The Digital Belt and Road program in support of regional sustainability

The Belt and Road initiative has a significant focus on infrastructure, trade, and economic development across a vast region, and it also provides significant opportunities for sustainable development. The combined pressure of climate variability, intensified use of resources, and the fragility of ecosystems make it very challenging, however, to achieve future sustainability. To develop the path in a sustainable way, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of these issues across nations and evaluate them in a scientific and well-informed approach. In this context, the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) program was initiated as an international venture to share expertise, knowledge, technologies, and data to demonstrate the role of Earth observation science and technology and big Earth data applications to support large-scale development. In this paper, we identify pressing challenges, present the research priorities and foci of the DBAR program, and propose solutions where big Earth data can make significant contributions. This paper calls for further joint actions and collaboration to build a digital silk road in support of sustainable development at national, regional and global levels.     

Would different methodologies for assessing carbon leakage exposure lead to different risk levels? A case study of the Brazilian industry

Energy-intensive industries play an important role in low-carbon development, being particularly exposed to climate policies. Concern over possible carbon leakage in this sector poses a major challenge for designing effective carbon pricing instruments (CPI). Different methodologies for assessing carbon leakage exposure are currently used by different jurisdictions, each of them based on different approaches and indicators. This paper aims to analyse the extent to which the use of different methodologies leads to different results in terms of exposure to the risk of carbon leakage, using the Brazilian industry sector as a case study. Results indicate that carbon leakage exposure is an expected outcome of eventual CPI implementation in Brazilian industry. However, results vary according to the chosen methodology, so the definition of the criteria is paramount for assessing sectoral exposure to the risk of carbon leakage.

Key policy insights

• Despite increasing discussion about the implementation of carbon pricing on the Brazilian industrial sector, the evaluation of carbon leakage risks is still neglected.

• Assessments of the risk of carbon leakage are directly related to the indicators and criteria used by each methodology. Thus, a given subsector may present different levels of exposure to carbon leakage depending on the methodological choice.

• More than a purely technical discussion, the methodological definition of carbon leakage risk is a political discussion – it can be well-conducted, leading to the success of a CPI, or even sabotaged, by implicitly subsidizing energy-intensive industries.

     

How U.S. ocean policy and market power can reform the coral reef wildlife trade

As the world’s largest importer of marine ornamental species for the aquaria, curio, home décor, and jewelry industries, the United States has an opportunity to leverage its considerable market power to promote more sustainable trade and reduce the effects of ornamental trade stress on coral reefs worldwide. Evidence indicates that collection of some coral reef animals for these trades has caused virtual elimination of local populations, major changes in age structure, and promotion of collection practices that destroy reef habitats. Management and enforcement of collection activities in major source countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines remain weak. Strengthening US trade laws and enforcement capabilities combined with increasing consumer and industry demand for responsible conservation can create strong incentives for improving management in source countries. This is particularly important in light of the March 2010 failure of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to take action on key groups of corals.     

Place Matters: Comparative International Perspectives on Feminist Geography*

Feminist geography is now widely practiced internationally, but its development is usually reviewed from a temporal rather than a spatial perspective. This article assesses the varying extent and nature of feminist geography across countries, attempting to interpret differences in terms of cultural contexts and disciplinary trends. It is intended to stimulate reflection and does not claim to offer definitive interpretations.     

上海城市功能的转型:从全球生产系统角度的透视

本文首先回顾了价值链与全球生产系统的研究进展，结合跨国公司最新发展趋势对全球生产系统特征进行了总结；其次以改革开放以来上海对外贸易结构的改变，描述了90年代以来上海在全球生产系统分工中的变化，认为出口产品结构的转型并没有真正改变上海在国际劳动分工中处于低端环节的地位；最后就上海建设世界城市的差距与优势进行了总结，提出全球化发展的外部力量和地方化响应的内部力量将是上海发展世界城市的两个重要驱动力。     

河南省活立木交易市场发展现状及前景分析

建立河南省活立木交易市场不仅能够促进全省林业发展,实现林木资源的规范流转,提高林农的经济收益,而且还可以提高森林覆被率、改善生态环境,并对林木资源的可持续发展起着重要作用.以河南省活立木交易市场为例,系统地阐述了活立木交易的有关概念、活立木交易市场发展中取得的成绩和存在的问题;针对市场发展中存在的问题提出了一些可行性的建议;最后对河南省活立木交易市场的发展前景进行了分析.     

The impact of geographical indication on the revitalisation of a regional economy: a case study of 'Boseong' green tea

Geographical indications are legal signs which identify a good as originating in a specific country or region, where the reputation of the product is attributable to its geographical roots. South Korea has operated with a geographical indication system since 1999. This research analyses the regional impacts of geographical indications using the case study of 'Boseong' green tea. The results show that geographical indication has enhanced the image of the product, leading to increased production and the stimulation of tea-related industries. We argue that geographical indication can be used as an effective policy to cope with trade liberalisation.     

国际河流水文站网布局规划方法研究

随着近年来我国与周边国家在国际河流水资源利用与保护方面的合作工作的不断加强，以及边疆地区经济建设步伐的加快，国际河流水文资料收集，分析等基础工作显得越来越重要。为此，针对国际河流地区水文站点稀少，设施设备落后，监测能力薄弱的现实情况，水利部水文局组织编制了国际河流水文站网建设总体规划。简要介绍了该规划中有关国际河流的调查情况与规划河流的选择方法，说明了划定规划区范围的一般性原则和特殊性原则，提出了水文站网布局规划的思路，目标，原则与方法等。     

代内公平、国际贸易与可持续发展

现阶段，不同国家或区域之间商品交流的种类与数量日益增大。由于发达国家与发展中国家在国际贸易中所扮演的角色不同，因此，在等经济价值交换规律的作用下，发展中国家的环境状况逐渐恶化。文章通过构建开放经济的物质流模型，探讨了物质交换行为对系统内部的自然环境的影响，并对1987年日本的物质流动状况进行了案例研究。分析表明，发达国家的经济发展水平在很大程度上依赖于其它国家内部自然资源与环境的支撑作用。     

中国农业的比较优势和国际竞争力

加入WTO后，中国农业将面临严峻的挑战，为了应对入世的挑战，首先必须朋全球的视角考察我国农业的比较优势和国际竞争力，国际比较分析表明，我国农业并无明显的比较优势，国际竞争力也较弱，为此，必须及早采取措施，提高我国农业的国际竞争力，在分析论证的基础上，本文提出了调整行业结构，给予政策扶持、加大城镇化力度等对策建议。