scholarly journals Educating on democracy in a time of environmental disasters

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Wejnert

The recent diffusion of democracy across the globe has led to an increase in the curiosity of scholars, policymakers and the public alike about the main principles and characteristics of democracy. Equally important are concerns over outcomes of democracy, especially responsiveness of democracy to environmental and citizens’ protection in times of disasters. This article aims to answer several questions about the understanding of principles and outcomes of democracy, and the complexity and variability of democracy across countries, which are still unanswered in the literature. Specifically, it adds to the scholarly debates on democracy and environmental disasters in three ways. First, it presents theoretical and empirical debates on definitions and principles of democracy and its progress worldwide. Second, it discusses the effect of democracy on environmental sustainability. Third, it focuses on the pre-eminence of responsiveness of democratic in comparison to non-democratic governments to environmental disasters, and the best pathways to education on democracy in a time of environmental disasters. The article concludes by highlighting the advantage of mechanisms and solutions of democracy in contrast to non-democracy to challenges in times of environmental disasters and to teaching about responses to environmental disasters.

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Mosly

<p>Many countries around the globe have recently pursued sustainability. The public and governments are demanding sustainability due to worldwide environmental disasters caused by pollution and man-made activities that impact the ecological system. Green buildings represent a significant component of sustainability, as their construction is intended to reduce natural resources consumption through energy and water conservation. Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s richest countries, but its number of certified green buildings is notably low. In addition, all of these buildings are certified by the US Green Building Council LEED rating system and not by a national organization. It seems that numerous barriers exist, slowing the development and diffusion of green buildings in Saudi Arabia. Through a systematic qualitative research approach, this research aims to explore barriers to the diffusion and adoption of green buildings in Saudi Arabia, which will facilitate the development of green buildings in Saudi Arabia. This research concludes the identification of 14 green building barriers, with lack of skilled personal and unsupportive government policies and regulations being the most significant barriers.</p>


Author(s):  
José G. Vargas-Hernández

This chapter has the objective to analyze the elements of urban green innovation based on the guarantee the public interest, decentralize the infrastructure to democratize the territory, and innovating the institutional design to address the complexity of the challenges in the city. The method employed is the critical analysis supported by a review of the literature and consult to experts in the field. It is concluded that the urban green innovation capacity planning has a critical role in urban innovation development in specific areas of economic growth, social inclusion and equality, environmental sustainability, health, education, business, etc. To achieve these aims, urban green innovation requires to guarantee the public interest, the democratization of the territory, and the new institutional design.


Author(s):  
Niranjan Devkota ◽  
Rekha Rai ◽  
Ghanashyam Khanal ◽  
Ihtsham Ul Haq Padda ◽  
Udaya Raj Paudel ◽  
...  

The governments, business firms, policymakers, advocacy groups, and even the public recently are hotly debating on the issues of environmentally friendly practices. In this context, being a part of 'going green', green banking, which plays an important role in environmental sustainability, has been a buzzword in the global baking industry. This study identifies how the customers perceive the emerging concept of green banking initiatives of banks and also analyzes the factors that influence such practices of the customers. Using a structured questionnaire, the primary data were collected from 403 commercial banks of Kathmandu valley, Nepal. The awareness index was prepared, and the binary logit model was applied for the econometric analysis. This study observed that the customers are positive towards the environmentally friendly practices of banks and ready to adopt the green banking practices. The research implies that in order to promote environmental sustainability, banks and financial institutions should be able to educate the customers about green banking practices and their benefits.


Author(s):  
José G. Vargas-Hernández

This chapter has the objective to analyze the elements of urban green innovation based on the guarantee of the public interest to decentralize the infrastructure to democratize the territory and innovate the institutional design to address the complexity of the challenges in the city. The method employed is the critical analysis supported by a review of the literature and consultation of experts in the field. It is concluded that the urban green innovation capacity planning has a critical role in urban innovation development in specific areas of economic growth, social inclusion and equality, environmental sustainability, health, education, business, etc. To achieve these aims, urban green innovation requires one to guarantee the public interest, the democratization of the territory, and the new institutional design.


Urban Studies ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 004209802092783
Author(s):  
Glen Searle ◽  
Crystal Legacy

In Western liberal democracies the planning of mega transport infrastructure projects is guided by public interest claims typically expressed through legislation and political mandates. But with the infrastructure boom being observed in many cities since the Global Financial Crisis, and the need to address unprecedented levels of urbanisation, the level of politicisation directed at infrastructure projects draws attention to how the public interest is treated in the planning and management of complex mega transport infrastructure projects in diverse local contexts. Looking to Sydney, an advanced neoliberal city building the largest transport infrastructure project in Australian history, we examine how public interest is asserted in a way that reinforces legitimacy of the process and consensus for the project. Under these conditions, planners fail or are unwilling to raise additional or new public interest issues. The vagaries of public interest mean that in being open to interpretation the public interest can be easily captured by the interests of capital and of ruling politicians. This raises important questions for urban studies about the role governments and, in particular, public-sector planners can play in advocating for actually existing public interest issues such as environmental sustainability without it amounting to just rhetoric with no follow through.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bennett

In this era of technological disruption, when many industries are fighting to stay relevant, the oil and gas industry seems to be stagnant. It is in this environment where public perception of the modern industry is becoming more critical and as younger consumers grow in both number and political influence, their viewpoints will become especially vital to the continued relevance of the industry. The oil and gas industry gives itself high marks for innovation, safety and environmental sustainability, and yet the public opinion in these areas is often portrayed very negatively. We have an image problem. The belief that oil and gas is good for society seems to decline with each younger generation. The public believes the industry is necessary for society, though they still see it as a problem causer, not a problem solver. But support for the industry falls with each generation and millennials are more likely to believe the industry is bad for society and a problem causer. The oil and gas industry needs to communicate and engage with consumers to identify ways to better understand their motivations and concerns. Clearly there is a gap in how the public and executives view the industry and the time to address these perceptions is now. To view the video, click the link on the right.


2017 ◽  
pp. 109-121
Author(s):  
Antenora Maria Da Mata Siqueira ◽  
Juliana Nazareno Mendes ◽  
Alex José Lemos Filho

RESUMOOs desastres relacionados às águas, ocorridos no Brasil, aprofundaram e ampliaram as pesquisas sobre tais fenômenos. Este artigo analisa os conflitos decorrentes da resposta do governo da cidade de Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ às consequências dos desastres: o programa de habitação popular “Morar Feliz”. Realizaram-se levantamentos bibliográficos, coleta de dados em órgãos públicos e entrevistas com moradores reassentados. Os resultados indicam a existência de conflito de interesses que opõem os moradores que reivindicam ficar no bairro em que residem, ou próximo a ele, e o governo municipal, que promove a expansão urbana em áreas com insuficiência de infraestrutura urbana.Palavras-Chave: desastres ambientais, habitação popular, risco.RESUMENLos desastres relacionados con el agua que ocurrieron en Brasil profundizaron y ampliaron las investigaciones sobre estos fenómenos. En este artículo se analizan los conflictos que surgen como resultado de la respuesta del gobierno de la ciudad de Campos dos Goytacazes / RJ frente a las consecuencias de los desastres: el programa de vivienda pública "Morar Feliz". La investigación se basó en la literatura sobre el tema, en recolección de datos en los organismos públicos y en entrevistas con residentes reasentados. Los resultados indican la existencia de conflictos de intereses que oponen a los residentes que pretenden permanecer en el distrito en el que residen, o al menos cerca; al gobierno municipal, que promueve la expansión urbana en las zonas con insuficiencia de infraestructura urbana.Palabras Clave: Desastres ambientales, viviendas públicas, riesgo.ABSTRACTWater-related disasters occurred in Brazil deepened and expanded researches on such phenomena. This article analyzes the conflicts arising from the response of the government of the city of Campos dos Goytacazes / RJ concerning the consequences of these disasters: the public housing program "Morar Feliz". There were conducted bibliographic researches, data collection in public entities and interviews with residents resettled. The results indicate the existence of conflict of interests that opposes residents who claim to stay in the district in which they reside, or close to it; and the municipal government, which promotes urban sprawl in areas with lack of urban infrastructure.Keywords: Environmental disasters, public housing, risk.


Author(s):  
Sukanchan Palit

The world of sustainability is changing rapidly. The loopholes of the laws of energy and environmental sustainability are changing and exposed in a vibrant manner. So the ultimate need is to target sustainability in a war-footing. The answers to the wide ranging question of environmental and energy sustainability is far-reaching and ground-breaking to our human society. Environmental and energy sustainability is intricately linked with sustainable development and human survival. The answers to mankind’s suffering are intricate, also at the same time visionary and bewildering. The world of unknown in the field of science and technology of renewable energy is giving place to the veritable certainity and knowledge. The plight of human society due to environmental disasters throughout the span of different nations is awesome and immense. The depletion of non-renewable resources has plunged our human society in a disastrous dilemma. Here comes the answer of environmental sustainability and energy sustainability. Environmental restrictions and regulations with the attached unbilical cord of human survival has made our human society to be more rigid and rigorous. This scientific effort highlights the important facets of renewable energy and its impact on human survival in future. The questions of environmental sustainability are varied and unanswered. So the vision of this research effort is to tackle and uncover the hidden aspects of renewable energy and the remedies behind the far-reaching questions of environmental disasters. The endeavour is wide and varied carrying an enormous promise to the answers to human survival in this age of energy and environmental uncertainity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-51
Author(s):  
Rida Respati ◽  
Muhammad Azhari ◽  
Sari Marlina

The environment that continues to experience quality degradation caused by human activities in fulfilling the necessities of life such as the fulfillment of food and board clothing requires that human beings have to sacrifice what is around it for that matter. The role of government and society is very important in maintaining environmental sustainability. For example by optimizing the role of local wisdom owned by the public like Bahuma Batahutn. Bahuma Batahutn is one way of environmental management wisely, owned by the Dayak people. This type of research is a type of qualitative research using ethnographic methods and research data obtained by using data collection techniques in the form of literature review, observation, and interviews related to local wisdom.


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