ECONOMETRIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN QATAR

Qatar’s economy has grown drastically over the last decades. Extreme industrial expansion and economic growth, alongside the rapidly increasing population and rising living standards put continuously increasing pressures on domestic energy consumption leading to the soaring demand for electricity. The direct relation between domestic energy demand and the most important export products - oil and gas - has posed an interesting policy challenge. Seeking power generation from renewable solar energy resources to replace the use of conventional oil and gas resources has become feasible due to the increasing concerns of depleting oil and gas resources and environmental concerns. This research project discusses the opportunity and advantages of utilizing the renewable solar energy in power generation in the State of Qatar. The research aims to provide an economic and environmental analysis assessing the effectiveness of solar energy technologies (more specifically the solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels in residential buildings) in Qatar. Economically, the cost of utilizing the Photovoltaic module is assessed by calculating the system equivalent annual savings and economical net present value (NPV), taking into consideration the initial installation cost in addition to the annual operation and maintenance cost. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation is presented for different discount and tariff rates as well as different system installation and Operations & Maintenance costs. Environmentally, the corresponding reduction in the CO2 emissions at the base station and its equivalent estimated cost saving is calculated and the NPV is recalculated considering the CO2 savings amount. This project proposes energy policy for Qatar supporting the utilization of solar Photovoltaic system in residential buildings, and estimating a suitable subsidy level to minimize the total system annual cost to the customers making it economically attractive

Is University Nursing Education in Canada Taking the Lead in a World Focused on Sustainable Development? / La formation universitaire au Canada est-elle à l’avant-plan dans un monde centré sur le développment durable?

Global Health is widely being adopted by universities and higher education institutions in Canada and around the world. The current global climate has given rise to an emphasis on the necessity of global health education for nurses. Nursing educators as well as nursing students are seeking guidance as they integrate global health as part of their learning, teaching, research and practice. In September 2015, the member states of the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): seventeen goals to end poverty, protect the environment, and ensure health and well-being for all. These seventeen goals will guide the world’s development agenda for the next 15 years. Canadian universities, especially nursing faculties/schools are uniquely placed to help implement the SDGs, particularly goals three and four which focus on good health and well-being and quality education. Little has been done in understanding universities and in particular nursing’s overall commitment to achieving these 17 goals. Nursing is the largest health care provider group and it is critical to understand our educational responsibilities in attaining the SDGs. The purpose of this paper is to share findings from a study which examined Canada’s largest nursing faculties’/schools of nursing’s mission statements and strategic plans, and to discuss how these mandates align with the achievement of the SDGs. Résumé La notion de « santé mondiale » est largement utilisée par les universités et les établissements d’enseignement supérieur au Canada et partout dans le monde. Le climat mondial actuel a fait naître le besoin de former les infirmières au domaine de la santé mondiale. Les professeures et les étudiantes en sciences infirmières sont à la recherche d’orientations alors qu’elles intègrent la santé mondiale à leur apprentissage/enseignement, recherche et pratique. En septembre 2015, les États membres de l’ONU ont adopté les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) : dix-sept objectifs qui visent à mettre fin à la pauvreté, à protéger l’environnement et à garantir la santé et le bien-être pour tous. Au cours des 15 prochaines années, ces dix-sept objectifs vont guider le développement à l’échelle mondiale. Les universités canadiennes, et surtout les facultés de sciences infirmières, sont particulièrement bien placées pour contribuer à la mise en œuvre de ces ODD, plus spécifiquement les objectifs trois et quatre qui portent sur la santé et le bien-être et une éducation de qualité. Peu d’efforts ont été faits pour comprendre l’engagement des universités et surtout, celui des sciences infirmières, pour atteindre ces 17 objectifs. Les infirmières représentent le plus important groupe de prestataires de soins de santé au pays, et il est essentiel de comprendre nos responsabilités en matière de formation pour la réalisation des ODD de l’ONU. Le but de cet article est de faire part des résultats d’une étude qui portait sur les énoncés de mission les plans stratégiques des plus grandes facultés de sciences infirmières/école de sciences infirmières au Canada, et de discuter de la correspondance de ces mandats avec l’atteinte de ces ODD