Can Environmental Governance Benefit From an ICT-Social Capital Nexus in Civil Society?

Although the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to foster social capital in civil society has been duly acknowledged, few studies have empirically explored the ICT-social capital nexus in the context of community organizations. Huysman and Wulf (2004) consider the lack of interest in the area of ‘ICT and social capital’ as worrisome in today’s increasingly network-centric society. Since the prospect of ICT furthering social capital is simply too significant to ignore, this paper responds to this gap by reporting on one aspect of a 2008 survey of environmental community organizations (ECOs) undertaken to develop a broader understanding of the linkages between organizational social capital and information and communication technologies in the Perth region of Western Australia. By exploring the trend of ICT uptake, pattern of intra-organizational as well as inter-organizational interactions, and the association between ICT uptake and organizational interactions, this paper critically engages in the ‘ICT and social capital’ debate and discusses the implications of ICT-social capital nexus in the context of environmental governance

Beach Erosion and Nourishment in Gold Coast: Perceptions, Policies and Prospects

The combination of ongoing urban development and forecasted impacts of the changing climate are projected to place many coastal areas at risk. One of the associated risks is beach erosion, and consequently, nourishment initiatives have become a costly sustainable development issue for local and state governments. For instance, the popular Palm Beach, a nearly four kilometres stretch of sandy beach on the southern Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia has been identified as being more susceptible to serious erosion than other beaches in the city. Consequently, the local council has spent millions of dollars on beach nourishment and is seeking ways to fund the initiative. In this context of coastal management, an exploratory pilot research project was undertaken to examine the question of - “how do local residents and tourists perceive the problem of beach erosion and to what extent are they willing to support beach nourishment initiatives”? Results of quantitative analyses of 68 face to face survey responses of beach goers (local residents and tourists) are outlined in terms of Willingness to Donate (WTD) framework. Findings indicate: a) more than three-quarters of respondents perceived beach nourishment as an important issue, b) local residents were more willing to volunteer towards beach nourishment, and c) tourists were more willing to donate money to work towards resolving the problem. The financial and policy implications of these findings in the context of beach nourishment are discussed

Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in Bangladesh: The Tale of Two Coastal Cities

International aid agencies have increasingly focused on Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters as an integral component of climate change adaptation strategies in Bangladesh. The country currently has about 2,500 shelters and it is estimated that more than 5,000 additional shelters are needed in order to adapt to the increased frequency and intensity of cyclones associated with the changing climate. Although such physical initiatives are highly commendable, little attention has been paid to the non-structural approaches for making adaptation more resilient. This paper responds to this gap and investigates the state of shelters in two of the coastal districts in the country. The findings suggest that the vulnerable people in urban areas are at risk of falling victim to climate change maladaptation. The paper ends by making a case for greater community involvement to enhance social capital and secure financial options as a way forward

The state of higher education and vocational education and training sectors in Nepal: Implications for graduate work-readiness and sustainable development

This chapter explores the state of the higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET) sectors in Nepal through the lens of graduate work-readiness, contending that the concerted impetus on human capital policy must be a priority for the country. It provides a background on labour market conditions. The chapter reviews the structure and development of the education and training systems in the country. It then discusses the work-readiness challenges in specific industry sectors. The chapter also reviews the national policy environment on employment opportunities and work-readiness skills. The main labour market challenge for Nepal comes from the slow pace of economic development associated with political conflicts and natural disasters. The Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), established in 1989, is the national body for the VET sector with the purpose of technical and skilful human resources development. CTVET oversees the technical and senior secondary-level vocational education and training programs