Exploring the Use of Online Platforms for Climate Change Policy and Public Engagement by NGOs in Latin America

The engagement of environmental non-governmental groups in collaborative communication efforts and decision-making about climate change remains a significant challenge. In Latin America, the website Intercambio Climático was set up to attempt to play a breakthrough role in the region's discussion of climate change. This case study focuses on the development, accomplishments, and challenges of this unique online communication initiative among non-governmental organizations working in climate change issues in Latin America with a US-based partner, as a vehicle to achieve their goals. We used secondary data and in-depth interviews to examine this platform's role in disseminating information and influencing decision-making. The results suggest that generally the participants perceive the website positively, but there are also problematic aspects of the collaboration that are not fully recognized by the members, which prevents a more functional and effective communication strategy.     

Public perceptions of CCS: Emergent themes in pan-European focus groups and implications for communications

This paper reports on European public perceptions of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as determined through six focus groups, one held in each of the UK, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Belgium and Spain. The development of opinion and the emergence of concerns were observed via phased exposure to a specially commissioned film providing an overview of CCS technology, its rationale and associated debates, supplemented by additional information on national energy mixes. In general there was a high level of commonality in opinion and concerns across the six countries, with only minor differences. The concerns that emerged were not allayed by the information provided. On the contrary, there was evidence of a shift from initial uncertainty about CCS to negative positions. CCS was generally perceived as an uncertain, end-of-pipe technology that will perpetuate fossil-fuel dependence. Noting the political context to CCS, we conclude that advocates will likely find the European public opinion context a challenging one in which to achieve deployment, particularly for onshore storage, except where local communities perceive real economic or other benefits to CCS.     

Elevated pCO2 causes developmental delay in early larval Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ equilibrates with surface seawater, elevating the concentration of aqueous hydrogen ions. This process, ocean acidification, is a future and contemporary concern for aquatic organisms, causing failures in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) aquaculture. This experiment determines the effect of elevated pCO₂ on the early development of C. gigas larvae from a wild Pacific Northwest population. Adults were collected from Friday Harbor, Washington, USA (48°31.7′N, 12°1.1′W) and spawned in July 2011. Larvae were exposed to Ambient (400 μatm CO₂), MidCO₂ (700 μatm), or HighCO₂ (1,000 μatm). After 24 h, a greater proportion of larvae in the HighCO₂ treatment were calcified as compared to Ambient. This unexpected observation is attributed to increased metabolic rate coupled with sufficient energy resources. Oyster larvae raised at HighCO₂ showed evidence of a developmental delay by 3 days post-fertilization, which resulted in smaller larvae that were less calcified.     

Likely pathogenic variant in the BICD2 gene in fetus presenting with non-immune hydrops

Trio exome sequencing was performed on a fetus presenting with severe hydrops fetalis at 21 + 0 weeks gestation. A novel de novo BICD2 missense variant was identified in the fetus. Pathogenic variants in the BICD2 gene are associated with lower extremity-predominant spinal muscular atrophy. The variant was initially classified as a variant of uncertain clinical significance (VUS) as at the time of analysis and initial report, pathogenic variants in the BICD2 gene specifically had not been associated with fetal hydrops and no other abnormalities had been detected. It was agreed in multidisciplinary team discussions to include the variant in the report as a VUS recommending phenotypic follow-up. The pregnancy was terminated and post-mortem findings were in keeping with a BICD2-pathogenic variant. In addition, a paper was published reporting another case with a pathogenic BICD2 variant presenting with fetal hydrops. The variant classification was then upgraded to class 4 likely pathogenic and reported as consistent with the diagnosis. This case demonstrates the importance of reporting these new gene/phenotypes in enabling others in the classification of variants, staying up-to-date with literature and following up phenotype for class 3 variants of interest.     

A case of prenatal paternity discrimination

A case is described in which prenatal paternity determination was required, on account of suspected incest. Chromosome heteromorphisms were uninformative, but discrimination was achieved by HLA typing.     

World modelling goes global

Staff at the Systems Analysis Research Unit of the UK Departments of the Environment and Transport, led by P.C. Roberts, have built a model of the world economic system and its natural resources. In September 1976, the modelling work of SARU was presented to a symposium at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. SARU's work on world modelling has so far received little exposure in the UK. Accordingly, the British National Committee for IIASA arranged for a one-day public presentation of SARU's modelling work at the Royal Society, London, on 3 October 1977.     

Active capping technology—New approaches for in situ remediation of contaminated sediments

This study evaluated pilot‐scale active caps composed of apatite, organoclay, biopolymers, and sand for the remediation of metal‐contaminated sediments. The active caps were constructed in Steel Creek, at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina. Monitoring was conducted for 12 months. Effectiveness of the caps was based on an evaluation of contaminant bioavailability, resistance to erosion, and impacts on benthic organisms. Active caps lowered metal bioavailability in the sediment during the one‐year test period. Biopolymers reduced sediment suspension during cap construction, increased the pool of carbon, and lowered the release of metals. This field validation showed that active caps can effectively treat contaminants by changing their speciation, and that caps can be constructed to include more than one type of amendment to achieve multiple goals. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Emerging trends in informal sector recycling in developing and transition countries

Optimistic estimates suggest that only 30–70% of waste generated in cities of developing countries is collected for disposal. As a result, uncollected waste is often disposed of into open dumps, along the streets or into water bodies. Quite often, this practice induces environmental degradation and public health risks. Notwithstanding, such practices also make waste materials readily available for itinerant waste pickers. These ‘scavengers’ as they are called, therefore perceive waste as a resource, for income generation. Literature suggests that Informal Sector Recycling (ISR) activity can bring other benefits such as, economic growth, litter control and resources conservation. This paper critically reviews trends in ISR activities in selected developing and transition countries. ISR often survives in very hostile social and physical environments largely because of negative Government and public attitude. Rather than being stigmatised, the sector should be recognised as an important element for achievement of sustainable waste management in developing countries. One solution to this problem could be the integration of ISR into the formal waste management system. To achieve ISR integration, this paper highlights six crucial aspects from literature: social acceptance, political will, mobilisation of cooperatives, partnerships with private enterprises, management and technical skills, as well as legal protection measures. It is important to note that not every country will have the wherewithal to achieve social inclusion and so the level of integration must be ‘flexible’. In addition, the structure of the ISR should not be based on a ‘universal’ model but should instead take into account local contexts and conditions.