scholarly journals Environmental Concern in a Capitalist Economy: Climate Change Perception Among U.S. Specialty-Crop Producers

2020 ◽  
pp. 108602661989754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yetkin Borlu ◽  
Leland Glenna
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Ecological Modernization ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Specialty Crop ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Treadmill Of Production

The agricultural sector offers a unique opportunity to examine the topic of climate change because agriculture is more susceptible to climate disruptions than many other industrial sectors. Based on the analysis of the survey data and in-depth interviews with specialty-crop producers in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, we test the capacity of ecological modernization and treadmill of production perspectives to explain how resource-intensive producers recognize water availability and climate change as threats to their operation’s economic viability. We find that producers in capitalist markets recognize natural resource problems; however, they fail to respond to climate change beyond natural resource problems. We also find that local markets play a positive role in raising environmental awareness of producers. Finally, our finding on the association between the perceptions of water availability and climate change goes beyond the treadmill of production dualism that only theorizes the impacts of economic factors on the environment.

scholarly journals Water Quality Threats, Perceptions of Climate Change and Behavioral Responses among Farmers in the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Tewodros R. Godebo ◽  
Marc A. Jeuland ◽  
Christopher J. Paul ◽  
Dagnachew L. Belachew ◽  
Peter G. McCornick
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Ethiopian Rift ◽  
Adaptation Mechanism ◽  
Main Ethiopian Rift

This work aims to assess water quality for irrigated agriculture, alongside perceptions and adaptations of farmers to climate change in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). Climate change is expected to cause a rise in temperature and variability in rainfall in the region, reducing surface water availability and raising dependence on groundwater. The study data come from surveys with 147 farmers living in the Ziway–Shala basin and water quality assessments of 162 samples from groundwater wells and surface water. Most groundwater samples were found to be unsuitable for long term agricultural use due to their high salinity and sodium adsorption ratio, which has implications for soil permeability, as well as elevated bicarbonate, boron and residual sodium carbonate concentrations. The survey data indicate that water sufficiency is a major concern for farmers that leads to frequent crop failures, especially due to erratic and insufficient rainfall. An important adaptation mechanism for farmers is the use of improved crop varieties, but major barriers to adaptation include a lack of access to irrigation water, credit or savings, appropriate seeds, and knowledge or information on weather and climate conditions. Local (development) agents are identified as vital to enhancing farmers’ knowledge of risks and solutions, and extension programs must therefore continue to promote resilience and adaptation in the area. Unfortunately, much of the MER groundwater that could be used to cope with declining viability of rainfed agriculture and surface water availability, is poor in quality. The use of saline groundwater could jeopardize the agricultural sector, and most notably commercial horticulture and floriculture activities. This study highlights the complex nexus of water quality and sufficiency challenges facing the agriculture sector in the region, and should help decision-makers to design feasible strategies for enhancing adaptation and food security.

scholarly journals Determinants of Support for Climate Change Efforts in the Global South

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 455-468
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Adugu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Ecological Modernization ◽  
New Ecological Paradigm ◽  
Sea Levels ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Greenhouse Emissions ◽  
Change Efforts

This paper addresses determinants that underpin support for climate change efforts. The study is based on Pew Research Center (USA), Spring 2015 Global Attitudes survey dataset, with a primary focus on climate change, collected from March 25 to May 27, 2015. Drawing on the new ecological paradigm and ecological modernization perspectives, the paper utilizing logistic regression, examines the relationship between individuals’ perception or awareness of the severity of climate change and their support for limiting greenhouse emissions; the extent to which individuals’ views on whether developing countries should do as much as the rich countries in addressing climate change predict the likelihood of their (individuals’) support for limiting greenhouse emissions. The logistic regression models reveal that people’s rational insight into the following consequences of climate change positively predicts support for limiting greenhouse emissions: severe weather like floods or severe storms; long periods of unusually hot weather; rising sea levels; years of schooling and age positively predict support for limiting greenhouse emissions. In general, knowing an individual’s country of residence offers no predictive value in determining whether the individual will support limiting greenhouse emissions. The notable exceptions are: South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. These four countries display positive and statistically significant coefficients in the logistic regression model predicting support for greenhouse emissions.       Keywords: climate change; environmental concern; greenhouse emissions; ecological crisis; Africa

scholarly journals Mitigation of the effects of climate change in the agricultural sector of Cyprus, through optimization of benefit

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Economidou ◽  
M. K. Doula ◽  
A. A. Zorpas
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Total Profit ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Domestic Products

Abstract Water scarcity has a significant impact on agricultural productivity, and it usually constitutes the main criterion for the continuation of agricultural activity. Cyprus agri-sector faces increasing challenges since water resources are very limited and particularly susceptible to climate change. As total profit highly depends on cultivation patterns, the present study aims to define the optimal pattern of agricultural crops in Cyprus. A Linear Programming Model is set up to maximize the net profit of annual and permanent crops. As for the constraints, these include limitations on land and water availability under four different Scenarios, provided that production secures current consumption of (1) domestic products, (2) domestic and imported products, (3) domestic products but under a 40% decrease in water availability and (4) domestic products but limited to only traditional, tropical and subtropical crops, under a 40% decrease in water availability. The results indicate that when using an optimal cultivation pattern, economic benefit increases compared to 120%, 62, 20, and 48%, based on Scenarios 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Furthermore, the results are considered useful and directly applicable to policy makers to redesign their strategy in light of water scarcity.

scholarly journals Water, international peace, and security

2010 ◽  
Vol 92 (879) ◽  
pp. 647-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Tignino
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
International Peace ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
Peace And Security

AbstractWater scarcity, accelerated by climate change, affects water availability and may threaten peace and security. This role of water, as a contributing factor for triggering wars, sheds light on the significance of the protection of water during armed conflict. Keeping water out of war not only contributes to preserving an indispensable natural resource for life but also serves as a tool for the hostile parties to start negotiations, building trust and peace.

Socioecological resilience, climate change, and natural resource management: A role for psychology

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia L. Winter ◽  
Susan Charnley ◽  
Jonathan W. Long ◽  
Frank K. Lake ◽  
Trista M. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Natural Resource Management ◽  
Natural Resource

Uneven Decoupling

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 410-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan P. Thombs ◽  
Xiaorui Huang
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Ecological Modernization ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Treadmill Of Production ◽  
Global North ◽  
Organization Of Production ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

The macro-comparative decoupling literature has often sought to test the arguments made by the treadmill of production (TP) and ecological modernization (EM) theories. However, due to data limitations, these studies have been limited to analyzing the years after 1960. Given that both theories discuss historical processes operating before 1960, analyzing pre-1960 data is warranted to more comprehensively test the propositions made by both theories. We assess the long-term relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions from 1870 to 2014 using a sample of global North nations. We use Prais-Winsten regression models with time interactions to assess whether, when, and how much CO2 emissions have decoupled from economic growth over time. We find that significant relative decoupling has occurred twice since 1870: during the last 30 years of the nineteenth century, the timing of which is contrary to what both the EM and TP theories might expect, and after 1970. We also observe that the relationship remained relatively stable from the turn of the twentieth century to approximately 1970, which aligns with the arguments made by the classical TP work. We conclude that shifts in the global organization of production have shaped the magnitude of the economic growth–CO2 emissions relationship and its changes over time, which has implications for climate mitigation policy.

DISSEMINATION AND USE OF INFORMATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF FARMERS IN MALUGA AND CHIBELA VILLAGES IN SEMI-ARID CENTRAL TANZANIA

Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Elia ◽  
Stephen Mutula ◽  
Christine Stilwell
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovations ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change And Variability ◽  
Semi Arid

This study was part of broader PhD research which investigated how access to, and use of, information enhances adaptation to climate change and variability in the agricultural sector in semi-arid Central Tanzania. The research was carried out in two villages using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory and model to assess the dissemination of this information and its use by farmers in their adaptation of their farming practices to climate change and variability. This predominantly qualitative study employed a post-positivist paradigm. Some elements of a quantitative approach were also deployed in the data collection and analysis. The principal data collection methods were interviews and focus group discussions. The study population comprised farmers, agricultural extension officers and the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project manager. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis whereas quantitative data were analysed to generate mostly descriptive statistics using SPSS.  Key findings of the study show that farmers perceive a problem in the dissemination and use of climate information for agricultural development. They found access to agricultural inputs to be expensive, unreliable and untimely. To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and variability on farming effectively, the study recommends the repackaging of current and accurate information on climate change and variability, farmer education and training, and collaboration between researchers, meteorology experts, and extension officers and farmers. Moreover, a clear policy framework for disseminating information related to climate change and variability is required.

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