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Environmental and Economic Consequences of the Overexploitation of Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services in Xilinguole League, China

Xiaobin Dong, B.H. Yu, Mark T. Brown, Y.S. Zhang, M.Y. Kang, Y. Jin, X.S. Zhang, Sergio Ulgiati ABSTRACT

The evaluation of natural capital and environmental services has always been an important step in the approach to sustainable development concepts and policies. The results presented in this paper deal with the demand for environmental support to the economy of the Xilinguole League in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, as well as the value of its natural and human-made capital. Results show that the reliance of the economy of the Xilinguole League on local and imported nonrenewable resources (coal and minerals) decreases the sustainability of the area. The emergy-based performance indicators of the Xilinguole League economy show a low sustainability index (ESI= 0.79), although higher than for Chinese economy as a whole (ESI= 0.47), and a low percentage of renewable resources used (%REN= 0.16, still higher than for China, 0.09). Instead, the grassland-based livestock sector shows higher renewability index (%REN= 0.67) and sustainability (ESI= 9.61). Intensified coal exploitation and intensive cattle grazing are discussed, in support to the decision-making process for local energy policy and ecological compensation. It is proposed to conserve the coal resources (avoiding misuse and moderating excess extraction and trade) and to protect the grassland natural capital, instead of "blindly" pursuing an accelerated economic growth policy.

Citation

Dong, X.B., B.H. Yu, M.T. Brown, Y.S. Zhang, M.Y. Kang,, Y. Jin, X.S. Zhang, S. Ulgiati. 2014. Environmental and economic consequences of the overexploitation of natural capital and ecosystem services in Xilinguole League, China. Energy Policy. In press. DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.11.038

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