Nutrient density of beverages in relation to climate impact

The food chain contributes to a substantial part of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and growing evidence points to the urgent need to reduce GHGs emissions worldwide. Among suggestions were proposals to alter food consumption patterns by replacing animal foods with more plant-based foods. However, the nutritional dimensions of changing consumption patterns to lower GHG emissions still remains relatively unexplored. This study is the first to estimate the composite nutrient density, expressed as percentage of Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) for 21 essential nutrients, in relation to cost in GHG emissions of the production from a life cycle perspective, expressed in grams of CO2-equivalents, using an index called the Nutrient Density to Climate Impact (NDCI) index. The NDCI index was calculated for milk, soft drink, orange juice, beer, wine, bottled carbonated water, soy drink, and oat drink. Due to low-nutrient density, the NDCI index was 0 for carbonated water, soft drink, and beer and below 0.1 for red wine and oat drink. The NDCI index was similar for orange juice (0.28) and soy drink (0.25). Due to a very high-nutrient density, the NDCI index for milk was substantially higher (0.54) than for the other beverages. Future discussion on how changes in food consumption patterns might help avert climate change need to take both GHG emission and nutrient density of foods and beverages into account

Ideal integrated national environmental management system for South Africa : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University

The South African environmental management system has been characterised by fragmentation and the lack of effective legislation. The number of statutes concerned with conservation issues is an associated problem. The implementation of the Environmental Conservation Act 1989 has been viewed as inefficient because of the lack of enforcement and control of environmental management issues. The Act has not provided opportunities for public participation, particularly from black communities, in decision-making about environmental matters. The South African environmental management system has not recognised and integrated indigenous peoples resource management systems into the country's legal framework. This is illustrated by the impacts of conservation programmes which have resulted in black communities being uprooted from their lands for the establishment of national parks and tourism facilities, without compensation to traditional owners. Research has identified the need for a revision of environmental impact assessment (EIA) practices in South Africa. There is also an associated need to integrate environmental impact assessment (EIA) into the planning process to achieve sustainability. Studies carried out in South Africa have identified the lack of effective regulations for enforcing the provisions with regard to the status of the coastal zone. The criticisms of the White Paper delivered by participants at the Conference held at Megawatt Park, Sandton, 10 June, 1993, highlight the need for a comprehensive environmental management system to ensure the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. An ideal system would improve the quality of life in the South African community, while maintaining the integrity of the natural resource base. Even though the criticisms have been valid, they fall short of suggesting ideas for the formulation of a new integrated environmental management system for South Africa. Research carried out in South Africa has also identified the inadequacies of the proposed Integrated Environmental Management procedure referred to in the White Paper. This procedure has been perceived as inadequate to achieve the universal principles of sustainable development. This project evaluates the White Paper, the submissions criticising the White Paper and the proposed Integrated Environmental Management system in South Africa. A matrix is used as a method to examine both the New Zealand Resource Management Act 1991 and the South African environmental management provisions against the recommended national actions in the IUCN/UNEP/WWF (1991) and Agenda 21. Research from a number of disciplines concerned with integrated environmental management, are used to recommend changes to the South African environmental management system. Criteria derived from the IUCN/UNEP/WWF (1991) strategy and Agenda 21 are used in the thesis to evaluate the White Paper, submissions criticising the White Paper, and the proposed Integrated Environmental Management system. Finally, An ideal National Integrated Environmental Management System for South Africa is proposed

An integrated national strategy for resource and environmental management in post-apartheid Namibia : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University

This thesis presents a structure for integrated strategic planning across levels of government in Namibia. The study advocates necessary preconditions for the preparation of An Integrated National Strategy for Resource and Environmental Management in Post-Apartheid Namibia. Because the diagnostic nature of an integrated national strategy requires a condensed assessment of the state of the economy, people, institutions and natural resources, this study commences with a critical examination of the impact of German genocide and South African apartheid policies on the people, and natural and physical resources of Namibia, and illustrates how Namibia has begun to develop out the problems associated with colonial influence. Current underdevelopment and poverty in Namibia is mainly due to unsustainable extraction of resources which has generally benefited South Africa and its provincial satellites. In order to understand Namibia's economic situation, its profile is analysed in comparative study with other SADC member states. Namibia needs to encourage sustained economic growth in order to achieve human development objectives. It is especially important to integrate environmental management at all levels of government to achieve unity of the people and sustainable exploitation of natural and physical resources. Namibia's current state of natural and physical resources is analysed by taking into consideration the immediate actions of the current Government which succeeded colonial oppression. Adverse effects of past exploitation are compiled, and recommendations of various theorists are offered as supportive evidence of the requirements for an integrated national strategy for resource management. The absence of planning at the local level of government is the major cause of inconsistency in both policy-making and plan preparation, and is also identified as major threat to the achievement of sustainable economic development in Namibia. Changes regarding the strengthening of institutional capabilities, application of economic instruments in management of natural resources, methods of plan preparation, strategic policies, including integrated monitoring procedures are proposed. Suggestions are made about means by which these recommendations could be implemented to achieve sustainable development of natural and physical resources in Namibia. The conclusion of this study suggests also that development planning of natural and physical resources need to be nationally diversified by devolving planning authority to sub-national and sub-regional levels of government. The idea is to relieve Namibia's National Planning Commission from the burden of planning at the local level of government and to efficiently spread administrative responsibility across a multinuclear umbrella of private and public sectors involved in strategic planning

A life cycle stakeholder management framework for enhanced collaboration between stakeholders with competing interests

This is a postprint version of the Book Chapter. Information regarding the official publication is available from the link below - Copyright @ 2011 SpringerImplementation of a Life Cycle Sustainability Management (LCSM) strategy can involve significant challenges because of competing or conflicting objectives between stakeholders. These differences may, if not identified and managed, hinder successful adoption of sustainability initiatives. This article proposes a conceptual framework for stakeholder management in a LCSM context. The framework identifies the key sustainability stakeholder groups and suggests strategic ambiguity as a management tool to harness dysfunctional conflict into constructive collaboration. The framework is of practical value as it can be used as a guideline by managers who wish to improve collaboration with stakeholders along the supply chain. The article also fills a gap in the academic literature where there is only limited research on sustainability stakeholder management through strategic ambiguity

Understanding the adoption of voluntary environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in the real estate sector

The environmental performance of the real estate sector has been subject to growing scrutiny in recent years, with the United Nations estimating that the sector accounts for a substantial share of global energy consumption and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are becoming increasingly significant investment considerations for real estate investors. In this context, voluntary ESG standards are becoming central in promoting sustainable and responsible practices among real estate players, and in helping them to address global challenges. Thus, this report is of importance in three respects: first, we review the academic literature in relation to the drivers of organizational adoption of voluntary ESG standards; second, we analyse GRESB’s Real Estate Benchmark, the de facto industry standard for ESG activities in the real estate industry; and finally, we provide recommendations for industry professionals and future researchers interested in the adoption of voluntary ESG standards in the real estate industry

Household water security through stored rainwater and consumer acceptability: a case study of the Anuradhapura District

Rainwater harvesting has increased in popularity in Sri Lanka over the past two decades due to the number of water supply projects funded by the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The stored rainwater can provide accessible, reliable, timely and adequate supplies of water to households but there are uncertainties as to safety, in terms of water quality, and consumer acceptability. A study was, therefore, conducted in the Anuradhapura District, in the dry zone, to assess consumer acceptability of stored rainwater for household purposes and to conduct rainwater quality tests in a laboratory. The majority of households in Anuradhapura meet their drinking water requirements from protected wells (59.6 %). Prior to the project, people greatly preferred open wells as a source of domestic water, followed by tubewells, because they believed that water in open wells is of good quality and drinkable. However, stored rainwater has become the priority source now, especially through roof rainwater harvesting (RRWH), which is used during the dry periods. The study revealed that more than 85 % of households use stored rainwater for drinking although some have concerns over the quality and only drink it after boiling. The easy accessibility of water and the assurance by the project team that it is of good quality are the main reasons that people are willing to drink it. The acceptability of stored rainwater for consumption was very high in water-scarce areas and with the increasing distance to the nearest and alternative sources of good-quality water. Of those who felt that they had adequate water, 84 % of the sample households found it adequate in the wet season but only 21 % in the dry season. Water quality analysis revealed that the chemical and physical quality of stored rainwater is within the acceptable range with respect to Sri Lankan Standards, SLS: 614, for potable water quality (SLIS 1983). Other domestic water sources exceeded standards for electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, hardness, ammonium nitrogen, fluorides and total iron. However, stored rainwater was of lower biological quality than other domestic water sources.Length: pp.87-97Domestic waterWater securityWater harvestingWater qualityRural areasCase studies

Land management and ecosystem services. How collaborative research programmes can support better policies

Land management, the organisation of the use and development of land, is an important instrument for addressing problems of rising greenhouse gas emissions and loss of natural resources. Yet, natural-social systems in which land management policies are implemented are poorly understood, thus decreasing the effectiveness of these policies. Local studies provide valuable insights, though only for the local conditions prevalent during the investigated period. Synthesising local studies in order to generalise results is impaired by the variety of local conditions. Collaborative research programmes may prevent some of these problems. They support the share of insights across temporal, ecological and spatial-economic contexts. On the basis of existing literature, we identify the challenges which face synthesis and demonstrate how a German research programme attempts to address some of them

Klimabedingte Veränderungen der Biodiversität : eine Diskursfeldanalyse für BiKF

Das Biodiversität und Klima Forschungszentrum (BiKF) hat sich selbst das Ziel gesetzt, mit seinen Arbeiten wissenschaftliche Beiträge zum Management klimabedingter relevanter Biodiversitätsveränderungen sowie zur Erfüllung internationaler Übereinkommen wie der EU-Fauna-Flora-Habitat-Richtlinie (EU-FFH), der EU-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie (EU-WRRL), der internationalen Biodiversitätskonvention (CBD) und der Klimarahmenkonvention (UNFCCC) zu liefern. Voraussetzung dafür ist ein Ergebnis- und Wissenstransfer zwischen den Forschenden des Zentrums und den Anspruchsgruppen aus Zivilgesellschaft, Politik und Wirtschaft (vgl. Biodiversität und Klima Forschungszentrum (BiKF) 2008: 1 und 40ff.). Um gesellschaftliche Wirkungen zu erzeugen, müssen die Interessen, Positionen und praktischen Wissensbestände der Anspruchsgruppen in die Forschungen aufgenommen werden und die Forschungsergebnisse in die gesellschaftliche Praxis (rück-) vermittelt werden. Um für das Biodiversität und Klima Forschungszentrum (BiKF) ein besseres Verständnis über die Entstehung und den Transfer von Wissen zwischen Forschung und Gesellschaft vorzubereiten und Ansatzpunkte für Interventionen in öffentliche Debatten aufzuzeigen, wurde eine problemorientierte Diskursfeldanalyse (DFA) zum übergreifenden Themengebiet Klimabedingte Biodiversitätsveränderungen durchgeführt (zur Methode siehe Infobox). Dabei wurden prioritäre Themen identifiziert sowie relevante Akteure und ihre Positionen typisiert. Diese Analyse dient somit als Orientierungshilfe für die strategische Ausrichtung des Zentrums; sie bietet eine strukturierte Grundlage für eine zentrumsinterne Diskussion des weiteren Vorgehens im Wissens- und Ergebnistransfer. Die Diskursfeldanalyse speist sich aus drei Detailanalysen zu den Diskursarenen ‚9. Vertragsstaatenkonferenz der CBD‘, ‚Nationale Biodiversitätsstrategie‘ und ‚Millennium Ecosystem Assessment‘. Diese werden nach einer kurzen Einführung zur Methode vorgestellt. In einem zweiten Schritt werden die über diese drei Arenen hinweg relevanten und für BiKF mögliche Ansatzpunkte bietenden Diskursstränge aufgezeigt. Diese illustrieren die Vielfalt an Themen und Positionen der Akteure innerhalb des Diskursfelds. Abschließend werden Schlussfolgerungen für die Struktur von Wissenskonflikten im Diskursfeld gezogen, die Orientierung geben sollen für eine weitere Auseinandersetzung des Forschungszentrums mit möglichen Querschnittsthemen und Zielen von Interventionen in den Diskurs.The Knowledge Flow Paper on hand is linking a problem-oriented discourse field analysis to the broader subject of climatically caused changes of biological diversity. This synthesis is a first step towards a better understanding of the emergence of knowledge and its transfer between science and society. And it is thus to identify starting points for BiKF to step into public debates. The analysis of the discourse field is referring to three detailed analyses of discussion namely the ones in the “Ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity”, the “National Strategy towards Biological Diversity”, and the “Millennium Ecosystem Assessment”. Following a brief introduction of the method the three analyses are being presented and in a second step overlapping strands of discourse will be identified as possible approaches for BiKF. These reveal the diversity of subjects and actors’ positions within the discourse field. Finally we will draw conclusions concerning the structure of knowledge conflicts within this field which are to provide an orientation for a further involvement of the research centre in cross-cutting issues and aims of intervention into the discourse