CÁLCULO DE LA HUELLA ECOLÓGICA CAMPUS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA / CALCULATION OF CARBON FOOTPRINT IN THE UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA CAMPUS

Las agendas ambientales actualmente promueven la aplicación de indicadores que posibiliten el resguardo de los ecosistemas naturales dentro de estándares de vida sostenible. Entre los actores que favorecen la aplicación de indicadores de sostenibilidad ambiental se encuentran las universidades, la cual han asumido un rol importante, no solo como productoras y contenedoras de conocimiento científico y tecnológico, sino también en el reconocimiento de su capital natural y el uso equilibrado de los servicios ambientales para el desenvolvimiento de sus funciones. En este sentido, el trabajo tiene por objeto la realización de una evaluación a través de la utilización del indicador de la Huella Ecológica en el Campus Universitario de la Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV). Su aplicación tiene como propósito estudiar un sistema ambiental acotado para determinar como la prestación de un servicio puede darse sin ser subvencionado por un déficit ecológico. La metodología posibilita evaluar el campus universitario como un sistema abierto, analizando los componentes que emiten carbono a través del consumo de agua, energía eléctrica, movilidad, papel, construcción y generación de residuos, así como la cuantificación de la vegetación para la fijación y captura de carbono. Al aplicar la metodología obtenemos los valores totales de emisión y fijación de carbono en promedio por el número de estudiante. Como resultado de la investigación para el 2011-2012 (datos más vigente disponibles) el Campus Universitario de la UCV necesitaría una extensión de 2.012,85 de hectáreas (ha) de bosque para asimilar las emisiones de carbono, obteniendo una Huella Ecológica de 0,030 ha/estudiante/año.

The environmental agendas currently promote the application of indicators that enable the conservation of natural ecosystems within sustainable living standards. The universities are part of the actors in favor of the application of environmental sustainability indicators and have assumed an important role, not only as producers and owners of scientific and technological knowledge, but also in the recognition of their natural resources and the balanced use of environmental services for the development of their functions. In this sense, the objective of this work is to carry out an evaluation through the use of the Carbon Footprint indicator, in the University Campus of Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV). Its application aims to study an environmental system to determine how the provision of a service can occur without being subsidized by an ecological deficit. The methodology makes it possible to evaluate the university campus as an open system analyzing the components that emit carbon through the consumption of water, electric power, mobility, paper, construction and generation of waste, as well as quantification of vegetation for carbon fixation and capture. When applying the methodology the total values of carbon emission and fixation on average by the number of students were obtained. As a result of the research, for 2011-2012 (most current data available) the UCV campus needed an extension of 2,012.85 hectares (ha) of forest to assimilate carbon emissions, obtaining a Carbon Footprint of 0.030 ha / Student / year.

Neutralização compensatória de carbono - estudo de caso: indústria do setor metal mecânico, Rio de Janeiro (RJ) / Carbon compensatory neutralization - case study: mechanic metal industry, Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil

RESUMO Este trabalho visa quantificar as emissões de gases do efeito estufa por uma empresa do setor metal-mecânico, situada no Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Foi feito um levantamento das atividades que influenciam as emissões dos GEE da empresa Metal Master. O cálculo das emissões de gases do efeito estufa foi através das metodologias desenvolvidas pelo Painel Intergovernamental de Mudanças Climáticas (IPCC) para o consumo de combustíveis, consumo de energia elétrica, resíduos dispostos em aterros, esgotos domésticos e efluentes industriais. Do total de emissões lançadas na atmosfera pela empresa em estudo, foi obtido um valor de 439 toneladas de CO2 equivalente, sendo 76,3 toneladas pelo consumo de combustíveis dos meios de transporte, 89 toneladas pelos resíduos gerados, 2,2 toneladas pelos efluentes gerados, 8,8 toneladas por consumo de energia elétrica e 148 toneladas por processos industriais internos. No cenário onde se contempla as medidas mitigadoras, tais emissões são reduzidas a 397 toneladas de CO2 equivalente. Caso seja empregado o reflorestamento como única forma de neutralização total de emissões da empresa em estudo, faz-se necessária a recuperação vegetal de uma área com 1,37 hectares de extensão.

ABSTRACT This research aims to quantify the contribution of emissions of greenhouse gases, released by a company in the metal-mechanic, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). A survey of the activities that influence the GHG emissions of the Metal Master company was done. The calculation of greenhouse gas emissions was through the methodologies developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to fuel consumption, energy consumption, waste disposed in landfills, domestic sewage and industrial effluents. Of the total emissions into the atmosphere by the company under study, was obtained a value of 439 tons of CO2 equivalent, with 76.3 tons from fuel consumption by transport, 89 tons from the waste generated, 2.2 tons from effluents generates, 8.8 tons from consumption of electricity and 148 tons from domestic industrial processes. In the scenario where we contemplate the mitigation measures, such emissions are reduced to 397 tons of CO2 equivalent. If employee reforestation as the only way to neutralize the emissions of the company, it is necessary to restore plant to an area of 1.37 hectares.

Diffusive emission of methane and carbon dioxide from two hydropower reservoirs in Brazil / Emissões difusivas de metano e de dióxido de carbono oriundas de dois reservatórios hidrelétricos

The role of greenhouse gas emissions from freshwater reservoirs and their contribution to increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is currently under discussion in many parts of the world. We studied CO2 and CH4 diffusive fluxes from two large neotropical hydropower reservoirs with different climate conditions. We used floating closed-chambers to estimate diffusive fluxes of these gaseous species. Sampling campaigns showed that the reservoirs studied were sources of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. In the Serra da Mesa Reservoir, the CH4 emissions ranged from 0.530 to 396.96 mg.m–2.d–1 and CO2 emissions ranged from –1,738.33 to 11,166.61 mg.m–2.d–1 and in Três Marias Reservoir the CH4 fluxes ranged 0.720 to 2,578.03 mg.m–2.d–1 and CO2 emission ranged from -3,037.80 to 11,516.64 to mg.m–2.d–1. There were no statistically significant differences of CH4 fluxes between the reservoirs, but CO2 fluxes from the two reservoirs studied were significantly different. The CO2 emissions measured over the periods studied in Serra da Mesa showed some seasonality with distinctions between the wet and dry transition season. In Três Marias Reservoir the CO2 fluxes showed no seasonal variability. In both reservoirs, CH4 emissions showed a tendency to increase during the study periods but this was not statistically significant. These results contributed to increase knowledge about the magnitude of CO2 and CH4 emission in hydroelectric reservoirs, however due to natural variability of the data future sampling campaigns will be needed to better elucidate the seasonal influences on the fluxes of greenhouse gases.

Atualmente, em diversas partes do mundo, tem-se discutido muito sobre a contribuição das emissões de gases de efeito estufa oriundas de reservatórios hidrelétricos. Neste trabalho foram medidos fluxos difusivos de CO2 e CH4 em dois grandes reservatórios hidrelétricos neotropicais com diferentes condições climáticas (UHE Serra da Mesa e UHE Três Marias). Utilizamos câmaras flutuantes para estimar os fluxos difusivos de CO2 e CH4. As campanhas de amostragem mostraram que os dois reservatórios estudados apresentaram-se como fontes emissoras de gases por mecanismo de difusão. No reservatório de Serra da Mesa as emissões de CH4 variaram entre 0,530 e 396,96 mg.m–2.d–1 e as emissões de CO2 variaram entre –1.738,33 a 11.166,61 mg.m–2.d–1. No reservatório de Três Marias os fluxos de CH4 variaram entre 0,720 e 2.578,03 mg.m–2.d–1. Já os fluxos de CO2 variaram de -3.037,80 à 11.516,64 mg.m–2.d–1. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa dos fluxos de CH4 entre os reservatórios estudados, entretanto os fluxos de CO2 foram significativamente diferentes. As emissões de CO2 medidas ao longo dos períodos estudados em Serra da Mesa mostrou certa sazonalidade, com distinções entre o período de transição seco e úmido. No reservatório de Três Marias os fluxos de CO2 não apresentaram variabilidade sazonal. Em ambos os reservatórios, as emissões de CH4 apresentaram aumento do fluxo ao longo dos períodos de estudo, mas isso não foi estatisticamente significativo. Estes resultados contribuíram para aumentar o conhecimento sobre a variabilidade das emissões difusivas de CO2 e CH4 em reservatórios de usinas hidrelétricas. Entretanto, novas campanhas de amostragem serão necessárias para melhor estudar as influências sazonais sobre os fluxos dos gases de efeito estufa.

The Environmental Quadrupole: Forest Area, Rainfall, CO2 Emissions and Arable Production Interactions in Cameroon.

Aims: This paper evaluates the interactions between forest area, CO2 emissions, rainfall and arable production at a national scale in Cameroon. Methodology: The data used for this analysis was essentially time series data for all the variables spanning the period 1961-2000. It uses regression analysis to determine the most important of these variables that affects CO2 emissions and uses correlation analysis and coefficient of determination to verify the nature of the interactions between the variables. Results: The results show that as forest area reduces there is an increase in CO2 emissions concentration in the air in Cameroon. On the other hand, as forest area and rainfall reduce arable production also reduces but forest area is seen to be more responsible for changes in arable production than rainfall. Conclusion: The study concludes that the interactions between CO2 and forest area, arable production and forest area seem to be the most significant while rainfall is denoted as very variable from year to year.

Efecto ambiental de agroquímicos y maquinaria agrícola en cultivos transgénicos y convencionales de algodón / Environmental effects of agrochemicals and agricultural machinery in transgenic and conventional crops cotton

La producción de alimentos se basa en el uso de diferentes tecnologías agrícolas, que pueden derivar en conflictos entre medioambiente y agricultura. Es significativo estudiar el impacto ambiental de las nuevas tecnologías aplicadas a la agricultura, la más importante de las cuales es la transgénesis. Este trabajo se realizó en la zona algodonera del municipio del Espinal, departamento del Tolima, para la cosecha de algodón del primer semestre de 2009, usando las metodologías de Brookes y Barfoot (2006) y Kovach y colaboradores (1992). Se estudió el efecto ambiental de la aplicación de agroquímicos y el uso de maquinaria agrícola en cultivos de algodón transgénico y convencional. Se recogió información mediante encuestas en veinte fincas productoras de algodón. El análisis de las encuestas se realizó de forma descriptiva, determinando diferencias de tipo cuantitativo y cualitativo para los predios que utilizan la tecnología convencional o la tecnología transgénicas (doble gen, Bt/RR), para luego realizar una correlación con el “Enviromental Index Quotient” (EIQ). No se encontraron diferencias entre el EIQ de campo de las dos tecnologías, aunque la tecnología transgénica tiene ventajas ambientales en el control de algunas plagas de lepidópteros. En relación con el uso de maquinaria agrícola, se encontró que la tecnología convencional genera menor liberación de CO2, gas de efecto invernadero. La metodología de Brookes y Barfoot puede adaptarse para estudios comparativos de tecnologías agrícolas en países tropicales.

Food production is based on the use of various agricultural technologies, which can lead to conflicts between environment and agriculture. It is important to study the environmental impact of new technologies applied to agriculture, the most important of which is transgenesis. This work was carried out in the cotton belt of the town of Espinal, Tolima Department for the cotton crop in the first half of 2009, through methodologies Brookes & Barfoot (2006) and Kovach et al (1992). We studied the environmental impact of pesticide application and use of agricultural machinery for cultivation of transgenic and conventional cotton. Information was collected through surveys of 20 farms producing cotton. The analysis of the survey was conducted descriptively, by determining differences in quantitative and qualitative for the sites that use conventional technology, and transgenic (Bt gene and double RR / RR), and then make a correlation with the Environmental Index Quotient (EIQ). No differences were found between the fields EIQ the two technologies, although transgenic technology has environmental advantages in the control of some lepidopteran pests. In connection with the use of agricultural machinery, was found to conventional technology generates less release of CO2, greenhouse gas. The Brookes and Barfoot methodology could be adapted in comparative studies of agricultural technologies in tropical countries.

Climatic changes: what if the global increase of CO2 emissions cannot be kept under control?

Climatic changes threaten the planet. Most articles related to the subject present estimates of the disasters expected to occur, but few have proposed ways to deal with the impending menaces. One such threat is the global warming caused by the continuous increase in CO2 emissions leading to rising ocean levels due to the increasing temperatures of the polar regions. This threat is assumed to eventually cause the death of hundreds of millions of people. We propose to desalinize ocean water as a means to reduce the rise of ocean levels and to use this water for populations that need good quality potable water, precisely in the poorest regions of the planet. Technology is available in many countries to provide desalinated water at a justifiable cost considering the lives threatened both in coastal and desertified areas.