Analysis of Material Metabolism of Eco-Economic System in Chongqing Based on the Emergy Theory

Xue-song Gao, Xiao-jiao Luo, Liang-ji Deng, Min Zeng

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DOI: 10.4236/lce.2011.21006                

Abstract

Based on the emergy theory proposed by H. T. Odum, the material metabolism of eco-economic system in Chongqing during 2002 ~ 2007 is analyzed. The results show that 1) the total available emergy in Chongqing is quite abundant and the economy is relatively more developed; the total metabolic output in Chongqing in 2007 was approximately 70% of its total metabolic input and both are increased, with an annual growth of 7.07% and 14.3% respectively; 2) the de- creasing trend of most emergy efficiency indexes including system emergy self-sufficiency rate, emergy waste rate and emergy yield rate show that eco-economic system in Chongqing is still a resource consumption one, that the economic development mainly relies on local non-renewable resources, that the pressure of urban development on the environ- ment keeps increasing and that the urban recycling capacity is yet to be improved; 3) the metabolic efficiency and metabolic intensity of the system are both increased, with an annual growth rate of 7.34% and 8.41% respectively; and 4) the environmental impact index of metabolism drops slowly, while the environmental loading ratio is large? fluctuating between 16.8 and 13.7. The prerequisite of achieving sound operation of the metabolic system in Chongqing lies in the regulation and control of the interactive relationship between metabolic fluxes so as to promote the coordinated symbiosis of urban metabolic emergy fluxes.

Keywords

Emergy Theory, Material Metabolism, Metabolic Flux, Metabolic Efficiency, Chongqing Municipality

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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