Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability最新文献

{"title":"Climate change considerations in environmental impacts assessment (EIA) practices: learning from climate sensitive projects in Rufiji Basin Tanzania","authors":"Ntule Shimwela, Godwin Lema","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad6737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad6737","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The assessment of climate change mitigation and adaptation in environmental impact assessment practices has been mostly inconsistently addressed. Studies that use data validation from experts and relevant authorities to address the socio-political context that influence the process have been inadequate. This study aimed to bridge the gap by examining the extent to which climate change mitigation and adaptation in environmental impact assessment practices in Tanzania have been considered and the broader social-political context that influence the process. A mixed research design employing sequential methods was adopted. Both primary and secondary data was used. Primary data was obtained from 22 environmental experts through a close-ended questionnaire and interview with 6 key informants, while secondary data was obtained from 19 environmental impact assessment reports issued between January 2020 and January 2022. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants and simple random sampling was used to select environmental experts and environmental impact assessment reports. Content analysis was employed to assess qualitative text data to generate descriptive information. SPSS enabled the processing and analysis of quantitative data through frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that 23.3% and 10.5% of reviewed reports considered climate change mitigation, and adaptation respectively, reflecting that the degree of consideration was low and was mainly limited to mitigation. A close link between the environmental impact assessment legal frameworks and the environmental impact assessment practices was observed and it was recommended for a review of basic frameworks to mandate and include details on climate change mitigation and adaptation assessment in environmental impacts assessment practices. The study recommends building capacity of experts and authority, preparing clear climate change assessment guidelines, and availing reliable climate data at the local level to facilitate modelling.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"24 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141806216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rebuilding Ukraine's energy supply in a secure, economic, and decarbonised way","authors":"T. Tröndle, Olena Melnyk, Olena Tutova, V. Porieva, Fabian Neumann, Iain Staffell, Anthony Patt","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad6738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad6738","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure has faced systematic attack and requires urgent and strategic reconstruction. This study confronts the dual challenges of rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system rapidly to mitigate civilian and economic disruption while aligning this to long-term goals of sustainability and energy security. We demonstrate that Ukraine can readily meet future energy demands through a fully renewable electrified system at costs comparable to those from fossil fuels and nuclear power. Contrary to previous re- liance on high-carbon energy sources, we find a diversified renewable energy portfolio, including significant solar photovoltaic and wind contributions, can ef- ficiently meet growing energy demands and position Ukraine as an energy ex- porter, leveraging its geographical advantages. The approach of our study, based on open data and models, extends beyond national borders and offers a model for post-conflict reconstruction that harmonizes immediate recovery with sustain- able energy transition.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"49 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141809890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Are vehicle lifespan caps an effective and efficient method for reducing US light-duty vehicle fleet GHG emissions?","authors":"Melissa Cusack Striepe, Alexandre Milovanoff, Amir F N Abdul-Manan, Jon McKechnie, I Daniel Posen, Heather L MacLean","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad397e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad397e","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 With light duty vehicles (LDVs) responsible for 17% of annual US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, integrating emerging GHG-reducing technologies into the fleet is essential. However, the slow rate of vehicle turnover presents a significant barrier to the market penetration of new technologies, with adoption delayed by the low number of vehicles needing replacement each year. A strategy of accelerated vehicle turnover through a vehicle lifespan cap could potentially mitigate this limit. While older studies reach differing conclusions on their effectiveness, two newer studies that incorporate life cycle assessment find that accelerated turnover strategies can be effective if coupled with high levels of electric vehicle deployment. We seek to determine whether a vehicle lifespan cap strategy can be an effective and efficient (cost-effective) method for reducing US LDV fleet GHG emissions. We augment the capabilities of the Fleet Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Estimation (FLAME) fleet life cycle assessment model, integrating vehicle lifespan caps and comprehensive calculations of cost along with sensitivity analysis for electric vehicle survival curves and battery degradation. The augmented FLAME model is used to analyse the impact of vehicle lifespan caps of varying lengths on a suite of scenarios, including a business as usual (BAU) scenario and eight scenarios modelling different technology improvement assumptions. This work confirms that vehicle lifespan caps have limited effectiveness in reducing GHG emissions under a BAU scenario but show potential to meaningfully reduce GHG emissions in a scenario with accelerated deployment of electric vehicles. However, abatement costs are high, exceeding 2020 USD 1000/tCO2eq under baseline assumptions, but falling within the range of current estimates of the social cost of carbon under more optimistic assumptions. Overall, vehicle lifespan caps must be carefully considered as they accelerate both the benefits and costs of new vehicle technologies, and are best positioned as part of a larger integrated strategy for tackling transportation GHG emissions.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"49 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140976489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increasing electricity access for health facilities in Ghana through solar powered mini-grids - a GIS-based energy system modelling approach","authors":"Katrin Lammers, Avia Linke, Andrés Andrade, C. Cader","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad4391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad4391","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The research aims to identify which healthcare facilities (HCFs) in Ghana are suitable for electrification using photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids to increase their energy self-sufficiency and reliability of services provided. Additionally, the study categorises the HCFs in two groups: those with and without or with poor access to electricity supply, identify settlements within their catchment area, and etermine the electricity demand for identified HCF sites and their surrounding communities. The research assesses the most suitable mini-grid system setup to electrify identified HCF sites and the impact of including the demand of surrounding communities into the energy system modelling. Finally, the study aims to determine the accumulated solar mini-grid potential to electrify all identified HCF sites. The study findings highlight the importance of integrated planning between the health and energy sectors to ensure high-quality health services. Solar mini-grids are identified as a promising solution for electrifying healthcare facilities and improving energy selfsufficiency. However, it is recommended to avoid transferring findings between different types of health facilities due to their unique haracteristics. The study also emphasizes the importance of balancing the energy flow and stabilizing the energy system through the combination of healthcare facilities and surrounding communities’ demand. It is crucial to assess the electricity demand carefully based on context-specific characteristics, such as the type of healthcare facility and the number of households considered. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the potential of solar mini-grids to increase energy self-sufficiency in healthcare facilities and the importance of careful planning and context-specific assessments.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"15 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140653668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing uncertainty in building material emissions using scenario-aware Monte Carlo Simulation","authors":"Ahmad Bin Thaneya, A. P. Gursel, Seth Kane, Sabbie A. Miller, Arpad Horvath","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad40ce","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad40ce","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Global greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment remain high, driving innovative approaches to develop and adopt building materials that can mitigate some of those emissions. However, life-cycle assessment (LCA) practices still lack standardized quantitative uncertainty assessment frameworks, which are urgently needed to robustly assess mitigation efforts. Previous works emphasize the importance of accounting for the three types of uncertainties that may exist within any quantitative assessment: parameter, scenario, and model uncertainty. Herein, we develop a quantitative uncertainty assessment framework that distinguishes between different types of uncertainties and suggest how these uncertainties could be handled systematically through a scenario-aware Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS). We demonstrate the framework’s decision-informing power through a case study of two multilevel Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) manufacturing scenarios. The MCS utilizes a first-principles-based OPC life-cycle inventory, which mitigates some of the model uncertainty that may exist in other empirical-based cement models. Remaining uncertainties are handled by scenario specification or sampling from developed probability distribution functions. We also suggest a standardized method for fitting distributions to parameter data by enumerating through and implementing distributions based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The detailed parameter breakdown allows for developing emission distributions for each process of OPC manufacturing. This detailed approach highlights how individual parameters, along with scenario framing, impacts OPC emissions. Another key takeaway includes relating the uncertainty of each process to its contributions to total OPC emissions, which can guide LCA modelers in allocating data collection and refinement efforts on processes with the highest contribution to cumulative uncertainty. Ultimately, the aim of this work is to provide a standardized framework that can provide robust estimates of building material emissions and be readily integrated within any uncertainty assessment.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":" 94","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140685042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whole value at risk for flood damage estimates through spatial data analysis","authors":"Nicholas Martyn, Bryan W Karney, I. D. Posen","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad29d2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad29d2","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for flooding requires a comprehensive estimate of the Whole Value at Risk (WVAR) to inform appropriate and proportionate mitigation expenditure. Conventional flood risk estimation methods focus on the direct effects of inundation on community value and generally ignore collateral effects on assets and populations outside the flooded area. Consequently, conventional methods tend to underestimate the cost of flooding, leading to an underestimate of the return on DRR investment. Using spatial data analysis in an urban case study for Toronto, Canada, we identify and capture the collateral value at risk (ColVaR) to more comprehensively estimate the Whole Value at Risk (WVaR). In our case study, ColVaR (mean estimate) amounts to 70% of direct losses (ColVar = $344M; direct losses = $475M CAD), ranging from 20-150% (ColVar $100-$740M) when spanning the 90% confidence intervals of our Monte Carlo simulations. Thus, we demonstrate that if the Collateral Value at Risk is ignored, WVaR can be significantly underestimated, potentially leading to reduced Disaster Risk Reduction resource allocations and thereby adding risk exposure for communities. We present an accessible, seven-step process using existing spatial analysis tools and techniques that infrastructure stakeholders and planners can use to estimate ColVAR and better formulate DRR measures for their communities.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"5 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139774589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whole value at risk for flood damage estimates through spatial data analysis","authors":"Nicholas Martyn, Bryan W Karney, I. D. Posen","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad29d2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad29d2","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for flooding requires a comprehensive estimate of the Whole Value at Risk (WVAR) to inform appropriate and proportionate mitigation expenditure. Conventional flood risk estimation methods focus on the direct effects of inundation on community value and generally ignore collateral effects on assets and populations outside the flooded area. Consequently, conventional methods tend to underestimate the cost of flooding, leading to an underestimate of the return on DRR investment. Using spatial data analysis in an urban case study for Toronto, Canada, we identify and capture the collateral value at risk (ColVaR) to more comprehensively estimate the Whole Value at Risk (WVaR). In our case study, ColVaR (mean estimate) amounts to 70% of direct losses (ColVar = $344M; direct losses = $475M CAD), ranging from 20-150% (ColVar $100-$740M) when spanning the 90% confidence intervals of our Monte Carlo simulations. Thus, we demonstrate that if the Collateral Value at Risk is ignored, WVaR can be significantly underestimated, potentially leading to reduced Disaster Risk Reduction resource allocations and thereby adding risk exposure for communities. We present an accessible, seven-step process using existing spatial analysis tools and techniques that infrastructure stakeholders and planners can use to estimate ColVAR and better formulate DRR measures for their communities.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"426 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139834144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure","authors":"Paola Velasco-Herrejón, Enoc López Toledo, Juana Arely Romo López, Tania Karina Antonio Escobar, Elizabeth Carrasco Morales, William Hernández Ramírez, Lizbeth Yessenia Ignacio Hernández, Gisel Andrea Gutiérrez Felipe, Lirio Scaanda Jiménez López, Norma Iris Rueda Rasgado, Jade Martínez Sánchez, Jesús Martínez Arreguin","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad269c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad269c","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Despite the large existing body of empirical research on perceptions and motives of social opposition to wind energy infrastructure, challenges remain in understanding the impacts of turbines on the well-being of the communities where they are installed and how these reflect acceptance at the local level. This paper revisits a capability approach to analyse the impacts of wind energy developments on the well-being of neighbouring communities in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, while expanding the depiction of the participatory mixed methodology used to identify valuable human capabilities. The study shows how the inclusion of community members as co-researchers is crucial to validate and locate Indigenous knowledge at the forefront while allowing local people to exercise greater voice and agency in how the research is conducted and designed. The methodology involved a three-stage process that integrated semi-structured interviews, focus groups, a survey, and participatory workshops, involving 450 participants. The findings conclude that community acceptability of energy infrastructure such as wind farms will only be achieved through inclusive community engagement that considers valued ways of being and doing of the local population. These include increasing the opportunities for people to live in good health, skilled employment in the industry, engaging and integrating local culture, values, worldviews and needs, and having a collective approach to the distribution of economic benefits that may strengthen social networks.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"127 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139799755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A capability approach to analyse well-being impacts of wind energy infrastructure","authors":"Paola Velasco-Herrejón, Enoc López Toledo, Juana Arely Romo López, Tania Karina Antonio Escobar, Elizabeth Carrasco Morales, William Hernández Ramírez, Lizbeth Yessenia Ignacio Hernández, Gisel Andrea Gutiérrez Felipe, Lirio Scaanda Jiménez López, Norma Iris Rueda Rasgado, Jade Martínez Sánchez, Jesús Martínez Arreguin","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad269c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad269c","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Despite the large existing body of empirical research on perceptions and motives of social opposition to wind energy infrastructure, challenges remain in understanding the impacts of turbines on the well-being of the communities where they are installed and how these reflect acceptance at the local level. This paper revisits a capability approach to analyse the impacts of wind energy developments on the well-being of neighbouring communities in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, while expanding the depiction of the participatory mixed methodology used to identify valuable human capabilities. The study shows how the inclusion of community members as co-researchers is crucial to validate and locate Indigenous knowledge at the forefront while allowing local people to exercise greater voice and agency in how the research is conducted and designed. The methodology involved a three-stage process that integrated semi-structured interviews, focus groups, a survey, and participatory workshops, involving 450 participants. The findings conclude that community acceptability of energy infrastructure such as wind farms will only be achieved through inclusive community engagement that considers valued ways of being and doing of the local population. These include increasing the opportunities for people to live in good health, skilled employment in the industry, engaging and integrating local culture, values, worldviews and needs, and having a collective approach to the distribution of economic benefits that may strengthen social networks.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"78 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139859429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variability in costs of electrifying passenger cars in Canada","authors":"Bassam Javed, A. Giang, M. Kandlikar","doi":"10.1088/2634-4505/ad253e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad253e","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The high cost of purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) is a major barrier to their widespread adoption. Additionally, the price disparity is not the same for all households. We conducted a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis to compare the net present value of EV versus ICEV ownership for various household categories across Canada. We observed spatial and behavioral factors, including variations in costs of electricity, temperature, household archetypes and their purchase decisions, and access to charging infrastructure. We found that EVs are more cost-effective than ICEVs for certain daily driving distances, but typical households in Canada generally do not drive enough for lifecycle costs of EVs to be less than ICEVs. The province of Quebec has the most favorable conditions for EV ownership due to high purchase subsidies and low electricity prices. Variability in costs across other provinces and territories is mainly due to differences in rebates, electricity and gasoline prices, and tax rates. Our findings have implications for policymakers and consumers. For consumers comparing ICEVs to EVs based on a fixed budget, which may be consistent with how many households frame their purchase decision, willingness to accept smaller, non-luxury EVs can result in large cost savings. We also find that although temperature variation has a minimal effect on TCO, it does impact the “number of charge-ups”—a metric that we introduce to compare how many charging cycles a user may expect over the lifetime of a vehicle. The policy implication of this would be a need to consider regional differences in cold weather patterns when planning charging infrastructure deployment and the extent to which households in shared dwellings may face additional costs. Lastly, our findings strengthen the argument that equitably decarbonizing transportation will also require investment in strategies other than electrifying personal vehicles.","PeriodicalId":509119,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability","volume":"11 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139871065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}