Paris Climate Accord sans the USA: The Role of Local Governments in Confronting the Effects of Climate Change and Increasing Resilience

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haris Alibašić
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
The Usa

scholarly journals Overcoming the barriers to green procurement in the county: Interest groups and administrative professionalism

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy Smith ◽  
Jessica Terman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United States ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
The United States ◽  
Green Procurement ◽  
Environmentally Responsible ◽  
Government Involvement ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change

Scholars and practitioners have come to understand the important role of local governments in the causes and effects of climate change. The literature has examined both the substantive and symbolic determinants of urban sustainability policies in addition to the implementation issues associated with those policies. At the heart of these policies is the idea that local governments have the desire and ability to engage in socially and environmentally responsible practices to mitigate climate change. While important, these studies are missing a key component in the investigation of local government involvement in sustainability policies: government purchasing power. This study examines the effect of administrative professionalism and interest group presence on the determinants of green procurement in the understudied context of counties in the United States.

scholarly journals Adaptation confusion? A longitudinal examination of the concept “climate change adaptation” in Norwegian municipal surveys.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjørn Selseng ◽  
Marit Klemetsen ◽  
Tone Rusdal
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Building Society ◽  
Questions And Answers ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Longitudinal Examination

AbstractIn recent decades, there has been a surge in the scholarship on climate change adaptation (CCA) terminology and diverging interpretations of the term has emerged. Given the crucial role of local governments in building society-wide adaptive capacity, understanding how municipalities understand and interpret CCA, is important. In this study, we analyse twelve large-scale questionnaires from 2007 to 2020 distributed to all Norwegian municipalities. Using a combination of directed and conventional content analysis of the questions and answers, we summarise and map the progress of adaptation work over the 14 years and assess the consistency and the scope of the surveys in light of the current research on climate adaptation. We find diverging views on what adaptation entails, both from the researchers, in the phrasing of questions, and from the respondents. The empirical evidence suggests an overall imbalanced interpretation of CCA, both in terms of the risks and consequences we may face, the climate that needs adapting to, as well as adequate adaptation strategies. We go on to discuss the implications of these findings, highlighting the need for a shared and well-communicated framework for local CCA and a closer monitoring of the actual efforts of the municipalities. If instead left unchecked, this confusion might lead to unsustainable maladaptation at the local government level throughout Norway and beyond.

scholarly journals The role of architectural research centers in addressing climate change

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Carmody
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Research Centers ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Architectural Research

ABSTRACT: It is clear that an urgent, major transformation needs to happen in the design of the built environment to respond to impending climate change and other environmental degradation. This paper will explain the potential role of architectural research centers in this transformation and provide examples from the Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) at the University of Minnesota. A research center can become a regional hub to coordinate and disseminate critical information. CSBR is leading the establishment of Architecture 2030 standards in Minnesota, assisting local governments in writing green building policy, providing design assistance to local government, developing tools to assist design decision making, providing technical assistance to the affordable housing community inMinnesota, and establishing a regional case study database that includes actual performance information. CSBR is creating a publicly accessible, credible knowledge base on new approaches, technologies and actual performance outcomes. Research centers such as CSBR can be a critical component of the necessary feedback loop often lacking in the building industry. A research center can also fill major gaps in providing in depth professional education as well as be a catalyst for demonstration projects and public education.

Human behaviour trumps entomological risk.

2021 ◽  
pp. 276-282
Author(s):  
Sam Telford
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Expert Opinion ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Human Aspects ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
The Many

Abstract This expert opinion argues that human aspects of risk are poorly studied and need to be considered in any discussion of the role of global climate change on risk for vector-borne infections, particularly for those transmitted by ticks. It also covers the many models that are used predict the future distribution of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections in the USA and elsewhere, based on anticipated changes in weather.

scholarly journals Motivations and Intended Outcomes in Local Governments' Declarations of Climate Emergency

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xira Ruiz-Campillo ◽  
Vanesa Castán Broto ◽  
Linda Westman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Environmental Action ◽  
Future Planning ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Global And Local

Near 1,500 governments worldwide, including over 1,000 local governments, have declared a climate emergency. Such declarations constitute a response to the growing visibility of social movements in international politics as well as the growing role of cities in climate governance. Framing climate change as an emergency, however, can bring difficulties in both the identification of the most appropriate measures to adopt and the effectiveness of those measures in the long run. We use textual analysis to examine the motivations and intended outcomes of 300 declarations endorsed by local governments. The analysis demonstrates that political positioning, previous experience of environmental action within local government, and pressure from civil society are the most common motivations for declaring a climate emergency at the local level. The declarations constitute symbolic gestures highlighting the urgency of the climate challenge, but they do not translate into radically different responses to the climate change challenge. The most commonly intended impacts are increasing citizens’ awareness of climate change and establishing mechanisms to influence future planning and infrastructure decisions. However, the declarations are adopted to emphasize the increasing role cities are taking on, situating local governments as crucial agents bridging global and local action agendas.

scholarly journals Implementing ESD in Schools: Perspectives of Principals in Germany, Macau, and the USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9823
Author(s):  
Ulrich Müller ◽  
Dawson R. Hancock ◽  
Tobias Stricker ◽  
Chuang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United States ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Global Challenges ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Substantial Change

To successfully cope with global challenges such as climate change or loss of biodiversity, it will require a substantial change in the ways societies make use of the natural resources of our planet. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is expected to support the transformation of societies towards more sustainable ways of thinking, working, and living. Although there is a broad range of literature on ESD, little is known about the role of school leadership in ESD. However, leadership is crucial for the implementation of ESD in schools. This article gives a short overview of the status of ESD within Germany, Macau, and the United States and a literature review on leadership for ESD in schools. It reports on a study that seeks to investigate what principals do in Germany, Macau, and the United States; specifically, what management strategies they use and which competences they need to successfully establish ESD in their schools.

Abiotic stress tolerance of kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) and some related grasses and potential of kikuyu for agricultural and urban environments

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Fraser ◽  
Peter Sharp ◽  
Nabil Ahmad ◽  
Brett Morris ◽  
Richard Trethowan
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Abiotic Stress Tolerance ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Forming Characteristics ◽  
Noxious Weed

The introduction of kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone) into Australia in 1918 has seen it become established and adapted to several geographic regions in a wide range of ecologies and environmental situations. After it naturalised to local conditions, researchers and farmers recognised the value of kikuyu in marginal and previously unproductive sites, where forage quality and quantity made this species popular with dairy farmers and pastoralists. Its versatility and prostrate, mat-forming characteristics also led to the adoption of kikuyu by local governments, homeowners and sporting organisations in urban environments as turf. Kikuyu has the ability to alleviate soil contamination and remediate soils, thus enhancing the use of previously unproductive land. However, the aggressive growth habit of the species, considered a problem in certain regions of the world, has led to a noxious weed classification in some states of the USA. This review includes information on expected changes to world agricultural and urban environments and the potential expanded role of kikuyu. The origin of kikuyu grass, genetic variability, tolerances to soil salinity and drought, and potential for genetic improvement are also discussed.

The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Adaptation to Climate Change in the Northern Mountain of Vietnam

2022 ◽  
pp. 24-44
Author(s):  
Manh Nguyen The ◽  
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Farmer Perceptions ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Negative Impacts

Climate change has adversely affected the indigenous farmers in the mountainous regions not only in Vietnam but also in other countries. This chapter provides the indigenous farmer perception and use of indigenous knowledge to adapt to climate change. The authors reviewed many previous studies related to the indigenous farmer application of indigenous knowledge to adapt to climate change and combined with the data of 362 randomly selected indigenous farmers in Vietnam by using surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. They have found that indigenous farmers were aware of climate change and the negative impacts of climate change on their life both in Vietnam and in many other countries such as India, Bangladesh, and the USA. Furthermore, indigenous farmers have used different indigenous knowledge to adapt to climate change. This chapter also suggested that policymakers should consider indigenous farmer perceptions and indigenous knowledge when designing and formulating climate change policies for indigenous farmers in the future.

Divergent responses to sustainability and climate change planning: The role of politics, cultural frames and public participation

Urban Studies ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Foss
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Fort Worth ◽  
Two Cities ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Change Leaders ◽  
Cultural Frames

Cities are often touted as climate change leaders in the USA and all cities across the country are affected by climate change, but little is known about climate action in politically conservative cities. Using document analysis and interviews, an in-depth case study of two cities in the conservative Dallas-Fort Worth region of Texas examines how public participation and cultural framing contribute to sustainability and climate change planning. One city successfully adopted sustainability plans, while the other city was unable to do so. Comparison of the two cases reveals that carefully designed public participation processes and locally relevant cultural frames can help cities educate residents, build support and expand discussion of sustainability. However, economic development, competition and political controversy prevent cities from addressing climate change explicitly or in meaningful ways, raising concerns about the capacity of cities to act as climate change leaders.

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