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Modern conceptions of progress, based on the dominant Cartesian reductionist paradigm, are associated with a linear drive towards ever greater ascendancy, order, organisation, homogeneity, hegemony, performance, efficiency, and control. Similarly modern conceptions of progress are associated with positivist approaches to overcoming and extinguishing disorder, inchoateness, uncertainty, redundancy and risk. In this framework, diversity is conceived as a threat to system organisation, efficiency and control. Many contemporary conceptions of sustainability and sustainable development, framed within this paradigm, envisage sustainability as aligning with such ideas of progress. By this narrative, sustainable systems are achievable through ever greater efficiency, through for example, technological prowess, improved organisational structure/control, taming of “big data” and through risk reduction/extinction. Similarly, corporate sustainability would be advanced through growth, mergers and acquisitions, rationalisation, pruning of smaller operations/sites within firms, layoffs, increased corporate control, accountability and managerialism. “Bigger is better” is the apposite maxim. From a complex systems perspective however, a very different picture is evident. In the ecological domain, sustainable ecosystems have been quantitatively shown to be those which maintain an appropriate (context, time and space dependent) dynamic balance between opposing tendencies of ascendancy and efficiency on one hand and diversity and redundancy on the other (Ulanowicz, 2009; Goerner et al., 2009). Ecological biodiversity is an absolute requirement for ecosystem endurance since it facilitates system resilience in the event of significant perturbation (whether sudden shock or longer term stress). For example, a species which can feed on a selection of available prey species is more resilient against partial ecosystem destruction/prey extinction than one which relies on a single species for food. While the latter scenario represents a situation of greater efficiency, it is also more rigid and less resilient. Moreover, while the tendencies of complex systems towards ascendancy (organisation, efficiency) and disorder (redundancy, diversity) are antagonistic at local levels, they are in fact mutually dependent at higher levels (Ulanowicz et al, 2009): “A requisite for the increase in effective orderly performance (ascendency) is the existence of flexibility (reserve) within the system. Conversely, systems that are highly constrained and at peak performance (in the second law sense of the word) dissipate external gradients at ever higher gross rates”. This model has been mirrored across techno-economic and social domains wherein similar sustainability models have been proposed (e.g. Stirling, 2011). This framework has manifested itself in research outputs across virtually every discipline, where in different guises sustainable and persistent systems have been shown to require a balance between tendencies of control, structure and organisation and those of diversity and disorder.

Under business-as-usual development, emissions from the transportation system that delivers mobility, given its high fossil-fuel dependence, are expected to exacerbate local air pollution across India's cities and add to CO2 emissions that cause global climate change. Studies show these externalities are significant and emphasize on alignment of national, sectoral and local development policies with climate change targets to gain multiple co-benefits in the long run. There are also opportunities to gain incremental funds through carbon finance mechanisms for projects that mitigate greenhouse gases. Studies in the Indian context that quantify the long-term co-benefits of aligning global climate change targets with local and national development goals are rather limited. The study has explored this gap. The study uses an integrated assessment framework to assess the long-term co-benefits from a passenger mobility system aligned to climate and development goals at national, city (Ahmedabad) and project (metro rail) levels. The conjoint GHG emissions and local air pollutant reductions are estimated for business-as-usual (BAU) and sustainable low carbon mobility (SLCM) scenarios. The alternative scenarios are constructed to investigate the impact of a mix of strategies that involves environmental policies, fuel standards, penetration of alternative vehicle technologies, consumer behaviour, etc. A project level case study of a metro rail is used to show the access to carbon funds using the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) framework. The results for the National passenger mobility case study show that by 2050: (i) passenger mobility demand reduces by 10%, (ii) energy demand reduces by 43%, (iii) CO2 emissions decrease by 69% and (iv) PM2.5 emissions decrease by 40% in SLCM compared to the BAU. For the Ahmedabad passenger mobility system, by 2035: (i) the passenger mobility demand decreases by 20%, (ii) energy demand decreases by 32%, (iii) CO2 emissions reduce by 41% and (iv) PM2.5 emissions decrease ...

Catch and vulnerability forecast of key commercial marine fish species using climatic projec-tion data is of high na-tional significance. The mounting climatic pressures such as Ockhi and Gaja, emphatically point out the need for Development of Cli- mate Resilient Fishing Vil-lages and Technologies.

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Microcalorimetry and high-performance liquid chromatography (h. p. l. c.) have been used to conduct a thermodynamic investigation of the biochemical reaction (phosphoenolpyruvate(aq) + D-erythrose 4-phosphate(aq) + H2O(1) = 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptonate 7-phosphate(aq) + phosphate(aq)), the first step in the metabolic pathway leading to the biosynthesis of chorismate. DAHP synthase, the enzyme used to carry out this reaction. was prepared by using molecular biology techniques and then isolated in a highly purified form. The h.p.l.c. was used to establish that this reaction went to completion and that the apparent equilibrium constant K'(T = 298.15 K. pH approximate to 8.2) is > 1.4 . 10(3). The calorimetrically determined molar enthalpy for this biochemical reaction is Delta(r)H(m)(cal) = - (67.7 +/- 1.5) kJ . mol(-1) at T = 298.15 K, pH = 8.18, and ionic strength I-m = 0.090 mol . kg(-1). Use of this result together with a chemical equilibrium model led to the standard molar enthalpy of reaction Delta(r)H(m)(o), = -(70.0 +/- 3.0) kJ . mol(-1) at T = 298.15 K and I-m = 0 for the chemical reference reaction {phosphoenolpyruvate(3-)(aq) + D-erythrose 4-phosphate(2-)(aq) + H2O(1) = 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptonate 7-phosphate(3-)(aq) + HPO42- (aq)}. Use of an estimated value of the standard molar entropy change Delta(r)S(m)(o) for this reaction together with the measured value of Delta(r)H(m)(o) yielded the standard molar Gibbs free energy change Delta(r)G(m)(o) approximate to -39 kJ . mol(-1) and K approximate to 7 . 10(6) for the chemical reference reaction at T = 298.15 K and I-m = 0. Some insight into the thermochemistry of this reaction has been obtained by assessing the contributions to Delta(r)H(m)(o) that correspond to the loss of a phosphate from phosphoenolpyruvate and to the addition of a pyruvate group to D-erythrose 4-phosphate.

Climate change occupies global agendas and news headlines, but is always attributed to the energy sector. A major culprit in driving climate change that often goes unnoticed, is the food sector. This blog explores the role that our food choices and preferences may have on the fight against climate change.

Limestone calcined clay cements (LC3) are blended cements that combine clinker, limestone, calcined clay and gypsum. The availability of the materials required to produce LC3 and the good performance that it achieves, makes LC3 suitable as a sustainable replacement of Portland cement. Significant advances have been made to assess the properties of LC3, compare it to other common blended cements and establish benchmark characterization procedures. However, there are still open questions that are relevant for a successful adoption of this technology and consequently, to make a better use of the resources available. This research project addresses some of these questions related to processing, blend design and microstructural development of LC3 cements. The effect of calcite impurities in calcined clay reactivity was explored. It was found that at calcination temperatures below the recrystallization threshold, an intermediate produce was formed between kaolinite and calcite. A slight reduction in reactivity was observed, which can be mostly offset by reducing the calcination temperature of the clay and extending the residence time. The effect of using grinding aids was studied at the grinding/classification stage and also during hydra-tion. The use of grinding aids significantly improves the efficiency of dry classification of clay particles, which could prevent overgrinding and increase yield in closed circuit milling units. Furthermore, the use of alkanolamines was shown to be effective to enhance the formation of hemicarboaluminate and monocarboaluminate and thus increase strength. LC3 cements require optimization of the calcium sulfate (gypsum). There is an increase in the sulfate needed relative to the clinker content. The mechanism that explains this increased sulfate demand was found to be linked to the enhancement of alite reaction due to filler effect and the adsorption of sulfate in C-A-S-H, rather than the aluminate content of the calcined clay. In addition, the reaction rate of C3A and the dissolution rate of the sulfate source used are also important to describe the sulfate balance of a cementitious system in general. The effect of hemicarboaluminate and monocarboaluminate on mechanical properties of LC3 was also studied. Metakaolin and sulfate content were found to influence significantly the kinetics of AFm for-mation. Furthermore, the precipitation of AFm between 2 and 3 days of hydration were directly linked to the strength increase observed. The amount of initial space in the system determines the extent to which hydration takes place at a high rate. Afterwards, the porosity refinement leads to a decrease in reaction rate. However, evidence for a continued reaction of metakaolin in the long term was found. The insights presented in this thesis provide new knowledge that enables a better use of LC3 in the field. Together, they also show the robustness and versatility of this technology, and deliver guidelines for future developments and field implementation of LC3.

Development of climatic resilient strategies even at regional levels is of necessity to cope up with climatic change impacts. This paper highlights wetland restoration along with incorporation of scientific fish farming at village level as a significant climatic resilient strategy. Geospatial techniques have been considered as tool for degraded regional wetland resource mapping and eco management plan development. A comprehensive approach by integrating qualitative as well as quantitative assessment of wetland is projected through this work. Scientific bodies are recognized to offer consultancy and monitoring throughout the project phases. Participatory programs with retaining the privileges of traditional local groups over the regional wetlands areenvisaged as project components. Scope of improved capture fisheries technique towards ensuring food and nutrition security, along with role of scientific bodies in assisting selection and implementation of proper aquaculture techniques are also mentioned. Utilization of equipments such as ‘aquatic weed harvesters’instead of manual removal of aquatic weeds is proposed. Conversion of the harvested aquatic vegetation into climate resilient products such as biochar, biofuels and value added products are anticipated as sustainable options. The proposed concept model thus includes regional level wetland resource mapping and restoration, coupled with implementation of scientific fish farming as per the guidelines and consultation of scientific bodies. Keywords: Aquaculture, climate resilience, remote sensing, wetland restoration.

The rapid growth of clean technologies to address climate change has emphasized the increasing complexity of materials, some of which face criticality and potential supply disruptions. Inte- grated assessment models (IAMs) used for designing illustrative mitigation pathways (IMPs) lack comprehensive information on material annual demand projection. This study focuses on the demand for the rare earth element neodymium (Nd) until 2050 in wind power and transporta- tion sectors. The assessment is based on the three most ambitious IMPs, namely “Low Energy Demand” (LD), “Sustainability Pathways” (SP), and “Rapid Technology Change” (Ren), from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Assessment Report 6 (AR6). The results show that Nd demand steadily increases in all scenarios, but the magnitude and growth rates vary. The LD scenario exhibits the lowest material needs in passenger transport due to shared road transport and rail preferences, consequence of a focus on final energy use changes, while the SP scenario presents the highest growth in material demand. The Ren scenario, char- acterized by fast electrification and energy intensity improvements, represents a middle-ground scenario for material demand with good opportunities for recycling. This study underscores the significance of considering material demand in scenario design and highlights the importance of better assessing crucial external factors used for material stock determination in the future. The findings contribute to improving scenario design precision and the understanding of material use implications, providing valuable insights for climate policies and resource management strategies.