scholarly journals COVID-19: An Outcome of Biodiversity Loss or a Conspiracy? Investigating the Attitudes of Environmental Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5307
Author(s):  
Georgios Tsantopoulos ◽  
Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou ◽  
Evangelia Karasmanaki
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Future ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
The Media

The global environment is being constantly degraded, placing humans at increased risk for outbreaks of infectious diseases. In this regard, environmental quality must be enhanced in order to prevent pandemics in the future. However, it is unknown whether future environmental experts are aware of the intricate relationship between environmental degradation and infectious diseases. This question is important because if they lack awareness about this relationship, they may not be able to contribute to biodiversity conservation which, in turn, can prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases. Hence, the aim of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of environmental students towards the pandemic. The primary objective is to examine their views on the origin of COVID-19 and a secondary objective is to discover the factors that affect the endorsement of conspiracy and non-conspiracy theories on the origin of COVID-19. Our findings indicated that an alarmingly high percentage of students endorsed the conspiracy theory that COVID-19 is a man-made virus for which there was a vaccine before it emerged, whereas only one in five students perceived that the virus is associated with climate change. These students are the future scientists who will be responsible for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to environmental students, both in Greece and elsewhere, and examine if such perceptions stem from any deficiencies in curricula or from the effects of the media.

Preparedness 3.0: Addressing the Future

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 728-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges C. Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Common Occurrence ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
State Sponsorship ◽  
The Future

ABSTRACTThe last 14 years has taught us that that we are facing a new reality; a reality in which public health emergencies are a common occurrence. Today, we live in a world with dangerous people without state sponsorship who are an enormous threat to our safety; one where emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are waiting to break out; a world where the benefits of globalization in trade, transportation, and social media brings threats to our communities faster and with a greater risk than ever before. Even climate change has entered into the preparedness equation, bringing with it the forces of nature in the form of extreme weather and its complications. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:728–729)

scholarly journals Short term momentum profits and their source: a business indicators’ approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 563-577
Author(s):  
A. Ejaz ◽  
P. Polak
Keyword(s):  
Stock Markets ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Momentum Effect ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Momentum Profits ◽  
The Future ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Number Of Authors ◽  
Starting A Business

The main objective of the paper is to seek the source that can explain the momentum profits because the source of momentum profits has been disputed. The secondary objective of the paper is to affirm the findings of the author about the presence of the short term momentum effect and to reaffirm the notion that CAPM cannot explain the momentum profits supported by a large number of authors. For the primary objective, a set of variables has been chosen, that fall under the category of “Business Indicators”, to explain the momentum profits. It is found that a variable “Starting a Business” could explain the source of the momentum profits whereas other variables may have a negligible or no influence over the momentum profits. It is also reaffirmed that a short term momentum effect has been found in 14 stock markets and the CAPM could not explain the momentum profits. This study is not conclusive due to the limitation of data but it does give a source of the momentum profits and it sheds light on the future research about the sources that can explain momentum profits in a great detail.

Global Environmental Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Machalaba ◽  
Cristina Romanelli ◽  
Peter Stoett
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Global Environmental

The prediction of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and the avoidance of their tremendous social and economic costs is contingent on the identification of their most likely drivers. It is argued that the drivers of global environmental change (and climate change as both a driver and an impact) are often the drivers of EIDs; and that the two overlap to such a strong degree that targeting these drivers is sound epidemiological policy. Several drivers overlap with the leading causes of biodiversity loss, providing opportunities for health and biodiversity sectors to generate synergies at local and global levels. This chapter provides a primer on EID ecology, reviews underlying drivers and mechanisms that facilitate pathogen spillover and spread, provides suggested policy and practice-based actions toward the prevention of EIDs in the context of environmental change, and identifies knowledge gaps for the purpose of further research.

Global Environmental Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases

2017 ◽  
pp. 24-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Machalaba ◽  
Cristina Romanelli ◽  
Peter Stoett
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Global Environmental

The prediction of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and the avoidance of their tremendous social and economic costs is contingent on the identification of their most likely drivers. It is argued that the drivers of global environmental change (and climate change as both a driver and an impact) are often the drivers of EIDs; and that the two overlap to such a strong degree that targeting these drivers is sound epidemiological policy. Several drivers overlap with the leading causes of biodiversity loss, providing opportunities for health and biodiversity sectors to generate synergies at local and global levels. This chapter provides a primer on EID ecology, reviews underlying drivers and mechanisms that facilitate pathogen spillover and spread, provides suggested policy and practice-based actions toward the prevention of EIDs in the context of environmental change, and identifies knowledge gaps for the purpose of further research.

scholarly journals The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Snacking and Weight among Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria G. Williamson ◽  
Abhaya Dilip ◽  
Jackson R. Dillard ◽  
Jane Morgan-Daniel ◽  
Alexandra M. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Potential Link ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
The Relationship

Eating behaviors, including unhealthy snacking or excessive snacking leading to excess calorie consumption, may contribute to obesity among adolescents. Socioeconomic status (SES) also significantly influences eating behaviors, and low SES is associated with increased risk for obesity. However, little is known regarding the relationship between snacking behavior and SES among adolescents and how this may contribute to obesity-related outcomes. The primary objective of this scoping review was to review the literature to assess and characterize the relationship between SES and snacking in adolescents. The secondary objective was to assess weight-related outcomes and their relation to snacking habits. Included articles were published between January 2000 and May 2019; written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish; and focused on adolescents (13–17 years). In total, 14 bibliographic databases were searched, and seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Preliminary evidence from the seven included studies suggests a weak but potential link between SES and snacking. Additionally, these dietary patterns seemed to differ by sex and income type of country. Finally, only three of the included studies addressed weight-related outcomes, but the overall available evidence suggests that snacking does not significantly affect weight-related outcomes. Due to the small number of included studies, results should be interpreted with caution.

scholarly journals Tracing climate and land-use instability reveals new insights into the future of Earth’s remaining wilderness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Asamoah ◽  
Moreno Di Marco ◽  
James Watson ◽  
Linda Beaumont ◽  
Oscar Venter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
The Future ◽  
Wilderness Areas ◽  
Global Biodiversity

Abstract Accelerated loss of Earth’s wilderness over the last five decades underscores the urgency for efforts to retain the conservation value of these areas. Assessing how wilderness areas are likely to be impacted by the future environmental change is fundamental to achieving global biodiversity conservation goals. Using scenarios of climate and land-use change during baseline (1970–2005) and future (2015–2050) epochs, we found that climate change within wilderness areas is predicted to increase by ~ 47%, compared to a 19% increase in land-use change. Half (52%) of all wilderness areas may undergo climate change by 2050, limiting their capacity to shelter biodiversity. More significant changes are especially predicted to occur in the unprotected wilderness that supports unique assemblages of species and are therefore more important for biodiversity persistence. Countries with smaller and disconnected wilderness areas are disproportionately at risk from the combined impacts of climate and land-use change. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and preserving remaining intact natural ecosystems can help fortify these frontiers of biodiversity.

scholarly journals A common conception of justice underlies Pacific churches’ message on climate change

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-101
Author(s):  
Philip Cass
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Climate Justice ◽  
Protestant Churches ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Media

This article presents an overview of the role mainstream  churches can play in mitigating the climate change crisis in the Pacific and their role in facilitating climate induced migration. It builds on earlier work by the author (Cass, 2018; 2020) with a focus on Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. Both Catholic and Protestant churches share a concern for the future of the planet based on the principles of economic, social and climate justice, which complement moral and ecumenical imperatives. The article examines what message the churches convey through the media and the theology that underlines them.

The Challenges of Climate Change and Food Security in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): From Deep Understanding to Quick Actions

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 422-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahaf M. Ajaj ◽  
Suzan M. Shahin ◽  
Mohammed A. Salem
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
World Population ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future

Climate change and global warming became a real concern for global food security. The world population explosion is a critical factor that results in enormous emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs), required to cover the growing demands of fresh water, food, and shelter. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a significant oil-producing country, which is included in the list of 55 countries that produce at least 55% of the world’s GHGs and thus involved in the top 30 countries over the world with emission deficits. At the same time, the UAE is located in an arid region of the world, with harsh environmental conditions. The sharp population increases and the massive growth in the urbanization are primary sources, lead to further stresses on the agricultural sector. Thus, the future of the food production industry in the country is a challenging situation. Consequently, the primary objective of this work is to shed light on the current concerns related to climate change and food security, through describing the implications of climate change on the food production sector of the UAE. Tailored solutions that can rescue the future of food security in the country are also highlighted.

scholarly journals The future of marine biodiversity and marine ecosystem functioning in UK coastal and territorial waters (including UK Overseas Territories) – with an emphasis on marine macrophyte communities

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frithjof C. Küpper ◽  
Nicholas A. Kamenos
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Important Species ◽  
The Future ◽  
Overseas Territories ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning – including seaweed communities – in the territorial waters of the UK and its Overseas Territories are facing unprecedented pressures. Key stressors are changes in ecosystem functioning due to biodiversity loss caused by ocean warming (species replacement and migration, e.g. affecting kelp forests), sea level rise (e.g. loss of habitats including salt marshes), plastic pollution (e.g. entanglement and ingestion), alien species with increasing numbers of alien seaweeds (e.g. outcompeting native species and parasite transmission), overexploitation (e.g. loss of energy supply further up the food web), habitat destruction (e.g. loss of nursery areas for commercially important species) and ocean acidification (e.g. skeletal weakening of ecosystem engineers including coralline algal beds). These stressors are currently affecting biodiversity, and their impact can be projected for the future. All stressors may act alone or in synergy. Marine biodiversity provides crucial goods and services. Climate change and biodiversity loss pose new challenges for legislation. In particular, there are implications of climate change for the designation and management of Marine Protected Areas and natural carbon storage by marine systems to help control the global climate system. The UK currently has legal obligations to protect biodiversity under international and European law.

Global Environmental Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases

2018 ◽  
pp. 393-426
Author(s):  
Catherine Machalaba ◽  
Cristina Romanelli ◽  
Peter Stoett
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Global Environmental

The prediction of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and the avoidance of their tremendous social and economic costs is contingent on the identification of their most likely drivers. It is argued that the drivers of global environmental change (and climate change as both a driver and an impact) are often the drivers of EIDs; and that the two overlap to such a strong degree that targeting these drivers is sound epidemiological policy. Several drivers overlap with the leading causes of biodiversity loss, providing opportunities for health and biodiversity sectors to generate synergies at local and global levels. This chapter provides a primer on EID ecology, reviews underlying drivers and mechanisms that facilitate pathogen spillover and spread, provides suggested policy and practice-based actions toward the prevention of EIDs in the context of environmental change, and identifies knowledge gaps for the purpose of further research.

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