Author: administrateur

18 Oct Soil – A Geological Resource, Economic Driver and Ecosystem Service Provider: recommendations for pooling scientific expertise in soil and land management

Posted at 14:22h in - Classification of publications - All, - Classification of themes - All, - Member Academies - All, Academy’s advice and position paper, Environment, National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) by administrateur 0 Comments
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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2014
Soil is fundamental to human existence. It forms the uppermost layer of the Earth’s crust, supporting life and comprising a base of mineral and organic materials together with water, air and living organisms. The soil is where the lithosphere (our planet’s crust and upper mantle) meets the atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water) and biosphere (flora and fauna). Its position at the interface between these four environmental compartments makes soil a highly sensitive and complex system. The rate at which new soil can be created is limited, meaning that soil loss is often irreversible. Even in the best-case scenario, when land is misused or degraded it can take decades or even centuries to restore soil to a state where it performs its full range of functions. Because the amount of land is finite it is no longer sustainable to consider that new soil may be brought into cultivation, e.g. by clearing forested lands. Arable land is, thus, a finite resource that should be used responsibly.
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18 Oct Georesource Water – The Challenge of Global Change. Approaches and requirements for an integrated management of water resources in Germany

Posted at 14:21h in - Classification of publications - All, - Classification of themes - All, - Member Academies - All, Academy’s advice and position paper, Environment, National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) by administrateur 0 Comments
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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2012
Freshwater (from now on simply referred to as “water”) is a precious good. It is one of the essential georesources. The most obvious uses of water properly occur in private households: we do the laundry and dishes; we cook, drink and water the plants. The largest share of water is, however, used by agriculture and industry. In particular, considerable amounts of water are used for power plant cooling in energy production. Groundwater accounts for about one third (30.1 percent) of global water resources, while only a small share is contained in lakes (0.26 percent), wetlands (0.03 percent) and rivers (0.006 percent). A much higher portion is trapped in ice and snow and is thus barely available for utilisation.
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18 Oct Marine Transport in High North

Posted at 14:18h in - Classification of themes - All, Environment, Mobility and Transportation, Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA), Other publications by administrateur 0 Comments
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Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA)
2011
High North is Norwegian Government’s most important strategic foreign policy priority. Experts gave talks that reflected the current knowledge on the subject, viewed from scientific, technological and juridical understanding.
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18 Oct Electricity Demand and Supply in the Republic – Information Bulletin 2

Posted at 14:16h in - Classification of publications - All, - Classification of themes - All, - Member Academies - All, Academic report, by a Commission or a Working Group, Environment, Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) by administrateur 0 Comments
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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2014
Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) - 2014 Initial Response to Energy Green Paper (2014) - Bulletin 2 of 4 on Key Policy Issues/Matters Arising.
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18 Oct Energy, technology and climate – Challenges and Opportunities for Action

Posted at 14:11h in - Classification of themes - All, Environment, Mobility and Transportation, Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA), Other publications by administrateur 0 Comments
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Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA)
2016
Background and summary: In the summer of 2014 14 authors, many members of the Academy, began writing a textbook on energy production, technology and climate challenges. NTVA president Eivind Hiis Hauge was the leader of the editorial staff. The book marked the 60th anniversary of the Academy's founding in Trondheim. It consists of 11 chapters, in which the authors address energy-related problems based on expertise in their own professional fields. Their challenge was to be concise, preferably with sharp conclusions and recommendations to decision-makers.  The authors are themselves responsible for the presentations in and conclusions of their chapters. The book is not a compendium of consensus within the Academy. The book focuses on the technical aspects of the fields of energy and climate. But political guidance is decisive for further developments. Nine chapters on technologies are framed between an introductory chapter and a final chapter slanted toward the social and political sciences. The fields of responsibility covered in the book are complex. Nonetheless there are some principal conclusions:
  • A holistic perspective is essential to achieving goals in the versatile field of energy and climate.
  • It isn’t a lack of fossil resources that will bring the age of fossil fuels to an end.  But a shift away from fossil resources probably will take a long time.
  • A climate-friendly society requires a high degree of electrification.
  • Apparently the Norwegian power grid need not be further developed to meet domestic needs. However, energy surpluses may be used for efficient, less polluting industrial production. By exchanging energy Norway can contribute to reducing emissions from other Nordic countries and from northern Europe.
  • The transport sector has an obvious potential for reducing its emissions. Norway has been a leading country in introducing electric cars. Maintaining this pioneer role requires a balanced, broad development of the incentive structure.
On 21st October, the online version of the leading Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten featured a long review of the book. The newspaper Adresseavisen also published commentary based on the book. Review copies of the book were sents to many members of the Press as well as to Members of Parliament on the Energy and Environment Committee, the Research and Education Committee, and the Committee on Business and Industry. The book also was presented at a Ministry of Climate and Environment meeting. With time the book has become well known. Reader reactions have been very positive. Contact: Lars Thomas Dyrhaug
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18 Oct Spatial Planning on the island of Ireland

Posted at 13:59h in - Classification of publications - All, - Classification of themes - All, - Member Academies - All, Academy’s advice and position paper, Environment, Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) by administrateur 0 Comments
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Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2016
Sets out the key concepts on which development of Spatial Planning Frameworks should be based and highlights teh main challenges to be addressed in developing these frameworks
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18 Oct Infrastructure for an island population of 8 million

Posted at 13:36h in - Classification of publications - All, - Classification of themes - All, - Member Academies - All, Academic report, by a Commission or a Working Group, Academy’s advice and position paper, Demography, Education, Training, Employment, Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE), Mobility and Transportation by administrateur 0 Comments
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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2010
The purpose of the report is to identify and make recommendations on the long-term infrastructure which will be required to serve a significantly and rapidly increasing all island population and to achieve world-class competitiveness for the island. Adopting a long-term perspective ensures that proper economic choices are made and avoids the risk of revisiting incremental decisions based on short-term pressures.Firm recommendations, in respect of spatial planning, key infrastructural investment requirement and protection of essential natural resources, were made.
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18 Oct More Years, More Life

Posted at 13:34h in - Classification of publications - All, - Classification of themes - All, - Member Academies - All, Academic report, by a Commission or a Working Group, Co-studies, Demography, Education, Training, Employment, National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech), Technologies and Health by administrateur 0 Comments
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National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2010
The recommendations focus on the impact of demographic aging on the world of work and lifelong learning in Germany. As aging in the context of work and lifelong learning, however, is closely associated with other domains of life such as health, the family, civil society, and politics, those are also covered. Furthermore, the topics of technology, and local communities and regions are explored in relation to aging. Other areas, such as the reform of pension schemes and the health system, have intentionally only received marginal attention, although they are relevant to the societal opportunities and challenges of aging. These issues have already been examined extensively in other settings and with high levels of expertise.
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18 Oct Position and Role of Engineers in Slovenia

Posted at 13:32h in - Classification of publications - All, - Classification of themes - All, - Member Academies - All, Academic report, by a Commission or a Working Group, Demography, Education, Training, Employment, Engineering Academy of Slovenia (IAS), Society and Technology by administrateur 0 Comments
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Engineering Academy of Slovenia (IAS)
2009
In each society there have to be strong research programs and research divisions in the industrial sector. Only countries with high innovativeness can be successful. Development of products that are based on own research, patents and technological knowledge is crucial for a society based on knowledge. According to this, Slovenia needs a higher share, role and position of engineers and natural scientist. This has to be supported by tight cooperation of industry with research and academic sphere. In this collection there are articles of speakers at the conference “Position and Role of Engineers in Slovenia”, organised by the Slovenian Academy of Engineering.
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