Extended Producer Responsibility: Successes, Failures, And The Future Of Oregon Recycling,
2024
Portland State University
Extended Producer Responsibility: Successes, Failures, And The Future Of Oregon Recycling, Zoe Vandal
University Honors Theses
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a waste management program used globally to improve the recovery, recycling, and management of solid waste materials. There are three types of EPR programs defined by their target materials: electronic and electrical waste (WEEE) EPR, hazardous waste EPR, and packaging EPR. Europe has implemented all three types with relative success. The US has implemented WEEE EPR and hazardous waste EPR and is currently in the process of implementing packaging EPR on a state scale in Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, and Maryland with 10 more bills being introduced in 2024 alone. Oregon's EPR program will be …
Exploring Microplastic Concentrations And The Sedimentology Of San Diego's Offshore Benthic Environments,
2024
University of San Diego
Exploring Microplastic Concentrations And The Sedimentology Of San Diego's Offshore Benthic Environments, Rachel Sarner
Theses
Marine pollution studies are showing infiltration of plastic debris in remote parts of oceans including the deep sea. Microplastics (MPs) are being discovered not only in the ocean’s water column but also benthic sediments reaching thousands of meters in depth. This is the first study to analyze MP concentrations in conjunction with sedimentary characteristics from varying deep-sea environments (coastal, deep ocean, offshore terrace) in the Southern California Continental Borderland (CCB). Our goal for this study was to observe how the concentration and type (morphology, color, size) of microplastics varied with distance from shore, with water depth, and between different submarine …
Some Reflections On Developing Trend Of Gravimetry In China,
2024
State Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430077, China
College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Some Reflections On Developing Trend Of Gravimetry In China, Heping Sun
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)
With the development of modern science and technology, gravimetry is growing vigorously and is increasingly becoming an interdisciplinary subject that is closely related to many others such as geology, fundamental physics, geodynamics, hydrology, oceanography, and astronomy. It is now a key subject in giving service to demands in national strategy and fundamental researches in geoscience such as fiducial surveying and mapping, resource exploration, military security, and hazard monitoring. Therefore, owning the core gravimetric techniques is one of the pivots which reflect national core competitiveness. This study first briefly overviews the history and actuality of the growth of gravimetry subject in …
Progress And Challenges Of Sustainable Development Goals (Sdgs) In The World And In China,
2024
Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecological Security, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Progress And Challenges Of Sustainable Development Goals (Sdgs) In The World And In China, Bojie Fu, Junze Zhang
Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)
Achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by United Nations is a critical task for countries around the world from 2016 to 2030. Yet, recent assessments indicate that progress on half of the SDGs has stagnated or even regressed, and that most goals are unlikely to be met by 2030. This study reviews the progress globally and in China towards achieving the 17 SDGs, and summarizes five key challenges that are impinging their realization: 1) the data gaps and insufficient monitoring capacity, 2) the high complexity of interlinkages among the SDGs, 3) the influence of regional disparities and negative …
Using Virtual Power Plants To Advance Decarbonization And Energy Equity In California,
2024
University of San Francisco
Using Virtual Power Plants To Advance Decarbonization And Energy Equity In California, Cheri Tsoi Yu Tse
Master's Theses
To achieve 60% renewable electricity generation by 2030 and 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045, California must rapidly electrify and decarbonize all sectors while ensuring grid stability to avoid power outages. Virtual power plants (VPPs) are an emerging solution that can help increase the percentage of renewable energy on California’s electrical grid. This research examined how VPPs can advance decarbonization, grid stability, and energy equity in California. The report begins by clarifying the definitions and components of a VPP, finding the crucial interactions among distributed energy resources (DERs), management systems, and prosumers (energy consumers who both produce and consume electricity). Next, …
Evaluating The Impact Of Wildfires On Mixed Conifer Forest Regeneration And The Effectiveness Of Usfs Management Strategies On Restoring Ecosystem Services,
2024
University of San Francisco
Evaluating The Impact Of Wildfires On Mixed Conifer Forest Regeneration And The Effectiveness Of Usfs Management Strategies On Restoring Ecosystem Services, Wyatt Farino
Master's Projects and Capstones
Wildfires are increasing in frequency, duration, and severity across Western North America. 20,438,720 acres (20.1%) of California has burned at least once since 2010. Projections suggest a statewide increase in burned area between 36% and 74% by 2085, with some forested areas in Northern California exceeding 100% in all modeled scenarios. Fire regimes have deviated far from their historical norm, significantly increasing the risk of type conversion from forest to other ecosystems. Californians rely on the myriad of ecosystem services produced by these forests to meet their basic needs. Access to these fundamental services will be severely reduced if appropriate …
Assessing The Use Of Regenerative Agriculture In California Almonds As Climate Change Resilience,
2024
University of San Francisco
Assessing The Use Of Regenerative Agriculture In California Almonds As Climate Change Resilience, Skyler M. Seamons
Master's Projects and Capstones
The agriculture sector is responsible for 10% of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, anthropogenic climate change threatens crops. With its Mediterranean climate, California is the country’s largest agricultural-producing state. Many California crops are at risk due to increasing temperatures and changed precipitation patterns. This paper investigates regenerative farming techniques as a tool to protect California crops from a changing climate. Almonds are used as a case study to analyze the soil management practices, finances, and policies underlying regenerative agriculture in California. A literature review and comparative analysis are used to compare regenerative and conventional soil management practices …
Elevating Urban Landscapes: How Green Roofs Enhance Biodiversity And Address Climate Change In California,
2024
University of San Francisco
Elevating Urban Landscapes: How Green Roofs Enhance Biodiversity And Address Climate Change In California, Jeffrey R. Beaudoin
Master's Projects and Capstones
Green roofs are increasingly valued for mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect, providing thermal comfort amidst rising temperatures of climate change, enhancing hydrological properties, and improving urban biodiversity. In this report, I explore the environmental benefits and practical challenges of green roofs, with a specific focus on California. My study evaluates the effectiveness of green roofs in enhancing environmental sustainability using a weighted rating system. I categorize the benefits of green roofs into key areas: thermal performance, stormwater management, ecological support, mental health benefits, noise reduction, air quality improvement, and water quality enhancement. Green roofs have shown the potential for …
Conceptualising And Enacting Pathways To Transformative Climate Justice: Examples From The Philippines,
2024
The University of Sydney
Conceptualising And Enacting Pathways To Transformative Climate Justice: Examples From The Philippines, Justin See, Anne Shangrila Fuentes, Emma Porio, Brooke Wilmsen
Sociology & Anthropology Department Faculty Publications
Scholarship on climate change adaptation is increasingly moving from incremental responses to climate injustice towards transformative approaches that deliberately change systems to achieve just and equitable outcomes. A transformative understanding of climate justice is relatively new and evidence of how this could be achieved is in its infancy. In this paper, we conceptualise transformative climate justice as comprised of three subcomponents: (1) inclusive justice (seeking to ensure that no one, especially the most vulnerable, is left behind), (2) epistemological justice (drawing upon diverse knowledges and worldviews), and (3) restorative justice (healing and restoration of communities and the environment). We then …
Youth Interest In Reusable Menstrual Hygiene Products: An Opportunity For Improving Menstruation Management,
2024
College of the Holy Cross
Youth Interest In Reusable Menstrual Hygiene Products: An Opportunity For Improving Menstruation Management, Makenna R. Eccles
College Honors Program
Adolescents experience inconsistent menstrual hygiene material access that is exacerbated by poverty and results in menstruation management difficulty, health risks, and interruptions to school attendance. The study centered the adolescent menstruation management experience through qualitative interviews to identify management difficulties and to assess knowledge, interest, and perceived feasibility of implementing reusable menstrual hygiene materials such as reusable sanitary pads, period underwear, menstrual cups, and menstrual disks to improve both menstrual hygiene access and menstrual management experiences. Inductive and deductive coding was used to analyze interview data and identify key themes. Adolescents expressed interest in reusable menstrual hygiene materials due to …
Impacts Of El Niño On The Florida Reef: A Case Study Of The 2016 El Niño Event,
2024
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Impacts Of El Niño On The Florida Reef: A Case Study Of The 2016 El Niño Event, Evvie Yendra
Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses
Coral reefs are vital ecosystems to coastal communities and the world’s oceans. They support other organisms, protect shorelines, and benefit coastal economies through fishing and recreation. Today, coral reefs face many threats, including ocean acidification, bleaching due to increased ocean temperatures, and disease. These threats are typically heightened during El Niño events across the globe. With a focus on the Florida Reef, these data encompass three key regions (Southeastern Florida, The Florida Keys, and Dry Tortugas) over the years 2014, 2016 (an El Niño event), and 2018. As 2024 is interpreted to be an El Niño year, this study predicts …
America's Next Top Ej Model: Assessing The Role Of Food Access In Environmental Justice Models,
2024
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
America's Next Top Ej Model: Assessing The Role Of Food Access In Environmental Justice Models, Allyson Barry
Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses
Disruptions to weather patterns and ecosystems due to climate change are a global challenge. However, previous research has found that communities of color, traditionally underprivileged communities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are disproportionately burdened with adverse health outcomes, higher propensities of exposure to weather disasters and pollution, and well-being inequalities. The field of environmental justice (EJ) seeks to eliminate such disparities through environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Published in 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) formulated the Environmental Justice Index (EJI) as a data tool to identify communities …
Strongly Stated And Loosely Held: Examining Stewart Brand's Role In The Ecomodernist Project,
2024
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Strongly Stated And Loosely Held: Examining Stewart Brand's Role In The Ecomodernist Project, Liam J. Baker
Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses
With the ecomodernist environmental perspective emerging in the wake of the 2015 publication of An Ecomodernist Manifesto, many researchers have sought to critique the ecomodernists and their theories of separating humanity from nature, intensifying agriculture, expanding energy production, and relying on technology to resolve the environmental challenges of the 21st century. In this paper, I add to these critiques by examining the history of Stewart Brand, one of the coauthors of An Ecomodernist Manifesto, to highlight connections between his personal environmental perspective, his material impacts, and the ecomodernist project as a whole. By analyzing the discourse produced by and about …
The Environmental Craftsfolk: Making Things In A World Full Of Stuff,
2024
University of Montana, Missoula
The Environmental Craftsfolk: Making Things In A World Full Of Stuff, Zoey Ballard
Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects
This Civic Engagement Project (CEP) proposes a transformative approach to addressing the complex challenges of environmental degradation and disconnection from nature through the establishment of the Eco-Craft Cabal in Missoula, Montana. The project seeks to reframe environmental consciousness through the lens of craft, fostering improved connections with the local environment and promoting community resilience. By repurposing both natural and artificial materials in inclusive, accessible crafting activities, the Eco-Craft Cabal aims to empower participants to confront feelings of despair and hopelessness with tangible, meaningful actions.
Timber And Tornadoes: A Journalistic View Of Mississippi's Escalating Climate Challenge,
2024
University of Mississippi
Timber And Tornadoes: A Journalistic View Of Mississippi's Escalating Climate Challenge, Alice Ann Hollingsworth, Alice Ann Hollingsworth
Honors Theses
Timber and Tornadoes: A Journalistic View of Mississippi’s Escalating Climate Challenges is a project which explores the impact of climate change on the state of Mississippi and its industries. Specific areas of interest were the recent onslaught of wind disasters including tornadic activity and hurricanes as well as the impact of weather events on the timber and forestry industries in the state. This project involved interviews of industry professionals as well as academic experts. In addition, interview questions and necessary supplemental context were developed using significant background research. Emphasizing the potential challenges that climate change will present for the state …
Climate Change In Mississippi: A Journalistic Exploration Of Education And Activism,
2024
University of Mississippi
Climate Change In Mississippi: A Journalistic Exploration Of Education And Activism, Kala Nance
Honors Theses
Climate Change in Mississippi: A Journalistic Exploration of Education and Activism takes an investigative, journalistic approach toward climate change in Mississippi. Specifically, how education and awareness have a direct impact on Mississippi industries, people and legislation. The project explored the level of acknowledgement of climate change across the state, and how certain individuals used advocacy to encourage education about climate change to raise awareness of the severity of the situation. This project includes interviews with university professors and researchers, non-profit organizations, educational groups and working individuals in some of Mississippi’s largest areas of employment. Additionally, this project draws on research …
Wyoming Conservation Exchange: A Case Study In Grassroots Conservation Program Design,
2024
University of Wyoming
Wyoming Conservation Exchange: A Case Study In Grassroots Conservation Program Design, Kristiana Hansen, Sara Brodnax, Roger Coupal, Jennifer Lamb, Anne Mackinnon, Ginger Paige, Eric Peterson, Melanie Purcell
Journal of Extension
This article describes the conception and development of a market-based conservation program in Wyoming whose purpose was threefold: to compensate landowners for good stewardship of their land and water resources; facilitate meaningful conservation; and encourage environmentally responsible energy development. The program was developed with strong stakeholder support against a backdrop of significant regulatory change. The project, called the Wyoming Conservation Exchange (WCE), represents a project-based alternative to more traditional program-based Extension efforts. This article evaluates ways in which the WCE can act as a road map—but also a cautionary tale—for similar Extension efforts in the future.
Community Responses To Us Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs,
2024
Portland State University
Community Responses To Us Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, Bethani Turley
Student Research Symposium
In 2023, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law designated 7 billion dollars to fund regional hydrogen hubs across the US with the goal of kickstarting a utility scale hydrogen economy for the US electric grid. A promising technology in the renewable energy transition, hydrogen can be made from a multitude of energy sources, often designated by colors: green hydrogen is made from solar and wind, pink hydrogen from nuclear, and blue hydrogen from natural gas. This presentation examines this new hydrogen economy through the case study of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2). ARCH2 is a blue hydrogen hub proposal by …
Fireflies At Rpa Natural Area Final Report,
2024
Bucknell University
Fireflies At Rpa Natural Area Final Report, Olivia H. Bush, Sydney M. Shea, Sofia J. Gordon, Nick S. Wiebke
Final Reports in ENST 411: Environmental Community Projects
Our group worked alongside community partners Shaunna Barnhart and Jim Dunn during the Spring 2024 semester to assist with their annual event Fireflies at RPA Natural Area. RPA Natural Area is a local park in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania that was recently acquired by Southside Recreational Authority. Since taking over the park, the organization has begun hosting an event each July to educate the general public about firefly biology and conservation by showing a film and guiding attendees through a firefly tour through the park. Our goals for this project included creating physical educational materials to be used at the park …
A Just, Sustainable Transition At Fordham University,
2024
Fordham University
A Just, Sustainable Transition At Fordham University, Ethan Shepard
Student Theses 2015-Present
This paper takes a deeper look at Fordham University’s environmental impact and concludes with a strategy outline that works towards a just, sustainable future on the university campus and surrounding areas. New York City is an area already facing the adverse effects of climate change, and there are several threats that have the potential to cause grave consequences moving forward. Prior to constructing a climate action plan, it is integral to understand the past and present status of The Bronx under a socio-environmental lens. Chapter One focuses on the current status of Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus from a sustainability perspective …
