The contribution of biofuels to the sustainability of development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Contribution of energy services to the Millennium Development Goals and to poverty alleviation in Latin America and the Caribbean: executive summary

Includes bibliography

Contribution of energy services to the millennium development goals and to poverty alleviation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Lidar observation campaign of sugar cane fires and industrial emissions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Brazil has an important role in the biomass burning, with the detection of approximately 100,000 burning spots in a single year (2007). Most of these spots occur in the southern part of the Amazon basin during the dry season (from August to november) and these emissions reach the southeast of the country, a highly populated region and with serious urban air pollution problems. With the growing demand on biofuels, sugarcane is considerably expanding in the state of São Paulo, being a strong contributor to the bad air quality in this region. In the state of São Paulo, the main land use are pasture and sugarcane crop, that covers around 50% and 10% of the total area, respectively. Despite the aerosol from sugarcane burning having reduced atmospheric residence time, from a few days to some weeks, they might get together with those aerosol which spread over long distances (hundreds to thousands of kilometers). In the period of June through February 2010 a LIDAR observation campaign was carried in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in order to observe and characterize optically the aerosols from two distinct sources, namely, sugar cane biomass burning and industrial emissions. For this purpose 2 LIDAR systems were available, one mobile and the other placed in a laboratory, both working in the visible (532 nm) and additionally the mobile system had a Raman channel available (607 nm). Also this campaign counted with a SODAR, a meteorological RADAR specially set up to detect aerosol echoes and gas-particle analyzers. To guarantee a good regional coverage 4 distinct sites were available to deploy the instruments, 2 in the near field of biomass burning activities (Rio Claro and Bauru), one for industrial emissions (Cubatão) and others from urban sources (São Paulo). The whole campaign provide the equivalent of 30 days of measurements which allowed us to get aerosol optical properties such as backscattering/extinction coefficients, scatter and LIDAR ratios, those were used to correlate with air quality and meteorological indicators and quantities. In this paper we should focus on the preliminary results of the Raman LIDAR system and its derived aerosol optical quantities. © 2010 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.

Estado da arte da obtenção de crédito de carbono via adoção de veículo elétrico

This paper aims to highlight the state of the art of obtaining carbon credits through the use of electric vehicles. This is one of the solutions to significantly reduce the emission of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions in the case of CO 2, NOx, SOx, and CH 4 (thermochemical reactions arising from the combustion of gasoline with ethanol) in motor vehicles. For this quantitative study was done based on the survey of bibliographic data available and the development of basic calculations considering the car fleet of the Country of Brazil and the CO 2 emissions generated by the same. Thus explaining the considerable gain in air quality and reduction of vectors of greenhouse gases in the case of replacing the current fleet of vehicles combustion of hydrocarbon aliphatic chain, for an eco-efficient fleet consists of electric vehicles and/or hybrids.

Biochemical responses in armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi) after short-term exposure to diesel oil, pure biodiesel and biodiesel blends

Biodiesel fuel is gradually replacing petroleum-based diesel oil use. Despite the biodiesel being considered friendlier to the environment, little is known about its effects in aquatic organisms. In this work we evaluated whether biodiesel exposure can affect oxidative stress parameters and biotransformation enzymes in armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi, Loricariidae), a South American endemic species. Thus, fish were exposed for 2 and 7d to 0.01mLL-1 and 0.1mLL-1 of pure diesel, pure biodiesel (B100) and blends of diesel with 5% (B5) and 20% (B20) biodiesel. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) levels and the activities of the enzymes glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in liver and gills. Also, DNA damage (8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine) levels in gills and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in liver were assessed. Pure diesel, B5 and B20 blends changed most of the enzymes tested and in some cases, B5 and B20 induced a higher enzyme activity than pure diesel. Antioxidant system activation in P. anisitsi was effective to counteract reactive oxygen species effects, since DNA damage and lipid peroxidation levels were maintained at basal levels after all treatments. However, fish gills exposed to B20 and B100 presented increased lipid peroxidation. Despite biodiesel being more biodegradable fuel that emits less greenhouse gases, the increased lipid peroxidation showed that biofuel and its blends also represent hazards to aquatic biota. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

The economics of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean: Paradoxes and challenges. Overview for 2014

Foreword by Alicia Bárcena.

An assessment of the economic impact of climate change on the coastal and marine sector in Saint Kitts And Nevis

Owing to their high vulnerability and low adaptive capacity, Caribbean islands have legitimate concerns about their future, based on observational records, experience with current patterns and consequences of climate variability, and climate model projections. Although emitting less than 1% of global greenhouse gases, islands from the region have already perceived a need to reallocate scarce resources away from economic development and poverty alleviation, and towards the implementation of strategies to adapt to the growing threats posed by global warming (Nurse and Moore, 2005). The objectives of this Report are to conduct economic analyses of the projected impacts of climate change to 2050, within the context of the IPCC A2 and B2 scenarios, on the coastal and marine resources of St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN). The Report presents a valuation of coastal and marine services; quantitative and qualitative estimates of climate change impacts on the coastal zone; and recommendations for possible adaptation strategies and costs and benefits of adaptation.

An assessment of the economic impact of climate change on the coastal and marine sector in the British Virgin Islands

Owing to their high vulnerability and low adaptive capacity, Caribbean islands have legitimate concerns about their future, based on observational records, experience with current patterns and consequences of climate variability, and climate model projections. Although emitting less than 1% of global greenhouse gases, islands from the region have already perceived a need to reallocate scarce resources away from economic development and poverty reduction, and towards the implementation of strategies to adapt to the growing threats posed by global warming (Nurse and Moore, 2005). The objectives of this Report are to conduct economic analyses of the projected impacts of climate change to 2050, within the context of the IPCC A2 and B2 scenarios, on the coastal and marine resources of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The Report presents a valuation of coastal and marine services; quantitative and qualitative estimates of climate change impacts on the coastal zone; and recommendations of possible adaptation strategies and costs and benefits of adaptation. A multi-pronged approach is employed in valuing the marine and coastal sector. Direct use and indirect use values are estimated. The amount of economic activity an ecosystem service generates in the local economy underpins estimation of direct use values. Tourism and fisheries are valued using the framework developed by the World Resources Institute. Biodiversity is valued in terms of the ecological functions it provides, such as climate regulation, shoreline protection, water supply erosion control and sediment retention, and biological control, among others. Estimates of future losses to the coastal zone from climate change are determined by considering: (1) the effect of sea level rise on coastal lands; and (2) the effect of a rise in sea surface temperature (SST) on coastal waters. Discount rates of 1%, 2% and 4% are employed to analyse all loss estimates in present value terms. The overall value for the coastal and marine sector is USD $1,606 million (mn). This is almost 2% larger than BVI’s 2008 GDP. Tourism and recreation comprise almost two-thirds of the value of the sector. By 2100, the effects of climate change on coastal lands are projected to be $3,988.6 mn, and $2,832.9 mn under the A2 and B2 scenarios respectively. In present value terms, if A2 occurs, losses range from $108.1-$1,596.8 mn and if B2 occurs, losses range from $74.1-$1,094.1 mn, depending on the discount rate used. Estimated costs of a rise in SST in 2050 indicate that they vary between $1,178.0 and $1,884.8 mn. Assuming a discount rate of 4%, losses range from $226.6 mn for the B2 scenario to $363.0 mn for the A2 scenario. If a discount rate of 1% is assumed, estimated losses are much greater, ranging from $775.6-$1,241.0 mn. Factoring in projected climate change impacts, the net value of the coastal and marine sector suggests that the costs of climate change significantly reduce the value of the sector, particularly under the A2 and B2 climate change scenarios for discount rates of 1% and 2%. In contrast, the sector has a large, positive, though declining trajectory, for all years when a 4% discount rate is employed. Since the BVI emits minimal greenhouse gases, but will be greatly affected by climate change, the report focuses on adaptation as opposed to mitigation strategies. The options shortlisted are: (1) enhancing monitoring of all coastal waters to provide early warning alerts of bleaching and other marine events; (2) introducing artificial reefs or fish-aggregating devices; (3) introducing alternative tourist attractions; (4) providing retraining for displaced tourism workers; and (5) revising policies related to financing national tourism offices to accommodate the new climatic realities. All adaptation options considered are quite justifiable in national terms; each had benefit-cost ratios greater than 1.

Protocolo de Quioto e o comércio internacional dos créditos de carbono no âmbito do mecanismo de desenvolvimento limpo: oportunidades, possibilidades e perspectivas para o Brasil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Uso de aeradores e substratos no cultivo semi-intensivo do camarão-da-amazônia Macrobrachium amazonicum: análise técnica, econômica e emissão de gases do efeito estufa

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estimação da porcentagem de flúor em alumina fluoretada proveniente de uma planta de tratamento de gases por meio de um sensor virtual neural

As indústrias têm buscado constantemente reduzir gastos operacionais, visando o aumento do lucro e da competitividade. Para alcançar essa meta, são necessários, dentre outros fatores, o projeto e a implantação de novas ferramentas que permitam o acesso às informações relevantes do processo de forma precisa, eficiente e barata. Os sensores virtuais têm sido aplicados cada vez mais nas indústrias. Por ser flexível, ele pode ser adaptado a qualquer tipo de medição, promovendo uma redução de custos operacionais sem comprometer, e em alguns casos até melhorar, a qualidade da informação gerada. Como estão totalmente baseados em software, não estão sujeitos a danos físicos como os sensores reais, além de permitirem uma melhor adaptação a ambientes hostis e de difícil acesso. A razão do sucesso destes tipos de sensores é a utilização de técnicas de inteligência computacional, as quais têm sido usadas na modelagem de vários processos não lineares altamente complexos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estimar a qualidade da alumina fluoretada proveniente de uma Planta de Tratamento de Gases (PTG), a qual é resultado da adsorção de gases poluentes em alumina virgem, via sensor virtual. O modelo que emula o comportamento de um sensor de qualidade de alumina foi criado através da técnica de inteligência computacional conhecida como Rede Neural Artificial. As motivações deste trabalho consistem em: realizar simulações virtuais, sem comprometer o funcionamento da PTG; tomar decisões mais precisas e não baseada somente na experiência do operador; diagnosticar potenciais problemas, antes que esses interfiram na qualidade da alumina fluoretada; manter o funcionamento do forno de redução de alumínio dentro da normalidade, pois a produção de alumina de baixa qualidade afeta a reação de quebra da molécula que contém este metal. Os benefícios que este projeto trará consistem em: aumentar a eficiência da PTG, produzindo alumina fluoretada de alta qualidade e emitindo menos gases poluentes na atmosfera, além de aumentar o tempo de vida útil do forno de redução.

Fóruns virtuais de REDD: análise da função comunicativa na construção de políticas orientadas por organizações da sociedade civil

Frente a evidências científicas que apontam o desflorestamento da Amazônia como fator preponderante na liberação de gases do efeito estufa à atmosfera e na consequente intensificação das mudanças climáticas globais, organizações não-governamentais e ambientalistas criaram fóruns temáticos sobre a Redução de Emissões por Desmatamento e Degradação florestal (REDD). Sob a premissa de intercambiar informações e promover a articulação e o debate público, essas iniciativas reúnem diferentes atores sociais, sob a coordenação de organizações da própria sociedade civil, tendo a internet como principal lugar de referência. Considerando a perspectiva democrática aberta pela noção habermasiana de esfera pública e com base em critérios fundamentais à publicidade social, relacionados às funções de dar visibilidade e promover o debate público, a análise de quatro espaços virtuais permitiu uma reflexão sobre a forma contemporânea de atuação das organizações não-governamentais ambientalistas e as potencialidades de atuação política trazidas por novas Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC), ainda não apropriadas de forma plena ou efetiva por esse e outros setores da sociedade. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam que, na prática, tais fóruns atendem satisfatoriamente a nenhuma das funções: não esclarecem os usuários quanto ao assunto e tão pouco são capazes de fomentar discussões que resultem em desdobramentos em prol da coletividade. Isso resulta na perda da qualidade democrática a que se propõem e ainda reforça o efeito do “silenciamento” sobre as populações locais, que veem os seus anseios e necessidades representados por essas ONGs sem que essas entidades sejam real e necessariamente representativas de seus interesses.

Cenários de desmatamento para a Amazônia

A AMAZÔNIA está entrando em uma era de rápidas mudanças impulsionadas pela previsão de asfaltamento de rodovias que estimularão a expansão da fronteira agrícola e de exploração madeireira. O declínio do custo de transporte tem importantes implicações para a biodiversidade, emissão de gases que contribuem para o efeito estufa e prosperidade da sociedade da Amazônia a longo prazo. Para analisar esse contexto, foi desenvolvido um modelo de simulação de desmatamento na bacia Amazônica, sensível a diferentes cenários de políticas públicas frente à expansão da infra-estrutura de transporte pela região. Resultados do modelo indicam que, dentro de um cenário pessimista, o desmatamento projetado pode eliminar, até meados deste século, 40% dos atuais 5,4 milhões de km2 de florestas da Amazônia, liberando o equivalente a 32 Pg (109 toneladas) de carbono para atmosfera. A modelagem de cenários alternativos aponta que a expansão de uma rede de áreas protegidas, efetivamente implementadas, poderia reduzir em até 1/3 as perdas florestais projetadas. Contudo, outras medidas de conservação são ainda necessárias para se manter a integridade funcional das paisagens e bacias hidrográficas amazônicas. Atuais experimentos em conservação florestal em propriedades privadas, mercados de serviços ambientais e zoneamento agro-ecológico devem ser refinados e multiplicados a fim de se buscar uma conservação extensiva.

Brasil e Alemanha: modelos comparativos para as energias renováveis

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG