Big Brother, Science Fiction or Reality

En un mundo globalizado y generador de multitud de datos e información, la hipervigilancia constituye uno de sus rasgos caracterizadores. En el presente estudio, examinaremos este fenómeno del Big Brother contraponiendo el sistema de crédito social existente en China con la regulación que, en materia de una potencial vigilancia masiva de la población, podemos encontrar en Europa, en aras de aumentar la seguridad ciudadana frente a las nuevas amenazas mundiales. Dos modelos sociales diferentes que, no obstante, evidencian una estremecedora realidad: seamos conscientes de ello o no y, a pesar de los límites establecidos en torno a esta cuestión y a una mayor conciencia de su peligro para los derechos fundamentales en el entorno europeo, no estamos exentos de esta hipervigilancia. En este sentido, la importación de los derechos fundamentales a la esfera digital resulta imperante para evitar convertir nuestros Estados de Derecho en Estados policialesIn a globalized world that generates a multitude of data and information, hypervigilance constitutes one of its characterizing features. In this study, we will examine this Big Brother phenomenon by contrasting the existing social credit system in China with the regulation that, in terms of potential mass surveillance of the population, can be found in Europe, in order to increase citizen security facing the new global threats. Two different social models that, however, show a shocking reality: whether we are aware of it or not and, despite the limits established around this issue and a greater awareness of its danger for fundamental rights in the European environment, we are not exempt from this hypervigilance. In this sense, the importation of fundamental rights into the digital sphere is imperative to avoid turning our rule of law into a police state.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades PID2019-108155RB-I0

E.T. and innovation - science fiction or reality? An assessment of the impact of emissions trading on innovation

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Differences and similarities between ecological and economic models for biodiversity conservation

In this paper we investigate an important obstacle which substantially complicates cooperation between ecologists and economists but which has received little attention so far: differences between the modelling approaches in economics and ecology. To understand these differences, 60 models addressing issues relevant to biodiversity conservation have been selected randomly from eight international economic and ecological journals. The models have been compared according to a number of criteria including the level of generality/universality the models aim at; the mathematical technique employed for formulation and solution of the model; the level of complexity and the way time, space and uncertainty are taken into account. The economic models sampled are formulated and analysed analytically, tend to be relatively simple and are generally used to investigate general questions. Furthermore, they often ignore space, dynamics and uncertainty. Although some ecological models have similar properties, there is also a substantial number of another type of ecological models that are relatively complex and analysed by simulation. These models tend to be rather specific and often explicitly consider dynamics, space and uncertainty. The integrated ecological-economic models are observed to lie 'in the middle' between ecological and economic models, an unexpected result being that they are not more complex than ecological and economic models (as one could have expected from a simple 'merger' of both modelling attitudes), but have an intermediate complexity. --Ecological-economic modelling,modelling,biodiversity,conservation

The Impact of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme on Competitiveness in Europe

This literature review analyses the impacts of the EU ETS on competitiveness focussing on existing simulation studies. We have identified the choice of the reference scenario as the most critical issue for an appropriate analysis of the relevant literature. We find, however, that effects of the scheme on competitiveness are modest, even given the business as usual case that does not take the legally binding framework of the Kyoto Protocol into account. Furthermore, the impacts of the EU ETS are smaller than the impacts of alternative Kyoto-based regulation scenarios. Compared to these other regulation methods ETSs can have positive competitiveness effects. However, the EU ETS is not designed to boost Europe?s economy. Its prime purpose and justification is to ensure that Europe?s CO2 emissions are brought down and Kyoto targets are reached at minimal costs. To our opinion, it is therefore important that the system as well as modifications to it do not undermine the environmental goals associated with this policy instrument. --emissions trading,competitiveness,environmental regulation

EU Emission trading – better job second time around?

The EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for CO2-emissions from energy and industry installations reflects a paradigm shift towards market-based instruments for environmental policy in the EU. The centerpieces of the EU ETS are National Allocation Plans (NAPs), which individual Member States (MS) design for each phase. NAPs state the total quantity of allowances available in each period (ET-budget) and determine how MS allocate allowances to individual installations. The NAPs thus govern investments and innovation in energy efficient technologies and the energy sector. In terms of distribution, they predetermine winners and losers. In this paper we analyze and evaluate 25 NAPs submitted to the European Commission (EC) for phase 2 (2008-2012) of the EU ETS. At the macro level,we assess whether the submitted ET-budgets are stringent, and whether they imply a cost-efficient split of the required emission reductions between the EU ETS sectors (energy and industry) and the remaining sectors (transportation, tertiary and households). Comparing the submitted ET-budgets with those already approved by the EC suggests that the EC’s decisions significantly improved the effectiveness and economic efficiency of the EU ETS. But given the high share of Kyoto Mechanisms companies are allowed to use, the EU ETS is unlikely to require substantial emission reductions within the EU. At the micro level, we assess (across countries and phases) the allocation methods for existing and new installations, for closures and for clean technologies. A comparison of the NAPs for the second phase and the first phase (2005-2007) provides insights into the (limited) adaptability and flexibility of the scheme. The findings provide guidance for the future design of the EU ETS and applications to other sectors and regions

The role of the regulatory framework for innovation activities: The EU ETS and the German paper industry

Based on a research framework which combines environmental economics and innovation studies, we explore the relevance of the regulatory framework for innovation activities in the German paper industry, with a focus on climate poli-cies. Innovation activities considered include research and development, adop-tion and organizational change. Empirically, we mainly rely on the survey data of paper producers and technology providers. Findings suggest that innovation activities are mainly governed by market factors and (as yet) are hardly affected by the European Emission Trading System and other climate policies. Also, the impact of these policies on innovation activities is lower for technology providers than for paper producers. However, the majority of companies expect the ef-fects of the regulatory climate policy framework on innovation to increase by 2020. --

The innovation impact of EU emission trading: findings of company case studies in the German power sector

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of how the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS) as the core climate policy instrument of the European Union has impacted innovation. Towards this end, we investigate the impact of the EU ETS on research, development, and demonstration (RD&D), adoption, and organizational change. In doing so, we pay particular attention to the rela-tive influences of context factors (policy mix, market factors, public acceptance) as well as firm characteristics (value chain position, technology portfolio, size, vision). Empirically, our analysis is based on multiple case studies with 19 power generators, technology providers, and project developers in the German power sector which we conducted from June 2008 until June 2009. We find that the innovation impact of the EU ETS has remained limited so far because of the scheme’s initial lack in stringency and predictability and the relatively greater importance of context factors. Additionally, the impact varies tremendously across technologies, firms, and innovation dimensions, and is most pronounced for RD&D on carbon capture technologies and corporate procedural change. Our analysis suggests that the EU ETS by itself may not provide sufficient incentives for fundamental changes in corporate climate innovation activities at a level adequate for reaching political long-term targets. Based on the study’s findings, we derive a set of policy and research recommendations. --EU ETS,emission trading,innovation,technological change,adoption,diffusion,organizational change,power sector

Koersen op Scheldemondsteden: een bestuurlijke terreinverkenning

Paper voor de PlanDag 2002 "De steden begrensd?" op 6 juni te Dordrecht. Georganiseerd door de Bond van Nederlandse Stedenbouwers en Planologen (BNSP), de Vlaamse Vereniging voor Ruimte en Planning (VRP) en de Stichting Planologische DiscussieDagen (PDD)

Ibuprofen nanocrystals: Production, lyophilization and release profile

Ibuprofen (IBU) is a poorly water-soluble non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with proven effectiveness for treating inflammatory, musculoskeletal, and rheumatic disorders. Nanocrystals (NCs) have been proposed as drug delivery systems to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble compounds. Ibuprofen NCs (IBU-NCs) have been produced by the melt-emulsification method using a combination of Tween®80(1.0%, w/v)/Span®80(0.5%, w/v) as surfactant as these molecules are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as non-toxic, non-irritating and are of low cost. The obtained main particle size (z-Ave) and polydispersity index (PdI) were 159.4 ± 3.265 nm and 0.24 ± 0.007, respectively. Lyophilization slightly increased the mean particle size and PdI compared to the non-freeze-dried IBU-NCs. The obtained IBU-NCs powders were of white and fine texture. The type and concentration of cryoprotector (trehalose, glucose, sucrose) influenced both the size and the in vitro release profile tested in Franz diffusion cells. Due to the smaller z-Ave, NCs:Trehalose (2:1) of 170.6 ± 3.880 nm (0.417 ± 0.050), NCs:Glucose (3:1) of 275.3 ± 8.351 nm (0.144 ± 0.021) and NCs:Sucrose (4:1) of 223.3 ± 10.35 nm (0.402 ± 0.016) were selected for the in vitro drug release tests. Within the first 6 hours, resuspended lyophilized nanocrystals released between 50-70% of the drug