Academic literature on the topic 'Environmental reporting Australia Evaluation'
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Journal articles on the topic "Environmental reporting Australia Evaluation"
1
Mullan, Leanne, and David Skinner. "Evaluation of a visiting credentialled diabetes educator program in remote western Queensland, Australia." Australian Journal of Primary Health 28, no. 2 (February 11, 2022): 117–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py21235.
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Background: Within western Queensland (WQ), Australia, diabetes is the leading cause of potentially preventable hospitalisations and, in some areas, diabetes prevalence is up to 20%. To address inequity of access to diabetes-related services in remote areas of WQ, a visiting credentialled diabetes educator program (VCDEP) was developed. Using a fly-in, fly-out model of service delivery and supporting telehealth services, upskilling of rural primary healthcare professionals occurred and credentialled diabetes educator (CDE) accessibility increased in WQ. This study objectively measured the impact of the VCDEP. Methods: Practice report data from five representative VCDEP practices and five non-VCDEP practices were analysed using Pearson Chi-squared tests to ascertain associations in reporting of blood pressure (BP), HbA1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), total cholesterol, microalbumin, body mass index (BMI) and foot and eye examinations, as well as improvements in BP, HbA1c, eGFR, total cholesterol, microalbumin and BMI measures at two set date points. Results: In practices involved in the VCDEP, aggregated data indicated significant increases in reporting of HbA1c (P ≤ 0.001), eGFR (P ≤ 0.001), total cholesterol (P = 0.022) and foot assessments (P = 0.015). In contrast, aggregated data from practices not involved in the VCDEP identified significant decreases in the reporting of BP and eye examinations between October 2019 and March 2021 (P = 0.034 and P = 0.007 respectively). Decreases in reporting of HbA1c, eGFR, microalbumin, BMI and foot examinations were also found, although these did not reach statistical significance. Concernedly, across practices overall, HbA1c levels have risen, with a significant increase in the percentage of people with diabetes having a HbA1c >53 mmol/mol (7%) and >86 mmol/mol (10%) in March 2021 compared with October 2019 (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Reporting of key diabetes indicators is greater among practices participating in the VCDEP than among practices not involved in the VCDEP. Further investigation and resource provision are required to address rising HbA1c levels in rural WQ, with a particular focus on the impacts of health literacy, social determinants of health and workforce challenges.
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Maddox, Raglan, Andrew Waa, Kelley Lee, Patricia Nez Henderson, Genevieve Blais, Jeff Reading, and Raymond Lovett. "Commercial tobacco and indigenous peoples: a stock take on Framework Convention on Tobacco Control progress." Tobacco Control 28, no. 5 (August 3, 2018): 574–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054508.
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BackgroundThe health status and needs of indigenous populations of Australia, Canada and New Zealand are often compared because of the shared experience of colonisation. One enduring impact has been a disproportionately high rate of commercial tobacco use compared with non-indigenous populations. All three countries have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which acknowledges the harm caused to indigenous peoples by tobacco.Aim and objectivesWe evaluated and compared reporting on FCTC progress related to indigenous peoples by Australia, Canada and New Zealand as States Parties. The critiqued data included disparities in smoking prevalence between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples; extent of indigenous participation in tobacco control development, implementation and evaluation; and what indigenous commercial tobacco reduction interventions were delivered and evaluated.Data sourcesWe searched FCTC: (1) Global Progress Reports for information regarding indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and (2) country-specific reports from Australia, Canada and New Zealand between 2007 and 2016.Study selectionTwo of the authors independently reviewed the FCTC Global and respective Country Reports, identifying where indigenous search terms appeared.Data extractionAll data associated with the identified search terms were extracted, and content analysis was applied.ResultsIt is difficult to determine if or what progress has been made to reduce commercial tobacco use by the three States Parties as part of their commitments under FCTC reporting systems. There is some evidence that progress is being made towards reducing indigenous commercial tobacco use, including the implementation of indigenous-focused initiatives. However, there are significant gaps and inconsistencies in reporting. Strengthening FCTC reporting instruments to include standardised indigenous-specific data will help to realise the FCTC Guiding Principles by holding States Parties to account and building momentum for reducing the high prevalence of commercial tobacco use among indigenous peoples.
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Ralph, Anna P., Angela Kelly, Anne-Marie Lee, Valerina L. Mungatopi, Segora R. Babui, Nanda Kaji Budhathoki, Vicki Wade, Jessica L. de Dassel, and Rosemary Wyber. "Evaluation of a Community-Led Program for Primordial and Primary Prevention of Rheumatic Fever in Remote Northern Australia." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 16 (August 17, 2022): 10215. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610215.
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Environmental factors including household crowding and inadequate washing facilities underpin recurrent streptococcal infections in childhood that cause acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and subsequent rheumatic heart disease (RHD). No community-based ‘primordial’-level interventions to reduce streptococcal infection and ARF rates have been reported from Australia previously. We conducted a study at three Australian Aboriginal communities aiming to reduce infections including skin sores and sore throats, usually caused by Group A Streptococci, and ARF. Data were collected for primary care diagnoses consistent with likely or potential streptococcal infection, relating to ARF or RHD or related to environmental living conditions. Rates of these diagnoses during a one-year Baseline Phase were compared with a three-year Activity Phase. Participants were children or adults receiving penicillin prophylaxis for ARF. Aboriginal community members were trained and employed to share knowledge about ARF prevention, support reporting and repairs of faulty health-hardware including showers and provide healthcare navigation for families focusing on skin sores, sore throat and ARF. We hypothesized that infection-related diagnoses would increase through greater recognition, then decrease. We enrolled 29 participants and their families. Overall infection-related diagnosis rates increased from Baseline (mean rate per-person-year 1.69 [95% CI 1.10–2.28]) to Year One (2.12 [95% CI 1.17–3.07]) then decreased (Year Three: 0.72 [95% CI 0.29–1.15]) but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.064). Annual numbers of first-known ARF decreased, but numbers were small: there were six cases of first-known ARF during Baseline, then five, 1, 0 over the next three years respectively. There was a relationship between household occupancy and numbers (p = 0.018), but not rates (p = 0.447) of infections. This first Australian ARF primordial prevention study provides a feasible model with encouraging findings.
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Wu, Shuanglei, Sarina Huang, Yongping Wei, Colin Duffield, Wenzhe Tang, Yan Zhao, and Hang Zheng. "A longitudinal analysis on the perspectives of major world newspapers on the Three Gorges Dam project during 1982–2015." Water Supply 18, no. 1 (May 31, 2017): 94–107. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2017.088.
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Abstract Media communications are least studied in river basin development projects. This paper aims to develop a longitudinal study on how a water resources development megaproject was reported by the world newspapers during its whole life cycle. The development of the Three Gorges Dam project in China (1982–2015) was taken as an example. Newspaper perspectives on eight evaluation themes: time, cost, quality, risk, benefit, social impact, environmental impact, and organization management were extracted from eight newspapers in the UK, the USA, Australia, and Singapore using a content analysis approach. The results show that the media coverage mainly appeared in the construction phase, with peak reporting times occurring in transition periods. Social and environmental aspects were the main concerns of the eight selected newspapers. The tone of the news coverage on the Three Gorges Dam was generally negative. These findings implied that media communications provide valuable insights into the social and environmental complexities of megaprojects in river basin development.
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Ananthapavan, Jaithri, Marj Moodie, Andrew J. Milat, and Rob Carter. "Systematic Review to Update ‘Value of a Statistical Life’ Estimates for Australia." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11 (June 7, 2021): 6168. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116168.
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The value of a statistical life (VSL) estimates individuals’ willingness to trade wealth for mortality risk reduction. This economic parameter is often a major component of the quantified benefits estimated in the evaluation of government policies related to health and safety. This study reviewed the literature to update the VSL recommended for Australian policy appraisals. A systematic literature review was conducted to capture Australian primary studies and international review papers reporting VSL estimates published from 2007 to January 2019. International estimates were adjusted for income differences and the median VSL estimate was extracted from each review study. VSL estimates were used to calculate the value of a statistical life year. Of the 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria, two studies were primary Australian studies with a weighted mean VSL of A$7.0 million in 2017 values. The median VSL in the review studies was A$7.3 million. For Australian public policy appraisals, we recommend the consideration of a base case VSL for people of all ages and across all risk contexts of A$7.0 million. Sensitivity analyses could use a high value of A$7.3 million and a low value that reflects the value (A$4.3 million) currently recommended by the Australian government.
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Dabkowski, Elissa, Joanne E. Porter, Michael S. Barbagallo, Valerie Prokopiv, and Megan R. Jackson. "A Scoping Review of Community-Based Adult Suicide Prevention Initiatives in Rural and Regional Australia." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 12 (June 8, 2022): 7007. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127007.
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The need for continued research into suicide prevention strategies is undeniable, with high global statistics demonstrating the urgency of this public health issue. In Australia, approximately 3000 people end their lives each year, with those living in rural and regional areas identified as having a higher risk of dying by suicide. Due to decreased access and support services in these areas, community-based suicide prevention initiatives provide opportunities to educate and support local communities. A scoping review was conducted to explore the literature pertaining to such programs in rural and/or regional communities in Australia. This review follows the five-stage Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Nine databases were searched, from which studies were considered eligible if suicide prevention programs were community-based and catered for adults (aged ≥ 18 years) in rural or regional Australia. Ten papers that met our inclusion criteria were included in this review, showcasing a variety of interventions such as workshops, a digital intervention, art therapy, and initiatives to increase education and reduce stigma around suicide. Program engagement strategies included the importance of providing culturally appropriate services, the inclusion of lived experience mentoring, and tailoring the suicide prevention program to reach its targeted audience. Overall, there is a dearth of literature surrounding community-based suicide prevention initiatives for adults in rural and regional Australia. Further evaluation of community-based projects is required to ensure quality improvement and tailored suicide prevention initiatives for rural and regional Australians.
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Hull, Brynley P., and Peter B. Mclntyre. "Immunisation coverage reporting through the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register - an evaluation of the third-dose assumption." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 24, no. 1 (February 2000): 17–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842x.2000.tb00717.x.
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Holden, Carol, Carolyn Poljski, Catherine Andrews, Megan Cock, Rory Wolfe, and David de Krester. "The Dynamics of Community Education in Male Reproductive Health: Findings from an Australian Study." Australian Journal of Primary Health 12, no. 2 (2006): 146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py06034.
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A significant number of men are affected by reproductive health disorders; however, the level of awareness and education for some disorders is limited. Our aim was to explore the dynamics of community education activities being undertaken in Australia that address or include information on male reproductive health issues, to identify health promotion initiatives that help raise the awareness of male reproductive health disorders. A survey was distributed to medical practitioners, health services and community organisations across Australia to identify organisations providing male reproductive health information. Those organisations that had evaluated their activity were further analysed to determine if their focus was effectively providing education on male reproductive disorders. Of the 299 education activities reporting the inclusion of male reproductive health information, prostate cancer was the most commonly addressed health issue (55.5%). Only 89 activities (29.8%) had been evaluated by the education providers, to determine whether their aims had been met. Several factors were found to have an impact on the perceived success of education activities, including (i) the focus, but only for prostate cancer, prostate disease and testicular cancer activities (ii) method of delivery (face-to-face group presentations and one-on-one discussions), and (iii) location (remote areas). While the overall evaluation of community education activities focusing on male reproductive health is limited, several factors have been identified from this survey that may impact on the success of future male specific health promotion activities.
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Younker, Terasa, and Heidi Liss Radunovich. "Farmer Mental Health Interventions: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 1 (December 26, 2021): 244. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010244.
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The prevalence of mental health disorders and suicide amongst agricultural producers is a global problem. Community leaders, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians have mobilized to develop programs to address this issue. This study reviewed a wide range of mental health interventions targeting farmer mental health spanning over 50 years and examined their reported effectiveness and constraints. A total of ninety-two articles on farmer mental health were included in a final systematic review. Most articles were written concerning mental health literacy and peer and paraprofessional support interventions in the United States and Australia. Among the 56 studies reporting empirical evaluative data, 21 were mixed-method, 20 quantitative, 11 qualitative, and 5 literature synthesis. Non-experimental, self-reported, and qualitative data suggest efficacy of mental health literacy programs, peer and paraprofessional support, and community-based and agroecological interventions. However, most interventions were not subject to rigorous evaluation and only one intervention was evaluated using a control condition. The heterogeneity of existing studies and paucity of rigorous evaluation proscribes firm conclusions related to program-type efficacy. This review demonstrates that there is still a need for a stronger and broader evidence base in the field of farmer mental health interventions, which should focus on both holistic, multi-component programs and targeted approaches.
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Martin, Priya, Monica Moran, Nicky Graham, and Anne Hill. "The Integral Role of Organisational Governance in Promoting Interprofessional Education in Rural Settings." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 6 (March 16, 2021): 3041. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063041.
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One of the key challenges with implementing and sustaining interprofessional education initiatives is the lack of governance structures and processes to guide them. This case study presents a process evaluation of an intersectoral advisory group that facilitated a novel interprofessional clinical education model in rural health settings in the state of Queensland, Australia. The group consisted of health and academic partners to guide the implementation and promote sustainability of this new model. The advisory group process was evaluated mid-way and at conclusion of the group functions, using focus group discussions. The focus group audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and subjected to inductive content analysis. Categories were developed for reporting. Three broad categories were identified: Characteristics of the group, functions of the group and multifaceted communication within the group and between sectors. By identifying and mapping the processes used by a strategic, high-level intersectoral advisory group consisting of members from the health and academic fields, key recommendations have been formulated to guide similar work in the future.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Environmental reporting Australia Evaluation"
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McGrath, Christopher James. "How to evaluate the effectiveness of an environmental legal system." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2007. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/16661/1/Christopher_James_Mcgrath_Thesis.pdf.
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The principal research question addressed in this thesis is how the effectiveness of an environmental legal system can best be evaluated. A legal system is effective if it is achieving or likely to achieve its objectives. For an environmental legal system this means achieving sustainable development. The hypothesis tested in relation to this research question is that the pressure-state-response ("PSR") method of State of the Environment ("SoE") Reporting provides the best available framework for evaluating the effectiveness of an environmental legal system. A subsidiary research question addressed in this thesis is whether the environmental legal system protecting the Great Barrier Reef ("GBR") in north-eastern Australia is likely to achieve sustainable development of it. The hypothesis tested in relation to this research question is that the environmental legal system protecting the GBR is likely to achieve sustainable development of the GBR. The principal method used to address these research questions and test the hypotheses is a case study of the effectiveness of the laws protecting the GBR. Particular emphasis is given in the case study to climate change both because it is now recognised as the major threat to the GBR and is a topic of significant international and national interest. This thesis is intended to contribute, in particular, to the current public and policy debate on responding effectively to climate change by using the GBR as a yardstick against which to measure "dangerous climate change" and, conversely, acceptable climate change. There are five major findings of the research. First, most of the legal writing regarding environmental legal systems is descriptive, explanatory and interpretative rather than evaluative. Second, most legal writers who attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of part or the whole of an environmental legal system implicitly use the PSR method and refer to pressures, conditions, and responses but do not acknowledge this conceptual framework. Third, the best available conceptual and analytical framework for evaluating the effectiveness of an environmental legal system is the PSR method. It is the simplest, most systematic, comprehensive and meaningful framework with the greatest predictive power for evaluating the effectiveness of the total social and legal response to human-induced environmental degradation currently available. Fourth, current practice in SoE reporting, at least in relation to the GBR, is largely descriptive and rarely evaluates the effectiveness of the response. The fifth major finding of this research is that, while there are many effective parts of the response to pressures on the GBR, the current environmental legal system is not likely to be effective in preventing climate change from causing very serious damage to the GBR. Based on what we know at this point in time, particularly the technology that is currently available and current greenhouse gas emissions, the impacts of climate change appear likely to swamp the many good aspects of the legal system protecting the GBR. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide in 2005 were approximately 379 parts per million ("ppm") and rising by 2 ppm per year. Including the effect of other greenhouse gases such as methane, the total concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases was around 455 ppm carbon dioxide equivalents ("CO2-eq") in 2005, although the cooling effect of aerosols and landuse changes reduced the net effect to around 375 ppm CO2-eq. Limiting the total increase in mean global temperature to approximately 1°C requires stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gases and aerosols around 350 ppm CO2-eq. Increasing the net effect of greenhouse gases and aerosols to 450-550 ppm CO2-eq is expected to result in a 2-3°C rise in mean surface temperatures. There are currently no international or national legal constraints to hold greenhouse gas concentrations beneath these levels and they appear likely to be exceeded. These increases in mean global temperatures are expected to severely degrade the GBR by 2030-2040. Even the targets being set by the new Australian Government of reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050 appear insufficient to protect the GBR. If a 60% reduction in emissions can be achieved globally by 2050 a rise in mean global temperature of around 2.4°C is expected. This indicates the environmental legal system protecting the GBR is not likely to be effective in relation to climate change and, therefore, is failing to reach its objective of sustainable development. Three major recommendations arise from the research. First, legal writers attempting to evaluate the effectiveness of the whole or part of an environmental legal system should use and acknowledge the PSR method. Second, SoE reports should include a stand-alone chapter evaluating the effectiveness of the response. Third, the environmental legal system protecting the GBR should take strong and comprehensive measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the objective of sustainable development is to be achieved. Such measures should include setting policy targets for stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gas and aerosol concentrations around 350 ppm CO2-eq to limit increases in mean global temperature to 1°C. Policy targets of stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gases and aerosols at 450-550 ppm CO2-eq to limit increases in mean global temperatures to 2-3°C are likely to be too high to avoid severe impacts of coral bleaching to the GBR.
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McGrath, Christopher James. "How to evaluate the effectiveness of an environmental legal system." Queensland University of Technology, 2007. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16661/.
Full textAbstract:
The principal research question addressed in this thesis is how the effectiveness of an environmental legal system can best be evaluated. A legal system is effective if it is achieving or likely to achieve its objectives. For an environmental legal system this means achieving sustainable development. The hypothesis tested in relation to this research question is that the pressure-state-response ("PSR") method of State of the Environment ("SoE") Reporting provides the best available framework for evaluating the effectiveness of an environmental legal system. A subsidiary research question addressed in this thesis is whether the environmental legal system protecting the Great Barrier Reef ("GBR") in north-eastern Australia is likely to achieve sustainable development of it. The hypothesis tested in relation to this research question is that the environmental legal system protecting the GBR is likely to achieve sustainable development of the GBR. The principal method used to address these research questions and test the hypotheses is a case study of the effectiveness of the laws protecting the GBR. Particular emphasis is given in the case study to climate change both because it is now recognised as the major threat to the GBR and is a topic of significant international and national interest. This thesis is intended to contribute, in particular, to the current public and policy debate on responding effectively to climate change by using the GBR as a yardstick against which to measure "dangerous climate change" and, conversely, acceptable climate change. There are five major findings of the research. First, most of the legal writing regarding environmental legal systems is descriptive, explanatory and interpretative rather than evaluative. Second, most legal writers who attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of part or the whole of an environmental legal system implicitly use the PSR method and refer to pressures, conditions, and responses but do not acknowledge this conceptual framework. Third, the best available conceptual and analytical framework for evaluating the effectiveness of an environmental legal system is the PSR method. It is the simplest, most systematic, comprehensive and meaningful framework with the greatest predictive power for evaluating the effectiveness of the total social and legal response to human-induced environmental degradation currently available. Fourth, current practice in SoE reporting, at least in relation to the GBR, is largely descriptive and rarely evaluates the effectiveness of the response. The fifth major finding of this research is that, while there are many effective parts of the response to pressures on the GBR, the current environmental legal system is not likely to be effective in preventing climate change from causing very serious damage to the GBR. Based on what we know at this point in time, particularly the technology that is currently available and current greenhouse gas emissions, the impacts of climate change appear likely to swamp the many good aspects of the legal system protecting the GBR. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide in 2005 were approximately 379 parts per million ("ppm") and rising by 2 ppm per year. Including the effect of other greenhouse gases such as methane, the total concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases was around 455 ppm carbon dioxide equivalents ("CO2-eq") in 2005, although the cooling effect of aerosols and landuse changes reduced the net effect to around 375 ppm CO2-eq. Limiting the total increase in mean global temperature to approximately 1°C requires stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gases and aerosols around 350 ppm CO2-eq. Increasing the net effect of greenhouse gases and aerosols to 450-550 ppm CO2-eq is expected to result in a 2-3°C rise in mean surface temperatures. There are currently no international or national legal constraints to hold greenhouse gas concentrations beneath these levels and they appear likely to be exceeded. These increases in mean global temperatures are expected to severely degrade the GBR by 2030-2040. Even the targets being set by the new Australian Government of reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050 appear insufficient to protect the GBR. If a 60% reduction in emissions can be achieved globally by 2050 a rise in mean global temperature of around 2.4°C is expected. This indicates the environmental legal system protecting the GBR is not likely to be effective in relation to climate change and, therefore, is failing to reach its objective of sustainable development. Three major recommendations arise from the research. First, legal writers attempting to evaluate the effectiveness of the whole or part of an environmental legal system should use and acknowledge the PSR method. Second, SoE reports should include a stand-alone chapter evaluating the effectiveness of the response. Third, the environmental legal system protecting the GBR should take strong and comprehensive measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the objective of sustainable development is to be achieved. Such measures should include setting policy targets for stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gas and aerosol concentrations around 350 ppm CO2-eq to limit increases in mean global temperature to 1°C. Policy targets of stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gases and aerosols at 450-550 ppm CO2-eq to limit increases in mean global temperatures to 2-3°C are likely to be too high to avoid severe impacts of coral bleaching to the GBR.
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Oduro-Kwateng, George. "The evaluation of environmental reporting by publicly listed South African banks." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003860.
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Recently, bankers have come to realise that banking operations, especially corporate lending, affect and are affected by the natural environment and that consequently, the banks might have an important role to play in helping to raise environmental standards. Although the environment presents significant risks to banks, in particular environmental credit risk, it also perhaps presents profitable opportunities. Stricter environmental regulations have forced companies to invest in environmentally friendly technologies and pollution control measures and in tum generated lending opportunities for bankers. This research examines the corporate practices of three of the four dominant banks in South Africa with respect to the environment, focusing on issues of climate change and environmental risk management by way of reporting and disclosure to all stakeholders. The emphasis on environmental reporting by South African banks has been reinforced by the latest release of the King III Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa. Global governance requires that the triple-bottom line should be applied in all corporate undertakings due to globalisation and trade liberalisation; however, the banking sector has responded poorly to the clarion call. The false view that the banks have no significant relationship with environmental degradation is being disproved. Environmental management is a huge and massive reconstruction of what has gone wrong with nature by human influence. The South African banks have had to face with the challenging tasks of reporting on the direct and mostly the indirect impacts of their environmental activities. Based on the three sampled banks which incidentally had greater percentages of the market capitalizations, the banks have fairly performed in environmental reporting. For example, Standard Bank (SA) Ltd has just signed the Equator Principles in 2007 implying corporate lending was done in 2007 without any respect to environmental impact assessments by corporate borrowers. Consequently, environmental reporting was not done to facilitate informed decision-making by stakeholders mostly shareholders and the communities where borrowers tun businesses. The objective of this research study is to investigate the extent and quantity of/voluntary environmental disclosures in the annual and sustainability reports of the banks listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The periods examined were those subsequent to the release of the Exposure Draft Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) issued in 1999. Using content analysis to focus on the environmental aspects, the research study compared three annual reports and three sustainability reports of 2007 year for the three sampled banks in order to evaluate reporting practices in the period surrounding this intervention. The results suggest a trend to triple bottom-line reporting and the extent and quantity of environmental information, albeit in specific categories.
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Morrison, Judith Ellen. "Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions: negotiating aboriginal native title in south Australia." Thesis, Morrison, Judith Ellen (2007) Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions: negotiating aboriginal native title in south Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2007. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/210/.
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This thesis uses an action research methodology to develop a framework for improving independent scholarly reporting about interventions addressing social or environmental conflict. As there are often contradictory interpretations about the causes and strategic responses to conflict, the problem confronting scholar-reporters is how to address perceptions of bias and reflexively specify the purpose of reporting. It is proposed that scholar-reporters require grounding in conventional realist-based social theory but equally ability to incorporate theoretical ideas generated in more idealist-based peace research and applied conflict resolution studies. To do this scholar-reporters can take a comparative approach systematically developed through an integrated framework as described in this thesis.
Conceptual and theoretical considerations that support both conventional and more radical constructions are comparatively analysed and then tested in relation to a case study. In 2000 Aboriginal people throughout South Australia deliberated whether their native title claims could be better accorded recognition through conservative court processes or a negotiation process to allay deep-seated conflict. The author, in a scholar-reporter capacity, formulated a report attributing meaning to this consultative process.
As such a report could have been formulated according to alternative paradigms, methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks, the analysis of the adopted framework highlights how different approaches can bias the interpretation of the process and prospects for change. Realist-based conservative interpretations emphasise 'official' decision-making processes where legitimacy is expressed through political and legal frameworks based on precedent. Idealist-based interpretations emphasise that circumstances entailing significant conflict warrant equal consideration being given to 'non-official' 'resolutionary' problem-solving processes where conflict is treated as a catalyst for learning and outcomes are articulated as understanding generated about conflict and how different strategies can transform it.
The developed integrated framework approach establishes the independence of scholarly reporting. Its purpose goes beyond perpetuating scholarly debate about alternative 'objective' understandings of conflict; it focuses primarily on communicating a more inclusive understanding of the contradictions inherent in a particular conflict. It increases the capacity to understand when, where, why and how conflict precipitates social change, and articulates possibilities for reconceptualising what might be the more sustainable direction of change.
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Morrison, Judith Ellen. "Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions : negotiating Aboriginal Native Title in South Australia /." Morrison, Judith Ellen (2007) Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions: negotiating aboriginal native title in south Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2007. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/210/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis uses an action research methodology to develop a framework for improving independent scholarly reporting about interventions addressing social or environmental conflict. As there are often contradictory interpretations about the causes and strategic responses to conflict, the problem confronting scholar-reporters is how to address perceptions of bias and reflexively specify the purpose of reporting. It is proposed that scholar-reporters require grounding in conventional realist-based social theory but equally ability to incorporate theoretical ideas generated in more idealist-based peace research and applied conflict resolution studies. To do this scholar-reporters can take a comparative approach systematically developed through an integrated framework as described in this thesis.
Conceptual and theoretical considerations that support both conventional and more radical constructions are comparatively analysed and then tested in relation to a case study. In 2000 Aboriginal people throughout South Australia deliberated whether their native title claims could be better accorded recognition through conservative court processes or a negotiation process to allay deep-seated conflict. The author, in a scholar-reporter capacity, formulated a report attributing meaning to this consultative process.
As such a report could have been formulated according to alternative paradigms, methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks, the analysis of the adopted framework highlights how different approaches can bias the interpretation of the process and prospects for change. Realist-based conservative interpretations emphasise 'official' decision-making processes where legitimacy is expressed through political and legal frameworks based on precedent. Idealist-based interpretations emphasise that circumstances entailing significant conflict warrant equal consideration being given to 'non-official' 'resolutionary' problem-solving processes where conflict is treated as a catalyst for learning and outcomes are articulated as understanding generated about conflict and how different strategies can transform it.
The developed integrated framework approach establishes the independence of scholarly reporting. Its purpose goes beyond perpetuating scholarly debate about alternative 'objective' understandings of conflict; it focuses primarily on communicating a more inclusive understanding of the contradictions inherent in a particular conflict. It increases the capacity to understand when, where, why and how conflict precipitates social change, and articulates possibilities for reconceptualising what might be the more sustainable direction of change.
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Rowe, Karina Janece. "A framework for environmental education in South Australian secondary schools : the missing ingredient." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envr878.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 84-86. Shows how environmental education could be incorporated within the current South Australian secondary school structures and critically evaluates current programs. Investigates a different frame work (International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program), as a means for overcoming some of the limitations for environmental education presented by the current DETE framework; and, student perceptions of what makes a successful environmental education program.
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Menon, Desmond D. "An Evaluation of exposures to respirable particulates, environmental PM2.5, PAHs and metal compounds in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2016. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1913.
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It has been well established that air pollution is associated with health impacts. This study investigated the relationship between exposure to air pollutants and potential biomarkers of health effects. The research project was conducted in 2 separate study locations and cohorts.
Study 1: An Evaluation of Children’s Exposures to Respirable Particulates, Environmental PM2.5, PAHs and Metal Compounds in The South West of Western Australia. A cross sectional study to evaluate the exposures of children (n=18), and controls (n=15) to respirable particulates PAHs and metal compounds in the South West of Australia during 2011. Ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) samples were found to be significantly higher in Collie as compared to Dalyellup. However, personal PM2.5 concentrations between locations were not significantly different and both PAH and heavy metals were below the levels of detection. Urinary levels of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHpy) were below the level of detection. Copper, selenium and nickel were present in urine samples and these were not significantly different between locations, nor was there any correlation with residential areas within study locations. Urinary nickel concentrations were higher than expected for nonoccupational cohorts and although statistically insignificant, mean values of urinary nickel were highest for homes using gas as a fuel source.
These data endorse current views that the reconstruction of PM2.5 exposures and related respiratory health effects based simply on the mass of airborne particulate matter alone is not sufficient in providing an insight to the respiratory health of susceptible subgroups such as children. The presence of certain urinary heavy metals suggests possible accumulation in participants via alternative routes of entry, probably a dietary source. Studies that rely purely on data accrued from ambient PM2.5 mass, and/or general health data might not detect or underestimate significant relationships between certain components of PM2.5.
Study 2: Urinary levels of malondialdehyde and 8-deoxyguanosine as biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage induced by exposure to nickel and cobalt in metal refinery workers. Metal mining and refinery workers in Australia have the potential to be occupationally exposed to quantities of heavy metals that may be associated with health impacts affecting major organ and immune systems. Current regulatory and internal company policies and guidelines require regular monitoring of occupational exposures of employees through a combination of air borne sampling as well as biological monitoring for heavy metals.
Toxic levels of heavy metals accumulated in the body have been shown to elicit inflammatory responses linked to exacerbated health effects impacting the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems. There are many studies that have established a significant link between heavy metal exposure and increased oxidative stress. In light of these observations, this study investigated urinary levels of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) which are oxidative stress markers indicative of cellular and DNA damage.
A positive correlation between urinary Ni and Co exposure and oxidative stress markers among refinery workers was established. This finding has implications for occupational health management as individual responses to exposures can now be identified. In addition to implementing a global mean air borne exposure standard, individual variation and sensitivity can be accommodated through the use of urinary oxidative stress markers
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Purnama, Dadang. "The evaluation of transboundary environmental impact assessment : a case study of the Timor Gap." xi, 103 leaves : ill., map, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envp9849.pdf.
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Bibiography: leaves 91-96. The Timor Gap area is managed jointly by Australia and Indonesia through the Treaty of Timor Gap (1989). The Zone of Cooperation area A 's main activity is oil exploration and exploitation. The main concern of the research is the provisions for environmental protection and the procedure of environmental impact assessment in the Treaty.
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Guinchard, Julia. "Evaluation et valorisation de la communication environnementale et diffusion d’informations dans le document de référence : le cas des entreprises cotées du CAC 40, de 2007 à 2013." Thesis, Paris 10, 2014. http://www.theses.fr/2014PA100124/document.
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En se focalisant sur 38 grands groupes cotés au CAC 40, de 2007 à 2013, la question de l’affichage environnemental et de sa valorisation sur le marché est envisagée dans une étude exploratoire selon les axes suivants : Le premier consiste à identifier l’existence d’un effet sur les cours de bourse d’une diffusion publique d’éléments afférant à la stratégie environnementale, en faisant appel aux études d’événements. La publication du document de référence a ainsi retenu toute l’attention. Puis, il apparaît essentiel de caractériser cette information : L’objectif n’est pas d’évaluer la qualité de la politique adoptée, mais d’étudier et évaluer les comportements en la matière, en mobilisant une analyse de contenu pour un total de 228 documents de référence. Une méthodologie de scoring a été adoptée, afin d’établir un indice de diffusion d’informations environnementales, sur la base d’un référentiel reconnu internationalement et pertinent, le Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Enfin, une modélisation permet de tester la relation entre la réaction observée sur le marché financier et l’information environnementale. Sur la pratique de diffusion d’informations environnementales, les comportements des entreprises de l’échantillon se sont améliorés tant sur la nature des informations divulguées que sur les pratiques globales : Elles sont de plus en plus transparente sur la base des critères environnementaux définis par le GRI. A la publication du document de référence, des rentabilités anormales cumulées sont observées et significatives. Les résultats laissent apparaître que le pouvoir explicatif de la communication environnementale est au demeurant plus important que des variables financières, tel que la variation de l’effet de levier, bien qu’il soit affecté au cours du tempsBy focusing on 38 stock marketed companies from the CAC 40 from 2007 to 2013, to question on the link between environmental published information and market valorization is at stake. The response is organized trough 3 main objectives by performing an explorative analysis: First, one may identify an impact from the disclosure about environmental practices on the stock market thank to the event study methodology. Publication of the annual registration documents hold attention in order to appreciate public environmental communication: Thus, the issue is not to evaluate firms’ policies but to understand how do they behave concerning their communication, by performing a content analysis based on 228 registration documents. Then, one may use an innovative data sources through the Global reporting initiative (GRI) standardized items to explore and to score the published information concerning environmental practices, leading to build an disclosure index. Last, one may test the relationship between the disclosure practices and the impact of this disclosure on the stock market. Companies tend to be more and more transparent according to the GRI, as on the items itself than on their whole practices. When they circulate their registration documents, there are significant cumulated abnormal returns. As a result, one may observe that disclosure on environmental practices explains more the abnormal returns than financial datas, as the leverage variation, even if this effect tend to be less and less important with time
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Kinrade, Peter. "Sustainable energy in Australia : an analysis of performance and drivers relative to other OECD countries /." Connect to thesis, 2009. http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/3613.
Full textBooks on the topic "Environmental reporting Australia Evaluation"
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The evolution of consolidated financial reporting in Australia: An evaluation of alternative hypotheses. New York: Garland Pub., 1988.
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Khaiter, Peter A., and Marina G. Erechtchoukova. Sustainability appraisal: Quantitative methods and mathematical techniques for environmental performance evaluation. Edited by Golińska Paulina. Heidelberg: Springer, 2013.
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Shaw, J. M. The evaluation process in the Adult Migrant Education Program: The report of the national course reporting study. Adelaide: National Curriculum Resource Centre, Adult Migrant Education Program Australia, 1986.
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Ternes, Mary Ellen. EPA's mandatory greenhouse gas reporting rule. New Providence, NJ: LexisNexis, 2010.
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United States. General Accounting Office. Accounting and Information Management Division. Financial management: Financial reporting issues related to the Navy's Direct Vendor Delivery initiative. Washington, D.C: The Office, 2000.
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Office, General Accounting. Air pollution: EPA should improve oversight of emissions reporting by large facilities : report to the Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives. Washington, D.C. (P.O. Box 37050, Washington 20013): U.S. General Accounting Office, 2001.
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1951-, Schultz Izabela Z., and Gatchel Robert J. 1947-, eds. Handbook of complex occupational disability claims: Early risk identification, intervention, and prevention. New York: Springer Science+Business Media, 2005.
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Office, General Accounting. Military training: Limitations exist overseas but are not reflected in readiness reporting : report to the chairman, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate. Washington, D.C. (P.O. Box 37050, Washington 20013): U.S. General Accounting Office, 2002.
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Office, General Accounting. Toxic substances: Few states have considered reporting requirements for chemical use data : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Commerce, House of Representatives. Washington, D.C: U.S. General Accounting Office, 1997.
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Office, General Accounting. Toxic substances: Few states have considered reporting requirements for chemical use data : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Commerce, House of Representatives. Washington, D.C: The Office, 1997.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Environmental reporting Australia Evaluation"
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Scott, S. G. "The Fairview Coal Seam Gasfield, Comet Ridge, Queensland Australia." In Coalbed Methane: Scientific, Environmental and Economic Evaluation, 23–31. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1062-6_3.
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Cobb, M., D. L. Lopez, M. Glikson, and S. D. Golding. "Simulating the Conductive and Hydrothermal Maturation of Coal and Coal Seam Gas in the Bowen Basin, Australia." In Coalbed Methane: Scientific, Environmental and Economic Evaluation, 435–48. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1062-6_26.
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Massarotto, Paul. "Cost Benefit Analysis of Coalbed Methane Recovery Activities in Australia and New Zealand- Implications for Commercial Projects and Government Policy." In Coalbed Methane: Scientific, Environmental and Economic Evaluation, 33–54. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1062-6_4.
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Wilson, Shaun, Alan Kendrick, and Barry Wilson. "The North-Western Margin of Australia." In World Seas: an Environmental Evaluation, 303–31. Elsevier, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-100853-9.00019-1.
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Afsah, Shakeb, and Damayanti Ratunanda. "Environmental Performance Evaluation and Reporting in Developing Countries." In Sustainable Measures, 185–201. Routledge, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351283007-9.
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Bennett, Martin, and Peter James. "Key Themes in Environmental, Social and Sustainability Performance Evaluation and Reporting." In Sustainable Measures, 29–74. Routledge, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351283007-2.
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"Playing the Media Game: The relative (in)visibility of coal industry interests in media reporting of coal as a climate change issue in Australia." In Environmental Journalism, 107–22. Routledge, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315829494-14.
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Bennett, Martin, and Peter James. "The Evolution of Integrated Environmental Performance Evaluation and Reporting at Baxter International." In Sustainable Measures, 253–82. Routledge, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351283007-13.
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de Burgh-Woodman, Hélène, Alessandro Bressan, and Angela Torrisi. "An Evaluation of the State of the CSR Field in Australia." In Comparative Perspectives on Global Corporate Social Responsibility, 138–64. IGI Global, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-0720-8.ch007.
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While Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become established in the managerial lexicon, its meaning and application varies according to geographical and sector contexts. In this chapter, we focus on the application of CSR across the banking and mining sectors in Australia to analyse the ways in which this managerial mechanism, with its theoretical underpinnings of social, environmental and economic balance, has been strategically appropriated and applied. We pose the key questions of how has CSR been implemented in Australia's largest industries and, secondarily, why has CSR not been more effective in transforming business practice in Australia? To demonstrate the alternative purposes to which CSR has been put, we use two case studies drawn from Australia's two most visible industries. The purpose of these case studies is to illustrate the larger conceptual ambiguity or fragmentation endemic to CSR and how this ambiguity affects its application – and therefore effectiveness – across different contexts.
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de Burgh-Woodman, Hélène, Alessandro Bressan, and Angela Torrisi. "An Evaluation of the State of the CSR Field in Australia." In Corporate Social Responsibility, 833–59. IGI Global, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-6192-7.ch042.
Full textAbstract:
While Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become established in the managerial lexicon, its meaning and application varies according to geographical and sector contexts. In this chapter, we focus on the application of CSR across the banking and mining sectors in Australia to analyse the ways in which this managerial mechanism, with its theoretical underpinnings of social, environmental and economic balance, has been strategically appropriated and applied. We pose the key questions of how has CSR been implemented in Australia's largest industries and, secondarily, why has CSR not been more effective in transforming business practice in Australia? To demonstrate the alternative purposes to which CSR has been put, we use two case studies drawn from Australia's two most visible industries. The purpose of these case studies is to illustrate the larger conceptual ambiguity or fragmentation endemic to CSR and how this ambiguity affects its application – and therefore effectiveness – across different contexts.
Conference papers on the topic "Environmental reporting Australia Evaluation"
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Pusztiová, Lea, and Gabriela Dubcová. "Evaluation of the Company's Environmental Behavior Through Environmental Management Indicators As Part of Environmental Reporting." In EDAMBA 2021 : 24th International Scientific Conference for Doctoral Students and Post-Doctoral Scholars. University of Economics in Bratislava, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.53465/edamba.2021.9788022549301.413-419.
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The development of the approach of organizations to environmental protection went through several stages from the passive approach, which relied on the power of nature to dispose of waste by its own assimilation ability, through the so-called. a reactive approach, based on a control and management strategy, mainly in connection with the adopted legislative measures up to the preventive principle. It is based on the fact that preventing the occurrence of environmental pollution is cheaper and more effective than removing it or bearing its consequences. Instead of focusing on control and management, the focus has been on finding ways to prevent negative phenomena. Businesses demonstrate their environmental responsibility in a variety of ways, such as implementing environmental policy, implementing environmental management systems, environmental audit and publishing their environmental reports. Many of the companies that care about the environment have this information published on their Internet portals, where it is available to the public.
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Kazakova, Natalia. "THE EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF RUSSIAN COMPANIES BASED ON THE REPORTING IN THE AREA OF SUSTAINABILITY." In 19th SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference EXPO Proceedings. STEF92 Technology, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.5593/sgem2019/5.3/s21.102.
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Bagieńska, Anna. "CORPORATE SOCIAL REPORTING AS A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT TOOL." In Business and Management 2018. VGTU Technika, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/bm.2018.21.
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provides the contribution of business to the implementation of sustainable development enabling to achieve a balance between business effectiveness, as well as the social interests and environmental protection. The CSR report presents the results of economic and social activities of enterprise. The CSR report creates the possibility of evaluation of the enterprise achievements in the context of financial and non-financial expectations of stakeholders different from financial capital providers. The aim of the paper is to present the role and importance of CSR reporting based on international standards and guidelines as well as to identify the main evaluation criteria. The analysis of the contents of the CSR reports submitted to the Competition CSR Report in the years of 2011–2016 shows what tools and key performance indicators are used. On the basis of the research results, the method of assessment of the CSR activities were proposed.
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Barbosa, Fábio C. "LNG Use in Freight Rail Industry as an Economic and Environmental Driver: A Technical, Operational and Economic Assessment." In 2017 Joint Rail Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/jrc2017-2233.
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Freight rail carriers have been continuously challenged to reduce costs and comply with increasingly stringent environmental standards, into a continuously competing and environmentally driven industry. In this context, current availability and relative abundance of clean and low cost non conventional gas reserves have aroused a comprehensive reevaluation of rail industry into fuel option, especially where freight rail are strongly diesel based. Countries in which rail sector is required to play an important role in transport matrix, where fuel expenditures currently accounts for a significant share of operational costs, like Australia, Brazil, United States and other continental countries, can be seen as strong candidates to adopt fuel alternatives to diesel fueled freight railways. Moreover, from an environmental perspective, the use of alternative fuels (like natural gas) for locomotive traction may allow rail freight carriers to comply with emission standards into a less technologically complex and costly way. In this context, liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled freight locomotives are seen as a strong potential near-term driver for natural gas use in rail sector, with its intrinsic cost and environmental benefits and with the potential to revolutionize rail industry much like the transition from steam to diesel experienced into the fifties, as well as the more recent advent of use of alternating current diesel-electric locomotives. LNG rail fueled approach has been focused on both retrofitting existing locomotive diesel engines, as well as on original manufactured engines. Given the lower polluting potential of natural gas heavy engines, when compared to diesel counterparts, LNG locomotives can be used to comply with increasingly restrictive Particulate Matter (PM) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emission standards with less technological complexity (engine design and aftertreatment hardware) and their intrinsic lower associated costs. Prior to commercial operation of LNG locomotives, there are some technical, operational and economic hurdles that need to be addressed, i.e. : i) locomotive engine and fuel tender car technological maturity and reliability improvement; ii) regulation improvement, basically focused on operational safety and interchange operations; iii) current and long term diesel - gas price differential, a decisive driver, and, finally, iv) LNG infrastructure requirements (fueling facilities, locomotives and tender car specifications). This work involved an extensive research into already published works to present an overview of LNG use in freight rail industry into a technical, operational and economical perspective, followed by a critical evaluation of its potential into some relevant freight rail markets, such as United States, Brazil and Australia, as well as some European non electrified rail freight lines.
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Moss, Justin, and Nicole Liang. "A Contemporary Comparison of Life Cycle Evaluations of Road Pavements in Australia-Asphaltic Concrete vs Portland Cement Concrete." In 12th International Conference on Concrete Pavements. International Society for Concrete Pavements, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.33593/qyk86wg1.
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Life cycle cost analyses (LCC/A) have not typically been used for pavement optioneering for nearly 30 years in Australia, nor are they generally required in detailed design. To date, asphalt pavements were assumed to have lower construction costs but acknowledged as requiring regular maintenance (every 5 to 10 years), whereas concrete is well known to require less maintenance (typically at intervals of 10 to 20 years). Concrete is therefore characterised as being lower cost only in terms of its life cycle and consequently overlooked where construction costs are the focus of pavement options evaluation. However, with significant recent changes in road construction materials and processes, preconceptions around life cycle costs of asphalt and concrete pavements around the world should be reviewed. This paper reports on the findings of a study conducted by Arcadis which compared the life cycle costs of highway low- noise high-speed pavements - plain concrete (PCP), full depth asphalt (FDA) and asphalt over heavily bound (ACH). The study compared LCC of these pavements across a range of project- specific scenarios (resource availability, site complexity and traffic constraints) in addition to the impact of adopting international discount rates. With a new generation of pavement renewal now commencing in Australia (45 years after the first), this work also examined the viability of prolonging the service life of pavements in relation to its impact on life cycle costs, closures and environmental impact. This paper ultimately concludes best value of the various pavement scenario combinations by ranking and comparing all pavements options, and makes recommendations for future life cycle assessments.
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Cantarella, Jacques, and Ingrid Verstraeten. "National Decommissioning Management System: Experience and Lessons Learned." In ASME 2003 9th International Conference on Radioactive Waste Management and Environmental Remediation. ASMEDC, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/icem2003-4809.
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Since 1980, the National Agency ONDRAF/NIRAS has been responsible by law for the safe management of all radioactive waste produced in Belgium, including decommissioning waste. In 1991, its responsibility was extended by Royal Decree of 16.10.91 to the field of decommissioning, its main specific assignments being: • The collection and evaluation of data (physical and radiological inventories) from nuclear plants; • The approval of decommissioning programmes, including decommissioning cost evaluations and mechanisms of funding. Already in the early 90s, ONDRAF/NIRAS started with the implementation of its own integrated data processing system, recording the physical and radiological inventories of nuclear plants and allowing the evaluation of the quantities of decommissioning materials and waste as well as of the decommissioning costs of the plants. In 1997, the law on the inventory of nuclear liabilities of 12.12.97 completed and enforced the decree of 1991, stating that the agency will: • Draw up a register specifying the location and condition of all nuclear facilities and all sites containing radioactive substances on Belgian territory; • Estimate the cost of decommissioning and cleaning up these facilities and sites; • Evaluate the availability of sufficient funds to carry out these future or ongoing operations; • Update the inventory every five years. As a result, during these last few years, ONDRAF/NIRAS had to deal with an increasing amount of decommissioning data (submission of inventories, new decommissioning plans and also a first batch of five-yearly revisions) concerning a larger diversity of facility types (enlargement of activities to “smaller” licensees, like universities, hospitals, etc). Simultaneously and consequently, ONDRAF/NIRAS faced the need to integrate a larger range of field-experienced decontamination and dismantling techniques, performed by different decommissioning companies, in order to obtain more refined and “pertinent” cost evaluations. For the same purposes, it appeared necessary to consider alternative waste processing possibilities, especially for very low-level waster arising from decommissioning activities. In 2000, ONDRAF/NIRAS started to upgrade its Decommissioning Management System (DMS) in order to enhance the quality of the database (integrity, intrinsic validity, extrinsic validity, completeness and accuracy) and simultaneously to develop the flexibility and the abilities of the evaluation functions. This paper presents and describes the latest version of the ONDRAF/NIRAS DMS (the data model, interface facilities, and the calculation and reporting possibilities) putting emphasis on experience gained and on some of the first lessons learned. The two first sections of this paper give an overview of the National Agency’s main missions and outline the information and data collection process in the framework of decommissioning and inventory. Indeed, the context in which the updated DMS was developed and the difficulties encountered during the data collection process should inform the reader about the way the upgrading of the data system has been thought out and the alternatives the National Agency had to deal with. In the third section, the main functionalities of the DMS modules are set out in concrete terms, the main modules being: • The “Inventories” module, recording their physical and radiological inventories for the sites that fall within the scope; • The “Techniques” module, integrating measurement, decontamination, dismantling and special recycling techniques, as well as their unit cost elements; • The “Waste” module, integrating standard and special waste categories, their packaging, transportation and processing possibilities, as well as their unit cost elements; • The “Nominal Forecast” module, linking an inventory to selected techniques and waste costs, associated with the “best estimate” reference calculation scenario; • The “Scenario” module, dealing with the storage and evaluation of alternative scenarios (pessimistic or optimistic ones, deferred dismantling, etc). The last section focuses on experience gained through developing the upgraded DMS and putting it into operation. Some potentialities of the upgraded DMS are also discussed.
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Coppins, Gavin J., Michael Ayres, and Mike Pearl. "A Data Managment and Geographic Information System (GIS) for the Management of Land Quality on UKAEA Sites." In ASME 2003 9th International Conference on Radioactive Waste Management and Environmental Remediation. ASMEDC, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/icem2003-4519.
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On large industrial or nuclear sites there is a requirement to undertake assessments of land quality, from desk studies to detailed field investigations. Data obtained from such investigations provides the baseline from which known or potentially contaminated land can be managed. However, a commonly encountered problem is that this information is often disparate, collected for reasons not related to land quality management, with data from previous ground investigations also exhibiting the following particular problems: • The intent of a previous investigation is often not clear. • There can be much variability in investigation and analytical methods and standards. • The investigation techniques and standards are not documented. • Ground investigation and analytical data does not have adequate quality control in order to make a judgment about its value and applicability. Consequently, a commonly occurring problem is the frequent re-investigation of the same areas of a site for reasons that may not be very different. This is costly and incurs unnecessary risks. In order to resolve this problem, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), in conjunction with ESiT Ltd, has developed and implemented a software application to capture, interrogate and present land quality assessment data for its sites across the UK. The overall assessment of land quality on the sites relies on information that is both varied and disparate in nature. Tools are therefore required to structure and assess this information to enable clear interpretation and management decisions to be made. UKAEA has applied these tools to several areas within its environmental restoration programme including delicensing activities, Safety Cases for contaminated ground, inventories of land liabilities as well as the general monitoring of the environmental conditions on and surrounding the sites. This paper will describe the software application in the context of its function as a land quality management tool. The software application, known as the Information Management and Geographic Evaluation System (IMAGES), has a modular design and facilitates multi-user access. IMAGES interfaces with standard desktop applications to enable straightforward upload or reporting of data. There are also interfaces with industry standard software packages for spatial analysis of data (ArcGIS) and to provide representation of borehole logging data. The modules that make up IMAGES are: • Land & Risk Assessment “Sentencing”; • Document Register; • Photograph/Image register; • Site Investigation; • Excavation & Soil Transfer; • Groundwater Monitoring; • Radiation survey (Health Physics) Monitoring; • Buildings Information; • Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Management. The IMAGES solution is process based, dealing with data acquisition through storage and interpretation to output and has the ability to systematically deal with large volumes of information while ensuring consistency in approach at each stage. It also provides data that is access and revision-controlled and quality assessed. IMAGES also includes a series of standard data capture templates to enable environmental monitoring and site investigation information to be captured directly in the field and automatically logged into the IMAGES relational database structure. Data within the system can be quality assessed and queried using a map-based interface. Information held within IMAGES can also be delivered seamlessly into UKAEA’s Geographic Information System (GIS) for visual assessment and further analysis.
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Acheampong, Samuel, William Ampomah, Jiawei Tu, Robert Balch, Matt Eales, Robert Trentham, Richard Esser, Candace Cady, Martha Cather, and El-Kaseeh George. "Development of Site Characterization and Numerical Modeling Workflow of Acid Gas Injection for MRV-45Q Application." In SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference. SPE, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/209416-ms.
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Abstract As part of the project funded under the Carbon Utilization and Storage Partnership (CUSP) of the Western United States, this paper demonstrates a workflow including site characterization and numerical simulation efforts of proposing a Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval according to 40 CFR 98.440 (c)(1), Subpart RR of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) to qualify for the tax credit in section 45Q of the federal Internal Revenue Services (IRS) Code. In this project, the injectors and treated acid gas (TAG) plant are located at the northern margin of the Delaware Basin, a highly productive hydrocarbon basin in southeastern New Mexico. The target injection zones are the Permian-aged Cherry Canyon Formation for the acid gas injection (AGI) #1 well and Siluro-Devonian formations for the AGI #2 well, storage zones above and beneath active hydrocarbon pay zones respectively. The storage zones and caprocks are characterized through well log examinations, formation fluid chemistry evaluation, faults identification and interpretation. Reservoir models were constructed and simulation performed to predict the extent of the TAG plume after 30 years of injection with 5 years of post-injection site care monitoring. The reservoir mapping and cross sections interpreted from well logs indicate that the area around AGI #1 does not contain visible faulting or offsets that might influence fluid migration, suggesting that injected fluid would spread radially from the point of injection with a small elliptical component to the south. In the Siluro-Devonian formation, where AGI #2 is planned to be completed. The induced-seismicity risk assessment shows that the operation of the proposed injection combined with the historic volume contributions of the regional saltwater disposal (SWD) wells is not anticipated to contribute significantly to injection-induced fault slip. This result demonstrates that acid gas can be injected as proposed while maintaining the minimal risk of induced seismicity. The water sample collected from a nearby well indicates that the formation waters are highly saline (180,000 ppm NaCl) and compatible with the proposed injection. The reservoir simulation results indicate that the TAG plume is predicted to extend a maximum of 1.2 km from the injector wellbore when the identified faults are treated as non-transmissive and 0.90 km when they are treated as transmissive. The pressure profiles demonstrate the strong potential for safe injection into both target formations. In December 2021, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) plan, permitting Lucid Energy to sequester acid gas from its Red Hills gas processing complex in Lea County, New Mexico. This paper provides the industry with a critical roadmap for converting existing injectors into CO2 or TAG sequestration wells that may qualify for 45Q tax certification to comply with the current administrative regulations. As part of the project funded by Carbon Utilization and Storage Partnership (CUSP) of the Western United States, published data from this project is invaluable.
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Bergman, Christopher A., Steven Law, Crista Haag, John Hein, and Donald Brice. "Some Strategies for Effective Cultural Resources Management in Pipeline Permitting." In 2008 7th International Pipeline Conference. ASMEDC, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/ipc2008-64102.
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The inventory, evaluation and treatment of cultural resources represent a significant challenge for siting and permitting natural gas pipelines. Project sponsors assist the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects with meeting its obligations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The increasing sophistication of compliance with Section 106 is reflected in the Office of Energy Project’s 2002 Guidelines for Reporting on Cultural Resources Investigations for Pipeline Projects. Recent pipeline projects in the United States have involved environmental study corridors that are both wide and extensive, a combination that results in the identification of large numbers of cultural properties. The process of cultural resources management begins in the project planning stage with the development of site location modeling, analysis of previous investigations within or near Areas of Potential Effect, and consideration of the likelihood for encountering potentially eligible National Register of Historic Places properties. Using this information, site detection survey strategies can be developed that intensively target only sensitive portions of the Area of Potential Effect. During the survey, identification of archaeological sites, historic structures, or cultural landscapes requires prompt evaluation of National Register eligibility status for the purposes of avoidance or development of treatment plans. This presentation considers the Section 106 compliance process and how project sponsors can effectively manage cultural resources to ensure cost effectiveness and maintenance of restricted project schedules, while meeting the objectives of the National Historic Preservation Act.
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Donald, J. Adam, Erik Wielemaker, Chris Holmes, and Tom Neville. "WELLSITE FULL WAVEFORM SONIC INTERPRETATION." In 2021 SPWLA 62nd Annual Logging Symposium Online. Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.30632/spwla-2021-0022.
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Sonic data are now acquired in most wellbores for a variety of applications including seismic tie, porosity evaluation, lithology determination, fracture detection, gas detection, and geomechanics modeling. The industry is also more aware of the impacts of intrinsic (fractures, layering), extrinsic (stress), and borehole effects that may affect the basic measurements of compressional and shear slownesses. Any advanced interpretation of sonic data has historically been done days to weeks after the acquisition, and the value of the measurement can be diminished due to the time of delivery of the final product. An updated data-driven inversion algorithm applied while logging can provide robust shear and compressional slownesses with associated quality control indicators. The updated algorithm has fewer user parameters and is more reliable in layered, stressed, or damaged formations. Processing quality is determined using the coherency of the measured signal and an industry-standard rock physics model for theoretical validation. With the updated dipole shear inversion and more flexible dipole anisotropy frequency filters, the dipole shear anisotropy processing can deliver reliable results at the wellsite. A byproduct of the new dipole shear inversion algorithm is the environmental slowness that is used to optimally fit the dipole dispersion signal. The interpretation of the environmental slowness parameter can indicate the anisotropy mechanism in addition to zones of near-wellbore alteration to provide further insight immediately. The wellsite dipole shear inversion and anisotropy processing were run on a vertical well in eastern Australia, within a stacked tight gas sand reservoir that requires hydraulic fracturing. The main application of the sonic data was reliable slownesses as input to stress modeling for designing the stimulation, but the direction of the maximum horizontal stresses within the clastic gas-filled zones was also required. The dipole shear inversion results were able to handle various lithologies and hole conditions, as well as identify vertical transverse isotropy (VTI) anisotropic shale intervals between the horizontally stressed sand zones.
Reports on the topic "Environmental reporting Australia Evaluation"
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Sembler, Jose Ignacio, Ana María Linares, Clara Schettino, Nathaniel Russell, Stephany Maqueda, Lina Pedraza, Melanie Putic, Thaís Soares Oliveira, and Alejandro Ahumada. Evaluation of the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI) 2021. Inter-American Development Bank, March 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003215.
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This evaluation is in response to a request from the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDB and IDB Invest for OVE to independently examine the MICI policy and its implementation pursuant to the requirement established in the respective policies of each institution. The aim of this evaluation is to inform the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDB and IDB Invest on the extent to which, under its current policy framework, the MICI has been effective and efficient in (i) resolving the complaints it receives concerning environmental and social impacts of projects due to alleged noncompliance with the IDB Group's environmental and social safeguards policies and standards; and (ii) promoting institutional learning with regard to environmental and social safeguards and standards and their implementation in IDB Group projects. In addition, the evaluation is aimed at reporting on the mechanism's accessibility to requesters and the extent to which the MICI has performed its duties independently, objectively, impartially, and transparently.
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Rankin, Nicole, Deborah McGregor, Candice Donnelly, Bethany Van Dort, Richard De Abreu Lourenco, Anne Cust, and Emily Stone. Lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography for high risk populations: Investigating effectiveness and screening program implementation considerations: An Evidence Check rapid review brokered by the Sax Institute (www.saxinstitute.org.au) for the Cancer Institute NSW. The Sax Institute, October 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.57022/clzt5093.
Full textAbstract:
Background Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death worldwide.(1) It is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia (12,741 cases diagnosed in 2018) and the leading cause of cancer death.(2) The number of years of potential life lost to lung cancer in Australia is estimated to be 58,450, similar to that of colorectal and breast cancer combined.(3) While tobacco control strategies are most effective for disease prevention in the general population, early detection via low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening in high-risk populations is a viable option for detecting asymptomatic disease in current (13%) and former (24%) Australian smokers.(4) The purpose of this Evidence Check review is to identify and analyse existing and emerging evidence for LDCT lung cancer screening in high-risk individuals to guide future program and policy planning. Evidence Check questions This review aimed to address the following questions: 1. What is the evidence for the effectiveness of lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? 2. What is the evidence of potential harms from lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? 3. What are the main components of recent major lung cancer screening programs or trials? 4. What is the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening programs (include studies of cost–utility)? Summary of methods The authors searched the peer-reviewed literature across three databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase) for existing systematic reviews and original studies published between 1 January 2009 and 8 August 2019. Fifteen systematic reviews (of which 8 were contemporary) and 64 original publications met the inclusion criteria set across the four questions. Key findings Question 1: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? There is sufficient evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of combined (pooled) data from screening trials (of high-risk individuals) to indicate that LDCT examination is clinically effective in reducing lung cancer mortality. In 2011, the landmark National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST, a large-scale randomised controlled trial [RCT] conducted in the US) reported a 20% (95% CI 6.8% – 26.7%; P=0.004) relative reduction in mortality among long-term heavy smokers over three rounds of annual screening. High-risk eligibility criteria was defined as people aged 55–74 years with a smoking history of ≥30 pack-years (years in which a smoker has consumed 20-plus cigarettes each day) and, for former smokers, ≥30 pack-years and have quit within the past 15 years.(5) All-cause mortality was reduced by 6.7% (95% CI, 1.2% – 13.6%; P=0.02). Initial data from the second landmark RCT, the NEderlands-Leuvens Longkanker Screenings ONderzoek (known as the NELSON trial), have found an even greater reduction of 26% (95% CI, 9% – 41%) in lung cancer mortality, with full trial results yet to be published.(6, 7) Pooled analyses, including several smaller-scale European LDCT screening trials insufficiently powered in their own right, collectively demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in lung cancer mortality (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73–0.91).(8) Despite the reduction in all-cause mortality found in the NLST, pooled analyses of seven trials found no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90–1.00).(8) However, cancer-specific mortality is currently the most relevant outcome in cancer screening trials. These seven trials demonstrated a significantly greater proportion of early stage cancers in LDCT groups compared with controls (RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.43–3.03). Thus, when considering results across mortality outcomes and early stage cancers diagnosed, LDCT screening is considered to be clinically effective. Question 2: What is the evidence of potential harms from lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? The harms of LDCT lung cancer screening include false positive tests and the consequences of unnecessary invasive follow-up procedures for conditions that are eventually diagnosed as benign. While LDCT screening leads to an increased frequency of invasive procedures, it does not result in greater mortality soon after an invasive procedure (in trial settings when compared with the control arm).(8) Overdiagnosis, exposure to radiation, psychological distress and an impact on quality of life are other known harms. Systematic review evidence indicates the benefits of LDCT screening are likely to outweigh the harms. The potential harms are likely to be reduced as refinements are made to LDCT screening protocols through: i) the application of risk predication models (e.g. the PLCOm2012), which enable a more accurate selection of the high-risk population through the use of specific criteria (beyond age and smoking history); ii) the use of nodule management algorithms (e.g. Lung-RADS, PanCan), which assist in the diagnostic evaluation of screen-detected nodules and cancers (e.g. more precise volumetric assessment of nodules); and, iii) more judicious selection of patients for invasive procedures. Recent evidence suggests a positive LDCT result may transiently increase psychological distress but does not have long-term adverse effects on psychological distress or health-related quality of life (HRQoL). With regards to smoking cessation, there is no evidence to suggest screening participation invokes a false sense of assurance in smokers, nor a reduction in motivation to quit. The NELSON and Danish trials found no difference in smoking cessation rates between LDCT screening and control groups. Higher net cessation rates, compared with general population, suggest those who participate in screening trials may already be motivated to quit. Question 3: What are the main components of recent major lung cancer screening programs or trials? There are no systematic reviews that capture the main components of recent major lung cancer screening trials and programs. We extracted evidence from original studies and clinical guidance documents and organised this into key groups to form a concise set of components for potential implementation of a national lung cancer screening program in Australia: 1. Identifying the high-risk population: recruitment, eligibility, selection and referral 2. Educating the public, people at high risk and healthcare providers; this includes creating awareness of lung cancer, the benefits and harms of LDCT screening, and shared decision-making 3. Components necessary for health services to deliver a screening program: a. Planning phase: e.g. human resources to coordinate the program, electronic data systems that integrate medical records information and link to an established national registry b. Implementation phase: e.g. human and technological resources required to conduct LDCT examinations, interpretation of reports and communication of results to participants c. Monitoring and evaluation phase: e.g. monitoring outcomes across patients, radiological reporting, compliance with established standards and a quality assurance program 4. Data reporting and research, e.g. audit and feedback to multidisciplinary teams, reporting outcomes to enhance international research into LDCT screening 5. Incorporation of smoking cessation interventions, e.g. specific programs designed for LDCT screening or referral to existing community or hospital-based services that deliver cessation interventions. Most original studies are single-institution evaluations that contain descriptive data about the processes required to establish and implement a high-risk population-based screening program. Across all studies there is a consistent message as to the challenges and complexities of establishing LDCT screening programs to attract people at high risk who will receive the greatest benefits from participation. With regards to smoking cessation, evidence from one systematic review indicates the optimal strategy for incorporating smoking cessation interventions into a LDCT screening program is unclear. There is widespread agreement that LDCT screening attendance presents a ‘teachable moment’ for cessation advice, especially among those people who receive a positive scan result. Smoking cessation is an area of significant research investment; for instance, eight US-based clinical trials are now underway that aim to address how best to design and deliver cessation programs within large-scale LDCT screening programs.(9) Question 4: What is the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening programs (include studies of cost–utility)? Assessing the value or cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening involves a complex interplay of factors including data on effectiveness and costs, and institutional context. A key input is data about the effectiveness of potential and current screening programs with respect to case detection, and the likely outcomes of treating those cases sooner (in the presence of LDCT screening) as opposed to later (in the absence of LDCT screening). Evidence about the cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening programs has been summarised in two systematic reviews. We identified a further 13 studies—five modelling studies, one discrete choice experiment and seven articles—that used a variety of methods to assess cost-effectiveness. Three modelling studies indicated LDCT screening was cost-effective in the settings of the US and Europe. Two studies—one from Australia and one from New Zealand—reported LDCT screening would not be cost-effective using NLST-like protocols. We anticipate that, following the full publication of the NELSON trial, cost-effectiveness studies will likely be updated with new data that reduce uncertainty about factors that influence modelling outcomes, including the findings of indeterminate nodules. Gaps in the evidence There is a large and accessible body of evidence as to the effectiveness (Q1) and harms (Q2) of LDCT screening for lung cancer. Nevertheless, there are significant gaps in the evidence about the program components that are required to implement an effective LDCT screening program (Q3). Questions about LDCT screening acceptability and feasibility were not explicitly included in the scope. However, as the evidence is based primarily on US programs and UK pilot studies, the relevance to the local setting requires careful consideration. The Queensland Lung Cancer Screening Study provides feasibility data about clinical aspects of LDCT screening but little about program design. The International Lung Screening Trial is still in the recruitment phase and findings are not yet available for inclusion in this Evidence Check. The Australian Population Based Screening Framework was developed to “inform decision-makers on the key issues to be considered when assessing potential screening programs in Australia”.(10) As the Framework is specific to population-based, rather than high-risk, screening programs, there is a lack of clarity about transferability of criteria. However, the Framework criteria do stipulate that a screening program must be acceptable to “important subgroups such as target participants who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from disadvantaged groups and people with a disability”.(10) An extensive search of the literature highlighted that there is very little information about the acceptability of LDCT screening to these population groups in Australia. Yet they are part of the high-risk population.(10) There are also considerable gaps in the evidence about the cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening in different settings, including Australia. The evidence base in this area is rapidly evolving and is likely to include new data from the NELSON trial and incorporate data about the costs of targeted- and immuno-therapies as these treatments become more widely available in Australia.
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Walz, Yvonne, Florence Nick, Oscar Higuera Roa, Udo Nehren, and Zita Sebesvari. Coherence and Alignment among Sustainable Land Management, Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Nature-based Solutions. United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security, November 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.53324/mwgp9896.
Full textAbstract:
Approaches integrating environmental management practices have been gaining importance in recent years. Sustainable Land Management (SLM), Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), Ecosystem-based disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are widely applied approaches that tackle certain drivers of challenges such as food insecurity, water scarcity, decline in biodiversity and threats to livelihoods, while also considering both human well-being and ecosystem functions and services. Better understanding the similarities, differences and relationships between these approaches helps to improve efficiency in implementation and leverage synergies. By shedding more light on where these approaches align, investments in land-based solutions in response to different types of environmental challenges can be more effectively designed to achieve multiple targets. In response to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) decision 19/COP.14 paragraph 4, the main objective of this report is to understand and elaborate upon the characteristics of SLM, EbA, Eco-DRR and NbS. The report begins with an overview of the historical backgrounds and origins of SLM, EbA, Eco-DRR and NbS. Despite differences in their specific goals and targeted benefits, all approaches aim for the support of biodiversity, land-based ecosystems and ecosystem services and functions, and employ measures to conserve, restore and sustainably use land to support ecosystem services and functions, including SLM technologies. Furthermore, irrespective of their different goals, the projects developed under any approach can generate comparable co-benefits, especially due to their support of biodiversity. The capacity for all these approaches to deliver multiple co-benefits means that projects of each approach can directly contribute to implementing the specific goals of the other approaches as well. Thus, multiple global and national targets, frameworks, strategies and conventions which call for the implementation of one or more of these approaches, can benefit from this report by avoiding duplication and reducing the overall investments necessary to achieve the set targets and goals. This is critical for achieving the ambitious Agenda 2030, including voluntary land degradation neutrality (LDN) targets and climate action under the Paris Agreement. It will also be the case for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework currently under development. The added value that will come from optimizing the links among these approaches extends from national policymakers to the practitioners of SLM, EbA and Eco-DRR projects, which all share the ultimate goal of sustainable development. To capture the coherence and alignment among these approaches, their similarities and differences have been summarized in a conceptual framework. The framework has been designed to help practitioners understand the specific goals of each approach, and to link these to the relevant global and national targets, frameworks, strategies and conventions, which can support monitoring and evaluation as well as reporting processes. The synergies among these approaches are further illustrated based on three case studies in order to demonstrate opportunities for leveraging multiple co-benefits and targets at implementation level irrespective of the different objectives under each. The results of this assessment demonstrate that activities under one approach can be beneficial to achieve the specific goals of other approaches with little additional effort. It is essential for policymakers, project developers and practitioners to recognize that. This is key to the achievement of sustainable development.
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Inter-American Development Bank Sustainability Report 2020: Global Reporting Initiative Annex. Inter-American Development Bank, March 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003100.
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The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sets global standards for sustainability reporting, relying on best practices for reporting on a range of economic, environmental, and social impacts. This is the IDBs fifth GRI annex, prepared as a supplement to the IDB Sustainability Report. The annex reports on both corporate and operational topics using standardized indicators. The following material topics are included in the annex: active ownership, anticorruption and ethics, biodiversity, climate resilience, employment and labor relations, energy, engagement and coordination, feedback mechanisms, financial inclusion, gender equality and diversity, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, health and safety, human rights, indirect economic impacts, market presence, material use, monitoring and evaluation, responsible portfolio, supply chain management, training and education, waste, and water.