Análisis bibliométrico y sistémico de la relación entre la gestión y el carbono

[EN] This paper aims to present a bibliometric and systemic analysis of the Bibliographic Portfolio (BP) jointly examining the literature related to topics like “Greenhouse gas,” mainly carbon, and “Management,” as published in databases data such as Web of Science and Scopus in the field of economic and social sciences. The Knowledge and Constructivist Development Process methodology —Proknow-C— was used to establish the final portfolio and through the VosViewer program were mapped the various groups or relationships between the studied literature. The paper presents the theoretical and methodological aspects focusing on the areas and countries of study and highlighting the most relevant authors to have researched this particular topic. We use this constructivist model to describe the measurement variables and synthesize the concepts most used in these studies in order to propose new focal points and thematic approaches that could be developed further in the future.[ES] Este trabajo tiene como objetivo presentar un análisis bibliométrico y sistémico del Portafolio Bibliográfico (PB) examinando conjuntamente la literatura relacionada con temas como “Gas de efecto invernadero”, principalmente el carbono, y “Gestión”, según lo publicado en bases de datos como Web of Science y Scopus, en el campo de las ciencias económicas y sociales. Se empleó la metodología del Proceso de Desarrollo del Conocimiento y Constructivismo—Proknow-C— para establecer el portafolio final y a través del programa VosViewer se mapearon los diversos grupos o relaciones entre la literatura estudiada. El trabajo presenta los aspectos teóricos y metodológicos centrándose en las áreas, países de estudio y el reconocimiento de los autores más relevantes que han investigado este tema en particular. A partir de este modelo constructivista, se describen las variables de medición y se sintetizan los conceptos más utilizados en estos estudios, con el fin de proponer nuevos enfoques temáticos que puedan desarrollarse en el futuro.This document was produced thanks to the fact that Yenny Naranjo Tuesta was a beneficiary of the “Colombia Científica - Pasaporte a la Ciencia Program of ICETEX” in the foco – país of Society, which financed her doctoral studies. The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their comments, which have considerably improved this documen

A Quantitative Environmental Assessment of Incorporating Torrefaction into Farming Enterprises in Eastern South Dakota

The use of renewable energy sources has been increasing in the recent years due to population growth and environmental concerns. Biomass is a promising energy source that can be used to produce biofuels or torrefied pellets. Torrefied biomass may be used in power plants, industrial and residential heating, feedstocks for gasification, air and water filtrating, and soil amendment. The interest of torrefied pellets as energy sources for various applications has been increased in the recent years due to the concerns about energy security and environmental issues. This study focuses on the economic and environmental assessment of agricultural feedstocks like corn stover, wheat straw, and soybean residues capable of producing torrefied pellets in the Eastern & Central South Dakota, Brookings. The techno-economic and environmental analysis of these feedstocks is required to understand the supply chain. GaBi ts – Life Cycle Assessment software, version 6.115 was used to analyze the potential environmental impacts of crop residues from the viewpoint of farmers and torrefaction facility. This study recommends farmers to follow corn-soybean rotation to have both the economic and environmental benefits. This study also shows that, when done responsibly, residue-based torrefaction reduce dependence on coal. Also, one of the significant findings from this LCA study is that crop residues are beneficial to crop grains in terms of global warming potential but have higher environmental emissions in terms of acidification and eutrophication potential

Implementing a carbon measurement & reporting system in an international non-government organisation: A case study

The movement towards sustainable business practices has been necessitated by the growing acceptance that traditional business practices are unsustainable: financially, socially and environmentally. To date, studies have largely been concentrated on the for-profit sector, in particular on the implications for investors. In this research, I utilise an action research methodology to explore how the implementation of a carbon reporting system impacts the social license to operate in a large international non-governmental organisation, Christian Blind Mission. The case study summarises the process of developing the reporting system, tools, and implementation in this large organisation spanning 76 countries. The purpose of this study is to utilise institutional theory to demonstration how the NGO’s accountability has progressed beyond only being accountable to the INGO Accountability Charter to include stakeholders under the Social Licence to Operate for long term sustainability. I utilise a new institutional theory perspective in particular: constructing normative networks, ‘changing normative association’ education, undermining assumptions and beliefs, and enabling work. I utilise Institutional theory as a means to explain how institutional pressures change organisational behavior and the implications of the pressures while implementing a carbon measurement and reporting system. I also discuss the implication of carbon reporting on organisations Social Licence to Operate. I also highlight the need for research in implementing traditionally for-profit sustainability tools in the not for profit sector

Carbon emissions evaluation for highway management and maintenance

Highway clients are increasingly concerned with the environmental consequences and sustainability implications of their highway maintenance service. This is because the service consumes a significant amount of natural resources, is financial and energy-intensive and is a large Greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter responsible for global warming and climate change. This has placed the highway maintenance sector, including its supply chain under increasing pressure to deliver well-maintained low-carbon maintenance service, whilst addressing its climate change impacts. The highway stakeholders increasing focus on carbon footprinting is a direct response to the legal obligation presented by the enactment of the UK s Climate Change Act (2008) and the Carbon Reduction Commitments. Investment decisions on highway infrastructure must now account for carbon and financial costs in a balanced manner. Highway clients now require their supply chains to demonstrate the capacity to reduce both direct and indirect carbon, and provide carbon footprint information relating to the work done or being tendered for. This is driving the sector to re-think its business operations within environmental, economic and social limits, which inherently presents risks and opportunities poorly understood by the stakeholders. It requires an in-depth understanding of the business operations, inputs and outputs. These business requirements are compounded given the lack of an agreed industrial methodology standard focusing on carbon footprinting, the knowledge and skill gaps, system boundary definitions, credible industrial data and their collection approach. The aim of this study is to develop a project-focused and process-based carbon footprinting methodology that includes a decision-support and carbon management tool to assist carbon management decision-making in highway maintenance planning and operation. This study then explored how the PAS2050 protocol can enhance the highway maintenance service delivery carbon footprinting and identify opportunities for reduction. It briefly reviews carbon emissions performance and the UK s highway maintenance sector, and developed a methodological framework that includes a carbon evaluation tool (the sponsor s business focus tool) based on the PAS2050 protocol. The framework developed is specific to highway maintenance planning and operation. It offers a carbon Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool that can identify emission hotspots across the process value chain, and inform a carbon reduction hierarchy. The implementation of the PAS2050-compliant methodology framework and the carbon evaluation tool for core highway maintenance processes (for example, pavement resurfacing, pavement marking, bulk lamp replacement and grass cutting), in addition to carbon footprinting across different site locations (urban, semi-urban and rural) are presented. The results indicate that materials production and their delivery to site (embodied carbon) are areas of carbon hotspots. This represents an important decision point for highway designers, managers and maintainers in order to deliver low-carbon service. These carbon hotspots suggest a less energy-intensive or green materials manufacturing process, responsible sourcing, use of recycled and secondary materials sourced locally (closer to sites) and delivered in bulk. The step-by-step carbon footprinting approach presented in this study is unique. It can be used by other sectors within the built environment as a pragmatic means of identifying and prioritising areas of potential carbon reduction through informed decision-making

Pulverized fuel ash solidification/stabilization of waste: comparison between beneficial reuse of contaminated marine mud and sediment

This study aimed to maximize the utilization of contaminated marine mud and sediment for beneficial reuse by solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatment with cement and pulverized fuel ash (PFA). For the purposes of waste maximization and enhancing the mechanical property of the S/S mixtures, mixing 75% by mass of either contaminated marine mud or sediment with 20% and 5% of cement and PFA, respectively, was found to be the optimal mix design. Their unconfined compressive strengths reached up to 8.32 MPa and 4.47 MPa, respectively. Apart from the mechanical property, according to the U.S.EPA, the TCLP results show that all regulated heavy metals were immobilized to a safe level and are available for engineering application such as fill material. The results of XRD reveal that the formation of CSH gel in the S/S treated mud and sediment is responsible for the strength development and heavy metal immobilization

Flying along the supply chain: accounting for emissions from student air travel in the higher education sector

Higher education institutions (HEIs) can play a key role in facilitating the transition to a low carbon economy, where reporting greenhouse gas emissions is an important step in this process. While most UK HEIs are required to report estate emissions, engagement with supply chain emissions has been inconsistent. This research examined emissions arising from the air travel of international and study-abroad students and their visiting friends and relatives (VFR). Survey results demonstrated that flight frequencies were substantially higher than those assumed in sector guidance. An analysis of 25 UK HEIs found student and VFR flight emissions were significant, each being greater than other Scope 3 travel and comparable to Scope 2 emissions. Scenario analysis suggests that by 2020/2021, increases in flight emissions are likely to exceed reductions in estate emissions unless HEIs reinvigorate efforts to achieve reduction targets, and/or there is close to zero growth in inbound and outbound student numbers. It is thus imperative that HEIs develop an accurate picture of these emissions in order to inform their carbon management and internationalization strategies. In doing so, the risk of a rebound-type effect must also be considered, where if action is taken to reduce student flights, VFR flights may increase

Exploring the inherent conflict between the internationalisation and carbon management agendas in the UK higher education sector

Globally, higher education institutions (HEIs) can help facilitate the transition to a low-carbon society through their role as educators, researchers and community leaders. Focusing on their role as educators, one of the central concepts of education for sustainable development is global citizenship, where for UK HEIs the recruitment of international students and study abroad schemes have been a fundamental way of encouraging home students to develop global perspectives. However, this approach conflicts with the sector’s low-carbon agenda due to the significant emissions from air travel (hereafter ‘the Conflict’). To evaluate the scale of student air travel emissions, and to explore students and HEIs awareness of, and willingness to mitigate and/or compensate for these emissions, this study adopted a convergent and integrated parallel strand mixed methods design. This comprised of a cross-sectional survey of 663 international and study abroad students and document analysis and in-depth interviews under the umbrella of eight HEI case studies. An analysis of UK HE sector statistics, in combination with flight frequencies determined from the student survey, found that student air travel emissions were equivalent to 68% of estates emissions, or 119% when visiting friends and relatives were taken into account. Furthermore, scenario analysis suggested that by 2020/21, increases in these emissions are likely to exceed the reductions achieved in estates emissions unless HEIs reinvigorate efforts to achieve their ambitious reduction targets, and/or there is close to zero annual growth in inbound and outbound student numbers. The findings from the eight case studies revealed that the sector is poorly equipped to respond to the Conflict. This relates to an ongoing focus on, and difficulties achieving, estates emission reductions, varied engagement with indirect (supply chain) emissions, and an unwillingness at the institutional level from the majority of HEIs to engage with the Conflict. To have credibility and be in a position to respond strategically to the Conflict, HEIs should include student air travel emissions in a comprehensive carbon footprint. Moreover, a robust carbon management strategy for the sector should include offsetting due to the limited potential to avoid or reduce these emissions through reduction in air travel consumption. This is evidenced by both responses to the student survey and the importance placed on student mobility by the HEIs. Clearly, there are challenges for organisations who face conflicting business priorities in responding to the carbon management agenda. Organisations need to account for and engage with indirect emission sources such as employee commuting and business travel, and the emissions associated with products (goods and services). The reluctance and inability to engage with challenges that require a trade-off, or compromise between socio-economic benefits and environmental costs has implications for the achievability of a global reduction in emissions