Abstract: Although recent studies in Ghana show that the overall poverty in coastal areas is decreasing, considerable challenges still face government and communities in their bid to improve living conditions in fishing communities. In order to achieve the goal of sustainable fishing livelihoods and possibly diversification in fishing communities, the economic conditions and actual benefits accruing to fishermen from small-scale fishing needs be assessed in the interest of broader fisheries management agenda. This paper presents reference data for addressing these issues relative to long term sustainability of fishing from an economic perspective. The specific objectives are to conduct an economic assessment of the small-scale fisheries to determine major fish species of economic importance at the Elmina landing beach. Secondly, estimate the net economic benefit to the fishermen and suggest possible conservation or management interventions. The method mainly based on interviews using a questionnaire, conducted randomly among a total of 60 fishermen at the landing site for a period of four weeks from February 6 to March 6, 2010. The economic benefits derived from the fishery were estimated based on monetary gains from quantities of fish caught, the market prices and their investment costs. The results indicate that that Sardinella aurita constituted the most dominant fish species caught by majority of the fishermen (16%) followed by Dentex angolensis and Epinephelus aeneus each represented by 15.43%of the fishermen. Caranx crysos and Sepia officinalis were among the least common fish species caught. The most valuable fish species landed include Epinephelus aeneus, Sparus caeruleostictus, Dentex angolensis, and Lutjanus goreensis valued at US$2.97, US$2.87, US$2.85 and US$2.63 per kilogram respectively. The least valuable species include Dasyatis margarita, Pseudotolithus senegalensis and Caranx crysos valued at US$0.34, US$0.62 and US$0.66 per kilogram respectively. We recommend that efforts should be made improving the value through processing of heavily caught but less valuable fish species such Sardinella aurita. Studies should be instituted into the biology (reproduction and growth) of the highly valuable species for aquaculture purposes and to explore the economic feasibility of culturing these valuable species since their present economic value and demand could drive their over-exploitation.

Abstract: All countries of the world are vulnerable to climatic variations and change, and developing countries especially, those in arid, semi-arid and high rainfall regions, are particularly so. Africa is considered the most vulnerable region in the world in terms of climate change and variation, due to its physical and socio-economic characteristics. Climate variation generally occurs at local scale, regional scale, national scale and global scale. Having established that the global climate has varied slowly over the past millennia, centuries, and decades it is expected to continue to vary in future. Like the climate change, variability may be due to, national internal process within the climate (internal variability), or variations in natural or anthropogenic external forces (external variability). Evidence of climate variations is now well documented, and the implications are becoming increasingly clear as data accumulates and data and climate models become increasingly sophisticated. The fluctuations in rainfall and temperatures regimes are basically the atmospheric deriving forces that are responsible for the climate variations over Imo State and the entire southeastern part of Nigeria as the case in other regions of the world. This paper examines the impacts of climate variability and change in Imo state of Nigeria. The study employed the use of 30 years (1980-2009) precipitation (rainfall) and temperature data of Imo state recorded at Owerri (the capital) synoptic station which was acquired from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). The study shows a lot of variation in rainfall and fluctuation in temperature in the area within the period under study, which have caused a lot of environmental problems in the state including sea-level rise, increased heat wave, increased coastal/soil erosion, flooding and flood –related disasters such as pollution, increased diseased vectors, communicable diseases and epidemics amongst others.

Abstract: The current energy crisis has shifted human efforts towards looking for and using renewable energy sources. One of the well known of these, is the solar energy. The two well known harvesting systems are PV and solar thermals. This paper tries to reflect the Photovoltaic systems in general in first instant. Furthermore it considers the efficiency analysis of the PVs by means of RETScreen 4 software. The case study chosen for this paper is University of East London located in London, England. The analysis are based on the RETScreen library and NASA related location statistics.

Abstract: For environmental and economic conditions, precipitation can be considered as the most important climatic element. its drought and wet periods are known to change the natural water suply, river discharges and crops yields, as well as natural vegetation. Argentine agriculture was and surely will drive the national economy and the most important agriculture region is the Pampa or pampean flatlands, mainly because it allows the rain - fed crops production. The grain production increased from 23 to 90 million tones during the period 1970 - 2010 by means of the best available technology application and this growth had two components: a) the soybean which has now a ratio of 6 to 1 with respect to corn and b) the increase of precipitation amounts during the last decades of XX century. There is a need to maintain agricultural sustainability and for that changes in production patterns would be considered. On the other hand, the pampean flatlands experienced a succession of extreme hydrological events related to precipitation. Droughts and floods were a constant, according ancient documents during the Spanish domain, the argentine goverment and the installation of meteorological stations near 1870. Documented droughts occurred during 1604, 1614, 1620 and 1824 and floods in 1636, 1770, 1817, 1857 and 1900 can be mentioned as examples. The climate of the studied region according Thornthwaite classification is Perhumid, Humid and Subhumid from East to West, with fluctuations in their limits answering climate variability. And so, the agriculture was influenced. The surface of croplands is greater in the Perhumid and Humid climates regions then in the last one, where livestock is important. Subhumid region has suffered important changes in its land uses and surely, it will be vulnerable in the future. In this paper the three zones are studied using meteorological data, soil water balance and crops data. More recently there were important floods in 1980, 1985, 1993, 2001 and 2002 and severe droughts in 1978, 1983, 1989, 1995 and 2008. Extreme hydrological events acted in short periods but the losses reached high importance because precipitation variability acts over the soil water balance influencing its parameters and the water table depth.

Abstract: In 21st century, electronics have undoubtedly become an integral part of our daily lives. As a result, Electronic Waste (e-waste) or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has the dubious distinction of becoming the fastest growing waste type in today's economy. Every year, 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste gets accumulated around the world, which is estimated to touch 73 million tons by 2015. In UAE, there are no official statistics about e-waste collection, or how the waste is getting disposed of in landfills. This should be a huge cause for concern for not only environmentalists but also local citizens. With a revived consumer electronic durables market in the UAE, valued at USD 0.85 billion (Q1 2010), the situation of e-waste looks grimmer than ever. UAE has around 4.8 million residents and almost double this number is mobile phone subscribers. Increasing per capita income of the UAE residents has alarmingly contributed to the mindless disposal of electronic waste in this great Emirate nation. Even though the re-cycling industry is in its nascent stage in the UAE, it is slowly gaining momentum. However, there is a huge awareness gap between the e-waste recycling industry and the consumers who generate the said waste. Our study focuses on exploring the behavior of such consumers towards e-waste management and addressing the persistent problems faced by the e-waste recycling industry in the UAE. In our research project, we propose a sustainable working model to bridge the knowledge gap between consumers who generate e-waste and the industry that re-cycles the same e-waste.

Abstract: The management of waste in the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) has considerable real and potential costs in both financial and environmental terms. Despite discussion within the literature and the publication of strategies to address these costs little evidence is found of attempts to implement a reduce, reuse, recycle (3R) philosophy in NHS waste management. This paper discusses the findings of a literature review on waste management and behavioural change approaches which might aid the implementation of a 3R philosophy in waste management within healthcare settings. The literature indicates the need for an understanding of individuals, including knowledge of their values, attitudes, norms and behaviours in order to enable a positive response to change. Behaviour change theories may provide a framework of achieving constructive changes in waste management. Further research is needed, specifically on the views of stakeholders responsible for the safe management of waste.

Abstract: Amongst the multiple emerging pollutants in the modern world, perhaps surfactants may be considered one of the first importance group. They are ubiquitous contaminants that present a highly refractory nature and an extremely dangerous biopersistance, thus the interest of researchers in presenting new and more efficient methods for their removal from aqueous solutions. One of the most promising materials in the field of water remediation is Moringa oleifera seed extract. It acts as a coagulant and flocculant agent and its performance is high enough to consider it as a competitive treatment agent, compared even with classical metal salts such as alum of ferric chloride. In this work, Moringa oleifera seed extract was confirmed as a feasible coagulant in removing surfactants from aqueous effluents. Amongst them, long-chain anionic detergents such as Polyoxyethylene (3.5) sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) was selected as a model compound for evaluating the coagulation response. The system coagulant-detergent was stable with different temperatures and pH, and the efficiency was very promising. Moringa oleifera was an effective coagulant since it was capable to reach up to 0.245 mg/mg coagulation capacity according to Gu-Zhu model. Design of experiments presented an optimum combination of coagulant dosage and initial surfactant concentration of 234 mg/L and 76 mg/L respectively. Therefore, this study adds a valuable characteristic to the well known Moringa oleifera coagulant and contributes to establish it as a real alternative to the traditional coagulants.

Abstract: Sustainable development is an important symbol of civilization. When people improve the life standards gradually，it becomes a challenge to the sustainable development of energy sources. Due to the important influence of the IAQ in residential building on human body, more and more people pay attention to air exhaust in kitchen and toilet and the supply of fresh air. There is no doubt that additional fresh air can improve the room IAQ, but the energy consumption will increase greatly, which is opposite to the objective of sustainable development, so it is necessary for us to seek a suitable way to resolve this problem. In this paper, in order to deal with the contradicting problem of energy saving and also keeping IAQ in the residential buildings, we simulated different kinds of operation conditions of air exhaust in kitchen and toilet and fresh air supplement in heating period in a residential building in northern China; analyzed the energy consumption caused by entered outdoor fresh air in different conditions, and economical efficiency of the heat-recovery-system for fresh air. According to different control conditions in kitchen ventilator and toilet exhaust system, the paper presents the quantitative analysis results of energy consumption in different ways in fresh air system, the projects are as follows: （1）Change of indoor fresh air through natural ventilation mode Case 1: analyze energy consumption of fresh air indraft when both the kitchen ventilator and the toilet exhaust system turn on; Case 2: analyze energy consumption of fresh air indraft when neither the kitchen ventilator nor toilet exhaust system turns on. （2）Indoor fresh air indraught through a fresh air supplement system Case 1: analyze energy consumption of fresh air indraft when both the kitchen ventilator and the toilet exhaust system turn on; Case 2: analyze energy consumption of fresh air indraft when neither the kitchen ventilator nor toilet exhaust system turns on. （3）Change of indoor fresh air through using whole-heat-exchange fresh air system Case 1: analyze energy consumption of fresh air indraft when both the kitchen ventilator and the toilet exhaust system turn on; Case 2: analyze energy consumption of fresh air indraft when neither the kitchen ventilator nor toilet exhaust system turns on. Through calculating the fresh air energy consumption above modes, predicting the scope of the energy consumption values, some suitable methods are obtained to deal with the poor IAQ problems within the kitchen and the toilet，which could make different residents need in the different requirements to fresh air quality and quantity in the building preferably. To guarantee an excellent IAQ and provide optimal energy use within residential buildings, we could supply a sustainable residential building.

Abstract: Given that we must farm land in order to eat, the total environmental burden imposed by farming a crop such as winter wheat in the UK appears to as close to the minimum as is possible when production is at its most efficient. The value of the services other than food production, such as flood water buffering, pollination, carbon storage and so on, that land can provide is relatively large compared with the value in reducing environmental burdens from pesticide use, nutrient pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by farming less intensively. More land will need to be brought into cultivation in order to provide the same amount of food if the intensity of farming is reduced but the loss of ecosystem services outweighs the reduction in. Nevertheless, losses of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), from agriculture are a serious concern and the current cost of the environmental footprint of agriculture is significant compared with the value of the food it produces. This article examines nutrient burdens and analyses the means by which the total environmental burden might be reduced relative to productivity. These include increasing the efficiency of farming, removing constraints to yield, and establishing multiple uses for land at the same time as farming. It concludes that agronomic measures which improve nutrient capture and which obtain more yield per unit area are valuable means to avoid degradation of environmental quality because both nutrient pollution and land consumption can be avoided. Means that appear to offer a reduction of 5-10% in each are suggested.

Abstract: Sustainable development is paid more and more attention all over the world nowadays. Kitchen environmental improvement and energy saving are closely related to national economy, household consumption and people's health, which is one of the important contents in the sustainable development. The conventional ventilation mode is only installing a range hood in a residential kitchen. The distribution law of contaminants in a residential kitchen in conventional ventilation mode is studied via experimental test, and the results are shown in tables and figures in the paper. We found that locations of contaminants accumulation are high near to ceiling above the location of cooking utensil (range) in kitchen section planes with range in it, and closer to the walls in horizontal planes. According to the contaminant distribution patterns, for creating a clean and energy saving kitchen, this project set three different control schemes: (1) installed a range-hood only; (2) installed a range-hood and a natural air make-up system (a fresh air inlet under one of walls); (3) installed a range-hood, a natural air make-up system, and an exhaust system (a louver in the ceiling for mechanical ventilation). When energy consumption is the same, the contaminant removing capabilities of three schemes are compared with exergy theory and exergy intensity and sustainable development analysis. The results are: (1) To keep the kitchen cleanness, the best effectively control method is scheme 3, followed by scheme 2, and then scheme 1; (2) It conforms to the sustainable development strategies that the scheme 3 is proposed as an alternative of the conventional scheme 1, since the scheme 3 is the best effective and does not increase energy consumption compared with others.

Abstract: Taihu lake basin is one of the most developed districts in China. In the past 20 years the economy developed very fast. The annual growth rate of GDP reached 11.6%, the rate of urbanization increased by 31% and the gross output value of industry increased 13 times. However, the area for crops and irrigated land decreased constantly. Industrialization, urbanization and agriculture affected the quality of water environment profoundly. In the 90s of 20th century, the length of the river with the quality exceeding the standard raised 23%, and the quality of Taihu lake declined by two grades. In the future, the economic growth rate will stay at about 10%, and the water requirement will increase also the water environment will further deteriorate in near future.

Abstract: There are about twenty different types of plastic resins that are commonly used in packaging applications, whereby five of them are large-volume polymers, i.e. polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Together, these polymers account for around 75% of all plastics demand in Europe and is the largest group of waste deposited on Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSW). However, waste storage may cause environmental pollution, and the integration of MSW incinerators with materials recovery is one of the most controversial aspects of waste management. In this article a new idea of plastics waste management, based on the production of composite materials with improved properties for flood protection systems, has been presented.

Abstract: The present study analyses farmers' perception of impact of climate change on food crop production and the adaptation strategies to cope with climate change. An interview schedule was the main tool for data collection whilst descriptive statistics was the main analytical tool applied. A random sampling technique was used to select 100 crop farmers for the study. The study revealed that most farmers perceived an increase in temperature, decrease in precipitation and an increase in wind temperature in Ketu North district. Major impacts of climate change were perceived as weed and pest challenges, decline in crop quality, changes in land, soil and water quality, increased risk of food shortage, stunted growth of crops and drying of seedlings after germination. Results suggest changing of planting dates, use of different crop varieties and the use of drought and heat resistant varieties as the widely used adaptation measures. Despite the use of adaptation techniques, lack of information, lack of credit, lack of access to water, expensive nature of adaptation, insecure property right, insufficient access to inputs and shortage of land were important constraints to the adaptation process.

Abstract: Assuring safer and sustainable development in seismic prone areas requires predictive measurements, i.e. hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment. This research aims to assess urban vulnerability due to seismic hazard and integrate it into risk based spatial plan. It highlights hazard, vulnerability and risk as constituent part of mitigation process in urbanized area. The idea of urban vulnerability assessment is to indicate current and future potential of losses due to specified hazard in given spatial and temporal unit, although it is extremely dynamic. Herein, the urban vulnerability refers to classic separation between social vulnerability assessment and physical vulnerability assessment. In mere sense, both assessment refers to pre-existing condition of being unfavorable due to seismic hazard expressed on a scale from 0 (no loss/damage) – 1 (lethal/full damage) within specified time. The research area covers six sub-districts in Bantul, Indonesia. It experienced 6.2 Mw earthquakes in May, 27^th, 2006 and suffered from 5.700 death tolls, economic losses up to 3.1 billion US$ and damaged nearly 80% out of total 508 km² area. Overall, it has experienced three major environmental issues, i.e. (1) seismic hazard, (2) rapid land conversion and (3) dominated by low income group. Based upon existing research problem, this research employs spatial multi criteria evaluation (SMCE) for social vulnerability (SMCE-SV) and for physical vulnerability (SMCE-PV). It is a method which allows diverse input criteria to explain unstructured condition such as vulnerability. There are several phases to conduct the SMCE, such as problem tree analysis, standardization, weighting and map generation. The research reveals two important findings. First, SMCE-SV and SMCE-PV are empirically feasible to indicate urban vulnerability indices. Second, integrating vulnerability assessment into risk based spatial plan requires broad dimension, from strategic, technical, substantial and procedural integration process. In summary, without adequate knowledge and political will to integrate urban vulnerability into risk based spatial plan, thus manifestation towards safe and sustainable development claimed meager and haphazard.

Abstract: A decent, or sufficient, lifestyle is largely considered an important objective in terms of a sustainable future. From an ecological sustainability point of view, a the natural resource consumption of a decent lifestyle should not exceed the long-term carrying capacity of nature. The material footprint based on the MIPS concept (material input per unit of service) can be used as an indicator of the natural resource consumption of lifestyles. Thus, it can provide a rough indication of the long-term ecological sustainability of lifestyles when compared to the level of natural resource consumption that is estimated sustainable. Previous research shows that low-income households consume a relatively small amount of resources. Thus the material footprint of their consumption is assumed to be closer to the ecologically sustainable level of resource use than the consumption of an average household. In order to show the amount of natural resources a minimum consumption level requires, this paper presents the material footprint of households living on a minimum level of social benefits in the Finnish welfare state. The data was collected in a questionnaire on the consumption habits and lifestyles of 18 single households belonging to the lowest income decile in Finland. The results are compared to the results of a previous study on the material footprints of households with varying income levels as well as of an average Finn. In addition, the results are compared to the material footprint of decent minimum reference budgets defined consensually by the Finnish National Consumer Research Centre in a cooperation of experts and a consumer panel. The results show that the low-income households have a lower material footprint than average. Thus, a decrease in material footprint by a factor of 2 - 4 from present average can already be achieved. However, the resource consumption of all the households studied is still higher, in most cases by a factor of 2 and more, than long-term ecological sustainability would require although it is in most cases lower than the material footprint of the social and economic minimum defined for a decent life. The paper discusses this discrepancy and presents conclusions in order to make future lifestyles more sustainable. The central conclusion is that ecologically sustainable consumption cannot be achieved solely by households' efforts but there is a great need for innovations in technology, business and politics.

Abstract: Haiti is unfortunately the unluckiest tropical island in the world because of not only its political and economical issues but also due to natural disasters happening there. Especially after the earthquake in 2010, the life became more difficult for habitants in Haiti, mainly clean water scarcity and sanitation problems. The aim of this project is to review a range of available emerging sustainable sanitation systems, design and simulate that could provide solutions for Haiti, considering environmental, social and economical aspects after this earthquake. The aim is also to design and simulate the best systems. Finally the project aims to analyze how the best systems could be implemented in IDP Camps and specifically in the Corail Camp in Haiti. The project encompasses: (i) A literature review of waste water treatment in emergency situations, using Haiti as a case study. (ii) An investigation into alternative ways to treat waste water in an area after a disaster. (iii) An analysis based on the needs identified from the Haiti. (iv) The selection of the two best systems and a design and simulation (using BioWin-3.1) for a standard camp block of 1250 people. (v) An analysis of the implication of implementing the two systems in Corail Camp, including economical and climate considerations. The investigation is narrowed down through selection criterion, to the two most feasible systems, the DEWATS (Decentralized Water Treatment system) and composting toilet. The feasibility of these two systems for the camps is proven through simulation and design. Through an economical analysis the two designs were developed for the Corail Camp. As a result, theoretically more than 90 % BOD removal was achieved by DEWATS through simulation and design. The composting toilet could also provide fertilizer for the area which cannot be connected to sewage system. Utilization of gravity in the camp will also reduce pumping requirements for sewage collection system.

Abstract: Over the last several decades, it has become increasingly accepted that the term xenobiotic relates to environmental impact, since environmental xenobiotics are understood to be substances foreign to a biological system, which did not exist in nature before their synthesis by humans. In this context, xenobiotics are persistent pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, as well as plastics and pesticides. Dangerous and unstable situations can result from the presence of environmental xenobiotics since their harmful effects on humans and ecosystems are often unpredictable. For instance, the immune system is extremely vulnerable and sensitive to modulation by environmental xenobitics. Various experimental assays could be performed to ascertain the immunotoxic potential of environmental xenobiotics, taking into account genetic factors, the route of xenobiotic penetration, and the amount and duration of exposure, as well as the wave shape of the xenobiotic. In this paper, we propose an approach for the analysis of xenobiotic metabolism using mathematical model and corresponding methods. This study focuses on a pattern depicting mathematically modelled processes of resonant absorption of a xenobiotic harmonic oscillation by an organism modulated as an absorbing oscillator structure. We represent the xenobiotic concentration degree through a spatial concentration vector, and we model and simulate the oscillating regime of environmental xenobiotic absorption. It is anticipated that the results could be used to facilitate the assessment of the processes of environmental xenobiotic absorption, distribution, biotransformation and removal within the framework of compartmental analysis, by establishing appropriate mathematical models and simulations.

Abstract: Environmental implications of the whole supply-chain of products, both goods and services, their use, and waste management, i.e. their entire life cycle from "cradle to grave" have to be considered to achieve more sustainable production and consumption patterns. In the Communication on Integrated Product Policy (IPP), the European Commission committed to produce a handbook on best practice in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Action Plan (EC, 2008) confirmed that "(…) consistent and reliable data and methods are required to assess the overall environmental performance of products (…)". In this context, JRC led a "science to policy" process which resulted in the ILCD International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook ILCD Handbook is a series of detailed technical documents, providing guidance for good practice in Life Cycle Assessment in business and government, serving as. "parent" document for developing sector- and product-specific guidance documents, criteria and simplified tools. For Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), the Handbook provide guidelines to methods and assessments to analyse the emissions into air, water and soil, as well as the natural resources consumed in terms of their contributions to different impacts on human health, natural environment, and availability of resources. Several methodologies have been developed for LCIA and some efforts have been made towards harmonisation. In order to support the selection of the methods, criteria for good characterisation modelling practice were developed in advance to be used in the evaluation and comparison of the selected methods. The criteria include scientific, applicability and stakeholder acceptance issues. Methods and models for LCIA were reviewed, covering different impact categories such as climate change, ozone depletion, photochemical ozone formation, respiratory inorganics, ionising radiation, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, ecotoxicity, land use and resource depletion. The guidelines for LCIA come from a comprehensive process of selection of methods based on a set of scientific and stakeholder acceptance criteria and involving extensive hearings of domain experts, advisory groups and the public, during a public consultation. In this "from science to policy support" process a number of research needs, critical issues and challenges for Life Cycle Impact Assessment emerged. Robustness of models and reliability of characterisation factors must be the basis for further development in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA).

Abstract: p { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; } Hundreds of tonnes of hazardous waste are released to the air, water, and land by industry every hour of every day. The chemical industry is the biggest source of such waste and the number of agent considered toxic is continuosly increasing due also to a series of more restrictive laws and regulamentations (REACH).The term Green Chemistry was coined in the 1990s, to bring focus to an increasing interest in developing more environmentally friendly chemical processes and products. In this term the Green Chemistry represents the most concrete answer of the scientific community to the pressing enviromental needs and sustainability. There is a pool of clean technologies that are becoming widely studied or used from wich catalysis is a well established one, well proven at the largest volume end of the chemicals industry. Green Chemistry begin by design and design derive from inspiration. Nature is the biggest chemical laboratory in the world and produces , every days tonnes of chemicals in absolutely eco-friendly and sustainable way. The secret of natural chemistry are the enzymes, "Why don't take ispiration from the enzyme to setup new green chemical processes. An example of oxidative reactions inspired by the enzyme Gluatione Peroxidase will be discussed to highlight the reduction of produced waste, the reduction of energy requirement and the mild and ecofriendly confitions used.

Abstract: The UK National Health Service (NHS) overall annual carbon emissions is estimated to be around 21 million tonnes; producing 250,000 tonnes of waste a year with 80% of this waste going to landfill. Examples of good practice in addressing sustainability and climate change are found within healthcare. However these require changes in mindset, including values, attitudes, norms and behaviours which are required along with clear definitions of the problems faced in terms of economics, society and culture in order to respond positively to change. Initial investigations of the literature indicate that behaviour change theory may provide a feasible means of achieving constructive changes in clinical waste management; such approaches require further investigation. Aim: This paper describes a feasibility study designed to examine issues that might affect the introduction of a behaviour change strategy improve waste management in a healthcare setting. Methods: Guided by the evidence gained from our systematic review, 25 interviews were carried out with senior managers, clinicians and support staff involved in the management of healthcare waste from a broad range of agencies in South West England. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Thematic content analysis was conducted in order to identify key issues and actions. Data extraction, coding and analysis was cross checked independently by the four members of the research team. Findings: Initial findings suggest tensions, between Government and local policies, between organisations and individuals, and between the operational requirements of health and safety and maintaining appropriate and ethical patient care.

Abstract: The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge spans 77 km along the Detroit River and western Lake Erie, and is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. A key unit of the refuge is the 166-ha Humbug Marsh that represents the last kilometer of natural shoreline on the U.S. mainland of the river and is Michigan's only Wetland of International Importance designated under the 1971 International Ramsar Convention. It is considered an internationally important wetland because of its ecological importance in the Detroit River corridor and the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Humbug Marsh serves as a vital habitat for 51 species of fish, 90 species of plants, 154 species of birds, seven species of reptiles and amphibians, and 37 species of dragonflies and damselflies. Adjacent to Humbug Marsh is an 18 ha former industrial manufacturing site (now called the Refuge Gateway) that is being remediated and restored as an ecological buffer for Humbug Marsh, and the future home of the refuge's Visitor Center. The site was operated as an automotive brake and paint plant facility for 44 years. The facility was closed in 1990 and remediated to Michigan criteria for industrial/commercial use. It sat vacant for 12 years before it was acquired by Wayne County in 2002 as the gateway to the international wildlife refuge. In 2006, Wayne County and many partners adopted a Master Plan to guide cleanup and restoration. Activities have included: cleanup and capping of contaminated lands; daylighting a creek and constructing a storm water pond and emergent wetland to treat storm water prior to discharge to the Detroit River; achieving a net gain of 6.5 ha of wetlands in a river that has lost 97% of its coastal wetlands to development; restoring 10 ha of upland buffer habitat; treatment of Phragmites along 4 km of shoreline; and treatment and removal of invasive plant species in over 20 ha of forested lakeplain habitat in Humbug Marsh. This project has been described as transformational for the region by restoring an industrial brownfield into high quality wildlife habitat that expands the ecological buffer of a Ramsar site. Further, this Refuge Gateway is being restored as a model of environmental sustainability for nearly seven million residents within a 45-minute drive. This paper will document results achieved, describe the unique public-private partnerships that are being used, and share lessons learned.

Abstract: This study analyses farmer's perception on climate change, their adaptation strategies in response to climate change and barriers to the adaptation process. A survey of 100 randomly sampled farmers was conducted using a standard questionnaire. An interview schedule was the main tool of data collection while descriptive statistics were the main analytical technique. Majority of the farmers studied perceived increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall. In adapting to climate change, 91% of the farmers change planting dates, 86% use different crop varieties and 72 % implemented soil conservation measures as the major choice of adaptation techniques to climate change. Major barriers to climate adaptation are insufficient access to inputs and lack of credit.

Abstract: Environmental contamination by heavy metals is one of the main pollution concerns nowadays. Researchers are urged therefore to find new and more efficient methods for the removal of these dangerous pollutants, mainly from water effluents. The challenge of environmental sustainability is thus directly linked to the development of more effective solutions for these recalcitrant menaces. Under this perspective, adsorption can be considered an interesting remediation procedure, but adsorbents are still expensive materials. With the scope of developing new adsorbents, novel tannin-based adsorbents were tested on heavy metals removal. Up to 10 heavy metals (Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, UO₂²⁺ and Mn²⁺) were removed with different adsorbents that involved tannins from Acacia mearnsii de Wild, Schinopsis balansae, Cupressus sempervivens and Pinus pinaster. These tannin extract were gelified with formaldehyde in basic medium. The whole study was conducted under a statistical point of view, so ANOVA tests were carried out in order to evaluate the optimum concentration of formaldehyde, the most reactive tannin extract and the easiest metals for being removed. These considerations drove to the optimum tanningel derived from cypress, concentrated formaldehyde, with a high affinity to UO₂²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺. This study has been conducted under the hypothesis of minimum energy consumption, maximum natural materials involved in the process and maximum efficiency in the removal of these metals. The results are promising since high efficiencies were achieved, thus this new adsorbents are competitive with traditional ones, such as clays, activated carbons or biosorbents.

Abstract: This article proposes a novel and simple methodology to evaluate eco-profiles of usual anthropic activities in order to promote the sustainable development. The case study refers to a standard work day, evaluating the sustainability of the life style of a hypothetical worker, in consideration of different standard meals provided by a canteen and a series of transport options from home to the work place. The eco-profiles of single products were evaluated with the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, according to the LCA-food database given by the software SimaPro 7.2.4 (Prè Consultant, 2010). The results of the LCA of single goods are hence linked to a sustainability mark, assigned on the basis of the percentage of their impact in comparison with the most impacting option of each category. The idea to summarize with a mark the eco-profile results of a LCA, aims to simplify the interpretation of results and gives to decision makers and single consumers a fast and comprehensive overview of the environmental consequences associated to different options. Considering this specific case, the results show clearly how dietary habits can largely affect the sustainability of single workers and how the combination of a vegetarian menu with the use of public transport is ever associated to low scores, indexes of very-low impacts.

Abstract: Solar Water Heaters (SWHs) can have extremely short greenhouse gas emission payback periods as shown in various life cycle studies. Thus, it is believed that replacing electric geysers with SWHs will reduce a household's carbon footprint. This conclusion, however, does not take the rebound effect into account, where money saved from spending less on electricity for water heating, is spent eventually, either on more electricity, or on other goods and services with an associated carbon footprint. Previous studies conducted on the low-income areas of Kuyasa (Cape Town) and Zanemvula (Nelson Mandela Bay) confirm that for this income bracket the suppressed demand for electricity is so great that the installation of SWHs fails to produce a significant reduction in electricity consumption, confirming the "suppressed demand hypothesis" which provides an accepted basis to classify such projects as sustainable development cases worthy of receiving climate finance. An optimistic assumption about the future of South African cities must however recognise significant upward mobility, which leads to the question of whether SWHs result in a significant decrease in the carbon footprint of households in higher income brackets. The "gap" housing market consists of households that earn ZAR 3500 - 7500 per month: they earn too much to qualify for a Government housing subsidy, but most cannot afford housing in the private sector. Recent social housing projects, providing rental stock for this market, including Steenvilla and Drommedaris in Cape Town, have included SWHs. This work aims to answer the following questions: Does the installation of SWHs in gap social housing schemes result in these households consuming less electricity than households of the same income using electric geysers? If so, what do these households spend this saved money on and how does the carbon footprint of these new goods and services compare? The methodology includes surveys to investigate the electricity consumption and spending habits between Cape Town social housing schemes that use solar water heaters and those that have conventional geysers. Quantitative data on electricity purchases are also used. Preliminary results suggest that for households earning an average of ZAR 6000 per month, electricity consumption is reduced by approximately 120 kWh/month when SWHs are installed. Survey data suggests that saved money is spent on a wide range of goods and services. The household carbon footprint is however reduced as these goods and services have a lower carbon intensity (at ~ 0.3 kg CO_2eq/ZAR) than South African electricity (at ~ 1 kg CO_2eq/ZAR).

Abstract: The bovine beef cattle in Brazil are predominantly extensive, what turns great natural areas into grazing. An alternative to reduce the occupied area is to intensify cattle creation, increasing productivity, but it demands a bigger use of water and animals supplements, that are based principally in soy. The deviation of high quantities of water to economic activities can cause a shortage of it on the future, and intensifies cattle raising could mean an increase of soy production. This work realized a study using a mathematical model in fuzzy language to accomplish a simulation of two Brazilian areas in risk because of beef cattle expansion: Pantanal and Legal Amazon. The results indicate that the intensification strongly decreases the grazing areas, what theoretically reduces deforestation. However, analyzing the socio-economical context , the intensification doesn't solve the deforestation problem, because in Legal Amazon, it revolves around the estate speculation, not linked to beef production, and in Pantanal, the extensive beef cattle have caused less impact on environment, because it is developed by small creators that produce without going beyond ecosystem capacity. Besides, simulations indicate that intensification means strong pressure on hydrics sources.

Abstract: Production of biodiesel from microalgae is a promising step toward sustainability. The superiority of microalgae to their counterpart sources of biomass lies in many favorable characteristics of microalgae such as high biodiesel productivity, low land use and carbon dioxide biofixation. Sunlight as an effective parameter in growth and cultivation of various microalgae species is an aspect of concern in design and operation of photobioreactors. In this communication, we present a simple measuring system which can provide the effect of sunlight irradiance in photobioreactors qualitatively. The system is very low cost and can be connected to an ordinary personal computer to monitor sunlight intensity to a photobioreactor. Based on a set of experiments a calibration curve for the measuring system is also given. The proposed system can contribute to optimal growth of microalgae inside large scale photobioreactors as well as to lab scale research projects.