• Energy Research
• Irish Research Council close
• 11. Sustainability close
• 12. Responsible consumption close

We present an alternative approach to estimating the spatial footprint of energy consumption, as this represents a major fraction of the ecological footprint (EF). Rather than depicting the current lack of sustainability that comes from estimating a footprint based on uptake of carbon emissions (the method used in EF accounting), our proposed “Renewable Energy Equivalent Footprint” (REEF) instead depicts a hypothetical world in which the electricity and fuel demands are met entirely from renewable energy. The analysis shows that current human energy demands could theoretically be met by renewable energy and remain within the biocapacity of one planet. However, with current technology there is no margin to leave any biocapacity for nature, leading to the investigation of two additional scenarios: (1) radical electrification of the energy supply, assuming 75% of final energy demand can be met with electricity, and (2) adopting technology in which electricity is used to convert atmospheric gases into synthetic fuel. The REEF demonstrates that a sustainable and desirable future powered by renewable energy: (i) may be possible, depending on the worldwide adoption of consumption patterns typical of several key exemplar countries; (ii) is highly dependent on major future technological development, namely electrification and synthetic fuels; and (iii) is still likely to require appropriation of a substantial, albeit hopefully sustainable, fraction of the world’s forest area.

Lipid-containing wastewaters, such as those arising from dairy processing, are frequently discharged at temperatures ≤ 20°C. Their valorization at low ambient temperatures offers opportunities to expand the application of high-rate anaerobic wastewater treatment toward achieving energy neutrality by minimizing the energy demand for heating. Lipid hydrolysis generates long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), which incur operational challenges and hinder stable bioreactor operation by inducing sludge flotation and washout, coupled with the added challenge of treatment at lower temperature (20°C). These challenges are tackled together uniquely during the treatment of LCFA-rich synthetic dairy wastewater (SDW) (33% COD-LCFA) through de novo formed microbial granular sludge within the dynamic sludge chamber–fixed film (DSC-FF) reactor. The novel reactor design facilitated sludge retention for the entire operational period of 150 days by containing settled, flotating, and LCFA-encapsulated granular sludge and biofilm within a single module. High COD removal efficiencies (87–98%) were achieved in the three replicated DSC-FF reactors, along with complete LCFA removal at 18–72 h HRT (LCFA loading rate of 220–890 mgCOD-LCFA/L⋅day) and partial LCFA removal at 12 h HRT (LCFA loading rate of 1333 mgCOD-LCFA/L⋅day). The high removal efficiencies of unsaturated and saturated LCFAs achieved are reported for the first time during continuous anaerobic wastewater treatment at low temperatures (20°C). Moreover, de novo granulation was achieved within 8 days from a combination of inoculum mixtures at a high LCFA concentration (33% COD-LCFA) in SDW. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the DSC-FF reactor for treating LCFA-rich wastewaters at discharge temperatures and offer potential for expanded and more energetically productive anaerobic valorization of lipid-rich wastewater.

Arguably the greatest threat facing society is that posed by irreversible climate change. In tandem with mitigating the effects of climate change, we must now make decisions about issues such as renewable energy, sustainable and safe water supplies, management of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, and management of natural disasters. The current school-age generation will see the worst effects of climate change, including greater frequency and intensity of extreme weather events; shortages of water and other necessary resources; and dangers due to pollution and toxicity in human environments and the human food chain. The next generation is coming of age as difficult socio-political choices are being made at local and national levels to manage resources and mitigate environmental damage. It is therefore important to center the voices of children and young people in research aiming to address the social, political, and educational dimensions of geoscience topics, including climate change and related topics. This paper proposes the use of Children’s Research Advisory Groups (CRAGs) to meaningfully include children and young people as co-researchers in geoscience-related research.

Impact assessment is a part of the policy implementation cycle, which can support the design and implementation of effective policies at a minimum cost. It can be instrumental in understanding policy options available to tackle a particular issue before devising a policy and in analyzing the performance of already implemented policy instruments with respect to the desired goals. When it comes to environmental policies, demonstrating the worth and merit of any regulation is even more important. The knowledge gathered from the evaluation of existing policies can help improve the quality of new environmental policies. This paper analyzes policy impacts and their assessments related to the transboundary movement of waste. E-waste and plastic waste fractions are used as cases in order to study three associated policies and their impact assessments. Learnings from the analysis are summarized and measures for strengthening the impact assessment approaches are recommended based on the evidence from recent developments in the transboundary movement of waste fractions. Impact assessments of waste management and shipment policies could benefit from a more comprehensive but issue-oriented approach that looks beyond the short-term economic savings.

Abstract It has been predicted that despite previous reductions, greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland will continue to increase above current levels for the next 20 years. The benefit of mobilising community level action in addressing climate change action has already been seen in many European countries. While Irish governmental policy envisions as necessary greater community involvement in energy projects and other efforts to reduce carbon emissions, little progress has been encouraging or supporting such action. Using the Q-method, this study examined and identified where commonalities exist in Irish communities that have successfully implemented sustainable development goals, in terms of their motivation, attitudes, perceived barriers and opportunities for continued action. Results indicate that participants’ main motivations are derived from a sense of responsibility to future generations and the need to live more balanced lifestyles. Results further suggest that short-term central government strategy, poor support, bureaucracy, and a lack of collaboration are seen as key limitations in developing and achieving effective community level sustainability action. This study contributes in understanding how climate change policy can be aligned to the preferred future vision of communities in bringing about effective change in transitioning to a low-carbon society.

Historic harbours, as infrastructural elements, are neither buildings nor monuments thus typically fall between the remits of heritage designation. Yet they are critical to reading the human occupation of islands historically. Inevitably these routes and points of embarkation and disembarkation were pathways not just for goods, but also for knowledge, beliefs, and broader cultural understanding. The rising sea levels and increased storm activity generated by climate change are endangering the survival of this important coastal heritage on both sides of the Irish Sea.\udHarbourview (Fig. 1), a research alliance between Cardiff University (Wales) and University College Dublin (Ireland) funded by the ESRC and the IRC, is a networking project which aimed to establish new dialogues on the significance of these harbours and the means by which they can be documented and appropriately managed. Through a series of seminars, community workshops and a final symposium, researchers, relevant stakeholders in local and national governments, and local communities in Ireland and Wales participated in activities and discussions on how best to address this compelling coastal heritage. The Harbourview project established the potential of community documentation using newly accessible methods of 3D recording and visualization, and, in tandem with the seminar and final symposium, clarified the critical issues in achieving a comprehensive documentation of this invaluable heritage.

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are increasingly being identified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).