Environmental management plays one of the key roles in the current corporate world due to its benefits on brand identity, competitiveness, and customer satisfaction The relationship between environmental management and financial performance has been the focus of many studies in the recent 20 years, however, a steady conclusion is missing on this topic. The impact of environmental management on financial performance in Swedish SMEs in the energy sector has been investigated in this quantitative study. By performing Generalized Least Squares modeling using panel data with 328 observations from Swedish SMEs in the energy sector, the study suggested that environmental management practices do affect a firm’s financial performance. The study emphasis that the green innovation is one of the most important criteria which keeps ahead of its peers in the sector. Another key component in green practices is obtaining ISO14001 certification to promote continual quality. The study also proves that the ratio between male and female executives has no impact on the environmental management of a firm.

<p> Marine Protected Areas (MPA) are broadly used to protect marine ecosystems, restore biomass, and increasingly as tools in fisheries management for benthic stocks. Nevertheless, MPAs are seldom used to target pelagic species due the challenges of designing an effective MPA in a highly dynamic environment. It is believed that highly mobile organisms will get few benefits, since they leave the protected area too frequently. One possible solution is to compensate for such movement with larger MPAs. Nevertheless, uncertainty about the benefits in the face of vagaries about fish movement make it unlikely that such efforts would be successfully pursued. </p><p> Although it is a generally accepted that MPAs provide multiple benefits if well designed, empirical demonstrations of benefits from MPA are hard to obtain. They require long term evaluations, and as a consequence, comparisons between alternative MPA designs are almost nonexistent. Simulation models provide an alternative to empirical approaches that allow tests of designs and forecasts of potential outcomes. To date, most of the simulation models of MPAs have been developed for benthic systems, where simplified assumptions about fish and fisherman movement are reasonable. Fortunately, with the advent of more realistic fish movement models, new approaches are now possible that can combine complex individual-based models of movement, population dynamics and virtual MPA systems. The use of these new complex simulation models can guide the optimization of MPA design to increase both stock sizes and fisheries yields. </p><p> The goal of the research presented in this dissertation is to study the potential of a large MPA to protect a pelagic stock and determine how fish movement characteristics and complex environmental dynamics influence the optimal design criteria for a successful pelagic MPA. The findings are timely given increasing interest in developing large no fishing zones to protect overfished pelagic stocks, especially for those taxa whose distribution spans more than one exclusive economic zone or resides in international waters. For this purpose I implemented a simulation model that incorporates detailed fish movement and their responses to complex environmental forcing to study the effect of fish movement on the efficacy of MPAs of different size and location. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)</p>

<p> Oysters are important to estuarine ecosystems because of the functions they provide. Thus, oyster restoration projects are undertaken in areas where natural populations have declined. However, restoration techniques can impact sediment organic matter and benthic invertebrates that provide trophic support for important species. This study assesses the impacts of a constructed shell bed on associated sediment and invertebrate communities in a southern California bay. Within the bed site, organic matter, invertebrate abundance, and invertebrate species richness are lower only under the oyster bed. The alteration in the community under the shell is driven by a reduction in species. Tubificidae were the only remaining species under the shell. These results may be explained by the shells&rsquo; action as a barrier to the mud-water interface. While significant, impacts of oyster bed construction are spatially restricted to just under the bed. Longer-term studies should be conducted to address effects of the oysters themselves.</p>

No description available.

<p> Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) is a methodical quality design strategy for deploying new products, services, and processes in all aspects of business functions; its goal is to improve customer satisfaction, sales, and revenue.</p><p> This project presents the theory and application of the DFSS Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify (DMADV) model as applied to the design and development of an environmental compliance process. This model addresses recent European Union (EU) regulations known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals).</p><p> The project presents the methodical use of applicable quality tools and concepts by a project team at an original components manufacturer (OCM) for each stage of the DMADV model. The final presentation has resulted in a process that consistently meets customer requirements, targeted release dates, and process capabilities as defined by the project charter.</p>

<p> This dissertation links human and ecological systems research to analyze resource management decisions for elodea, Alaska&rsquo;s first submerged aquatic invasive plant. The plant likely made it to Alaska through the aquarium trade. It was first discovered in urban parts of the state but is being introduced to remote water bodies by floatplanes and other pathways. Once introduced, elodea changes freshwater systems in ways that can threaten salmon and make floatplane destinations inaccessible. The analysis integrates multiple social and ecological data to estimate the potential future economic loss associated with its introduction to salmon fisheries and floatplane pilots. For estimating the effects on commercial sockeye fisheries, multiple methods of expert elicitation are used to quantify and validate expert opinion about elodea&rsquo;s ecological effects on salmon. These effects are believed to most likely be negative, but can in some instances be positive. Combined with market-based economic valuation, the approach accounts for the full range of potential ecological and economic effects. For analyzing the lost trip values to floatplane pilots, the analysis uses contingent valuation to estimate recreation demand for landing spots. A spatially-explicit model consisting of seven regions simulates elodea&rsquo;s spread across Alaska and its erratic population dynamics. This simulation model accounts for the change in region-specific colonization rates as elodea populations are eradicated. The most probable economic loss to commercial fisheries and recreational floatplane pilots is $97 million per year, with a 5% chance that combined losses exceed $456 million annually. The analysis describes how loss varies among stakeholders and regions, with more than half of statewide loss accruing to commercial sockeye salmon fisheries in Bristol Bay. Upfront management of all existing invasions is found to be the optimal management strategy for minimizing long-term loss. Even though the range of future economic loss is large, the certainty of long-term damage favors investments to eradicate current invasions and prevent new arrivals. The study serves as a step toward risk management aimed at protecting productive ecosystems of national and global significance.</p>

<p>The purpose of this directed project was to develop a sustainable food waste management curriculum to reduce waste in landfills and to alleviate food insecurity within Los Angeles County. The goals of this curriculum were to reduce food waste in landfills, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions from methane production during food decomposition and providing cleaner air quality for areas around landfills, and to link excess food with the hungry and food insecure in Los Angeles County. The curriculum was created addressing perceived barriers of establishing a long-term, sustainable waste management program, tailored for foodservice operations in Los Angeles County. The curriculum consists of six sessions relating to topics discussed in the literature reviews. An expert-review panel assessed the literature review, evaluated the curriculum content, and provided feedback. Evaluation forms for the curriculum were created to assess the efficacy and value of the program.

Conventional management accounting practices do not provide adequate information for managing the environment in a world where environmental concerns, as well as environment-related costs, revenues, and benefits, are on the rise. Environmental management accounting (EMA) is a tool used for balancing the interaction between the economic, social and technological factors in the development process to achieve conditions for sustainable development. In this study, a survey and case study technique is used to document a South African perspective on EMA. The findings indicate that, while EMA is gaining increasing awareness, its application is still at its infancy. Some of the elements of EMA may be found in practice, but they are not called EMA. Based on the findings, ten steps for implementing EMA are suggested.

Urbanisation, a process occurring at an excessive rate per annum, has implications for the natural environment that are vast and varied. One of the most significant is the effect on natural habitats, shaped by habitat destruction and modification. The simplification of ecosystems, homogenisation of landscapes and influence on keystone species are a few impacts on indigenous fauna existing in these habitats. Some species are unable to withstand external disturbances, while other species are more adaptable, and often thrive in these modified, and now optimal, environments. Increasingly, provisions are made to accommodate nature in an urbanising world with tools like Impact Assessments and Opens Space Systems. These procedures however, do little to specifically protect indigenous fauna, progressively categorised as "problem animals" or vermin, like monkeys, which often bear the brunt of attacks by humans who see them as a nuisance and a threat to their well-being. The study therefore aimed to "Assess the nature and extent of the monkey problem in the former Westville Borough", a suburb in the city of Durban, South Africa. Questionnaires administered to residents and interviews done with stakeholders documented their views on the "monkey problem," and the effectiveness of proposed solutions in alleviating these problems. Using orthographic photographs, illustrating land-use change, the rate and nature of habitat destruction experienced in the former Westville Borough between 1974 and 2001 was assessed. Records of injuries to monkeys held by the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), along with letters of complaint regarding monkeys in local newspapers, were collected to assess the nature and frequency of the problem. Resident's opinions implied that the threat of Vervet Monkeys was more perceived then real. Eighty three percent thought monkeys were not a threat to humans. Education and awareness campaigns were thought to be successful in alleviating the problem by 86% of residents and 100% of interviewees. Residents believed that "everyone" should be responsible for the problem while interviewees were divided in opinion but placed most responsibility on local government. An assessment of land-use changed showed a decrease of over 15% in open space provision over a twenty six year period. CROW records showed that the majority of monkey injuries were due to assault or shooting and most often to males between the months of April and July. Conclusions based on the findings of the study emphasise the need for stronger legislation specifically for Vervets and detailed guidelines on both management of and responsibility for the monkeys, with less shifting of blame by stakeholders and authorities. The implementation of education and awareness programs were also advocated, to educate the public on the problem and their role in protecting one of Africa's most valuable assets. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

<p> The purpose of this dissertation was to develop, test, and evaluate a framework to assist investors in photovoltaic (PV) power plants in dust-prone arid regions make informed decisions regarding selection among PV panel cleaning alternatives. Soiling of PV panels is a problem in dust-prone arid regions such as the Arabian Gulf where daily dust deposition and frequent dust storms coupled with lack of rainfall can compromise PV panel energy output. There are several alternatives to clean the PV panels. However, not much research has been done to determine the most favorable means to do so or how often it is feasible to perform the cleanup. Furthermore, the decision maker/investor might face difficulty in selecting among several cleaning alternatives given the competing requirements that must be considered in the selection process. Therefore, in this research a framework was developed to assist investors in PV power plants determine: (1) how often it is economically feasible to clean the PV panels using different cleaning alternatives, (2) what impacts those cleanups have on the overarching factors considered during the selection process, and (3) what the most favorable cleaning alternative is in light of several competing requirements. </p><p> A hypothetical 1 MW PV plant located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was used to test the developed framework which was accomplished by: (1) estimating the PV plant's lifetime energy yield using a PV performance simulation program, (2) researching and estimating the effects of daily dust deposition and dust storms on the panels' output, (3) surveying and collecting PV panel cleaning alternative cost and performance data, (4) developing a spreadsheet program to simulate PV plant lifetime performance under different scenarios using input data from the previous 3 steps, (5) using a multi criteria decision method (MCDM) to select among cleaning alternatives in light of competing criteria, (6) performing a sensitivity check on the criteria weights in the MCDM to check the robustness of the results. </p><p> Research results indicated that although PV panel cleaning can consume large amounts of water and result in release of harmful emissions to the environment, the benefits of such cleaning can be worth it. The results also indicated that for each given scenario, an optimum cleaning threshold can be determined. It was also determined that initiating a cleanup when the soiling reaches a certain threshold is a preferable approach to cleaning using a fixed schedule. In addition, One-on-one interviews with subject matter experts to elicit their opinion resulted in determination of the selection criteria and priorities used in the MCDM which consequently resulted in selection of a preferred alternative. The results of the MCDM showed that opinion and preferences can vary drastically among different stakeholders and that, for each particular scenario, the set of relevant criteria and their priorities will depend on the stakeholders involved and their influence on the selection decision. Subject matter expert evaluation of the developed framework on whether it can improve selection among PV panel cleaning alternatives was accomplished via a questionnaire in which the experts rated the degree of their agreement or disagreement on a Likert scale. Average results indicated agreement that the study can improve selection among PV panel cleaning alternatives.</p>