Sustainability of bio-jetfuel in Malaysia

Aviation represents a small but growing share of global CO2 emissions (2-3%), and Southeast Asia is where this industry grows the fastest. The industry targets 50% reduction in net CO2 emission by 2050, and will need at least 2 million tonnes of biofuel by 2020. In Southeast Asia, competition between natural spaces (such as tropical forests) and biofuel development should be avoided. A complex interaction of political, sociological and natural factors influence the logistics, the infrastructures and the potential sustainability of biofuel. The contrasted growing conditions, and the geographically scattered nature of the potential resources for aviation industry, add to the complexity. Building visions and actions necessitates a range of assessments and researches, to insure sustainability of appropriate scenarios and pathways. In Malaysia, a consortium established a Center of Excellence on Biomass Valorisation for aviation, in order to study the biomass feedstocks and pathways which are necessary to meet the industry target, and to ensure sustainability

Accès à l’eau potable, problèmes de gouvernance et vulnérabilités : le cas de la municipalité de Las Heras (agglomération de Mendoza, Argentine)

The Mendoza urban area (1 million inhabitants), at the center of the largest oasis in the world, is located on South America’s dry diagonal. In this arid space, water resources are scarce. There is only one source of surface water, the rio Mendoza, which accounts for two thirds of the water supply in the city. But in the Andes, the main water source for the oasis, climate change already has a tangible impact and the quantity of available water is declining. Hence a competition for water: as far as drinking water is concerned, downstream neighbourhoods are the weakest ones. Such areas are affected by low water pressure and they have to rely on tanker trucks and/or water wells. Poor neighbourhoods, like the Las Heras municipality, are the most impacted. Initially focused on the signs of potential socio-economic discriminations in water distribution, this paper shows instead that the real problem is of a technical nature. It also confirms management deficiencies on the part of local authorities

Accès à l’eau potable, problèmes de gouvernance et vulnérabilités : le cas de la municipalité de Las Heras (agglomération de Mendoza, Argentine)

The Mendoza urban area (1 million inhabitants), at the center of the largest oasis in the world, is located on South America’s dry diagonal. In this arid space, water resources are scarce. There is only one source of surface water, the rio Mendoza, which accounts for two thirds of the water supply in the city. But in the Andes, the main water source for the oasis, climate change already has a tangible impact and the quantity of available water is declining. Hence a competition for water: as far as drinking water is concerned, downstream neighbourhoods are the weakest ones. Such areas are affected by low water pressure and they have to rely on tanker trucks and/or water wells. Poor neighbourhoods, like the Las Heras municipality, are the most impacted. Initially focused on the signs of potential socio-economic discriminations in water distribution, this paper shows instead that the real problem is of a technical nature. It also confirms management deficiencies on the part of local authorities