435 research outputs found

    Climate Change and Critical Agrarian Studies

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    Climate change is perhaps the greatest threat to humanity today and plays out as a cruel engine of myriad forms of injustice, violence and destruction. The effects of climate change from human-made emissions of greenhouse gases are devastating and accelerating; yet are uncertain and uneven both in terms of geography and socio-economic impacts. Emerging from the dynamics of capitalism since the industrial revolution — as well as industrialisation under state-led socialism — the consequences of climate change are especially profound for the countryside and its inhabitants. The book interrogates the narratives and strategies that frame climate change and examines the institutionalised responses in agrarian settings, highlighting what exclusions and inclusions result. It explores how different people — in relation to class and other co-constituted axes of social difference such as gender, race, ethnicity, age and occupation — are affected by climate change, as well as the climate adaptation and mitigation responses being implemented in rural areas. The book in turn explores how climate change – and the responses to it - affect processes of social differentiation, trajectories of accumulation and in turn agrarian politics. Finally, the book examines what strategies are required to confront climate change, and the underlying political-economic dynamics that cause it, reflecting on what this means for agrarian struggles across the world. The 26 chapters in this volume explore how the relationship between capitalism and climate change plays out in the rural world and, in particular, the way agrarian struggles connect with the huge challenge of climate change. Through a huge variety of case studies alongside more conceptual chapters, the book makes the often-missing connection between climate change and critical agrarian studies. The book argues that making the connection between climate and agrarian justice is crucial

    Exploring Food System Transformations in Spain (1980-2021)

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    èng In this PhD Thesis, I examine the transformations of the Spanish food system from 1980 to the present, focusing on its socioeconomic structural changes and their impacts on sustainability and social equity. My research is grounded in agrarian history and political economy approaches, and also incorporates insights from ecological and feminist economics. The first and third Chapters are empirical in nature. Based primarily on data from Spanish national accounts, the results demonstrate the increasing integration of the Spanish agri-food system into the global one and the growing dependence of agriculture on external inputs. They also reveal a sharp decline in the agrarian population along with the increase in the share of salaried work. This is explained by the reduction in the number of farms throughout the period, particularly small family farms, which also show an aging process of their holders. The decline of the agrarian income has been a major determinant in this path. The combination of these trends jeopardizes the present and future reproduction of Spanish agroecosystems. I also examine the evolution of food expenditure of Spanish households, as a first exploration of the food cost in the reproduction of labouring population. The results show a halt in the reduction of its weight, but further research is needed for a definitive conclusion. Additionally, the results suggest an increasing inequality in the distribution of value added along the agri-food chain. In the second Chapter, I develop a research framework to investigate food systems at a national level, and particularly their role in the reproduction mechanisms of the capitalist system in which they are embedded, based on the approaches of the food regimes, social metabolism, and surplus/reproduction. This framework has helped me to interpret the results from the first and third Chapters from a more comprehensive approach. The framework includes six dimensions encompassing 36 elements linked through six key cross-cutting connections

    SET2022 : 19th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies 16th to 18th August 2022, Turkey : Sustainable Energy Technologies 2022 Conference Proceedings. Volume 4

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    Papers submitted and presented at SET2022 - the 19th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies in Istanbul, Turkey in August 202

    Gestión integrada de las áreas costeras y oceánicas que albergan mamíferos marinos: el caso de estudio del Estrecho de Gibraltar

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    The Strait of Gibraltar is a cross-border coastal and marine area in which overlapping intense maritime traffic and highly protected species of cetaceans could generate conservational or economic conflict. The current publication applies an integrated management approach in order to improve knowledge of cetaceans, maritime activities, and Whale Watching (WW), as well as to involve key stakeholders in WW and to provide insights for a sustainable public policy in the Strait. A comparative study on WW activity in the Strait of Gibraltar and in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This abrupt change allowed us to investigate the effects of the human lockdowns, such as the reduction in maritime traffic, on the marine animals of the Gulf, contributing to the study of the global effects on nature. This thesis is organized into the following sections: i) Whale watching activities, ii) monitoring maritime traffic and cetaceans using ferries as platforms and iii) effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on nature. In order to achieve social, economic, and ecological sustainability, WW in the Strait of Gibraltar needs adequate management. In Tarifa (Spain) and Gibraltar (UK), between 2017 and 2019, key stakeholders (e.g., WW customers and operators, researchers, NGOs, and policymakers) were invited to fill out 637 questionnaires and a direct assessment of the WW trips was conducted. Results suggest that: (1) local WW operators only partially follow WW legislation, (2) whale watchers had high levels of education and purchasing power, and the majority of them were national tourists who showed signs of loyalty to WW and support for conservation, (3) 51% of the expenses made by WW customers directly benefited the local economy of Tarifa, (4) customers scored WW operators more highly when cetaceans were indifferent to, or approached vessels, and their satisfaction improved depending on the education provided before and during the WW trip, and (5) interviewed stakeholders recognize the scientific, recreational and educational values of WW. As a result of this study we recommend implementing educational programmes, launching national publicity campaigns targeting whale watchers, establishing administrative facilities for WW companies, monitoring WW activities, and enforcing WW legislation to promote sustainable management of WW. Furthermore, the designation of Marine Protected Areas, a regional shipping plan, and an integrated management approach could benefit the WW industry and improve its sustainability. Cetaceans and their threats were monitored using ferries as a platform of opportunity along the routes Algeciras¿Ceuta and Algeciras-Tanger Med in the Strait during 2018 and 2019, following the standardized protocol of the international cooperative project Fix Line Transect Mediterranean Monitoring Network (FLT Med Net). During 59 visual surveys 264 sightings of cetaceans were reported, including seven species and four near-miss collisions (pilot, sperm, and fin whales). Data were used to i) investigate cetaceans¿ seasonal presence and distribution and, for the bottlenose dolphin, habitat suitability in the Strait, ii) consider cetaceans' relationships with different maritime activities identifying risk areas and the consistency of the spatial conservation spatial management measures in force, and iii) compare data with the other partner of the FLT Med Net across two Habitat Directive 6-year periods (2013-2019/2008-2012), testing four potential indicators to assess short-term range and habitat trends of the Risso¿s dolphin, and of the pilot and Cuvier¿s whale (low-density species). The FLT Med Net sampling design proved adequate for trend assessment in the Western Mediterranean and Adriatic. In conclusion, together with international surveillance, the designation of a micro-sanctuary in the Bay between Algeciras and Gibraltar, and a mandatory speed reduction to 13 knots in an extended Cetacean Critical Navigation Zone can positively optimize conservation efforts in the Strait of Gibraltar. The lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic banned all non-essential services and travel both on land and sea in several parts of the world. In response to this sudden drop in traffic, the bigeyes fish and the bottlenose dolphin experienced an immediate increase in their communication ranges by up to 65% in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, demonstrating how small vessels can impact underwater soundscapes. These results were shared with the global scientific community to monitor the immediate impacts of lockdowns, demonstrating how humans are both threatening and protecting ecosystems and species. It is possible to favourably tilt this delicate balance by reducing impacts and increasing conservation effectiveness

    Climate Justice and Participatory Research: Building Climate-Resilient Commons

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    Climate catastrophe throws into stark relief the extreme, life-threatening inequalities that affect millions of lives worldwide. The poorest and most marginalized, who are least responsible for the consumption and emissions that create climate change, are the first and hardest impacted, and the least able to protect themselves. Climate justice is simultaneously a movement, an academic field, an organizing principle, and a political demand. Building climate justice is a matter of life and death. Climate Justice and Participatory Research offers ideas and inspiration for climate justice through the creation of research, knowledge, and livelihood commons and community-based climate resilience. It brings together articulations of the what, why, and how of climate justice through the voices of energetic and motivated scholar-activists who are building alliances across Latin America, Africa, and Canada. Exemplifying socio-ecological transformation through equitable public engagement, these scholars, climate activists, community educators, and teachers come together to share their stories of participatory research and collective action. Grounded in experience and processes that are currently underway, Climate Justice and Participatory Research explores the value of common assets, collective action, environmental protection, and equitable partnerships between local community experts and academic allies. It demonstrates the negative effects of climate-related actions that run roughshod over local communities’ interests and wellbeing, and acknowledges the myriad challenges of participatory research. This is a work committed to the practical work of transforming socio-economies from situations of vulnerability to collective wellbeing

    Towards a sustainable PV waste policy: Exploring the management practices of end-of-life solar photovoltaic modules in Australia

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    Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are effective measures to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. However, the large exploitation of solar PV modules, leads to undesirable waste accumulation, affecting the environment. Solar PV waste management research is an emerging field that has received more attention recently, affected by the increase volume of solar PV disposals. However, only a few studies have examined the current practices in solar photovoltaic waste management. In Australia, because of social and economic factors (such as the replacement of small-scale PV systems come with new rebates), residential solar systems are decommissioned earlier than expected before reaching their end-of-life (EoL). 70% of the market share of PV systems are predominately dominated by the residential market in Australia as of 2020. The average practical lifetime of PV modules instead of 20-30 years is 15-20 years in Australia. Therefore, the volume of EoL PV from the residential sector entering the waste stream in the coming decade will be higher than previously predicted. This study aims to assess the environmental impacts of waste from rooftop solar photovoltaic panels in Australia to inform sustainable policies. To achieve the aim of the research, the following objectives are investigated: 1) exploring the current practices of managing end-oflife rooftop solar photovoltaic panels in Australia; 2) developing an optimised system approach in dealing with solar photovoltaic waste in Australia; and 3) assessing the environmental impacts of end-of-life rooftop solar photovoltaic panels in Australia within the developed assessment framework. To achieve the research objectives, several methods are adopted to analyse the primary and secondary data for this research. A modified Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) is adopted in gathering data through interviews and questionnaires from experts in the field. The results show that, crystalline silicon panels were the most common panels on the Australian market and the ones that are being installed frequently. On policies, although the Australian government has banned PV waste from going to landfill since 2014, there were no regulations or action plans to manage PV waste. The absence of policies and regulations results in unregulated movement and tracking of solar PV waste in and out of Australia as well as within and across the states. The extent of the PV recovery and recycling warrants further investigation. Moreover, infrastructure and logistics has been a significant problem because of the geographical spread of the country and how it affects transportation and the supply chain. Findings led to the establishment of a conceptual framework for the current treatment of solar PV waste in Australia. Furthermore, a Weibull distribution model is employed to forecast the PV waste in the next three decades in South Australia. The study further estimates the pollutant emission associated with the collection and transportation of the waste for recycling and recovery. Results indicate that, there will be 109,007 tons of PV waste generated in urban and suburban context in South Australia by 2050. Among the three routing scenarios generated, the third scenario with optimised transfer stations and an additional recycling facility showed more than 34% reduction in pollutant emission. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of three policy options for mono and multi crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar panel waste modules. The impact of transport distance from transfer stations to the recycling centre is also assessed. The life cycle assessment revealed that, -1E+06 kgCO2eq and -2E+06 kgCO2eq are associated with the mandatory product stewardship scenarios under global warming potential for mono and multi c-Si solar modules respectively. However, the non-existence of a product stewardship will produce a global warming impact of 1E+05 kgCO2eq for both modules. The global warming effects revealed that, collecting and recycling most of the multi c-Si panels were not effective (-365 kg CO2-eq, -698.4 kg CO2-eq, -1032 kg CO2-eq) compared to keeping them away from the landfills and fully recycling (- 2E+06 kg CO2-eq) them. It was also highlighted that, the highest environmental impact regarding the transport distances was the scenario of one recycling centre serving over 107 transfer stations with a global warming potential of 1E+06 kgCO2eq. In conclusion, this study contributes to the management of the supply market of solar PV technologies, using Australia as a case study. The recommendations derived from the study include: creating collection centres for EoL PV modules in South Australia, developing a logistic network to for the collection of EoL PV modules, creating and enhancing the PV recycling market for recovered materials, issuing a regulatory landfill ban for EoL solar PV module in South Australia, developing a mandatory product stewardship for PV waste in Australia, promoting and providing financial incentives to current and future infrastructure for PV recycling, minimising the exportation of PV waste overseas and interstate, encouraging industry led research on new innovations to improve the recovery of different PV technology families, developing sustainable measures to cut emissions for recycling through research and development in South Australia, and building the capacity and promoting awareness on the benefits of PV recycling in South Australia.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, 202

    Deeper in the pyramid: Share of throat

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    ‘Milk’ explores our relationship with milk and its place in politics, society and culture. It considers how milk has come to be seen as so central to perceptions of nutrition and “good health” in the UK. The choices we make about milk are personal. But it is also a highly politicised liquid that has been used to exert power as well as provide care. The exhibition brings together over 100 objects, including items used in farming and infant feeding, historical advertising, public health posters, and contemporary artworks. ‘Milk’ includes new artistic commissions by Danielle Dean, Jess Dobkin and Ilana Harris-Babou, as well as a new documentary by Leo Hallam Dawson on UK dairy farming and a 2023 iteration of Melanie Jackson and Esther Leslie’s project ‘Deeper in the Pyramid’. This installation is part of a long-standing body of collaborative work interrogating milk’s networks of exploitation and care. Human and non-human milk’s multiple technological forms as liquid, solid, powder and foam are expressed through different media. These include the liquid crystal of the screen, digital animation , ceramic clay, language and lactones. The ceramic sculptures draw on milk’s molecular formations, its poured, extruded, and bodily forms, and the vessels that have contained it across time and place. The book allows us to create our own journey of exploration through this spiralling and far-reaching substance

    Trend assessment of changing climate patterns over the major agro-climatic zones of Sindh and Punjab

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    The agriculture sector, due to its significant dependence on climate patterns and water availability, is highly vulnerable to changing climate patterns. Pakistan is an agrarian economy with 30% of its land area under cultivation and 93% of its water resources being utilized for agricultural production. Therefore, the changing climate patterns may adversely affect the agriculture and water resources of the country. This study was conducted to assess the climate variations over the major agro-climatic zones of Sindh and Punjab, which serve as an important hub for the production of major food and cash crops in Pakistan. For this purpose, the climate data of 21 stations were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator method for the period 1990–2022. The results obtained from the analysis revealed that, in Sindh, the mean annual temperature rose by ~0.1 to 1.4°C, with ~0.1 to 1.2°C in cotton-wheat Sindh and 0.8 to 1.4°C in rice-other Sindh during the study period. Similarly, in Punjab, the mean annual temperature increased by ~0.1 to 1.0°C, with 0.6 to 0.9°C in cotton-wheat Punjab and 0.2 to 0.6°C in rainfed Punjab. Seasonally, warming was found to be highest during the spring season. The precipitation analysis showed a rising annual precipitation trend in Sindh (+30 to +60 mm) and Punjab (+100 to 300 mm), while the monsoon precipitation increased by ~50 to 200 mm. For winter precipitation, an upward trend was found in mixed Punjab, while the remaining stations showed a declining pattern. Conclusively, the warming temperatures as found in the analysis may result in increased irrigation requirements, soil moisture desiccation, and wilting of crops, ultimately leading to low crop yield and threatening the livelihoods of local farmers. On the other hand, the increasing precipitation may favor national agriculture in terms of less freshwater withdrawals. However, it may also result in increased rainfall-induced floods inundating the crop fields and causing water logging and soil salinization. The study outcomes comprehensively highlighted the prevailing climate trends over the important agro-climatic zones of Pakistan, which may aid in devising an effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy to ensure the state of water and food security in the country
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