Suchergebnisse

One of major sectors of economy is energy production, at the same time a source of major waste streams with significant impact on the environment and especially climate. The aim of the study is to analyse the energy sector in Latvia in relation to best international practice from perspective of environmental and climate policy. Historically in Latvia a significant part of the energy production take place using renewable resources: at first hydropower plants as well as biomass – wood and the impact of the environmental policy on energy production was low, considering institutional barriers as well as "green" energy production pattern. Political parties and stakeholders did have major influence on energy policy and in case of Latvia also a wish to achieve energy independence dominated. A significant factor influencing activities in energy production sector for long time was reliance on cheap energy carriers (gas, oil, coal) imported from Russia, fully covering national needs especially during period of transition from centrally planned economy to free market economy (1990 – 1995) with a later integration in European energy system. Conflicting interests of major stakeholders and actors, failures of several initiatives and lack of ambitions, significantly influenced progress of energy production system in Latvia during last 20 years and environmental aspects, especially impacts on climate largely was neglected. Climate change problems, Green Deal now is putting a major pressure to achieve ambitious targets of climate neutrality and achieve significant changes in energy policy, considering environmental aspects. Possible development scenarios and challenges are discussed and suggestions are made in respect to possible changes in energy sector of Latvia, considering recent trends. ; One of major sectors of economy is energy production, at the same time a source of major waste streams with significant impact on the environment and especially climate. The aim of the study is to analyse the energy sector in Latvia in relation to best international practice from perspective of environmental and climate policy. Historically in Latvia a significant part of the energy production take place using renewable resources: at first hydropower plants as well as biomass – wood and the impact of the environmental policy on energy production was low, considering institutional barriers as well as "green" energy production pattern. Political parties and stakeholders did have major influence on energy policy and in case of Latvia also a wish to achieve energy independence dominated. A significant factor influencing activities in energy production sector for long time was reliance on cheap energy carriers (gas, oil, coal) imported from Russia, fully covering national needs especially during period of transition from centrally planned economy to free market economy (1990 – 1995) with a later integration in European energy system. Conflicting interests of major stakeholders and actors, failures of several initiatives and lack of ambitions, significantly influenced progress of energy production system in Latvia during last 20 years and environmental aspects, especially impacts on climate largely was neglected. Climate change problems, Green Deal now is putting a major pressure to achieve ambitious targets of climate neutrality and achieve significant changes in energy policy, considering environmental aspects. Possible development scenarios and challenges are discussed and suggestions are made in respect to possible changes in energy sector of Latvia, considering recent trends.

"Recognizing climate change as a highly complicated and basically unstructured problem, the purpose of this paper is to suggest a theoretical frame supplemented with practical elements for adaptation to climate change policy design in the context of the requirements of sustainable development normative principles and criteria. The paper attempts to break the business-as-usual approach to policy design and decision-making practice concerning complicated and unstructured problems. The first recommendation for achieving that purpose is the application of a systemic and analytical approach to the elaboration process of adaptation policy, required by the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and reflecting the systemic nature of climate systems and climate change. The second recommendation touches on sustainable development principles, as well as appropriate criteria to be taken into account when proceeding from one policy cycle stage to another. Analysis of experiences from international and Latvian climate change and adaptation policy led to the conclusion of the necessity for a more systemic approach to exploring and managing the risks and benefits related to climate change. It also concluded that an adequate database should be established for assessing socio-economic effects and improving the system of forecast models, including systems related to natural ecosystems and human welfare. Addressing adaptation to climate change from the social dimension and emphasizing the national (state) level as the foundation for resolving the issue in a systemic way (minimizing risks and maximizing benefits), the paper suggests a new approach for practical analysis and preparation of a set of policies employing cause and effect cognition." (author's abstract)

The wastewater sector is currently facing many challenges related to the implementation of the circular economy model, which is the European Union's political priority. The wastewater sector is an important element in a circular economy, especially thinking about the recovery of raw material, phosphorus. This study presents a brief overview of the wastewater management system in Latvia indicating success stories and challenges to determine the level of transformation towards the circular economy model in the wastewater sector. One of the main challenges is sludge management, which is strongly bound to the recovery of the valuable element, phosphorus. Currently, there is in the development stage Circular Economy Strategy for Latvia, which includes the importance of new recycling technologies, improved waste processing, and reduction, and it prioritizes the closed material cycle. However, no specific actions are determined to recover phosphorus from wastewater flow. In Latvia treated sewage sludge, which is one of the main sources of phosphorus, is mainly in temporary storage, or is used in agricultural applications, composting, greening, and recultivation of degraded areas. This kind of application is not only ineffective but also can cause environmental problems such as eutrophication in surface waters. In this study also success stories were determined, and necessary actions were identified that should be taken mainly by the government and could positively influence transformation towards the circular economy model in Latvia. ; The wastewater sector is currently facing many challenges related to the implementation of the circular economy model, which is the European Union's political priority. The wastewater sector is an important element in a circular economy, especially thinking about the recovery of raw material, phosphorus. This study presents a brief overview of the wastewater management system in Latvia indicating success stories and challenges to determine the level of transformation towards the circular economy model in the wastewater sector. One of the main challenges is sludge management, which is strongly bound to the recovery of the valuable element, phosphorus. Currently, there is in the development stage Circular Economy Strategy for Latvia, which includes the importance of new recycling technologies, improved waste processing, and reduction, and it prioritizes the closed material cycle. However, no specific actions are determined to recover phosphorus from wastewater flow. In Latvia treated sewage sludge, which is one of the main sources of phosphorus, is mainly in temporary storage, or is used in agricultural applications, composting, greening, and recultivation of degraded areas. This kind of application is not only ineffective but also can cause environmental problems such as eutrophication in surface waters. In this study also success stories were determined, and necessary actions were identified that should be taken mainly by the government and could positively influence transformation towards the circular economy model in Latvia.

Phosphate rock and phosphorus are listed by the European Union as the critical raw materials due to the risks of their shortage of supply and the impacts of a shortage on the economy are greater than those of most other raw materials. Although, high concentration of P in surface waters is the leading cause of eutrophication, which is a serious environmental problem in many countries of the world. Eutrophication of both freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems leads to a decrease in oxygen concentration and increases the abundance of toxic algae and aquatic plants. Discharge of untreated or semi-treated wastewater into the environment is one of the main causes of eutrophication; therefore, it is necessary to use effective wastewater treatment methods. One of the possibilities for the removal of P from wastewater is the use of biomaterial sorbents modified by iron oxohydroxide, which is an alternative to traditional wastewater treatment methods. As a prospective solution for P removal from wastewaters peat and other biomaterials has been suggested and tested. The obtained sorbents characterize high sorption capacities, fast sorption and relatively high sorbent saturation capacities and possibilities to run sorption process both in static and dynamic conditions. The results showed that P can be efficiently removed from wastewater by modified biomaterial sorbents; furthermore, after the purification process sorbents saturated with P can be recycled and used as fertilizers in agriculture. The saturated sorbents can be composted and transformed to a high value fertilizer considering significant amounts of phosphorus as well as presence of iron and nitrogen compounds. Further tests using domestic wastewaters were done and the presence of metals as well as toxicity of the sorbents were tested, proving application prospects. Thus biomaterial based sorbents can be a feasible approach for phosphorus removal from wastewaters and return of nutrient for agricultural applications as well as reduction of phosphorus load to waters. This work was funded by the project "Sustainable Management of Phosphorus in Baltic countries" (InPhos) No. 17022 (2018-2019), that is financed by the EIT Raw Materials. ; Phosphate rock and phosphorus are listed by the European Union as the critical raw materials due to the risks of their shortage of supply and the impacts of a shortage on the economy are greater than those of most other raw materials. Although, high concentration of P in surface waters is the leading cause of eutrophication, which is a serious environmental problem in many countries of the world. Eutrophication of both freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems leads to a decrease in oxygen concentration and increases the abundance of toxic algae and aquatic plants. Discharge of untreated or semi-treated wastewater into the environment is one of the main causes of eutrophication; therefore, it is necessary to use effective wastewater treatment methods. One of the possibilities for the removal of P from wastewater is the use of biomaterial sorbents modified by iron oxohydroxide, which is an alternative to traditional wastewater treatment methods. As a prospective solution for P removal from wastewaters peat and other biomaterials has been suggested and tested. The obtained sorbents characterize high sorption capacities, fast sorption and relatively high sorbent saturation capacities and possibilities to run sorption process both in static and dynamic conditions. The results showed that P can be efficiently removed from wastewater by modified biomaterial sorbents; furthermore, after the purification process sorbents saturated with P can be recycled and used as fertilizers in agriculture. The saturated sorbents can be composted and transformed to a high value fertilizer considering significant amounts of phosphorus as well as presence of iron and nitrogen compounds. Further tests using domestic wastewaters were done and the presence of metals as well as toxicity of the sorbents were tested, proving application prospects. Thus biomaterial based sorbents can be a feasible approach for phosphorus removal from wastewaters and return of nutrient for agricultural applications as well as reduction of phosphorus load to waters. This work was funded by the project "Sustainable Management of Phosphorus in Baltic countries" (InPhos) No. 17022 (2018-2019), that is financed by the EIT Raw Materials.

Contamination with lead in soil is a crucial problemin industrial and military sites. Immobilization of lead by naturaland modified clay as soil amendment can be an effective solutionto this problem. Quaternary and Devonian clays were chosen formodification with NaCl, CaCl2, FeOOH and Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 indifferent proportions of Ca/P equimolar ratio to test andcompare immobilization efficiency of lead (II) on raw andmodified clays by using a batch leaching test. The aim of thestudy is to compare different types of raw and modified clays assoil amendments by lead immobilization properties.

Circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended. Unlike the traditional linear economic model based on a 'take-make-consume-throw away' pattern, a circular economy is based on the notion that all wastes can be considered as valuable resources in an almost closed loop, where products and the materials they contain are highly valued. In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. Examination of the current knowledge and performance on resource efficiency and circular economy of industrial enterprises in companies in the Baltic Sea Region–in Finland, Sweden, Latvia and St. Petersburg Region, Russia – was in focus in the two parallel twinning international projects «ERREC 2.0» (Environmental Responsibility and Resource Efficiency) and «LARELICE-P» (Preparing Learning about Resource Efficiency Leading into Circular Economy), realized in 2017–2018. The projects received funding from the Intereg Baltic Sea Region program of the European Union and the Swedish Institute, respectively. Project partners included five universities: Aalto University (Finland), Lahti University of Applied Sciences (Finland), University of Gävle (Sweden), University of Latvia, Riga and ITMO University (Russia). The main overall objective of the projects was to increase the level of education among young and elderly people to guarantee skilled work force with a relevant level of awareness in the area of resource efficiency leading to a circular economy. The specific objectives of the projects included there cognition of new technologies, innovations and joint activity models to support skills development in circular economy and resource efficiency in participating regions between companies and higher education institutions (HEIs).Cooperation with businesses will provide the HEIs in the Baltic Sea Region with resource efficiency related research topics corresponding to their industry. In the future projects, these topics will be worked on using different methods to bring together students, companies and university staff to investigate companies' activities and possibilities to make them more resource and environmentally efficient and also economically more competitive. To evaluate the current knowledge and performance on resource efficiency and circular economy, a survey was distributed to51companies in the project partner countries. In addition, the survey aimed to find out the companies' experiences and willingness to engage in university-industry collaboration. In the survey, about 78% of the respondents chose sustainability in general (including concepts such as social/environmental/economic sustainability, corporate social responsibility, fair trade etc.) as the most important concepts leading to circular economy. These were followed by the resource efficiency concept: (waste minimization, energy efficiency, material efficiency etc.) with 76% of the responses. The results will promote the sharing of knowledge between universities and companies, offer valuable information on the competences needed in working life, and may lead to new cooperation between Baltic, Nordic and Russian companies and universities. ; Peer reviewed

The European Union is currently in the process of transformation toward a circular economy model in which different areas of activity should be integrated for more efficient management of raw materials and waste. The wastewater sector has a great potential in this regard and therefore is an important element of the transformation process to the circular economy model. The targets of the circular economy policy framework such as resource recovery are tightly connected with the wastewater treatment processes and sewage sludge management. With this in view, the present study aims to review existing indicators on resource recovery that can enable efficient monitoring of the sustainable and circular solutions implemented in the wastewater sector. Within the reviewed indicators, most of them were focused on technological aspects of resource recovery processes such as nutrient removal efficiency, sewage sludge processing methods and environmental aspects as the pollutant share in the sewage sludge or its ashes. Moreover, other wide-scope indicators such as the wastewater service coverage or the production of bio-based fertilizers and hydrochar within the wastewater sector were analyzed. The results were used for the development of recommendations for improving the resources recovery monitoring framework in the wastewater sector and a proposal of a circularity indicator for a wastewater treatment plant highlighting new challenges for further researches and wastewater professionals. ; Post-print / Final draft

For the next century to come, one of the biggest challenges is to provide the mankind with relevant and sufficient resources. Recovery of secondary resources plays a significant role. Industrial processes developed to regain minerals for commodity production in a circular economy become ever more important in the European Union and worldwide. Landfill mining (LFM) constitutes an important technological toolset of processes that regain resources and redistribute them with an accompanying reduction of hazardous influence of environmental contamination and other threats for human health hidden in former dump sites and landfills. This review paper is devoted to LFM problems, historical development and driving paradigms of LFM from 'classical hunting for valuables' to 'perspective in ecosystem revitalization'. The main goal is to provide a description of historical experience and link it to more advanced concept of a circular economy. The challenge is to adapt the existing knowledge to make decisions in accordance with both, economic feasibility and ecosystems revitalization aspects. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Despite the significant reduction of phosphorus (P) discharge in the Baltic Sea in the last decades, obtained through the implementation of some approaches within the Helsinki Convention, eutrophication is still considered the biggest problem for the Baltic Sea environment. Consequently, the reduction of P load is an urgent need to solve, but the complexity of both the environmental and legislative context of the area makes this process difficult (more than in the past). Eutrophication is an intricate issue requiring a proper framework of governance that is not easy to determine in the Baltic Sea Region where the needs of several different countries converge. To identify the most suitable strategy to reduce the eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, the InPhos project (no. 17022, 2018–2019, funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Raw Materials) adopted a holistic approach considering technical, political, economic, environmental and social aspects of P management. With the aims to raise awareness about the P challenge, foster the dialogue among all the stakeholders, and find solutions already developed in other countries (such as Germany and Switzerland) to be transferred in the Baltic Sea Region, the InPhos project consortium applied the methodology proposed in this paper, consisting of three main phases: (i) analysis of the available technologies to remove P from waste streams that contribute to eutrophication; (ii) analysis of the main streams involving P in Baltic Sea countries to highlight the potential of more sustainable and circular P management; (iii) study of the current context (e.g., already-existing initiatives and issues). This approach allowed us to identify four categories of recommendations and practical actions proposed to improve P management in the Baltic Sea region. During the project, the consortium mainly addressed social aspects. Following steps beyond the project will be more quantitative to determine the techno-economic feasibility of circular P management in selected demo cases in the region.

Despite the significant reduction of phosphorus (P) discharge in the Baltic Sea in the last decades, obtained through the implementation of some approaches within the Helsinki Convention, eutrophication is still considered the biggest problem for the Baltic Sea environment. Consequently, the reduction of P load is an urgent need to solve, but the complexity of both the environmental and legislative context of the area makes this process difficult (more than in the past). Eutrophication is an intricate issue requiring a proper framework of governance that is not easy to determine in the Baltic Sea Region where the needs of several different countries converge. To identify the most suitable strategy to reduce the eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, the InPhos project (no. 17022, 2018–2019, funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Raw Materials) adopted a holistic approach considering technical, political, economic, environmental and social aspects of P management. With the aims to raise awareness about the P challenge, foster the dialogue among all the stakeholders, and find solutions already developed in other countries (such as Germany and Switzerland) to be transferred in the Baltic Sea Region, the InPhos project consortium applied the methodology proposed in this paper, consisting of three main phases: (i) analysis of the available technologies to remove P from waste streams that contribute to eutrophication; (ii) analysis of the main streams involving P in Baltic Sea countries to highlight the potential of more sustainable and circular P management; (iii) study of the current context (e.g., already-existing initiatives and issues). This approach allowed us to identify four categories of recommendations and practical actions proposed to improve P management in the Baltic Sea region. During the project, the consortium mainly addressed social aspects. Following steps beyond the project will be more quantitative to determine the techno-economic feasibility of circular P management in selected demo cases in the region.

Despite the significant reduction of phosphorus (P) discharge in the Baltic Sea in the last decades, obtained through the implementation of some approaches within the Helsinki Convention, eutrophication is still considered the biggest problem for the Baltic Sea environment. Consequently, the reduction of P load is an urgent need to solve, but the complexity of both the environmental and legislative context of the area makes this process difficult (more than in the past). Eutrophication is an intricate issue requiring a proper framework of governance that is not easy to determine in the Baltic Sea Region where the needs of several different countries converge. To identify the most suitable strategy to reduce the eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, the InPhos project (no. 17022, 2018–2019, funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Raw Materials) adopted a holistic approach considering technical, political, economic, environmental and social aspects of P management. With the aims to raise awareness about the P challenge, foster the dialogue among all the stakeholders, and find solutions already developed in other countries (such as Germany and Switzerland) to be transferred in the Baltic Sea Region, the InPhos project consortium applied the methodology proposed in this paper, consisting of three main phases: (i) analysis of the available technologies to remove P from waste streams that contribute to eutrophication; (ii) analysis of the main streams involving P in Baltic Sea countries to highlight the potential of more sustainable and circular P management; (iii) study of the current context (e.g., already-existing initiatives and issues). This approach allowed us to identify four categories of recommendations and practical actions proposed to improve P management in the Baltic Sea region. During the project, the consortium mainly addressed social aspects. Following steps beyond the project will be more quantitative to determine the techno-economic feasibility of circular P management in selected demo cases in the region.

Despite the significant reduction of phosphorus (P) discharge in the Baltic Sea in the last decades, obtained through the implementation of some approaches within the Helsinki Convention, eutrophication is still considered the biggest problem for the Baltic Sea environment. Consequently, the reduction of P load is an urgent need to solve, but the complexity of both the environmental and legislative context of the area makes this process difficult (more than in the past). Eutrophication is an intricate issue requiring a proper framework of governance that is not easy to determine in the Baltic Sea Region where the needs of several different countries converge. To identify the most suitable strategy to reduce the eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, the InPhos project (no. 17022, 2018–2019, funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Raw Materials) adopted a holistic approach considering technical, political, economic, environmental and social aspects of P management. With the aims to raise awareness about the P challenge, foster the dialogue among all the stakeholders, and find solutions already developed in other countries (such as Germany and Switzerland) to be transferred in the Baltic Sea Region, the InPhos project consortium applied the methodology proposed in this paper, consisting of three main phases: (i) analysis of the available technologies to remove P from waste streams that contribute to eutrophication; (ii) analysis of the main streams involving P in Baltic Sea countries to highlight the potential of more sustainable and circular P management; (iii) study of the current context (e.g., already-existing initiatives and issues). This approach allowed us to identify four categories of recommendations and practical actions proposed to improve P management in the Baltic Sea region. During the project, the consortium mainly addressed social aspects. Following steps beyond the project will be more quantitative to determine the techno-economic feasibility of circular P management in selected demo cases in the region.