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Environmental Studies & Sustainability

Librarian for Environmental Studies & Sustainability

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Meghan Webb
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webbmm@wfu.edu

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Top Sustainability Databases

Biotechnology for Zero Waste

Biotechnology for Zero Waste The use of biotechnology to minimize waste and maximize resource valorization In Biotechnology for Zero Waste: Emerging Waste Management Techniques, accomplished environmental researchers Drs. Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain and Ravi Kumar Kadeppagari deliver a robust exploration of the role of biotechnology in reducing waste and creating a zero-waste environment. The editors provide resources covering perspectives in waste management like anaerobic co-digestion, integrated biosystems, immobilized enzymes, zero waste biorefineries, microbial fuel cell technology, membrane bioreactors, nano biomaterials, and more. Ideal for sustainability professionals, this book comprehensively sums up the state-of-the-art biotechnologies powering the latest advances in zero-waste strategies. The renowned contributors address topics like bioconversion and biotransformation and detail the concept of the circular economy. Biotechnology for Zero Waste effectively guides readers on the path to creating sustainable products from waste. The book also includes: A thorough introduction to modern perspectives on zero waste drives, including anaerobic co-digestion as a smart approach for enhancing biogas production Comprehensive explorations of bioremediation for zero waste, biological degradation systems, and bioleaching and biosorption of waste Practical discussions of bioreactors for zero waste and waste2energy with biotechnology An in-depth examination of emerging technologies, including nanobiotechnology for zero waste and the economics and commercialization of zero waste biotechnologies Perfect for process engineers, natural products, environmental, soil, and inorganic chemists, Biotechnology for Zero Waste: Emerging Waste Management Techniques will also earn a place in the libraries of food technologists, biotechnologists, agricultural scientists, and microbiologists.

Advancing the Global Agenda for Human Rights, Vulnerable Populations, and Environmental Sustainability

"For over 70 years, the United Nations has worked to advance human conditions globally through its historic agenda for a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world. Through the work of the General Assembly and other programs like the UNESCO World Conferences on Adult Education, the organization has taken a leading role in bringing world leaders together to dialogue on world issues and to set agendas for advancing social and economic justice among and within the regions of the world. The underlying themes of the United Nations agenda over the years have been world peace, economic justice, addressing the needs of the worlds most vulnerable populations, and protecting the environment. We draw from the two last two declarations from which the Millennium Development Goals (September 2000) and the Sustainable Development Goals (September 2015) were adopted by world leaders with a focus on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations. In this declaration, word leaders committed to uphold the long-standing principles of the organization and to combat extreme poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination and violence against women. The overall objective of the book is to highlight the conditions of vulnerable populations from various contexts globally, and the role adult and higher education can play (and is playing) in advancing the United Nations agenda of social and economic justice and environmental sustainability. Adult education, through research, teaching, and service engagements is contributing to this ongoing effort but as many scholars have noted, our work remains invisible and undocumented. Therefore, this book will highlight adult educations critical partnership in addressing these global issues. It will also begin to fill the void that exists in the in US adult education literature on internationalization of the field"--

Drawdown

In Drawdown, renowned environmentalist Paul Hawken has assembled a team of over 200 scholars, scientists, policymakers, business leaders and activists to illustrate the hundred most substantive solutions to combat climate change that together will not only slow down the growth of carbon emissions, but reverse them altogether. Put into action together, these solutions will mobilise society into taking the climate change conversation from problem definition to problem solving, from fear and apathy to collaboration and regeneration.

Enhancing Climate Change Mitigation Through Agriculture

Agriculture, with its growing contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and opportunities to mitigate emissions, can help close the gap between existing global mitigation efforts and those that are needed to keep global warming to between 1.5 °C and 2 °C by the end of the century. Global scale and farm scale analyses are used to evaluate both the effectiveness of different policy options to reduce agricultural emissions, and the impact on competitiveness, farm income, food security, and government finances. In order to contribute to global mitigation efforts, countries will need to design agricultural policy measures that can navigate these trade-offs within the context of their national policy priorities and objectives. As most countries have not yet implemented policies to reduce emissions from agriculture, the analyses provided here come at an opportune time to inform this policy development.

Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability (10-Vol. Set)

Contains authoritative coverage from experts around the world on the ways to restore the planet. Focused on solutions rather than on environmental problems, this work is suitable for twenty-first century students and professionals working to transform our common future.

Climate Change and Pragmatic Engineering Mitigation

This volume brings together 18 experts with diverse backgrounds and expertise from around the globe to tackle climate change from multiple angles. A comprehensive exposition of the interconnection between ocean, weather, and climate variability is a pre-requisite for understanding the challenge. The solution approach encompasses a better appreciation of the roof, refined solar energy estimation, heightened heat exchange effectiveness, improved understanding of photovoltaic operation in the Arctic, and integration of thermoelectric with photovoltaic. Adaptation is an essential and immediate remedy that every individual must take part in, understanding that men and women respond to the thermal environment differently. Imagine future buildings made from appetizing materials, closing a sustainable design process with self-sufficient communities. Would hydrogen become a crucial part of the mitigation?

Sustainable Consumption

With the threat of climate change looming over the present, many consumers and companies have prioritized minimizing their environmental impact through making more sustainable choices. This volume examines the role that individual consumption plays in climate change, and how companies have attempted to become more sustainable and the effectiveness of these practices. Readers will evaluate whether countries and local municipalities should regulate consumption, and if it is even possible to change consumption practices enough to meaningfully impact climate change. Through reading opposing perspectives on these questions, readers will become better equipped to form their own intelligent opinions on these important issues.

Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty

This book examines the issue of environmental justice across eleven short chapters, with the aim of creating a resilient society. Starting with a history of the environmental justice movement the book then moves on to focus on various current environmental issues, analyzing how these issues impact low-income and minority communities. Topics covered include smart cities and environmental justice, climate change and health equity, the Flint water crisis, coastal resilience, emergency manageent, energy justice, procurement and contract management, public works projects, and the impact of Covid-19. Each chapter provides a unique perspective on the issues covered, offering practical strategies to create a more resilient society that can be applied by practitioners in the field. Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty will be of interest to upper level undergraduate and graduate students studying race relations, environmental politics and policy, sustainability, and social justice. It will also appeal to practitioners working at all levels of government, and anyone with an interest in environmental issues, racial justice, and the construction of resilient communities.

Assessing Progress Towards Sustainability

Assessing Progress toward Sustainability: Frameworks, Tools, and Case Studies provides practical frameworks for measuring progress toward sustainability in various areas of production, consumption, services and urban development as they relate to environmental impact. A variety of policies/strategies or frameworks are available at national and international levels. This book presents an integrated approach to sustainability progress measurement by considering both the frameworks and methodological developments of various tools, as well as their implementation in assessing the sustainability of processes, products and services through a global perspective. Combining methods and their application, the book covers a variety of topics, including lifecycle assessment, risk assessment, nexus thinking, and connection to SDGs. Organized clearly into three main sections --Frameworks, Tools, and Case Studies--this book can serve as a practical resource for researchers and practitioners alike in environmental science, sustainability, environmental management and environmental engineering. Offers an integrated approach to sustainability assessment using the most up-to-date frameworks and tools Includes extensive, diverse case studies to illustrate the methods and process for using the frameworks and tools outlined Provides practical insights related to challenges and opportunities to reduce environmental impacts and increase resources and energy efficiency

Sustainable Carbon Capture

A comprehensive resource on different aspects of sustainable carbon capture technologies including recent process developments, environmentally friendly methods, and roadmaps for implementations. It discusses also the socio-economic and policy aspects of carbon capture and the challenges, opportunities, and incentives for change with a focus on industry, policy, and governmental sector. Through applications in various fields of environmental health, and four selected case studies from four different practical regimes of carbon capture, the book provides guidelines for sustainable and responsible carbon capture and addresses current and future global energy, environment, and climate concerns.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

The aim of this book is to present selected theoretical and practical aspects of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, with particular emphasis on the journey (transition) from values to impact. Values play an important role in business world and they shape the responsible approach of organizations. However, pressing and still unresolved challenges of the present day show evidently that there exist significant discrepancies between organizations' declarations on values and their real impact. COVID-19 pandemic, globalization 4.0, climate catastrophe and challenges emphasized by SDGs, constitute the new environment that contemporary organizations face. In effect business is part of the problem and a solution as well. It is necessary to quickly and effectively push for action taking into account the power of responsible business to co-create human live and environment. Both the theoretical considerations and the practice-based studies presented in this monograph make a significant contribution to the theory and practice of management. The book is an extension and enrichment of the existing knowledge in the field of socially responsible management in organizations. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability will be of value to academics, researchers and advanced students in the fields of business and management, especially those interest in the intersection of management and CSR and sustainability, and those focusing the impact that business activities have on the environment.

Climate Actions

This book offers a diverse set of solid concerted strategies in the development and implementation of specific "climate actions," in natural and built places where we all live. The book also serves as a conduit of knowledge for those who are unsure on how they can make a difference for their families, their communities, and the natural places that surround them. Through many actionable examples of mitigation efforts for the ever-present effects of climate change, especially for those who may not understand the wide range of climate action opportunities that are available. Scientists, academics, and community leaders, will find concrete examples on how they too, can develop and implement climate action solutions.

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