Publication: Performance and Environmental Emissions of a Gasoline Spark Ignition Engine (22 Oct 2013)

Performance and Environmental Emissions of a Gasoline Spark Ignition Engine

Mehrnoosh Dashti, Ali Asghar Hamidi, Ali Asghar Mozafaric, 2013. Study of Performance and Environmental Emissions of a Gasoline Spark Ignition Engine. International Journal of Sustainable Future for Human Security, 1(1), pp.8–14.Keywords: Engine, Gasoline, Simulation, Performance, Emission

for more information: http://www.j-sustain.com/files/pub/file/Vol1(1)2013/J-SustaiN_Vol1_No1_8-14.pdf

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Publication: Biofuels At What Cost? A review of costs and benefits of Spain's biofuel policies (13 Oct 2013)

IISD Publications Centre

Biofuels At What Cost? A review of costs and benefits of Spain's biofuel policies

» Christopher Charles, Alicia Natalia Zamudio Trigo, Tom Moerenhout, 2013.Paper, 60 pages

This report evaluates some of the principal issues associated with Spain’s biofuels industry, support policies, employment creation, emission abatement and the role of biofuels and other renewable transport technologies in meeting EU renewable energy targets. The report assesses the costs and benefits of Spain’s policies in meeting the objectives that EU member states have set out to achieve—increased energy security, improvements in environmental performance and the generation of additional economic value. The report finds:

1. Support to Spain’s biofuel industry in 2011 was estimated at between €213 million and €237 million for ethanol and from €955 million to €1,002 million for biodiesel.
2. 2011 carbon abatement costs for ethanol were €488 per tonne CO2 avoided and €194 per tonne for non-land based biodiesel. Conventional biodiesel was responsible for net emissions increases and no abatement cost can be calculated.
3. There is a wide range for the number of direct and indirect jobs created by the Spanish biofuels sector estimated at between 3,797 and 12,055 in 2011. Job estimates are based on a variety of job-counting approaches used in measuring biofuel and renewable energy jobs reflecting the challenges in assessing the numbers and quality of sectorial jobs.
4. More than 75 per cent of biodiesel consumed in Spain was imported in 2011. Around 95 per cent of biodiesel feedstock was imported with 90 per cent coming from Argentinian soy and Indonesian palm oil. Spain also imported 73 per cent of the feedstock used in ethanol production eroding energy security benefits due to a high reliance on foreign imports.

A number of policy recommendations are provided to promote the sustainability and effectiveness of Spain’s biofuel policies.

for more information: http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?pno=2842

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Publications: Energizing Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Study of Hong Kong People’s Attitudes Towards Power Sources and Climate Change by Michael E. Degolyer (24 Sep 2013)

Energizing Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Study of Hong Kong People’s Attitudes Towards Power Sources and Climate Change
DATE: 24 Sept 2013


This survey report captures how Hong Kong people view issues related to energy and climate change, as well as their environmental behaviours and knowledge.The survey is in hope of informing us on how best to approach energy policy deliberation in Hong Kong. Where appropriate, comparisons were made between the current survey’s findings and previous environmental surveys in order to give additional information on how perceptions and behaviours have changed over time. Download full report


For more information: 
http://www.civic-exchange.org/wp/201309energysurvey_en-2/

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Publications: Climate Justice: Equity and Justice Informing a New Climate Agreement by Edward Cameron, Wendi Bevins, Tara Shine (Sep 2013)

Climate Justice: Equity and Justice Informing a New Climate Agreement

Edward Cameron, Wendi Bevins, Tara Shine

September, 2013

This paper explores the links between climate change and justice. It establishes why climate change is an issue of justice, analyzes the potential role of justice in the agreement currently being negotiated for 2015, and explores climate justice narratives. This paper is written for climate negotiators, academic institutions and civil society organizations following the negotiations, and anyone interested in the justice aspects of climate policy.

Inquiries

• Wendi Bevins, Research Assistantwbevins@wri.org+1 (202) 729-7862

Downloads

Full Working Paper

Licensed under Creative Commons (more info).

Executive Summary

This paper explores the role of equity in the climate negotiations. It establishes why climate change is an issue of injustice by examining the environmental challenges posed by climate change and links those challenges to socio-ecological and economic systems that undermine the rights of people, especially the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable.

The paper then analyzes the role of justice and equity in designing a new climate agreement by looking at how equity has been treated to now in the climate negotiations. It examines several perspectives on key equity issues to highlight those issues that must be addressed in the new agreement.

The paper concludes by exploring the potential of climate justice narratives in mobilizing domestic constituencies of demand for climate action. The authors suggest a variety of constituencies that can use climate justice narratives and how similar narratives have been used in other social movements.

This paper is the first publication of the Climate Justice Dialogue, an initiative led by the Mary Robinson Foundation — Climate Justice and the World Resources Institute. The initiative seeks to develop creative thinking and mobilize demand for a people-centered climate agreement in 2015.

For more information:
http://www.wri.org/publication/climate-justice-equity-and-justice-informing-new-climate-agreement

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Publications: Corporate community investment impact measurement in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore by CSR Asia Research (Jun 2013)

Corporate community investment impact measurement in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

This report provides an insight to the Corporate Community Investment (CCI) activities of eighty of the largest listed companies in Hong Kong, Indonesia Malaysia and Singapore. The focus of the research was to analyse whether the sample group of companies were reporting on CCI impact. This report was presented at the CSR Asia Corporate Community Investment – Measuring Impact Forum, Singapore June 2013.

Link to download the full document: http://www.csr-asia.com/report/CCI-report.pdf
For more information: http://www.csr-asia.com/publications.php

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Publications: OECD Examines Competitiveness and Carbon Leakage Impacts in a Multiple Carbon Market Setting (19 Sep 2013)

News

OECD Examines Competitiveness and Carbon Leakage Impacts in a Multiple Carbon Market Setting

19 September 2013: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released an Environment Working Paper titled 'Addressing Competitiveness and Carbon Leakage Impacts Arising from Multiple Carbon Markets - A Modelling Assessment,' which examines the macroeconomic and sectoral competitiveness and carbon leakage impacts associated with a range of mitigation policy scenarios.

The scenarios depict a variety of hypothetical carbon markets with differing levels of linkages, coverage (i.e. number of countries participating, types of gases and sectors) and stringency of the carbon pricing policy across countries. The paper also investigates some policies to address competitiveness and carbon leakage issues, considering border carbon adjustments (BCAs) as well as direct and indirect (offset-based) linking of carbon markets.

The results show that in the presence of multiple carbon markets, competitiveness can decrease in countries that undertake climate policies, which also leads to carbon leakage. The negative sectoral competitiveness and leakage effects can be reduced when more countries act, more emission sources are covered, and climate mitigation policy is harmonized across countries.

The results also show that response policies, such as BCAs and linking of carbon markets, can address some of the competitiveness and carbon leakage issues. While BCAs are more effective than linking instruments in addressing domestic competitiveness concerns, linking instruments better preserve the welfare of countries that do not undertake climate policy. 

[Publication: Addressing Competitiveness and Carbon Leakage Impacts Arising from Multiple Carbon Markets - A Modelling Assessment]

For more information: 
http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/oecd-examines-competitiveness-and-carbon-leakage-impacts-in-a-multiple-carbon-market-setting/215755/

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Publications: Nuclear Energy: Institutional Arrangement and Public Engagement in France by Jacques Foos & Ludivine Gilli (14 Sep 2013)

Nuclear Energy: Institutional Arrangement and Public Engagement in France
By Jacques Foos & Ludivine Gilli

This report mainly focuses on the public engagement process France has gone through while discussing their energy policy, in particular nuclear energy. It sheds light on various important components of the process, for example, availability of independent information, formation of independent agencies and their roles, involvement of independent experts, as well as general public education. Download full report



For more information: http://www.civic-exchange.org/wp/130914frenergypaper_en/

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Publications: New report outlines China's energy development "The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013" (27 Sep 2013)

New report outlines China's energy development

By Gong Yingchun

China.org.cn, September 27, 2013

A new report, released in Beijing on Tuesday, has outlined China's energy development, current problems and future international cooperation.

The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013 was unveiled at an event jointly hosted by Renmin University of China, the Center for International Energy and Environment Strategy Studies of Renmin University (CIEESS), Energy Outlook Magazine and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013 was unveiled in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Wu Zongxin, a professor at Tsinghua University, said in his keynote speech that China has to seek out an effective solution to deal with its increasing energy demands. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China consumed about 3.6 billion tons of standard coal equivalent (TCE) in 2012, and accounted for one fifth of the global energy consumption. "China's energy consumption, if it increases by 200 million every year, will probably rise to eight or nine billion TCE in the future," he said.

With energy demands increasing every year, China has become the largest energy consumer in the world. The growing concern from the international community for global climate change has placed carbon tax and carbon trading on the agenda. Therefore, there is mounting pressure on China, where coal consumption still amounts to approximately 70 percent of the total energy consumption.

Despite China's large energy reserves, energy resources per capita are much lower than the average world level due to the large population. The high energy demand has encouraged China to seek cooperation with foreign countries. "China's dependency of foreign oil has exceeded 55 percent," Wu said.

Moreover, China is facing difficulties in climate change. It has overtaken the United States as the world's top annual emitter of carbon dioxide. China is focusing on boosting energy restructuring, and developing clean energy in a bid to reduce carbon emissions.

"Natural gas currently only accounts for about five percent of China's primary energy consumption, while the global average is almost 24 percent. Nuclear power currently accounts for only two percent of China's electricity output, but the average world level is 16 percent," Wu said.

International energy cooperation is therefore crucial for China to meet its energy demand and its responsibility for cutting carbon emissions.

The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013 was unveiled in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/China.org.cn] The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013, released in Beijing on Tuesday, has outlined China's energy development, current problems and future international cooperation. [Photo/China.org.cn] Source: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2013-09/27/content_30149859.htm

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Publications: Solid Waste Management in Nepal: Current Status and Policy Recommendations by ADB (Aug 2013)

Solid Waste Management in Nepal: Current Status and Policy Recommendations

Date:	August 2013
Type:	Reports
Country:	Nepal
Subject:	Environment; Urban development
ISBN:	978-92-9254-232-0 (print), 978-92-9254-233-7 (web)
Price:	US$20.00 (hard copy)

Description

Managing solid waste is one of the major challenges in urbanization. A survey conducted in all 58 municipalities of Nepal in 2012 found that the average municipal solid waste generation was 317 grams per capita per day. This translates into 1,435 tons per day or 524,000 tons per year of municipal solid waste generation in Nepal. Many of these technically and financially constrained municipalities are still practicing roadside waste pickup from open piles and open dumping, creating major health risks.

Recommendations

The survey and other assessment undertaken under the technical assistance identified eight key policy recommendations for solid waste management (SWM) in Nepal:

• an appropriate policy and strategic framework needs to be developed, together with technical guidelines on key issues such as organic composting and landfill operations, to properly guide local bodies in effective SWM;
• reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) should be promoted. The survey identified great potential for resource recovery in Nepal, which could be realized with better public awareness and initiatives by local bodies and communities;
• strengthening the capacity of local bodies is essential, as they are mandated to provide SWM services to the citizens;
• enhancement of public participation and consultation would be effective in advancing SWM practices;
• costs for SWM need to be recovered, albeit partially at first, to provide better services. The public is generally willing to pay for services if the level of services is improved;
• current poor management practices such as open dumping and open burning should be stopped immediately to allow for more integrated SWM;
• public–private partnership offers opportunities for operational efficiency and cost effectiveness. The role of the private sector will be more important for complex tasks such as the operation of landfill sites, as municipalities are less experienced in these areas; and
• the management, updating, and dissemination of basic data will play an important role in improving planning by the local bodies and monitoring implementation progress.

Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Composition
• Existing Solid Waste Management System
• Managerial Aspects of Solid Waste Management
• Nepal’s Solid Waste Management Status in the Region
• Key Policy Challenges and Recommendations
• Conclusions
• Appendixes

PURCHASE PUBLICATION

ADB Publishing

DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

English

For more information: 

http://www.adb.org/publications/solid-waste-management-nepal-current-status-and-policy-recommendations

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Publications: Thinking about Water Differently: Managing the Water–Food–Energy Nexus by ADB (Sep 2013)

Thinking about Water Differently: Managing the Water–Food–Energy Nexus

Date:	September 2013
Type:	Guides
Subject:	Agriculture and natural resources; Energy; Water
ISBN:	978-92-9254-252-8 (print), 978-92-9254-253-5 (web)
Price:	US$18.00 (hard copy)

PURCHASE PUBLICATION

ADB Publishing

DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

English

Description

The water-food-energy nexus is emerging as a critical issue in Asia and the Pacific. It is clear that solutions must be found to assure water security, thereby eliminating the immediate--and increasing--risk to food security, energy security, and economic growth and stability: water must be recognized as an economic as well as a social good. Governments need to be encouraged to think differently about water, take the longer-term view, and be mindful of the strategic and economic value of this limited resource.

This publication is the result of a scoping study initiated by the Asian Development Bank to better understand the issues associated with the water-food-energy nexus in Asia and the Pacific. It provides high-level guidance on the choices available to address the region's water security issues.

ADB and water

Some strategic thrusts likely to be promoted by ADB in the water sector include the following:

Asian Water Development Outlook 2013: Measuring Water Security in Asia and the Pacific

1. Reforming water governance. Through advocacy at global, regional, and national levels, demonstrate convincingly to developing members the critical need to manage water differently, assigning its strategic and vital value in allocation and trade-offs, and to amend governance structures and procedures accordingly;
2. Data and information. Support developing members in generating reliable data on the availability and behavior of water resources, in particular, groundwater. Make information on all aspects of water security accessible and place them into the public domain, including possible measures to deal with water scarcity;
3. Resource protection. Support developing members in more effective reduction of wastewater and other waste discharging into freshwater supplies through regulation, investment, and innovation;
4. Water for food. Stimulate research into improving the use of water in agriculture, increasing food production on the same area of land, and using less water; and
5. Increasing storage. Promote increases in strategic storage, including aquifer recharge, in response to uncertainties in supply, aggravated by climate change.

Contents

• Executive Summary
• Background
• Water Security in the Face of Water Scarcity
• The Water–Food–Energy Nexus
• New Water Accounting
• Emerging Opportunities
• The Potential Response
• References

For more information: 

http://www.adb.org/publications/thinking-about-water-differently-managing-water-food-energy-nexus

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Publications: Cattails Harvesting for Carbon Offsets and Nutrient Capture: A “Lake Friendly” greenhouse gas project » Richard Grosshans, Philip Gass, Rosemary Dohan, Dimple Roy, Henry David Venema, Matthew McCandless, IISD, 2013.

IISD Publications Centre

Cattails Harvesting for Carbon Offsets and Nutrient Capture: A “Lake Friendly” greenhouse gas project» Richard Grosshans, Philip Gass, Rosemary Dohan, Dimple Roy, Henry David Venema, Matthew McCandless, IISD, 2013.Paper, 55 pages, copyright: IISD

The Cattail Biomass Harvesting project is pursuing and evaluating the commercial-scale harvesting of cattail (Typha spp.) for its multiple co-benefits, in particular:

1. Nutrient capture (i.e., phosphorus) through harvesting of nutrient-rich biomass to reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Winnipeg
2. Use of harvested biomass as a viable feedstock for bioenergy to displace coal used for heating
3. Certification of cattails through the voluntary market for generation of carbon offset credits
4. Demonstration of commercial-scale agricultural equipment for harvesting in wet environments

This progress report details the project background, descriptions of current cattail biomass harvest sites, a proposed plan for commercial-scale cattail harvesting, and opportunities for carbon offset markets and certification. It concludes with a legislative and regulatory review for cattail harvesting in Manitoba. The Cattail Biomass Harvesting project, a component of the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s ongoing Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy Project, is co-funded by Manitoba Lotteries, Manitoba Conservation Department of Water Stewardship and Manitoba Hydro.

Paper

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• English (PDF - 8.3 MB)

• Hard copy not available.

• If you are having difficulty viewing a PDF or Flash Flip-page, please click here.

Related

• Related content from IISD
• Related publications:
  Natural Resources, Water Innovation Centre

For more information: http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?pno=2847

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Publications: Industrial Policy for a Green Economy » Johannes Schwarzer, IISD, (Sep 2013)

IISD Publications Centre

Industrial Policy for a Green Economy» Johannes Schwarzer, IISD, 2013.Paper, 68 pages, copyright: IISD

This report draws from the long history of industrial policy to highlight lessons for governments looking to promote infant green industries. It shows what we know about how to do industrial policy—both negative and positive lessons—and explores the nature of green industrial policy, asking if it is any different than traditional industrial policy.

Paper

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• English (PDF - 1.1 MB)

• Hard copy not available.

• If you are having difficulty viewing a PDF or Flash Flip-page, please click here.

Related

• Related publications:
  Climate Change,Investment, International Trade, Subsidies

For more information: http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?pno=2846

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Results: ACQWA Project Assesses Climate Impacts on Water Quantity and Quality (4 Sep 2013)

ACQWA Project Assesses Climate Impacts on Water Quantity and Quality

4 September 2013: The results of a project known as ACQWA (Assessing Climate Impacts on the Quality and Quantity of Water) were presented at a conference at World Meteorological Organization (WMO) headquarters on 4 September.

The project assessed the vulnerability of water resources in mountain regions, such as the European Alps, the Central Chilean Andes and the mountains of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan), where declining snow and ice are likely to affect hydrological regimes in a warmer climate, impact on water availability, and increase competition among economic sectors, such as agriculture, tourism or hydropower.

The project aimed to use model results to quantify the environmental, economic and social impacts of changing water resources to assess the suitability of current water governance strategies and to consider adaptive measures to alleviate the negative impacts of climate change on water resources and use.

During the conference, project coordinator Martin Beniston, University of Geneva, said while mountains account for 20% or less of continental surface area, they are the source of more than half the world's rivers and 60% of surface water. Thus, the project examined how future shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns, and changes in the behavior of snow and ice in many mountain regions would change the quantity, seasonality, and possibly the quality of water originating in mountains and uplands. WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud told the conference that the ACQWA project would enhance the research base of the WMO-led Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), which aims to strengthen the provision of accessible, accurate climate services to meet the needs of users, with priority being given to the water, food security, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and health sectors.

The project was undertaken by a consortium of 30 partners from ten countries, with the participation of over 100 scientists, and with the EU contributing nearly €6.5 million.

[Publication: ACQWA: Summary for Policymakers] [WMO Press Release on ACQWA Project] [WMO Website]

For more information: http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/acqwa-project-assesses-climate-impacts-on-water-quantity-and-quality/214152/

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Study: FAO Assesses Food Waste Impacts on Land, Climate, Water and Biodiversity by FAO (11 Sep 2013)

FAO Assesses Food Waste Impacts on Land, Climate, Water and Biodiversity

11 September 2013: The Food and Agriculture of the UN (FAO) has released a study documenting the environmental impacts of global food wastage as well as its direct economic impacts, which it reports add up to $750 billion annually.

The study provides a global account of the environmental footprint of food wastage (both food loss and food waste) along the food supply chain, focusing on impacts on climate, water, land and biodiversity. It includes a tool-kit that documents how food loss and waste can be reduced. FAO stresses the moral issue of 870 million people going hungry while 1/3 of all food produced goes to waste.

The study indicates that food waste is responsible for 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making food wastage rank as the third top emitter, after the US and China. It notes that 54% of wastage occurs during production, post-harvest handling and storage, and 46% of wastage occurs during processing, distribution and consumption, with production losses occurring most in developing countries, and consumption losses highest in high and middle income countries.

Hotspots of food wastage identified in the report are: wastage of cereals in Asia, with impacts on carbon, blue water and arable land; wastage of meat in high income regions and Latin America; fruit wastage with blue water impacts in Asia, Latin America, and Europe; and vegetables wastage in industrialized Asia, Europe, and South and South East Asia, with a high carbon footprint.

The study calls for reducing food wastage through better planning and addressing post-harvest loss, as well as by finding secondary markets and diverting excess food to livestock feed. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is a partner of the FAO in the Think Eat Save-Reduce Your Foodprint campaign. 

[UNEP Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [UN News] 

[Publication: Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources] [UN Press Release]

For more information: 
http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/fao-assesses-food-waste-impacts-on-land-climate-water-and-biodiversity/214724/

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Publications: Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy Recommendations from the ZeroWIN Project by Claudia Luepschen, Ruediger Kuehr and Federico Magalini (11 Sep 2013)

Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy Recommendations from the ZeroWIN Project

INSTITUTE:

UNU-ISP

PUBLISHER:

United Nations University Press

VOLUME:

Policy Brief No. 6, 2013

TITLE:

Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy Recommendations from the ZeroWIN Project

AUTHORS:

by Claudia Luepschen, Ruediger Kuehr and Federico Magalini

PUB DATE:

2013•09•11

ISSN WEB:

1814-8026

ISBN 13:

978-92-808-3107-8

COPYRIGHT:

United Nations University

COPYRIGHT YEAR:

2013

 Download PDF: Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks: Policy (331.8 kB)

ZeroWIN (Towards Zero Waste in Industrial Networks) is a five-year project (2009–2014) under the European Commission’s Seventh Research Framework Programme. The ZeroWIN project has developed effective strategies for waste prevention through industrial networks. Ten industrial case studies in the automotive, construction, electronics and photovoltaic industries form the core of the project and exchange energy, water and materials in such a way that waste from one industry becomes raw material for another.

This policy brief suggests what can be done to advance the implementation of industrial networks in practice, based on first outcomes of the ZeroWIN project.

For more information:

http://unu.edu/publications/policy-briefs/towards-zero-waste-in-industrial-networks.html

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