Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-01-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:54:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 alvarenga_rp_me_bauru.pdf: 837333 bytes, checksum: ac5469ac2bd6e056e8f8870ad5acbd97 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho faz uma análise sobre a problemática ambiental envolvida com a produção agrícola de milho de uma grande unidade produtiva localizada no município de Cristalina - GO. Atualmente, as principais características do perfil agrícola deste município são: oitavo maior produtor de milho do Brasil, maior município com área irrigaga da América Latina, um fod municípios brasileiros que mais colhe milho por hectare e um grande consumidor de tecnologia voltada à agricultura. Utiliza como método para essa análise uma abordagem simplificada de condução de uma Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) para avaliar o panorama ambiental associado à produção agrícola do milho. Tal ACV é desenvolvida ao se levar em consideração tanto o processo agrícola de produção do grão de milho, como também uma das etapas de reprodução da semente deste grão em solo agrícola. Para isso, utiliza quatro categorias de impacto. O consumo de recursos renováveis e de recursos não renováveis envolvidos no ciclo de vida analisado são avaliados quantitativamente. Já os graus de periculosidade ambiental e de toxidade associado a cada agrotóxico consumido são avaliados semi-quantitativamente. Assim, as principais conclusões deste estudo são: processo de produção do grão de milho responde por mais impactos que que o processo de produção da semente deste grão no ciclo de vida analisado, metodologia simplificada de ACV pode ser um importante instrumento de avaliação ambiental, mesmo que ainda existam algumas ineficiências metodológicas com relação a ferramenta ACV / This work is an analysis of the environment issue involved with the agricultural production of corn in a farm located in the town of Cristalina - GO. Currently, the main features of this agriucultural city are: the eighth producer of corn in Brazil, the largest with the irrigated area in Latin America, one of Brazil's municipalities to reap more corn per hectare and a large consumer-oriented technology to agriculture. Used as method for this analysis a simplified approach of conduction of a Life Cicle Assessment (LCA) to asses the environmental outlook associated with agricultural production of corn. This LCA developed by considerating both the process of agricultural production of corn, but also one of the steps to reproduce the seed of grain in agricultural soil. It uses four categories of impact. The consumption of renewable and nonrenewable resources involved in this life cycle analysis are avaluated quantitatively. The degree of toxicity and envivonment hazards associated with each pesticide consumed are assessed almost quantatively. Thus, the main conclusions of this study are: the production process of corn has more impact that the process of seed production process of corn has more impact than the process of production in the life cycle analyzed simplified methodology of LCA can be an important tool for environmental assessment, even there are still some inefficiencies with respect to methodological tool LCA

We are now facing the challenge of sustainable development. This thesis focuses on the building illumination of one downtown hospitality building, the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel (RVH), to demonstrate three options for sustainable development of architectural lighting. The thesis employs architectural exterior lighting based on the technology of light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a vehicle to demonstrate how to reduce the energy consumption and maintenance costs of decorative lighting on building façades via three transformative lighting strategies. These three transformative lighting strategies demonstrate three possibilities of applying LEDs to develop architectural creativity and energy sustainability for an outdoor decorative lighting system. The first transformation utilizes LEDs for the retrofit of existing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) on the RVH’s façades and rooftop, in order to improve and diversify the building’s illumination in a sustainable manner. The second transformation optimizes the yearly programming of the new outdoor decorative LED lighting in accordance with differing seasonal and temporal themes in order to save energy, demonstrate architectural creativity via versatile lighting patterns, and systematically manage the unstable generation of renewable energy. The third transformation explores the potential of on-site electricity generation in an urban context instead of its purchase from BC Hydro. Photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate the electrical requirements of the RVH’s decorative exterior LED lighting. This transformation will transfer daytime solar energy to electricity for night outdoor building illumination; consequently, it can encourage outdoor activities in the nighttime for Vancouverites, and is a means of compensating for the limited daytime hours in Vancouver’s winter months. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

Magister Legum - LLM / Despite some gains in economic reforms and international commitments, Ethiopia still maintains the position of one of the poorest countries in the world in the 21st century with very little power to influence the allocation of resources in the world market. The development problems in many of the sub-Saharan regions are confined within the country including the difficulty to keep up with rapid increase in the number of primary school enrollments, which has led to a situation of compromised quality; high child mortality and HIV/AIDS, which poses additional challenges to the poor health facilities, gender and regional inequalities and sustainable debt burden. Making matters worse, Ethiopia's political instability, civil war, recurring of drought, and economic mismanagement ties the country to a severe poverty cycle.. Ethiopia has made important economic, social and political reforms with the support of the World bank and other multilateral institutions, to pave the way for the country to face the challenges posed by globalization. However, these reforms have not been sustained by effective implementation. The response to overcome the problems has also been slow to see rapid growth. In this research paper, the writer explores the challenges regarding Ethiopia's poverty from perspective of the World Bank. The research examines the theoretical and conceptual underpinning of the World Bank's general mandate and objectives on poverty reduction, using Ethiopia as a case study. / South Africa

No abstract available. / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar ( Sustainable Ecological Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

The world is threatened by the possibility of an irreversible catastrophe that many would blame on the environmental impact of the present lifestyle, the results of which are climate change or global warming. This is clearly unacceptable to both present and future generations. If going green really means changing the way we live and pursuing knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and socio-ecologically responsible decisions, it is time to protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations. Integrated sustainability reporting should be viewed as a vehicle to accomplish this global agenda of going green beyond mere legal requirements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of integrated sustainability reporting (ISR) on achieving green business status within JSE listed companies. To achieve the purpose, an in-depth literature study and empirical research were undertaken using a triangulation method. After a detailed descriptive and content analysis of the collected primary and secondary data, the study found the following: Most of the JSE listed corporations’ integrated reports are not utilising the CSR, GRI guidelines and voluntary standards as effective tools to drive the process of green sustainable business. Some of the JSE listed organisations are treating financial and non-financial matters as separate issues in their integrated reports; The ISR has no impact in terms of using the NEMA framework in driving the process of green sustainable business in the JSE listed organisations; Most of the JSE listed organisations were fully aware of ecological sustainability as a pillar to drive the process of green sustainable business. They treat this pillar of sustainable development as a separate entity from socio-economic developmental issues. Most of the JSE listed corporations adhere to all the bylaws and regulations of ecological sustainability within their required certification of ISO 14001 standards in order to remain effectively certified by the auditing authority. Some integrated reports indicated much support for staff in terms of health, educational activities, labour laws and programmes that advance the socio-economic aspects of human beings; The study has found that the social pillar of sustainability is mostly supported by JSE listed organisations in South Africa - to the level of the requirements of labour relations legislation. It is not integrated with sustainability policies beyond the statutory requirements; It was further noticed in this study that integrated sustainability reports, based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) principles and the King III reporting guidelines, disclose outcomes and results regarding the JSE listed organisations’ obligations, strategy and management approach which occurred within the reporting period. To address the above-listed findings, the researcher recommended that the JSE listed organisations integrate the NEMA, EMS, CSR, GRI and King III guidelines in their integrated sustainability reporting, in order to produce an effective sustainable green business in South Africa that is ecologically accountable and socio-economically supportive to all multi-stakeholders. The government and non-governmental organisations are the key players to drive the process of going green using the ISR. The government needs more structured policies and regulations that will support the National Development Plan in the pursuit of green economy in the form of grants and incentives that are beyond the present status quo.

The purpose of the study was to investigate how the co-operatives can be used to uplift the standard of living in the rural, with specific reference to Dutywa villages of Ngcingwane, Mangati and Mbewuleni. In other words is ‘how do we make co-operatives work’. The overall purpose of the study was to investigate whether co-operatives have contributed to positive change in the socio-economic conditions in the three villages of Dutywa. The research further analyzes the performance of the co-operatives in terms of their leadership and management structures. The research was also to find out what the challenges are and what are the gaps associated with the performance of the co-operatives. The research was also to look at how the support from different government departments and other government agencies are used to enhance the co-operatives governance. Lastly, the research was to find the best model for co-operative development and what needs to be done to enhance the capacity of the co-operatives. In the study that was carried out, four different approaches were used. The research was based on action research which involved a range of instruments like questionnaires, focus group interviews, conversation and observation. Both comparative and qualitative research frameworks were used for different purposes and at different times. Comparative approach is used when the three co-operatives are compared to each other. Differences on governance and administrative issues on governance such as capital, market and the impact thereafter is reported on. The research assumption was that co-operative development is a viable tool for economic development of the rural areas. This can help many South Africans and many communities come out of poverty. However, there are 6 limitations that are caused by the inability of government to co-ordinate co-operative development. Despite the role that co-operatives play in South Africa, co-operatives still experience a number of challenges. These challenges are, amongst others, lack of access to finance, lack of access to market, lack of business skills, lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of knowledge about the co-operative. In view of the challenges facing the co-operatives, the government instituted a number of state departments and parastatals for funding and other necessary support. These are DTI, DEDEA (in the Eastern Cape), ECDC, SEDA, Department of Labour and municipalities. The objectives of these support institutions are to provide necessary support needed by co-operatives and to ensure that co-operative development is sustainable. The findings of this study suggest that co-operatives play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the rural villages. Co-operatives create self-employment and sometimes employment through temporary employment offered; provide space and time for socialization and lastly co-operative members are sometimes through their produce able to provide basic foodstuffs to the family. In view of the socio-economic benefits of the co-operatives in rural villages of Dutywa, it is highly recommended that various support programmes that are already there within the departments should be enhanced. Assistance to co-operatives should not only be limited to government funding for co-operatives but more concentration should be on finding market for their products.

The currently topical problems of forest management are issues of trans-science. They can be framed in the language of science but they cannot be resolved in the language of science. They involve historically contingent phenomena for which predictive certainty is not possible and they involve issues of moral, aesthetic and economic value. What is the role of science in contributing to the public debate on what are fundamentally social issues such as clear-cut logging or the preservation of old-growth forests? A history and philosophy of science, in general, and ecological science, in particular, is presented that traces the transition, over the last half century, from a positivist science of universal, timeless, predictable order to a science that attempts to interpret local, particular aspects of nature. The former relies on identifying restricted spatio-temporal scales that facilitate prediction while the latter focuses on an understanding of the causal relations within interrelated systems that facilitate explanation of system properties. A kind of contextual or dialectical holism is advocated wherein system components are considered in the context of the whole and the whole is considered as an epiphenomenon resulting from causal interaction of the parts. A history of forest science is presented that identifies sustained yield forestry as a construct of positivist science. Recent insights by ecological science, into the complexity and contingency of forest ecosystems, reveal the limitations of this simplified view. Moreover, the application of a single large-scale strategy such as sustained yield forestry to managing forests in British Columbia contained value assumptions that no longer reflect the full range of values that the public express. The currently topical debates on clear-cutting, logging in municipal watersheds and over-cutting are offered as examples of how questions of fact and questions of value become linked. Although these debates have been carried on in the language of science they are essentially social issues and cannot be resolved by science. The role of science in contributing to the resolution of social issues, such as the development of a sustainable forestry, is not to develop specific solutions but to contribute to the social dialogue in a subservient fashion. Science can characterize the context in which disagreements about matters of value take place. Science can use its experimental protocols to help society construct living experiments that allow us to learn our way into the future. Science can take part in an equitable conversation on sustainable forestry that will facilitate a better understanding of the beliefs and values of the human component of forested ecosystems. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

M.Sc. / The social and environmental effects of inequitable development programmes inherited by South Africa’s new dispensation are aggravated by a substantial housing backlog. Tenure security and slow land release for development has motivated land invasions and the development of informal settlements. Subsequent environmental degradation in affected areas is mainly due to the lack of basic infrastructure and services including energy supply, water, sanitation, and waste management facilities. The Housing Act of 1997 has provided the means for developing housing delivery and township upgrade programmes aimed at addressing such problems. In light of South Africa’s Constitution (1996), the National Environmental Management Act (1998) and the Habitat Agenda (1996), the importance of environmentally sensitive and sustainable housing developments has been highlighted. However, socio-political pressure to address the housing backlog may demand a compromise in sustainability criteria over the long term, in order to achieve the shorter-term transformation targets. Within the context of South Africa’s transformation objectives, a question has developed about the extent to which low-cost townships are meeting sustainability criteria. This dissertation contributes towards answering the above question; three housing projects in Gauteng were selected and reviewed. For each project, the ecological risks, social sensitivity, economic stability, and available technology were analysed. The analysis indicated that in all three cases, the projects did not meet all defined sustainability criteria, concluding that under current conditions they are unlikely to be sustainable over the long-term. Factors that influenced the projects’ sustainability potential included the geographical location of each project, compliance with landuse development objectives, the township approval process, views of interested and affected parties, ecological sensitivity, and availability of resources and infrastructure. In order to improve housing delivery, the study further concluded that the process for housing and service provision should be more efficient, low-cost developments should be adequately addressed in landuse development strategies, improved communication between role-players and stakeholders including government departments is required, and alternative and affordable technologies should be considered, with the associated training and awareness for sustainable environmental management.

As the demand for alternative and renewable sources of energy grows worldwide, it has been argued that small-scale Urban Wind Energy (UWE) could have the potential to provide a significant portion of the electricity demand for urban areas. However there is currently a lack of knowledge surrounding the realisable potential for UWE, especially in the South African context. In order to gain a better understanding of the potential for UWE and the barriers acting against its widespread uptake, it is essential to first quantify the resource potential. This study appraise and evaluate the UWE resource potential at six locations in Cape Town, South Africa in order to gain a solid understanding of the UWE resource potential and thus begin to build the knowledge base around UWE. In order to meet the research objectives, wind data was obtained from the South African Weather Service for six locations in Cape Town at five minute recording intervals for a period of two years. These locations were: The Royal Cape Yacht Club located in the Table Bay harbour, the Astronomical Observatory located in Observatory, and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens located in Kirstenbosch, the Molteno reservoir located in Oranjezicht, the Automatic Weather station located near the Cape Town International Airport as well as the Cape Town Weather Office (WO) station which is also located at the Cape Town International Airport. The data sets are then analysed using a script written in the programming language R in order to quantify the wind energy resource potential of the chosen locations. The wind energy resource potential of each site was combined with four commercially available wind turbines power curves in order to calculate the expected annual energy production values of the various turbines at the each of the locations. Results from this study highlight the significant variability resource potential of the wind regime that occurs between the six locations. The lowest yearly average wind speed was 2.044m/s which was recorded at the Kirstenbosch recording station, while the highest average wind speed was 5.06m/s which was recorded at the WO station. The average of all six stations for the two year period was 3.24m/s. Therefore the WO station had the highest energy potential with a value of 1474 kWh/m²/year and the station with the lowest energy potential was the Kirstenbosch station with a value of 80 kWh/m²/year. Combining these resource potential values with power cures from four commercially available wind turbines yields the Annual Energy Production (AEP) values for the chosen site and wind turbine. These AEP values also varied drastically with the high of 4304 kWh/year being calculated for the SkyStream turbine at the WO station and a low of just 0.66 kWh/year being calculated at the Kirstenbosch station with the Turby turbine. This variability hampers the wide spread uptake of small scale wind power as the results from one area cannot be reliably used to infer the wind resource potential at another nearby site. Out of the six chosen locations in the Cape Town area, three of the locations (Royal Cape Yacht Club, the Automatic Weather Station (AWS), and the Cape Town Weather Office (WO)) showed potential for the installation of a small scale wind turbine, with the Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) performing better than the Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs). This is possibly due to the lower cut in wind speeds of the HAWTs compared to the cut in wind speeds for the VAWTs. The conclusions of this study show that the UWE resource potential in Cape Town is characterised by high resource variability between the various locations. Three of the six locations that were evaluated showed potential for UWE installations. This study has identified the major challenges associated with UWE to be the turbulence, lower hub heights of the wind turbines (this study used 20m as the standard hub height), and variability of the wind regime between locations.

Access to clean, modern energy services is a necessity for sustainable development. The UN Sustainable Development Goals and SE4ALL program commit to the provision of universal access to modern energy services by 2030. However, the latest available figures estimate that 1.1 billion people are living without access to electricity, with over 55% living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, 85% live in rural areas, often with challenging terrain, low income and population density; or in countries with severe underinvestment in electricity infrastructure making grid extension unrealistic. Recently, improvements in technology, cost efficiency and new business models have made mini-grids which combine multiple energy technologies in hybrid systems one of the most promising alternatives for electrification off the grid. The International Energy Agency has estimated that up to 350,000 new mini-grids will be required to reach universal access goals by 2030. Given the intermittent and location-dependent nature of renewable energy sources, the evolving costs and performance characteristics of individual technologies, and the characteristics of interacting technologies, detailed system simulation and demand modelling is required to determine the cost optimal combinations of technologies for each-and-every potential mini-grid site. Adding to this are the practical details on the ground such as community electricity demand profiles and distances to the grid or fuel sources, as well asthe social and political contexts,such as unknown energy demand uptake or technology acceptance, national electricity system expansion plans and subsidies or taxes, among others. These can all have significant impacts in deciding the applicability of a mini-grid within that context. The scope of the research and modelling framework presented focuses primarily on meeting the specific energy needs in the sub-Saharan African context. Thus, in being transparent, utilizing freely available software and data as well as aiming to be reproducible, scalable and customizable; the model aims to be fully flexible, staying relevant to other unique contexts and useful in answering unknown future research questions. The techno-economic model implementation presented in this paper simulates hourly mini-grid operation using meteorological data, demand profiles, technology capabilities, and costing data to determine the optimal component sizing of hybrid mini-grids appropriate for rural electrification. The results demonstrate the location, renewable resource, technology cost and performance dependencies on system sizing. The model is applied for the investigation of 15 hypothetical mini-grids sites in different regions of South Africa to validate and demonstrate the model’s capabilities. The effect of technology hybridization and future technology cost reductions on the expected cost of energy and the optimal technology configurations are demonstrated. The modelling results also showed that the combination of hydrogen fuel cell and electrolysers was not an economical energy storage with present day technology costs and performance. Thereafter, the model was used to determine an approximate fuel cell and electrolyser cost target curve up to the year 2030. Ultimately, any research efforts through the application of the model, building on the presented framework, are intended to bridge the science-policy boundary and give credible insight for energy and electrification policies, as well as identifying high impact focus areas for ongoing further research.