Better environmental regulation — contributions from risk-based decision-making

Internationally, pressure is being exerted on governments and regulators to develop modern forms of regulation that deliver more for less, and in better ways. We discuss the ways in which one large regulator, the Environment Agency for England and Wales, has responded to such pressures by implementing risk-based approaches to regulation. After exploring the context for key elements of risk-based environmental regulation, we consider the evolving influence of such approaches. We discuss the impacts against the UK Government's principles for better regulation and the key criteria for policy evaluation, before considering some of the challenges: the need to i) understand the best practice and promote consistency in risk-based regulation; ii) develop reliable, responsive forms of risk assessment and monitoring; iii) build capacities for responsive risk regulation; iv) evaluate the influence of different regulatory styles; and v) better understand the potential role of the private sector.     

Assessing concerns of interested parties when predicting the significance of environmental impacts related to the construction process of residential buildings

The most common challenges and obstacles encountered by construction organizations during the process of implementing and using environmental management systems are related to the inherent peculiarities of the construction sector. Several studies have shown that one of the issues involving the greatest level of uncertainty is the identification and assessment of environmental impacts. In order to improve the identification of the significance of environmental impacts of construction projects and sites, which will lead to greater efficiency and robustness in environmental management systems, this paper extends the systematic approach for identifying and assessing potential adverse environmental impacts at the pre-construction stage presented in Gangolells et al. (2009) by introducing the assessment of the concerns of interested parties. By considering concerns amongst internal and external interested parties, one can assess the significance of environmental impacts taking into account not only the severity of the impacts but also local perceptions and international challenges, thereby ensuring that the determination of the impacts’ significance is appropriate to the particular socioeconomic and biophysical environments surrounding construction sites. In order to quantitatively measure concerns among internal and external interested parties for each of the 37 environmental impacts related to a construction project, we developed corresponding indicators and assessment scales with the help of a panel of experts. A series of χ² tests conducted over 76 new-start construction projects clearly revealed that the severity of environmental impacts is not correlated with the concerns of interested parties. The development of a formal quantitative method and the subsequent definition of a threshold make it possible to obtain advance knowledge of the significance – and, therefore, the acceptability – of each potential environmental impact for a particular construction project. A total score for each construction project alternative is also obtained, so the improved methodology provides a consistent basis for comparing construction companies and construction sites. Finally, two case studies are presented in order to demonstrate the benefits of the improved methodology.     

Integrating environmental considerations into economic regulation of China's electricity sector

One of the key challenges for China's transition towards sustainable development is how to supply adequate and reliable electric power by an environmentally benign electricity sector. This paper examines to what extent environmental concerns have been integrated into economic regulation and the difficulties of doing so under the current regulatory framework. It finds that there has been a failure to adequately and systematically incorporate environmental considerations into the formulation and enforcement of electricity regulation. As a result, some of the potential gains of the adopted emission-control measures have not materialised and challenges remain for future adoption of other pollution-reduction initiatives.     

社会影响评价在我国的发展现状及展望

本文就社会影响评价相对于环境影响评价而言在我国发展的相对滞后状况，提出当前发展的重要时代意义，并探讨关于其范式界定、评价变量选择以及和公众参与的关系等方面的具体问题，最后提出社会影响评价在我国的未来发展展望。     

浅谈集中供热运行调节

对初调节的方法及其必要性进行了阐述,根据调节地点的不同,对运行调节的方法进行了分类,并着重从质调节、量调节、分阶段变流量的质调节等方面对集中调节的方法进行了阐述,以满足热用户的自主调节性。     

初调节和运行调节对供暖节能的影响

分析了供热采暖运行中，初调节和运行调节对供热系统节能的影响，并介绍了初调节和运行调节的几种方法。对改善供热效果、提高供热系统热能利用率有积极指导作用。     

日本降低环境负荷的建筑设计实践

本文分析探讨了日本的四个降低环境负荷典型建筑实例,概括出建筑设计中降低环境负荷的主要内容和方法。对建筑师的设计思考,以及建筑与环境的和谐发展具有一定的参考意义。     

热水供暖系统的运行调节

针对热水供暖系统的运行调节方法，从直接连接和间接连接系统两方面，对其优缺点作了分析，提出了既能保证供暖效果，又能节约能源的供暖系统运行调节方法。     

Prediction of biological integrity based on environmental similarity--revealing the scale-dependent link between study area and top environmental predictors

Indices of Biological integrity (IBI) are considered valid indicators of the overall health of a water body because the biological community is an endpoint within natural systems. However, prediction of biological integrity using information from multi-parameter environmental observations is a challenging problem due to the hierarchical organization of the natural environment, the existence of nonlinear inter-dependencies among variables as well as natural stochasticity and measurement noise. We present a method for predicting the Fish Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using multiple environmental observations at the state-scale in Ohio. Instream (chemical and physical quality) and offstream parameters (regional and local upstream land uses, stream fragmentation, and point source density and intensity) are used for this purpose. The IBI predictions are obtained using the environmental site-similarity concept and following a simple to implement leave-one-out cross validation approach. An IBI prediction for a sampling site is calculated by averaging the observed IBI scores of observations clustered in the most similar branch of a dendrogram -a hierarchical clustering tree of environmental observations- built using the rest of the observations. The standardized Euclidean distance is used to assess dissimilarity between observations.The constructed predictive model was able to explain 61% of the IBI variability statewide. Stream fragmentation and regional land use explained 60% of the variability; the remaining 1% was explained by instream habitat quality. Metrics related to local land use, water quality, and point source density and intensity did not improve the predictive model at the state-scale. The impact of local environmental conditions was evaluated by comparing local characteristics between well- and mispredicted sites. Significant differences in local land use patterns and upstream fragmentation density explained some of the model’s over-predictions. Local land use conditions explained some of the model’s IBI under-predictions at the state-scale since none of the variables within this group were included in the best final predictive model. Under-predicted sites also had higher levels of downstream fragmentation.The proposed variables ranking and predictive modeling methodology is very well suited for the analysis of hierarchical environments, such as natural fresh water systems, with many cross-correlated environmental variables. It is computationally efficient, can be fully automated, does not make any pre-conceived assumptions on the variables interdependency structure (such as linearity), and it is able to rank variables in a database and generate IBI predictions using only non-parametric easy to implement hierarchical clustering.     

Risk management in small construction projects in Singapore: Status,barriers and impact

Risk management (RM) should be implemented in construction projects to assure the achievement of project objectives, regardless of project size. This study aims to investigate RM in small projects in Singapore in terms of status, barriers and impact of RM on project performance. To achieve the objectives, a questionnaire survey was conducted and data were collected from 668 projects submitted by 34 companies. The analysis results indicated a relatively low level of RM implementation in small projects, and that “lack of time”, “lack of budget”, “low profit margin”, and “not economical” were prominent barriers. Also, the results reported the positive correlation between RM implementation and improvement in quality, cost and schedule performance of small projects, respectively. The findings of this study can provide an in-depth understanding of RM in small projects in Singapore and make benefits of RM convincing to the participants of small projects.     

Site Feasibility Environmental Impact Assessment for the Establishment of a Coal-Based Thermal Power Plant At Dewas In Madhya Pradesh

The study was conducted to find out the environmental impacts of establishing a 260 r MW coal based thermal power plant (TPP) at Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, India through monitoring of existing environmental parameters such as ambient air quality, water quality, land environment, noise environment, biological environment, socio-economic environment, etc. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study has been carried out which reveals that in general the site conditions are suitable for establishment of proposed TPP in the region as it will have net positive environmental impacts if proper control measures are adopted.     

基于业务流程和GIS的城乡规划实施管理数据动态更新

GIS与城乡规划密不可分,是规划的数据库和工具箱。规划实施管理是规划管理机构的日常业务。本文分析了城乡规划实施管理业务流程与城乡规划实施管理数据更新业务流程的相互关系,提出了基于上述两大相辅相成的业务流程和GIS技术的数据更新方法,具体包括数据预处理、数据处理、检验和确认、质量检查和更新入库等基本环节。最后指出只有把握好数据更新机制、数据质量控制、数据模型演化、资金保障等方面的因素,才能实现城乡规划实施管理数据的可持续动态更新,提升数据的应用价值。     

利用规划环评 作好城市规划

通过分析城市规划环评现状存在问题,分析了规划环评介入城市规划的原则,思考并探讨了利用规划环评这一有力工具丰富城市规划方法,提高城市规划的科学性,更有利于环境的可持续发展.     

Reply

ISO 14000 is a series of standards defining a formal and structured approach to environmental management. It demonstrates, with assurance, that an organization which complies with current policy and legislation actively addresses environmental issues. Construction activities have a myriad of environmental implications. Hence, construction entities must manage their environmental performance. ISO 14000 represents a possible solution. This study considers the relevance of environmental management to construction organizations. After an overview of the environmental impacts of construction, ISO 14000 and its principles are explored. A field study is reported that was set up to assess the level of commitment of construction enterprises in Singapore to environmental management. Contractors in Singapore are aware of the merits of environmental management, but are not instituting systems towards achieving it. A framework for the development and implementation of an environmental management system (EMS) is proposed.     

Geographic Information System-based tools in environmental management

The authors reviewed existing modelling platforms as part of a large study of water and pollution pathways through catchments in Ireland (Irish EPA Pathways project). Worldwide, work on producing catchment management tools (CMTs) has been underway for some time and some of the tools identified here date from as early as 1989. Some of the management problems and model conceptualisations have not changed very much but now there is a stronger emphasis on water quality and more concern about a wider range of contaminants. What has changed substantially is the use of Geographical Information System and Graphical Windows interfaces as technologies supporting a wider practical use of these tools. This review of existing CMTs identified three systems which would be candidates if a CMT had to be deployed immediately in Ireland. All have a rigid catchment model structure and lack the flexibility to include any new scientific information or flow-path conceptualisation that may emerge. The same modelling structure is used for all parts of the catchment, with spatial variation represented by parameter variation only and not variation in model structure. They also have rigid graphical user interfaces which cannot be tailored to match any specific requirements that may emerge from the pathways end-user workshops. Thus a CMT with a more flexible and accessible modelling structure is required if the results of current research are to be incorporated.     

Trends in human development and environmental protection

Even if the will to follow a sustainable lifestyle in the Western countries is increasing, many developing countries are experiencing their phase of economic growth, threatening and overexploiting their environment. This study compares the Living Planet Index and the Human Development Index, and suggests that societies follow common patterns of development, from the indigenous lifestyle to undeveloped society, through a developing stage, towards a developed state. According to these common steps each society exploits local, regional and sometimes global natural resources to nourish its economic growth. If developing countries will not undertake strategies to skip the ‘intermediate’ stage of overexploitation of natural resources during their growing phase, Earth systems may not be able to keep alive the global biodiversity, and provide ecosystem services that sustain humanity.     

Politics and scale: some implications for environmental governance

This essay explores themes related to differences of scale and the challenge of environmental governance. It argues that scale issues are always important in politics, but that the density of physical and social scales implicated in the constitution and resolution of environmental problems is particularly notable. It discusses recent changes in governmental approaches to managing environmental burdens in the developed countries, and considers the implications of scale-complexities for the future of environmental governance.     

Regional and cultural issues in environmental performance assessment for buildings

The Green Building Challenge '98 (GBC '98) developed and tested an international assessment system for buildings. An underlying premise of GBC '98 was to allow for regional differences by providing flexibility and weighting of building assessment criteria within an international framework. This was considered crucial for the acceptability of the assessment system as well as for its ability to accurately reflect best local practice. Regional adaptation is complex, however, and raises many considerations that may be in conflict. This paper analyses the importance of integrating regional aspects into assessment tools on the one hand and the benefit of setting up an international assessment system on the other. An approach for achieving a balance between the regional and international levels of a universal assessment system is discussed. Issues and proposed solutions for further consideration are raised along with suggested topics for further research. Le projet Green Building Challenge '98 (GBC '98) a elabore et teste un systeme international d'evaluation des batiments. L'une des conditions sous-jacentes de GBC '98 etait, dans un cadre international, de prendre en compte les differences regionales en autorisant davantage de souplesse et en affectant les criteres d'evaluation de batiments de facteurs de ponderation. Ce point a ete juge essentiel pour que le systeme d'evaluation soit accepte et pour qu'il soit apte a prendre en compte avec precision les meilleures habitudes locales. Toutefois, l'adaptation regionale est complexe et oblige a tenir compte de nombreuses considerations qui sont parfois contradictoires. Cet article analyse l'importance de l'integration des aspects regionaux dans des outils d'evaluation d'une part et, d'autre part, l'avantage de mettre en place un systeme international d'evaluation. L'article se poursuit par une methode qui permettrait d'atteindre un certain equilibre entre les niveaux regional et international d'un systeme d'evaluation universel. Les questions et les solutions proposees en vue d'une consideration ulterieure sont exposees ainsi que les sujets suggeres pour de futures recherches.     

美国公共基础设施实施保障的经验及借鉴——深圳南山区案例的评估与反思

本文借鉴美国公共基础设施实施保障的国际经验,对深圳市南山区公共基础设施的实施情况进行评估与反思。首先,文章介绍了美国捆绑式开发政策、开发影响费、充足公共设施条例、阶段式开发等保障公共基础设施工具;之后以深圳市南山区公共基础设施实施程度的评估为例,反思中国城市在公共基础设施规划、实施和评估中存在的一些常见问题;并基于美国公共基础设施实施保障的国际经验,提出应进一步编制更细致的实施计划,建立多渠道的融资保障机制及加强定期监管与评估等建议。通过学习美国公共基础设施实施保障经验,对完善中国城市规划评估体系,促进城市公共基础设施的实施提供借鉴,进而为提高中国城市居民生活水平提供保障。