Search

New technologies to save the environment are everywhere. From privately funded gene drives aiming to eradicate invasive species on islands, to iron fertilization efforts intending to sequester carbon dioxide, technological silver bullets are seen by many as a critical hope in efforts to mitigate increasing environmental degradation and global-scale problems like climate change. Billions of dollars are being spent on developing and deploying these technologies, which have quickly won the hearts and minds of members of the public, governments, and corporations. These technologies are a red herring, promising easy solutions when real change requires difficult engagement with complex social-ecological systems. Furthermore, many of these innovations pose risks on a planetary scale. These risks are largely unaddressed by currently regulatory regimes, allowing largescale technologies intent on permanent environmental disruption to be deployed without legal oversight. The combination of private funding, public support, and lack of regulation for these high-risk technologies has already resulted in several high-profile disasters. Governance mechanisms are urgently needed to mitigate environmental risks and address growing inequities. This Article documents the advent of emerging silver bullet environmental technologies, describing how private sector actors are driving the explosion of these solutions. Using research from several cases studies, this article shows how individuals with big visions and no significant expertise are increasingly championing these emerging technologies, inspired by a Silicon Valley ethos of disruption. These technologies evade existing environmental regulatory regimes. The proliferation of large-scale technologies single-handedly developed and deployed by wealthy philanthropists both triggers environmental concerns and exacerbates existing inequities in environmental management. This Article argues that both formal and informal accountability mechanisms for emerging technologies must be strengthened to prevent large-scale environmental consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, there is an ecological deterioration caused in part by the inadequate management of natural resources. In order to collaborate in the reduction of this ecological deterioration in the soils and the environment, the objective of the work was to design an accessible vermicompost screening machine that is adaptable to the needs and requirements of small producers of this organic fertilizer in the country, so the calculation was made for the design of the main systems of the machine that are the fertilizer dosing system, the screening system and the power transmission system, developing the deployment of the QFD quality function that allows considering the demands and requirements to be satisfied, in the generation and selection of concepts and / or proposals for design, thereby improving the quality of the design. A vermicompost screening machine was designed which will make it possible to speed up and improve the working conditions in the production of this compost, thus obtaining a production of screened compost greater than that achieved manually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Logistics performance plays an important role in green supply chain management that leads to environmental sustainability. The objective of this paper is to analyze the nexus between logistics performance and environmental degradation using data obtained from 42 Asian countries between 2007 and 2016. The system-generalized method of moment (GMM) regression model was used to investigate the data from Asian countries collectively and the four sub-regions of Asia. The estimates show that the logistics performance is significantly related to environmental degradation. International shipment in logistics performance index (LPI) significantly decreases CO 2 emissions while timeliness of logistics significantly intensifies the CO 2 emissions in Asian countries. Other sub-categories in LPI such as tracking and tracing, services quality and competence, infrastructure quality, and efficiency of customs also have a significant impact on the environment in different sub-regions of Asia. Industrialization and urbanization both increase CO 2 emissions in Asian countries while trade openness decreases CO 2 emissions. The results indicate a significant association between logistics performance and environment that accentuates the priorities on environmental sustainability and green supply chain management in Asian countries. Highlights • Identified the impact of logistics performance on the environment from an international perspective. • The efficiency of international shipment in Asia has negative effects on environmental degradation. • The timeliness of logistics significantly intensifies CO 2 emissions in the Asian countries. • Logistics performance indicators have a different impact on the environment in the four sub-regions of Asia. • Urbanization, trade openness and industrialization have significant inferences on the environment in Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to examine the stationarity of ecological footprint for 128 countries for the period 1961–2013. We have been motivated by the seeming inadequacy of CO 2 emission as an index for environmental degradation, the rising importance of ecological footprint as an aggregate environmental indicator and the lack of studies on the stochastic behaviour of ecological footprint. After separating the series into linear and nonlinear categories, we have used recent unit root test to examine the stationarity of the series. The overall results show evidence of a non-reverting mean in the series for 96 countries or 81% of the sample. This implies that ecological footprint is a nonstationary series and as such policies such as imposition of carbon tax, subsidy on cleaner energy and appropriate land use act will have long-term and permanent effects on it in many countries. The policy designs should also take into consideration the individual economic characteristics of each country as ecological footprint is found to be region invariant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point source pollution from industrial activity is a significant environmental problem that unequally impacts people. In addition to disparate impacts on people, the environment is also unequally impacted. Environmental justice is one body of scholarship that studies this problem but almost exclusively from the social side. The question we are striving to answer is how the use of watershed boundaries in place of traditional political boundaries affects environmental justice analyses. Do the same patterns of racial and class inequality hold true when the biophysical boundaries are used? In addition, this analysis looks closely at one watershed to understand where point source pollution output occurs relative to racial and class distribution. The hypothesis is that watersheds of higher minority population and higher poverty will face greater environmental burden in the form of impacted waterways and that these impacted environs will face high concentrations of continuing pollution production. We found that traditional environmental justice patterns hold true with stability for racial inequality. The results suggest that analysis of biophysical conditions and population distribution together is a valuable way to assess environmental impacts while taking into account social and biological forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tests for the applicability of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis at the Canadian and provincial/territorial levels using greenhouse gas emissions as an indicator for environmental degradation. The hypothesis is tested using provincial and territorial panel data from 1990 to 2014. The results vary depending on the econometric estimation method. The pooled regression results are mixed, with the EKC hypothesis confirmed at the Canadian level and in half of the provinces and territories. However, the fixed-effects regression results confirm the EKC hypothesis at the Canadian level and in all provinces and territories. The results also highlight the significance of technological change and province/territory specific characteristics in determining the level of greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the globally accepted threats caused by environmental degradation are soil degradation and desertification, pollution, droughts, floods and water scarcity. The study was conducted in two districts of Haryana state namely, Hisar and Kaithal and a total number of one hundred twenty women were selected and interviewed with the help of well structured schedule. The study revealed that majority of the women were of middle age group (36-50 years), educated up to higher education, belonged to nuclear family with 4 members, performed government, private jobs and self employment. Very serious losses due to environment degradation were air pollutant effect on human health, animals and plants (1.47), deeper level of ground water table leads to irrigation scarcity (1.35), quality deterioration of crop produce and fertilizers cause toxicity in food products (1.23), lost of biodiversity and tropical forest, extinction of plant and animal species (0.41) as per their 'Z' score. Least smoky trees should be planted and used, Baval, Neem, Pipal, Bargad, Shisham, Aam, Jamun (94.16%), Installing chimneys to rent smoke from indoor stoves (90.83%) Storage and disposal of farm wastes properly (79.16%), Campaigning for healthy environment (74.16%), enhancing the area under agro and social forestry (69.16), empowerment of women for different development programs (66.66%) were found very effective among the women to making the environment healthy. To reach the results the aggregate total score was calculated to each alternative measure separately, and on the basis of calculated total score, a weighted mean score were obtained which were ranked according to the maximum or minimum mean scores for assessing the effectiveness of alternative measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in most mature crude oil producing regions, asset divestment has commenced in Nigeria. Decommissioning and associated environmental liabilities are expected to become important problems requiring attention. Public and government engagement on decommissioning will be ineffective without information on cost of decommissioning liabilities, which are held confidential by oil companies. This study demonstrates a method to determine generic aggregate cost of decommissioning liabilities for Nigeria onshore fields, using non-proprietary data from annual financial reports of operating companies in Nigeria. The results can be used as basis for negotiation with operators and to help government in preparation for decommissioning risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic organic polymers-or plastics-did not enter widespread use until the 1950s. By 2015, global production had increased to 322 million metric tons (Mt) year−1, which approaches the total weight of the human population produced in plastic every year. Approximately half is used for packaging and other disposables, 40% of plastic waste is not accounted for in managed landfills or recycling facilities, and 4.8-12.7 Mt year−1 enter the ocean as macroscopic litter and microplastic particles. Here, we argue that such mismanaged plastic waste is similar to other persistent pollutants, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which once threatened a 'silent spring' on land. Such a scenario seems now possible in the ocean, where plastic cannot be easily removed, accumulates in organisms and sediments, and persists much longer than on land. New evidence indicates a complex toxicology of plastic micro- and nanoparticles on marine life, and transfer up the food chain, including to people. We detail solutions to the current crisis of accumulating plastic pollution, suggesting a Global Convention on Plastic Pollution that incentivizes collaboration between governments, producers, scientists, and citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture faces many emerging challenges to sustainability, including limited nutrient resources, losses from diseases caused by current and emerging pathogens and environmental degradation. Microorganisms have great importance for plant growth and performance, including the potential to increase yields, nutrient uptake and pathogen resistance. An urgent need is therefore to understand and engineer plants and their associated microbial communities. Recent massive genomic sequencing of host plants and associated microbes offers resources to identify novel mechanisms of communal assembly mediated by the host. For example, host–microbe and microbe–microbe interactions are involved in niche formation, thereby contributing to colonization. By leveraging genomic resources, genetic traits underlying those mechanisms will become important resources to design plants selecting and hosting beneficial microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) is an important destination for developing country exports. Has the EU’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol induced developing countries to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions? Our analyses of 136 developing countries from 1981 through 2007 suggests that: developing countries’ export dependence on the EU is associated with CO2emission reductions post-Kyoto in relation to the pre-Kyoto time period; this also holds for SO2,which, while not covered under Kyoto, is linked with CO2emission levels; this does not hold for PM10, a pollutant which is not covered under Kyoto and is not directly associated with CO2emissions related to industrial activities; developing countries’ export dependence on non-EU developed countries and on the rest of the world is not associated with significant reductions in emissions between pre- and post-Kyoto for these pollutants . In sum, even in the absence of binding regulatory mandates, the EU appears to exert market leverage to project its regulatory preferences abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The study of the environmental footprints of various sectors and industries is increasingly demanded by institutions and by society. In this context, the regional perspective is becoming particularly important, and even more so in countries such as Spain, where the autonomous communities have the primary responsibility for implementing measures to combat environmental degradation and promote sustainable development, in coordination with national strategies. Taking as a case study a Spanish region, Aragon, and significant economic sectors, including agriculture and the food industry, the aim of this work is twofold. First, we calculate the associated environmental footprints (of emissions and water) from the dual perspectives of production (local impacts) and consumption (final destination of the goods produced by the agri-food industry). Second, through a scenarios analysis, based on a general equilibrium model designed and calibrated specifically for the region, we evaluate the environmental implications of changes in the agri-food industry (changes in the export and import pattern, as well as in consumer behavior). This model provides a flexible approximation to the environmental impacts, controlling for a wider range of behavioral and economic interactions. Our results indicate that the agri-food industry has a significant impact on the environment, especially on water resources, which must be responsibly managed in order to maintain the differential advantage that a regional economy can have, compared to other territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the local dimensions of movement work being done with regard to ostensibly global issues such as economic justice and environmental degradation. It is posited that local work focusing on peace/nonviolence and resilience/sustainability is often emphasized by virtue of necessity and efficacy alike. Issues of global import play out in myriad local contexts, and represent a point of convergence between peace and environmental movements. This analysis highlights the inherent connection between social and environmental issues, and between microcosmic and macrocosmic processes. It is concluded that small steps by networked actors can impact larger issues in a meaningful way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to analyze the hazard for humans in case of mercury light sources destruction. We investigated the objects, lightened with discharge light sources, and examined their environmental state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The econometric model can be a precise instrument for the analysis of an impact of the natural environment deterioration on management effects. This work presents the results of research in the field of an impact of lake water pollution on the effects of the fishery management. The economic-ecological models have been constructed, explaining changes of economic effects of the lake fishery in the conditions of an increasing water pollution and optimal levels of content of different substances in lake water, from the point of view of the fishery management, presenting the catch of Coregonus albula as an example. When in the model made up of G of stochastic equations, yit is a scale of this type of catches and xtj is a level of content of j-this substance in water (j=1,..., k), a structural parameter aij can indicate three possible situations: 1) if aij =0, then the concentration levels of j-this substance observed in a lake are neutral for a scale of i-this type of catches, i.e. a level of lake pollution significant for the considered i-this effect does not exist; 2) if aij>0, then levels of a given j-this substance in the lake water are below the zone of neutrality, what makes them even stimulators of development of a given fish population; 3) when aij<0, it means that a lake water pollution is above the level of neutrality which has a negative impact on the ithis economical effect considered here. An optimisation of a vector of the lake water quality features is possible from the economic point of view. Quadratic equation yi =a ijo + aij1xj + aij2 + xj 2 (1) is characterized by a maximum, if aij2<0. A graph of parabola (1) allows for the analysis of dependencies of positive catch scales of i-this fish species on nonnegative concentrations of j-this substance contained in the water. The optimisation of the fishery management can be carried out for any number (n>3) of substances and characteristics of the lake water. As a result we can identify three types of dependencies of catch scales of i-this fish species on a content of j-this substance in the lake water. An optimal concentration of j-this substance (xj (i) opt) for i-this fish species is included in the range of the acceptable concentrations {xj (i)opt Î D}, where Dij={xj (i) mn,..., x(i) jmk}. Each content of j-this type of water component not included in the range of the acceptable concentrations (xj (i) ÎDij} – from the point of view of catches of i-this fish species causes the extinction of this species. The empirical verification of hypotheses was performed on the basis of catches of Coregonus albula in Lake Charzykowskie (protection zone of the National Park ”Tucholskie Forests”). The proposed optimisation procedure could be a significant tool for programming an efficiency of the fishery management in the conditions of maintaining the ecological equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's environmental degeneration carries fundamental political, economic and social implications for its future development and its international reputation. The complexity of the challenge is underlined by the variety of environmental issues China is confronted with. Among them we can identify water shortage, desertification, industrial and urban air pollution, acid rain, and extreme weather patterns. China is already a major polluter and its growth focus as well as the rapid urbanization process we can observe will further increase the pressure on the environment. China's ability or inability of formulating an environmental friendly development strategy is of critical importance for its future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of anthropogenic climate change is not merely a question of natural processes, but first and foremost, a question of economy, society, and culture. The humanities are therefore crucial to analyzing issues like migration, new risks because of extreme weather events, violent conflict, and the impact of global warming on political stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Limits for tolerable concentrations of ground water metabolites (“non-relevant metabolites” without targeted toxicities and specific classification and labeling) derived from active ingredients (AI) of plant protection products (PPPs) are discussed in the European Union. Risk assessments for “non-relevant metabolites” need to be performed when concentrations are above 0.75μg/L. Since oral uptake is the only relevant exposure pathway for “non-relevant metabolites”, risk assessment approaches as used for other chemicals with predominantly oral exposure in humans are applicable. The concept of “thresholds of toxicological concern” (TTC) defines tolerable dietary intakes for chemicals without toxicity data and is widely applied to chemicals present in food in low concentrations such as flavorings. Based on a statistical evaluation of the results of many toxicity studies and considerations of chemical structures, the TTC concept derives a maximum daily oral intake without concern of 90μg/person/day for non-genotoxic chemicals, even for those with appreciable toxicity. When using the typical exposure assessment for drinking water contaminants (consumption of 2L of drinking water/person/day, allocation of 10% of the tolerable daily intake to drinking water), a TTC-based upper concentration limit of 4.5μg/L for “non-relevant metabolites” in ground/drinking water is delineated. In the present publication it has been evaluated, whether this value would cover all relevant toxicities (repeated dose, reproductive and developmental, and immune effects). Taking into account, that after evaluation of specific reproduction toxicity data from chemicals and pharmaceuticals, a value of 1μg/kgbw/day has been assessed as to cover developmental and reproduction toxicity, a TTC value of 60μg/person/day was assessed as to represent a safe value. Based on these reasonable worst case assumptions, a TTC-derived threshold of 3μg/L in drinking water is derived. When a non-relevant metabolite is present in concentration below 3μg/L, animal testing for toxicity is not considered necessary for a compound-specific risk assessment since the application of the TTC covers all relevant toxicities to be considered in such assessment and any health risk resulting from these exposures is very low. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Europe, limits for tolerable concentrations of “non-relevant metabolites” for active ingredients (AI) of plant protection products in drinking water between 0.1 and 10μg/L are discussed depending on the toxicological information available. “Non-relevant metabolites” are degradation products of AIs, which do not or only partially retain the targeted toxicities of AIs. For “non-relevant metabolites” without genotoxicity (to be confirmed by testing in vitro), the application of the concept of “thresholds of toxicological concern” results in a health-based drinking water limit of 4.5μg/L even for Cramer class III compounds, using the TTC threshold of 90μg/person/day (divided by 10 and 2). Taking into account the thresholds derived from two reproduction toxicity data bases a drinking water limit of 3.0μg/L is proposed. Therefore, for “non-relevant metabolites” whose drinking water concentration is below 3.0μg/L, no toxicity testing is necessary. This work develops a toxicity assessment strategy as a basis to delineate health-based limits for “non-relevant metabolites” in ground and drinking water. Toxicological testing is recommended to investigate, whether the metabolites are relevant or not, based on the hazard properties of the parent AIs, as outlined in the SANCO Guidance document. Also, genotoxicity testing of the water metabolites is clearly recommended. In this publication, tiered testing strategies are proposed for non-relevant metabolites, when drinking water concentrations >3.0μg/L will occur. Conclusions based on structure–activity relationships and the detailed toxicity database on the parent AI should be included. When testing in animals is required for risk assessment, key aspects are studies along OECD-testing guidelines with “enhanced” study designs addressing additional endpoints such as reproductive toxicity and a developmental screening test to derive health-based tolerable drinking water limits with a limited number of animals. The testing strategies are similar to those used in the initial hazard assessment of high production volume (HPV) chemicals. For “non-relevant metabolites” which are also formed as products of the biotransformation of the parent AI in mammals, the proposed toxicity testing strategies uses the repeat-dose oral toxicity study combined with a reproductive/developmental screening as outlined in OECD test guidelines 407 and 422 with integration of determination of hormonal activities. For “non-relevant metabolites” not formed during biotransformation of the AI in mammals, the strategy relies on an “enhanced” 90-day oral study covering additional endpoints regarding hormonal effects and male and female fertility in combination with a prenatal developmental toxicity study (OECD test guideline 414). The integration of the results of these studies into the risk assessment process applies large minimal margins of exposure (MOEs) to compensate for the shorter duration of the studies. The results of the targeted toxicity testing will provide a science basis for setting tolerable drinking water limits for “non-relevant metabolites” based on their toxicology. Based on the recommendations given in the SANCO guidance document and the work described in this and the accompanying paper, a concise re-evaluation of the Guidance document is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers the author's insight concerning the environmental education (EE). The author believes that people should concentrate on present and future events, but without ignoring the past. The author says that EE should provide the knowledge needed to interpret the complex phenomena that brings changes in the environment and should provide skills needed to address environmental problems. The author states that most of critics raised the concern that EE should educate people about the environment instead of how to make wise decisions related to the environment.

Land degradation is a global development and environment issue that afflicts China more than most countries in terms of the extent, economic impact, and number of people affected. Up-to-date, quantitative information is needed to support policy and action for food and water security, economic development, and environmental integrity. Data for a defined, recent period enable us to distinguish the legacy of historical land degradation from what is happening now. We define land degradation as long-term decline in ecosystem function and productivity and measure it by remote sensing of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the greenness index. NDVI may be translated to net primary productivity (NPP). Deviation from the norm serves as a proxy assessment of land degradation and improvement--if other factors that may be responsible are taken into account. These other factors include climate, which may be assessed by rain- use efficiency and energy-use efficiency. Analysis of the 23-year Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) NDVI data reveals that, in China over the period 1981-2003, NPP increased overall, but areas of declining climate-adjusted NPP comprise 23% of the country, mainly in south China. About 35% of China's population (457 million out of 1 317 million) depend on the degrading land. Degrading areas suffered a loss of NPP of 12 kgC ha-1 y-1 , amounting to almost 60 million tC not fixed from the atmosphere; loss of soil organic carbon from these areas is likely to be orders of magnitude greater. There is no correlation between land degradation and dry lands; it is more of an issue in cropland and forest: 21% of degrading land is cropland and 40% is forest, 24% of the arable and 44% of the forest, respectively. There is no simple statistical relationship between land degradation and rural population density or poverty. Most identified land degradation is in the south and east, driven by unprecedented land-use change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Species immigration is vital for the success of restoring degraded ecosystems, but the effectiveness of enhancing dispersal following restoration is seldom evaluated. Running water is an important vector for plant dispersal. Frequency and duration of floods and channel-network complexity are important factors influencing propagule dispersal. In Sweden, these functions have been modified by channelization to facilitate timber floating, thus hampering emigration and immigration of riparian propagules. 2. During the last 10–20 years, affected watercourses have been restored by removing barriers and replacing boulders into channels. This is hypothesized to facilitate retention of water-dispersed propagules. We studied the efficiency of propagule retention following restoration by releasing propagule mimics and by placing propagule traps in the riparian zone. 3. Retention of propagule mimics was highest in sites restored with boulders and large wood. Retention occurred at both high and low flows but was most efficient during low flows when mimics were trapped by boulders and wood. Waterborne propagules ending up at such sites are unlikely to establish unless they can reach the riparian zone later. At high flows, floating propagules are more likely to reach riparian areas suitable for establishment. According to propagule traps placed at various levels of the riparian zone, deposition of plant propagules and sediments did not increase in restored sites. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our study not only demonstrates that restoration of channel complexity through replacement of boulders and wood can enhance retention of plant propagules, but also it highlights the importance of understanding how restoration effects vary with flow. Most streams are restored to function optimally during median or average flows, whereas communities often are controlled by ecological processes acting during extreme flow events. We advocate that stream restoration should be designed for optimal function during those discharges under which the ecological processes in question are most important, which in this case is, during high flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic growth-the increase in production and consumption of goods and services-must be considered within its biophysical context. Economic growth is fueled by biophysical inputs and its outputs degrade ecological processes, such as the global climate system. Economic growth is currently the principal cause of increased climate change, and climate change is a primary mechanism of biodiversity loss. Therefore, economic growth is a prime catalyst of biodiversity loss. Because people desire economic growth for dissimilar reasons-some for the increased accumulation of wealth, others for basic needs-how we limit economic growth becomes an ethical problem. Principles of distributive justice can help construct an international climate-change regime based on principles of equity. An equity-based framework that caps economic growth in the most polluting economies will lessen human impact on biodiversity. When coupled with a cap-and-trade mechanism, the framework can also provide a powerful tool for redistribution of wealth. Such an equity-based framework promises to be more inclusive and therefore more effective because it accounts for the disparate developmental conditions of the global north and south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The warnings from scientists are urgent and unequivocal: our civilisation is unwittingly stepping in front of an ecological lorry that is about to flatten us (Steffen, W., et al., 2004. Global change and the earth system: a planet under pressure. Berlin: Springer-Verlag). We are using resources future generations will need, damaging environmental systems and compromising social stability by increasing the gap between rich and poor. In short, we are consuming the future. Without a radical re-thinking of the way we currently live, our society is doomed. We need to tackle this problem head-on and develop far-reaching solutions to our environmental and social crisis. This does not just require technical innovation. It also demands fundamental changes to our values and our social institutions. This paper develops a vision of a HEALTHIER society - one that is Humane, takes an Eco-centric approach, adopts Long-term thinking, uses our natural resources responsibly, is Informed about the fragility of our natural systems, is Efficient in turning resources into the services we need and is Resourced from natural flows of energy. The paper goes on to suggest the first concrete steps toward achieving this sort of desirable future. History has shown that human systems can change very quickly. Once we realise the need for a new direction - and act on it - an equitable and sustainable world is within reach. If civilisation is to survive, this century will have to be a time of dramatic transformation, not just in technical capacity but also in our approach to the natural world - and each other. The road we are travelling now can only end in disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many beaches have been eroded and the obvious environmental and landscape degradation of many coastal stretches are problems that coastal engineers are spending time solving. With this in mind, different protection methods have been used over time, most on the basis of the artificial nourishment of beaches and the building structures such as groynes and detached breakwaters. Detached breakwaters are artificial structures, generally parallel to the coastline, inspired by the working of natural formations, protecting a certain stretch from wave action and being able to create accretion areas. This is why these structures have been in general use, with different results, since the 1970s in countries such as Japan, the United States, Israel, Spain, Italy, and Australia. The study undertaken for this research focuses precisely on this type of structure, with the purpose of providing an overall view of the state of the art in this field. In addition, the effects of a detached breakwater on the shoreline for a series of real cases on the Spanish coastline were analysed to check whether the empirical relations given by different researchers for classifying the shoreline's type of response were fulfilled for them all or not. This study only takes formulas on the basis of the geometrical characteristics of breakwaters into consideration as being the most used by design engineers for predesigning a construction. All the formulas studied are based on the nondimensional B/X monomial, which is a ratio between the two most important geometric breakwater parameters (the length of the detached breakwater, B, and its distance to the initial coastline, X), so the result of this work led us to propose the following geometric model for the case of the Catalonian coastline: tombolo formation if B/X ≥ 1.3; salient formation if 1.3 > B/X > 0.5; limited shore response if 0.5 ≥ B/X. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the possibility that there is a need to enact a law that provides an effective check on the degradation and depletion of public natural resources in the U.S. The author asserts that while the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted to accomplish this goal, it would not necessarily provide the best approach for defining and protecting American resource legacy. Other criticisms against NEPA and its approach to information collection, analysis and dissemination are discussed. The author offers detailed legal ramifications of the proposed statute called a National Environmental Legacy Act (NELA).

Abstract: Commercial activated carbon is a preferred adsorbent for the removal of micropollutants from the aqueous phase; however, its widespread use is restricted due to high associated costs. To decrease treatment costs, attempts have been made to find inexpensive alternative activated carbon (AC) precursors, such as waste materials. Some reviews report the use of waste materials for the preparation of AC; however, these studies are restricted to either type of wastes, preparation procedures, or specific aqueous-phase applications. The present work reviews and evaluates literature dedicated both to the preparation of AC by recycling different types of waste materials and also to its application in various aqueous-phase treatments. It is clear that conventional (from agriculture and wood industry) and non-conventional (from municipal and industrial activities) wastes can be used to prepare AC, that can be applied in various aqueous treatment processes, namely to remove organic pollutants, dyes, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals. Moreover, high surface areas can be obtained using either physical or chemical activation; however, combined treatments might enhance the surface properties of the adsorbent, therefore increasing its adsorption capacity. It is evident from the revision made that AC prepared from both conventional and non-conventional wastes might effectively compete with the commercial ones. This happens mostly when the activation procedures are optimized considering both the raw material used to produce the carbons and the contaminants to be removed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Caspian region (including the Golestan, Mazandaran, and Guilan provinces of Iran) occupies 58,678 square kilometers (22,651 square miles) and has a population of 6,270,192, according to the census of 1996. This part of Iran is attractive to tourists because of its proximity to the Caspian Sea. In addition, the region boasts invaluable forests and grasslands, and is the exclusive producer in the country of key agricultural crops like rice and tea. The lack of systematic solid waste management has put this region on the edge of irreparable environmental damage. The large number and dispersion of open-dumping landfills, as well as the faded role of functional elements like waste minimization and processing, have sped up the environmental deterioration. This article evaluates the current status of solid waste management in the Caspian region and suggests practical alternatives. As a result of a field and desk study, the authors offer some instructions for separation of putrescibles, paper and cardboard, plastics, and so forth. Finally, after considering all aspects of the environmental impact assessments for different alternatives, the authors recommend the construction of two compost-producing facilities in Golestan province with a combined capacity of 500 metric tons per day and a total cost of $60,000, and four incineration sites in southern and southwestern parts of the region (Mazandaran and Guilan provinces) with a total capacity of 2,000 metric tons per day and total cost of $75 million. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite widespread agreement that we have moral responsibilities to future generations, many are reluctant to frame the issues in terms of justice and rights. There are indeed philosophical challenges here, particularly concerning non-overlapping generations. They can, however, be met. For example, talk of justice and rights for future generations in connection with climate change is both appropriate and important, although it requires revising some common theoretical assumptions about the nature of justice and rights. We can, in fact, be bound by the rights of future people, despite the "non-identity problem," and the force of these rights cannot be diluted by "discounting" future costs. Moreover, a rights-based approach provides an effective answer to political arguments against taking mandatory measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions when these are unpopular with a democratic populace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth Charter is largely a wholesome embodiment of a commendable and globally applicable ecological ethic. But it fails to treat responsibilities toward future generations with sufficient clarity, presenting these generations as comparable to present and past generations, whose members are identifiable, when in fact most future people are of unknown identity, and when the very existence of most of them depends on current actions. It can be claimed that we still have obligations with regard to whoever there will be whom we could affect, and in addition, all the possible people of the future whom we could affect have moral standing, as well as corresponding members of other species. These obligations clash with the person-affecting principle, which considerably restricts such obligations and the scope of moral standing at the same time. Finally, there are implications for sustainability, at least with regard to sustainable levels of population and with regard to global warming, and thus a need for further clarification of the content of responsibilities toward future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of reliable baseline information on land degradation is a hindrance towards its monitoring and mitigation. Of particular interest is the identification of areas susceptible to degradation. In this study, remote sensing and GIS technologies were applied to detect and map susceptibility to land degradation in Buhera district, in Save catchment, Zimbabwe. Data used included Landsat TM and ETM imagery for 1992 and 2002, agro-ecological zones, vegetation cover and population density. The study identified five preliminary categories of degradation susceptibility ranging from very high to low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biochemical mechanisms of resistance to several heavy metals, which are associated with their accumulation (binding by high-affinity chelating molecules such as thiol-compounds together with their compartmentalization into organelles), are analyzed for the photosynthetic, free-living protist Euglena gracilis. The complete understanding of these mechanisms may facilitate the rational design of strategies for bioremediation of heavy metal polluted water and soil systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines a community grazing project to rehabilitate degraded land in Swaziland. Using data from interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups, we show that the ways in which participatory, decentralized approaches to natural resource management play out at the local level are closely linked to national-level power structures. The successes and issues that emerge at different stages of the grazing project reflect local socioeconomic priorities and show how people manage their time and labor according to household livelihood goals. However, the project favored the interests of cattle owners who were already the more socially and politically powerful members of the community. We argue that for participatory natural resource management to be more meaningful to communities, projects should focus on local ecological priorities, rather than addressing the environmental concerns that are rooted within existing dominant power structures. This requires change to social and political relationships across levels and the building of new institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most comparative studies of environmental reform have focused on the experiences of advanced, industrialized societies in Europe and the Americas. But can these research traditions be applied when studying processes of environmental reform in Asia, a continent of crucial importance for the global environment? Significant methodological challenges exist in operationalizing and measuring environmental reform in Asia and elsewhere. This article explores possibilities and requirements for addressing such questions and challenges through an analysis of data from official and other sources on trends in environmental performance in 11 market-oriented, industrialized, and industrializing states in Asia during the past several decades. What evidence is there of improvement (or deterioration) in environmental quality? How can changes be explained? To what extent can improvements be attributed to innovations in environmental policy and practice? Preliminary findings, interpretations, and assessments, along with a call for new comparative analyses of environmental reform in Asia, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological restoration is an activity that ideally results in the return of an ecosystem to an undisturbed state. Ecosystem services are the benefits humans derive from ecosystems. The two have been joined to support growing environmental markets with the goal of creating restoration-based credits that can be bought and sold. However, the allure of these markets may be overshadowing shortcomings in the science and practice of ecological restoration. Before making risky investments, we must understand why and when restoration efforts fall short of recovering the full suite of ecosystem services, what can be done to improve restoration success, and why direct measurement of the biophysical processes that support ecosystem services is the only way to guarantee the future success of these markets. Without new science and an oversight framework to protect the ecosystem service assets on which people depend, markets could actually accelerate environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on a recent meeting of the Scientific Organization on Antarctic Research. New members; Environmental concerns about waste management.