Yiping Fang

Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Global Warming in the Tibetan Plateau during the Last 50 Years Based on a Generalised Temperature Zone - Elevation Model

Temperature is one of the primary factors influencing the climate and ecosystem, and examining its change and fluctuation could elucidate the formation of novel climate patterns and trends. In this study, we constructed a generalised temperature zone elevation model (GTEM) to assess the trends of climate change and temporal-spatial differences in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) using the annual and monthly mean temperatures from 1961–2010 at 144 meteorological stations in and near the TP. The results showed the following: (1) The TP has undergone robust warming over the study period, and the warming rate was 0.318°C/decade. The warming has accelerated during recent decades, especially in the last 20 years, and the warming has been most significant in the winter months, followed by the spring, autumn and summer seasons. (2) Spatially, the zones that became significantly smaller were the temperature zones of −6°C and −4°C, and these have decreased 499.44 and 454.26 thousand sq km from 1961 to 2010 at average rates of 25.1% and 11.7%, respectively, over every 5-year interval. These quickly shrinking zones were located in the northwestern and central TP. (3) The elevation dependency of climate warming existed in the TP during 1961–2010, but this tendency has gradually been weakening due to more rapid warming at lower elevations than in the middle and upper elevations of the TP during 1991–2010. The higher regions and some low altitude valleys of the TP were the most significantly warming regions under the same categorizing criteria. Experimental evidence shows that the GTEM is an effective method to analyse climate changes in high altitude mountainous regions.

Managing the Three-Rivers Headwater Region, China: From Ecological Engineering to Social Engineering

The three-rivers headwater region (THRHR) of Qinghai province, China plays a key role as source of fresh water and ecosystem services for central and eastern China. Global warming and human activities in the THRHR have threatened the ecosystem since the 1980s. Therefore, the Chinese government has included managing of the THRHR in the national strategy since 2003. The State Integrated Test and Demonstration Region of the THRHR highlights the connection with social engineering (focus on improving people’s livelihood and well-being) in managing nature reserves. Based on this program, this perspective attempts a holistic analysis of the strategic role of the THRHR, requirements for change, indices of change, and approaches to change. Long-term success of managing nature reserves requires effective combination of ecological conservation, economic development, and social progress. Thus, the philosophy of social engineering should be employed as a strategy to manage the THRHR.

Towards sustainability: Objectives, strategies and barriers for cleaner production in China

The paper explores the objectives, strategies and barriers to cleaner production (CP) implementation in China. Successful demonstration projects in China have shown that CP is a strategy for reducing pollution and costs, increasing competitiveness and achieving an integrated balance between economic and environmental benefits. As such, it is an inevitable choice and important contribution to sustainable development. However, it has not progressed enough as a strategy for continuous improvement since its effects are limited to industrial sectors or regions. CP implementation can be assisted by further popularization, policy system improvement, perception and awareness raising and technology innovation. These dimensions are the key tasks and incentives for all levels of government, enterprises and social organizations in moving toward sustainability.

The effects of natural capital protection on pastoralist's livelihood and management implication in the source region of the Yellow River, China

The interaction among different livelihood capitals is a key to generate a deeper understanding of the livelihood sustainability. In this paper, we use net income per capita (economic capital), meat and milk production per capita (physical capital), and areas of fenced pasture, livestock shelter, grassland rodent control and planted grassland (physical capital) as proxy indicators of livelihood promotion, livelihood provision, and livelihood protection respectively. By developing a correlation model between pastoralists’ livelihood protection and improvement, we found that (1) there is a statistically significant correlation between the pastoralists’ livelihood protection and promotion; (2) based on the maximum effect of pastoralists’ livelihood promotion and provision, there is a benchmark in the effect of the intervention intensity of livelihood capital (grassland resource protection) on livelihood improvement; (3) on basis of two indicators, i.e. net income per capita and meat production per capita, the reasonable scales of fenced pasture, livestock shelter and planted grassland are less than 843, 860 and 46 thousand hectares (hm2) per year respectively. With the marginal effect of livelihood protection, moderately decreased areas of fenced pasture and planted grassland, and increased area of livestock shelter is a critical to ensure pastoralist’s livelihood sustainability.

Gradient effect on farmers’ income in the mountain areas and its implication for poverty alleviation strategies: Empirical analysis from the upper reach of Minjiang River, China

Using four types of settlements in the upper reach of Minjiang River as case, we establish structural models in farmers’ income of different settlement patterns based on rural household panel data to reveal the gradient effect on farmers’ income and determinants. The results indicate that: (1) except the resettlement area, the incomes for farmers living in river valley, semi-mountain, and high-mountain settlements present a decreasing trend with the elevation increasing; on the contrary, their nonfarm earnings show an increasing trend with the elevation decreasing; (2) from the effect on farmers’ income, there is a common feature that the nonfarm earnings and farming incomes have significant positive effects, and family size and productive expenditure have significant negative effects. One exception to this is the productive expenditure, which becomes insignificant in the model of resettlement area; (3) from the way of increasing farmers’ income and alleviating poverty, there are great differences for four types of settlements in mountain areas, however, the improvement of agricultural product sales, agricultural production subsidies, the expansion for nonfarm employment, and the control of the family’s size are the most effective approaches for poverty alleviation.

Impacts of snow disaster on meat production and adaptation: an empirical analysis in the yellow river source region

The Yellow River source region is located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and has a sensitive response to global change due to its unique cryosphere processes. Any slight changes in natural elements and human activity can have a magnified effect on grassland ecosystem, animal husbandry, and pastoral livelihoods since its economy is exclusively dominated by grassland animal husbandry. Because snow disaster has been one of the major natural disasters in the source region, it is crucial to explore the economic impact of snow disaster on animal husbandry and identify effective adaptation measures. A nonlinear model of meat production was established in relation to snow disaster, grassland productivity, and disaster prevention by introducing a snow level index, and selecting three key indicators of grassland productivity and disaster prevention, including grass growing season precipitation concentration, sown grassland area, and warm barn area. This is an inverse of negative correlation, less meat when there is more snow. Per unit increase in snow level in the source region led to a decrease of 0.213 units in meat production. However, production losses caused by the snow disaster could be effectively suppressed by the increase in scale and intensity of sown grassland and warm barn construction. Per unit increase in sown grassland and warm barn area led to an increase of 0.240 and 0.610 units in meat production, respectively. The effects of sown grassland and warm barn area in reducing snow damage at different snow levels were analyzed. Snow disaster adaptation in the source region should include acceleration of the construction of meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation system, to ensure balanced forage supply between winter and spring, to prioritize the development of warm barn, and reduce the proportion of self-financed construction warm barn to encourage active participation of pastoralists, and to develop insurance mechanism for livestock.

Affecting elements and regional variables based on the objective of carbon intensity reduction in China

The international community is facing the challenge of climate change, and the rapid increase of energy consumption plays a central role in the increasing carbon dioxide emissions. With 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in mainland China, this article establishes an impact model of carbon intensity, identifies key influencing factors on carbon intensity, and quantifies the effect of primary energy consumption, coal share, economic growth and technological innovation on carbon intensity in Eastern, Central and Western China. Results show that 1% of the increase in primary energy consumption in these three areas is attributable to a 0.738%, 0.975% and 0.742% increase in carbon intensity; 1% of the decrease in coal share is attributable to a 0.346%, 0.604% and 0.508% decrease in carbon intensity; and 1% of the increase in productivity efficiency should induce a 0.926%, 1.042% and 0.851% decline in carbon intensity, respectively. The results suggest that it is critical to integrate means for energy conservation, technological and productivity efficiency innovation, and adjust energy structure measures to fully implement a carbon intensity reduction strategy for China in the future.

Investment threshold and management reflection for industrial system cleaning: a case for China

IntroductionThe recognition that industrial activity plays an essential role in a sustainable society is now widespread. To understand the causal relationship between industrial pollution abatement expenditure and industrial system cleaning level in China is of considerable importance, especially under extremely rapid industrial growth and serious pressure of industrial pollutants abatement context.Study methodsWe use composite index assessment method and regression analysis in this paper. We establish the mathematical model between composite industrial cleaner index and investment intensity for industrial pollutants abatement, and analyze the effects of industrial pollutants treatment and discharge indicators on composite industrial cleaner index in China.Results and discussionResults show that: (1) There is significant nonlinear relationship between composite industrial cleaner index and investment intensity for industrial pollutants abatement. (2) From single indicator perspective, the effect of investment intensity on pollutants treatment indicators is positively, on the contrary, the effect of investment intensity on pollutants discharge indicators is negatively; (3) From decomposition cleaner index perspective, the effect of pollutants discharge level (process control) is higher than pollutants treatment capacity (end-of-pipe) on composite industrial cleaner index; (4) There is threshold between investment intensity and composite cleaner industrial index, it is a crucial reference scale for industrial environmental management in selected period.

Impacts and Adaptation of Climate Change on Urban Economic System: A Perspective from the Urban Planning

Climate change has a significant impact on the environment and is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of nature disaster and create new hazards (e.g., rise in sea level). As densely populated and resource-intensive regions, cities will experience the enhanced heat island effect, flooding or water scarcity as a result of extremes in rainfall, and severe storms may devastate entire settlements. In the face of a projected rise in the frequency and severity of nature disasters due to socio-economic developments and climate change the question arises of how to adapt to and ameliorate impacts of natural disasters. This paper provides some insights into this subject from an urban planning perspective and takes a review on the aspects of climate change impacts on urban economics, based on the practices of mitigation and adaptation experiences, some strategies of adaptation are provided and discussed at last.

Poultry Wastewater Land-Spreading Management Based on Eco-Agricultural Park: A Case Analysis of Huaning, Sichuan

The paper investigated the effects of irrigation of poultry waste water on soil fertility and biomass production of cabbage in accordance with the standard of Environmental Technical Terms for Green Food Production Area (NY/T391-2000). The results showed that irrigation of 46.88m3 per hectare every 10 days resulted in the highest production of biomass of cabbage as well best soil fertility index. When a farm garden with considerable scale is available, abatement of poultry wastewater from intensive breeding farm by internal industrial chain extension of eco-agricultural park (EAP) is a simple, feasible, economic and effective mode. At present, the internal farm garden of Huaning EAP reserves a capability of 30,000m3•a-1 in absorbing the wastewater from the breeding farm.