Societal Impacts最新文献

Improper disposal of faulty electronic devices can result in pollution, health hazards, social inequity, and legal issues. This study explores the perceptions and practices of electronic waste management among electronic repair technicians in Ho Municipality, Ghana, with a focus on the significant societal and environmental impacts of e-waste generated in electronic service workshops. A survey using both random and purposive sampling of 150 electronic repairers in Ho Municipality found limited awareness of the negative effects, toxic components, environmental risks, and proper handling and disposal procedures associated with e-waste. Notably, only 31 % of participants were aware of the environmental risks, while 69 % were not. "Experience" emerged as a significant predictor of awareness regarding e-waste health risks. Only 22 % were knowledgeable about the hazardous substances in e-waste, indicating a low level of awareness of its risks and opportunities for reducing them. These findings highlight the need for collaboration among stakeholders to implement sustainable e-waste management practices in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This paper presents an integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, an all-encompassing approach suitable for European cities and regions aiming to monitor and evaluate the implementation and results of sustainable urban development strategies or projects related to urban planning, transport planning, or urban energy management. The framework features a co-created and co-implemented reflexive and adaptive method tailored specifically for strategies or projects that introduce innovative elements from contemporary research and innovation in science and technology, such as net-zero development, systemic solutions for cities, or integrated urban mobility and planning. The approach to designing and implementing the M&E framework was realized through a six-phase process: (i) development of the M&E framework, (ii) tailoring indicators to each region’s specificities, (iii) developing data collection questionnaires and a reporting database, (iv) collecting the data, (v) populating the database, and (vi) writing the final report. The framework was tested and enhanced with four European regional authorities over a 19-month period, enabling them to address their so-called 'policy dilemmas,' defined as the challenges they face in balancing societal and inclusivity objectives with economic and innovation goals. This framework is designed for replication in future sustainable urban development strategies or projects with similar societal, ecological, and innovation objectives.

Air pollution is responsible for illness and death of millions of people worldwide annually and has strong impacts on the economy and society. Large cities typically have more robust and effective air quality monitoring coverage, however, less populated cities need to rely on monitoring via satellite data or low-cost sensors. Additionally, global and national study hotspots are megacities and highly industrialized regions, and the Southern Air Project aims to broaden the focus on the impact on populations in less populated areas. This article describes the initiatives of the Southern Air Project, aimed at providing data on air pollution and its health effects in small and medium-sized cities in southern Brazil. A significant portion of the air pollutant data used in the project originates from satellite information, low-cost sensors, passive samplers, and data provided by enterprises. These data have been used to understand the levels, dynamics and human health impacts of air pollutants in cities that do not have well-established monitoring networks and, consequently, are less studied. In addition to research initiatives, the project engages in community actions with the aim of informing about the risks of exposure to air pollution and the role of citizens in demanding quality air from public managers.

Climate change adaptation requires proactive development of adaptive planning strategies. To implement such strategies, it is crucial to identify indicators that can monitor and signal approaching adaptation thresholds. While existing research has focused on physical and hazard-based indicators, addressing social and economic indicators is essential for informed decision-making. This research aims to fill this gap by compiling 298 economic indicators across six categories: fiscal factors for central, regional, and local governments; financial system indicators; indicators for industries, businesses, and public organisations; and indicators for identifying socially vulnerable populations due to climate change. Derived from previous studies and the national climate change risk assessment framework, these indicators aim to provide policymakers at all levels and communities with a ready-to-use toolbox for monitoring climate change economic risks. Additionally, the research identifies measurable indicators as well as those that cannot currently be measured but could potentially be quantified. Future work involves further analysis and mapping of these indicators to form a cohesive set warning of the need for adaptation measures, aiming to equip decision-makers with tools to address the economic impacts of climate change.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time [1]. It will reshape our world and impact all of society. Cities are where the majority of people live and where most of the world’s population directly experiences climate change impacts. No one individual or organisation will be able to deliver adaptation to climate change for society – we need collaboration across scales, disciplines and societal actors. To help combat climate change impacts that are now unavoidable, Cork City (Ireland) is working in conjunction with 19 partners across Europe, as part of the EU Horizon REACHOUT project, to co-develop user friendly climate services that will help the city prepare for and adapt to these impacts, in line with the strategic development plans for the city and the region. Cork City is exposed to a range of climate related risks, including flooding, heat and wind, all of which are expected to increase in the future under climate change. Cork City Council, University College Cork and technical partners across Europe have been working with local communities to co-develop a range of climate service tools that will be particularly valuable for Cork City and its residents. These tools are intended to support building local resilience to, and understanding of, climate impacts within the city, and to motivate citizens to engage in climate action. This paper explores how these tools may be used to provide climate services in the context of Cork City and how they perform in terms of accessibility, relevance, usability and capacity.

While there is an extensive and substantial body of epidemiological research on gender-specific differences regarding the prevalence, persistence, and comorbidity of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) in childhood and adolescence, empirical research on inclusive education largely lacks a differentiated and gender-sensitive research approach. However, initial empirical findings indicate that girls with internalizing behavior problems are to be considered a particularly vulnerable group in school regarding their social integration, their self-concept, their well-being in school and their perception and interpretation of social interaction processes. Can girls with internalizing behavior problems thus be referred to as the 'forgotten gender' of empirical research on inclusive education? The following article aims to address the existing tension between gender-specific epidemiological data, school-related practices, and empirical research approaches. In this context, we first (I) summarize the available empirical findings, (II) outline the methodological foundations of an ongoing research project, and (III) discuss the social implications of a predominantly one-sided empirical approach and outline a call to action for practice and research.

Higher educational institutions are most often expected to equip students with the needed skills to make an impact in their communities, while also contributing to sustainable development in their surrounding communities. Though efforts are being made to realise the above goal, there has been little academic attention given to how universities can engage with their surrounding communities in such a way that contributes to the training and learning experiences of students through community-based learning programmes. This research therefore explored the experiences of undergraduate students of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development located in Somanya, Ghana who engaged in a community-based experiential learning programme. Based on qualitative interviews, focused group discussions, and workshops with the students after their stay in the communities, the results indicate that they acquired problem-solving, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary knowledge skills. They also had the opportunity to interact with community members. For African universities, the study suggests that societal impacts through community-based learning should be a core pillar of university strategic priorities, rooted in Africanist principles of collective culture and learning. In sum, fostering strong university-community relations can help in aligning priorities and developing shared goals and strategies.

Breast Cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer worldwide. While the impacts of this disease can be mitigated through early diagnosis, generalized screening programs based on full-field digital mammography present several limitations regarding lesion obscurity and false positive diagnosis. Given that, women could benefit from a risk analysis for the development of BC that would allow their healthcare professionals to adapt screening in a personalized fashion, not only in terms of frequency but also regarding the imaging modality used. This study aims to develop a medical application, based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), that receives images from different modalities as input and outputs a personalized risk prediction for BC development. The final goal is to have an AI model that allocates each analyzed case to a risk group (1/2-year risk, 3/4-year risk, 5/more-year risk) based on characteristics present in the medical images. A solution like the one proposed would allow not only the previously mentioned screening adaptation but also some preventive measures taken both by the healthcare professional and by the patient. Finally, the development of a computerized medical application allows its use in any type of medical facility, despite the socio-economical characteristics of the patients.

The environmental and socio-economic impacts of the Nigerian Threatened Native Trees Project are presented. This project conducted propagation trials and developed a freely downloadable online Manual of Tree Propagation (MTP) for 55 native tree species, training 146 local experts (32 women and 114 men) during the period (November 2015—December 2022). We used Google Analytics and interviews to assess the impacts of this project from January 2018—July 2023 (iEcology). Results show that the MTP has been downloaded 1013 times, with the star apple Gambeya albida (76), gum tree Tetrapleura tetraptera (65) and bitter kola Garcinia kola (50) topping the list. These downloads were from 15 countries spread across the world. Interestingly, the seven African countries that downloaded the MTP are concentrated in the tropical belt with similar floristic composition. The native range of almost all the propagated species overlaps with these African countries, suggesting the adoption of our MTP, and practically demonstrating the conservation mantra of “think globally, act locally”. In addition, the MTP has been deployed for academic work (i.e., grey literature) and reforestation (e.g., covering c. 1200 ha in Nigeria). By revealing suitable propagation techniques and training local foresters, our approach could boost the utilization of native tree species for reforestation in Africa.