• Title/Summary/Keyword: environmental sustainability

Search Result 997, Processing Time 0.022 seconds

A Study to develop an ecological audit program in elementary schools for sustainability education (지속가능성 교육을 위한 초등학교 생태감사 프로그램 개발 방안)

  • Kim, Hee-jin;Nam, Young Sook
    • The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
    • /
    • v.19 no.3
    • /
    • pp.26-37
    • /
    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study is to prepare a plan for the development of an ecological audit program that can be applied to the elementary school curriculum for sustainability education. School ecological audits enable students or groups of students to identify and solve the school's environmental problems on their own, thereby fostering sustainable decision-making and attitudes. As a result of the study through literature research, an ecological audit project learning program applicable to the elementary school curriculum was developed. The developed program is aimed at 6th graders and is composed of 16 steps reflecting the procedural and ecological processes of the ecological audit. In order to settle the developed program in the school site and improve the school sustainability of the developed program, it is necessary to introduce a school environment management system that can periodically monitor the school environment, strengthen the capacity of school teachers, and provide a professional certification system outside the school. In addition, with this bottom-up policy-making system, students can expect to spread a sustainable school culture through environmental education activities.

Study on Review Sustainability Criteria and Key Approaches for Biofuel (바이오연료의 지속가능성 기준 적용 사례분석 고찰 연구)

  • Kim, Jae-Kon;Yim, Eui-Soon;Jung, Choong-Sub
    • New & Renewable Energy
    • /
    • v.9 no.1
    • /
    • pp.33-43
    • /
    • 2013
  • The objective of this paper is to provide a review on the latest development on the main initiative and approaches for the sustainability criteria for biofuels. A large number of national and international initiative lately experienced rapid development in the review of the biofuels targets announced in the European Union (EU), United States (US) and other countries worldwide. The global biofuel targets are likely to have a strong impact on land use and agricultural markets. Although biofuels production provides new options for using agricultural crops, there are environmental, social and economic concerns associated with biofuel production. The diversity of feedstock, large number of biofuels pathway an their complexity lead to a high uncertainty over the greenhouse gas (GHG) performances of biofuels, in terms of GHG emission reductions compared to the fossil fuels, expecially if land use change is involved. This paper describes an overview of current status of ongoing certification initiative in Europe and worldwide for biofuels sustainability. It also provides mandatory requirements as part of an sustainability scheme in EU, United Kingdom, US and international approaches and should be reviewed to introduce based on global trends in Korea.

Towards Sustainable Agriculture in Korea : Theoretical Backgrounds and Practical Challenges (지속가능한 농업으로의 전환: 실천을 위한 이론과 과제)

  • Rhew, Chan-Hee;Kim, Soo-Suk;Cho, Won-Joo
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
    • /
    • v.28 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-30
    • /
    • 2020
  • This study argues that expanding the multifunctionality of agriculture (MFA) may mitigate existing agricultural problems. To do that this study redefines the concept and scope of the MFA and presents practical tasks to achieve it. Theorizing the MFA begins with the theory of sustainability and first identifies the link between sustainability and MFA. Later, considering the limitations of the existing sustainability theories, we examined where the false linkages leading to the destruction of environmental and social relations originated, and employed the (Re)productivity [(Re)produktivitat] theory in order to obtain alternatives. Research shows that welfare effects of the MFA on humans and the environment are not less than those derived from the agricultural products supplied to the real market, but the values are not recognized. The absence of proper care and compensation is the basis of agricultural problems in Korea. Therefore, this study acknowledges that the MFA is as much worthy as real agricultural production, and insists that appropriate compensation and care should be given to humans (farmers) and nature (agricultural ecosystem) in order to maintain and expand the MFA. In other words, a virtuous cycle between sustainability and the MFA means that the process spreads sustainable farming methods to expand the MFA, forms social consensus on it, and pays fair remuneration for agriculture from the public sector. Transition to such a virtuous cycle requires re-establishing the definition and scope of the MFA, implementing targeting policy, motivating policy targets, strengthening human capacity, and arranging maturity time.

Evaluating Biodiversity Conservation Activities by Corporations Based on Afforestation: KT&G (산림조성을 기반으로 한 기업의 생물다양성 보전 활동 분석: KT&G의 사례를 중심으로)

  • Geonhui Kim;Yoora Cho;Jay Hyuk Rhee;Yong Sik Ok
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
    • /
    • v.33 no.6
    • /
    • pp.345-353
    • /
    • 2024
  • As biodiversity loss has been highlighted as a global risk, biodiversity activities are gaining attention as a part of companies' Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) related management. This study evaluates various biodiversity activities of corporations based on domestic and international indicators. We present the role of corporations expressly in afforestation activities and suggest additional information that should be disclosed for the accurate verification of environmental values by third parties. KT&G was selected as the subject of the evaluation. The 4th National Biodiversity Strategy was used as a domestic indicator, and GRI Standard 304 as an international indicator. Companies can play a leading role in planning, implementing, and monitoring afforestation activities and should further disclose the species composition of the forests created and the age of the seedlings to enhance the credibility of the environmental values stated in their sustainability reports.

Diversity and Utilisation of Floral Non Timber Forest Products by the Communities in Rural Meghalaya, North-East India

  • Lynser, Marvellous B.;Tiwari, Brajesh Kumar
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
    • /
    • v.32 no.1
    • /
    • pp.39-54
    • /
    • 2016
  • The present study analyzes the diversity and usage of NTFPs and evaluates their importance in the day to day life of the people of rural Meghalaya. People use 172 NTFPs belonging to 139 plant species mainly for food, medicine and fuelwood and to a lesser extent for construction, handicrafts and ornamental purpose. These 139 plants belonged to 117 genera and 70 families with Rosaceae, Poaceae and Fagaceae families as the dominant NTFP yielding families. Fruits from shrubs and trees are most commonly harvested by people. Collection and availability of NTFPs for use as food are more during the summer season, which is also the period with least availability of job. NTFPs for subsistence use are greater in number than those having commercial value. The most commonly harvested plant parts are fruits and leaves. Roots, rhizomes and whole plants are extracted in lesser quantity which is a positive approach from sustainability point of view. NTFPs and other forest products also form a vital part of the rural household's income generation activities.

Sustainable Environmental Science & Recycling Technology Education for High School and Middle Schools: Global Scenario

  • Thenepalli, Thriveni;Chilakala, Ramakrsihna;Ahn, Ji Whan
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
    • /
    • v.28 no.1
    • /
    • pp.45-48
    • /
    • 2019
  • Currently, the global atmosphere around the world is altering at a very rapid pace. Among those changes, some are beneficial, but most of the changes are lead to destruction to our planet. The area of environmental science is a significant resource for learning more about these changes. Due to the urbanization, the human population is increasing, natural resources becoming very limited. To solve the limited resources issues, recycling is absolutely an alternative source for the new demands and limitations. Recycling education is very important to raise awareness among students and their communities about the need for recycling and what materials are recyclable locally. In this paper, we reported the role of sustainability science and technology and the impact of recycling research education in the middle schools, both in developing countries and Asian countries and also we included the brief data of global recycling of waste.

An Empirical Analysis on Performance Inconsistency among Environmental, Social and Governance Components of ESG Ratings

  • Minjung Park
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
    • /
    • v.15 no.1
    • /
    • pp.33-44
    • /
    • 2024
  • Purpose - The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the degree of performance inconsistency among the Environmental, Social and Governance ratings. Design/methodology/approach - This study performs regression analysis using the widely used ESG ratings published by the Korea Institute of Corporate Governance and Sustainability. Findings - The results show that firms often do not show consistent performance across the Environmental, Social and Governance aspects, with excellent performance on one aspect but mediocre or poor performance on another. The paper also finds some degree of firm-level persistence in such performance inconsistency, suggesting that the traits of the firm and the industry the firm belongs to might influence whether a firm shows inconsistent performance across the three aspects. Research implications or Originality - This paper highlights the need for researchers and practitioners to understand the underlying behavior of the individual E, S and G ratings, instead of taking them as given, in order to properly design their analyses.

Sustainable concrete mix design for a target strength and service life

  • Tapali, Julia G.;Demis, Sotiris;Papadakis, Vagelis G.
    • Computers and Concrete
    • /
    • v.12 no.6
    • /
    • pp.755-774
    • /
    • 2013
  • Considering the well known environmental issues of cement manufacturing (direct and indirect levels of $CO_2$ emissions), clinker replacement by supplementary cementing materials (SCM) can be a very promising first step in reducing considerably the associated emissions. However, such a reduction is possible up to a particular level of SCM utilization, influenced by the rate of its pozzolanic reaction. In this study a (4-step) structured methodology is proposed in order to be able to further adjust the concrete mix design of a particular SCM, in achieving additional reduction of the associated levels of $CO_2$ emissions and being at the same time accepted from a derived concrete strength and service life point of view. On this note, the aim of this study is twofold. To evaluate the environmental contribution of each concrete component and to provide the best possible mix design configuration, balanced between the principles of sustainability (low environmental cost) and durability (accepted concrete strength and service life ). It is shown that such a balance can be achieved, by utilising SCM by-products in the concrete mix, reducing in this way the fixed environmental emissions without compromising the long-term safety and durability of the structure.

A Study on Environmental Impact and Cost Analysis in Electricity Generation Using MFCA For a Coal-fired Power Plant (MFCA를 적용한 환경부하 및 발전원가 분석 연구 : 석탄화력발전소 중심으로)

  • Lim, Byung-Sun;Park, Seungwook
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
    • /
    • v.17 no.1
    • /
    • pp.271-279
    • /
    • 2015
  • Global warming has pressured companies to put a greater emphasis on environment management which allows them to reduce environmental impact and costs of their operations. In Korea, the coal-fired power plants take a large account of electricity generation at 31.7% of the total electricity usage in 2014. Thus, environmental impact of coal-fired power plants is significant. This paper illustrated how to compute environmental impact and costs in electricity generation at a coal-fired power plant using MFCA methodology. Compared to the traditional accounting, an advantage of MFCA is to provide information on electricity generation costs and environmental wastes incurring throughout the production process of electricity. Based on MFCA, the coal-fired power plant was able to reduce production cost of electricity by 52.3%, and environmental wastes by 47.7%. As a result, MFCA seemed to be an effective tool in environmental management for power plants.

An Evaluation on the Cultural Sustainability of the Korean Traditional Village -The Case of Sonwon-ri Village in Youngchon- (전통마을의 문화지속성 평가 -경북 영천 선원리를 대상으로-)

  • 고석철;장병관
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
    • /
    • v.29 no.6
    • /
    • pp.1-10
    • /
    • 2002
  • The purpose of this study is to establish a model of cultural sustainability in the traditional village. Cultural sustainability is being advanced by promoting the viability of traditional arts and the unique regional features of traditional culture, such as folklore, traditional landscapes, buildings and other environments of outstanding historical value. These cultural resources were also created or occurred at specific geographic locations at certain points in time by different individuals. The content of this study was to develop a model using indicators for cultural sustainability, and to apply and evaluate the model. In older to evaluate the model, Sonwon-ri village in Yongchon, located in Kyungsangbuk-do, was selected as the case study area. The major findings are as follows: 1) Sonwon-ri village has maintained the vernacular landscape except at the entrance of village. Also, the village people have pride and have adapted to the natural environment. 2) Sonwon-ri village has a self-sustaining system and circular network within its environmental capacity. Sonwon-ri village has many historical sites and buildings such as important folk resources, cultural assets, traditional houses and pavilions. 3) The people how the theory of fens-shui which interprets the location of village in relationship to a crane mountain with the village situated as a crane head. These symbolic and cultural elements have an important role in establishing the boundary of the village. From the research it can be seen that Sonwon-ri village kept many cultural sustainability indicators in terms of active factors, physical factors and psychological factors. By analysing the participation of different scientific disciplines and identifying disciplinary categories, this study provides a basis for understanding how cultural sustainability is subjected to research in the field of landscape planning and design.