Implications For Environmental Sustainability Research Articles

Ecological Econophysics for Degrowth

This paper outlines a synthesis of ecological economics with econophysics and other complexity approaches to economics. Arguably, the resulting “ecological econophysics” will be scientifically sounder than mainstream economics and much better suited to addressing a major challenge of our times: the development of democratically-based policies to reduce economic throughput to an environmentally sustainable level without triggering economic crises and without excluding part of the world’s population, i.e., to implement degrowth. Degrowth will need major structural changes, which leads us to question whether there are limits to the malleability of the economic system’s architecture. A fundamental limit will be encountered if, as suggested by the physics of complexity, long-lasting complex systems always occur midway between an ordered and a disordered state. There is much evidence that this hypothesis holds and that the current economic system satisfies this condition. However, this does not mean that the problems posed by this system should be unavoidable. Ecological econophysics gives clues to identifying alternative economic systems that would also function between order and chaos, but which would have radically different implications for environmental sustainability and social justice.

AGROECOSYSTEMS TO DECREASE DIFFUSE NITROGEN POLLUTION IN NORTHERN LITHUANIA

The paper presents the research conducted at the Joniškėlis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry on a clay loam Gleyic Cambisol during the period of 2006–2010. The research investigated the changes of mineral nitrogen in soil growing catch crops during the winter wheat post-harvest period and incorporating their biomass into the soil for green manure. Green manure implications for environmental sustainability were assessed. The studies were carried out in the soil with a low (1.90–2.00%) and moderate (2.10–2.40%) humus content in organic and sustainable cropping systems. The crop rotation, expanded in time and space, consisted of red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) → winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) → field pea (Pisum sativum L.) → spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with undersown red clover. Investigations of mineral nitrogen migration were assessed in the crop rotation sequence: winter wheat + catch crops → field pea. Higher organic matter and nitrogen content in the biomass of catch crops were accumulated when Brassisaceae (white mustard, Sinapis alba L.) was grown in a mixture with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) or as a sole crop, compared with oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. Oleiferus Metzg.) grown with the long-day legume plants blue lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Mineral nitrogen concentration in soil depended on soil humus status, cropping system and catch crop characteristics. In late autumn there was significantly higher mineral nitrogen concentration in the soil with moderate humus content, compared with soil with low humus content. The lowest mineral nitrogen concentration in late autumn in the 0–40 cm soil layer and lower risk of leaching into deeper layers was measured using organic cropping systems with catch crops. The highest mineral nitrogen concentration was recorded in the sustainable cropping system when mineral nitrogen fertilizer (N30) was applied for winter wheat straw decomposition. In the organic cropping system, the incorporation of catch crop biomass into soil resulted in higher mineral nitrogen reserves in soil in spring than in the sustainable cropping system, (mineral nitrogen fertilizer (N30) applied for straw decomposition in autumn and no catch crop grown). Applying organic cropping systems with catch crops is an efficient tool to promote environmental sustainability.

Commitment to Environmental Management in Hotels in Accra

The sporadic development of hotel facilities in a developing West African city like Accra in Ghana, coupled with their consumption of natural resources and generation of waste has implications for environmental sustainability. This article therefore seeks to ascertain hotel managers’ attitude towards environmental management and to examine their commitment to environmental management through the implementation of environmental policies and programs. The study took the form of a survey of managers of 200 hotels, ranging from budget to four-star rated, employing the stratified random sampling procedure. Though a greater number of hotel managers had a positive attitude towards environmental management, it was the upscale and larger hotels that were more committed to environmental management especially in terms of having; a designated officer responsible for environmental management, written environmental policy statement, environmental action plan, a history of implementing environmental programs and ecolabelling or environment related certification. The article proposes interhotel collaboration in environmental management so that smaller hotels could profit from the experiences and resources of larger hotels.

Seafood Banquets in Beijing: Consumer Perspectives and Implications for Environmental Sustainability

Understanding the social drivers of increased seafood consumption in China, such as consumer perspectives in banquets, will be crucial if practical strategies to introduce sustainability into this market are to be successfully implemented. Based on 34 semi-structured interviews with key informants including seafood restaurant operators, seafood consumers and seafood traders, this study investigated seafood consumer attitudes and behaviours in Beijing seafood restaurants. The results and discussion is divided into sections that address the popularity and reasons behind the popularity of: 1) seafood banquets in general; 2) fish at banquets; 3) other forms of seafood at banquets; and 4) preferred characteristics and qualities of seafood at banquets. The consumption of certain types of seafood such as live reef fish and sea cucumber is becoming increasingly popular, while the consumption of shark fin is decreasing in popularity. Awareness and concern about sustainability and traceability issues were relatively low, and more significant themes for understanding consumer preferences about seafood include social status and prestige, food safety and quality, and health and nutrition. The paper concludes by demonstrating the implications for market-based interventions and government regulation.

Assessing the Environmental Merits of Conservation Subdivision Design

Conservation subdivision design has been posited to have several ecological benefits; however, the degree to which conservation subdivisions have achieved these benefits has received little empirical evidence. With the use of spatial and statistical analysis, this study investigates land preservation characteristics in fifty-four Waukesha County, Wisconsin, conservation subdivisions. Additional comparative analysis is performed with twenty-six paired conventional subdivisions. The study finds that while conservation subdivisions protected around 2,500 acres of land and helped create an interconnected network of open spaces, they also created large impervious surfaces and fragmented wildlife habitats and other natural resources. Implications for environmental sustainability are discussed.

Current Status of Municipal Solid Waste Management Practise in FCT Abuja

Municipal solid waste management constitutes one of the most crucial health and environmental problem facing African cities. Most cities spend 20-50% of their annual budget on solid waste management and only 20-80% of the waste is collected. This study examines the current status of municipal solid waste management within Federal Capital Territory Abuja (FCT Abuja) and aims to identify the current challenges and areas requiring improvement. The data collection is in stages, using an integrative approach via semi structured interview and field observations. The qualitative data was analyzed descriptively, while the quantitative data was analyzed using basic statistics. Bases on the finding it is concluded that municipal solid waste management is a serious issue due to its human health and environmental sustainability implications, that has yet to be properly address within the FCT Abuja.

Landscape pattern and ecosystem service value changes: Implications for environmental sustainability planning for the rapidly urbanizing summer capital of the Philippines

This study analyzes the dynamics of the socio-ecological system of Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines, in order to derive meaningful information for use in planning its sustainable development. Remote sensing data and geographic information systems techniques, in conjunction with spatial metrics and socio-economic information, were used to facilitate the analysis. The spatial and socio-economic components of Baguio's rapid urbanization over the past 21 years (1988–2009) were the major factors that contributed to dramatic changes in the setting's natural landscape, as indicated by an almost threefold increase in its built-up area, at the expense of other land-use/land-cover classes. Its rapid growth has seen the city's population exceed its designed ceiling of 25,000 people by a factor of at least twelve. Such landscape changes and population growth have resulted in a substantial decrease in the overall annual ecosystem service value (ESV) of Baguio of approximately 60%. The human-to-ESV ratio in the city has also decreased over this same period, from 1:31 (US$/year) in 1988 to just 1:7 in 2009. Although Baguio has enjoyed economic, political and social prominence for more than a century, its rapid population growth and urban expansion are now exerting pressure on its natural landscape, jeopardizing the environmental sustainability of this highly valued hill station. This study offers important insights to all, but especially those in fast-urbanizing regions, as Baguio's case offers learning experience valuable for achieving more successful landscape and urban planning.

Determinants of Forest Resources Uses and Its Implications for Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria

This study examines determinants of forest resource use and its implications for environmental sustainability in Nigeria; using Kwara state as a case study. Specifically, the study examines awareness of climate change vis-a-vis forest resources use and factors affecting forest resources sustainability. For the study, one hundred and twenty households were selected across eight communities in ADP Zone C in Kwara state. Tools used to analysed data were the descriptive statistics and multinomial logit analyses. Study findings revealed that over half of the rural households have had basic primary education. Household perception of climate change indicators were indigenous and at low levels. Those mostly affected by climate change were children. However minimal losses due to climate change were perceived by the households while climate change forest related mitigation activities was mainly that of planting indigenous trees. Also, despite the fact that there is a high forest fuel resources usage by rural households in the study area, their likelihood of using non-forest fuels were found to dependent on their income, price of alternatives. Based on these findings, it is recommended that enlightenment and sensitization of all stakeholders on the reality of climate change, the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices and the provision of affordable and environmental friendly source of fuels should be pursued.

Population growth: Implications for environmental sustainability

The impact of population growth on environment and its implication for survival is an important issue. Although considerable attention has been paid to this problem but systematic studies have been inadequate. Rapid population growth and economic development and daily demand for natural resources for domestic and industrial use are growing at an increasing rate, especially in an urban centre. This has led to the disruption of natural cycles of land resources which is undermining the sustainability of the ecosystems. Thus, sustainable development can only be pursued if population size and growth are in harmony with the changing productive potentials of the ecosystem. The purpose of this study is to discuss the implication of Nigerian population growth on environmental sustainability.

Increasing water productivity on Vertisols: implications for environmental sustainability

The availability and quality of irrigation water have become a serious concern because of global climate change and an increased competition for water by industry, domestic users and the environment. Therefore, exploring environmentally friendly water-saving irrigation strategies is essential for achieving food and environmental security. In northern Ethiopia, where traditional furrow irrigation is widely practiced, water mismanagement and its undesirable environmental impact are rampant. A 2-year field study was undertaken to compare the traditional irrigation management with surge and deficit irrigation practices on a Vertisol plot. Results have shown that surge and deficit irrigation practices increase water productivity by 62% and 58%, respectively, when compared to traditional management. The study also found out that these practices reduce the adverse environmental impacts (waterlogging and salinity) of traditional management by minimizing deep percolation and tail water losses. Total irrigation depth was reduced by 12% (for surge) and 27% (for deficit) when compared to traditional management. Based on the results, the study concluded that surge and deficit irrigation technologies not only improve water productivity but also enhance environmental sustainability.

Using the ART-MMAP Neural Network to Model and Predict Urban Growth: A Spatiotemporal Data Mining Approach

Predicting patterns of urban growth will be a major challenge for policy makers and environmental scientists in the 21st century. How cities grow—their shape and size—will have enormous implications for environmental sustainability and infrastructure needs. This paper presents a spatiotemporal ART-MMAP neural method to simulate and predict urban growth. Factors that affect urban growth—that is, transportation routes, land use, and topography—were directly used as inputs to the neural network model for model calibration. The calibrated network was then applied to a study site—St Louis, Missouri—to predict future urban growth and to examine future land development scenarios. This paper also introduces an effective and straightforward method for model validation and accuracy assessment, the prediction error matrix, which has been used in the pattern recognition field for several decades. In order to assess the performance of the neural network model, an in-depth accuracy assessment was conducted in which the model results were compared against a null model, an alternative naïve model, and two random models. The neural network model consistently outperformed the naïve model and two random models, and produced similar or better results than the null model. Furthermore, we evaluated the models' performance at different spatial resolutions. The prediction accuracy increases when spatial resolution becomes coarser. One particularly interesting result is that when the results are aggregated to 1 km spatial resolution, there is 100% accuracy of urban growth predicted by the neural network model versus actual urban growth.

Dietary nitrogen - definitions, digestion, excretion and consequences of excess for grazing ruminants

New Zealand pastures often contain a higher concentration of nitrogen (N) than required by ruminants, and this can be exacerbated by application of N fertilisers to boost pasture growth. Excess dietary nitrogen (N) has negative implications for environmental sustainability and animal production, but producers and rural professionals are sometimes unaware of these issues and especially the terminology often used to describe the forms and fate of N. Keywords: nitrogen, ruminant nutrition, protein metabolism

The role of broadband in the quest for environmental sustainability

Broadband is changing the way in which we work, communicate and access information and entertainment. These changes have significant implications for environmental sustainability. Broadband is increasing the speed and capability of the Internet, generating new possibilities and making online applications far more attractive for businesses and the community. This paper discusses the role of broadband in contributing to sustainability under three headings; social, environment and economic. Copyright 2007 Tracey Dodd. No part of this article may be reproduced by any means without the written consent of the publisher.

The role of broadband in the quest for environmental sustainability

Broadband is changing the way in which we work, communicate and access information and entertainment. These changes have significant implications for environmental sustainability. Broadband is increasing the speed and capability of the Internet, generating new possibilities and making online applications far more attractive for businesses and the community. This paper discusses the role of broadband in contributing to sustainability under three headings; social, environment and economic. Copyright 2007 Tracey Dodd. No part of this article may be reproduced by any means without the written consent of the publisher.

Assessing land cover change in Kenya's Mau Forest region using remotely sensed data

SummaryKenya's Rift Valley has been undergoing rapid land cover change for the past two decades, which has resulted in ecological and hydrological changes. An effort is under way to quantify the timing and rate of these changes in and around the River Njoro watershed located near the towns of Njoro and Nakuru using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) methods. Three Landsat TM images, representing a 17‐year period from 1986 to 2003 in which the area underwent a significant land cover transition, were classified and compared with one another. Vegetation diversity and temporal variability, common to tropical and sub‐tropical areas, posed several challenges in disaggregating classified data into sub‐classes. An iterative approach for the resolving challenges is presented that incorporates unsupervised and supervised classification routines in coordination with knowledge‐based spatial analyses. Changes are analysed at three spatial scales ranging from the highly impacted and deforested uplands to the watershed and landscape scales. Land cover transitions primarily occurred after 1995, and included large forest losses coupled with increases in mixed small‐scale agriculture and managed pastures and degraded areas. These changes in cover type are highly spatially variable and are theorized to have significant impacts on ecological and hydrologic systems with implications for environmental sustainability.

New Globalization and Sustainability

This paper aims to analyze the implications for environmental sustainability of the recent phase of globalization. This phase, here called has been specifically characterized by the spreading of the new economy that has accelerated the globalization of markets, and by the contemporaneous establishment of new rules of (de)regulation of the international markets, crucially managed and enforced by a new international institution: the WTO. This paper argues that the rise of the new economy has introduced new opportunities and new risks for sustainability that require appropriate actions, while the existing (de)regulation rules of the international markets jeopardize the sustainability of world development. In the context determined by the new globalization, environmental policy should shift in the direction of a new generation of knowledge-based instruments. This point is further clarified through a case study concerning the contribution of banks to sustainability in this new context.