This paper, by using conditional directional distance functions as introduced by Simar and Vanhems [J. Econometrics 166 (2012) 342-354] modifies the model by Färe and Grosskopf [Eur. J. Operat. Res. 157 (2004) 242-245], examines the link between regional environmental efficiency and economic growth. The proposed model using conditional directional distance functions incorporates the effect of r...

The three main areas where information and communication technology (ICT) impacts on the environment are considered: (1) the fallout from the processes of production, (2) the environmental burden of ICT products themselves and their use, and (3) the recycling and disposing of ICT products. On the basis of this overview, a number of environmental policies are proposed. A participatory system nee...

China has seen the fruit of its rapid economic growth over the past two decades, but severe environmental problems have accompanied this, such as the looming danger of Asian Brown Clouds. This paper analyzes the regional development of China by examining economic performance as well as environmental factors. Technical efficiency and productivity changes of thirty-one regions in China during the...

the study on water level fluctuation in the urmia lake has become of a great importance in recent years. this is due to the importance of the position of this lake as a natural heritage at an international level. the water level decrease at the urmia lake during the recent years has made it necessary to address the matter more than before. investigation and assessment of changes in the lake is ...

introduction discussion of sustainability and sustainable development, regardless of towns and cities would be meaningless cities as the main factor causing instability in the world are, in fact, the concept of urban sustainability and global are stability. environmental crises and urban issues such as air pollution, water, soil and water resources and agricultural land use renewable, global wa...

Scattered trees support high levels of farmland biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes, but they are threatened by agricultural intensification, urbanization, and land abandonment. This study aimed to map and quantify the decline of orchard meadows (scattered fruit trees of high nature conservation value) for a region in Southwestern Germany for the 1968 2009 period and ...