The effects of decoupling on Italian COP sector: an ex-post evaluation

One of the main objectives of the 2003 CAP reform was that to enhance farm competitiveness and make farmers able to catch market signals and adjust their production level and specialization accordingly. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the effects of decoupling in Italy COP sector comparing the estimated results of some structural and economic indicators of a sample of farms before and after the 2003 reform using data from the Italian Institute of Statistics and of the Italian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). The analysis shows an improvement of income in farms that kept COP production specialization through the years under study. At the same time, farms that opted for a different specialisation in the post reform period improved their economic performance. All this suggests that coupled support had become a constraint rather than an opportunity and that the 2003 reform, decoupling farm support from production, has contributed to a more efficient and market-oriented COP sector in Italy.CAP, decoupling, Italian FADN, COP sector, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q18,

Climate change adaptation in Norwegian businesses - Awareness, integration and barriers

Preventive measures adopted to protect buildings and infrastructure from extreme weather and natural hazard events may serve to mitigate extensive damage and thus avoid major expenditures to businesses and society. A survey of 1,001 representative companies across different sectors and regions in Norway reveals that most companies fail to prioritise the climate change adaptation of their buildings or infrastructure. Most respondents have not conducted risk assessments. The greatest focus is adopted by large companies, those that own their buildings and infrastructure, and businesses in the primary and energy sectors. Small companies, service sector businesses and companies that rent their buildings and infrastructure are the least well prepared. The largest perceived barrier to adaptation is costs, followed by a lack of knowledge and competence in the fields of climate change impacts and adaptation measures. The large majority state that they do not measure climate change adaptation at all. Less than 10 per cent use indicators or evaluate their climate change adaptation efforts. Survey results suggest that Norwegian businesses need stronger incentives and clearly defined responsibilities, combined with appropriate tools and guidelines relevant to the entire climate change adaptation cycle. These will include the performance of risk assessments, the tracking of their adaptation status, as well as the measurement and evaluation of their climate change adaptation actions with the help of indicators.publishedVersio

Long term hydrological change, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation and biomass burning in the tropics

Rapidly rising levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and methane since the industrial revolution have drawn scientific attention to the importance of the global carbon cycle to the climate (Cubasch et al., 2013). Tropical peatlands, the majority of which are located in the Indonesian region, are a major source of uncertainty in the carbon cycle as the relationships between carbon accumulation and hydrological changes remain poorly understood (Hergoualc’h & Verchot, 2011, Page et al., 2011). An important driver of carbon emissions in tropical peatlands is fire, which in the Indonesian region is strongly influenced on interannual timescales by the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, it is not clear how ENSO and fire have varied at decadal to centennial scales over the past two millennia. This thesis explores long term tropical hydrological variability and ENSO-like climate change from palaeorecords and their interactions with fire. Using a wide range of instrumental, proxy and model datasets and a novel reconstruction method, two separate reconstructions of long-term ENSO-like climate change are produced based on precipitation and temperature data. These show no evidence of a difference between the ENSO-like behaviour of precipitation and temperature. There is limited evidence for a difference in long-term ENSO-like state between the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age. Reconstructions of hydrological variability and biomass burning in the Indonesian region suggest that precipitation and fire have been positively correlated over the past 2,000 years, which is contrary to the modern-day relationship on ENSO timescales. This throws up questions of long-term versus short-term interactions and feedbacks between fire, climate and vegetation. It is likely that anthropogenic activity in the Indonesian region has significantly altered the stability of the fire regime. Further research combining proxy data, climate and fire models, and using more robust statistical analysis is necessary to untangle the natural and anthropogenic driving factors at different time resolutions.University of Exeter Climate Change and Sustainable Futures (CCSF

GHG emissions accounting. Recommendations for the methodology to follow in the zero emission neighbourhood definition

The method for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in zero emission neighbourhoods (ZEN) requires clarification on a set of methodological aspects. This is due to differing approaches in established methods, such as EN 15978, NS 3720, and FutureBuilt ZERO, as well as methodological considerations when changing the focus from building to neighbourhood level. The methodological aspects covered in this ZEN Memo relate to time-weighting, technological development, primary (neighbourhood site) land use and land use change (LULUC), and mobility. This Memo presents the advantages and drawbacks of some existing methods found in the literature for the four methodological aspects. One method is recommended for each aspect: NS 3720 with temporal presentation of the results (for time-weighting), NS 3720 (for technology-weighting), Miljødirektoratet's Excel tool (for LULUC), and a combination of ZEN MOB KPI and NS 3720 (for mobility). Methodological aspects on how to estimate emissions from the use, generation and/or import/export of energy are covered in two other ZEN Memos and are summarised in Appendix of this Memo. GHG emission methodologies are under rapid development, which indicates that the comparisons and recommendations presented in this Memo might require a future revision.publishedVersio

A comparative assessment of building sustainability schemes in Norway

Various schemes are established to evaluate the sustainability of buildings during their life cycle. These schemes introduce a range of evaluation criteria and indicators and are periodically revised to align with current sustainability trends. This study reviews leading schemes in Norway, and compares their scope, similarities, limitations, and advantages. The review is carried out against a proposed office building in Oslo, Norway. The paper evaluates how the schemes comply with the EU taxonomy and Norwegian building regulations. The schemes are assessed through a literature review and interviews with programme operators. Common sustainability criteria are identified and reviewed. In addition, a comparison of how the schemes address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is conducted. The comparative assessment provides a valuable and practical reference and decision support for project owners in Norway to select the appropriate scheme for their construction project.publishedVersio

Focus on emotion as a catalyst of memory updating during reconsolidation

We share the idea of Lane et al. that successful psychotherapy exerts its effects through memory reconsolidation. To support it, we add further evidence that a behavioral interference may trigger memory update during reconsolidation. Furthermore, we propose that-in addition to replacing maladaptive emotions-new emotions experienced in the therapeutic process catalyze reconsolidation of the updated memory structur

Waste free construction site - A buzzword, nice to have or more

The building and construction industry is responsible for up to 25% of the total waste generated globally. Most construction sites in Norway on average generate 40–60 kg waste per gross floor area built and the average material recovery rate is ca. 46%. Existing requirements focus on waste sorting as a measure to increase material recovery rates. There are on-going national activities with an ambition to achieve waste free construction sites. However, there is lack of a common definition, standard and transparent data collection, and reporting system. This study presents a method for the evaluation and follow-up of construction waste and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The methodology was tested using the actual construction waste data collected from 36 Norwegian building cases to evaluate the quantity of construction waste, waste-related GHG emissions per building typology, sorting grade and waste recycling rate. The buildings in total generated ca. 7800 tonnes of waste and ca.12900 tonnes CO2eq and on average ca. 51 kg/m2 waste and 88kgCO2eq/m2. The building projects had a high average sorting grade (89%) and a low average recycling rate (32%). Gypsum, mixed wood, clean wood, and mixed waste are the top waste fractions representing ca. 56% of the total waste volume. This highlights there is still a long way to go to achieve waste free construction sites ambitions. The results also suggest the need for using transparent data collection and communication methods, collaboration in the value chain, stricter regulations, and incentives for encouraging the development of new and existing waste prevention solutions and technologies.publishedVersio

PREPARO DE PADRÃO SECUNDÁRIO PARA IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE CLORIDRATO DE TRAMADOL

RESUMO: O medicamento cloridrato de tramadol, apresenta diversos problemas sociais devido a sua possível toxicidade e potencial de abuso quando utilizado por períodos longos. Desta maneira, para a detecção dessa substância em líquidos biológicos os laboratórios necessitam utilizar padrões de identificação. Muitas vezes esses padrões apresentam um custo elevado e são de difícil obtenção. Em vista a essas dificuldades, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento de um padrão secundário a partir de um medicamento doado ao laboratório de Toxicologia da UFPR. Para o desenvolvimento, a substância cloridrato de tramadol foi extraída a partir de 8 comprimidos de Tramal Retard® de 100 mg (Pfizer). Como resultado da extração, obteve-se um rendimento de 89,37%. A substância extraída apresentou um pico de absorção característico no espectro de absorção ultravioleta em 275nm. A análise por CLAE-FLD mostrou apenas um pico único nas condições analíticas utilizadas.  O teor determinado por titulação com ácido perclórico foi de 94,39%. O padrão secundário obtido foi aplicado em uma análise qualitativa por cromatografia em camada delgada frente a uma urina sabidamente positiva para uso de tramadol e apresentou Rf de 0,77, comparável ao tramadol encontrado na urina. Por fim, conclui-se que o padrão desenvolvido está apto para ser utilizado na rotina para métodos de triagem na identificação do cloridrato de tramadol em aulas práticas de Toxicologia