基于节能减排的中国省级工业技术效率研究

在考虑能源与碳排放的共同生产前沿分析框架下,运用基于DEA的非径向非角度的SBM模型测算中国1998-2010年省级工业技术效率,并分析了地区工业技术效率差异及其影响因素。测算结果发现,忽略能源与碳排放约束的传统效率测算结果高估了工业技术效率,地区工业环境效率均呈现上升趋势,但全国工业环境效率总体水平偏低,东部工业环境效率明显高于西部与中部。基于面板数据的Tobit随机效应模型回归结果显示,工业环境效率与人均收入呈U型曲线关系,财政分权、企业所有制结构及出口活动对工业环境效率有负面影响,其中,财政分权的负面影响最为显著;外商直接投资、研发强度及进口基本上促进了工业环境效率的改善,"波特假说"得到了实证支持,"污染天堂假说"未能得到证实。基于节能减排和环境效率增进的工业增长转型,不仅需要考虑环境技术创新、能源结构调整、外资进入等问题,更需要切实关注财政分权、地方政府政绩考核及国有企业产权改革等体制性因素的影响,只有从深层次上打破体制性瓶颈,才能真正促进企业节能减排和工业转型升级。     

财政分权、地方政府竞争和碳排放空间溢出效应分析

财政分权和地方政府竞争深刻影响了我国的经济增长、产业结构、技术水平、城市化进程等领域,而这些领域又同碳排放紧密相连。通过理论分析财政分权、地方政府竞争同碳排放的关系,进一步利用空间溢出效应理论进行了实证分析,研究发现:(1)财政分权同碳排放总量水平正相关,财政分权的空间溢出效应为正。某地区财政分权的提高不仅会带来本地区碳排放水平的提高,同时,也会提高周边地区碳排放水平;(2)地方政府竞争在碳排放问题上存在"趋良效应"。某地区地方政府竞争不仅可以降低本地碳排放水平,还可以降低周围地区碳排放水平;(3)财政分权和地方政府竞争的空间溢出效应具有相似性,两者都是主要通过空间溢出效应来影响碳排放总量水平。建议:(1)适当改善财政分权,加快推进财权和事权的统一。(2)充分利用地方政府的"趋良竞争"。中央政府需给出足够强烈的信号促使地方政府维持"趋良竞争"。(3)鉴于财政分权和地方政府竞争都是主要通过空间溢出效应来影响碳排放总量水平,因此,需要重视空间的溢出作用,强化区域合作。(4)充分利用技术水平的空间溢出效应为负的特点,提高技术水平,强化技术水平的空间溢出效应,降低周围地区碳排放水平。     

财政分权对环境污染的空间效应

利用2006—2017年我国30个省级行政单位的面板数据,采用空间计量模型对财政分权与环境污染之间的关系进行实证分析,并通过效应分解分别计算出财政收入分权和财政支出分权对环境污染的直接效应、空间溢出效应和总效应。模型估计的结果表明:①财政收入分权与财政支出分权通过直接效应和空间溢出效应两种途径对环境污染产生显著影响,但收入分权与支出分权对环境污染的空间效应具有异质性。②财政收入分权对环境污染具有显著的负向直接效应和负向空间溢出效应,影响系数分别为-5.429和-17.572。提高财政收入分权度不仅有利于减轻本省份环境污染,也对邻近省份的环境污染起到抑制作用。而财政支出分权对环境污染具有显著的负向直接效应和正向的空间溢出效应,影响程度分别为-3.345和1.173。提高财政支出分权虽然有利于减少本省份污染的排放,但在一定程度上引起省际的污染外溢效应,提高邻近省份的污染程度。③从总效应来看,财政收入分权和财政支出分权对环境污染均呈现出显著的负向相关性,影响程度分别为-23.001和-2.172。提高财政分权可降低环境污染水平,有利于环境质量提升。④通过构建不同空间权重矩阵,检验模型的稳健性,结果表明模型估计是稳健可靠的。根据分析结论,可能的启示与建议有:①合理划分中央政府和地方政府之间的财政事权和支出责任,在提高财政支出分权度的同时提高地方政府财政收入分权度,充分发挥地方政府环境治理的积极性和主动性。②继续加大生态环境保护力度,完善绿色经济考核机制,引导地方政府加大对污染治理和环境改善的支出水平及效率。     

中国省际碳排放效率的空间计量

本文基于至强有效前沿的最小距离法测算了我国1998-2011年的省际CO2排放效率,这种方法的优点是效率达到生产前沿后在投入或产出方面所做出的改动最小。然后在此基础上分析了我国省际碳排放效率的区域差异性以及空间相关性,最后运用1998-2011年我国30个省份的面板数据,建立空间面板数据模型,对我国碳排放效率的影响因素进行了实证研究。研究结果表明:样本期内,我国省际碳排放效率表现出较大的省际差异性,东部沿海省份的平均碳排放效率显著高于内陆省份。分地区看,东部地区的碳排放效率走势相对平稳,全国及中西部地区的碳排放效率则呈现出"U"型曲线的走势,并且东部地区的碳排放效率明显要高于中西部地区;空间自相关Moran’s I检验显示,省际碳排放效率在空间上存在着显著的空间自相关性,具有明显的集群趋势,而空间LISA图则表明省际碳排放效率不仅具有空间依赖性的特征,同时也有空间异质性的表现;经济规模、工业结构和能源消费结构对碳排放效率造成了较大的负面影响,对外开放、企业所有制结构以及政府干预对碳排放效率有正向影响,而产业结构对碳排放效率的影响则不显著。因此,对于将来中国提高碳排放效率工作的重点应该是实现经济增长模式由粗放型向集约型的转变,着重调整工业结构和能源消费结构,同时进一步提升对外开放的质量,加强政府的碳减排工作力度。     

环境分权、环境规制对农业面源污染的影响

环境规制是实现农业面源污染减排的重要手段,而科学合理地划分环境管理权力是夯实环境规制减排绩效的制度基础。厘清环境分权、环境规制与农业面源污染三者之间的关系对优化环境管理体制和促进农业绿色发展具有重要的理论与现实意义。鉴于此,文章将环境规制、环境分权和农业面源污染纳入同一分析框架,基于2005—2017年省际面板数据,构建动态面板模型和面板门槛模型,实证考察了环境分权、环境规制与农业面源污染的内在联系。研究结果显示:①环境规制是抑制农业面源污染的重要手段;环境分权、环境监察分权和环境监测分权对农业面源污染具有显著的正向作用,环境行政分权对农业面源污染则表现为负向作用。②环境事务管理权力的下放将恶化环境规制的农业面源污染减排效应,引发“绿色悖论”效应,其中环境监察分权和环境监测分权的影响尤为突出。③从区域层面来看,中西部地区环境事务管理权力下放引发的“绿色悖论”效应显著,而东部地区则不显著。④环境规制对农业面源污染的影响随环境分权程度的变化呈现出门槛特征。伴随环境分权程度的提高,环境规制对农业面源污染的影响由“援助之手”转为“攫取之手”。因此,为解决日益严重的农业面源污染,应制定差异化的环境分权策略。一方面,环境行政权力应适当下放,而环境监察和环境监测权力要逐步上移;另一方面,进一步压缩中西部地区环境政策自由裁量空间,加大农业环境考核与监督力度。同时,建立长期动态农业面源污染监测体系,形成联防联控治理格局。     

环境分权与区域绿色发展

绿色发展是经济转型发展的根本途径,合理的环境管理体制是实现区域绿色发展的关键。本文从环境分权出发,探索实现区域绿色发展的中央政府和地方政府环境管理权责分配关系。将环境分权纳入环境与经济整体分析框架,引入财政分权指标,探索环境分权对区域绿色发展内在作用机理,并利用省级面板数据和空间计量模型实证检验作用机制。研究发现:①区域绿色发展空间正向溢出显著,本地区绿色发展水平的提高将促进其他区域的绿色发展。②全国层面环境分权、环境行政分权和环境监测分权对区域绿色发展具有显著促进作用,环境监察分权对区域绿色发展具有一定的负面影响。③环境分权与财政分权的互动效应整体为负。在地方环保部门拥有较大环境管理权力的同时,地方财政自主权的提高将造成区域绿色发展的恶化,其影响大小又与环境管理权力的类别相关。④不同地区环境分权的经济环境效应存在差异。随着国家对环境重视程度的不断提高,中西部地区环境分权对区域绿色发展的促进作用要强于东部地区,但环境分权与财政分权结合所得的负面影响更大。因此,为实现中国绿色发展、转型升级和实现高质量发展,应在考虑地方财政权力的基础上,从区域差异与环境管理权力类别差异两方面入手,建立差异化的环境管理体制。一方面,进一步提高中西部地区环境系统人员数,以此建立完善的环境管理网络;另一方面,环境行政与监测权力应适当下放,环境监察权力应适当上移。同时,应下放环境保护责任,增加环境转移支付,在实现地方权责匹配的基础上弱化财政分权与环境分权的联动效应。     

政府财政配置能力与外资参与程度对碳经济绩效的驱动效应

在新旧动能转换过程中,为实现区域经济与碳排放增长的脱钩发展,基于绿色经济发展的理念构建了碳经济绩效概念。利用1997—2015年省级动态面板数据,通过建立聚类稳健双向固定效应模型和一步系统广义矩估计模型,实证检验了政府财政配置能力和外资参与程度对碳经济绩效驱动效应。基于全国样本数据研究发现,政府财政配置能力与碳经济绩效呈现显著的负向变动关系,而外资参与程度与碳经济绩效呈现显著的正向变动关系,且政府财政配置能力和外资参与程度对碳经济绩效的共同影响效应上存在互补关系,该结论为"竞争到底假说"和"污染光环假说"的有效性提供了经验证据。另外地方政府财政配置能力在推进碳经济绩效改革进程中起到的抑制效应超过了外资参与程度的促进效应,侧面反映了政府行为在促进碳经济绩效进程中的主导性。基于区域异质性分样本数据研究发现,在东部地区和高绩效区域,外资参与程度在促进区域经济增长的同时兼顾区域环境治理,能够显著地促进碳经济绩效的提升,有助于实现区域经济增长和环境优化的"协同效应";而在中西部地区和低绩效区域,政府财政配置能力在促进区域经济增长的同时忽视了区域环境治理,不利于碳经济绩效的提升和绿色经济的发展。建议发挥政府财政配置能力和外资参与程度在推动区域经济增长和环境优化进程中的"互补效应"和地方政府对于区域碳经济绩效提升的"引导效应",共同搭建"螺旋式"碳经济绩效良性循环发展机制。长期忽视财政资源配置对碳经济绩效提升的引导作用,容易陷入区域经济发展滞后与环境持续恶化的"二元"发展困境。     

中国环境效率评价及其影响因素实证研究

环境效率是实际污染排放和潜在污染排放的一种度量。本文运用包含污染排放的环境DEA模型,测算了1998-2007年中国省际环境效率,检验了其收敛情况。结果显示,全国环境效率总体水平较低,省际、区域间差距较大,表明现阶段实行地区间减排合作、推动环保技术在区域间扩散的现实必要性;分别从20032、005年开始,省际、区域环境效率差距逐渐缩小,存在一定的收敛趋势;同时,本文采用Tobit模型分析了影响环境效率因素,研究发现人均GDP对提高环境效率具有积极影响,而工业比重上升、财政分权度的提高以及贸易自由化对环境效率具有显著的负面影响。最后,基于实证研究的结果,就减少地区污染排放、提高我国环境效率给出了相关政策建议。     

基于物质平衡原则的中国工业碳排放绩效分析

基于物质平衡原则,应用数据包络分析法构建了Malmquist碳生产率指数,用以考察碳排放绩效的动态变化。通过该指数的分解,碳排放绩效的变化被分解为技术效率效应、技术变化效应和配置效率效应,从而揭示了提升碳排放绩效的三个重要途径,即技术效率改进、技术进步和配置效率改善。应用上述分析框架,论文分析了1997-2012年期间中国工业碳排放绩效的动态变化及主要来源。结果显示,在全国平均水平上,研究期间中国工业部门的碳排放绩效总体上增长较快,碳生产率年均增长率为5.8%;碳排放绩效增长的主要来源为配置效率的提高,其次为技术进步,而技术效率的下降起到了抑制作用。分地区来看,东部地区碳排放绩效增长较快,而中西部地区碳排放绩效增长相对较缓。而且这种地区差异还有扩大趋势,其主要原因在于:中西部地区的技术进步速度明显慢于东部地区,而技术效率下降的速度快于东部地区。论文还实证检验了碳排放绩效的影响因素。为了控制变量的空间交互作用,采用了空间计量模型。实证结果表明:国有化程度、能源自给率对碳排放绩效有显著的负向影响;研发投入、外贸开放度、外商直接投资、能源价格对碳排放绩效有显著的正面影响,而人力资本的影响不显著。此外,国有化程度、人力资本对碳排放绩效的空间溢出效应显著为负,研发投入、外商直接投资和能源价格的空间溢出效应显著为正,而外贸开放度、能源自给率的空间溢出效应不显著。最后,根据实证结果,论文提出了一些政策建议。     

市场分割对能源效率的影响研究

探究能源效率的影响因素并有针对性地提出对策建议是实现"十三五"节能目标的前提条件。本文利用1986—2014年的省际面板数据,基于随机前沿分析和反事实计量方法,重点考察了市场分割对能源效率的影响。结果显示:1市场分割显著地抑制了能源效率的提升;2在考虑市场分割的情形下,能源效率从1986年的0.413提升到了2014年的0.739,年均增速为2.1%,但能源效率依然有较大的改善空间,如果能够消除市场分割的不利影响,能源效率平均每年将会获得1.5%的额外提升;3在样本考察期内,由于市场分割导致的直接能源损失平均每年约为1 200万t标准煤,若考虑市场分割产生的其他间接影响及其动态效应,这一数字估计值会更高;4产权结构改革、对外开放、产业结构升级以及节能法的颁布促进了能源效率的改善,而金融发展规模、政府干预以及以煤炭为主的能源消费结构不利于能源效率的提升。以上研究结论蕴含的政策含义是:为提高能源效率,需要加强市场一体化建设,打破省际壁垒,整合国内市场。鉴于市场分割可能是一些地方政府的占优策略,因此,需要中央政府来进行推动。一方面,中央政府可以通过加强监管和查处力度直接惩罚市场分割行为,另一方面,中央政府还可以通过转移支付的方式鼓励落后地区积极主动融入国内整体市场。当然,提高能源效率,也需要诸如推进产权结构改革,提高对外开放水平,优化产业结构与能源消费结构,改善金融发展效率,减少政府干预以及完善能源政策法规等其他措施的共同跟进。     

WSSD 2002, Latin America and Brazil: Biodiversity and Indigenous People

Latin America comprehends notable variations in terms of natural environment, availability of natural resources, living standards, and demographic patterns. Latin America is a mosaic of cultures, post- and pre-Columbian. The rich variety of life forms discovered and described by chroniclers and traveling naturalists in the Neotropics contributed to the proposal, in mid-XVIIIth century, of a new system of classification and a scientific code of nomenclature for all organisms. Biodiversity was, for many centuries, a source of resources to be exploited in natura. In scientific circles, its inventory became the domain of taxonomists. But modern technology showed how important the miriad of life forms really are as sources of chemical molecules to be engineered as drugs and reassembled as novel manufactured products. We are on the brink of a new agricultural and medical revolution, thanks to the techniques of genetic engineering, which will lead eventually to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition.In this essay, the Brazilian environmental and social heterogeneity will serve as an example to illustrate some key points, which have influenced sustainability policies. The Amazon deforestation and indigenous knowledge (IK), subjects often associated with areas of high biodiversity, are usually the focus of environmental debates. The importance of IK in integrating development, reducing poverty and sustainability are considered together with the intellectual property rights of native populations.In the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Implementation Plan, a few paragraphs were dedicated to Latin America, because of the pre-existing Action Platform on the Road to Johannesburg 2002, approved in Rio de Janeiro in October 2001. This paper calls attention to the need to draw up specific environmental policies for a region which shows an extremely high cultural and biological diversity, associated with a high availability of forests and water, among other resources.     

The Phenomenon of Pseudoviviparity in Alpine and Arctomontane Grasses (DeschampsiaBeauv., FestucaL., and PoaL.)

It is known that pseudoviviparous plant taxa are most numerous in the Arctic and high mountain regions, where they sometimes account for a noticeable part of the local flora and play an important phytocenotic role. The complex of pseudoviviparous taxa is an interesting model for investigating the processes of hybridogenic speciation, as various mechanisms stabilizing the hybrid genetic systems proved to be effective in them. In particular, this concerns vast and taxonomically complex groups such as the genera Deschampsia, Festuca, and Poa.In this paper, published data on the taxonomy, chromosome numbers, and distribution of pseudoviviparous grasses in the Arctic regions and subarctic mountain systems are reviewed.     

Conservation, commercialisation and confusion: harvesting of Ischyrolepis in a coastal forest, South Africa

Harvesting of non-timber forest products is an integral component of rural livelihoods throughout the developing world. At times this is at odds with conservation objectives. Reconciliation of the two requires examination of local level contexts and needs. This paper reports on the harvesting needs for Ischyrolepis by a rural community in South Africa, against the setting that they had recently been prohibited from harvesting by the local conservation officials. Interviews were conducted with conservation officials to understand the reasoning for the prohibition. Local demand for Ischyrolepis was assessed by household surveys, as well as in-depth interviews with traders. The density and size class distribution of Ischyrolepis was determined using transects. The total annual demand for Ischyrolepis was determined to be approximately only 2.7% of the standing crop. The bulk of the annual demand was for small-scale trade, the income from which was a primary source of income for the few harvesters. Very little evidence could be found indicating that harvesting was damaging the resource or its habitat, and local knowledge suggested that the abundance of the species was stimulated by harvesting. Even if market demand were to increase, the size of the shoots required means that less than 20% of the standing crop could be harvested annually. Current regulations around harvesting are in a state of revision, and hence confusion prevails regarding if harvesting is permissible, and if so, under what conditions, which is detrimental to both conservation and livelihoods. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Radionuclide content of building materials and associated gamma dose rates in Egyptian dwellings

Studies have been carried out to determine the natural radioactivity in some building materials (bricks, tiles, marble and ceramics) and their associated radiation hazard. The radioactivity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured using a gamma spectrometer with a Hp–Ge detector. The activities of ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U were measured using an alpha-spectrometer with a surface barrier detector after applying a radiochemical procedure. The ²³⁴U/²³⁸U isotopic ratios were calculated. The radium equivalent activities and the radiation hazard index associated with the natural radionuclides were calculated. A computer program was developed and applied to calculate the dose rate a person will receive from the walls of a room constructed from the studied building materials.     

Education for Sustainable Development: The Johannesburg Summit and Beyond

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg during 26 August and 4 September 2002, was a truly remarkable event, not least because it identified and committed the world community to what has to be done to realise Agenda 21 objectives. Discussion begins with the "means of implementation" of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPI). Education for, and raising awareness of, sustainable development are the key commitments in the "means of implementation". The issues central to these commitments are discussed. The crucial role of moral philosophy in education for sustainable development is then discussed. Defining the "problem" as lack of progress (in fact negative progress between Rio and Johannesburg) towards global sustainable development, a cause–effect relationship of the "problem" is developed based on a systematic and logical analysis. It shows that the "cause" is West's profoundly materialistic, environment-degrading and exploitative attitude and activities to satisfy grossly unsustainable, hedonistic and insatiably avaricious Western life-styles – life-styles that are held up by the West as "ideal" fruits of economic "development" to be aspired by all. The "effects" are pollution of air, water and soil; mounting loss of biodiversity, ecosystems and species; relentlessly widening north–south divide, etc. It is argued that while science and technology can address some of the "effects", they cannot address the "cause". Only moral philosophy can by fundamentally re-orienting moral values genuinely to respect nature and the environment. Based on sound and tested principles of Educational Psychology, a proposal is then made for including moral philosophy in the formal curricula (content and pedagogy) of primary, secondary and higher education for instilling in children and young people genuinely environment-respecting moral values. To this end a generic syllabus for the secondary level is proposed. Finally, it is argued that if the scientific community really believes that science or technology alone can radically change the pervasive environment-degrading moral values to those that genuinely respect the environment, thus paving the way to real global sustainability, then it must demonstrate how this could be done and explain why, despite their abundant science and technology, the developed nations are the biggest polluters and consumers with grossly unsustainable life-styles. Certainly, examples would be much more convincing than rhetoric or tired old clichés about how science and technology alone could deliver global sustainable development.     

Do nanoparticles present ecotoxicological risks for the health of the aquatic environment?

Nanotechnology is a major innovative scientific and economic growth area, which may present a variety of hazards for environmental and human health. The surface properties and very small size of nanoparticles and nanotubes provide surfaces that may bind and transport toxic chemical pollutants, as well as possibly being toxic in their own right by generating reactive radicals. There is a wealth of evidence for the harmful effects of nanoscale combustion-derived particulates (ultrafines), which when inhaled can cause a number of pulmonary pathologies in mammals and humans. However, release of manufactured nanoparticles into the aquatic environment is largely an unknown. This review addresses the possible hazards associated with nanomaterials and harmful effects that may result from exposure of aquatic animals to nanoparticles. Possible nanoparticle association with naturally occurring colloids and particles is considered together with how this could affect their bioavailability and uptake into cells and organisms. Uptake by endocytotic routes are identified as probable major mechanisms of entry into cells; potentially leading to various types of toxic cell injury. The higher level consequences for damage to animal health, ecological risk and possible food chain risks for humans are also considered based on known behaviours and toxicities for inhaled and ingested nanoparticles in the terrestrial environment. It is concluded that a precautionary approach is required with individual evaluation of new nanomaterials for risk to the health of the environment. Although current toxicity testing protocols should be generally applicable to identify harmful effects associated with nanoparticles, research into new methods is required to address the special properties of nanomaterials.     

Household water in rural asia: a case study of the construction of a piped water system in Bangui,Ilocos Norte,Philippines

In early 1980 an extension agent was assigned to the rural municipality of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines to work on development projects – in particular the improvement of the supply of safe water for drinking and sanitation. After many months of visiting spring sites and meeting with community leaders, a small part of the municipality was selected to build a gravity fed piped water system. Although the system took many months to plan, identify funding and construct, the 600 community members were ultimately rewarded with house to house connections that enabled them to achieve per capita water consumption levels above the minimum levels recommended by the World Health Organization. Of course, money was critical to ensure the project’s success, but many other factors played an equally critical role. For instance, without the active participation of the community and the unwavering support of the community leadership the project would not have survived the initial planning stage. Also, the extension agent played a critical role by acting as a conduit between funding agencies, the Bureau of Public Works and the community. The primary lesson to be learned from this experience is that the success of rural development projects is largely driven by the synergy between the community, technical support, financial support, and agents of change such as extension agents. If any of these ingredients had been lacking, the project result would likely have been far different.