Environmental Subsystems Research Articles

Investigation and assessment of ecological water resources in the salt marsh area of a salt lake: A case study of West Taijinar Lake in the Qaidam Basin, China

The water ecology of salt marshes plays a crucial role in climate regulation, industrial production, and flood control. Due to a poor understanding of water ecology and the extensive mining of salt resources, concerns are mounting about declining groundwater levels, shrinking salt marshes, and other problems associated with the simple yet extremely fragile water ecosystem of salt marshes in arid salt lake areas. This study assessed the ecological status of water resources in the downstream salt marsh area of West Taijinar Lake in the Qaidam Basin, China (2010-2018). Using data from a field investigation, the water ecosystem was divided into an ecological pressure subsystem, an environmental quality subsystem, and a socio-economic subsystem according to an analytic hierarchy process. Each subsystem was quantitatively assessed using the ecological footprint model, the single-factor index, and available data for the salt marsh area. The results showed that water resources were always in a surplus state during the study period, whose development and utilization had a safe status. Surface water had low plankton diversity with no evidence of eutrophication, but its Cl- and SO42- concentrations were too high for direct industrial water uses. Groundwater quality was classified into class V because of high salt concentrations, which could be considered for industrial use given the demand of industrial production. The socio-economic efficiency of water resources was high, as distinguished by decreased water consumption per 10,000 yuan GDP and excellent flood resistance. In conclusion, the ecological status of water resources was deemed good in the study area and this could help sustain regional development. However, since the water ecology in this area is mainly controlled by annual precipitation, it would be challenging to deal with the uneven distribution of precipitation and flood events and to make full use of them for groundwater recharge. This study provides insight into the impact of salt lake resource exploration on water ecology, and the results can be useful for the rational utilization of water resources in salt marshes in other arid areas.

Evaluating green development level of mineral resource-listed companies: Based on a “dark green” assessment framework

Green development has become the consensus of global development. The green development status of mineral resource-listed companies (MRLCs) has an important impact on China's future sustainable development. In this study, we introduce health factors into research on green development, and develop a “dark green” evaluation index system for MRLCs from the perspectives of economic, environmental, and health (EEH) for the first time. Based on the index data obtained by collecting and extracting relevant information reports (i.e., social responsibility reports and sustainable development reports) of MRLCs from 2009 to 2018, we use the combined-weight cloud model to evaluate the green development level (GDL) of MRLCs. The results showed the following. (1) The GDL of most MRLCs was still at a low level. Among the companies that disclosed EEH-related information, the GDL of only 6.20% of the sample companies was at an acceptable level or declarable level. (2) The annual GDL of China's MRLCs showed an upward trend. However, due to their relatively low growth rate, they did not attain an acceptable level during the period from 2008 to 2019. (3) Among the three-dimensional subsystems of EEH, the evaluation level of the economic subsystem was relatively high, whereas the environmental subsystem and health subsystem were relatively low. Further tracking and analysis of specific indicators found that the performance of MRLCs was relatively weak in terms of energy consumption, resource utilization, pollutant emission, monitoring and protection, health investment, and health impact. These findings have important practical significance for helping managers clarify the status of green safety management, guiding enterprises to improve weak links, assisting with social supervision and evaluation, and promoting the transition from light-green development to dark-green development.

From “absolute” time to “acquiring control over time”: theoretical aspects of social time in publications of the 1920s – 1930s

This article examines the publications of the Russian scholars on sociological aspects of social time, which are poorly studied in the Russian and foreign literature. The author believes that they are the pioneers in the field of the sociology of time. Analysis is conducted in such concepts as past, present, and future time; their content and correlation; time as the transformation process; use of time and control over time»; time of an individual and time of the social system; biological time as a step towards social time. The beginning of the XX century indicated the organic correlation of the development of natural science and general science and social practice, activity. Most vividly such correlation manifested in the area of the perception of time, relation the time of publications presented in the article, which are ideologically connected with the social practice of the studies on time, and the origins of the theory of social time.  It is noted that the first sociological study on the budgets of time was conducted in Petrograd in the 1821 – 1922 by P. Sorokin. The authors tried to remain within the field of sociology, understanding sociology as a science about functionality and transformation of social systems, presented by the “submerged” into cultural-institutional environment subsystems of the subjects, their activity and relationships. The article focuses attention on the statements of scholars, which had conceptual significance for the science, as well as for solution of the real time-budget problems.

Effect of combined strategy on mitigating air pollution in China.

Air pollution has worsened as a result of increased traffic congestion in cities. Using air pollution caused by motor vehicle emissions (mainly by carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter) as an example, in this study, we applied an integrated algorithm comprising system dynamics, entropy weight method, and gray system theory to establish a weighted logic function. A vehicle pollutant control model (including the transport, health, and environmental subsystems) was established by VENSIM software. The medium- and long-term key variable analysis showed that the integrated algorithm, fully reflecting the advantages of system dynamics and gray system theory, more accurately described air pollution caused by vehicle emissions. Our research results also revealed that the combined strategy of penalties and air pollution charging fee had a threefold effect: reduced congestion and emissions, improved health impact index, and reduced number of illegal trips. Specifically, the degree of traffic congestion, number of illegal trips, and the degree of air pollution decreased by approximately 82.40%, 69.35%, and 68.91%, respectively, whereas the health impact index increased by about 279.03%. This finding provides guidance for improving policy and optimizing management and control modes.Graphic abstract

TOPSIS model with entropy weight for eco geological environmental carrying capacity assessment

In order to understand the comprehensive effect of eco-geological environment and determine the development direction of eco-geological environment resources utilization, the evaluation index system of eco-geological environment carrying capacity is divided into three subsystems: geological environment subsystem, ecological environment subsystem and social environment subsystem according to the data of China Statistical Yearbook. By using the above evaluation indicators to construct a standardized evaluation matrix, the entropy weight is added to the evaluation matrix to determine the positive and negative ideal solution of the entropy weight evaluation matrix, calculate the distance between the positive and negative ideal solution, and finally obtain the closeness of each index TOPSIS model through the distance between the positive and negative ideal solution, and evaluate the ecological geological environment of each region through the closeness of each index. The environmental carrying capacity, based on the TOPSIS model of entropy weight, is constructed to evaluate the ecological geological environmental carrying capacity. Five districts and counties around Longquan Mountains in Chengdu City were selected as the research objects. The results of the model were 41.82%, 17.17%, 19.10% and 21.92 respectively.

Dynamic Evaluation and System Coordination Degree of the Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Real Economy

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important driving force of the new round of technological revolution and industrial change, and the development of a new generation of AI can help improve comprehensive national power and promote healthy and sustainable economic development. AI can promote economic development through four ways. First, AI replaces labor, expands labor connotation, increases labor supply, and enriches labor wealth; AI empowers laborers and improves labor productivity. Second, AI empowers the three industries and improves production efficiency. Third, AI creates consumer surplus and improves social welfare. Fourth, AI empowers government to correct government failure and improve government efficiency, which in turn corrects market failure and improves economic efficiency. The economic subsystem covers both quantitative and qualitative aspects of economic growth, economic structure, economic efficiency, and economic support. Environmental subsystems are divided into environmental quality, environmental pollution, and environmental protection. While using AI to promote economic development, it is also important to strengthen the research and prevention of potential risks of AI development to ensure that AI is safe, reliable, and controllable.

Research on Safety Level Evaluation of Island-type Petrochemical Park Based on ANP

The inherent dangers of the petrochemical industry and the extreme meteorological conditions in the coastal areas make the island-type petrochemical parks have complicated safety hazards. In order to improve the safety management capability of my country’s island-type petrochemical parks, this paper analyzes the risk sources of the island-type petrochemical parks from the four subsystems of human, machine, environment and management, and uses the network analytic hierarchy process (ANP) to calculate the correlation weights between the indicators. The establishment of an evaluation model for the safety level of island-type petrochemical parks and quantitative analysis of the safety level of island-type petrochemical parks are of great significance for guiding the safety work of my country’s island-type petrochemical parks.

Research on the coordinated development of tourism-urbanization-ecological environment——Taking Chongqing as an example

The article analyzes the comprehensive development levels of the three subsystems of Chongqing's tourism, urbanization and ecological environment from 2000 to 2017, and the temporal evolution characteristics of the coordinated development of the three. The results show that: (1) The comprehensive evaluation index of Chongqing's tourism industry system and urbanization system is on the rise; the comprehensive ecological environment index showed an upward trend before 2008, and fluctuated greatly after 2008. (2) The degree of coupling and coordination of the three systems in Chongqing City generally shows a transformational trend of maladjustment recession-intermediate transition-coordination improvement. In the future, Chongqing should continue to deepen institutional reforms and continue to develop new tourism markets; improve transportation, promote enterprise transformation and upgrading, implement policies for talent introduction; strengthen the construction of environmental protection talents and capital investment, and vigorously develop ecological industries

Особливості формування інноваційно-активних середовищ на регіональному рівні

Prospects for the development of the national economy is inextricably linked to the economic and innovative development of the regions. In this regard, the formation of innovation-active environments at the regional level, the construction of a national innovation system and, consequently, the economic development of the state require active participation of regions in the implementation of innovative processes. The article is devoted to determining the factors that determine the need for innovation development of the region. The composition of a typical regional innovation-active environment is defined, its subsystems are described. It is established that the main subsystems of RIAE are scientific and production and technical subsystems. The main functions of subsystems of regional innovation-active environment were considered and the main participants of each subsystem were identified. External factors affecting the development and functioning of RIAE were determined and it was established that it is the state, at the regional level represented by public authorities and local authorities should become a catalyst for the development of innovation-active environment.

Design and analysis of a certain type of engineering environmental management information system

A certain type of engineering environmental management information system (referred to as the system) has been developed for many years, but there are not many construction cases. Domestic and foreign companies and enterprises have little research on this type of engineering system construction plan, and the knowledge base of historical experience and lessons is less. The design analysis of the engineering system construction scheme has practical significance and value. The system construction design adopts large-scale joint control technology to integrate all environmental protection subsystems into an organic whole, realize information sharing and collaborative work, realize remote monitoring and control of process equipment, and realize dynamic and online management of equipment information. Eventually, a certain type of engineering achieve the goals of intelligent control, unmanned duty, and controllable operation.

Assessment of the Balanced Functioning of Hierarchical Socio-Economic Systems

Balance is one of the properties of the system, and the problems associated with the assessment of balance, the choice of indicators, methods and tools that allow you to make informed management decisions in this area in the future are still open. The aim of the study is to develop and test a methodology for assessing the balance of the functioning of hierarchical socio-economic systems on the basis of the case of the regions of the Central Federal District of Russia. The hypothesis is that the proposed methodology can be effectively applied to study the balance of complex systems along with existing methods in the framework of a new theory of economic systems. The method consists in the formation of special indicators – the coefficient of harmony and the adjusted index of system balance, which allow us to assess the degree of balance of subsystems within the accepted space-time classification. The first of them takes into account the spread of generalized (integral) performance indicators that characterize the object, environment, process and project subsystems. The second one is the intensity of the relationships between them. The integral indicator is calculated by means of a special procedure for convolution of partial results (actual and normative). The norm is determined by a model of the relationship between performance and significant factor characteristics. The peculiarity of the proposed method is the possibility of its use at different levels of management. It also provides a reasonable comparison of the results of the functioning of various subsystems and elements by eliminating the influence of units of measurement and the scale effect; the mutual influence of the considered elements and subsystems is taken into account; the specific conditions of their operation are taken into account. The case of the regions of the Central Federal District is used to carry out a comparative analysis of the results of assessing the balance of subsystems using the volume of gross domestic product by region by type of economic activity for 2007-2018,. The conclusion is made about the possibility of using, along with the index of system balance, the coefficient of harmony. The practical results of the study can be used by government authorities to make decisions and develop measures aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the regions of the Central Federal District.

A Study on the Coordinated Development of Ecological Environment, Urbanization and High-quality Economy in the Yellow River Basin

The protection of the ecological environment and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin is a major national strategy. Urbanization is also important and should be promoted more efficiency in China. The ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin has been destroyed, further affecting the process of urbanization. The difficulty of sustainable economic development has increased. Therefore, China needs high-quality economic development. In this context, the coordinated development of the ecological environment, urbanization and high-quality economy in the Yellow River Basin deserve more attention. Based on the time-series data of the Yellow River Basin from 2010 to 2020, this paper analyzes the trend and characteristics of the development of the ecological environment subsystem, urbanization subsystem and high-quality economy subsystem by building a comprehensive evaluation system of the three subsystems, using entropy method and coupling coordination degree model. The results show that: from 2010 to 2020, the comprehensive level show an obvious upward trend; the story of urbanization and high-quality economic growth is higher than the level of ecological environment. Urbanization and economic development show the spatial difference of environmental carrying capacity; the coupling degree has been at a high level, and the coordination degree has changed significantly. We can conclude that the system coordination degree is in a steady upward trend. And, as a whole, it is shifting to order from disorder and getting to the level of coordination. It is helpful to guide the strategy formulation of the coordinated development among the ecological environment, urbanization and high-quality economy in the Yellow River Basin.

基于“无废理念”的纺织服装工业区绿色化改造模式研究

通过对中国工业区，特别是纺织服装工业区"产废"情况的梳理，明确针对污染严重，经济效益不高的工业区进行改造的必要性。为实现对纺织服装工业区绿色化改造，从"无废理念"出发，重点研究纺织服装工业区绿色化改造的可实施路径。在研究方法上将纺织服装工业区作为研究整体，基于可持续发展思想，构建纺织服装工业区经济、社会、环境复合生态系统，运用层次分析法，选取对于该类工业园区具有代表性的经济、社会、环境指标进行评价，通过评价后总的分值，结合生命周期规律，将需要改造的纺织服装工业区进行初步筛选。同时，利用经济、社会、环境各子系统的分值，对具体改造模式加以判别。文章通过对纺织服装工业区不可持续性的内涵挖掘，将工业区绿色化改造模式与改造内容建立关联，可以通过产业绿色化改造和建成空间绿色化改造，来实现工业园区的升级与转型，进而实现可持续发展。最后，根据模式判别结果，针对不同模式在产业与建成空间的不同特征，提出相应的绿色化改造方法和政策建议。在结论中总结基于"无废理念"纺织服装工业区绿色化改造与可持续发展的辩证关系。此方法适用于其他类型的工业区改造模式判别，以促进工业区的可持续发展。;This study analyzes the current situations pertaining to pollutant emission and waste in China's industrial zones,especially in the textile and garment industrial zones,and highlights the necessity of reforming these zones, which are associated with severe pollution and low economic benefits. Moreover, a feasible method to realize green transformation of these zones is investigated, based on the no waste concept. For this purpose, the textile and garment industrial zone was considered as a single entity, and its economic, social, and environmental complex ecosystem was constructed based on the concept of sustainable development. The analytic hierarchy process was then employed to select the representative economic, social, and environmental indicators of the industrial zone for evaluation purposes. Subsequently, the total score acquired after evaluation, in combination with the law of life cycle, was used for preliminary screening and to determine the textile and garment industrial zones requiring transformation. Simultaneously, the specific transformation mode was identified and distinguished using the individual economic, social, and environmental subsystem scores. Furthermore, the undertone of unsustainability in the textile and garment industrial zones was explored, and the relationship between the green transformation mode and content of the industrial zones was established. Through green transformation of the industry and built up space, the industrial zones can be upgraded and transformed, following which sustainable development can be realized. Finally, according to the results of the pattern discrimination performed according to the different characteristics of diverse patterns in the industry and material space, corresponding green transformation methods and policy suggestion were proposed. In conclusion, a dialectical relationship between green transformation and sustainable development of the textile and garment industrial zones based on the no waste concept is put forth. This method is suitable for other types of industrial zone transformation discrimination, in order to promote the sustainable development of industrial zones.

Ecosystem approach in the context of economic interest management

The relevance of the subject matter is conditioned by the need to find ways to solve the problem of environmental safety and ensure effective management. The purpose of the study is to structure the national security system with the allocation of environmental and economic subsystems, constructive and critical analysis of the main opinions and positions of scientists regarding the nature and aspects of the ecosystem approach in solving environmental safety, further development of the ecosystem approach based on economic management methods. The study is based on the use of system and matrix approaches, methods of generalisation, modelling, analysis and synthesis, content analysis. It is proved that the national security system includes, in particular, environmental and economic subsystems and that there is objectively an internal system connection between these subsystems, which, when used correctly, should ensure the effective functioning and development of both subsystems. The study outlined the functional-subject matrix of the ecological safety system, which would contribute to the systematisation of different areas of its research. It is established that from the standpoint of management theory, the ecological subsystem is defined as controlled one, and the economic subsystem – as a controlling one; the management is ensured by the fact that the former includes not only natural but also human resources (consumers of ecosystem services, managers in the environmental sphere or performers of environmental functions). It is substantiated that for the effective solution of ecological problems it is necessary to factor in the economic interests of such people, as economic interests serve as the basis of the economic (most effective) method of management. The practical value of the study lies in the development of an economic method of the environmental safety system management and justification of the role of economic interests, which would contribute to the practical solution of environmental problems in Ukraine

Variable precondition S-type cloud algorithm: Theory and application on water resources carrying capacity assessment

The purpose of water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) research is to meet the sustainable utilization of water resources and realize its sustainable development strategy. Scientifically evaluating the carrying capacity of regional water resources is extremely important. In this study, a variable precondition S-type cloud algorithm (VPSCA) is developed for assessment of regional WRCC based on social economic subsystem, water resources subsystem, ecological and environmental subsystem including thirteen indicators, which can overcome the shortcoming that the existing evaluation methods rarely consider fuzziness, randomness, and dynamic variability of parameters at the same time. First, forward S-type cloud generator algorithm (FSCGA) is developed based on segmented S-type membership function. On this basis, precondition S-type cloud generator algorithm (PSCGA) is proposed. Moreover, the VPSCA is developed by embedding PSCGA into variable fuzzy evaluation (VFE) method. Taking Beijing as a typical research area, this paper analyzes and forecasts the comprehensive benefits of water supply of the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SWDP) in 2030 using VPSCA. The results show that SWDP can increase the carrying capacity of local water resources by 3.80%. In addition, feasibility and validity of VPSCA are further verified by comparison with other existing methods. This study aims to provide some suitable theoretical and practical implications of the evaluation of WRCC.

Large-scale environmental policy change: analysis of the Brazilian reality

Abstract The Brazilian presidential elections of 2018 brought large-scale changes in the Brazilian environmental policy subsystem. The purpose of this article is to analyze these changes through the lenses of the Advocacy Coalition Framework - ACF. First, we introduced some of the main characteristics of this subsystem, then we presented a hemerographic analysis to describe and analyze the effects of four recent shocks in this subsystem. Two of these shocks were external: (i) the election of a new political elite in power that brought a clear discourse of denial of the relevance of environmental policy and (ii) calamitous environmental events that occurred in Brazil in 2019. The other two shocks were internal: (i) the capture of key positions and resources by dominant coalition members and (ii) the rise of conflict and polarization among the coalitions in the subsystem. The results showed: (i) the rise of a hyper-adversarial environmental policy subsystem; (ii) a realignment between non-dominant coalitions in a cooperative direction; (iii) the imposition of clear barriers to negotiation; (iv) changes in the use of scientific information by more politicized discourses with a high degree of bias. The article contributes to the understanding of the processes of institutional change in environmental policy, especially in contexts of large-scale change generated by increasing electoral polarization and fierce political disputes. It also contributes to the analysis of the limits and possibilities of the ACF in the Brazilian environmental agenda.

Large-scale environmental policy change: analysis of the Brazilian reality

Abstract The Brazilian presidential elections of 2018 brought large-scale changes in the Brazilian environmental policy subsystem. The purpose of this article is to analyze these changes through the lenses of the Advocacy Coalition Framework - ACF. First, we introduced some of the main characteristics of this subsystem, then we presented a hemerographic analysis to describe and analyze the effects of four recent shocks in this subsystem. Two of these shocks were external: (i) the election of a new political elite in power that brought a clear discourse of denial of the relevance of environmental policy and (ii) calamitous environmental events that occurred in Brazil in 2019. The other two shocks were internal: (i) the capture of key positions and resources by dominant coalition members and (ii) the rise of conflict and polarization among the coalitions in the subsystem. The results showed: (i) the rise of a hyper-adversarial environmental policy subsystem; (ii) a realignment between non-dominant coalitions in a cooperative direction; (iii) the imposition of clear barriers to negotiation; (iv) changes in the use of scientific information by more politicized discourses with a high degree of bias. The article contributes to the understanding of the processes of institutional change in environmental policy, especially in contexts of large-scale change generated by increasing electoral polarization and fierce political disputes. It also contributes to the analysis of the limits and possibilities of the ACF in the Brazilian environmental agenda.

Temporal Variation of Water Environment Carrying Capacity in a Highly Urbanized Region of China

China has experienced an unparalleled urbanization process in recent decades, which has dramatically changed the water environment. Quantification of the water environment carrying capacity (WECC) is crucial given its importance to sustainable development. Existing studies have typically focused on the overall WECC system and lacked analysis of its internal features. In this study, the concepts, calculations, and classifications of the WECC were further developed. Using Nanjing, China, as a case study, we developed a hierarchical evaluation indicator system including three system layers (social, environmental and economic subsystems). We applied the entropy weight and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to evaluate the temporal variation tendency of WECC, and explored the deep-seated problems stemming from urbanization. The results indicated that WECC in Nanjing was 0.3045–0.5302 during 2006–2017, thus approaching a moderate grade with a relatively slow growth rate. Social, environmental, and economic subsystems increased by 29.3%, 83.1%, and 97.2%, respectively. Overall, Nanjing had a solid foundation regarding its economic subsystem, but its social and environmental subsystems were under pressure. Factors such as slow population growth as well as reduced energy and water use intensity improved WECC, whereas factors such as increased population density and excessive water consumption blocked WECC. Practical suggestions were proposed to resolve the primary problems of the WECC under urbanization. This holistic approach is urgently needed to achieve water environmental sustainability, both for Nanjing and for other emerging cities.

Priority National Projects as a Tool of Social, Economic and Political Modernization of Old Industrial Regions of the South of Russia

Introduction. In the current political process in Russia, national projects occupy an important place, working as one of the main tools for the achievement of national goals. The projects are usually made more specific at the regional level of administration and include the strategic goal of regional development, the amount of resources allocated for their achievement, as well as the responsibility of the officials for their use. The article examines the impact of implementing national projects of the “first wave” (from 2006–2010 to 2018) and the first results of the projects of the “second wave” (designed for 2019–2024) on solving the problems of effectiveness growth of public administration of the balanced development of old industrial regions of Southern Russia – Volgograd and Rostov regions. The problems of this study are justified by the expansion of using program-targeted methods in the organizational environment of regional management, what implies the need to assess the compliance of the results achieved during the implementation of projects with the goals of state regional policy. Methodology and methods. The research methodology is based on the provisions of the concept of sustainable development, as well as the system paradigm of G.B. Kleiner devoted to the need for the interconnected development of the object, environment and control subsystems. In the study of the effectiveness of national projects and their impact on the balanced development of old industrial regions of the South of Russia, the effective approach and the comparative analysis method were used. Analysis. The study shows that the degree of involvement of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in implementing program activities of national projects is determined by the volumes of regional budgets, as well as the priorities facing a region. From the standpoint of sustainability and balance of regional development, there is a disagreement in the processes of modernization changes in the subsystems of the object, environment and management, what leads to the underutilization of the resource potential of the regions in the achievement of national goals. Results. The priorities of goal setting in Volgograd and Rostov regions in the implementation of national projects are studied. The feedbacks of the regional system to the measures mentioned in national projects, as well as limiting factors for the achievement of their objectives are identified. The idea of the coordinated development of the object, environment and management subsystems of a region for the effectiveness growth of public administration of the balanced regional development is substantiated. It is concluded that the administration and management of modern national projects is not so much a managerial task but rather a political one, and therefore their implementation implies the solution of such political goals as carefulness in setting goals and choosing priorities, building effective mechanisms of the interaction between federal and regional authorities, and also with local target population.

The Role of Mitigation Options for Achieving a Low-Carbon Economy in the Netherlands in 2050 Using a System Dynamics Modelling Approach

To reach a low-carbon economy in the Netherlands, the level of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions has to be reduced by 80–95% CO2 emissions compared to 1990 (223.1 MtCO2-equivalents). This study aims to address how investment subsidies combined with carbon levies could be deployed to support technological mitigation options to achieve a low-carbon economy in the Netherlands in 2050. A system dynamic model has been built including demographic-economic, energy and environmental sub-systems of the Netherlands. The model has been validated with earlier projections of the EU for the energy and climate policy in 2050. Next to the business-as-usual scenario, there are four policy scenarios simulated from 2010 to 2050. In all policy scenarios a carbon levy was imposed on non-renewable energy to finance subsidies on mitigation options. Results show that imposing subsidies on the mitigation option renewable energy is most effective in combination with the carbon levy.