Dong Suocheng

Municipal solid waste management in China: using commercial management to solve a growing problem

Abstract The municipal solid waste (MSW) problem in China is expanding rapidly, with annual waste production growing at close to 10% per year, but sanitary landfills are still rare. This paper discusses China’s MSW management problems, analyzes MSW production trends, and proposes countermeasures using commercial management to address China’s MSW problems. Various organizational and technical hurdles, including centralized planning and economic disincentives, stand in the way of the establishment of a vibrant commercial MSW management system. But commercialization of the MSW industry is the optimal and perhaps only route for effectively purging China of its MSW problem. The development of an ‘industry chain’ with upstream and downstream linkages is required.

Problems and Strategies of Industrial Transformation of China's Resource-based Cities

Abstract Resource-based cities face vital economic, social, and environmental problems during their industrial transformation. Urban industrial structure is a traditional primary industrial pattern, which is resource-based and resource-intensive economy with low level technology and efficiency. They encounter tremendous pressure of unemployment and social security. Resources of such cities are on the verge of extinction, in addition, the environmental pollution and ecological conditions are becoming worse. The cities have significant institutional issues and their innovation capacity is inadequate. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out strategic innovations to realize the successful economic transformation of resource-based cities. The strategic innovations include innovation of development goals, equalization of social welfare, sustainable economic development, coordinative development between eco-environment and socioeconomy, and circular economy development strategies optimizing diversified industrial structures. In addition, forming eco-industrial system and changing traditional growth pattern, strategy of resource and industrial substitution and supplement, scientific and technological innovation strategy —late-comers advantages of development of new high-tech ecocity development strategy and innovation of institutional mechanism and systems.

Resources, Environment and Economic Patterns and Sustainable Development Modes of the Silk Road Economic Belt

Abstract: The paper analyzes the distribution pattern of resources, ecological environment, society and economy, and holds that it is conducive to Silk Road countries to carry out Omni-directional and multi-level economic cooperation. Then the article puts forth main modes and paths of sustainable economic development for the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB): ecological civilization mode, regional economic integration mode, transportation economic belt mode and international tourism economic zone mode. Finally, the article summarizes the key scientific issues for the sustainable development in the SREB and puts forward several action projects which include establishing International Scientists League and Think Tanks, establishing international information sharing platform and scientific policy-making system of ecological environment and sustainable development of the SREB, starting international science cooperation and technology traineeship program of the SREB, founding the international cooperation committee in the SREB and founding transnational construction and win-win cooperation mechanism of coping with climate change and ecological environment.

Land use Dynamics and Landscape Patterns in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang

Abstract: Land use change and landscape patterns have a large effect on land productivity and ecosystem biodiversity. Based on geographical information system technology and remote sensing data related to land use and land cover of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai (Jiang-Zhe-Hu area), we analyzed patterns of landscape change and predicted land use dynamics using the CA-MARKOV model. We also analyzed the conversion rate and area among landscape classes using the CA-Markov model. We found that from 1980 to 2005, there was a significant decrease in the area of farmland, and much of this landscape was transformed into settlements. Most of the landscape classes have become fragmented and isolated. The areas of farmland, settlement land and water tend to be complex in their shape and spatial clustering. The shapes of other land class patches have become simpler, and overall landscape fragmentation has increased. Landscape diversity and heterogeneity have increased. The CAMARKOV model predicted that settlement land will continue to grow from 2005 to 2015, but the speed of conversion will be reduced. The speed of the reduction in farmland and forest has increased, and increased settlement areas are clustered along the Yangtze River. Land use dynamics and change in the landscape pattern have affected land productivity and made the ecosystem more sensitive and fragile in this study region.

Carrying Capacity of Water Resources for Three-North Shelterbelt Construction in China

Abstract: Water shortage is an important constraint factor in the construction of the Three-North Shelterbelt (TNS). Here, we analyzed temporal—spatial patterns in water resources and trends in the Three—North region. We evaluated the water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) of 623 counties in the project area during the fifth phase of the TNS Development Program. Results show that 387 counties are appropriate for forestation, 185 counties can be planted, and 60 counties are inappropriate for forestation because of water resource constraints.

Comparative Analysis of Different Forest Ecosystems Response to Global Climate Change and Economic Activity

Abstract: This article examines the impact of climate change on different ecosystems (boreal, tropical) APR on the territory of Russia, Mongolia, China, received in the course of research in key areas of investigated territory; provides a comparative analysis of the reaction of these ecosystems to global climate change. It is concluded, that there is some reaction of the forest ecosystem to climate change. This reaction is differently. It is noted the importance of socio-economic problems which have significant impact on ecosystems, along with climate change. Carried out researches allow to conclude, that it is necessary to investigate additionally how imposed climate-driven and direct human impacts to changes in forest and forest steppe ecosystems.

Impact of Climate Change on Urban Agglomerations in China’s Coastal Region

Abstract Climate change and urbanization issues are the two key factors that make humans liable to be affected by disasters, which are overlapped in urban agglomeration. The five big urban agglomerations of China with strong economic power are the important engines for national economic and social development. However, being in the sea-land mutual interaction belts with a vast hazard-bearing body, they are affected by sea-land compound disasters, and are liable to suffer heavy disaster losses with climate change. It is suggested that government departments concerned should fully recognize the impact of climate change on coastal urban agglomerations, propose strategies as soon as possible, and integrate the impact of climate change and adaptation countermeasures into the various kinds of social-economic development plans for coastal urban regions.

Model Modification and Application on Carrying Capacity of Relative Resources

Abstract Based on the retrospection of researches on carrying capacity, this article reviewed systematically the research progresses on carrying capacity of relative resources (CCRR). Then the viewpoint was put forward that CCRR is not an appropriate method of appraising the regional sustainability, but a sound way to obtain cognition for coordinating spatial location and flow of population and economy. However, as the most popular computing method of CCRR, the Weighting Linear Sum Model is defective in the random of weight choice and the neglect of matching among different resources. Therefore, this article established the Geometric Model on CCRR based on modifying Weighting Linear Sum Model, which can be used to appraise regions where resources are close matching. Employing the Geometric Model, the article empirically analyzed the population and economic CCRR in Hubei Province from 1978 to 2006. The result indicates that the population in Hubei Province is overloading while the economic carrying capacity is abundant compared to the whole country, and the economic insufficiency restricts the population carrying capacity. In the future, Hubei Province will become one of the core developing zones which are characterized by economic conglomeration.

Ecotourism Model and Benefits of Periphery Regions in Western Sichuan Province

Abstract There are many problems in the minority regions of western Sichuan Province, such as serious soil erosion, fragile ecological environment, low levels of economy and so on. Advantages of tourism resources in the “periphery regions” should be fully utilized, and “multitourism” meets the characteristics and present situation of the minority regions. The “multitourism development model” can exert the functions of tourism as the key industry. Based on the demands and the internal linkages among different industries, the model can accelerate the development of related-industries, such as eco-agriculture, eco-industry and so on. Through implementing the multi-tourism model, we can fully utilize the advantages of the periphery regions and promote the sustainable development of regional economy.

Contrastive Study of the Circular Economy of Coal Resource City Based on Ecological Efficiency and C Model

Abstract: Being a developing country, the evaluation of Chinese circular economy should have its particular criterion that suits for specific national conditions. With the growth of economy, Chinese environmental loads should be permitted to increase at an appropriate speed. Based on this concept, this paper divides the process of evaluation into two parts which include evaluation of development level and evaluation of development performance. Firstly, this paper sets up a reference system which includes Zaozhuang City of Shandong Province, Jiaozuo City of Henan province, Shizuishan City of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and China that is regarded as a region respectively, analyzes the development level of circular economy of coal resource cities based on the evaluation indicator of ecological efficiency, and puts forward the future direction of circular economy of coal resource cities. Secondly, based on C Model of Circular Economy, this paper constructs the measurement model of development performance in which study regions are analyzed in a particular period that is from 2000 to 2020, and evaluates the development performance of circular economy for study regions according to the relationship of growth multiples between economic scale and environmental loads. We can draw several main conclusions: firstly, the development pathways of all four study regions belong to type Ⅱ which resource efficiency is preferred. Secondly, the comprehensive energy consumption efficiencies of coal resource cities were left far behind by Chinas average level. Thirdly, the circular economies of all study regions have achieved remarkable progress. Fourthly, the development level of circular economy can be evaluated from two dimensions which consist of horizontal comparison method and vertical comparison method. Fifthly, C model is an appropriate development model that suits for Chinese national conditions and could be selected as an important method to evaluate regional development performance of circular economy.