ALBERT

Beschreibung: The reductionist trend of equating sustainable development with sustained economic growth needs to be reversed. New accounts and balances help to operationalize the elusive notion of sustainability: they provide a coherent picture of the interaction between environment and economy. "Greened" national accounts measure economic sustainability in terms of (produced and natural) capital maintenance; balances of material flows assess ecological sustainability as the dematerialization of production and consumption. Both concepts aim to preserve environmental assets, but differ in scope, strength and evaluation of sustainability. First results for Germany indicate weak sustainability of the economy; strong sustainability is not in sight because of insufficient reduction of material throughput. Attaining sustainability through integrated policies needs the support of share- and stakeholders of sustainable development.

Beschreibung: The development of this paper was inspired by the increase in the number of different eco-label like quality assurance schemes established in the European Union in the past few years. These schemes are flooding the market and the researchers raise the question, is there enough credibility in these schemes? This piece of research is based on 58 eco-labeling like food schemes and dissects them into the building blocks of the different factors that makes a scheme credible and analyses the structure of these blocks as well as a literature survey on the perceptions of both the consumers and producers to these schemes. The sort of credibility structure that the building blocks of the schemes (ownership, stakeholder dialogue, traceability, transparency, etc.) have created was discussed and it was questioned if they meet the expectations of the consumers. The main findings of the research indicate that although small groups of consumers may be satisfied with a number of the different schemes, the majority of them fall short of providing a credible quality assurance scheme. Improvements were suggested such as involving a more diverse range of stakeholders and expanding the responsibility of processors and retailers. An alternative to the current form of labeling is also discussed.

Beschreibung: Sustainable development is the globally embraced paradigm for integrating environment and development policies. Agreement ends with attempts at quantifying the elusive notion of sustainability. A contentious debate among "environmentalists" and "environmental economists" has brought about a confusing proliferation of indicators and policy advice on sustainable development. Generating a common language by means of integrated physical and monetary environmental accounting could moderate the debate. Economic and ecological sustainability is thus distinguished and operationalised in terms of capital maintenance and dematerialisation of economic activity. Empirical results presented are not conclusive, however. Moreover, the reconciliation of environmental and economic policies requires more than comparable statistics strategies and instruments of environmental cost internalisation need to be evaluated and combined with those of raising resource productivity. A social compact between government and civil society should provide the necessary support for achieving consensus and partnership. The sustained implementation of sustainable development depends on it.

Beschreibung: The paper examines the "Declaration of German Industry on Global Warming Prevention (DGWP)" in its updated version of 1996. The analysis draws on the findings of empirical case studies in the cement and glass sector as well as on a general analysis of the policy process including monitoring experience so far. The findings emphasise the weak impact of the agreement on the most important driving forces for industrial energy consumption. However, an improved design and a more stringent procedural framework would allow better advantage to be taken of the particular strengths of the approach. The paper concludes by making a number of recommendations that would improve the scope and quality of commitments, and would enhance learning effects during the course of the policy process.

Beschreibung: New energy efficiency policies have been introduced around the world. Historically, most energy models were reasonably equipped to assess the impact of classical policies, such as a subsidy or change in taxation. However, these tools are often insufficient to assess the impact of alternative policy instruments. We evaluate the so-called engineering economic models used to assess future industrial energy use. Engineering economic models include the level of detail commonly needed to model the new types of policies considered. We explore approaches to improve the realism and policy relevance of engineering economic modeling frameworks. We also explore solutions to strengthen the policy usefulness of engineering economic analysis that can be built from a framework of multidisciplinary cooperation. The review discusses the main modeling approaches currently used and evaluates the weaknesses in current models. We focus on the needs to further improve the models. We identify research priorities for the modeling framework, technology representation in models, policy evaluation, and modeling of decision-making behavior.

Beschreibung: Unsustainable consumption patterns of the North (or rather of the global affluent consumers class) have been identified by Agenda 21 as one of the key driving forces behind the unsustainable development. However, neither accounting based on the system of national accounts SNA nor household economics provide the proper instruments to assess the environmental impact of household decision making. Eco-efficiency assessments as familiar in the business sector provide no appropriate tool for households. As an alternative an environmental space based assessment scheme is suggested covering the major pressures on the environment caused by household decisions. The methodology is used twice: once to analyse the environmental relevance of the main activity clusters of household consumption and once to identify the dominant acts of consumption within each cluster. The latter provide the basis for deriving environmental performance indicators. A rough analysis of household influence potentials permits to identify housing, eating and mobility as the three priority fields for action for minimising the environmental impact of households. Extending the influence analysis actor matrixes are derived allocating influence and thus responsibility for environmental pressures to different groups of economic agents.

Beschreibung: The paper summarises the findings and the work carried out within the Voluntary Agreements - Implementation and Efficiency project and examines five agreement schemes in the field of industrial energy efficiency in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, France and Sweden. It provides a brief characterisation of the different approaches and discusses the related implementation effort and transaction costs. An assessment of performance and environmental effectiveness is given, followed by a discussion of the transferability of voluntary agreements among countries and to the European level.

Beschreibung: This book presents important new research on applied eco-efficiency concepts throughout Europe. The aim of eco-efficiency is to achieve market-based measures of environmental protection, in order to enhance the prospects for sustainable development and achieve positive economic and ecological benefits. The distinguished authors discuss a number of themes surrounding eco-efficiency including the necessary conditions for technological dissemination and ecological modernization, and the role of government in enabling businesses and society to participate actively in this process. In particular, they highlight the application of existing European-based policies concerning material flows and energy. The authors also investigate some new concepts of sustainable development and provide a useful introduction to material flows analysis. In further chapters they study the emerging regulatory policies for eco-efficiency, and examine the issues of sustainable business and consumption strategies.

Beschreibung: The estimation of crustal structure and thickness is essential in understanding the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets. Initial planetary missions with seismic instrumentation on board face the additional challenge of dealing with seismic activity levels that are only poorly constrained a priori. For example, the lack of plate tectonics on Mars leads to low seismicity, which could, in turn, hinder the application of many terrestrial data analysis techniques. Here we propose using a joint inversion of receiver functions and apparent incidence angles, which contain information on absolute S‐wave velocities of the subsurface. Since receiver function inversions suffer from a velocity depth trade‐off, we in addition exploit a simple relation that defines apparent S‐wave velocity as a function of observed apparent P‐wave incidence angles to constrain the parameter space. We then use the Neighborhood Algorithm for the inversion of a suitable joint objective function. The resulting ensemble of models is then used to derive uncertainty estimates for each model parameter. In preparation for the analysis of data from the InSight mission, we show the application of our proposed method on Mars synthetics and sparse terrestrial data sets from different geological settings using both single and multiple events. We use information‐theoretic statistical tests as model selection criteria and discuss their relevance and implications in a seismological framework.

Beschreibung: Key Points: We propose the joint inversion of receiver functions and apparent S‐wave velocity curves to estimate crustal thickness. Using the Neighborhood Algorithm, we show how a full uncertainty estimate can be computed from an ensemble solution. The method is applied to Martian synthetics and terrestrial data sets comprising single and multiple events.

Beschreibung: IMPRS

Beschreibung: Emeritus group

Beschreibung: DLR German Space Agency

Beschreibung: http://www.orfeus-eu.org/data/eida/

Beschreibung: http://instaseis.ethz.ch/marssynthetics/

Beschreibung: Titan's paleoclimate after the onset of the putative last major methane outgassing event 700 Myr ago is simulated by a global climate model. If the atmosphere was methane‐depleted prior to outgassing, outgassed methane initially causes warming due to increased greenhouse effect. Further outgassing leads to methane snowfall, which in turn cools the troposphere and surface by an ice‐albedo feedback and thereby initiates a lengthy ice age. Formation of ice sheets begins in the polar region, but with increasing methane inventory the entire globe is eventually covered by surface methane frost as thick as 100 m, with local accumulation on elevated terrains. Among various time‐dependent input parameters the methane inventory by far exerts the greatest control over the climate evolution. As Titan's climate transitions from a dry state via a partially ice‐covered state to a globally ice‐covered state, the circulation and precipitation pattern change profoundly and the tropospheric temperature further decreases. Globally ice‐covered snowball Titan is characterized by weak meridional circulation, weak seasonality and widespread snowfall. Frost ablation begins after the end of outgassing due to photochemical destruction of atmospheric methane. It is conceivable that Titan's polar seas resulted from melting of the polar caps within the past 10 Myr and subsequent drainage to the polar basins. Surface methane frost could only melt when the frost retreated to the polar region, which led to global warming by lowering of the surface albedo at low latitudes and increased greenhouse effect.

Beschreibung: Plain Language Summary: Saturn's moon Titan may have experienced long periods of cold climate in the past when the nitrogen atmosphere contained no methane unlike the present atmosphere. We simulated how Titan's climate may have changed when large amounts of methane were outgassed into such a cold atmosphere as indicated by models of Titan's evolution. The atmosphere can hold a certain amount of methane but the vast majority of outgassed methane condenses out as snow and is deposited on the surface. Bright methane snow on the surface keeps the surface cold and thereby prevents efficient greenhouse warming. Initially, surface methane frost is confined to high latitudes, but eventually the entire globe will be ice‐covered under the assumed total amount of outgassed methane. The seasonal and global pattern of atmospheric circulation and snowfall strongly depend on the degree of frost coverage. The surface frost sublimes away long after outgassing has ceased because methane is destroyed in the atmosphere by photochemistry. Eventually, the polar caps melt, leaving behind the observed polar seas.

Beschreibung: Key Points: Massive methane outgassing into Titan's atmosphere should have caused global ice sheets if the atmosphere was previously depleted in methane. Climate of methane snowball Titan is characterized by weak circulation, low temperature, weak seasonality and widespread snowfall. Melting polar caps in geologically recent past may have resulted in polar seas.

Beschreibung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

Beschreibung: The lunar polar regions offer permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) representing the only regions which are cold enough for water ice to accumulate on the surface. The Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has mapped the polar regions for their hydrogen abundance which possibly resides there in the form of water ice. Neutron suppression regions (NSRs) are regions of excessive hydrogen concentrations and were previously identified using LEND data. At each pole, we applied thermal modeling to three NSRs and one unclassified region to evaluate the correlation between hydrogen concentrations and temperatures. Our thermal model delivers temperature estimates for the surface and for 29 layers in the sub‐surface down to 2 m depth. We compared our temperature maps at each layer to LEND neutron suppression maps to reveal the range of depths at which both maps correlate best. As anticipated, we find the three south polar NSRs which are coincident with PSRs in agreement with respective (near)‐surface temperatures that support the accumulation of water ice. Water ice is suspected to be present in the upper ≈19 cm layer of regolith. The three north polar NSRs however lie in non‐PSR areas and are counter‐intuitive as such that most surfaces reach temperatures that are too high for water ice to exist. However, we find that temperatures are cold enough in the shallow sub‐surface and suggest water ice to be present at depths down to ≈35–65 cm. Additionally we find ideal conditions for ice pumping into the sub‐surface at the north polar NSRs. The reported depths are observable by LEND and can, at least in part, explain the existence and shape of the observed hydrogen signal. Although we can substantiate the anticipated correlation between hydrogen abundance and temperature the converse argument cannot be made.

Beschreibung: Plain Language Summary: The lunar poles have quite unique illumination conditions. For instance, the Sun never shines on some crater floors. As a consequence, the floors of those craters are very cold and dark. Here, water ice can accumulate on the surface and can be preserved for long periods of time. One of the instruments mounted on the Moon‐orbiting satellite Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is capable of detecting areas where hydrogen is located, which is assumed to be present in the form of water ice. For instance, the instrument detected several areas at the lunar poles where a lot more water ice is found than at other locations. For these special locations, we calculated the temperatures at the surface and near sub‐surface to see whether they are indeed cold enough for water to freeze. At some of these locations, surface temperatures turn out to be too warm. However, we found that at these warm surfaces where no water ice can exist it can be transported into the sub‐surface and survive there. This mechanism is referred to as ice pumping. In summary, we could show that temperatures at all these special locations are usually cold enough for water ice, either right at the surface or within the first meter of soil.

Beschreibung: Key Points: Some neutron suppression regions (NSRs) form from surface ice deposits while others may form through ice pumping in the sub‐surface. NSRs identified by Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector correlate well with low surface temperatures in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) and are in agreement with sub‐surface temperatures in non‐PSR.

Beschreibung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

Beschreibung: Since 2012 August, the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Curiosity rover has been characterizing the Martian surface radiation field which is essential in preparation for future crewed Mars missions. RAD observed radiation dose is influenced by variable topographical features as the rover traverses through the terrain. In particular, while Curiosity was parked near a butte in the Murray Buttes area, we find a decrease of the dose rate by (5 ± 1)% as 19% of the sky was obstructed, versus 10% in an average reference period. Combining a zenith‐angle‐dependent radiation model and the rover panoramic visibility map leads to a predicted reduction of the downward dose by ∼12% due to the obstruction, larger than the observed decrease. With the hypothesis that this difference is attributable to albedo radiation coming from the butte, we estimate the (flat‐terrain) albedo radiation to be about 19% of the total surface dose.

Beschreibung: Plain Language Summary: Interplanetary space is filled with energetic particles that can affect the health of astronauts, for example, by causing late‐arising cancer and possibly hereditary diseases. Mars lacks a global magnetic field and its atmosphere is very thin compared to Earth's. Thus its surface is exposed to such space radiation which presents risks to future humans on Mars. Mitigation strategies could include using natural geological structures on Mars, for example, cave skylights and lava tubes and even simple buttes, for protection. The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Curiosity rover has observed a decrease of the radiation absorbed dose rate by (5 ± 1)% while Curiosity was parked near a butte. This provides the first direct illustration that Mars's surface features may serve as potential radiation shelters for future missions. However, when exploiting such shielding possibilities, the secondary radiation generated in the terrain of Mars that is, emitted backwards must also be considered. Combining the RAD observation with a radiation transport model, we derive such “reflected” radiation dose on a flat terrain to be about 19% of the total surface dose.

Beschreibung: Key Points: The Martian surface radiation is influenced by topographical features. The surface downward radiation dose of particles traversing through the atmosphere depends on the zenith angle. The surface upward radiation dose is about 19% of the total dose.

Beschreibung: Strategic Priority Program of CAS

Beschreibung: NSFC

Beschreibung: CNSA pre‐research project on civil aerospace technologies

Beschreibung: NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100006196

Beschreibung: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft‐und Raumfahrt (DLR) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002946

Beschreibung: Analysis of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN)/Supra‐Thermal And Thermal Ion Composition observations in the Martian upper atmosphere, bounded at higher altitudes by the shocked solar wind, shows that the draping of interplanetary magnetic field penetrates down to low altitudes (∼200−250 km) and governs dynamics of the ionosphere. The upper ionospheric plasma is driven into motion flowing around Mars similar to the shocked solar wind in the adjacent magnetosheath. Such a fluid‐like motion is accompanied by ion acceleration caused by the bending of the magnetic field, leading to ion extraction and finally to ion pickup. Extraction of ions and their acceleration produces a recoil effect of the bulk ionosphere in the opposite direction. This provides a strong asymmetry in ion dynamics in two different hemispheres, accompanied by wrapping of the magnetic field lines around Mars and respective reconnection.

Beschreibung: Plain Language Summary: Although the Martian magnetosphere is hybrid and contains components of the induced and intrinsic magnetosphere, is possible to display these components by using the specific coordinate systems. Here we study the properties of the induced magnetosphere using the data obtained by MAVEN spacecraft. The interplanetary magnetic field penetrates deep into the Martian ionosphere draping around Mars and drive to the motion dense ionospheric plasma. Draping features and the induced plasma motions occur different in two hemispheres determined by the direction of the motional electric field in the solar wind. Ion acceleration and extraction is accompanied by a recoil effect that leads to a shift and asymmetry of the ionosphere.

Beschreibung: Key Points: Draping of the interplanetary magnetic field around Mars penetrates deep to the ionosphere enveloping the planet and driving the ionosphere to the bulk motion. Draping and motion of the ionospheric plasma is characterized by asymmetry by the direction of the motional electric field in solar wind. Ion acceleration and extraction from the ionosphere is accompanied by a shift of the bulk ionosphere in the opposite direction.

Beschreibung: National Aeronautics and Space Administration http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000104

Beschreibung: DFG http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

Beschreibung: Russian Science Foundation http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100006769

Beschreibung: In the area of Arcadia Planitia in the Northern hemisphere of Mars, mounds indicating fluid and sediment emissions have been already recognized. Here, we show that through fractal and fracture‐spacing analyses of a large vent population it is possible to infer the mechanical layering of the underlying subsurface. Our work includes the mapping of an entire population of 9,028 vents over an area of 122,000 km2. The analysis of mound distribution at the surface led to the formulation of inferences about the subsurface feeding conduits, and to the identification of three mechanical discontinuities at c. 4–5, c. 14–23, and c. 50–55 km. This evidence matches the mechanical stratigraphy recorded by the InSight NASA mission, and is in agreement with independent previous subsurface global modeling, supporting our conclusions.

Beschreibung: Plain Language Summary: The Martian northern hemisphere displays mounds interpreted to be the result of sediment and water erupting onto the surface. We analyzed the mounds spatial distribution and found patterns that reflects the extent at depth of the subsurface conduits that fed those mounds (array of fractures, i.e., high permeability pathways) allowing the sediment and water upwelling. These conduits thus connect the surface to the source of the erupted materials at depth. These source levels are located at the base of layers characterized by mechanical properties different from the adjacent ones (e.g., loose sediments vs. crystalline bedrock). Such layers are hence referred as mechanical discontinuities. We identified three discontinuities: at c. 4–5, c. 14–23, and c. 50–55 km. Our outcomes match the mechanical stratigraphy recorded by the InSight NASA mission, and is in agreement with independent previous subsurface global modeling, supporting our conclusions.

Beschreibung: Key Points: We present a complete mapping of a large vent population in the Arcadia Planitia region of the northern plains of Mars. We reconstructed the subsurface mechanical layering underlying the vent field using spatial distribution analysis. These analyses proved to be efficient and open the possibility of collecting subsurface rheological data from areas beyond InSight reach.

Beschreibung: H2020 Excellent Science (H2020 Priority Excellent Science) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010662

Beschreibung: DLR Management Board Young Research Group Leader Program

Beschreibung: Executive Board Member for Space Research and Technology

Beschreibung: Industrial demand response can play an important part in balancing the intermittent production from a growing share of renewable energies in electricity markets. This paper analyses the role of aggregators - intermediaries between participants and power markets - in facilitating industrial demand response. Based on the results from semi-structured interviews with German demand response aggregators, as well as a wider stakeholder online survey, we examine the role of aggregators in overcoming barriers to industrial demand response. We find that a central role for aggregators is to raise awareness for the potentials of demand response, as well as to support implementation by engaging key actors in industrial companies. Moreover, we develop a taxonomy that helps analyse how the different functional roles of aggregators create economic value. We find that there is considerable heterogeneity in the kind of services that aggregators offer, many of which do create significant economic value. However, some of the functional roles that aggregators currently fill may become obsolete once market barriers to demand response are reduced or knowledge on demand response becomes more diffused.

Beschreibung: The paper sketches out a theoretical framework for analysing the interplay between eco-efficiency, cognition and institutions. It derives from analytical shortfalls of the prevailing literature, which features strongly engineering and business economics, by using insights from New Institutional Economics, from Cognitive Sciences and, partly, from Evolutionary Economics. It emphasises the role cognition and institutions play in the adoption of "green" technologies by firms. A cognitive perspective derives from recent research on simple heuristics and context-based rationality; it is proposed that those recent findings can serve to analyse decision-making of individual actors or firms and, thus, should complement economic analysis. A second proposition is that eco-efficiency and normative rules such as a Factor Four strongly rely upon institutions, i.e. the ability of institutions to evolve over time and the development of those institutions that are most appropriate to enhance technological change. In this regard, business institutions and competition are crucial, but regulatory needs remain in order to safeguard continuity of knowledge creation. The framework allows for an analysis why overall adoption of eco-efficiency still can be considered relatively slow and why some markets and firms are far ahead. As a brief case study the article reflects upon German waste law’s ability to enhance eco-efficiency.

Beschreibung: Energy labelling for household appliances has become an established instrument to promote energy efficiency. For heating systems, however, this approach has not been successfully implemented yet. This is partially due to the reluctance of industry. To find ways to motivate industry to participate in a labelling scheme, we carried out a survey among producers of heating systems. Respondents to our questionnaire and personal interviews cover together more than 30 percent of the EU market for heating systems. Thus the results provide a solid basis for conclusions. Our survey helps to draw a much better picture of the attitudes and expectations of the manufacturers with regard to a labelling scheme. The paper covers: Attitudes regarding potential effects of a label; Opinions on possible design of a label; Perceived effects of the labels for the companies; Perceived advantages and disadvantages of a label; And, as a conclusion, the potential effects on the companies and their probable relevance. As a result, industry representatives expect that customers will be able to make sounder purchasing decisions because of the availability of a label. Therefore they believe that energy savings will be achieved. What is more, respondents expect that a label could improve integration of the European market for heating systems and would rather improve their individual economic performance. The survey results in a clearer identification of industry's problems, needs and interests. It thus will help policy-makers to get industry to support energy efficiency labels and activities.

Beschreibung: This report includes the results and calculations of the HP case study within the Digital Europe project. This case study investigates the environmental effects of mobile computing devices as an element of the growing ICT infrastructure for applications such as ecommerce, egovernment and telework. Specifically, the resource intensity of a notebook computer and a handheld device will be analysed and discussed.

Beschreibung: Transnational corporations' (TNCs) economic operations cover numerous countries and can be diverted between several continents. These units have reached a level of significance, having not only economic, but also social and environmental implications. This justifies that they shall be treated separately as a social phenomenon, when considering strategies for the development towards sustainability. This paper presents the concept of Responsible Corporate Governance (RCG), as a strategy to "govern" TNCs. RCG is suggested as a stakeholder based policy instrument, which aims at allocating responsibilities to societal actors aiming at corporate accountability. RCG recognises that the process of societal change is strongly based on what can be called as bottom up-processes. Learning processes take place through the interaction of the different societal members, which eventually leads to macro changes. Therefore, governing TNCs towards sustainability improvements is considered to be a collective process including all stakeholders. Firstly, the paper places the concept of RCG in the ongoing debate of political modernization based on the fact that society develops overtime and the political system must correspondingly modernize. In this context, political overload developed as a consequence of increased resource interdependencies is explained and as a resolution, network approach is discussed. Secondly, demands on the orientation of the TNCs in terms of accountability and innovative action are brought forward. Here, the paper also lists down corporate elements (stakeholder empowered corporate governance, management and performance evaluation systems, transparency enhancement and accountability verification), which need to be in place to attain an accountable orientation in the society. Following, using an analytical framework, the orientation and capabilities of each societal actor (environmental non-governmental organisations, financial institutions, intergovernmental organisations) to affect improvements in the corporate responsibility elements are investigated and recommendations for their effective orientation are listed.

Beschreibung: The study sheds light on the background of the prevention of plastic waste from packaging and disposable products by explaining the need for action, the environmental impacts and risks to human health. Experiences of the members of the PREVENT Waste Alliance and their partners in the prevention of plastic waste by multi-actor partnerships are presented by means of 17 best practice examples. Finally, the study gives recommendations for the reduction of plastic waste and the further work of the PREVENT Waste Alliance. These include success factors for waste prevention, necessary next steps and conclusions regarding the necessary political framework conditions.

Beschreibung: The transition from today's "take, make, waste" economic paradigm to a circular economy requires a joint effort from actors on all levels: governments, business, and civil society. While companies are among the drivers of the circular transformation, they find it hard to achieve a circular economy on their own. Hence, cross-industry collaboration is one of the imperatives for scaling a circular economy. Against this background, econsense, together with Accenture and the Wuppertal Institute, launched its study "Germany's Transition to a Circular Economy - How to Unlock the Potential of Cross-Industry Collaboration". Based on a survey and expert interviews within the econsense community, the study finds that companies are yet to unlock the full potential of cross-industry collaboration. While two thirds of analysed industry collaborations have a high potential for scaling the circular economy, only 43 per cent of those already show a high degree of interaction. The study provides concrete guidance for companies to get started with circularity and identify the right partners for cross-industry collaboration. Specifically, the report recommends companies: 1) Understand what circularity is about and map it on their own operations and processes. 2) Understand the different circular business models and identify the ones relevant to each business. 3) Discover areas where collaboration can help to create the needed foundation and to execute circular actions.

Beschreibung: Digitalisation is taking place at a fast pace in all European countries and it is transforming the economies, societies, communication, jobs and the necessary skills for the workplace and everyday life. The Covid-19 pandemic is also accelerating digitalisation at many levels. To address the great challenges resulting from this, the European Commission has launched the Green Deal, a long-term transformation strategy towards an innovative and sustainable society. Three important initiatives under the Green Deal are the New Circular Economy Action Plan, the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Zero Pollution Action Plan. The various strategies and action plans draw up a large portfolio of measures, instruments and milestones that are always linked to digital technologies. Ideally, these are eco-innovative and sustainable and contribute to improving living conditions in Europe. The EIO Biennial Report 2020, which looks at a different topic every two years, considers digitalisation a major opportunity to accelerate the transition to a circular Europe. In the current report, the authors provide an overview of eco-innovation trends, illustrated by digital technology and policy practices that can further drive the circular economy.

Beschreibung: The paper sketches out a theoretical framework for analysing the interplay between eco-efficiency, cognition and institutions. It derives from analytical shortfalls of the prevailing literature, which features strongly engineering and business economics, by using insights from New Institutional Economics, from Cognitive Science and, partly, from Evolutionary Economics. It emphasises the role cognition and institutions play in the adoption of "green" technologies by firms. A cognitive perspective derives from recent research on simple heuristics and context-based rationality; it is proposed that those findings can serve to analyse decision-making of individual actors respectively firms and, thus, should complement economic analysis. A second proposition is that eco-efficiency and normative rules such as a Factor Four strongly rely upon institutions, i.e. the ability of institutions to evolve over time and the development of those institutions that are most appropriate to enhance technological change. In this regard, business institutions and competition are crucial, but regulatory needs remain in order to safeguard continuity of knowledge creation. The framework allows for an analysis why overall adoption of eco-efficiency still can be considered relatively slow and why some markets and firms are far ahead. As a brief case study the article reflects upon German waste law's ability to enhance eco-efficiency.

Beschreibung: An increasing number of publications about theoretical approaches and new findings illustrate the relevance of the topic environmental risk assessment. The actual discussion about high oil prices is not incorporated under this headline; but it should be, as natural resource scarcity is a crucial economic factor. In practical experience, more and more banks, insurance companies as well as investors realize that there are certain areas with a high correlation between sustainable development and corporate success, corporate risk exposure and corporate performance. In this discussion one of the most obvious topics are risks related to climate change. According to the findings of surveys evaluated in this paper climate change starts to affect economic development and companies' performance in various ways. Over the next decade, economic losses due to climate change are estimated by US$ 150 billion per year. As result world's business leaders have described climate change as the biggest challenge of the 21st century. Hence, the incorporation of climate change as a risk factor is essential, but risks related to climate change feature a severe issue of complex structure and uncertainty; traditional risk assessment tools appear in the light of not being able to either reflect the multifaceted system nor provide sufficient outcomes. Environmental risk assessments in general so far have mainly emphasized - if at all - on actual and possible impacts of the release of materials or emissions (external effects). But an overall sustainable risk assessment has also to take into account the risks related to the inflow of materials. The main reason for neglecting the inflow risks from an environmental perspective can be seen in the fact that these risks seem to be less tangible and more uncertain. Nevertheless, in a world where economic development and the use of natural resources is not uncoupled yet, a steadily increasing economic power will result in a continually rising extraction of resources. As all resources are limited, the risk of scarcity will rise; and the example of water illustrates that it already exists. Indeed, scarcity is not tangible for all kind of resources from a present point of view. Hence, a specified analysis is needed considering different market and supply conditions. A comprehensive analysis of environmental risks needs to encompass risks affecting the output as well as the input side of a value chain. This paper enlarges the discussion on environmental risk assessments upon the input dimension using the example of carbon risks. Firstly, carbon risks are defined as risks related to climate change at the corporate level with a focus on the input as well as the output dimension. Secondly, an analysis of the current discussion on the topic of carbon risk evaluates the status quo of scientific work in this field. Thirdly, in terms of developing a practically oriented tool, the Value-at-Risk approach and it's application to measure input oriented carbon risks are scrutinized. The results discuss how future volatility and market prices can be utilized to describe the uncertainty resulting from markets acknowledging and pricing oil scarcity as a risk factor. Finally recommendations with a focus on strategic management decisions and financial performance analysis are given and further research opportunities are drawn. The conclusion is; once markets have acknowledged the depletion mid-point as a measure of oil scarcity, natural scarcity will result in a significant higher Value-at-Risk. The Value-at-Risk of one barrel of crude oil could then be as high as US$ 15.5 in the short term and even US$ 17.2 in the long term. The scope of this paper is neither intended to predict one likely development nor to demonstrate how this tool can actually work in terms of forecasting single companies' performance. But in order to point the way ahead, this paper provides scenarios for potential future developments and sets a frame for risk assessments due to oil scarcity.

Beschreibung: This paper examines the connection between globalisation, with its growth in world trade links, and certain ecological effects especially concerning "North-South" relations. Although world trade in the mid-nineties was significantly uncoupled from growth trends in the world economy, so that since then it has increased nearly three times faster than the global GDP, certain indicators of energy use and CO2 emissions have not developed proportionately to world trade; globalisation evidently does not lead to a situation where pressures on the environment are increasing to the same extent worldwide. This de-linking may, however, result in the kind of shifts that we examine here with reference to the material trade flows of the European Union. It will be shown that, in the course of globalisation, the countries of the EU have increasingly shifted environmental burdens on to the countries of the South, especially in the form of ecological rucksacks of imported raw materials, while at the same time reducing the pressure on their own domestic environment by extracting fewer material resources. Furthermore, goods whose production places intensive pressure on the environment (industrial emissions into the atmosphere and water, heavy metal emissions, etc.) have been increasingly imported from newly industrializing or developing countries. The greater covering of material requirements from foreign resources has served not so much the EU's internal consumption as its own production of export goods; this shows that the EU has an increasing share in the resource requirement of other economies. The paper concludes that it is absolutely necessary to consider the international dimension in any strategy for more productive use of resources in industrial countries. In the long term, the EU's resource use should also be reduced in absolute terms. This will also be necessary in order to reduce the pressure on the environment due to imports and exports.

Beschreibung: Jupiter's tenuous dust ring system is embedded in the planet's inner magnetosphere, and—among other structures—contains a very tenuous protrusion called the Thebe extension. In an attempt to explain the existence of this swath of particles beyond Thebe's orbit, Hamilton and Krüger (2008), https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06886 proposed that the dust particle motion is driven by a shadow resonance caused by variable dust charging on the day and night side of Jupiter. However, the model by Divine and Garrett (1983), https://doi.org/10.1029/ja088ia09p06889 together with recent observations by the Juno spacecraft indicates a warm and rather dense inner magnetosphere of Jupiter which implies that the mechanism of the shadow resonance does not work. Instead, we argue that dust grains ejected from Thebe due to micrometeoroid bombardment become the source of dust in the Thebe extension. We show that large (grain radii of a few micrometers up to multi‐micrometers) charged dust grains having significant initial velocities oscillate in the Thebe extension. Smaller charged grains (with sub‐micrometer radii) ejected from Thebe do not spend much time in the Thebe extension and migrate into the Thebe ring. At the same time, if such grains are ejected from larger dust grains in the Thebe extension due to fragmentation, they continue to oscillate within the Thebe extension for years. We argue that fragmentation of large dust grains in the Thebe extensions could be the main source of sub‐micrometer grains detected in the Thebe extension.

Beschreibung: Key Points: In Jupiter's warm and dense inner magnetosphere dust grains acquire high negative electric charges. Dust particles ejected from Thebe with sufficient speeds contribute to the formation of the Thebe extension. Instead of shadow resonances as suggested earlier an alternative mechanism is suggested for the formation of the Thebe extension.

Beschreibung: Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research

Beschreibung: The long‐ and short‐term drivers and transport mechanisms of lunar rockfalls are currently not well understood, but could provide valuable information about the geologic processes that still shape the surface of the Moon today. Here, we compare the global distribution of rockfalls with relevant geophysical data, such as seismic, topographic, thermal, gravity anomaly, and tidal displacement data sets. Rockfalls appear to predominantly occur (a) on equator‐facing slopes and thus in regions with large thermal amplitudes, (b) on slope angles well above‐average (Δ ∼ 10°), and (c) in regions with above‐average rock abundance. We do not observe a qualitatively or statistically relevant relation between rockfall abundance, monitored Apollo‐era shallow seismic activity, and the distribution of visible tectogenetic features. Informed by our global analysis, we conduct a targeted, in‐depth study of 687 rockfall boulders and trajectories in 13 sites across the Moon, including 7 craters, 2 volcanic vents, 2 tectonic structures, and 2 unclassified geomorphic regions. We identify four different source region types, where the type appears to control the occurrence of rockfalls. The source region type in turn is controlled by surface age rather than geomorphic context. We find that rockfall trajectories are mainly controlled by the trigger energy and the geometry of the slope. Our results suggest that erratic small‐scale impacts (mainly in old, Imbrian‐Nectarian, shallow terranes), aided by solar‐induced thermal fatigue of fractured bedrock (mainly in young, Copernican‐Eratosthenian steep terranes), were the dominant, global‐scale long‐ and short‐term drivers of rockfalls in the Moon's recent geologic past.

Beschreibung: Plain Language Summary: The processes that drive rockfall occurrence are largely unknown, but could provide valuable information about the past and current evolution of the Moon's surface and interior. We compare the global distribution of rockfalls with a series of maps, such as seismic, topographic, thermal, and gravity anomaly maps and observe that rockfalls mainly occur (a) on equator‐facing slopes and thus in regions with large temperature differences, (b) on slope angles above‐average, and (c) in regions with rocky surfaces. We do not observe a relation between rockfall abundance, Apollo‐era seismic activity, and the distribution of visible tectonic features. Informed by our global‐scale analysis we study 687 rockfalls in 13 sites of interest in greater detail, including volcanic‐, tectonic‐, and impact‐related geomorphic regions. We observe that the source region type appears to control rockfall occurrence, which in turn is controlled by the surface age. We find that the lunar rockfall transport process appears to be mainly controlled by the driver energy and the steepness of the slope. Our results suggest that small‐scale impacts (mainly in old, shallow regions) and solar‐driven thermal breakdown of fractured bedrock (mainly in young, steep regions) were the main, global‐scale drivers of rockfalls in the Moon's recent geologic past.

Beschreibung: Key Points: We study the drivers and transport mechanisms of lunar rockfalls on a local and global scale. The two dominant, global‐scale rockfall drivers appear to be: (a) impacts and (b) solar‐driven thermal fatigue. The rockfall driver depends on the source region age and type rather than the geomorphic context.

Beschreibung: Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research

Beschreibung: ETH Zurich

Beschreibung: Engineering Geology group, Department of Earth Sciences, International Max Planck Research School

Beschreibung: http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc/search

Beschreibung: Gorgonum Chaos is part of the Eridania paleolake in Terra Sirenum and displays a number of prominent light‐toned morphological features that bear a record of the regional climatic conditions throughout most of Martian history. Based on an intergrated analysis of orbital data, we mapped a 1,500 km2 area in the southeast of Gorgonum Chaos. Morphologic, spectroscopic, and stratigraphic analyses were used to determine age and composition of the main geological units in the area. We identified four major geological units with decreasing content of hydrated minerals from the oldest to the youngest units, which were completely free of hydrated minerals. In the study area, phyllosilicate‐rich Noachian units compose the majority of the basin floor. Deposits enriched with evaporites were formed around the Noachian/Hesperian transition and erosion created prominent inverted morphologies. Loess‐like material without significant amounts of hydrated minerals was deposited until the late Hesperian. The youngest unit is an Amazonian layer free of hydrated minerals that originated from volcanic activities. This succession of minerals reflects the transition from more humid climatic conditions with the ability to sustain liquid water on the planet's surface during the Noachian to the hyper‐arid Amazonian environment we observe currently on Mars.

Beschreibung: Plain Language Summary: Gorgonum Chaos is part of the Eridania basin, which is a former lake system located at the southern hemisphere of Mars. The landforms observed in this area and their variable brightness suggest dramatically changing climatic conditions during the history of Mars. In an area of 1,500 km2 in size, we analyzed different landforms, their spectral characteristics, and their temporal sequences to determine the age and composition of the geological units. We found four major geologic units whose content of hydrated minerals decreased dramatically from oldest to youngest. The oldest unit with a high content of clay minerals is about 3.7 billion years old and formed the former lake bottom. This is followed by a younger unit with a mineral composition that indicates desiccation of the lake and erosion by wind. These, in turn, were largely covered by materials deposited by wind, which show very little evidence of liquid water. The last and youngest unit is volcanic in origin and completely devoid of minerals indicative of water. This succession of minerals reflects the evolution of the Martian surface, which was capable to sustain liquid water in the early stages of the planet and lost this ability during a drastic climate change.

Beschreibung: Key Points: We produced a geological map of southeastern Gorgonum Chaos. We find a succession from phyllosilicates to olivine in aeolian deposits. The presence of water decreases over time.

Beschreibung: Two thirds of today's world trade is based on global value chains and supply networks. Purely regional supply chains have become less important in recent decades. The effects of these globalised structures are manifold. On the one hand, they promote employment and generate prosperity. On the other hand, they are beset by extreme social, ecological and economic imbalances. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of existing supply chain systems. The lockdown continues to disrupt complex supply chains and many problems of existing production and consumption continue to worsen. COVID-19 is one example of the crises that can shake globally networked supply chains in the short term. Other crises, such as climate change, develop more insidiously and are less immediately recognisable. Different as they are, such crises have one thing in common: they highlight the vulnerability of global social and economic structures and illustrate the impact of global trade on the regions and people of the world. This is precisely where global sustainability strategy comes in - it aims to fundamentally reduce differences and inequalities in opportunities and quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the entire world into upheaval, creating an opportunity to make sustainability a central political resilience strategy. In the wake of the Corona pandemic, the discussion about resilient communities has flared up. In order to guarantee supply in the face of such crises, these should be more strongly regional and circular in their economic approach and global and sustainable in their perspective. The aim should be sustainable, transparent, non-exploitative supply chains that guarantee the security of supply to cover basic needs and public services despite sudden changes and crises. This discussion paper draws a future scenario of globally cooperative, circular regional economies that fundamentally reduce global inequalities in opportunities and quality of life, while at the same time permanently preserving the natural foundations of life.