Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100253
Md. Assraf Seddiky, Esmat Ara, Afsarul Karim
This study explored the effect of climate related hazard-induced risks on migration using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected by conducting a field survey in Cumilla City Corporation, eastern Bangladesh, with 100 respondents using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using an integrated thematic analysis method directed by numerical and non-numerical coding. The findings revealed that climate-related incidents in Bangladesh forced people to move from vulnerable to less vulnerable areas. People who have been hurt by disasters often decided early on to move away in search of a better life. Although many disaster-affected people had the minimum opportunity to stay in the same places, they migrated to avoid future risks and search for a secure life. Migrants faced many socio-economic and environmental challenges in their new settlements. The raising awareness and policy strategies regarding environmental pollution and climate adaptation are urgently needed to reduce the hazard risks and vulnerability of the communities.
{"title":"Climate change-induced hazard risks and migration in Bangladesh: A case study","authors":"Md. Assraf Seddiky, Esmat Ara, Afsarul Karim","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study explored the effect of climate related hazard-induced risks on migration using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected by conducting a field survey in Cumilla City Corporation, eastern Bangladesh, with 100 respondents using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using an integrated thematic analysis method directed by numerical and non-numerical coding. The findings revealed that climate-related incidents in Bangladesh forced people to move from vulnerable to less vulnerable areas. People who have been hurt by disasters often decided early on to move away in search of a better life. Although many disaster-affected people had the minimum opportunity to stay in the same places, they migrated to avoid future risks and search for a secure life. Migrants faced many socio-economic and environmental challenges in their new settlements. The raising awareness and policy strategies regarding environmental pollution and climate adaptation are urgently needed to reduce the hazard risks and vulnerability of the communities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000136/pdfft?md5=15fd9825208bc33a3e3b9c5d4807c2b2&pid=1-s2.0-S2666049024000136-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140330588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2023.100235
Eric O. Verger , Marjorie Le Bars
While small-scale farming households constitute a large part of the population, as well as the producers of the majority of food supplies in low- and middle-income countries, major gaps remain in the ability to produce reliable solutions to achieve sustainability in family farming.
This special issue aims to address some blind spots and shed new light on sustainability in family farming using sustainability science. The publications presented in this special issue will enable readers to grasp the importance of a detailed and situated understanding of the needs and practices of family farming, as well as the importance of involving farmers and their families in our research to find solutions for improving the sustainability of family farming that will benefit everyone.
{"title":"Achieving sustainability in family farming","authors":"Eric O. Verger , Marjorie Le Bars","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2023.100235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2023.100235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>While small-scale farming households constitute a large part of the population, as well as the producers of the majority of food supplies in low- and middle-income countries, major gaps remain in the ability to produce reliable solutions to achieve sustainability in family farming.</p><p>This special issue aims to address some blind spots and shed new light on sustainability in family farming using sustainability science. The publications presented in this special issue will enable readers to grasp the importance of a detailed and situated understanding of the needs and practices of family farming, as well as the importance of involving farmers and their families in our research to find solutions for improving the sustainability of family farming that will benefit everyone.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049023000282/pdfft?md5=3bff670603518964ba5e9af1f053756e&pid=1-s2.0-S2666049023000282-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136009645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study investigates the adoption of water-saving irrigation technologies, specifically drip and sprinklers, within India's semi-arid states. Utilizing a probit model and data sourced from the India Human Development Survey-II, the research scrutinizes a sample size of 2891 households while engaging in focus group discussions. The findings highlight several key factors significantly impacting technology adoption, including education, caste, employment status, household income, orchard ownership, landholding size, irrigation source, access to irrigation, the Kisan Credit Card scheme, and utilization of electric and diesel pumps. Moreover, the study uncovers state-specific variations driven by factors such as water resources, crop patterns, and government policies, ultimately shaping the adoption landscape of specific irrigation technologies. Focus group discussions conducted in Andhra Pradesh reveal prominent challenges faced, including limited subsidies, high costs associated with adoption, and crop-specific irrigation requirements. In light of these findings, the study emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive approach to achieve water conservation and enhance livelihoods. This approach advocates for the integration of joint farming practices, water-sharing methods, supportive financial policies encompassing subsidies and accessible credit facilities, and the implementation of sustainable government social schemes. Such integrated efforts are deemed imperative for fostering resilient societies amidst evolving agricultural and environmental landscapes.
{"title":"Assessing determinants, challenges and perceptions to adopting water-saving technologies among agricultural households in semi-arid states of India","authors":"Geetha Mohan , Lakshmi Narayana Perarapu , Saroj Kumar Chapagain , A. Amarender Reddy , Indrek Melts , Ranjeeta Mishra , Ram Avtar , Kensuke Fukushi","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the adoption of water-saving irrigation technologies, specifically drip and sprinklers, within India's semi-arid states. Utilizing a probit model and data sourced from the India Human Development Survey-II, the research scrutinizes a sample size of 2891 households while engaging in focus group discussions. The findings highlight several key factors significantly impacting technology adoption, including education, caste, employment status, household income, orchard ownership, landholding size, irrigation source, access to irrigation, the Kisan Credit Card scheme, and utilization of electric and diesel pumps. Moreover, the study uncovers state-specific variations driven by factors such as water resources, crop patterns, and government policies, ultimately shaping the adoption landscape of specific irrigation technologies. Focus group discussions conducted in Andhra Pradesh reveal prominent challenges faced, including limited subsidies, high costs associated with adoption, and crop-specific irrigation requirements. In light of these findings, the study emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive approach to achieve water conservation and enhance livelihoods. This approach advocates for the integration of joint farming practices, water-sharing methods, supportive financial policies encompassing subsidies and accessible credit facilities, and the implementation of sustainable government social schemes. Such integrated efforts are deemed imperative for fostering resilient societies amidst evolving agricultural and environmental landscapes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266604902400015X/pdfft?md5=c4182737195661f07019abc5b880441d&pid=1-s2.0-S266604902400015X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141290119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100260
Axel Franzen, Sebastian Bahr
The environmental concern of a country's population is an important prerequisite for addressing environmental problems, foremost reducing CO2 emissions and limiting global warming. In this paper, we analyze the development of environmental concern by using the newest wave of the environmental module of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) for 29 countries. First, we discuss the measurement of environmental concern and construct a ranking of countries according to the 2020 survey results. Second, we analyze the determinants of environmental concern by employing multilevel models that take individual effects as well as context effects into account. The results show that environmental concern has increased in almost all nations since the last measurement in 2010. The country ranking is headed by European nations such as Switzerland, France and Germany. The USA takes a middle position and China ranks number 20. We observe more variance within countries at the individual level as compared to the differences between countries. At the individual level, environmental concern is closely related to education, post-materialistic values, political attitudes, and individuals' trust in the news media and in science. At the country level, the average environmental concern increases with the wealth of nations.
{"title":"The development of global environmental concern during the last three decades","authors":"Axel Franzen, Sebastian Bahr","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100260","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The environmental concern of a country's population is an important prerequisite for addressing environmental problems, foremost reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and limiting global warming. In this paper, we analyze the development of environmental concern by using the newest wave of the environmental module of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) for 29 countries. First, we discuss the measurement of environmental concern and construct a ranking of countries according to the 2020 survey results. Second, we analyze the determinants of environmental concern by employing multilevel models that take individual effects as well as context effects into account. The results show that environmental concern has increased in almost all nations since the last measurement in 2010. The country ranking is headed by European nations such as Switzerland, France and Germany. The USA takes a middle position and China ranks number 20. We observe more variance within countries at the individual level as compared to the differences between countries. At the individual level, environmental concern is closely related to education, post-materialistic values, political attitudes, and individuals' trust in the news media and in science. At the country level, the average environmental concern increases with the wealth of nations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000203/pdfft?md5=89b2801d82a8b176cee8ec81d9a73976&pid=1-s2.0-S2666049024000203-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141482754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100258
Musarat Yasmin, Sidra
This study examines how climate change organizations employ discourse strategies to highlight the vulnerability of women to climate change. It also explores how these strategies disrupt the conventional climate change narrative by integrating gender issues and emphasizing women's social and cultural experiences. The study utilizes the framework of ecolinguistics to examine narratives woven into the textual discourse. The research, based on 40 tweets from organizations such as the UN Environment Program and UN Women, offers insights into how these organizations utilize ecolinguistic techniques in communicating climate issues. The findings of the study revealed that gender intersections with other social identities determine vulnerabilities to environmental changes, as the research highlights the disproportionate impacts on women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. This study contributes to the existing literature in terms of exploring the depiction of this issue in the Twitter discourse of international organizations.
{"title":"Framing vulnerability: An ecolinguistic analysis of gender and climate change discourse","authors":"Musarat Yasmin, Sidra","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examines how climate change organizations employ discourse strategies to highlight the vulnerability of women to climate change. It also explores how these strategies disrupt the conventional climate change narrative by integrating gender issues and emphasizing women's social and cultural experiences. The study utilizes the framework of ecolinguistics to examine narratives woven into the textual discourse. The research, based on 40 tweets from organizations such as the UN Environment Program and UN Women, offers insights into how these organizations utilize ecolinguistic techniques in communicating climate issues. The findings of the study revealed that gender intersections with other social identities determine vulnerabilities to environmental changes, as the research highlights the disproportionate impacts on women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. This study contributes to the existing literature in terms of exploring the depiction of this issue in the Twitter discourse of international organizations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000185/pdfft?md5=2e9f55f641e245fb08e6031538c62c63&pid=1-s2.0-S2666049024000185-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141323545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100268
Building the resilience of smallholder farmers, and their ability to cope with the negative impacts of climate shocks can significantly improve the sustainability of agriculture as a reliable source of livelihood. While innovations such as index insurance and bundled financial instruments could enhance smallholder farmers' climate resilience, their uptake, and use remain low, especially among women farmers. Based on experimental data from a risk contingent credit (RCC—an insurance bundled credit product) project in Kenya, we argue that employing inclusive extension approaches that address social inequities in information access and use could enhance gender equality in product understanding, a key determinant of uptake. We evaluate the gender differences of the impacts of conventional face-to-face, animated brochures, and video-based extension approaches on product understanding and willingness to pay (WTP) for RCC. We find that; (i) providing animated brochures to a random subset of farmers significantly improved their understanding and WTP for the product, (ii) the use of animated videos significantly increased product understanding, but it had weaker impacts on the farmers' WTP, and (iii) the impact of animated brochures on product understanding was significantly larger among women farmers. This study underscores the importance of addressing social and cultural barriers to agricultural information access and use, and designing tailored extension approaches to support men and women in making informed decisions about climate risk management. From a policy perspective, we conclude that addressing these barriers could foster a socially fair, and a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector for both men and women smallholder farmers.
{"title":"Impacts of gender-inclusive extension approaches on farmer understanding and willingness to pay for bundled financial services","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Building the resilience of smallholder farmers, and their ability to cope with the negative impacts of climate shocks can significantly improve the sustainability of agriculture as a reliable source of livelihood. While innovations such as index insurance and bundled financial instruments could enhance smallholder farmers' climate resilience, their uptake, and use remain low, especially among women farmers. Based on experimental data from a risk contingent credit (RCC—an insurance bundled credit product) project in Kenya, we argue that employing inclusive extension approaches that address social inequities in information access and use could enhance gender equality in product understanding, a key determinant of uptake. We evaluate the gender differences of the impacts of conventional face-to-face, animated brochures, and video-based extension approaches on product understanding and willingness to pay (WTP) for RCC. We find that; (i) providing animated brochures to a random subset of farmers significantly improved their understanding and WTP for the product, (ii) the use of animated videos significantly increased product understanding, but it had weaker impacts on the farmers' WTP, and (iii) the impact of animated brochures on product understanding was significantly larger among women farmers. This study underscores the importance of addressing social and cultural barriers to agricultural information access and use, and designing tailored extension approaches to support men and women in making informed decisions about climate risk management. From a policy perspective, we conclude that addressing these barriers could foster a socially fair, and a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector for both men and women smallholder farmers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142572950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100243
Carlos Matovelle , María Quinteros , Santiago Aurelio Ochoa-García
Constructed wetlands have been used worldwide as an alternative for wastewater treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment using two different species of macrophyte in order to reduce pollution levels in the Curiquingue Creek belonging to the Baños parish in Cuenca, Ecuador. A pilot plant was constructed using Equisetum spp and Zantedeschia aethiopica with a constant flow of . Each unit was filled with sand and gravel as the porosity medium with a hydraulic retention time of 5 days. To analyze the efficiency of the wetlands, physical and chemical parameters were analyzed in the laboratory. The results obtained in the laboratory showed that the two species of macrophyte showed good efficiency in the removal of organic matter (100% COD-100% BOD5). On the other hand, Equisetum spp showed better efficiency in the removal of NO3− (80.28%) and PO43− (98.57%) meanwhile, Zantedeschia aethiopica showed better efficiency in the removal of TSS (85.71%). Constructed wetlands are an effective and sustainable option for wastewater treatment.
{"title":"Performance of Equisetum spp and Zantedeschia aethiopica on the evaluation of artificial wetlands as an alternative for wastewater treatment in rural areas of the Ecuadorian Andes","authors":"Carlos Matovelle , María Quinteros , Santiago Aurelio Ochoa-García","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100243","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100243","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Constructed wetlands have been used worldwide as an alternative for wastewater treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment using two different species of macrophyte in order to reduce pollution levels in the Curiquingue Creek belonging to the Baños parish in Cuenca, Ecuador. A pilot plant was constructed using <em>Equisetum spp</em> and <em>Zantedeschia aethiopica</em> with a constant flow of <span><math><mn>0.32</mn><mspace></mspace><msup><mi>m</mi><mn>3</mn></msup><msup><mi>d</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>. Each unit was filled with sand and gravel as the porosity medium with a hydraulic retention time of 5 days. To analyze the efficiency of the wetlands, physical and chemical parameters were analyzed in the laboratory. The results obtained in the laboratory showed that the two species of macrophyte showed good efficiency in the removal of organic matter (100% COD-100% BOD<sub>5</sub>). On the other hand, <em>Equisetum spp</em> showed better efficiency in the removal of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> (80.28%) and PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3−</sup> (98.57%) meanwhile, <em>Zantedeschia aethiopica</em> showed better efficiency in the removal of TSS (85.71%). Constructed wetlands are an effective and sustainable option for wastewater treatment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000033/pdfft?md5=817a97dbb4eb9817a73443e2d8dcc348&pid=1-s2.0-S2666049024000033-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139675537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To promote environmentally sustainable water governance, this study emphasizes the necessity of aligning institutional structures with ecological scales. The research focused on the Urmia Lake Basin in Iran facing the serious problem of drying up. Beyond the political and economic determinants shaping the water governance system in the region, the study evaluated the effect of Urmia Lake Restoration Program (ULRP), an environmental movement, on the basin's water governance structure. Employing statistical mechanics methods to scrutinize Hamiltonian system costs related to administrative interactions for water supply-demand, the study assessed the structural fit of the water governance system to the basin across distinct stages: without- and with-including the ULRP. Results revealed diminished costs following ULRP involvement, notably in entities with higher water demands, head offices and the system overall, further improved by water-saving measures. These findings highlighted the efficacy of vertical (re)arrangements and structural reform through ULRP incorporation in enhancing system fit, stressing the significance of its water-saving policy. The methodology provides a fast and explicit scan of the system structure, demonstrating its ability to project the effect of institutional reforms on the system state. Serving as a constructive tool for policymakers, it facilitates rapid, efficient and informed decision-making in water governance. Furthermore, following the UN SDG 6, this framework supports integrated water resources management (IWRM) across sectors and regions, particularly targeting water-stressed contexts.
{"title":"Vertical fit of water governing systems: A regional assessment","authors":"Peyman Arjomandi A. , Seyedalireza Seyedi , Nadejda Komendantova , Ebrahim Vahdani Hulasu","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To promote environmentally sustainable water governance, this study emphasizes the necessity of aligning institutional structures with ecological scales. The research focused on the Urmia Lake Basin in Iran facing the serious problem of drying up. Beyond the political and economic determinants shaping the water governance system in the region, the study evaluated the effect of Urmia Lake Restoration Program (ULRP), an environmental movement, on the basin's water governance structure. Employing statistical mechanics methods to scrutinize Hamiltonian system costs related to administrative interactions for water supply-demand, the study assessed the structural fit of the water governance system to the basin across distinct stages: without- and with-including the ULRP. Results revealed diminished costs following ULRP involvement, notably in entities with higher water demands, head offices and the system overall, further improved by water-saving measures. These findings highlighted the efficacy of vertical (re)arrangements and structural reform through ULRP incorporation in enhancing system fit, stressing the significance of its water-saving policy. The methodology provides a fast and explicit scan of the system structure, demonstrating its ability to project the effect of institutional reforms on the system state. Serving as a constructive tool for policymakers, it facilitates rapid, efficient and informed decision-making in water governance. Furthermore, following the UN SDG 6, this framework supports integrated water resources management (IWRM) across sectors and regions, particularly targeting water-stressed contexts.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000082/pdfft?md5=1878ba0c0af5d92bd778a108de69ac13&pid=1-s2.0-S2666049024000082-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140069182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The rapid worldwide increase in resource extraction is evident in Madagascar—a global biodiversity hotspot. This study examines the localized effects of operational and planned large-scale extractive investments on social-ecological systems in Madagascar and links them to the Sustainable Development Goals. The focus is on sites owned or explored by foreign investors, specifically Ambatovy Moramanga, Ambatovy Tamatave, QIT Madagascar Minerals/Rio Tinto, Ranobe, and Tantalum Rare Earth Malagasy. Employing a counterfactual approach, we gathered survey responses from 459 small-scale farming, agro-pastoral, and artisanal-fisheries-based households. The survey provided information on general household characteristics, land use, land management, livelihoods, well-being, and any perceived changes to these variables, as well as any perceived mining impacts related to the changes. Overall, respondents reported predominantly negative effects on land (and sea) use, livelihoods, well-being, and security. Mining pollution, primarily from operational sites, had reduced access to water and fisheries resources, and natural forest areas had diminished. Reduced productivity due to pollution of soils, water, and air had a negative impact on various land uses and affected people's health, particularly in the surroundings of QIT Madagascar Minerals/Rio Tinto. Although some projects, such as Ambatovy, had eventually improved healthcare and infrastructure, most negative mining impacts had occurred during both the exploratory and the operational phases of the projects. Overall, this study offers a comprehensive view of how large-scale extractive investments affect land (and sea) use and human well-being. In addition, we highlight policy implications that must be considered if large-scale extractive investments are to support progress on the 2030 Agenda.
{"title":"How are large-scale extractive industries affecting progress toward the sustainable development goals in Madagascar? Perceived social-ecological impacts of mining investments","authors":"Julie G. Zaehringer , Madlaina Michelotti , Maëlle Andriambalohary , Fenitra Rajerison , Ambinintsoa Rakotoarinosy , Sandra Eckert , Bruno Ramamonjisoa , Onintsoa Ravaka Andriamihaja","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rapid worldwide increase in resource extraction is evident in Madagascar—a global biodiversity hotspot. This study examines the localized effects of operational and planned large-scale extractive investments on social-ecological systems in Madagascar and links them to the Sustainable Development Goals. The focus is on sites owned or explored by foreign investors, specifically Ambatovy Moramanga, Ambatovy Tamatave, QIT Madagascar Minerals/Rio Tinto, Ranobe, and Tantalum Rare Earth Malagasy. Employing a counterfactual approach, we gathered survey responses from 459 small-scale farming, agro-pastoral, and artisanal-fisheries-based households. The survey provided information on general household characteristics, land use, land management, livelihoods, well-being, and any perceived changes to these variables, as well as any perceived mining impacts related to the changes. Overall, respondents reported predominantly negative effects on land (and sea) use, livelihoods, well-being, and security. Mining pollution, primarily from operational sites, had reduced access to water and fisheries resources, and natural forest areas had diminished. Reduced productivity due to pollution of soils, water, and air had a negative impact on various land uses and affected people's health, particularly in the surroundings of QIT Madagascar Minerals/Rio Tinto. Although some projects, such as Ambatovy, had eventually improved healthcare and infrastructure, most negative mining impacts had occurred during both the exploratory and the operational phases of the projects. Overall, this study offers a comprehensive view of how large-scale extractive investments affect land (and sea) use and human well-being. In addition, we highlight policy implications that must be considered if large-scale extractive investments are to support progress on the 2030 Agenda.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049024000173/pdfft?md5=cbb61a68bbde28ec90a1b7d0c2460b4c&pid=1-s2.0-S2666049024000173-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141434430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100266
In the search for promising pathways for equitable and transformative climate adaptation in low-income rural areas, the present study focuses on resilience to more variable and less predictable availability of precipitation and water resources. Equitable water governance is conceptualized as formal and informal polycentric decision-making that narrows infrastructure inequities and ensures equitable water resources allocation. Focusing on recognitional and procedural equity, vulnerable women's and men's community-based water tenure is starting point. Partnering with government in Zambia and with the Water Integrity Network in Kenya, field research in three communities in rural Zambia and in rural communities and a small town sharing several schemes in Kenya is conducted. These studies recognized horizontal polycentricity of community-based water tenure by identifying common features: communities' age-old drought resilience coping strategies to meet daily domestic water needs and daily or seasonal small-scale productive water needs, by tapping water from surface- and groundwater sources through multi-purpose infrastructure, both self-financed and publicly supported, and by ‘sharing’ water ‘in’ within the community and ‘sharing out’ with neighbouring communities and powerful third parties. Procedural equity implies inclusive, locally-led planning, design and implementation in polycentric vertical governance with governments and other support agencies from local to national level and vice versa. The four interventions studied were the installation of a a solar-powered borehole for multiple uses and local government's institutional framework for potential replication in Zambia, and post-construction support of small water systems and a planned megadam in Kenya. Further research on similar transformative approaches elsewhere is recommended.
{"title":"Community-based water tenure in equitable and transformative drought resilience","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the search for promising pathways for equitable and transformative climate adaptation in low-income rural areas, the present study focuses on resilience to more variable and less predictable availability of precipitation and water resources. Equitable water governance is conceptualized as formal and informal polycentric decision-making that narrows infrastructure inequities and ensures equitable water resources allocation. Focusing on recognitional and procedural equity, vulnerable women's and men's community-based water tenure is starting point. Partnering with government in Zambia and with the Water Integrity Network in Kenya, field research in three communities in rural Zambia and in rural communities and a small town sharing several schemes in Kenya is conducted. These studies <em>recognized</em> horizontal polycentricity of community-based water tenure by identifying common features: communities' age-old drought resilience coping strategies to meet daily domestic water needs and daily or seasonal small-scale productive water needs, by tapping water from surface- and groundwater sources through multi-purpose infrastructure, both self-financed and publicly supported, and by ‘sharing’ water ‘in’ within the community and ‘sharing out’ with neighbouring communities and powerful third parties. <em>Procedural</em> equity implies inclusive, locally-led planning, design and implementation in polycentric vertical governance with governments and other support agencies from local to national level and vice versa. The four interventions studied were the installation of a a solar-powered borehole for multiple uses and local government's institutional framework for potential replication in Zambia, and post-construction support of small water systems and a planned megadam in Kenya. Further research on similar transformative approaches elsewhere is recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142446131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}