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Papers by Mariarosaria Lombardi
Social Science Research Network, 2023
Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, create... more Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, created in 1992 and currently directed by Professor Erik Jones, aims to develop inter-disciplinary and comparative research on the major issues facing the process of European integration, European societies and Europe's place in 21st century global politics. The Centre is home to a large post-doctoral programme and hosts major research programmes, projects and data sets, in addition to a range of working groups and ad hoc initiatives. The research agenda is organised around a set of core themes and is continuously evolving, reflecting the changing agenda of European integration, the expanding membership of the European Union, developments in Europe's neighbourhood and the wider world.
In the last decade, the renewed interest in the natural fibres gave rise to a debate about their ... more In the last decade, the renewed interest in the natural fibres gave rise to a debate about their inadequacy for industrial purposes. To be competitive with non-renewable resources, it is necessary to define an internationally recognised grading and quality system, to put the natural fibres on trial. At present, several studies were carried out to satisfy the qualitative requirements of automotive sector, the most important market in the stem or bast fibres use. This paper aims to summarize the results obtained by some international researches on hemp (one of the principal bast fibre plant) to complete the analysis of its niechanical properties, for the purposes of the automotive industry.
European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings, 2012
The awareness of climate change and an evolving energy market lead us to look for urgent solution... more The awareness of climate change and an evolving energy market lead us to look for urgent solutions. This challenge is both interesting and indispensable, considering the commitments of the European Directives n. 28 and 29 of 2009 concerning the promotion of renewable energy and GHG reduction by 2020 respectively. In this context, the use of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is interesting in the agro-zootechnical sector and could play an important role in the 'green economy' as it may represent a key technology to minimize environmental impact and produce renewable energy. This paper intends to assess, using literature reviews, the overall environmental impact of biogas production system, which themselves depend on many factors. The use of AD reduces greenhouse gases, through the CO2 decrease, from the fuel replacement by generated biogas, from the avoided CH4 emissions, from animal effluent storage, N2O emissions from soil application of zootechnical waste and improved plant availability of the nitrogen in the manure. However, it is also necessary to identify and determine what mitigation measures (Best Available Techniques-BAT) should be provided to minimize potentially adverse impacts.
Journal of Cleaner Production, May 1, 2021
Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Jul 1, 2023
Sustainability, Apr 22, 2021
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Energy Policy, 2019
Social acceptance is a relevant determinant of the development of agro-energy systems because its... more Social acceptance is a relevant determinant of the development of agro-energy systems because its absence can cause delays or even the abandonment of innovative projects. This paper aims at an ex ante assessment of the socio-political acceptance of small-scale agro-energy systems in rural areas located in southern Italy, according to the bioenergy village approach. Starting from a theoretical model, we investigated the key factors influencing the perception of the risks and benefits of the realization of a biomass combustion plant, by a statistical survey on a sample of 152 members of the local community living in eight municipalities located in a rural area. Through exploratory and confirmatory statistical analyses, we identified two key factors: (a) the economic, environmental, and social benefits for the community and (b) reassurance from the energy company management. This research shows that it is very important to consider these elements in order to facilitate dialogue and the debate within the local community. In this way, the involved actors will be enabled to express their expectations to decision makers and policymakers, thus contributing to the steering of the project. In other words, community involvement and the democracy of the energy policy processes are favoured.
Environmental footprints and eco-design of products and processes, 2021
Sustainability, Feb 11, 2021
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Energy Policy, Jun 1, 2016
The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is an initiative of the European Commission started in 2008 with the... more The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is an initiative of the European Commission started in 2008 with the aim of involving cities more in the implementation of the 20-20-20 climate-energy package. To this end, a variety of tools to assist the realization of such a policy has been built. The European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) program of the European Investment Bank (EIB) is one of the most relevant. In this work, we observe some data on the Italian participation in the CoM and ELENA program, while highlighting the role the Energy Service Companies have in these contexts. By referring to the specific experience of the Province of Foggia (an intermediary government body in southern Italy), we also discuss how some recent changes in the Italian legislation, aimed at abolishing the provinces (considered as preferred supporting structure of the CoM), imposed the identification of another supraterritorial entity. This is to substitute the Province of Foggia as coordinator in the dialog between the local territory and the European Union institutions on the climate-energy theme. In this sense, the choice of the Chamber of Commerce represents a novelty. With regard to this, some considerations on the appropriateness of this choice are developed.
Transitioning to Affordable and Clean Energy
Edwin C. Constable was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Hastings. He studied chemistry at Oxford,... more Edwin C. Constable was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Hastings. He studied chemistry at Oxford, where he gained a B.A. and D.Phil. He moved to the University of Cambridge before being appointed to a University Lectureship and Fellowship of Robinson College in 1984. He remained at Cambridge until 1993 when he was appointed Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Basel. In 2000 he took up a position as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham (England) where he was appointed Head of School. He returned to the University of Basel as Professor of Chemistry in 2002. He publishes in all areas of chemistry with over 650 peer-reviewed publications and is highly cited (22,000 citations, h-index 74). His interests cover all aspects of chemistry, chemical history and the communication of science. He is Editor-in-Chief for a new open access journal Chemistry. He has held an ERC Advanced Grant and has been Research Dean and Vice-President of the University of Basel. He is currently Chairman of the Swiss Academies Expert Group on Research Integrity and President of Euresearch. When he is not being a chemist, he is to be found chasing insects and pursuing his love of photography.
Journal of Cleaner Production
Social Science Research Network, 2023
Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, create... more Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, created in 1992 and currently directed by Professor Erik Jones, aims to develop inter-disciplinary and comparative research on the major issues facing the process of European integration, European societies and Europe's place in 21st century global politics. The Centre is home to a large post-doctoral programme and hosts major research programmes, projects and data sets, in addition to a range of working groups and ad hoc initiatives. The research agenda is organised around a set of core themes and is continuously evolving, reflecting the changing agenda of European integration, the expanding membership of the European Union, developments in Europe's neighbourhood and the wider world.
In the last decade, the renewed interest in the natural fibres gave rise to a debate about their ... more In the last decade, the renewed interest in the natural fibres gave rise to a debate about their inadequacy for industrial purposes. To be competitive with non-renewable resources, it is necessary to define an internationally recognised grading and quality system, to put the natural fibres on trial. At present, several studies were carried out to satisfy the qualitative requirements of automotive sector, the most important market in the stem or bast fibres use. This paper aims to summarize the results obtained by some international researches on hemp (one of the principal bast fibre plant) to complete the analysis of its niechanical properties, for the purposes of the automotive industry.
European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings, 2012
The awareness of climate change and an evolving energy market lead us to look for urgent solution... more The awareness of climate change and an evolving energy market lead us to look for urgent solutions. This challenge is both interesting and indispensable, considering the commitments of the European Directives n. 28 and 29 of 2009 concerning the promotion of renewable energy and GHG reduction by 2020 respectively. In this context, the use of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is interesting in the agro-zootechnical sector and could play an important role in the 'green economy' as it may represent a key technology to minimize environmental impact and produce renewable energy. This paper intends to assess, using literature reviews, the overall environmental impact of biogas production system, which themselves depend on many factors. The use of AD reduces greenhouse gases, through the CO2 decrease, from the fuel replacement by generated biogas, from the avoided CH4 emissions, from animal effluent storage, N2O emissions from soil application of zootechnical waste and improved plant availability of the nitrogen in the manure. However, it is also necessary to identify and determine what mitigation measures (Best Available Techniques-BAT) should be provided to minimize potentially adverse impacts.
Journal of Cleaner Production, May 1, 2021
Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Jul 1, 2023
Sustainability, Apr 22, 2021
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Energy Policy, 2019
Social acceptance is a relevant determinant of the development of agro-energy systems because its... more Social acceptance is a relevant determinant of the development of agro-energy systems because its absence can cause delays or even the abandonment of innovative projects. This paper aims at an ex ante assessment of the socio-political acceptance of small-scale agro-energy systems in rural areas located in southern Italy, according to the bioenergy village approach. Starting from a theoretical model, we investigated the key factors influencing the perception of the risks and benefits of the realization of a biomass combustion plant, by a statistical survey on a sample of 152 members of the local community living in eight municipalities located in a rural area. Through exploratory and confirmatory statistical analyses, we identified two key factors: (a) the economic, environmental, and social benefits for the community and (b) reassurance from the energy company management. This research shows that it is very important to consider these elements in order to facilitate dialogue and the debate within the local community. In this way, the involved actors will be enabled to express their expectations to decision makers and policymakers, thus contributing to the steering of the project. In other words, community involvement and the democracy of the energy policy processes are favoured.
Environmental footprints and eco-design of products and processes, 2021
Sustainability, Feb 11, 2021
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Energy Policy, Jun 1, 2016
The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is an initiative of the European Commission started in 2008 with the... more The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is an initiative of the European Commission started in 2008 with the aim of involving cities more in the implementation of the 20-20-20 climate-energy package. To this end, a variety of tools to assist the realization of such a policy has been built. The European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) program of the European Investment Bank (EIB) is one of the most relevant. In this work, we observe some data on the Italian participation in the CoM and ELENA program, while highlighting the role the Energy Service Companies have in these contexts. By referring to the specific experience of the Province of Foggia (an intermediary government body in southern Italy), we also discuss how some recent changes in the Italian legislation, aimed at abolishing the provinces (considered as preferred supporting structure of the CoM), imposed the identification of another supraterritorial entity. This is to substitute the Province of Foggia as coordinator in the dialog between the local territory and the European Union institutions on the climate-energy theme. In this sense, the choice of the Chamber of Commerce represents a novelty. With regard to this, some considerations on the appropriateness of this choice are developed.
Transitioning to Affordable and Clean Energy
Edwin C. Constable was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Hastings. He studied chemistry at Oxford,... more Edwin C. Constable was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Hastings. He studied chemistry at Oxford, where he gained a B.A. and D.Phil. He moved to the University of Cambridge before being appointed to a University Lectureship and Fellowship of Robinson College in 1984. He remained at Cambridge until 1993 when he was appointed Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Basel. In 2000 he took up a position as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham (England) where he was appointed Head of School. He returned to the University of Basel as Professor of Chemistry in 2002. He publishes in all areas of chemistry with over 650 peer-reviewed publications and is highly cited (22,000 citations, h-index 74). His interests cover all aspects of chemistry, chemical history and the communication of science. He is Editor-in-Chief for a new open access journal Chemistry. He has held an ERC Advanced Grant and has been Research Dean and Vice-President of the University of Basel. He is currently Chairman of the Swiss Academies Expert Group on Research Integrity and President of Euresearch. When he is not being a chemist, he is to be found chasing insects and pursuing his love of photography.
Journal of Cleaner Production
Food waste (FW) is always considered as one of the main challenges for the planet Earth in terms ... more Food waste (FW) is always considered as one of the main challenges for the planet Earth in terms of ethical and social impacts as well as economic and environmental ones. In September 2015, the UN launched the Agenda for 2030 for sustainable development, establishing the 50% reduction in FW at the retail and consumer levels by 2030, as well as food loss along food supply chains. However, there are some concerns about the possibility of concretely reaching this target. One is surely due to the fact that more targeted strategies are more oriented towards logistic/marketing functions than social ones, losing the importance deriving from the reconfiguration of social networks in food redistribution. In this context, the aim of this paper is to improve understanding about how social innovation models can enhance FW reduction, building new relations inside the stakeholders network, and involving new actors usually not actively participating. To do this, the authors present a case study of an Italian non-profit project, named Avanzi Popolo 2.0, adopting this type of approach. The results highlight the importance of building the sense of community and of creating social capital in local food redistribution networks for tackling the issue of FW reduction.
From 2002 to today, world sugar production has steadily increased due to higher food consumption ... more From 2002 to today, world sugar production has steadily increased due to higher food consumption and biofuel production. Furthermore, in the European Union, the CAP 2014-2020 new reform abolished the system of production and sugar exportation quotas by 1 October 2017. Therefore, since that date, the international sugar exchange has significantly increased in light of these new structural and political-economic conditions. Thus, companies offering a new bulk-packaging technology for international shipping could increase their market success. At the same time, the possibility for the same buyers (from sugar producers to logistic agencies) to use a safer and more sustainable packaging system has become important for economic and environmental cost reduction. The present study aims at presenting the experience of a small Italian enterprise that became a European leader in this sector due to its patents concerning a new, more efficient and sustainable product for bulk sugar transport in containers. This technological innovation represents not only a noteworthy sustainable business strategy for becoming more competitive in the market, but also a system for ensuring more effective sugar transport, mainly for the reduction in management costs (up to 65%) for buyers.