Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Research Articles

Analysis of the sustainability index for ecologically low-input integrated farming: A comprehensive assessment of environmental, economic, and social impact

A comprehensive sustainability index was designed in this study to evaluate the effectiveness and environmental impact of ecologically low-input integrated farming systems. By integrating diverse agricultural practices while minimizing reliance on external, non-renewable resources, this approach aims to enhance ecological harmony and sustainability. The index provides a multi-dimensional assessment, encompassing environmental, economic, and social aspects, to gauge the overall sustainability of these integrated farming practices. The procedure involved defining critical sustainability criteria across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, collecting relevant data on farming practices, and constructing a model to assess and score these practices. The index was validated through real-world applications and engaged with various stakeholders for insights and practical verification. Environmental data involves measuring soil nutrients (5 %), water usage (500 gallons/acre), and biodiversity (30 species/acre) to assess the ecological impact of farming practices. Economic data focuses on recording crop yields, input costs, and market prices to evaluate the financial viability of these practices. Social data is collected through surveys on labor practices, job satisfaction, and community impact, providing insights into the social implications and acceptability of the farming methods. The data revealed that the farming system aligned well with sustainability benchmarks, exhibiting no deviation from optimal levels in soil nitrogen content and water usage. Strong profitability and input cost efficiency were observed in the economic dimension, with a net income per acre of $400/acre and an input cost efficiency of 50 %. In the social aspect, although reasonably scored, specific labor metrics and regional/industry standards were lacking for a comprehensive evaluation. Overall, the farming system demonstrated commendable sustainability practices, with an environmental score of 7.5/10, an economic score of 8/10, and a social score of 7/10, suggesting potential for further improvements, particularly in addressing social sustainability factors.

Innovative pilot-scale process for sustainable rare earth oxide production from coal byproducts: A comprehensive environmental impact assessment

This study developed a pilot-scale process feeding with two different materials resulting from a column leaching process and acid mine drainage (AMD) streams to recover rare earth elements (REEs). A life cycle assessment (LCA) study was done to evaluate the environmental impacts of rare earth production from deleterious material in the form of highly contaminated leachate (HCL) and low-contaminated leachate (LCL). The results indicate that the main contributors to environmental categories that produce RE-hydroxide stages are NaOH and electricity. Also, oxalic acid, Na2CO3, and hydrochloric acid significantly contribute to the production stage of individual rare earth oxides (REOs), including solvent extraction (SX) and precipitation steps. The HCL route has higher environmental impacts than LCL due to higher chemical/energy and H2SO4 usage, so 468 and 292 kg of carbon dioxide are generated to produce 1 t of individual REOs from HCL and LCL routes, respectively. Moreover, the carbon dioxide emitted from the process, including the RE-hydroxide production, SX, and REOs production, is less than 10 t CO2. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to assess the changeability of the environmental footprints of the main inputs in the SX process, as the main stage has a higher contribution to the whole process. This LCA study is the first step toward understanding the environmental influence of new processing methods to produce REEs from coal by-products through a developed pilot-scale process.

Comprehensive environmental impact assessment and irrigation wastewater suitability of the Arab El-Madabegh wastewater treatment plant, ASSIUT CITY, EGYPT.

The presence of a wastewater treatment plant in the Arab El-Madabegh region, which discharges excessive amounts of raw effluent toward the nearby farming fields, is the area's main issue. Examining the harmful implications of raw effluent releases on groundwater quality, determining if treated wastewater effluent complies with regulations for discharge into the aquatic environment, and assessing irrigation appropriateness by the effluent are the main goals of this work. In order to accomplish these targets, twelve treated effluent samples from the Arab El-Madabegh wastewater treatment plant were gathered every two weeks starting in January 2012 and finishing in June 2012. They were tested to determine pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Temperature (Temp), Conductivity (EC), Turbidity (Turb.), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), NO3-, SO42-, Cl-, Ca2+, PO43-, HCO3-, Na+, Mg2+, and heavy metals such as (Fe, Mn, K+, Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Cd). The outcomes revealed that all Egyptian and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) standards for unrestricted irrigation were met by the treated effluents, except for COD, which exceeded than the Egyptian allowed limit. The evaluation indices of the effluent's EC, SAR, PI, MR, and MH were in the low-risk category according to indicators of water quality for irrigation, nevertheless, The SSP and RSC both showed slightly higher values (67.9% and 2.76, respectively). As well, The average values of heavy metals in treated wastewater effluent were found to be below permitted limits, with the exception of lead and phosphate, which exceeded permissible limits in Egypt. The environmental sustainability (ecological friendliness) of reusing and recycling tertiary treated wastewater can be achieved in agriculture to reduce the adverse impacts on the aquatic environment.

CLIMATE RISK ASSESSMENT IN PETROLEUM OPERATIONS: A REVIEW OF CSR PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE RESILIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AFRICA

Climate risk assessment has emerged as a critical component in the sustainability efforts of petroleum operations, given the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events. This paper provides a comprehensive review of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices employed in the United States and Africa to enhance sustainable resilience in the face of climate risks within the petroleum industry. In the United States, where stringent environmental regulations and public scrutiny prevail, petroleum companies have adopted a range of CSR practices to assess and mitigate climate risks. These practices encompass comprehensive environmental impact assessments, carbon footprint reduction initiatives, and the integration of renewable energy sources into their operations. The paper explores how these CSR practices contribute to the overall resilience of petroleum operations in the United States. In contrast, Africa presents a diverse landscape with varying levels of regulatory frameworks and industrial practices. The paper delves into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by petroleum operations on the African continent in managing climate risks. It highlights the role of CSR practices in promoting sustainable development, community engagement, and ecosystem conservation as integral components of climate risk resilience. The review emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to climate risk assessment, considering both the environmental and social dimensions of petroleum operations. It sheds light on the need for collaboration between industry stakeholders, governments, and local communities to develop effective CSR strategies that enhance resilience while fostering sustainable practices. By synthesizing insights from both the United States and Africa, this paper contributes to the global discourse on climate risk management in the petroleum industry. It underscores the significance of CSR practices as instrumental tools for achieving sustainable resilience and fostering a harmonious coexistence between petroleum operations and the environment in diverse geopolitical contexts.
 Keywords: Climate Risk, Risk Assessment, Petroleum, CSR, USA, Africa, Review.

Flue gas suppression and environmental evaluation of deodorizer-modified rubber asphalt based on radar method

Rubber-modified asphalt (RMA) is associated with impaired storage stability and additional harmful emissions during application. Microwave-oil bath activation of waste rubber powder (WRP) to improve its compatibility with asphalt. The treatment of VOCs and malodorous gas emissions from RMA is carried out using powder deodorizers, liquid deodorizers and their combination. The storage stability, high and low temp rheological behavior of RMA were investigated. The effects and machinations of three deodorants on odor removal and VOCs inhibition of RMA were explored. The emission indexes based on the characteristic pollutants of VOCs and malodorous gases were proposed to conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment by the Radar method. The results show that the activated WRP has a fluffier morphology and is better encapsulated by the oil film, which enhances the storage stability of RMA. The incorporation of deodorant has not altered the viscoelastic properties of asphalt. The higher specific surfaced areas and extensive pore structures was contributed to the adsorption of VOCs molecules from asphalt. VOCs and odor gases from asphalt could be inhibited by liquid deodorizers based on Lewis acid-base reactions, addition reactions, catalytic reactions, and redox reactions. LMA was the most effective in decreasing odorant gases, with reductions of up to 92.6% and 90.8% for isobutanol and dimethyl disulfide, respectively. PMA had the optimal inhibitory activity for vinyl chloride, which was 67.7%. The decrease of total concentration of VOCs in RMA by PMA (powder deodorant-modified asphalt), LMA (liquid deodorant-modified asphalt), and CMA (complex deodorant-modified asphalt) could be calculated as 51.7%, 34.1% and 46.7% respectively. RMA had a high load on the environment, and the overall advantage of CMA was greater. The environmental impacts of the four modified asphalts were ranked as CMA < PMA < LMA < RMA. Therefore, the utilization of powder and liquid compounding was recommended to improve the environmental impact of RMA.

Sustainable railways for Morocco: a comprehensive energy and environmental assessment

This study provides a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of different train types in Morocco, including passenger-only, goods-only, and mixed-use services. Through a comparative evaluation based on climate change, respiratory effects, and acidification/eutrophication, we find that passenger-only trains exhibit the highest environmental impact across all categories due to their high energy consumption and emissions. Conversely, goods-only and mixed-use trains display markedly lower environmental impacts, emphasizing the role of service type and operational efficiency in mitigating environmental harm. Our findings underscore the need for strategic optimization in train services, particularly passenger-only operations, and open the door for comprehensive economic and environmental assessments of alternative train technologies and fuel mixtures in the context of Morocco’s decarbonization plans.

The Environmental Impact of Radiation Oncology: The "Footprint" of External Beam Radiation Therapy

There is a growing concern for the healthcare sector's impact on the environment. Prior carbon impact studies in radiation oncology have been limited in scope and methodology. This study aims to fill this gap by using an internationally recognized cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to quantify all environmental impacts from raw material extraction to product disposal for external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in treating the most commonly diagnosed cancers. This LCA was performed in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044 at a single academic medical center. It quantified the environmental impact of EBRT across four categories: global warming potential (GWP), carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human toxicity, and respiratory effects (PM2.5), from initial consultation to the completion of the last EBRT fraction for each disease site. Data collection involved weighing all materials used, measuring/calculating building and equipment electricity usage (e.g., HVAC and Linacs), and recording patient and staff transit. The study analyzed the impact of both minimum and maximum fractionations for each disease site and simulated alternative clinical scenarios such as telemedicine, renewable energy use and hypofractionation. Regardless of disease site, there were significant differences in the environmental impacts associated with transit, electricity and supplies for EBRT treatment cycles. Staff and patient transport contributed the most, accounting for >92% of the total environmental impact including GWP (5.02x102 ± 9.38x101 kgCO2eq), carcinogenic (6.25x10-5 ± 1.23x10-5 CTUh) and non-carcinogenic human toxicity (1.16x10-4 ± 2.35x10-5 CTUh). Electricity accounted for 1-13% of the total impact, with most impact arising from respiratory effects (3.05x10-2 kg ± 2.72x10-3 PM2.5). The impact of supplies and materials was less than 3% across all categories. Alternative scenario modeling showed that telemedicine had a maximum impact reduction of 3.5% (2.54x 101kgCO2eq) for GWP, while renewable energy use had a maximum impact reduction of 8% (2.37 x 10-2 PM2.5) for respiratory effects. Reducing the number of total treatment days via hypofractionation can reduce GWP by 67-78% and carcinogenic emissions by 63-77% (3.48 x 102 - 5.53 x 102 kgCO2eq) and (3.73 x 10-5 - 6.85 x 10-5CTUh), respectively, with variation depending on the total number of fractions. This study provides a comprehensive environmental impact assessment for EBRT among the most commonly treated disease sites, establishing a baseline metric and identifying targets for impact reduction. We are currently performing a multi-center validation study to be completed by June 2023. Our findings fill an important gap in cancer care and are critical for developing sustainable practices in the face of increasing demand for radiotherapy in a changing climate. LCAs evaluating all aspects of cancer care will be essential for promoting equitable and sustainable care.

A Parametric BIM Framework to Conceptual Structural Design for Assessing the Embodied Environmental Impact

Decisions made in the early design stage have a significant effect on a building’s performance and environmental impact. In practice, a conceptual design is performed by an architect, while a structural engineer begins to work in later phases when the architectural concept has already evolved. However, the geometry and form of a building directly determine the type of structure and applicable materials; therefore, the conceptual design phase gives rise to examining alternative solutions. This paper presents a method for generating alternative structural solutions in the conceptual design phase and examining their embodied environmental impact by integrating parametric design and building information modeling (BIM). Rhinoceros and Grasshopper were used to develop the parametric script, which includes the generation of geometrical variations, the automatic definition of initial cross sections for the load-bearing elements based on in-built structural design approximations, the datasets for embodied environmental impact of the used building materials, the generation of life cycle inventory (LCI), the automatic calculation of life cycle assessment (LCA) results based on the geometry, and the conversion of the parametric model into building information model. The method was demonstrated using a case study of 48 different alternative solutions for an unheated warehouse made of steel frames. Based on the results, the areas with the greatest energy impact were identified. The case study analysis also illustrated that the applied cross section may have a significant effect on the impact categories. The results draw attention to the complexity of LCA calculations even in the case of a simple structure containing a limited number of variables, where parametric design can serve as an effective tool for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.

A scenario-based food security analysis and halophyte crop suitability assessment in dying lake environments impacted by climate change

Climate change has significantly impacted food shortages over the past decades, and predicted projections have also indicated potentially intensive consequences for species diversity and natural environments in the coming decades. Climate change in the form of drought has resulted in environmental impacts on global dying lakes (GDLs), such as water scarcity, land degradation and food shortage. Thus, new comprehensive environmental impact assessment methods are urgently needed for GDLs to inform decision-making and minimise the negative impacts on the environment and human life and wellbeing. As state of art and progressive research, the main objective of this research is to develop an approach using a comprehensive and transferable geographic information science scenario-based suitability assessment to analyse the capability of halophyte plants as alternatives for crop modification in GDL areas. The approach was developed and examined for Salicornia suitability mapping in the Lake Urmia Basin as one of the most critical GDL cases. To obtain the ecological requirement information, we performed a scenario-based cultivation experiment on Salicornia under different salinity conditions. Accordingly, we employed relevant ecological requirements and environmental indictors for the Salicornia plant (e.g. soil characteristics and climate) to identify suitable areas for cultivating this plant under scenario-based spatial modelling and performed an uncertainty analysis. The results were achieved and validated in a field operation and laboratory analysis. According to the results, the Salicornia plant can be efficiently considered an alternative crop in farmlands around Lake Urmia that are impacted by intensive soil, aquifer salinisation and food production issues. Results pointed out that about 4.6% of the area (2372 km2) is highly suitable for the cultivation of Salicornia. As state of the art, our approach was developed in a semi-automated context but can also be customised and applied to similar case studies in GDL environments. We expect that the information and insights gained from such assessments will support stakeholders, decision makers and authorities in the development of effective policies and plans for mitigating the impacts of climate change on the fragile ecosystems of GDLs.

Comprehensive environmental impact assessment of plastic film mulching with emphasis on waste disposal of discarded plastic film in sunflower production

Large proportions of plastic film residues are not recycled after their service life, posing a serious threat to the environment. Understanding and optimizing the disposal of discarded plastic film can be crucial to limit damage to the environment. In this study, we determined the potential environmental impact of different cultivation methods in terms of four endpoint damage categories, namely climate change, human health, ecosystems, and resource depletion, with specific emphasis on the disposal process of discarded plastic films. Plastic film mulching considerably increased damage per hectare in all endpoint categories. However, in three endpoint categories, damage per kilogram of yield produced was lower under plastic film mulching. Chemical fertilizer input was the most dominant contributor to environmental damage, accounting for approximately 60% of the total environmental impact. Recycling was the most beneficial strategy for offsetting and mitigating all endpoint damage categories compared with incineration and landfill. This positive environmental benefit of recycling can primarily be attributed to the fact that recycling discarded plastic film can reduce white waste and allow recycled plastic film to be reused as part of a new product.

Life-cycle assessment of current and future electricity supply addressing average and marginal hourly demand: An application to Italy

The increase in overall electricity demand in recent years, together with the rapid and significant changes in electricity generation has motivated increased research addressing environmental impacts of current and future electricity generation and supply systems. This article presents a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) of electricity generation and supply for the Italian current mix and future scenarios, for a wide set of environmental impacts and indicators, addressing intra-year variations, and including average and marginal demand impact perspectives. The generation mix was modelled for a 3-year period (2018–2020) with hourly and country-specific data, for the main generation technologies; and two future scenarios (for 2030) were modelled applying the EPLANopt energy system model. While future scenarios - with larger renewable energy shares - resulted in reduced environmental impacts in most categories, they were associated with burden shifts. In particular, increased shares of solar photovoltaic generation in future scenarios resulted in significant contributions to mineral and metal resource depletion and to land use impacts. The high penetration of renewable energy sources in future scenarios was also associated with important seasonal and hourly variations, demonstrating the importance of addressing intra-year temporal variations. Moreover, complementing an average with a marginal demand perspective provided insight on potential impacts of demand changes. When considering a marginal demand perspective, future scenarios offered no clear benefits in terms of global warming, for example. The research demonstrated the need for comprehensive and detailed environmental impact assessments with fine time resolution, which can assess seasonal and intra-daily variations, and the evaluation of environmental impacts with both average and marginal demand perspectives highlighted the complementary nature of the two in providing insightful results. The approach is fully replicable to other countries and regions - it can improve LCAs of electricity generation and supply and provide robust results to adequately inform decision-making on electricity generation and demand management, toward more sustainable energy systems.

Regional comprehensive environmental impact assessment of renewable energy system in California

Fossil-fuel-based energy systems pose a significant threat to the climate and ecosystem. Renewable energy is considered key to achieving carbon neutrality and the Sustainable Development Goals. California is a forerunner in promoting renewable energy and sustainable development. However, regionalized renewable energy systems are accompanied by intensive material inputs and outputs, which undoubtedly have associated environmental impacts while mitigating climate change. It is necessary to measure the spatio-temporal distribution and the comprehensiveness of these impacts in order to plan renewable energy systems rationally. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) on the renewable energy system of California between 2001 and 2019 was conducted to estimate the resulting diverse environmental impacts. The results show that solar energy and biomass and waste-to-energy are the main contributors to the comprehensive life-cycle impacts of the renewable energy system in California from 2001 to 2019, accounting for 62.7% ± 1.2% and 35.1% ± 1.2%, respectively. The most prominent source of environmental impact is AP, instead of the most attention-getting category, global warming potential (GWP). Geographically, Kern currently holds the highest generation of renewable energy (15.3 TWh in 2019) in the state. The corresponding normalized and weighted environmental impact is also most notable in Kern, reaching 1.7E-02 in 2019, twice as much as in Imperial, the second largest energy producing county. From 2001 to 2019, the per kWh weighted environmental impact of California's renewable energy system decreased, but the total effects increased sixfold with the promotion of renewable energy. Overall, renewable energy systems can reduce environmental impacts compared to conventional energy sources. It can help achieve some ambitious environmental goals. However, the results of this study remind us that in the renewable energy sector, we should not only focus on greenhouse gas emissions, but in the context of social development, this case shows that acidification potential (AP), ozone depletion potential (ODP) and photochemical oxidant formation potential (POFP) need to be managed more than GWP. Given the uneven distribution of natural resources, there is still room to improve further the environmentally friendly efficiency of California's renewable energy system, which will require technological advances and improved deployment of resource management.

The significance of resource recycling for coking wastewater treatment: based on environmental and economic life cycle assessment

The sustainability of the coking industry is supported by reasonable production profit and environmental quality requirements. The traditional measures substantially increased the related costs for enterprises to reach standards. This paper aims to develop a comprehensive cost combined environmental impact assessment method that is necessary for the analysis of wastewater treatment systems. Typical three coking wastewater treatment processes in China were evaluated. Results showed that eutrophication dominantly contributed to the overall environmental effect. Improving effluent quality could significantly reduce the total environmental impact. In terms of an economic perspective, the price of raw materials was the main factor that affected the operating cost of comprehensive treatment. Based on subsystem analysis, the pretreatment stage accounted for the majority of environmental and cost burdens, respectively reaching 64%–78% and 64%–86%. Optimizing the pretreatment process by enhancing the efficiency of high concentration raw material recovery and substituting toxic raw materials for extractant could reduce the environmental impact and economic cost by 43.8% and 57%, respectively, which was an effective way to improve the potential performance of coking wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Do the Environmental Approval Conditions Enable the Best Practice EIA Follow-up and Hence Strengthen the EIA System? An Indian Case Study Analysis

The environmental approval for a project is generally granted with a set of terms and conditions to the project proponent. The environmental clearance (EC) letters for 33 infrastructure projects were examined for the relevance, adequacy, and enforceability of the EC conditions. Using the basic tenets of the EIA process, it is found that the long list of irrelevant, inadequate, and unenforceable conditions is greenwash and unsuited for best practice EIA follow-up, hence meeting the EIA objectives. The conditions should be directed at measuring the environmental performance of the project to catalyze achieving sustainability targets. The conditions for stringent supervision and frequent inspection of the site activities in the construction phase could help ensure the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures for infrastructure projects. A comprehensive environmental impact assessment framework may use the principles of the ABC analysis to prioritize the properly specified EC conditions, resource allocation, and stakeholder engagement for the best practice EIA follow-up and hence strengthen the EIA system.

Re-use of built environment - Strategic planning of sampling locations for the environmental impact assessment of former airports: The use-case of the former Hellenikon airport in Athens, Greece

The interaction between the built environment and its surrounding ecosystem needs to be taken into account when reuse activities are planned. The bilateral influence of building assets on their surroundings creates a continuity of impacts that exists even when the building stock is replaced; the surrounding environment projects part of the prior impact to the new constructions. A special case of built environment reuse regards the redevelopment of former airports. Such major redevelopment projects require comprehensive environmental impact assessment studies, which necessitate significant resources for the collection of the required documentation and measured data. This work regards a methodology of strategic planning of sampling locations for the assessment of the environmental impact and pollution levels at former airports. It is developed and applied in the use-case of the former Hellenikon airport in Athens, but it can be used to other large-area redevelopment cases.

Fate of bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium under photolithography relevant irradiation and the environmental risk properties of the formed photoproducts.

Aryl-iodonium salts are utilized as photoacid generators (PAGs) in semiconductor photolithography and other photo-initiated manufacturing processes. Despite their utilization and suspected toxicity, the fate of these compounds within the perimeter of semiconductor fabrication plants is inadequately understood; the identification of photolithography products is still needed for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. This study investigated the photolytic transformation of a representative iodonium PAG cation, bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium, under conditions simulating industrial photolithography. Under 254-nm irradiation, bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium reacted rapidly with a photolytic half-life of 39.2s; different counter ions or solvents did not impact the degradation kinetics. At a semiconductor photolithography-relevant UV dosage of 25mJcm-2, 33% of bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium was estimated to be transformed. Six aromatic/hydrophobic photoproducts were identified utilizing a combination of HPLC-DAD and GC-MS. Selected photoproducts such as tert-butyl benzene and tert-butyl iodobenzene had remarkably higher acute microbial toxicity toward bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri compared to bis-(4-tert-butyl phenyl)-iodonium. Octanol-water partition coefficients estimated using the Estimation Programs Interface Suite™ indicated that the photoproducts were substantially more hydrophobic than the parent compound. The results fill a critical data gap hindering the environmental impact assessment of iodonium PAGs and provide clues on potential management strategies for both iodonium compounds and their photoproducts.

The Life Cycle Assessment on Mixed Incineration of High Heating Value Industrial Solid Waste with Municipal Solid Waste

The industrialization process of China has achieved remarkable economic and social development in recent decades, which companies with excessive production of industrial solid waste (ISW). It took up a large amount of land and led to potential environmental problems such as air, water, soil pollution. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the better vision to build a pattern of sustainable economy, the comprehensive utilization of ISW is becoming a challenging and promising research field. In this work, a waste incineration power plant in Guangdong Province, China was selected as the research object. Its novel incineration scheme by mix ISW and MSW was evaluated, which aims to improve power generation efficiency. The comprehensive environmental impact assessment of this refuse incineration-power generation technology was also carried out by life cycle assessment. Results show that for waste incineration power generation system, the numerical order of all normalization indicators is Waste Solids&gt;EP&gt;NOx&gt;ADP&gt;AP&gt;CADP&gt;RI&gt;CADP (fossil fuel) &gt;CO2&gt; SO2&gt;GWP&gt;PED&gt;COD&gt;IWU&gt; Water Use &gt; NH3-N. It shows that the ash reduction and denigration system are the most worthy of optimization. And the contribution of flue gas purification to ECER index reaches 38.98%, which is the most influential link and significantly ahead of other links, as well as the most needed optimization link.

Comprehensive environmental impact assessment for designing carbon-cum-energy efficient, cleaner and eco-friendly production system for rice-fallow agro-ecosystems of South Asia

High energy consumption and carbon emission are the major components of environmental pollution. Reducing carbon-footprints and improving energy use efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.) - fallow production systems of South Asia is a great challenge. The present experiment was conducted for five consecutive years (2016–2020) with an aim to design the most carbon-cum-energy efficient, cleaner/safer and eco-friendly production systems for rice-fallows in eastern India. This split-plot experiment had crop establishment-cum-residue management (CERM) treatments in main-plots and post-rainy/winter season crops in sub-plots. The production systems selected for analysis included three crop establishment methods [(1) zero-till-direct-seeded rice (ZTDSR), (2) conventional-till direct-seeded rice (CTDSR), and (3) transplanted puddled rice (TPR)], and two residue management practices [(i) with residue, and (ii) without residue] in combination with five potential winter season crops i.e., chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), and mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Results revealed an increase in overall system productivity from 3.5 to 5.13 Mg ha−1 due to the diversification of rice-fallow systems with oilseed and pulse crops. Irrespective of residue management practices, ZTDSR increased the yield by 15 and 31% in chickpea, 15 and 34% in lentil, 33 and 50% in safflower, 9 and 19% in linseed, and 7 and 15% in mustard as compared to CTDSR and PTR, respectively. Moreover, adoption of ZTDSR reduced energy uses by 23.3%, while increased energy ratio and net returns by 14.3 and 10.9%, respectively, over TPR. Pulse based crop rotations (rice-lentil and rice-chickpea) under ZTDSR with surface crop residue yielded 21.5% higher system net returns as compared to rice-oilseed production systems. ZTDSR treatment also reduced carbon-footprint (C-footprint) by 2.8% compared to TPR-based production systems. Similarly, rice-oilseed systems had a 16.1% lower C-footprint in comparison to rice-pulse sequences. Hence, rice-chickpea, rice-lentil and rice-safflower production systems in combined with ZTDSR along with residue retention can be viable production systems with higher system productivity, better economic returns, higher energy ratio and lower C-footprint. These systems will ensure an efficient utilization of natural resources leading to long-term sustainability of the rice-fallow production systems of South Asia.

Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Pig Farms in Selected European Countries: Combining LCA and Key Performance Indicators for Biodiversity Assessment

The aim of this study was to combine Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) assessment focusing on biodiversity in order to examine the environmental impacts of different pig farm types (13 breeding, 23 finishing and 27 breeding-to-finishing farms) in seven European countries. In addition, the relationship between environmental impacts and selected farm management characteristics was explored. Fossil energy depletion (FED), global warming (GWP), acidification (AP) as well as marine (MEP) and fresh water (FEP) eutrophication potential were assessed by an attributional LCA and expressed per kilogram body mass net sold (BMNS). In addition, the potential biodiversity performance of all crop-livestock farms within the sample (n = 56) was evaluated with a KPI assessment of biodiversity-related field management characteristics. We found no relationship between LCA results and biodiversity scores (KPI). LCA and biodiversity performance varied more within than across farm types (breeding, finishing, breeding-to-finishing). For example, the GWP expressed per kg BMNS of the breeding unit of breeding-to-finishing farms was on average (median) 2.77 (range: 1.40–4.78) and of breeding farms 2.57 (range: 1.91–3.23) kg CO2-eq. The average (median) biodiversity theme score for breeding farms was 51% (range: 36–70%), for breeding-to-finishing farms 38% (range: 30–68%) and for finishing farms 43% (range: 28–67%). Several farm management characteristics (e.g., FCR, productivity, proportion of solid manure) correlated with all/some LCA results. Biodiversity performance depended especially on KPIs related to ecological focus areas, fertiliser management and GMO crops. The large range regarding environmental performance in both LCA and KPI assessment across farm types indicates that farm-specific improvement measures should be implemented to enhance overall environmental sustainability on farm. In conclusion, combining LCA with KPI assessment provides a more comprehensive environmental impact assessment of pig farms.

Exploitation of Antarctic Iced Freshwater: A Call To Unfreeze Legal Discourse

While discussed within the Antarctic Treaty System during the 1970s-1980s, the idea of iceberg harvesting was laid on ice due to the lack of adequate technologies and scientific knowledge on the potential environmental implications. However, the State Parties to the ATS envisioned the possibility of reopening the legal discourse. For that purpose, iced freshwater resources exploitation was excluded from the scope of the Madrid Protocol containing a ban on all mineral mining activities within the scope ratione loci of the ATS. However, during the negotiations, it was agreed that if the prospect of iceberg harvesting was ever to be realised, the environmental protection provisions under the Madrid Protocol should apply. The present paper provides an analysis of whether the potential exploitation of iced freshwater resources proves realistic within the existing legal framework under the Antarctic Treaty System and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and discusses which rules States would need to adhere to when engaging in such activities. It arrives at the conclusion that, as to now, there is no prohibition of iceberg harvesting for freshwater use under international law. Nevertheless, both within the scope of the ATS and in the high seas, environmental regulations restrict the implementation of the activity and, therefore, require comprehensive environmental impact assessments to be conducted before the commencement of the activity. Furthermore, as ownership allocation of icebergs is not regulated under the relevant treaties, the present paper examines two legal regimes that may potentially govern iceberg acquisition in the high seas, namely, res nullius and res communis. Finally, as private efforts have become more far-reaching in the recent decades, an overview of the current state of practice is presented, highlighting the observed advantages and potential drawbacks. Conclusively, the present paper advocates for the reopening of the legal discourse on the subject matter before the commencement of exploitation activities so as to ensure that the fragile Antarctic environment is protected and preserved for the benefit of all humankind in accordance with the object and purpose of the ATS.