Socioecology Research Today

A textbook example of an unaccounted-for consequence (externality) of commercial or industrial activity is the production of pollutants where neither the producer nor the buyer bears the cost of using common environmental resources. Dasgupta and Ehrlich offer a theoretical analysis of externalities in two other areas of modern life—human fertility and material consumption. For example, [...]

The majority of population growth in developing countries will occur in small cities closely linked to agricultural zones, with poor access to water and sanitation. Wastewater management priorities in these regions will be different from those in larger cities and developed countries. Two wastewater treatment systems in Bolivia, one with an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket [...]

Many scholars and activists are now advocating a program of economic degrowth for developed countries in order to mitigate demands on the global environment. An increasingly prominent idea is that developed countries could achieve slower or zero economic growth in a socially sustainable way by reducing working hours. Research suggests that reduced working hours could [...]

Genetically modified (GM) crops are increasingly gaining acceptance but concurrently consumers’ concerns are also increasing. The introduction of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes into the plants has raised issues related to its risk assessment and biosafety. The International Regulations and the Codex guidelines regulate the biosafety requirements of the GM crops. In addition, these bodies synergize [...]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C3EE22879G Available statistical data indicate that during the last two to three decades, the positive historical trends in decarbonization of primary energy has markedly slowed down and practically ceased. In this article, the current status of the decarbonization of the global economy and constraints and challenges of near-to-mid term carbon mitigation options are analyzed using [...]

At the moment, the widespread use of renewable energy in buildings is limited by its intrinsic discontinuity: consequently integration of plants with energy storage systems could represent an efficient solution to the problem. Within this frame, hydrogen has shown to be particularly fit in order to be used as an energetic carrier.In this aim, in [...]

Sustainable development is turning brownish. Too many disparate initiatives are being conducted under its banner. The concept of ‘sustainable development’ no longer provides an adequate umbrella for the main challenge currently faced by global environmental governance – namely implementation. Its very strengths are turning into fatal weaknesses. Vague enough to bring all States and other [...]

Population growth is in general constrained by food production, which in turn depends on the access to water resources. At a country level, some populations use more water than they control because of their ability to import food and the virtual water required for its production. Here, we investigate the dependence of demographic growth on [...]

The donation of food which is still edible can be seen as a specific application of urban mining as food is recovered for its original purpose – human intake. There are several projects implemented worldwide but due to a lack of data, scientific literature about the topic is rare. This paper summarises briefly the evolution [...]

Some places could be without power for months, and “chronic shortages for multiple years are possible,” according to the National Research Council, the research arm of the National Academy of Sciences.Still, this sunspot cycle has been quieter than most. And even if the Sun unleashes a huge burst, as it did last July, the odds [...]