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Abstract. The last half century has witnessed the increasing trend of renewable energy utilization with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as one of the most popular option. Solar PV continues to supplement the main grid in powering both commercial establishments (mainly for reduced electricity expense) as well as residential houses in isolated areas (for basic energy requirement such as for lighting purposes). The objective of this study is to assess the available solar PV power (PPV) potential considering the effects of high temperature, dust and snow in the Asia Pacific region. The PPV potential was estimated considering the effects of the said meteorological parameters using several satellite data including shortwave radiation from Advanced Himawari Imager 8 (AHI8), MOD04 aerosol data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), precipitation rate from Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP), air temperature from NCEP/DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis-2 data, and snow water equivalent (SWE) from Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). The model is validated by comparing its outputs with the measured PV power from two solar PV installations in Bangkok, Thailand and Perth, Australia. Results show that maximum PPV is estimated at 2.5 GW (cell efficiency of 17.47%) for the region with the maximum decrease in PPV estimated to be about < 2%, 22% and 100% due to high temperature (temperature coefficient of power = 0.47%/K), dust and snow, respectively. Moreover, areas in India and Northern China were observed to experience the effects of both dust and temperature during March-April-May (MAM) season. Meanwhile, countries located in the higher latitudes were severely affected by snow while Australia by high temperature during Dec-Jan-Feb (DJF) season. The model has a mean percentage prediction error (PPE) range of 5% to18% and 7% to 23% in seasonal and monthly estimations, respectively. Outputs from this study can be used by stakeholders of solar PV in planning for small-scale or large-scale solar PV projects in the solar rich region of Asia Pacific.

The impacts of increasing natural climate disasters are threatening food security in the Asia-Pacific region. Rice is Asia’s most important staple food. Climate variability and change directly impact rice production, through changes in rainfall, temperature and CO2 concentrations. The key for sustainable rice crop is water management. Adaptation can occur through shifts of cropping to higher latitudes and can profit from river systems (via irrigation) so far not considered. New opportunities arise to produce more than one crop per year in cooler areas. Asian wheat production in 2005 represents about 43 % of the global total. Changes in agronomic practices, such as earlier plant dates and cultivar substitution will be required. Fisheries play a crucial role in providing food security with the contribution of fish to dietary animal protein being very high in the region – up to 90 % in small island developing states (SIDS). With the warming of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and increased acidification, marine ecosystems are presently under stress. Despite these trends, maintaining or enhancing food production from the sea is critical. However, future sustainability must be maintained whilst also securing biodiversity conservation. Improved fisheries management to address the existing non-climate threats remains paramount in the Indian and Pacific Oceans with sustainable management regimes being established. Climate-related impacts are expected to increase in magnitude over the coming decades, thus preliminary adaptation to climate change is valuable.

Massive, long-lived deep-sea red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) form a solid, layered axis comprised of calcite and gorgonin skeleton. They are abundant on the outer continental shelf and upper slope of the Northeast Pacific, providing habitat for fish and invertebrates. Yet, their large size and arborescent morphology makes them susceptible to disturbance from fishing activities. A better understanding of their growth patterns will facilitate in-situ estimates of population age structure and biomass. Here, we evaluated relationships between ages, growth rates, gross morphological characteristics, and banding patterns in 11 colonies collected from depths of ~141–335 m off the Alaskan coast. These corals ranged in age from 12 to 80 years old. They grew faster radially (0.33–0.74 mm year-1) and axially (2.41–6.39 cm year-1) than in previously measured older colonies, suggesting that growth in P. pacifica declines slowly with age, and that basal diameter and axial height eventually plateau. However, since coral morphology correlated with age in younger colonies (< century), we developed an in-situ age estimation technique for corals from the Northeast Pacific Ocean providing a non-invasive method for evaluating coral age without removing colonies from the population. Furthermore, we determined that annual bands provided the most accurate means for determining coral age in live-collected corals, relative to radiometric dating. Taken together, this work provides insight into P. pacifica growth patterns to inform coastal managers about the demographics of this ecologically important species. With this new ability to estimate the age of red tree corals in-situ, we can readily determine the age-class structure and consequently, the maturity status of thickets, using non-invasive video survey techniques when coupled with mensuration systems such as lasers or stereo-cameras. Enhanced surveys could identify which populations are most vulnerable to disturbance from human activities, and which should be highlighted for protection.

Interview Participant : Antônio Luiz da Silva GuabirabaLocation (Town/District/State/Country): Povoado Zé Calu, Ourolandia, Bahia, BrazilInterview Date: 11/05/2010Interview Language: PortuguesePhD Research Title Social Sustainability in Biodiesel Production: Brazil and Timor:LesteUniversity: University of Technology SydneyMain Researcher: Sarina KilhamSecondary Researchers (if Present): Catarina Camargo (2nd Researcher);Carla Costa do Nascimento (Community Liaison /Researcher); Ednilson Riberio Santos (Videographer)Fund source: Research partly funded by Australian Postgraduate Award and ETC Energy GrantVideo of Interview: YesAudio of Interview: YesParticipate to remain anonymous: NoGeneral Project Information: This was a qualitative transdisciplinary research project undertaken as part of PhD research by Sarina Kilham. The purpose of this research was to consider smallholder farmers participation in biodiesel schemes and the ways that biodiesel schemes have been incorporated into rural livelihoods. This study provides a way to bring smallholder farmers’ experiences to the fore in the biodiesel debate. I interviewed smallholder farmers participating in government led biodiesel schemes in Brazil and Timor-Leste. These two biodiesel schemes were chosen due to similarities between the rural development and social inclusion goals of each scheme. I used a transdisciplinary research approach that was problem-centred, collaborative and methodologically flexible. Through the application of Grounded Theory Method to the farmer informants’ narratives, I developed a novel conceptual framework titled the Autonomous Livelihood Framework. Archiving the data was approved by the University of Technology Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee - project protocol 2010-105A. Each farmer informant was explicitly asked about inclusion of their material in the databank and informed about the embargo periods imposed on the data. All data included in this dataset has been approved by the farmer participants. Each farmer informant was explicitly asked about inclusion of their material in the databank and informed about the embargo periods imposed on the data. The conditions on the data were designed as such:Embargo Period:(a) Transcriptions: available 5 years post-interview(b) Full audio: available 10 years post-interview(c) Full video: available 20 years post-interview

ABSTRACT Three graduate-level short courses on ecological agriculture and food systems were held in 1995–1997 in Norway to introduce systems thinking, creative research methods, and innovative learning approaches. In 1999, a three-day evaluation and planning workshop was held to assess course impacts, to determine relative importance of content areas, to compare learning methods with special attention to case studies, and to vision and develop action plans for future education in the region. Students and faculty agreed that soft systems research methods and varied learning processes in the course were more valuable than specific technical content that can be learned in other venues. Nine priority education areas were identified for ecological agriculture: (1) systems thinking, (2) research methods, (3) farmer/stakeholder participation, (4) improving production methods, (5) relating agriculture to food systems, (6) learning about learning, (7) values and ethics, (8) faculty development and institutional ch...

The aim of this research is to explore the key problems of biomass policy implementation influencing stakeholders, to find out strategies to address key problems from all stakeholders, and to develop a systemic model contributing to address the key biomass problems. It was conducted within a framework of Critical Systems Thinking (CST), using a modified form of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) [1-2] and Critical Systems Heuristic (CSH) [23] through the interview, participant observation and focus group as data collection regarding perspectives of biomass policy implementation among stakeholders. Root definitions and conceptual models were generated by participants for six-activity systems identified by them: availability of raw material; environmental management; technology development; development of transmission lines; the improvement of policy, law and regulation, and the development of investment. The findings was found that there were sixteen strategies to address biomass energy problem in six aspects. The findings contribute to both theoretical and practical contributions. As the theoretical contribution, the applications of system approach provide a significant contribution to the body of knowledge surrounding biomass energy problem solving. For the practical implications, the findings suggest sixteen strategies to address biomass problems and barriers. Proceedings of the 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 July 2020, Virtual, pp. 786-797

In January 2015, CCSI sent a memo to President Obama to provide input on the U.S. National Action Plan on responsible business conduct. The memo applauded the U.S. Government’s decision to develop a National Action Plan consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, noting that responsible and rights-respecting outward investment can support sustainable development in host countries, and that the U.S. Government has an important role to play in promoting responsible business operations. The memo urged the government to explore in particular how the National Action Plan can address U.S. business conduct related to extractive industries investments and large-scale agricultural investments abroad.

Wild foods are recognized to contribute to diet and food security through enhancing the availability of local, diverse, and nonmarket food sources. We investigated the contribution of wild foods to diet, food security, and cultural identity in a Native American[1] community in the context of climate change. Structured interviews were conducted with low-income residents of the Flathead Indian Reser­vation[2] in Northwestern Montana who participate in the federal Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, also known by participants as ‘Commodities.’ Responses to structured questions were analyzed for frequency, and open-ended responses were coded and analyzed to identify prevalent themes. Our analysis indicated that half of participants were food insecure. Approximately 28% of participants engaged in at least one wild food procurement activity, including hunting, fishing, and harvesting. On average, participants who engaged in one or more wild food procure­ment activities were more food secure than those who did not. Results highlight the multidimen­sional valuation of wild foods by participants including taste, freshness, nutritional quality, being a traditional community practice, and providing a sense of self-sufficiency. Climate change is per­ceived by participants to be adversely impacting wild food systems due to increased variability in seasonality and precipitation and increased inci­dences of wild fire. Findings point to the need for community-based strategies to strengthen wild food knowledge toward enhancing food sover­eignty in Native American communities, in the context of climate change. [1] The term ‘Native American’ was determined to be the preferred term for referencing the Native American community in this study, based on consultation from our community advisory board. [2] The term ‘Flathead Indian Reservation’ was determined to be the preferred term for referencing the location in which this study was held, based on consultation from our community advisory board.