Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Circular Design Principles For The Sustainable End-Of-Life Management Of Renewable Energy Assets: Investigation Of Illinois And Germany Renewable Energy Policies And Programs., Samuel N. Nimaful

2024 Student Research and Creativity Conference

This poster presents an analysis into the integration of circular design principles within renewable energy policies, comparing the approaches of Illinois, USA, and Germany. With the global shift towards renewable energy to combat climate change, the sustainable management of end-of-life (EoL) renewable assets has become crucial. The study utilizes a thematic analysis to explore seven key policies from Illinois and five from Germany, employing NVivo software to dissect aspects such as design strategies, support for innovation, and enforcement mechanisms.

Creating A Sustainabili-Tour, Lily Dubray, Caden Fisher, Allison Gross, Morgan Hrivnak, Emily Kilstrom, Sushant Mukhia, Hannah Nelin, Sam Parrish, Waverly Patterson, Bowen Rand, Caleb Swanson, Wyatt Wiebelhaus

Sustainability & Environment Projects

Executive Summary

The University of South Dakota has taken significant steps to become more sustainable in the last few years. Students, faculty, and administrators have worked together to raise awareness and advance sustainability on campus. Because of these efforts, the University of South Dakota was recently recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education as a STARS Bronze Institution based on our accomplishments in campus sustainability.

Every year, Dr. Meghann Jarchow teaches the Sustainability Capstone course, leading a class of seniors on a semester-long project aimed at furthering community sustainability by synthesizing student expertise. Throughout …

Género Y Resiliencia En La Amazonía Peruana: Las Experiencias Y Respuestas De Agricultoras Indígenas Ante El Cambio Climático, Zoe Klausner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El cambio climático antropogénico está redefiniendo rápidamente las relaciones humano-ambientales, especialmente en la Amazonía peruana, donde más de 66 comunidades indígenas enfrentan mayores sequías y temperaturas, afectando profundamente sus medios de vida. Crucialmente, desde la visión ecofeminista central a esta investigación se subraya que las mujeres indígenas experimentan los impactos del cambio climático más severamente y son a menudo los líderes en el fomento de la resiliencia ambiental. Esta investigación explora cómo las agricultoras indígenas de la Amazonía peruana viven el cambio climático y sus estrategias de adaptación y resiliencia. El trabajo de campo se realizó en la comunidad Ese'Eja …

Exploring Cation Exchange: Unveiling Its Significance In Biochar And Bioenergetics Applications, Gyanendra Kharel

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Cation exchange, a cornerstone of soil chemistry and nutrient cycling, is a fundamental chemical process that occurs in soils, sediments, membranes, and other solid materials. It involves the interchange of positively charged ions, or cations, between a solid matrix and a surrounding solution. This process is crucial in various natural and engineered systems, leading to a range of applications across different fields.

This dissertation presents an extensive investigation into the applications of cation exchange in the fields of biochar and bioenergetics, encompassing three distinct aims. The first aim concentrates on the surface oxygenation of biochar through ozonization, aiming to achieve …

Rethinking Food Waste To Mitigate Climate Change: Actions And Conversations On Zero Waste, Keilin Elizabeth Huang

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Nonprofits Should Adopt A User-Centric Change Model To Scale Corporate Environmental Action Faster, Doug Miller

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Pollution levels and ecosystem degradation continue to worsen, suggesting the insufficiency of current approaches to reverse these problematic trends. For environmental nonprofits, the current theory of change revolves around developing techno-economic analysis about environmental problems and available solutions, building public awareness around this analysis, and motivating decision makers to set goals. Given present environmental realities and the limited success of their current theory of change, environmental nonprofits should transform how they execute their work, what they produce, and how they coordinate with each other. Instead, nonprofits should begin putting the user—business decision makers as well as policymakers—front and center as …

Sulitest, Tejinder Kaur Billing, Andrea Farro, Dilip Mirchandani, Melissa Tabada Montalbo-Lomboy

Rohrer College of Business Departmental Research

SULITEST is a program that assesses and promotes sustainability knowledge and awareness in college students. It covers four key areas: sustainable societies, human systems, transitioning to sustainability, and individual and systemic change. SULITEST can be a roadmap for developing knowledge and behaviors that lead to a more sustainable world,

Exploration Of Sustainable Attitudes And Behaviors And The Role Of Planned Behavior Amongst The Auc Community, Natalie Tamer Khairy

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the use of a new Framework that was developed by combining both the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) theory to study the sustainability behaviors of students, faculty, and staff at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The research aims to provide insights into the factors influencing sustainable behaviors and how these factors differ across the three groups. The study used a combination of questions from the sustainability awareness questionnaire (SAQ) and Sulitest that was customized to the cultural context of the target group. The survey was administered to a sample of …

Sustainability Of Simplified Sewer Systems: A Case Study Of Vingunguti Urban Settlement, Dar Es Salaam Region In Tanzania, Neema Kijazi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The universal access to safely managed sanitation remains one of the challenges to achieving the UN SDG target 6.2 in unplanned urban settlements including the Vingunguti area in Dar es Salaam City which is high-density populated. In an attempt to address this challenge, a simplified sewer system was piloted as an option for achieving safely managed sanitation in this particular area. The objective of this study was to assess the sustainability of the piloted simplified sewer system for its potentiality to up-scale and replication in areas with similar sanitation challenges in the country. Methodology involved collection of data on performance …

Full Issue, Volume 3

CSU Journal of Sustainability and Climate Change

Full issue for volume 3

Profile: Celebrating Sustainability, Communications And Marketing

Profile (1996-)

In this issue: Zavada is First Morton Gneiss Professor; Cougar Days of Giving Event is Resounding Success; Planned Giving is Way for Alum to Give Significant Support; New at UMN Morris: Degree in Three; Cofer Named Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean; Pandemic Challenges Led to Improved Chemistry Lab; Kapemni Program Created with NSF Grant; UMN Morris Archives Receives National Endowment for the Humanities Grant; Morris Model Wins Competition to Energize Rural Communities; UMN Morris Included in Food Justice Initiative Funding; DuHamel Receives McKnight Musician Fellowship Grant; Peters Receives JEDI Award; Brugger Named Fellow of the Geological Society of …

Evaluating Corporate Marine Plastic Pollution Reduction Pledges: Achieving Plastic Reductions Or Contributing To Greenwashing, Ansar Z. Mohammed

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

This paper examines major corporations' commitments and performance in reducing virgin plastic production, aligning corporate initiatives with tangible outcomes. It draws on sustainability governance literature and analyzes plastic reduction strategies by industry leaders such as SC Johnson, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Borealis, Nestlé, and Unilever. By synthesizing corporate reports and scholarly literature, the research provides an understanding of corporate plastic reduction within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14), which focuses on marine conservation. The study evaluates the alignment of corporate commitments with SDG 14, identifying genuine environmental stewardship and potential greenwashing. It employs three methodologies: transparency, accountability, and science-based …

Multinational Asset Management Firms & Esg Disclosure Management, Maggie Pahl, Michael Hamersky, Jason J. Czarnezki

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

In recent years, the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom have introduced “Environmental, Social, and Governance” disclosure regulations. Multinational Asset Management Firms must now navigate the evolving and varied disclosure and labeling requirements they are subjected to across multiple jurisdictions. This Article provides a brief history of ESG disclosure regulation and provides a summary of the enacted and proposed regulations and identifies the biggest points of contention between the regulations and provides suggestions for a more comprehensive standardized regulatory framework.

Have Government Incentives Led To An Increase In The Adoption Of Solar Panels?, Sienna L. Houle

Journal of Earth and Life Science

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides a tax credit for installations of renewable energy or battery storage that are completed between 2022 and 2034. The primary goal was to encourage citizens of the United States to reduce the use of fossil fuels and progress toward our climate goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Numerous states have additional benefits for installing solar on top of the federal tax credit. Through the findings of this research paper, solar panel adoption increased as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 went into effect.

“What Planet Are You On” - Making Meaning Of Sustainability Through Storytelling, Nancy T. Ladeinde

Masters Theses

The term “Sustainability” has come to stay as it is deeply integrated into our everyday life, although it seems complex to understand and engage with. The purpose of this thesis is to know how Unilever, a global consumer goods organization, makes meaning of its sustainability efforts. The method used to achieve this is a thematic analysis of Unilever’s campaign “What Planet Are You On?” a brand campaign documenting their sustainability efforts. Building on storytelling as a theoretical framework, it delves into the strategic use of stories as a communication tool for sustainability efforts, emphasizing its impact on brand narrative, stakeholder …

One Man's Trash - Montana Kaimen - April 11, 2024 | Volume 126 | Issue No. 26, Isabella Jasper Rain Chambers

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Revolutionizing Lithium Extraction: Analysis Of Factors Affecting Commercialization Timelines With Insights From The Shale Gas Boom, Bilge Tayyar

CMC Senior Theses

This study draws parallels between Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and hydraulic fracturing to highlight the transformative potential of DLE technology in the lithium industry. The comparative analysis supports the hypothesis that DLE might expedite commercialization timelines, similar to the effect hydraulic fracturing has had on traditional shale gas extraction. The study includes a regression analysis to determine the factors affecting the commercialization of conventional lithium brine extraction methods, thereby better understanding the potential changes DLE will create. The regression model, based on data from 11 projects, examines the impact of variables such as temperature range, tax rates, royalty rates, regulatory …

Breaking Barriers: Female And Hispanic Undergraduate Students Experience Gains In Self-Confidence And Tolerance For Obstacles During A Sustainability-Centered Internship Program In The Usa, M. Murray, H. Spinks, Y. Besen-Cassino, E. Emery, B. Johnson, E. Nunez Perez, Y. Wang, D. Lopatto, N. M. Goodey, A. R. Tuininga

PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies Publications

Previous research has shown that female and Hispanic students who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) face more educational barriers than their non-Hispanic, male peers. However, little research has been conducted on the effects of intersectional identities in the STEM space. In an effort to bridge the gap in underrepresented students' experience, the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies organizes a paid, interdisciplinary, team-based, experiential learning and internship program called the Green Teams that occurs during 10 weeks of the summer. The Green Teams Program strives to provide undergraduate students from all backgrounds–academically, economically, and demographically–an opportunity to …

Iere Annual Report 2024, Erin Largo-Wight, Nicole Lowe, Kelly Rhoden, Abbey Townsend, Ruby Cox

Annual Reports

2024 Annual Report of the Institute for Environmental Research and Education

Advancing The Blue Economy Through Sustainable Mariculture: The Prospect Of Pearl Oyster And Sponge Cultivation In St. Vincent And The Grenadines, Kevin Antonio Providence

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The Blue Economy is estimated to be worth over USD 2.5 trillion annually, or almost 3% of the world’s GDP in 2020. St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the Caribbean region has a vast and rich marine space that is underutilized. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of pearl oyster and sponge farming to advance the country’s Blue Economy through sustainable mariculture. A qualitative approach was applied, using a literature review and thematic analysis of data gathered through semi—structured interviews and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders. Among several species evaluated, the result of the study revealed that …

Mind, Body, And Farmland: The Agricultural Revolution Of Regenerative Agriculture And The Social Construction Of Sustainability., Amanda C. Pennett

Honors Theses

An agricultural revolution has begun to take place in light of the growing awareness of environmental issues that impact crop production on farms. In the beginning of the fall of 2022, I began to study the culture of regenerative agriculture in rural Pennsylvania using anthropological methods, including participant-observation and semi-structured interviews, working alongside local farmers. I was also interested in uncovering the flaws in our current industrial agricultural system and how farming could be reimagined to benefit farmers’ mental health, soils, and ecosystems while privileging the voices of those farmers committed to regenerative farming. The ongoing evolution of regenerative farming …

Conceptualizing Sustainability And Resilience In Value Chains In Times Of Multiple Crises—Notes On Agri-Food Chains, Alexander Follmann, Peter Dannenberg, Nina Baur, Boris Braun, Grit Walther, Amelie Bernzen, Jan Börner, Michael Brüntrup, Martin Franz, Emmanuel Sulle

Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre

Global and regional agri-food value chains feed societies and are an income source for hundreds of millions of farmers around the world. They are also target areas for action to achieve a global sustainability transformation. Agri-food chains are highly vulnerable in the context of multiple crises, including the global environmental crisis, geopolitical fragmentation, armed conflicts and wars, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures to increase chain resilience are widely discussed; however, some such measures contradict sustainability measures. While there has been considerable research on the sustainability and resilience of agri-food chains, few studies have integrated both perspectives or …

A Lean Management Framework For Achieving Sustainability Through Reducing Risks During The Design Process, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Sherouk Mohamed Abdelrahim

Architectural Engineering

The building sector is a substantial global industry that plays a significant role in the social and economic advancement of nations. The construction industry has been criticized for its unsustainable practices, including waste generation, pollution, and the consumption of non-renewable resources and energy. Due to the dynamic nature of the construction industry and the involvement of multiple parties with diverse goals, knowledge, and skills, the industry is susceptible to various risks that can undermine the sustainability of projects. This research aims to develop a Lean Management (LM) framework to deliver sustainable construction projects through reducing risks during the design process. …

Meeting The Sustainability Challenges: An Assessment Of Entrepreneurial Education, Anna Zherdeva, Intesar Madi, Abrar Alzankawi, Lucia Morales Dr, L. Pop, A. Soler-Dominguez, J.C. Saez

Conference papers

The importance of sustainability and entrepreneurship education is highlighted in this study. The world economies are facing significant challenges as they try to enable the transition towards more sustainable economic and business models. Therefore, at the centre of the transition process, it is critical to consider the role that business education can play and, more specifically, the role of business schools in integrating and supporting the development of skills and competencies that align with our contemporary society's needs. In this paper, we initially assess the need to connect entrepreneurial and sustainability education by exploring the educational offerings at Technological University …

Geographies Of Storage, Sayd Randle

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Resource storage has long played a key role in the production of socio-ecological arrangements and economic relations. Even so, storage as a concept has remained somewhat marginal within geographical scholarship, often obscured by an analytical focus on the dynamics of movement. Reviewing recent works from geography, science and technology studies, and anthropology that center sites and practices of storage, this essay elaborates the diverse ways in which storage arrangements mediate resource circulation and the production of space. This literature demonstrates that thinking systematically with storage can illuminate a range of novel temporal, material, and value entanglements in-the-making, pointing to potentially …

Opening The Black Box: Carbon-Footprint Calculators, Meat Consumption, And The “Wicked Problem” Of Metric Governance, E. Melanie Dupuis, Dustin Mulvaney

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Carbon-footprint calculators are widely used as communication and education tools, designed to make people aware of the ways their personal actions contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions. However, they have come under criticism for emphasizing individual behavior versus structural change. We extend this critique to argue that carbon-footprint calculators are a form of “metric governance” that not only disciplines users but also constrains their abilities to engage with the complexities of climate change and social action. We focus on a particularly wicked problem of carbon-metric governance: livestock greenhouse-gas emissions. We show that carbon-footprint calculators black box and fix the complex politics and …

Guest Delight: The Influence Of Sustainable Performance And Guests' Perceived Health And Safety, Mi Ran Kim, Eunsil Lee, Jisun Lee

ICHRIE Research Reports

Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of guests’ health, safety, and well-being in the hotel industry. Further, in today’s highly competitive environment, hotels must orchestrate memorable experiences for guests to realize their value and become ambassadors for the brand. The purpose of this research is to explore the antecedents (i.e., sustainable performance, safety, and health) and the outcomes (i.e., brand love, trust, and willingness to pay more) of customer delight. Surveys will be distributed to hotel guests and the results can provide insights and implications for scholars and practitioners to better understand the concept of customer delight.

Green Is The New Black: Exploring How A Philosophical Approach To The Fashion Industry Will Reduce Its Environmental Impact, Darion A. Gibbs

Student Theses and Dissertations

The fashion industry is the third largest contributor to pollution globally, behind only oil and agriculture. It also accounts for one-fifth of the plastic produced annually. Despite its impact, it is hard to trace accountability. For example, mega-retailers often outsource production to developing countries, without strong structures of accountability for their environmental impact. In addition, companies often claim to be environmentally sustainable, but it is easy to inflate the truth, and entities designed to protect consumers have limited enforcement. In this context, who should be held responsible for the fashion industry’s contribution to climate change?

In response, this thesis delves …

An Overview Of Sustainability Content In Higher Education: Applications For University Landscape Architecture Programs, Hye Yeon Park

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Higher education institutions worldwide have recognized the importance of integrating sustainability into their programs, with over 600 universities offering courses focused on sustainable development. This trend has led to the emergence of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). This multidimensional approach aims to empower individuals to create a sustainable future by integrating environmental, social, and economic systems. In particular, ESD has been implemented in various aspects of higher education, such as course content, teaching methodologies, curriculum design, and faculty roles.

Design and planning education are critical components of shaping future decision-makers who will positively and negatively impact society and the environment. …

Breaking The Loop: Strategies For Fighting Climate Change On U.S. Farms, Ashley Barry

Honors Capstones

Climate change is an increasingly urgent area of research due to the hardships it causes for lands and communities across the globe. Specifically in regard to the United States (U.S.), climate change has many concerning implications on our agricultural system. Increased weather hazards, decreased crop production, and drought are just a few of the hardships American farmers are facing in their fight to keep their farms alive and feed their communities, despite a rapidly changing climate. This study investigates how farmers can fight and prevent climate change through the use of specific mitigation and adaptation strategies on their farms. Semi- …