Minjun Shi

In order to establish a unified construction land market, it is necessary to choose a rational pathway for the market transfer of Rural Collective Construction Land (RCCL) in China. This paper focuses on different methods of RCCL transfer based on stakeholder analysis and three case studies including models from Guangdong, Wuhu and Chongqing. The main finding is that all three models improved resource allocation efficiency and intensive utilization of RCCL through land and capital transfer. Each model built different interest coordination mechanisms among stakeholders, suited to different regions and cases. The Guangdong model is suitable for an economically developed region. The Wuhu model is suitable for developing regions in central China while western underdeveloped regions in China can adopt the Chongqing model. The policy implication is that better policy making for the promotion of RCCL transfer in China should consider regional characteristics as well as the economic development context.

This study investigates the impacts of China's international trade on its water resources and uses between 2002 and 2007. The results show a significant increase in water use efficiency in most sectors, especially the manufacturing sectors. However, the total net virtual water exported increased by about 75%, from 39.0 × 10⁹ m³ to 68.2 × 10⁹ m³. The ratio of net virtual water exports to the total water resources of the country increased from 1.8% to 3.1%. In water-scarce North China, the ratio increased from 3.6% to 5.1%, which indicates a growing water resources pressure. The share of the net virtual water exports in the total water use in China increased from 7% to 12%. The results suggest that China's economic gains from intensifying international trade came with high costs regarding its water resources.

Household consumption is one of the important factors that induce CO₂ emission. Based on input–output model, this article calculated the intensity of CO₂ emission of different income groups and seven provinces in China, and then estimated total CO₂ emission induced by urban household consumption from 1995 to 2004 in China based on statistic data of household living expenditure. The results show that CO₂ emission per capita induced by household consumption had increased from 1583 to 2498 kg CO₂ during 1995–2004. The ratio of consumption-induced CO₂ emission to total CO₂ emission had risen from 19% to 30% in the past decade. Indirect CO₂ emission accounted for an important part of the consumption-induced emission, the ratio of indirect emission to consumption-induced emission had risen from 69% to 79% during the same period. A significant difference in consumption-induced CO₂ emission across different income groups and different regions has been observed. CO₂ emission per capita of higher income groups and developed regions increased faster than that of lower income groups and developing regions. Changing lifestyle has driven significant increase in CO₂ emission. Especially, increases in private transport expenditure (for example, vehicle expenditure) and house building expenditure are key driving factors of growth in consumption-induced CO₂ emission. There are big differences in the amount of CO₂ emission induced by change in lifestyle across different income groups and provinces. It can be expected that lower income households and developing regions will increase consumption to improve their livings with income growth in the future, which may induce much more CO₂ emission. A reasonable level of CO₂ emission is necessary to satisfy human needs and to improve living standard, but a noticeable fact is that CO₂ emission per capita induced by household consumption in developed areas of China had reached a quite high level. Adjustment in lifestyle towards a low-carbon society is in urgent need.

Land degradation and desertification have become severe environmental problems in arid areas due to excessive use of water resources. It is urgent to reduce agricultural water use for ecological rehabilitation, which may result in a decrease in agricultural production and farmer’s welfare. This paper focused on the impacts of some main measures including extensions of water-saving irrigation, expanding solar green house and increasing off-farm employment, which are generally recognized to be important to alleviate water shortage and poverty. A bio-economic model is applied taking Minqin Oasis in Gansu Province as a case study site. Simulation results showed that the effect of expanding solar greenhouse was more positive than other ones so it drew more attention. On the view of the different effects between each irrigation zone, mixed policy patterns suitable for them are suggested. In Baqu, expanding solar greenhouse should be the most important, auxiliary with encouraging pipe irrigation. Inversely, with regard to Quanshan, the major attention should be paid to subsidy for pipe irrigation and it would be better to supply the off-farm employment opportunities to the households in Huqu, where the expanding of solar greenhouse should also be summoned. Finally, it should be noted that farmer’s income would only resume to 90% of the current level in the short run by putting more effort into local policies. Thus, the ecological compensation is needed to ensure farmer’s welfare.