A comparison of estimates of mean annual precipitation from different proxies: a pilot study for the European Neogene

Peer reviewe

Q-Value for the Fermi Beta-Decay of 46V

By comparing the Q-values for the 46Ti(3He,t)46V and 47Ti(3He,t)47}V reactions to the isobaric analog states the Q-value for the superallowed Fermi-decay of 46V has been determined as Q_{EC}(46V)=(7052.11+/-0.27) keV. The result is compatible with the values from two recent direct mass measurements but is at variance with the previously most precise reaction Q-value. As additional input quantity we have determined the neutron separation energy S_n(47Ti)=(8880.51+/-0.25) keV

CHARTER-hankkeen taustapaperi 1 : Tietoa ja arktisia näkemyksiä ilmasto- ja ympäristölainsäädännön tueksi

Non peer reviewe

“Rights for Life” scenario to reach biodiversity targets and social equity for indigenous peoples and local communities

Scenarios are a powerful way in which the scientific community can inform future policies for transformative change. Forthcoming scenario work holds promise for the Nature Futures Framework, which through the concept of relational values, seeks to recognize a multiplicity of value positions on human-environment relations, including those of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The objective of this Perspective paper is to propose a novel scenario skeleton titled "Rights for Life", which holds promise to achieve ambitious biodi-versity targets in a socially-equitable ways by focusing on the Nature's and IPLCs' rights. We demonstrate, through the case of Arctic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) herding, that the "Rights for Life" scenario seems to deliver better social equity outcomes than the recently proposed "Half Earth" and "Sharing the Planet" sce-narios that have been designed to achieve ambitious conservation and biodiversity targets. The "Rights for Life" scenario is particularly fit for sparsely-populated indigenous homelands and rural regions where local commu-nities depend on culturally important nature-based livelihoods for their well-being. We recommend that future scenarios targeting human-environment relations should not only consider non-western and relational value perspectives, but also recognize the importance of Nature's and IPLCs' rights for ensuring transformative change for equity and the environment. Clear recognition of such rights can function as a basis for new regulations, market-based governance instruments, policies, and participatory governance instruments ensuring that viola-tion of Nature's and IPLCs' rights by societal developments is recognized, avoided, minimized, or at least compensated for.Peer reviewe

Raising the bar on the type, size and timeline of a 'successful' decoupling

Peer reviewe

Decoupling for ecological sustainability : A categorisation and review of research literature

The idea of decoupling "environmental bads" from "economic goods" has been proposed as a path towards sustainability by organizations such as the OECD and UN. Scientific consensus reports on environmental impacts (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions) and resource use give an indication of the kind of decoupling needed for ecological sustainability: global, absolute, fast-enough and long-enough. This goal gives grounds for a categorisation of the different kinds of decoupling, with regard to their relevance. We conducted a survey of recent (1990-2019) research on decoupling on Web of Science and reviewed the results in the research according to the categorisation. The reviewed 179 articles contain evidence of absolute impact decoupling, especially between CO2 (and SOX) emissions and evidence on geographically limited (national level) cases of absolute decoupling of land and blue water use from GDP, but not of economy-wide resource decoupling, neither on national nor international scales. Evidence of the needed absolute global fast-enough decoupling is missing.Peer reviewe

Laser Spectroscopy of Niobium Fission Fragments: First Use of Optical Pumping in an Ion Beam Cooler Buncher

A new method of optical pumping in an ion beam cooler buncher has been developed to selectively enhance ionic metastable state populations. The technique permits the study of elements previously inaccessible to laser spectroscopy and has been applied here to the study of Nb. Model independent mean-square charge radii and nuclear moments have been studied for $^{90,90 m,91,91 m,92,93,99,101,103}$Nb to cover the region of the N=50 shell closure and N≈60 sudden onset of deformation. The increase in mean-square charge radius is observed to be less than that for Y, with a substantial degree of β softness observed before and after N=60

To continue to burn something? : Technological, economic and political path dependencies in district heating in Helsinki, Finland

The transition away from fossil fuel based infrastructure for heating and cooling has to happen on a scale and timetable with no historical precedent. As the systems are large and networked, path-dependencies constrain the transition that is further complicated by the diversity of stakeholders. Here we analyze the case of transitioning the district heating system in the city of Helsinki, Finland, within the target of a carbon neutral metropolitan area. Despite relatively advanced climate policies, path-dependencies on the political, technological-material and economical levels interact in creating a "wicked" problem with no obvious solution and potential for backsliding. It is in this context that a possibility of a green paradox arises: despite the explicit commitment of all stakeholders toward carbon dioxide emission reductions, the combination of the path-dependencies may result in a transition that increases emissions. Our results highlight policy implications of path-dependencies for researchers, government and business.Peer reviewe