The Effects of Ecological Policy of Kyrgyzstan Based on Data Envelope Analysis

Synchronization, Decoupling, and Regime Shift of Urban Thermal Conditions in Xi’an, an Ancient City in China under Rapid Expansion

Urbanization has profound impacts on economic development and environmental quality. Some of the serious consequences of urbanization are the changes in the thermal environment, which directly affect the greater environment and quality of life. Although many studies have been performed on urban heat islands, few have specifically examined the thermal evolution of rapidly expanding ancient cities and the impacts of urbanization on the thermal environments of important heritage sites. In this study, we analyzed the temporal and spatial patterns of the thermal environment quantified as the surface urban heat island (SUHI) and land surface temperature (LST) values from 2000 to 2018 in Xi’an, an ancient city with rich cultural heritage in China. Specifically, we analyzed the temporal evolution of the thermal environments of the functional zones and heritage sites and explore their coupling relationships with the overall temperature of the study area using a statistical analysis approach. Furthermore, we revealed time-sensitive changes in temperature regimes using the newly proposed double temperature curve approach (DTCA). The results showed that the heat island phenomenon has been intensifying in Xi’an, as evidenced by the summer daytime mean SUHI values being greater than 7 °C continuously since 2010 and the increased frequency of high-intensity SUHI effects. Extreme heat conditions were more frequent in the old urban area (built-up and in existence before 2000) than in the new urban area, while SUHI values in the new area deteriorated more rapidly. The changes in temperature in the functional zones were strongly synchronized with the overall temperature changes in Xi’an, and the temperature differences increased linearly with the overall temperature. The LST values in the four major historical heritage sites investigated in this study were 2–8 °C higher than the background temperature and were decoupled from background temperature changes. From the DTCA, we found the time periods of the thermal environment regime changes for each functional zone or heritage site, which were largely the result of policy guidance. Regional synchronization, site decoupling, and regime shifts in LST suggest opportunities for regional planning and urban landscape optimization to reduce adverse effects of urbanization on the urban environment, particularly in cities with rich historical heritage sites.

Global Challenges and Responses: Agriculture, Economic Globalization, and Environmental Sustainability in Central Asia

Economic globalization (EG) accelerates very fast in Central Asia. This could cause environmental degradation, according to the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. The study aims to determine how the EG of agriculture impacts environmental sustainability, and to test the EKC hypothesis on the agricultural sector in six Central Asian countries. Particularly, some main hypotheses were proposed using secondary data from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan from 1994 to 2019. This study uses five explanatory variables: agricultural exports value (EXP), agriculture forestry and fishing value-added (AVA), the exchange rate (EXR), total natural resource rents (RENT), and external debt stocks (DEBT), while the dependent variable in this study is the CO2 emissions from on-farm energy use (EMS), temperature changes (TEMP), and forest fires (FIRE). These data are analyzed using panel data regression. As a result, AVA and RENT raise EMS; EXC raises TEMP but lowers EMS; DEBT raises TEMP but can lower FIRE. Hence, we propose recommendations to improve this condition, including a clear roadmap, enhanced partnerships, and regional and international support.

Remote sensing assessment and spatiotemporal variations analysis of ecological carrying capacity in the Aral Sea Basin

The severe shrinkage of Aral Sea and water resources coordination issues in upstream and downstream regions lead to the serious ecological crisis in the Aral Sea Basin (ASB). Comprehensive ecological carrying capacity (ECC) assessment is of great significance for the ecological restoration and sustainable development. Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Experts Mark, this paper established the index evaluation system according to the specific ecological situation of the ASB. Combining remote sensing (RS) data and geographic information systems (GIS) technology, the paper assessed the ECC from 2001 to 2018 and explained the variations of the ECC by various data. The results indicate that the ECC is getting better in eighteen years. In 2009, the ECC condition is the best. ECC of the upstream region is better than that of the downstream region. The cause analysis that highlights the precipitation and enforcement of ecological policy has a positive impact on the ECC change. And the disparity of water body in upstream and downstream watercourses contributes to the regional difference of ECC. The paper provides an evaluation system of the ECC in the ASB. The analysis of the ECC variations is instructive to the sustainable development and ecological restoration in the ASB and other similar areas.

An Empirical Study on the Ecological Economy of the Huai River in China

The Huai River is an important flood control and discharge river in the middle and east of China, and the development of ecological economy with regional advantages is significant for the protection and improvement of the resources and environment of the basin. On the basis of defining the connotation of an ecological economic system, this study constructed an index system, and it applied the methods of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) to study the ecological economy of the Huai River. This study concluded that (1) the efficiency in most areas was efficient, but inefficient in a few areas; (2) the causes of inefficiency were unreasonable production scale and unqualified production technology, which led to redundant input of resources, insufficient output of days with good air quality, and excessive output of particulate matter with less than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5); and (3) the efficiency was different in different regions, so it was necessary to respectively formulate and implement strategies for protection and development of resources and environment. The research results can be used as an important reference for formulating ecological economic policies around the world.

Does Urban Sprawl Inhibit Urban Eco-Efficiency? Empirical Studies of Super-Efficiency and Threshold Regression Models

With rapid urbanization in China, the phenomenon of urban sprawl has become prominent and has severely challenged sustainable urbanization and ecological civilization. Aiming to understand the impact of urban sprawl on the urban environment, this study calculates the eco-efficiency of 264 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2016 by using a super-efficiency data envelopment analysis model. Then, we establish a panel Tobit model and threshold regression model to empirically test the impact of urban sprawl on eco-efficiency and the threshold effect of the urban scale. The results show that urban sprawl hinders the improvement of urban eco-efficiency, especially in Eastern China, but relatively weak or even insignificant effects are observed in Central and Western China. Additionally, a threshold effect of urban sprawl on eco-efficiency can be found. When the city scale is small, urban sprawl seriously hinders the improvement of eco-efficiency. As the city scale gradually expands, the negative effect of urban sprawl on eco-efficiency first decreases, then the restraining effect is gradually strengthened. Our research findings can aid urban development in cities with different scales to reduce the negative effect of urban sprawl on the urban environment.