Periodic solutions of autonomous systems under discretization

The existence of a sequence of periodic trajectories of a general one-step numerical scheme corresponding to a null sequence of constant time-steps is established under the assumption that the autonomous ordinary differential equation has an isolated periodic solution with non-zero topological index. The convergence of the linearly interpolated numerical curve to the original invariant curve with respect to the Hausdorff metric is also shown

CORPORATE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE ARCTIC ZONE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION : THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES

Peer reviewe

The significance of planning and management of the subsurface to achieve sustainable cities

Introduction: The subsurface is the foundation upon which all cities rest. But the subsurface is not only a construction basis which provide physical space for infrastructure and the possibility to create a better surface living environment: the subsurface is a multifunctional natural resource. Apart from physical space, it provides water, energy, materials, habitats for ecosystems, support for surface life, and a repository for cultural heritage and geological archives. Currently, the subsurface is often utilised according to the “first-come-first-served” principle, which hinders possibilities to take strategic decisions on prioritisation and optimisation of competing subsurface uses, as well as fair inter- and intragenerational distribution of limited natural resources. A great disadvantage is the invisibility of the subsurface and consequently a lack of understanding of it as a multifunctional resource: the recently launched concept of geosystem services could help mitigate its underrating. Methods: In order to better acknowledge and lift forward the significance of the subsurface in achieving a sustainable future, the 17 SDGs are scrutinized in relation to the resources of subsurface, and specifically how better planning and management of the subsurface can contribute in achieving the goals. Results: Subsurface planning and management is relevant to at least seven (3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13) out of seventeen SDGs. Although the subsurface is not explicitly mentioned in the SDGs (except for aquifers), the subsurface can significantly contribute in achieving several of these goals. Conclusions: Sound planning and management of the subsurface can support the achievement of the mapped SDGs in various ways. The subsurface must be recognised as a precious and multifunctional resource which require careful planning and sensitive management in accordance with its potential and its value to society.Grant support: Swedish Research Council Formas (942-2016-50), Swedish Rock Engineering Research Foundation (BeFo 385), Swedish Institute Visby Programme (23887/2017)

Subsurface planning: Towards a common understanding of the subsurface as a multifunctional resource

In response to powerful trends in technology, resource and land supply and demand, socioeconomics and geopolitics, cities are likely to increase use of the subsurface in the near future. Indeed, the subsurface and its appropriate use have been put forward as being of crucial importance if we are to achieve resilient and sustainable cities. In recent years, quite apart from being seen primarily as a construction basis to provide physical space for infrastructure and to create a better surface living environment, the subsurface has been recognised as a multifunctional natural resource, one which provides physical space, water, energy, materials, habitats for ecosystems, support for surface life, and a repository for cultural heritage and geological archives. Currently, the subsurface is often utilised according to the “first-come-first-served” principle, which hinders possibilities to take strategic decisions on prioritisation and optimisation of competing subsurface uses, as well as fair inter- and intragenerational distribution of limited natural resources. Taking a broad international perspective, this paper investigates the subsurface as a multifunctional resource from five focal points: (1) what professionals with different backgrounds mean when using different terms related to the subsurface; (2) how professionals describe the subsurface and its multiple resources, functions and services; (3) how planning of subsurface use is supported in policy and regulations; (4) how the subsurface is included in the planning process; and (5) frameworks that can support decision-making on responsible use of the subsurface. The study reveals that the subsurface must be recognised (not only by scientists but also by decision- and policy-makers and other stakeholders) as a precious and multifunctional resource requiring careful planning and sensitive management in accordance with its potential and its value to society. Utilisation of the different subsurface functions to yield services requires careful planning and a framework to support decision-makers in achieving a balance between utilisation and preservation, and between the subsurface functions themselves in the case of outright utilisation. Further, to facilitate the necessary change towards transdisciplinary work settings in the planning process and form a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building, there is an urgent need for a common language, i.e. mutually understandable terminology, and a common understanding, i.e. an all-inclusive view on the subsurface as a complex multifunctional resource

Environmental Change and Migration: Governmental Compensation Policies to Natural Disasters Victims and Urbanization Process: A Case Study of Wildfires in Russian Federation in 2010

Bobylev N. Environmental Change and Migration: Governmental Compensation Policies to Natural Disasters Victims and Urbanization Process: A Case Study of Wildfires in Russian Federation in 2010. COMCAD Arbeitspapiere - Working Papers, 100. Bielefeld: COMCAD - Center on Migration, Citizenship and Development; 2011

Environmental security via sustainable development goals: Localization in the Arctic Region

International audienceThe Arctic region has a scared population, but its urbanization rate is quite high, especially in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF). Considering environmental and human security, the Arctic region poses many challenges: pristine and vulnerable natural environment, the urban environment is often tainted with accumulated environmental damage, global climatic changes impose additional stress, and great uncertainty. The localization process means considering and implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at a local regional, city, or community level. Sustainable Development Goals offer a quite an interesting framework to consider environmental security issues, which is the focus of this presentation. Obtained research results to date consider an ecological block of indicators and three groups of parameters: impact on atmospheric air and water environment, as well as waste management, and ecosystem services. The socio-ecological block includes two main parameters: the comfort of living in Arctic cities (index of the quality of the urban environment; the share of the population in regions and cities with high and very high levels of pollution; provision of the population with clean drinking water) and the state of urban infrastructure (degradation of the infrastructure in areas such as water supply, sewerage, waste collection and disposal, pollution control activities, and the degree of housing improvement)

Integrated Assessment of Groundwater Pollution from the Landfill of Sewage Sludge

The purpose of this study was to assess the groundwater contamination from a sewage sludge landfill. The analysis was carried out in 2017 in accordance with the requirements of the national legislation for monitoring landfills and priority pollutants. The samples of groundwater from the landfill were taken from 25 observation wells, from depths of 45–60 m. The status and dynamics of changes in the landfill groundwater quality were estimated according to the data from the groundwater observation wells of the city observation network with regard to the chemical composition of groundwater and national standards of groundwater quality. The forecast estimates of a low level of pollutants entering groundwater through the soils characterized by low filtration properties were not justified. The concentration of heavy metals in groundwater was within the following range: Fe > Mn > Zn > Al > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd > Hg. The excess concentration of the nitrogen-containing pollutants was observed within the range from 1.5 to 76 (on average 10 times) above the background value. The organic contamination of landfill groundwater (COD) is 2–9 times and BOD5 – 1.5–3 times higher than the average background value of groundwater observation wells in the city network. The probable cause for the pollutants entry into groundwater is associated with lithogenous and exogenous fracturing of the rocks and insufficient efficiency of the existing anti-filtration system of the landfill

Periodic solutions of autonomous systems under discretization

The existence of a sequence of periodic trajectories of a general one-step numerical scheme corresponding to a null sequence of constant time-steps is established under the assumption that the autonomous ordinary differential equation has an isolated periodic solution with non-zero topological index. The convergence of the linearly interpolated numerical curve to the original invariant curve with respect to the Hausdorff metric is also shown

Climate change mitigation and adaptation in strategic environmental assessment

Countries are implementing CO2 emission reduction targets in order to meet a globally agreed global warming limit of +2 °C. However, it was hypothesised that these national reduction targets are not translated to regional or state level planning, and are not considered through Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in order to meet emission reduction obligations falling on the transport, energy, housing, agriculture, and forestry sectors. SEAs of land use plans in the German state of Saxony, and the English region of the East of England were examined for their consideration of climate change impacts based on a set of criteria drawn from the literature. It was found that SEAs in both cases failed to consider climate change impacts at scales larger than the boundary of the spatial plan, and that CO2 reduction targets were not considered. This suggests a need for more clarity in the legal obligations for climate change consideration within the text of the SEA Directive, a requirement for monitoring of carbon emissions, a need for methodological guidance to devolve global climate change targets down to regional and local levels, and a need for guidance on properly implementing climate change protection in SEA

EU‐Russia cross‐border cooperation in the 21 st century: turning marginality into competitive advantage

International audienceThis paper aims to examine how Russian north‐western regions and municipalities use their marginal/border position as a resource to build a sustainable development strategy. Theoretically, this study is based on the marginality theory which states that border or remotely located subnational units are able to turn their marginality from disadvantage to a resource and transform themselves from depressed and provincial territories to attractive places hosting intense international flows of goods, services, capital, technologies and people. A number of venues for the EU‐Russia cross‐border cooperation are explored: the European Neighborhood Instrument, Northern Dimension partnerships, Euroregions and city‐twinning. The authors conclude that despite some problems with establishing a proper division of labor between above programs and project implementation cross‐border cooperation proved to be a valuable instrument not only for successful development of the marginal/border actors but also for establishing mutual trust and collaborative relations between Russia and neighboring EU countries