Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable Ecologies, Unsustainable Politics: Chinampa Farming in Ancient Central Mexico

by Christopher Morehart

Landscapes over Time: Resilience, Degradation, and Contemporary Lessons (2005)

by Gary Feinman

Christopher T. Fisher and Gary M. Feinman, 2005)

IMPACTO AMBIENTAL E DANO AMBIENTAL

by Eloy Fenker

Green Infrastructure for Asian Cities: The Spatial Concepts and Planning Strategies

by Sadahisa Kato

Peer-reviewed paper
Kato, S. 2011. Green Infrastructure for Asian Cities: The Spatial Concepts and Planning Strategies. Journal of the 2011 International Symposium on City Planning: 161-170. Korea Planners Association.

Reviewed the concept of green infrastructure (GI) and five cases of GI-like application in Japan; proposed four... more Reviewed the concept of green infrastructure (GI) and five cases of GI-like application in Japan; proposed four general landscape planning and design guidelines of GI from a landscape ecology perspective; and made recommendations of four areas of application of GI to Asian cities

Sustainable Private Financing Initiative Contracts

by Mohd Farmi Izudin Che Ros

Mohd Farmi Izudin Che Ros1, Zulhabri Ismail2, Fadzil Hassan3, Masnizan Che Mat4
Legal Aspects in Built Environment Initiative Group1, 2
Centre for Construction Project and Infrastructure Management (CCPIM)3, 4
Faculty of Architecture Planning & Surveying,
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia,
40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
famieg6@yahoo.com1 Corresponding Author

One critical element of PFI projects is the contract which binds the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) (project promoter)... more One critical element of PFI projects is the contract which binds the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) (project promoter) with the government (client). Drawing up the PFI contract is by no means a simple undertaking because elements of economy, social, technological and intellectual considerations will have to be coherently spelt out. Adding on to this now is the requirement to include sustainable considerations. However, this can be very vexing because sustainable project elements can have serious implications to the project implementation process, costing and viability.
To assist circumvent of this challenge; a research was mooted to explore the best possible alternatives for incorporating sustainable considerations into PFI contracts. A fundamental starting point to achieve this is to firstly re-learn the fundamental elements of sustainability. This paper presents this investigation.
With the aim was to establish the underpinning elements of sustainability within PFI contracts, a qualitative research method was used. The key findings were critically analyzed and the culminating findings were discussed. The findings suggest that whilst the key elements of sustainability can be identified, the challenge for incorporating them into the PFI contracts can be very vexing. This is especially with regard to its implementation when outlining the scope and role of the stakeholders in the PFI project.
Keywords-Private Financing Initiative (PFI); Government Services Projects; Sustainability and Green Elements; Construction Contracts

Citrus Gardens of Bitez as a Potential Tool for Ecotourism (Bodrum, Turkey)

by Nezih R. Aysel

CSAAR 2010 (The Center for the Study of Architecture in the Arab Region) "Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development", Amman, Jordan.

Bodrum'un Tükenen/Tüketilen Yeşili: BAHÇE

by Nezih R. Aysel

Mimarlıkta Malzeme, 2012/1,sayı 21, s.30-39

Designing multifunctional peri-urban agro-landscapes for sustainable agriculture

by Grace Docuyanan

Co-authored with J.C.J. Groot and S.J. Oosting, contribution to the International Conference on Multifunctional Agriculture in an Urbanising Society (http://www.agricultureinanurbanizingsociety.com/UK)

As the countryside becomes urbanised, socio-economic demands on farming evolve. Farmers adapt by diversifying... more As the countryside becomes urbanised, socio-economic demands on farming evolve. Farmers adapt by diversifying activities. However, trade-offs and synergies exist among multifunctional goals and related services. Identifying the most beneficial development direction involves clarifying societal demands for services and generating options to adjust farm and landscape management to supply these services. Here we apply the Landscape IMAGES framework to a peri-urban area to generate landscape management plans that are expected to perform better given societal preferences and sustainability indicators, and to identify policy instruments that could be effective to achieve a desired plan. We established trade-offs among farmers’ economic benefits and public benefits in terms of plant diversity, ecological health, landscape quality and meadow bird habitat quality. The most desirable plans for society could be attained by improved extension, without additional subsidies. We conclude that the presented framework was effective in identifying plans and policies to satisfy multifunctional objectives for farm enterprises.

A Global Perspective on the Environmental Impact of Golf

by John Nauright

Co-authored with Kit Wheeler, in Sport in Society (2006)

The sport of golf has grown tremendously in the past three decades. It is now the leading sport in the world in terms... more The sport of golf has grown tremendously in the past three decades. It is now the leading sport in the world in terms of total economic expenditure, yet surprising little on golf has
appeared in the academic sports studies literature. In particular, the impact of golf on the environment has been virtually absent from discussion. Golf takes place in the outdoors, yet golf course development and maintenance has involved many aspects that are deleterious to the environment. This article charts the impact of golf on the environment from an international perspective, particularly noting emerging differences in first and developing world countries.

Integrated constructed wetlands for rural domestic wastewater treatment: A full-scale study in Ireland

by Mawuli Dzakpasu

Mawuli Dzakpasu, Valerie McCarthy, Miklas Scholz, Siobhán N. Jordan
World congress on Water, Climate and Energy, International Water Association, Dublin, Ireland, May 13-18, 2012.

Abstract
The paper reports the treatment performance capability, during an on-going full-scale study, which was... more Abstract
The paper reports the treatment performance capability, during an on-going full-scale study, which was set to evaluate the novel concept of integrated constructed wetlands (ICW) for domestic wastewater treatment in Ireland. The ICW at the center of this study is located at Glaslough in Co. Monaghan, Ireland. The 3.25 ha ICW comprises of two sludge cells and a sequence of five shallow vegetated wetland cells, and receiving primary domestic wastewater. Overall, mass removal rates greater than 90% were achieved for suspended solids, organic matter and nutrients during the monitoring period (February 2008 to June 2011). A direct correlation of organic loading on its removal rates was sustained over the entire period of monitoring, and indicated that the ICW had capacity for increased organic loads and could still be operated beyond the maximum ranges received during the course of this study. Nutrients removal, however, was slightly variable. Kinetic coefficients estimated for nutrients removal in the ICW indicated that nutrients removal was largely dependent on temperature, and showed a reduced removal rate under freezing conditions and under higher hydraulic loading rates. Enlarging the system to provide a longer hydraulic retention time can therefore, optimize the nutrient removal during such periods.

Why Should We Care About Birds? By Carol P. Christ

by Feminism and Religion

Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project

I believe that we should we care about birds because it is right to do so.  If we do not, we will contribute to... more I believe that we should we care about birds because it is right to do so.  If we do not, we will contribute to extinction of species, and we will leave a diminished world to those who come after us. We must not give up hope that we can save the world for birds, for other wildlife, and for our children’s children.

On February 2, 2012, the International Day for Wetlands, the Greek government signed into law a Presidential Directive mandating protection of the small wetlands of the Greek islands.  There is no assurance that this law will be enforced.  There are still no measures in effect to protect most of the larger wetlands in Greece, even though this is required by the European law Natura 2000, which requires all of the countries in the European Union to protect bird and wildlife habitats.

Why I Thrift (and How I Got Started) by Grace Yia-Hei Kao

by Feminism and Religion

Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project

Last weekend, I went to a store and came home with one cotton sundress, four lightweight sweaters, two pairs of pants,... more Last weekend, I went to a store and came home with one cotton sundress, four lightweight sweaters, two pairs of pants, one beaded necklace, and three khakis for my preschooler. I paid $26.31 for the entire haul. That feat was only possible because I bought all of those items second-hand at a thrift store. 

While I have always been a value-conscious shopper, for the majority of my life “scoring a bargain” almost always meant buying something new on sale at a deep discount. I only started buying used clothes a few years ago after my firstborn son moved up into the toddler room at his daycare. In short, the more artwork he did at school, the more consistently he came home with paint splattered all over his hair, body, and clothes. Though his teachers always told us that it was “just” finger paint and that it would wash out, his clothes would almost invariably remain stained (whether or not I pretreated the stains, or vigorously attempted to scrub them out by hand before and/or after the wash).

That permanently-ruined-though-barely-worn clothes routine quickly drove me bonkers. Worst still was my growing realization that even if I had been successful in removing the stains, my rapidly growing son would soon outgrow his clothes anyway. When I shared these frustrations with my “working moms” support group at Virginia Tech, it was then when I learned of this amazing store featuring gently used children’s clothes and toys that I hadn’t realized even existed–Once Upon a Child.

Greening the Manufacturing Function

by Joseph Sarkis

Joseph Sarkis and Abdul Rasheed, Business Horizons, Vol. 38, No. 5, pp. 17-27, 1995

Environmentalism is no longer an issue of reluctant compliance with regulatory requirements. In the last decade, it... more Environmentalism is no longer an issue of reluctant compliance with regulatory requirements. In the last decade, it has increasingly emerged as a potential mechanism for gaining competitive advantage and has become and important aspect of strategic management. In this article we identify and describe the basic elements of an environmentally conscious manufacturing strategy. We then describe some tools and techniques that enable businesses to pursue ECM strategies, and discuss some of the major environmental manufacturing initiatives taking place in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Sustainable Development and Malawi

by Naomi Weir

Functional Options for Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture in India

by VR Manoj

Reviews in Fisheries Science, Volume 17, Issue 3 2009 , pages 336 - 347

Aquaculture is a fast growing food sector with an annual growth rate of about 10%, outpacing terrestrial livestock and... more Aquaculture is a fast growing food sector with an annual growth rate of about 10%, outpacing terrestrial livestock and capture fisheries. The Asia-Pacific region alone contributes over 80% of the world's aquaculture production. It has an important role in the development of many national economies and a key role in rural development. Poor environmental management has led to mangrove deforestation, land degradation, habitat loss and disease. If aquaculture is to continue being such an important source of livelihood for the community and the market at large, the practices employed must become more sustainable. Sustainable development means the management and conservation of natural resource base and focus on technological and institutional charge responsibilities to ensure continued supply of human needs for present and future generations. The objectives of such sustainable development would include the optimal allocation of resources, minimization of social conflict, minimization of environmental impact and the conservation of natural resources. While developing sustainable options, it also becomes important to keep the uplift of communities involved in mind and to consider innovative means of capturing a major share in the world market in aquaculture. This article discusses such issues and the options available. We also propose a comprehensive score-sheet based feedback system for the development of sustainable aquaculture which directly involves the farmer as the key player.

Fishing for the public interest: making and representing publics in North Sea fisheries governance reform

by Liza Griffin

Griffin, L (2010) ‘Fishing for the public interest’ in (Ed.) Janet Newman, Clive Barnett & Nick Mahony Rethinking the Public: innovations in research, theory & policy. Polity.

Mapping indigenous Siberia: Spatial changes and ethnic realities, 1900–2010

by Ivan Sablin

co-authored with Maria Savelyeva, published in Settler Colonial Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, 2011, pp. 77–110.

This article discusses spatial changes in the ethnic territories of Native Siberians from the late nineteenth century... more This article discusses spatial changes in the ethnic territories of Native Siberians from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was developed to model and observe these changes. The GIS also features resource-oriented economic activities, major waterways and railroads. Analysis of the model, textual sources and statistical data made it possible to determine what factors constituted Siberia’s ethnographical pattern of the early twentieth century and led to its changes in the ensuing decades and what impact on the indigenous peoples these changes had. Four special maps showing Siberia in the 1900s–10s, 1930s–40s, 1970s–80s and 2000s–10s were produced from the GIS and are included in the article. The current legal status of the indigenous peoples’ territories was also examined. This article presents an interdisciplinary macroscale case study.

Международные аспекты экологической политики Индии и Китая [International aspects of India’s and China’s environmental policies]

by Ivan Sablin

published in Век глобализации, no. 2 (8), 2011, pp. 126–139.

Статья посвящена международным аспектам экополитической проблематики в Китае и Индии. Рассматриваются вопросы влияния... more Статья посвящена международным аспектам экополитической проблематики в Китае и Индии. Рассматриваются вопросы влияния процессов глобализации на состояние окружающей среды и экологическую политику в указанных странах. Упоминается гипотеза «убежища для загрязнителей». Также уделяется внимание участию двух стран в международном сотрудничестве по вопросам решения глобальных проблем современности. В статье исследуются китайские и индийские философские концепции и дается оценка возможности принятия этими странами на себя глобальной экологической ответственности.

Отражение экологической политики Индии и Китая в научном и общественно-политическом дискурсе [Reflexions of Indian and Chinese environmental policies in scientific and socio-political discourse]

by Ivan Sablin

published in Terra Humana: Общество, Среда, Развитие, no. 3, 2011, pp. 204–208.

Перед Китаем и Индией сегодня стоит сложная задача решения экологических проблем. Усилия правительств в данном... more Перед Китаем и Индией сегодня стоит сложная задача решения экологических проблем. Усилия правительств в данном направлении рассматриваются представителями научных и общественно-политических кругов двух стран как неэффективные, хотя в целом КНР добилась некоторых успехов. В научной литературе и в прессе предлагается целый ряд рекомендаций по совершенствованию экологической политики двух стран. Именно им и посвящена настоящая статья.

Китай-Индия: Экологический срез [China and India: Their role in solving world ecological problems]

by Ivan Sablin

published in Азия и Африка сегодня, no. 11, 2011, pp. 14–19.

Еще два десятилетия назад основным источником глобального экологического кризиса виделся способ производства и... more Еще два десятилетия назад основным источником глобального экологического кризиса виделся способ производства и потребления в развитых странах. Сегодня в ключевых экологических акторов превращаются быстрорастущие (формирующиеся рыночные) страны. Именно от их усилий по решению глобальных и региональных экологических проблем (разумеется, при содействии развитых государств) будет зависеть жизнь всего человечества. Китай и Индия среди стран бывшего "третьего мира" пользуются большим политическим влиянием, что вкупе со значительными масштабами воздействия экономик этих стран на окружающую среду позволяет говорить о них как об экологических сверхдержавах. Если уровень потребления в Индии и Китае приблизится к уровню потребления в развитых странах, то мир ожидает экологическая катастрофа. В то же время возможность сразу перейти к устойчивой модели развития, минуя негативные экологические последствия промышленного развития, представляется малореальной. Вопрос о том, будет ли найден компромисс между стремлением к экономическому росту и ограниченными природными ресурсами, остается открытым. От того, какой путь развития изберут эти страны в ближайшие годы, во многом будет зависеть развитие всего мира.