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Abstract Promoting firms' eco-innovation through environmental regulation is of great significance to the sustainable development of China's economy. Based on the Porter Hypothesis, this paper used the panel data of 1962 listed Chinese industrial companies from 2004 to 2015 to empirically test the impact of environmental regulation on firm eco-innovation and the moderating effects of fiscal decentralization and political competition. The results showed that (1) without the influences of China's fiscal system and political promotion system, environmental regulation would likely significantly promote firms' eco-innovation as well as firms' eco-investment and eco-planning innovation. (2) Under the influence of China's fiscal decentralization system, environmental regulation has exerted a significant inhibitory impact on firms' eco-innovation as well as on firms' eco-investment and eco-planning innovation. (3) Under the influence of China's 'championship' system of political promotion, environmental regulation has exerted a significant inhibitory effect on firms' eco-innovation and on firms' eco-investment and eco-planning innovation. Finally, this paper provided detailed policy recommendations on how to optimize China's environmental regulatory policy system and how to promote firm eco-innovation. Highlights • This paper designed a web crawler in a Java programming language to collect data on firm eco-innovation. • Eco-innovation was divided into eco-investment and eco-planning innovation. • Fiscal decentralization negatively moderates the effect of environmental regulation on firm eco-innovation. • Political competition negatively moderates the positive effect of environmental regulation on firm eco-innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nigeria is often portrayed as a poster child for countries experiencing the resource curse phenomenon. The pertinent question that confronts policy makers in Nigeria today is no longer whether or not Nigeria is suffering from the resource curse; rather, it is what to do about it. Since the 1980s, various policy initiatives have been adopted by the Nigerian Government to address different aspects of the resource curse but with limited success. It is therefore not surprising that regional governments within the Niger Delta have in recent years turned to Oil Producing Area Development Commissions as a means of reducing the poverty and conflict that is endemic in the region. Drawing on empirical data, this paper argues that the Oil Producing Area Development Commissions have been unable to improve the lives of the people in oil producing communities. It is suggested that this is due largely to their inability to alter the opportunities and incentives for rent seekers and allow for active community and civil society participation. The paper concludes by considering the implications for the resource curse and the way forward for these commissions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Decentralized rainwater harvesting (RWH) from roof runoff can complement the centralized supply of mains (drinking) water for a range of contexts, to assist in alleviating issues of water security. However, treatment to potable standard of harvested rainwater is not widespread. Consequently a comparative life cycle analysis (LCA) of decentralized and centralized potable water supply has not previously been undertaken. In this paper we describe a novel point-of-use (POU) treatment device, which was used to treat harvested rainwater to potable standard. We then provide a performance assessment for this system and an LCA with a comparison to centralized supply. Results of the performance assessment indicate a water saving efficiency (E T ) of between 0.6 and 100%, depending on rainfall (0.6 from April when rainfall was significantly below average). This highlights that the POU device was able to deal with the scale of roof runoff supply originating from a RWH system at a commercial building scale. The LCA results suggest that potable water produced from this decentralized RWH POU system currently performs more poorly than centralized water from an environmental perspective. Its impacts in most categories would be significantly reduced if the electricity consumed by the system were supplied from a renewable source such as solar PV or wind turbines instead of the UK grid. Priority should be given to optimizing the energy efficiency and exploring opportunities for combined use with renewable energy technologies in order to improve the environmental performance of POU treatment devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biomass in energy sector is continuously growing all over the world due to a number of factors such as low emissions, need for alternative energy sources, increased government initiatives for renewable energy technologies and a substantial untapped biomass potential. But, the economics of biomass based power projects depends on the long term and secure supplies of sustainable feedstock. In case of agricultural residues, the feasibility of installation of a power plant is directly dependent on the transport cost and their availability in a region. Therefore, region-wise planning and policies are required to promote their utilization for energy purpose. The present paper summarizes the methodology to evaluate the state-wise power potential of agricultural residues in India. Further, other issues related with their utilization for electricity generation have also been discussed. It has been revealed that biomass power potential is highest in the state of Uttar Pradesh (6045 MW) followed by Punjab (3585 MW), Maharashtra (3139 MW) and Haryana (2300 MW), while its value varies significantly within the country. But, these resources are not exploited to a considerable extent by various states due to a number of challenges. The logistics of biomass collection and the moisture contents are the major barriers in this regard. But, selection of appropriate technology (combustion or gasification) and favorable policies (for use of biomass for energy) can help to resolve these issues. Various government incentives (at state and central level) such as schemes, grants and subsidies have encouraged the adoption of the grid connected biomass combustion/cogeneration projects (at megawatt scale) and the off-grid gasification units (small scale plants) for rural electrification. The study reveals that the future targets for the biomass based installed capacity can be achieved by successful implementation of these schemes in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, centralised urban water systems are under pressure to respond to environmental and economic pressures. In Australia, high infrastructure costs and variable rainfall have prompted governments, end-users and property developers to begin investing in more decentralised systems that use alternative water sources (rainwater, stormwater and wastewater). This trend is based on a fit-for-purpose principle and is part of a global shift toward sustainable urban water management. These developments suggest that Australia's urban water sector may be in the early stages of transition and represent a multi-decadal shift from centralisation of water supply and sanitation to partial decentralisation based on local conditions. Much of the scholarship on decentralised systems focuses on drivers and barriers to adoption, which implies a static and mechanistic process of change, and overlooks the complex interplay between exogenous pressures, innovation, multiple actors and industry reform. This paper addresses this gap by analysing temporal processes of Australia's urban water sector, using a regionally based case study comprising an historical review and interview study that analyses the multi-level, -decadal and -actor developments at the nexus between water service provision and property development. The analysis revealed emerging tensions between incumbent water utilities, property developers and end-users, and an inherent conflict between neo-liberal and environmental policy agendas. Such tensions and conflicts are missing from urban water policy and research discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study has been to assess the environmental profile of an experimental decentralized waste management system which is based on the anaerobic codigestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and dewatered sewage sludge in small plants (annual capacity: about 3000 t coupled at a 75 kW CHP unit) distributed over the territory. Two scenarios have been analysed: with and without aerobic composting post-treatment. In so far as an environmental point of view is concerned, such scenarios have been compared with the past and the current approaches occurring in the case study area (NE Italy) and characterized by a strong centralization. Environmental performances of the different scenarios have been assessed through Life Cycle Assessment methodology. Our results indicate that the anaerobic codigestion of dewatered sewage sludge and OFMSW in small plants combined with composting post-treatment may offer an environmentally sustainable option of waste management in small communities. This is achieved by (1) a strong reduction in the distances and volumes transported by road, (2) low energy requirement for the process itself, (3) energy saving from CHP unit and (4) energy/resources saving from the compost produced by the digested matter. Also social advantages may be gained, such as increased public acceptability of waste treatment facilities and increased awareness among citizen on waste management issue. To note that these advantages are closely related to some key assumptions like the use of digested matter as fertilizer. Assumptions and work limits are discussed in the final section of the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) have been widely investigated for their potential application in post-tertiary sewage treatment due to their ease of operation, high efficiency in organic mineralisation, inactivation of pathogens and low formation of disinfection by-products. This study aimed to evaluate the technical, economical and environmental feasibility for applying AOTs at decentralised wastewater treatment. A comprehensive process selection and assessment framework for the application of AOTs in decentralised wastewater systems for wastewater recycling and reuse purposes were developed in this study. Different AOTs were assessed for their suitability to retrofit as an advanced wastewater treatment option to a decentralised wastewater case study plant in South East Queensland, Australia to produce Class A+ recycled water. Among the different AOTs assessed, it was assessed that the H2O2/UV process was the best AOT treatment option, in terms of technical, economic and environmental benefits for treating sewage effluent from the decentralised wastewater system analysed in this case study. It is anticipated that additional data sets from different pilot or full scale AOT plants will allow the performance predictions of AOTs for a wide range of decentralised wastewater treatment applications. Through this study, it is anticipated that the potential future uptake of AOTs as an advanced treatment option will be enhanced, given the comprehensive and detailed technical, economic and environmental analysis presented in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]