Environmental and economic consequences of the overexploitation of natural capital and ecosystem services in Xilinguole League, China

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 67; pp. 767 - 780
• Main Authors: Dong, X.B., Yu, B.H., Brown, M.T., Zhang, Y.S., Kang, M.Y., Jin, Y., Zhang, X.S., Ulgiati, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2014; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Capital; China; China (People's Republic); Coal; Conceptualization; Conservation; Decision making; Ecology; Economic data; Economic development; Economic growth; Economic theory; Economics; Ecosystems; Emergy; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Environmental economics; Evaluation; Exact sciences and technology; Fossil fuels and derived products; General aspects; General, economic and professional studies; Indexes; Mongolia; Natural capital; Renewable resources; Studies; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Xilinguole grassland; China; Inner Mongolia China; China, People's Rep., Inner Mongolia; China, People's Rep; Natural capital; Xilinguole grassland; Emergy
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.11.038

The evaluation of natural capital and environmental services has always been an important step in the implementation of sustainable development concepts and policies. The results presented in this study address the demand for environmental support of the economy of Xilinguole League in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as well as the value of its natural and human-made capital. The results show that the reliance of the economy of Xilinguole League on local and imported non-renewable resources (coal and minerals) decreases both the environmental and economic sustainability of the area. Emergy-based performance indicators of the Xilinguole League economy show a low sustainability index (ESI=0.79), though it is higher than for the Chinese economy as a whole (ESI=0.47), as well as a low percentage of renewable resources being used (%REN=0.16, though this is higher than for all of China, 0.09). In contrast, the grassland-based livestock sector shows a higher renewability index (%REN=0.67) and sustainability (ESI=9.61). The emergy exchange ratios (exported emergy/imported emergy) are calculated to be 4.38 for the livestock system and 4.28 for the Xilinguole economy, which is much higher than the value of 1.74 for the overall Chinese economy, indicating uncompensated overexploitation of local systems (meat and coal, respectively). Intensified coal exploitation and intensive cattle grazing are discussed to support the decision-making process for setting local energy policy and ecological compensation. It is proposed that conservation of coal resources (avoiding misuse and moderating excess extraction and trade) and protection of natural grassland capital are more advantageous in emergy terms than the “blind” pursuit of accelerated, economic growth. •The sustainability of theXilinguole League, Inner Mongolia, China, is assessed.•The study deals with the impact of local coal and grassland overexploitation.•Policies for impact reduction by more appropriate resource use are suggested.•Sustainability assessment is based on the emergy accounting approach.