Can International Technological Diffusion Substitute for Coordinated Global Policies to Mitigate Climate Change?

In this Opinion, the importance of public awareness to design solutions to mitigate climate change issues is highlighted. A large-scale acknowledgment of the climate change consequences has great potential to build social momentum. Momentum, in turn, builds motivation and demand, which can be leveraged to develop a multi-scale strategy to tackle the issue. The pursuit of public awareness is a valuable addition to the scientific approach to addressing climate change issues. The Opinion is concluded by providing strategies on how to effectively raise public awareness on climate change-related topics through an integrated, well-connected network of mavens (e.g., scientists) and connectors (e.g., social media influencers).

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Open Intellectual Property Models for Plant Innovations in the Context of New Breeding Technologies

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061218 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1218

Author(s):

Michael A. Kock

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Security ◽

Intellectual Property ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Open Innovation ◽

Climate Resilience ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Mitigate Climate Change ◽

New Breeding Technologies

Plant related innovations are critical to enable of food security and mitigate climate change. New breeding technologies (NBTs) based on emerging genome editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas will facilitate “breeding-by-editing” and enable complex breeding targets—like climate resilience or water use efficiency—in shorter time and at lower costs. However, NBTs will also lead to an unprecedented patent complexity. This paper discusses implications and potential solutions for open innovation models.

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Simulating Agroforestry Adoption in Rural Indonesia: The Potential of Trees on Farms for Livelihoods and Environment

Land ◽

10.3390/land10040385 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 385

Author(s):

Beatrice Nöldeke ◽

Etti Winter ◽

Yves Laumonier ◽

Trifosa Simamora

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Scenario ◽

Agroforestry System ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Small Scale ◽

Change Scenario ◽

Trees On Farms ◽

Agroforestry Adoption ◽

Mitigate Climate Change ◽

Small Scale Farmers

In recent years, agroforestry has gained increasing attention as an option to simultaneously alleviate poverty, provide ecological benefits, and mitigate climate change. The present study simulates small-scale farmers’ agroforestry adoption decisions to investigate the consequences for livelihoods and the environment over time. To explore the interdependencies between agroforestry adoption, livelihoods, and the environment, an agent-based model adjusted to a case study area in rural Indonesia was implemented. Thereby, the model compares different scenarios, including a climate change scenario. The agroforestry system under investigation consists of an illipe (Shorea stenoptera) rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) mix, which are both locally valued tree species. The simulations reveal that farmers who adopt agroforestry diversify their livelihood portfolio while increasing income. Additionally, the model predicts environmental benefits: enhanced biodiversity and higher carbon sequestration in the landscape. The benefits of agroforestry for livelihoods and nature gain particular importance in the climate change scenario. The results therefore provide policy-makers and practitioners with insights into the dynamic economic and environmental advantages of promoting agroforestry.

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Planetary Health, Climate Change, and Lifestyle Medicine: Threats and Opportunities

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine ◽

10.1177/15598276211008127 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155982762110081

Author(s):

Neha Pathak ◽

Amanda McKinney

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Human Health ◽

Core Competencies ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Potential Health ◽

Lifestyle Medicine ◽

The Face ◽

Mitigate Climate Change

Global environmental degradation and climate change threaten the foundation of human health and well-being. In a confluence of crises, the accelerating pace of climate change and other environmental disruptions pose an additional, preventable danger to a global population that is both aging and carrying a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Climate change and environmental disruption function as “threat multipliers,” especially for those with NCDs, worsening the potential health impacts on those with suboptimal health. At the same time, these environmental factors threaten the basic pillars of health and prevention, increasing the risk of developing chronic disease. In the face of these threats, the core competencies of lifestyle medicine (LM) present crucial opportunities to mitigate climate change and human health impacts while also allowing individuals and communities to build resilience. LM health professionals are uniquely positioned to coach patients toward climate-healthy behavior changes that heal both people and the planet.

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