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Abstract For the option of “carbon capture and storage”, an integrated assessment in the form of a life cycle analysis and a cost assessment combined with a systematic comparison with renewable energies regarding future conditions in the power plant market for the situation in Germany is done. The calculations along the whole process chain show that CCS technologies emit per kWh more than generally assumed in clean-coal concepts (total CO2 reduction by 72–90% and total greenhouse gas reduction by 65–79%) and considerable more if compared with renewable electricity. Nevertheless, CCS could lead to a significant absolute reduction of GHG-emissions within the electricity supply system. Furthermore, depending on the growth rates and the market development, renewables could develop faster and could be in the long term cheaper than CCS based plants. Especially, in Germany, CCS as a climate protection option is phasing a specific problem as a huge amount of fossil power plant has to be substituted in the next 15 years where CCS technologies might be not yet available. For a considerable contribution of CCS to climate protection, the energy structure in Germany requires the integration of capture ready plants into the current renewal programs. If CCS retrofit technologies could be applied at least from 2020, this would strongly decrease the expected CO2 emissions and would give a chance to reach the climate protection goal of minus 80% including the renewed fossil-fired power plants.

Abstract For the option of “carbon capture and storage”, an integrated assessment in the form of a life cycle analysis and a cost assessment combined with a systematic comparison with renewable energies regarding future conditions in the power plant market for the situation in Germany is done. The calculations along the whole process chain show that CCS technologies emit per kWh more than generally assumed in clean-coal concepts (total CO2 reduction by 72–90% and total greenhouse gas reduction by 65–79%) and considerable more if compared with renewable electricity. Nevertheless, CCS could lead to a significant absolute reduction of GHG-emissions within the electricity supply system. Furthermore, depending on the growth rates and the market development, renewables could develop faster and could be in the long term cheaper than CCS based plants. Especially, in Germany, CCS as a climate protection option is phasing a specific problem as a huge amount of fossil power plant has to be substituted in the next 15 years where CCS technologies might be not yet available. For a considerable contribution of CCS to climate protection, the energy structure in Germany requires the integration of capture ready plants into the current renewal programs. If CCS retrofit technologies could be applied at least from 2020, this would strongly decrease the expected CO2 emissions and would give a chance to reach the climate protection goal of minus 80% including the renewed fossil-fired power plants.

The potential impacts of climate change on human health in sub-Saharan Africa are wide-ranging, complex, and largely adverse. The region's Indigenous peoples are considered to be at heightened risk given their relatively poor health outcomes, marginal social status, and resource-based livelihoods; however, little attention has been given to these most vulnerable of the vulnerable. This paper contributes to addressing this gap by taking a bottom-up approach to assessing health vulnerabilities to climate change in two Batwa Pygmy communities in rural Uganda. Rapid Rural Appraisal and PhotoVoice field methods complemented by qualitative data analysis were used to identify key climate-sensitive, community-identified health outcomes, describe determinants of sensitivity at multiple scales, and characterize adaptive capacity of Batwa health systems. The findings stress the importance of human drivers of vulnerability and adaptive capacity and the need to address social determinants of health in order to reduce the potential disease burden of climate change.

The potential impacts of climate change on human health in sub-Saharan Africa are wide-ranging, complex, and largely adverse. The region's Indigenous peoples are considered to be at heightened risk given their relatively poor health outcomes, marginal social status, and resource-based livelihoods; however, little attention has been given to these most vulnerable of the vulnerable. This paper contributes to addressing this gap by taking a bottom-up approach to assessing health vulnerabilities to climate change in two Batwa Pygmy communities in rural Uganda. Rapid Rural Appraisal and PhotoVoice field methods complemented by qualitative data analysis were used to identify key climate-sensitive, community-identified health outcomes, describe determinants of sensitivity at multiple scales, and characterize adaptive capacity of Batwa health systems. The findings stress the importance of human drivers of vulnerability and adaptive capacity and the need to address social determinants of health in order to reduce the potential disease burden of climate change.

Waste management contributes to sustainable development since waste can be transformed into valuable resources and commodities. Moreover, it helps resolve the concerns related to the limitation and scarcity of natural resources. Improving waste management means carrying out activities such as prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery, in the perspective of circularity, to minimize waste. Some methodologies and indicators may support sustain and monitor waste, such as the material flow and cost accounting, the life cycle assessment, and the carbon and water footprint.

Waste management contributes to sustainable development since waste can be transformed into valuable resources and commodities. Moreover, it helps resolve the concerns related to the limitation and scarcity of natural resources. Improving waste management means carrying out activities such as prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery, in the perspective of circularity, to minimize waste. Some methodologies and indicators may support sustain and monitor waste, such as the material flow and cost accounting, the life cycle assessment, and the carbon and water footprint.

Abstract Mediterranean islands have the advantage of favourable climatic conditions to use different marine renewable energy sources. Remote sensing can provide data to determine wind energy production potential and observational activity to identify, assess and detect suitable points in large marine areas. In this paper, a new combined model has been developed to integrate wind speed assessment, mapping and forecasting using Sentinel 1 satellite data through images processing and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System and the Bat algorithm. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images from the Sentinel 1 satellite have been used in order to detect offshore and nearshore wind potential. Particularly, Sentinel 1 images have been analysed by means of the SNAP software. Then, to extract data about wind speed and direction, a GIS software for mapping the wind climate has been used. This new methodology has been applied to the North-Central coasts of Sardinia Island and then focused on six main small islands of La Maddalena archipelago. Furthermore, ten Hot Spots (HSs) have been identified as interesting because of their high-energy potential and the possibility to be considered as sites for future implementation of Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs). Finally, the ten identified HS have been used as input data to train and test the proposed forecast model.

Abstract Mediterranean islands have the advantage of favourable climatic conditions to use different marine renewable energy sources. Remote sensing can provide data to determine wind energy production potential and observational activity to identify, assess and detect suitable points in large marine areas. In this paper, a new combined model has been developed to integrate wind speed assessment, mapping and forecasting using Sentinel 1 satellite data through images processing and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System and the Bat algorithm. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images from the Sentinel 1 satellite have been used in order to detect offshore and nearshore wind potential. Particularly, Sentinel 1 images have been analysed by means of the SNAP software. Then, to extract data about wind speed and direction, a GIS software for mapping the wind climate has been used. This new methodology has been applied to the North-Central coasts of Sardinia Island and then focused on six main small islands of La Maddalena archipelago. Furthermore, ten Hot Spots (HSs) have been identified as interesting because of their high-energy potential and the possibility to be considered as sites for future implementation of Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs). Finally, the ten identified HS have been used as input data to train and test the proposed forecast model.