Urban heat island in Chongpin, China

Posted on: 11 September 2013
By: mackene
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This research investigates how the Three Gorges Reservoir affects the surrounding micro-environment. Different research approaches are adopted for the case study in Chongqing in order to measure and predict its urban air temperature.  The research provides a scientific analysis of the urban thermal environment in Chongqing.

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Making growth green and inclusive: The case of Cambodia

Posted on: 5 September 2013
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Developing countries have collectively displayed relatively high growth rates in the last decade. Although large disparities still persist in standards of living, low and middle income countries averaged economic growth of 6.2% between 2000 and 2008. Global growth has been accompanied by environmental degradation and in some cases there are growing numbers of people still living in poverty. Key questions for development planning today in countries include: Can developing countries strike a balance between economic growth, societal well-being and environmental protection? Can inclusive, green growth be a way forward? This report presents a case study on Cambodia designed to answer these questions. The case study draws on several sources of information to compile a “snapshot” of the situation today. In particular, qualitative information was gathered through a two-day, multi-stakeholder workshop and through bilateral interviews conducted with relevant actors from both public and private sectors. It also draws on relevant literature to present a balanced picture of the state of play on green growth in Cambodia.

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Local environmental quality: Valuing the neighbourhood in which we live

Posted on: 8 August 2013
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Defra commissioned a consortium of the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds and Transport Studies Group, Loughborough University to undertake research on the importance and value of different local environmental factors. The project aimed to establish marginal values for eleven diverse local environmental quality factors. These are: urban quiet areas; fly-tipping; litter; detritus; fly-posting; graffiti; dog-fouling; chewing gum; trees; light pollution; and odour.

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Review of the balance of competences: Defra and DECC

Posted on: 8 August 2013
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Researchers at the Tyndall Centre have informed the UK Government’s Balance of Competences review of the many ways in which European Union environmental policy affects the UK.  They reveal that the EU has very significantly affected many fundamental aspects of UK policy on the environment and climate change.

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Towards a green economy in Europe: EU environmental policy targets and objectives 2010-2050

Posted on: 25 July 2013
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European Union legislation has established more than 130 separate environmental targets and objectives to be met between 2010 and 2050. Together, these can provide useful milestones supporting Europe’s transition towards a ‘green economy’, according to a report published by the European Environment Agency.

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The Local Environment and Economic Development (LEED) Toolkit

Posted on: 23 July 2013
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The Local Environment and Economic Development (LEED) Toolkit has been produced by the Defra network (the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Forestry Commission), working in partnership with several Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Local Authorities (LAs) and Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs). It is designed to help LEPs and LAs meet their economic growth targets by fully realising the roles the environment can play.

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National environmental performance on planetary boundaries

Posted on: 28 June 2013
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This report examines whether and how the planetary boundaries framework offers tools and perspectives on how to work with the two-way interaction between Swedish and global environmental pressures and performance described above. The planetary boundaries concept was presented in 2009 and provides a novel synthesis of the most pertinent global environmental challenges by analysing the risk of crossing critical thresholds in the behaviour of the Earth system’s processes. The report claims to provide a first attempt to develop a methodology for downscaling planetary boundaries to nationally relevant ones.

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Air Implementation Pilot – Lessons learnt from the implementation of air quality legislation at urban level

Posted on: 6 June 2013
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This report from the European Environment Agency describes a European pilot project to help identify and address the reasons underlying this ‘gap’ in implementation of air quality policy in 12 European cities, and thereby draw lessons of wider relevance.

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Catchment based approach: Improving the quality of our water environment

Posted on: 5 June 2013
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A policy framework to encourage the wider adoption of an integrated Catchment Based Approach to improving the quality of our water environment.

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Valuing England’s national parks

Posted on: 3 June 2013
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This report from National Parks England highlights the importance of National Parks not just as iconic landscapes and part of our national identity, but as thriving rural economies contributing to national prosperity and well-being through their special qualities.

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