Interdisciplinary Environmental Review (5 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Review of chemical and bromatological characteristics of organic fraction of municipal solid waste for anaerobic digestion and calculating theoretical methane yield  
  by Tanmay Khambekar, Sandip Mali 
  Abstract: The percentage of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) varies in the range of 32% to 56% globally. Anaerobic digestion of OFMSW is used for volarisation and energy recovery. The characteristics of the OFMSW contribute to the process of anaerobic digestion. The study presents the chemical and bromatological characteristics of OFMSW reported by the researchers. The variation in the characteristics is discussed with respect to anaerobic digestion. The study concludes that the variation in the characteristics of OFMSW is the function of the constituents in it. The constituents forming OFMSW are related to the various factors including demography, geography and cultural habits of the area. The theoretical methane yield is calculated by elemental composition and bromatological characteristics and is found to vary in the range of 111.82 to 349.79 and 157.14 to 692.51 ml of CH4/g of VS respectively. The selection of pre-treatment method on the basis of the characteristics is also discussed.
  Keywords: municipal solid waste; characteristics; anaerobic digestion; methane yield.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10040583
   
  
• Adoption of Telecommuting and its Impact on Traffic Congestion, Energy Consumption and Emission levels in India  
  by Mohd Tariq Jamal, Nawab Ali Khan 
  Abstract: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of telecommuting on congestion, energy consumption, and greenhouse gases emission in India and empirically test it. After a comprehensive review of available literature, data was collected from 56 employees working as telecommuters through semi-structured, face-to-face and in-depth exploratory interviews. The study found that the adoption of telecommuting will lead to a reduction in congestions, energy consumption, and greenhouse gases emission in India; and it will also result in other societal benefits. The findings of this study suggest that telecommuting could be implemented as a tool to curb traffic congestions and its adverse effects on the environment and it can also be used as a transport demand management strategy in India. Telecommuting could also be used as a talent attraction and retention tool. It will also lead to a reduction in road accidents and boost traffic safety as well as women safety in India. The study contributes empirically to the existing scarce literature focusing on environmental as well as societal benefits of adopting telecommuting in India.
  Keywords: telecommuting; congestion; energy consumption; societal benefits; emissions; India.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10040748
   
  
• Environmental Kuznets curve for CO2 emissions  
  by Hind Lebdaoui, Maroua El Asri, Youssef Chetioui 
  Abstract: This paper empirically examines the relationships between CO2 emissions, energy consumption, inward foreign direct investment and economic growth in Morocco between 1970 and 2018. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is assessed, and the autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) bound and vector error correction method (VECM) are used to examine the posited relationships in an emerging market, where authorities give more importance to economic growth than environmental concerns. Our results suggest the existence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth. Furthermore, the VECM-based Granger causality illustrates the existence of a bi-directional causality between CO2 emissions and economic growth in the long-run, and a uni-directional causality from CO2 emissions to FDI in the short run. In spite of the gradual switch toward a green economy, further attention is to be directed to alternative sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower in order to maintain a sustainable growth.
  Keywords: ARDL model; carbon dioxide emission; economic growth; fossil energy consumption; inward FDI; emerging market.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10041078
   
  
• OPTIMIZING SPACE ALLOCATION FOR BLACKTIP REEF SHARK CONSERVATION IN PULAU PAYAR, MALAYSIA  
  by Zahayu Md Yusof, Masnita Misiran, Hasimah Sapiri, Syaza Azzimi, Nor Shafarah Sharizal, Farah Aqilah Anuar 
  Abstract: Malaysia is among the countries that are heavily exploiting sharks for its fins import activity and consumptions. A proposed countermeasure to combat this activity is by introducing a specific space for the breeding and conserving available sharks in one of the dedicated Marine Park in Pulau Payar. A space allocation problem in Pulau Payar for blacktip reef sharks is constructed together with its identified constraints. The findings suggest an optimal area of 1,000 metres in length and 500 metres in width is sufficient and can accommodate 291 numbers of blacktip reef sharks in this vicinity. This area’s security is hoped to educate and heighten people’s appreciation of the marine lives and their growing importance to be protected.
  Keywords: shark conservation; linear programming; optimisation; Malaysia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10041478
   
  
• Towards an Energy Efficiency Formula: A literature review  
  by PANAGIOTIS DIMITRAKOPOULOS, ILIAS MAKRIS 
  Abstract: Climate change is a global problem and the reduction of the greenhouse effect is of great importance for national policies worldwide with the aim of constraining CO2 emissions. Several joint projects have been launched, aiming to reduce deviations in the methodological evaluation of energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is considered to be a crucial issue of national energy policies in both developed and developing countries. We plan to divide the 27 EU countries (except England) in two categories: 1) in those with a High average contribution of industry to the GDP of the country; 2) in those with Low average contribution of industry to the GDP of the country. Our main scope is to develop a theoretical model that could be used in empirical analysis to strengthen the real economy while reducing CO2 emissions, fully aligned with current international conditions (2015 Paris Climate Agreement), to reduce the environmental footprint from total energy use.
  Keywords: energy indicators; formula assessment; energy policy.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10043049