Mobility costs in the Extended City of Aveiro-Ílhavo, Portugal

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Extrativism in the Global Market and Human Rights: The Tragedy of the Mudslide in Mariana (2015)

In the afternoon of November 5, 2015, the Fundão Dam, located in the city of Mariana, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, collapsed and released a massive wave of toxic mud over the District of Bento Rodrigues. The mud had spread itself all over the River Doce Basin and reached the Atlantic Ocean two weeks later. The magnitude of the social, economic and environmental impacts of this tragedy are still under evaluation by the authorities. The present paper aims to question the viability of preserving the current conditions of the mineral related global market, taking the tragedy in Mariana as illustration of its harmful continuity. It will describe this terrible disaster and present some remarks about its implications to the protection of human rights

Alterações climáticas : avaliação económica no apoio à decisão política

Doutoramento em Ciências Aplicadas ao AmbienteInserindo-se na temática da poluição atmosférica, este trabalho enquadra-se nas questões relacionadas com o aquecimento global do planeta e os potenciais reflexos nas alterações do clima. O estudo focaliza-se nos instrumentos políticos de combate às alterações climáticas, dando particular enfoque aos instrumentos económicos de mitigação das emissões de gases com efeito de estufa. No trabalho são abordados os desenvolvimentos científicos e políticos em matéria de alterações climáticas, dando destaque aos de carácter nacional e integrando-os com outras estratégias de gestão da qualidade do ar. São analisados três casos de estudo, abrangendo diferentes escalas espaciais e diferentes sectores de actividade emissores de gases com efeito de estufa. Pretende-se com estes casos avaliar os impactes das medidas e políticas nos sectores às quais se dirigem e, numa perspectiva mais abrangente, em toda a economia portuguesa, integrando a análise das componentes ambiental e económica. A metodologia desenvolvida para cada caso de estudo foi adequada às especificidades do sistema em análise, tendo como ponto comum de partida a análise custo-benefício. No primeiro caso de estudo é avaliado o impacte de medidas mitigadoras das emissões de CO2, em cada sector de actividade e em todo o sistema económico nacional, recorrendo a um modelo “input-output”, desenvolvido com base nos quadros de entradas e saídas das contas nacionais, modelo este que integra coeficientes ambientais específicos para cada actividade económica. O segundo caso aborda o desenvolvimento do sector dos transportes numa zona urbana (Lisboa) e recorre à aplicação do modelo MARKAL-Lite Lisboa que simula a resposta do sistema energético da região em análise a diferentes cenários de desenvolvimento. O modelo simula a introdução, a longo prazo, de tecnologias alternativas, satisfazendo, simultaneamente, a procura de serviços energéticos, a minimização dos custos e limites nas emissões de poluentes. O último exercício analisa o posicionamento de quatro sectores industriais abrangidos pela Directiva do Comércio de Emissões, através da projecção das emissões para diferentes cenários de crescimento económico e de investimento tecnológico, e da avaliação dos custos/benefícios potenciais de cada um dos sectores num mercado aberto de emissões de CO2. Os modelos e metodologias de análise desenvolvidas neste trabalho articulam a avaliação dos custos económicos e dos benefícios ambientais, e constituem ferramentas de apoio à decisão política e de suporte à definição de estratégias de mitigação das emissões de gases com efeito de estufa, para sectores específicos e para diferentes níveis de intervenção política.This work was developed under the frame of global warming and its potential impact on the climate. The study is aimed at the political instruments that can be used to fight climate change, with a main focus on economic instruments for greenhouse gases emissions mitigation. In this study, scientific and political developments under the climate change scope are analysed, mainly those at national level, integrating them with other air quality management strategies. Three study cases are carried out, focussing different spatial scales and different economic sectors responsible for GHG emissions. The analysis integrates environmental and economic issues. The main objective of these study cases is to evaluate the impact of instruments and political measures in different sectors as well as in the whole Portuguese economy. Another aspect is the evaluation of the implementation capacity and the environmental effectiveness of those instruments. In each study case, the methodology was developed according to the specificness of the system under analysis, having as a common starting point the cost-benefit analysis. In the first study case, for each activity sector and also for the national economic system, the impact of the CO2 mitigating measures is evaluated through an input-output model. The model, based in the input-output data from the national account tables, integrates specific environmental coefficients for each economic activity. The second study case concerns the development of transport sector in an urban area (Lisbon). In this application, a linear regression economic model was developed – MARKAL–Lite Lisboa – that simulates the response of the energetic system to different long-term development scenarios. The model simulates the introduction of new technologies along the simulation period, satisfying, simultaneously, the demand on energetic services, the total cost minimization and pollutants emission constraints. The last study case analyses the situation of four industry sectors covered by the emission trade Directive. The study includes emission projections for different economic growth and technologic investment scenarios and the evaluation of each sector potential costs/benefits in a CO2 emissions trade market. The models and analysis methodologies developed under this work articulate the economic costs and the environmental benefits evaluation, setting up political decision support tools and also a support in the definition of greenhouse gases reduction strategies, for specific sectors and different policy intervention levels

Internal and external costs of transport in Portugal

Urban dispersion (sprawl) is a reality, however unplanned it may be. Its supporters advocate contact with nature, space and intimacy; however, alleged disadvantages include land consumption, public infrastructure and mobility costs, and housing prices. The Research Project “Costs and Benefits of Urban Dispersion on a local scale” seeks to contribute to the debate with an objective approach based on the quantification of costs, externalities and benefits of different urban settlement patterns, thus “bringing urban form back to planning”. This paper presents one of the Project’s tasks, the one concerning mobility costs, both internal and external. Quantified internal costs include investment, inspection, insurance, energy and maintenance; external ones include accident and environmental costs, calculated for road and rail transport. Different methods are combined depending on available data sources in order to achieve figures for each of the cost components per vehicle-km, ton-km and passenger-km for 2005, at 2009 prices. Results show that internal costs are larger than external ones for the majority of motorized transport, except two-wheelers, and for rail. External costs are larger than internal ones for soft modes, mainly due to high accident costs. Cost components, both internal and external, related to fuel consumption are the most relevant in heavy modes’ cost structures. Investment costs are the most important category for the majority of the remaining modes. Results also stress that current occupancy rates, load factors and vehicle mileages hinder the economic efficiency of collective and two-wheeled modes of transportation and may contribute to the pervasiveness of cars in Portugal

Custos internos e externos de Mobilidade em Portugal

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Sustainable energy action plans at city level: a Portuguese experience and perception

In order to achieve the targets underlined in the European Strategy for climate change and energy efficiency, the so called 20-20-20 package, the European Commission launched the Covenant of Mayors to endorse and support the efforts deployed by local authorities in the implementation of sustainable energy plans, and at the same time contribute to greenhouse gases emissions mitigation. This paper explores how the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) has been adopted in Portugal, and which type of measures are being defined and implemented by the municipalities. For that, all Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) submitted by Portuguese municipalities (124) have been examined, for which a detailed analysis was performed, including the Baseline Emission Inventory (70, i.e., around 50%). The municipalities that submitted SEAP cover 60% of the total population of the country because the main urban centres are a part of the 30% that have signed the CoM. Most common measures are related with changes on behaviour and infrastructure related to energy (such as renewable energies, energy efficiency in buildings, public lighting, etc.), waste and transport (for example optimization of: transport infrastructures, used vehicles and road operations). Public lighting is one of the energy measures present in all submitted SEAP, which plays a key role in energy consumption, reaching values of upwards of 12%, particularly in coastal areas due to higher population density and urban residential areas. Besides all efforts there is still a long way to go in terms of energy consumption reduction at local level.publishe

Air pollution in the Aveiro region, Portugal: A citizens' engagement approach

© 2018 WIT Press. Air pollution has become a growing concern in the past few years, with an increasing number of acute air pollution episodes in many cities worldwide. In Portugal, especially in the region of Aveiro, high concentrations of particulate matter are frequently recorded, being one of the most critical air pollutants. Health impacts related with citizens' exposure to particulate matter has been threatening human health, increasing mortality and morbidity and contributing to a broad range of negative health outcomes. Different causes are attributed to air pollution over Portugal: agricultural, forest fires and dust emissions from Sahara Desert, amongst the natural emission sources, and road-traffic, residential combustion and industrial emissions, amongst the anthropogenic emission sources. Citizens' behaviour has a main role on air quality management. Each day individual choices, such as transportation or residential heating, have direct impact on air pollutant emissions. Therefore, citizens' play an important role to mitigate air pollution problems in their cities. However, the first step is to increase citizens' receptiveness about their contribution to the problem and, at the same time, to engage and empower them to contribute to the solutions. Aveiro Region is one of the case studies of ClairCity (Citizen-led air pollution reduction in cities) project. The project developed several activities to engage citizens on air pollution and carbon emissions issues. This work focus on the Delphi-like approach that includes surveys and workshops, to find out about people's lives in Aveiro Region and their vision for a low carbon, clean air and healthy future region. This paper presents an overview about air pollution in Aveiro region as well as the activities of the Delphi survey to see how citizens perceive this problem and their role on future air quality management

Paisaje y estratégias en la patrimonialización de la cultura material y de la naturaleza em la Serra da Capivara-PI

Este artigo percorre os campos do patrimônio cultural, proteção do meio ambiente e arqueologia para tratar a paisagem e os sítios arqueológicos e compreender suas concepções e práticas, tendo como estudo de caso a patrimonialização da Serra da Capivara. Em uma abordagem mais ampla, destacamos os significados atribuídos à paisagem nas narrativas patrimoniais brasileiras desde a instituição da preservação do patrimônio. Em uma abordagem restrita ao tema, estudamos as narrativas usadas na proteção e na gestão da Serra da Capivara. Revisão bibliográfica e análise das narrativas patrimoniais em documentos públicos, ancoradas em noção polissêmica de paisagem, permitem observar uma tensão entre duas perspectivas de argumentos que a justificam. Por um lado, a perspectiva que considera o homem integrado à natureza, como elemento interativo e, de outro, a perspectiva que considera o homem separado da natureza.  This article approaches the fields of cultural heritage, environmental protection and archeology to discuss the landscape and the archaeological sites and understand their conceptions and practices, taking as a case study the Serra da Capivara’s patrimonialization. In a broader approach, we highlight the meanings attributed to the landscape in the Brazilian heritage narratives since the institution of heritage preservation. In a restrict approach to the theme, we study the narratives used in the protection and management of Serra da Capivara. Bibliographic review and analysis of the heritage narratives in public records, anchored by polysemic notion of landscape, allow us to observe a tension between two perspectives of arguments that justify it. On the one hand, the perspective that considers man integrated with nature as an interactive element and, on the other, the perspective that considers man detached from nature.Este artículo cubre los campos del patrimonio cultural, protección del medio ambiente y ciencia arqueológica para tratar el paisaje y los sitios arqueológicos y comprender sus concepciones y prácticas, teniendo como caso de estudio el patrimonio de la Serra da Capivara. En un enfoque más amplio el objetivo es resaltar los significados atribuidos al paisaje en las narrativas del patrimonio brasileño desde la institución de la preservación del patrimonio. En un corte restringido al tema, el objetivo es estudiar las narrativas seleccionados para legitimar la protección y gestión de la Serra da Capivara. La revisión bibliográfica y el análisis de las narrativas del patrimonio en documentos públicos, anclados en noción polisémica de paisaje, nos permiten observar una tensión entre dos perspectivas de argumentos que lo justifican. Por un lado, considera al hombre integrado con la naturaleza como un elemento activo e interaccionista y, por otro lado, al hombre separado de la naturaleza

Ozone effects on Douro vineyards under climate change

Tropospheric ozone (O3) levels in southern Europe have an increasing tendency, in close relation with the higher incidence of hot summers and heatwaves. Given that O3 is one of the most damaging pollutants for vegetation, known to affect productivity and quality of crops, it is necessary to develop more rigorous and consistent methods of risk assessment that consider climate change conditions. Studying the O3 deposition over the Douro Demarcated Region (DDR), which is one of the most productive wine areas in Portugal, and assessing its potential effects under a climate change scenario, was the purpose of this study. To that end, the chemical transport model CHIMERE, with a spatial resolution of 1 km2, fed by meteorological data from the WRF model, was applied for a recent past climate (2003 to 2005) and future mid-term (2049 and 2064) and long-term (2096 and 2097) scenarios. Simulations for future climate were performed considering: (i) only the climate change effect, and (ii) the effect of climate change together with future air pollutant emissions. The assessment of the potential damage in terms of wine productivity and quality (sugar content) was performed through analysis of O3 deposition and the application of concentration–response functions, based on AOT40 values. Modeling results show that a reduction in emission of O3 precursors can successfully decrease AOT40 levels in the DDR, but it is not enough to accomplish the European Commission target value for the protection of vegetation. If the emissions remain constant, the exposure–response functions indicate that, in the long-term, AOT40 levels could worsen wine productivity and quality.The authors wish to thank the financial support of FEDER through the COMPETE Program and the national funds from FCT—Science and Technology Portuguese Foundation for financing the DOUROZONE project (PTDC/AAG-MAA/3335/2014; POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016778). Thanks is also due for the financial support to the PhD grant of A. Ascenso (SFRH/BD/136875/2018). Thanks is due to FCT/MCTES for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020), through national fundsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Individual exposure to air pollutants in a Portuguese urban industrialized area

Funding Information: The authors are grateful to the finan cial support of the 3rd European Framework Program and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), for the postdoctoral grants of J. Valente (SFRH/BPD/78933/2011) and J. Ferreira (SFRH/BPD/40620/2007), and also project INSPIRAR (PTDC/AAC-AMB/103895/ 2008), for the grant to C. Pimentel, supported in the scope of the Competitiveness Factors Thematic Operational Programme (COMPETE) of the Community Support Framework III and by the European Community Fund, FEDER.Industrial development from the second half of the 20th century coupled with population growth and concentration in urban areas has accentuated the concern for potential effects and impacts from air pollutant emissions on environmental and human health. This study examined the Estarreja region, an urban area that has one of the largest chemical complexes in Portugal, a complex that was recently under expansion. In the scope of the INSPIRAR project, individual daily exposure of a group of individuals to particulate matter of 10 μm aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) in two phases was determined using a microenvironmental approach. In this context, personal daily activity profiles of individuals were established for their normal routine by personal interviews. These profiles enabled determination of where each individual was at each moment of the day. Utilizing this information with hourly air quality maps simulated with URBAIR air quality model and indoor/outdoor relationships, it was possible to calculate personal daily exposure of each individual to air pollutants. Results from the analysis of daily activity profiles showed a high level of sedentariness of this population and long durations spent indoors. The studied individuals displayed high personal PM10 and NO2 exposure variability. Data demonstrated possible error when a single concentration measurement was assumed as a proxy of exposure. In general, no significant differences were found between the two population groups, indicating that workers of the chemical complex were not exposed to a greater extent to PM10 and NO 2 than the general population working in the same area.publishersversionpublishe