Climate Services for Resilient Development (CSRD) Technical Exchange in Eastern Africa Workshop Report

In 2005, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society published its assessment of key gaps in the use of climate information for health, agriculture, water and other sectors in countries across Africa. The results from the report were less than stellar. After an extensive review of use of climate information in the development sectors of Africa, the authors concluded that the continent suffered from “market atrophy” – the reinforcing effect of zero effective supply of climate information and zero effective demand. Twelve years later, organizations such as the IRI, CSRD, CCAFS, ICPAC, and UKMO have made enormous strides at increasing both climate information supply and demand through the implementation of climate data platforms and the organizing of capacity-building seminars. In order to capitalize on the presence of the many climate and sector experts from across the IGAD region, the organizations above held a joint event, the Climate Services for Resilient Development (CSRD) Technical Exchange workshop, in Zanzibar on August 23-25, 2017, immediately after the 47th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF47). The workshop was designed to offer potential and existing users a platform to voice their needs for the development and better use of historical, monitored and forecast information for the management of drought across climate-sensitive sectors

Selection process of sustainable indicators for the Algarve Region—OBSERVE Project

The selection of indicators for the Observatory of Sustainability of the Algarve Region for Tourism (OBSERVE), poses challenges, namely which indicators are relevant to stakeholders and how to assure that information is available. To support the selection of the environmental, sociocultural, economic and institutional indicators, an engagement process was designed and applied, which included meetings with stakeholders, a workshop and an online survey. The results showed that both workshop and online surveys reflected, in general, similar opinions, thus allowing the selecting of the sustainable development indicators for the Algarve region. Additionally, the results showed that nearly 75% of the indicators can be obtained from national statistics and, therefore, can be used on the OBSERVE project, assuring a quick flow of information. As limitations, it is important to mention that the other 25% will need further development, in order to provide data for indicators, like carbon management and client satisfaction. With this approach, the observatory will survey and evaluate the sustainable development of the region (status and trends), based on indicators that answer to the strategic needs of system's main users, with social and economic implications, i.e., public institutions, economic agents, tourists, local communities and residents.ALG-01-0246-FEDER-027503info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Disaster Resilience Education and Research Roadmap for Europe 2030 : ANDROID Report

A disaster resilience education and research roadmap for Europe 2030 has been launched. This roadmap represents an important output of the ANDROID disaster resilience network, bringing together existing literature in the field, as well as the results of various analysis and study projects undertaken by project partners.The roadmap sets out five key challenges and opportunities in moving from 2015 to 2030 and aimed at addressing the challenges of the recently announced Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. This roadmap was developed as part of the ANDROID Disaster Resilience Network, led by Professor Richard Haigh of the Global Disaster Resilience Centre (www.hud.ac.uk/gdrc ) at the School of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield, UK. The ANDROID consortium of applied, human, social and natural scientists, supported by international organisations and a stakeholder board, worked together to map the field in disaster resilience education, pool their results and findings, develop interdisciplinary explanations, develop capacity, move forward innovative education agendas, discuss methods, and inform policy development. Further information on ANDROID Disaster Resilience network is available at: http://www.disaster-resilience.netAn ANDROID Disaster Resilience Network ReportANDROI

The consolidation process of the EU regulatory framework on nanotechnologies: within and beyond the EU case-by-case approach

The field of nanotechnologies has been the subject of a process of wide-ranging regulation, which covers two different trends. From the 2000s the European Commission and Parliament agreed on a type of adaptive, experimental and flexible approach, which had its apex with the Commission code of conduct on responsible nano-research developed through a set of consultations. In 2009 this initial agreement subsequently broke down and the EU started to develop a set of regulatory initiatives of a sectoral nature in several fields (cosmetics, food, biocides). Thus, the current arrangement of governance in the field of nanotechnologies appears to be a hybrid, which mixes forms belonging to the new governance method (consultations, self-regulation, agency, comitology committees, networking), working like a lung in the framework of EU policy, with more traditional tools belonging to the classic governance method (regulations, directives). This model of governance based on a case-by-case approach runs the risk of lacking coherence since it is exposed to sudden changes of direction when risks emerge and it has a weak anticipatory dimension due to both its excessive dependency on data collection and its insufficient use of upstream criteria, such as human rights, which should be used earlier, to allow anticipated intervention with a less intense use of hard law solutions

Private Sector Investment and Sustainable Development: The Current and Potential Role of Institutional Investors, Companies, Banks and Foundations in Sustainable Development

This paper seeks to provide the Financing for Development process with a perspective on the role institutional investors, companies, and foundations can play in the design and implementation of a financing strategy for global sustainability. This will help bridge the terminology and investment approaches of institutional investors, companies, foundations, and governments. The paper highlights ongoing efforts among private investors to increase the impact of their investments. It concludes with a set of key actions facing investors, companies and foundations in their transition towards investment practices that contribute to sustainable development

Modeling for insights not numbers: The long-term low-carbon transformation

Limiting global warming to prevent dangerous climate change requires drastically reducing global greenhouse gases emissions and a transformation towards a low-carbon society. Existing energy- and climate-economic modeling approaches that are informing policy and decision makers in shaping the future net-zero emissions society are increasingly seen with skepticism regarding their ability to forecast the long-term evolution of highly complex, nonlinear social-ecological systems. We present a structured review of state-of-the-art modeling approaches, focusing on their ability and limitations to develop and assess pathways towards a low-carbon society. We find that existing methodological approaches have some fundamental deficiencies that limit their potential to understand the subtleties of long-term low-carbon transformation processes. We suggest that a useful methodological framework has to move beyond current state of the art techniques and has to simultaneously fulfill the following requirements: (1) representation of an inherent dynamic analysis, describing and investigating explicitly the path between different states of system variables, (2) specification of details in the energy cascade, in particular the central role of functionalities and services that are provided by the interaction of energy flows and corresponding stock variables, (3) reliance on a clear distinction between structures of the sociotechnical energy system and socioeconomic mechanisms to develop it and (4) ability to evaluate pathways along societal criteria. To that end we propose the development of a versatile multi-purpose integrated modeling framework, building on the specific strengths of the various modeling approaches available while at the same time omitting their weaknesses. This paper identifies respective strengths and weaknesses to guide such development

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Systems Analysis of the 21st Century

This paper overviews research being done at IIASA with use of machine learning (ML) methods. We elaborate on promising areas of application and advantages and challenges of using ML. These reflections are done as a part of strategic planning process going on at IIASA at the moment, which aims to come up with a new research strategy for 2021-2030, as well as a supporting research plan. It has been recognized that while applications of ML in commercial sector are numerous and become more and more powerful day to day, it is not yet so common to use ML for creating societal impact. To explore the opportunities in this context and to reflect on what IIASA’s role might be, an internal working group was initiated. This paper emerged from the internal workshop held by the working group at IIASA on June 24, 2019; the workshop invited all IIASA scientists to contribute. The workshop program can be found in Appendix A to this paper

Integrated sustainability assessment in a complex social-ecological system on the Mediterranean coast through inter and transdisciplinary research applied to the Mar Menor case (Región de Murcia, Spain)

El objetivo general de esta tesis es analizar y evaluar la sostenibilidad en el sistema socio-ecológico del Mar Menor (SSEMM) (SE, España) mediante un enfoque metodológico integral, sistémico y participativo, para atender las problématicas que lo amenazan, apoyar los procesos de toma de decisión y contribuir en su gestión y transición hacia la sostenibilidad. Con esta finalidad se desarrolló un modelo cualitativo integral e interdisciplinar, como base para elaborar un diagnóstico sintético del SSEMM. Este modelo contribuyó a comprender las interrelaciones ambientales y socioecológicas que afectan al estado de este sistema socioecológico. Para completar este diagnóstico con una óptica de trabajo transdisciplinar se realizó una encuesta a la comunidad local y se llevaron a cabo entrevistas a los actores implicados en el SSEMM, con el fin de conocer sus valoraciones y preferencias. Distintos análisis estadísticos de los resultados obtenidos arrojaron luz sobre sus percepciones en relación a las presiones y los impactos de los principales cambios de uso del suelo y las posibles medidas a adoptar para mejorar la situación actual de degradación ambiental y, específicamente para recuperar el estado ecológico de la laguna del Mar Menor. Fruto de este trabajo inter y transdisciplinar, se definieron los objetivos específicos de sostenibilidad para el SSEMM y se desarrolló un sistema de indicadores en base a un enfoque sistémico, en el que participaron un conjunto de expertos de distintas disciplinas. El sistema de indicadores y sus resultados constituyen una herramienta de interés para la evaluación de los avances y retrocesos hacia los objetivos definidos y para actualizar el diagnóstico de la sostenibilidad del Mar Menor. Posteriormente, se propuso entender la configuración de la gobernanza en el SSEMM y analizar las respuestas o soluciones propuestas públicamente por los grupos de actores implicados en su gestión. Los resultados de esta tesis revelan que el SSEMM se sitúa en un momento avanzado de la fase de aceptación y formulación de un consenso en el diagnóstico del problema y sus causas (fase aún no culminada), pero todavía existe desacuerdo en torno a las medidas de gestión a aplicar. Tanto la comunidad local encuestada, como los actores y expertos entrevistados coinciden con el diagnóstico que la comunidad científica ha venido realizando en las últimas décadas. Estos grupos perciben una crisis ecológica, apuntando a la agricultura como la causa principal del deterioro de la laguna del Mar Menor. Esta crisis, a su vez, acarrea impactos sociales y económicos importantes para la población del SSEMM. El problema es fundamentalmente de gestión, de gobernabilidad del SSEMM, con políticas poco eficaces, eficientes y coherentes y formas de hacer política poco informadas, participadas y transparentes, lo que ha conducido a la situación actual en la que se encuentra el SSEMM. Estos resultados permiten concluir que para hacer frente a la situación de degradación ambiental del SSEMM es necesario un enfoque más integrador que tenga en cuenta la complejidad del sistema, la pluralidad del conocimiento y la participación activa de la ciudadanía, como esta tesis propone.The general objective of this thesis is to analyze and evaluate sustainability in the socio-ecological system of the Mar Menor (SESMM) (SE, Spain) through an integral, systemic and participatory methodological approach, to address the problems that threaten it, support the decision-making processes and contribute to its management and transition towards sustainability. For this purpose, an integral and interdisciplinary qualitative model was developed, as a basis for preparing a synthetic diagnosis of the SESMM. This model contributed to understanding the environmental and socio-ecological interrelationships that affect the state of this socio-ecological system. To complete this diagnosis with a transdisciplinary work perspective, a survey was carried out with the local community and interviews were carried out with the stakeholders involved in the SESMM, in order to know their evaluations and preferences. Different statistical analyzes of the results showed their perceptions in relation to the pressures and impacts of the main land use changes and pointed to the possible measures to be taken to improve the current situation of environmental degradation and, specifically to recover the ecological status of the Mar Menor lagoon. As a result of this inter and transdisciplinary work, the specific sustainability objectives for the SESMM were defined and a system of indicators was developed based on a systemic approach, in which a group of experts from different disciplines participated. The system of indicators and its results is a useful tool for evaluating progress and setbacks towards the defined objectives and for updating the diagnosis of the sustainability of the Mar Menor. Subsequently, after conducting the diagnosis, it was proposed to understand the configuration of governance in the SESMM and analyze the responses or solutions publicly proposed by the groups of stakeholders involved in its management. The results of this thesis reveal that the SESMM is at an advanced stage in the phase of acceptance and formulation of a consensus in the diagnosis of the problem and its causes (phase not yet completed), but there is still disagreement regarding the measures of management to apply. Both the local community surveyed, as well as the stakeholders and experts interviewed, coincide with the diagnosis that the scientific community has been making in recent decades. These groups perceive an ecological crisis, pointing to agriculture as the main cause of the deterioration of the Mar Menor lagoon. This crisis, in turn, has important social and economic impacts for the population of the SESMM. The problem is fundamentally of management, of governance of the SESMM, with ineffective, inefficient and incoherent policies and ways of doing politics that are poorly informed, with poor participation and transparency, which has led to the current situation in the SESMM. These results allow the conclusions of this thesis, that to face the situation of environmental degradation of the SESMM, it is necessary to have a more integrative approach that takes into account the complexity of the system, the plurality of knowledge and the active participation of citizens

The political ecology of spatial development initiatives, Indonesia

Indonesia is a socially and environmentally diverse nation where people make difficult decisions affecting the sustainability and inclusivity of their development. It contains the world's fourth largest and still rapidly growing population, who are vigorously pursuing increased economic well-being. Indonesia also contains, arguably, the worlds' most biodiverse ecosystems. Institutional complexity is high. Rapidly changing legislation and shifting hierarchies of control have beset the stewardship of natural, economic, and social assets with difficulties. Indonesia's development threats and opportunities, alongside its rich but degrading natural resources present governance challenges, the lessons of which have relevance and implications far beyond Indonesia's borders. My thesis explores the lessons learned from landscapes in Indonesia, where the difficult decisions over resource-use allocations unfold. Using place-based, sustainability science, and a transdisciplinary research approach, I diagnose the social, economic, environmental, and political change underway in landscapes on four islands. These islands span Indonesia's comparatively less developed east, to the more developed west. Landscapes are the unit of analysis due to evidence that they are the most manageable scale to understand and 'enter' systems. The landscapes examined in thesis are recipients of large investments into extractive industries, agriculture, and other spatial development initiatives. I examine these drivers of change in different contexts, including estate crops, gold-mines, infrastructure, and decentralized governance. The thesis addresses three overarching questions, (1) what are leverage points in landscapes for interventions that lead to long-term sustainable development outcomes? (2) What are the impacts of spatial development initiatives on livelihoods and the environment within a landscape? (3) How might research better support co-learning to improve processes and outcomes of landscape change. I collaboratively frame the issues and potential solutions with local people affecting and affected by decisions over resource use and allocation. I experiment with a range of participatory qualitative and quantitative methods including Q Methodology, visualization techniques, theory of change, interviews, and actor network analysis. My results show that governance is the main constraint to sustainable and inclusive development in landscapes. Narratives that shape governance in landscapes emerge from politically diverse vantage points. Science to enhance sustainability and inclusivity must understand these political vantage points and begin to co-generate narratives with the full range of decision-makers in landscapes. Landscape-level network analysis can help identify where knowledge co-generation and integration is opportune and can be more influential. Clear and agreed theories of change should emphasize the need to shift institutional arrangements so that they are more conducive to inclusive and sustainable development. The key lesson from this research is that local governance arrangements evolve to meet the expectations of people in their own contexts, which may be counter-intuitive to external researchers who have preconceptions of what constitutes good, sustainable, and inclusive development. But Indonesia's governance systems face the same adaptation challenges observed globally, where economic and infrastructural developments outpace social adaption rates. Organizations that wish to improve decision-making processes toward enhanced sustainability and inclusivity should seek opportunities to more strategically leverage change. Efforts should be made to bridge gaps between traditional and State management systems. This requires diagnosing the entire social-political-economic-ecological system. To assist, scientists and academia must put more emphasis on the cogeneration and integration of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, into the pre-existing actor-networks that shape landscapes. Lessons from Indonesia contribute insights for broader global sustainable development solutions