Foreign influence could affect German elections

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Government Formation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foreign Influence ◽  
Angela Merkel ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Opinion Polls

Significance With Angela Merkel stepping down after 16 years in power, and opinion polls showing the race is narrowing, the incentive for interference is unusually high. The Greens, who are polling strongly and advocate a much tougher stance towards China and Russia, are most at risk. Impacts If there is no option for a two-party coalition after the elections, government formation talks will take a long time. If elected, Laschet will come under pressure from CDU members to take a tougher line on China. After COVID-19, climate change is the most important issue for voters ahead of the elections.

US migration policy poses a tough balancing act

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Executive Orders ◽  
Migration Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Congress ◽  
The Us ◽  
Long Time

Significance The move, designed to ease migrant outflows from the sub-region by improving work opportunities and living standards, forms part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to pursue more humane migration policies. Impacts Further executive orders are expected in the coming days, including to raise a refugee admissions cap to 125,000, up from 15,000. Legislation could take a long time to get through the US Congress, leaving executive orders vulnerable to legal challenge. Climate change will worsen droughts, flooding and food insecurity in the coming years, compounding migration pressures.

Iraqi Kurdistan will face dilemmas over federal ties

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Federal Government ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Oil Prices ◽  
Kurdistan Region ◽  
Government Formation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Iraqi Kurdistan ◽  
Long Time

Significance Long-time Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani and new Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) chief Bafel Talabani discussed how to form a common front over government formation in Baghdad. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is benefitting from temporary stability linked to higher oil prices. Impacts Kurdish hesitation on whether to commit to a Sadrist-led majority federal government will also simultaneously hold back Sunni groups. Both Turkey and Iran could become more militaristic in their approach to the KRI -- and each other. The intra-PUK deadlock could lead to fighting in Suleimaniya, but mediation is more likely, if senior party figures step up.

UK recovery plans could cut intergenerational inequity

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Exit Strategy ◽  
Consumer Debt ◽  
Content Type

Subject UK intergenerational inequity. Significance UK intergenerational inequity has increased in recent decades. The lockdown is affecting younger people disproportionately as they tend to live in more cramped conditions and are more at risk of losing their jobs. Impacts An age- and region-specific lockdown exit strategy could mitigate the disruption to younger generations. The attitude of millennials to debt, particularly if they have not yet bought a home, will be key to whether consumer debt rises or falls. The goals of government and companies may change as leadership roles go to younger generations more fearful of climate change.

Teresa Mannion and the Emergence of Extreme Weather Culture in Ireland

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-150
Author(s):  
Diane Negra
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Viral Video ◽  
Cultural Information ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Risk Coverage

In this article I consider how registers of weather media carry/convey cultural information, specifically how texts about extreme weather articulate with investment in a supposed post-recession restored normality marked by the Irish government's commitment to deregulated transnational capitalism. I maintain that, in a process of cross-cultural remediation, sensationalist codes of US weather media that discursively manage awareness of systemic climate problems are just starting to infiltrate the Irish broadcasting environment. In early December 2015 RTÉ’s Teresa Mannion covered a strong gale, Storm Desmond, amidst inclement conditions in Salthill, Co Galway. Modelling the kind of ‘body at risk’ coverage consummately performed by US Weather Channel personnel, Mannion could barely speak over the lashing rain and strong winds in a dramatic broadcast that quickly became a viral video. This article analyses the fascination with Mannion's piece and its memetic, and attends to the nature of the pleasure taken in her on-camera discomfiture and the breach of gendered territory committed by Mannion at a time when national popular culture in Ireland is under increased obligation to identify and explain climate change-related extreme weather.

Climate change impacts on water resources in a rural community in Limpopo province, South Africa: a community-based adaptation to water insecurity

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-598
Author(s):  
Sejabaledi Agnes Rankoana
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adaptation Practices ◽  
Community Based Adaptation

Purpose The study explored the impacts of climate change on water resources, and the community-based adaptation practices adopted to ensure water security in a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The participatory approach was used to allow community members to share their challenges of water scarcity, and the measures they have developed to cope with inconsistent water supply. Findings The study results show that the community obtains water for household consumption from the reticulation system supplied by Mutale River and the community borehole. These resources are negatively impacted by drought, change in the frequency and distribution of rainfall, and increased temperature patterns. The water levels in the river and borehole have declined, resulting in unsustainable water supply. The community-based adaptation practices facilitated by the water committee include observance of restrictions and regulations on the water resources use. Others involve securing water from neighbouring resources. Originality/value This type of community-based action in response to climate change could be used as part of rural water management strategies under climate change.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Internet of Things Technologies—Sustainable Premises of Extending the Culture of the Amurg Cultivar in Transylvania—A Use Case for Târnave Vineyard

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8170
Author(s):  
Veronica Sanda Chedea ◽  
Ana-Maria Drăgulinescu  ◽  
Liliana Lucia Tomoiagă  ◽  
Cristina Bălăceanu ◽  
Maria Lucia Iliescu 
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
White Wine ◽  
Time Investment ◽  
Protected Designation Of Origin ◽  
Average Annual Temperature ◽  
Insect Infestations ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Red Grape

Known for its dry and semi-dry white wine, the Târnave vineyard located in central Transylvania is challenged by the current climate change, which has resulted in an increase of the period of active vegetation by approximately 15–20 days, the average annual temperature by 1–1.5 °C and also the amount of useful temperatures (useful thermal balance for the grapevine). Furthermore, the frost periods have been reduced. Transylvania is an important Romanian region for grapevine cultivation. In this context, one can use the climatic changes to expand their wine assortment by cultivating an autochthonous grapevine variety called Amurg. Amurg is a red grape cultivar homologated at SCDVV Blaj, which also homologated 7 cultivars and 11 clones. Because viticulture depends on the stability of meteorological and hydrological parameters of the growing area, its foundations are challenged by climate change. Grapevine production is a long time investment, taking at least five years before the freshly planted vines produce the desired quality berries. We propose the implementation of a climate change-based precision viticulture turn-key solution for environmental monitoring in the Târnave vineyard. This solution aims to evaluate the grapevine’s micro-climate to extend the sustainable cultivation of the Amurg red grapes cultivar in Transylvania with the final goal of obtaining Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) rosé and red wines from this region. Worldwide, the changing conditions from the existing climate (a 30-year average), used in the past hundred years to dictate local standards, such as new and erratic trends of temperature and humidity regimes, late spring freezes, early fall frosts, storms, heatwaves, droughts, area wildfires, and insect infestations, would create dynamic problems for all farmers to thrive. These conditions will make it challenging to predict shifts in each of the components of seasonal weather conditions. Our proposed system also aims to give a solution that can be adapted to other vineyards as well.

Designing a Cultural Heritage Articulated Warning System (CHAWS) strategy to improve disaster risk preparedness in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-85
Author(s):  
Victor Marchezini ◽  
Allan Yu Iwama ◽  
Danilo Celso Pereira ◽  
Rodrigo Silva da Conceição ◽  
Rachel Trajber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Civil Defense ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Scientific Challenge ◽  
Risk Preparedness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study an articulated warning system that provides information about the heritage at risk and encourages a dialogue between the heritage sector, civil defense agencies and local communities. Design/methodology/approach The databases from the National Heritage Institute, National Civil Defense, National Geological Service and National Early Warning System were investigated and the local community provided input which helped form a participatory risk mapping strategy for a warning system in the heritage sector. Findings There is little knowledge of the Brazilian heritage that is at risk and a lack of coordination between the cultural heritage and DRR sectors. This means that there is a need to organize the geo-referenced databases so that information can be shared and the public provided with broader access. As a result, there can be a greater production, dissemination and application of knowledge to help protect the cultural heritage. Practical implications The findings can be included in the debate about the importance of framing disaster risk management (DRM) policies in the Brazilian heritage sector. Social implications The findings and maps of the case study in the town of São Luiz do Paraitinga involve the heritage sector, civil defense agencies and local people and can be used for disaster risk preparedness. Originality/value A DRM program is being formulated in Brazil. However, the kind of strategy needed to incorporate the heritage sector in this program stills needs to be planned, and the knowledge of the cultural heritage at risk is a key factor when faced with this new social and scientific challenge.

scholarly journals Identifying integrated options for agricultural climate change mitigation

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Tzilivakis ◽  
Kathleen Lewis ◽  
Andrew Green ◽  
Douglas Warner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mitigation Options ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Environmental Objectives ◽  
Change Mitigation

Purpose – In order to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is essential that all industry sectors have the appropriate knowledge and tools to contribute. This includes agriculture, which is considered to contribute about a third of emissions globally. This paper reports on one such tool: IMPACCT: Integrated Management oPtions for Agricultural Climate Change miTigation. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – IMPACCT focuses on GHGs, carbon sequestration and associated mitigation options. However, it also attempts to include information on economic and other environmental impacts in order to provide a more holistic perspective. The model identifies mitigation options, likely economic impacts and any synergies and trade-offs with other environmental objectives. The model has been applied on 22 case study farms in seven Member States. Findings – The tool presents some useful concepts for developing carbon calculators in the future. It has highlighted that calculators need to evolve from simply calculating emissions to identifying cost-effective and integrated emissions reduction options. Practical implications – IMPACCT has potential to become an effective means of provided targeted guidance, as part of a broader knowledge transfer programme based on an integrated suite of guidance, tools and advice delivered via different media. Originality/value – IMPACCT is a new model that demonstrates how to take a more integrated approach to mitigating GHGs on farms across Europe. It is a holistic carbon calculator that presents mitigation options in the context other environmental and economic objectives in the search for more sustainable methods of food production.

A “Natural” Proposal for Addressing Climate Change

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Lovejoy
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Considerable Time ◽  
Long Time

One of the fundamental challenges of climate change is that we contribute to it increment by increment, and experience it increment by increment after a considerable time lag. As a consequence, it is very difficult to see what we are doing to ourselves, to future generations, and to the living planet as a whole. There are monumental ethical issues involved, but they are obscured by the incremental nature of the process and the long time frame before reaching the concentration of greenhouse gases and the ensuing accumulation of radiant heat—and consequent climate change—that ensues.

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