Vol. 2, No. 1 (2014): Regular Issue

Urban systems can be considered like living organisms supplied by mate- rial and energy flows used to maintain structures an functions, and the production of goods and services. In this paper, we integrate economic cost analysis with a method of biophysical accounting (namely Emergy Synthesis) to assess the main inputs and output flows characterizing the urban metabolism of the city of Uppsala (Sweden). Natural and human- driven resource flows supporting the metabolism of the city were evalu- ated and compared by using an ecological-economics perspective. Final- ly, economic and emergy-based indicators were calculated and discussed. Results highlighted a lack of self-sufficiency characterizing most of mod- ern cities especially in terms of food andenergy supplied from larger environmental systems. Considering the existing problems of environ- mental sustainability of most cities and the current trend towards urbani- zation, the proposed multi-criteria assessment to the study of urban me- tabolism, further improved by a deeper investigation of social variables, can represent an important component of sustainability research and poli-Cy.

Urban systems can be considered like living organisms supplied by mate- rial and energy flows used to maintain structures an functions, and the production of goods and services. In this paper, we integrate economic cost analysis with a method of biophysical accounting (namely Emergy Synthesis) to assess the main inputs and output flows characterizing the urban metabolism of the city of Uppsala (Sweden). Natural and human- driven resource flows supporting the metabolism of the city were evalu- ated and compared by using an ecological-economics perspective. Final- ly, economic and emergy-based indicators were calculated and discussed. Results highlighted a lack of self-sufficiency characterizing most of mod- ern cities especially in terms of food andenergy supplied from larger environmental systems. Considering the existing problems of environ- mental sustainability of most cities and the current trend towards urbani- zation, the proposed multi-criteria assessment to the study of urban me- tabolism, further improved by a deeper investigation of social variables, can represent an important component of sustainability research and poli-Cy.

In this paper, an energy systems planning (ESPM) model was developed for supporting the planning of an energy management system where the environmental protection was considered under uncertainty. This model was solved based on the interval-parameter fuzzy linear programming, which incorporated the fuzzy linear programming and interval-parameter linear programming into a general optimization framework. Through the conduction of this study, (a) complexities regarding energy activities and environmental conservation in energy management systems could be identified and analyzed, (b) uncertainties of parameters in energy man-agement systems could be incorporated into the planning process on the basis of interval numbers and fuzzy sets, (c) the interval form solutions could enhance the adaptation of ESPM to uncertain conditions, (d) the trade-off between energy activities and environmental protection measures as well as that between optimality and reliability of energy sys- tems couldbe reflected through the introduction of satisfaction degrees, and (e) desirable cost-minimized schemes for energy activitiessuch as energy resources allocation, technological development, facility capacity expansion and pollutant emission control could be provided for decision makers.

In this paper, an energy systems planning (ESPM) model was developed for supporting the planning of an energy management system where the environmental protection was considered under uncertainty. This model was solved based on the interval-parameter fuzzy linear programming, which incorporated the fuzzy linear programming and interval-parameter linear programming into a general optimization framework. Through the conduction of this study, (a) complexities regarding energy activities and environmental conservation in energy management systems could be identified and analyzed, (b) uncertainties of parameters in energy man-agement systems could be incorporated into the planning process on the basis of interval numbers and fuzzy sets, (c) the interval form solutions could enhance the adaptation of ESPM to uncertain conditions, (d) the trade-off between energy activities and environmental protection measures as well as that between optimality and reliability of energy sys- tems couldbe reflected through the introduction of satisfaction degrees, and (e) desirable cost-minimized schemes for energy activitiessuch as energy resources allocation, technological development, facility capacity expansion and pollutant emission control could be provided for decision makers.

In recent decades, the world’s population growth and concentration in mega cities have caused several environmental, social and economic problems. Environment management audit has always been considered as a major challenge in urban management. Providing an appropriate model for the raters makes their personal judgments routinely minimized and obtains a more realistic assessment of the present situation. Using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Processing and collating it with audit programs can help them to achieve this goal. In the present research study, using stand- ards, the environmental indices have been determined in urban manage- ment and then using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Processing method, the weight and importance level of the indices have been set and the evalua- tion pattern was presented. The present study was conducted with the aim of presenting a model for auditing the environment and one of Tehran’s municipality regions was selected to do a case study. The results showed that the most important problems in the field of environmental manage- ment in a megacity like Tehran are in areas such as transport and traffic management, waste-water installation and solid waste management which have been unsatisfactory in some areas under study. Applying the pro- posed model has provided urban management with the possibility to iden- tify weaknesses of its collection and remove discrepancies by investing in the issue and causing a continuous improvement of the environment in their management zone.

In recent decades, the world’s population growth and concentration in mega cities have caused several environmental, social and economic problems. Environment management audit has always been considered as a major challenge in urban management. Providing an appropriate model for the raters makes their personal judgments routinely minimized and obtains a more realistic assessment of the present situation. Using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Processing and collating it with audit programs can help them to achieve this goal. In the present research study, using stand- ards, the environmental indices have been determined in urban manage- ment and then using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Processing method, the weight and importance level of the indices have been set and the evalua- tion pattern was presented. The present study was conducted with the aim of presenting a model for auditing the environment and one of Tehran’s municipality regions was selected to do a case study. The results showed that the most important problems in the field of environmental manage- ment in a megacity like Tehran are in areas such as transport and traffic management, waste-water installation and solid waste management which have been unsatisfactory in some areas under study. Applying the pro- posed model has provided urban management with the possibility to iden- tify weaknesses of its collection and remove discrepancies by investing in the issue and causing a continuous improvement of the environment in their management zone.

In recent years carbon capture and storage (CCS) emerged as a promising low-carbon technology to tackle climate change by storing the captured CO2 underground. Varied countries and regions have promulgated or proposed specific CCS policies to accommodate with CCS development in their jurisdictions. However, CCS policies seem to be in a vacancy in China. Presented in this paper is a general overview for CCS policies in some representative countries and regions including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia that are making substantial contributions to the establishment of CCS policy framework in their own jurisdictions as well as their implications for construction of CCS policy framework in China. CCS policies in China are also reviewed and compared with those of the typical economic entities in detail. The result demonstrates that prescriptive standards and regulations, economic incentives as well as supportive measures are not sufficient to smooth CCS deployment in China. Policy recommendations are thus raised to guide CCS progress in China, with a suggested policy package including enactment of CCS regulatory framework, multi-source funding mechanism, elaborated measures to raise public awareness of CCS. The outcome has essential policy implications supportive to a further expansion of CCS deployment in China.

In recent years carbon capture and storage (CCS) emerged as a promising low-carbon technology to tackle climate change by storing the captured CO2 underground. Varied countries and regions have promulgated or proposed specific CCS policies to accommodate with CCS development in their jurisdictions. However, CCS policies seem to be in a vacancy in China. Presented in this paper is a general overview for CCS policies in some representative countries and regions including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia that are making substantial contributions to the establishment of CCS policy framework in their own jurisdictions as well as their implications for construction of CCS policy framework in China. CCS policies in China are also reviewed and compared with those of the typical economic entities in detail. The result demonstrates that prescriptive standards and regulations, economic incentives as well as supportive measures are not sufficient to smooth CCS deployment in China. Policy recommendations are thus raised to guide CCS progress in China, with a suggested policy package including enactment of CCS regulatory framework, multi-source funding mechanism, elaborated measures to raise public awareness of CCS. The outcome has essential policy implications supportive to a further expansion of CCS deployment in China.

In this paper, some motivations are discussed for an integrated approach in the study of complex environmental and socio-economic systems, based on the necessity of a systemic perspective wherever the drivers and the flows that control a system stability and evolution are strictly con- nected each other. The validity and the efficacy of the emergy-based analysis is then outlined for the general sustainability assessment of a University, and in particular for Venice Ca' Foscari University in Italy.

In this paper, some motivations are discussed for an integrated approach in the study of complex environmental and socio-economic systems, based on the necessity of a systemic perspective wherever the drivers and the flows that control a system stability and evolution are strictly con- nected each other. The validity and the efficacy of the emergy-based analysis is then outlined for the general sustainability assessment of a University, and in particular for Venice Ca' Foscari University in Italy.

Sustainable forestry production systems, such as certified forestry, re- duced impact logging or sustainable forest management, have become an important part of tropical countries’ strategy to oversee their forest re- sources. Particularly, certification of forest products has become a widely adopted practice as a response to a growing international concern over the ecological and economic sustainability of harvesting natural tropical forests because of the benefits on reducing excessive and unnecessary construction of forest roads, reducing excessive use of heavy machinery, diminishing excessive collateral damage, and improving the inefficient milling processes and wasting of residues. To accomplish the aim of this study, which is to compare conventional and certified forestry we used a systems analysis tool that could integrate various benefits of certified forestry including, stand age, wood harvest, soil losses and economic gain or loss. We found that the affected area under uncertified logging practices is twice the area of certified forestry because conventional prac- tices require more roads, more logging decks and more skid trails. Also, the rate of soil erosion between uncertified logging (154 Mg/ha/yr) and certified logging (66 Mg/ha/yr) is different. Based on these data, we es- timated that the total emergy removed from certified forests was 40% less than the forest under conventional forestry. The fact that certification does a better job of preserving forest while removing wood was also demonstrated through the Environmental Loading Ratio (ELR). We also found that certification leaves forests with a 30% better chance to recover after logging because less wood is removed. But forestry using certifica- tion showed a lower Emergy Yield Ratio (EYR) because the lower yield and the extra cost of certification. Certification is also favored for the higher price for certified wood in international markets. Then, when Bo- livia exports uncertified wood, it obtains a positive benefit, but lower than using uncertified wood domestically (EYR = 20.4). In other words the worst thing the country could do is certify wood for their domestic market and sell uncertified wood abroad.

Sustainable forestry production systems, such as certified forestry, re- duced impact logging or sustainable forest management, have become an important part of tropical countries’ strategy to oversee their forest re- sources. Particularly, certification of forest products has become a widely adopted practice as a response to a growing international concern over the ecological and economic sustainability of harvesting natural tropical forests because of the benefits on reducing excessive and unnecessary construction of forest roads, reducing excessive use of heavy machinery, diminishing excessive collateral damage, and improving the inefficient milling processes and wasting of residues. To accomplish the aim of this study, which is to compare conventional and certified forestry we used a systems analysis tool that could integrate various benefits of certified forestry including, stand age, wood harvest, soil losses and economic gain or loss. We found that the affected area under uncertified logging practices is twice the area of certified forestry because conventional prac- tices require more roads, more logging decks and more skid trails. Also, the rate of soil erosion between uncertified logging (154 Mg/ha/yr) and certified logging (66 Mg/ha/yr) is different. Based on these data, we es- timated that the total emergy removed from certified forests was 40% less than the forest under conventional forestry. The fact that certification does a better job of preserving forest while removing wood was also demonstrated through the Environmental Loading Ratio (ELR). We also found that certification leaves forests with a 30% better chance to recover after logging because less wood is removed. But forestry using certifica- tion showed a lower Emergy Yield Ratio (EYR) because the lower yield and the extra cost of certification. Certification is also favored for the higher price for certified wood in international markets. Then, when Bo- livia exports uncertified wood, it obtains a positive benefit, but lower than using uncertified wood domestically (EYR = 20.4). In other words the worst thing the country could do is certify wood for their domestic market and sell uncertified wood abroad.

This paper discusses how hydropower can contribute to the environmen- tal integrity of the Chinese carbon market and support low carbon initia- tives and policies in China. It also explores the scientific research that questions the carbon neutrality of hydropower due to the release of nota- ble quantities of greenhouse gases through the creation and operation of a hydroelectric reservoir. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of how current carbon market mechanisms and management should be maintained, strengthened and/or enhanced in order to optimise the pro- vincial carbon markets of 2014. Based on the literature review and dis- cussion, the authors provide nine principle recommendations. Such rec- ommendations include a verification of the data provided regarding hy- dropower installations and watersheds through various means such as GIS, aerial photography and the cross-referencing of records; and the use of the Strategic Environmental Assessment in addition to the already pre- scribed Environmental Impact Assessment and guidelines for small hy- dropower Should these recommendations be followed it would result in more robust emission trading policies and practices within the hydropow- er sector which could then be used as a template for other carbon reduc- tion technologies within the Chinese power industry.

This paper discusses how hydropower can contribute to the environmen- tal integrity of the Chinese carbon market and support low carbon initia- tives and policies in China. It also explores the scientific research that questions the carbon neutrality of hydropower due to the release of nota- ble quantities of greenhouse gases through the creation and operation of a hydroelectric reservoir. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of how current carbon market mechanisms and management should be maintained, strengthened and/or enhanced in order to optimise the pro- vincial carbon markets of 2014. Based on the literature review and dis- cussion, the authors provide nine principle recommendations. Such rec- ommendations include a verification of the data provided regarding hy- dropower installations and watersheds through various means such as GIS, aerial photography and the cross-referencing of records; and the use of the Strategic Environmental Assessment in addition to the already pre- scribed Environmental Impact Assessment and guidelines for small hy- dropower Should these recommendations be followed it would result in more robust emission trading policies and practices within the hydropow- er sector which could then be used as a template for other carbon reduc- tion technologies within the Chinese power industry.