As a result of its rapid economic development and large volume of coal burning, China is faced with serious coal-smoke pollution in urban areas. In large cities such as Beijing and Chongqing, people are clearly suffering the adverse health effects of coal-smoke pollution, with PM-10 and SO2 as...

China is one of the world's leading users of coal and is therefore faced with serious coal-smoke pollution in urban areas. But pressure is mounting for a solution and this can only intensify following Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympic games. To find just such a solution, this study...

China is currently facing a major air pollution challenge and must make significant reductions in its emissions of conventional air pollutants (AP) and greenhouse gases (GHGs). This is especially the case for the iron and steel sector, which is one of country's biggest polluters. To help find...

It is pointed out that the concepts and methods introduced by Bachelier and by Mandelbrot to Finance and Economics can be used to examine the fluctuations observed in high-energy hadron-production processes. Theoretical arguments and experimental evidences are presented which show that the...

Tropical cyclone is the most commonly occurring natural hazard in the Philippines causing billions of pesos worth in socio-economic losses and other forms of damages. Analysis of 59-year data on Philippine typhoons revealed that their intensity had been increasing, especially since the 1990s. It...

This study investigates whether farmers living in a village within the boundaries of one of Thailand's most important national parks should continue to live there or be resettled. It analyzes the costs and benefits of several scenarios for the future of the villagers. These include resettlement,...

Ancient temples are among Southeast Asia's most important cultural artifacts. They are priceless in terms of their historical and religious importance. They are also vital foreign currency earners as key destinations for tourists. Unfortunately, many temples are in poor condition and...

One of the most difficult challenges facing developing countries is balancing the needs of rural people with the demands of nature conservation. All too often, conflicts occur because local needs are not taken into account in conservation planning. One of the more promising approaches to solving...

The treatment of solid waste is a major priority in countries across Southeast Asia. Economic development and population growth, particularly in the region's mega-cities, have made the challenge more acute. This is particularly true in the Philippines, where the legacy of dangerous open dump...

One of the obstacles many conservation strategies face is the amount of time and money it actually costs for people t o be involved in their implementation - in other words, their "transaction costs" (TCs) . A new study from China has looked at how these costs have affected an innovative...