Conducting Impact Assessments Research Articles

Life Cycle Analysis Study of Plastic Flower Pot Products

Some flower pots are made of plastic materials. Plastic waste is a global environmental issue with varying quantities and types in different countries. One source of plastic pollution is low-durability plastic pots, commonly used for seeding in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Waste from these plastic pots is difficult to decompose by soil microbes, thus posing an environmental contamination risk. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), also known as life cycle assessment, is a method to measure the environmental impacts of products, such as biofuels. In LCA, researchers prepare an inventory of the resources used (e.g., fossil fuels and raw materials) and substances produced (e.g., greenhouse gases, solid waste, and other pollutants) throughout the full life cycle of production, transportation, and use of the product in question. From this inventory, researchers conduct impact assessments that estimate the final effects on human health, ecosystem function, and depletion of natural resources. This study aims to assess the life cycle analysis of plastic flower pot products from their initial material stage to their disposal as waste, in order to gain insights into the potential for minimizing their environmental impact. The results of research where the production of 600 ml plastic flower pot bottles required 28 grams of plastic resin per bottle, as well as energy for the production and transportation processes. Plastic packaging production produces defective products.

DFEAT: A multifaceted yearly Drought FEature Assessment Tool from daily soil water content

The characterization of yearly drought events represents a key information for conducting impact assessments and forecasting future threats, and usually relies on a single index of duration or severity. Mostly based on daily soil or atmospheric water balances, the derivation of key drought facets is not yet standardized or embedded in a single tool, thus limiting intercomparisons between studies. We developed DFEAT as a fully-automated tool designed to characterize yearly drought features, based on any simulated/observed/remotely sensed soil water content time series. We provide here an application assessment performed with the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) as a standard daily soil water model over a 60-year period and covering the Mediterranean aridity gradient in Lebanon (Middle-East) experiencing humid to semi-arid climate conditions. We computed and tested 19 drought features related to duration, severity, onset, offset, drying and wetting rates, driest peak day, and rainfall pulses across three soil water desiccation thresholds. For our study area, we revealed the uncorrelated specificities of 6 features, allowing to regionally discriminate between mountainous Mediterranean climate experiencing shorter drought duration (45 days), later onset (Day of the Year = 198), less rainfall pulses intensities (3.35 mm), and slower drying (1.68 mm/day) and wetting (−2.72 mm/day) rates, but similar offset date (Day of the Year = 356) compared to the coast. DFEAT also captured regions with prolonged Multi-Year Droughts not fully refilling field capacity under arid bioclimate reaching up to 22 years. We demonstrate here the applicability of DFEAT across water-limited bioclimates and the non-correlation between drought features with contrasted agro-ecological impacts.

Pricing, Procurement and Reimbursement Policies for Incentivizing Market Entry of Novel Antibiotics and Diagnostics: Learnings from 10 Countries Globally.

Fostering market entry of novel antibiotics and enhanced use of diagnostics to improve the quality of antibiotic prescribing are avenues to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a major public health threat. Pricing, procurement and reimbursement policies may work as AMR 'pull incentives' to support these objectives. This paper studies pull incentives in pricing, procurement and reimbursement policies (e.g., additions to, modifications of, and exemptions from standard policies) for novel antibiotics, diagnostics and health products with a similar profile in 10 study countries. It also explores whether incentives for non-AMR health products could be transferred to AMR health products. This research included a review of policies in 10 G20 countries based on literature and unpublished documents, and the production of country fact sheets that were validated by country experts. Initial research was conducted in 2020 and updated in 2023. Identified pull incentives in pricing policies include free pricing, higher prices at launch and price increases over time, managed-entry agreements, and waiving or reducing mandatory discounts. Incentives in procurement comprise value-based procurement, pooled procurement and models that delink prices from volumes (subscription-based schemes), whereas incentives in reimbursement include lower evidence requirements for inclusion in the reimbursement scheme, accelerated reimbursement processes, separate budgets that offer add-on funding, and adapted prescribing conditions. While a few pull incentives have been piloted or implemented for antibiotics in recent years, these mechanisms have been mainly used to incentivize launch of certain non-AMR health products, such as orphan medicines. Given similarities in their product characteristics, transferability of some of these pull incentives appears to be possible; however, it would be essential to conduct impact assessments of these incentives. Trade-offs between incentives to foster market entry and thus potentially improve access and the financial sustainability for payers need to be addressed.

CancerX Data Sprint: Advancing national oncology data standards through a unique public-private partnership.

e23283 Background: In a concerted effort to enhance the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of comprehensive real-world cancer datasets, CancerX, a public-private partnership announced by the White House recently conducted a demonstration project, the CancerX Data Sprint. CancerX Data Sprint attempted a novel approach to quickly inform collective efforts of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to advance cancer-related data standards. Specifically, at the intersection of CMMI’s Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) and the development of ONC’s United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI+) – Oncology extension, CancerX leveraged its unique model and broad membership to report novel insights to advance data-driven innovations in oncology research, care, and policy. Methods: From Sept to Dec 2023, the Data Sprint convened 150+ member organizations from industry and government partners to 1) Identify the high-value research questions that could be asked about the standardized real-world data (RWD) generated through EOM 2) Supplement the existing data elements with new ones to extend and enhance the ability to conduct scientific, clinical, and research inquiries with comprehensive datasets. The CancerX community opined via surveys, written feedback, and live workshops to identify key data elements, discuss their clinical value and technical feasibility, and consider their use in real-world settings as part of the comprehensive datasets. Results: Building on the current EOM clinical data elements, we identified and reported 15 new clinical data elements for considerations with high clinical utility and ease of technical abstraction. This comprehensive RWD encompasses a diverse range of patient demographics, clinical details, treatment histories, and outcomes, creating a more accurate and inclusive portrayal of cancer treatment effectiveness and patient journeys. This depth of information is crucial for optimizing the personalization of treatment pathways, conducting impact assessments, and addressing healthcare disparities. Essentially, the new datasets serve as a valuable repository of insights, driving advancements in cancer research, treatment and elevating care quality. Conclusions: CancerX remains committed to supporting federal data initiatives like USCDI+ Cancer standards development and others by providing recommendations for essential data elements implementation to enhance clinical utility, technical feasibility, and exchange of standardized cancer data. By adopting a unique approach and assembling an interdisciplinary group, we can ensure that data standardization efforts prioritize high-utility data elements, ultimately maximizing benefits for our patients.

THE STRATEGIC VALUE OF BUSINESS ANALYSTS IN ENHANCING ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND OPERATIONS

Business analysts play a crucial role in enhancing organizational efficiency and operations by bridging the gap between business needs and technological solutions. This review explores the strategic value of business analysts in driving organizational success through effective analysis, communication, and stakeholder engagement. Business analysts act as key facilitators in organizations, translating business objectives into actionable requirements for technology solutions. By conducting thorough analysis of business processes, systems, and data, business analysts identify opportunities for improvement and recommend strategic solutions to enhance operational efficiency. Their role extends beyond mere problem-solving; they also play a pivotal role in aligning business goals with technology initiatives, ensuring that projects deliver tangible value to the organization. Furthermore, business analysts excel in communication and stakeholder engagement, acting as liaisons between business units, IT teams, and external vendors. Their ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, understandable language enables them to facilitate collaboration and consensus among diverse stakeholders. This skill is particularly valuable in Agile environments, where collaboration and communication are key principles. Moreover, business analysts are instrumental in driving organizational change and transformation. By conducting impact assessments, developing change management strategies, and providing training and support, business analysts ensure that technology implementations are successful and sustainable. Their holistic approach to problem-solving and their focus on delivering value make them invaluable assets to organizations seeking to improve efficiency and operations. In conclusion, the strategic value of business analysts in enhancing organizational efficiency and operations cannot be overstated. Their unique blend of analytical skills, communication prowess, and stakeholder engagement abilities make them indispensable in driving organizational success. By leveraging the expertise of business analysts, organizations can streamline processes, improve decision-making, and achieve their strategic objectives with greater efficiency and effectiveness. Keywords: Strategic Value, Business Analysts, Enhancing, Organizational Efficiency, Operations.

인공지능 활용에 따른 차별에 대한 법적 고찰

As AI has a significant impact on daily life, the economy, and industry, various problems are raised. Among them, special attention should be paid to the problem of unreasonable discrimination. If big data continues to expand and AI technology develops further in the future, and AI is used in all areas of life, the problem of discrimination will become a very serious social problem. As there is a high possibility that the problem of unreasonable discrimination due to the use of AI will surface, legal countermeasures must be carefully considered. So this paper examines legal measures to prevent and respond to the problem of unfair discrimination caused by the use of AI. We briefly summarize the meaning and types of discrimination, examine the causes of discrimination due to the use of AI, the risks of such discrimination, and the necessity and difficulty of legal regulation regarding this, and then based on this discussion, present legal measures to prevent and regulate discrimination.
 There is a high risk that AI will not only reflect the biases inherent in our society, but also strengthen and perpetuate them. On the other hand, due to the opacity and complexity unique to AI, it is difficult to recognize and correct discrimination and resolve disputes. Accordingly, we must recognize the seriousness of the risk that AI will further solidify prejudice and discrimination in our society, and prepare normative response measures that meet the characteristics of such risk.
 First of all, standards for equality and fairness that should be reflected in legal regulations must be established. Reasonable conclusions must be made about the meaning and content of discrimination, the values of non-discrimination and fairness that must be observed, standards for evaluating the legitimacy of discriminatory treatment, and proper indicators. Next, it is important to conduct impact assessment and inspect the risks of AI systems in advance and ensure transparency to prevent unreasonable discrimination. In addition, the entity responsible for unreasonable discrimination that occurs in various contexts must be clearly identified, and procedural rules regarding dispute resolution must be clarified. Basically, it is necessary to hold the user who adopts the AI system accountable and appoint a person responsible for preventing bias. Above this, the fact that AI is being used must be notified to the person being evaluated, and the input and output data of the algorithm must be disclosed afterwards. Also, expansion of public data disclosure and relaxation and transition of the burden of proof for unreasonable discrimination should also be considered.

Resilient development impacts could be assessed: A case in Accra, Ghana

Urban projects featured with resilient development have become popular, whereas limited studies have been invested in evaluating the impacts of these projects. A debate exists, asking if these impacts could ever be captured and verified. This communication paper argues that project impacts could be demonstrated, by specifying (1) the relatable literature, measurements, and rational assessment criteria, (2) a confined assessment timeframe, and (3) available scientific data sources. The paper derives the assessment experiences of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID), supported by the World Bank, in view of the above argument. Through a mixed-methods approach with two waves of investigation, the assessment experiences successfully capture the pre-intervention indicators that GARID may lead. The assessment experiences also provide in-time recommendations toward GARID's implementation, advancing more inclusive stakeholder engagement. The fruitful results confirm the paper's argument. Meanwhile, having third parties to conduct impact assessments could uncover non-supervised project outcomes and challenges that typical official reports would not investigate. Encouraging commitments to impact assessments of international development projects like GARID would help southern cities move toward inclusive prosperity.

Assessment of Carbon-Dioxide Emission from Non-Road Equipment Construction Sources at a Flyover Development Site in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

It is emphasized that global warming and climate change vary directly with the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide across domains. The constructions of social and economic infrastructures in developing counties such as Nigeria at a higher rate increases the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the lower atmosphere. Non-road construction equipment sources powered by fossil fuels are considered to be primary emitters of greenhouse gases during the construction stages of large infrastructure project. In this study, inventory of non-road construction machinery emissions from the Tank junction flyover construction site along East-West Road in Port Harcourt metropolis were estimated via field data gathering. Results showed that an average of about 398.7 g/s (4134.4 ton/year) of CO2 is released from the construction site in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Among the various types of non-road engines considered, the mobile crane was the largest single contributor to the total CO2 emissions, accounting for 18.5%. Machinery with power above 300 kW were 8 out of 30 equipment on site and accounted for the largest share (52.87%) of total CO2 emissions. Based on the findings from current research literature and the case study, control strategies such as enforcing standards and policy, conducting impact assessment, adopting low carbon technology, and restricting energy utilization need to be implemented in other reduce the impact of global warming and alleviate climate change. Therefore, CO2 emission mitigation plans and schemes are necessary alongside standardized frameworks and guidelines. All stakeholders must play their roles efficiently to reduce CO2 emissions and aid in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Evolution of Information Technology in Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

Aim/Purpose. This study addresses the research question: “What are the developmental phases of Information Technology in the industry?” Existing research has explored the impact of Information Technology (IT) on specific industries. However, it is essential to understand the evolution of IT within industries, its influence on the workforce, and technological advancements. Addressing this knowledge gap will enhance future workforce development and IT integration across diverse sectors. Background. IT can significantly transform industries and drive innovation to meet client demands. Understanding IT phases in industry through literature helps governments and businesses worldwide recognize its importance. This knowledge can guide strategies to address the shortage of highly skilled workers by prioritizing education and training programs to meet future demands. Methodology The methodology involved a systematic literature review of 110 IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar articles. Thematic analysis was used to understand the development of IT in distinct phases since the 1990s. This development has resulted in a continuous demand for new workforce skills and evolving customer expectations. Contribution. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap by enhancing our understanding of how evolving IT influences the industry and shapes IT jobs and skills. It provides a historical perspective, illustrating how IT advancements have led to new applications to meet changing needs. Additionally, the study identifies patterns in the evolving IT skill requirements due to technological advancements and discusses implications for curriculum development and higher education. Findings. The study identified three significant phases through a systematic literature review and thematic analysis. The first phase, “Advent of Industry IT” (1990-2000), established the digital framework and built essential systems and infrastructure. The second phase, “Connectivity & Information Revolution” (2000-2010), saw exponential internet growth, transforming information access and communication. The third phase, “Emerging Industry IT” (2010-present), focuses on artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven insights, continuing to disrupt and transform industries. Recommendations for Practitioners. The changing phases of IT within the industry should inform the development of innovative programs. These programs should address diverse skill sets across eras, preparing the workforce for evolving job roles in various sectors, such as healthcare in North America, automotive manufacturing in Japan, telecommunications in Africa, and innovations in other parts of the world. Recommendations for Researchers. Researchers can conduct longitudinal studies to explore the ongoing evolution of IT, tracking its trajectory beyond current delineated phases to understand future trends. Comparative studies across various industries can assess how IT evolution varies among sectors and delve deeper into its practical implications. Researchers can also conduct impact assessment studies to determine how various IT phases directly affect organizational strategy, worker dynamics, and organizational structures across industries. Examples include logistics in the Netherlands, retail in the United Kingdom, and agriculture in Brazil. Impact on Society. Policymakers and planners can use knowledge of these phases to predict technological shifts and industry trends. This knowledge helps develop strategies and policies supporting entrepreneurship, education and training alignment, technical innovation, economic growth, and job creation in line with the changing IT landscape. Examples of policies include Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, Germany’s Industry 4.0 strategy, Ghana’s digitization efforts, and India’s Digital India campaign. Future Research. Future research can provide a thorough understanding of the evolutionary patterns of IT within sectors by validating the study through various datasets and conducting in-depth examinations of individual industries. This will contribute to a deeper understanding of sector-specific IT evolution and their varying impact on societal interactions and industry dynamics. Comparative studies across various sectors, such as logistics in the Netherlands, retail in the United Kingdom, and agriculture in Brazil, can assess how IT evolution varies.

The role of forecasting in the development of packaging systems

As the competitive market becomes increasingly customized, companies strive to sell high-quality products to meet unique customer demands. We are living in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, where a lot of data is available in supply chain management from various sources and in different formats. Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer numerous opportunities for the proper utilization and interpretation of this data. Methodologies for forecasting provide assistance in making informed decisions and improving service quality. This document focuses on the role of forecasting in the development of packaging systems. To facilitate the selection of the appropriate packaging system, a conceptual simulation testing method has been developed and is presented in this paper, aiming to conduct impact assessments.

Development of a multi-criteria decision analysis tool for the assessment of the potential pollution risk of tailings dumps to the environment – An approach validated using selected Zambian Mine tailings

Mine tailings have a huge footprint on the environment and can have serious consequences that are difficult to reverse during mining operations or even long after mining has ceased. Despite several studies that have been conducted on tailings dumps, effective impact assessments of their potential pollution risk have been a challenge. This challenge can, to a certain extent, be attributed to the lack of identification of a common criterion for risk classification to items of environmental concern (people, natural landscapes, and their components) including the absence in consideration of time frames. Consequently, this has made it difficult to conduct impact assessment studies of mine tailing dumps. This study assessed the potential pollution risk of the dumps using a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tool called an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). An appropriate criterion for risk assessment was developed with the help of experienced experts and weighted using an AHP methods. This enabled the determination of the potential pollution risk to the environment from three selected Zambian-based tailings dumps (i.e., Kabwe Lead–Zinc, Mopani Copper Mine and Lumwana Mine dumps) by means of a criterion scoring technique developed. Five key indicators were adopted that included: 1) physical properties; 2) soil chemical accumulation; 3) properties of the environment around the dump; 4) climatic factors around the dump area; and 5) protective structures. Specific factors per indicator were identified using expert opinion and experiences. Results of the analysis revealed that the Kabwe Mine tailings dump had the highest pollution potential followed by the Lumwana Mine and then Mopani mine tailings dump when compared against severity of risk scale. The tool was then validated using a tailing dump at Musina Copper Mine, in South Africa, where a different approach was previously used and this tool showed comparable results. Accordingly, this decision support tool can be used by environmental management agencies during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) review processes to improve efficiency in investigating scenarios that would propagate contamination and thus improve environmental management interventions.

One Pipeline and Two Impact Assessments: Coproduction, Legal Pluralism, and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

Canada's Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline project is one of the country's most controversial in recent history. At the heart of the controversy lie questions about how to conduct impact assessments (IAs) of oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems. This paper offers an analysis of two such IAs: one carried out by Canada through its National Energy Board and the other by Tsleil-Waututh Nation, whose unceded ancestral territory encompasses the last twenty-eight kilometers of the project's terminus in the Burrard Inlet, British Columbia. The comparison is informed by a science and technology studies approach to coproduction, displaying the close relationship between IA law and applied scientific practice on both sides of the dispute. By attending to differing perspectives on concepts central to IA such as significance and mitigation, this case study illustrates how coproduction supports legal pluralism's attention to diverse forms of world making inherent in IA. We close by reflecting on how such attention is relevant to Canada's ongoing commitments, including those under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Waste Management for Lunar Resources Activities: Toward a Circular Lunar Economy

Space resources activities are currently the objective of a thriving cross-disciplinary global effort aimed at assessing their role and potential in the future of humankind. New innovative mission concepts, legal frameworks, and advanced technologies are being actively developed and proposed with the final goal of enabling profitable and efficient space resource utilization. The immediate location for these impacts is the Moon. In sight of this bright cohort of imminent perspectives, it is imperative for the global community to properly assess the potential effects and consequences of the forthcoming space resources activities, with the goal of including sustainability in the foundations of the ongoing progress and ensuring its enforcement in every future endeavor. Within this context, this article addresses the topics of Moon mining waste management and a lunar circular economy as key issues in the sustainable utilization of space resources. The most promising technologies are considered for lunar resources extraction and processing—with special focus on water—correlating their waste generation potential to the scale of the efforts implemented and to the projected availability of the resources of interest. Importance is also given to the corollary activities of space mining—such as logistics and transport operations—for their implications in waste management. Protocols and technologies with the lower waste generation potential are identified and further scenarios are elaborated for waste handling, reduction, reuse, and recycle, as well as end-of-life strategies for mining plants. This report's recommendations are proposed for the development of incremental regulation for waste management, including but not limited to the definition of common areas of noninterest for waste disposal and regulatory obligations for conducting impact assessments before the establishment of mining activities. Please note that this abstract is submitted under the auspices of the Space Generation Advisory Council, as part of the activities of the Space Exploration Project Group.

Evaluation of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of the unemployment rate in Slovakia: counterfactual before-after comparison

Research background: The COVID-19 pandemic, which hit the world in the first quarter of 2020, has impacted almost every area of people's lives. Many states have introduced varying degrees of measures to prevent its spread. Most of these measures were, or still are, aimed at reducing or completely stopping the operation of shops and services, or in some cases, also the large manufacturing companies. However, as many companies have failed to cope with these restrictions, unemployment has risen in almost all EU countries. A similar situation was also observed in Slovakia, where the mentioned measures also had a significant impact on unemployment.
 Purpose of the article: In this study, we deal with the quantification of the impact of a pandemic, or more precisely, anti-pandemic measures, on the development of the registered unemployment rate in Slovakia.
 Methods: This quantification is based on the counterfactual method of before-after comparison, which is one of the most widely used methods in the field of impact assessments and brings very accurate results, based on real data. In the analysis, we use officially published data on the unemployment rate in Slovakia during the years 2013?2020 on a monthly basis. Such a long time series, using statistical methods of its decomposition and modelling of its trend, will allow predicting the development of the unemployment rate in Slovakia, assuming a counterfactual situation of no pandemic, and compare this development with the actual situation that occurred during 2020.
 Findings & Value added: The study results indicate an increase in the unemployment rate in Slovakia during 2020 by 2?3% compared to the trend of its development, which would have occurred without a pandemic. Given the counterfactual method used, this difference can be described as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study can be used in practice in the design and implementation of measures introduced to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on unemployment and, in the long-term perspective, also to eliminate these effects as much as possible. It can also be used as a theoretical tool in conducting impact assessments, which have so far been carried out very rarely in Slovakia.

Using best available information to conduct impact assessment of future climatic hazards on a landfill

The best available information on climate change projections is used here in conjunction with the observation-based conceptual site modeling framework that draws on the source-pathway-receptor-consequences approach, to conduct an impact assessment of future climatic hazards on the Panchang Bedena landfill in Selangor, Malaysia. Climate change impact assessment of landfills is currently limited by the reliability of downscaled models and inadequate information on such sites. Using the worst-case scenario where the submerged landfill is recognized as the source of contaminated water and material, surface runoff from the facility is identified as the prominent pathway for transport of pollutants, while subsurface migration is restrained by the impermeable underlying material. Receptors include the nearby settlement, agricultural land, and coastal ecosystem. The adverse consequences expected relate to the health and well-being of surrounding communities, damage of built assets, degradation of mangrove habitat, and long-term productivity loss for the agricultural sector. The findings provide a useful starting point to engage stakeholders, specifically the affected communities and government authorities, to identify adaptation options, including detailed investigations to improve the conceptual site model, monitoring, and early warning, depending on the availability of resources. The approach lays the foundation for future work to make landfills climate-resilient, specifically in developing countries with paucity of information on landfills, unreliable downscaled climate projections, and resource limitation for conducting an intensive conventional scientific investigation.

GWP, AP, and EP Contribution on Potential Improving Scenarios of Domestic SWM in Padang City: A Review

The increase in solid waste generation is incompatible with solid waste management (SWM). Padang city have a small processing percentage of 5% through composting and recyling. Improper and nonoptimal SWM lead to many obstacles including climate change, water and soil contamination, to creatures life disturbance. By conducting Impact Assessment and Contribution Analysis, this study examines the most impact contributor of unit processes in four scenarios of domestic solid waste management in Padang City. Scenario 0 presents the existing condition; scenarios 1, 2, and 3 present the improvement of Scenario 0 in recycling percentage rate and technology implementation in a row by composting, incineration, and anaerobic digestion. CML2001, impact assessment method by Center of Environmental Sciences of Leiden University, is used to assess the environmental impact of Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), and Eutrophication Potential (EP). This study found that the significant impact for the four scenarios is GWP by the contribution percentage over 72%. While EP is the second place in the contribution range of 1.70% to 5.46%, and followed by AP under 0.91%. Scenario 1 is the best scenario due to the small contribution of impact compared to other scernarios, and potentially to be applied by modification in increase of composting percentage and additional recovery gas in landfill.

Climate change frontrunners in the Australian property sector

It is imperative that mitigation and adaptation actions to limit climate change impacts are integrated into current development and investment strategies. Actions that respond to climate change risk within the property sector are now evident, though the level of response is uneven across the sector. Twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted with stakeholders from a cross section of organisations in the Australian property sector. Through these interviews climate change risk preparedness was assessed using Moser and Luers (2008) awareness, analytical capacity and actions framework. From this a new climate change preparedness framework was generated with themes and categories applicable to the property sector. These were then used to inform the characterisation of climate change ‘frontrunners’ in the property sector. The research identified that frontrunner characteristics in relation to Awareness include: sourcing reliable information, communicating this within their organisation, engaging in industry working groups and committees, and sharing information across firms. The Analytical capacity of the frontrunners comprised: a dedicated team who are able to interpret implications for the business, ability to garner attention to the issue from across the organisation and develop specific climate change models. Finally, the Actions of the frontrunners included both adaptation and mitigation actions; utilisation of rating tools, net zero carbon emission objectives; developing processes and policies to embed climate change into decision making; and conducting impact assessment across timescales and issues (physical, and workplace). In the absence of strong regulatory frameworks, the identification of frontrunners, their key characteristics and their strategies to tackle climate change risk provides a pathway for others in the sector to follow.

Issues, Impacts, and Mitigations of Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the Building Sector

Climate change has become a considerable concern for humanity during this anthropocentric era. Scientists believe that the rate of global warming and climate change varies directly with the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. Urbanization is happening at a higher rate in this era than in any other generation. It was reported that the building sector plays a critical role in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Construction of buildings, operation, and utilization of the built environment has led to emissions of a large number of CO2 into the ambient air. Various issues and challenges arise from the building sector in reducing CO2 emissions. The exploitation of non-renewable energy resources, poor building design, and lack of sustainability consideration in urbanization has been holding back CO2 emission mitigation measures in the building sector. Therefore, CO2 emission mitigation plans and schemes are necessary alongside standardized frameworks and guidelines. The strategies to reduce CO2 in the building sector are enforcing standards and policy, conducting impact assessment, adopting low carbon technology, and restricting energy utilization. All stakeholders must play their roles efficiently to reduce CO2 emissions and aid in the fight against climate change.

Sustainability Transition in Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing with the Triple-Layered Business Model Canvas

Sustainability transition is becoming increasingly relevant at a manufacturing level, especially for resource- and energy-intensive industries. In addition, the 4.0 industry paradigm opens new opportunities in terms of sustainable development. The aim of this research is to analyze the introduction of sustainability in the corporate value proposition, through the evolution from a traditional to a sustainable business model. The business model innovation will be investigated in the case of a ceramic tile producer in the district of Sassuolo, Italy. The company has introduced several sustainability practices over the years and, through investments in Industry 4.0 technologies, is able to conduct impact assessments of its production process. The applied tool for the business model transition will be the Triple-Layered Business Model Canvas by Joyce and Paquin. The results illustrate the new company’s sustainable value proposition, considering all three pillars of sustainability: environment, economy, and society. Despite the limitations resulting from the individual case study, the findings can be easily adapted to other ceramic tile companies in the sector. Besides, the paper could inspire other manufacturing companies in the drafting of a sustainable business model. The paper explores the still limited literature on the application of sustainable business models in operational scenarios.

A decision framework to identify populations that are most vulnerable to the population level effects of disturbance

AbstractWe present a decision framework to identify when detailed population‐level assessments are required to understand the potential impacts of a disturbance‐inducing activity on a marine mammal population and discuss how the framework can be applied to other taxa. Species at high risk of population‐level effects can be identified using information on the number of individuals that are likely to be disturbed by the activity, total population size, the probability of repeated disturbance, the species' reproductive strategy, and the life stages (e.g., feeding, pregnant, and lactating) of the individuals most likely to be exposed. This hierarchical approach provides those responsible for conducting impact assessments with a time‐efficient, cost‐effective and reproducible workflow that allows them to prioritize their efforts and assign funds to those species with the most pressing conservation needs. A fully worked case study using marine mammals in the vicinity of a naval training activity is supplied.