Description: The study "Towards a Single and Innovative European Transport System" is developing action plans for the establishment of an integrated transport system in Europe. This report was created in a joint effort between VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (Germany), Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy (Germany) and the Centre of Research and Technology Hellas, CERTH (Greece) on behalf of the European Commission's DG MOVE. Focus of the report is the international assessment of six different countries - Brazil, China, India, Japan, South Korea, USA - in five focus areas across all transportation modes. It provides actions plans on how to overcome existing European barriers towards a single and innovative European Transport System based on best practices and lessons learned in the countries under study. In addition to the actions plans, the study also provides recommendations for international collaboration.

Description: 28th Annual Conference of IAMSLIC held 6-11 October, 2002 at Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

Description: 24th Joint IAMSLIC/Polar Libraries Colloquy Conference: Reykjavik, Iceland, September 20 – 25, 1998

Description: Natural resources are back on the agenda. After the rise of new economic powers such as China, India, and Brazil, global competition has perceptibly increased strategic concerns as regards high commodity prices and possible supply shortages. Germany, the EU, the United States, and many others have formulated raw material strategies that put concern over access and supply at center stage - but the environmental and the socio-political dimensions are widely neglected in these strategies. This paper underlines a new dimension of international relations and pleads for new approaches, called international resource politics, which can be used for ongoing debates concerning green economy and transition strategies.

Description: SummaryThe aim of this study was to identify scientific criteria and to acquire performance data for the development of mariculture in the context of sustainable multifunctional use of offshore space and natural resources.In connection with current plans for a massive expansion of wind farms in offshore areas of the North Sea, the idea emerged to combine these with the installation of extensive mariculture for bivalves and macroalgae. Since offshore wind farms provide safety from shipping and infrastructure for attachment and service support, the opportunity for a multiple-use concept presented itself. However, prior to such a multifunctional development, it is necessary to determine the appropriate biological, technological and management requirements as well as the performance characteristics that would allow the employment of favourable and cost-effective methodologies. To this end, spezial focus was placed on the combination of extensive offshore shellfish and seaweed farming at exposed sites within the proposed offshore wind farms.This thesis deals in detail with1. the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on the growth potential of indigenous macroalgae and bivalves in extensive mariculture systems exposed to the stressful conditions of offshore habitats: (a) effects of physical forces on the cultivated species, (b) various parameters characterising the growth performance of species, (c) testing these parameters while using a variety of substrates and technical setups, (d) survival and health conditions, (e) recruitment, (f) parasite infestation of mussels in relation to inshore and offshore exposure, and (g) site-specific responses of the species to the various harsh offshore environments,2. the interaction between physical offshore processes and man-made structures in areas of the German North Sea Territory where mariculture has potential,3. the conditions for possible combination of mariculture systems with offshore wind farms in terms of the legal framework and possible management strategies, and4. the socio-economic and legal consequences and interactions for offshore mussel farming with the existing conventional inshore bottom culture activities.The research locations were specifically selected sites in the offshore region of the German Bight, mainly in the outer estuary of the River Weser, the offshore waters off the Island of Helgoland, several offshore areas where wind farms are planned, and habitats along the northern part of the Island of Sylt.In this yet relatively young research field the performance of different offshore culture systems with attached macroalgae (Laminaria saccharina) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) was assessed at monthly sampling intervals. These procedures were carried out using research vessels, boats and scuba surveys, while determining morphometric parameters (e.g. length, width, thickness) as well as weight for growth analysis of mussels and seaweeds. Furthermore, the condition index, the meat content and the degree of parasite infestation of blue mussels were determined. The abundance of mussel larvae in the water column and the resulting settlement success of post-larvae on various spat collectors were investigated. Seaweed studies included attachment strength, breaking and drag forces on kelp sporophytes in order to describe the resistance of cultivated Laminarians to high energy environments. Additional assessment criteria were biochemical parameters (e.g. chlorophyll-, nutrient-, POC- and TON-concentrations and their ratios) to describe the food availability for mussels and the nutrient composition for algal growth as well as oceanographic parameters (currents, waves, swell, salinity, temperature, light attenuation) to describe the wave climate and current velocities of the study sites in the offshore environment. Technical studies comprised two system designs (longline, ring structure) of various set ups (submerged or floating mode) in different locations (offshore or inshore) to find an appropriate culture design to sustain growth and survival of cultivated species. Further, a specially designed offshore spat collector was used for settlement investigations of mussel post larvae. Some fundamental studies were carried out in order to pave the way for the realisation of open ocean aquaculture in offshore wind farms (e.g. multifunctional use of offshore habitats in terms of avoidance of stakeholder conflicts, the legal framework for such activities in coastal areas and in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the multi-use concept in terms of integrated coastal zone management).Laminaria saccharina showed sufficient length increments in offshore habitats growing on a submerged ring system. It could be demonstrated by drag and breaking-/dislodgement force experiments that algae were capable of resisting the high-energy environment of the North Sea. The concentration of mussel larvae in the water column decreased offshore and resulted in a low settlement success while at the same time infestation load decreased and was lacking at offshore suspended collectors. The three system designs showed different results. While the offshore ring proved to be superior for seaweed cultivation under the harsh conditions, the longline showed some major drawbacks in terms of materials used, design and installation modes (submerged or floating). The spat collector largely withstood the harsh hydrodynamic conditions of the North Sea. The hitherto fragmented legal framework for the offshore waters was found to be one of the key constraints for the successful implementation of multifunctional use schemes. However, participation of all involved stakeholders may provide a window of opportunity to turn the existing lack of offshore regulations into a positive momentum, as scope exists to move with the development of new offshore co-management concepts beyond existing management approaches.Whether such offshore installations would provide sufficient economic returns could not be answered yet, as experience on the maintenance of offshore wind farms is lacking so far.However, the discovery that Laminaria saccharina resists offshore forces and shows sufficient length increments and mussels growing in offshore habitats are not affected by parasites may provide a key incentive for positive commercial use.It thus can be shown that there is a high potential for farming the deep blue in the German EEZ, provided that some of the constraints, of which the lack of legal framework and technical aspects seems to be most severe, are resolved in the near future.

Description: Studies of hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers (HCHs) and selected triazine herbicides in solution and suspension were carried out in the Pomeranian Bight in 1995. The concentrations of HCHs and triazines were determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GC) or by GC in connection with quadrupole mass spectrometry(GC/MS). Particulate and dissolved material were separated by means of an in-situ filtration/extraction system. The seasonal variability and regional distribution of the various components were investigated in January, April, July and September 1995. Their distribution in the western Pomeranian Bight is described. The concentrations of individual hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers were in the range of 100–1 000 pg l–1 in solution and 20 to 60 pg l–1 in suspension. The levels of the triazines in solution showed pronounced differences between the individual components (atrazine (2–20 ng l–1), simazine (5–30 ng l–1), terbuthylazine (〈 5 ng l–1)), but they were one order of magnitude higher compared with the hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers. The concentration of triazines in suspension was low, often below the limit of detection (25 pg l–1).

Description: Coastal countries have traditionally relied on the existing marine resources (e.g., fishing, food, transport, recreation, and tourism) as well as tried to support new economic endeavors (ocean energy, desalination for water supply, and seabed mining). Modern societies and lifestyle resulted in an increased demand for dietary diversity, better health and well-being, new biomedicines, natural cosmeceuticals, environmental conservation, and sustainable energy sources. These societal needs stimulated the interest of researchers on the diverse and underexplored marine environments as promising and sustainable sources of biomolecules and biomass, and they are addressed by the emerging field of marine (blue) biotechnology. Blue biotechnology provides opportunities for a wide range of initiatives of commercial interest for the pharmaceutical, biomedical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, food, feed, agricultural, and related industries. This article synthesizes the essence, opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges encountered in marine biotechnology and outlines the attainment and valorization of directly derived or bio-inspired products from marine organisms. First, the concept of bioeconomy is introduced. Then, the diversity of marine bioresources including an overview of the most prominent marine organisms and their potential for biotechnological uses are described. This is followed by introducing methodologies for exploration of these resources and the main use case scenarios in energy, food and feed, agronomy, bioremediation and climate change, cosmeceuticals, bio-inspired materials, healthcare, and well-being sectors. The key aspects in the fields of legislation and funding are provided, with the emphasis on the importance of communication and stakeholder engagement at all levels of biotechnology development. Finally, vital overarching concepts, such as the quadruple helix and Responsible Research and Innovation principle are highlighted as important to follow within the marine biotechnology field. The authors of this review are collaborating under the European Commission-funded Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action Ocean4Biotech – European transdisciplinary networking platform for marine biotechnology and focus the study on the European state of affairs.

Description: This volume addresses the potential for combining large-scale marine aquaculture of macroalgae, molluscs, crustaceans, and finfish, with offshore structures, primarily those associated with energy production, such as wind turbines and oil-drilling platforms. The volume offers a comprehensive overview and includes chapters on policy, science, engineering, and economic aspects to make this concept a reality. The compilation of chapters authored by internationally recognized researchers across the globe addresses the theoretical and practical aspects of multi-use, and presents case studies of research, development, and demonstration-scale installations in the US and EU.

Description: Purpose As stated in the United Nations Global Assessment Report 2022 Concept Note, decision-makers everywhere need data and statistics that are accurate, timely, sufficiently disaggregated, relevant, accessible and easy to use. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate scalable and replicable methods to advance and integrate the use of earth observation (EO), specifically ongoing efforts within the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Work Programme and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Work Plan, to support risk-informed decision-making, based on documented national and subnational needs and requirements. Design/methodology/approach Promotion of open data sharing and geospatial technology solutions at national and subnational scales encourages the accelerated implementation of successful EO applications. These solutions may also be linked to specific Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015–2030 Global Targets that provide trusted answers to risk-oriented decision frameworks, as well as critical synergies between the Sendai Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This paper provides examples of these efforts in the form of platforms and knowledge hubs that leverage latest developments in analysis ready data and support evidence-based DRR measures. Findings The climate crisis is forcing countries to face unprecedented frequency and severity of disasters. At the same time, there are growing demands to respond to policy at the national and international level. EOs offer insights and intelligence for evidence-based policy development and decision-making to support key aspects of the Sendai Framework. The GEO DRR Working Group and CEOS Working Group Disasters are ideally placed to help national government agencies, particularly national Sendai focal points to learn more about EOs and understand their role in supporting DRR. Originality/value The unique perspective of EOs provide unrealized value to decision-makers addressing DRR. This paper highlights tangible methods and practices that leverage free and open source EO insights that can benefit all DRR practitioners.

Description: Published

Description: 163-185

Description: 5IT. Osservazioni satellitari

Description: JCR Journal

Description: Although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute considerably to Germany's carbon emissions, regional savings and cooperative banks - SMEs' most important financiers - hardly consider this aspect in lending to these businesses. However, given Germany's commitment to climate neutrality by 2045, suitable approaches for injecting climate finance into these SME lending processes are greatly required. Against this background, the paper at hand aims to introduce the specific case of regional banks into the debate on green finance and green banking and suggest future research in this context. In discussing the state of research on the peculiarities of regional savings and cooperative banks, we outline the resulting opportunities and limitations for climate impact assessments in SME lending. We argue that while the dual bottom-line orientation of regional banks in Germany precludes them from applying simple positive or negative screenings, their in-depth knowledge about local clients and circumstances enables them to be active and engaging partners for the green transformation of SMEs. Nonetheless, we explain why developing solutions to utilise this knowledge for climate finance by integrating climate impact assessments into routine lending processes remains a particularly challenging task.