scholarly journals Zero Waste: An Innovation for Less Polluting Emission Processes, Resource Management Practices and Policies

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
C.H. Ekanem ◽  
H.E. Ekanem ◽  
F.D. Eyenaka ◽  
E.A. Isaiah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
The Government

The rising levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the Earth’s atmosphere have the potential to cause changes in our climate. Some of these emission increases can be traced directly to solid waste. Landfills are among the largest emitters of carbon dioxide and methane, the key GHGs. Thus, effective mitigation of these emissions through formalization of waste reduction into the waste management system to reduce land filling could provide environmental benefits of reducing the adverse impacts of climate change. This paper therefore proposes waste prevention and recycling-jointly referred to as waste reduction as better and most potent strategies for the management of solid waste and for reducing greenhouse gases and calls on both the government and private agencies to check or control the increasing pollution or abuse of the environment by enforcing compliance with the laid out Policies, Pronouncements, Regulations and enacted Legislation especially in the developing countries. The study concludes that by choosing to prevent waste and recycle, less waste will be generated, the need for landfill will be minimal, energy demand will decrease, fewer fossil fuels will be burned and less methane and carbon dioxide will be emitted to the atmosphere which helps to curb climate change.

scholarly journals Crop Agriculture of Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities

1970 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad H Mondal
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Fair Price ◽  
Crop Agriculture ◽  
The Government

Crop agriculture in Bangladesh is constrained every year by challenges, such as a) Loss of Arabie Land, b) Population Growth, c) Climate Changes, d) Inadequate Management Practices, e) Unfair Price of Produces, and f) Insufficient Investment in Research. In Bangladesh, about 80,000 ha of arable land are going out of production every year. The loss is alarming and needs to be addressed immediately. The land use policy of the government should be updated and implemented immediately to stop further loss of arable land. Another problem to agriculture is the increase in the growth of population. The twin problem of arable land loss and population growth needs to be addressed simultaneously to ensure sustainable crop production. Country's crop production is also affected frequently by flood, drought, and salinity. Varieties/technologies tolerant to these natural hazards need to be developed. Renewable energy, reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and afforestation are recommended to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. To sustain crop production, chemical fertilizers must be integrated with organic manure and costly non-urea fertilizers should continue to be subsidized. Incidence of pests and diseases has lately become severe due to climate change impacts. Therefore, more varieties resistant to the pests should be evolved. Small and marginal farmers of Bangladesh have limited access to institutional credit. They are not eligible for microcredit of NGOs either. Establishment of a new institution/foundation in line with PKSF is recommended to meet their needs. These farmers do not have farmers' associations or cooperatives to bargain for fair price of their produces. Government might encourage establishment of farmers' cooperatives to ensure fair price of their produces. To make such cooperatives successful, top-down approach by the influentials must be avoided. Investment in agricultural research should as well be raised to at least 2% of GDP to help generate technologies to cope with climate change hazards and disseminate such technologies at farmer's level. Keywords: Crop agriculture; challenges; opportunities. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i2.5886Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(2) : 235-245, June 2010

Spatiotemporal Monitoring of CO2 and CH4 over Pakistan Using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 35-41
Author(s):  
Irfan Mahmood ◽  
Muhammad Farooq Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Imran Shahzad ◽  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Luqman Atique
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Considerable Increase ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder ◽  
Radiative Balance ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations

Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) are two most potent greenhouse gases and are major source of climate change. Human activities particularly fossil fuels burning have caused considerable increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. CO2contributes 60% of anthropogenic greenhouse effect whereas CH4contributes 15%. Ice core records also show that the concentrations of Carbon dioxide and methane have increased substantially. The emission of these gases alters the Earth’s energy budget and are drivers of climate change. In the present study, atmospheric concentration of CO2and CH4over Pakistan is measured using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). Time series and time averaged maps are prepared to measure the concentrations of CO2and CH4. The results show considerable increase in concentration of Carbon dioxide and methane. The substantial increase in these concentrations can affect human health, earth radiative balance and can damage crops.

REGIONAL COGENERATION VIA ELECTRICAL UTILITIES OPERATING ON NUCLEAR ENERGY AND COAL: ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-144
Author(s):  
Marc A. Rosen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Resource Utilization ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Environmental Stewardship ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Electrical Utilities

The use of electrical-utility cogeneration from nuclear energy and coal is examined for improving regional efficiency regarding energy-resource utilization and environmental stewardship. A case study is presented for a large and diverse hypothetical region which has nuclear and fossil facilities in its electrical utility sector. Utility-based cogeneration is determined to reduce significantly annual use of uranium and coal, as well as other fossil fuels, and related emissions for the region and its electrical-utility sector. The reduced emissions of greenhouse gases are significant, and indicate that electrical utility-based cogeneration has a key role to play in combating climate change.

Soil and Climate Change

Earth Matters ◽  
2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Bardgett
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Intensive Farming ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Carbon Store

The world’s climate is changing. Not only is it getting warmer, but also there are more extreme weather events, such as droughts, storms, and catastrophic floods. Humans are undoubtedly the cause of this change in climate, through the burning of fossil fuels, intensive farming, deforestation, and many other aspects of our industrious lives that increase the emission of greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—to the atmosphere. In fact, over the past fifty years or so there has been an unprecedented increase in the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and, unless measures are put in place to cap emissions, this trend is likely to continue. So what have soils got to do with climate change? Put simply, soils play a pivotal role because they act as both a source and sink for greenhouse gases, and any disruption of this balance will affect the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere and hence the global climate, potentially making the situation either better or worse. Perhaps the most powerful illustration of this concerns the carbon cycle. Soil is the Earth’s third largest carbon store, next to the oceans and deep deposits of fossil fuels, and together with vegetation it contains at least three times more carbon than the atmosphere. Many worry that climate change will destabilize these carbon stores by stimulating the soil organisms that break down soil organic matter, releasing vast quantities of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This could shift soils from being sinks to sources of this greenhouse gas, thereby accelerating climate change. Scientists call this carbon-cycle feedback, and we will revisit it later. Let’s begin with the main actors of climate change, the greenhouse gases. The most abundant and well-known greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. This gas is taken up from the atmosphere by plants through the process of photosynthesis, which occurs in the presence of light. Plants retain most of the carbon they take up and use it to grow and sustain their metabolism, but they also release a portion back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through respiration from both their shoots and roots.

Strategies for the municipal solid waste sector to assist Canada in meeting its Kyoto Protocol commitments

2004 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian K Mohareb ◽  
Mostafa Warith ◽  
Roberto M Narbaitz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Kyoto Protocol ◽  
Landfill Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Source Reduction ◽  
The Government ◽  
Waste Sector

The Government of Canada has ratified the Kyoto Protocol, committing to a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 1990 levels during the commitment period of 2008–2012. To attain this target, emission reductions throughout many sectors must be achieved. The waste sector can assist Canada in reducing GHG emissions to meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. In 2001, the waste sector generated 24.8 megatonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from landfill gas (LFG) generation, wastewater treatment, and incineration. Emissions from the transportation of solid waste were not considered, and are seen to be small. Several strategies for reducing GHG emissions from solid waste are analyzed. Source reduction decreases the amount of material being generated, thus reducing from the source any emissions that might be related to the life cycle of the material. Recycling can reduce GHG emissions by reducing the amount of virgin material being processed, avoiding life cycle emissions. Landfill gas collection for energy recovery can reduce methane (CH4) emissions from organic wastes in landfills, and the Government of Canada's Climate Change Plan has considered this strategy. Anaerobic digestion converts some of the organic matter in the municipal solid waste (MSW) to both CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2), where the CH4 can be used to generate power, while composting converts some of the organic fraction to CO2. Both of these processes produce a soil conditioner as their residue. Waste incineration reduces MSW volume and can generate power, displacing generation from fossil fuels. An integrated approach, considering these techniques where appropriate, can succeed in reducing emissions from the solid waste sector. Policy choices such as extended producer responsibility, minimum recycled content laws, and LFG capture criteria would increase the impact of solid waste management on GHG emissions. Key words: climate change, Kyoto Protocol, municipal solid waste, source reduction, recycling, landfill gas capture, anaerobic digestion.

Hydrogen derived from water as a sustainable solar fuel: learning from biology

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 927-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Barber
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Human Society ◽  
International Agreement ◽  
Solar Fuel

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) held in Paris in 2015 and the follow-up conferences in Marrakesh (COP22) and very recently in Bonn (COP23) have established an unprecedented international agreement that during this century human society must break from its reliance on energy from fossil fuels to energy sources, which do not release greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide.

scholarly journals Sustainable healthcare – Time for ‘Green Podiatry’

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Margaret Evans
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Foot Health

Abstract Background Healthcare aims to promote good health and yet demonstrably contributes to climate change, which is purported to be ‘the biggest global health threat of the 21st century’. This is happening now, with healthcare as an industry representing 4.4% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Main body Climate change promotes health deficits from many angles; however, primarily it is the use of fossil fuels which increases atmospheric carbon dioxide (also nitrous oxide, and methane). These greenhouse gases prevent the earth from cooling, resulting in the higher temperatures and rising sea levels, which then cause ‘wild weather’ patterns, including floods, storms, and droughts. Particular vulnerability is afforded to those already health compromised (older people, pregnant women, children, wider health co-morbidities) as well as populations closer to equatorial zones, which encompasses many low-and-middle-income-countries. The paradox here, is that poorer nations by spending less on healthcare, have lower carbon emissions from health-related activity, and yet will suffer most from global warming effects, with scant resources to off-set the increasing health care needs. Global recognition has forged the Paris agreement, the United Nations sustainable developments goals, and the World Health Organisation climate change action plan. It is agreed that most healthcare impact comes from consumption of energy and resources, and the production of greenhouse gases into the environment. Many professional associations of medicine and allied health professionals are advocating for their members to lead on environmental sustainability; the Australian Podiatry Association is incorporating climate change into its strategic direction. Conclusion Podiatrists, as allied health professionals, have wide community engagement, and hence, can model positive environmental practices, which may be effective in changing wider community behaviours, as occurred last century when doctors stopped smoking. As foot health consumers, our patients are increasingly likely to expect more sustainable practices and products, including ‘green footwear’ options. Green Podiatry, as a part of sustainable healthcare, directs us to be responsible energy and product consumers, and reduce our workplace emissions.

scholarly journals Achieving Net Zero Carbon Dioxide by Sequestering Biomass Carbon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Amelse
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Co2 Sequestration ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
The World

Mitigation of global warming requires an understanding of where energy is produced and consumed, the magnitude of carbon dioxide generation, and proper understanding of the Carbon Cycle. The latter leads to the distinction between and need for both CO2 and biomass CARBON sequestration. Short reviews are provided for prior technologies proposed for reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuels or substituting renewable energy, focusing on their limitations. None offer a complete solution. Of these, CO2 sequestration is poised to have the largest impact. We know how to do it. It will just cost money, and scale-up is a huge challenge. Few projects have been brought forward to semi-commercial scale. Transportation accounts for only about 30% of U.S. overall energy demand. Biofuels penetration remains small, and thus, they contribute a trivial amount of overall CO2 reduction, even though 40% of U.S. corn and 30% of soybeans are devoted to their production. Bioethanol is traced through its Carbon Cycle and shown to be both energy inefficient, and an inefficient use of biomass carbon. Both biofuels and CO2 sequestration reduce FUTURE CO2 emissions from continued use of fossil fuels. They will not remove CO2 ALREADY in the atmosphere. The only way to do that is to break the Carbon Cycle by growing biomass from atmospheric CO2 and sequestering biomass CARBON. Theoretically, sequestration of only a fraction of the world’s tree leaves, which are renewed every year, can get the world to Net Zero CO2 without disturbing the underlying forests.

scholarly journals Emission of Greenhouse Gases and Odorants from Pig Slurry - Effect on the Environment and Methods of its Reduction

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Marszałek ◽  
Zygmunt Kowalski ◽  
Agnieszka Makara
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Gaseous Pollutants ◽  
Pig Slurry ◽  
Heterogeneous Mixture ◽  
Liquid Fertilizer ◽  
Emission Of Greenhouse Gases

Abstract Pig slurry is classified as a natural liquid fertilizer, which is a heterogeneous mixture of urine, faeces, remnants of feed and technological water, used to remove excrement and maintain the hygiene of livestock housing. The storage and distribution of pig slurry on farmland affect the environment as they are associated with, among others, the emission of various types of gaseous pollutants, mainly CH4, CO2, N2O, NH3, H2S, and other odorants. Methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are greenhouse gases (GHGs) which contribute to climate change by increasing the greenhouse effect. Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are malodorous gases responsible for the occurrence of odour nuisance which, due to their toxicity, may endanger the health and lives of humans and animals. NH3 also influences the increase of atmosphere and soil acidification. The article presents the environmental impact of greenhouse gases and odorous compounds emitted from pig slurry. Key gaseous atmospheric pollutants such as NH3, H2S, CH4, CO2 and N2O have been characterized. Furthermore, methods to reduce the emission of odours and GHGs from pig slurry during its storage and agricultural usage have been discussed.

scholarly journals Demographic determinants of energy consumption in the European Union: Econometric analysis results

Stanovnistvo ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Predrag Petrovic ◽  
Goran Nikolic ◽  
Ivana Ostojic
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Human Society

Over the past several decades there has been a strong intensifying trend of human society impact on ecosystems, consumption of natural resources and global change. The environmental impact of the society is fully apparent and dominantly implemented through various greenhouse gases emissions (GHG), leading towards global climate change with considerably spread harmful effects. Global climate change includes the earth and ocean surface and atmospheric warming, but also melting of snow and ice, increase of sea levels and ocean acidity, as well as ever more common natural phenomena extremes (winds, various forms of rainfall/precipitation, extremely low or high temperatures, etc.). Scientists are well-familiarized with the fact that use of fossil fuels, such as oil derivatives and coal, is the main generator of harmful gases. In addition, possible substitutions for fossil fuels in the form of other energy sources are very limited, and it should be remembered that other energy sources also have certain adverse environmental effects. Bearing in mind climate change caused by products of fossil fuels combustion, as well as inevitable depletion of natural crude oil resources, management of growing global energy demand becomes one of the key goals and challenges of 21st century. If these reasons are coupled with obligations emanating from Kyoto Protocol, it is clear that attention of researches should be more than reasonably focused on the main determinants of energy consumption. This study is focused on illumination of key demographic and economic determinants of energy consumption in 28 EU member states in the period 1960- 2014. The results obtained demonstrate that population positively and quite strongly influence total energy consumption. An increase of population of 1% will result in an increase of energy consumption of 1.59% to 1.76%. Such relation most probably can be explained by the fact that demographic growth of the society aggravates and complicates planning processes of efficient energy consumption, diminishing the ability of society to be energy efficient. The population effect of persons aged 65 and above to energy consumption is also positive. An increase in share of this age group of 1% will result in an increase in energy consumption of approximately 0.43%. Positive elasticity coefficient should be understood as a proof that European societies with higher share of senior citizens consume more energy that societies with higher share of younger population, not necessarily as an argument that senior citizens use more energy than younger population. The explanation for such nature of a cause-andeffect relation could be that high share of senior citizens influences the structure of production and consumption, spatial distribution of population, transport infrastructure and social services provided. A significant influence on energy consumption in the EU is made by the level of economic development of countries, which is in accordance with the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), suggesting a relation of inverted letter ?U?. The amount of income per capita needed to have the EKC expressed ranges between 54,183 and 81,552 dollars.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document