8,468 research outputs found
From Sensor to Observation Web with Environmental Enablers in the Future Internet
This paper outlines the grand challenges in global sustainability research and the objectives of the FP7 Future Internet PPP program within the Digital Agenda for Europe. Large user communities are generating significant amounts of valuable environmental observations at local and regional scales using the devices and services of the Future Internet. These communitiesâ environmental observations represent a wealth of information which is currently hardly used or used only in isolation and therefore in need of integration with other information sources. Indeed, this very integration will lead to a paradigm shift from a mere Sensor Web to an Observation Web with semantically enriched content emanating from sensors, environmental simulations and citizens. The paper also describes the research challenges to realize the Observation Web and the associated environmental enablers for the Future Internet. Such an environmental enabler could for instance be an electronic sensing device, a web-service application, or even a social networking group affording or facilitating the capability of the Future Internet applications to consume, produce, and use environmental observations in cross-domain applications. The term ?envirofied? Future Internet is coined to describe this overall target that forms a cornerstone of work in the Environmental Usage Area within the Future Internet PPP program. Relevant trends described in the paper are the usage of ubiquitous sensors (anywhere), the provision and generation of information by citizens, and the convergence of real and virtual realities to convey understanding of environmental observations. The paper addresses the technical challenges in the Environmental Usage Area and the need for designing multi-style service oriented architecture. Key topics are the mapping of requirements to capabilities, providing scalability and robustness with implementing context aware information retrieval. Another essential research topic is handling data fusion and model based computation, and the related propagation of information uncertainty. Approaches to security, standardization and harmonization, all essential for sustainable solutions, are summarized from the perspective of the Environmental Usage Area. The paper concludes with an overview of emerging, high impact applications in the environmental areas concerning land ecosystems (biodiversity), air quality (atmospheric conditions) and water ecosystems (marine asset management)
A Strategy for the Commons: Business-driven Networks for Collective Action and Policy Dialogue. The Example of Global Compact Local Networks
The current challenges involved with ensuring
global sustainability are daunting.
Climate change is increasing the incidence
of severe weather events, natural resources
are undergoing rapid depletion, labor conditions
in global supply chains are often inhumane
and degrading, and corruption around
the globe is undermining competition and
destroying wealth. These and other global
challenges pose serious problems not only to
mankind in general, but also to the sustainability
of companies. Indeed, companies rely
on enabling environments, local and global
alike, for long-term success. Companies depend
on a reliable legal framework conducive
to investment and competition, a healthy
and viable natural environment, and a secure
social environment that facilitates the wellbeing
of its inhabitants. However, given the
overexploitation of shared resources, also
known as the âtragedy of the commons,â
companies often find it difficult to address
global sustainability challenges and invest
in enabling environments. All sustainability
challenges face this tragedy: Although each
societal actor ought to have an interest in creating
or ensuring the viability of these common
goods, the incentive to âfree rideâ on the
efforts of others and let them bear the costs
is exceedingly high. As a result, short-term
profit maximization often damages the longterm
growth prospects of companies. Since
governments lack the capacity to address the
complexity and global scope of sustainability
challenges alone, a âstrategy for the commonsâ
is needed that allows companies, governments
and other actors to overcome the
free rider dilemma and invest in sustainable
development
Circular economy for climate neutrality: Setting the priorities for the EU. CEPS Policy Brief No 2019/04, 22 November 2019
The previous Commission policy on resources management was part of the priority for jobs and growth and
economic competitiveness. The circular economy will be no less important for the new political priority of
climate neutrality; it will become one of the indispensable elements for meeting the EUâs ambitions. EU
climate policy and the circular economy are by and large complementary and mutually reinforcing. The
circular economy is more than just another âproduct standardsâ policy.
In order for this to happen,
âą there is a need for a framework that is able to systematically address trade-offs, such as between the
circular and the bioeconomy, but also between material efficiency and energy use, as well as
âą a mechanism to steer and monitor progress, touching upon the question of whether and if so, how to
increase ambition and develop tools to monitor progress, for example via targets, and
âą the new Commission will need to develop and then scale up successful products and processes to create
opportunities for new value chains while addressing risks, such as dependency on raw materials.
Circular economy products for the foreseeable future will require both technology push and market pull
policies. Both the circular economy and low-carbon economy will require new and often yet unknown
business models. This will also require new methods of regulation.
The principal challenge will be to create âlead marketsâ for the circular economy in combination with lowcarbon
products. Many ideas for this exist. They include, for example, âcarbon contracts for differenceâ,
carbon budgets for projects, consumption charges, taxes and tax exemptions, sustainable finance, product
standards and public procurement. Ideas now need to be tested to see whether they could work in practice.
Finally, the EU circular economy will need to be underpinned by a robust and transparent carbon accounting
system. If effective, such as system can at the same time act as a catalyst for investment in the circular
economy and low-carbon products and processes
Circular economy: What is the level of knowledge in the Portuguese ornament stone industry sector?
Resource scarcity and growing consumption are forcing businesses and governments to rethink todayâs
dominant linear framework, in which products are discarded after their useful life. The circular economy
proposes a more sustainable and resource-efficient business model. As construction is expected to be
subject to constant growth in the upcoming years, the ornament stone industry as a provider of raw
materials will play a crucial role in the transition towards a circular economy. New business models,
technologies and methods will be necessary to develop a sustainable operating model in the industry.
Even though the adaption of a circular business model offers economic benefits, many businesses face
challenges in the transition. The aim of this master's thesis was to investigate the drivers and barriers in
adapting a circular business model for small and medium-sized companies in the Portuguese ornament
stone industry. Interviews were carried out, in a qualitative approach, with representatives of companies
operating in the Portuguese market. With this investigation, we intended to support the creation of a
pedagogical case study in a context that is pertinent to sustainable economic development. It is intended
that this case will be applied and worked with Masters in the Management area.A escassez de recursos e o consumo crescente estão a forçar as empresas e os governos a repensar o
actual quadro linear dominante, em que os produtos sĂŁo descartados apĂłs a sua vida Ăștil. A Economia
Circular propÔe um modelo empresarial mais sustentåvel e eficiente em termos de recursos. Como se
espera que a construção esteja sujeita a um crescimento constante nos prĂłximos anos, a indĂșstria da
pedra como fornecedora de matérias-primas desempenharå um papel crucial na transição para uma
Economia Circular. Serão necessårios novos modelos de negócio, tecnologias e métodos para
desenvolver um modelo de funcionamento sustentĂĄvel na indĂșstria. Embora a adaptação de um modelo
de negĂłcio circular ofereça benefĂcios econĂłmicos, muitas empresas enfrentam desafios na transição. O
objectivo desta tese de mestrado foi investigar os motores e as barreiras na adaptação de um modelo de
negĂłcio circular para pequenas e mĂ©dias empresas na indĂșstria portuguesa da pedra, tendo sido
realizadas entrevistas, numa abordagem qualitativa, com representantes de empresas que operam no
mercado portuguĂȘs. Com esta investigação pretendeu-se sustentar a criação de um estudo de caso
pedagĂłgico, num contexto que Ă© pertinente para o desenvolvimento econĂłmico sustentĂĄvel. Pretendese
que este caso venha a ser aplicado e trabalhado com Mestrandos da ĂĄrea de GestĂŁo
Circular economy in Italian SMEs: A multi-method study
Abstract Climate change, population growth, and current rate of consumption at global scale have prompted academic and business communities to challenge the current models of production towards more circular approaches. This study aims at understanding what actions small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are taking to meet the challenges and opportunities of the circular economy (CE), analysing actions, barriers, enablers and the connection between CE, business strategy and performance. This research involved 254 Italian SMEs through a multi-method approach, including interviews, surveys, and focus groups. Twenty different CE practices related to waste management, packaging, supply chain and product/process design have been explored. The results show that several CE practices are simultaneously implemented by SMEs, thus supporting the notion that CE implies a systemic approach to company's value creation. In particular, waste management was widely applied (e.g. separated waste collection was carried out by 84% of the companies surveyed), while resource saving practices were implemented by only 14% of the sample. Higher costs are the main barrier to CE for early adopters (5.13 on a 7-point Likert-type scale). However, companies implementing CE practices perceive them as a business opportunity rather than a cost, thus showing that CE may represent a source of value creation for companies, particularly SMEs
Shaping digital earth applications through open innovation â setting the scene for a digital earth living lab
Science and policy increasingly request for sustainable development and growth. Similarly, Digital Earth undergoes a paradigm shift to an open platform that actively supports user engagement. While the public becomes able to contribute new content, we recognize a gap in user-driven validation, feedback and requirements capture, and innovative application development. Rather than defining Digital Earth applications top down, we see a need for methods and tools that will help building applications bottom up and driven by community needs. These should include a technology toolbox of geospatial and environmental enablers, which allow to access functional building blocks and content in multiple ways, but â equally important â enable the collaboration within partially unknown stakeholder networks. The validation and testing in real-life scenarios will be a central requirement when approaching the Digital Earth 2020 goals, which were articulated recently. We particularly argue to follow a Living Lab approach for co-creation and awareness rising in relation to environmental and geospatial matters. We explain why and how such a Digital Earth Living Lab could lead to a sustainable approach for developing, deploying, and using Digital Earth applications and suggest a paradigm shift for Virtual Globes becoming forums for research and innovation
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