• Energy Research
• 13. Climate action close
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Nowadays, the issues related with environment preservation assume an increasing importance. Progressively, more sustainable solutions/techniques are being developed to combat environmental destruction. The decision to include themes related to the environment in the curriculum of technological courses in higher education aims to promote more sustainable behaviors and in an indirect way, increase the environmental literacy of the population. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the environmental literacy focusing on four topics, i.e., air pollution, water pollution, global warming, and energy resources. For this purpose, a questionnaire was developed and applied to a convenience sample, formed by individuals of both genders, aged between 20 and 81 years old. The questionnaire intended to collect data to characterize the sample and assess the literacy regarding environmental issues. In order to carry out the environmental literacy assessment, the respondents were asked to express their degree of agreement with some statements related with the environmental themes mentioned above. The data collected was analyzed using data mining tools. The results suggest that the population’s literacy is satisfactory in relation to some issues, but insufficient in relation to others, equally important, but less disseminated.

A palmeira é uma cultivar usada na produção de óleos alimentares vegetais, cosméticos e encontra-se em crescente aplicação na produção de biodiesel. Há aumento da consciência que as cultivares são vulneráveis à possível prática criminosa pela introdução intencional de microrganismos patogênicos nas lavouras. De um modo geral, as palmeiras são propensas à degradação quando atacada pelo fungo Ganoderma, conhecido como fungo da podridão branca, por degradar a lignina. É de grande importância considerar este tipo de podridão da palmeira quando atacada pelos microrganismos em questão, de modo a ser estabelecido um controle efetivo.No entanto, na literatura são encontrados trabalhos que ressaltam a importância: (a) de estar-se atento ao modo de proliferação desta praga e (b) de conhecer-se a biologia molecular do Ganoderma. A alta humidade presente no solo litorâneo favorece o surgimento do fungo Ganoderma. A alta salinidade e o baixo pH do solo surge como um ambiente desfavorável para a proliferação deste tipo de microrganismo. Atualmente, o melhor método de controle do Ganoderma é a extinção dos campos de palmeiras por ele contaminados. A melhor estratégia para o futuro estaria no desenvolvimento de palmeiras tolerantes ao ataque das referidas pragas, sendo uma possibilidade a alteração da lignina produzida nas palmeiras. Desta forma, conclui-se que o Ganoderma da palmeira está se tornando em um problema cada vez maior e o seu controle levaria à resolução de questões como a podridão branca. Oil palm (OP) is a major crop for the production of vegetable oil used in foods, cosmetics and increasingly biodiesel. There is an increasing awareness that crops are vulnerable to nefarious introduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Oil palms are prone to a rot by the fungus Ganoderma. White rot fungi are capable of degrading lignin. It is necessary to consider this mode of attack for effective control. Nevertheless, the existing literature is concerned with the (a) mode of spread and (b) molecular biology of Ganoderma. The high moisture content of coastal soil favour Ganoderma. High salinity and low soil pH appear to discourage the disease. The optimum current method of control is to rid fields of decayed OP. The optimal future approach may be to develop tolerant OP and altering lignin in OP may be possible. In conclusion, Ganoderma of OP is becoming increasingly virulent and control would benefit from consideration of the process as one of white rot.

Sustainability assessment and rating systems are intended to foster more sustainable design, construction, operation, maintenance and disassembly/deconstruction promoting and making possible a better integration of environment, societal, and cost concerns with other traditional decision criteria. The use of improved and building technologies can contribute considerably to better environmental cycle and then to the sustainability of the constructions. It is widely recognised in the of Building Sustainability Assessment that Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a much preferable method for evaluating the environmental pressure caused by materials, Building assemblies and the whole life-cycle of a building. Nevertheless, LCA tools are not extensively used in building design and most of building sustainability assessment and systems are not comprehensive or consistently LCA-based. Reasons for this failure above all related to the huge variety and amount of material flows and processes of building’s Lifecycle and to the complexity of the stages of a LCA. This paper will present the difficulties and possible solutions to integrate more accurate environmental methods in rating systems. In this context, the paper will also present the work that is being carried out in the development of the Portuguese Building Sustainability Assessment system (SBTool PT)

A urgência de um maior envolvimento público nos debates e nos processos de tomada de decisão relacionado com as alterações climáticas tem vindo a ser crescentemente apontada em vários relatórios (eg. IPCC, 2007; 2013; 2014a; 2014b) e por diversos autores (eg. Caride & Meira, 2004; O’Neill & Nicholson-Cole, 2009; Lakoff, 2010; Phillips et al., 2012). No entanto, a participação dos cidadãos portugueses e espanhóis na questão tem sido promovida fundamentalmente através de iniciativas de participação não dialógicas, resumindo-se a sua atuação fundamentalmente a ações de poupança energética e à reciclagem. A partir da administração de um inquérito exploratório a 227 cidadãos portugueses e espanhóis, são analisados os comportamentos, as perceções e os constrangimentos à sua participação nas alterações climáticas, identificando-se os principais fatores que podem influenciar o seu envolvimento nos debates e processos decisórios e analisando a importância que atribuem à sua participação nas decisões que envolvem temas científicos. Os dados obtidos denotam alguma preocupação e bastante interesse na questão das alterações climáticas por parte dos cidadãos inquiridos em ambos os países, com destaque para os seus efeitos, e a maioria referiu sentir-se razoavelmente informada acerca destes temas. Os cidadãos inquiridos consideram que a consulta pública sobre temas de C&T ainda não é suficiente, assumindo na sua grande maioria que não tem estado ativamente envolvidos em tais processos. Reconhecem, igualmente, que têm um papel pouco participativo nestas questões, em particular nas alterações climáticas, apontando como constrangimentos relevantes a sua iliteracia científica e o desinteresse que os cidadãos no geral têm por temas de cariz científico, a resistência demonstrada pelos decisores à democratização deste tipo de debates e à implementação de instrumentos participativos, o difícil acesso à informação e as dificuldades de comunicação entre os cientistas e os cidadãos.

Abstract Anthropogenic habitats may function as a refuge for some species, including freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionida). In this study we assessed possible differences in density, size and condition index of the Moroccan freshwater pearl mussel Pseudunio marocanus (Pallary, 1918), formerly Margaritifera marocana, colonizing anthropogenic (sāqya = irrigation canal) and natural (Bouhlou River) habitats in Morocco. Results showed that the individuals colonizing the irrigation canal located on the left bank have a significantly higher density and condition index when compared to natural conditions, but no differences were found regarding size. Since this species is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, being also considered among the 100 most endangered organisms in the planet, the presence of P. marocanus in anthropogenic habitats has high conservation importance. In fact, and despite no Moroccan freshwater pearl mussels were found on the irrigation canal located in the right bank, the one located on the left bank present stable conditions for the settlement of juveniles and, if managed carefully, for the future survival of the species. However, local authorities reported frequent dredging and cleaning activities by local farmers on this sāqya without any special attention devoted to Moroccan freshwater pearl mussels (or any other species) conservation. Therefore, the results reported here can be used by scientists, managers, politicians and local people to promote future management actions that enhance the Moroccan freshwater pearl mussel protection and guarantee their future survival, including on anthropogenic habitats.

The feasibility of cellulase recycling in the scope of bioethanol production from recycled paper sludge (RPS), an inexpensive byproduct with around 39% of carbohydrates, is analyzed. RPS was easily converted and fermented by enzymes and cells, respectively. Final enzyme partition between solid and liquid phases was investigated, the solid-bound enzymes being efficiently recovered by alkaline washing. RPS hydrolysis and fermentation was conducted over four rounds, recycling the cellulases present in both fractions. A great overall enzyme stability was observed: 71, 64 and 100% of the initial Cel7A, Cel7B and β-glucosidase activities, respectively, were recovered. Even with only 30% of fresh enzymes added on the subsequent rounds, solid conversions of 92, 83 and 71% were achieved for the round 2, 3 and 4, respectively. This strategy enabled an enzyme saving around 53-60%, while can equally contribute to a 40% reduction in RPS disposal costs.

Abstract Energy shortage, global warming, and climate change led to an increase in the use of alternative sources of energy, with renewable energy sources (RES) playing a fundamental role in this new energetic paradigm. However, the investment costs often constitute a major barrier to their spread use. Moreover, the overall benefits of renewable energy technologies are often not well understood and consequently they are often evaluated to be not as cost effective as traditional technologies. From the moment that the energy sector started a deregulation process, with a high level of competitiveness and associated increased market uncertainty, traditional project evaluation techniques alone became insufficient to properly deal with these additional risk and uncertainty factors. The diffusion of the renewable energy technologies is also affected by this feature. The way investors evaluate their investments call now for the use of more sophisticated evaluation techniques. Real options approach can deal with these issues and, as so, began to be considered and applied for the energy sector decision aid. This approach it is now extensively widespread in evaluating investment projects in the energy sector. A large set of applications in almost all fields of energy decision making, from electricity generation technologies appraisal to policy evaluation is available in the literature. However the use of this technique in the field of RES is still limited and worth to be analysed. This paper addresses this issue. A review of the current state of the art in the application of real options approach to investments in non-renewable energy sources and RES is presented, giving perspectives for further research in this field.

In referring to the fashion system or business, we can address to a wide variety of approaches. On an economical and business analysis, fashion can be defined as a cycle that allows to some mature industries, such as clothing, footwear or even cars, to be dynamic and maintain certain profitability over the time. While our attention tends to focus solely on the finished products, we must understand that these are the result of a long chain of stages, activities and technologies whose interaction is largely responsible for the product’s success on the market. Sustainability arises as a main vector of differentiation for fashion brands in today’s world context. In a fast moving industry such as fashion, sustainability is a concept for designers to explore, breaking the grounds for the environmental impact of the production supply, considerations of end uses or the lifecycle of the product. One of the challenges that we can present to fashion brands nowadays is to deliver a blend of both sustainability and elegance in fashion. In an era dominated by economic and financial crises, how can fashion brands coop with this new reality and enhance their differentiation vectors in order to succeed? This paper intends to explore the sustainable business model and strategy for fashion brands towards a more responsible branding, facing the challenges that the new world places upon them. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)