Autor(es): Ramzy Kahhat Abedrabbo, Samy García Torres y otros
Earthquakes are natural phenomena that can cause severe damage to housing infrastructure and prolonged disruption to society. Depending on their magnitude, epicenter location, local construction characteristics, and many other features, earthquakes may generate large amounts of debris and waste. The large amounts of debris generated after the disaster become one of the main problems for a population facing health issues and the need to reconstruct the city. Proper characterization and quantification of debris, subsequent waste management and reconstruction planning are essential for the restoration of an area affected by an earthquake. This study presents a methodological approach to characterize, quantify and forecast the debris produced as a consequence of earthquakes, as well as the flow of materials required for the reconstruction of the area affected. The proposed methodology includes a residential infrastructure characterization stage, a probabilistic estimation of damage by characterizing the vulnerability functions using CAPRA-GIS tool, and material flow analyses (MFA) for the characterization and quantification of debris associated with the event of an earthquake and for new materials for the reconstruction stage. A case study was developed to test this methodological approach. The residential sector of Tacna, a city with high seismic risk located on the southern coast of Peru, was selected. Moreover, five different construction systems (i.e., reinforced masonry-bearing walls with concrete diaphragms, adobe, wood, concrete shear walls, and straw) used in the residential sector of Tacna were characterized. Also, three possible earthquake scenarios (i.e., 8.6 Mw, 7.5 Mw and 6.2 Mw) were analyzed, each one with three different material end-of-life management situations. Simultaneously, the origin and quantities of new materials needed for the reconstruction of housing infrastructure were determined. The flow of new materials considered productivity rates in the construction and manufacturing sectors. The results show that in the presence of the greatest earthquake (8.6 Mw), adobe and straw homes suffered greatest damage, with damage proportions of 63% and 48%, yielding 27,000 and 1390 tonnes of debris, respectively. Also, 204,000 tonnes of concrete, 7400 tonnes of steel and 461,400 tonnes of clay brick were included as debris generated in this scenario. Furthermore, for all scenarios, the MFA provides an estimate of regional import of materials (e.g., cement, steel, brick and wood) for the reconstruction phase. Finally, the methodology is applicable to developed and undeveloped countries with different housing types, their respective vulnerability functions and constant earthquake recurrence.
Ir al enlaceAutor(es): Isabel Quispe Trinidad, Ramzy Kahhat Abedrabbo y otros
Rapid population growth and consumption of goods and services imply that demand for energy and resources increases continuously. Energy consumption linked to non-renewable resources contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and enhances resource depletion. In this context, the use of agricultural solid residues such as rice husk, coffee husk, wheat straw, sugar cane bagasse, among others, has been widely studied as an alternative energy source in order to decrease the use of fossil fuels. However, rice husk is among those agricultural residues that are least used to obtain energy in developing countries. Approximately 134 million tonnes of rice husk are produced annually in the world, of which over 90% are burned in open air or discharged into rivers and oceans in order to dispose of them. This review examines the energetic potential of agricultural residues, focused on rice husk. The review describes direct combustion and fast pyrolysis technologies to transform rice husk into energy considering its physical and chemical properties. In addition, a review of existing studies analyzing these technologies from an environmental life cycle thinking perspective, contributing to their sustainable use, is performed.
Ir al enlaceAutor(es): Isabel Quispe Trinidad, Ian Vázquez Rowe, Ramzy Kahhat Abedrabbo y otros
Ir al enlaceAutor(es): Ian Vázquez Rowe y otros
The new ISO 14045 framework is expected to slowly start shifting the definition of eco-efficiency toward a life-cycle perspective, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as the environmental impact assessment method together with a system value assessment method for the economic analysis. In the present study, a set of 22 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Spain were analyzed on the basis of eco-efficiency criteria, using LCA and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) as a system value assessment method. The study is intended to be useful to decision-makers in the wastewater treatment sector, since the combined method provides an alternative scheme for analyzing the relationship between environmental impacts and costs. Two midpoint impact categories, global warming and eutrophication potential, as well as an endpoint single score indicator were used for the environmental assessment, while LCC was used for value assessment. Results demonstrated that substantial differences can be observed between different WWTPs depending on a wide range of factors such as plant configuration, plant size or even legal discharge limits. Based on these results the benchmarking of wastewater treatment facilities was performed by creating a specific classification and certification scheme. The proposed eco-label for the WWTPs rating is based on the integration of the three environmental indicators and an economic indicator calculated within the study under the eco-efficiency new framework.
Ir al enlaceAutor(es): Ian Vázquez Rowe y otros
Fisheries management and sustainability assessment of fisheries more generally have recently expanded their scope from single-species stock assessment to ecosystem-based approaches, aiming to incorporate economic, social and local environmental impacts, while still excluding global-scale environmental impacts. In parallel, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a widely used and recommended framework to assess environmental impacts of products, including global-scale impacts. For over a decade, LCA has been applied to seafood supply chains, leading to new insights into the environmental impact of seafood products. We present insights from seafood LCA research with particular focus on evaluating fisheries management, which strongly influences the environmental impact of seafood products. Further, we suggest tangible ways in which LCA could be taken up in management. By identifying trade-offs, LCA can be a useful decision support tool and avoids problem shifting from one concern (or activity) to another. The integrated, product-based and quantitative perspective brought by LCA could complement existing tools. One example is to follow up fuel use of fishing, as the production and combustion of fuel used dominates overall results for various types of environmental impacts of seafood products, and is also often linked to biological impacts of fishing. Reducing the fuel use of fisheries is therefore effective to reduce overall impacts. Allocating fishing rights based on environmental performance could likewise facilitate the transition to low-impact fisheries. Taking these steps in an open dialogue between fishers, managers, industry, NGOs and consumers would enable more targeted progress towards sustainable fisheries.
Ir al enlaceAutor(es): Ian Vázquez Rowe, Ramzy Kahhat Abedrabbo, Jair Santillán, Isabel Quispe Trinidad y otros
Purpose: The cultivation of pomegranate worldwide has increased sharply in the past few years, mainly due to the growing perception that this fruit has numerous medical benefits. Despite the proliferation of studies delving into the properties of pomegranate from a medical and dietary perspective, its analysis from an environmental perspective has yet to be carried out in depth. Hence, the present study aims at understanding the life cycle environmental impacts in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions derived from the cultivation, processing and distribution abroad of fresh pomegranate grown at an innovative farm in a hyper-arid area in the region of Ica (Peru). Methods: The international standards for life cycle methodologies were considered in order to obtain the overall carbon footprint (CFP) of fresh pomegranate cultivation, processing and distribution. Data acquisition was performed at the cultivation site and supported by the ecoinvent® database, whereas GHG emissions were modelled using the IPCC 2007 method. In addition, biogenic carbon sequestration was included in the assessment, using two distinct models, a first one to model the aerial carbon sequestered by the pomegranate trees and a second, using the IPCC Soil Carbon Tool for soil storage. Results and discussion: Annual results show that on-site GHG emissions can be mitigated to a great extent in the first years of production thanks to biogenic carbon sequestration. However, through time, this tendency is reverted, and in years of maximum pomegranate productivity, GHG emissions are estimated to outweigh those linked to sequestration, despite the relevant minimization of emissions when using innovative irrigation schemes as compared to the conventional flood irrigation in the region. Conclusions: Despite the threat in terms of water depletion and security, the expansion of Peru’s agricultural frontier in hyper-arid areas appears to be a feasible strategy for carbon fixation, although current agricultural practices, such as the use of machinery or electricity, need to be optimized to make positive the carbon balance.
Ir al enlaceAutor(es): Ian Vázquez Rowe y otros
Purpose: Eco-labelling has become part of the business strategy of companies thanks to numerous advantages in terms of engaging with consumers and gaining market quota. The aim of this article is to present a critical discussion on the development and implementation of a new eco-label named pescaenverde, registered in Spain, as the first type III eco-label in the Spanish fishing sector that is based on life cycle approaches for seafood products. Methods: More specifically, it aims to complement ecosystem-based eco-labels with the computation of the carbon footprint and the energy return on investment (EROI) of seafood products. Furthermore, it proposes to discuss the ecological criteria, certification process or the opportunities and challenges of the market implementation of this eco-label in detail. Finally, the authors argue that life cycle eco-labels should be considered important complements for more specific sector- or ecosystem-oriented labels already in use, rather than direct competitors. Results and discussion: There has been much criticism towards the eco-labelling sector as regards the transparency and scientific rigour of its standards. The fishing and seafood sector, which has experienced a boom in eco-labelling in recent years, due mainly to the strength of the Marine Stewardship Council certification scheme, is not alien to this controversy, since critics advocate expanding the concept of sustainable fisheries beyond an ecosystem approach in order to account for global environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or energy use. Not surprisingly, the European Union and other authorities currently encourage eco-labels to base their ecological criteria on life cycle approaches. Therefore, the current study discusses the ecological criteria, certification process or the opportunities and challenges of the market implementation of this eco-label in detail. Conclusions: The specificity of the life cycle inventory scheme used in pescaenverde delivers an accurate computation of environmental impacts for the specific case of Spanish fisheries. However, the geographical expansion of this scheme to other nations or regions will be conditioned by an important software adaptation to the particular inventory characteristics of the new fisheries, fleets and products. Recommendations: Adapting ecological criteria to other situations would also need substantial discussion, since the use of this certification scheme is not intended to contrast or compare seafood products against each other but to provide consumers with an easily identifiable label through which they can detect environmentally sustainable practices in terms of GHG emissions and energy use in the fishing fleets supporting the seafood products purchased.
Ir al enlaceAutor(es): Ian Vázquez Rowe, Ramzy Kahhat Abedrabbo, Isabel Quispe Trinidad y otros
The Peruvian coast has developed a robust agricultural sector despite the low average rainfall thanks to the availability of water resources from rivers and groundwater. In fact, this area has become one of the main producers of green asparagus worldwide due to the availability of water and the high yield rates that can be reached. However, irrigation and intensive agriculture constitute a significant threat to water depletion in the region, as well as to important changes in land use. In addition, the intensive use of fertilizers and plant protection agents can increase the amount of nutrients and/or toxic agents in river and in the soil. Hence, a Life Cycle Assessment study was conducted for an agricultural farm in Paracas that cultivates green asparagus for export to North America or Europe. The aim of the study was to understand the potential environmental impacts associated with the cultivation of this product in a hyper-arid area. Results showed a considerably lower water use in the cultivation site when compared to business-as-usual values for the region, due to the advanced irrigation system applied. Environmental impacts were strongly influenced by the high energy intensity linked to the production of inorganic fertilizers used on-site and, to a lesser extent, plant protection agents. Transport environmental burdens were also identified as important sources of environmental impact throughout the impact categories monitored, especially when airfreighted to the final country of destination. Finally, the use of methyl bromide to fumigate green asparagus at US customs implied a high burden in terms of ozone depletion. The results in this study intend to be a proxy to understand the specific hotspots linked to the production of green asparagus in Peru, as well as a way forward for local small- and medium-scale companies to get involved in the improvement of their ecological marketing strategies.
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