Lijie Gao

Carbon footprint analysis of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system: a case study of Xiamen City

The transport sector is responsible for a large and growing share of global emissions that affect climate change. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems have been identified as an efficient public transport option, but their total emissions across the entire operation chain have not been quantified. This paper proposed a carbon footprint model of the BRT system based on a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, with three components: infrastructures, fuels and vehicles. A case study of Xiamen City was carried out to offer a broader perspective on the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact. Results showed that the total carbon footprint of Xiamens BRT system was 55,927 tCO2e per year. The main emission phases, infrastructure operations, vehicle fuel consumption and infrastructure material production, respectively, accounted for 31%, 30% and 23%. The direct emission from fuel consumption was 13,059 tCO2e per year, accounting for 23% of the total carbon footprint. Considering only direct emissions, the BRT system could achieve reductions of approximately 25,255 tCO2e per year compared to the no-build option. The carbon footprint model proved effective in identifying and measuring GHG emissions of each activity of the BRT life cycle.

Air pollution-oriented ecological risk assessment in Xiamen city, China

ABSTRACT Urban energy consumption is one of the most important causes of air pollution. Air pollution-oriented ecological risk assessment is of great significance to the promotion of urban environmental protection. This paper focuses on ecological risk in Xiamen city caused by air pollutant discharge from urban energy consumption. The Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning model was used to establish two scenarios of energy consumption in Xiamen city, and based on different scenarios, we estimated urban energy consumption and discharge quantity of air pollutant (DQAP). A box model and an expert scoring method were used to calculate the air pollution burden (APB) of SO2, NO2, CO, PM10 and PM2.5 and to obtain the probabilities of different air pollution loads. An ecological risk assessment model was developed and utilized to predict Xiamen city’s ecological risks in 2020. The results showed that under an energy-saving scenario, the ecological risks for PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 are high, whereas the ecological risks for CO and PM10 are low. Under a baseline scenario, the ecological risks for PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 are moderate, whereas the ecological risks for CO and PM10 are low. In addition, the APB of SO2, NO2, CO, and PM2.5, but not of PM10, is predicted to rise. In the simulation, energy generation from coal is the main source of air pollution. Although the DQAP from automobiles is not high, it is predicted to rise year-on-year. In summary, the ecological risk due to pollution in Xiamen city is high, and the main pollutants are SO2, NO2 and PM2.5.

Development and application of a comprehensive ecological risk assessment indicator system in Xiamen, China

ABSTRACT Urban ecological risk is one of the important factors that may restrict the social and economic development. Therefore, it is of great significance to carry out a comprehensive assessment of ecological risks so that an ecological risk prevention and control plan can be scientifically formulated. In this paper, a comprehensive ecological risk assessment indicator system of Xiamen was established based on local ecological properties and socioeconomic status. This indicator system covers seven indicators including air pollution, soil pollution, water pollution, fresh water consumption, change in land use, occupation of key zones with ecological functions, and road network expansion. Based on this indicator system and in conjunction with the single factor assessment of ecological risks, this study constructed a model of comprehensive ecological risk assessment and forecasted the comprehensive ecological risk of Xiamen in 2020. The results showed that the comprehensive ecological risk level of Xiamen in 2020 is medium and the main stressors are the discharge of air and water pollutants. From the perspective of risk receptors, i.e. the ecosystem services, the risk posed to the ecosystem services associated to the maintenance of air quality and water purification is the highest. Therefore, this study proposed the recommendations on ecological risk prevention and regulation in Xiamen based on the comprehensive assessment of ecological risks, in the hope to provide scientific support for local ecological protection and sustainable development.

Sustainable management and protection of ecosystems in Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province, China: Introduction

Ecosystems provide both goods and services that are necessary components of humans’ daily life and socio-economic development. Associated with rapid urbanization processes and tourism development in Shangri-La County over recent years, human activities have put a huge pressure on ecosystem conservation and management. In this special issue, we use the case of Shangri-La County to trace the evolution processes of various ecosystems, understand the relationship between natural resources utilization and environmental protection and pursue the goal of the sustainability of ecological services. The articles published in this special issue support a general conclusion that urban development and human activities are key factors that threaten ecosystem conservation and sustainable development in Shangri-La County. Relevant policies and measures concerning ecosystem conservation and ecotourism management are discussed in this special issue.

Principles and Application of Sustainable Development

At present, sustainable development has become the consensus of governments and the people around the world, and has come from concept to practice. However, it involves the reform of population, resources, environment, production, technology, institutions, and concept. In order to achieve this goal, the road is long and full of hardships in the future. Especially for China, which is a country confronted with an enormous population, a serious shortage of resources per capita, high pressure on employment, outstanding ecological and environmental problems, and the promotion of regional sustainable development has important practical significance. To promote sustainable development, first we need to choose an index that can fully reflect regional natural, economical and social characteristics from the perspective of system, then follow certain principles to establish evaluation indicator or indicator system to evaluate the sustainable development. Single index or multi-index evaluation method can be used for the evaluation of sustainable development. Eco-compensation aims at the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem services; it is an institutional arrangement that regulates the relationship between different stakeholders using economic method and an important means to realize sustainable development. In China, the theory and practice of eco-compensation has experienced the following stage in turn: groping spontaneously, theoretical research, and combining theory and practice. On the whole, the goal of realizing global sustainable development reflects the coordination between human and nature, and between different individuals. Coordination between human and nature provides guarantee for sustainable development, and guarantee of harmonious relations between different individuals reflect the rationality and orderly organization of sustainable development. Implementing the strategy of sustainable development in China, is not only an inevitable choice in the long term, but an inevitable conclusion to improve and promote their development ability in the contrast with countries all over the world.