scholarly journals Ecological resource availability: a method to estimate resource budgets for a sustainable economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Desing ◽  
Gregor Braun ◽  
Roland Hischier
Keyword(s):  
Resource Availability ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Sustainable Economy ◽  
Safe Limits ◽  
One Step ◽  
Environmental Limits ◽  
Environmental Burdens

Non-technical summary Resources are the basis of our economy and their provision causes major shares of the global environmental burdens, many of which are beyond safe limits today. In order to be sustainable, our economy needs to be able to operate within those boundaries. As resources are the physical ‘currency’ of our economy, we present a method that allows translating Earth system boundaries into resource budgets. This ecological resource availability determines the global annual production of a resource that can be considered absolutely sustainable. The budgets can be managed like financial budgets, bringing absolute environmental limits one step closer to decision-makers.

Federated and intelligent datacubes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Atherton ◽  
Peter Löwe ◽  
Torsten Heinen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Makers ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Multiple Data ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
Fair Principles ◽  
Research And Education

<p>We face unprecedented environmental challenges as a species, that threaten our existing way of life.  We are still learning to understand our planet, although we have a good idea how it works.  The speed of research needs to accelerate to provide information to decision makers, to better respond to our societal challenges.  To do this we need to move towards leveraging large datasets to speed up research, as proposed by Jim Grey in ‘The Fourth Paradigm’. In the world of research infrastructures we need to provide a means for scientists to access vast amounts of research data from multiple data sources in an easy and efficient way.  EOSC is addressing this but we are only scratching the surface when it comes to unleashing the full potential of the scientific community.  Datacubes have recently emerged as a technology in the Environmental and Earth system domain to store imagery data in a way that makes it easier and quicker for scientists to perform their research.  But with the scales of data volumes that are being considered, there are many challenges to curating, hosting, and funding this information in a centralised centre.  Our proposal seeks to leverage the existing National Research and Education (NRENs) infrastructures to store national repositories of regional Environmental and Earth system domain data, for this to be shared with scientists in an open, federated but secure way, conforming to FAIR principles.  This would provide levels of redundancy, data sovereignty and scalability for hosting global environmental datasets in an exascale world.</p>

scholarly journals One Step Closer to a Milestone in Climate Modeling

Eos ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Shultz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Modeling ◽  
Earth System Model ◽  
System Model ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Late Afternoon ◽  
One Step

A pair of revisions to the Energy Exascale Earth System Model improves its ability to capture late afternoon and nocturnal rainfall as well as the timing and movement of convection.

scholarly journals Brief Communication: Key papers of 20 years in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Animesh K. Gain ◽  
Yves Bühler ◽  
Pascal Haegeli ◽  
Daniela Molinari ◽  
Mario Parise ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Earth System ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
Major Subject ◽  
20Th Anniversary ◽  
Subject Areas ◽  
Twentieth Anniversary

Abstract. To mark the twentieth anniversary of Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS), an interdisciplinary and international journal dedicated to the public discussion and open-access publication of high-quality studies and original research on natural hazards and their consequences, we highlight eleven key publications covering major subject areas of NHESS that stood out within the past 20 years. The selected articles represent excellent scientific contributions in the major areas of natural hazards and risks and helped NHESS to become an exceptionally strong journal representing interdisciplinary areas of natural hazards and risks. At its 20th anniversary, we are proud that NHESS is not only used by scientists to disseminate research results and innovative novel ideas but also by practitioners and decision-makers to present effective solutions and strategies for sustainable disaster risk reduction.

Modern World Trend of Sustainable Economy and Formation of the Circular Ecosystem in the Republic of Moldova

Economica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Dodu-Gugea ◽  
◽  
Zorina Siscan ◽  
Liliana Condratchi ◽  
Olesea Fortuna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Round Table ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Republic Of Moldova ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
Sustainable Economy ◽  
The Republic

Starting from studies conducted in the field, the authors define sustainable economy as a global trend and identify co-creation power of circular ecosystem in the Republic of Moldova. Attention is paid to sustainable economy as based on managing resources in interest of not only contemporary generations, but also the future ones. The implementation of policies related to business interests should be closely linked to sustainable development of natural and socio-cultural ecosystems. The technologies of circular economy directly contribute to sustainable economy. The ecological crisis and the current pandemic situation are leading to a revision of socio-economic values that result in the need to form circular global ecosystem. The round table of 18.12.2020, organized by the authors within ASEM, confirmed that activists, entrepreneurs, academics and political decision makers, being driving forces of sustainable economy, capitalize on this global trend, co-creating the circular ecosystem.

Water-Energy-Food Nexus Review for Biofuels Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-205
Author(s):  
Abass A. Gazal ◽  
Napat Jakrawatana ◽  
Thapat Silalertruksa ◽  
Shabbir H. Gheewala
Keyword(s):  
Resource Availability ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Assessment Methodology ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment Methodology ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Basic Human Needs

The appropriate use of limited natural resources for generating basic human needs such as energy, food, and water, is essential to help the society function efficiently. Hence, a new approach called nexus is being considered to resolve the effects of intrinsic trade-offs between the essential needs. A review of different methods and frameworks of the water-energy-food nexus was done in this article to give a detailed repository of information on existing approaches and advocate the development of a more holistic quantitative nexus method. Assessing biofuels under the water-energy-food nexus perspective, this review addresses the sustainability of bioenergy production. The results show the countries that can sustainably produce first-generation biofuels. Only a few methods have varied interdisciplinary procedures to analyse the nexus, and more analytical software and data on resource availability/use are needed to address trade-offs between these interacting resource sectors constituting the nexus. Also, “land” is suggested as an additional sector to consider in future studies using both the nexus index and life cycle assessment methodology. The review reveals that to tackle composite challenges related to resource management, cross-disciplinary methods are essential to integrate environmental, socio-political facets of water, energy, and food; employ collaborative frameworks; and seek the engagement of decision-makers.

Indicators of Land Degradation Vulnerability due to Anthropic Factors

2013 ◽  
pp. 1400-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Imbrenda ◽  
M. D’Emilio ◽  
M. Lanfredi ◽  
M. Ragosta ◽  
T. Simoniello
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Spatial Characterization ◽  
Land Cover Data ◽  
First Time

Land degradation is one of the most impacting phenomena on natural resource availability, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. In order to provide efficient tools for territorial sustainable management in areas affected by land degradation, it is important to define suitable models and indicators able to identify exposed areas and their vulnerability level, so as to provide an effective support for decision makers in identifying intervention priorities and planning mitigation/adaptation strategies. This work is focused on the evaluation at high spatial detail of land degradation vulnerability due to anthropic factors, which is a crucial issue in areas devoted to farming practices. Vulnerability is evaluated by integrating a new indicator of the mechanization level the authors recently developed, with a set of census based indicators of land management. The new indicator is independent of census data being based on land cover data; thus, it can provide a better spatial characterization and a more frequent updating compared to commonly adopted indices that are evaluated at municipal scale. By analyzing data for the whole Southern Italy, such an indicator was integrated for the first time at full spatial resolution to obtain a final vulnerability index of land management. This comprehensive index enabled a more accurate estimation of the land degradation vulnerability due to anthropic factors allowing the discrimination of priority areas within the municipal areas.

Indicators of Land Degradation Vulnerability Due to Anthropic Factors

2013 ◽  
pp. 87-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Imbrenda ◽  
M. D’Emilio ◽  
M. Lanfredi ◽  
M. Ragosta ◽  
T. Simoniello
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Spatial Characterization ◽  
Land Cover Data ◽  
First Time

Land degradation is one of the most impacting phenomena on natural resource availability, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. In order to provide efficient tools for territorial sustainable management in areas affected by land degradation, it is important to define suitable models and indicators able to identify exposed areas and their vulnerability level, so as to provide an effective support for decision makers in identifying intervention priorities and planning mitigation/adaptation strategies. This work is focused on the evaluation at high spatial detail of land degradation vulnerability due to anthropic factors, which is a crucial issue in areas devoted to farming practices. Vulnerability is evaluated by integrating a new indicator of the mechanization level the authors recently developed, with a set of census based indicators of land management. The new indicator is independent of census data being based on land cover data; thus, it can provide a better spatial characterization and a more frequent updating compared to commonly adopted indices that are evaluated at municipal scale. By analyzing data for the whole Southern Italy, such an indicator was integrated for the first time at full spatial resolution to obtain a final vulnerability index of land management. This comprehensive index enabled a more accurate estimation of the land degradation vulnerability due to anthropic factors allowing the discrimination of priority areas within the municipal areas.

The Archaeology of Global Environment Change

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole L. Crumley
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
The Two Cultures ◽  
Non Linear System

Recent, widely recognized changes in the Earth system are, in effect, changes in the coupled human–environment system. We have entered the Anthropocene, when human activity—along with solar forcing, volcanic activity, precession, and the like—must be considered a component (a ‘driver’) of global environmental change (Crutzen and Stoermer 2000; Levin 1998). The dynamic non-linear system in which we live is not in equilibrium and does not act in a predictable manner (see Fairhead, chapter 16 this volume for further discussion of non-equilibrium ecology). If humankind is to continue to thrive, it is of utmost importance that we identify the ideas and practices that nurture the planet as well as our species. Our best laboratory for this is the past, where long-, medium-, and short-term variables can be identified and their roles evaluated. Perhaps the past is our only laboratory: experimentation requires time we no longer have. Thus the integration of our understanding of human history with that of the Earth system is a timely and urgent task. Archaeologists bring two particularly useful sets of skills to this enterprise: how to collaborate, and how to learn from the past. Archaeology enjoys a long tradition of collaboration with colleagues in both the biophysical sciences and in the humanities to investigate human activity in all planetary environments. Archaeologists work alongside one another in the field, live together in difficult conditions, welcome collaboration with colleagues in other disciplines—and listen to them carefully—and tell compelling stories to an interested public. All are rare skills and precious opportunities. Until recently few practitioners of biophysical, social science, and humanities disciplines had experience in cross-disciplinary collaboration. Many scholars who should be deeply engaged in collaboration to avert disaster (for example, specialists in tropical medicine with their counterparts in land use change) still speak different professional ‘languages’ and have very different traditions of producing information. C. P. Snow, in The Two Cultures (1993 [1959]), was among the first to warn that the very structure of academia was leading to this serious, if unintended, outcome.

Paleoclimate science for the 21st century: a wishlist

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim M. Cobb
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Climate Trends ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Paleoclimate Records ◽  
Paleoclimate Data

<p>The study of past climate trends, variability, and extremes has yielded unique insights into Earth’s changing climate, yet paleoclimate science must overcome a number of key challenges to maximize its utility in a century defined by accelerating climate change. First, the paleoclimate archive itself is at grave risk, given that i) many records end in the late 20<sup>th</sup> century, and no concerted efforts exist to extend them to the present-day, and ii) many paleoclimate archives are disappearing under continued climate change and other forms of human disturbance. Second, many paleoclimate records are comprised of oxygen isotopes, yet the coordinated, multi-scale observational and modeling infrastructures required to unravel the mechanisms governing water isotope variability are as yet underdeveloped. Lastly, in part owing to the aforementioned deficiencies, paleoclimate data assimilation efforts remain fraught with large uncertainties, despite their promise in constraining many aspects of future climate impacts, including extreme events and hydrological trends and variability. Paleoclimate science for the 21<sup>st</sup> century requires deep investments in the full integration of paleoclimate data and approaches into frameworks for climate risk and hazard assessments. In that sense, paleoclimate scientists will continue to play a key role in the communication of climate change science to key stakeholders, including the general public. Their understanding of the Earth system also equips them to contribute valuable insights to teams comprised of researchers, practitioners, and  decision-makers charged with leveraging science to inform solutions, in service to society.</p>

Green Politics

2020 ◽  
pp. 353-367
Author(s):  
Antje Brown
Keyword(s):  
Resource Availability ◽  
Environmental Politics ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
First Century ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Green Approach ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Green Politics ◽  
Strategic Consideration

Whilst Scottish environmental policies feature many characteristics typical for modern systems of governance, addressing similar environmental challenges and wicked problems of the twenty-first century, many environmental policy responses in Scotland are nevertheless distinctly contextual and often driven by the ongoing constitutional debate whilst also being ambitious, if not pioneering. This is not to say that Scotland leads in environmental politics on all fronts; where coalition networks and other factors may not promise the desired results, Scottish decision makers shy away from a determined green approach. This chapter therefore argues that in order to understand green politics in Scotland as a whole we need to study environmental policies carefully and individually and take into consideration a number of factors (or parameters) such as resource availability and, more importantly, the strategic consideration of whether or not a co-framing between green ambitions and national identity can be achieved successfully.

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