ALBERT

Beschreibung: It has long been proposed that during Pleistocene climatic perturbations the Balkan peninsula sustained refugial areas for fauna, flora, and potentially, hominins. In this study, we explore Middle Palaeolithic subsistence at the peninsula's southern end, Greece, and discuss how the evidence contributes to our understanding of the region's character as a refugium. We present new data from the recent reanalysis of the fauna from Asprochaliko rockshelter and the ongoing zooarchaeological investigations at Lakonis Cave 1 and compare them with published analyses from Klissoura Cave 1. We employ taxonomic abundance and diversity indices, as well as mortality profiles, to investigate hominin prey choice. Additional taphonomic observations provide further information on carcass exploitation. We examine changes in the faunal composition of the three sites in an attempt to identify the extent to which climate might have influenced resource availability and diversity in the region, stimulating resource intensification or diversification processes. Our results suggest that Middle Palaeolithic hominins consistently acquired high‐ranked prey through time. However, interregional differences in resource exploitation indicate that local topography and microclimate mediated prey choice and availability.

Beschreibung: Institute for Aegean Prehistory http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100001182

Beschreibung: Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

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 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: 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.

Beschreibung: Within the Shaping Digitalisation project, we aim to highlight and discuss the opportunities that digitalisation can bring to Germany. In particular, we are discussing three stand-out areas where action is most needed to achieve ecological transformation: mobility, the circular economy, and agriculture and food. This report addresses the second area in need of action. Up until now, discussions on the circular economy have been limited to recycling and the re-use of materials. We must expand the scope of these discussions to include new, resource-efficient business models and the comprehensive transformation of value chains and industrial structures. Our analysis has found that digitalisation is indispensable for this transformation if used properly. We hope this report will provide the impetus needed to kick-start a climate- and resource-friendly industrial transformation in Germany. Here, we have incorporated the findings of our interdisciplinary workshop on "Shaping the Digital-Ecological Industrial Transformation - Business Models and Political Framework Conditions for Climate and Resource Protection" that was attended by experts from international research institutes, civil organizations, public authorities, and private companies.

Beschreibung: The introduction of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) is an opportunity to create a system that can store and share all relevant information throughout a product's life cycle. This would provide industry stakeholders, businesses, public authorities and consumers with a better understanding of the materials used in the product as well as their embodied environmental impact. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis, now is a critical moment to transform our economic and business models, while also addressing the huge scale of material emissions. DPPs can be a pivotal policy instrument in this goal. Furthermore, DPPs can accelerate the twin green and digital transitions as part of EU efforts to deliver positive climate action and sustainable economies. In 2020, the European Commission (EC) adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), which emphasised the need for circular economy initiatives to consider the entire life cycle of products, from the production of basic materials to end-of-life disposal. The Circular Economy Package published in March 2022 includes a proposal for an Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which builds upon the Ecodesign Directive that covers energy-related products. A DPP will form a key regulatory element of the ESPR by enhancing the traceability of products and their components. This will provide consumers and manufacturers with the information needed to make better informed choices by taking their environmental impact into consideration. As discussed in the report, there is widespread agreement amongst business leaders that a well-designed DPP could have both short- and longer-term benefits, improving access to reliable and comparable product sustainability information for businesses, consumers and policymakers. A well-designed DPP can unify information, making it more readily accessible to all actors in the supply chain. This will support businesses to ensure an effective transformation towards a decarbonised industry. It could also create incentives for companies to make their products more sustainable, as improving access to reliable and consistent information across supply chains will make it easier for customers to make comparisons.

Beschreibung: The biggest known mass extinction in the history of animal life occurred at the Permian–Triassic boundary and has often been linked to global warming. Previous studies have suggested that a geologically rapid (〈40 kyr) temperature increase of more than 10°C occurred simultaneously with the main extinction pulse. This hypothesis is challenged by geochemical and palaeontological data indicating profound environmental perturbations and a temperature rise prior to the main extinction. Using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), we measured oxygen isotope ratios from Changhsingian (late Permian) ostracods of north‐western Iran. Our data show that ambient seawater temperature began to rise at least 300 kyr prior to the main extinction event. Gradual warming by approximately 12°C was probably responsible for initial environmental degradation that eventually culminated in the global end‐Permian mass extinction.

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

Beschreibung: A main goal of this study - which also functions as deliverable 210078-D07 of the Circular Economy Beacons (CEB) project - is to evaluate currently available frameworks that measure and operationalise Circular Economy (CE), with a particular focus on the urban context. The regional focus lies on the Western Balkan region, which is at the centre of the project. Such "Urban Circularity Hotspot Frameworks" (UCHF) aim at providing decision support for policy makers, companies, citizens etc. regarding the transition to CE within cities. Based on the analysis of different frameworks, suggestions are derived regarding UCHF suitable for the specific characteristics of Western Balkan municipalities, i.e. a Circular Economy Beacons Urban Circularity Hotspot Framework (CEB-UCHF) ready for short-term implementation.

Beschreibung: Circular economy seems a vital enabler for sustainable use of natural resources which is also important for achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals. Therefore, a special session addressing issues of "sustainable solutions and remarkable practices in circular economy focusing materials downstream" was held at the 16th International Conference on Waste Management and Technology, where researchers and attendees worldwide were convened to share their experiences and visions. Presentations focusing on many key points such as new strategies, innovative technologies, management methods, and practical cases were discussed during the session. Accordingly, this article compiled all these distinctive presentations and gave insights into the pathway of circular economy towards the sustainable development goals. We summarized that the transition to circular economy can keep the value of resources and products at a high level and minimize waste production; the focus of governmental policies and plans with the involvement of public-private-partnership on 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) helps to improve the use of natural resources and take a step ahead to approach or achieve the sustainability.

Beschreibung: In Germany, the number of renewable energy prosumers has increased rapidly since 2000. However, the development of prosumers has faced and will continue to face various economic, social, and technological challenges, which have triggered the emergence of a number of innovative business models (BM). This paper enriches the empirical basis for prosumer-oriented BMs by investigating two BM innovations in Germany (P2P electricity trading and aggregation of small-size prosumers) drawing on business model and socio-technical transition theories. A mix of qualitative data collection methods, including document analysis and semi-structured expert interviews, was applied. We found that while both BMs can potentially address the challenges associated with renewable energy prosumer development in Germany, small-scale prosumers’ participation in both BMs has been limited so far. We identified various internal and external drivers and barriers for scaling up these BMs for prosumer development in Germany. Despite these barriers, both aggregation and centralized P2P targeting prosumers may potentially be also taken up by incumbent market actors such as utilities. Decentralized P2P on the other hand still faces significant internal and external barriers for upscaling. Based on the analysis, the paper provides policy recommendations with respect to the identified drivers and barriers. From a theoretical perspective, our findings provide further evidence to challenge the dichotomous understanding of niche actors and incumbents, the latter of which are often theorized to be resistant to radical innovations.

Beschreibung: Continuous pollen and chironomid records from Lake Emanda (65°17′N, 135°45′E) provide new insights into the Late Quaternary environmental history of the Yana Highlands (Yakutia). Larch forest with shrubs (alders, pines, birches) dominated during the deposition of the lowermost sediments suggesting its Early Weichselian [Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5] age. Pollen‐ and chironomid‐based climate reconstructions suggest July temperatures (TJuly) slightly lower than modern. Gradually increasing amounts of herb pollen and cold stenotherm chironomid head capsules reflect cooler and drier environments, probably during the termination of MIS 5. TJuly dropped to 8 °C. Mostly treeless vegetation is reconstructed during MIS 3. Tundra and steppe communities dominated during MIS 2. Shrubs became common after ~14.5 ka bp but herb‐dominated habitats remained until the onset of the Holocene. Larch forests with shrub alder and dwarf birch dominated after the Holocene onset, ca. 11.7 ka bp. Decreasing amounts of shrub pollen during the Lateglacial are assigned to the Older Dryas and Younger Dryas with TJuly ~ 7.5 °C. TJuly increased up to 13 °C. Shrub stone pine was present after ~7.5 ka bp. The vegetation has been similar to modern since ca. 5.8 ka bp. Chironomid diversity and concentration in the sediments increased towards the present day, indicating the development of richer hydrobiological communities in response to the Holocene thermal maximum.

Beschreibung: Russian Scientific Foundation

Beschreibung: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Beschreibung: European Research Council http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000781

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

Beschreibung: RSF

Beschreibung: Russian Ministry of Education and Science

Beschreibung: Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Beschreibung: BMBF

Beschreibung: With increasing world population and an unsettling resource scarcity in the back, sustainble consumption has moved to the foreground of political, economical and social discussions. One major school-of-thought is Circular Economy (CE), an approach summarizing various sustainable consumption activites under one roof. However, quantitative studies on the consumer are rare, yet crucial for a transfer from linear to circular consumption. This dissertation adds to literature by providing pioneer insights into consumer behavior in CE as an overarching concept, instead limiting research on singular subconcepts. Namely, four consumer activities are studied: recycling, upcycling, renting and sharing. In order to identify relevant insights for both academics and practitioners in CE, the research question ("what drives participation in CE?") is broken down into sub-hypotheses, which are addressed by three empirical studies. Using the SOR-Model (adaption Belk 1975) as overarching logic, the three studies deal with (1) the consumer (and their motivation) and situational stimuli (both (2) offline and (3) online). Respectively, three data sets are consulted to assess the sub-hypotheses and to identify overarching insights on how to accelerate consumer participation in CE, The research methodology employed ranges from a structured equation model (SEM), a random allocation field experiment during Fashion Week in Berlin to a discrete-choice model with best-worst scaling. The dissertation succeeds in revealing that (1) different activities in CE can be summarized in one latent variable, proving CE as a wholesome concept in consumer-related activities; that (2) Trust has a leveraging effect on participation in CE activities. Further, Trust can be enhanced offline via face-to-face interaction and online via third-party online attributes.; and that (3) experience in CE activities affects perception of online attributes, implying the need for adapted measures when dealing with CE-unexperienced consumers as compared to consumers with prior experience in CE activities.

Beschreibung: How do recent changes in consumption in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic affect the avoidance of packaging waste? How can an increase in packaging waste be countered and the previous trend towards unpackaged and reusable solutions be revived and promoted? To tackle these questions, we use a systemic approach that regards packaging as a network of interrelated interests of industry (manufacturing and logistics), trade (retail and catering), consumers and the waste management sector. To analyse this network, we applied three methods. First, we analysed secondary sources such as surveys. Second, we conducted semi-structured interviews with seven actors from industry, consumer education and waste management in May and June 2020. Third, we used the questions from the interview guideline to do an online survey among representatives of the public waste management industry.

Beschreibung: Prof. Dr. B. KREBS zum 60. Geburtstag. ... 3 ; Inhalt. ... 7 ; HAHN, G. & HAHN, R.: Nachweis des Septomaxillare bei Pseudobolodon krebsi n. sp. (Multituberculata) aus dem Malm Portugals. ... 9 ; BONAPARTE, J.F.: Approach to the Significance of the Late Cretaceous Mammals of South America. ... 31 ; KOENIGSWALD, W. von: Differenzierung im Zahnschmelz der Marsupialia im Vergleich zu den Verhältnissen bei den Placentalia (Mammalia). ... 45 ; STORCH, G. & MARTIN, T.: Eomanis krebsi, ein neues Schuppentier aus dem Mittel-Eozän der Grube Messel bei Darmstadt (Mammalia: Pholidota).... 83 ; ROTHAUSEN, K.: Die Schritte der Tetrapoden in die Meere des frühen Känozoikums. ... 99 ; FAHLBUSCH, V.: Fossile Kleinsäuger - gerät ihre Erforschung in die Sackgasse? ... 113 ; BUFFETAUT, E.: The significance of dinosaur remains in marine sediments: an investigation based on the French record. ... 125 ; RICHTER, A.: Der problematische Lacertilier llerdaesaurus (Reptilia, Squamata) aus der Unter-Kreide von Una und Galve (Spanien). ... 135 ; ZINKE, J. & RAUHUT, O.: Small theropods (Dinosauria, Saurischia) from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula. ... 163 ; RAUHUT, O. & KRIWET, J.: Teeth of a big Theropod Dinosaur from Porto das Barcas (Portugal).... 179 ; KOHRING, R. & REITNER, J.: Zur Eischalenstruktur von Varanus komodoensis OuwENS 1912. ... 187 ; LiLLEGRAVEN, J. A.: Age of upper reaches of Hanna Formation, northern Hanna Basin, south-central Wyoming. ... 203 ; WERNER, C.: Die kontinentale Wirbeltierfauna aus der unteren Oberkreide des Sudan (Wadi Milk Formation). ... 221 ; HEINRICH, W.-D.: Biostratigraphische Aussagen der Säugetierpaläontologie zur Alterstellung pleistozäner Travertinfundstätten in Thüringen. ... 251 ; FECHNER, G.: Der 'mitteloligozäne’ Septarienton bei Bad Freienwalde (nordöstl. Mark Brandenburg) und seine Dinoflagellaten-Zysten-Flora. ... 269 ; FECHNER, G.: Phytoplankton aus ästuarinen Ablagerungen des Miozäns der Bohrung "Groß-Apenburg" (Altmark). ... 283 ; MEHL, D., REITNER, J. & REISWIG, H.M.: Soft tissue organization of the deep water hexactinellid Schaudinnia arctica SCHULZE, 1900 from the Arctic Seamount Vesterisbanken (Central Greenland Sea). ... 301 ; MEHL, D. & ERDTMANN, B.-D.: Sanshapentella dapingi n.gen.n.sp.- a new hexactinellid sponge from the Early Cambrian (Tommotian) of China. ... 315 ; KEUPP, H. & ILG, A.: Paläopathologische Nachlese zur Ammoniten-Fauna aus dem Ober-Callovium der Normandie. ... 321 ; BANDEL, K. & RiEDEL F.: Classification of fossil and Recent Calyptraeoidea (Caenogastropoda) with a discussion on neomesogastropod phylogeny. ... 329 ; BECKER, R.T. & SCHREIBER, G.: Zur Trilobiten-Stratigraphie im Letmather Famennium (nördliches Rheinisches Schiefergebirge). ... 369 ; KOHRING, R. & SCHREIBER, G.: 'Latex-Micro-Molding' als neue Untersuchungsmethode von Bemstein-Inklusen - Vorläufige Mitteilung. ... 389 ; REITNER, J.: Mikrobialith-Porifera-Fazies eines Exogyren/Korallen-Patchreefs des Oberen Korallenooliths im Steinbruch Langenberg bei Oker (Niedersachsen). ... 397 ; MATYSZKIEWICZ, J.: Remarks on the Deposition of Pseudonodular Limestones in the Cracow Area (Oxfordian, Southern Poland). ... 419 ; BARON-SZABO, R.: Palökologie von nordspanischen Korallen des Urgon (Playa de Laga, Prov. Guemica). ... 441 ; SCHLÜTER, T.: Zur Verbreitung, Fazies und Stratigraphie der Karoo in Uganda. ... 453 ; KEUPP, H., BELLAS, S.M., FRYDAS, D. & KOHRING, R.: Aghia Irini, ein Neogenprofil auf der Halbinsel Gramvoüssa/NW-Kreta. ... 469 ; FRYDAS, D.: Stratigraphie und Taxonomie von Silicoflagellaten aus Diatomiten des Ober-Miozän von Zentral-Kreta (Griechenland). ... 483 ; FRYDAS, D.: Bericht über ein neues Silicoflagellaten-Vorkommen aus dem Piacenzium von Kreta, Griechenland. ... 495 ; RÖPSTORF, P. & REITNER, J.: Morphologie einiger Süßwasserporifera (Baikalospongia bacillifera, Lubomirskia baicalensis, Swartschewskia papyraced) des Baikal-Sees (Sibirien, Rußland.). ... 507 ; GLOY, U.: Bibliographie Institut für Paläontologie 1993. ... 527 ;

Beschreibung: thesis

Beschreibung: DFG, SUB Göttingen