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Review of PSR framework and development of a DPSIR model to assess greenhouse effect in Taiwan

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Abstract

In dealing with the complex issues of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and climate change mitigation, many interrelated factors such as cost, level of technology development, supply and demand of energy, structure of industry, and expenditures on research and development exist. Using indicators to monitor environmental impacts and evaluate the efficacies of policies and regulations has been practiced for a long time, and it can serve as a useful tool for decision making and for comparison between different countries. Although numerous indicators have been developed for relevant subjects, integrated approaches that consider individual changes, dynamic interaction, and multi-dimensions of indicators are scarce. This paper aimed to develop a Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to assess the problems. This DPSIR model is mainly related to energy consumption, environmental impacts, and policy responses. The objectives of the paper were: (1) conduct a literature review on the indicators that have been used in GHG-related studies; (2) develop a DPSIR model that incorporates GHG-related indicators and evaluate their relationships using a cause–effect chain of GHG emission; and (3) develop a calculative method that can be used to explain the dynamic correlation among the interdependent indicators. Taiwan is a significant source of global GHG emissions. A case study, using the developed framework and Taiwan’s actual data of the past two decades, was conducted. The results indicate that regulatory strategies for pollution control are inadequate in terms of ensuring environmental quality, and the nature does not have the capability to revert the impacts from the existing level of pollution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 71 Chou-Shan Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Hui-Fen Huang

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, California State University, Fullerton 800 N. State College Boulevard, Fullerton, CA, 92834, USA

    Jeff Kuo

  3. Research Center for Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control Technology, Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 71 Chou-Shan Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Shang-Lien Lo

Authors
  1. Hui-Fen Huang
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  2. Jeff Kuo
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  3. Shang-Lien Lo
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Correspondence to Shang-Lien Lo.

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Huang, HF., Kuo, J. & Lo, SL. Review of PSR framework and development of a DPSIR model to assess greenhouse effect in Taiwan. Environ Monit Assess 177, 623–635 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1661-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1661-7

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