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The ‘4 per mille Soils for Food Security and Climate’ was launched at the COP21 with an aspiration to increase global soil organic matter stocks by 4 per 1000 (or 0.4 %) per year as a compensation for the global emissions of greenhouse gases by anthropogenic sources. This paper surveyed the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock estimates and sequestration potentials from 20 regions in the world (New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Australia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, India, China Taiwan, South Korea, China Mainland, United States of America, France, Canada, Belgium, England & Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Russia). We asked whether the 4 per mille initiative is feasible for the region. The outcomes highlight region specific efforts and scopes for soil carbon sequestration. Reported soil C sequestration rates globally show that under best management practices, 4 per mille or even higher sequestration rates can be accomplished. High C sequestration rates (up to 10 per mille) can be achieved for soils with low initial SOC stock (topsoil less than 30 t C ha− 1), and at the first twenty years after implementation of best management practices. In addition, areas which have reached equilibrium will not be able to further increase their sequestration. We found that most studies on SOC sequestration only consider topsoil (up to 0.3 m depth), as it is considered to be most affected by management techniques. The 4 per mille number was based on a blanket calculation of the whole global soil profile C stock, however the potential to increase SOC is mostly on managed agricultural lands. If we consider 4 per mille in the top 1m of global agricultural soils, SOC sequestration is between 2-3 Gt C year− 1, which effectively offset 20–35% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. As a strategy for climate change mitigation, soil carbon sequestration buys time over the next ten to twenty years while other effective sequestration and low carbon technologies become viable. The challenge for cropping farmers is to find disruptive technologies that will further improve soil condition and deliver increased soil carbon. Progress in 4 per mille requires collaboration and communication between scientists, farmers, policy makers, and marketeers.

The agriculture and horticulture sector in the Netherlands is one of the most productive in the world. Although the sector is one of the most advanced and intense agricultural production systems worldwide, it faces challenges, such as climate change and environmental and social unsustainability of industrial production. To overcome these challenges, alternative food production initiatives have emerged, especially in large cities such as Amsterdam. Some initiatives involve producing food in the urban environment, supported by new technologies and practices, so-called high-tech urban agriculture (HTUA). These initiatives make cultivation of plants inside and on top of buildings possible and increase green spaces in urban areas. The emerging agricultural technologies are creating new business environments that are shape d by technology developers (e.g., suppliers of horticultural light emitting diodes (LED) and control environment systems) and developers of alternative food production practices (e.g., HTUA start-ups). However, research shows that the uptake of these technological innovations in urban planning processes is problematic. Therefore, this research analyzes the barriers that local government planners and HTUA developers are facing in the embedding of HTUA in urban planning processes, using the city of Amsterdam as a case study. This study draws on actor-network theory (ANT) to analyze the interactions between planners, technologies, technology developers and developers of alternative food production practices. Several concepts of ANT are integrated into a multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions (MLP) to create a new theoretical framework that can explain how interactions between technologies and planning actors transform the incumbent social–technical regime. The configuration of interactions between social and material entities in technology development and adoption processes in Amsterdam is analyzed through the lens of this theoretical framework. The data in this study were gathered by tracing actors and their connections by using ethnographic research methods. In the course of the integration of new technologies into urban planning practices, gaps between technologies, technology developers, and planning actors have been identified. The results of this study show a lacking connection between planning actors and technology developers, although planning actors do interact with developers of alternative food production practices. These interactions are influenced by agency of artefacts such as visualizations of the future projects. The paper concludes that for the utilization of emerging technologies for sustainability transition of cities, the existing gap between technology developers and planning actors needs to be bridged through the integration of technology development visions in urban agendas and planning processes.

Domestic (household) biogas plants constitute a growing sub-sector of the anaerobic digestion industry worldwide but have received low interest for improvements. The Chinese dome digester (CDD 1), a major type of domestic biogas plants, is a naturally mixed, unheated and low technology reactor mainly used in rural and pre-urban areas for cooking using animal manure. In this study, a multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was applied to evaluate an optimized CDD design and outcomes were compared with results of pilot scale experiments. The optimized digester (CDD2) under goes self-agitating cycles created by the pressure variation from the produced biogas with the aid of a baffle at the top of the reactor, whereas the blank (CDD 1) does not self-agitate. The optimized digester has two pressure zones to improve mixing viz. the self-agitation cycles. The optimized digester is characterized by more, stable and improved hydraulic characteristics and mixing.

AbstractAnalyzing the politics and policy implications in Brazil of attributing extreme weather events to climate change, we argue for greater place-based sensitivity in recommendations for how to frame extreme weather events relative to climate change. Identifying geographical limits of current recommendations to emphasize the climate role in such events, we explore Brazilian framings of the two tragic national disasters, as apparent in newspaper coverage of climate change. We find that a variety of contextual factors compel environmental leaders and scientists in Brazil to avoid and discourage highlighting the role of climate change in national extreme events. Against analysts’ general deficit-finding assumptions, we argue that the Brazilian framing tendency reflects sound strategic, socio-environmental reasoning, and discuss circumstances in which attributing such events to climate change—and, by extension, attribution science—can be ineffective for policy action on climate change and other socio-environmental issues in need of public pressure and preventive action. The case study has implications beyond Brazil by begging greater attention to policies and politics in particular places before assuming that attribution science and discursive emphasis on the climate role in extreme events are the most strategic means of achieving climate mitigation and disaster preparedness. Factors at play in Brazil might also structure extreme events attribution politics in other countries, not least some other countries of the global South.

Contexte et objectif : Les partenariats sont un mécanisme clé dans la planification, la prestation et la gestion de la foresterie urbaine (FU) et des infrastructures vertes (IG). Ils peuvent faciliter la cogestion ancrée localement et la gouvernance polycentrique. Ils peuvent également réaliser des synergies en combinant les ressources, l'engagement et l'expertise de divers groupes de parties prenantes afin de générer des résultats précieux et de construire un capital social. Néanmoins, le terme « partenariats » n'est pas utilisé de manière cohérente dans la littérature et nécessite une clarification. Les caractéristiques qui distinguent une approche de partenariat des autres modes de coopération sont identifiées et décrites. La diversité des partenariats existants axés sur la FU et les IG est décrite, en référence à leurs parties prenantes, moteurs, activités et objectifs, ainsi que les avantages potentiels de l'approche de partenariat. Les considérations à faire dans leur évaluation sont dérivées de cette analyse de fond et les facteurs de réussite possibles sont discutés. Matériels et méthodes :La diversité, les objectifs et les caractéristiques d'une approche de partenariat sont basés sur une analyse documentaire approfondie.Résultats : Les partenariats se concentrent sur divers aspects et phases de prestation de l'UF, allant de la planification, de la conception et de la création de forêts urbaines et d'IG à leur gestion et utilisation.Les avantages fournis par de tels partenariats comprennent les services environnementaux et économiques ainsi que les services sociaux et culturels tels que l'éducation environnementale, la santé, les loisirs et le tourisme.Générer des services précieux tout en entretenant des relations entre les parties prenantes contribue à développer le capital social et à renforcer les capacités.En plus des avantages environnementaux, économiques et sociaux, l'évaluation des partenariats peut également aborder des variables de processus internes telles que l'apprentissage social, la relation entre les partenaires et les résultats de motivation qui peuvent influencer la coopération future.conclusions : Les partenariats coopératifs offrent une approche prometteuse pour la prestation de l'UF.Le développement des relations entre les partenaires maximise le potentiel de développement d'une coopération efficace à long terme et de renforcement du capital social en tant qu'aide à la promotion du développement durable. Antecedentes y propósito: Las asociaciones son un mecanismo clave en la planificación, entrega y gestión de la silvicultura urbana (UF) y la infraestructura verde (GI). Pueden facilitar la cogestión arraigada localmente y la gobernanza policéntrica. También pueden lograr sinergias combinando los recursos, el compromiso y la experiencia de diversos grupos de partes interesadas para generar resultados valiosos y construir capital social. Desafortunadamente, el término "asociaciones" no se usa de manera consistente en la literatura y requiere aclaración. Se identifican y describen las características que distinguen un enfoque de asociación de otros modos de cooperación. Se describe la diversidad de las asociaciones orientadas a UF y GI existentes, con referencia a sus partes interesadas, impulsores, actividades y objetivos, junto con las posibles ventajas del enfoque de asociación. Las consideraciones que se deben hacer en su evaluación se derivan de este análisis de antecedentes y se discuten los posibles factores de éxito. Materiales y métodos:La diversidad, los objetivos y las características definitorias de un enfoque de asociación se basan en una extensa revisión de la literatura. Resultados: Las asociaciones se centran en diversos aspectos y fases de entrega de UF, que van desde la planificación, el diseño y la creación de bosques urbanos e IG hasta su gestión y uso. Los beneficios obtenidos por dichas asociaciones incluyen servicios ambientales y económicos, así como servicios sociales y culturales como la educación ambiental, la salud, el ocio y el turismo. La generación de servicios valiosos y, al mismo tiempo, el fomento de las relaciones entre las partes interesadas ayuda a desarrollar el capital social y a desarrollar la capacidad. Además de los beneficios ambientales, económicos y sociales, la evaluación de las asociaciones también puede abordar variables de procesos internos como el aprendizaje social, la relación entre los socios y los resultados motivacionales que pueden influir en la cooperación futura. Conclusiones: Las asociaciones cooperativas ofrecen un enfoque prometedor para la entrega en UF. El desarrollo de las relaciones entre los socios maximiza el potencial para desarrollar una cooperación efectiva a largo plazo y para construir capital social como una ayuda para la promoción del desarrollo sostenible. Background and Purpose: Partnerships are a key mechanism in the planning, delivery and management of urban forestry (UF) and green infrastructure (GI).They can facilitate locally rooted co-management and polycentric governance.They can also achieve synergies by combining the resources, commitment and expertise of diverse stakeholder groups in order to generate valuable outcomes and build social capital.Unfortunately, the term "partnerships" is not used consistently in literature and requires clarification.The characteristics which distinguish a partnership approach from other modes of cooperation are identified and described.The diversity of existing UF and GI oriented partnerships is outlined, with reference to their stakeholders, drivers, activities and goals, together with potential advantages of the partnership approach.Considerations to be made in their evaluation are derived from this background analysis and possible success factors are discussed. Materials and Methods:The diversity, aims and defining characteristics of a partnership approach are based on an extensive literature review.Results: Partnerships focus on diverse aspects and delivery phases of UF, ranging from the planning, design and creation of urban forests and GI to their management and use.Benefits delivered by such partnerships include environmental and economic services as well as social and cultural services such as environmental education, health, leisure and tourism.Generating valuable services whilst at the same time nurturing relationships between stakeholders helps to develop social capital and build capacity.In addition to environmental, economic and social benefits, the evaluation of partnerships may also address internal process variables such as social learning, the relationship between partners, and motivational outcomes that can influence future co-operation.conclusions: Co-operative partnerships offer a promising approach for delivery in UF.The development of relationships between partners maximises the potential for developing effective long term co-operation and for building social capital as an aid to the promotion of sustainable development. الخلفية والغرض: الشراكات هي آلية رئيسية في تخطيط وتسليم وإدارة الحراجة الحضرية (UF) والبنية التحتية الخضراء (GI). يمكن أن تسهل الإدارة المشتركة ذات الجذور المحلية والحوكمة متعددة المراكز. كما يمكنها تحقيق التآزر من خلال الجمع بين الموارد والالتزام والخبرة لمجموعات أصحاب المصلحة المتنوعة من أجل توليد نتائج قيمة وبناء رأس المال الاجتماعي. لسوء الحظ، لا يتم استخدام مصطلح "الشراكات" باستمرار في الأدبيات ويتطلب توضيحًا. يتم تحديد ووصف الخصائص التي تميز نهج الشراكة عن أساليب التعاون الأخرى. يتم تحديد تنوع الشراكات الحالية الموجهة نحو UF و GI، مع الإشارة إلى أصحاب المصلحة والدوافع والأنشطة والأهداف، جنبًا إلى جنب مع المزايا المحتملة لنهج الشراكة. يتم استخلاص الاعتبارات التي يجب مراعاتها في تقييمها من هذا التحليل الأساسي وتتم مناقشة عوامل النجاح المحتملة. المواد والأساليب:يعتمد التنوع والأهداف والخصائص المميزة لنهج الشراكة على مراجعة شاملة للأدبيات .النتائج: تركز الشراكات على جوانب متنوعة ومراحل تسليم UF، بدءًا من تخطيط وتصميم وإنشاء الغابات الحضرية و GI إلى إدارتها واستخدامها. وتشمل الفوائد التي تقدمها هذه الشراكات الخدمات البيئية والاقتصادية بالإضافة إلى الخدمات الاجتماعية والثقافية مثل التعليم البيئي والصحة والترفيه والسياحة .توليد خدمات قيمة وفي الوقت نفسه رعاية العلاقات بين أصحاب المصلحة يساعد على تطوير رأس المال الاجتماعي وبناء القدرات .بالإضافة إلى الفوائد البيئية والاقتصادية والاجتماعية، قد يعالج تقييم الشراكات أيضًا متغيرات العملية الداخلية مثل التعلم الاجتماعي، والعلاقة بين الشركاء، والنتائج التحفيزية التي يمكن أن تؤثر على التعاون في المستقبل .الاستنتاجات: تقدم الشراكات التعاونية نهجًا واعدًا للتسليم في UF .إن تطوير العلاقات بين الشركاء يزيد من إمكانات تطوير التعاون الفعال طويل الأجل وبناء رأس المال الاجتماعي كمساعدة لتعزيز التنمية المستدامة.