36 research outputs found
The potential effects of climate change on air quality across the conterminous US at 2030 under three Representative Concentration Pathways
The potential impacts of climate change on regional ozone (O3) and
fine particulate (PM2.5) air quality in the United States (US) are
investigated by linking global climate simulations with regional-scale
meteorological and chemical transport models. Regional climate at 2000 and
at 2030 under three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) is simulated by
using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to downscale 11-year
time slices from the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The downscaled
meteorology is then used with the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ)
model to simulate air quality during each of these 11-year periods. The
analysis isolates the future air quality differences arising from
climate-driven changes in meteorological parameters and specific natural
emissions sources that are strongly influenced by meteorology. Other factors
that will affect future air quality, such as anthropogenic air pollutant
emissions and chemical boundary conditions, are unchanged across the
simulations. The regional climate fields represent historical daily maximum
and daily minimum temperatures well, with mean biases of less than 2 K for most
regions of the US and most seasons of the year and good representation of
variability. Precipitation in the central and eastern US is well simulated
for the historical period, with seasonal and annual biases generally less
than 25 %, with positive biases exceeding 25 % in the western US throughout
the year and in part of the eastern US during summer. Maximum daily 8 h
ozone (MDA8 O3) is projected to increase during summer and autumn in
the central and eastern US. The increase in summer mean MDA8 O3 is
largest under RCP8.5, exceeding 4 ppb in some locations, with smaller
seasonal mean increases of up to 2 ppb simulated during autumn and changes
during spring generally less than 1 ppb. Increases are magnified at the upper
end of the O3 distribution, particularly where projected increases in
temperature are greater. Annual average PM2.5 concentration changes
range from â1.0 to 1.0 ”g mâ3. Organic PM2.5
concentrations increase during summer and autumn due to increased biogenic
emissions. Aerosol nitrate decreases during winter, accompanied by lesser
decreases in ammonium and sulfate, due to warmer temperatures causing
increased partitioning to the gas phase. Among meteorological factors
examined to account for modeled changes in pollution, temperature and
isoprene emissions are found to have the largest changes and the greatest
impact on O3 concentrations.</p
Seriously personal:The reasons that motivate entrepreneurs to address climate change
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is freely available from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this record.Scholars increasingly argue that entrepreneurs and their small- and medium-sized enterprises should play a central role in reducing the rate and magnitude of climate change. However, evidence suggests that while some entrepreneurs recognize their crucial role in addressing climate change, most do not. Why some entrepreneurs nevertheless concern themselves with climate change has largely been overlooked. Some initial work in this area tentatively suggests that these entrepreneurs may engage with climate change because of their personal values, which either focus on financial or socio-ecological reasons, or a combination of both. Yet, it is unclear if all for-profit entrepreneurs engage with climate change for the same reasons, or if indeed their motivations vary across business types. Over a period of four years, we examined entrepreneursâ motivations to engage with climate change through a variety of qualitative research methods. Our findings illustrate how entrepreneurs who address climate change have motivations specific to their business activity/industry and level of maturity. In each instance, we link these motivations to distinct conceptualizations of time and place. We contend that, through a more differentiated understanding of entrepreneurial motivations, policy-makers can draft climate change-related policies tailored to entrepreneurial needs. Policies could both increase the number of entrepreneurs who already engage in climate change mitigation and leverage the impact of those entrepreneurs already mitigating climate change.This study was funded by the European Social Fund (09099NCO5). We acknowledge with thanks the participation of the entrepreneurs and the support of Business Leaders for Low Carbon, Cornwall Council, and Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project. The authors wish to thank Professor John Amis, Professor Kenneth Amaeshi and the anonymous reviewers who provided useful feedback on earlier versions of the article