Tesi sul tema "Climate plan"

Includes bibliographical references.
Climate change is now widely seen as a major challenge of this time and the future of cities. However, the most vulnerable will be the urban poor particularly those located on the urban fringes in high risk areas with limited access to basic services and economic opportunities. In South Africa, although progress has been made to reduce socio-economic and environmental challenges created by apartheid legislations, inequalities still exist where the privileged live in safer and well located and serviced parts of the city while he poor are still located in settlements created by apartheid in urban fringes. Spatial Planning presents an opportunity to increase resilience to climate change in vulnerable areas of cities. Through integrating planning and climate adaptation actions, future spatial decisions will add to resilience to climate change and enhance wellbeing of people. The dissertation includes a case study that was conducted to learn about the status quo of the study area to effectively recommend relevant interventions that seek to create resilience to climate change in the area. A local area adaptation plan was then formulated including the framework for implementing proposed interventions in a 20 year timeframe.

Contending with a changing climate presents a necessary push for planning. Although climate change is considered a global environmental problem requiring a global commitment and trans-national action, more and more, policymakers are recognizing the vital need for action at the local level. In the US, especially in the absence of national climate legislation, many local governments have begun developing strategic plans, or climate action plans (CAPs), to address adapting to impacts of climate change and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This thesis involves case studies of Portland, OR and Chicago, IL, cities with recently adopted CAPs and with considerable recognition in the field. The analysis involves an evaluation each city’s CAP and an evaluation of its implementation. The studies help elicit an understanding of the measures cites are employing to mitigate climate change and determine ways the planning profession can better assist communities in climate policy development and its prompt implementation.

This Master’s Thesis / Professional Project is a Sustainability Plan developed for the City of Patterson, California. The Patterson Sustainability Plan (PSP) was developed concurrently with the General Plan Update, and will be presented to the City for adoption within a year. The Sustainability Plan will help inform decision-making by way of its Goals and Actions for implementation to improve community sustainability. Before the plan was developed, background research was conducted that included a Best Practices Review to assess what other cities are doing to address sustainability, a Needs Assessment to evaluate existing conditions in Patterson and determine its unique strengths and challenges to improving sustainability, and a Policy Audit which includes an inventory and analysis of existing General Plan goals, objectives, policies, and programs supporting sustainability.

Sea-level rise (SLR) is one consequence of global climate change and given Carpinteria's location right along the coast, the City will likely face the threats of sea-level rise and other impacts in greater frequency and intensity. The intent of this administrative draft is to provide a foundation for future development of a Climate Adaptation Plan, a starting point for the City’s climate initiatives. This administrative draft consists of background information on Carpinteria, a preliminary vulnerability assessment, and a list of potential strategies for City-led implementation. An adaptation plan is sound planning that recognizes the community’s vulnerabilities and attempts to minimize climate change impacts through preemptive action.

This project “Growing with Care” deals with the complex issues of food security, climate change, and building communities. Food is one of the most important aspects of life, it sustains us, it can bring us together and tears us apart.  This project is addressing the problem of the industrialisation of the agriculture system and the impact it’s had on our environment and society. It’s resulted in a society that’s almost completely disconnected from the food being eaten.  Metadesign will be used throughout the process of this project. Metadesign methods will be used to provide guidance, tools and support for participants to create their own change in the way they interact with their local food systems. It will be used to help participants form food communities in different cities. The solution suggested in this project, is to rebuild care relationships to soil and the natural elements in our food systems. For participants to grow more food in their local areas with embedded care methods and a conscious understanding that we are living in an interconnected world.  The outcome in this project is a toolkit in the form of a blog and booklet. It uses metadesign methods to provide participants with tools to deal with the problems that arose from the industrialisation of agriculture. It encourages the participants to create local change as a community, for a more secure food future.

Detta examensarbete har utförts i samarbete Statens Fastighetsverk. I dagsläget pågår renoveringen av Nationalmuseum där byggnaden skall återställas till sitt ursprung och ett nytt ventilationssystem skall tillgodose ett stabilt inneklimat för bevarandet av museiföremålen. Examensarbetet undersöker hur de krav som ställs på ventilationssystemet kan kombineras med de begränsningar som byggnadens kulturminnesmärkning medför genom att besvara frågan ”Hur kombinerar man dagens behov av installationer med en kulturhistorisk byggnad utan att påverka det kulturhistoriska värdet?” För att exemplifiera denna problematik presenterar vi ett principiellt lösningsförslag för installationssamordningen till en utvald del av byggnaden. Ventilationsförsörjningen till utställningssalarna på Plan 4 utgör ett av de svåraste samordningsområdena i byggnaden. Det valda utrymmet för lösningsförslaget är bjälklaget på Plan 6 som skall försörja en av dessa salar. En fördjupning görs inom museiklimat och dess påverkan på såväl konsten som byggnaden och installationerna. I dagsläget pågår diskussioner där museiklimatkraven ifrågasätts och en internationell standard eftersträvas. Då ventilationssystemets utformning är direkt kopplat till det eftersträvade inneklimatet avslutas rapporten med en diskussion kring klimatkraven på Nationalmuseum och hur dessa kan tillgodoses. Våran slutsats är att det är utifrån byggnadens begränsningar och inte verksamhetens behov som en hållbar samverkan av arkitektur och installationer kan åstadkommas.
This degree project has been carried out in collaboration with the National Property Board of Sweden. The National Museum is currently undergoing renovation where the goal is to restore the building to its original glory. A new ventilation system is to be installed to facilitate a stable indoor climate for the conservation of museum artifacts. The building has been declared a historical monument which imposes limitations on permissible alterations to its architecture and construction. The degree project examines how to combine these limitations with the demands made on the ventilation system by answering the following question, "How can modern installations be integrated within a historical monument, without affecting the historical value?" To exemplify the complexity of this problem, a section of the building has been chosen and studied in more detail. A principle solution is then presented where the installations are integrated with the surrounding structures. The air supply to the exhibition halls on the fourth floor constitutes one of the more complex problems in the building. The installations that service these halls are to be contained within the floor structure above. It is this floor structure that has been studied in more detail. The museum climate and its effects on the artifacts, building construction and installations are studied in depth. Currently the museum environment is a heated topic of discussion where prescribed guidelines are challenged and an international standard is sought. The desired indoor climate determines the scope of the ventilation system. Therefore this report concludes a discussion on the climate requirements presented by the National Museum and how these can be accommodated. Our conclusion is that a sustainable integration of architecture and installations can be achieved when the solution is based on the limitations of the building as opposed to the demands of the occupants.

Scania, the southernmost region in Sweden, is facing a changing climate, and even if we limitcarbon emissions the climate will continue to change. Increasing amounts of precipitation, butalso an increased frequency of heavy rainfall, drought and increased temperature are examplesof some consequences, but it is uncertain how these will affect water supplies. To understandthe whole picture of the climate adaption, we have to reach out with information, knowledge,advice and together during training courses, seminars and workshops incorporate climateadaptation efforts. The basis of this project is a telephone interview with Scania´s 33municipalities over with the contingency contained in a changing climate. Work on coastalerosion and flooding risks to coastal communities is fairly well inventoried, but equalattention has not been given to threats and risks that exist to our water, especially drinkingwater. Many times an alternative water supply does not exist if current supplies are impacted.Municipalities must plan for our water resources in the long term, because safe and securedrinking water supplies are needed today and in the future. An important part of climateadaptation efforts is the establishment of water supply plans, in order to ensure the long-termsupply of drinking water. The plan should include two main parts; the first part is an inventoryof water resources and water conservation for current and future drinking water supply andthe second part is action-oriented and based on the first part with an inventory of the potentialimpacts and threats to these resources.

El trabajo de investigación realizado, es sobre el desarrollo de un modelo de negocio que mida el Engagement. En nuestra realidad empresarial, es un concepto muy mentado, pero poco definido y entendido, muchas veces por que no existe una traducción exacta al español. El engagement es entendido como una intercepción entre el compromiso y la satisfacción organizacional, una fusión entre lo racional y lo emocional y que repercute directamente en dos elementos fundamentales: 1) La productividad y 2) La adherencia/fidelización. Creemos que este trabajo es importante, debido a que clarifica la naturaleza del Engagement en las organizaciones y además desarrolla un modelo de negocio que busca cubrir una necesidad que aún sigue pendiente, según lo encontrado en nuestras encuestas a diversas empresas de diversos sectores. Hoy se mide la satisfacción laboral y se realizan rankings sobre ello, pero no ha resuelto los grandes retos de las compañías en temas de retención y el incremento del desempeño en una fuerza laboral cada vez más compleja y con nuevos hábitos y necesidades. Para la puesta en marcha de las operaciones de este negocio, se requiere de una inversión inicial de s/. 368,562 financiando el 60% a través de bancos y 40% por el aporte de capital de accionistas. Se estima obtener un VAN de s/. 356,745 con valor de TIR de 62% y recuperar la inversión en un plazo de 2 años, 4 meses.
The research work carried out, is about the development of a business model that measures Engagement. In our business reality, it is a very well-known concept, but little defined and understood, many times because there is no exact translation into Spanish. Engagement is understood as an interception between commitment and organizational satisfaction, a fusion between the rational and the emotional and that directly affects two fundamental elements: 1) Productivity and 2) Adherence / loyalty. We believe that this work is important, because it clarifies the nature of Engagement in organizations and also develops a business model that seeks to cover a need that is still pending, as we found in our surveys of various companies in various sectors. Today job satisfaction is measured and rankings are made about it, but it has not solved the great challenges of companies in retention issues and the increase in performance in an increasingly complex workforce with new habits and needs. For the start-up of the operations of this business, an initial investment of s /. 368,562 financing 60% through banks and 40% for the shareholder capital contribution. It is estimated to obtain a NPV of s /. 356,745 with an IRR value of 62% and recover the investment within a period of 2 years, 4 months.
Trabajo de Investigación

In most instances people tend to think of the public sector as monopolistic entities facing captive demand, enjoying guaranteed source and levels of financing, and being relatively immune from voters, stakeholders, and political institutions such as legislatures and courts (Morris & Kuratko, 2003: 305). Entrepreneurship or intrapreneurial behaviour is commonly discussed in the context of private business. However, government departments and other organs of state have a pressing need to think entrepreneurially (Rwigema & Venter, 2005:10). Against the backdrop of legacy of apartheid in South Africa, municipalities are still faced with the challenge of extending the fundamental benefits of basic water supply and sanitation, electricity and housing to all people. It is therefore imperative in the light of these challenges for a municipality like Ekurhuleni to operate as business does, by adopting an innovative or intrapreneurial approach. The primary objective of this study was to assess intrapreneurial climate in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and to make recommendations to foster intrapreneurship within the organisation. The literature review was instrumental to gather secondary data on corporate entrepreneurship (intrapreneurship) and to understand its dynamics. In order to gain primary data, quantitative research was carried out. The study population comprised lower, middle and top management participants, who were requested to complete questionnaires. This was followed by statistical analysis. The empirical results indicate no practical significance in respondents' perception of their entrepreneurial characteristics in relation to their superiors. However, the results do indicate practical significant differences between the relationship between the groups of top/middle and lower management level and entrepreneurial climate. The respondents did not fully agree with the statements that the Ekurhuleni Municipality climate is conducive to foster entrepreneurial behaviour. However, it was revealed that practical significant differences were found on the relationship between management level variable and intrapreneurial climate constructs. The results of the study indicate that the respondents have divergent views of the intrapreneurial climate in the Ekurhuleni Municipality and that these views are based on the following constructs: management support, sponsor (champions), tolerance for risks, mistakes and failure, appropriate rewards, discretionary time and work, empowered teams and multi-disciplinary teams and diversity, resources availability and accessibility, and flat organisational structure with open communication and strong sense of belonging. It can thus be concluded that lower level managers are of the opinion that the climate is not conducive for a spirit of innovation to prosper. The purpose of this research was to assess the intrapreneurial climate in the Ekurhuleni Municipality. Empirical evidence shows that there is a pressing need for a shift from the current top down approach to a future of entrepreneurism and innovation among the workforce. In light of the above-mentioned empirical findings, a practical action plan was recommended to the Ekurhuleni Municipality management in order to foster an intrapreneurial climate (see Table 5.1). Subsequent to the findings, a practical action plan was proposed to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality's management to enhance a culture of innovation and entrepreneurial behaviour.
Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

À travers l'analyse de la politique climatique à l'échelle intercommunale, la question est aujourd'hui de savoir si le cadre règlementaire apparaît à la fois juridiquement efficace et effectif dans la réalisation des objectifs intercommunaux d'atténuation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre et d'adaptation au changement climatique. Cette analyse prend pour objet d'étude la constitution du plan climat de la Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence, institution concernée par un ensemble des réformes territoriales, et ce notamment dans la construction de sa politique climatique métropolitaine
Through the analysis of the legal components of the climate action at an intercommunal scale, the question is whether the legal framework built in order to reach the objectives of GHG emissions mitigation and climate change adaptation appears suitable in terms of efficacy and implementation. We explore the establishment of the climate planning document of Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, an institution affected by numerous structural changes in link with territorial reforms

Climate change poses a threat to agriculture. Ghana’s agriculture is mainly dependent on rainfall, this makes subsistence farmers majority of whom are women more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. That said, the impacts of climate change are felt differently by men and women due to their social assigned roles and responsibilities. This study examined the dimensions along which gender matters in adaptation strategies.The study used a case study approach, the Ejisu municipality in Ghana was selected for the study. To understand the gender narratives and how this affects adaptation strategies 10 farmers, and 2 agriculture extension officers were sampled. An inductive approach was used to analyze the core themes that emerged from the data.The findings of the study show that smallholder farmers in Ejisu municipality are changing their agricultural practices due to the changes in climatic conditions. Female farmers were seen to be less adaptive due to gender norms and challenges with access to productive resources. The common adaptative measures used by both male and female farmers are crop rotation, mixed farming, use of agrochemicals, organic fertilizers, leaving land fallow, delayed planting, and conservative agriculture.The study findings further show there are complexities in gender dimensions in the agricultural process and this affects adaptation strategies. The study recommends raising public awareness on climate change by providing adequate support to train farmers on sustainable adaptation, strengthening institutional capacity to ensure gender-responsive initiatives in agriculture, and create equitable access to resources to enhance adaptive capacities.

Climate change is a critical sustainable development issue with implications for the environment, economies and society as we know it. The problem of climate change is caused by some countries in parts of the world that has a direct effect on people and natural resources in other parts of the world. Climate change is the effect of increased production of Greenhouse gases (GHGs). Due to the vast complexity of the climate change regime the study does not attempt to be comprehensive or conclusive. The aim of the study is to critically evaluate and determine the purpose, enforceability, legal nature, shortcomings and strengths of the non-binding Copenhagen Accord and how the international climate change regime will evolve after the Copenhagen Accord. The study starts with a brief explanation of the international climate change regime and its development, including international environmental law principles, specifically the common but differentiated responsibility principle. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has the ultimate objective to achieve the stabilisation of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The Conference of the Parties (COPs) is the ultimate decision-making and supreme body of the UNFCCC and is authorised to make and implement decisions to promote the implementation of the UNFCCC, it further has the power to adopt new protocols under the UNFCCC and plays a substantial role in the development of new obligations by the parties to the convention. Various COPs, their respective adopted decisions and resolutions which played an important role in the development of the climate change regime are discussed. This includes COP 1 that lead to the Berlin Mandate; COP 3 and the Kyoto Protocol; COP 7 and the Marrakech Accords; COP 11 that marked the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol; COP 13 and the Bali Action Plan. COP 15 in Copenhagen was internationally expected and intended to be the breakthrough in addressing the post 2012 period. As is evident from the content of this study the result of COP 15 at Copenhagen means different challenges for different countries and the “bottom up” architecture of the accord could help encourage and reinforce national actions. An overview of the effect of the Copenhagen Accord on the climate change regime, with specific reference to COP 16 in Cancun, is then done. The “bottom up” architecture of the Copenhagen Accord was brought into the official UNFCCC process by the Cancun Agreements that were reached at COP 16. The study mostly comprised of a literature study, which reviewed the relevant international environmental law dealing with climate change, taking into account customary international law; international treaties and conventions; government documents, policies and reports; textbooks and academic journals as well as electronic material obtained from various internet sources.
Thesis (LLM (Environmental Law and Governance))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Dans le contexte de la lutte contre le changement climatique, la réduction de la consommation énergétique des bâtiments devient une urgence. À Paris, le secteur du bâtiment représente un enjeu important quant à cet objectif. Plusieurs décisions politiques ont été adoptées afin de réduire les consommations d’énergie et de protéger l’environnement. Parmi ces engagements, figurent le Plan Climat de la Ville de Paris et le Plan Biodiversité. L’objet de cette thèse est d’examiner les transformations que les impératifs environnementaux et les exigences énergétiques liés notamment à ces plans ont entraînées dans les nouvelles opérations de logements sociaux parisiens construits entre 2007 et 2020. C’est pourquoi nous étudions plusieurs « aspects » des constructions (positionnement sur la parcelle, morphologie, prolongements extérieurs, végétalisation, typologie et organisation spatiale, rapport entre l’intérieur et l’extérieur du logement, système constructif et enveloppe). La méthodologie de cette recherche est principalement basée sur des entretiens semi-directifs menés auprès des architectes des agences d’architecture impliquées dans la réalisation d’opérations de logements sociaux à Paris et sur des analyses de plans. Cette thèse met en évidence, au cours des années 2010, une première phase d’évolution des logements sociaux au regard de la prise en compte des enjeux environnementaux et énergétiques dans la conception de ces logements. Elle annonce les prémices de transformations actuelles plus radicales, tant dans la spatialité des appartements, les rapports aux sites et les typologies que dans les modes de construction des logements sociaux
In the fight against climate change, reducing the energy consumption of buildings is becoming an emergency. In Paris, the building sector poses a significant challenge to achieving the objective of reducing buildings’ energy consumption. Several political commitments have been made to reducing energy consumption and protecting the environment. These commitments include the City of Paris Climate Plan and the Biodiversity Plan. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the transformations that environmental imperatives and energy requirements, which are associated with the abovementioned plans in particular, brought about in the Parisian social housing facilities built between 2007 and 2020. Hence, in this thesis, we study several aspects of construction (positioning on the plot, morphology, exterior extensions, vegetation, typology and spatial organization, the relationship between the dwelling’s interior and exterior, and the construction system and envelope). This research’s methodology was mainly based on semi-structured interviews conducted with architectural agencies involved in the construction of social housing facilities in Paris and on the analyses of plans. The content of this thesis highlights an initial phase in the evolution of social housing with regard to the consideration of environmental and energy issues in the design of housing units in the 2010s. This thesis constitutes the basis for more radical current transformations in the spatiality of the apartments, the buildings’ relationships with the sites and typologies, and the methods of constructing social housing

According to several studies, in 2017 human-induced warming reached approximately 1°C above pre-industrial levels, increasing at 0.2°C per decade. In this context, it is essential that companies understand the risks of climate change and the tools with which manage them. This thesis work consists of an in-depth study of climate events resulting from climate change that can cause impacts on the studied business system (hazards). Firstly, it has been evaluated the exposure level of the company system with reference to each of the identified hazards. Secondly, it has been identified the possible impacts (consequences) on the business system and the affected impact areas, followed by the evaluation of vulnerability level of the business system against the identified impacts of climate change. Thirdly, the choice of a risk scale (priority) and appropriate interventions of risk mitigation, and finally the implementation of adaptation measures with the appropriate verification of the response effectiveness. The methodological approach has been conducted on two production plant, as object of the study. The activity has included a first phase of discussion with the company and information collection. At the end, a possible set of adaptation actions to face future climate change, with reference to climate events and risk levels previously analysed, has been identified. It is, however, underlined that the purpose of this preliminary study is not to provide a technical and economic feasibility analysis of the suggested interventions, but to illustrate possible adaptation approaches by selecting concrete proposals already implemented in other contexts.

In response to recent storms like Superstorm Sandy and sea-level rise influenced by climate change, cities, particularly those located at the coast, have taken initiative to combat these growing threats with adaptive urban planning. Although civilians residing in susceptible neighborhoods are often the most vulnerable socioeconomically, there has been minimal evidence that planning has accounted for the characteristics of vulnerability. This thesis evaluates the recent planning efforts and vulnerability of Norfolk, VA and New York City to gauge the progress being made toward reducing citizen vulnerability and raising adaptability and preparedness. The most recent peer-reviewed research is consulted to forge the evaluation framework and also to recognize breakthroughs and conformity. After analyzing the performance of the sets of planning documents in both cities, it is evident that the ability to effectively plan for the public’s vulnerability is contingent in part on inter-governmental capacity, but more specifically on disaster experience.

Till följd av ökade utsläpp av växthusgaser har klimatförändringar blivit ett faktum och ett väldiskuterat ämne världen över. Parallellt med klimatfrågan behöver den allmänna folkhälsan gynnas, och med ett ständigt växande samhälle växer även efterfrågan på fler idrottsanläggningar. Då byggnader står för en betydande del av bidragen till den globala klimatpåverkan och primärenergianvändning blir idrottsanläggningars miljöpåverkan en allt viktigare fråga. Vilka typer av anläggningar som bör byggas för att främja den allmänna folkhälsan samtidigt som miljöpåverkan minimeras är en fråga som fler och fler av Sveriges kommuner börjar diskutera. Att bygga idrottsanläggningar som multihallar i flera plan är ett fenomen som undersöks allt mer och kan möjligen vara en potentiell lösning. Syftet med detta examensarbete var att undersöka miljöpåverkanskategorierna klimatpåverkan och primärenergianvändningen från Hästhagens sporthall i Malmö. Hallen är byggd i två plan och innehåller därmed två fullstora gymnastikhallar staplade på varandra. Miljöpåverkan från denna multihall jämfördes sedan med den från en traditionell sporthall i ett plan. För att analysera miljöpåverkanskategorierna utfördes en livscykelanalys utifrån ISO-standarderna 14040 och 14044, och avgränsningar gjordes utifrån standarden för värdering ochberäkning av byggnaders miljöprestanda, SS-EN 15978:2011. Därmed undersöktes endast modulerna A1-A5 i byggskedet, vilka innefattar produktion av byggmaterial, transport och konstruktion, samt modul B6 som hanterar energiförbrukningen i driftfasen. Materialen som studerades var de som utgör klimatskalet av Hästhagens sporthall och består främst av betong, tegel, isoleringsmaterial och fönster. I driftfasen granskades klimatpåverkan och primärenergianvändningen av fjärrvärme samt fastighets- och verksamhetsel. Resultaten visar att det är produktionen av material i modul A1-A3, samt fjärrvärmen i B6 som har störst utsläpp av CO2-ekvivalenter och därmed bidrar mest till klimatpåverkan. Utslaget på multihallens antagna livslängd på 70 år har byggfasen en något större påverkan än driftfasen, 27 respektive 23 ton CO2-ekvivalenter per år. Vad gäller energianvändning är det driftfasen som brukar majoriteten av primärenergin, 795 GJ per år, vilket är drygt tre gånger mer per år än de 254 GJ som byggfasen använder. I jämförelsen med en traditionell sporthall i ett plan framgår att Hästhagens sporthall i två plan är något mer energieffektiv och har en lägre klimatpåverkan per tillhandahållen aktivitetstimme. Miljöpåverkan från idrottsanläggningar är dock ett förbisett område och det krävs mer forskning för att kunna dra generella slutsatser om huruvida sporthallar i fler plan är mer miljövänliga än traditionella hallar.
Due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, the issue of climate change is now a well debated topic worldwide. Simultaneously, the municipalities in Sweden are constantly working on improving the public health and with a growing society the demand for new sports facilities is increasing. Since the construction and operation of buildings contribute to a major part of the global climate impact as well as primary energy use, the environmental impact of sports facilities is an important question. What sorts of buildings that are most beneficial to increase the health of the general public, and at the same time minimizing the environmental impact, is a question that a growing number of municipalities in Sweden are starting to discuss. The aim of this thesis was to examine the climate impact and the primary energy use of Hästhagens sporthall in Malmö. The multi-use sports facility is constructed in two levels, putting two full-sized gymnasiums on top of each other. Its environmental impact was then compared to the impact of a traditional one-level gymnasium. To conduct this analysis, a life cycle assessment was preformed according to the international standards ISO-14040 and 14044, and the definitions and boundaries of the study was set based on the standard SS-EN 15978:2011, defining the calculation method and assessment of environmental performance of buildings. Thus, modules A1-A5, which include production of building materials, transportation and construction, as well as module B6, which handles the energy use during operation, were examined. The materials that are included in the pre-use phase make up the shell of the building and consists mostly of concrete, brick, insulation and windows. In the operational or use phase, district heating and electricity use were studied. The results show that the production of materials, modules A1-A3, as well as the district heating have the highest emissions of CO2-equivalents and that, if divided upon the total life expectancy of 70 years of the building, the pre-use phase has a slightly higher climate impact than the use phase, 27 versus 23 ton CO2-equivalents per year. Regarding primary energy use, the use phase require 795 GJ per year, and has thus more than a three-fold impact than the pre-use phase, which only requires 254 GJ per year. Compared to a traditional one-level gymnasium, Hästhagens sporthall is somewhat more energy efficient and has a lower climate impact per hour performed activity. However, more research is needed to make more general conclusions about the possibility of multi-use facilities in multiple levels to be more environmentally friendly than one-level establishments.

Defined as a “system of state and national government [where] each level has some degree of autonomy” (Farber, 2013 page 12), federalism is one of the most important characteristics of the American political system. Although the word federalism never appears in the U.S. Constitution, the Supremacy Clause establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties constitute "the supreme law of the land" (U.S. Const. art. VII, § 2). In other words, federal laws take precedence over any other forms of law on U.S. soil. Naturally, federalism has a major importance in environmental laws. The goal of this paper is to analyze whether overlapping jurisdiction of the federal system facilitates or obstructs an efficient implementation of a national climate change mitigation strategy for U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The importance of the environmental theme in recent news places this paper in the center of international debate on environmental regulation. Indeed, although there is a common scientific agreement that climate change and environmental degradations are happening at an alarming rate, national and international legislators have failed to take significant actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, the Paris Climate Change Conference agreement recently ratified by 193 countries, gives new hopes in the fight against climate change. It suggests an imperative that policymakers must take imminent actions to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions, at the local and international level. The Clean Power Plan proposed by President Obama’s administration is a direct effort to comply with the Paris agreement commitment, in order to reduce U.S carbon dioxide emissions.

El cambio climático y el daño por el medio ambiente son preocupaciones vigentes de este nuevo siglo, el modelo de producción lineal de crear, usar y tirar es insostenible, como alerta el Banco Mundial; es por ello, que se requiere de un nuevo modelo de producción. Urge pues, virar hacia un modelo de producción circular, que permita prolongar la vida útil de los recursos y materiales, y al mismo tiempo reducir al máximo la generación de los residuos sólidos del planeta. Dentro de las industrias más contaminantes del mundo podemos mencionar a la industria textil, en el Perú el impacto de esta industria no se conoce con exactitud ni tampoco se dispone de investigaciones validadas ni sustentadas, lo que sí se conoce es que el Perú muestra una gran vulnerabilidad ante variaciones climáticas drásticas, siendo evidencia de ello el Fenómeno del Niño, la misma que ha generado grandes pérdidas económicas para el país. En el Perú la industria textil y de confecciones representa el segundo sector más importante dentro del PBI manufacturero según los datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI); por lo que, se convierte en uno de los sectores relevantes para la economía peruana, siendo la principal fuente generadora de puestos de trabajo en la manufactura, pues emplea a más de 400,000 puestos de trabajo. Es en este contexto, que mi negocio plantea gestionar la reparación de ropa interconectando a reparadores con clientes de Lima Moderna usando una aplicación móvil. Teniendo en consideración que este negocio se plantea como una alternativa verde y sostenible de largo plazo, con la intención de dar impulso a aquellas empresas dedicadas a la reparación de ropa, que operan en el mercado peruano con un enfoque tradicional, y cuyas actividades se encuentran al margen de la formalización, de la innovación tecnológica, cuya mano de obra muchas veces es poco calificada e incluso de baja productividad, por ello sus bajos ingresos en muchos de los casos. Según la demanda calculada en Lima moderna existen alrededor de 100,000 personas que podrían estar interesadas en la reparación de su ropa, siendo el objetivo comercial de los primeros 4 años la de atender al 18% de dicha demanda, considerándose en esta estimación y dando un mayor peso al escenario pesimista por encontrarnos hoy estado de emergencia sanitaria producto del coronavirus. A pesar de ello, los indicadores financieros son alentadores, pues se espera generar un valor presente neto (VAN) de S./ 1,333,555 soles y una tasa de retorno (TIR) del 87%, considerándose un WACC promedio de 16.76%. Después del análisis y diagnóstico situacional (Capitulo IV) y de la investigación y validación del mercado (Capítulo V), se ha diseñado un planeamiento estratégico (Capítulo VI), que nos ha permitido identificar que existe un mercado insatisfecho, que es rentable y que no solo necesita dicho servicio, sino que, en la actualidad, dicho cliente busca dar solución al problema de reparar su ropa con muchas limitaciones, siendo una de ellas la de poder contactar a un buen reparador. Concluimos, por ende, que existe una oportunidad para desarrollar un modelo de negocio innovador, original, rentable y sostenible a largo plazo. Ofrecer un servicio de este tipo a los clientes de Lima Moderna viene a ser un reto grande en el contexto actual; por lo cual, se ha diseñado un plan de marketing (Capítulo VII), acorde a las necesidades de los clientes actuales, un plan de operaciones (Capitulo VIII), que pueda aprovechar las ventajas de la innovación y las tecnologías actuales, un plan de recursos humanos (Capitulo IX), que define el equipo que permitirá desarrollar este negocio y un plan financiero (Capitulo X), que permita alcanzar los resultados económicos esperados, y evaluar la viabilidad del negocio planteado. Hoy en la situación del estado de emergencia sanitaria en la que nos encontramos producto del coronavirus, son estas iniciativas las que permitirán reactivar la economía peruana, y generar negocios a mediano y largo plazo.
Climate change and environmental damage are current concerns of the present century. The linear production model of creating, using and disposing is unsustainable, as the World Bank warns; that is why a new production model is required. It is therefore urgent to turn towards a circular production model, which allows to prolong the useful life of resources and materials, at the same time reducing the production of solid waste on the planet to the maximum extend possible. Among the most polluting industries of the world we can mention the textile industry, in Peru the impact of the textile industry is not exactly known neither validated, but what is known is that Peru shows a great vulnerability to drastic climatic variations, being evidence of this the El Niño phenomenon, which has generated great economic losses in the country. In Perú, the textile and clothing industry represents the second most important sector within the manufacturing GDP according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI); therefore, it becomes one of the relevant sectors for the Peruvian economy, being its main source of jobs in manufacturing, since it employs more than 400,000 jobs. It is therefore that my business plan proposes to manage the repair of clothes by interconnecting repairmen and repairwomen with clients in Modern Lima using a mobile application. Taking into consideration that the business is proposed as a long-term green and sustainable alternative, with the intention of giving impulse to those companies dedicated to the reparation of clothing, who operate in the Peruvian market with a traditional approach, and whose activities are still separated from formalization, technological innovation, and whose workforce is often low-skilled with a low productivity, hence their low income in many cases. According to the demand calculated in modern Lima, there are around 100,000 people who should be interested in repairing their clothes, the commercial objective of the first 4 years is to meet 18% of that demand, considering in this estimate, and giving a greater weight to the pessimistic scenario because today we are in a state of emergency as a result of the coronavirus. Despite this, the financial indicators are encouraging, as it is expected to generate a Net Present Value (NPV) of S./ 1,333,555 soles and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 87%, considering an average WACC of 16.76%. After the analysis (Chapter IV) and the research and validation of the market (Chapter V), a strategic planning (Chapter VI) has been designed, which has allowed us to identify that there is an unsatisfied market, and that there is a demand for our service, more than that, these clients seek to solve the problem of repairing their clothes with many limitations, one of them being able to contact a good repairman/women. We therefore conclude that there is an opportunity to develop an innovative, original, profitable and long-term sustainable business model. Offering a service of this type to the clients of Modern Lima is a great challenge in the current context; therefore, a marketing plan has been designed (Chapter VII), according to the needs of current customers, an operational plan (Chapter VIII), which can take advantage of innovation and current technologies, a plan for human resources (Chapter IX), which defines the team that will allow the development of this business, and a financial plan (Chapter X), which allows to achieve the expected economic results, and evaluate the viability of the proposed business. In today’s state of emergency in which we find ourselves as a result of the coronavirus, it is these kinds of initiatives that will allow the Peruvian economy to reactivate, and generate business in the medium and long term.
Tesis

The impact of climate change is increasingly important to the design of urban water infrastructure like stormwater systems, sewage systems and drinking water systems. Growing evidence indicates that the water sector will not only be affected by climate change, but it will reflect and deliver many of its impacts through floods, droughts, or extreme rainfall events. Water resources will change in both quantity and quality, and the infrastructure of stormwater and wastewater facilities may face greater risk of damage caused by storms, floods and droughts. The effect of the climate change will put more difficulties on operations to disrupted services and increased cost of the water and wastewater services. Governments, urban planners, and water managers should therefore re-examine development processes for municipal water and wastewater services and are adapt strategies to incorporate climate change into infrastructure design, capital investment projects, service provision planning, and operation and maintenance. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global mean temperature has increased by 0,7 °C during the last 100 years and, as a consequence, the hydrological cycle has intensified with, for example, more acute rainfall events. As urban drainage systems have been developed over a long period of time and design criteria are based upon climatic characteristics, these changes will affect the systems and the city accordingly. The overall objective of this thesis is to increase the knowledge about the climate change impacts on the stormwater system in Al Hillah city/Iraq. In more detail, the objective is to investigate how climate change could affect urban drainage systems specifically stormwater infrastructure, and also to suggest an adaptation plan for these changes using adaptation plans examples from international case studies. Three stochastic weather generators have been investigated in order to understand the climate and climate change in Al Hillah. The stochastic weather generators have been used in different kind of researches and studies; for example in hydrology, floods management, urban water design and analysis, and environmental protection. To make such studies efficient, it is important to have long data records (typically daily data) so the weather generator can generate synthetic daily weather data based on a sound statistical background. Some weather generators can produce the climate change scenarios for different kind of global climate models. They can be used also to produce synthetic data for a site that does not have enough data by using interpolation methods. To ensure that the weather generator is fitting the climate of the region properly, it should be tested against observed data, whether the synthetic data are sufficiently similar. At the same time, the accuracy of the weather generator is different from region to region and depends on the respective climate properties. Testing three weather generators GEM6, ClimGen and LARS-WG at eight climate stations in the region of Babylon governorate/Iraq, where Al Hillah is located, is one of the purposes of the first part of this study. LARS-WG uses a semi-parametric distribution (developed distribution), whereas GEM6 and ClimGen use a parametric distribution (less complicated distribution). Different statistical tests have been selected to compare observed and synthetic weather data for the same kind, for instance, the precipitation and temperature distribution (wet and dry season). The result shows that LARS-WG represents the observed data for Babylon region in a better way than ClimGen, whereas GEM6 seems to misfit the observed data. The synthetic data will be used for a first simulation of urban run-off during the wet season and the consequences of climate change for the design and re-design of the urban drainage system in Al Hillah. The stochastic weather generator LARS is then used to generate ensembles of future weather data using five Global Climate Models (GCMs) that best captured the full range of uncertainty. These Global Climate Models are used to construct future climate scenarios of temperature and precipitation over the region of Babylon Governorate in Iraq. The results show an increase in monthly temperatures and a decrease in the total amount of rain, yet the extreme rain events will be more intense in a shorter time. Changes in the amount, timing, and intensity of rain events can affect the amount of stormwater runoff that needs to be controlled. The climate change calculated projections may make existing stormwater-related flooding worse. Different districts in Al Hillah city may face more frequent stormwater floods than before due to the climate change projections. All the results that have been taken from the Global Climate Models are in a daily resolution format and in order to run the Storm Water Management Model it is important to have all data in a minimum of one hour resolution. In order to fulfill this condition a disaggregation model has been used. Some hourly precipitation data were required to calibrate the temporal disaggregation model; however none of the climate stations and rain gauges in the area of interest have hourly resolution data, so the hourly data from Baghdad airport station have been used for that calibration. The changes in the flood return periods have been seen in the projected climate change results, and a return period will only remain valid over time if environmental conditions do not change. This means that return periods used for planning purposes may need to be updated more often than previously, because values calculated based on the past 30 years of data may become unrepresentative within a relatively short time span. While return periods provide useful guidance for planning the effects of flooding and related impacts, they need to be used with care, and allowances have to be made for extremes that may occur more often than may be expected. In the study area with separated stormwater systems, the Storm Water Management Model simulation shows that the number of surface floods as well as of the floods increases in the future time periods 2050s and 2080s. Future precipitation will also increase both the flooding frequency and the duration of floods; therefore the need to handle future situations in urban drainage systems and to have a well-planned strategy to cope with future conditions is evident. The overall impacts on urban drainage systems due to the increase of intensive precipitation events need to be adapted. For that reason, recommendations for climate change adaptation in the city of Al Hillah have been suggested. This has been accomplished by merging information from the review of five study cases, selected based on the amount and quality of information available. The cities reviewed are Seattle (USA), Odense (Denmark), Tehran (Iran), and Khulna (Bangladesh)
Die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die Gestaltung der städtischen Wasserinfrastruktur wie Regenwasser, Kanalisation und Trinkwassersysteme werden immer wichtiger. Eine wachsende Anzahl von Belegen zeigt, dass der Wassersektor nicht nur durch den Klimawandel beeinflusst werden wird, aber er wird zu reflektieren und liefern viele seiner Auswirkungen durch Überschwemmungen, Dürren oder extreme Niederschlagsereignisse. Die Wasserressourcen werden sich in Quantität und Qualität verändern, und die Infrastruktur von Regen-und Abwasseranlagen kann einer größeren Gefahr von Schäden durch Stürme, Überschwemmungen und Dürren ausgesetzt sein. Die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels werden zu mehr Schwierigkeiten im Betrieb gestörter Dienstleistungen und zu erhöhten Kosten für Wasser-und Abwasserdienstleistungen führen. Regierungen, Stadtplaner, und Wasser-Manager sollten daher die Entwicklungsprozesse für kommunale Wasser-und Abwasserdienstleistungen erneut überprüfen und Strategien anpassen, um den Klimawandel in Infrastruktur-Design, Investitionsprojekte, Planung von Leistungserbringung, sowie Betrieb und Wartung einzuarbeiten. Nach Angaben des Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change hat die globale Mitteltemperatur in den letzten 100 Jahren um 0,7 °C zugenommen, und in der Folge hat sich der hydrologische Zyklus intensiviert mit, zum Beispiel, stärkeren Niederschlagsereignisse. Da die städtischen Entwässerungssysteme über einen langen Zeitraum entwickelt wurden und Design-Kriterien auf klimatischen Eigenschaften beruhen, werden diese Veränderungen die Systeme und die Stadt entsprechend beeinflussen. Das übergeordnete Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, das Wissen über die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf das Regenwasser-System in der Stadt Hilla / Irak zu bereichern. Im Detail ist das Ziel, zu untersuchen, wie der Klimawandel die Siedlungsentwässerung und insbesondere die Regenwasser-Infrastruktur betreffen könnte. Desweiteren soll ein Anpassungsplan für diese Änderungen auf der Grundlage von beispielhaften Anpassungsplänen aus internationalen Fallstudienvorgeschlagen werden. Drei stochastische Wettergeneratoren wurden untersucht, um das Klima und den Klimawandel in Hilla zu verstehen. Stochastische Wettergeneratoren wurden in verschiedenen Untersuchungen und Studien zum Beispiel in der Hydrologie sowie im Hochwasser-Management, Siedlungswasser-Design- und Analyse, und Umweltschutz eingesetzt. Damit solche Studien effizient sind, ist es wichtig, lange Datensätze (in der Regel Tageswerte) haben, so dass der Wettergenerator synthetische tägliche Wetterdaten erzeugen kann, dieauf einem soliden statistischen Hintergrund basieren. Einige Wettergeneratoren können Klimaszenarien für verschiedene Arten von globalen Klimamodellen erzeugen. Sie können unter Verwendung von Interpolationsverfahren auch synthetische Daten für einen Standort generieren, für den nicht genügend Daten vorliegen. Um sicherzustellen, dass der Wettergenerator dem Klima der Region optimal entspricht, sollte gegen die beobachteten Daten geprüft werden, ob die synthetischen Daten ausreichend ähnlich sind. Gleichzeitig unterscheidet sich die Genauigkeit des Wettergenerator von Region zu Region und abhängig von den jeweiligen Klimaeigenschaften. Der Zweck des ersten Teils dieser Studie ist es daher, drei Wettergeneratoren, namentlich GEM6, ClimGen und LARS-WG, an acht Klimastationen in der Region des Gouvernements Babylon / Irak zu testen. LARS-WG verwendet eine semi-parametrische Verteilung (entwickelte Verteilung), wohingegen GEM6 und ClimGen eine parametrische Verteilung (weniger komplizierte Verteilung) verwenden. Verschiedene statistische Tests wurden ausgewählt, um die beobachteten und synthetischen Wetterdaten für identische Parameter zu vergleichen, zum Beispiel die Niederschlags- und Temperaturverteilung (Nass-und Trockenzeit). Das Ergebnis zeigt, dass LARS-WG die beobachteten Daten für die Region Babylon akkurater abzeichnet, als ClimGen, wobei GEM6 die beobachteten Daten zu verfehlen scheint. Die synthetischen Daten werden für eine erste Simulation des städtischen Run-offs in der Regenzeit sowie der Folgen des Klimawandels für das Design und Re-Design des städtischen Entwässerungssystems in Hilla verwendet. Der stochastische Wettergenerator LARS wird dann verwendet, um Gruppen zukünftiger Wetterdaten unter Verwendung von fünf globalen Klimamodellen (GCM), die das gesamte Spektrum der Unsicherheit am besten abdecken, zu generieren. Diese globalen Klimamodelle werden verwendet, um zukünftige Klimaszenarien der Temperatur und des Niederschlags für die Region Babylon zu konstruieren. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, eine Steigerung der monatlichen Temperaturen und eine Abnahme der Gesamtmenge der Regen, wobei es jedoch extremere Regenereignissen mit höherer Intensivität in kürzerer Zeit geben wird. Veränderungen der Höhe, des Zeitpunkt und der Intensität der Regenereignisse können die Menge des Abflusses von Regenwasser, die kontrolliert werden muss, beeinflussen. Die Klimawandel-Prognosen können bestehende regenwasserbedingte Überschwemmungen verschlimmern. Verschiedene Bezirke in Hilla können stärker von Regenfluten betroffen werden als bisher aufgrund der Prognosen. Alle Ergebnisse, die von den globalen Klimamodellen übernommen wurden, sind in täglicher Auflösung und um das Regenwasser-Management-Modell anzuwenden, ist es wichtig, dass alle Daten in einer Mindestauflösung von einer Stunde vorliegen. Zur Erfüllung dieser Bedingung wurde ein eine Aufschlüsselungs-Modell verwendet. Einige Stunden-Niederschlagsdaten waren erforderlich, um das zeitliche Aufschlüsselungs-Modell zu kalibrieren. Da weder die Klimastationen noch die Regen-Messgeräte im Interessenbereich über stundenauflösende Daten verfügt, wurden die Stundendaten von Flughäfen in Bagdad verwendet. Die Veränderungen in den Hochwasserrückkehrperioden sind in den projizierten Ergebnissen des Klimawandels ersichtlich, und eine Rückkehrperiode wird nur dann über Zeit gültig bleiben, wenn sich die Umweltbedingungen nicht ändern. Dies bedeutet, dass Wiederkehrperioden, die für Planungszwecke verwendet werden, öfter als bisher aktualisiert werden müssen, da die auf Grundlage von Daten der letzten 30 Jahre berechneten Werte innerhalb einer relativ kurzen Zeitspanneunrepräsentativ werden können. Während Wiederkehrperioden bieten nützliche Hinweise für die Planung die Effekte von Überschwemmungen und die damit verbundenen Auswirkungen, müssen aber mit Vorsicht verwendet werden, und Extreme, die öfter eintreten könnten als erwartet, sollten berücksichtigt werden. Im Studienbereich mit getrennten Regenwassersystemen zeigt die Simulation des Regenwasser-Management-Modells, dass sich die Anzahl der Oberflächenhochwasser sowie der Überschwemmungen im Zeitraum 2050e-2080 erhöhen wird. Zukünftige Niederschläge werdensowohl die Hochwasser-Frequenz als auch die Dauer von Überschwemmungen erhöhen. Daher ist die Notwendigkeit offensichtlich, zukünftige Situationen in städtischen Entwässerungssystemen zu berücksichtigen und eine gut geplante Strategie zu haben, um zukünftige Bedingungen zu bewältigen. Die gesamten Auswirkungen auf die Siedlungsentwässerungssyteme aufgrund der Zunahme von intensiven Niederschlagsereignissen müssen angepasst werden. Aus diesem Grund wurden Empfehlungen für die Anpassung an den Klimawandel in der Stadt Hilla vorgeschlagen. Diese wurden durch die Zusammenführung von Informationen aus der Prüfung von fünf Fallstudien, ausgewählt aufgrund der Menge und Qualität der verfügbaren Informationen, erarbeitet,. Die bewerteten Städte sind Seattle (USA), Odense (Dänemark), Teheran (Iran), und Khulna (Bangladesch)

This master thesis deals with the importance of testing of plastic parts in the automotive industry. It defines the basic principles and concepts of project management within product validation, specifies the principles in the corporate environment of ATEK s.r.o. Part of the thesis is the creation of a validation plan and a schedule of labory tests for the selected product from the BMW AG G20 project. The work defines the conditions and the execution of selected tests, eg the climate change test according to the BMW standard PR303.5. The tests are then evaluated. The output from the evaluation is a product optimization proposal.

The swift parrot (Lathamus discolor, Psittacidae) is an endangered, austral migrant that inhabits forests and woodlands of south-eastern Australia. With a small population size (2500 birds), broad winter distribution (1 250 000 km2) and often cryptic nature, the swift parrot is a challenging species to study. In autumn they migrate north from their Tasmanian breeding grounds in search of suitable food resources throughout their winter range on mainland Australia. They are therefore dependent on a combination of suitable wintering, migration and breeding habitats. Although they spend a large proportion of their lives within winter habitats, the spatial and temporal dynamics of habitat use in this part of their range is poorly understood. This thesis aims to provide a greater understanding of large-scale winter habitat use by swift parrots, in both historic and current contexts, and provide a basis for future conservation management. ¶ Swift parrots, or red-shouldered paroquets as they were previously known, were among the first Australian birds to be scientifically described and illustrated following European settlement in 1788. However, within 60 years of settlement, habitats throughout the range of the species were being impacted upon. An important aspect of this habitat loss is the speed and spatial extent with which it occurred throughout the parrots’ broad distribution. Although the most extensive habitat loss in some areas occurred during colonial times, habitats continue to be lost as a result of various land management practices. Such impacts are also likely to be exacerbated by the ongoing cumulative impact with rapid climate change. As a result the swift parrot is an endangered species and is the subject of an ongoing national recovery program, to which this thesis contributes. ¶ Conserving habitat for the swift parrot, and other wide-ranging fauna species, is challenging since impacts in one area tend to be dismissed based on the assumption that there is sufficient habitat in other areas. These conservation challenges are discussed in regard to the national swift parrot recovery program. Although recovery program implementation for this species has been successful in identifying and protecting some important habitats, there are still many gaps in our knowledge that need to be addressed through a continuing and adaptive recovery effort, including an understanding of variable habitat use throughout their winter range. ¶ A study of swift parrot winter habitat use was therefore conducted at 53 sites across New South Wales over five years (2001-2005). Swift parrots used a diversity of winter foraging habitats in coastal and/or western slopes regions of New South Wales each year, including several habitats that occur in endangered ecological communities. Landscapes containing winter foraging habitat included scattered trees, remnant vegetation and continuous forests, and swift parrots foraged extensively on lerp and nectar from a diversity of tree species within these. The occurrence of swift parrots at foraging sites was primarily associated with the abundance of lerp, nectar and non-aggressive competitors. Although swift parrot abundance fluctuated significantly between years and regions, over half of all foraging sites were used repeatedly, highlighting their likely importance for conservation. ¶ Patterns of habitat use throughout the species’ winter range were also studied across five states/territories using volunteer data from 4140 surveys. These surveys were conducted by up to 300 volunteers twice a year, for seven years (1998-2004) with swift parrots detected in 19% of surveys. As a result, this study provided the first demonstration of large-scale drought related movements by a migratory population throughout their winter range. It also demonstrated the dynamic spatial and temporal patterns of winter habitat use, including repeated use of sites, by an austral migrant. Four regions in central Victoria were used most consistently, although the birds also visited other regions each year. ¶ During drought swift parrot abundance was significantly correlated with rainfall, whereby most of the population either concentrated in a few regions or migrated longer distances (up to 1000km) to drought refuges in wetter coastal areas. However, swift parrot abundance was not associated with specific climate variables during years of average to high rainfall throughout most of their range. Instead they appeared to prefer habitats within particular regions. Importantly this study emphasises that conservation measures need to be implemented throughout the distribution of migratory species, including drought refuge habitats and areas outside conservation reserves.

À travers l’exemple de la Communauté Urbaine de Bordeaux (CUB), nous proposons d’étudier les pratiques communicationnelles déployées à l’échelle intercommunale pour donner l’impulsion à une action collective territoriale coordonnée. Précisément, nous analysons le cas de la mobilisation des communes de la CUB autour du projet « pionniers du climat ». Celui-ci promeut un mode de vie plus écologique à l’échelle du territoire communautaire. Dans ce cadre, la thèse interroge les facteurs explicatifs de la relation entre la communication intercommunale et la mobilisation territoriale favorable à la lutte contre le changement climatique. Par suite, pour aborder notre matériel empirique, trois approches théoriques ont été convoquées : les théories de l’action collective (Snow & Benford, 1986 ; Neveu, 2005 ; Céfaï, 2007 ; Contamin, 2009) ; la communication engageante ET instituante (Bernard, 2010) ; et la communication des organisations publiques (Zémor, 2004 ; Sfez ; 2007 ; Bessières, 2008). En outre, d’un point de vue méthodologique, deux outils de collecte de données ont été retenus : l’entretien semi-directif et l’observation en situation afin de mieux comprendre les rapports que les parties prenantes de l’opération « pionniers du climat » entretiennent avec les enjeux et problématiques complexes de la communication territoriale en faveur des questions climatiques. En définitive, il ressort de nos analyses que la communication intercommunale sur le changement climatique s’inscrit dans une dynamique processuelle, laquelle vacille entre stratégies et paradoxes. Une situation qui nous amène à discuter la thèse des discordances communicationnelles en tant que levier de la lutte territoriale contre le changement climatique
This research aims at addressing, through the example of the Urban Community of Bordeaux (UCB), the topic of communication practices regarding climate change, and more generally the issue of finding the right way to communicate in the scope of a coordinated action by a local authority. In particular, it will tackle the implementation of practices and strategies to mobilize locals actors (mainly municipalities) around the “pioneers of climate” project, a program launched to promote environmentally friendly behaviors. In this context, our thesis seeks to provide insight into the relation between territorial communication and the collective action against climate change. Three theoretical approaches were adopted to analyze the empirical data: commitment communication AND instituted paradigm (Bernard, 2010) ; theories of collective action (Snow & Benford, 1986 ; Neveu, 2005; Céfaï 2007 ; Contamin, 2009) ; and theory of public communication (Zémor 2004 ; Sfez, 2007 Bessières, 2008). The applied methodology includes the use of two qualitative method tools (semi-directive interview and participant observation) to help us grasp the relationship between local actors and the complex issues of territorial communication to fight against climate change. Through this research, it appeared to us that climate change communication in the UCB is part of a dynamic process, which vacillates between strategies and paradoxes. This situation leads us to discuss the theory of communicative discrepancies as way to fight against climate change

En utmaning under produktionen är uttorkning av byggfukt i byggnadens betongbjälklag. Om uttorkningen försenas kan golvbeläggningar inte appliceras i rätt tid, men att arbetet forceras är inte ett alternativ, då risken finns att fuktskador uppkommer under driftsskedet. Avgörande för att uttorkningen skall fortskrida enligt plan är att torkklimatet i byggnaden är gynnsamt för uttorkningsprocessen. För att kontrollera torkklimatet genomför företaget ett omfattande arbete genom att mäta klimatet, där dataloggar på olika platser i byggnaden registrerar luftens temperatur och relativa fuktighet. Tillsammans med trendmätningar i betong är tanken att insamlad data skall ge en bild av hur uttorkningen fortskrider. Svårigheten med torkklimat är att ämnesområdet i många avseenden är abstrakt och teoretiskt, just därför att parametrarna som beskriver torkklimatet ständigt varierar. För att insamlad data skall addera värde för produktionen måste datamängderna analyseras och visualiseras på ett tydligt sätt, som medför att produktionsledningen kan agera utifrån informationen utan att nödvändigtvis besitta spetskompetens inom ämnesområdet. Examensarbetet syftar till att bistå företaget med ökade kunskaper om torkklimat under byggproduktion, kopplat till uttorkning av byggfukt. Under arbetet har förutsättningarna för en effektiv uttorkning studerats, med avseende på torkklimatets variation. Under arbetet har också en undersökning gjorts för att ta reda på när företaget i ett generellt fall bör komplettera torkklimatet med ökad ventilation och/eller avfuktning för att hålla ett jämnt torkklimat i byggnaden året om. Som bakgrund till ämnesområdet redovisas en beskrivning av de styrande faktorerna för torkklimatet, teoretiskt och projektspecifikt. Resultatet av studien visar att förutsättningarna för en effektiv uttorkning har funnits på de platser i byggnaden som studerats, i det avseendet att en majoritet av klimattrenderna följer uppsatta kriterier i projektets fuktsäkerhetsplan.  Studien visar också att en komplettering med ökad ventilation och/eller avfuktning bör starta under perioden mars till april och under oktober till november kan uttorkningsstrategin återgå till att enbart värma inomhusluften.
A challenge during construction is drying of construction moisture in the building's concrete slab. If the drying is delayed, the flooring can’t be applied at the right time, but forcing the process is not an option, because of the risk of moisture damage during the operating phase. Crucial to the planed drying is that the climate in the building is favorable for the drying process. In order to control the drying climate the company is conducting an extensive work by measuring, where data logs at different locations in the building records air temperature and relative humidity. Along with the trend measurements of moisture levels in the concrete slab, the idea is that the data series should provide a picture of how the drying progresses. The difficulty with drying climates is that the subject in many respects is abstract and theoretical, because the parameters that describe the drying climate are continuously changing. If the collected data should add value to the construction site, the amount of data needs to be analyzed and visualized in a clear way, which means that the company's construction management services can act based on the information without necessarily possessing expertise in the subject area. This bachelor degree project aims to assist the company with knowledge of drying climate during construction condition, linked to the drying of construction moisture. During the work, the conditions for effective drying of construction moisture have been studied with respect to variations in drying climate.  Another study also conducted, was to find out when the company in a general case may complement drying climate with increased ventilation and/or dehumidification to keep the drying climate at a steady level in the building year round. As background to the subject, a description of the factors controlling the drying climate is presented in the report, theoretical and specifically for the project. The results of the study show that the conditions for effective drying of construction moisture have been the case of the building sites that has been sampled, in the sense that a majority of climate trends follow the established criteria in the project's moisture safety plan. The study also shows that increased ventilation and/or dehumidification may be applied as a supplement in the period from March/April until October/November at which time the dehydration strategy can revert back to warming indoor air only.

The thesis focuses on the creation of Nature consult Inc. aimed at providing advice to municipalities in comprehensive land consolidation. The intention of creating this com-pany comes out of the growing need to improve the effectiveness of prevention of negative impacts of climate change, and from the findings of the project Čistá voda pro Plzeň, which was realized largely at the expense of investigators (volunteers). The goal of the thesis is to create a business that is based on the use of community work which will help municipalities with the realisation of purposefully conducted comprehensive land consolidation. The expected activity of the company is education, facilitation, help with preparing applications for the realisation of comprehensive land consolidation and su-pervising the final solutions. The benefit of the company will be restoration of the main functions of the cultural landscape and enhancement of the quality of rural life.

Increased knowledge of plant interactions is important for our understanding of how ecosystems will respond to climate changes. Using four common low-herb and three tall- herb species as phytometers I measured the net outcome of plant interactions in an alpine environment by a neighbour removal experiment. Grazing and climate were tested as explanatory factors for differences in the outcome of plant interactions, with two altitudes representing different climates. The most important finding in this experiment is that competition is the dominating interaction among plants in this habitat, regardless of plant size, climate and grazing. Climatic exposure and grazing only influenced tall-herb species while low-herbs were mainly limited by competition, presumably for light. These results are important since facilitative interactions and net facilitation in plant communities are often reported to become more common in severe climates.

Climate change is expected to affect the high latitudes first and most severely, rendering Antarctica one of the most significant baseline environments for the study of global climate change. The indirect effects of climate warming, including changes to the availability of key environmental resources, such as water and nutrients, are likely to have a greater impact upon Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems than the effects of fluctuations in temperature alone. Water availability is the focus in this thesis for two main reasons; firstly, there is a wealth of evidence to suggest water is currently limiting to Antarctic plant distributions and productivity, and secondly, availability of this key resource is predicted to change with the onset of climate change. Nutrient availability is a second variable considered in this work, as there is evidence to suggest that nutrients also play a role in determining plant species distributions, and changes to nutrient balance and turnover rates are also expected in response to climate change. This work was conducted in the floristically important Windmill Islands region of East Antarctica, with the three Windmill Islands moss species Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Ceratodon purpureus and Grimmia antarctici forming its focus. A combination of field ecology, ecophysiology and laboratory studies were used to determine fine-scale patterns of present species distributions and their relationship to naturally occurring water and nutrient resource gradients, the impact of increased water and nutrients on a range of cryptogamic communities, and tolerance of desiccation biological profiles. A survey-based approach was used to determine species level patterns in bryophyte species distributions, and identify correlations with resource availability. Ten replicate transects, along community gradients, from pure bryophyte stands, through transitional moribund bryophyte zones, to lichen-dominated communities, were surveyed at two sites. The physical environment at each site was characterised by measurement of site soil properties, along with individual transect aspects and slopes. To determine the relationship between resource gradients and community patterns water and nutrient availability, along with a range of plant biochemistry measures indicative of the growth environment, were measured using a series of quadrats along each transect. Percent abundance for each species and/or vegetation category was determined for each quadrat by microscopic examination of field samples. The community gradient, covering the entire ecological range of past and present bryophyte occupation, was found to be accompanied by resource gradients that operated in opposing directions. Pure bryophyte communities existed under conditions of high water availability and low nutrient availability. Crustose lichen-dominated communities persisted under opposing environmental conditions, of low water availability and high nutrient availability. Grimmia antarctici dominated the wettest habitats but its distribution extended into the dry moribund zones, albeit in low levels of abundance. Bryum pseudotriquetrum occurred in consistent levels of abundance across the entire gradient, whilst C. purpureus was restricted to the driest habitats. Live bryophyte material was found to occur in moribund turf, supporting the potential for bryophyte regeneration under a future wetter climate. Regenerating turf showed potential to support high species diversity, as all four bryophytes survive in this zone. To investigate the likely impacts of a wetter climate on Antarctic terrestrial communities, four cryptogamic communities, pure bryophyte, moribund bryophyte, crustose and fructicose lichen-dominated communities were subject to a multi-season manipulative field experiment. Within each community type, eight replicate quadrats received increased water and/or nutrient availability over two consecutive summer seasons. A range of physiological and biochemical measurements were conducted in order to quantify the community response to the treatments and determine the extent of any nutrient and water limitation. Few multi-season manipulative field experiments have been conducted in continental Antarctica. Whilst an overall increase in productivity in response to water and nutrient additions was supported, productivity appeared to respond more strongly to nutrient additions than to water additions. Pure bryophyte and fructicose lichen communities also showed stronger positive responses to additions, identifying some communities that may be better able to adapt and prosper under the ameliorating conditions associated with a warmer, wetter future climate. Using a range of morphological, biochemical and physiological techniques, biological profiles related to desiccation tolerance were developed for the three bryophyte study species, providing measures of relative abilities to avoid, tolerate, recover from and survive desiccation. Ceratodon purpureus showed good desiccation avoidance characteristics, its photosynthetic efficiency remained high at low water contents and it was lipid rich, suggesting that this species is well adapted to survive a drying climate. Bryum pseudotriquetrum is also likely to survive drier conditions, as this species showed good desiccation avoidance, had a plastic response to desiccation, and contained stachyose, which is likely to assist in its survival of desiccation events. Conversely, G. antarctici showed poor desiccation avoidance, as photosynthetic efficiency required highest water contents and it contained few protective substances, this species is therefore least likely to survive a drying environment. This study provides a baseline from which future changes to the Windmill Islands cryptogamic communities can be monitored. A baseline incorporating fine-scale bryophyte species patterns is particularly useful, as this component of the cryptogamic community is likely to be highly sensitive to even small shifts in water availability and detection of change is likely to be more sensitive at fine- rather than broad-scales. Both water and nutrient resource availability was found to underlie regional bryophyte species distributional patterns. The dynamics of the Windmill Islands flora is therefore likely to shift in response to climate change as the availability of these key resources is altered. Under a wetter future climate, productivity is overall likely to increase but only certain cryptogamic communities are likely to thrive. Regeneration of moribund bryophytes appears likely only if the future moisture regime creates consistently moist conditions. Bryum pseudotriquetrum is most likely to survive both a drying climate and also a fluctuating climate, which is a highly likely scenario for the region. Under a drier climate, the Antarctic endemic, G. antarctici, is likely to be most adversely affected, as it dominates only the wettest communities and generally shows poor tolerance of desiccation. Conservation issues are therefore raised for this species, if the current drying trend continues, creating overall biodiversity concerns.

Coastal ecosystems are crucial to sustain productive and functioning seascapes because they provide numerous ecosystem services. However, they are under threat and overburdened by multiple anthropogenic land-based and marine-based threats. Managing these threats is challenging because governance of the activities from which threats derive is often segregated and atomistic. Therefore, it is important to assess how management performs across the seascape to ensure adequate protection for coastal ecosystems from multiple threats. Assessing management performance, defined as the ability to meet management objectives, can help managers identify under-performing sites that may need extra management attention (e.g., enforcement, capacity building, or monitoring). Further, it can infer the recovery potential of targeted species or habitats to inform on biologically realistic performance targets. We use the systematic conservation planning framework to explore targeted questions about conservation planning, to identify management gaps and inform on global and regional management decisions.This work begins by asking a series of questions about why management is failing to protect one of the most neglected coastal ecosystems, seagrass. The underlying reason is that seagrass ecosystems are not recognised in legislation or policy and therefore their status and trends are not evaluated against any performance targets. This work has formed part of a global movement to improve the management of seagrass ecosystems, together with authorities charged with global governance of the environment. I then consider how performance targets take into account the social and environmental drivers of fish biomass and assess how this shapes fish recovery. I use this information to inform on management decisions in two case-studies: the northern region of New South Wales, Australia, and in two regional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia. In the NSW case study, I identify coastal areas that are at greatest risk to cumulative threats and suggest how management performance could be improved to protect temperate reef fish. In the Indonesian case-study, I suggest that to effectively evaluate MPA performance, it is critical to link historical threats and environmental conditions with coral reef fish outcomes. I then return to seagrass ecosystems as a case study to refine performance targets for monitoring to enable better detection of ecosystem trends. This work, carried out in southern Moreton Bay, Queensland, indicated that metabolomics could allow ecosystem trends to be identified more consistently and with greater accuracy than current methods. In my final chapter, I discuss the implications of these findings and make recommendations for key areas of further research. Each chapter of this thesis, although broad in design, has the same application to inform managers to make better decisions to protect coastal ecosystems. All chapters have an applied outcome and have utilised collaborators to make the information accessible to conservation managers.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environment and Sc
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
Full Text

viii, 21 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.
To determine the relative effects of rapid climate change on selection and drift in small populations, nine northern populations of the pitcher-plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii, were exposed to directional selection equivalent to 180 years of climate change, while control populations were maintained in their native climate. After three years, fitness had declined in the selected but not the control populations, indicating an adverse effect of climate change. When both selected and control populations were then reared in the selected climate, they showed no difference in fitness, indicating no genetic response to selection. Importantly, however, fitness was negatively correlated with accumulated inbreeding in both control and selected populations, pointing out that the effects of inbreeding and drift exceeded those of selection imposed by rapid climate change. Therefore, small northern populations at expanding edges of species' distributions should be most vulnerable to continued climate change.
Committee in Charge: Dr. William Bradshaw, Chair; Dr. Christina Holzapfel; Dr. Nathan Tublitz

MESTRADO EM GESTÃO E ESTRATÉGIA INDUSTRIAL.
As alterações climáticas que se fazem sentir no planeta devem-se em parte ao chamado Efeito de Estufa, provocadas na sua grande maioria por emissões para a atmosfera de gases provenientes da actividade humana, nomeadamente, actividades económicas. Com o objectivo de combater estas alterações climáticas, foi assinado em 1997 o Protocolo de Quioto à Convenção Quadro das Nações Unidas sobre as Alterações Climáticas, tendo a União Europeia e os seus Estados-Membros assumido o compromisso de redução global de 8% das emissões de Gases com Efeito de Estufa, relativamente aos valores de 1990. Para cumprir este objectivo, a União Europeia aprovou a Directiva 2003/87/CE, e cada Estado-Membro desenvolveu um Plano Nacional de Atribuição de Licenças de Emissão, o que deu origem ao Comércio Europeu de Licenças de Emissão, com uma fase piloto de 2005 a 2007, seguindo-se um segundo período de 2008 a 2012, dotando os sectores afectados de um instrumento económico que lhes permita minimizar os custos, afectando o menos possível a sua competitividade. Na primeira fase, o Comércio Europeu de Licenças de Emissão irá abranger as emissões de dióxido de carbono de centrais termoeléctricas, refinarias, fomos de coque, siderurgias, as indústrias de cimento, cal, vidro, cerâmica, pasta e papel, bem como todas as instalações de combustão de outros processos industriais com uma potência térmica nominal superior a 20 MW, onde se incluem algumas instalações da Indústria Química. Partindo de uma base de comparação estabelecida a partir de estudos publicados, pretende-se com este trabalho avaliar potenciais impactos resultantes da comercialização de licenças de emissão na Indústria Química portuguesa, analisando a sua influência na estrutura de custos de produção marginal e total bem como potenciais efeitos na competitividade e inovação.
The EartlTs climate changes are caused by the so called Greenhouse Gas Effect, which is caused by the atmospheric emission of gases generated by human activities, namely economic activities. With the purpose of climate change mitigation the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed in 1997. The European Union and its Member States agreed in an 8% reduction of Greenhouse Gases emissions compared to 1990 leveis. In order to achieve this goal, the European Union approved the 2003/87/CE Directive, and each Member-State developed a National Allocation Plan, thus originating the European Union Emission Trading Scheme. With a pilot phase running ffom 2005 to 2007, followed by a second phase ffom 2008 to 2012, the European Union Emission Trading Scheme provides an economic instrument to the sectors included, which helps them to minimize costs, affecting their competitiveness the least possible. In the pilot phase, the European Union Emission Trading Scheme will cover carbon dioxide emissions ffom power generators, oil refineries, coke ovens, iron and steel, cement, lime, glass, ceramics, and pulp and paper, as well as ali combustion plants with a rated thermal input of more than 20MW of capacity, including some installations of the Chemical Industry. By establishing a comparison baseline from published literature, this work seeks to assess potential impacts in the Portuguese Chemical Industry arising from emission allowances trading, analysing its influence in marginal production costs as well as the potential effects on competitiveness and innovation.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Current research indicates that the potential risks associated with human-induced climate change are likely to increase in frequency and intensity. Although there have been several attempts, no effective international treaty or policy has been enacted by the United States with the purpose of combating this global issue. In the past decade, local climate action plans (CAPs) have emerged as a planning solution designed to reduce greenhouse emissions (GHGs). Previous studies have examined CAP attributes, but no research has focused solely on climate planning in politically conservative jurisdictions. This research finds that of 245 CAPs completed to date nationally, approximately 90 percent are located in communities identified as politically Democratic based on county level 2012 Presidential Election data. In order to expand climate planning in politically conservative communities, it is important evaluate the characteristics of CAPs in these communities. This thesis aims to fill the current research gap by analyzing CAPs and conducting stakeholder interviews in seven conservative communities. The central hypothesis is: Climate action plans adopted in conservative communities differ in motivations, type, and political backing, when compared to climate action plans in general. The findings of this case study indicate that CAPs created in conservative communities do not differ substantially from CAPs in general. However, the findings suggest political opposition is heightened in these communities. In addition, the evidence shows that in conservative communities: economic co-benefits are stressed, cost-saving measures are over emphasized, CAP terminology is altered, business community involvement is crucial, and state mandates motivate CAP creation. The results of this research are distilled into 12 lessons and best practices for planning practitioners, and establish a basis for future research focusing on the political nature of climate action planning.

The mediterranean-type climate zones, typified by hot-dry summers and coldwet winters, are remarkable for their botanical richness. These areas developed through parallel processes of aridification 15-10 million years ago and present a unique opportunity to study how plant groups have reacted to climate change. This thesis investigates the evolutionary impact of palaeoclimatic changes in these. winter-wet biomes, and asks whether similar patterns of diversity are repeated in each of these biomes. The following questions are critical to this study: Can the evolutionary impact of climate change be detected using phylogenetic inference and niche modelling? Are climatic niches conserved? Can we reconstruct ancestral niches and so estimate ancestral areas? And what data are available for such studies? These questions are explored using exemplar plant genera, each of which show diversification within a mediterranean-type biome. These are: Drosera (Droseraceae), which shows greatest diversity in SW Australia; Cyclamen (Myrsinaceae) from the Mediterranean basin; Pelargonium (Geraniaceae), centered in the South Africa cape; and Gastrolobium (Fabaceae), an Australian endemic primarily from the Southwest. This study describes and develops the techniques of 'phyloclimatic modelling', a combination of bioclimatic niche modelling and phylogenetics. Phyloclimatic modelling reconstructs ancestral niches over a phylogeny. Molecular dating of the phylogeny produces age estimates for evolutionary divergences, permitting examination of the reconstructed ancestral niches within palaeoclimate models of the time of the ancestral lineage. Such analysis permits geographic exploration of climatically suitable areas and so provides estimates of ancestral areas. These techniques rely upon large amounts of high quality distribution data. There is a rapidly-increasing wealth of on-line biodiversity information available. These data, particularly that concerned with distribution data, should be treated with caution, and wherever possible, independently validated before use. If used appropriately, these data can be a valuable resource. The major diversification of each of the four groups occurred during or shortly after the development of the winter-wet biomes. They demonstrate clear patterns of phylogenetic conservancy for many climatic parameters, notably for those of seasonal rainfall. Similar patterns are found for bioclimatic niche models, which are shown to be conservative over evolutionary timescales. Those groupS demonstrating current diversity within winter-wet biomes had an ancestral preference for the seasonal Mediterranean climates characterised by dry summers and wet winters. These ancestral niches, when examined within palaeoclimate reconstructions for the Miocene, show that each group would have found climatically suitable areas close to their present-day distributions. Phyloclimatic modelling produces a valuable insight into the evolutionary impact of climate change. There is a detectable footprint of climate change on many phylogenies. The emergence of the winter-wet biomes created an opportunity for species' diversification. This evolutionary diversification was not a rapid response to climate change, but has been a continual process occurring in zones with a prolonged period of climatic stability. It appears that the stable environment permitted gradual diversification probably triggered by local ecological or geological processes. This has major implications in light of the present rapidly changing climate.

The PhD Thesis focuses on two topics: (i) assessment of forest wood and carbon (C) stock and (ii) forestry mechanization applicable at the forest stand level for any given conditions among those found in the Italian Alpine and pre-Alpine mountainous areas. Both these topics aim to improve the use of forestry resources for climate change mitigation, starting from a bottom-up approach scaled on the information made available by Forest Management Plans (FMP). After an introduction on the topics given in chapter 1, the first topic (assessment of forest wood and C stock) is investigated in chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5, by taking the Valle Camonica District (Lombardy Region, Italy) as Case Study Area. The aim is to develop a stand-level model to estimate the mass of wood (t·yr-1 dry matter, DM) and C (t·yr-1 C) in aboveground wood biomass, belowground wood biomass and dead organic matter (i.e., deadwood and litter), quantifying, at the same time, the mass of potentially available logging residues (i.e., branches and tops; t·yr-1 DM) for energy generation and the corresponding potentially generated energy (GJ·yr-1), under the assumption that wood replaces non-renewable energy sources. Chapter 2 presents the first version of the model, called “WOody biomass and Carbon ASsessment” (WOCAS v1), aimed at the quantification of the mass of wood and C in the forest pools in a predefined reference year, by using a methodology already applied at the regional and national level. The model was tested on a dataset of 2019 public forest stands extracted from 45 FMPs (area: 37000 ha) covering the period from 1984 (year in which the oldest FMP came into force) to 2016 (most recent available data from the local FMPs). Preliminary results showed that, in 2016, the total C stock (given by the sum of C stock in aboveground wood biomass, belowground wood biomass, and dead organic matter) achieved 76.02 t·ha-1 C. The model also gives the possibility to analyze future scenarios based on the continuation of the current management practices rather than improved practices, to define a possible mitigation strategy for the activation of a local Voluntary Carbon Market. WOCAS v1 was implemented into a second version (WOCAS v2), by introducing, first of all, an improved methodology to calculate the mass of wood (t·yr-1 DM) and C (t·yr-1 C) within the forest pools from the year in which the FMPs entry into force until a predefined reference year (chapter 3). The main innovative aspect of the improved methodology is that the gross annual increment of each stand is calculated through an age-independent theoretical non-linear growth function based on the merchantable stem mass, solving the limitation of WOCAS v1 in which the gross annual increment of the stand is assumed as constant, as reported by the FMPs. This improved methodology was applied to the same dataset used for WOCAS 1 (i.e., 2019 forest stands, 45 FMPs; forest area: 37000 ha; period: 1984-2016). The total weighted average wood yield, calculated as the sum of wood yield in all the above-mentioned forest pools, ranged from 53.36±53.13 t∙ha-1∙yr-1 DM (1984) to 156.38±79.76 t∙ha-1∙yr-1 DM (2016). The total weighted average C yield ranged from 26.63±26.80 t∙ha-1∙yr-1 C (1984) to 77.45±40.19 t∙ha-1∙yr-1 C (2016). The average C yield related to the whole analyzed period (1984-2016) was 66.04 t∙ha-1 C. Of this, C yield in the aboveground wood biomass, belowground wood biomass and dead organic matter was equal to 72.0%, 15.8% and 12.2%, respectively. Validation of the results at the stand level was performed by comparing the value of the gross annual increment provided by the FMPs with the one predicted by WOCAS v2. The model caused, in some cases, an overestimation and, in other cases, an underestimation. For example, for Larix decidua Mill. and for Picea abies L., the Pearson coefficient of correlation (r2) between predicted and provided increments was r2 = 0.69 and r2 = 0.46, respectively. This was due to the fact that the methodology currently implemented into WOCAS v2 is based on average values of growth parameters valid for the whole Lombardy Region, and does not consider the productivity class of the stands since specific information was not always made available by the FMPs. WOCAS v2 also includes an innovative methodology (chapter 4 and chapter 5) to quantify – as an additional climate change mitigation strategy – the mass of potentially available residues (t·yr-1 DM) for energy generation, the potentially generated heat and electricity (GJ·yr-1) and the potentially avoided CO2 emissions into the atmosphere related to the final combustion process (t·yr-1 CO2), under the assumption that wood substituted non-renewable energy sources. In chapter 4, since not all the required data were initially made available for the Case Study Area, the mass of residues was computed by considering only the stand’s function and the stand’s management system, covering the period from 1994 (year in which the first wood cut was performed) to 2016. The calculation was then improved (chapter 5) by taking into account also the stand’s accessibility, the forest roads’ transitability and the energy market demand. Information on topographic features, landscape morphology and characteristics of the forest roads were collected by combining the FMPs data coming from WOCAS v2 and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) in a Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The georeferenced stands were characterized by both single contiguous areas (single stands), as well as different non-contiguous areas (sub-stands). Overall, 2157 polygons – consisting of both single and sub-stands – were analyzed, covering the period from 2009 (most recent available data on forest roads’ transitability) and 2016. The mass of potentially available residues calculated for the analyzed period was used to estimate the current sustainable supply (i.e., 1.82∙103±6.61∙102 t·yr-1 DM). Under the hypothesis that these residues were prepared into woodchips to feed the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) unit of the local centralized heating plant of Ponte di Legno, the potentially generated heat and electricity (GJ·yr-1) and the potentially avoided CO2 emissions into the atmosphere (t∙yr-1 CO2) for the final combustion process were estimated by assuming that: (i) heat generated by the ORC unit replaced the one produced by natural gas-based heating plants; (ii) electricity generated by the ORC unit replaced the one generated by the Italian natural gas-based plants-mix for combined heat and electricity production and distributed through the National grid. Results showed that if only the current sustainable mass of residues was used to feed the ORC unit of the plant, the potentially generated heat and electricity would represent at most 28.7% of that generated by the unit in the year 2019. The thermal and electric power would be equal to 0.70 MW and 0.17 MW, with an average power load of the ORC unit of 23.6%. Experimental tests are needed to collect information on the harvesting method, used machines and technologies – which considerably affect the mass of available resides – as well as the currently harvested mass of residues for the validation of the results, that up to now is not possible since no measured data are available yet at the stand level. The second topic (forestry mechanization) is investigated in chapter 6. The aim is to develop an innovative approach in order to: (i) select the most suitable Forestry Machinery Chain (FMC) to adopt at the stand level for wood collection (harvesting and transport) and (ii) compute the economic costs (€·h-1; €·t-1 DM; €) of the selected FMC. To make the selection feasible, a user-friendly stand-level model called “FOREstry MAchinery chain selection” (FOREMA v1) was developed. FOREMA v1 supports the user in selecting the FMC according to seven technical parameters that characterize the stand. For each FMC, the model defines the sequence of the operations and the types of machines that can be used. The economic costs of the selected FMC are then quantified by taking into account the fixed and the variable costs. The approach was applied for a Case Study concerning the collection of woodchips from a coppice stand in the Italian Alps for energy generation. The analyzed FMC was made up of the following operations: (i) felling, (ii) bunching and extraction, (iii) chipping and (iv) loading and transport. For the whole FMC, the cost per unit of time was 669.3 €·h-1; the cost per unit of product was 113.0 €·t DM, whereas the cost of production amounted to 6893.2 €. Results provided by FOREMA v1 still need to be validated; experimental tests are required to collect information on the operating conditions in which the machines are actually used and, consequently, on the corresponding economic costs. Obtained results on the costs of the operations were compared with that reported in literature and related to studies performed under similar forestry and operating conditions.

Magister Artium - MA
This thesis investigates the influence of climate change and climatic variability on wetland ecosystems (coastal and inland wetlands) on the Agulhas coastal plain. Firstly, this research examines coastal wetland ecosystem resilience to sea level rise by modelling sea level rise trajectories for the Droё River wetland. The rate of sediment accretion was modelled relative to IPCC sea level rise estimates for multiple RCP scenarios. For each scenario, inundation by neap and spring tide and the 2-, 4- and 8-year recurrence interval water level was modelled over a period of 200 years. When tidal variation is considered, the rate of sediment accretion exceeds rising sea levels associated with climate change, resulting in no major changes in terms of inundation. When sea level rise scenarios were modelled in conjunction with the recurrence interval water levels, flooding of the coastal wetland was much greater than current levels for the 1 in 4 and 1 in 8 year events. The study suggests that for this wetland, variability of flows may be a key factor contributing to wetland resilience. Secondly, the thesis examines the variability of open wetland water surface areas and their relation to rainfall to determine wetland hydrological inputs for the Nuwejaars wetland system and respective wetlands. A remote sensing approach was adopted, Landsat 5 TM and 8 OLI multispectral imagery were used to detect changes of water surfaces for the period 1989 to 2017. Water surfaces were enhanced and extracted using the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index of Xu (2006). The coefficient of variation of wetland water surface area was determined. The variability ranges from low to high for respective wetlands. A correlation analysis of wetland water surfaces and local and catchment rainfall for the preceding 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months was undertaken. The preceding month and associated inputs explains the annual variability of surface waters. The study suggests that, the variability of wetland water surface area are related to variations to water inputs and groundwater, as well as variations in water outputs such as evapotranspiration and an outlet channel.

Since Arrhenius published seminal work in 1921, research interest in the description of plant traits and grouped characteristics of plant species has grown, underpinning diversity in trophic levels. Geographic exploration and diversity studies prior to and after 1921 culminated in biological, chemical and computer-simulated approaches describing rudiments of growth patterns within dynamic conditions of Earth. This thesis has two parts:- classical theory and multidisciplinary fusion to give mathematical strength to characterising plant species in space and time. Individual plant species occurrences are used to obtain a Species-Area Relationship. The use of both Boolean and logic-based mathematics is then integrated to describe classical methods and propose fuzzy logic control to predict species ordination. Having demonstrated a lack of significance between species and area for data modelled in this thesis a logic based approach is taken. Mamdani and T-S-K fuzzy system stability is verified by application to individual plant occurrences, validated by a multiple interfaced data portal. Quantitative mathematical models are differentiated with a genetic programming approach, enabling visualisation of multi-objective dispersal of plant strategies, plant metabolism and life-forms within the water-energy dynamic of a fixed time-scale scenario. The distributions of plant characteristics are functionally enriched through the use of Gaussian process models. A generic framework of a Geographic Information System is used to visualise distributions and it is noted that such systems can be used to assist in design and implementation of policies. The study has made use of field based data and the application of mathematic methods is shown to be appropriate and generative in the description of characteristics of plant species, with the aim of application of plant strategies, life-forms and photosynthetic types to a global framework. Novel application of fuzzy logic and related mathematic method to plant distribution and characteristics has been shown on a global scale. Quantification of the uncertainty gives novel insight through consequent trophic levels of biological systems, with great relevance to mathematic and geographic subject development. Informative value of Z matrices of plant distribution is increased substantiating sustainability and conservation policy value to ecosystems and human populations dependent upon them for their needs. Key words: sustainability, conservation policy, Boolean and logic-based, fuzzy logic, genetic programming, multi-objective dispersal, strategies, metabolism, life-forms.

Rising temperatures associated with climate change will alter the fundamental physiological processes of most ectothermic species. Drastic changes in catabolic and anabolic reaction rates exert strong effects on growth, reproduction, and consumption rates that cascade up through all levels of the biological hierarchy. This dissertation determined how climate warming might alter the important relationship between plants and insect herbivores, as mediated through changes in herbivore physiology. Consumption and fitness increased with temperature for almost all consumers. However, all consumers also exhibited a critical temperature, beyond which consumption declined rapidly through metabolism continued to increase. This mismatch in metabolic demands and energy intake reduced consumer fitness at high temperatures. Furthermore, increased metabolic nitrogen demand can induce nitrogen limitation in insect herbivores at high temperatures. These basic physiological changes can modify the way herbivores interact with plants in a number of ways. For example, the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, altered its feeding behavior on numerous host plant species, depending on host plant quality. Unfortunately, the effects of temperature on plant-herbivore interactions will be difficult to predict, as there was no predictable relationship between consumption and temperature across numerous plant-herbivore pairs. Finally, rising temperatures disrupt insect herbivore control of plant fitness, thereby altering one of the most important components of plant-herbivore interactions. Thus, climate change will fundamentally change the nature of plant-herbivore interactions in the future.

Prediction is one of the hardest things in ecological science. Predicting the weather is one of the hardest things of all. This is what makes predicting the ecological consequences of climate change so exceptionally demanding. As a first step, we would like to understand the effects of weather variation on the behaviour of those ecological systems for which we have the best long-term data. The Park Grass Experiment at Rothamsted allows us to model the effects of the timing of rainfall and the accumulation of day-degrees in spring on primary productivity in an ungrazed grassland. I use the insights gained from this model to interpret the effects of weather variation in two classic long-term studies of plant-herbivore interactions: the Red Deer on Rum and the Soay Sheep on St Kilda. In both cases, direct effects of extreme weather on animal populations (“killing weather”) turn out to be much less important than weather-driven changes in plant production. Because most of the important effects of weather on animal population dynamics act via changes in food availability, it is the interaction between weather and population density that matters more than anything else, rather that weather effects alone. The same weather that would lead to mass starvation at high population densities, might have no measurable impact on animal performance when numbers were low. The analysis is focused on the following questions: which weather variables are most important; when do they have their most important effects; what effect sizes do they generate; and what is the shape of the relationship between the weather variable and the ecological response variable? The answers to these questions will help to guide subsequent analyses of demography and genetics on these two Hebridean Island systems.

Despite increased knowledge of the causes and consequences of climate change, federal politics has prevented a comprehensive, nationwide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This inaction at the federal level has prompted local governments to take the lead on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through Climate Action Plans (CAP). This thesis explores the environmental discourses that are at work in the CAP adoption process of three cities that historically vote for democratic candidates and republican candidates, respectively, in federal elections. As a qualitative study, my inquiry evaluates the CAP adoption process through an analysis of public officials' statements, public comments and editorials, and CAP content. John Dryzek's eight environmental discourses are applied to highlight the discourses that are reflected in the data obtained from public officials, the public, and policy outcomes. This examination reveals opportunities of bipartisan agreement and provides insights for governments to move past the politics of climate change.

We used demographic methods to address one of the main challenges facing ecological science: forecasting the effect of climate change on plant communities. Ecological forecasts will be crucial to inform long-term planning in wildland management and demographic methods are ideal to quantify changes in plant abundance. We carried out our research in the sagebrush steppe, one of the most extensive plant ecosystems of Western North America. Our research intended to inform ecological forecasts on an exotic invader, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Moreover, we investigated the general question asking: to what degree competition among plants influences the outcome of ecological forecasts on the effect of climate change? We carried out two field experiments to test the hypothesis that warming will increase cheatgrass abundance in the sagebrush steppe. This hypothesis was strongly supported by both experiments. Warming increased cheatgrass abundance regardless of elevation, neighboring vegetation or cheatgrass genotype. Moreover, we found cheatgrass was hindered by snow cover. Therefore, warming increases cheatgrass growth directly by increasing temperature, and indirectly by decreasing or removing snow cover. In our last experiment, we tested whether forecasts of climate change effects on rare species can ignore competition from neighbors. This should occur because rare species should have little niche overlap with other species. The lower the niche overlap, the less competition with other species. To test this hypothesis, we used a long-term data set from an Idaho sagebrush steppe. We built population models that reproduced the dynamics of the system by simulating climate and competition. Model simulations supported our hypothesis: rare species have little niche overlap and little competitive interactions with neighbor species.

A better understanding of the environmental controls on current plant species distribution is essential if the impacts of such diverse challenges as invasive species, changing fire regimes, and global climate change are to be predicted and important diversity conserved. Climate, soil, hydrology, various biotic factors fire, history, and chance can all play a role, but disentangling these factors is a daunting task. Increasingly sophisticated statistical models relying on existing distributions and mapped climatic variables, among others, have been developed to try to answer these questions. Any failure to explain pattern with existing mapped climatic variables is often taken as a referendum on climate as a whole, rather than on the limitations of the particular maps or models. Every location has a unique and constantly changing climate so that any distribution could be explained by some aspect of climate.

Chapter 1 of this dissertation reviews some of the major flaws in species distribution modeling and addresses concerns that climate may therefore not be predictive of, or even relevant to, species distributions. Despite problems with climate-based models, climate and climate-derived variables still have substantial merit for explaining species distribution patterns. Additional generation of relevant climate variables and improvements in other climate and climate-derived variables are still needed to demonstrate this more effectively. Satellite data have a long history of being used for vegetation mapping and even species distribution mapping. They have great potential for being used for additional climatic information, and for improved mapping of other climate and climate-derived variables.

Improving the characterization of cloud cover frequency with satellite data is one way in which the mapping of important climate and climate-derived variables can be improved. An important input to water balance models, solar radiation maps could be vastly improved with a better mapping of spatial and temporal patterns in cloud cover. Chapter 2 of this dissertation describes the generation of custom daily cloud cover maps from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite data from 1981-1999 at ~5 km resolution and Moderate Resolution Imagine Spectroradiomter (MODIS) satellite reflectance data at ~500 meter resolution for much of the western U.S., from 2000 to 2012. Intensive comparisons of reflectance spectra from a variety of cloud and snow-covered scenes from the southwestern United States allowed the generation of new rules for the classification of clouds and snow in both the AVHRR and MODIS data. The resulting products avoid many of the problems that plague other cloud mapping efforts, such as the tendency for snow cover and bright desert soils to be mapped as cloud. This consistency in classification across cover types is critically important for any distribution modeling of a plant species that might be dependent on cloud cover.

In Chapter 3, monthly cloud frequencies derived from the daily classifications were used directly in species distribution models for giant sequoia and were found to be the strongest predictors of giant sequoia distribution. A high frequency of cloud cover, especially in the spring, differentiated the climate of the west slope of the southern Sierra Nevada, where giant sequoia are prolific, from central and northern parts of the range, where the tree is rare and generally absent. Other mapped cloud products, contaminated by confusion with high elevation snow, would likely not have found this important result. The result illustrates the importance of accuracy in mapping as well as the importance of previously overlooked aspects of climate for species distribution modeling. But it also raises new questions about why the clouds form where they do and whether they might be associated with other aspects of climate important to giant sequoia distribution. What are the exact climatic mechanisms governing the distribution? Detailed aspects of the local climate warranted more investigation.

Chapter 4 investigates the climate associated with the frequent cloud formation over the western slopes of the southern Sierra Nevada: the "sequoia belt". This region is climatically distinct in a number of ways, all of which could be factors in influencing the distribution of giant sequoia and other species. Satellite and micrometeorological flux tower data reveal characteristics of the sequoia belt that were not evident with surface climate measurements and maps derived from them. Results have implications for species distributions everywhere, but especially in rugged mountains, where climates are complex and poorly mapped.

Chapter 5 summarizes some of the main conclusions from the work and suggests directions for related future research. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)