Vol. 1, No. 3 (2013): Regular Issue

Sustainability emerges from successfully solving the problems that confront a society. Problem solving leads to increasing complexity and imposes costs. Sustainability is therefore a benefit/cost function subject to diminishing returns. Problem solving and sustainability ultimately depend on having supplies of energy and other resources of high quality, quantity, and productivity. When confronted with existential problems–threats to the existence of a society or way of life a sustainable society must be able to draw upon reserve re- sources that are readily available. Lack of such reserves can make a society unable to solve problems and vulnerable to collapse. This is illustrated by two periods in Roman history, the Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.) and the Battle of Adrianople (A.D. 378). Rome’s ability to recover from these crises illustrates the importance for sus- tainability of reserve capacity to solve problems. This finding is ap- plied to a discussion of problem-solving capacity under declining petroleum supplies, and in a future dependent on renewable energy.

Sustainability emerges from successfully solving the problems that confront a society. Problem solving leads to increasing complexity and imposes costs. Sustainability is therefore a benefit/cost function subject to diminishing returns. Problem solving and sustainability ultimately depend on having supplies of energy and other resources of high quality, quantity, and productivity. When confronted with existential problems–threats to the existence of a society or way of life a sustainable society must be able to draw upon reserve re- sources that are readily available. Lack of such reserves can make a society unable to solve problems and vulnerable to collapse. This is illustrated by two periods in Roman history, the Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.) and the Battle of Adrianople (A.D. 378). Rome’s ability to recover from these crises illustrates the importance for sus- tainability of reserve capacity to solve problems. This finding is ap- plied to a discussion of problem-solving capacity under declining petroleum supplies, and in a future dependent on renewable energy.

Watershed ecological compensation is a powerful economic method used to address water management problems. In this study, we established an accounting model for watershed ecological compensa-tion based on STELLA software, using revenue functions to quanti-fy the profits of two cities during water use. The revenue functions included factors such as socio-economic water-use benefit, pollu-tion control cost and environmental externalities in the downstream area. This ecological compensation model can be used to address water-use disputes between upstream and downstream cities in the watershed area. Using the Guanting Reservoir Basin as a case study and considering the profit of each stakeholder, we calculated the payments under different scenarios of water quality and quantity within the provincial trans-boundary section. Our results indicated that (i) when the water quality of the inflow to Beijing (down- stream) is Grade V or IV as defined by the National Water Quality Standard of China, Zhangjiakou (upstream) should pay Beijing 92.04 or 48.19 million Yuan RMB, respectively; (ii) when the water quality of the inflow is Grade II, Beijing should pay Zhangjiakou 53.08 million Yuan RMB.

Watershed ecological compensation is a powerful economic method used to address water management problems. In this study, we established an accounting model for watershed ecological compensa-tion based on STELLA software, using revenue functions to quanti-fy the profits of two cities during water use. The revenue functions included factors such as socio-economic water-use benefit, pollu-tion control cost and environmental externalities in the downstream area. This ecological compensation model can be used to address water-use disputes between upstream and downstream cities in the watershed area. Using the Guanting Reservoir Basin as a case study and considering the profit of each stakeholder, we calculated the payments under different scenarios of water quality and quantity within the provincial trans-boundary section. Our results indicated that (i) when the water quality of the inflow to Beijing (down- stream) is Grade V or IV as defined by the National Water Quality Standard of China, Zhangjiakou (upstream) should pay Beijing 92.04 or 48.19 million Yuan RMB, respectively; (ii) when the water quality of the inflow is Grade II, Beijing should pay Zhangjiakou 53.08 million Yuan RMB.

There is no doubt that large housing estate has an important impact on community design of sustainable neighborhoods and on the ur- ban and regional housing markets of most cities in Europe. During the post war period main issue was a high quality and well equipped housing with a hopeful perspective and glorious and idealistic ideas. In the last decade most of the designers and planners have improved their planning strategies for empowering the environmental, social, cultural, and economic impact of their designs. Sustainable design for nowadays and future generation and new planning policies are the most important factors in new planning processes. This research aims at investigating if sustainable large housing development can form strong communities in which residents enjoy high quality of design and life and environmental friendly neighborhoods. The re- search findings suggest that a sustainable urban development seems to be essential to a sustainable large housing development. The re- sults of the research show that physical environment in line with nature, cultural background, the sustainable use of space, and af-fordable dwelling leads to a worth living community design.

There is no doubt that large housing estate has an important impact on community design of sustainable neighborhoods and on the ur- ban and regional housing markets of most cities in Europe. During the post war period main issue was a high quality and well equipped housing with a hopeful perspective and glorious and idealistic ideas. In the last decade most of the designers and planners have improved their planning strategies for empowering the environmental, social, cultural, and economic impact of their designs. Sustainable design for nowadays and future generation and new planning policies are the most important factors in new planning processes. This research aims at investigating if sustainable large housing development can form strong communities in which residents enjoy high quality of design and life and environmental friendly neighborhoods. The re- search findings suggest that a sustainable urban development seems to be essential to a sustainable large housing development. The re- sults of the research show that physical environment in line with nature, cultural background, the sustainable use of space, and af-fordable dwelling leads to a worth living community design.

Among the different atmospheric pollutants, since the late 70s, great attention has been devoted to Particulate Matter (PM). From a 30-year database of size-fractionated PM measurements, we ob- served the positive impact of the gradual introduction of improved air quality regulations. In fact, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 absolute con- centration levels have been reduced during this period. In particular the mean recorded values are: 63 μg/m3 (PM10), 38 μg/m3 (PM2.5) and 22 μg/m3 (PM1) in year 1980. Recorded mean values were 59 μg/m3 (PM ), 41 μg/m3 (PM ) and 32 μg/m3 (PM ) in year 2000, 10 3 2.5 3 1 3 and finally 45 μg/m (PM10), 34 μg/m (PM2.5) and 29 μg/m (PM1) in year 2011. Nevertheless, major adverse health effects are still recorded. Even if a complete toxicological description of PM im- pact is still in progress and several aspects related to the chemical and mutagenic effects of PM should be investigated in depth, the relative size concentrations are also of paramount importance. In fact, even if the absolute concentrations of the three inhalable PM fractions decreased, relative concentrations of finer fractions have increased in the period 1980-2010. In particular, the relative values of PM2.5 and PM1 are: 61% (PM2.5) and 35% (PM1) in year 1980; 70% (PM2.5) and 54% (PM1) in year 2000; 75% (PM2.5) and 65% (PM1) in year 2011. Results suggest that the introduction of new limitations to sub-micron particles (PM1) emissions is advisable. Possible improvement of air quality management might derive from differentiated local/regional limitations, depending on the charac- teristics of the exposed population and on the local meteorological and geographical characteristics of the sites showing higher aerosol pollution levels.

Among the different atmospheric pollutants, since the late 70s, great attention has been devoted to Particulate Matter (PM). From a 30-year database of size-fractionated PM measurements, we ob- served the positive impact of the gradual introduction of improved air quality regulations. In fact, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 absolute con- centration levels have been reduced during this period. In particular the mean recorded values are: 63 μg/m3 (PM10), 38 μg/m3 (PM2.5) and 22 μg/m3 (PM1) in year 1980. Recorded mean values were 59 μg/m3 (PM ), 41 μg/m3 (PM ) and 32 μg/m3 (PM ) in year 2000, 10 3 2.5 3 1 3 and finally 45 μg/m (PM10), 34 μg/m (PM2.5) and 29 μg/m (PM1) in year 2011. Nevertheless, major adverse health effects are still recorded. Even if a complete toxicological description of PM im- pact is still in progress and several aspects related to the chemical and mutagenic effects of PM should be investigated in depth, the relative size concentrations are also of paramount importance. In fact, even if the absolute concentrations of the three inhalable PM fractions decreased, relative concentrations of finer fractions have increased in the period 1980-2010. In particular, the relative values of PM2.5 and PM1 are: 61% (PM2.5) and 35% (PM1) in year 1980; 70% (PM2.5) and 54% (PM1) in year 2000; 75% (PM2.5) and 65% (PM1) in year 2011. Results suggest that the introduction of new limitations to sub-micron particles (PM1) emissions is advisable. Possible improvement of air quality management might derive from differentiated local/regional limitations, depending on the charac- teristics of the exposed population and on the local meteorological and geographical characteristics of the sites showing higher aerosol pollution levels.

Multiscale entropy (MSE) can effectively measure the streamflow complexity for river health analysis, but the effects of different kinds of human activities on streamflow complexity are still in con- troversy. In response to this question, this study applies the MSE analysis on river flow of three hydrological stations (Huayuankou, Gaocun and Lijin) in the lower Yellow River and the average pre-cipitation and evaporation of 62 meteorological stations across the Yellow River basin. The results indicate that: 1) water consumption could lead to the decrease of streamflow complexity in lower Yel- low River; 2) construction and operation of reservoirs could in-crease the streamflow complexity downstream, and possible expla-nation is the water storage enhanced long range correlation of res- ervoirs; and 3) the intensity of complexity alteration caused by reservoirs is related to both its capacity and position, larger reservoir in upstream has greater impact on streamflow complexity. This study also suggests MSE to be a useful tool in hydrological study and river ecosystem protection in Yellow River.

Multiscale entropy (MSE) can effectively measure the streamflow complexity for river health analysis, but the effects of different kinds of human activities on streamflow complexity are still in con- troversy. In response to this question, this study applies the MSE analysis on river flow of three hydrological stations (Huayuankou, Gaocun and Lijin) in the lower Yellow River and the average pre-cipitation and evaporation of 62 meteorological stations across the Yellow River basin. The results indicate that: 1) water consumption could lead to the decrease of streamflow complexity in lower Yel- low River; 2) construction and operation of reservoirs could in-crease the streamflow complexity downstream, and possible expla-nation is the water storage enhanced long range correlation of res- ervoirs; and 3) the intensity of complexity alteration caused by reservoirs is related to both its capacity and position, larger reservoir in upstream has greater impact on streamflow complexity. This study also suggests MSE to be a useful tool in hydrological study and river ecosystem protection in Yellow River.

Humans’ existence as living organisms depends on some essential natural resources and ecosystem services. On the other side, nature has a certain speed of regenerating its resources required by hu- mans. Therefore, the consumption rate of natural resources by soci- ety should be equal to or slower than the nature’s speed of resource recovery in order to avoid overexploitation or degradation. This requires the quantitative definition of the Earth’s bio-physical limits that are crucial for the existence of human life, and monitoring of these limits by identifying the proper indicators of the Earth’s per- formance. A new economic theory designed according to the knowledge offered by pure and applied science might play a key role in achieving the long term sustainability goals of humanity.

Humans’ existence as living organisms depends on some essential natural resources and ecosystem services. On the other side, nature has a certain speed of regenerating its resources required by hu- mans. Therefore, the consumption rate of natural resources by soci- ety should be equal to or slower than the nature’s speed of resource recovery in order to avoid overexploitation or degradation. This requires the quantitative definition of the Earth’s bio-physical limits that are crucial for the existence of human life, and monitoring of these limits by identifying the proper indicators of the Earth’s per- formance. A new economic theory designed according to the knowledge offered by pure and applied science might play a key role in achieving the long term sustainability goals of humanity.

Industrial symbiosis complexes have been developing throughout the world for nearly seventy years since 1947, “industrial symbiosis” was proposed firstly. Unfortunately, due to the changes of the exchanges between members or the disappearance or newly-built activities of some members, only a few complexes developed smoothly and sustainably, such as Kalundborg industrial symbiosis complex. Therefore, it is necessary to plan and redesign exist-ing industrial symbiosis complexes. In this study, we firstly combined with density and network degree centralization metrics in network analysis method and divided these complexes into three different types: dependence-oriented (Guangxi, Xinjiang, and Ka-lundborg), equality-oriented (Choctaw and Lubei), and nested-oriented complexes (Kitakyushu, Tianjin, and Styria), then summarized their similarities. Secondly, we can propose new established exchanges for all the eight industrial symbiosis complexes throughout the world from the perspective of analyzing their deficiencies in structural characteristics and calculate how the effectiveness of these new linkages. This study can provide basis for the resource utilization efficiencies improvement and the stable and sustainable development of these complexes.

Industrial symbiosis complexes have been developing throughout the world for nearly seventy years since 1947, “industrial symbiosis” was proposed firstly. Unfortunately, due to the changes of the exchanges between members or the disappearance or newly-built activities of some members, only a few complexes developed smoothly and sustainably, such as Kalundborg industrial symbiosis complex. Therefore, it is necessary to plan and redesign exist-ing industrial symbiosis complexes. In this study, we firstly combined with density and network degree centralization metrics in network analysis method and divided these complexes into three different types: dependence-oriented (Guangxi, Xinjiang, and Ka-lundborg), equality-oriented (Choctaw and Lubei), and nested-oriented complexes (Kitakyushu, Tianjin, and Styria), then summarized their similarities. Secondly, we can propose new established exchanges for all the eight industrial symbiosis complexes throughout the world from the perspective of analyzing their deficiencies in structural characteristics and calculate how the effectiveness of these new linkages. This study can provide basis for the resource utilization efficiencies improvement and the stable and sustainable development of these complexes.