Environmental Policy Commons^™

Ecological Barrier Of Coastal Zone In China: Concept, Functions, And Construction Theory, Guangxuan Han, Xiaoli Bi, Xiyong Hou, Xiaoli Zhang, Qianguo Xing, Yuan Li, Haiqing Ma, Ting Wang, Song Qin

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The ecological barrier of coastal zone serves as a critical defense line for safeguarding coastal ecological security and sustainable socio-economic development, with multifaceted functions including wave attenuation, shoreline stabilization, and climate regulation. This study systematically elaborates on the concept and essence of ecological barriers of coastal zone, highlighting their core as land-sea continuums that synergistically leverage ecosystem integrity, hydrological connectivity, and biodiversity to provide systemic deliver protective functions. Nevertheless, China’s coastal ecological barrier construction faces four major challenges, namely, (1) theoretical frameworks, often derived from inland models, inadequately represent the complex land-sea interactions and socio-economic drivers; (2) the absence of …

Spatial Resilience Of Coastal Zones From Landscape Pattern Perspective: Connotation, Characteristics, Key Elements, And Pathways For Enhancement, Haixing Meng, Congchun Wang, Shufeng Ye

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The coastal zone is a critical ecological barrier at the land–sea interface. Nevertheless, its defensive and regulatory functions have been severely undermined by climate change and intensified human activities, which have caused landscape fragmentation and reduced connectivity. From the perspective of landscape pattern, this study defines the concept of coastal zone spatial resilience and develops a three-dimensional framework of “structure–process–function”, elucidating its attributes of stability, adaptability, recoverability, and dynamic evolution. By coupling ecological spatial resilience theory, the study identifies key landscape elements shaping spatial resilience and proposes an assessment framework consisting of sensitivity, structure, and ecological vitality and services. Building …

Exploring Ecological Zonation Of The Yellow River Estuary Coastal Zone Based On Nitrogen And Phosphorus Criteria, Dejuan Jiang, Song Qin, Zhengyi Liu, Ruiteng Sun, Xiaoshuai Hang, Tao Zou, Xiaoguang Li, Lijuan Li, Shichao Tian, Yanfang Li, Yongming Luo, Chuanyuan Wang, Yuan Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Estuaries, as ecologically sensitive brackish water mixing zones, face a critical bottleneck in refined management because traditional zonation based on socioeconomic attributes overlooks the ecological heterogeneity driven by salinity gradients and nutrient stoichiometry, leading to a disconnect between management measures and conservation needs. This study proposes a novel approach to coastal zonation using nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient criteria as an ecological benchmark. Overall ecological criteria are established for the Yellow River estuary (dissolved inorganic nitrogen: 0.258 mg/L; phosphate: 0.015 mg/L) and a differentiated management scheme is constructed based on a salinity gradient (26.5 PSU boundary). It is recommended to integrate …

Institutional Safeguards And International Experience For Construction Of Coastal Ecological Barrier, Jiayu Bai, Yalei Qing, Shufeng Ye

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The coastal zone is a transitional area shaped by the interaction between land and sea, and it holds significant importance for national ecological security as well as economic and social development. Against the backdrop of advancing Chinese modernization, the research on institutional safeguards for the construction of coastal ecological barrier is essential for building a comprehensive framework for ecological conservation from the mountaintop to the ocean, implementing the major projects to protect and restore key ecosystems and the “dual carbon” goals, and promoting ecological civilization and the construction of a Beautiful China. At present, China’s institutional safeguards for coastal ecological …

Coastal Zone Ecological Barrier Construction: Holistic Governance And Its Promotion Path, Xiurong Huang, Aihua Jiang, Dou Xiaodong Dou

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The coastal zone is the frontier of the interaction between sea and land. As a special geographical unit, it has dual values of ecological security and economic development. It has become an important proposition to promote the resilience construction of coastal zone ecological barrier. In response to the current regulatory dilemma of “Kowloon Sea Governance”, structural contradictions in laws and norms, and complex conflicts of related interests, the construction of coastal zone ecological barrier must move from static protection to dynamic governance. In the goal dimension, the shift from “passive defense” to “resilient system construction” should be realized; in the …

Duolun Restoration Ecology Station, Institute Of Botany, Chinese Academy Of Sciences, Institute Of Botany, Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Ecological Research Provides Theoretical And Technical Support For Ecological Restoration And High-Quality Development In Agro-Pastoral Ecotone, Wenming Bai, Cunzheng Wei, Longyu Hou, Linghao Li, Xingguo Han, Wenhao Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Since its establishment in 2001, the Duolun Restoration Ecology Station, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Duolun Station) has been dedicated to addressing severe grassland degradation and slow economic development in the agro-pastoral ecotone, north of Beijing. A series of systematic studies were conducted on the degraded grassland ecosystem in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Duolun County, Inner Mongolia. The major research findings are summarized as follows. (1) Elucidated that species-specific trait of plant roots, along with the changes in soil properties, are the primary drivers determining how plant and microbial community structure and function respond to anthropogenic disturbances and …

“Land Back With Strings Attached”: Centering California Indian Perspectives On The Integration Of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Into California Environmental Policy, Lauren Crane

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In response to a changing climate and while reckoning with their treatment of California Indians, the State of California has embraced Traditional Ecological Knowledge (T.E.K.) and is working to integrate it into their environmental policies. While many scientists and policymakers view T.E.K. as an important resource for environmental management, how do the holders of this knowledge perceive its integration? This research centers the perspectives of California Indian tribes who engaged with the state in the 2024 Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program - an example of a State policy to integrate T.E.K. Their perspectives highlight the different concerns, priorities, and preferred methods …

Defining The European Union’S Top Public Health Priorities: What Can Be Gleaned From Its Multi-State Interdisciplinary Systems?, Mattie Frascella, Thierry Leger

Symposium of Student Scholars

Delineation of the European Union’s (EU) contemporary public health agenda is examined within the evolving architecture of a ‘European Health Union.’ Five interdependent domains are synthesized: climate and planetary health, digital transformation, resilient systems and workforce development, non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, and cross-sectoral and global leadership. Mutual reinforcement is essential for achieving equitable outcomes. The climate pillar reframes environmental disruption as a public health emergency, embedding adaptation, mitigation, and Planetary/One Health approaches across EU initiatives. The digital pillar examines the European Health Data Space and adjacent tools (telemedicine, e-prescribing, mobile health) as infrastructure for secure interoperability, research, and quality improvement. …

Developing A Waste-To-Energy Assessment Framework Integrating Engineering And Policy Dimensions Using A Triple Bottom Line Approach, Izech Brian O. Edwin, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in swiftly urbanizing Philippine cities has emerged as a critical concern in both energy and governance. Dependence on landfills is approaching critical thresholds as disposal sites near saturation, transportation costs escalate, and host communities increasingly resist garbage transfers. In response, this study proposes a comprehensive Waste-to-Energy (WtE) assessment framework that integrates engineering evaluation with policy and stakeholder analysis to support sustainable decision- making.

Using Baguio City as a case study, the framework applies a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach to evaluate three waste management scenarios: (1) current landfill-dominated practices, (2) engineered landfill with …

Book Review: Ecologies Of Inequity. How Disaster Response Reconstitutes Race And Class Inequality, Abel Traslaviña-Arias

Critical Disaster Studies

In Ecologies of Inequity: How Disaster Response Reconstitutes Race and Class Inequality, Sancha Doxilly Medwinter gathered diverse stories about how various migrant communities had to overcome not only disaster but also the overlapping networks established by those who were supposed to support them in 2012 in New York City. Medwinter portrays this contested post-disaster landscape through a thorough data recording of 120 individuals affiliated with various groups: racialized migrants or locals, tenants or property owners, local or external helpers, and those from wealthy or impoverished backgrounds. Ecologies of Inequity refer to the spatialized networks of organizational and interpersonal relations …

The Price Of Priorities: How Human Choices Fuel Climate And Ecological Decline, Keisha Hickman

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the ways in which human priorities and behaviors contribute to the escalating climate crisis and ecological systems. We will first analyze the role of social media in shaping public discourse on climate change and critically evaluate the priorities of institutions that have the means to assist in wildlife conservation. Both speak to the current behaviors of humankind prioritizing their own entertainment over meaningful efforts to mitigate climate change and preserve biodiversity. We will then shift to exploring the profound impact of human population growth and its associated activities on other species and ecosystems. Finally, the thesis will …

Evaluating The Preparedness Of Local Zoning Regulations For Flood Risk Reduction In The Most Affected Local Jurisdictions In Nebraska, Md Asaduzzaman Noor

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

Flooding has profound social, economic, and environmental impacts on local communities, and zoning plays a critical role in mitigating these risks. The 2019 Nebraska floods, among the most severe in the state’s history, highlighted the urgent need to strengthen local preparedness and mitigation strategies. This study assesses the extent to which local zoning regulations in Nebraska’s most affected jurisdiction, including rural areas, address flood risk reduction. A systematic review of 117 zoning ordinances from counties, cities, towns, and villages, we applied a structured analytical framework encompassing regulatory and permitting policies, voluntary and incentive-based measures, and nature-based solutions. The results show …

Bridging Conservation And Disaster Recovery: A Dual Study On Wetland Program Plans Evaluation And Midwest Post Disaster Recovery Assessment, Rao Nargis Jahan

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

Wetlands provide essential ecological, social, and economic benefits for our society. In the United States, states and tribes play crucial roles in wetland protection, restoration, and management. However, no research has systematically measured state-level wetland planning efforts towards national conservation goals. This study is the first to comprehensively evaluate how state-level Wetland Program Plans (WPPs) align with national missions, particularly the "no-net-loss" of wetlands goal. Our research assesses the EPA-approved state-level WPPs from 42 out of 50 states in the United States during the period from 2015 to 2024. Using a protocol of 30 indicators across five categories, this study …

Flood Resilience Through Working-Land Conservation: Assessment Of Wetland Inundation Dynamics Across Wrp, Wma, Wpa, Padus And Crp Lands In Nebraska (2018–2024), Pranjay Joshi

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

This study first confirms whether Nebraska’s wetlands are still functioning hydrologically in ways that reduce flood impacts. Wetlands are known to lessen flood damage by storing water, slowing runoff, and moderating peak flows, but these benefits depend on the wetlands’ ability to maintain inundation and saturation through time. Many wetlands across the state have undergone drainage, hydrologic alteration, or isolation from surrounding watersheds, raising uncertainty about their present-day functioning. Using seven years of Sentinel-2 imagery processed in Google Earth Engine, this research establishes a clear, long-term record of inundation patterns across thousands of wetland parcels. This analysis verifies which wetlands …

Data-Driven Evaluation Of Sustainable Waste-To-Energy Pathways For Intelligent Urban Systems, Izech Brian O. Edwin, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

The handling of municipal solid waste (MSW) in swiftly urbanizing Philippine cities poses intricate energy and governance challenges. In Baguio City, reliance on landfills has reached critical levels due to diminishing capacity, rising transport costs, and opposition to trash transfers by nearby LGUs. Although shaped by unique topographical and governance constraints, Baguio’s situation reflects issues faced by other rapidly growing Philippine cities; therefore, analyzing it offers insights for national MSW decision-making. This study applies a triple bottom line (TBL) framework to assess three management scenarios: (1) Status Quo, where all MSW is landfilled with no energy recovery; (2) Landfill with …

Engineering Risk And Indigenous Resilience Toward Intelligent Decision Support For Mining In Ancestral Lands, Izech Brian O. Edwin, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

Mining within ancestral territories reveals an ongoing conflict between technical viability and Indigenous consent. This collaborative study, conducted by an engineering scholar and a policy researcher of Indigenous heritage in Benguet among the Ibaloi and Kankanaey peoples, investigates how risk transparency and policy alignment can bridge existing divides, while formulating principles applicable to other Indigenous mining contexts. The study provides an initial evaluation of the feasibility of a proposed large-scale mining operation within a risk-informed, data-driven governance framework. Three elements of engineering risk were assessed utilizing literature-derived and proxy parameters: (1) Land degradation is indicated by a Soil Productivity Index …

Safety, Security, And… Beavers? An Engineer's Low-Tech Climate Strategy, Matt Mullins

University College: Environmental Policy and Management Capstones

Colorado’s headwaters are the source of drinking water to millions and are a key pillar of the state’s tourism industry. Consequently, they are some of the most vulnerable areas to natural disasters including wildfires, droughts and flooding. Climate change will increase the severity and frequency of these natural disasters. This project focuses on some of the most vulnerable areas from an economic and climate change perspective of Colorado’s headwaters including the Big Thompson River, and the Colorado River. These headwaters located in and around Estes Park, Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park are currently severely impaired. Low-tech process-based restoration …

Public Support For New Agricultural Best Management Practices To Protect Florida Water Quality, Sadie Hundemer, Madison A. Dyment, Matthew Gold

Journal of Extension

Recent research finds that changes to land management practices in geographically vulnerable areas of Florida could substantially reduce groundwater contamination; however, water quality improvement comes with tradeoffs. A change in land use or the adoption of new agricultural best management practices (BMPs) would have economic and cultural implications for farmers, rural communities, taxpayers, and the state as a whole. In two studies, we examined Florida residents’ support for alternative land management policy options, the considerations contributing to their policy preferences, and how preferences and considerations vary across demographic characteristics.

Wine-Rs Or Losers: Assessing The Socio- Economic Impact Of Eu Regulations On Climate-Exacerbated Pests And Diseases In Northern Italian Viticulture, Kyley Fishman

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

As climate change creates extreme weather events, unprecedented disease and pest infestations, European farmers are challenged by these threats. Balancing sustainable and traditional practices while maintaining socio-economic stability under European Union agroregulations can be extremely difficult. An area of concern for the EU is viticulture, which is among the most climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. My study examines in what ways the EU’s regulations addressing climate-exacerbated pests and plant diseases influence the socioeconomics of different vineyard farms in Northern Italy. Three key socio-economic findings emerged from the analysis. First, top-down and research-driven management strategies can subvert local, place-based knowledge, which undermines traditional …

U.S. Water Infrastructure: Diving Into Needs And Recent Policy Developments, Joseph Kane

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presents a lecture titled, "U.S. Water Infrastructure: Diving Into Needs and Recent Policy Developments" by Brookings fellow in Brookings Metro, Joseph Kane. Whether providing drinking water, treating wastewater, or managing stormwater, water infrastructure in the United States spans a wide range of human-made and natural systems. In turn, the enormous scale and variety of these systems is leading to an array of challenges: aging and vulnerable infrastructure; fragmented governance and siloed planning across different geographies; a lack of financial, technical, and managerial capacity; difficulties adapting to new industrial and …

Urban Heat Islands In Mountain West Cities, 2024, Mia Tschan, Krish Sharma, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr.

Environment

This fact sheet presents data on Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) in six cities across five Mountain West states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are derived from the 2024 Climate Central report, “Urban Heat Hot Spots in 65 Cities,” which includes data on how UHIs boost temperatures in 65 major cities across the United States. This fact sheet focuses on UHIs in six Mountain West cities: Albuquerque, NM; Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Phoenix, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; and Tucson, AZ.

Using Markets To Decarbonize, Jonathan H. Adler

Popular Media

"Traditional environmental regulation is not powerful enough for problems on the scale of climate change."

Addressing Climate Vulnerability And Policy Gaps Of Heat Waves In Upper Egypt: The Case Study Of Al-A’Qaab Village In Aswan, Eman Abdullah

Theses and Dissertations

Heatwaves are currently one of the most dangerous climate hazards globally. Egypt is experiencing an increase in the intensity and frequency of heatwaves, which affects health, economy, infrastructure, and the ecological system. Upper Egypt is one of the most vulnerable regions in Egypt to rising temperatures, particularly in Aswan Governorate. The risks of heat waves are increasing vulnerability among vulnerable groups, such as women and low-income individuals. However, there is a clear gap in protection policies against heat waves, along with a lack of studies examining the effects of heat waves on individuals in Aswan. Accordingly, this thesis aims to …

Examining The City Of Philadelphia’S Proposition Bill #250768 “Stop Trashing Our Air Act” By Addressing Waste Management And Environmental Justice Challenges In Chester City, Pennsylvania And The Philadelphia Region, Dylan Wascavage

Student Publications

This paper offers a policy analysis of the City of Philadelphia’s "Stop Trashing Our Air Act" by summarizing the reasoning for the bill's call to action, its legislative background, identifying key players and their strategies, and how these strategies reflect philosophies of environmental governance and the policy cycle. It seeks to inform local community members and policymakers of the implications of this bill, to highlight the lack of state and federal intervention on this issue, and to address the environmental justice and pollution concerns of the Covanta waste incinerator in Chester City and its neighboring communities. It also aims to …

Early Signs The Eu Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Is Reshaping Eu-India Steel Trade, Gian Luca Vriz, Theodor Florian Cojoianu, Carolyn Fischer, Luca Taschini

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This study examines early signals of the EU CBAM's impact on iron and steel exporters from India by integrating firm-level export data with third-party estimates of manufacturers' emissions and production. Changes in trade flows and pricing during the CBAM reporting phase indicate that high-emission-intensity firms have decreased both their average unit prices and shipment sizes to the EU, while low-emission-intensity firms have not changed shipment behavior and may have benefited from increasing prices. Such supply chain adjustments are in line with EU policy intentions, creating opportunities for low-emission producers while reducing reliance on high-emission suppliers to the EU.

Cwu's Electronic Waste Management: A Success Story In Sustainable Practice, Srijita Gurung

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD; Kevin Lomax

Purpose: This research examines how Central Washington University (CWU) manages electronic waste (e-waste) to promote economic, environmental, and equitable sustainability practices. In February 2024, Computer Support Services (CSS) started a computer reconciliation project, which is vital due to the Windows 10 operating system going end of life after October 14, 2025, and no longer receiving software support. This project tracks and documents the life of electronic assets, with a focus on the role of Surplus and IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) companies. Method: The primary research methods involve interviews, and online research of active …

Rising Waters, Falling Taxes: The Impact Of Hurricane Sandy On Property Tax Assessments In New York City, Wei Guo, Qing Miao, Yusun Kim, Yilin Hou

Center for Policy Research

Climate disasters pose fiscal challenges for local governments by increasing recovery costs and demand for property tax relief. Homeowners with or without property damage face tax burdens that may not match changes to their property value. This study examines the impact of Hurricane Sandy on property values and tax assessments in New York City. Using a difference-in-differences approach and comprehensive property-level data, we find that (1) inundated properties faced greater tax burdens due to limited declines in taxable value; (2) unaffected properties in flood zones saw tax burden increases due to declining market values and unchanged taxable values; and (3) …

Criminalising Ecocide For Climate Justice And Global Security, Norain El Gebely

COP30

The climate emergency is deepening and needs urgent attention involving radical, binding, and multilateral measures. Ecocide is the large-scale and deliberate destruction of ecosystems which undermines human security, destabilizes the fragile states and increases geopolitical tensions. It has been contended in this policy brief that ecocide needs to be internationally criminalized pursuant to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place environmental destruction firmly within the scope of global peace and security. The proposals promote climate justice by prioritizing certain countries, which include Equatorial countries, industrializing high emission countries and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through …

Climate Justice Across Borders: Responding To Ecocide And Displacement, Camila Micheletti Flores

COP30

This policy paper examines how climate change accelerates cross-border displacement, especially in regions most vulnerable to ecocide and environmental degradation. Climate refugees remain unprotected under international law, as the 1951 Refugee Convention excludes environmental grounds for asylum, leaving populations exposed to human rights violations and securitized responses. It analyzes legal and institutional gaps, highlighting failures in global climate governance and the disproportionate risks faced by SIDS and other affected regions. The paper calls for COP30 to mandate a high-level UNFCCC forum on climate displacement and ecocide to build a just, cooperative, and rights-based international framework.