API src

Found 25 results.

Other language confidence: 0.8435959059290121

FP6-SUSTDEV, Integration of European Wetland research in a sustainable management of water cycle (EUROWET)

The final goal of the EUROWET project is to integrate the substantial multidisciplinary European research in wetlands to help attain the sustainable management of the water cycle. This will be achieved by the translation of state-of-the art science developed at both national and European levels, into practical guidance for end-users. This will be achieved by a comprehensive review, expert assessment and a focussed dissemination strategy. There is considerable scientific knowledge and technical experience gained in diverse aspects of wetland science and management including hydrology, biogeochemistry, ecology restoration, socio-economic and policy analysis. However the results of research and management experience are still too fragmentary and not sufficiently orientated to problem-solving or simply inadequately framed to be effectively transferred to, or used by, stakeholders and policy-makers. Simultaneously the general outcome of the scientific research has been increased awareness of the significance of wetlands in delivering goods and services important for human welfare including quality of life, biodiversity conservation and maintenance or enhancement of environment quality. Despite this wetlands continue to be degraded and lost throughout Europe without adequate consideration of the wider benefits to be achieved from this management. The new Water Framework Directive (WFD) promotes a unique opportunity to redress this problem by means of the holistic, integrated approach to water management. There is currently in preparation horizontal guidance on Wetlands as part of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) process. There is however work still to be done on providing more specific scientific and technical guidance on the effective implementation of the Directive with respect to wetlands. This is particularly the case in relation to Integrated River Management, the CIS cluster within which wetlands are being considered in the WFD.

A Regional Model for Integrated Water Management in Twinned River Basins (RIVERTWIN), Sub project: University Innsbruck

The project 'RIVERTWIN' aims in adjusting, testing and implementing an integrated regional model for the strategic planning of water resources management in twinned river basins under contrasting ecological, social and economic conditions. The regional model will take into account the impacts of demographic trends, economic and technological development, the effects of global climate and land use changes on the availability and quality of water bodies in humid temperate, subhumid tropical as well as semiarid regions. The existing integration framework will be first tested in a European river basin with high data availability and data density. The Transferability of the model to other regions with different economic level, ecological standards and with low data availability will be jointly tested by the project team and river basin organisations in two river basins in Westafrica and Uzbekistan. Here, the problem of adequate human resources and the uncertainties of input data for the implementation of computer based decision suppport tools will be addressed. Capacity building through training of end users supports the transfer of the research results into application. In cooperation with stakeholders and potential users integrated scenarios of economic growth, land use and climate change will be developed and the model will be used to assess the implications for water management under the respective scenario assumptions. The twinning of river basins will promote mutual transfer of know-how and technology between European and Third countries. Based on the results, river basin management plans can be prepared. Through its holistic basin wide approach, the project contributes to the EU water directive, the Millennium Goals defined by the WSSD and the EU water initiative for Africa and Newly Independent States.

FP6-POLICIES, Horizontal Standards on Hygienic parameters for Implementation of EU Directives on Sludge, Soil and Treated Bio-waste (HORIZONTAL-HYG)

The working documents on revision of the Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) on Biowaste and the Soil Protection Communication call for standards on sampling and analysis of sludge, treated biowastes and soils. The European Directives are intended to prevent unacceptable release of contaminants, impairment of soil function, or exposure to pathogens, and to protect crops, human and animal health, the quality of water and the wider environment when sludges and treated biowastes are used on land. The EU animal by-product regulations are fixing microbiological threshold values, for which microbiological methods of analysis are needed. The European Commission wishes to cite European (CEN) standards in order that there is harmonised application of the directives and that reports from Member States (MS) can be compared. This project to develop standards for hygienic parameters in sludge, soil and biowaste, presented under the name 'HORIZONTAL-HYG', will be carried out under the umbrella of the main project HORIZONTAL 'Development of horizontal standards for soil, sludge and biowaste'. This ensures full integration in the CEN system through BT Task Force 151 specially set up in support of this project as well as direct supervision by DG ENV and MS, which form the Steering Committee of HORIZONTAL. Preparation of HORIZONTAL-HYG was taken in a full agreement with the DG ENV, DG JRC and the MS already contributing to HORIZONTAL. HORIZONTAL-HYG's objective is to produce standardised methods for sampling and hygienic microbiological parameters, as Salmonella spp, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Ascaris ova in sludges, treated biowastes and soils written in CEN format. Validation of the methods is an essential part of the development as it quantifies performance in terms of repeatability and reproducibility. The consortium is well connected in CEN and ISO and thus provides an excellent basis for implementation of the deliverables. Prime Contractor: Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland; Petten, Netherlands.

Perspektiven des Linking von Emissionshandelssystemen (ETS) - Überführungsmöglichkeiten nationaler Klimaschutzprogramme in ein ETS, Methoden zur Beurteilung der Chancen und Risiken eines Linking des EU-ETS mit anderen Emissionshandelssystemen

Nach der Abschaffung des australischen Emissionshandelssystems durch die neue australische Regierung ist zwar das für 2018 geplante Linking des europäischen mit dem australischen Emissionshandel unwahrscheinlich geworden. In anderen Ländern werden aber weiterhin Emissionshandelssysteme ausgestaltet und implementiert. Das Linking verschiedener Kohlenstoffmärkte bleibt somit ein relevantes zukunftsweisendes Thema. Aufbauend auf bestehende Arbeiten sollen die Kriterien für ein erfolgreiches Linking von Emissionshandelssystemen weiterentwickelt werden (z. B. ökologische Wirksamkeit bzw. Integrität und Stringenz, Abbau von Wettbewerbsverzerrungen, Verteilungswirkungen, Investitionsanreize). Im weiteren Verlauf des Projekts sollen ökonomische Kennzahlen bestimmt werden, mit deren Hilfe anhand von vorhandenen bzw. zu ermittelnden Daten (z.B. Baseline der Emissionsentwicklung, Wirtschafts-/Bevölkerungsentwicklung, Vermeidungspotenziale und -kosten, Handelsintensität zwischen den Linking-Partnern, etc.) eine Analyse der ökonomischen Auswirkungen des Linkings zweier Emissionshandelssysteme vorgenommen werden kann. Zudem sollen ergänzend zu den Arbeiten laufender UFOPLAN Projekte die aktuellen Entwicklungen in anderen relevanten Themenfeldern (z.B. Cap Bestimmung, Register, Allokationsregeln, Marktaufsicht, Marktregulierung, Umfang Offsetnutzung) untersucht und insbesondere die Ausgestaltungsmerkmale identifiziert werden, die vor einem Linking harmonisiert werden müssten bzw. langfristig konvergieren sollten. Aus diesen grundsätzlichen Arbeiten soll anschließend eine Methode zur strukturierten Bewertung eines Linkings entwickelt werden, die praxisorientiert und einfach in der Handhabung ist und als Orientierungshilfe in Form eines Handbuchs oder excel-basiertem Tool dokumentiert werden sollen. In einem weiteren Arbeitsschritt sollen die Kriterien und die Bewertungsmethode exemplarisch an ein bis zwei im Laufe des Projekts festzulegenden Beispielen überprüft werden.

Weiterentwicklung des europäischen Emissionshandels nach 2012

Ausgangslage / Zielstellung / Methodik des Vorhabens: Das europäische System für den Handel mit Treibhausgasemissionen stellt einen Eckpfeiler der europäischen Klimaschutzanstrengungen dar. Aufbauend auf den Erfahrungen der ersten beiden Handelsperioden sollen für die Zeit ab 2013 weitreichende Änderungen am System vorgenommen werden. In der Novelle der Emissionshandelsrichtlinie 2003/87/EG, die bis Ende 2008 beschlossen werden soll, zeichnen sich u.a. folgende Änderungen ab: Einführung eines EU-weiten Caps mit festgelegtem jährlichen Minderungspfad; Auktionierung als grundlegende Zuteilungsmethode; kostenlose Zuteilung nur noch als Übergangslösung, vorauss. auf Grundlage von europaweit harmonisierten, produktspezifischen Benchmarks; Einbeziehung weiterer Sektoren wie Flugverkehr und (perspektivisch) Schifffahrt; stärkere internationale Einbindung und ggf. Verknüpfung mit anderen EH-Systemen (linking). Hinzu kommt die Frage, in welchem Umfang der EH zu Verlagerungen von Produktion und Emissionen außerhalb Europas führen kann (Leakage), und wie diesen Tendenzen begegnet werden kann. Auch von Belang ist die Frage nach Wechselwirkungen zwischen EH und anderen Instrumenten. Das Forschungsvorhaben dient der wissenschaftlichen Unterstützung des BMU als federführender Stelle innerhalb der BReg und der DEHSt als vollziehender Behörde. Darin sollen wissenschaftlich fundierte Vorschläge erarbeitet werden, wie die oben beschriebenen Änderungen in der EH-RL praktisch umgesetzt werden können. Zudem soll die Bundesregierung im Komitologie-Verhandlungsprozess zur Ausgestaltung einzelner Regelungen durch Analysen unterstützt werden.

Supporting SME driven olive industry to comply with EU directives directives by turining olive oil waste water into energy through innovative bioreactor biotechnology, and extraction of olive oil industry by-products (EN-X-OLIVE)

Technical scenario: Olive production is a significant economic sector in southern Member States, especially in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal. However, the extraction process involved in olive oil production generates non biodegradable phytotoxic waste, and is therefore a significant source of pollution. Despite the introduction in the 90s of improved separation systems such as 2-phase centrifugation system, that reduce both water use and the quantities of liquid residues produced, the problems of waste toxicity, high energy consumption and the disposal of final residues remain. Olive oil production gives a final waste consisting in a solid and very humid by-product called alperujo (AL) or Olive wet cake. The problem of AL disposal has not been fully resolved and research into new technological procedures that permit its profitable use is needed. In addition, these wastes also contain valuable resources such as phenolic compounds, (approximately 53Prozent in olive oil mill waste waters), characterised by different biological activity properties which could be of interest in industry (i.e. their strong antioxidant activity). Current extraction of these compounds is not available from olive oil waste water, since technology is not fully developed and optimised to get large scale prototyping such as Pilot plant stage. Proposed solution: We propose a method focused on both treatment of olive waste waters with by anaerobic digestion transforming biomass into biogas, basically Methane, and extraction from liquid fraction of valuable products, such as polyphenols. vSynergy between these technologies will allow overcome technical barriers such as polyphenol inactivation of the digestion process, making more efficient the process and letting a higher purity of the waste water product.

Rechtsfragen im Bereich Klimaschutz

Das Projekt besteht in der laufenden rechtlichen und ökonomischen Beratung in Fragen des Emissionshandels und anderer klimaschutzrechtlicher Instrumente. Schwerpunkte bilden der Review zur Verbesserung der Emissionshandels-Richtlinie, die Einbeziehung des Flugverkehrs in den Emissionshandel, das CO2-Einlagerungsgesetz, die Überführung des TEHG in das UGB V sowie Rechtsfragen der Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung. Es werden die ökonomische Stimmigkeit der Instrumente und ihre Auswirkungen auf Umwelt und Wirtschaft untersucht. Weiterhin werden die Gesetzesentwürfe auf Verfassungsmäßigkeit, Gesetzgebungstechnik und Zusammenspiel mit dem bestehenden Rechtsrahmen geprüft.

FP6-SUSTDEV, Reduction, modification and valorisation of sludge (REMOVALS)

The adoption of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC imposes the sewage sludge to be subsequently treated so it is expected by 2005 to increase twofold in comparison whit 1992. However, classical incineration to treat this vast amount of sludge must be no longer accepted from an environmental point of view. In addition, the Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC regulates the uses and properties of stabilised sludge for being either recycled or disposed. Both directives drive specific actions in two complementary ways. Firstly, a deep knowledge of current sludge treatment, such as mesophilic, thermophilic or autothermophilic processes, must be promoted to solve that problem in the UE ambit, taking in account the particular considerations of each treatment facility. In second place, the development of new processes must be supported to open new alternatives that could valorise that waste.The proposal aims at developing strategies for the disposal and reuse of waste sludge. The scope envisages to develop several processes for reducing both amount and toxicity of sludge, with simultaneous transformation into green energy vectors such as methane or hydrogen. In outline, mesophilic and mainly thermophilic and autothermophilic conditions will be deeply explored as classical alternatives for sludge stabilisation, assuring sanitary conditions of the treated sludge. Also, valuable materials will be obtained from sludge, such as activated carbons, which will be used in conventional adsorption processes and in innovative advanced oxidation processes.The main outcomes expected at the end of the projects are guidelines for technology selection in agreement with the geographic, economic and technical characteristics of the sewage plants, demonstration of the feasibility of new applications for the sewage sludge, manufacturing of activated carbon from sludge sewage as innovative recycling of sludge waste, and a deep understanding of the methods involved. Prime Contractor: Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.

FP6-POLICIES, Science-policy inferfacing in support of the Water Framework Directive implementation (SPI-WATER)

Many current water-related RTD projects have already established operational links with practitioners, in several catchments / river basins, which allow the needs of policymakers to be taken into account. However, experience has shown that this interrelationship is not as efficient as it could / should be. Often, RTD results are not easily available to policy oriented implementer (policymakers) and, vice versa, research scientists may lack insight in the needs of policymakers. This project proposes a number of concrete actions to bridge these gaps in communication by developing and implementing a science-policy interface, focusing on setting up a mechanism to enhance the use of RTD results in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation. As a first action, existing science-policy links will be investigated. RTD and LIFE projects that are of direct relevance for the implementation of the WFD will be identified and analysed. The results of these projects will be extracted, translated and synthesised in a way that can efficiently feed the WFD implementation. Secondly, an information system (WISE-RTD Web Portal) will be further developed to cater for an efficient and easy to use tool for dissemination as well as retrieval of RTD results. The Web Portal will be tested in 4 selected river basins to better tune the product to the needs of WFD stakeholders, policymakers and scientists. In parallel, the Web Portal will be disseminated to WFD stakeholders. This dissemination will focus on how to better access and use the RTD results and practical experiences. As third action, this science-policy interfacing of WFD related topics will be extended to non-EU countries taking into account their specific needs. An assessment of recent practices and needs of non-EU countries, together with an in-depth analysis of the operational needs in two Mediterranean pilot river basins, will allow to prepare recommendations for an efficient transfer of knowledge. Prime Contactor; Hydroscan NV; Leuven; Belgium.

FP6-POLICIES, Assessment of human health effects caused by bathing waters (EPIBATHE)

The scientific evidence base to support credible risk assessment for the design of appropriate microbial standards for bathing waters is insufficient. This is particularly true for Mediterranean waters, for new member states and for effects associated with exposure to toxic algal products. This is a pressing problem as Directive 76/160/EEC is currently in the process of amendment by the EU. It is therefore intended to address three questions, namely: a. What is the nature and level of the risk and how does exposure affect risk? b. What level of protection is afforded by the threshold values in Directive 76/160/EEC and CEC (2004)? c. How do the risks vary between fresh and marine waters and does the 1:2 ratio of the faecal indicator threshold values in coastal waters vs freshwaters ensure a comparable level of protection? In the first 12 months, this proposal will (i) complete a literature review and meta-analysis of current epidemiological data derived principally from UK and German studies, (ii) define data gaps restricting the application of credible health-evidence-based policy to bathing water standards outside these regions and (iii) design and agree a suitable research protocol for filling these data gaps. The second twelve months of research (from month 13 to 24) will (iv) implement this protocol and the project will deliver (v) a scientific report of the findings and detailed policy interpretation before the project end, i.e. 36 months following commencement. Prime Contractor: University Wales, University College Aberystwyth; Aberystwyth; Aberystwyth.

1 2 3