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Final conference of COST 356 – EST“Towards the definition of a measurable environmentally
sustainable transport”
WHAT TO MEASURE WITH INDICATORS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF
TRANSPORT
Prof. Gerassimos [email protected]
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Is the environment under threat?
Transport can have a negative effect on:
• The non-biotic parts of the environment (air, soil, water…), including human monuments/dwellings
• The biotic parts of the environment (humans, fauna, flora, microbes…)
• The interactions between biotic and non-biotic (biological functions, ecosystem services…)
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
We need to measure in an accurate way the negatif effects of transport on the environment
This is a complicate task, because we must evaluate:
• All possible effects on the elements of interest
• The degree of exposure of these elements to the threats due to transport
• The uncertainty of methodology used
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
What needs to be done?
Risk assessment principle
IER = Impact = ?
Exposure
Compare IER < > = Uncertainty
If IER > = Uncertainty (low risk)
If IER < Uncertainty (high risk and consider further)
• Through the use of DPSIR-approach
• On Cost 356 we focus on the “Impacts”
• We also need to consider “Pressures” and “State”
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
How can we do this?
Pathology, Immunodeficiencyand Physiological Disturbance
Population Decline,Loss of Biodiversity,Habitat Destruction
EcosystemPollutant or Stressor
Molecular& Cellular
Tissue Organs IndividualAnimal
Long TermShort Term
Uncertainty
Biological Complexity, Time
Ecological Significance
Impacts at what level ? Impacts at what level ? Impacts at what level ? Impacts at what level ?
Why it is important?
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
With the measurement of the Impacts (often taking into account the Pressures and the State of the environment) and the application of different alternatives or countermeasures (as Responses),
we help to protect and/or to improve not only the environment but also broader sustainability and human welfare
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
COST 356, Final Conference and Final MC Meeting Paris, 15-16 March , 2010
COST 356, Final Conference and Final MC Meeting Paris, 15-16 March , 2010 Typology of the targets of the impacts on the
environmentTargets Pseudo-target
Nature
Resources
Earth:
Covers all the targets: the three previous targets
(ecosystems, humans and man
made heritage) and physical
environments such as the atmosphere
and the oceans
Ecosystems:
Nature understood as ecosystems, i.e. the association between a
physicochemical and abiotic (the biotope) environment and a living community characteristic of the
latter (the biocenosis)
Humans:
Humankind which we extract from nature and focus on its health as
defined by the WHO
Human health:
In a restricted meaning
Human well-being
Man-made heritage:
With a distinction is made between common and historic buildings
• A clear distinction has to be made between impacts, on the one hand, and indicators on the other hand
• Impacts are criteria to be considered
• An environmental impact indicator is a variable based on measurements, representing an impact of human activity on the environment, as accurately as possible and necessary
• Therefore an indicator is the tool for measuring an impact
The tool “environmental impact indicators”
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
The concept of chain of causalities
• The aim was to use a systemic approach to environmental issues, encompassing all the environmental impacts and all the potential objectives of an environmental policy
• In order to do this, the “pressure-state-impact” structure has been enlarged to the concept of chain of causalities
• 49 chains are distinguished when taking into account differentiation in the last steps of the process corresponding to the different final targets (nature, humans, man made heritage, earth)
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Hierarchy of the chains of causalities
• Noise and vibrations • Accidents • Air pollution• Soil and water pollution • Impacts on land• Non-renewable resource use and
waste handling • Greenhouse effect• Other impacts
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Noise and vibrations
• Disappearance of quiet areas
• Annoyance and sleep disturbance to people
• Effects on human health of noise
• Noise and wildlife
• Vibrations
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Accidents
• Effect of traffic accidents on human health
• Animal collision: Animal fatalities
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Air pollution (1)Sensitive air pollution
• Odours
• Soiling
• Visibility
Direct toxicity of air pollutants
• Direct restricted effects on human health
• Direct ecotoxicity on fauna and flora
Photochemical pollution
• Health effects of photochemical pollution
• Loss of crop productivity due to photochemical pollution
• Ecotoxicity on fauna and flora
• Loss of cultural heritage
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Air pollution (2)
Acidification
• Decrease of ecosystem health, loss of biodiversity
• Deterioration of historical buildings and other cultural assets
• Eutrophication
• Dimming
Ozone depletion
• Health effects of stratospheric ozone depletion
• Ecotoxicity on fauna and flora
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Soil and water pollution – Hydrolic risks
Pollution of soil, surface waters, groundwater and seas
• Effects on ecosystem health of pollution
• Health effects of pollution
• Recreational areas forbidden due to the pollution
Hydraulic changes and risks
• Hydraulic changes
• Hydraulic risk
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Impacts on land and habitats
Land take
• Loss of natural habitats due to land take
• Degradation of ecosystems due to land take
• Modification of outdoor recreation areas, due to land take
• Loss of cultural heritage due to land take
Habitat fragmentation
• Loss of ecosystem health, loss of biodiversity, due to habitat fragmentation
• Reduction of living areas of people, due to fragmentation
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Soil-Landscape degradation
• Soil erosion
• Visual qualities of landscape / townscape
Non-renewable resource use and waste handling
• Non-renewable resource use
• Non-recyclable waste
• Direct waste from vehicles
Climate change• Greenhouse effect
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Other impacts
Electromagnetic - light pollution
• Health effects of electromagnetic pollution
• Effects on ecosystem health of electromagnetic pollution
• Light pollution
Hazards
• Introduction of invasive alien species
• Introduction of illnesses
• Fire risk
• Technological hazards
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Agregation of chains of causalities
Due to the complexity, agregation is needed
Various ways of agregation are possible:
• Hierarchy of chains
• Top – down description of environmental pilar of sustainability (resources use, quality of life, present and future generations)
• Geographical scale (local, global) and time scale (short / long-term)
• Reversible – ireversible character
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Example chains and indicators
• Direct toxicity of air pollutants Natural habitat fragmentation
• Non-renewable resource Use Loss of cultural heritage due to land take Noise – annoyance to humans Greenhouse effect
• Waste
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Conclusions
• The most important environmental impacts are taken into account
• Various indicators have being evaluated and/or created trough the example chains of causalities
• The concept of chains of causalities is a useful methodology and gives us new tools in order to evaluate the impacts of transport on the natural environment, on humans (heath and well being), on man made heritage and more globaly on the climate change of the Earth
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Final Conference of COST Action 356-EST Paris, 15 March 2010
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Agricultural University of Athens, Greece