Air pollution (AP) is one of the major causes of health risks as it leads to widespread morbidity and mortality each year. Its environmental impacts include acid rains, reduced visibility, but more importantly and significantly, it affects human health. The price tag of not managing AP is seen in the rise of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, and respiratory ailments like asthma and chronic bronchitis. But as the world battles the corona pandemic, COVID-19 lockdown has abruptly halted human activity, leading to a significant reduction in AP levels. The effect of this reduction is captured by reduced cases of morbidity and mortality associated with air pollution. The current study aims to monetarily quantify the decline in health impacts due to reduced AP levels under lockdown scenario, as against business as usual, for four cities-Delhi, London, Paris, and Wuhan. The exposure assessment with respect to pollutants like particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), NO2, and SO2 are evaluated. Value of statistical life (VSL), cost of illness (CoI), and per capita income (PCI) for disability-adjusted life years (DALY) are used to monetize the health impacts for the year 2019 and 2020, considering the respective period of COVID-19 lockdown of four cities. The preventive benefits related to reduced AP due to lockdown is evaluated in comparison to economic damage sustained by these four cities. This helps in understanding the magnitude of actual damage and brings out a more holistic picture of the damages related to lockdown.

/pdf/valuation-of-air-pollution-externalities-comparative-53eoznutbn.pdf

Valuation of air pollution externalities: comparative assessment of economic damage and emission reduction under COVID-19 lockdown.

The undeniable environmental ramifications of continued dependence on oil-derived jet fuel have spurred international efforts in the aviation sector towards alternative solutions. Due to the limited options for decarbonisation, the successful implementation of bio-aviation fuel is crucial in contributing to the roster of greenhouse gas emissions mitigation strategies for the aviation sector. Since fleet replacement with low-carbon technologies may not be a feasible option, due to the long lifetime and significant capital cost of aircraft, ‘drop-in’ alternatives, which can be used in the engines of existing aircraft in a seamless transition, may be required. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the supply chain components of bio-aviation fuel provision: feedstocks, production pathways, storage, and transport. The economic and environmental performance of different potential bio-feedstocks and technologies are investigated and compared in order to make recommendations on short- and long-term strategies that could be employed internationally. Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids production pathway, utilising second-generation oil-seed crops and waste oils, could be an effective immediate solution with the potential for substantial greenhouse gas emissions savings. Microalgal oil could potentially offer far greater yields of bio-aviation fuel and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but the technology for large-scale algae cultivation is inadequately mature at present. Fischer-Tropsch production pathway using lignocellulosic biomass has the potential for the highest greenhouse gas emissions savings, which could potentially be the solution within the medium- to long-term plans of the aviation industry, but further research and optimisation are required prior to its large-scale implementation due to its limited technological maturity and high capital costs. In practice, the ‘ideal’ feedstocks and technologies of the supply chains are heavily dependent on spatial and temporal criteria. Moreover, many of the parameters investigated are interlinked to each other and the measures that are effective in greenhouse gases emissions reduction are largely associated with increased cost. Hence, policies must be streamlined across the supply chain components that could help in the cost-effective and sustainable deployment of bio-aviation fuel.

/pdf/bio-aviation-fuel-a-comprehensive-review-and-analysis-of-the-3c8r1ql1sy.pdf

Bio-aviation Fuel: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of the Supply Chain Components

This open access book looks at the migration of Southern European EU citizens (from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece) who move to Northern European Member States (Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom) in response to the global economic crisis.
Its objective is twofold. First, it identifies the scale and nature of this new Southern European emigration and examines these migrants' socio-economic integration in Northern European destination countries. This is achieved through an analysis of the most recent data on flows and profiles of this new labour force using sending-country and receiving-country databases. Second, it looks at the politics and policies of immigration, both from the perspective of the sending- and receiving-countries. Analysing the policies and debates about these new flows in the home and host countries' this book shows how contentious the issue of intra-EU mobility has recently become in the context of the crisis when the right for EU citizens to move within the EU had previously not been questioned for decades.
Overall, the strength of this edited volume is that it compiles in a systematic way quantitative and qualitative analysis of these renewed Southern European migration flows and draws the lessons from this changing climate on EU migration.

/pdf/south-north-migration-of-eu-citizens-in-times-of-crisis-4yce0xr4jd.pdf

South-North Migration of EU Citizens in Times of Crisis

Cette these se consacre a l’etude du cadre juridique de la transition energetique depuis 2012, annee depuis laquelle l’expression a connu une utilisation croissante dans le domaine des politiques publiques en matiere d’energie et d’environnement. Le champ des evolutions juridiques frappees du sceau de la transition energetique est si vaste que ces travaux se sont concentres sur la reglementation des energies renouvelables electriques preeminentes que sont l’eolien terrestre et le solaire photovoltaique. Il en ressort que le droit de la transition energetique se situe au carrefour d’autres droits plus anciens, plus etablis. De nature evolutionnaire plus que revolutionnaire, il se coule dans le cadre existant et se soumet aux principes classiques du droit. De nos travaux ressort notamment qu’il fait un usage immodere d’instruments de planification le soumettant potentiellement a une obligation de resultats mesurables. Il est aussi amene a integrer des considerations de justice tres contemporaines, liees a sa finalite, faisant de lui davantage qu’un droit purement technique. Toutefois, il a ete marque par une confusion certaine lors du processus de redaction de la loi relative a la transition energetique pour la croissance verte, du fait de son volume, de ses conflits et des failles inherentes aux institutions de la Ve Republique. Ce contexte n’ayant pas favorise l’emergence d’un droit stable et de qualite, il manque de securite juridique. Enfin, il se revele etre plus souvent un frein qu’un facilitateur pour le developpement des energies renouvelables, alors qu’il est mal ecrit et mal arme quand il s’agit d’organiser la diminution de la part du nucleaire dans le mix electrique.

Le droit de la transition énergétique, une tentative d'identification

The present article is a critical literature review about studies which are based on LCA (life cycle assessment) and about studies which include environmental issues about concentrating solar systems (concentrating photovoltaic (CPV), concentrating solar power (CSP), etc.). The results reveal that CPV environmental profile depends on several factors such as the materials of the concentrator and the direct solar radiation. On the other hand, there are different factors which influence CSP profile (from environmental point of view), including water use and materials e.g. for storage. By considering the literature review presented it can be noted that: 1) Regarding CPV, there is a need for more studies which investigate different concentration ratios, CPVT (concentrating photovoltaic/thermal) systems, low-concentration CPV, strategies to reduce the impact of certain components such as the tracking (especially for large-scale applications) and the concentrators, 2) Concerning CSP, there is a need for more investigations about dish-Stirling, storage materials, strategies for water savings, soiling effect, 3) In general, regarding concentrating solar systems, there is a need for more studies with Fresnel lenses and reflectors, for small-scale systems for buildings and for multiple final applications (desalination, drying, etc.), 4) With respect to the adopted methods/environmental indicators, certainly CO2.eq emissions, embodied energy and EPBT (energy payback time) can provide useful information for concentrating solar systems; nevertheless, there is a need for utilization of additional methods (e.g. based on midpoint, endpoint approaches) which can also offer useful information.

/pdf/concentrating-solar-systems-life-cycle-assessment-lca-and-457aqk2969.pdf

Concentrating solar systems: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and environmental issues

Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE)

Benefits for your Students • Access to ASME student competitions/E-Fests, scholarships, internships and more • Exposure to the engineering community and real world situations, in and out of the classroom • Technical information & interactive tools to help with coursework and research • Mentoring by an experienced professional • Networking in person & online, locally & worldwide • Valuable relationships that can last a lifetime • Easy application process with no additional costs Benefits for your School • Supplements your curriculum and coursework • Provides targeted and relevant experiences beyond the classroom • Keeps you connected to the latest trends and industry developments • Offers exposure to international issues & perspectives • Exemplifies your exceptional commitment to your program and your students • Easy program administration, and the convenience of making a single payment

lmoya#utilisateurs

Papers

Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE)

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

American Chemical Society (ACS)