Utilization of ADR Concepts to Bridge the Gap Between the Extractive Industry and Environmental Interests: An Anticipatory Cooperative Effort (ACE)

The extractive industry, more than any other sector of the economy, often finds itself mired in conflicts with various environmental and community interests. As traditional legal avenues of resolution gave way to the collaborative ideas of alternative dispute resolution, the outcomes, especially the relational outcomes, were less than desirable. This capstone project proposes that an Anticipatory Cooperative Effort (ACE) can help to bridge the gap between industry and environmental interests by encouraging a pro-active and pre-emptive engagement. The point of the ACE concept is not that it defines a new set of principles so much as it repositions where established ADR principles are entertained.

Sustainable Energy Plan for a Small Island Economy: St. Vincent & the Grenadines

This paper defines a sustainable energy plan to provide the basis for renewable energy initiatives that will increase energy security, reduce negative economic impacts and provide a cleaner environment. The hotel, agriculture, transportation, construction, utility, government and private sectors will play pivotal roles in achieving targets and will see significant gains. Government policies, educational campaigns and financial incentives will be required to facilitate and encourage renewable energy development and entrepreneurship. Utilization of solar energy, energy conservation measures and the use of efficient and alternative fuel vehicles by the commercial/industrial and private sectors will be crucial in meeting targets. The utility company will be charged with developing large scale renewable energy applications and with improving efficiency of the electrical system.

Industry Professionals Who Attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accreditation: An Examination of Motivations in Human Resource (HR) Training and Development

Despite the economy, the green building industry continues to grow and drive the demand for environmentally conscious, highly skilled professionals (USGBC 2009). LEED Accredited Professionals (APs) have the knowledge and skills to meet such demand; however, information is limited regarding LEED APs or their motivations and expectations toward prospective employers. The author surveyed a sample of LEED Accredited architects and found a combination of job and personal factors motivated them to attain accreditation. LEED APs value both a competitive salary and commitment to sustainability in prospective employers. To attract, retain, and utilize LEED APs, executives in this industry must reexamine corporate culture, their willingness to pay for credentialing, and the alignment of their reputation with the desires of potential applicants.

Material demands for storage technologies in a hydrogen economy

A hydrogen economy is needed, in order to resolve current environmental and energy-related problems. For the introduction of hydrogen as an important energy vector, sophisticated materials are required. This paper provides a brief overview of the subject, with a focus on hydrogen storage technologies for mobile applications. The unique properties of hydrogen are addressed, from which its advantages and challenges can be derived. Different hydrogen storage technologies are described and evaluated, including compression, liquefaction, and metal hydrides, as well as porous materials. This latter class of materials is outlined in more detail, explaining the physisorption interaction which leads to the adsorption of hydrogen molecules and discussing the material characteristics which are required for hydrogen storage application. Finally, a short survey of different porous materials is given which are currently investigated for hydrogen storage, including zeolites, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), porous polymers, aerogels, boron nitride materials, and activated carbon materials.

Synthesis of Robust Hierarchical Silica Monoliths by Surface-Mediated Solution/Precipitation Reactions over Different Scales: Designing Capillary Microreactors for Environmental Applications

A synthetic procedure to prepare novel materials (surface-mediated fillings) based on robust hierarchical monoliths is reported. The methodology includes the deposition of a (micro- or mesoporous) silica thin film on the support followed by growth of a porous monolithic SiO2 structure. It has been demonstrated that this synthesis is viable for supports of different chemical nature with different inner diameters without shrinkage of the silica filling. The formation mechanism of the surface-mediated fillings is based on a solution/precipitation process and the anchoring of the silica filling to the deposited thin film. The interaction between the two SiO2 structures (monolith and thin film) depends on the porosity of the thin film and yields composite materials with different mechanical stability. By this procedure, capillary microreactors have been prepared and have been proved to be highly active and selective in the total and preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide (TOxCO and PrOxCO).

Urban environmental degradation and the standard of living: the case of the Spanish mining industry (1870–1930)

This paper analyses the consequences of urban environmental degradation on the well-being of Spanish miners. It is based on analyses of differences in mortality and height. The first part of the paper examines new hypotheses regarding the urban penalty. We take into consideration existing works in economic theory that address market failures when analysing the higher urban death rate. We explain the reduction in height using the model recently created by Floud, Fogel, Harris and Hong for British cities. The second part of the paper presents information demonstrating that the urban areas in the two largest mining areas in Spain (Bilbao and the Cartagena-La Unión mountain range) experienced a higher death rate relative to rural areas as a consequence of market failures derived from what we term an ‘anarchic urbanisation’.

Towards a sustainable European economy. EPC Policy Brief, 13 October 2015

Europe is faced with interlinked economic, ecological and climate crises. As identified in the European Environment Agency's The European Environment – state and outlook 2015 report1 , Europe is increasingly affected by global trends that come with positive and negative impacts. Some of these it contributes to, some it can try to manage, while others are beyond its control. Regardless, only by anticipating these trends and making a sustainable economy the overriding policy objective, can it aim to maximise the related opportunities and minimise the threats.

The Importance of Being Earnest: The green economy and sustainable development in China. Asia Policy Brief 2012/02, November 2012

China's past economic development model has not been sustainable, at least in environmental terms. In recent years, the Chinese government has dedicated considerable time, planning energy, policy and rhetoric to "green" issues. However, there is a risk that this trend will be stalled by struggles related to pending economic problems and the upcoming leadership transition. Consequently, the international community should acknowledge China’s achievements in terms of environmental policy and cooperation as one way of serving the global public interest.

Green and fair economy – a holistic concept for a sustainable economy. Policy Brief #2013/02

Solution approaches based purely on economics do not lead to optimal success – at least, not in the medium to long term. Rather, a sustainable economy requires an equal consideration of the ecological and social dimensions. The green economy concept, or, better said, the green and fair economy concept, is in principle suitable for, if not avoiding an economic and financial crisis as experienced in the last five years, at least moderating its negative effects. The important thing here is to integrate the design of the concept as much as possible at the political, economic and individual level.

A computer program (VEHSIM) for vehicle fuel economy and performance simulation (automobiles and light trucks). Volume I: description and analysis. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

A computer program (VEHSIM) for vehicle fuel economy and performance simulation (automobiles and light trucks). Volume II: users guide. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

A computer program (VEHSIM) for vehicle fuel economy and performance simulation (automobiles and light trucks). Volume IV: enhancements. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington D.C.

Passenger car fuel economy, EPA and road : a report to the Congress in response to the National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 1978, public law 95-619, title IV, part 1, section 404 /

"September 1980"--Cover.

A computer program (HEVSIM) for heavy duty vehicle fuel economy and performance simulation. Volume II: users' manual. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

A computer program (HEVSIM) for heavy duty vehicle fuel economy and performance simulation. Volume III: appendices A through F. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.