Evaluating local climate change adaptation along the southwest coastal area of Taiwan

In the context of research highlighting the mixed performance of coastal climate change adaptation elsewhere, this thesis developed a modified Analysis-Awareness-Action (AAA) framework to evaluate local climate change adaptation in four coastal townships along the vulnerable southwest coast of Taiwan in order to derive recommendations for local adaptation framework development. This mixed-method research included an assessment of socioeconomic vulnerability through the development of a socioeconomic vulnerability indicator framework (SVIF) (‘Analysis’). This included a face-to-face questionnaire survey with the public to evaluate public awareness of climate change (‘Awareness’), public participation and community engagement in adaptation actions; and an expert workshop and follow-up survey to identify the challenges in local adaptation framework (‘Action’). Results of the study show that the AAA framework is not only a useful and relevant approach to contribute to local adaption in Taiwan, but can also serve as a reference for other threatened countries and people in Asia and non-member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to respond to climate change. Results of the SVIF demonstrated that the SVIF was capable of judging location-specific susceptibility and resilience to climate change between different coastal communities. Results of the questionnaire revealed high levels of public concern about climate change, but generally public understanding is insufficient. Further scientific evidence and explanation is necessary to increase public understanding and knowledge of climate change. Many findings are consistent with the wider literature. For example, respondents favoured an emphasis on mitigation over adaptation; preventive and protection actions were seen as the most effective adaptation approaches and the immediate priority; potential cost and influence of specific govermental actions on communities may constrain participation. Additionally, cognitive, affective, and behavioural factors, which may influence local adaptation engagement, were identified. These suggest that a constructive dialogue and participatory process is needed with the public in order to increase community engagement in local adaptation. Finally, specific challenges for local adaptation framework development, related to political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) perspectives were identified. As a result, it was recommended that there is a need for a range of improvements to the current system, including engaging other local organisations and private actors, developing specialist organisations, legislative acts, and considering multiple objectives in formulation of adaptation actions to eliminate the potential conflict of interest

Application of social vulnerability indicators to climate change for the southwest coastal areas of Taiwan

The impact of climate change on the coastal zones of Taiwan not only affects the marine environment, ecology, and human communities whose economies rely heavily on marine activities, but also the sustainable development of national economics. The southwest coast is known as the area most vulnerable to climate change; therefore, this study aims to develop indicators to assess social vulnerability in this area of Taiwan using the three dimensions of susceptibility, resistance, and resilience. The modified Delphi method was used to develop nine criteria and 26 indexes in the evaluation, and the analytic hierarchy process method was employed to evaluate the weight of each indicator based on the perspectives of experts collected through questionnaire surveys. The results provide important information pertaining to the vulnerability of the most susceptive regions, the lowest-resistance areas, and the least resilient townships on the southwest coast. The most socially vulnerable areas are plotted based on the present analysis. Experts can consider the vulnerability map provided here when developing adaptation policies. It should be kept in mind that improving the capacities of resistance and resilience is more important than reducing susceptibility in Taiwan

The Potential Compatibility of Designating Offshore Wind Farms within Wider Marine Protected Areas—Conservation of the Chinese White Dolphin Regarding Fishers’ Perception

The population of the Chinese white dolphin along Taiwan’s west coast is under a range of threats. The designation of marine protected areas (MPA) is urgently required for their protection. However, conflicts between specific species conservation and fishing rights mean that the success of such a designation relies on the fishers’ perceptions and awareness of an MPA. Designating offshore wind farms within MPAs can be a mechanism for minimizing conflicts between fisheries and conservation. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential for designating an offshore wind farm within an MPA for Chinese white dolphin conservation by exploring the attitudes of local fishers. This study used face-to-face questionnaires. The results show that the main challenges are conflicts of interest, insufficient science-based information, and inadequate law enforcement. Offshore wind farms could be a way to maximize the benefits for different stakeholders and positively impact the marine environment and ecosystem. This study makes feasible recommendations on how to improve conservation, promote renewable energy, and encourage sustainable fisheries

The Potential Compatibility of Designating Offshore Wind Farms within Wider Marine Protected Areas—Conservation of the Chinese White Dolphin Regarding Fishers’ Perception

The population of the Chinese white dolphin along Taiwan’s west coast is under a range of threats. The designation of marine protected areas (MPA) is urgently required for their protection. However, conflicts between specific species conservation and fishing rights mean that the success of such a designation relies on the fishers’ perceptions and awareness of an MPA. Designating offshore wind farms within MPAs can be a mechanism for minimizing conflicts between fisheries and conservation. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential for designating an offshore wind farm within an MPA for Chinese white dolphin conservation by exploring the attitudes of local fishers. This study used face-to-face questionnaires. The results show that the main challenges are conflicts of interest, insufficient science-based information, and inadequate law enforcement. Offshore wind farms could be a way to maximize the benefits for different stakeholders and positively impact the marine environment and ecosystem. This study makes feasible recommendations on how to improve conservation, promote renewable energy, and encourage sustainable fisheries

Development and application of a Socioeconomic Vulnerability Indicator Framework (SVIF) for Local Climate Change Adaptation in Taiwan

This paper outlines the development of a socioeconomic vulnerability indicator framework (SVIF) which was designed to provide a tool to inform bespoke local adaptation actions along the Taiwanese coast. The framework incorporates a range of diverse indicators, from ones that are related to demographic characteristics to others that represent economic and infrastructure features. As such, the framework encapsulates multiple and complex dimensions of socio-economic vulnerability rather than deriving a less nuanced single index; this is an approach that, whilst more commonly employed elsewhere, may mask critical features of socioeconomic vulnerability at local levels. The paper describes the piloting of the SVIF as it quantifies and visually summarizes the susceptibility and resilience of four townships (Mailiao, Kauho, Linbian and Jiadong) along the exposed coast of Southwest Taiwan. The paper demonstrates the SVIF’s potential in characterizing specific aspects of socio-economic vulnerability that local decision-makers could use to tailor local adaptation. The SVIF was successful in differentiating between the four local areas, highlighting clear differences between urban and rural townships. With further development by using a more participative approach and expanding its application to wider geographical contexts both in Taiwan and further afield, the authors are confident that the SVIF has the potential to provide a useful tool for local adaptation

The role of local Government in marine spatial planning and management in Taiwan

As a result of population growth and economic development, there has been a rapid increase in sea use around the island of Taiwan. Such increased use is placing pressure on the marine environment and its resources. Three draft territory laws (the Draft National Territory Planning Act, the Land Re-conservation Draft Bill, and the Draft Coastal Act) and the Local Government Act are neither consistent nor sufficiently comprehensive. Consequently, local Governments (municipalities and counties) experience difficulties in planning and managing their inshore waters. This paper will discuss the role local Governments plays in marine spatial planning and management. Local Government officials working in specialist marine affairs units from Kaohsiung and Keelung cities were surveyed to elicit their views with regards to management authority, management capacity and resources, officials' commitment, and intergovernmental coordination/collaboration with respect to inshore waters. In-depth interviews were also conducted with local directors of specialist marine affairs units along with experts, to identify the causes of problems brought to light through the survey and to propose potential solutions to these problems. The study findings indicated that it is necessary to specify the marine spatial planning and management authority, as well as the scope of local Governments, in both the Coastal Act and Local Government Act. In order to sustainably develop Taiwan's marine and coastal areas, it is important that the following four primary factors (management authority, management capacity and resources, officials' commitment, and intergovernmental coordination/collaboration) be improved.Management authority Management capacity Managing resources Marine spatial planning Intergovernmental coordination/collaboration

The Safety and Efficacy of Vela Laser En-Bloc Endoscopic Resection versus Conventional Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor—A Single Center Experience

(1) Background: The current gold standard treatment of bladder cancer is conventional transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (CTURBT) using monopolar or bipolar resectoscopes. Laser en-bloc resection of the bladder tumor (LERBT) could achieve a higher quality of the specimen, reduce perioperative complications, and decrease the recurrence rate. Here, we compare the efficacy and safety of en-bloc Vela laser resection versus the conventional monopolar/bipolar resection; (2) Methods: A total of 100 clinically cT1-2 patients with bladder cancer were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Among these patients, 50 patients received LERBT, and 50 patients received CTURBT. The baseline characteristics, operation variables, and clinical outcomes were collected. The primary performance was the presence of muscle layer in the specimen. Perioperative complications and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were also compared. Independent t-test, Chi-square test, Kaplan–Meier curves, and the Cox-regression model were used in the analysis; (3) Results: The median age of the patients in the laser and resectoscope groups was 69.2 and 68.0 years old, respectively. The statistical difference in the presence of the detrusor muscle was 92.0% in the laser group and 70.0% in the CTURBT group (p = 0.005). A lower incidence of bladder perforation (p = 0.041) and major surgical complications (p = 0.046) in the LEBRT group was observed. We found no differences in operation duration, catheterization time, and hospitalization time after adjustment. Additionally, there was no statistical difference in RFS after a median follow-up time of 25 months; (4) Conclusions: Endoscopic laser en-bloc resection of bladder tumor with Vela laser is an effective method with higher muscle inclusion rate and fewer complications

Study on Delamination Between Polymer Materials and Metals in IC Packaging Process

The electronic package interconnects electronic signals from one area to another and package delamination is a serious problem in the configuration of materials. This study focused on decreasing the delamination of the low-profile fine pitch ball grid array (LFBGA) and plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages in terms of polymer thermal issue, metal bonding and bonding mechanisms. PBGA and LFBGA are a very common type of packaging processes in the electronics industry. The present study dealt first with delamination of the LFBGA packaging, through characterization and determination of physical and chemical properties such as surface roughness, surface energy, and contact angle. The relationship between surface roughness and delamination was verified through various roughness bonding experiments. In addition, the surface energy was determined by measuring the contact angle after cleaning the metal surface of Cu, Ni and Cr with Ar + O2 gas, and, this gas plasma treatment was applied to enhance the adhesive properties. The compositions of the surface were analyzed through an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Also, the delamination issue between the corner of the heat sink cap and the epoxy resin was observed for delamination of the LFBGA packaging. Further, this study analyzed the PBGA packaging process through the finite element analysis simulation software ANSYS. To improve the heat sink cap delamination issue of the PBGA, a new chamfer design of the corner seat was streamlined to decrease the stress value and delamination. Besides, the simulation results demonstrated that the stress value reduced after increasing the shoulder length. The results implicate that the stress value is inversely proportional to the shoulder width and the chamfer radius. This study demonstrated that the optimization in design was able reduce the delamination phenomena in configuration material