ratio will be 20% higher than the average, and the water pollution will be 35% lower than the average in 2030. According to the analysis results, in order to guarantee sustainable utilization of water resources and social economy development in Beijing, it is necessary to increase water saving policies and pollution control investment in the future. Corresponding measures will need to be taken to ensure the implementation of water saving strategies to improve the water environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China produces a huge amount of CO 2 emissions that need to be reduced to comply with international commitments. Identifying the driving factors is critical for achieving mitigation targets and transiting toward a low-carbon economy in China. This study is one of the first few attempts to apply panel data and spatial econometrics models to analyze the spatial dependence of province-level CO 2 emission intensity and the economic drivers of such emissions. First, we conducted a systematical review of the development of spatial econometrics. Second, we generated a panel data set about energy and socioeconomic development of 30 provinces and municipalities in China from 2005 to 2012. Next, we chose the most appropriate model to explain the predominant factors of energy-related CO 2 emissions based on a series of tests of the spatial econometrics models. The results suggested that technology improvement, adjustment of industrial and energy structures, and environmentally friendly behaviors and patterns of consumption of habitants play an important role in CO 2 emissions mitigation. The results also revealed that CO 2 emissions had strong spatial spillover effects, which indicate that policies adopted in one province will affect policy-making in neighboring provinces, implying that provinces need take combined action to balance climate change mitigation and economic policy goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-economic development and economic growth is connected with the intensive use of energy resources, which poses also risks to long-term viability of the biosphere by causing natural resource depletion and environmental degradation. One of the options to reduce Human and environmental risks from extensive energy generation are renewable energy sources. However, there are several barriers for transformation of energy sector towards a greater share of renewable energies. Human factors such as social support or opposition are crucial drivers for this transition. This paper examines the state of infrastructure projects in South Africa and assesses how lessons from these projects can contribute to improve development of energy transformation in the country. It analyses the challenges of applying participatory governance in the energy transition in South Africa, as a critical component of successful infrastructure project implementation, and of insights into fostering environmental leadership. The paper is based on the case studies analysis of ten large infrastructure projects in South Africa and focuses on public participation in these projects, its effects and challenges by applying the ladder of public participation methodology. Findings from the study support the scientific arguments that public participation in decision-making regarding deployment infrastructure projects creates an enabling environment for successful implementation. In conclusion public participation was only in the context of environmental impact assessment which is a mandatory requirement for infrastructure projects in South Africa. Currently public participation is manly regarded as a reactive measure to conflict resolution. It is organized to provide feedback on the results of environmental impact assessment, mainly as a way to address conflict, which has already emerged. Our results show that provision of information and consultation are the two most frequent levels of public participation. Land use issues and questions about benefits and impacts from infrastructure projects on local communities are the most frequent concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to low carbon energy and transport systems requires an unprecedented roll-out of new infrastructure technologies, containing significant quantities of critical raw materials. Many of these technologies are based on general purpose technologies, such as permanent magnets and electric motors, that are common across different infrastructure systems. Circular economy initiatives that aim to institute better resource management practices could exploit these technological commonalities through the reuse and remanufacturing of technology components across infrastructure systems. In this paper, we analyze the implementation of such processes in the transition to low carbon electricity generation and transport on the Isle of Wight, UK. We model two scenarios relying on different renewable energy technologies, with the reuse of Lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles for grid-attached storage. A whole-system analysis that considers both electricity and transport infrastructure demonstrates that the optimal choice of renewable technology can be dependent on opportunities for component reuse and material recycling between the different infrastructure systems. Hydrogen fuel cell based transport makes use of platinum from obsolete catalytic converters whereas lithium-ion batteries can be reused for grid-attached storage when they are no longer useful in vehicles. Trade-offs exist between the efficiency of technology reuse, which eliminates the need for new technologies for grid attached storage completely by 2033, and the higher flexibility afforded by recycling at the material level; reducing primary material demand for Lithium by 51% in 2033 compared to 30% achieved by battery reuse. This analysis demonstrates the value of a methodology that combines detailed representations of technologies and components with a systemic approach that includes multiple, interconnected infrastructure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of dramatic socioeconomic transitions on soaring CO 2 emissions is essential for developing targeted and effective CO 2 mitigation policies. Taking Chongqing as a representative case in inland China, we proposed an analysis framework to evaluate the socioeconomic transition effects on CO 2 emissions during the period 1997–2012. Based on the framework, we found that the industrialization process, with its rapid expansion of construction and heavy manufacturing industries, had a strong impact on the structure of CO 2 emissions growth. Meanwhile, the development of transport equipment manufacturing and high-tech industry contributed to low-carbon development. The framework further showed that the urbanization process contributed to the increased CO 2 emissions mainly by intensive investments in the construction sector and changing urban household consumption. Particularly, the fast-growing urban population, the urban household consumption level, as well as the associated consumption pattern transition towards a growing demand for manufacturing products, transport, shelter, and services together lead to tripled urban household consumption related CO 2 emissions. These empirical results suggest that a targeted CO 2 mitigation policy in Chongqing should focus on multiple significant socioeconomic driving factors with diverse leading sectors. This implication should be applicable for other inland regions with similar geographical and socioeconomic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the largest emitter of carbon emissions in the world. In this paper, we present an Integrated Model of Economy and Climate (IMEC), an optimization model based on the input-output model. The model is designed to assess the tradeoff between emission deceleration and economic growth. Given that China's projected average growth rate will exceed 5% over the next two decades, we find that China may reach its peak CO 2 emissions levels by 2026. According to this scenario, China's carbon emissions will peak at 11.20 Gt in 2026 and will then decline to 10.84 Gt in 2030. Accordingly, approximately 22 Gt of CO 2 will be removed from 2015 to 2035 relative to the scenario wherein China's CO 2 emissions peak in 2030. While this earlier peaking of carbon emissions will result in a decline in China's GDP, several sectors, such as Machinery and Education, will benefit. In order to reach peak CO 2 emissions by 2026, China needs to reduce its annual GDP growth rate to less than 4.5% by 2030 and decrease energy and carbon intensity levels by 43% and 45%, respectively, from 2015 to 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China, Japan and South Korea are the important East Asian countries and being paid intensive attentions to their economic miracle, while their environmental performance is less discussed together. These three countries are in different level of developmental stages from emerging economy to matured developed economy. We hereby provide a laboratory idea to investigate the socio-economic metabolism under typical development stages, so that enlightenment on global resource management policy making can be made. This study is based on a long-time series data on the material flow analysis on China, South Korea and Japan, applied with up-to date standardized methodologies of material flow accounting. Material flows, resource productivity data, indicators as well as Environmental Kuznets Curve are presented and compared from 1970 to 2008. Driving forces for the material flow change were further investigated with IPAT approach. Obvious differences of resource efficiency, productivity and consumption patterns were verified. Japan presented the trend of dematerialization and technology effects made significant contribution; China was highlighted with surging resource consumption stage, mainly driven by the economic and population factors, even though the resource efficiency was significantly enhanced in the past three decades. South Korea presented the combined features of China and Japan in different stages. Based on the analytical results, information and insights behind results, like the industrial structure, value chain position in the global supply-demand chain and how they had impacts on the resource efficiency and productivity were discussed in-depth. The research results provide critical insights to future effective and efficient global resource management policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess sustainability of different sugarcane cultivation practices in selected sites in North-eastern Thailand; and to provide recommendations to improve sustainability of sugarcane cultivation in the areas studied. This study evaluates the environmental and socio-economic impacts of sugarcane cultivation in different stages at detailed level. The indicators assessed are the impacts on global warming, human toxicity, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, terrestrial ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, marine ecotoxicity, agricultural land occupation, water depletion, fossil fuel depletion, employment generation, worker income, wages and working conditions. The results reveal that the sugarcane cultivation causes highest impacts on freshwater ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication and marine ecotoxicity. Yields, cultivation practices and distance to the sugar mill are the key factors influencing the environmental and socio-economic impacts. Moreover, it is suggested that optimal quantities of fertilizers and pesticides consumed may help to increase yields. This will consequently lower the environmental impacts and reduce production cost. The distance from farm to sugar mill could also influence production cost and the environmental impacts. Mechanized harvesting is found to be a way to reduce production cost. However, it is associated with an increase in environmental impacts as well as reduction in employment. Wages and working conditions of jobs in sugarcane farming are found to be poorer compared to rice farming. Sugarcane farming may experience a lack of laborers in the future which may lead to more mechanization. Recommendations proposed to improve sustainability of the sugarcane cultivation include increasing yields, managing fertilizer and agro-chemical applications, and zoning agricultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A deep transformation of the electrical grid system at the global level is expected in the near future, with new economic relations between energy suppliers and consumers. This is the smart grid framework, which can integrate the behavior of all connected users, who become prosumers, to ensure a sustainable energy supply in an efficient, economical and safe manner. Smart grid projects have a significant impact on electricity consumers through shifts in consumer behavior, culture and lifestyle. The aim of this paper is to explore the degree of investigation of the main socio-economic features, in terms of private and social costs, which are relevant for smart grids development and public acceptance. To this aim, a literature review of 148 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles on smart grids has been conducted, developing an original taxonomy for the socio-economic features in terms of private (direct) costs directly associated with the monetary costs paid by consumers, and social (indirect) costs constituted by consumers' perception, privacy, cyber security and regulation. The importance of the analysis of social costs arising from externalities is that they may hinder the deployment of specific technologies, even if these technologies appear to be useful based on private costs. The results reveal that the explored literature mainly deals with private costs, although an emerging literature starts to address the social costs that may hamper smart grids deployment. The paper reviews new opportunities and challenges for further research, bridging the gap between engineering and socio-economic research areas, including business, organizational applications, policy and security issues. The resulting enrichment of interdisciplinary know-how can be the basis for the sustainable development of current and future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis presents an evolving ‘Energy Concept’ and strategy at an energy-intensive research facility in order to contribute understanding of how organisations may implement renewable energies and improve energy efficiency whilst also delivering broader socio-economic benefits. A framework is developed that infuses institutional perspectives with a micro level view. It facilitates positioning of strategy against instrumental/altruistic and factual/relational extremes and analysis of organisational strategy in the face of internal/external stakeholder, and institutional forces. Applied to a seven-year case this supports understanding of strategy ‘purpose’ and ‘inputs’ as they co-evolve along a project time-line. It is found that the energy strategy evolves from a dominantly instrumental but stakeholder-driven position towards approaches aligned with deliberate public good provision in areas beyond direct organizational interests, and that changes required significant redefinition of the design and operational models. Developments are explained as largely the result of internal agency and culture-building influences from an energy department equipped with concrete management tools and autonomy. At the case level, the study concludes that the Energy Concept implementation has sparked a change in energy management at large global research facilities. The work also demonstrates that longitudinal, multi-level institutional analysis can contribute to deeper understanding of strategy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land demand is driven by an increasing population and changing consumption patterns. When land is required Land Use Changes (LUC) are triggered, causing several environmental and social impacts. Particularly topical is the assessment of indirect LUC effects. Several methodological approaches have been proposed for carrying out the assessment. In this paper we classified LUC models for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) applications into three main categories: Economic, Causal–Descriptive and Normative models. Six models were selected as representative of these three categories and compared according to fifteen criteria covering: modeling framework, impact categories assessed and model transparency. The results show that, progresses have been made in the Economic General Equilibrium Models and the Causal–Descriptive Models compared. Causal–Descriptive models appear more suitable for long-term assessments in the LCA context while the compared economic models are more suitable for short/medium-term assessments of LUC consequences. As LUC dynamics involve interdisciplinary knowledge, a combination of economic, biophysical and statistical data is however required to achieve a robust assessment of complex LUC dynamics. There is still considerable scope for improving current LUC models. In particular, there is room for improving precision of data, identification of marginal land and inclusion of a broader range of impact categories. Current models mainly focus on GHG emission-related impacts and rarely on other environmental impacts such as nutrient leaching, biodiversity impacts and water resource depletion. Socio-economic analyses of LUC patterns are currently excluded from LCA analysis, preventing a holistic assessment of land occupation impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the impact pathway approach for estimating an economic value of pollution effects of acetaldehyde (CH 3 CHO) associated with bioethanol vehicle transport in Oslo as a climate policy. The approach rests on results obtained in an innovative measurement campaign and by means of air pollution dispersion-models, followed by an impact assessment and economic valuation of the potential externalities. This makes a state-of-the-art methodological technique to reach greater knowledge on the economic costs of urban air quality impacts resulting as a side effect of climate change policy. The social economic costs estimated in this paper are then compared to likely social economic benefits (i.e. avoided social economic damage cost) of reduced nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and carbon dioxide-(CO 2 ) emissions. The carcinogenic risk from long-term inhalation exposure to acetaldehyde emissions, leads in this paper to a moderate cost estimate associated with the combustion of bioethanol in vehicles in Oslo. Productivity and welfare loss is the dominant cost component, whereas the direct medical costs constitutes only a small part of the total social economic costs. The costs however, expect to be significantly lower than the combined economic benefits from reduced emissions of target compounds, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's REACH regulation has introduced Socio-Economic Analyses as a new decision support tool in the domain of chemical policy-making. This paper presents a pragmatic method to review the replacement of chemicals in processes or products in terms of the environmental impact. The aim of this work is to develop a broadly accepted method for environmental impact assessment as part of Socio-Economic Analyses. The method consists of a stepwise and tiered approach for Environmental Impact Assessment whereby the expected impact of the replacement of chemicals is assessed via Risk Characterization Ratios and toxic pressure quantification (expressed as a Potentially Affection Fraction of species), and – if relevant – via a Persistency, Bioaccumulation potential and Toxicity score. The working of the method is demonstrated by the replacement of chemical substances in detergents, gutters and Expanded Polystyrene. Of the three replacements, for gutters, the reduction of the toxic pressure on the aquatic compartment was highest. Based on 50% effect concentrations the Potentially Affection Fraction of species due to the use of zinc gutters was relatively high (15%), while it was 0.6% after replacement by PVC gutters. This indicates that PVC gutters have a lower direct impact on aquatic biodiversity than zinc gutters. This paper demonstrates that even with limited data the proposed method can be used to move from risk indicators to impact indicators. The tiered approach allows finding the most appropriate level of analysis in a cost and resource efficient way. The method allows comparison of results of different scenarios and as such allows selecting the most preferable alternative from an environmental perspective. This is useful in the context of socio-economic analysis and as such, this method is available as a decision-support tool under REACH and other chemical policy frames such as the United Nations Environment Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the complex links between socioeconomic variables and carbon emissions can reveal household spending and lifestyle patterns. This study oversees those issues and examines consumption patterns and their related variables such as climate change understanding, attitudes, and knowledge, in order to better comprehend the complicated linkages. This study revealed that eight socioeconomic elements influence a household's carbon footprint: (i) household income (β = 0.476, p < 0.05), (ii) green attitudes (β = −0.196, p < 0.05), (iii) residential space (β = 0.157, p < 0.05), (iv), education levels (β = 0.131, p < 0.05), (v) household's tenure status by ownership (β = 0.130, p < 0.05), (vi) household's age (β = 0.112, p < 0.05), (vii) size of household (β = 0.101, p < 0.05), and, (viii) female-headed household (β = −0.077, p < 0.05). Approximately 83.6% of respondents are mindful of climate change, but only 2.6% correctly define it as a long-term shift in weather patterns. The study found that 82% of households are willing to change their consumption habits and lifestyle to reduce their household's carbon footprint. In order to achieve a low carbon society, our research advocate a multipronged approach and policy action is crucial based on the results. Further, robust climate change educational and awareness programmes is decisive at the multilevel and scale in Malaysia to achieve its carbon emissions reduction target by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]