Sustainable development and environmental technology: a comparison of policy in Japan and the European Union

Summary The concept of sustainable development, is increasingly being proposed as a means to avoid the impasse between economic development and environmental protection. In this paper, the incorporation of the concept of sustainable development into policy-making in both Japan and the European Union is examined. A particular variation in response between the two has been in relation to encouraging the development of environmental or clean technologies, a key element in achieving sustainable development. The benefits of an early lead in environmental technology may result in gains to the economy. In this paper, the potential commercial gains from the integration of environmental policy with industrial, development are also examined.Dr David Gibbs is a Reader and Dr James Longhurst is Director of the Atmospheric Research and Information Centre within the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University.     

The pedagogy of atmospheric issues and the UK Atmospheric Research and Information Centre's Education Programme

Mrs Sue Hare is the education and information services coordinator of the UK Atmospheric Research and Information Centre (ARIC). Professor James Longhurst was recently the director of the ARIC and Joe Buchdahl its global climate change information services coordinator. Professor Longhurst is now head of the Department of Environmental Health and Science, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY. Kelvin Williams is a geography consultant and is head of geography at Ysgol y Creuddyn, Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, Gwynedd LL30 3LB. The pedagogy of atmospheric issues is identified in the context of environmental education in this paper. The UK Atmospheric Research and Information Centre (ARIC) has developed an education programme which has responded to the dynamic issues relating to the atmosphere since the establishment of the ARIC in 1984. The main route for the teaching of atmospheric issues is identified as being through the UK's National Curriculum although public awareness of issues has increased through the media and more recently through government publicity campaigns.     

UK electricity requirements and the environmental and economic aspects of the development of the combined cycle power station

In the space of three to four years, gas has changed from being a premium fuel, not to be utilized in power stations, to virtually the only fuel being considered for future electricity generation in the UK. This paper reviews the growth in the use of gas for electricity generation within the UK, with particular regard to the adoption of the gas-fired combined cycle power station. The environmental, economic and strategic issues associated with the proposed development of approximately 27 GW of new gas-fired plant are analysed and the resulting effects on existing base load power plant within the UK are considered.Dr James W.S. Longhurst is Director of the Atmospheric Research and Information Centre, ARIC, at Manchester Metropolitan University He is an environmental scientist who has specialized in the air quality impacts of transport and energy. He holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in Environmental Science from, Plymouth Polytechnic, Aston University and Birmingham University, respectively. He has written numerous papers, consultancy reports, books and technical reports since 1986.Jane Bantock joined ARIC in 1992 with a degree in Environmental Studies from Manchester Polytechnic. She jointly manages ARIC's information and education programmes. Her research interests include the inter-relationship of UK energy policy and emission control in the electricity generating sector, the subject of her part time PhD, and urban air quality issues.     

Environmental courses require a common core

Shirley Ali Khan is the Director of the Environmental Responsibility Centre at the University of Hertfordshire, and Dr Stephen Martin is a Senior Executive of COUNTEC, Milton Keynes, UK.     

Local and regional air quality impacts of airport operations

Summary This paper discusses the air quality impacts of airport operations. It considers a range of pollutants and identifies emission sources both within and surrounding airports as being important in contributing to the air quality experienced at an airport. These sources include aircraft operations, landside traffic, airside traffic and fuel-handling operations. The paper considers air quality impacts over the last 30 years and draws examples from a variety of European airports. The paper concludes with a forecast of likely changes in emission sources and strengths at airports over the next 15 years.Drs James Longhurst, Beth Conlan and David Raper are air quality scientists specializing in the study of airport impacts upon air quality. They are based in the Atmospheric Research and Information Centre of Manchester Metropolitan University.First submitted June 1994.     

The culture of environmental decision-making

Summary This paper describes the rising tide of environmentalism in contemporary culture. It is accepted that this represents a fragile advance in our sensibilities about nature and one another. It has impacted the embodied practices of everyday affairs in decision-making. The sense of environmental risk factors may have contributed to this evolving sensibility towards nature. The rising environmental concern converges with the practices of democracy in the development and expansion of right-to-know laws, both locally and globally. In concert with the right-to-know laws are concepts and practices of sustainable development and the merging of social and environmental justice.Dr Jay Schulkin is a Research Associate at the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Process Center, University of Pennsylvania, and Director of Research at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Washington DC. David Sarokin is Director of the Special Projects Office at the US Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460, USA. The views in this paper are those of the authors, and not the institutions with which they are affiliated.     

Environmental education research notes (USA)

Conclusion The Commission's efforts are currently in a second phase directed toward identification and additional of more research papers and higher levels of analysis. Funding support is provided from the operating budget of the National Association for Environmental Education. Persons interested in additional information concerning the activities of the NCEER may contact Professor Iozzi at The Institute for Science, Technology, and Social Science Education, Rutgers—The State University of New Jersey, Doolittle Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 USA. Copies ofResearch in Environmental Education 1971–1980 may be obtained from the publisher, SMEAC Information Reference Center, The Ohio State University, 1200 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212 USA, for $15. also Associate Director, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education (SMEAC). In preparing these notes, use was made of abstracts printed inResearch in Environmental Education 1971–1980.     

The establishment of an urban acid deposition monitoring network

Summary Studies into acid rain were first initiated in North-West England and this paper describes the establishment and operation of the Acid Rain Information Centre in Manchester. The urban monitoring surveys conducted by the Centre provide a valuable educational link with local schools. Simple testing and sampling techniques undertaken by pupils support a valuable and comprehensive, local, urban acid deposition study.Dr. James Longhurst is Director of the Acid Rain Information Centre in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Studies at Manchester Polytechnic, where Mr David Lee and Miss Susan Green are Project Officers. Dr. D.R. Gee is Chief Scientist with the Greater Manchester Scientific Services Laboratory, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester. The Acid Rain Information Centre (ARIC) is supported by Tameside M.B.C. on behalf of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities.     

Environmental implications of siting and systems options in the UK flue gas desulphurisation programme

Summary This paper reviews the status of the flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) programme in the United Kingdom up to the end of 1989, with particular regard to siting and systems choices. Environmental issues associated with the on-going retrofit at Drax power station are analysed and extrapolated to a retrofit at Fiddler's Ferry power station. The emission reductions required of the UK by the European Community Large Combustion Plant Directive are assessed. The impact of privatisation of the electricity supply industry on the flue gas desulphurisation programme is discussed with particular reference to the new electricity generating companies for England and Wales.Ron' Reid is a recent Environmental Studies graduate of Manchester Polytechnic who completed his dissertation on the environmental impacts of FGD installation at Fiddler's Ferry power station. Dr Jim Longhurst is Director of the Acid Rain Information Centre at Manchester Polytechnic.The Acid Rain Information Centre is supported by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council on behalf of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and the Department of the Environment.     

Environmental education research notes (USA)

Conclusion Selections reported above were chosen as representative and reflective of the varieties of environmental education research currently reported in the literature. They were picked for this paper somewhat arbitrarily, from among more than 70 surviving an initial screening. No selection bias was intended, other than for the purpose of providing a representative variety. In most cases, abstracts printed in theCurrent Index to Journals in Education, Resources in Education, orDissertation Abstracts International were used in preparing these notes.These notes have been compiled by John F. Disinger, Professor of Environmental Education, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA; he is also Associate Director, Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education (SMEAC). This contribution by Professor Disinger is in response to the editorial, Invitation to Promote Research Cooperation (The Environmentalist, 1 (3) 177–178.     

Environmental management in Greece and the challenge of sustainable development

Summary Environmental management is linked to decisions concerning sustainable development which peripheral countries would find quite challenging, given their development priorities and their demands for a restricted share in the burden of global environmental protection. This paper examines the Greek experience with the growing awareness of environmental problems in that country and in the light of current efforts to attain economic convergence with its northern European partners. The focus is on the analysis of the role of the political institutional system in sustainable development, embracing the government, the parliament and the political parties, the courts, and the local authorities. In addition, the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) is also summarized. The quest for sustainable development holds both positive and negative effects for Greece, and despite development priorities, there are some workable options available to follow a pathway of transition.graduate diplomas from the Institute of Business Management of the Graduate School of Economics and Commercial Sciences, Athens (Greece) and the School of Social Studies, University of East Anglia (UK), an MA in Economics from the University of Kent, Canterbury (UK), and a PhD in natural resources from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (USA). Dr. Lekakis served at the Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) in Athens for over 15 years, where he was in charge of the technical processing of Greece's five-year development plans in the area of environmental protection. He is currently on the faculty of the School of Social Sciences, University of Crete, Rethimno (Greece) where he teaches environmental and resource economics. His most recent research activity includes a just completed international water resource allocation project financed by the European Science Foundation (ESF), and an ongoing project on the institutional adjustment for sustainable development strategies in the European Union.     

Book reviews

Dr. Earl J. “Jay” Baker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Director of the Environmental Hazards Center at Florida State University. He has conducted extensive research on hurricane evacuation problems and also has studied growth management, policy evaluation, and storm recovery issues in hurricane-prone areas. He is a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on Natural Disasters and a director of the National Hurricane Conference.     

Inchelium: non-sustainable resource dependency

Summary In order to consider appropriate sustainable development, it is first necessary to understand the problems of developments that are inappropriate for specific population groups. Variables, such as, the culture of the group, its historical experiences, demographic and economic resources, population density, and remoteness or urban proximity should be scrutinized. This is a case study of one population group with a history of resource dependency.Inchelium is a small Native American community on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington, USA. The construction of a large dam ended fishing in Inchelium. Changes due to the dam have led to exploitation and degradation of the community's lifestyle. Several attempts at viable alternative economic development have led to disagreements about cultural and environmental issues. Lack of sustainable development has fostered a non-viable economy. In this economy half of the employable persons are unemployed, and 80 percent are dependent upon some form of government financial and service aid.These problems are related to the effects of colonization found on all North American Indian reservations. A dependency relationship with the federal government has resulted in qualitative changes in the use of natural resources, from subsistence to extraction.Dr Pamela Elkind is Department Chairperson and Professor of Environmental Sociology at Eastern Washington University. David Lundgren is based in the Department of Sociology at Stevenson College. This paper was first delivered at the Global Forum '94 Conference in Manchester, UK.     

The contribution of environmental assessment by government,industry and others to the UK conservation strategy

Summary The author argues that sound, profitable and sustainable development should be pursued by all sections of the community: that there exist economic benefits to Governments in promoting sound ecological principles in development policies. He suggests that the environmental movement should be talking about development and environmental concerns as complementary issues, and believes that business enterprises should regard the limitation of environmental damage as simply one more facet of good business practice for good business reasons.Sir Arthur G. Norman, KBE, DFC, is the Chairman of The UK Centre for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED) and an interview with him was recently presented inThe Environmentalist 5 (3) 163–6. This paper was given as a closing address to a Conference entitledThe EEC Environmental Assessment Directive: Towards Implementation held at the Royal Society of Arts, London on 30th–31st January 1986. The Conference was organized by the Centre for Environmental Management and Planning, University of Aberdeen, assisted by the Department of the Environment (UK), the Confederation of British Industry, the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Landscape Institute and with the participation of the Commission of the European Communities.     

A study of rainwater acidity in Greater Manchester and Greater lisbon

Summary This paper presents data from an educational study of acid rain in Greater Manchester, UK, and Greater Lisbon and Setúbal, Portugal, which was carried out between October and December, 1989. A simple, specified methodology was employed by ten schools in each of the two countries to generate reliable, comparative rainfall acidity data. The results have been described and related to emission sources and meteorological conditions over the three-month experimental period. It is apparent that there are considerable differences in rainfall quantity and quality in the two contrasting areas, and the results are broadly consistent with those derived from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme. The paper concludes with a short review of rainfall acidity in the UK and Portugal.Sue Hare and Dr James W.S. Longhurst are respectively Education Officer and Director of the Acid Rain Information Centre, Department of Environmental and Geographical Studies at Manchester Polytechnic. Mr A. Marques da Costa is a teacher in the Chemistry Department at the Colégio Militar, Largo da Luz, 1600 Lisboa, Portugal.     

Australia's first Environment Statement

Summary Australia's first National Environment Statement focuses on the substantial ecologic and economic impacts of land degradation, primarily in the significant agricultural mega-region of the Murray-Darling Basin. But the Statement only summarises existing policies to show a A$500 million spending programme on the environment. Inescapable, is the conclusion that economic growth as present and projected, and environmental sustainability, cannot co-exist in the long term. Levels of awareness of Australia's diverse environmental concerns were measured but no targets or future achievements were chartered — so how is effective management to be attained? The proposed significant and rapid devolution of power for action to local government, catchment management groups and community associations is a welcome development but this must be supported by adequate technical information and guidance by government.Dr Diana G. Day is an environmental policy analyst with major interests in water planning. She is currently setting up a new Centre for Environmental Management at Newcastle University, and is Director of the National Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation in Australia.     

Environmental education research news

Summary The literature of education is replete with studies concerning attitudes and values as they exist, and the results of efforts to cause changes in attitudes in desired directions. It is clear that student attitudes toward learning are positively related to learning itself, and that student attitudes toward environmental concerns can be influenced by changes in cognitive knowledge levels. But much of the research has produced inconsistent results; much remains to be learned about precise relationships between and among attitudes/values, cognitive knowledge, and environmental activity.Compiled by John F. Disinger, Professor, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1085, USA; also Associate Director, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education (SMEAC).     

Sustainable development and the community: Lessons from the KASHA project,botswana

Summary This paper focuses on the characteristics of sustainable development as manifested in localized contexts and situations. It examines the KASHA project in Botswana, and suggests an important conceptual link between the community and sustainable development. To convey the message that there is hope and that "Sustainable Development" is possible, the paper suggests the need to document, share, describe and talk about successful programmes like KASHA.Dr Stephen Ameyaw is currently Assistant Professor of Planning in the Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary. His research interests are focused on women and development, community development, regional planning, policy and institutional development. He has conducted research in Canada, Ghana and Botswana.     

Stockholm Recommendation 96: Viable in the Dominican Republic

Summary The Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries face serious challenges to their natural resource base. In recent years the government of the Dominican Republic has taken major steps toward the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan for national natural resources management. This plan is called Plan Sierra. An important component of this plan is the outline of actions for carrying out an environmental education programme within the country. This demonstrates a commitment to fulfill Recommendation No. 96 of the Stockholm Conference in a way that could become a model for other Latin American nations. Clinton L. Shepard is Assistant Professor in the Division of Environmental Education, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. Dr Shepard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Kentucky and graduate degrees from The Ohio State University in Natural Resources/Environmental Education and Education-Foundations and Research. He has worked as an interpreter and Environmental Education Coordinator for the State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources, a research associate for ERIC—Science, Math, and Environmental Education Clearinghouse, and College instructor in interpretive methods, environmental education methodology, resident outdoor programming, and natural resources development. He is also involved in international research and development, especially in the Caribbean Basin. Robert E. Roth is Chairman/Professor in the Division of Environmental Education, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. Dr Roth received a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management, a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Science Education, a Master's degree in Conservation Education from The Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. in Environmental Education from The University of Wisconsin. he came to OSU in 1969 and since that time has designed and institutionalized the only academic unit in the US that offers both well developed undergraduate and graduate programmes in Environmental Communications, Education and Interpretation and has published over 40 works in the field. He has been instrumental in implementing a growing international environmental education research and development emphasis in the wider Caribbean, he continues as an Executive Editor of theJournal of Environmental Education.