Environmental policies will damage Brazil's trade

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Amazon Rainforest ◽  
Monitoring Data ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
Lack Of Commitment

Significance Bolsonaro's claims have further increased global concerns about the future of the Amazon rainforest, and international ire over his suggestion that NGOs were seeking revenge because his government had cut funding. Monitoring data indicated an 88% year-on-year increase in Amazon deforestation during June, and an 83% increase in wildfires through mid-August. Bolsonaro’s response has been to seek to discredit the data and to dismiss the head of the monitoring agency, in addition to now seeking to blame NGOs for destruction. Impacts The future of the world’s largest area of biodiversity is increasingly in doubt. Mineral extraction and agribusiness look set to continue advancing in the Amazon region. Brazilian trade may be negatively affected by the government’s lack of commitment to environmental sustainability.

The effects of announcement of green policies on equity portfolios

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikash Ramiah ◽  
Thomas Morris ◽  
Imad Moosa ◽  
Michael Gangemi ◽  
Louise Puican
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Systematic Risk ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Wealth Creation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Equity Portfolios ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the impact of 75 announcements of environmental policies on British equities over the period 2003 to 2012. In particular, the research has the following specific objectives: finding out whether there is wealth creation/destruction for investors as a result of the announcements of green policies and identifying changes in risk structure following the introduction of green policies. Design/methodology/approach – Using event study methodology and non-parametric tests, the authors attempt to find out whether announcements of environmental/sustainability policies are value constructive or destructive for equity investors. The CAPM is fitted with interaction variables to measure the change in systematic risk following announcements. Findings – The results show that the UK market is particularly sensitive to domestic, international and nuclear announcements. Cumulative abnormal returns in the range of 30-40 per cent were recorded in certain sectors. Consistent with the emerging literature, the authors observe that environmental policies induce changes in the systematic risk of businesses, both in the short run and the long run. Originality/value – To the best of authors’ knowledge, the literature does not provide any answer as to how the risk and return of British equity portfolios change following the announcement of green policies in the aftermath of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Furthermore, the literature does not differentiate among various categories of announcements (domestic, international and nuclear). Therefore, this paper bridges the gap in the literature on these two grounds.

Resistance to Mercosur-EU trade deal will persist

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
European Parliament ◽  
Amazon Rainforest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Parties

Significance In Europe, environmentalist groups and farmers oppose the deal and have growing support among governments and in the European Parliament, in particular as a result of Brazil’s environmental policies. Argentina has adopted an increasingly protectionist stance since the return of Kirchnerism in late 2019, increasing existing rifts within Mercosur. Impacts European civil society and governments will push back on the deforestation of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest under Bolsonaro. Green parties that are on the rise across Europe will demand the inclusion of mandatory environmental clauses before considering the deal. The economic impact of the pandemic could strengthen protectionist demands from European farmers and Mercosur manufacturers.

The future adaptivity of nineteenth century heritage buildings

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Conejos ◽  
Michael Y.L. Chew ◽  
Esther H.K. Yung
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Built Heritage ◽  
The Future ◽  
Heritage Buildings ◽  
Conservation Principles

Purpose Designing for the future sustainability and adaptability of building assets contributes to waste and emission reduction. Moreover, sustainable design and conservation principles are necessary for achieving sustainable and adaptable built heritage. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the improved adaptSTAR model in regards to maximising the future adaptive reuse and sustainability of existing built heritage and its surroundings. Design/methodology/approach A comparative study of two iconic nineteenth century heritage assets in Australia and Hong Kong is undertaken to highlight the need to forecast the future adaptation of heritage buildings in order to guarantee their continuous reuse and sustainability in an urban context. Findings Findings show that the functional, technological and legal attributes of these two nineteenth century heritage buildings require improvement so as to ensure their future adaptivity. The upgrading of heritage buildings for environmental sustainability is also deemed necessary. Originality/value The originality of this paper pertains to the advancement of the adaptSTAR tool in evaluating the future adaptivity of existing built heritage as well as new built environments whilst considering their economic, environmental and social values.

Environmental sustainability of off-site manufacturing: a literature review

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Hu ◽  
Heap-Yih Chong
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Strategies ◽  
Research Themes ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
The Future

Purpose Off-site manufacturing (OSM) is a modern method of construction that brings various environmental sustainability benefits for stakeholders. The increasing take-up of OSM in practice has attracted much research interest in its environmental sustainability. However, a holistic understanding of these previous research studies is still lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to critically review the existing body of knowledge regarding the environmental sustainability of OSM. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative content analysis was adopted to systematically and objectively review 55 related historical studies. Findings Three research themes were identified, including environmental sustainability assessment and performance, environmental sustainability strategies and critical environmental sustainability factors. A detailed discussion of the three themes was conducted to depict a whole picture of the current explorations in the research field. Additionally, a research framework was developed to articulate the interrelationship between the research themes and their specific research topics. Scientific research gaps were identified together with the future research directions in terms of sustainability strategies, performance impacting factors, sustainability indicators and drawbacks resulted from OSM application. Originality/value The literature review promotes construction stakeholders’ in-depth understanding about the environmental sustainability of OSM, which offers valuable implications for green industry practice. Additionally, it highlights the future research trends, which facilitates further explorations in the research area.

Who controls transport emissions and who cares? Investigating the monitoring of environmental sustainability from a logistics service provider’s perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 798-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Ralf Nilsson ◽  
Henrik Sternberg ◽  
Thorsten Klaas-Wissing
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Road ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the environmental impact of logistics service provider (LSP) activities in the light of customer priorities and the fragmentation of the road haulage industry in Europe. It also explores the extent to which LSPs can actually monitor the environmental impact of logistics activities in the supply chain (SC). Design/methodology/approach The research is based on a narrative literature review, an interview study, a case survey and three in-depth case studies. A framework on sustainability challenges in SCs, derived from the literature, is used to structure and analyse the findings. Findings Despite the ambitious environmental schemes communicated by several LSPs, they show little interest in, and exert little control over, the actual emissions generated from their transport operations. It is clear from the results that any real concern from customers for environmental solutions which negatively influence the cost and time requirements of logistics services is not yet a reality. Research limitations/implications This paper implies that LSP sustainability cannot be investigated in isolation if a company does not manage its proprietary resources (like owning trucks and employing drivers), but rather engage subcontractors. Practical implications Environmental policies among different LSPs appear to be similar as policies, but differ in practice. This variation of practices emphasises the importance of follow-up control by environmentally aware buyers of logistics services. Originality/value This paper represents a novel approach as to how LSP environmental policies should be viewed. It highlights the concrete need for action to achieve the environmental targets of 2020 and 2050 for carbon emissions from road transportation.

Welcome to the marriage of human capability and artificial intelligence

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
Ryan Scott ◽  
Malcolm Le Lievre
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Workplace Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
Human Capability ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Crucial Part ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore insights methodology and technology by using behavioral to create a mind-set change in the way people work, especially in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Design/methodology/approach The approach is to examine how AI is driving workplace change, introduce the idea that most organizations have untapped analytics, add the idea of what we know future work will look like and look at how greater, data-driven human behavioral insights will help prepare future human-to-human work and inform people’s work with and alongside AI. Findings Human (behavioral) intelligence will be an increasingly crucial part of behaviorally smart organizations, from hiring to placement to adaptation to team building, compliance and more. These human capability insights will, among other things, better prepare people and organizations for changing work roles, including working with and alongside AI and similar tech innovation. Research limitations/implications No doubt researchers across the private, public and nonprofit sectors will want to further study the nexus of human capability, behavioral insights technology and AI, but it is clear that such work is already underway and can prove even more valuable if adopted on a broader, deeper level. Practical implications Much “people data” inside organizations is currently not being harvested. Validated, scalable processes exist to mine that data and leverage it to help organizations of all types and sizes be ready for the future, particularly in regard to the marriage of human capability and AI. Social implications In terms of human capability and AI, individuals, teams, organizations, customers and other stakeholders will all benefit. The investment of time and other resources is minimal, but must include C-suite buy in. Originality/value Much exists on the softer aspects of the marriage of human capability and AI and other workplace advancements. What has been lacking – until now – is a 1) practical, 2) validated and 3) scalable behavioral insights tech form that quantifiably informs how people and AI will work in the future, especially side by side.

Late-Holocene palaeoenvironmental reconstruction from a lake in the Amazon Rainforest-Tropical Savanna (Cerrado) boundary in Brazil using a multi-proxy approach

The Holocene ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 095968362110190
Author(s):  
Kury Milena Souza ◽  
Moreira Luciane Silva ◽  
Cordeiro Renato Campello ◽  
Sifeddine Abdelfettah ◽  
Turcq Bruno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Holocene ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Amazon Rainforest ◽  
Oxbow Lake ◽  
Tropical Savanna ◽  
Sedimentary Process ◽  
Climatic Fluctuations ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Depositional Processes ◽  
Lake Formation

As an ecotone, the region between the Amazon Rainforest and Tropical Savanna (Cerrado) biomes is, by definition, more susceptible to climate change. Therefore, understanding palaeoenvironmental dynamics is essential to address the future responses of such transition areas to climatic fluctuations. In this context, we present a new sediment record for the Late-Holocene retrieved from Barro-Preto, currently an oxbow lake located in an ecotone at the southern Brazilian Amazon border. Our multi-proxy data include carbon and nitrogen isotopes, as well as bulk TOC, chlorophyll derivatives, grain-size and microcharcoal analyses, all anchored on a radiocarbon-dated chronology. The sedimentary process recorded at the Barro-Preto Lake responded to both local and regional climate dynamics. It was influenced by river excursions associated to local responses to precipitation changes by the activation of the palaeochannel connecting the main-stem river and the Barro-Preto lake. This activation was evidenced by the presence of different colour lithology laminations accompanied by coarser sediments and also by climate conditions known to influence the Amazon region. Depositional processes linked to lake dynamics and different oxbow lake cycle stages were also important to explain the changes verified in the Barro-Preto record, endorsing the use of this lake formation for palaeoclimatic reconstructions. The record indicated a rising humidity trend, reflected by a progressive increase in lacustrine productivity, in accordance to other studies carried out in the Amazon region concerning the Late-Holocene, associated with a more southward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Despite this rising humidity trend, dry episodic events during the Late-Holocene were evidenced by charcoal data, also coherent with regional Amazon studies, albeit exhibiting increased intensity, suggesting that the transitional nature of the environment might have influenced susceptibility to fires.

scholarly journals Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Challenges in Szekszárd Wine Region, Hungary

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Attila Buzási
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Evaluation Methodology ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Vulnerability Assessments ◽  
The Future ◽  
Climate Vulnerability ◽  
High Level ◽  
Wine Region ◽  
Lock In

Wine producers face several challenges regarding climate change, which will affect this industry both in the present and the future. Vulnerability assessments are at the forefront of current climate research, therefore, the present paper has two main aims. First, to assess two components of climate vulnerability regarding the Szekszárd wine region, Hungary; second, to collect and analyze adaptation farming techniques in terms of environmental sustainability aspects. Exposure analyses revealed that the study area will face several challenges regarding intensive drought periods in the future. Sensitivity indicators show the climate-related characteristics of the most popular grapevines and their relatively high level of susceptibility regarding changing climatic patterns. Since both external and intrinsic factors of vulnerability show deteriorating trends, the development of adaptation actions is needed. Adaptation interventions often provide unsustainable solutions or entail maladaptation issues, therefore, an environmental-focused sustainability assessment of collected interventions was performed to avoid long-term negative path dependencies. The applied evaluation methodology pointed out that nature-based adaptation actions are preferred in comparison to using additional machines or resource-intensive solutions. This study can fill the scientific gap by analyzing this wine region for the first time, via performing an ex-ante lock-in analysis of available and widely used adaptation interventions in the viticulture sector.

Furuncular Myiasis by Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Oestridae) in Wild Jaguars in the Amazon Rainforest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Mickael Mota Soares ◽  
Luana Machado Barros ◽  
Daniela Aparecida Savariz Bôlla ◽  
Marlus Queiroz Almeida ◽  
Diego da Costa Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
First Record ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Amazon Rainforest ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Dermatobia Hominis ◽  
Furuncular Myiasis

Abstract Two individuals of the jaguar, Panthera onca (L.), were captured near the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, Brazilian Amazon, during the years of 2017 and 2018. The jaguars presented furuncular myiasis caused by the human botfly Dermatobia hominis (L.) on the rear thighs and tail. This is the first record of infestation of D. hominis in P. onca in the Amazon region.

The effects of materialism on consumer evaluation of sustainable synthetic (lab-grown) products

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 579-590
Author(s):  
Jessica Keech ◽  
Maureen Morrin ◽  
Jeffrey Steven Podoshen
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Evaluation ◽  
Positioning Strategy ◽  
Consumer Markets ◽  
The Future ◽  
Promotion Strategies ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The increasing desire of consumers for socially responsible luxury products combined with fluctuating supplies in consumer markets are leading various industries to seek alternative sources to be able to meet the needs of its customers. One possible solution that may meet the demands of the future is lab-grown products. Because these products confer multiple benefits, this study aims to investigate the most effective ways to appeal to consumers by aligning the benefits of the products with their values as marketers seek to find effective promotion for these items. Design/methodology/approach We examine the effectiveness of an ethical positioning strategy for two types of luxury lab-grown (synthetic) products among high versus low materialism consumers in three experiments. Findings Findings suggest that a positioning strategy stressing product ethicality is more effective for low materialism consumers, whereas the strategy is less effective, and may even backfire, for high materialism consumers. The impact on social status consumers perceive from a lab-grown product explains why this effect occurs among low materialism consumers. Therefore, marketers should take caution and use specific appeals for different segments based on values such as consumers’ materialism levels. Originality/value If lab-grown products represent the wave of the future, it is important to understand how consumers will respond to this emerging technology and how promotion strategies may enhance their evaluation.

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