scholarly journals Comparisons of Sustainability Behaviors Pre- and Early Pandemic Among Botanical Garden Members

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katilyn Mascatelli ◽  
Caitlin Drummond Otten ◽  
Richard V. Piacentini ◽  
Gabrielle Wong-Parodi ◽  
Sarah L. States
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Environmental Groups ◽  
Matched Group ◽  
Alternative Transportation ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Smart Thermostat

The COVID-19 outbreak drastically altered the behaviors of millions of Americans in 2020, including behaviors that contribute to carbon emissions. As many Americans stayed home midyear, environmental groups noted the decrease in driving and transportation-related pollution, theorizing that the pandemic could have a positive impact on the environment by decreasing individuals' carbon emissions. However, it is dubious that individuals will behave in a more eco-friendly manner under the uncertain and stressful conditions of a global pandemic simply because they are more likely to be confined to their homes. We examined sustainability behaviors in 2018 and in the early pandemic in 2020 among a sample of members of a U.S., botanical garden. We surveyed members in May–July 2018, asking whether they had or had not done 11 sustainability behaviors (e.g., used alternative transportation, took shorter showers) in the past month. We resurveyed members about their engagement in those behaviors in April 2020 as well as to recall their engagement in those behaviors pre-pandemic in February 2020. We examined differences in self-reported behaviors among respondents who had taken both the May–July 2018 and April 2020 surveys (matched group n = 227), and then among respondents who had taken either the May–July (n = 1057) or the April 2020 survey (n = 881), but not both. Respondents in the matched group were more likely to report recycling, reducing red meat consumption, eating a plant-based diet, and reducing food waste in April 2020 compared to May–July 2018; they were less likely to compost, check the air in their tires, and use a smart thermostat. However, these differences also emerged when examining recalled behavior in February 2020, suggesting that matched group respondents' self-reports may reflect changes in behavior over time rather than due to the pandemic. The unmatched group was more likely to reduce food waste but less likely to use alternative transportation to commute, check the air in their tires for fuel efficiency, and recycle in April 2020 compared to May–July 2018. Thus, few changes in sustainability behaviors can be attributed to the pandemic, but those that do involve personal travel or home confinement.

scholarly journals The Urbanisation Impacts on the Policy Effects of the Carbon Tax in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6749
Author(s):  
Shuyang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Computable General Equilibrium ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Policy Effects ◽  
Distributed Lag

In the literature, very few studies have focused on how urbanisation will influence the policy effects of a climate policy even though urbanisation does have profound socioeconomic impacts. This paper has explored the interrelations among the urbanisation, carbon emissions, GDP, and energy consumption in China using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. Then, the unit urbanisation impacts are inputted into the policy evaluation framework of the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model in 2015–2030. The results show that the urbanisation had a positive impact on the GDP but a negative impact on the carbon emissions in 1980–2014. These impacts were statistically significant, but its impact on the energy consumption was not statistically significant. In 2015–2030, the urbanisation will have negative impacts on the carbon emissions and intensity. It will decrease the GDP and the household welfare under the carbon tax. The urbanisation will increase the average social cost of carbon (ASCC). Hence, the urbanisation will reinforce the policy effects of the carbon tax on the emissions and welfare.

Demonstration of the Benefits of SAE 30 Stationary Gas Engine Oil in Full Scale Engine Tests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thijs Schasfoort ◽  
Zoe Fard ◽  
Torsten Gehrmann ◽  
Steffen Hollatz
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Test Methods ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Engine Oil ◽  
Gas Engine ◽  
Fuel Consumption Rate ◽  
Efficiency Performance ◽  
Endurance Testing ◽  
Efficiency Test

Abstract This paper evaluates the benefits of an SAE 30 monograde stationary gas engine oil (SGEO) in comparison with SAE 40 monograde SGEOs with the focus on two main areas. First, to demonstrate and quantify the positive impact of lower viscosity on the fuel consumption rate, and second to demonstrate the faster lubrication of hard to reach points in the engine during startup. The current industry recognized fuel efficiency test methods for passenger car and on-road diesel engine sectors are not suitable for evaluating the fuel efficiency performance of a gas engine oil because of the significant differences in fuel type, engine operating conditions, and oil formulations. This paper, therefore, describes comparative studies of three different gas engine oils in a modern MAN E3262 E302 gas engine that was carefully adapted and fully instrumented. The performance of each oil with respect to fuel efficiency was assessed in an extensive program comprising endurance testing, stationary tests on various load/speed points and dynamic tests running the engine fired as well as non-fired (motored). Another part of the test program explores the lubrication of hard to reach points in the engine, e.g. valve guide. The paper describes how the SAE 30 monograde oil results in faster lubrication of these parts during startup in comparison with the SAE 40 oils.

scholarly journals Analysis and Assessment of New Permanent Teacher Training Activities under the Erasmus+ Program from the Perspective of the Participants of Spain in Times of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 11222
Author(s):  
Daniel Salcedo-López ◽  
Mercedes Cuevas-López
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
The European Union ◽  
International Mobility ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Training Activities ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

The Erasmus+ program (2014–2020) is one of the main initiatives developed by the European Commission in the field of education and is the final joint evolution of other minor and prior actions that provide schools and teachers with funding to carry out international mobility projects with a variety of formative activities. The benefits of carrying out international mobility activities to strengthen student learning and teacher training are well known and have been researched or reported even from the early stages of a program that was born back in the 1980s but has always been focused on the university level. When considering teachers at early levels (schools and high schools), the 2014–2020 Erasmus+ program was the main source of funding to grant Spanish teachers permanent training activities abroad with a direct positive impact on their careers. The year 2020 is the last year of the first evolution of the Erasmus+ program, which has been renewed, extended, and strengthened for a new six-year term (2021–2027). However, 2020 has also been a significant year. The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to affect the mobility of citizens within the different territories of the union and, thus, have a direct negative impact on international teacher and student mobility. Being 2020 the end of a cycle and a critical moment, it is the perfect time to conduct an analysis of the data associated with the participation of teachers and schools in Spain, their perceptions of the program, the different activities carried out, and the impact of the pandemic. This research study is based on an analysis of an opinion survey through a nationwide sample of teachers participating in KA101 Erasmus+ projects. This paper gathers and presents data and conclusions using information previously not available that most of the time is published in official reports globally without considering the particularities of the different states of the European Union.

scholarly journals The Trade-Off Between Economic Performance and Environmental Quality: Does Financial Inclusion Asymmetrically Matter for Emerging Asian Economies?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Liu ◽  
Yuantao Xie ◽  
Muhammad Hafeez ◽  
Ahmed Usman
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Insurance Premium ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Bank Credit ◽  
Bank Branches ◽  
Long Run

Abstract This study examines the role of financial inclusion on the environment-economic performance in the top five Asian emerging economies. The data used for empirical investigation covers the time period from 1995 to 2019. Financial inclusion is measured through bank branches, bank credit, and insurance premiums. To check long-run associations, the panel-ARDL approach has been employed for empirical analysis. The empirical evidence confirms the significant associations between financial inclusion-GDP nexus and financial inclusion-CO2 nexus. The findings show that bank branches and bank credit have a significantly positive impact on economic growth and CO2 emissions in the long-run. However, insurance premium has no impact on economic growth but it exerts a significant negative impact on carbon emissions in the long-run. Furthermore, energy consumption is highly sensitive to economic growth and carbon emissions. The study delivers imperative points for pollution eradication and attaining sustained economic growth. There is a need for government-level efforts to align the targets of financial inclusion with economic growth and environmental policies.

scholarly journals The Moderating Effect of R&D Investment on Income and Carbon Emissions in China: Direct and Spatial Spillover Insights

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaozhou Qi ◽  
Huarong Peng ◽  
Xiujie Tan
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Knowledge Spillovers ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Coal Consumption ◽  
Spatial Spillover ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
D Investment

R&D investment plays a great role in achieving China’s low-carbon economy goals, which has a moderating effect on the relationship between income and carbon emissions. Furthermore, such a moderating effect may have spatial differences, given the possible spatial dependence of carbon emissions. Therefore, this paper explores the direct and spatial spillover moderating effects of R&D investment by adopting the panel spatial Durbin model and data of 30 provinces in China during 1998–2015. The empirical results firstly indicate that R&D investment moderates the positive impact of income on local carbon emissions for both the non-spatial and spatial model, and that more R&D investment can make carbon emissions reach the turning point earlier. Secondly, R&D investment in the local province increases the positive influence of local income on neighboring carbon emissions, which mainly results from the transfer effect of carbon emissions rather than the knowledge spillovers effect. The results are indicated to be robust by three types of robustness analyses. Finally, FDI and patents are the main constrained forces of local and neighboring carbon emissions; coal consumption is the main driver of local carbon emissions.

scholarly journals How Ramadan and Global Pandemic Affect Religiosity and Donating Behaviors

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 250
Author(s):  
A'rasy Fahrullah ◽  
Moch. Khoirul Anwar ◽  
Ahmad Ajib Ridlwan ◽  
Prayudi Setiawan Prabowo ◽  
Ach. Yasin
Keyword(s):  
Significant Influence ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Human Behaviors ◽  
Global Pandemic

Ramadan in the year of 2020 is the witness of global pandemic caused by the spread of Covid-19 that significantly alters human behaviors. In response to the current phenomenon, the present study is conducted to scrutinize how the holy month of Ramadan and global pandemic affect human religiosity and donating behaviors. To this end, this study employed a web-based questionnaire to gather the required data from 128 Indonesians who were voluntarily participated upon invitation. Using WarpPLS to analyze the data, the results showed that there was a significant influence of global pandemic situation and Ramadan on the level of religiosity. Moreover, the pandemic situation also encouraged the exist growth of donation institutions. This study further revealed the positive impact of the holy month of Ramadan and religiosity on human donating behaviors. In other words, Ramadan and global pandemic increased the level of human religiosity and the existence of donation institutions, as a results, their donating behaviors were also improved. However, this study found that the existence of donation institutions did not have any influence on human donating behaviors. These results offer an implication that Ramadan and global pandemic obviously provide a direct impact on religiosity and human donating behaviors.

scholarly journals The role of institutional collaborations in combating covid-19 in dessie, south wollo and oromia special zones of eastern amhara, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 11-27
Author(s):  
MULUGETA CHANE WUBE(MBA)
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Government Institutions ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Correlation Result ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Descriptive Survey

COVID-19, declared as a global pandemic by WHO, is the ‘eye and ear’ of the world and disturbed the economic, social and political situations of almost all countries regardless of the economic development. In an effort to combat the virus, this descriptive survey tried to assess the role of institutional collaborations in Dessie City Administration, South Wollo and Oromia Special zones of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. It also tried to examine the material, financial, technical supports and leadership commitment in combating COVID-19.A total of 385 purposely selected samples of institutions from government, private and NGOs were surveyed in 7 Woredas. Primary sources of data were used using questionnaire, interview and focus group discussions. Moreover, secondary sources of data mainly reports of anti-corona task forces reports were also used. The results of the study shows that an average financial and technical supports were provided in an effort to combat the pandemic. A below average material support and above average leadership commitments that results in an average overall outcomes of institutions collaboration in combating COVID-19 was exhibited in the study. The correlation result also found that material, financial, technical supports and leadership commitment has a significant positive impact on the outcomes of institutional collaborations in combating COVID-19.The study concluded that institutional collaboration played its own role in combating COVID-19. The study recommended that anti corona task forces organized in combating the virus from federal to Kebele level should incorporate non-government institutions together with government institutions as a member in the team so that all members of the community can be reached in an effort to mobilize adequate resources in tackling the problem.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study on the Life Cycle Assessment of New Zealand Residential Buildings

Buildings ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Aflah Alamsah Dani ◽  
Krishanu Roy ◽  
Rehan Masood ◽  
Zhiyuan Fang ◽  
James B. P. Lim
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Dominant Form ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cradle To Cradle ◽  
The Difference

In New Zealand, housing is typically low density, with light timber framing being the dominant form of construction with more than 90% of the market. From 2020, as a result of the global pandemic, there was a shortage of timber in New Zealand, resulting in increased popularity for light steel framing, the main alternative to timber for housing. At the same time, the New Zealand government is committed to sustainability practises through legislation and frameworks, such as the reduction of whole-of-life carbon emissions for the building industry. New Zealand recently announced reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by 50% within 2030. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a technique for assessing the environmental aspects associated with a product over its life cycle. Despite the popularity of LCA in the construction industry of New Zealand, prior research results seem varied. There is no unified NZ context database to perform an LCA for buildings. Therefore, in this paper, a comprehensive study using LCA was conducted to quantify and compare the quantity of carbon emissions from two commonly designed houses in the Auckland region, one built from light timber and the other from light steel, both designed for a lifespan of 90 years. The cradle-to-cradle system boundary was used for the LCA. From the results of this study, it was found that the light steel house had 12.3% more carbon in total (including embodied and operational carbons) when compared to the light timber house, of which the manufacturing of two houses had a difference of 50.4% in terms of carbon emissions. However, when the end-of-life (EOL) analysis was included, it was found that the extra carbon could be offset due to the steel’s recyclability, reducing the amount of embodied carbon in the manufacturing process. Therefore, there was no significant difference in carbon emissions between the light steel and the light timber building, with the difference being only 12.3%.

Food waste measurement toward a fair, healthy and environmental-friendly food system: a critical review

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Amicarelli ◽  
Christian Bux
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Food System ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Measurement Methodology ◽  
Author Keywords

PurposeGiven the importance of food waste in the economic, social, health and environmental dimensions, the purpose of this work is to detect, through a systematic and configurative literature review on food-waste-measurement methodologies, the global approaches, characteristics, limitations, opportunities and results applied within the literature. The analysis of these papers provides useful information about how far we are from international action plans and, therefore, how we need to direct programs and policies to measure and reduce food waste and ensure food security and food safety.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have conducted a systematic, configurative literature review on food waste measurement methodologies applied only within empirical studies published in academic peer-reviewed scientific journals. Based on the Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/1597 of May 3, 2019 (OJEU, 2019) regarding common methodologies and minimum quality requirements for the homogeneous assessment of food waste quantities and composition, the authors investigated the issue on Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) from June 2000 to June 2020. The authors researched keywords within article titles, abstracts and author keywords by utilizing 34 different research strings.FindingsThe proposed review particularly refers to following topics: measurement methodologies applied according to the Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/1597; editorial placement and publication timeline; geographical area; food supply-chain stage and publication journals; and the main features, limitations, opportunities and results for each measurement methodology as presented by authors. Among the first 48,000 results, only 58 academic articles are perfectly in line with the aim of the review, highlighting the lack of standardized methodologies, the limits of those proposed and the deficiency of comparable results to achieve sustainable international goals.Originality/valueThe proposed review is one of the few concerning food waste measurement methodologies. Food waste measurement is essential to rebalance the actual inadequate food system and to switch it toward a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly one, thereby (1) managing the human nutrition system paradox of hungry, undernourished and over-weight people; (2) reducing food insecurity; (3) ensuring each living being's access to healthy, nutritious and sustainable food; and (4) reducing environmental impacts (neutral or positive impact) and the loss of biodiversity and mitigating climate change.

scholarly journals The Clean Plate Club? Food Waste and Individual Responsibility

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erich Hatala Matthes ◽  
Jacelyn Hatala Matthes
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Institutional Reform ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Political Activism ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Philosophical Work ◽  
Global Food

This chapter offers an overview of both the empirical literature on food waste and philosophical work on the concept of waste. The chapter uses this background to argue that an overemphasis on responsibility for the reduction of individual food waste is misleading at best, and pernicious at worst, in combating the substantial problems that global food waste creates and exacerbates, including increased carbon emissions and hunger. While there would be benefits to widespread changes in individual habits surrounding food waste, they would be modest at best. Rather, civic engagement and political activism aimed at institutional reform that embeds concern with food waste in a broader fight for environmentally friendly policies should be prioritized in addressing these problems.

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