The Impact Of Carbon Footprinting In Romania

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 417-420
Author(s):  
Lucian-Ionel Cioca ◽  
Maria-Viorela Codoi

AbstractCarbon foot printing became an important term for surprisingly many people in the last years. It is very important that people learn what effects may have carbon foot printing on their lifes and how it’s produced. The term “carbon foot printing” is just a name which is the result of global warming potential. Carbon foot printing is considered a very popular buzzword in Romania in the last year. The carbon footprint measures total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly, by a person, organization, event or product. In Romania the carbon emissions are the consequences of burning of fossil fuels and manufacturing of cement, and the value of CO2 emissions in 2008 was 94,660(kt). People can do training or courses to learn more about the meaning of carbon footprints, their impact on the environment and calculation of the carbon footprint by measuring the CO2 equivalent emissions.

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Ramírez-Villegas ◽  
Ola Eriksson ◽  
Thomas Olofsson

The aim of this study is to assess how the use of fossil and nuclear power in different renovation scenarios affects the environmental impacts of a multi-family dwelling in Sweden, and how changes in the electricity production with different energy carriers affect the environmental impact. In line with the Paris Agreement, the European Union has set an agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by means of energy efficiency in buildings. It is estimated that by the year 2050, 80% of Europe’s population will be living in buildings that already exist. This means it is important for the European Union to renovate buildings to improve energy efficiency. In this study, eight renovation scenarios, using six different Northern European electricity mixes, were analyzed using the standard of the European Committee for Standardization for life cycle assessment of buildings. This study covers all life cycle steps from cradle to grave. The renovation scenarios include combinations of photovoltaics, geothermal heat pumps, heat recovery ventilation, and improvement of the building envelope. The results show that while in some electricity mixes a reduction in the global warming potential can be achieved, it can be at the expense of an increase in radioactive waste production, and, in mixes with a high share of fossil fuels, the global warming potential of the scenarios increases with time, compared with that of the original building. It also shows that in most electricity mixes, scenarios that reduce the active heat demand of the building end up in reducing both the global warming potential and radioactive waste, making them less sensitive to changes in the energy system.


2010 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M?ller ◽  
M. Deurer ◽  
G. Northcott ◽  
B.E. Clothier

Increased environmental awareness has motivated retailers to label products with carbon footprints This allows consumers to choose products according to their global warming potential Public concern is also targeting pesticides Heightened customer sensitivity to residues has already led to a ban on using certain pesticides by European retailers A tool is needed for assessing the environmental impact of pesticides used for producing a specific product This paper introduces the concept of the pesticide footprint (PFP) which fills this gap by estimating the total loss of pesticides and their respective impact on humans and ecosystems per product unit in a lifecycle framework The impact assessment considers how these losses affect humans through the consumption of the product containing residues and ecosystems through the exposure to residues in the environment The PFP includes the production of the pesticide its application in the orchard and the final disposal of waste


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e028763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J K Wilkinson ◽  
Rory Braggins ◽  
Ingeborg Steinbach ◽  
James Smith

ObjectivesMetered-dose inhalers (MDIs) contain propellants which are potent greenhouse gases. Many agencies propose a switch to alternative, low global warming potential (GWP) inhalers, such as dry powder inhalers (DPIs). We aimed to analyse the impact on greenhouse gas emissions and drug costs of making this switch.SettingWe studied National Health Service prescription data from England in 2017 and collated carbon footprint data on inhalers commonly used in England.DesignInhalers were separated into different categories according to their mechanisms of action (eg, short-acting beta-agonist). Within each category we identified low and high GWP inhalers and calculated the cost and carbon impact of changing to low GWP inhalers. We modelled scenarios for swapping proportionally according to the current market share of each equivalent DPI (model 1) and switching to the lowest cost pharmaceutically equivalent DPI (model 2). We also reviewed available data on the carbon footprint of inhalers from scientific publications, independently certified reports and patents to provide more accurate carbon footprint information on different types of inhalers.ResultsIf MDIs using HFA propellant are replaced with the cheapest equivalent DPI, then for every 10% of MDIs changed to DPIs, drug costs decrease by £8.2M annually. However if the brands of DPIs stay the same as 2017 prescribing patterns, for every 10% of MDIs changed to DPIs, drug costs increase by £12.7M annually. Most potential savings are due to less expensive long-acting beta-agonist (LABA)/inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) inhalers. Some reliever inhalers (eg, Ventolin) have a carbon footprint over 25 kg CO2e per inhaler, while others use far less 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFA134a) (eg, Salamol) with a carbon footprint of <10 kg CO2e per inhaler. 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane (HFA227ea) LABA/ICS inhalers (eg, Flutiform) have a carbon footprint over 36 kg CO2e, compared with an equivalent HFA134a combination inhaler (eg, Fostair) at <20 kg CO2e. For every 10% of MDIs changed to DPIs, 58 kt CO2e could be saved annually in England.ConclusionsSwitching to DPIs would result in large carbon savings and can be achieved alongside reduced drug costs by using less expensive brands. Substantial carbon savings can be made by using small volume HFA134a MDIs, in preference to large volume HFA134a MDIs, or those containing HFA227ea as a propellant.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maged Zagow

Abstract United States (US) cities of cool climate zone such as Chicago and Boston are witnessing a reduction in carbon emissions potentially due to focusing on public transportation, and alternative energy resources. It's difficult to validate or deny optimal practices and regulations due to a lack of reliable data on carbon emissions and urban comparative studies amongst metropolitan areas. Therefore, we have examined at the relationship between land use, walkability, socioeconomics variables and carbon dioxide emissions at the zip code level. The current study compares the carbon footprints of four metro regions in cool climatic zone 5 with a model of all US zip code, to generate a benchmarking predictive model for climate change across all US zip codes. Our research shows that increasing number of businesses within walkable distance in cool climate reduces CO2 emissions. This signifies that enhancing walkability in cities and remodeling of retail, art, entertainment, and recreation facilities in accordance with urban sustainability policies can greatly cut down CO2 emissions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 734-737 ◽  
pp. 1813-1819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang Ming Rao ◽  
Yong Wang

Chongqing’s carbon balance based on carbon footprints is analyzed, which is defined CO2 emitted by human activities equal to CO2 absorbed by carbon sinks and carbon footprints elimination. On the basis of carbon balance calculation with indicators of measurement of CO2 emissions, conversion from CO2 to carbon footprint and rate of carbon neutral by CO2 sinks of forestation and greening, it is found that Chongqing’s carbon footprints grew from 5.0141 Mghas in 1997 to 10.2973 Mghas in 2009 with rate of about 6 per cent yearly, in which carbon footprints from fossil-fuels-combustion overwhelmingly increased from 50.3 per cent in 1997 to 79.48 per cent in 2009; and the gap exists in Chongqing’s carbon balance with being widen from 3.3271 Mghas in 1997 to 7.4133 Mghas in 2009, with enlargement rate of 1.809 per cent yearly.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1209 (1) ◽  
pp. 012015
Author(s):  
J Budajová

Abstract In general, we can call the carbon footprint as emissions of gases that affect the Earth’s climate, while being used by humans. The impact of construction, building materials, structures, or the overall life cycle of a building on the environment is great. Sustainable architecture is gaining more prominence, using reduced carbon footprint. Today’s construction industry is increasingly moving towards sustainable construction, which is constantly being formed. The great weather fluctuations that take place from day to day are forcing us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. The global warming potential GWP (global warming potential) caused by these greenhouse gas emissions is increased to carbon dioxide CO2 and expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent CO2eq. Using GWP we can determine the carbon footprint of a product. The aim of this paper is to change the three compositions of the perimeter walls using LCA analysis (life cycle assessment) and to choose the composition that has the best carbon footprint and is therefore more advantageous. The need for a sustainable built environment is urgent due to its positive impact on the environment.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3165
Author(s):  
Eva Litavcová ◽  
Jana Chovancová

The aim of this study is to examine the empirical cointegration, long-run and short-run dynamics and causal relationships between carbon emissions, energy consumption and economic growth in 14 Danube region countries over the period of 1990–2019. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing methodology was applied for each of the examined variables as a dependent variable. Limited by the length of the time series, we excluded two countries from the analysis and obtained valid results for the others for 26 of 36 ARDL models. The ARDL bounds reliably confirmed long-run cointegration between carbon emissions, energy consumption and economic growth in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Economic growth and energy consumption have a significant impact on carbon emissions in the long-run in all of these four countries; in the short-run, the impact of economic growth is significant in Austria. Likewise, when examining cointegration between energy consumption, carbon emissions, and economic growth in the short-run, a significant contribution of CO2 emissions on energy consumptions for seven countries was found as a result of nine valid models. The results contribute to the information base essential for making responsible and informed decisions by policymakers and other stakeholders in individual countries. Moreover, they can serve as a platform for mutual cooperation and cohesion among countries in this region.


2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1059-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lehuger ◽  
B. Gabrielle ◽  
E. Larmanou ◽  
P. Laville ◽  
P. Cellier ◽  
...  

Abstract. Nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane are the main biogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) contributing to the global warming potential (GWP) of agro-ecosystems. Evaluating the impact of agriculture on climate thus requires a capacity to predict the net exchanges of these gases in an integrated manner, as related to environmental conditions and crop management. Here, we used two year-round data sets from two intensively-monitored cropping systems in northern France to test the ability of the biophysical crop model CERES-EGC to simulate GHG exchanges at the plot-scale. The experiments involved maize and rapeseed crops on a loam and rendzina soils, respectively. The model was subsequently extrapolated to predict CO2 and N2O fluxes over an entire crop rotation. Indirect emissions (IE) arising from the production of agricultural inputs and from cropping operations were also added to the final GWP. One experimental site (involving a wheat-maize-barley rotation on a loamy soil) was a net source of GHG with a GWP of 350 kg CO2-C eq ha−1 yr−1, of which 75% were due to IE and 25% to direct N2O emissions. The other site (involving an oilseed rape-wheat-barley rotation on a rendzina) was a net sink of GHG for –250 kg CO2-C eq ha−1 yr−1, mainly due to a higher predicted C sequestration potential and C return from crops. Such modelling approach makes it possible to test various agronomic management scenarios, in order to design productive agro-ecosystems with low global warming impact.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Sally Olasogba ◽  
Les DUCKERS

Abstract: Aim: According to COP23, Climate Change threatens the stability of the planet’s ecosystems, with a tipping point believed to be at only +2°C.  With the burning of fossil fuels, held responsible for the release of much of the greenhouse gases, a sensible world- wide strategy is to replace fossil fuel energy sources with renewable ones. The renewable resources such as wind, hydro, geothermal, wave and tidal energies are found in particular geographical locations whereas almost every country is potentially able to exploit PV and biomass. This paper examines the role that changing climate could have on the growing and processing of biomass. The primary concern is that future climates could adversely affect the yield of crops, and hence the potential contribution of biomass to the strategy to combat climate change. Maize, a C4 crop, was selected for the study because it can be processed into biogas or other biofuels. Four different Nigerian agricultural zones growing maize were chosen for the study. Long-term weather data was available for the four sites and this permitted the modelling of future climates. Design / Research methods: The results of this study come from modelling future climates and applying this to crop models. This unique work, which has integrated climate change and crop modelling to forecast yield and carbon emissions, reveals how maize responds to the predicted increased temperature, change in rainfall, and the variation in weather patterns. In order to fully assess a biomass crop, the full energy cycle and carbon emissions were estimated based on energy and materials inputs involved in farm management: fertilizer application, and tillage type. For maize to support the replacement strategy mentioned above it is essential that the ratio of energy output to energy input exceeds 1, but of course it should be as large as possible. Conclusions / findings: Results demonstrate that the influence of climate change is important and in many scenarios, acts to reduce yield, but that the negative effects can be partially mitigated by careful selection of farm management practices. Yield and carbon footprint is particularly sensitive to the application rate of fertilizer across all locations whilst climate change is the causal driver for the increase in net energy and carbon footprint at most locations. Nonetheless, in order to ensure a successful strategic move towards a low carbon future, and sustainable implementation of biofuel policies, this study provides valuable information for the Nigerian government and policy makers on potential AEZs to cultivate maize under climate change. Further research on the carbon footprint of alternative bioenergy feedstock to assess their environmental carbon footprint and net energy is strongly suggested. Originality / value of the article: This paper extends the review on the impact of climate change on maize production to include future impacts on net energy use and carbon footprint using a fully integrated assessment framework. Most studies focus only on current farm energy use and historical climate change impact on farm GHG emissions.   


Author(s):  
Parisa Bastani ◽  
John B. Heywood ◽  
Chris Hope

On-road transportation contributes 22% of the total CO2 emissions and more than 44% of oil consumption in the U.S. Technological advancements and use of alternative fuels are often suggested as ways to reduce these emissions. However, many parameters and relationships that determine the future characteristics of the light-duty vehicle fleet and how they change over time are inherently uncertain. Policy makers need to make decisions today given these uncertainties, to shape the future of light-duty vehicles. Decision makers thus need to know the impact of uncertainties on the outcome of their decisions and the associated risks. This paper explores a carefully constructed detailed pathway that results in a significant reduction in fuel use and GHG emissions in 2050. Inputs are assigned realistic uncertainty bounds, and the impact of uncertainty on this pathway is analyzed. A novel probabilistic fleet model is used here to quantify the uncertainties within advanced vehicle technology development, and life-cycle emissions of alternative fuels and renewable sources. Based on the results from this study, the expected fuel use is about 500 and 350 billion litres gasoline equivalent, with a standard deviation of about 40 and 80 billion litres in years 2030 and 2050 respectively. The expected CO2 emissions are about 1,360 and 840 Mt CO2 equivalent with a spread of about 130 and 260 Mt CO2 equivalent in 2030 and 2050 respectively. Major contributing factors in determining the future fuel consumption and emissions are also identified and include vehicle scrappage rate, annual growth of vehicle kilometres travelled in the near term, total vehicle sales, fuel consumption of naturally-aspirated engines, and percentage of gasoline displaced by cellulosic ethanol. This type of analysis allows policy makers to better understand the impact of their decisions and proposed policies given the technological and market uncertainties that we face today.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document