Bernadette O’Regan

Assessment of total urban metabolism and metabolic inefficiency in an Irish city-region

This paper aims to measure product and waste flows in an Irish city-region using the principles of metabolism and mass balance. An empirical indicator to measure resource efficiency, using a ratio of waste disposal as a function of product consumption, was developed and it was found that total materials metabolic inefficiency fell by 31% from 0.13 in 1996 to 0.09 in 2002. The paper concludes by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of this indicator and its potential application in the field of sustainable consumption and resource efficiency as well as making suggestions to improve and strengthen the indicator.

Novel resource saving interventions: the case of modelling and storytelling

ABSTRACT Climate change communication to the Public is in general presented in a negative fashion and often depicts the resultant costs and impacts as distant. Its substantial gloom together with the less immediate consequences significantly weaken responses. Narratives and stories are potent arbiters of meaningful communication and are an important vehicle for communication in our information-rich lives. Importantly, they reduce jargon, gather and translate information, provide insight, reframe evidence and engage audiences. It has been argued by many observers that stories are potentially useful in driving change; presenting a way to value what is gone, expressing emotions, and helping us assert our determination to salvage something and work towards the future. This paper details the methods utilised by the authors to generate stories and case studies in a community in Ireland over a 4-year research period. The aim of the work was to identify and assess the salience and potency of storytelling – as part of a “co-creation” process – with regard to galvanising local action in the generation of sustainable models of lifestyle practice for residents. In this paper, co-creation includes the planning phase of co-design and the implementation phase of co-production. The demonstration of these sustainable lifestyle practices was a strong driver for the sustainable transition of this community supporting the reduction of its ecological footprint by 28% over 4 years, evidence of which is highlighted in this paper.

Modelling the effect of information feedback on the spread of the Ebola virus

Describes the application of the tools and techniques of the system dynamics method to the complex problem of understanding the spread of the Ebola virus. The main deliverable of this research is a computer simulation model in the system dynamics tradition. The essence of system dynamics is to act as a framework for formalising mental models of a problem. In this respect, the system dynamics simulation model presented here is a theory describing the structure of, and interrelationships between, the factors which impact on an outbreak of the Ebola virus and the attempts to contain it. The model, comprising 57 interrelated variables, is structured to represent a group of rural villages served by one local hospital, remote from regional and national medical laboratories. Such a structure typifies the circumstances of recent Ebola outbreaks in central Africa.

Development of the Green-Campus Programme in Ireland: Ensuring Continuity of Environmental Education and Action for Sustainable Development Throughout the Irish Education System

Ensuring education for sustainable development (ESD) programmes deliver meaningful action within society presents significant challenges including systemic integration, consistency of methods, and safeguarding relevance and quality. The Eco-Schools Programme, intended initially as an international environmental educational initiative, has developed, through thematic implementation processes and extensive collaboration with governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to embrace both environmental education and ESD. Eco-Schools evolved from the Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas and is coordinated at an international level by the Foundation for Environmental Education. The Programme has operated in Ireland since 1997 with over 93 % of all primary and second level schools currently participating. Students from Eco-Schools progressing further through the education system demanded ESD action on reaching university leading to the development of the Green-Campus Programme (GCP). All Irish Universities and more than half of Institutes of Technology are involved to some extent in the programme with many awarded Green-Campus status, meaning these sites engaged with the GCP, committed to continual improvement and self-elected for verification through detailed assessment processes. The GCP was successfully implemented in Cork University Hospital, Ireland’s largest teaching hospital and has formed strategic partnerships and action platforms with governmental agencies, supporting NGOs and relevant policy initiatives. The evolution and development of the GCP in Ireland was mainly an organic process, however, evaluation of this case study reveals a flexible, dynamic framework which international policy makers and NGOs can imitate in order to champion enduring ESD programmes that are responsive as well as responsible.

System dynamics modelling: a more effective tool for assessing the impact of sustainable development policies on the mining industry

Abstract The high mobility of mining investment is frequently cited in the literature. Consequently, the concept of relative attractiveness is particularly important. This paper describes a detailed computer simulation ‘feedback’ model. The model provides a means of examining the effects of varied environmental, fiscal and corporate policies on the flow of investment funds and mineral resources between a number of simulated mining firms and competing countries. Through a quantitative analysis of existing data, the model exposes, within the context of sustainable development, the underlying assumptions used as a basis for corporate decisions. Through the compression of time, the model provides a means of taking these assumptions to their logical conclusions. Exposing assumptions in this way leaves less room for misinterpretation and provides a solid basis for enhancing the understanding of system structure. It is by better understanding system structure that more effective sustainable development policies may be designed and implemented. An outline of the system dynamics method is also presented.

Investment Decisions of International Mining Firms: Policy Approaches

The tools and techniques of system dynamics method are applied to the complex problem of understanding those factors that affect the flow of international mineral investment funds. The main deliverable is a simulation model developed in Powersim in the system dynamics tradition. The model, comprising more than 180 variables, provides a means of examining the effectiveness of varied environmental, fiscal, and corporate policies on the flow of investment funds and mineral resources among a number of simulated mining firms and competing countries.