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Books > Earth & environment > The environment
Understanding marine pollution and the contamination of coastal
environments requires knowledge from a variety of scientific
fields. Marine Environmental Quality promotes a multidisciplinary
approach to investigations, drawing on not only natural sciences,
but also applied mathematics and social sciences. The
investigations in this book focus on both organic and inorganic
pollutants, firstly in a study conducted in the city of La
Rochelle, on the North Atlantic French coast, then expanding the
areas under examination to regions of English and Portuguese waters
and, lastly, to the Mediterranean Sea. The improvement such
research can bring to biomarkers, models and experiments enables
equal progress in the quality of seawater in ports and protected
areas of coastal regions. The eight chapters of Marine
Environmental Quality present many aspects of this research,
including experiments with floating barriers, water governance in
various areas, sampling sites and sentinel species that act as
biomarkers in harbors. Also covered are environmental commitments,
both international and local, the risk that marine contamination
poses to human health, experimental designs for interactions with
microplastics and a study biomonitoring the juveniles of sentinel
species. Such results will bring many benefits, to human health, to
economic inclusion and to regional development.
The idea of socioecosystems answers the growing need to understand,
in the context of the Anthropocene, how adaptive processes
interact, and how that interplay results in the coevolution of
living beings. Studying socioecosystems means taking into account
the diversity of temporal and physical scales in order to grasp how
ecological, social and economic forces are interwoven. Based on
these drivers, the complex dynamics that determine the habitability
of the Earth emerge. This book analyzes, through concrete cases
from regional socioecosystems on several continents, how research
action has provided answers to problems related to agriculture,
health and the conservation of biodiversity. It demonstrates that
these undertakings could not have succeeded without the combined
efforts of the communities of living beings and objects, the
community of knowledge and the communities of action. These
examples are accompanied by a reflection on the conditions that
make it possible to bring this research to completion.
Smart Technologies for Sustainable Smallholder Agriculture:
Upscaling in Developing Countries defines integrated climate smart
agricultural technologies (ICSAT) as a suite of interconnected
techniques and practices that enhance quantity and quality of
agricultural products with minimum impact on the environment. These
ICSAT are centered on three main pillars, increased production and
income, adaptation and resilience to climate change, and minimizing
GHG emissions. This book brings together technologies contributing
to the three pillars, explains the context in which they can be
scaled up, and identifies research and development gaps as areas
requiring further investigation. It stresses the urgency in
critically analyzing and recommending ICSAT and scaling out the
efforts of both developing and disseminating these in an integrated
manner. The book discusses, synthesizes, and offers alternative
solutions to agriculture production systems and socio-economic
development. It brings together biophysical and socioeconomic
disciplines in evaluating suitable ICSAT in an effort to help
reduce poverty and food insecurity.
Current social, economic, and environmental challenges presented by
the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals may be partially
attained by digitalization and sustainable practices diffusion. The
antecedents, occurrences, and consequences of this process are
currently under investigation, but the big challenge is to get a
systemic view. This book attempts to bring such a view into focus.
Digital and Sustainable Transformations in a Post-COVID World is
dedicated to studying the consequences of the global crisis caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic and the new needs and practices inherent
in developing and disseminating digital and clean technologies.
The Application of Green Solvents in Separation Processes features
a logical progression of a wide range of topics and methods,
beginning with an overview of green solvents, covering everything
from water and organic solvents, to ionic liquids, switchable
solvents, eutectic mixtures, supercritical fluids, gas-expanded
solvents, and more. In addition, the book outlines green extraction
techniques, such as green membrane extraction, ultrasound-assisted
extraction, and surfactant-mediated extraction techniques. Green
sampling and sample preparation techniques are then explored,
followed by green analytical separations, including green gas and
liquid capillary chromatography, counter current chromatography,
supercritical fluid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and
other electrical separations. Applications of green chemistry
techniques that are relevant for a broad range of scientific and
technological areas are covered, including the benefits and
challenges associated with their application.
In the last few years, advances in studies and research associated
with the borderlands and the subsequent cross-border cooperation
(CBC) have been increased and introduced all over the globe. Such
advances essentially affect the cross-border strategies and
policies, processes of border cooperation, and several complex
border movements. Moreover, similar scenarios are encountered in
ultra-peripheral and remote territories and low-density regions.
There are common denominators, such as the limited land, water
resources, and overexploitation of tourism, among many other
factors, that make these specific territories critical case studies
concerning their governance and sustainable development and growth.
Analyzing Sustainability in Peripheral, Ultra-Peripheral, and
Low-Density Regions investigates activities, processes, and
behaviors in light of the new challenges and the desired
sustainable development and growth model. It analyzes the dynamics
and patterns ongoing in the peripheral, ultra-peripheral, and
low-density regions regarding sustainability and the issues that
may influence it. Covering topics such as glamping tourism,
vegetation quality, and territorial cohesion, this premier
reference source is an essential resource for government officials,
business executives and managers, community leaders,
environmentalists, researchers, and academicians.
Clean Coal Engineering Technology, Second Edition provides
significant information on the major power generation technologies
that aim to utilize coal more efficiently, and with less
environmental impact. With increased coal combustion comes
heightened concerns about coal's impacts on human health and
climate change, so the book addresses the reduction of both carbon
footprints and emissions of pollutants, such as particulate matter,
nitrogen oxides, and mercury. Part 1 provides an essential
grounding in the history of coal use alongside coal chemical and
physical characteristics, worldwide distribution, and health and
environmental impacts. Part 2 introduces the fundamentals of the
major coal utilization technologies and examines the anatomy of a
coal-fired power plant before going on to provide an overview of
clean coal technologies for advanced power generation. Next, users
will find a group of chapters on emissions and carbon management
that have been extensively enlarged and updated for the second
edition, thus reflecting the ever-increasing importance of this
area. The final section of the book focuses on clean coal
technology programs around the world and the future role of coal in
the energy mix. This fully revised and selectively expanded new
edition is a valuable resource for professionals, including
environmental, chemical, and mechanical engineers who seek an
authoritative and thorough one-volume overview of the latest
advances in cleaner power production from coal.
This book provides a holistic overview of the history of
sustainable development in Denmark over the last fifty years,
covering a host of issues central to the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs): ending poverty; ensuring inclusive and equitable
education; reducing inequality; making cities and settlements
inclusive, safe and resilient; and fostering responsible production
and consumption patterns, to name a few. It argues for a new
framework of sustainability history, one that is truly global in
outlook. As such, it explores what truly global sustainable
development would look like. It considers how economic growth has
been the driver for prosperity in the global north, and considers
whether sustainable development and continued economic growth are
irreconcilable, and what the future of sustainable development
initiatives in Denmark might look like.
A major theme of this book is that, contrary to what many experts
believe, being endowed with a plenitude of natural resources is not
a curse: rather it provides a potential advantage, if capitalized
by the well-endowed economy. Much depends on the institutions that
help frame the decision-making process that affects the process of
growth and development. Canada is an example of a successful
export-oriented economy. And, its export-orientation has been a
focal point of discussion and debate, going way back to discussions
of the early fur trade, the fishing industry, wheat farming, and
mining and oil and gas exploration. Unlike other economies
well-endowed with natural resources, Canada does not appear to be
at all cursed, but rather blessed with natural resource abundance.
This book, which ranges from the late seventeenth to the early
twentieth century, provides insights from Canadian economic history
on how such abundance can be a handmaiden of successful growth and
development. From this perspective, the natural resource curse
appears to be more of a 'man-made' phenomenon than anything else.
This book also investigates aspects of gender inequality in Canada
as well as the evolution of hours worked as it intersects with
worker preferences and 'market forces'. The narratives in this book
are contextualised by the construction of new or significantly
revised data sets, which speaks to the importance of data
construction to robust economic analysis and economic history.
This unique seminal work is the only book which comprehensively addresses current environmental management in South Africa from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The third edition of Fuggle & Rabie’s Environmental Management in South Africa sheds light on the legal frameworks in regional and international environmental law, administrative law and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).
Key themes addressed in environmental management, including agriculture and soils, air quality, biodiversity, climate change, energy, the coast, economics, trade and the role of financial institutions (among others), are covered from both scientific and legal perspectives.
Redefining Diversity and Dynamics of Natural Resources Management
in Southeast Asia, Volumes 1-4 brings together scientific research
and policy issues across various topographical areas in Asia to
provide a comprehensive overview of the issues facing the region.
Upland Natural Resources and Social Ecological Systems in Northern
Vietnam, Volume 2, provides chapters on natural resource management
in northern Vietnam tied together by the concept that participatory
local involvement is needed in all aspects of natural resource
management. The volume examines planning for climate change,
managing forestland, alleviating food shortages, living with
biodiversity, and assessing the development projects and policies
being implemented. Without the involvement of local communities,
households, and ultimately individual people, the needed action
will not be effectively taken. Upland Natural Resources and Social
Ecological Systems in Northern Vietnam, Volume 2, goes beyond just
Northern Vietnam to address the issue of transboundary natural
resource management-an issue that Vietnam is dealing with in its
relations with northern neighbor, China, and western neighbor,
Laos-as well as the transboundary water governance between Pakistan
and India in south Asia, with the hope that some of the lessons
learned may one day be useful in the case of Vietnam and its
neighbors.
Sustainability issues have gained more importance in contemporary
globalization, pushing decision makers to find a systematic
mathematical approach to conduct analyses of this real-world
problem. The growing complexity in modern social-economics or
engineering environments or systems has forced researchers to solve
complicated problems by using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)
approaches. However, traditional MCDM research mainly focuses on
reaching the highest economic value or efficiency, and issues
related to sustainability are still not closely explored. Advanced
Multi-Criteria Decision Making for Addressing Complex
Sustainability Issues discusses and addresses the challenges in the
implementation of decision-making models in the context of green
and sustainable engineering, criteria identification,
quantification, comparison, selection, and analysis in the context
of manufacturing, supply chain, transportation, and energy sectors.
All academic communities in the areas of management, economics,
business sciences, mechanical, and manufacturing technologies are
able to use, apply, and implement the models presented in this
book. It is intended for researchers, manufacturers, engineers,
managers, industry professionals, academicians, and students.
How businesses can and are acting to redress social and
environmental issues is a question of growing academic interest.
Bringing together a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, this
insightful Research Agenda evaluates the current state of the art
of sustainability and business and assesses key challenges for the
field. Multidisciplinary chapters provide instrumental, economic,
network and political perspectives on issues that are crucial in
gaining insight into sustainability challenges facing businesses
today, from socially responsible consumption behaviours and
organisational resilience to climate change and sustainability
transitions in extractive industries. Its diverse contributions
highlight the breadth and depth of analyses and perspectives that
are necessary to set a dynamic agenda for future research on
sustainability and business. Advancing novel research questions and
methodologies, the editors illustrate the path ahead for carrying
out research that impacts the science and practice of business and
sustainability, as well as creating meaningful change for our
species and planet. Offering an advanced yet accessible
introduction to the current state and future direction of
sustainability and business, this incisive Research Agenda will be
an invaluable resource for students and scholars of business,
sustainability studies, and environment studies. Its practical
insights will also benefit MBA students and business executives
moving into sustainability.
Atmospheric Impacts of the Oil and Gas Industry provides the most
up-to-date scientific and technological methods available to
quantify oil and gas industry emissions and atmospheric impacts in
a manner that is relevant to the development of, compliance with,
and enforcement of effective policy and regulations. The book
offers a concise survey of these methods to facilitate the
implementation of solutions that promote sustainable energy
production. Part I covers a technical and descriptive summary of
air quality and global change issues relevant to the oil and gas
industry, with Part II summarizing state-of-the-art methods
pertaining to the analysis and solution of the problems identified
in the earlier section. Examples of state-of-the-art methods
covered include real-time monitoring with chemical ionization mass
spectrometry, drone-mounted mini-lasers and gas cells, tomographic
remote sensing, inverse modeling of emissions, 3D fluid, chemical,
and transport models, and contemporary control technologies, such
as flare minimization, oxidation catalysts, and vapor recovery. In
addition, field studies, policy-relevant modeling assessments, and
regulatory decisions from multiple geographic regions are
presented, providing readers best practices from real world
applications.
This book examines how Africa can secure a 'just transition' to
low-carbon, climate-resilient economies.
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