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Carbon Emissions (carbon + emission)
Selected AbstractsCarbon emission and sequestration by agricultural land use: a model study for EuropeGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2002L. M. Vleeshouwers Abstract A model was developed to calculate carbon fluxes from agricultural soils. The model includes the effects of crop (species, yield and rotation), climate (temperature, rainfall and evapotranspiration) and soil (carbon content and water retention capacity) on the carbon budget of agricultural land. The changes in quality of crop residues and organic material as a result of changes in CO2 concentration and changed management were not considered in this model. The model was parameterized for several arable crops and grassland. Data from agricultural, meteorological, soil, and land use databases were input to the model, and the model was used to evaluate the effects of different carbon dioxide mitigation measures on soil organic carbon in agricultural areas in Europe. Average carbon fluxes under the business as usual scenario in the 2008,2012 commitment period were estimated at 0.52 tC ha,1 y,1 in grassland and ,0.84 tC ha,1 y,1 in arable land. Conversion of arable land to grassland yielded a flux of 1.44 tC ha,1 y,1. Farm management related activities aiming at carbon sequestration ranged from 0.15 tC ha,1 y,1 for the incorporating of straw to 1.50 tC ha,1 y,1 for the application of farmyard manure. Reduced tillage yields a positive flux of 0.25 tC ha,1 y,1. The indirect effect associated with climate was an order of magnitude lower. A temperature rise of 1 °C resulted in a ,0.05 tC ha,1 y,1 change whereas the rising CO2 concentrations gave a 0.01 tC ha,1 y,1 change. Estimates are rendered on a 0.5 × 0.5° grid for the commitment period 2008,2012. The study reveals considerable regional differences in the effectiveness of carbon dioxide abatement measures, resulting from the interaction between crop, soil and climate. Besides, there are substantial differences between the spatial patterns of carbon fluxes that result from different measures. [source] Green Footstep: A Tool for Evaluating a Building's Life-Cycle Carbon Footprint and Informing Carbon Decisions During the Building Design ProcessARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Issue 3 2010Michael Bendewald Abstract The Green Footstep model provides a valuable set of metrics for ecodesign and masterplanning. Here Michael Bendewald and Victor Olgyay of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), with Ken Yeang, describe the significance of this new online tool. In addition to supplying the basis for balancing the built environment's engineering systems, the Green Footstep enables efficiency with the use of renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaics (illustrated here). By presenting the critical case for increasing the percentage of new vegetation and trees in new developments, it enhances local biodiversity. Carbon emissions are offset from: on-site clearance of vegetation, the disturbance of the many constituents of the local ecosystem and the removal of organic rich soil by new construction. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Biofuels and indirect land use change effects: the debate continuesBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 3 2009John A. Mathews Abstract While debate on biofuels and bioenergy generally has sparked controversy over claimed greenhouse gas emissions benefits available with a switch to biomass, these claims have generally not taken into account indirect land use changes. Carbon emissions from land that is newly planted with biocrops, after land use changes such as deforestation, are certainly real , but efforts to measure them have been presented subject to severe qualifi cations. No such qualifications accompanied the paper by Searchinger et al. published in Science in February 2008, where the claim was made that a spike of ethanol consumption in the USA up to the year 2016 would divert corn grown in the USA and lead to new plantings of grain crops around the world to make up the shortfall, resulting in land use changes covering 10.8 million hectares and leading to the release of 3.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions in terms of CO2 equivalent. These emissions, the paper argued, would more than offset any savings in emissions by growing biofuels in the first place; in fact they would create a ,carbon debt' that would take 160 years to repay. Such criticism would be devastating, if it were valid. The aim of this perspective is to probe the assumptions and models used in the Searchinger et al. paper, to evaluate their validity and plausibility, and contrast them with other approaches taken or available to be taken. It is argued that indirect land use change effects are too diffuse and subject to too many arbitrary assumptions to be useful for rule-making, and that the use of direct and controllable measures, such as building statements of origin of biofuels into the contracts that regulate the sale of such commodities, would secure better results. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] Global Energy and Environmental Impacts of an Expanding ChinaCHINA AND WORLD ECONOMY, Issue 4 2006Warwick J. McKibbin Q53; Q56; Q58 Abstract China accounts for 10 percent of global energy use and will continue to rely on coal for generating approximately 75 percent of its energy over coming decades. The environmental problems associated with coal burning are a concern for China as well as regionally and globally. The present paper summarizes China's energy structure and likely future energy requirements, while exploring the impact of energy use on air quality, black carbon emission, sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, and carbon dioxide emissions. Although China has begun to take action on local environmental problems from energy, there is still much to be done. In particular, the problem of black carbon and carbon dioxide emissions needs to be addressed. The present paper proposes addressing carbon dioxide emissions through a longer-term strategy that acknowledges the need for China to continue to grow without a short-term carbon constraint but with clear pricing of the short-term and long-term cost of carbon dioxide. (Edited by Xiaoming Feng) [source] THE EFFICIENCY OF SEQUESTERING CARBON IN AGRICULTURAL SOILSCONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 2 2001GR Pautsch Agricultural tillage practices are important human-induced activities that can alter carbon emissions from agricultural soils and have the potential to contribute significantly to reductions in greenhouse gas emission (Lal et al., The Potential of U.S. Cropland, 1998). This research investigates the expected costs of sequestering carbon in agricultural soils under different subsidy and market-based policies. Using detailed National Resources Inventory data, we estimate the probability that farmers adopt conservation tillage practices based on a variety of exogenous characteristics and profit from conventional practices. These estimates are used with physical models of carbon sequestration to estimate the subsidy costs of achieving increased carbon sequestration with alternative subsidy schemes. [source] Local authorities, climate change and small and medium enterprises: identifying effective policy instruments to reduce energy use and carbon emissionsCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2008Jaryn Bradford Abstract This paper discusses potential policy options available to local and municipal authorities, to achieve reductions in energy usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Researchers conducted surveys with 112 SMEs, and the results have been used to disaggregate the category of ,SME' into sub-sectors based on industrial sector, two measurements of employee size and annual turnover. A statistical analysis identifies key characteristics and behaviours of the sub-sectors of firms and discusses the type of policy measure these groups of SMEs would probably respond to. The key results of the research indicate that categories of firms differ in terms of energy use behaviours, internal constraints and attitudes toward possible policy options. The paper presents a ,policy matrix' to represent the most and least likely policy options to achieve energy savings from different categories of SMEs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Grandfathering and Greenhouse: The Role of Compensation and Adjustment Assistance in the Introduction of a Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme for AustraliaECONOMIC PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMICS AND POLICY, Issue 2 2009Flavio Menezes Q52; Q58 The terms "grandfather clause" and "grandfathering" describe elements of a policy programme in which existing participants in an activity are protected from the impact of regulations, restrictions or charges applied to new entrants. In this paper, the role of grandfathering in the design of a carbon emissions trading scheme in Australia is assessed. It is argued that adjustment assistance policies such as those adopted in conjunction with previous microeconomic reform programmes are preferable to policies based on the free issue of emission permits. The suggestion that owners of capital assets should be compensated for changes in government policy that reduce the expected flow of income from those assets represents a radical, and undesirable, policy innovation. [source] The United Kingdom government's policy for reducing carbon emissions from housing stock by 2050: A reviewENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2009Andrew Fraser First page of article [source] Economic Instruments to Improve UK Home Energy Efficiency without Negative Social Impacts,FISCAL STUDIES, Issue 1 2006Simon Dresner Abstract The research examined how to use economic instruments to reduce carbon emissions from the UK housing sector without causing negative impacts on the poorest households. Carbon taxes would worsen the problem of fuel poverty. Compensation mechanisms involving the tax and benefit system were examined, but found not to be entirely effective because of the enormous range in the existing energy efficiency of homes. Exemptions for low-income households were examined, but found impractical to target. It was concluded that the best way to use economic instruments was through a scheme involving energy audits and surcharges to council tax and stamp duty for homeowners who failed to make cost-effective energy efficiency improvements within a specified time, with grants and loans to assist low-income households. After the implementation of such a scheme for 10 years, it would be practical to introduce a targeted carbon tax. [source] Implications of CO2 fertilization for future climate change in a coupled climate,carbon modelGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007H. DAMON MATTHEWSArticle first published online: 28 FEB 200 Abstract The terrestrial carbon cycle plays a critical role in determining levels of atmospheric CO2 that result from anthropogenic carbon emissions. Elevated atmospheric CO2 is thought to stimulate terrestrial carbon uptake, through the process of CO2 fertilization of vegetation productivity. This negative carbon cycle feedback results in reduced atmospheric CO2 growth, and has likely accounted for a substantial portion of the historical terrestrial carbon sink. However, the future strength of CO2 fertilization in response to continued carbon emissions and atmospheric CO2 rise is highly uncertain. In this paper, the ramifications of CO2 fertilization in simulations of future climate change are explored, using an intermediate complexity coupled climate,carbon model. It is shown that the absence of future CO2 fertilization results in substantially higher future CO2 levels in the atmosphere, as this removes the dominant contributor to future terrestrial carbon uptake in the model. As a result, climate changes are larger, though the radiative effect of higher CO2 on surface temperatures in the model is offset by about 30% due to reduced positive dynamic vegetation feedbacks; that is, the removal of CO2 fertilization results in less vegetation expansion in the model, which would otherwise constitute an important positive surface albedo-temperature feedback. However, the effect of larger climate changes has other important implications for the carbon cycle , notably to further weaken remaining carbon sinks in the model. As a result, positive climate,carbon cycle feedbacks are larger when CO2 fertilization is absent. This creates an interesting synergism of terrestrial carbon cycle feedbacks, whereby positive (climate,carbon cycle) feedbacks are amplified when a negative (CO2 fertilization) feedback is removed. [source] The conversion of the corn/soybean ecosystem to no-till agriculture may result in a carbon sinkGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2005Carl J. Bernacchi Abstract Mitigating or slowing an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) has been the focus of international efforts, most apparent with the development of the Kyoto Protocol. Sequestration of carbon (C) in agricultural soils is being advocated as a method to assist in meeting the demands of an international C credit system. The conversion of conventionally tilled agricultural lands to no till is widely accepted as having a large-scale sequestration potential. In this study, C flux measurements over a no-till corn/soybean agricultural ecosystem over 6 years were coupled with estimates of C release associated with agricultural practices to assess the net biome productivity (NBP) of this no-till ecosystem. Estimates of NBP were also calculated for the conventionally tilled corn/soybean ecosystem assuming net ecosystem exchange is C neutral. These measurements were scaled to the US as a whole to determine the sequestration potential of corn/soybean ecosystems, under current practices where 10% of agricultural land devoted to this ecosystem is no-tilled and under a hypothetical scenario where 100% of the land is not tilled. The estimates of this analysis show that current corn/soybean agriculture in the US releases ,7.2 Tg C annually, with no-till sequestering ,2.2 Tg and conventional-till releasing ,9.4 Tg. The complete conversion of land area to no till might result in 21.7 Tg C sequestered annually, representing a net C flux difference of ,29 Tg C. These results demonstrate that large-scale conversion to no-till practices, at least for the corn/soybean ecosystem, could potentially offset ca. 2% of annual US carbon emissions. [source] Carbon flow in an upland grassland: effect of liming on the flux of recently photosynthesized carbon to rhizosphere soilGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2004J. Ignacio Rangel-Castro Abstract The effect of liming on the flow of recently photosynthesized carbon to rhizosphere soil was studied using 13CO2 pulse labelling, in an upland grassland ecosystem in Scotland. The use of 13C enabled detection, in the field, of the effect of a 4-year liming period of selected soil plots on C allocation from plant biomass to soil, in comparison with unlimed plots. Photosynthetic rates and carbon turnover were higher in plants grown in limed soils than in those from unlimed plots. Higher ,13C, values were detected in shoots from limed plants than in those from unlimed plants in samples clipped within 15 days of the end of pulse labelling. Analysis of the aboveground plant production corresponding to the 4-year period of liming indicated that the standing biomass was higher in plots that received lime. Lower ,13C, values in limed roots compared with unlimed roots were found, whereas no significant difference was detected between soil samples. Extrapolation of our results indicated that more C has been lost through the soil than has been gained via photosynthetic assimilation because of pasture liming in Scotland during the period 1990,1998. However, the uncertainty associated with such extrapolation based on this single study is high and these estimates are provided only to set our findings in the broader context of national soil carbon emissions. [source] Amazon drought and its implications for forest flammability and tree growth: a basin-wide analysisGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Daniel Nepstad Abstract Severe drought in moist tropical forests provokes large carbon emissions by increasing forest flammability and tree mortality, and by suppressing tree growth. The frequency and severity of drought in the tropics may increase through stronger El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episodes, global warming, and rainfall inhibition by land use change. However, little is known about the spatial and temporal patterns of drought in moist tropical forests, and the complex relationships between patterns of drought and forest fire regimes, tree mortality, and productivity. We present a simple geographic information system soil water balance model, called RisQue (Risco de Queimada , Fire Risk) for the Amazon basin that we use to conduct an analysis of these patterns for 1996,2001. RisQue features a map of maximum plant-available soil water (PAWmax) developed using 1565 soil texture profiles and empirical relationships between soil texture and critical soil water parameters. PAW is depleted by monthly evapotranspiration (ET) fields estimated using the Penman,Monteith equation and satellite-derived radiation inputs and recharged by monthly rain fields estimated from 266 meteorological stations. Modeled PAW to 10 m depth (PAW10 m) was similar to field measurements made in two Amazon forests. During the severe drought of 2001, PAW10 m fell to below 25% of PAWmax in 31% of the region's forests and fell below 50% PAWmax in half of the forests. Field measurements and experimental forest fires indicate that soil moisture depletion below 25% PAWmax corresponds to a reduction in leaf area index of approximately 25%, increasing forest flammability. Hence, approximately one-third of Amazon forests became susceptible to fire during the 2001 ENSO period. Field measurements also suggest that the ENSO drought of 2001 reduced carbon storage by approximately 0.2 Pg relative to years without severe soil moisture deficits. RisQue is sensitive to spin-up time, rooting depth, and errors in ET estimates. Improvements in our ability to accurately model soil moisture content of Amazon forests will depend upon better understanding of forest rooting depths, which can extend to beyond 15 m. RisQue provides a tool for early detection of forest fire risk. [source] Quantifying uncertainty in estimates of C emissions from above-ground biomass due to historic land-use change to cropping in AustraliaGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2001Damian J. Barrett Abstract Quantifying continental scale carbon emissions from the oxidation of above-ground plant biomass following land-use change (LUC) is made difficult by the lack of information on how much biomass was present prior to vegetation clearing and on the timing and location of historical LUC. The considerable spatial variability of vegetation and the uncertainty of this variability leads to difficulties in predicting biomass C density (tC ha,1) prior to LUC. The issue of quantifying uncertainties in the estimation of land based sources and sinks of CO2, and the feasibility of reducing these uncertainties by further sampling, is critical information required by governments world-wide for public policy development on climate change issues. A quantitative statistical approach is required to calculate confidence intervals (the level of certainty) of estimated cleared above-ground biomass. In this study, a set of high-quality observations of steady state above-ground biomass from relatively undisturbed ecological sites across the Australian continent was combined with vegetation, topographic, climatic and edaphic data sets within a Geographical Information System. A statistical model was developed from the data set of observations to predict potential biomass and the standard error of potential biomass for all 0.05° (approximately 5 × 5 km) land grid cells of the continent. In addition, the spatial autocorrelation of observations and residuals from the statistical model was examined. Finally, total C emissions due to historic LUC to cultivation and cropping were estimated by combining the statistical model with a data set of fractional cropland area per land grid cell, fAc (Ramankutty & Foley 1998). Total C emissions from loss of above-ground biomass due to cropping since European colonization of Australia was estimated to be 757 MtC. These estimates are an upper limit because the predicted steady state biomass may be less than the above-ground biomass immediately prior to LUC because of disturbance. The estimated standard error of total C emissions was calculated from the standard error of predicted biomass, the standard error of fAc and the spatial autocorrelation of biomass. However, quantitative estimates of the standard error of fAc were unavailable. Thus, two scenarios were developed to examine the effect of error in fAc on the error in total C emissions. In the first scenario, in which fAc was regarded as accurate (i.e. a coefficient of variation, CV, of fAc = 0.0), the 95% confidence interval of the continental C emissions was 379,1135 MtC. In the second scenario, a 50% error in estimated cropland area was assumed (a CV of fAc = 0.50) and the estimated confidence interval increased to between 350 and 1294 MtC. The CV of C emissions for these two scenarios was 25% and 29%. Thus, while accurate maps of land-use change contribute to decreasing uncertainty in C emissions from LUC, the major source of this uncertainty arises from the prediction accuracy of biomass C density. It is argued that, even with large sample numbers, the high cost of sampling biomass carbon may limit the uncertainty of above-ground biomass to about a CV of 25%. [source] The importance of rapid, disturbance-induced losses in carbon management and sequestrationGLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2002David D. Breshears Abstract Management of terrestrial carbon fluxes is being proposed as a means of increasing the amount of carbon sequestered in the terrestrial biosphere. This approach is generally viewed only as an interim strategy for the coming decades while other longer-term strategies are developed and implemented , the most important being the direct reduction of carbon emissions. We are concerned that the potential for rapid, disturbance-induced losses may be much greater than is currently appreciated, especially by the decision-making community. Here we wish to: (1) highlight the complex and threshold-like nature of disturbances , such as fire and drought, as well as the erosion associated with each , that could lead to carbon losses; (2) note the global extent of ecosystems that are at risk of such disturbance-induced carbon losses; and (3) call for increased consideration of and research on the mechanisms by which large, rapid disturbance-induced losses of terrestrial carbon could occur. Our lack of ability as a scientific community to predict such ecosystem dynamics is precluding the effective consideration of these processes into strategies and policies related to carbon management and sequestration. Consequently, scientists need to do more to improve quantification of these potential losses and to integrate them into sound, sustainable policy options. [source] The European Union as a Protagonist to the United States on Climate ChangeINTERNATIONAL STUDIES PERSPECTIVES, Issue 1 2006JOHN VOGLER The European Union (EU) has established itself as the moving force in the development of the international climate-change regime. By proceeding with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and building its own carbon emissions trading system, it has directly confronted the United States. Contemporary commentaries on the politics of climate change center upon the conflict between the EU and the U.S., but the precise nature of the EU as a protagonist remains elusive. It is neither a state nor an orthodox international organization but it can be regarded as an actor. This article investigates what it means for the EU to be an actor and develops a conceptualization based upon presence, opportunity, and capability. This is applied to the analysis of how the Union became an actor in climate-change politics, and its special characteristics, strengths, and vulnerabilities. The final part of the article then proceeds to consider the differences between the European actor and the United States over the development of the climate-change regime. [source] Aerobic biological treatment of waste- waters containing dichloromethaneJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2007Sandra C Moura Abstract BACKGROUND: Volatilization has been advanced as one of the predominant phenomena contributing to volatile organic carbon emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this study, strategies for minimizing such air stripping losses when treating a liquid stream containing dichloromethane (DCM), aiming at decreasing the overall emission inventory from WWTPs, were investigated. RESULTS: System R1, consisting of a continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR) treating a liquid stream containing DCM at a concentration of 12 mmol dm,3 presented a biodegradation efficiency (BE) of 68%, based upon chloride release, with 10% of measurable losses, mainly due to volatilization, and 22% of unmeasurable losses. System R2 introduced operational designs aiming at decreasing DCM volatilization. In Experiment R2.1, a biotrickling filter, through which the air stripped from the CSTR was driven, was introduced leading to a reduction from 10% to 7% on the measurable losses. In Experiment R2.2, the air stripped from the CSTR was recirculated at a flow rate of 2.4 dm3 h,1 through the reactor medium before entering the biotrickling filter. The BE was improved from 69% to 82% and the losses associated with air stripping were successfully reduced to 2%. The proposed design, including air recirculation and the biotrickling filter, increased the ratio between the biodegradation rate and the volatilization rate from 7 to 41. CONCLUSIONS: Recirculation of the gaseous effluent through the reactor medium, which allowed for higher residence time within the bioreactor, was shown to be a successful strategy for improving the treatment process, thus minimizing DCM volatilization losses. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Debt, democratization, and development in Latin America: How policy can affect global warmingJOURNAL OF POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2008René W. Aubourg The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis conjectures a nonlinear relationship between pollution and economic growth, such that pollution per capita initially increases as countries economically develop, but then reaches a maximum point before ultimately declining. Much of the EKC literature has focused on testing this basic hypothesis and, in studies that find evidence of an EKC, estimating the "turning point" level of development at which the per capita pollution-growth relationship changes sign. This approach has not emphasized the policy relevance of specification issues or the potential role of policy variables. This research explores a modified EKC specification which conditions the pollution-growth relationship on a country's level of debt and degree of democratization. These variables turn out to be significant, implying that different political and economic contexts can shift EKCs and their turning points. These findings suggest that policies to relieve debt burdens and institute political reform, in addition to their usual justifications, also could be used as a strategy to reduce carbon emissions from developing countries. © 2008 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. [source] First assessment of methane and carbon dioxide emissions from shallow and deep zones of boreal reservoirs upon ice break-upLAKES & RESERVOIRS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2006Éric Duchemin Abstract Most studies dealing with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large boreal reservoirs were conducted during the ice-free period. In this paper, the potential methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide emissions are estimated for two hydroelectric reservoirs, as well as for a small experimental reservoir from boreal latitudes (northern Quebec, Canada) at the ice break-up event through diffusion (diffusive fluxes) and release of bubbles (bubbling fluxes). The results of this preliminary study suggest that the winter diffusive fluxes at the air,water interface of the sampled reservoirs represent < 7% of their cumulative carbon emissions during the ice-free period. Furthermore, the release upon ice-break of CH4 bubbles accumulated under the ice cover during the winter could represent 2% of the summer carbon emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs in northern Quebec. The results presented herein suggest that the GHG emissions upon ice break-up from the boreal reservoirs investigated are a small, but non-negligible, component of their annual GHG emissions. [source] Options for increasing carbon sequestration in West African soils: an exploratory study with special focus on SenegalLAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2001N. H. Batjes Abstract The organic matter content of many soils in West Africa has been depleted due to overgrazing, agricultural mismanagement, deforestation and overexploitation of the natural resources. Degraded agro(eco)systems can be managed to increase carbon sinks in vegetation and soil, and to reduce carbon emissions to the atmosphere. The capacity for sequestering carbon will increase as annual precipitation increases, and generally as mean temperature decreases, provided the soil and terrain conditions are not limiting for crop (biomass) growth. The agroecological suitability of three pilot sites, proposed for soil carbon sequestration projects in Senegal, is assessed and the feasibility of various management options to increase organic carbon levels in the soil is discussed. For the future, a Land Resources Information System should be developed to consider detailed data on climate, soil and terrain conditions, status of soil degradation, and land-use systems for West Africa. Upon its linkage to a dynamic soil carbon model and a socio-economic module, such an integrated system can be used to assess the ecotechnological and socio-economic potential for carbon sequestration projects in the context of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) proposed under article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. If adopted, this mechanism could confer funds to West African countries for the sustainable use and conservation of their natural resources, thereby providing economic, environmental and societal benefits for local populations, while simultaneously contributing to climate change mitigation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Sustainable consumption and production: Trends, challenges and options for the Asia-Pacific regionNATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 1 2010Wei Zhao Abstract This paper highlights current trends in consumption and production patterns in Asian developing countries and emerging economies. It describes the main challenges and opportunities for Asian countries making the transition towards sustainable consumption and production patterns. The main challenge for Asian economies is to address the unsustainable consumption patterns of urban consumers, which entails a policy shift from the current focus on pollution and inefficient industrial production. In view of future consumption trends and the global convergence of consumption patterns, the characteristics of the emerging ,global consumer class' are examined, with particular focus on urban ecological footprints and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the difference between urban and rural consumption is discussed, together with opportunities for low-carbon urban development in the megacities of Asian developing countries. To conclude, the paper presents an overview of current policy measures taken in Asian countries to green economic development and realise sustainable consumption and production patterns. [source] Biofuels , for better or worse?ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010D.A. Walker The present world population is largely fed by ,industrialised agriculture'. This, in turn, depends on massive inputs of fossil fuels. While this energy expenditure is inescapable, it is an expensive way of ,converting oil into potatoes'. Arguably, in view of global climate change, ever increasing population, ever increasing oil prices, ever diminishing availability of water and arable land, this is not sustainable. Despite the fact that biofuels inevitably compete for resources that might otherwise be used to grow, store and distribute food, they are frequently held to be desirable and feasible ,green' substitutes for fossil fuels and even that they spare carbon emissions to the atmosphere. This article challenges the absurdity of such ,retro-agriculture' (i.e. except in a few local circumstances) incurring yet more energy expenditure. It seeks to illustrate the misinformation on which some of the advocacy of biofuels has been based. [source] Satellite radar observation of tropical peat swamp forest as a tool for hydrological modelling and environmental protectionAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 3 2007Dirk H. Hoekman Abstract 1.Tropical peat swamp forests may contain as much as 20% of the global soil carbon stock. They are threatened by large-scale deforestation and canal drainage. Oxidation and forest fire cause enormous carbon emissions. Most remaining areas are located in Indonesia. These are becoming increasingly important for maintaining biodiversity. 2.Time series of historical JERS-1 SAR data reveal the extent and nature of recent disturbances, such as those caused by excess drainage and severe ENSO events. Examples are given for a number of peat swamp forest areas in Sumatra and Borneo. 3.Peat swamp hydrology is studied along a 23-km transect, which crosses a complete peat dome. First results show the relevance of surface runoff and peat soil roughness in the description of flooding events, and have been used to produce an improved hydrological description. 4.Since the dynamics of flooding events can potentially be observed by the ALOS PALSAR instrument (yet to be launched), this new hydrological model can be used to infer parameters relevant for detection of ecosystem disturbance and evaluation of restoration efforts. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Climate Change Policy Options for Asian Economies: Findings from an Integrated Assessment ModelASIAN ECONOMIC POLICY REVIEW, Issue 1 2010Dominique VAN DER MENSBRUGGHE D31; D58; O53; Q54 This study outlines potential futures for the global economy through the 2050 with a specific focus on the countries of Asia. With underlying assumptions about population and output growth, a baseline scenario assesses the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and the ensuing impacts on the climate. Under the baseline scenario, Asia's high growth leads to a strong rotation in global output and emissions by the year 2050. The analytical framework traces back the changes in temperature to economic damages , limited to the agricultural sectors. Parts of Asia are likely to see much higher dependence on food imports as a consequence of these damages. Various carbon tax scenarios are implemented to assess the potential for reducing carbon emissions. Because of the structure of their economies, Asian countries are likely to bear the greatest burden in reducing emissions in an efficient global tax scheme, but there is significant scope to ease this burden through financial transfers. [source] Climate change: a rational choice politics view,AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL & RESOURCE ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2009Geoffrey Brennan Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions constitutes a global public good; and hence there will be strong incentives for countries to free ride in the provision of CO2 emission reductions. In the absence of more or less binding international agreements, we would expect carbon emissions to be seriously excessive, and climate change problems to be unsolvable. Against this obvious general point, we observe many countries acting unilaterally to introduce carbon emission policies. That is itself an explanatory puzzle, and a source of possible hope. Both aspects are matters of ,how politics works', i.e. ,public choice' problems are central. The object of this paper is to explain the phenomenon of unilateral policy action and to evaluate the grounds for ,hope'. One aspect of the explanation lies in the construction of policy instruments that redistribute strategically in favour of relevant interests. Another is the ,expressive' nature of voting and the expressive value of environmental concerns. Both elements , elite interests and popular (expressive) opinion , are quasi-constraints on politically viable policy. However, the nature of expressive concerns is such that significant reductions in real GDP are probably not sustainable in the long term , which suggests that much of the CO2 reduction action will be limited to modest reductions of a largely token character. In that sense, the grounds for hope are, although not non-existent, decidedly thin. [source] Multi-stream video conferencing over a peer-to-peer networkBELL LABS TECHNICAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Adriaan J. de Lind van Wijngaarden Video conferencing is becoming an increasingly desirable alternative to face-to-face meetings. Many companies and organizations have multiple locations, and their employees' communication options are typically limited to audio-only conference calls. These are often ineffective because of the limited level of interaction between the participants. Video conferencing is seen as a promising alternative to increase efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by mitigating the need for travel. However, current video conferencing solutions are either too expensive, require dedicated equipment and infrastructure, or are too cumbersome to implement on an individual location basis for widespread use. Low cost solutions usually provide neither the desired level of interaction nor the consistent quality needed for corporate communications. In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid video conferencing architecture that incorporates peer-to-peer communication functions for media distribution. In addition, new concepts, such as novel video cameras, cordless camera adaptors, a two-sided display, and a device that provides bidirectional remote presence are presented to enhance the experience for the remote participants. The proposed solution aims to significantly improve collaboration across sites, thus enhancing remote workplace effectiveness through low cost video conferencing, reducing the need for travel, and serving as an important enabler for eco-sustainability. © 2010 Alcatel-Lucent. [source] Recent Advances in CO2 Capture and UtilizationCHEMSUSCHEM CHEMISTRY AND SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY & MATERIALS, Issue 11 2008Kerry Yu Dr. Abstract Energy and the environment are two of the most important issues this century. More than 80,% of our energy comes from the combustion of fossil fuels, which will still remain the dominant energy source for years to come. It is agreed that carbon dioxide produced from the combustion process to be the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas leading to global warming. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have indeed increased by almost 100,ppm since their pre-industrial level, reaching 384,ppm in 2007 with a total annual emission of over 35,Gt. Prompt global action to resolve the CO2 crisis is therefore needed. To pursue such an action, we are urged to save energy without the unnecessary production of carbon emissions and to use energy in more efficient ways, but alternative methods to mitigate the greenhouse gas have to be considered. This Minireview highlights some recent promising research activities and their prospects in the areas of carbon capture and storage and chemical fixation of CO2 in constructing a future low-carbon global economy with reference to energy source, thermodynamic considerations, net carbon emissions and availability of reagents. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||