Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T17:23:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Inacio.pdf: 413880 bytes, checksum: 21b2e04c88fb17ac9e91be6a1af367b5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-22 / Currently the country is facing serious crisis in the electric power sector and energy deficit is no longer a future threat, but a problem today that urgently needs to find solutions for the short, medium and long term. Solutions should be taken with urgency, and here it is noteworthy that the crisis that we now live in the electricity sector is directly related with the lack of planning in the years that have passed. The solutions for the short and medium term, with the exception of energy conservation, are emergency solutions and are more costly to society. And the long-term solutions depend on the direction the government will give the sector. A viable alternative to eliminate the risk of blackout are the increase in investments in generation by power plants programs because their projects are relatively quick to implementation and operation. But can these projects require environmental damage that will undoubtedly need to be studied, from the perspective of environmental law, analyzed and monitored to not sacrifice the environment we live in exchange for the purpose of achieving development. Making up concomitantly required, the monitoring and assessment of legal issues related to these projects, hence proposals that aim to achieve sustainability then be made. / Atualmente o país enfrenta grave crise no setor de energia elétrica e o déficit de energia não é mais uma ameaça do futuro, e sim um problema da atualidade que precisa urgentemente da busca de soluções de curto, médio e longo prazos. Soluções devem ser tomadas com máxima urgência, e aqui vale ressaltar que a crise que vivemos hoje no setor de energia elétrica decorre da falta de planejamento nos anos que se passaram. As soluções de curto e médio prazo, à exceção da conservação de energia, são soluções emergenciais e como tal custam mais caro para a sociedade. E as soluções de longo prazo dependem dos rumos que o Governo dará ao setor. A alternativa viável para não corrermos o risco em ficar sem energia elétrica são os investimentos em programas de aumento em geração através de usinas termoelétricas, pois seus projetos são relativamente rápidos para implantação e operação. Mas consigo estes projetos demandam prejuízos ambientais que indubitavelmente precisam, sob a ótica do direito ambiental, ser estudados, analisados e acompanhados para não sacrificarmos o ambiente em que vivemos em troca do objetivo de se alcançar o desenvolvimento. Fazendo-se concomitantemente necessário o levantamento e avaliação dos aspectos legais relacionados a estes projetos, para daí então ser efetuado propostas que objetivem alcançar a sustentabilidade.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T18:55:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_ARNALDO DE SOUZA MENEZES FILHO.pdf: 502816 bytes, checksum: 1426af6b79863bb7864f03cd8bfac567 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-13 / Analysis of the construction of public policies for animals in Brazil, from the discussion of animal rights as an ethical issue, legal, social and political. It identifies the historical aspects of animal use that mark the relations between men and these. Analyzes the ethical discussions about the existence of moral rights for animals since ancient times, who founded the contemporary discussion of the acceptance of animals as subjects of rights. Analyzes the construction of animal rights in the Brazilian legal system, in infra laws and constitutions. Identifies the transformation of the issue of animal rights in a public issue, by inserting the Brazilian political agenda and demanding animal protection actions of the government through public policy formulation and implementation. Thus, we consider the relevance and responsibility of the Brazilian government in the promotion of public policies of animal protection. / Análise da construção de políticas públicas para animais no Brasil, a partir da discussão dos direitos dos animais como questão ética, jurídica, social e política. Identificam-se os aspectos históricos de uso dos animais que marcam as relações entre os homens e estes. Analisam-se as discussões éticas acerca da existência de direitos morais para os animais desde a Antiguidade, que fundaram a discussão contemporânea da admissão dos animais como sujeitos de direitos. Analisa-se a construção dos direitos dos animais no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, em legislações infraconstitucionais e nas constituições. Identifica-se a transformação da questão dos direitos dos animais em questão pública, inserindo-se na agenda política brasileira e demandando ações de proteção animal do Poder Público através da formulação e implementação de política públicas. Com isso, considera-se a pertinência e responsabilidade do Poder Público brasileiro na promoção de políticas públicas de proteção animal.

As degradações ambientais enfrentadas no mundo contemporâneo têm suscitado normas de proteção e controle das atividades humanas em função da preservação do meio ambiente. No Brasil, o Direito Ambiental consolida-se na década de 1980, principalmente a partir da Constituição Federal de 1988, embora desde a colônia existissem normas que protegessem a natureza. Esta tese de doutorado analisa e problematiza geograficamente o Direito Ambiental brasileiro, tendo por fundamento, de um lado, a teoria do ecúmeno, mediance e paisagem desenvolvida por Augustin Berque e, de outro, a teoria tridimensional do Direito, elaborada por Miguel Reale. Como ramo do Direito que visa regulamentar a relação do homem com o meio ambiente, objetivou-se caracterizar como o meio ambiente e seus elementos constitutivos são definidos no Direito Ambiental e qual relação a sociedade deve ter com a natureza para, posteriormente, confrontá-los com a existência do homem no mundo enquanto existência ecumenal. Metodologicamente, por meio de pesquisa indutiva exploratória no universo da doutrina brasileira de Direito Ambiental e da jurisprudência do Tribunal de Justiça de Minas Gerais, os princípios e conceitos ambientais foram sistematizados e analisados conforme suas definições e entendimentos predominantes. Os doutrinadores foram selecionados a partir das ementas da disciplina de Direito Ambiental do curso de Direito de universidades do sul e sudeste brasileiro. A pesquisa na jurisprudência do tribunal mineiro concentrou-se nos termos paisagem e dano moral ambiental. O processo judicial a respeito da construção do Paço de Poços de Caldas também foi analisado para complementar a análise doutrinária e jurisprudencial, anteriormente realizadas. Na discussão dos resultados, debate-se a naturalização do meio ambiente operada pelo Direito Ambiental em detrimento da dimensão técnica e simbólica da relação humana com a superfície terrestre e o meio ambiente enquanto totalidade natural como forma de garantir o princípio isonômico do Direito. Discute-se, também, a construção de uma narrativa jurídica do mundo enquanto universo de significação da hermenêutica e aplicação do Direito e a composição jurídica da mediance e da paisagem. / The environment problems faced by society today has demanded rules for controlling humans activities due to environmental protection. In Brazil, there are rules to protect nature since colonial times, but environmental law has consolidated itself at 1980´s, especially from the Federal Constitution of 1988. This work analyses and pose geographical problems of Brazilian environmental law based on the theory of ecumene, mediance and landscape developed by Augustin Berque, for one hand, and, for other hand, the theory of three-dimensionality of law, elaborated by Miguel Reale. Regulating relation between man and environment, the definition of environment and its constitutive elements and how relation man-environment should be are characterized and after compared with the ecumenal existence of man. Methodologically, based on inductive-exploratory research on environmental law Brazilian theory and on the jurisprudence of Minas Gerais Justice Court, environmental principles and concepts were systematized and described fowling its dominant definition and understanding. The authors were selected from the environmental law discipline program of south and south-east universities of Brazil. The research at Minas Gerais jurisprudence used the key-words landscape and moral environmental damage. At last, the case involving the construction of a Civil Center (Paço Municipal) was also analysed to complete the debate realized. The results show the naturalization of environment as it is described by environmental law theory over the symbolic and technical relation of man and earth surface; it also discuss the environment taken as natural totality as a way to maintain the principle of isonomy of law, the construction of a juridical narrative of the word influentiating interpretation and application of law. At last, it is analysed juridical composition of mediance and landscape.

Orientador: Bruno Coraucci Filho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T05:13:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Honorio_DanielHenrique_M.pdf: 4755317 bytes, checksum: cd0151a896cd7fac07f2c2837b0a0bda (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A demanda por melhores padrões de qualidade ambiental reflete-se na oferta de serviços de saneamento básico. Nesse contexto há a perspectiva de aumento da quantidade de ETEs, e por consequência, da produção do lodo de esgoto. Apesar do significativo avanço em tecnologias e dispositivos jurídicos para o processamento desse resíduo sólido, o gerenciamento das ações corretas para sua disposição final continua sendo desafiador e complexo. O banco de dados da CETESB foi utilizado para a realização do diagnóstico da situação atual do gerenciamento do lodo de esgoto sanitário nas Bacias Hidrográficas dos Rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí ¿ PCJ. As informações analisadas são provenientes de registros e trâmites dos processos de licenciamento ambiental de empreendimentos que geram, adequam e transportam lodo de esgoto. Informações sobre empreendimentos que lidam com a destinação final de lodos de sistemas sépticos também foram observadas. O presente estudo revela que na região do PCJ, Unidade de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos ¿ UGRHI n°5, atualmente o principal destino do lodo de esgoto é o aterro sanitário. Os registros da CETESB mostram também a inexistência de ações que pratiquem outras formas de disposição ou coprocessamento deste resíduo. Observou-se também a falta de dados sobre a quantidade de lodo gerada por alguns empreendimentos e as formas de destinação praticadas / Abstract: The demand for better standards of environmental quality affects the availability of sanitation services. In this context, an increase in the number of sewage treatment facilities and, consequently, in the production of sewage sludge is expected. Despite new technological advances and legislation dealing with this kind of solid waste, good practices of disposal remains challenging. The database from CETESB (State of São Paulo Environmental Agency) gave the diagnosis of the present situation of sewage sludge disposal in the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí rivers watersheds also known as the PCJ region. The information came from the environmental licensing process of enterprises which generates, treat and transport sewage sludge. Also, information about enterprises that deal with final disposal of septic systems was analyzed. This study found that in the PCJ region, or Water Resources Management Unit number 5, the most frequente destination of sewage sludge is the landfill. Records from CETESB also reveal that there are no measures for other ways of disposal or treatment of this solid waste. It was also observed that a lack of data exists about the amount of sludge generated its treatment and disposal by some enterprises / Mestrado / Saneamento e Ambiente / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Rapid and unplanned urbanization has ushered in a variety of public health challenges, including exposure to traffic pollution and greater dependence on automobiles. Moreover, vulnerable population groups often bear the brunt of negative outcomes and are subject to disproportionate exposure and health effects. This makes it imperative for urban transportation engineers, land use planners, and public health professionals to work synergistically to understand both the relationship between urban design and population exposure to traffic pollution, and its social distribution. Researchers have started to pay close attention to this connection, mainly by conducting observational studies on the relationship between transportation, urban form, and air quality. However, research on this topic is still nascent. Further, most studies do not predict exposures under alternative urban design scenarios. Hence, to understand the relationship between urban design and population exposures, there is a need to build and apply integrated modeling tools that can predict exposures under alternative urban design scenarios. Within this context, the overarching goal of this dissertation is to understand how the transportation infrastructure of cities can be designed for improved urban air quality and mitigation of population exposure to traffic pollution. The study area is Hillsborough County, Florida, a sprawling region with limited transit availability and a diverse population along with a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas. The rank of the county for sprawl and congestion metrics (i.e., yearly delay and travel time index) fall in the mid-range in comparison with other US urban regions. Thus, the study area may be representative of other US urban regions with medium sprawl and above-average congestion levels. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a surrogate for traffic pollution, is the focus pollutant. The Health Effects Institute’s report on traffic-related air pollution identifies NOx as a potential surrogate due to its relative ease of measurement and the abundance of epidemiologic studies that characterize exposures to NOx. Because exposures are dependent on the spatial and temporal distributions of both people and pollution, this study first sought to understand the importance of activity and travel patterns of individuals for exposure estimation. To estimate exposures, the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) data containing daily individual activity records, ArcGIS-estimated shortest-time travel route profiles, and the annual-average diurnal cycle of NOx derived from hourly CALPUFF dispersion model results from 2002, were combined. Two exposure measures were estimated: activity-based exposure that considers the daily activity and travel patterns of individuals, and residence-based exposure that considers only the pollutant concentrations at the residences. Exposure estimation without inclusion of activity and travel patterns was found to slightly underestimate activity-based exposures on average. Additionally, disproportionately-high exposures were found for blacks, Hispanics, below poverty groups, urban residents, and people whose daily travel time is greater than one hour. Finally, urbanicity and travel time variables were found to be the strongest predictors of daily exposure. Following this, a modeling framework was developed to predict population exposure by integrating activity-based travel demand modeling (DaySim), dynamic traffic assignment simulation (MATSim), mobile-source emission estimation (EPA MOVES), and pollutant dispersion modeling (R LINE). This modeling framework was used to predict daily population and subgroup exposures by estimating the high-resolution spatial and temporal distributions of both pollution and individual activities for the year 2010. Persistent exposure inequalities were found at the population-level; blacks, Hispanics, active age groups (19-65 years), below-poverty and middle-income groups, urban residents, and individuals with daily travel times above one hour had higher estimated exposures than the population mean. These inequalities for blacks, Hispanics, and below-poverty non-white groups worsened at higher exposure levels. Use of low-resolution activity and pollution data as opposed to high-resolution data led to underestimation of exposures (by 10% on average). Finally, the integrated modeling framework was employed to understand the relationship between urban transportation and land use design, air quality, and population exposure. Three scenarios that are based on a combination of diesel-bus transit services and residential distribution were simulated. Specifically, the low-transit scenario used the 2040 base residential distribution and the 2010 bus services. The enhanced-transit scenario applied the 2040 bus services proposed for the county instead. The compact-growth scenario added an increase of residential density to this latter scenario. Specifically, about 37% of total households were redistributed from locations with low accessibility to jobs and transit to locations near employment and bus stops. Results indicate slight higher non-car travel mode shares in the enhanced-transit and compact-growth scenarios compared to the low-transit scenario (with a 7.1% increase for walking, 0.2% for bicycle, and 1.8% for transit for the compact-growth scenario versus the low-transit scenario). The enhanced-transit scenario resulted in slightly lower daily total travel distances and times compared with the low-transit scenario, but daily total emissions and winter mean concentration of NOx were higher, i.e., the increase in bus transit services did not induce sufficient shifts in travel mode to overcome the concomitant increase in diesel-bus emissions. The compact-growth scenario resulted in lower daily total travel distance (9%) and travel time (2.1%) and daily total emissions of NOx (11%) and its winter mean concentration (9%), compared with both the low-transit and enhanced-transit scenarios. Although the compact-growth scenario improved the air quality of the region on average, daily population mean exposure was higher compared with both the low-transit (29%) and enhanced-transit scenarios (25%). This is largely due to the redistribution of population to urban core locations that had higher pollutant levels. Overall, neither the bus-transit improvements nor residential compaction strategies alone were sufficient to mitigate population exposures. Combining them with transit that services both origins and destinations, uses clean fuel technologies, and separates major roadways from dense residential pockets may be needed for greater exposure reductions. Overall, this dissertation has implications for population exposure to traffic pollution and public health through transportation and land use interventions. Results presented here may be applicable to other study regions that have similar composite sprawl scores as the Tampa Bay area. Future studies should exploit spatially-and temporally-resolved data on human activities and travel, vehicular activities, and air quality for better characterization of population exposure. Engineers and planners should pay greater attention to integrated land use and transport planning; lone, disjointed, and ill-planned design interventions may exacerbate population exposure to air pollution. The integrated modeling framework presented here may be applied in a wide variety of urban contexts to further explore the nexus between travel demand, air quality, and exposures. However, before such an exercise is undertaken, a preliminary analysis should be conducted to assess the transferability of the framework. Policies that could be studied include mixed land use design, urban compaction with controlled sociodemographic distributions (to assess exposure inequality), and inclusion of additional types of transit and fuel technologies.

The management and the generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are rehearsing as one of the villains of this humanity and future generations. Were not enough the imminent wave of rampant consumerism towards new technologies, bumped in the absence and/or inefficiency of public policies that should regrar and regulate the disposal of such equipment after the ending of his life. Currently WEEE are framed second NBR 10.004:2004 - Solid Waste, waste as Class I - Hazardous, not having a specific legislation at national level for this. In this context, this work aims to describe the evaluation of the management of WEEE in Santa Maria - RS making a comparison with the national scenario, global trends and develop a proposal for Public Policy that will list the involved in the process and the role each. To this end, this study was based on research of WEEE at the municipal and national levels, with the technical branch companies in different locations and contexts visits, and analysis of a company in Santa Maria that is licensed for receiving, sorting and disposal end of WEEE and the results of a questionnaire for the same. The city of Santa Maria has not make the management of WEEE in accordance with the guidelines recommended by the Law nº12.305 and Decree 7.404 and furthermore, knowing that generates an average of 10.9 tons per month, only 34 % of WEEE generated in the municipality was allocated correctly. It is evident a considerable degree of ignorance about the subject, especially as to what to do with your junk and who would be responsible for providing a correct destination for the same. Large portion of this unconformity and / or misinformation is the responsibility of the municipality and other public agencies responsible for enforcing federal law. Thus, it is noted the need for developing a public policy proposal for the management of WEEE in Santa Maria. / A gestão e a geração de resíduos de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos (REEE) estão se ensaiando como um dos vilões da presente humanidade e das futuras gerações. Já não bastasse a eminente onda de consumismo desenfreado para com as novas tecnologias, esbarramos na inexistência e/ou ineficiência de políticas publicas que venham a regrar e regulamentar a destinação destes equipamentos após o findar da sua vida útil. Atualmente os REEE estão enquadrados segundo NBR 10.004:2004 Resíduos Sólidos, como resíduos classe I perigosos, não possuindo uma legislação a nível nacional específica para tal. Nesse contexto, este trabalho tem como objetivo geral a avaliação da Gestão dos REEE no município de Santa Maria-RS efetuando um comparativo com o cenário nacional, as tendências mundiais e elaborar uma proposta de Política Pública que venha a elencar os envolvidos no processo e o papel de cada um. Para tal, este estudo fundamentou-se na investigação dos REEE nos âmbitos municipal e nacional, com visitas técnicas às empresas do ramo em localidades e contextos diferentes, além da análise de uma empresa de Santa Maria que está licenciada para o recebimento, triagem e destinação final dos REEE e dos resultados de um questionário aplicado pela mesma. O município de Santa Maria ainda não efetua o gerenciamento dos REEE de acordo com as diretrizes preconizadas pela Lei nº 12.305 e Decreto 7.404 e, além disso, sabendo-se que gera uma média de 10,9 toneladas por mês, apenas 34% dos REEE gerados no município foram destinados de forma correta. Evidencia-se um considerável grau de desconhecimento quanto ao assunto, principalmente quanto a o que fazer com o seu lixo eletrônico e de quem seria a responsabilidade de providenciar um correto destino para o mesmo. Grande parcela desta inconformidade e/ou desinformação é de responsabilidade do município e demais órgãos públicos responsáveis pela fiscalização e aplicação da legislação federal. Assim sendo, é notada a necessidade de elaboração de uma proposta de política pública para a gestão dos REEE no município de Santa Maria.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study aimed at analyzing the environmental principles present in the Constitution of Mercosur Member States. Therefore, as a presupposed, we initially carried out an approach of points that are considered significant in the context of the economic integration in relation to the anthropocentric activity versus environment and, from this point constructing, from this view, a connection of the Mercosur formation history, as an informative feature in relation to the environment protection. In this context, we based the study through a reflection about the Environmental Law in vigor at the countries that are members of the Mercosur and in Latin America. Next, we established a discussion about the historicity of Mercosur constitution, highlighting as pyramidal points, the most significant events in the block construction since the Asunción Treat. We emphasized, along the text, the environment as an important element in the political and socioeconomic integration. In the final part of the work, we made an interpretative and prospective analysis of the environmental principles: fundamental human right; property social function; equity; sustainable development; precaution; prevention; polluter-pays; information; participation and cooperation that are present in the Constitutions of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In the discussion, we highlighted the similarity of environmental principles inserted in the constitutional devices as well as the harmonization of these environmental rules. The results made it possible to adduce that during the period of the Southern Common Market construction, there was a progressive valorization of the environment, due to the elaboration of harmonized environmental rules, consequence of meetings which resulted in the production of important documents about environmental tutelage. Later on, there was a stagnation of this process. It is also unquestionable, that the paradigm adopted in the formation of the Southern Common Market was based in the principles inserted in the International Environmental Law and in the EU Constitutive Acts. Finally, to make this work proposal operative, we used the comparative process which allowed us to affirm that the principles of fundamental human right, property social function, equity, polluterpays and participation were found as present in the Constitution of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Although, we understand that all the principles listed to the analysis of this study are present only in the Constitution of Argentina and Brazil. Therefore, we can say that there are neither similarities of environmental principles in the Constitution of all Mercosur States nor a harmonization of environmental legislation with Constitutional support. / O estudo proposto objetivou uma análise dos princípios ambientais nas Constituições dos Estados Partes constituintes do Mercosul. Entretanto, como pressuposto, procedeu-se, inicialmente uma abordagem de pontos considerados importantes no contexto da integração econômica em relação à atividade antropocêntrica versus meio ambiente construindo-se, a partir desta exposição, uma conexão da historicidade da formação do Mercosul, como ponto informativo em relação à proteção ambiental. Nesse contexto fundamentou-se o estudo pela elaboração de uma reflexão do Direito Ambiental vigente nos países integrantes do Mercosul e América Latina. Na seqüência se estabeleceu uma discussão quanto à historicidade da constituição do Mercosul destacando-se como pontos piramidais os eventos mais significativos na construção do bloco a partirtir do Tratado de Assunção. Enfatizou-se, ao longo do texto o meio ambiente como elemento importante na integração política e socioeconômica. Na parte final elaborou-se uma análise interpretativa e prospectiva dos princípios ambientais: direito humano fundamental; função social da propriedade; eqüidade; desenvolvimento sustentável; precaução; prevenção; poluidor-pagador; informação; participação e cooperação, presentes nas Constituições da Argentina, Brasil, Paraguai e Uruguai. Destacou-se na discussão a similitude de princípios ambientais inseridos em dispositivos constitucionais, bem como a harmonização dessas normas. Os resultados permitem aduzir que no período da construção do Mercado Comum do Sul houve uma valoração progressiva do meio ambiente, face a proposição da elaboração de normativas ambientais harmonizadas, fruto de encontros que resultaram na constituição de importantes documentos de tutela ambiental. Havendo, posteriormente uma estagnação deste processo. É indiscutível, também que o paradigma adotado na formação do Mercado Comum do Sul esteve fundamentado na adoção de princípios inseridos no Direito Ambiental Internacional e Atos Constitutivos da UE. Por último, para que se pudesse operacionalizar o presente estudo empregou-se o processo comparativo, permitindo a afirmação de que os princípios do direito humano fundamental, função social da propriedade, eqüidade, poluidor-pagador e participação foram interpretados como presentes nas Constituições da Argentina, Brasil, Paraguai e Uruguai. E, em derradeiro, entende-se que somente nas Constituições da Argentina e do Brasil se encontram todos os princípios elencados para análise no decorrer desse estudo. Concluí-se, portanto que não ocorre uma similitude de princípios ambientais nas constituições dos Estados mercosulinos, bem com uma harmonização da legislação ambiental de amparo Constitucional.

A combination of the urban heat island effect and a rising temperature baseline resulting from global climate change inequitably impacts socially vulnerable populations residing in urban areas. This dissertation examines distributional inequity of exposure to urban heat by socially disadvantaged groups and minorities in the context of climate justice. Using Cutter’s hazards-of-place model, variables indicative of social vulnerability and biophysical vulnerability are statistically tested for their associations. Biophysical vulnerability is conceptualized utilizing a urban heat risk index calculated from summer 2010 LANDSAT imagery to measure land surface temperature , structural density through the normalized difference built-up index, and vegetation abundance through the normalized difference vegetation index. A cross-section of twenty geographically distributed metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the U.S. are examined using census derived variables at the tract level. The results of bivariate correlation analysis, ordinary least squares regression, and spatial autoregression analysis indicate consistent and significant associations between greater social disadvantage and higher urban heat levels. Multilevel modeling is used to examine the relationship of MSA-level segregation with tract-level minority status and social disadvantage to higher levels of urban heat. Segregation has a significant but varied relationship with the variables, indicating that there are inconsistent associations with urban heat due to differing urban ecologies. Urban heat and social vulnerability present a varying landscape of thermal inequity in different urban areas, associated in many cases with residential segregation.

The thesis provides an analysis of the developments in international environmental law achieved through judicial activity of international courts from circa 2005 onwards. Analysed is the relevant practice of the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the European Court for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. First chapter presents the general characteristics of their judicial activity in this area, while the subsequent chapters deal with each of the institutions, analysing the outcomes of their activity, particularly with regard to specifying obligations of states and the interpretation of human rights in connection with environmental protection, and the developments in the courts' handling of environmental cases. Attention is also given to possible setting up of a specialised international court for the environment.

Progress Village, a historically Black neighborhood outside of Tampa, FL, encountered structural violence that included construction of an adjacent phosphogypsum stack. Why the neighborhood signed a legal agreement with the stack’s operating industry and the impacts of this decision provides a lesson in critical environmental justice. Theories of urban political ecology frame exploration of resident priorities, relationships with industry, risk perceptions, and health concerns. Utilizing activist anthropology, this thesis aims to be mutually beneficial to scholarly and neighborhood development. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how southern gradualism, racism, and a trend towards isolationism created today’s striving, yet marginalized and divided community. This thesis encourages scholarship on everyday resident-industry interactions and provides insights to strengthen future Community Benefits Agreements, while questioning if such agreements serve environmental justice.