FP-ENAS - Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit / Unidade de Investigação em Energia, Ambiente e Saúde
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This community is intended to divulge the most significant items issued by the research team currently working in the FP-ENAS (UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit of University Fernando Pessoa). The community is subdivided in two sub-communities corresponding to the current main Research Groups, viz. "3ERL - Energy, Environment and Environmental & Public Health Research Laboratories", and "CEBIMED - Biomedical Research Centre". / Esta comunidade tem como objetivo a divulgação dos documentos mais significativos produzidos por membros da unidade de I&D FP-ENAS (Unidade de Investigação UFP em Energia, Ambiente e Saúde da Universidade Fernando Pessoa). A comunidade está subdividida nas seguintes duas subcomunidades correspondentes aos dois Grupos de Investigação atualmente em atividade na Unidade: "3ERL - Laboratório de Investigação em Energia, Ambiente e Saúde Ambiental e Pública” e "CEBIMED – Centro de Estudos em Biomedicina".
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Browsing FP-ENAS - Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit / Unidade de Investigação em Energia, Ambiente e Saúde by Author "Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi"
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- International trends on transformative learning for urban sustainabilityPublication . Leal Filho, Walter; Brandli, Luciana Londero; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Vidal, Diogo Guedes; Paço, Arminda; Levesque, Vanessa; Salvia, Amanda Lange; Kozlova, Valerija; Ávila, Lucas Veiga; Fritzen, Barbara; Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi; Pace, PaulIt is widely assumed that transformative societal action is required to address the world's many sustainability challenges of today. This is especially true in an urban context, since urban sustainability may assist in improving the conditions of the urban environment and the quality of life of humans. Nevertheless, and despite the many advantages that urban sustainability may bring about, there is a need for studies that look at the role that transformative learning may play in influencing it. This study will address this need. It provides an analysis of the subject matter of transformative learning and how it may be practised and experienced in an urban context, thus contributing to urban sustainability in practical terms. It reports on a survey specifically directed to the teaching staff, on the extent to which transformative learning is being deployed in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in supporting urban sustainability efforts. In addition, the study ends by listing and presenting examples of approaches, methods, and initiatives in transformative learning within an urban sustainability context, and provides an analysis of its main features and learned lessons. It concludes with some best practices for transformative learning that could assist in designing and implementing urban sustainability teaching at HEIs, on a broader scale. It can be stated that not only can sustainability thought improve the urban conditions, but as the developing world gets further urbanised, sustainability in the urban context specifically becomes a matter of particular relevance.
- Low carbon futures: assessing the status of decarbonisation efforts at universities within a 2050 perspectivePublication . Filho, Walter Leal; Vidal, Diogo Guedes; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Lambrechts, Wim; Vasconcelos, Claudio R. P.; Molthan-Hill, Petra; Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi; Dunk, Rachel M.; Salvia, Amanda Lange; Sharifi, AyyoobBackground The implementation of sustainability at universities means that they can also play a key role in the transition to a low carbon economy, and in assisting global efforts towards decarbonisation. Yet, not all of them have so far fully engaged in this area. This paper reviews the state of the art on trends in decarbonisation, and outlines the need for decarbonisation efforts at universities. It also reports on a survey aimed at ascertaining the extent to which universities in a sample of 40 countries across the various geographical regions are engaged in carbon reduction efforts, identifying the challenges faced. Results The study has shown that the literature on the topic has been evolving over time and that increasing a given university’s energy supply from renewable energy sources has been the cornerstone of university-based climate action plans. The study also indicates that even though several universities are concerned with their carbon footprint and actively seeking ways to reduce it, there are some institutional obstacles that need to be overcome. Conclusions A first conclusion which can be drawn is that efforts on decarbonisation are becoming more popular, with a special focus being placed on the use of renewable energy. Also, the study has shown that, from the range of efforts being made towards decarbonisation, many universities are setting up a team with carbon management responsibilities, have Carbon Management Policy Statements, and review them. The paper points towards some measures which may be deployed, so as to allow universities to take better advantage of the many opportunities an engagement in decarbonisation initiatives offers to them.
- Riverine plastic pollution in Asia: results from a bibliometric assessmentPublication . Filho, Walter Leal; Dedeoglu, Cagdas; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Salvia, Amanda Lange; Barbir, Jelena; Voronova, Viktoria; Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi; Iital, Arvo; Pachel, Karin; Huthoff, Fredrik; Sharifi, Ayyoob; Yang, Peter J.; Klavins, Maris; Emanche, Victoria OmecheRivers are important ecosystems, vital to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of humans and other species. Despite their environmental, social, and economic importance, current use of rivers is unsustainable, due to a combination of solid waste and high levels of pollutants. Plastic materials are among the most predominant of such pollutants. Based on the need for additional research in this area, this study examines pressures put to rivers and explores trends related to riverine plastic pollution, with a focus on Asia. Apart from the bibliometric analysis, and relying on the collected information, examples describing the drivers of riverine plastic pollution in a sample of Asian countries are described, outlining the specific problem and its scope. Among some of the results obtained from it, mention can be made to the fact that much of the literature focuses on plastic pollution as a whole and less on one of its most significant ramifications, namely microplastics. Additionally, there is a need related to data availability on riverine plastic data and improving the understanding of transport mechanisms in relation to riverine plastic emission into the ocean. The results from this study illustrate the significance of the problems posed by plastic waste to Asian rivers and point out the fact that there are still significant gaps in respect of regulations and standards, which prevent improvements that are highlighted in this study. Based on the results of this bibliometric assessment, specific measures via which levels of riverine plastic pollution may be reduced are presented, bringing relevant new insights on this topic beyond the existing reviews.
- Transient poverty in a sustainable development contextPublication . Filho, Walter Leal; Henrique Paulino Pires Eustachio, João; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Sharifi, Ayyoob; Venkatesan, Madhavi; Donkor, Felix Kwabena; Doni, Federica; Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi; Cichos, Katarzyna; Vargas-Hernández, JoseTransient poverty (TP) is a phenomenon that, by its characterisation, references a condition that may not necessarily be permanent. Its occurrence may result from an external shock, such as a severe weather-related event or geographic, national, or global impact on the economy, such as a hurricane, financial crisis, or as most recently, a pandemic. The defining aspects of TP and the needs of those pushed into TP offer an opportunity to address one aspect of poverty, which is of significance given both the disproportionate vulnerability of the poor to external shocks as well as the prohibitive effect of poverty on establishing resilience. Unfortunately, TP is not often assessed and is routinely combined and categorised as ‘poverty’, eliminating an opportunity to address unique aspects of TP and establish policies that may be beneficial to the sub-group. This paper provides a bibliometric evaluation of TP specific to the sustainable development literature, highlighting the research gap and providing a rationale for active research on the social phenomenon regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in general and specifically SDG 1: No poverty. There are three key findings relevant to sustainability. Firstly, there seems to be a disconnection between TP and the sustainable development theory, particularly in a multidisciplinary discussion. Secondly, human action in degrading ecosystems strongly influences TP and exacerbates overall poverty levels. Finally, efforts to tackle transient poverty need to consider issues such as gender, education, health, and political aspects. Based on the findings, items for future research are also presented.