World

18 pages, 2263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy-Environmental Impact Assessment of Greenhouse Grown Tomato: A Case Study in Almeria (Spain)

by Katia Hueso-Kortekaas, José C. Romero and Raquel González-Felipe

World 2021, 2(3), 425-441; https://doi.org/10.3390/world2030027 - 7 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4850

Tomato is one of the most common crops across the world, but it is also one of the types of food that generates the most losses across its life cycle. This paper addresses this issue by providing a Life Cycle Analysis of greenhouse [...] Read more.

Tomato is one of the most common crops across the world, but it is also one of the types of food that generates the most losses across its life cycle. This paper addresses this issue by providing a Life Cycle Analysis of greenhouse grown tomato in southern Spain. The results confirm that tomatoes are a thirsty and frail crop. Most of its energy demands and carbon emissions go to packaging (35%) and transportation (42%) as well as supplying water for their growth. There seems to be room for improvement in the recovery of energy (54.6%) and CO₂ emissions, mainly addressing the waste treatment of packaging and plastic as well as improving transportation. Despite being highly water demanding, irrigation processes are already efficient in industrial greenhouses, and most of the water recovery will need to take place in the waste recovery stage. Food losses at the consumption phases do not constitute a significant loss in energy or a significant amount of carbon emissions saved. Full article

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10 pages, 228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Policy Coherence Framework Approach in a Multi-Level Analysis of European, German and Thuringian Climate Policy with a Special Focus on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)

by Justus Eberl, Evgenia Gordeeva and Norbert Weber

World 2021, 2(3), 415-424; https://doi.org/10.3390/world2030026 - 23 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3712

Abstract

This work sets out to apply the Policy Coherence Framework (PCF) to the case of climate policy, taking into account the European, German and Thuringian political levels of analysis. It combines an analysis of vertical coherence between these levels and horizontal coherence within [...] Read more.

This work sets out to apply the Policy Coherence Framework (PCF) to the case of climate policy, taking into account the European, German and Thuringian political levels of analysis. It combines an analysis of vertical coherence between these levels and horizontal coherence within and between different sectoral policies. The study demonstrates disparities between coherence within climate policy itself and between other policy sectors as regards forest area development. It further reveals some contradictions between economic and ecological goals in German climate policy, particularly as concerns the role of forests. According to the authors, this observation can, at least in part, be explained by the national security obligations of Germany as a nation state. This assumption is supported by the observation that the regional level of Thuringia is more consistent with the supranational level of the European Union, both of which can “afford” to favour ecology over economy due to not being nation states. Another finding suggests that the broad and ambiguous definition of climate policy causes many contradictions, leading to an “omnipresence” of climate policy, and in doing so, strips it of its meaning and, consequently, practical relevance. Full article

24 pages, 4533 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The 2020 Italian Spring Lockdown: A Multidisciplinary Analysis over the Milan Urban Area

by Maurizio Migliaccio, Andrea Buono, Ila Maltese and Margherita Migliaccio

World 2021, 2(3), 391-414; https://doi.org/10.3390/world2030025 - 2 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4280

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected human life worldwide and forced the implementation of lockdown periods in order to reduce the physical interactions of people. Italy has been heavily affected by a large number of deaths. The government had to impose a long lockdown [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected human life worldwide and forced the implementation of lockdown periods in order to reduce the physical interactions of people. Italy has been heavily affected by a large number of deaths. The government had to impose a long lockdown period during the spring of 2020. In this paper, we provide a critical analysis of the 2020 Italian spring lockdown (ISL) through observation of the spatiotemporal NO_x pattern differences in connection with the social changes imposed by such restrictions. Different freely available sources of information are used: European Space Agency (ESA) TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) measurements, ground-based measurements, and model estimates. The results show high NO_x pollution levels, even during the lockdown, that suggest new approaches to sustainable mobility policies. Full article

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12 pages, 2576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studying Satisfaction with the Restriction Measures Implemented in Greece during the First COVID-19 Pandemic Wave

by Dimitris Zavras

World 2021, 2(3), 379-390; https://doi.org/10.3390/world2030024 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3634

Abstract

There is an ongoing debate regarding the effectiveness of policy responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As satisfaction with such measures is a function of their effectiveness, the main objective of this study was to identify the factors driving satisfaction with [...] Read more.

There is an ongoing debate regarding the effectiveness of policy responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As satisfaction with such measures is a function of their effectiveness, the main objective of this study was to identify the factors driving satisfaction with the measures implemented in Greece during the first pandemic wave. The study used data from the first round of the “Public Opinion in the European Union (EU) in Time of Coronavirus Crisis” survey. The sample consisted of 1050 individuals aged between 16 and 54 years. The results of the analysis, which was based on an adjacent category logistic model, indicate that materially deprived individuals were less likely to be satisfied with the restriction measures, while those considering that the health benefits were greater than the economic damage, those concerned for their own health and those concerned for the health of their family and friends were more likely to be satisfied with the restriction measures. The results confirm the existence of uncertainty regarding the effectiveness and impacts of the restriction measures. Full article

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5 pages, 185 KiB

Open AccessViewpoint

‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ in Drylands: Late Knowledge Penetration or a Deliberate Ignorance for Megaprojects?

by Farshad Amiraslani

World 2021, 2(3), 374-378; https://doi.org/10.3390/world2030023 - 6 Jul 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2992

Abstract

Despite the paramount role of drylands in supporting people’s livelihoods and rendering ecosystem services, legislation on Environmental Impact Assessment has been introduced belatedly after several decades. By exemplifying Iran, the author proposes two main reasons for such a delayed action. First, drylands are [...] Read more.

Despite the paramount role of drylands in supporting people’s livelihoods and rendering ecosystem services, legislation on Environmental Impact Assessment has been introduced belatedly after several decades. By exemplifying Iran, the author proposes two main reasons for such a delayed action. First, drylands are misleadingly considered as barren lands where biodiversity is relatively low. In one classification, deserts are even categorized along with rocks. Second, the author emphasizes that drylands have been subjected to unprecedented changes due to the expansion of infrastructure and urbanization that started in the 1970s. These growing pressures have been beyond the ecological resilience of drylands and have not been monitored, assessed, and modified correctly. Further scrutiny regarding EIA undertakings in drylands and the way they can be improved is now needed. Full article

23 pages, 804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Framework for Establishing a Sustainable Medical Facility: A Case Study of Medical Tourism in Jordan

by Durgham Darwazeh, Amelia Clarke and Jeffrey Wilson

World 2021, 2(3), 351-373; https://doi.org/10.3390/world2030022 - 30 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6768

Abstract

A significant number of studies have assessed the impact of medical tourism from economic, technological and social perspectives. Few studies, however, have explored the development of the medical tourism sector from a sustainability perspective. This research brings a sustainability lens to medical tourism [...] Read more.

A significant number of studies have assessed the impact of medical tourism from economic, technological and social perspectives. Few studies, however, have explored the development of the medical tourism sector from a sustainability perspective. This research brings a sustainability lens to medical tourism by extending Hart and Milstein’s framework (2003) for creating sustainable business value to advance the development of sustainable medical tourism facilities. To inform the analysis, the study conducted nine semi-structured interviews with members of the Jordan Medical Tourism Network (JMTN). Interview results confirmed the primary factors that motivate medical tourists, and characteristics of a sustainable medical tourism facility. The research provides insights on how sustainability is a driver of medical tourists’ decisions and a core aspect to be managed. The study also provides direction to advance sustainable medical tourism facilities in Jordan with replicability in other jurisdictions. The research proposes a path for medical tourism facilities to play further roles in their contribution to sustainable development by introducing a framework that aims to integrate four business strategies for establishing sustainable value through the integration of stakeholders’ interests and environmental practices. Full article

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17 pages, 1594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Factors Affecting the Recycling Behavior of Primary School Students

by Eleni Altikolatsi, Evangelia Karasmanaki, Androniki Parissi and Georgios Tsantopoulos

World 2021, 2(3), 334-350; https://doi.org/10.3390/world2030021 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 13178

Abstract

Education on recycling must be provided during the first school years because environmentally aware students are more likely to become environmentally aware citizens. The aim of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting the recycling behavior of students attending the last [...] Read more.

Education on recycling must be provided during the first school years because environmentally aware students are more likely to become environmentally aware citizens. The aim of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting the recycling behavior of students attending the last grade of primary school in the regional unit of Evros in Greece. To select the sample, multistage sampling was used, and to collect the research data, a questionnaire with closed-ended items was designed. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the non-parametric Friedman test, and categorical regression. Our results showed that the students had positive views, attitudes, and behaviors in relation to recycling and were actively involved in it. Categorical regression analysis indicated that the other family members affected students’ recycling behavior to a high degree, whereas students’ parents’ occupation and students’ participation in environmental education programs at school exerted a lower influence on their recycling behavior. Full article

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World, Volume 2, Issue 3 (September 2021) – 7 articles

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