The rise of biofuels in IR: the case of Brazilian foreign policy towards the EU

Biofuels are a growing alternative energy source. In a context of their growing global consumption, Brazil has shown particular interest in the European market. This paper analyses Brazilian foreign policy on biofuels towards the EU during Lula da Silva’s administration (2003–10). It examines the emergence of biofuels at a global level, the main guidelines of Brazilian foreign policy, Brazilian environmental foreign policy and, finally, the Brazilian political response to changes in European law.     

东北地区资源利用效率及对策研究

我国"十一五"规划明确指出,"十一五"期间我国要把节约资源作为基本国策,加快建设资源节约型社会。东北地区由于长期以资源开发和产品初加工产业为龙头的粗放型的经济增长方式,使其自然资源的优势逐渐丧失。经济增长方式转变的根本点在于提高资源利用效率,用较少的资源消耗获得较高的经济产出。以能源为例,对东北地区资源利用效率进行分析,历年的计算结果显示:东北地区能源消费总量增长减缓,能源消费结构逐步得到优化,能源利用效率逐年提高,但从绝对值看,仍低于全国平均水平。为构建资源节约型社会,可以通过优化能源消费结构、提高能源利用效率、优化产业布局等,促进东北地区经济发展与人口、资源与环境的全面协调。     

The problem with the “portfolio approach” in American energy policy

One predominant theme in American energy and electricity policy is the idea of a “portfolio approach,” or that society must embrace an assortment of different energy technologies simultaneously. This article argues that such a strategy, in practice, is (a) biased, since fossil fuel and nuclear technologies have been heavily favored; (b) opaque, obscuring the different full social costs of energy systems; (c) inequitable, promoting technologies that contribute to climate change; and (d) unsophisticated, ignoring important qualitative differences among technologies. The article estimates the full social costs of electricity generation, concluding that the five cheapest forms of electricity generation are all renewable resources; that intermittency is not a reason to reject renewable energy technologies; that nuclear power has significant technical and environmental problems, especially from a greenhouse gas emissions and climate change perspective; and that “clean coal” and carbon capture and sequestration technologies face significant challenges to deployment.     

Promoting an Environmental Civil Society: Politics,Policy, and Russia's Post‐1991 Experience

In recent years the United Nations Environment Program, UN Conference on Environment and Development, and other international organizations have acknowledged the importance of civil society for engaging stakeholders in environmental change—especially at the local community level—and in promoting democracy. ¹ In Russia, efforts by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to promote reform since 1991 have aimed at achieving both objectives and face numerous political, legal, and attitudinal hurdles. This article examines these hurdles and the factors that facilitate development of an environmentally conscious civil society in Russia through analysis of the views of 100 representatives of environmental NGOs, news media, scientific community, corporations, and public agencies. We also investigate three abbreviated but illustrative vignettes that illuminate civil society impediments. Our thesis is that successful efforts to ensure adequate protection of Russia's environment require a strengthening of civil society.     

Melting Down and Scaling Up: Stabilizing Climate Change by Promoting Private Sector Technology Development

This paper will examine the role the private sector plays in researching, developing, and deploying technology that has the potential to deter or decrease the impacts of global warming. It will explore the degree to which the private sector can have an impact on global warming by focusing on four specific technologies: aircraft engines, wind turbines, solar energy, and clean coal technologies. We will compare the environmental impact of these technologies with the business case for pursuing each, specifically related to profitability and market maturity. We conclude that the business case alone is not sufficiently compelling to stimulate meaningful industry investment in these areas. Consequently, specific government involvement is needed for CO₂ reduction. This analysis will shed light on the role that government must play in order to more effectively engage potential private sector players in the global warming challenge.     

能源安全观与中欧对非能源 可持续开发模式比较

欧洲视非洲为其传统势力范围,在一体化进程中也始终将非洲作为其身份的外部对应,将其置于非常重要的地缘政治战略地位。过去十年来,非洲经济迅速发展,考虑到非洲大陆蕴涵着丰富的能源资源,欧盟日益关注在非洲的利益,通过倡导“可持续”能源开发理念,对非洲实施新的能源开发布局。新中国成立以来,中国同非洲一直保持着积极友好的合作关系,随着中国经济的崛起,非洲不仅成为中国能源安全多样化风险分担的重要地区,也是中国实施“走出去”战略的重要实验场所。中国援助非洲把资源优势转化为经济发展优势,结合中国经验走出了“以基础设施建设换能源”的对非洲能源开发模式,取得了不俗的成绩。由于中国和欧盟对能源安全的可持续性有着不同的理解,导致双方在非洲能源开发中走出了两条不同的路径。非洲对基础设施建设和能源可持续开发的关注,促进了中国和欧盟在非洲能源开发中的合作。     

东盟5国能源消费与经济增长关系——基于生产型模型时间序列分析

基于生产型模型,采用时间序列协整分析和因果关系检验方法,对东盟5国1971—2007年能源消费与国内生产总值之间的关系进行实证分析。结果表明,从短期来看,马来西亚与新加坡是从能源消费到经济增长单向因果关系,印尼存在从经济增长到能源消费因果关系,菲律宾和泰国则存在双向因果关系。从长期来看,东盟5国都存在长期能源消费到经济增长的单向因果关系。最后,根据研究结果给出政策建议。     

绿色议题联盟与复合安全化实践：美国关键矿产联盟的构建逻辑

随着碳中和共识成为全球气候治理的主流认知,关键矿产作为支撑清洁能源转型的核心要素,对一国在世界低碳秩序转型中能否获得绿色竞争优势具有重要影响。面对中国等新兴大国的绿色崛起,美国对本国在关键矿产供应上的结构性劣势产生了浓重的霸权焦虑和不安全感。为此,美国选择对传统联盟体系进行调整,试图通过构建绿色议题联盟重塑对竞争对手的战略优势。为了解决联盟调整过程中的合法性约束和政策性约束,美国开启了复合安全化实践。其中,美国的安全化话语实践框定了联盟调整的合法性问题,针对国内民众和外部盟友塑造了关键矿产领域的不安全感,明确了议题联盟需要对抗的目标和具体做法。美国的安全化政策实践则在话语实践的基础上推动了与外部盟友之间在关键矿产问题上的政策协调,在双边和多边层面建立了一系列相互嵌套、兼顾多方位需求的合作机制。安全化话语实践和安全化政策实践相互交织,推动了以美国为主导的关键矿产联盟不断成形。然而,美国关键矿产联盟在理念、分歧管理和资源支撑等方面都存在较为明显的缺陷,其效力难以达到美国政府的预期。     

China＇s Energy Efficient Appliance Adoption Dilemma： Problems,Possibilities, and Solutions

With the world＇s largest population and growing concerns that increasing energy consumption threatens the environment, the economy, and social stability, the Chinese Government has identified improving the physical environment as a priority. One way consumers can assist in this effort and save money is to invest in energy efficient appliances. Despite efforts to encourage consumers to purchase energy efficient appliances, consumer adoption of these money and energy saving devices is quite low. The authors contend that energy efficient appliances are less popular in China than in the West due to poor marketing of the cost savings of these devices coupled with lower levels of purchases with credit versus cash. A survey given to Chinese consumers seeks to answer these queries and provides evidence of ways to improve the adoption of energy efficient appliances. This benefits manufacturers （who make money selling more expensive items）, consumers （who save money over the life of the appliance since the cost of ownership is not just the cost of purchasing the item but also includes the cost of using it）, the Chinese Government （which is currently engaged in a campaign to lower the amount of energy used）, and the world （which benefits from a cleaner environment）.     

论社会发展历史进步的梦想力量

社会发展与历史进步是一个辨证运动的过程,也是一个经济与道德双向建构的过程。在此过程中,不同历史时期的主体对未来社会历史的发展趋势构筑不同的梦想,主体梦想产生各种激励力量,改变与超越现实,使社会发展历史进步的合规律性与合目的性真正统一起来。梦想力量呼唤培育与扩充社会正能量,无论是主体指导思想所蕴藏的正能量、还是主体情感意志与道德所内涵的正能量,都是自内而外、自下而上助推梦想力量不竭的源泉。