Downscaling Climate Change Impacts, Socio-Economic Implications and Alternative Adaptation Pathways for Islands and Outermost Regions

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the future scenarios of climate change and management concerns associated with climate change impacts on the blue economy of European islands and outermost regions. The publication collects major findings of the SOCLIMPACT project’s research outcomes, aiming to raise social awareness among policy-makers and industry about climate change consequences at local level, and provide knowledge-based information to support policy design, from local to national level. This comprehensive book will also assist students, scholars and practitioners to understand, conceptualize and effectively and responsibly manage climate change information and applied research. This book provides invaluable material for Blue Growth Management, theory and application, at all levels. This first edition includes up-to-date data, statistics, references, case material and figures of the 12 islands case studies. ¨Downscaling climate change impacts, socio-economic implications and alternative adaptation pathways for Islands and Outermost Regions¨ is a must-read book, given the accessible style and breadth and depth with which the topic is dealt. The book is an up-to-date synthesis of key knowledge on this area, written by a multidisciplinary group of experts on climate and economic modelling, and policy design

A palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Middle Jurassic of Sardinia (Italy) based on integrated palaeobotanical, palynological and lithofacies data assessment

During the Jurassic, Sardinia was close to continental Europe. Emerged lands started from a single island forming in time a progressively sinking archipelago. This complex palaeogeographic situation gave origin to a diverse landscape with a variety of habitats. Collection- and literature-based palaeobotanical, palynological and lithofacies studies were carried out on the Genna Selole Formation for palaeoenvironmental interpretations. They evidence a generally warm and humid climate, affected occasionally by drier periods. Several distinct ecosystems can be discerned in this climate, including alluvial fans with braided streams (Laconi-Gadoni lithofacies), paralic swamps and coasts (Nurri-Escalaplano lithofacies), and lagoons and shallow marine environments (Ussassai-Perdasdefogu lithofacies). The non-marine environments were covered by extensive lowland and a reduced coastal and tidally influenced environment. Both the river and the upland/hinterland environments are of limited impact for the reconstruction. The difference between the composition of the palynological and palaeobotanical associations evidence the discrepancies obtained using only one of those proxies. The macroremains reflect the local palaeoenvironments better, although subjected to a transport bias (e.g. missing upland elements and delicate organs), whereas the palynomorphs permit to reconstruct the regional palaeoclimate. Considering that the flora of Sardinia is the southernmost of all Middle Jurassic European floras, this multidisciplinary study increases our understanding of the terrestrial environments during that period of time

Climat et ville : interactions et enjeux en Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Pour approfondir les connaissances diffusées dans la publication générale du Groupe régional d'experts sur le climat en Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (GREC-PACA), animé par A.I.R. Climat, et apporter des réponses spécifiques, le comité régional d'orientations (CRO) a constitué des groupes de travail thématiques (GTT). Ces derniers sont composés de chercheurs de toutes les disciplines et de spécialistes du climat qui contribuent à la rédaction de cahiers thématiques destinés aux décideurs et gestionnaires des territoires de la région PACA : élus, ingénieurs et techniciens des collectivités locales ou des espaces protégés ou encore des grands équipements, mais aussi responsables d'associations et d'entreprises. L'objectif est de décrypter les résultats scientifiques et les enjeux du changement climatique pour informer et sensibiliser le public visé à l'échelle régionale et locale. Par thème, une synthèse de travaux scientifiques est proposée afin d'aider les acteurs territoriaux à évaluer les impacts du changement climatique sur leur territoire et de découvrir des innovations. Les précédents cahiers thématiques portaient sur l'évolution du climat en PACA, les effets du changement climatique sur l'agriculture et la forêt, la mer et le littoral. De nouveaux cahiers (ressource en eau, montagne, santé…) sont en préparation. Cette publication aborde la relation entre le climat et la ville dans ses dimensions techniques, mais aussi dans son rapport aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES). La complexité des interactions entre la ville et le climat est mise en évidence par les contributeurs. Les mécanismes, les enjeux spécifiquement urbains et les moyens de lutte dont nous disposons aujourd'hui sont ici abordés en soulignant l'importance des observations et de la recherche. L'espace urbain est l'un des principaux enjeux du changement climatique car il touche aujourd'hui la majorité de la population et les mécanismes d'interactions et d'adaptation1 sont peu connus. Comme dans les précédents cahiers, les chercheurs et experts exerçant leur métier en région PACA et dans les territoires limitrophes, apportent leurs connaissances afin de mieux cerner les problématiques en lien avec le changement climatique

Investigating the climate-related risk of forest fires for mediterranean islands’ blue economy

The Mediterranean islands’ blue economy and, more specifically, the tourism sector, largely regulate Europe’s gross product. Climate change threatens the ecological, societal, and economic sustainability of the islands in many ways, with increasing wildfires making up one of the most critical components of the climate change impacts on tourism. Here, we aim to identify and assess forest fire vulnerability and risk due to climate change for seven Mediterranean islands through the application of the “impact chain” conceptual framework. The backbone of this approach requires the integration of quantitative and qualitative data according to the three main risk components sensu the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), i.e., hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, with a structured participatory approach involving stakeholders and experts. Our results illustrate the islands with high potential for improvement in terms of adapting capacity and, by indicating the contribution of the different risk components, highlight the main environmental and socio-economic elements that affect the islands’ vulnerability and risk under climate change. The approach’s potentials and constraints are discussed, suggesting that the method can be handily used to point out the priorities that must be addressed by mitigation and adaptation policies and measures at the island level. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Relationship of Glycaemic Index with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for People Aged 65 and Older

Objective: To identify associations between dietary glycaemic index (GI) and weight, body mass index and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) – waist-tohip ratio (WHR), lipoprotein fractions, triacylglycerols (TAG) and blood pressure (BP) – in an older British population. Design: Cross-sectional dietary, anthropometric and biochemical data from the National Diet and Nutritional Survey for adults aged over 65 years were reanalysed using a hierarchical regression model. Associations between body weight, CVD risk factors, and dietary factors including GI and fibre intakes were explored among 1152 healthy older people living in the UK between 1994 and 1995. Results: In the unadjusted model, GI was significantly and directly associated with TAG (b ¼ 0.008 ^ 0.003) and diastolic BP (b ¼ 0.325 ^ 0.164) in males. These relationships were attenuated and non-significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. WHR (b ¼ 0.003 ^ 0.001) and TAG (b ¼ 0.005 ^ 0.002) were significantly predicted by GI in males and females combined. The association with WHR was attenuated by adjustment for sex, age, region and social class; the relationship with TAG was non-significant after adjustment for other potential dietary confounders. Conclusion: After controlling for potential confounders, no clear links were detected between GI and body weight or other CVD risk factors. This study provides little evidence for advising the consumption of a low-GI diet in the elderly to prevent weight gain or improve other CVD risk factors

New insights in photo-patterned sol-gel-derived TiO2 films

International audienceSpecific sol-gel formulations and protocols have been adapted to the fine patterning of TiO2 films using a very simplified UVA three-step lithography method. Mechanisms occurring during the photo-patterning procedure and a post-patterning thermal treatment have been studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ellipsometry. Discussions are proposed to support the influence of the photo-patterning procedure and post-patterning treatment on the shape and the dimension of so-formed microstructures. Original additional functionalities arising from such structures are also presented

Relationship of glycaemic index with cardiovascular risk factors: analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for people aged 65 and older

Objective - To identify associations between dietary glycaemic index (GI) and weight, body mass index and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) – waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipoprotein fractions, triacylglycerols (TAG) and blood pressure (BP) – in an older British population. Design Cross-sectional dietary, anthropometric and biochemical data from the National Diet and Nutritional Survey for adults aged over 65 years were reanalysed using a hierarchical regression model. Associations between body weight, CVD risk factors, and dietary factors including GI and fibre intakes were explored among 1152 healthy older people living in the UK between 1994 and 1995. Results In the unadjusted model, GI was significantly and directly associated with TAG (β = 0.008 ± 0.003) and diastolic BP (β = 0.325 ± 0.164) in males. These relationships were attenuated and non-significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. WHR (β = 0.003 ± 0.001) and TAG (β = 0.005 ± 0.002) were significantly predicted by GI in males and females combined. The association with WHR was attenuated by adjustment for sex, age, region and social class; the relationship with TAG was non-significant after adjustment for other potential dietary confounders. Conclusion After controlling for potential confounders, no clear links were detected between GI and body weight or other CVD risk factors. This study provides little evidence for advising the consumption of a low-GI diet in the elderly to prevent weight gain or improve other CVD risk factors

Critical analysis of simulated daily temperature data from the ARPEGE-climate model: application to climate change in the Champagne wine-producing region

International audienc