Greater Pearl River Delta Research Articles

Emission patterns and spatiotemporal variations of halocarbons in the Pearl River Delta region, southern China

On 8 selected days between 25 October and 1 December 2007, 198 whole air samples were simultaneously collected at two sites in the greater Pearl River Delta (PRD), namely, Wan Qing Sha (WQS) in inland PRD and Tung Chung (TC) in Hong Kong, for the evaluation of halocarbons including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and other chlorinated compounds. The mean mixing ratios of CFC‐12, CH3CCl3, CH3Br, C2HCl3, and C2Cl4 at WQS were much higher than those at TC (p < 0.001), while HCFC‐22 was higher at TC (p < 0.01). Long‐lived species such as CFC‐11, CFC‐12, and CFC‐113 showed similar temporal patterns on most sampling days with small daily variation, whereas the main species used as solvents such as C2HCl3 and C2Cl4 presented large daily variations though with consistent temporal patterns. Source profile analysis revealed that although there was no remarkable change in emission sources between 2001–2002 and 2007, the emissions of CFCs and CCl4 from the production of refrigeration in 2007 were 1.4–2.0 times those in 2001–2002, and the use of HCFC‐22 has significantly increased in these years while the use of C2HCl3 and C2Cl4 in the electronics industry showed a remarkable reduction. By comparing the halocarbon data collected in this study with those observed by other research teams in recent years, we found that the levels of CFCs have declined since 2001, while their substitute HCFC‐22 has increased in emissions in recent years, especially in Hong Kong. The annual trends are consistent with the implementation of the Montreal Protocol. The results obtained in this study provide useful information to local government on effective control of halocarbon emissions in this region.

Carbonyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfide and carbon disulfide in the Pearl River Delta of southern China: Impact of anthropogenic and biogenic sources

Reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) such as carbonyl sulfide (OCS), dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and carbon disulfide (CS 2) impact radiative forcing, ozone depletion, and acid rain. Although Asia is a large source of these compounds, until now a long-term study of their emission patterns has not been carried out. Here we analyze 16 months of RSC data measured at a polluted rural/coastal site in the greater Pearl River Delta (PRD) of southern China. A total of 188 canister air samples were collected from August 2001 to December 2002. The OCS and CS 2 mixing ratios within these samples were higher in autumn/winter and lower in summer due to the influence of Asian monsoon circulations. Comparatively low DMS values observed in this coastal region suggest a relatively low biological productivity during summer months. The springtime OCS levels in the study region (574 ± 40 pptv) were 25% higher than those on other East Asia coasts such Japan, whereas the springtime CS 2 and DMS mixing ratios in the PRD (47 ± 38 pptv and 22 ± 5 pptv, respectively) were 3–30 times lower than elevated values that have been measured elsewhere in East Asia (Japan and Korea) at this time of year. Poor correlations were found among the three RSCs in the whole group of 188 samples, suggesting their complex and variable sources in the region. By means of backward Lagrangian particle release simulations, air samples originating from the inner PRD, urban Hong Kong and South China Sea were identified. The mean mixing ratio of OCS in the inner PRD was significantly higher than that in Hong Kong urban air and South China Sea marine air ( p < 0.001), whereas no statistical differences were found for DMS and CS 2 among the three regions ( p > 0.05). Using a linear regression method based on correlations with the urban tracer CO, the estimated OCS emission in inner PRD (49.6 ± 4.7 Gg yr −1) was much higher than that in Hong Kong (0.32 ± 0.05 Gg yr −1), whereas the estimated CS 2 and DMS emissions in the study region accounted for a very few percentage of the total CS 2 and DMS emission in China. These findings lay the foundation for better understanding sulfur chemistry in the greater PRD region of southern China.

Cross‐border environmental governance in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD)

This paper reviews recent developments in cross‐border co‐operation in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) region of China, which has experienced three decades of unprecedented economic growth but also rapid deterioration of environmental quality. We examine the significance and the implications of this new framework for the reform and transformation of the economic structure and development pattern of the GPRD. We argue that these innovations should improve not only the quality of life of the region, but also provide an example for the whole of China. To succeed, the region must continue to strengthen its legal and regulatory framework and improve mechanisms for ensuring transparency of information, engaging business/industry as partners in environmental collaboration, and integrating non‐governmental organisations and civil society organisations with the region’s environmental governance structure.

The Impact of Climate Change in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta

This article represents a first attempt to pull together relevant materials with the aim of providing a broad-brush view of how climate change may affect Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) region (Hong Kong, Macau and the Pearl River Delta). Among the various consequences of climate change, rising sea levels are a matter of great concern for the GPRD region, which is made vulnerable both by its physical geography (the southern part of the delta lies between - 0.3m to 0.4m relative to mean sea level (MSL)) and its urban development. More in-depth research and modeling remain to be done so that the authorities, business and civil society can better understand climate impacts on the region, but this article shows that climate change could have a big impact on the regional economy, which represents nearly 10% of China’s GNP. The paper concludes with a discussion of the measures that government and businesses will need to consider in order to adapt to these future conditions.

An Empirical Study of Organizational Innovation Practice in Electronic and Electrical Industry in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD)

Innovation fuels organizations evolving them to withstand rapid changes in markets and challenges from competition. While diversified concepts of innovation are examined, a generic framework for managing organizational innovation is established to portray the notion in a methodical approach. Substatiation of the determinants for organizational innovation is carried out in order to examine the framework against the practical situation. Subsequently, expectations and actual accomplishments of the determinants for organizational innovation from the industry are determined so as to understand the industrial view towards the framework. This paper summarizes the empirical findings of a survey of organizational innovation with a sample of 208 electronic and electrical manufacturing companies in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD), China. On one hand, the survey findings confirm the readiness of the generic framework from the practical perspective of the industry. On the other hand, rankings are obtained for the expected importance and company accomplishment of the determinants for organizational innovation, namely in the areas of management leadership and commitment, employee capability and attitude and strategy development for innovation. The improvement area is also verified by the shortcomings of the expectation in comparison to the company accomplishment in each dterminant. Meanwhile, it is believed that a directional attitude towards the determinants can facilitate the accomplishment of the determinants of organizational innovation. Further results will be generated from a more in‐depth analysis of variables. The confirmed framework will be further developed into an assessment system for organizational innovation with the support of best practices in each determinant.