Public opinions of a net outcome policy: The case of biodiversity net gain in England.

Building the evidence base for ecological impact assessment and mitigation

Adolescence is a critical life stage characterised by rapid development and openness to change. Habits formed during adolescence tend to progress into adulthood, making adolescents a key target group for interventions promoting long-term sustainable dietary patterns. This study quantified the environmental impact of Swedish adolescents’ diets using eight indicators: carbon footprint, cropland use, new nitrogen (N) and new phosphorous (P) inputs, blue water use, pesticides use, biodiversity impact, and ammonia emissions. The national dietary survey Riksmaten Adolescents 2016–17 (n = 3099 adolescents, aged 11–12; 14–15; 17–18 years) was used in the analyses. Impacts were compared with per capita global planetary boundaries for the food system for six indicators and described by sex and age-group for all indicators. The carbon footprint, N and P inputs, and biodiversity impacts substantially exceeded planetary boundaries, even in the quartiles with the lowest impacts. Cropland use was slightly above, whereas blue water remained below. All environmental indicators were higher in males than in females, with the highest impacts observed in the oldest males. When standardizing for energy intake, indicators with the highest contribution from red meat and dairy (carbon footprint, cropland use, N input, ammonia emissions) and P input remained higher in males, whereas those dominated by plant-based foods and discretionary foods (blue water, pesticides) were higher in females. Biodiversity impact did not differ by sex. In the oldest female group beverages contributed to almost 40% of the biodiversity impact. This study shows notable differences in environmental impact by age and sex. The results highlight the importance of including multiple environmental indicators to capture diverse impacts of food consumption. Furthermore, they inform policies aiming at promoting sustainable dietary patterns.

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is widely used in certifications, regulations, and voluntary declarations covering the climate impact of buildings over their entire value chain. However, biodiversity impacts and other environmental impact categories are often disregarded. Conversely, there is a trend towards more systematic assessments of the biodiversity impacts that occur on-site as part of development projects (e.g. land transformation on the project site). However, off-site biodiversity impacts occurring throughout the rest of the value chain (e.g. from forestry activities, mining, manufacturing, heat and electricity production) are rarely considered. To bridge this gap, this article introduces the Doughnut Biotool, an open-source calculation tool to assess biodiversity impacts throughout the entire life cycle of development projects. The tool was initially developed to help implement Doughnut Economics and absolute sustainability principles in development projects. It constitutes a first step towards a better consideration of biodiversity impacts related to material- and energy use in building and construction projects. This paper presents the design of the tool and the method and data it relies on. The tool is applied to two separate case study projects, and used as a basis to discuss hotspots of biodiversity impacts within the building’s life cycle. Finally, the paper includes a discussion of the main challenges and opportunities for the future development and use of the tool, as well as for biodiversity impact assessments in the building sector as a whole.

Chapter 5 - Operational Risk and Business Risk

Environmental Assessment (EA) is the identification, prediction and evaluation of Environmental impacts. Environmental Monitoring transforms EA from a one time pre-project document to a continual assessment of impacts. Post project analysis concerns life cycle environmental management and environmental studies during project implementation. This study illustrates significance of Post project Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment using a factual example of Gokarna Sanitary Landfill Site (GLFS) after final operation and closure. The environmental inventory, the preventive and compensatory measures adopted by GLFS were studied and some modes of public involvement, economic measures and regulatory measures were analyzed during the construction and operation of the GLFS. Environmental inventory of the site indicated that GLFS might constitute concrete environmental conflict. The result of handpicking analysis showed that risk of medical and industrial hazardous waste cannot be excluded. Water and leachate analysis indicated that the impact of disposal is still pronounced at the site and ground water pollution may be dispersing to the general ground water flow direction. Soil analysis indicated that impact of disposal is pronounced on similar trends in two sites in landfill site. PH, BOD and COD values of leachate indicated that a good biodegradation of organic wastes (i.e. stable methane process) is going on the site and opens a potential for using landfill gas as an energy resource. The public participation, and economic measures studied through questionnaire method confirmed that during operation phase there was inadequate compliance with the planning and operational strategies at implementation that is also a major issue environmentally. There were no provisions for monitoring hazardous wastes, surface and ground water pollution and landfill gas during the operation phase. This study intends to conclude for regular Environmental Monitoring and Post project Impact Assessment for corrective actions and also for the construction and successful operation of similar projects. Possibility of Post project Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment in environmental policy making is also considered. Key words: Environmental monitoring; Environmental assessment; Post project analysis; Impact assessment; GLFS. DOI: 10.3126/sw.v5i5.2658 Scientific World, Vol. 5, No. 5, July 2007 60-66

Bridging gaps in food labelling.

The Padma Bridge inauguration, a landmark infrastructure project, has garnered significant attention from media outlets worldwide. This study delves into the diverse global media perspectives surrounding the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. The study's main objective is to evaluate and quantify the global media coverage of the Padma Bridge's inauguration on June 25, 2022 with a focus on how the international media views the event. About 40 news articles from various globally famous news media were chosen to be used in the study's qualitative and quantitative analysis. This study attempts to move forward with data gathered from various international news media through purposive sampling by using Google Search Engine Customization from June 24 to 30, particularly the 25th, which is the date of Padma Bridge's inauguration searching by using keywords like ‘Padma Bridge inauguration related news coverage in global media’. By employing a comprehensive content analysis approach, this study examines how the event was covered by media outlets across the globe. Findings reveal that media treatment of the Padma Bridge inauguration varies significantly based on geographical location, political affiliations, and cultural factors. While some media outlets highlighted the inauguration as a symbol of economic progress and regional connectivity, others critiqued the project's cost and environmental impact. The chosen reports' most focused subject, as shown through analysis is Bangladesh's potential and audacity to fulfill its’ people’s dream. Additionally, it provides insights into the complex interplay between media, politics, and public perception of major infrastructure projects. This study also contributes to the fields of media studies, international relations, and infrastructure development, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that influence global media coverage of significant events like the Padma Bridge inauguration.

Critical criminology continues to focus on the intersections of race, class, and green harms, as this analysis provides a more complete framework for understanding the role of state violence in capitalist projects. This article utilises the frameworks of environmental racism and state‐facilitated corporate crime to analyse the proposed 600‐mile natural gas pipeline, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). We focus on the narratives of the corporations and state in pursuing the project, including dispelling the myth that natural gas is ‘clean’. We also highlight the project's disproportionate social and environmental impact on poor and black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) communities. We end by discussing the state's role in facilitating the project through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Introduction: Critical Criminology for the 21st Century

Biodiversity is essential for the health and stability of our planet, contributing to ecosystem services like pollination, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation. However, it faces significant threats from human activities, including habitat destruction and pollution. Transportation infrastructure, if not carefully managed, can fragment habitats and disrupt wildlife migration, exacerbating biodiversity loss. Thus, incorporating environmental and biodiversity considerations into transport planning is crucial for promoting long-term sustainability. Accordingly, the goal of this paper is to define a framework for evaluating and ranking intermodal transport routes based on their impact on the environment and biodiversity. The study employs a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model, combining input from interactive GIS maps and stakeholders with a novel hybrid approach. The MCDM part of the model combines fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methods for obtaining the criteria weights and the Axial Distance-based Aggregated Measurement (ADAM) method for obtaining the final ranking of the routes. This methodology application on several Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) routes revealed that the Hamburg/Bremerhaven–Wurzburg–Verona route had the least environmental and biodiversity impact. The study identified the Rotterdam–Milano route as the optimal choice, balancing sustainability, ecological preservation, and transport efficiency. The route minimizes ecological disruption, protects biodiversity, and aligns with European Union strategies to reduce environmental impact in infrastructure projects. The study established a framework for evaluating intermodal transport routes based on environmental and biodiversity impacts, balancing efficiency with ecological responsibility. It makes significant contributions by integrating biodiversity criteria into transport planning and introducing a novel combination of GIS and MCDM techniques for route assessment.

Hydropower: Dimensions of social and environmental coexistence

This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the sustainable development strategies and assessments for the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands (KYCAI) project in Hong Kong. The project aims to provide about 1,000 hectares of land to meet Hong Kong's medium and long-term land demands, enhancing its competitiveness as a financial and commercial center. The study focuses on the project's environmental impact and carbon emissions, providing improvement recommendations to enhance overall sustainability. Key areas include protecting natural ecosystems and restoring biodiversity during the island's construction, optimizing the implementation of low-carbon and clean energy projects, and integrating sustainability principles throughout the project's lifecycle. The government should also assume environmental leadership by combining policy regulations with communication across various stakeholders, ensuring the project achieves sustainable economic, social, and environmental development, laying a solid foundation for Hong Kong's future growth.

How robust is the environmental impact assessment process in South Australia? Behind the scenes of the Adelaide seawater desalination project

The depletion of fossil resources and the resulting global warming are the primary motivators for moving from a fossil‐based to a biobased economy. Biorefineries, like petro‐based refineries, offer a green and sustainable option for producing marketable biobased goods through decarbonization pathways, hence upgrading the bioeconomy. In the context of the industrial revolution, economic and environmental sustainability are critical in adopting biorefinery systems. However, biorefineries still face numerous hurdles. There are numerous technological, economic, ecological, sociological and long‐term issues throughout the biorefinery production chain. The key difficulties facing biorefineries today are acceptance in the present market of the ‘fossil‐based economy’, the composition and availability of feedstock, the quantities needed to meet the market demand, the efficiency of the resource recovery, techno‐economic viability and sustainability. Life cycle assessment may provide a thorough input on the environmental setting during process optimization, minimizing the biorefinery project's environmental impact. In this review, we outline the bottlenecks and obstacles that biorefineries face while producing biofuels from biomass, as well as how biotechnology and modern technology might help researchers to overcome them. Biorefineries need to optimize their biomass usage to generate products that properly fit the market expectations. These items should be cost‐effective when compared with fossil fuels. Currently, 85–90% of petroleum refinery output is used to make fuels, with only 10–15% going to the petrochemical industry to make organic compounds. To precisely match market demands, the biorefinery should produce the same proportion of fuels and organic compounds. To overcome the challenges, biofermentation, membrane technologies and oxidation processes, among other developing technologies, are drawing interest in several areas of biorefinery. Biorefinery systems necessitate a systematic process for identifying impacts and assessing their long‐term viability. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Introduction The 3.7 billion dollar Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline Project represents the largest single foreign investment in African history. A consortium of energy companies led by ExxonMobil has developed oil fields in the Doba Region of southern Chad and built a 700-mile pipeline that runs through Cameroon to a loading station in the Gulf of Guinea. Chad possesses oil reserves of more than 900 million barrels. Over the course of the project, government revenues in Chad are expected to grow by 45 to 50 percent. Oil began to flow on October 10, 2003, and reached peak production of 225,000 barrels per day in 2004. This project necessitated substantial improvements in Chad's institutional and physical infrastructure. Chad's history of conflict prevented oil development activities prior to the 1990s. As a result of this timing, Chad entered the petroleum world in an era of heightened awareness about multinational corporate activity. The World Bank Group is acting as a risk manager for the consortium and as a facilitator for the Chadian government. The World Bank Group is financing the Chadian holding in the pipeline project and assisting the Chadian government with managing the revenues and the project's environmental impact. This role entails auditing oil revenues, helping the Chadian government build capacity, and monitoring all aspects of the project. The Energy Information Administration of the United States has called the bank, which is placing strictures on the Chadian government and the consortium, the “lynchpin of the project.”