Residuos y Sostenibilidad. El Modelo Europeo. La opción por la termovalorización

La creciente generación de residuos se ha convertido en un problema global de enorme envergadura y su adecuada gestión y tratamiento en un desafío. En el caso de los Residuos Sólidos Urbanos, el problema desborda lo que antes era un problema meramente local y desde distintos organismos internacionales se insta a las autoridades nacionales y locales a adoptar planes integrales de gestión y a implementar soluciones que acaben con los vertederos3 incontrolados o mal gestionado, origen de impactos altamente negativos sobre el medio ambiente y la salud humana. En Europa, desde hace más de cien años, se ha practicado la incineración de estos residuos, acumulando experiencia y tecnologías hasta llegar a instalaciones totalmente controladas limpias y seguras. Actualmente, en la Unión Europea, una legislación exigente acompañada de tecnologías avanzadas propicia la recuperación energética de los residuos descartados para el reciclaje potenciando la termovalorización (waste to energy) como una solución sostenible para resolver el problema de los RSU, obteniendo adicionalmente energía térmica y eléctrica. Esta opción, con los patrones de exigencia europeos, está siendo adoptada en muchos países y recomendada como solución para algunos de los problemas de las grandes aglomeraciones.The increasing generation of waste has turned into a global problem of enormous envergadura and his suitable management and treatment in a challenge. In the case of the Urban Solid Waste, the problem surpasses what before was a merely local problem. Several international organisms recommend to the national and local authorities that adopt integral plans of management and set up solutions that finish with the uncontrolled dumps or badly managed, origin of impacts highly negative on the environment and the human health. In Europe, from does more than one hundred years, has practised the incineration of this waste, accumulating experience and technologies until arriving to installations totally controlled clean and safe. At present, in the European Union, a demanding legislation accompanied of favourable advanced technologies the energetic recovery of the waste that can not recycle promoting the processes "waste to energy" like a sustainable solution to resolve the problem of the RSU, obtaining incidentally thermal and electrical energy. This option, with the patterns of European requirement, is being adopted in a lot of countries and recommended like solution for some of the problems of the big cities

Law, Sustainability and the Technological Premise as way to expand its Foundations

Sustentabilidade é apresentada como um objetivo que deve ser alcançado em três áreas, social, ambiental e econômica, e que são apresentadas como dimensões. Na análise dessas dimensões, normalmente, não é considerado o fator tecnológico que, no entanto, é fundamental, tanto para alcançar o sucesso em cada uma das áreas como para garantir a própria viabilidade da Sustentabilidade. No presente artigo destaca-se a transversalidade dessa nova dimensão, serão discutidos os riscos e as oportunidades que a ciência e a tecnologia supõem para o resto das dimensões e identificadas as linhas nas quais é preciso agir para garantir a sua contribuição para o objetivo de atingir a Sustentabilidade em todos os seus aspectos. No final, será realizada a necessária discussão sobre o Direito Transnacional como elemento de controle dos poderes criados no ambiente globalizado atual.Sustainability is presented as a goal that must be achieved in three areas, social, environmental and economic, which are presented as dimensions. In the analysis of these dimensions is usually not considered, the technological factor that, however, is fundamental, both to achieve success in each area as to ensure the viability of sustainability. In this article we highlight the mainstreaming of this new dimension, will be discussed the risks and opportunities that science and technology assume for the rest of the dimensions and identified the lines where action is needed to ensure their contribution to the goal to reach a sustainability in all its aspects. In the end, it will be held the necessary discussion of the Transnational Law as a control element of the powers created in the current globalized environment

El derecho a una vida y un medio ambiente seguro, sano y ecológicamente equilibrado. Comentario al artículo 17.2 del Estatuto de Autonomía de la Comunitat Valenciana

En aquest comentari es pretén analitzar el contingut i la significació dels dos paràgrafs de què consta el punt 2 de l’article 17 del vigent Estatut d’Autonomia de la Comunitat Valenciana. En el primer es declara el dret “a gaudir d’una vida i un medi ambient segur, sa i ecològicament equilibrat” i es fan les consideracions que s’estimen pertinents quant a la seua inserció en l’ordenament jurídic, abast i eficàcia. Tot això relacionat amb els preceptes concordants de la Constitució Espanyola i amb la recent declaració de Nacions Unides sobre el dret fonamental a un medi ambient “net, saludable i sostenible”. El segon incorpora un mandat de protecció del medi ambient dirigit a la Generalitat Valenciana, i se’l jutja d’escassa amplitud subjectiva i precisió conceptual.En el presente comentario se pretende analizar el contenido y significación de los dos párrafos de que consta el punto 2 del artículo 17 del vigente Estatuto de Autonomía de la Comunidad Valenciana. En el primero se declara el derecho “a gozar de una vida y un medio ambiente seguro, sano y ecológicamente equilibrado” y se hacen las consideraciones que se estiman pertinentes en cuanto a su inserción en el Ordenamiento Jurídico, alcance y eficacia. Todo ello puesto en relación con los preceptos concordantes de la Constitución Española y con la reciente declaración de Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho Fundamental a un medio ambiente “limpio, saludable y sostenible”. El segundo incorpora un mandato de protección del medio ambiente dirigido a la Generalitat Valenciana, juzgándolo de escasa amplitud subjetiva y precisión conceptual.In this commentary it is intended to analyze the content and significance of the two paragraphs that point 2 of article 17 of the current Statute of Autonomy of the Valencian Community consists of. The first declares the right “to enjoy a safe, healthy and ecologically balanced life and environment” and makes the considerations that are considered pertinent in terms of its inclusion in the Legal System, scope, and effectiveness. All this in relation to the concordant precepts of the Spanish Constitution and the recent United Nations declaration on the Fundamental Right to a “clean, healthy and sustainable” environment. The second incorporates a mandate for the protection of the environment addressed to the Generalitat Valenciana, judging it of little subjective breadth and conceptual precision

Sustainability: a new paradigm for the law

Em função dos novos movimentos transnacionais, da configuração da sociedade de risco global e do esgotamento da liberdade como paradigma do direito, o objetivo deste artigo é estabelecer alguns elementos científicos e teóricos sobre a possiblidade de constituir a sustentabilidade (social, ambiental, econômica, ética, jurídico-política1) em um novo paradigma, consolidando-se como paradigma indutor das relações sociais (para a empatia e a solidariedade) política-jurídica-econômicas. O texto procura demonstrar que a sustentabilidade deverá se consolidar como um novo paradigma do direito e que deverá coabitar com os paradigmas modernos. O atual cenário transnacional da atualidade, caracterizado como uma complexa teia de relações políticas, sociais, econômicas e jurídicas, no qual emergem novos atores, interesses e conflitos, nos faz perceber que o direito gênese da sustentabilidade terá que ser vocacionado e aplicado em escala planetária (esférico), por meio de vias democráticas que possibilitem a dialética dos direitos locais, nacionais, internacional e supranacional, e a harmonização dos diversos sistemas axiológicos, pressupondo que se assegure a vida por meio (esfera/globo) da defesa do meio ambiente e seu entorno, e se a dignifique por meio da inclusão dos aspectos sociais, proporcionando um crescimento distributivo dos aspectos econômicos.Based on the new transnational movements, the configuration of the global Risk Society, and the exhaustion of freedom as a paradigm of the law, this paper aims to establish some scientific and theoretical elements on the possibility of constituting sustainability (social, environmental, economic, ethical, legal and political) into a new paradigm, establishing itself as a model inducer of political, legal and economic social relationships (for empathy and solidarity). The text seeks to demonstrate that sustainability should be consolidated as a new paradigm of law, and should coexist with modern paradigms. Today’s transnational scenario, characterized as a complex web of political, social, economic and legal relations in which new actors, interests and conflicts are emerging, leads us to perceive that the law genesis of sustainability will have to be vocational and applied on a global (spherical) scale, through democratic means that enable a dialectic of local, national, international and supranational rights, and the harmonization of different axiological systems, assuming that life is assured through (sphere/global) the defense of the environment and its surroundings, and is dignified through the inclusion of social aspects, providing a distributional growth of the economic aspects

Reflections on the future of the modern constitutional state

Este texto apresenta reflexões sobre o Estado Constitucional Moderno, seu presente e o futuro na Sociedade contemporânea, com o intuito de estimular os leitores a reflexões criticamente responsáveis e voltadas à predição mais do que à previsão, ou seja, focadas, predominantemente, na sequência em função de propostas de tendências e não de especulações.This text presents reflections on the Modern Constitutional State, its present and the future of the Contemporary Society, stimulating the readers to responsible reflections more related to prediction than prevision, in other words, mainly focused on trends proposals and not speculations

THE RIGHT TO COMPETENCE IN THE DEMOCRACY AND SUSTAINABILITY RELATION

This article deals with the relation between democracy and sustainability in the context of an ultra-complex global society in which environmental problems are placed and, on the other hand, there is a political weakness (incompetence) to confront them. In this investigation, an approach is made about the complexities of environmental decisions in the face of a democratic crisis, as seen in recent events in some countries. It is questioned to what extent "Sustainability" and "Democracy" can converge in the political sphere, especially through the feasibility of the delivery of sustainable results in terms of sustainable development, through the competent political exercise in the political decision making of a deliberative body. It is concluded that the convergence between Sustainability and Democracy will not occur in a scenario of incompetence in decision making, although the Right to Competence is a normative element able to offer a solution to this problem. The methodology is theoretical, in order to use the dialectical method, referent techniques, documentary and bibliographic research

Integrating Sustainability snd Social Commitment (S&SC) competences in the curriculum at the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering

The importance of integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the curriculum of all the bachelor and master degrees at UPC has been legally and institutionally recognised. At the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering, issues such as professional ethics, environmental impacts of infrastructures, respect for cultural diversity and gender perspective are currently cross-cutting competences highlighted and stated in the study plans as a transversal competence on Sustainability and Social Commitment (S&SC). However, its effective implementation requires significant teaching efforts in order to adapt academic curricula, so far limited to individual non- coordinated initiatives. The launch of the “ODS-Camins Toolkit” project (Toolkit for the Promotion of SDG in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Fields) seeks to encourage the implementation of teaching innovation practices that contribute to the deployment and assessment of S&CS competences. The aim of the project is to exchange experiences, develop new practices, and draft a common pathway for the promotion and implementation of the SDGs in the field of civil and environmental engineering studies. The paper will explain the experience of this one-year project, highlighting barriers, challenges, and sharing the lessons learned with the final purpose of involving all the community in the years to come. It will also present the Toolkit for the Promotion of SDGs in the Civil and Environmental Engineering FieldsPostprint (published version

A crise financeira mundial, o Estado e a democracia econômica

The problems the world is experiencing nowadays, particularly the serious global financial situation, are another clear sign of the inadequacy of the modern theoretical model. They might reflect a crisis in the Modern Constitutional State itself. Some recent examples, such as the complex of global food industries which has destroyed traditional seeds and has ended up creating a situation of food imbalance on the planet, the petroleum commercialized worldwide, the communications monopoly, and the manipulable virtual reality, demonstrate that the “internalization” of the Public Power of modernity will probably give way to a transnationalization of this same Public Power. Rethinking democracy at this time, particularly in its transnational aspect, is essential. The whole “awakened” world, affected by globalization, is increasingly certain that the only legitimate power is that in which investiture is decided by the majority, based on effective democratic instruments. Key words: democracy, Transnationality, modern constitutional state, transnational state, financial crisis.Os problemas vividos na atualidade, principalmente a grave situação financeira internacional, significam sinal evidente de insuficiência do modelo teórico moderno. Talvez sustentem a própria crise do Estado Constitucional Moderno. Alguns exemplos recentes parecem comprovar tal situação como o complexo de indústrias mundiais de alimentos que arrasa sementes tradicionais e criou uma situação de desequilíbrio alimentar no planeta. Além disso, fatos como a comercialização mundial do petróleo, o monopólio da comunicação e a realidade virtual manipulável demonstram que a internalização do Poder Público da modernidade provavelmente cederá espaço para a transnacionalização desse mesmo Poder Público. Repensar, pois, a Democracia, neste momento, é fundamental, especialmente em sua vertente transnacional. Com todo o mundo afetado pela globalização, está cada vez mais claro que o único poder legítimo é o poder com investidura decidida pela maioria, que se constitui a partir de instrumentos democráticos efetivos. Palavras-chave: Democracia, transnacionalidade, Estado Constitucional Moderno, Estado Transnacional, crise financeira