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Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Pollution & threats to the environment
This collection examines the role that foreign aid can play in dealing with the severe global challenge of climate change, one of the most pressing international development issues of the 21st century. Addressing the key threats of rising temperatures, changes in precipitation, coastal erosion and natural disasters, the book considers the implications for policy and future research, particularly in developing countries. Focusing on the worth of foreign aid in ensuring environmental sustainability, this collection consider how it can be used to improve access to sustainable energy, to promote efficient use of energy resources, to improve emission reduction and support the preservation of biodiversity in forests. Advancing our knowledge about foreign aid and climate change, it provides policy recommendations for the donors and recipient country governments. A cutting edge text on one of the most pressing international development issues of this century, this is key reading for all scholars of international development and climate change.
This volume provides a comprehensive overview of advanced research in the field of efficient, clean and renewable energy production, conversion and storage. The ten chapters, written by internationally respected experts, address the following topics: (1) solar and wind energy; (2) energy storage in batteries; (3) biomass; and (4) socio-economic aspects of energy. Given its multidisciplinary approach, which combines environmental analysis and an engineering perspective, the book offers a valuable resource for all researchers and students interested in environmentally sustainable energy production, conversion, storage and its engineering.
This book highlights the innovations in textile fibres, that is the starting point of the supply chain. There are numerous innovations made in terms of making the existing fibres sustainable and also to discover new sustainable fibres. This book deals with those innovative sustainable textile fibres in detail. It also presents an overview of various current textile fibres, their issues associated with sustainability and how new, sustainable fibres overcome those issues. Finally it discusses the challenges and implications of these sustainable fibres on technical and economic fronts.
This book focuses on different aspects of microplastic pollution, offering authors and readers the opportunity to share their knowledge, identify issues and propose solutions and actions to face this environmental threat. Although plastic pollution is a well-known global problem, the recent discovery of microplastics and nanoplastics in seas and oceans represents a very alarming new environmental challenge. The book offers comprehensive insights into the origins of the problem, its impact on marine environments, particularly the Mediterranean Sea and coasts, and the current research trends aimed at finding technical solutions to mitigate the phenomenon. It is primarily intended for scientists and decision makers from industry, international, national and local institutions and NGOs
This book provides an overview of contemporary trends and challenges in maritime energy management (MEM). Coordinated action is necessary to achieve a low carbon and energy-efficient maritime future, and MEM is the prevailing framework aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from maritime industry activities. The book familiarizes readers with the status quo in the field, and paves the way for finding solutions to perceived challenges. The 34 contributions cover six important aspects: regulatory framework; energy-efficient ship design; energy efficient ship and port operation; economic and social dimensions; alternative fuels and wind-assisted ship propulsion; and marine renewable energy. This pioneering work is intended for researchers and academics as well as practitioners and policymakers involved in this important field.
With global temperatures rising rapidly during the past quarter century, infrared forcing, popularly known as the greenhouse effect, has attracted worldwide concern. This book is a concise, college-level compendium of the research on global warming. It surveys the scientific consensus on the issue, describes recent findings, and also considers the arguments of skeptics who doubt that global warming is a threat. Suggesting that the effects of global warming can be seen in the melting of glaciers and the dying of coral reefs, the work summarizes the potential impact on human health and on plants and animals worldwide. Concluding with possible solutions, the book contains one of the most comprehensive bibliographies on the subject. A growing field of study with a rapidly expanding literature, global warming should be of interest to everyone on Earth. Evidence of the greenhouse effect, due to emissions of carbon dioxide and other trace gases, has been accumulating for a quarter century. This book covers both research from scientific journals and newspaper and magazine reports of present-day evidence. The book will be a valuable resource for individuals concerned with the environment as well as for students of environmental sciences, meteorology, and earth sciences.
This book presents study findings involving the Changjiang River estuary and Jiaozhou Bay, China, etc. It takes a large catchment as a combined ecosystem to study nutrients biogeochemistry and environmental aspects of the Changjiang River. Some of the findings have sparked new research directions, including systematic studies of nutrients in the Changjiang River; sources and control mechanisms of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Changjiang River and its estuary; removal and transport of nutrients in the turbidity maximum zone and upwelling area of the Changjiang estuary; long-term changes in nutrients and ecological responses in the Changjiang River estuary and Jiaozhou Bay; and a study on nutrient structure and nutrient composition of phytoplankton, which are topics at the forefront ofinternational marine The studies address different fields, such as biogeochemistry, marine chemistry, ecology, environmental science, oceanography and biology.
This book provides a dynamic simulation model based on input-output table. The model includes an objective function, i.e. maximizing economic and social development and three sub-models, including economic growth model, pollutant emission model and energy balance model. The data of 2012 is selected as the base period data. The haze control policy of Hebei Province is written into the model as an exogenous variable. Reducing the total PM2.5 emissions is an environmental constraint, which is used to eliminate the impact of natural factors on environmental quality. Lingo software is used to simulate this model. By comparing the socio-economic impacts in different scenarios, this book found the most effective policy combination of haze governance. Comprehensive haze governance policy recommendations provide experience for other regions of China and other developing countries. In this book, the dynamic simulation model of haze governance also provides a reference to other environmental policy simulations. This book is divided into five parts. The first part is an introduction. This paper mainly introduces the research background, research status at home and abroad, the purpose and significance of the study, the content and methods of the study, the key scientific problems to be solved and the expected results. In the second part, the current situation and existing problems of economic, social, energy and environment development in the study area are analyzed in detail. In the third part, a comprehensive evaluation model of dynamic optimization of haze control policy is constructed. The fourth part carries on the simulation experiment, and carries on the analysis to the experimental result. The fifth part puts forward the policy suggestions to realize the economic, social, energy and environmental development of Hebei Province. In this book, we have some understandings about haze governance. From the perspective of policy effect, the policy effects of subsidy for soil and water conservation, subsidy for development and utilization of clean energy, subsidy for new energy vehicles, motor vehicle restriction and subsidy for introduction of PM2.5 treatment technology are decreasing. Comprehensive policy can better achieve the goal of sustainable development of economy, energy and environment than single policy, and the effect of "source governance" policy is better than that of "end governance" policy.
This book explains in depth the issues and challenges faced by rice farmers in India in relation to production and productivity, and the possible adaptation strategies to climate change. Based on five years of groundbreaking research on emerging trends in cultivation in major rice growing regions in India, it begins by describing production and yield trends across different rice growing regions. It then offers a comprehensive review of relevant literature and the quantification methodologies and approaches used to analyze the impact of climate change. The book also analyzes climate change impacts on rice productivity and production, applying field-tested quantification methods, such as the Just-Pope production function where time series and cross-section data are simultaneously used for all regions. The results are presented for five geographical regions of India - northern, eastern, western, central and southern - for better comparison and readability. The analyses cover scenarios for both mid-century (2021-2050) and end-century (2071-2100), and in the context of climate change, they also incorporate both medium and high carbon emission scenarios. Thus the future rice production and productivity trends are clearly projected for making necessary interventions. Lastly, the book outlines the essentials of an enabling environment policy and discusses the institutional and policy options necessary to ensure sustainable rice production in India. It also makes the case for introducing appropriate and affordable adaptation strategies to support farmers in different rice-growing regions. The cost-benefit analysis of strategies presented in this book provides an invaluable tool for officials at agriculture departments planning up-scaling of agricultural productivity. The projections are also useful for policy makers and planners developing future investment plans to support rice production in their country. Overall, this book is of interest to a wide audience, including professionals and business enterprises dealing with rice, as well as to academic researchers and students.
This book is written by experts from Institute of Urban and Environmental Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and National Climate Center, this book provides an overview of China's effort to implement the Paris Agreement. In addition to measures put in place to reduce runoff in cities, improve flood risk management, promote decarbonization, and combat desertification, the book also addresses issues such as scientific assessment in relation to climate change, the implications of US domestic climate politics for China-US relations, and China's emerging leadership role in the post-Paris age. The volume is a must-read for anybody who wants to understand how China's aggressive climate adaptation policies help shape the country's growing weight in global climate governance.
The paddy field is a unique agro-ecosystem and provides services such as food, nutrient recycling and diverse habitats. However, chemical contamination of paddy soils has degraded the quality of this important ecosystem. This book provides an overview of our current understanding of paddy soil pollution, addressing topics such as the major types of pollutants in contaminated paddy soil ecosystems; factors affecting the fate of pollutants in paddy soil; biomonitoring approaches to assess the contaminated paddy soil; the impact of chemicals on soil microbial diversity; and climate change. It also covers arsenic and heavy metal pollution of paddy soils and their impact on rice quality. Further, new emerging contaminants such as antibiotics and antibiotics resistance genes (ARGs) in paddy soil and their impact on environmental health are also discussed. The last chapters focus on the bioremediation approaches for the management of paddy soils.
This is the first book illustrating China's forest carbon projects. It includes an analysis of the policy and future development trends of China's forest carbon market and showcases the country's most representative forest carbon projects. Accordingly, it offers a valuable resource for all policymakers and researchers interested in forest carbon, as well as project developers and engineers involved in forest carbon projects.
This book presents and discusses a strategy which includes four approaches to dealing with the risk of sea-level rise and other water hazards. It also offers opportunities for cities to explore urban extensions such as marine estates, aquatic food production systems, new sea related industries, maritime transport developments, new oceanic tourist attractions, and the designation of additional coastal ecological zones. The urban interface between Sea and Cities generates, therefore, both burning issues and valuable opportunities and raises the question of whether it is possible to solve the former by exploiting the latter?
"The Economics of a Disaster" represents a major contribution to the understanding of the economics of liability and damages. It is based on the assumption that if people know they can be held responsible for some or all of the costs or damages sustained in an environmental accident, they will change their behavior to make the accident less likely to occur or to reduce the damages should it occur. The work develops a framework to examine and measure changes in market conditions after a disaster, showing the kinds of information that need to be collected and analyzed. Based on the Exxon Valdez case, this work provides an interesting framework for practitioners, specialists, and scholars in the fields of business, economics, law, and environmental studies.
This book comprehensively introduces all aspects of the physiology, stress responses and tolerance to abiotic stresses of the Fabaceae plants. Different plant families have been providing food, fodder, fuel, medicine and other basic needs for the human and animal since the ancient time. Among the plant families Fabaceae have special importance for their agri-horticultural importance and multifarious uses apart from the basic needs. Interest in the response of Fabaceae plants toward abiotic stresses is growing considering the economic importance and the special adaptive mechanisms. Recent advances and developments in molecular and biotechnological tools has contributed to ease and wider this mission. This book provides up-to-date findings that will be of greater use for the students and researchers, particularly Plant Physiologists, Environmental Scientists, Biotechnologists, Botanists, Food Scientists and Agronomists, to get the information on the recent advances on this plant family in regard to physiology and stress tolerance.
Sarnoff's Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Climate Change is packed with varied perspectives and essential information and is therefore a very useful guide for anyone interested in IP and climate change (and beyond!). To have all this packed tightly into one book is a great thing. I m quite pleased to have it on my bookshelf.' - Eric Lane, Green Patent Blog Written by a global group of leading scholars, this wide-ranging Research Handbook provides insightful analysis, useful historical perspective, and a point of reference on the controversial nexus of climate change law and policy, intellectual property law and policy, innovation policy, technology transfer, and trade. The contributors provide a unique review of the scientific background, international treaties, and political and institutional contexts of climate change and intellectual property law. They further identify critical conflicts and differences of approach between developed and developing countries. Finally they put forward and analyze the relevant intellectual property law doctrines and policy options for funding, developing, disseminating, and regulating the required technologies and their associated activities and business practices. The book will serve as a resource and reference tool for scholars, policymakers and practitioners looking to understand the issues at the interface of intellectual property and climate change. Contributors: P. Ala'i, C. de Avila Plaza, D. Borges Barbosa, P. Bifani, M.A. Carrier, M.W. Carroll, J.L. Contreras, C.M. Correa, E. Derclaye, P. Drahos, C.H. Farley, S. Ferrey, S.E. Gaines, D.A. Gantz, D.J. Gervais, D. Hunter, The International Council on Human Rights Policy, D.S. Levine, C.R. McManis, R.K. Musil, S.K. Sandeen, J.D. Sarnoff, D. Shabalala, G. Tansey, B. Tuncak, J.M. Urban, D. Vivas-Eugui, H. Wang, P.K. Yu
This edited volume sheds new light on the impact of rapid Land Use/Cover Changes (LU/CC) on greenhouse gases (GHG's) and aerosol emissions in South and Southeast Asia. Several countries in South/Southeast Asia have the highest population growth rates in the world, which is the main cause for LU/CC. Conversion of dense forests to agricultural areas and then to residential and urban areas is most commonly observed in South/Southeast Asian countries with a significant release of GHG's and aerosols. The book showcases several case studies on the use of remote sensing and geospatial technologies to quantify biomass burning and air pollution impacts, aerosol pollution, LU/CC, and impacts on ecosystem services. The book also includes articles on regional initiatives in research, capacity building, and training. The authors of this book are international experts in the field, and their contributions highlight significant drivers and impacts of air pollution in South/Southeast Asia. Readers will discover the latest tools and techniques, in particular, the use of satellite remote sensing and geospatial technologies for quantifying GHG's, aerosols and pollution episodes in this region.
Integrated Regional Modelling: Experimental and Numerical Study of High Ozone Events in the Alpine Region; J. Graf, et al. Global and Longrange Transport: A Three Dimensional Hemispheric Air Pollution Model Used for the Arctic; J. Christensen. New Developments: A Fast Lagrangian Particle Model for Use with Three-dimensional Mesoscale Models; W. Physick, P. Hurley. Accidental Release: A Mesoscale Boundary Layer Meteorological Model for Inhomogeneous Terrain; S.M. Daggupaty, et al. Model Assessment and Verification: Improving the Science of Regulatory Dispersion Models for Shortrange Applications; J.C. Weil. Video Session: Designing an Air Quality Network for Brisbane Using a Mesoscale Model; W. Physick, et al. Poster Session: Vertical Diffusion Parameter in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer; L.E. Venegas. Special Session: Athenian Photochemical Smog Intercomparison of Simulations (APSIS). Special Session: Air Pollution Transport and Diffusion over Coastal Urban Areas (Athens). 94 additional articles. Index.
This book focuses on scientific and technological aspects of groundwater-resources assessment and surveillance. It describes relevant risks and investigates selected techniques for the monitoring and mitigation of the individuated threats to groundwater quality. The authors discuss the concepts of groundwater-resources protection and offer examples of both geogenic and anthropogenic degradation of groundwater quality, such as heavy metals from mining activities and natural water-rock interactions, as well as risk of contamination due to geological CO2 storage practices etc. The volume also covers non-invasive monitoring techniques and briefly addresses innovative sensor technologies for the online assessment of water quality. Furthermore, the role played by geochemical techniques, the potential of environmental isotopes and the support provided by physical modelling are highlighted. The chapters guide the reader through various viewpoints, according to the diverse disciplines involved, without aiming to be exhaustive, but instead picking representative topics for their relevance in the context of groundwater protection and control. This book will be of interest to advanced students, researchers, policy-makers and stakeholders at various levels.
This volume addresses hospital effluents in terms of their composition and the management and treatment strategies currently (being) adopted around the globe. In this context, one major focus is on pharmaceutical compounds: their observed concentration range, ecotoxicological effects, and the removal efficiency achieved by the different technologies. Another focus is on management strategies (dedicated hospital wastewater treatment, or a combined approach also involving urban wastewater) and currently adopted treatments to reduce the released pollutant load. Innovative and promising technologies under investigation at the lab and pilot scale are presented. A discussion of remaining knowledge gaps and future research requirements rounds out the coverage. The respective chapters, written by experts in the different fields, provide useful information for a broad audience: scientists involved in the management and treatment of hospital effluents and wastewater containing micropollutants, administrators and decision-makers, legislators involved in the authorization and management of healthcare structure effluents, and environmental engineers involved in the design of wastewater treatment plants, as well as newcomers and students interested in these issues.
This volume is a tribute to Professor Otto Hutzinger, the founding editor of The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, in recognition of his pioneering work and contribution to our understanding of the sources, fate, exposure and effects of persistent organic pollutants. It consists of fourteen chapters written by individuals who have been inspired by his work and have followed in his footsteps by refining our knowledge of this field and opening new research directions. In Professor Hutzinger's tradition of passing on valuable information to others, the authors present recent advances in areas such as inventories, remediation, and analytical determinations. Levels and trends in abiotic environments, biota, and human exposure via food, as well as the risks to the environment and humans from polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins, furans, and PCBs are also discussed. Other chapters deal with the relevant topics of DDT and its metabolites along with halogenated and phosphorus flame retardants.
Commensal rodents pose health risks and cause substantial damage to property and food supplies. Rats have also invaded islands and pose a serious threat to native wildlife, particularly raptors and seabirds. Estimates of total damage from introduced rats range into the billions of dollars in developed countries. This book aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the scientific advancements in the assessment of exposure, effects and risks that currently used rodenticides may pose to non-target organisms in the environment, along with practical guidance for characterization of hazards. This will be discussed in relation to their efficacy, and the societal needs for rodent control, and discussion of risk mitigation and development of alternatives. The flow in the book is planned as: a. introduction and setting the scene b. problem description (risks and effects on non-targets and secondary poisoning, development of resistance) c. ; alternatives, regulation and risk mitigation d. conclusions and recommendations
This book reveals the mechanisms underlying the convergence of car fuel economy regulations in Europe, Japan and the US by drawing upon a constructivist theory of International Relations and law that focuses on business competition and environmental regulations. It offers new understanding of the topic of cars and an issue of climate change, discussing the emerging phenomenon of convergence of fuel economy regulations; addressing the role of business actors in pushing for climate change action; proposing the new model of agency with and beyond states; and providing insightful case studies from Europe, Japan and the US. The opening chapter reviews the automobile industry and global climate change, providing a background for the discussion to follow. Chapter 2, Business Actors and Global Environmental Governance, grounds the discussion in the field of environmental governance. The third chapter is a case study examining the construction and timing of the European Union's climate policies for automobile CO2 emissions, discussing the underlying factors and the actors influencing the policies. The following chapter argues that Japan adopted its stringent fuel economy regulations primarily because of industry competitiveness, motivated by stringent environmental regulations in export markets and encouraged by a tradition of 'co-regulation' and 'corporatism' to enhance the regulations. Chapter 5 asks why the US, the first country to introduce fuel economy regulations, spent two decades in regulatory stagnation, and discusses how recent US fuel economy regulations came to converge with Japanese and European standards. Chapter 6 compares, contrasts and analyzes fuel economy regulations among the three case studies and identifies policy implications for the future climate governance for 2015 and beyond. The final chapter explores applicability of the 'agency with and beyond the state' model to other sectors and to climate governance as a whole.
This book deals with a rapidly growing field aiming at producing food and energy in a sustainable way for humans and their children. It is a discipline that addresses current issues: climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, poor-nation starvation, rich-nation obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control and biodiversity depletion. This series gathers review articles that analyze current agricultural issues and knowledge, then proposes alternative solutions.
The extraordinary story of Israel's forests, from ancient times to the present. In this insightful and provocative book, Alon Tal provides a detailed account of Israeli forests, tracing their history from the Bible to the present, and outlines the effort to transform drylands and degraded soils into prosperous parks, rangelands, and ecosystems. Tal's description of Israel's trials and errors, and his exploration of both the environmental history and the current policy dilemmas surrounding that country's forests, will provide valuable lessons in the years to come for other parts of the world seeking to reestablish timberlands. |
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