Synergy in the city: making the sum of the parts more than the whole

The pressures on existing infrastructures are significant: demand is beginning to outstrip supply; aging infrastructure poorly maintained presents an increasing risk; and rejection of urban sprawl forces increasing population density. At the same time, the drivers for infrastructure are changing. We are beginning to recognise ecological limits to supply, leading to shifting expectations, for example, from 'remove waste' to 'recapture nutrients'. We now know that a sustainable future requires step changes in material use intensity, which has further infrastructure implications. We have witnessed it already in communications. For water and energy, and therefore, for transport also, the step changes are on the horizon. Community expectations are moving too, for example, from separating home and work towards co-locating them

Upscaling agroecology in Sweden

Alongside its important contribution to the increase of yields, industrial agriculture has also generated environmental, social and economical negative side effects. Moreover, the forecasted growth of the world’s population puts more pressure for solutions on how to increase food supply while reducing the negative effects of the current agricultural system. Despite having one of the most sustainable agricultural systems, Sweden presents unsustainable features such as: biodiversity loss, eutrophication, soil wear, and water pollution, high production costs, profitability challenges, low competitiveness in comparison to imported food, unsecure working conditions, rural exodus, and low societal understanding about agriculture. Under the light of these problems, agroecology has been pointed out by researchers, grassroot movements and FAO as a key framework to achieve a food system that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. Therefore, this thesis is motivated by the challenge of feeding a growing population while increasing the sustainability and resilience of the agricultural system as well as the lack of scientific literature on how to promote agroecology through top-down approaches. Thus, the aim of this research is fourfold: (i) advance the discussion on how to facilitate an agroecological transition of the Swedish agrifood system through top down measures, (ii) design an agroecological Swedish Agrifood System scenario, (iii) identify main changes between the current SAS and the idealised scenario and (iv) recommend participatory policies that address the necessary changes. So as to achieve these goals, a partly new methodology was adopted. The methodology is developed through semi-structured interviews - with farmers, researchers and a grassroot organisation - thematic analysis and backcasting. The thematic analysis identified seven themes and eleven sub themes related to the characteristics of an agroecological Swedish agrifood system and the necessary changes to achieve it. Furthermore, five themes and seven sub themes were identified regarding the government's actions in order to promote an agroecological transition of the Swedish agrifood system. The main features of the agroecological scenario are the focus on resilience, self-supply, developing a new food culture, application of agroecological practices, strong urban agriculture, sharing of information among farmers and decentralised marketing of food. The identified key changes so as to facilitate the emergence of this scenario are: political focus, subsidies orientation, increased communication among farmers, adoption of agroecological principles and the marketing system. By last, the recommended policies to address such changes are i) subsidise smallholders committed to local production and marketing, ii) regulate the adoption of unsustainable agricultural practices, iii) act as the main buyer, in the municipal and regional level, or one of the main buyers of local produced food in order to supply public schools, elderly houses and public institutions, iv) establish a new labelling system that benefits the producers who adopt sustainable practices and v) creates a national platform where farmers can exchange information and look for reliable data. The results of this research contribute to the advance of the discussion on agroecological transitions by I) putting the farmers’ opinions in the centre of the decision making process of elucidating a possible pathway on how to upscale agroecology in Sweden through the designing of an agroecological scenario as well as the policies that could address the necessary changes and hence facilitate/promote the upscaling of such a scenario, ii) reinforce the multiscale approach for the transformation of agrifood systems and iii) envision an agrifood system in Sweden that is environmental, social and economical sustainable, identify key changes, and design policies that address such changes

Future Scenarios of Nitrogen in Europe

The future effects of nitrogen in the environment will depend on the extent of nitrogen use and the practical application techniques of nitrogen in a similar way as in the past. Projections and scenarios are appropriate tools for extrapolating current knowledge into thefuture. However,these tools will not allow future system turnovers to be predicted. Approaches• In principle, scenarios of nitrogen use follow the approaches currently used for air pollution,climate ,or ecosystem projections. Short term projections (to 2030) are developed using a ‘baseline’ path of development,which considers abatement options that are consistent with European policy. For medium-term projections (to 2050) and long-term projections, the European Nitrogen Assessment (ENA) applies a ‘storyline’ approach similar to that used in the IPCC SRES scenarios. Beyond 2050 in particular, such story lines also take into account technological and behavioral shift s.Key findings/state of knowledge• The ENA distinguishes between driver-oriented and effect-oriented factors determining nitrogen use. Parameters that cause changes in nitrogen fixation or application are called drivers. In a driver-based approach, it is assumed that any variation of these parameters will also trigger a change in nitrogen pollution. In an effect-based approach, as the adverse effects of nitrogen become evident inthe environment, introduction of nitrogen abatement legislation requiring the application of more efficient abatement measuresis expected. This approach needs to rely on a target that is likely to be maintained in the future (e.g.human health). Nitrogen abatement legislation basedon such targets will aim to counter any growth in adverse environmental effects that occur as a result of increased nitrogen application.• For combustionand industry, technical fixes forabatement are available. Allscenarios agree in projecting a decrease in NOx emissions.Yet agricultural nitrogen use is expected to remain the leading cause of nitrogen release to the environment, as options to reduce emissions are limited. Thus, major changes will occur only if the extent of agricultural production changes, which may possibly be triggered by decreasing population numbers in Europe.The scenarios presented here project modest changes in NH 3 and N 2 O emissions, or nitrateleaching, but do not agree on the direction of these changes.•Agricultural activity (and thus nitrogen loads to the environment) may decrease strongly if the European population adopts a healthier‘low meat’ diet leading to lower nitrogenlosses related to animal husbandry. Change to a ‘healthy diet’ across the EU, which consists of 63% less meat and eggs, would reduce ammonia emissions from animal production by 48%. However, if an agricultural area previously used for animal feed production is utilized for biofuel crops, additional nitrogen fertilizer maybe required, which will partially offset reductions of nitrogen leakage to the environment. Major uncertainties/challenges• International trade in nitrogen-containing goods (agricultural as well as industrial) represents a key uncertainty and is difficult to project. Estimating the demand for such goods for Europe alone may not at all reflect European production and related environmental effects. The industrial use of nitrogen is alsovery poorly understood, but it is expected to continue to grow considerably. The respective environmental impacts of such products cannot be clearly discerned from statistical information.Recommendations• Scenarios need to be continuously updated in terms of economic, technical, and societal trends to reflect improved understanding of these factors. Using nitrogen budgets as tools could improve the consistency of scenarios.JRC.DDG.H.2-Climate change and air qualit

Future scenarios of nitrogen in Europe

The future effects of nitrogen in the environment will depend on the extent of nitrogen use and the practical application techniques of nitrogen in a similar way as in the past. Projections and scenarios are appropriate tools for extrapolating current knowledge into the future. However, these tools will not allow future system turnovers to be predicted

Mainstreaming the environment within humanitarian operations: Identifying key factors for effective implementation of a green approach to procurement within the International Federation of the Red Cross

Each year millions of people receive emergency relief items from humanitarian organizations following disasters and crises. While significant time and resources have been invested in identifying the needs of affected populations and how to address those needs, significantly less focus has been given to environmental impacts of these response operations. These impacts can result in substantial negative outcomes, causing harm to the same populations humanitarian organizations are attempting to serve. In response, humanitarian organizations have developed environmental mainstreaming approaches to mitigate these unintended impacts. However, academic literature has given little focus to environmental impacts of humanitarian operations or their prevention. While there are several entry points to investigating these environmental impacts and possible interventions, this thesis examines procurement of emergency relief items, with a specific purpose of exploring implementation of a green approach to procurement. These research aims were pursued through a case study of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), and relied on collection and analysis of literature and expert interviews with Red Cross procurement practitioners and private-sector suppliers. Results indicate several key factors considered by these experts as needed for implementation of a green approach to procurement. Findings include several implications for realizing organizational and operational change; and additionally identify potential roles a supplier can play in a move toward green procurement. While practical implications are directed toward implementation of an environmental mainstreaming approach within the IFRC, findings identify some overlap with existing studies, which could indicate relevance within a greater humanitarian context.Each year millions of people receive emergency relief items from humanitarian organizations following disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes. While significant time and resources have been invested in identifying the needs of affected populations and how to address those needs, significantly less focus has been given to environmental impacts of these response operations. This research explores environmental impacts of emergency relief items in the field, and identifies key considerations for implementing an approach to procurement of these relief items to prevent negative environmental impacts. In 2015, 4.3 million people received non-food emergency relief items from the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC). This included items such as tarpaulins, jerry cans, kitchen sets, mosquito nets and hygiene kits, designed to meet individuals’ basic needs following a disaster. Primary environmental impacts associated with these relief items are linked to locational waste management issues, which can lead to unintended emissions to the air, land, and water through the improper incineration and disposal of hazardous and other materials. What all of these impacts have in common is the potential to result in negative environmental outcomes that cause further harm to the same people humanitarian organizations are attempting to serve. Therefore, humanitarian organizations face a significant challenge of how to prevent these negative environmental outcomes while still upholding their primary responsibility to save and protect lives. While there are several entry points to investigating these environmental impacts and possible interventions, this research examines procurement of emergency relief items as procurement is noted to have reach throughout the humanitarian supply chain. In other words, decisions made by a humanitarian organization, like the Red Cross, concerning what items to purchase to provide relief to people impacted by a disaster influence environmental impacts starting with raw material extraction to create the products all the way to disposal of the products in the field. Specifically, this thesis investigates implementation of a green (environmental) approach to procurement within the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and seeks to answer the following questions: Do the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies currently consider environmental factors in their relief efforts; and, how can the IFRC and Red Crescent National Societies effectually implement a green approach to procurement? This research was pursued through a case study of the IFRC, and relied on collection and analysis of literature and interviews with Red Cross procurement experts and private-sector relief item suppliers. Results indicate that while environmental considerations, such as the reduction or elimination of packaging, are currently included in procurement practice within the IFRC, efforts are extremely piecemeal as there is not yet a formal approach to inclusion of the environment across the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. Red Cross procurement experts specified several key considerations for implementation of an environmental approach to procurement, which included implications for significant change within the organization and along the supply chain. Results also identified roles suppliers can play in greening of the humanitarian supply chain, indicating a need for humanitarian organizations to select suppliers based on their organization’s environmental goals. Analysis of these results lead to a list of twelve key considerations for how the IFRC and Red Crescent Societies can implement a green approach to procurement. This lengthy list indicates the complex nature of integration of the environment within an organization and its operations. While practical implications of this research are directed toward the inclusion of the environment within humanitarian response operations within the IFRC, findings identify some overlap with existing academic studies, which could indicate relevance within a wider humanitarian context. This research has additionally started to narrow the gap in academic literature addressing humanitarian operations and connected environmental impacts, as well as highlighted further opportunities for research

Investing in Resilience: Ensuring a Disaster-Resistant Future

[Excerpt] This report offers an approach and ideas for reflection, inviting readers to consider how we can ensure that the actions that we know are required to strengthen resilience are actually taken. It is primarily aimed at investors in the public sphere, namely governments and their development partners. The report intentionally applies a loose definition of investment and investors, looking well beyond financial outlays on physical infrastructure. It covers the investment of a wide range of resources—including political commitment, human resources utilization, knowledge, know-how, and personal time and dedication—in an extensive array of structural and nonstructural instruments and mechanisms to identify and assess risk, reduce risk, and manage remaining risk. It includes investments in, for instance, institutions, legislative and regulatory frameworks, financing mechanisms, incentives for change, and systems of accountability. It encourages investors to integrate investments in resilience into their own areas and modes of work and to promote, incentivize, and coordinate on the part of the private sector and households. The report is not a manual or handbook and deliberately does not present prescribed courses of action. Instead, it establishes a vision of a resilient future and equips investors with a framework and ideas to identify practical actions that will result in the realization of that vision. The vision shows how resilience can be accomplished through the coordinated action of governments and their development partners in the private sector, civil society, and the international community. It stresses the interconnectedness and complementarity of possible actions to achieve resilience across a wide range of development policies, plans, legislation, sectors, and themes. The vision encourages “investors” to identify and prioritize bundles of actions that collectively can realize that vision of resilience, breaking away from the current tendency to pursue disparate and fragmented disaster risk management measures that frequently trip and fall at unforeseen hurdles

Soft path approach as a water management strategy: a case study in Thunder Bay, Ontario

The purpose of this research is to examine the criteria for a soft path approach as it may apply to municipal water management in the City of Thunder Bay. A categorization of Thunder Bay's water management practices was created to understand the city's current state. The soft path approach is a new strategy which aims to achieve sustainable water management by considering changes in social habits and practices as well as economic growth rates and structure. A framework of indicators was developed to evaluate the institutional capacity of a municipality to successfully implement the soft path approach. These indicators fit into six themes: technical, financial, institutional, social, political, and technological, and were applied to evaluate specifically the institutional capacity of Thunder Bay to implement the soft path approach. The methodology used in this research was semi-structured interviews of thirteen individuals from a variety of sectors in water management which included municipal and provincial employees, academics and private sector workers. It was found that Thunder Bay is well-suited to implement the soft path approach. There are strengths and weaknesses associated with each capacity which need to be addressed and this research provided recommendations for each capacity type. Three goals for Thunder Bay are provided and include: evaluating, understanding and looking at specific reasons for conservation and efficiency and then quantifying it; articulating a collective vision for a new water future through public engagement; and through the use of backcasting, Thunder Bay should be creating long-term water management strategies which set goals for certain targets such as "No New Water." Overall, this research proves that Thunder Bay is one area where the soft path can be implemented. Social, technical, institutional, financial, political and technological changes have to be made in order for this to happen, but there is a need for change and with participation and interest from local government and citizens, this change is achievable

Scaling and governance conference 2010 : "Towards a New Knowledge for Scale Sensitive Governance of Complex Systems" : conference program and book of abstracts, Wageningen, the Netherlands November 11-12, 2010

Both the ecological and the socio-economic domain are organized across a multitude of scales and levels. Governance encompasses all those structures and activities of social, political and administrative actors that can be seen as purposeful efforts to guide, steer, control, or manage sustainable development or other moral principles like good governance, accountability or environmental justice