scholarly journals Climate Change and Health Impacts in Urban Areas: Towards Hybrid Evaluation Tools for New Governance

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1344
Author(s):  
Luigi Fusco Girard ◽  
Francesca Nocca
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
New Governance ◽  
Evaluation Tools ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Negative Impacts

The shift towards the new paradigm, that is, the “ecological and humanistic” paradigm, introduced by the United Nations in the Agenda 2030, and the current period of health emergency due to COVID-19 place the human dimension at the centre of the development strategies for our cities. The humanistic dimension, in particular, is related to human wellbeing, health and living conditions. The health and wellbeing of citizens depend on factors and actions that go beyond the health sector. In particular, here, the attention is focused on the negative impacts produced by pollution and climate change, issues that concern (and that are closely related to) most urban agglomerations in the world. The pandemic due to COVID-19 has highlighted the close relationship existing among social, natural and economic systems. Each system is interdependent on the other. Thus, the pandemic has boosted the necessity to accelerate efforts to address climate change. Therefore, in this framework, new urban development models are required. The circular economy model is proposed as a model able to reduce the negative impacts of urban transformations. The attention is then focused on implementation tools for improving decision-making processes and, in particular, on the evaluation tools for assessing the multidimensional impacts of urbanisation on human health.

scholarly journals IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF NATIVE AND INVASIVE GRASSES IN THE CERRADO

FLORESTA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 1555
Author(s):  
Paula Alves Oliveira ◽  
Cristiane Coelho De Moura ◽  
Lidia Gabriella Santos ◽  
Israel Marinho Pereira ◽  
Marcelo Leandro Bueno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Melinis Minutiflora ◽  
Environmental Suitability ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Invasive Grasses ◽  
African Grasses ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Exotic Grass

Biological invasion, mainly by African grasses, is one of the main threats to the Cerrado's biodiversity. The objective of this study was to elucidate the distribution patterns of the exotic grass Melinis minutiflora and the native grass Trichanthecium cyanescens, in order to verify the areas of potential occurrence of these species and, thus, to infer if their potential distribution will be affected by climate changes. Species occurrence data and ten uncorrelated climatic variables referring to the forecasts for the current period and future forecasts (2050 and 2070) were used for the analysis of the modeling. The models indicated the existence of environmental suitability, with AUCs above 0.8 (good) being observed in M. minutiflora and above 0.9 (excellent) in T. cyanescens. It is concluded that climate change may have negative impacts on the geographic distribution of these species, reducing the area of environmental suitability for them. In addition, the species studied have similar areas of potential distribution and regularly overlap, which can make M. minutiflora a threat to the conservation of T. cyanences, due to the invasion potential of the first.

scholarly journals New competences to manage Urban Health: Health City Manager core curriculum

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Capolongo ◽  
A Rebecchi ◽  
D Napier ◽  
G Ricciardi ◽  
C Signorelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Urban Health ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Core Curriculum ◽  
New Governance ◽  
City Manager ◽  
Urban Resilience

Abstract Health as a common good is a prior essential objective to be pursued by an alliance including citizens and local administrations. Role of cities in health promotion is emphasized by urbanization, entailing 70% of the global population living in urban areas. Cities are therefore perfect laboratories within which to act: studying and monitoring dimensions that determine the level of quality of life in cities, improving their sustainability and capacity for growth, is fundamental for a new governance model able of managing this complexity. Under the premises, the Health City Manager (HCM) has been launched, a professional gaining skills in PH management, sociology of communities, urban design and control in reducing health inequalities. A course lasting 80 hours gives then the opportunity to put into practice, at municipal level, knowledge, competences and abilities achieved. In the background, both the former EU Commissioner for Health and the Committee of the Regions warmly supported the establishment of HCMs, who would coordinate a process ensuring alignment of policies on a macro and micro scale. During G7 in 2017, Ministry for Health and Presidency of Italian Municipalities signed the Urban Health Rome Declaration, underlining the need for a stronger synergy facilitated by HCMs. In 2019, Ministry of Youth and Sport approved and financed the project. On the basis of a core curriculum, validated by a group of experts, the course is starting in 2020 for the first 120 HCMs. Innovation lies in the holistic approach, a multidisciplinary project managing method overcoming silos logic. Customization of public policies and participatory process make the figure ideal to be applied in all countries. Sustainability is ensured by a relatively high return on investment. Main impact relates to improvement of the quality of life through a full involvement and accountability of local administrations; contrast of climate change identifying strategies of urban resilience. Key messages Improvement of the quality of life through a full involvement and accountability of local administrations. Contrast of climate change identifying strategies of urban resilience.

Copenhagen Agreement - A New Paradigm of Climate Problem Solving

2010 ◽  
pp. 115-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Agibalov ◽  
A. Kokorin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Climate Change Policy ◽  
New Order ◽  
Paradigm Shifts ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Energy Efficiency Policy ◽  
Policy Paradigm ◽  
Change Policy

Copenhagen summit results could be called a failure. This is the failure of UN climate change policy management, but definitely the first step to a new order as well. The article reviews main characteristics of climate policy paradigm shifts. Russian interests in climate change policy and main threats are analyzed. Successful development and implementation of energy savings and energy efficiency policy are necessary and would sufficiently help solving the global climate change problem.

Developing the management models of life skills education in order to deal with climate change and disaster prevention for students in the ethnic minorities boarding high school in the current period - The status and solutions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Thi Nhu Quynh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Disaster Prevention ◽  
Current Period ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
Skills Education ◽  
Life Skills Education

Life skills education to deal with the climate change and management of natural disaster prevention for students in ethnic minorities boarding high schools are very necessary nowadays. Based on educational activities of life skills, we establish and develop the awareness, attitudes and behavior for students, help them to find the causes and consequences of climate change and the natural disaster so that they shape attitudes and behavior of themselves in adaptation and mitigation due to climate change and natural disasters, as well as conscious propaganda for everyone to perform, toward a better life, a civilized society, meet overall educational goals during the current period. So that, life skills education for the goals of meeting the needs of disaster prevention for students are concerned. However, we not only say doctrinairely but also pay attention to the results of the life skills education due to meet the needs of disaster prevention, by then we form perceptions, attitudes and behavior for students in schools and in society. So there must be coordination between the forces of education in schools with families and society. Therefore, life skills education for students acquire sustainably. Assay results consulted reviews of managers, teachers showed that life skills educational management measures meeting the needs of disaster prevention for the students are necessary and available, suitable with the practice of ethnic minorities boarding high schools.

The implications of climate change on residential water use: a micro-scale analysis of Portland (OR), USA

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Shandas ◽  
Meenakshi Rao ◽  
Moriah McSharry McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Residential Water Use ◽  
Residential Water

Social and behavioral research is crucial for securing environmental sustainability and improving human living environments. Although the majority of people now live in urban areas, we have limited empirical evidence of the anticipated behavioral response to climate change. Using empirical data on daily household residential water use and temperature, our research examines the implications of future climate conditions on water conservation behavior in 501 households within the Portland (OR) metropolitan region. We ask whether and how much change in ambient temperatures impact residential household water use, while controlling for taxlot characteristics. Based on our results, we develop a spatially explicit description about the changes in future water use for the study region using a downscaled future climate scenario. The results suggest that behavioral responses are mediated by an interaction of household structural attributes, and magnitude and temporal variability of weather parameters. These findings have implications for the way natural resource managers and planning bureaus prepare for and adapt to future consequences of climate change.

Managing African Urbanization in the Context of Environmental Change

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuaib Lwasa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Urbanization Rate ◽  
Development And Management

Africa’s urbanization rate has increased steadily over the past three decades and is reported to be faster than in any other region in the world . It is estimated that by 2030, over half of the African population will be living in urban areas . But the nature of Africa’s urbanization and subsequent form of cities is yet to be critically analyzed in the context of city authorities’ readiness to address the challenges . Evidence is also suggesting that urbanization in African countries is increasingly associated with the high economic growth that has been observed in the last two decades . Both underlying and proximate drivers are responsible for the urbanization, and these include population dynamics, economic growth, legislative designation, increasing densities in rural centers, as well as the growth of mega cities such as Lagos, Cairo and Kinshasa, that are extending to form urban corridors . With the opportunities of urbanization in Sub–Saharan Africa, there are also challenges in the development and management of these cities . Those challenges include provision of social services, sustainable economic development, housing development, urban governance, spatial development guidance and environmental management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction . The challenge involves dealing with the development and infrastructure deficit, in addition to required adaption to and mitigation of climate change . This paper examines the current state of urban management in Africa .

Smart Cities and Smart Regulation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Rønne
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Smart Regulation

Increasing focus on sustainable societies and ‘smart cities’ due to emphasis on mitigation of climate change is simultaneous with ‘smart regulation’ reaching the forefront of the political agenda. Consequently, the energy sector and its regulation are undergoing significant innovation and change. Energy innovations include transition from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources and application of new computer technology, interactively matching production with consumer demand. Smart cities are growing and projects are being initiated for development of urban areas and energy systems. Analysis from ‘Smart Cities Accelerator’, developed under the EU Interreg funding programme that includes Climate-KIC,——provides background for the focus on a smart energy system. Analysis ensures the energy supply systems support the integration of renewables with the need for new technologies and investments. ‘Smart’ is trendy, but when becoming ‘smart’ leads to motivation that is an important step towards mitigating climate change.

scholarly journals Green Deal as a Climate Changes Dam on the Road to Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jevtic ◽  
C Bouland
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Road ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
On The Road ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Public health professionals (PHP) have a dual task in climate change. They should persuade their colleagues in clinical medicine of the importance of all the issues covered by the GD. The fact that the health sector contributes to the overall emissions of 4.4% speaks to the lack of awareness within the health sector itself. The issue of providing adequate infrastructure for the health sector is essential. Strengthening the opportunities and development of the circular economy within healthcare is more than just a current issue. The second task of PHP is targeting the broader population. The public health mission is being implemented, inter alia, through numerous activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment of the impact on health. GD should be a roadmap for priorities and actions in public health, bearing in mind: an ambitious goal of climate neutrality, an insistence on clean, affordable and safe energy, a strategy for a clean and circular economy. GD provides a framework for the development of sustainable and smart transport, the development of green agriculture and policies from field to table. It also insists on biodiversity conservation and protection actions. The pursuit of zero pollution and an environment free of toxic chemicals, as well as incorporating sustainability into all policies, is also an indispensable part of GD. GD represents a leadership step in the global framework towards a healthier future and comprises all the non-EU members as well. The public health sector should consider the GD as an argument for achieving goals at national levels, and align national public health policies with the goals of this document. There is a need for stronger advocacy of health and public-health interests along with incorporating sustainability into all policies. Achieving goals requires the education process for healthcare professionals covering all of topics of climate change, energy and air pollution to a much greater extent than before.

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