Ambio最新文献

This socio-legal paper examines how the duty under Article 3.7. of the Aarhus Convention to promote principles of environmental democracy in international environmental forums is being interpreted and operationalised in practice. A systematic content analysis of the parties' 2021 and 2025 national implementation reports identifies uneven reporting and predominantly ad hoc approaches, focussing mainly on nationally based measures to facilitate the participation of states' own publics, rather than collaborative initiatives to influence the design of participatory processes and outcomes of international institutions themselves. These findings point to a need for stronger institutional coordination, tailored forum-specific guidance, and more systematic monitoring and accountability mechanisms in order to strengthen Article 3.7's operationalisation. More broadly, the paper also contributes to wider debates on the prospects of environmental democracy at scale, illustrating how the Aarhus Convention both exposes and tests the limits of efforts to democratise international and global environmental governance.

To combat global biodiversity decline, countries must identify priority ecosystems and species, often through National Ecosystem or Biodiversity Assessments (NEAs/NBAs). In developing nations, resource constraints make effective uptake critical. South Africa has conducted three NBAs (2004, 2011, 2018), which have influenced policy and practice, though their impact has never been quantitatively assessed. This study evaluates NBA uptake via citation tracking, an online survey, and an application inventory. Citations revealed strong academic use, while the survey showed relevance in spatial planning, conservation actions, and environmental assessments. The application inventory demonstrated NBA influence beyond biodiversity, extending to areas like water security. Understanding NBA uptake is key to maximising its impact. We distil two decades of experience into lessons to improve future NBA uptake in South Africa and support implementation in other countries.

This study examines Egypt's blue economy, focusing on fisheries and aquaculture, through a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis to enhance food security. Egypt holds significant potential with its water resources. Aquaculture became Egypt's leading source of fish production since 2003, surpassing fisheries, and contributing 77.9% of the total fish production in 2022. Aquaculture and fisheries peaked at 16.2% of the country's agricultural net income in 2019. Egypt's fish self-sufficiency stands at 86.1%, which supplies 21.2% of the average animal protein intake. Unsustainable fishing, pollution, and climate change (e.g., risks from sea-level rise) impacting coastal farms present challenges. Opportunities in sustainable technologies, market development, and governance can boost Egypt's fisheries and aquaculture, thereby enhancing food security and ensuring long-term environmental and economic sustainability through effective management. This study underscores the crucial role of these sectors and the necessity for cohesive strategies to realize their full potential for Egypt's future.

The proposed Brazil-China transcontinental railway, connecting Brazil's Atlantic coast to Peru's Pacific port of Chancay, has re-emerged as a flagship infrastructure project under China's Belt and Road Initiative. Promoted as a pathway to economic growth and regional integration, the project raises major concerns that have yet to be fully addressed in public debate or policy planning. This piece critically examines the railway's potential socioenvironmental, economic, and geopolitical impacts. Drawing on recent evidence from Amazonian infrastructure projects and relatable international experiences, megaprojects, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Amazon, often result in deforestation, threats to Indigenous lands, escalating debt, and governance challenges. While the Brazil-China railway project is framed as a symbol of South-South cooperation with improved connectivity and trade benefits, its implementation risks reinforcing extractive development models and compromising Brazil's national sovereignty. Without strong environmental safeguards, transparent governance, and meaningful consultation with affected communities, the railway could deliver lasting degradation rather than shared prosperity. As Brazil navigates its infrastructure future, this case offers a timely opportunity to reconsider how large-scale development can align with environmental justice, ecological integrity, and long-term national interests.