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Recent years have seen attempts to design and implement environmental accounts for a number of countries, in response to perceived inadequacies in the existing national income accounts. This has led to much discussion of the feasibility and desirability of different approaches. This paper discusses three key issues: what use is envisaged for environmental accounts? What type of development are they intended to promote? And what view of consumption do they incorporate? The paper concludes that there is a strong case for developing environmental accounts in physical units as a tool of analysis, but that the case for developing accounts in money terms, on the other hand, largely with the aim of arriving at a "Green National Income", is quite weak. If the objective is to monitor progress towards sustainable welfare, the development of a set of social and environmental indicators would be preferable.
The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is one of the most aggressive invasive species globally, and it has spread widely in Asia and Europe. Its unique morphological and physiological characteristics enable it to survive in high-temperature and hypersaline environments. The invasion of the Chinese mitten crab can damage the local aquatic ecology, including flora and fauna, necessitating the implementation of monitoring and control measures. Consuming the invasive crab is a potential strategy to prevent its further spread worldwide. This chapter documents the success of transforming this invasive species into a valuable food source in China. Notably, there is a significant demand for Chinese mitten crabs in China, with potential markets in several other Asian countries. However, natural Chinese mitten crabs often grow in polluted water, accumulating undesirable substances (e.g., pathogens and heavy metals). These substances could pose significant health hazards when consumed by humans. Therefore, adhering to proper cultivation techniques is essential to ensuring the safety of the crabs for human consumption.
The development of measures and patterns to increase energy efficiency appears as one of the key objectives of the world economy and is aimed at solving environmental problems associated with energy consumption and climate change. The chapter focuses on the issue of the impact of economic growth and structural changes on the energy intensity of territories. Empirical studies highlight a significant influence of macroeconomic, demographic, and political factors on changes in the energy intensity of economies. Russia has significant capacity for improving energy efficiency, primarily in the electricity and housing sectors. The released volumes of fossil fuels can be exported, reduce emissions into the atmosphere, and, as a result, improve the quality of life. A consistent reduction in the consumption of fuel and energy resources due to the transition to a new technological order is demonstrated by the electric power industry, the manufacturing industry, and the transport sector. For Russia, the transition from a raw-material model of the economy to an innovative one is a priority for sustainable development. To overcome the causes of low energy efficiency and realize the existing potential, it is necessary to intensify the state policy at the regional and federal levels. Simultaneously, measures to save energy and increase energy efficiency will not be able to achieve the goal of reducing the energy intensity of GDP/GRP without high economic growth rates. The authors present the analysis of the influence of the structure of the gross regional product on energy consumption in the Rostov Region and characterize the structure of the economy and the electricity consumption of the region. It was noted that the development of the service sector and high-tech industries, as well as investment in environmental technologies, will allow the Rostov Region to move to an energy-efficient model of economic growth.