Entwicklungszusammenarbeit im Rahmen der Vereinten Nationen

Die Vereinten Nationen (United Nations – UN) setzten sich in ihrer Charta (Art.1) das Ziel, „internationale Probleme wirtschaftlicher, sozialer, kultureller und humanitärer Art zu lösen“. Auf dieser Grundlage sind sie seit ihrer Gründung in vielfältiger Weise entwicklungspolitisch tätig. Heute richten sich zum Teil große Erwartungen an die UN, die im Sinne von „global governance“ in diesem Bereich eine zentrale Rolle übernehmen sollen. Allerdings besitzen die UN bislang nicht die Voraussetzungen, um eine solche Rolle spielen zu können. Nicht nur die Vielzahl und die Unübersichtlichkeit der UN-Einrichtungen auf diesem Gebiet geben immer wieder Anlass zu erheblicher Kritik. Auch andere (Vor-)Urteile wie Ineffizienz und Verschwendung, Schwerfälligkeit und Politisierung gehören vielfach weiterhin zum Image der UN-Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Hinzu kommt eine geringe finanzielle Ausstattung. Allerdings haben die Reformanstrengungen von UN-Generalsekretär Kofi Annan durchaus zu sichtbaren Erfolgen geführt. Bestehen bleiben aber die unterschiedlichen Interessen und Erwartungen der sehr heterogenen 189 UN-Mitgliedstaaten

A study of a low energy house - methods for improvning energy performance while maintaining cost efficiency

  diskuterats flitigt, såväl på det nationella planet som på EU-nivå. Trenden pekar på ett byggande där allt större vikt läggs vid den byggda miljöns energiprestanda. Redan i dagsläget finns flera exempel på hus med ett mycket lågt energibehov, och antalet lågenergihus växer för varje år. I skrivande stund ligger kraven på bostäders specifika energianvändning på 110 kWh/m 2 år i Stockholm, men redan till nästa år finns förslag på att minska motsvarande siffra till 90. Energimyndigheten genomför just nu ett arbete med att tolka EU:s direktiv om så kallade Nära nollenergihus och de preliminära resultaten indikerar att kravnivån för köpt energi kommer hamna kring 55 kWh/m 2 år, vilket är i nivå med de rekommendationer som i dag återfinns i FEBY:s Kravspecifikation för Passivhus. Med utgångsläge i ett uppfört lågenergihus i Henriksdalshamnen i Stockholm har vi i arbetet analyserat olika energieffektiviserande åtgärders inverkan på effekt- och energibehov. Även de ekonomiska aspekterna förknippade med åtgärderna har studerats med hjälp av en modell för livscykelkostnader. Åtgärderna studerades inledningsvis individuellt för att ge en bild av hur stor påverkan de har var för sig. Tre åtgärdspaket sattes sedan samman, där de mest energi- och kostnadseffektiva lösningarna ingick. Det första åtgärdspaketet syftade till att ta huset till passivhusnivå, vilket uppnåddes genom byte av fönster samt en förbättring av lufttätheten. Den ekonomiska analysen visade att detta paket inte var lönsamt. Det andra åtgärdspaketet hade som mål att så mycket som möjligt sänka byggnadens energibehov och samtidigt uppvisa lönsamhet. Resultatet blev ett mer än halverat energibehov och den ekonomiska kalkylen pekade på att det även gick med vinst. Slutligen studerades möjligheten att installera energiproducerande system för att kunna ta huset till ett plusenergiutförande. Tanken var att undersöka om det var möjligt att på ett ekonomiskt försvarbart sätt täcka upp behovet av köpt energi med hjälp av sol- och vindkraft. Analysen visar att det i dagsläget skulle vara svårt att uppnå, främst på grund av de stora investeringskostnader som åtgärderna medför, samt de hinder som är förknippade med regelverken för att sälja energi.today’s recommendations found in FEBY's Kravspecifikation för Passivhus.    Abstract Energy and environmental demands regarding buildings have become an increasingly discussed topic, both in Sweden and in Europe as a whole. The general trend indicates that greater efforts are being put into the energy efficiency of the built environment. There are already numerous examples of houses with a low energy demand, and the number of low energy buildings is constantly growing. At the time being, the maximum level for energy demands for housing in Stockholm is 110 kWh/m 2 year, but as soon as next year the limit will be changed to 90. The Swedish agency Energimyndigheten is currently conducting a project to interpret the EU Directive on the so-called Nearly zero energy buildings, and the preliminary results indicate that the level of requirements for purchased energy will end up with about 55 kWh / m 2 year, which is in line with today’s recommendations found in FEBY's Kravspecifikation för Passivhus. Starting with a low-energy house in Henriksdalshamnen in Stockholm, we have analyzed various energy-efficiency measures and their influence on power and energy needs. The financial aspects associated with the measures have been studied using a model of life cycle costs. The measures were initially studied individually to give an idea of how much impact they each had. Three packages of measures were then put together, where the most energyand cost-effective solutions were included. The first package of measures aimed to achieve the standard for Passive houses, and was accomplished by the replacement of windows and an improvement in airtightness. The economic analysis showed that this package was not viable. The second package of measures aimed to as much as possible reduce the building's energy needs and at the same time demonstrate profitability. The results showed a more than halved energy demand and the economic calculations indicated that it even turned a profit. Finally, the possibility of installing energy-producing systems in order to achieve a plus energy house was studied. The idea was to examine whether it was possible to cover up the need for purchased energy by using solar and wind power, while maintaining profitability. The analysis shows that this would be difficult to achieve, primarily because of the high investment costs entailed, and the difficulties associated with the regulations regarding the sale of energy

A study of a low energy house - methods for improving energy performance while maintaining cost efficiency

Energy and environmental demands regarding buildings have become an increasingly discussed topic, both in Sweden and in Europe as a whole. The general trend indicates that greater efforts are being put into the energy efficiency of the built environment. There are already numerous examples of houses with a low energy demand, and the number of low energy buildings is constantly growing. At the time being, the maximum level for energy demands for housing in Stockholm is 110 kWh/m 2year, but as soon as next year the limit will be changed to 90. The Swedish agency Energimyndigheten is currently conducting a project to interpret the EU Directive on the so-called Nearly zero energy buildings, and the preliminary results indicate that the level of requirements for purchased energy will end up with about 55 kWh / m 2year, which is in line with today’s recommendationsfound in FEBY's Kravspecifikation för Passivhus. Starting with a low-energy house in Henriksdalshamnen in Stockholm, we have analyzed various energy-efficiency measures and their influence on power and energy needs. The financial aspects associated with the measures have been studied using a model of life cycle costs. The measures were initially studied individually to give an idea of how much impact they each had. Three packages of measures were then put together, where the most energyand cost-effective solutions were included. The first package of measures aimed to achieve the standard for Passive houses, and was accomplished by the replacement of windows and an improvement in airtightness. The economic analysis showed that this package was not viable. The second package of measures aimed to as much as possible reduce the building's energy needs and at the same time demonstrate profitability. The results showed a more than halved energy demand and the economic calculations indicated that it even turned a profit. Finally, the possibility of installing energy-producing systems in order to achieve a plus energy house was studied. The idea was to examine whether it was possible to cover up the need for purchased energy by using solar and wind power, while maintaining profitability. The analysis shows that this would be difficult to achieve, primarily because of the high investment costs entailed, and the difficulties associated with the regulations regarding the sale of energy

Convalescence plasma treatment of COVID-19 : results from a prematurely terminated randomized controlled open-label study in Southern Sweden

Objective: Convalescent plasma has been tried as therapy for various viral infections. Early observational studies of convalescent plasma treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients were promising, but randomized controlled studies were lacking at the time. The objective of this study was to investigate if convalescent plasma is beneficial to hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Results: Hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 and an oxygen saturation below 94% were randomized 1:1 to receive convalescent plasma in addition to standard of care or standard of care only. The primary outcome was number of days of oxygen treatment to keep saturation above 93% within 28 days from inclusion. The study was prematurely terminated when thirty-one of 100 intended patients had been included. The median time of oxygen treatment among survivors was 11 days (IQR 6–15) for the convalescent plasma group and 7 days (IQR 5–9) for the standard of care group (p = 0.4, median difference -4). Two patients in the convalescent plasma group and three patients in the standard of care group died (p = 0.64, OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.08–2.79). Thus no significant differences were observed between the groups