Political Reforms vs. Undemocratic Institutional Arrangements in Hong Kong

This essay examines the recent political developments in Hong Kong. Specifically, it examines the problem of political accountability and unresponsive governance. The essay argues that lack of accountability is a byproduct of existing institutional arrangements – i.e., limited functional franchise, veto powers and institutional backdoors – which promote rent-seeking behavior among tycoons and undermine the economic freedoms of ordinary Hongkongers, who, dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, demand political reforms

A New Taxonomy for International Relations: Rethinking the International System as a Complex Adaptive System

Abstract: The international system is a complex adaptive system with emergent properties and dynamics of self-organization and information processing. As such, it is better understood with a multidisciplinary approach that borrows methodologies from the field of complexity science and integrates them to the theoretical perspectives offered by the field of international relations (IR). This study is set to formalize a complex systems theory approach to the study of international affairs and introduce a new taxonomy for IR with the two-pronged aim of improving interoperability between different epistemological communities and outlining a formal grammar that set the basis for modeling international politics as a complex adaptive system

Livestock, Climate, and Security: A Policy Coherence and Awareness Analysis

The African livestock sector is expected to grow exponentially in importance both economically and nutritionally in the coming decades. In the context of Kenya specifically, human population, per-capita income, and urbanisation rates – key drivers for increased usage of animal-source food – are all expected to drastically increase in the coming decades. Yet despite the sector’s growing importance for Kenya and the African continent more broadly, there remain notable barriers to sustainable development within the context of livestock. One of the most important of these is the climate crisis and the impacts it will likely have on livestock production systems and value chains, the ecological contexts they exist within, and the communities reliant upon them

Integrated Climate Security Programming in Climate Finance: An Analysis of Multilateral Climate Funds

Conflict and climate change can be linked via several pathways which may deepen insecurity, including the erosion of livelihoods, displacement, and increased vulnerability to climate shocks. Climate finance presents a possible method to negate the links between climate change and conflict, yet questions surround the efficacy of financial mechanisms to tackle these issues. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the state of climate finance and its intersections with peace and security. The paper asks if the allocation of resources is consistent with the climate security priorities of recipient countries, and if investments in climate-vulnerable and politically fragile contexts have sufficient elements of integrated climate security programming ‒ i.e., dual climate action and peacebuilding objectives. To answer these questions, the study looks at 22 multilateral climate funds and their respective USD 28.3 billion financial allocations. Then, using an automated content analysis, the paper analyzes conflict sensitivity in projects occurring in 37 countries with a significant history of conflict compounded with high levels of climate vulnerability. The findings of the study show that there are significant gaps and lapses in the allocation of funding as well as in the operationalization of integrated climate security programming. As a result, it is argued, multilateral climate funds are exposed to unforeseen security and political risks, which can undermine the sustainability of investments. Overall, the paper generates novel insights and data on climate finance, providing actionable outputs on how to better use climate investments to support peace

Climate Security Policy Coherence and Awareness Analysis Report: East Africa and Kenya

This report summarises a climate security policy coherence and awareness assessment of policy and strategy documents extracted from climate-and peace and security-related sectors produced at the national level in Kenya. It makes use of a policy assessment framework developed specifically for the purpose of assessing coherence and climate security-sensitivity

Climate Security Policy Coherence and Awareness Analysis Report: West Africa and Senegal

This report aims to contribute to this need by conducting a climate security policy coherence and awareness assessment of policy and strategy documents extracted from climate-and peace and security-related sectors produced at the national level in Senegal. It will do so by making use of a policy assessment framework developed specifically for the purpose of assessing coherence and climate security-sensitivity

To what extent do policies from across 5 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region integrate climate-related security concerns and risks?

This factsheet presents the main results of a policy coherence analysis focused on climate security in Middle East and North Afric

Guidance note for peace-informed programming at the Green Climate Fund: Energy generation and access.

Energy plays a key role in human activities, driving economies and societies worldwide. Notably, 85 percent of the 800 million people without energy access live in fragile states. With the growing climate crisis and the need to move away from fossil fuels, investments in renewable energy are increasing, especially in Africa due to its vast renewable energy potential. However, there are challenges in introducing renewable energy projects in Fragile and Conflict-affected States (FCS). The rising demand for minerals like cobalt and lithium, essential for renewable technologies, has led to increased conflict and human rights issues since many of these minerals are found in FCS. Large areas of land needed for renewable infrastructure can also lead to disputes, especially in regions with weak governance. But, when managed correctly, renewable energy can promote peace, offering decentralized power systems that benefit remote communities, improve socio-economic outcomes, and encourage collaboration between various stakeholders

Guidance note for peace-informed programming at the Green Climate Fund: Infrastructure and built environment.

Infrastructure projects in fragile and conflict affected settings are susceptible to numerous operational challenges, which might inadvertently escalate existing socio-economic and political tensions. Infrastructure, being intricately connected to the daily lives and societal needs of communities, often becomes a flashpoint in conflicts. Essential systems like water, energy, and transportation are not just physical assets; they represent broader social, economic, and political structures that can be either symbols of progress or points of contention. When these vital infrastructures are disrupted or commandeered, it can magnify existing societal disparities, restrict access to essential services, and further entrench divisions. However, with thoughtful planning and sensitivity to the local context, these projects can promote peace, address inequalities, and enhance social cohesion. Success in such endeavors often hinges on navigating uncertain political landscapes, adapting to evolving regulatory frameworks, and understanding potential regional complexities

Efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol in patients with geographic atrophy (GATHER2): 12-month results from a randomised, double-masked, phase 3 trial

Background Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration that can lead to irreversible vision loss and high burden of disease. We aimed to assess efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol 2 mg in reducing geographic atrophy lesion growth.Methods GATHER2 is a randomised, double-masked, sham-controlled, 24-month, phase 3 trial across 205 retina clinics, research hospitals, and academic institutions globally. To be eligible, patients had to be aged 50 years or older with non-centrepoint-involving geographic atrophy and best corrected visual acuity between 20/25 and 20/320 in the study eye. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to monthly avacincaptad pegol 2 mg administered as a 100 mu L intravitreal injection or sham for the first 12 months. Randomisation was performed using an interactive response technology system with stratification by factors known to be of prognostic importance in age-related macular degeneration. Patients, investigators, study centre staff, sponsor personnel, and data analysts were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was geographic atrophy lesion size measured by fundus autofluorescence at baseline, month 6, and month 12. Efficacy and safety analyses were done in the modified intention-to-treat and safety populations, respectively. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04435366.Findings Between June 22, 2020, and July 23, 2021, 1422 patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 448 were enrolled and randomly assigned to avacincaptad pegol 2 mg (n=225) or sham (n=223). One patient in the sham group did not receive study treatment and was excluded from analyses. There were 154 (68%) female patients and 71 (32%) male patients in the avacincaptad pegol 2 mg group, and 156 (70%) female patients and 66 (30%) male patients in the sham group. From baseline to month 12, the mean rate of square-root-transformed geographic atrophy area growth was 0 center dot 336 mm/year (SE 0 center dot 032) with avacincaptad pegol 2 mg and 0 center dot 392 mm/year (0 center dot 033) with sham, a difference in growth of 0 center dot 056 mm/year (95% CI 0 center dot 016-0 center dot 096; p=0 center dot 0064), representing a 14% difference between the avacincaptad pegol 2 mg group and the sham group. Ocular treatment-emergent adverse events in the study eye occurred in 110 (49%) patients in the avacincaptad pegol 2 mg group and 83 (37%) in the sham group. There were no endophthalmitis, intraocular inflammation, or ischaemic optic neuropathy events over 12 months. To month 12, macular neovascularisation in the study eye occurred in 15 (7%) patients in the avacincaptad pegol 2 mg group and nine (4%) in the sham group, with exudative macular neovascularisation occurring in 11 (5%) in the avacincaptad pegol 2 mg group and seven (3%) in the sham group.Interpretation Monthly avacincaptad pegol 2 mg was well tolerated and showed significantly slower geographic atrophy growth over 12 months than sham treatment, suggesting that avacincaptad pegol might slow disease progression and potentially change the trajectory of disease for patients with geographic atrophy.Funding Iveric Bio, An Astellas Company.Copyright (c) 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved