A case based, combined LCA and S-ROI methodology for sustainable mining in the Suceava County, Romania

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a useful tool in decision-making for most businesses that opt for sustainability and offers the possibility to compare different products, processes, and value chain scenarios, both real and hypothetical. Coupled with S-ROI (Sustainable Return on Investment), the LCA has a great potential in using available data for existing mining sites in the North-East Region of Romania to assess the economic, social and environmental benefits of certain sustainability measures on a local and regional level. The article will explore this approach of combining the two methodologies: LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and S-ROI (Sustainable Return on Investment), with necessary adjustments according to the characteristics of the local mining activities, to show key investment areas that can improve the value chain of copper exploitation and preparation in the mining perimeter Mănăila. The case of the copper mine in Mănăila offers a great opportunity to apply the current LICYMIN (Life Cycle of Mining) research and to use available Ecoinvent data for the copper ore by comparing the current value chain scenario with a proposed scenario that includes a different location for a mining ore preparation unit, closer to the quarry. The results will give an insight into the potential social and economic impact (the measure can translate into a higher local employment rate, better social stability, lower transportation costs, etc.) as well as the environmental impact (reduction of GHG emission, pollution, and energy efficiency) of the suggested changes.

Impact of anthropic activities on the geographic landscapes’ state in the area of Republic of Moldova in XXI century

Considerable anthropization degree of environment during the modern period had determined a gradual sinking of ecological stability of geographical landscapes, especially given the predominance of agricultural landscapes which occupy 73.4% from total area of Republic of Moldova at present [1]. Land Cadastre data for Republic of Moldova (2000-2020) [2] and population level’s statistical data (2000-2019) [3] was used to obtain a few indicators that reflect the state of geographical landscapes (population density, naturality index and environmental changes index) and quantify the anthropic pressure on the geographical landscapes at the commune level. We had used the period of 2000-2020 as the reference period.

The impact of road transport emissions on air quality in Brăila, Romania

Road transport, including accessibility and individual mobility is considered unanimously as a fundamental element of contemporary living. The study area is considering Braila County with a total population of around over 305,000. The area it is well served by 6 national roads, 27 county roads and 42 communal roads and contains some of the most heavily trafficked stretches of road in the Romania. The emissions analysed in this study CH4, CO, CO2, N2O, NH3, NOx, PM2.5 and PM10, were collected by the Agency for Environmental Protection Braila during 2015-2019 based on questionnaires according to EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook. The highest level of pollutant emissions was recorded in 2017, more exactly 191714,5 Megatons. In this article we analysed five categories of pollution sources: Passenger car, Light commercial trucks, Heavy-duty vehicles, Motorcycles and Non - Road vehicles and other mobile equipment. With the exception of CO2, N2O and NH3, pollutant emissions decreased for the eight pollutants analysed.

Biodiversity policies, opportunities for restoring the economy

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the strategic and legal framework of the various areas directly dependent on the protection of biodiversity and the ecosystem approach in the funding programmes related to them. Data were collected by consulting a variety of sources, including articles, project results, European and national legislation, strategies and funding programs in the fields of Water, Forestry, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy and Regional Development. The results showed that, in the areas analyzed, there are no efficient tools for the integration of ecosystem services and natural capital. The level of integration of the ecosystem approach in the analyzed areas compared to the state of ecosystems in Romania indicates that there are not enough measures to protect natural capital through sustainable management. Both inter-institutional integration and coordination are needed to streamline the management of natural capital and the correct analysis and implementation of a payment system for ecosystem services.

Studies and research on the phenomenon of hydrodynamic erosion in river beds

The phenomenon of hydrodynamic erosion affects the riverbeds in which sub-crossings of pipes or bridges are located. The depth of erosion is determined at a point in the riverbed by the use of specialized computational relationships. For some works located in the riverbed it is necessary to know the erosion depths on the perimeter of the flow section. The analysis models used to investigate the phenomenon of hydrodynamic erosion were: a - topographic model; b - calculation relations from the technical regulations; c - erosion simulation model on a river section. The obtained results were materialized by the evolution of the erosion depths on the considered river sector over an interval of about 5-15 years. The depth of erosion on the lower course of the Moldova River showed values from 0.75 m to 1.65 m on a research sector. The research results were capitalized on the design of the rehabilitation works of the constructions present in the riverbed.

Medina’s Habitation as a Sustainable Investment Factors: Thermal Experience

The study examined significant summer heat effects on a traditional habitation cluster within a compact fabric of the Medina of Constantine, based on building materials and spatial functional architecture. As climate relates to energy effects, the study raises the importance of possible heat gains in the approach of thermal comfort through building materials without using other energy sources. The study employed both empirical and comparative methods to undertake the research work. The empirical method consisted of taking thermal and metric measurements of the habitation cluster and comparing them with current normative requirements in sustainable architecture. The comparative method consisted of comparing results of performance assessment of studied building materials with results of similar materials. The current study adds to researchers' claims about the importance of the Medina's habitation in the face of climatic aggression at times with its architecture and building materials. Medina’s habitat did not have the technological means to preserve some physical comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yet its architecture used soft means to accomplish the physical comfort. Additionally, the site's well-chosen materials, which are formed by the natural typology, match well with the site’s climate and provide better resistance to material overflow, not to mention their availability and inexpensive cost.

Hailstorm risk assessment for crop areas in Moldova Region (Romania)

Estimating the impact of hail on agricultural land is needed in order to streamline damage reduction methods. In this regard, hail risk maps were prepared for the region of Moldova for the main types of crops (wheat and rye, corn, potato, sugar beet, sunflower, vegetables, orchards and vineyards). The methodology that we used consists in determining the risk map, as the product between the hazard map (average annual number of days with hail), the exposure map (agricultural crop value) and the vulnerability map (the percentage occupied by a certain agricultural crop in the administrative units). Areas with severe hail risk are in the eastern half of Vrancea County, the western part of Galati County and the northeastern part of Iasi County, where there are large areas cultivated with vines, orchards and vegetables. In Vaslui County, the most exposed ATUs are those in the vicinity of Bârlad, Fălciu Hills and the Huși wine area. Most AUs in Bacău and Suceava counties, in the southern part of Neamț County, are included in the medium and high-risk classes due to the suitable conditions for cultivating most plants and the higher frequency of hail. The ATUs from Botosani County are included in the low and medium risk classes. The lowest level of risk is registered in the case of AUs from the mountainous area, the Curvature Subcarpathians and the areas with higher altitudes from the Central Moldavian Plateau and Tutova Hills.

Sustainable Development Education in Public Administration Graduate Programs: The Cases of Pamukkale and Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Universities

Adaptation of environmental literacy awareness to the education system and reflection of interest and attitude towards the environment in behavior is a critical element in order to ensure sustainable development. Turkey's interest in the environment and sustainable development began to increase at the end of the 20th century. Unfortunately, the reflection of this interest in the education system has not been at the desired level. The foremost aim of the study is to measure the level of consciousness and awareness about sustainable development of the students who are in the master's programs of the department of public administration. As a sample, students studying in the relevant field between 2018-2020 at Pamukkale University and Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Social Sciences Institute were selected. In this study, where the qualitative method was preferred, the data of 20 students who provided feedback to the 11-expression interview form were analyzed using the word cloud method. It was concluded that the participants began to examine the relationship between the environmental factor and sustainable development, understood the importance of sustainable development for future generations, but could not adequately reflect the consciousness and awareness they had achieved in their behavior.

The role of Culture in Environmental Sustainability

Culture's importance is becoming a critical issue in our society. This is because such positions must be clearly defined for sustainable development to become a reality. The society appears to be having some difficulties right now. These factors include urbanization and climate change. The way these issues are solved will have a significant impact on society's future. This paper will examine literature to study the connection or relationship that exists between the built environment, sustainable development, and culture to describe the subject matter of this research. The importance of culture, the built environment, and sustainability will be highlighted in this section. Relevant and valid articles that demonstrate how culture is crucial in any sustainable environment or community will be the emphasis. The literature study explains how culture has a greater impact on societal development in both social and economic terms. Culture plays an important influence in long-term development. In other words, it is a critical component of the process. This is because it oversees assisting people in forming relationships and cultivating the proper attitude in the society in which they live. Sustainable development is an important idea and role in every culture and society. This is due to the fact that it has been discovered to have a good impact on every aspect of an embedded civilization. This paper will attempt to provide a comprehensive examination of culture and its contributions to environmental and sustainability issues. Culture will be considered as a fundamental component of any sustainable environment, as well as a component of the environmental, economic, and social implications of sustainable development.

A geospatial approach for site suitability and accessibility for healthcare services in Bankura district, West Bengal, India

Healthcare site selection assumes an imperative part in healthcare development and management. From part of the public authority, proper medical site selection will help the distribution of clinical assets, coordinating with the arrangement of medical care with the social and economic demands, organizing the metropolitan and rural healthcare administration advancement, and facilitating social logical inconsistencies. Site suitability analysis is a variety of analysis utilized in GIS to work out the simplest place or site for one thing. The main objective of the current study was to select a site for new healthcare services with geospatial technologies to intermix spatial and non-spatial data to create a weighted result. The current study had been done into three phases, where many processes are intermixed into a single phase. In the first phase of analysis, distance, density, and proximity were mapped to seek out poor and lower accessible areas of healthcare from existing healthcare. To selecting new healthcare sites, four-factor criteria (Buffer around road and rail, land use land cover and buffer around settlement,) and some constrain criteria considered in the second phase of analysis. Finally, the shortest network path analysis has been done in the third phase to determine the shortest and best route from selected healthcare sites towards district medical college. The current study presents some suitable sites in the poor and inaccessible areas of the district. This study will be very helpful for the decision support system of healthcare management in the future.