• Energy Research
• 11. Sustainability close
• 2. Zero hunger close
• English close
• National Research Council close

A catchment and its relative coastal zone are both influenced by climate change, particularly by specific factors as precipitation, temperature and wind. In the Mediterranean predicted changes are expected to be superimposed over long-term alterations caused by both natural and anthropogenic pressures (IPCC, 2001). Therefore, climate modification will have an impact on the Po catchment and the Northern Adriatic Coastal system, affecting water resources, ecosystems, agriculture and food security, human settlements, financial services and human health. Climate pressure has the potential to exacerbate already existing problems (i.e. eutrophication, heavy metal pollution, subsidence). The connections between Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), already studied and analysed in the EUROCAT project, have been re-analysed and the tools (models) used for the Po catchment study have been modified in relation to the climate change. In particular, this research activity aims to estimate the nutrient flux changes (using the MONERIS model) in the Po basin under possible climate change impacts. These preliminary studies have been done in order to understand and quantify direct and indirect relationships between climate change and estimated nutrient fluxes taking into consideration the specific pathways of the MONERIS model

The city is the man-made structure with the largest consumption of energy. To achieve more sustainable levels of resource's use and to reduce its environmental impact, it needs to transform its way of working. For this purpose, it is necessary to act on the urban structure by ensuring that the resources necessary for its running, and for the same functional level, are less and less. To achieve the outcome we can act on the existing urban structure, improving the functioning, or on that to be planned ones, if an action of urban transformation is expected. In the latter case, it is necessary to build a plan containing elements of sustainability that, once implemented, will enable the direct achievement of the default aims. The paper wants to deepen the measurement of the effects of plans aiming to create urban areas with neutral consumption or Near Zero Neighborhoods (NZN). It is appropriate, in this regard, to define the most appropriate planning level to apply these innovative procedures. Even if the spatial dimension to be used may vary from case to case, it is possible to assume the neighbourhood/urban sector scale as the best scale, thanks to its basic features, namely the limited extension and the immediate possibility to transform the indications of plan in physical and functional elements.

This book provides an outlook on recent investigated combinations of membrane operations and renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) in the field of water desalination (seawater and brackish water), wastewater treatment and hydrogen production. The combination of a renewable energy facility with a membrane process not only solves the sanitation problem of isolated regions, but also enables a more cleaner wastewater treatment system in view of carbon emission and resource recovery. Regarding biomass, the integration of membrane reactors in the production processes of green fuels in the logic of the process intensification strategy is also considered.

Emergency building, devoted to give rapid and effective housing solutions to catastrophic and unexpected events, relies on the basic principles of construction rapidity and reversibility as well as the use of alternative energy sources. The growing need for environmental impact reduction in the building sector represents for temporary housing - especially under emergency conditions - a priority requisite, since, after given time lapses, areas occupied with emergency settlements will have to be recovered to their original use. In this case, the buildings' service life does not correspond to the life cycle of their materials and components; as a consequence, design activities will have to assure the dismantability and reusability of structures for further service cycles, making the whole process reversible: from construction to 'zero waste' de-construction. This paper aims at defining design criteria for low-impact emergency dwellings, assessing at the same time their applicability to corrugated steel pipes, obtained by assembling galvanized curved sheets - commonly used for underpasses and conduits - for which different use possibilities have been investigated. In this view, the research program has led to the definition of modular dwelling solutions. Then, technical feasibility studies have been carried out in collaboration with the industrial sector, taking advantage of consolidated production lines for innovative use purposes. Along the different research stages, a methodology has been defined for the assessment of the fundamental sustainability criteria through different simulation procedures; among these, the evaluation of the life-cycle environmental impacts with SimaPRO software and the 3D modelling for the maximization of the construction/environment integration - also in relation to the use of PV modules - have produced interesting results.

Historically, water resources have allowed the development of urban settlements and water forms and availability - such as surface water or underground water (springs, rivers and streams, aquifers, lakes), have influenced the urban environment either in connection to danger and risk connected to the proximity of the water body, either for the functional and aesthetic value. The educational project Daylighting Rivers -co-funded by the European Union in 2017 (Project number 2017-1-IT02- KA201-036968), takes its cue from such theme to develop a teaching methodology that aims to facilitate STEM learning and at the same time to raise teachers' and students' awareness on the importance and vulnerability of water bodies, especially in a urban context. The project was implemented in Italy, Spain and Greece, countries with similar environmental characteristics and urban sprawl processes that have been emphasizing water issues especially in time of climate change. Over the first two years, the project involved three pilot secondary schools that tested an innovative, multidisciplinary and participatory teaching methodology, based on a model of Inquiry Based Learning. From the pedagogical point of view, the methodology fosters the students' centrality and curiosity for investigating the local river in own town or province. Twenty learning units were developed on specific topics connected to macro-themes that can be implemented in different school disciplines. The promotion of innovative digital tools such as Location Based Games have also allowed students to approach and work with georeferenced information, but also combine technical-scientific aspects and language to historical-humanistic-artistic aspects and storytelling. Students could also reflect on a variety of aspects related to rivers in town such as social, ecological, cultural and economic well-being aspects.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential environmental life-cycle impacts of olives produced in three management systems of olive tree integrated with natural grassland. This study compares three small farms using different farming systems (silvopastoral, organic and traditional) with an average Italian farm using life cycle assessment methodology. The most related to agriculture impact categories were assessed: Global Warming potential, acidification and eutrophication. All farms were are using small amount of fertilisers, low use of chemicals, and no pesticides. However among all agricultural practices, fertilization has the highest environmental impact followed by machinery use. In this case organic farming system is looking as the most promising one due to low organic fertiliser application.

One of the main problems that affects modern cities is connected to transport/mobility. Urban transport is currently based on car use; the transition to the use of more sustainable means of transport is happening slowly. Bicycles used as main way of transport, combined with walking, it’s a successful solution for many towns to really bring traffic and congestion down. For their high density and their short time travels, towns are the best places (in comparison to long time travels as merchandise transport) to reduce the green houses gasses emitted promoting walking, cycling and public transport. For this reason the European Union is directly founding different projects that boost urban cycling. Many examples presented in this paper where collected by an European project. This project sectioned best practices and excellences in cycling as the so called cycle cities: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Seville,…cities that have recognized the importance of cycling as a solution to traffic congestion. But how is it possible to transfer these experiences to others realities? The scope of this article is to show the sustainability of cycling according to socio-economic (social and economic sustainability) and environmental terms (environmental sustainability). For this reason is proposed a CBA (Cost and Benefits Analysis) methodology specific to evidence the advantages of investments in cycling made by public authorities or private companies both, to promote and realize ecological infrastructures. One of the main problems that affects modern cities is connected to transport/mobility. Urban transport is currently based on car use; the transition to the use of more sustainable means of transport is happening slowly. Bicycles used as main way of transport, combined with walking, it’s a successful solution for many towns to really bring traffic and congestion down. For their high density and their short time travels, towns are the best places (in comparison to long time travels as merchandise transport) to reduce the green houses gasses emitted promoting walking, cycling and public transport. For this reason the European Union is directly founding different projects that boost urban cycling. Many examples presented in this paper where collected by an European project. This project sectioned best practices and excellences in cycling as the so called cycle cities: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Seville,…cities that have recognized the importance of cycling as a solution to traffic congestion. But how is it possible to transfer these experiences to others realities? The scope of this article is to show the sustainability of cycling according to socio-economic (social and economic sustainability) and environmental terms (environmental sustainability). For this reason is proposed a CBA (Cost and Benefits Analysis) methodology specific to evidence the advantages of investments in cycling made by public authorities or private companies both, to promote and realize ecological infrastructures. Tema. Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, Vol 8, N° 1 (2015): Cities, Energy and Climate Change

It is recognised that several constraints such as the lack of knowledge and expertise of farmers, land users and policy makers concerning agroforestry systems establishment and management hamper the adoption of agroforestry systems (Camilli et al. 2017). AFINET project acts at EU level in order to direct research results into practice and promote innovative ideas to face challenges and solve practitioners' problems. AFINET proposes an innovative methodology based on the creation of a European Interregional Network, linking different Regional Agroforestry Innovation Networks (RAINs). RAINs represent different climatic, geographical, social and cultural conditions and enclose a balanced representation of the key actors with complementary types of expertise (farmers, policy makers, advisory services, extension services, etc.). The Italian RAIN is focused on the Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) value chain, with the main aim to promote agroforestry management of local olive orchards. Olive trees are still managed traditionally, often in marginal sites, with minimal mechanization and relatively low external inputs such as chemical treatments in comparison to other crops. The presence of permanent crops (olive trees) guarantees a partially tree cover reducing hydrogeological risk. Soil management usually keeps natural grassing reducing soil carbon emission and increasing soil fertility (Bateni et al. 2017). Intercropping with cereals and/or fodder legumes and livestock can also be practiced in olive orchards, increasing the complexity of the olive tree multifunctional system. Moreover, olive orchards can be managed as agroforestry systems since they can be intercropped with arable crops (cereals, legumes) and/or combined with livestock (sheep, poultry). The RAIN process, involving local stakeholders, highlighted the main bottlenecks of the EVOO value chain related to communication and dissemination of knowledge, technical and management aspects, market and policy. In order to contrast bottlenecks and exploit opportunities of the olive oil supply chain, the identified innovations are: i) adoption of best practices: testing and experimenting innovative agroforestry systems introducing different crop/animals species and varieties; ii) improve the management of the olive orchards: encouraging and increasing the organic production; iii) valorisation of olive processing residues: identifying and testing innovative products (bio-materials, olive paste as example); iv) arise the awareness among consumers: educating people about the benefits of olive oil consumption, creating networks among stakeholders, improving marketing and commercialization. Creating a Bio-district, defined as a geographical area where farmers, citizens, tourist operators, associations and public authorities enter into an agreement for the sustainable management of local resources, emerged a powerful tool to implement the innovation in the local EVOO value chain.

In the recent years, some experimental forms of housing (cohousing and social housing) have developed in Italy, which also take on the features of real energy communities. These initiatives have been planned and implemented thanks to the active participation and investments of the people involved in the project. Their primary aim is to implement new form of shared housing, but by adopting renewable generation systems and sharing both energy production and consumption, they are contributing to foster the energy transition process. In this research, we studied the management of the energy resource and the social interactions among the cohousers. Moreover, we analysed the social impacts on the surrounding territory in order to know as they can widespread the clean energy technologies and social innovation processes. To do this, we compared two experiences of collaborative housing: the first one, active since some years in Northern Italy, is a bottom-up initiative set up by the voluntary action of some families and individuals. Its goal is to share common spaces and activities, but also to produce and use renewable energy with a view to economic and environmental sustainability. The second one is a social cohousing, established in Messina (Southern Italy) and implemented by the Fondazione di Comunità di Messina. The project involves people who live in socio-economic difficulties. Through the ESCO Solidarity & Energy, the Fondazione has designed and applied energy systems to allow the tenants to become prosumers and prosumagers.

To study and characterize underutilized crops is an important strategy that might improve agricultural biodiversity and produce new products with a low environmental impact. One example is Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz (family Brassicaceae) or false flax, an ancient plant, that has been cultivated in temperate climate belt of Europe, as an annual summer or winter crop, for centuries. Camelina is gaining interest because of its low input requirements and, therefore, it might be used as a low greenhouse-gas-emission biofuel crop. In this last decade several agronomic trials have demonstrated that camelina has several unique agronomic features, including adaptability to marginal soils, short growth cycle and, if compared to rapeseed, a greater resistance to the dehiscence of the siliques. Several consecutive agronomic trials have been carried out in two north Italian localities and in north-east India (Assam and Manipur). The localities are characterized by a temperate and sub-tropical climate condition in Italy and India, respectively. Several camelina genotypes were used and three genotypes were compared between temperate and sub tropical area. Comparison at agronomical, physiological and biochemical levels have been carried out in both Italian and Indian regions. Our results have demonstrated that in these climatic areas camelina was able to grow and produce seeds in both countries, but in north-east India only during local winter season (from November to March) when the precipitation are absent, giving a dry condition season, and the temperature is comparable to that of spring-summer temperate European belt, which is the best season period for camelina growing in north Italy. At morphological level the most evident effect between the localities was on the plant height and number of branches of the camelina genotypes analyzed. Regarding the seed productivity in the two years of trials, the seed yield in India was lower (0.3 ton/ha max) in comparison to the potential yield obtained in Italy (1.0-2.5 ton /ha). Low yield was accompanied by small and light seeds, < 1.0 g/1000 seeds in Manipur, 1.2 g/1000 seeds in Assam in comparison to 1.5-1.8 g/1000 seeds in north Italy. Furthermore the seeds harvested in north-east India showed a lower oil content, about 25%, in comparison to the same genotypes, approximately 35% of oil, grown in Italy. The different percentage in oil, detected in the seeds grown in north-east India, was accompanied by minor differences in fatty acid compositions. The high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linolenic and linoleic) characteristic of camelina oils, were always conserved, but oils from sub-tropical climate had higher level of saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acids) in comparison to the seeds harvested in temperate climate. However, the Indian smaller seeds showed a higher content in tocopherols, which gives a greater oxidative stability and shelf life to the seeds. Furthermore, differences in total protein content were also observed. In conclusion, it is possible to infer that Camelina sativa has a high ability to adapt to different climate belts, outside of its original one. Camelina shows to have a high plasticity to climate changes with only minor morphology traits and biochemical characteristics seeds modification.