Can Destination Cards Help to Shape Areas' Sustainability?

This paper examines whether destination cards can simultaneously serve tourists' needs and sustainability goals. It provides useful insights for tourism authorities and policymakers in designing a smart tourist card that meets the needs of tourists while preserving and supporting areas' wellbeing. Taking Thessaloniki city as a case study, a tourist survey, designed based on the key features of European destination cards, was implemented to identify needs and motivations. Interesting insight was revealed: tourists want to self-explore the city, are coming with their families, are history-lovers and gastronomy-keen, and are strongly willing to be provided with a destination card offering unlimited access to public transport. The latter reveals an opportunity for the city;the tourists are willing to use sustainable mobility options, which means that a base of sustainable travelling exists. The proposed Thessaloniki smart card can bring together tourists' needs with the city's sustainability goals;the development of tourist packages, including sustainable mobility provisions, walking-talking tours, and bike rentals, should be the backbone of the card. The next challenge for the city is to build a cooperation network to support this smart destination card implementation and promotion.

Design for Well-Being and Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework of the Peer-to-Peer Sharing and Reuse Platform in the Circular Economy

To regain overall well-being in the post-pandemic era, the priorities should not be only economic growth but also human physical and mental health. This study investigates how to incorporate the concept of well-being into the circular economy to facilitate the pursuit of individual/personal and social growth, and sustainable consumption. We begin with a systematic search of the literature on well-being and sustainable product–service systems, model the well-being components in peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing and reuse platforms, and propose design guidelines for platform development. According to our findings, (1) allocentric well-being components (such as gratitude, contribution, and altruism) serve as the antecedents of sharing behaviors, while egocentric components (such as pleasure and attachment) serve as the consequences, and (2) information sharing is crucial to initiating the flow of well-being perceptions and sustainable sharing and reuse behaviors. Based on the findings, we suggest a data-driven approach and active inference theory to facilitate related studies. This study sheds light on the potential to develop well-being within the circular economy and facilitate the sustainable working of the sharing and reuse ecosystem.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of "Non-Grain Production” in Hubei Province Based on a Non-Grain Index

Non-grain production (NGP) on cultivated land has become a common phenomenon due to the prosperity of the rural economy and the optimisation of the agricultural structure. However, the excessive use of cultivating land for NGP has threatened food production and the sustainable use of cultivated land. To halt this trend and to ensure food security, the authors of this paper applied a novel non-grain index to measure NGP, which could reflect multiple NGP activities;designated Hubei Province as its object of research;and revealed NGP's spatio-temporal patterns of the past 30 years. We then assessed the characteristics of NGP based on spatial autocorrelation analysis, the Theil index, and geographically weighted regression. The results showed that the value of the non-grain index grew from 0.497 to 1.113 as NGP increased significantly in Hubei Province. The number of high-NGP counties increased, spatial agglomeration became obvious, and the eastern and western sides of Hubei Province witnessed an observable growth in NGP. As a result, the NGP in the eastern and western regions overtook production in the central region. Despite a series of historical subsidy policies and agricultural modernisation initiatives that promoted the planting of grain crops, the policy of "grain on valuable cultivated land” could be better implemented. We conclude by making some suggestions for reducing NGP and protecting cultivated land.

The Influence of Social Media and Sustainability Advocacy on the Purchase Intention of Filipino Consumers in Fast Fashion

The large consumption of fast fashion brings many negative environmental impacts. Filipino consumers love and buy fast fashion because it is relatively cheap but trendy, and there are lots of fashionable designs to choose from. Despite the shortage in water supply and disposal issues of fast fashion, people still continue to purchase. The lack of awareness of consumers on sustainable fashion consumption led the researchers to conduct a study that aims to identify factors affecting Filipino consumers' buying decisions on fast fashion using the combined theory of planned behavior, elaboration likelihood model, and hedonic motivation. A total of 407 participants were gathered through a convenience sampling approach, and the data collected were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The result shows that attitude towards fast fashion is the highest contributing factor to purchase intention. While social media positively affects purchase intention, sustainability advocacy negatively impacts the consumers' intention to buy fast fashion. The awareness of sustainability leads to consumption reduction of fast fashion garments. Surprisingly, perceived product price and quality do not show a significant influence on purchase intention. Incorporating sustainability advocacy on social media may be a great strategy to encourage the sustainable consumption of fashion garments. The findings of this study could be a great tool to influence fashion companies and government institutions to promote sustainability awareness and transition marketing strategies to the sustainable consumption of fashion.

Creative Economy and Sustainable Regional Growth: Lessons from the Implementation of Entrepreneurial Discovery Process at the Regional Level

The creative economy sector is tightly associated with sustainable development and Sustainable Economic Goals (SDGs). The creative industries contribute to sustainability in a variety of ways. They are essential in accelerating sustainable consumption and production patterns and promoting regional sustainable development. This paper attempts to stress the role of the creative economy in promoting sustainable regional growth by focusing on smart specialization priority areas in the region of Attica. The latter has been accomplished by presenting the current regional policy model and the entrepreneurial discovery process (EDP) methodology in the region of Attica. This paper concludes that the EDP paves the way for the formulation of policy lessons enhancing the link between the creative economy and sustainable regional growth. In a nutshell, three major conclusions derived from the present paper include the following aspects: (i) the formulation of an integrated smart specialisation strategy requires an ongoing and well-structured process along the policy cycle (structured life-cycle approach);(ii) the deployment of a robust innovation ecosystem requires a comprehensive approach of engaging and mobilising regional actors and identifying their needs and priorities;(iii) the lessons observed through the exploration of the case study lead to concrete findings regarding the critical importance of long-term interactive institutional learning and policy co-design as a precondition for an effective regional ecosystem.

Why Do We Need Food Systems Informatics? Introduction to This Special Collection on Smart and Connected Regional Food Systems

Public interest in where food comes from and how it is produced, processed, and distributed has increased over the last few decades, with even greater focus emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mounting evidence and experience point to disturbing weaknesses in our food systems' abilities to support human livelihoods and wellbeing, and alarming long-term trends regarding both the environmental footprint of food systems and mounting vulnerabilities to shocks and stressors. How can we tackle the "wicked problems” embedded in a food system? More specifically, how can convergent research programs be designed and resulting knowledge implemented to increase inclusion, sustainability, and resilience within these complex systems, support widespread contributions to and acceptance of solutions to these challenges, and provide concrete benchmarks to measure progress and understand tradeoffs among strategies along multiple dimensions? This article introduces and defines food systems informatics (FSI) as a tool to enhance equity, sustainability, and resilience of food systems through collaborative, user-driven interaction, negotiation, experimentation, and innovation within food systems. Specific benefits we foresee in further development of FSI platforms include the creation of capacity-enabling verifiable claims of sustainability, food safety, and human health benefits relevant to particular locations and products;the creation of better incentives for the adoption of more sustainable land use practices and for the creation of more diverse agro-ecosystems;the wide-spread use of improved and verifiable metrics of sustainability, resilience, and health benefits;and improved human health through better diets.

Information and Communication Technology in Brazilian Public Schools: A Sustainable Legacy of the Pandemic?

The present study aimed to analyze the sustainability of the post-COVID-19 pandemic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) legacy. The survey was conducted using raw secondary data from three census studies, one carried out before the pandemic and two after the return to in-person classes. The descriptive survey focused on Brazilian public schools and used a comparative intersectional design. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the raw data. The poorest conditions in terms of the availability of technological resources were found in municipal public school systems. The amount of equipment available, bandwidth, and Internet data transmission rate in most public schools were far below desirable, despite advances in 2021 compared to 2019. Although there have been important improvements in ICT in Brazilian public schools, there was no evidence of inherited ICT resources as a legacy of the Government's COVID-19 policies related to education. The study highlights the need for government to implement enduring public policies that guarantee the use of sustainable ICT resources to improve education, irrespective of global or national health challenges.

Consumption values, anxiety and organic food purchasing behaviour considering the moderating role of sustainable consumption attitude

PurposeThis study aims to identify and describe the relationships among different consumption values, anxiety and organic food purchase behaviour considering the moderating role of sustainable consumption attitude from the viewpoint of the theory of consumption values.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using a structured questionnaire survey in first-tier cities in China. A total of 344 consumers of organic foods participated in the study. Structural equation modelling and hierarchical regression analysis were employed for data analysis.FindingsThe results indicated the significant association of functional value-price, emotional value, social value and epistemic value with purchase behaviour. Anxiety had a positively significant influence on functional (quality), functional (price), emotional, social, conditional and epistemic values. In addition, the results indicated that functional (price), emotional, social and epistemic values played mediating effects in the relationships between anxiety and purchase behaviour. Moreover, sustainable consumption attitude had a positive moderating effect on functional value-price and purchase behaviour.Practical implicationsThe research not only provides novel and original insights for understanding organic consumption but also provides a reference for organic retailers to develop sales strategies and policymakers to formulate policies to guide organic consumption that are conducive to promoting sustainable consumption.Originality/valueFor the first time, this research attempts to explore the relationships among different consumption values, anxiety and purchase behaviour. It may improve the gap of inconsistency in attitude and behaviour in organic consumption, and provide a new perspective for the study of organic consumption.

Progress of the Panama Meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Background: The 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) took place in Panama from the 14th to the 25th of November 2022. The meeting was attended by 2,500 delegates representing more than 160 Parties and observers to the Convention. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all CITES Parties and significantly disrupted the implementation of CITES. The CoP shared the actions and the experiences of the Parties, the Secretariat, the Committee members and observers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress: Delegates reviewed 52 proposed amendments to the Appendices and discussed 91 agenda items. There was the highest proportion of proposals for new Appendix II species but the lowest number of revising annotation proposals the CoP 19 has considered in nearly 25 years. The CoP updated the regulation of international trade in over 600 species of animals and plants. In the adopted proposals, international trade in 50 species of freshwater turtles, 158 species of glass frogs, 100 species of sharks and rays, 150 species of trees and dozens of species of roseroots will be regulated as the newly revised lists are enforced. The CoP adopted the financing and the cost of the programme of work for the triennium 2023‒2025, with an overall budget being 6.1% higher compared to the triennium 2020‒2022. The Conference further refined compliance and enforcement requirements for elephants, big cats, totoaba and other wildlife species threatened with extinction. With the implementations of engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities, livelihoods-related issues have been relatively slow and hampered. Parties vigorously debated proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure and criteria for the amendments of CITES Appendices, but no substantive amendments were adopted. A pilot version of the World Wildlife Trade Report and the Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species: Policy-Maker Summary were discussed and heard. CITES has added several new topics in the CoP to address new challenges, such as the role of CITES in reducing the risk of future zoonotic diseases associated with the international wildlife trade. The CoP 19 recommends interdisciplinary research to analyze the role of CITES in the conservation and sustainable use of forests. The Parties resolved to work on building gender equality into the international trade in wildlife, recognizing that women are often guardians of wildlife and biodiversity but, just as often, are not recognized or benefit from this trade. Prospects: Regardless of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, China's CITES authorities made thorough preparations for the CoP, conducting research two years in advance and drafting a proposal a report which was submitted to the CoP 19, organized pre-session and in-session consultations with scientific authorities, collected information from all parties, and actively led the discussions in working groups, presenting a positive view of China in prioritizing ecological civilization and fulfilling its responsibilities as a major country. CITES will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023. The record 365 decisions in CoP 19 demonstrate that CITES Parties continue to take action to address the unprecedented pressures on species due to overexploitation and illegal trade. © 2023, Chinese Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Progress of the Panama Meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Background: The 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) took place in Panama from the 14th to the 25th of November 2022. The meeting was attended by 2,500 delegates representing more than 160 Parties and observers to the Convention. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all CITES Parties and significantly disrupted the implementation of CITES. The CoP shared the actions and the experiences of the Parties, the Secretariat, the Committee members and observers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress: Delegates reviewed 52 proposed amendments to the Appendices and discussed 91 agenda items. There was the highest proportion of proposals for new Appendix II species but the lowest number of revising annotation proposals the CoP 19 has considered in nearly 25 years. The CoP updated the regulation of international trade in over 600 species of animals and plants. In the adopted proposals, international trade in 50 species of freshwater turtles, 158 species of glass frogs, 100 species of sharks and rays, 150 species of trees and dozens of species of roseroots will be regulated as the newly revised lists are enforced. The CoP adopted the financing and the cost of the programme of work for the triennium 2023‒2025, with an overall budget being 6.1% higher compared to the triennium 2020‒2022. The Conference further refined compliance and enforcement requirements for elephants, big cats, totoaba and other wildlife species threatened with extinction. With the implementations of engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities, livelihoods-related issues have been relatively slow and hampered. Parties vigorously debated proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure and criteria for the amendments of CITES Appendices, but no substantive amendments were adopted. A pilot version of the World Wildlife Trade Report and the Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species: Policy-Maker Summary were discussed and heard. CITES has added several new topics in the CoP to address new challenges, such as the role of CITES in reducing the risk of future zoonotic diseases associated with the international wildlife trade. The CoP 19 recommends interdisciplinary research to analyze the role of CITES in the conservation and sustainable use of forests. The Parties resolved to work on building gender equality into the international trade in wildlife, recognizing that women are often guardians of wildlife and biodiversity but, just as often, are not recognized or benefit from this trade. Prospects: Regardless of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, China's CITES authorities made thorough preparations for the CoP, conducting research two years in advance and drafting a proposal a report which was submitted to the CoP 19, organized pre-session and in-session consultations with scientific authorities, collected information from all parties, and actively led the discussions in working groups, presenting a positive view of China in prioritizing ecological civilization and fulfilling its responsibilities as a major country. CITES will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023. The record 365 decisions in CoP 19 demonstrate that CITES Parties continue to take action to address the unprecedented pressures on species due to overexploitation and illegal trade. © 2023, Chinese Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Scheduling Closure Periods Is Not an Effective Management Strategy to Reduce Lampenflora in Show Caves

The conversion of wild caves into tourist sites poses serious threats to the conservation of subterranean environments. Among them, the extensive growth of photosynthetic biofilms induced by artificial lighting—the so-called lampenflora—is of particular concern for cave managers. The identification of cost-effective management actions controlling the growth of lampenflora is therefore required to preserve the environmental and touristic values of show caves. By taking advantage of the closure period imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, we tested whether 6 months of cave closure could be an effective strategy to reduce the concentration of photosynthetic biofilms on speleothems in four geographically close Italian show caves. We compared the concentration of the three main microorganism groups composing lampenflora, i.e., cyanobacteria, diatoms, and green algae, measured in September 2020 with values recorded 6 months after the closure, in May 2021. Although slight variations have been observed across the different sampling sessions, we did not detect any significant effect of the closure period on the overall concentration values of lampenflora. Also, we recorded no significant differences in lampenflora concentration after 4 months of regular tourist use, in September 2021. Our results suggest that management practices based on regulating visits to show caves are not effective strategies to reduce lampenflora. Therefore, management practices aiming at a sustainable use of show caves should focus on the active removal of photosynthetic biofilms.

Engaging in Sustainable Consumption: Exploring the Influence of Environmental Attitudes, Values, Personal Norms, and Perceived Responsibility

This study explores the links between environmental attitudes and values, personal norms, perceived responsibility, pro-environmental and prosocial engagement in sustainable consumption, and sustainable consumption behavior. Data was collected by surveying 904 Lithuanians through non-random quota sampling. Empirical research reveals that internal factors, such as environmental attitudes, values, personal norms, and perceived responsibility, have a positive direct effect on engagement with sustainable consumption. In addition, the findings indicate that pro-environmental and prosocial engagement to act as a mediator in enhancing the impact on sustainable consumer behavior. The results of this study expand the understanding of the engagement phenomena and how it can assist in shifting to sustainable consumer behavior in the Lithuanian context. Opportunities to encourage sustainable consumption behavior are presented for marketers and policy makers.

Integrated Approaches to Ecosystem Services: Linking Culture, Circular Economy and Environment through the Re-Use of Open Spaces and Buildings in Europe

Green and blue infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and cultural and built heritage play a key role in enhancing ecosystem services provision and shaping urban quality and communities’ wellbeing calling for an integrated approach to ecosystem services in urban policy and planning and decision-making. On the other side, under-used spaces and buildings have social, cultural, economic, as well as ecological functions and benefits, which are essential to sustainable urban development. The EU has been developing and implementing policies for an integrated approach to urban development and sustainable land use through the implementation of the Urban Agenda for the EU and fourteen associated Partnerships. Thus, it engaged a broad range of institutions and stakeholders across Europe in promoting local projects and sharing best practices on sustainable land use and nature-based solutions, the circular economy, and cultural heritage. This paper reviews the experiences of cities involved in the Partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU by illustrating how they related to different modes of ecosystem governance and associated challenges, discussing how three case studies integrate different dimensions of ecosystem services and regeneration in under-used areas and what type of knowledge as well as regulation and governance modes they have developed for supporting innovation in land use planning and management for urban ecosystem services. The results show that appropriate alternative regulations and policies are little explored and that cities adopt an integrated approach, combining cultural, environmental, economic, and social dimensions in their interventions, directly or indirectly enhancing the benefits of built and natural heritage and urban ecosystems in under-used areas. However, some issues, such as nature-based solutions and climate change, are still partially integrated into the projects while priority is given to the cultural, aesthetic, and economic dimensions.

A Model of Motivational and Technological Factors Influencing Massive Open Online Courses’ Continuous Intention to Use

Massive open online courses have been regarded as effective technological innovations that improve educational systems in the era of digitalisation. However, only 10% of the registered students complete their courses. This study aims to examine the motivational and technological factors and contextual features on students’ continuous intention to use. A questionnaire was gathered from 315 of students in the UAE and revealed that social motivational and technological factors driven by the technology acceptance model and technology task fit theory significantly influenced the students’ continuance intention to use. This study also revealed that contextual features including language use and course accreditation are important indicators determining students’ behaviours toward the use. Hence, this study proposed an integrative model to explain ways to improve continuance intention to use. This study contributes to the sustainable use of massive open online courses in developing countries through an integrative model.

The impact of land certification on cropland abandonment: evidence from rural China

Purpose>This study explores how the land tenure system helps in protecting land quantity during agricultural production by estimating the influence of land certification on cropland abandonment, its mechanisms and its heterogeneous effects among groups at the provincial, community and household levels.Design/methodology/approach>To deal with potential homogeneity concerns, the authors investigate the impact of land certification on the area of abandoned croplands using nationally representative panel data from the 2017 and 2019 China Rural Household Panel Survey on 15,000 households across 29 provinces and time-varying difference-in-differences and propensity score matching-difference-in-differences models.Findings>Land certification significantly contributes to the protection of land quantity during agricultural production, and it reduces the area of abandoned croplands by at least 4%. This effect is mainly achieved by improving soil fertility, promoting land transfer, increasing the availability of agricultural subsidies and raising agricultural income. However, while land certification benefits farmers in nonmajor grain-producing areas and western regions, in plain, remote and nonpolitically central villages, and farmers who have not undergone land transfer or land adjustment, it is not beneficial for others.Research limitations/implications>In the postepidemic era, food security based on the protection of the amount of cultivated land becomes increasingly important. It is realistic and inevitable to rationally use every inch of cultivated land and curb the cropland abandonment by strengthening land tenure system reform, especially in the case of the insecurity of land tenure.Practical implications>There are various factors affecting farmers' cropland abandonment, such as poor soil fertility, unavailable land transfer, too little agricultural subsidies and too low agricultural income, but the root cause is the insecurity of land tenure. Empirical evidence from rural China has shown that a clear definition and effective protection of property rights can help curb the cropland abandonment. Enhancing the land protection behavior of farmers through the reform of land certification and promoting the sustainable use of land are what the reform of land tenure system should be.Social implications>Cultivated land, as the material carrier and endowment basis of grain production, is of great importance to safeguarding national food security, especially in the postepidemic era. At the present stage, it is still necessary for most developing countries to strengthen the construction of land tenure system, to carry out land certification reform and to issue farmers with clearly defined and legally effective land certificates. Equally important, efforts also should be made to promote the diversified utilization of the achievements of the certification after the completion of land certification reform in China and other developing countries.Originality/value>Expropriation and occupation of croplands are essential in protecting land quantity during rapid urbanization, and so is reducing cropland abandonment during agricultural production;therefore, it deserves close attention. In this regard, this study estimates the impact of land certification on the area of abandoned croplands, examines its possible mechanisms and identifies its heterogeneous effects to test the applicability of the property rights theory in the Chinese context and enrich the relevant literature and provide Chinese evidence for other developing countries to strengthen the protection of land quantity, by deepening the reform of the land tenure system under different circumstances.

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021 is a biannual conference organized by the Indonesian Society of Limnology, with the theme is “Building synergies towards sustainable use of inland waters.” This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hold the event virtually from 2nd to 3rd December. The objectives of this event are to (1) Connect, discuss, share and create a mutual network among communities from different backgrounds who are interested in inland waters ecosystem;(2) Disseminate science & technology and lessen the gap between scientific and common communities through fruitful discussion settings;(3) Underpin sustainable use and management of inland aquatic ecosystems.There were four keynotes speakers, four invited speakers, and 66 general presenters in the conference sessions. In total, 116 participants were registered and joined the conference. The first keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Gadis Sri Haryani from the Research Center for Limnology and Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRIN), Indonesia, who presented research about Migratory freshwater fish in Indonesia: Threats and conservation efforts. The second presenter was Dr. Robert Walsh from the Australian Water Life, Australia, who presented research about Discover the world of Micro-invertebrates. The third keynote speaker was Dr. Khamla Inkhavilay from the National University of Laos, Lao PDR, who presented Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wetland of Mekong Basin. The fourth speaker was Dr. Kwanraree Joy Sirikanchana from the Chulabhorn Research Institute, Thailand, who presented Microbial Source Tracking and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Sustainable Water Pollution Management.In addition, the four invited speakers and 66 general presenters split into four rooms for parallel discussions which covered the latest research on inland water ecosystems, including;(1) Biotic resources, biodiversity, and conservation;(2) System Dynamic of inland waters;(3) Applied technology for the management and pollution control;(4) Modelling, system information, decision support tool, disaster risk reduction;(5) Management, policies, regulation, education, social, economy, and culture.We highly appreciate the generous support from Research Centre for Limnology-BRIN (Indonesia), Australian Water Life (Australia), Chulabhorn Research Institute (Thailand), National University of Laos (Lao PDR), Southeast Asian Limnological Network (SEALnet), Advisory Board, Steering and Organizing committee and all presenters and participants.List of Committees, Advisory Board, Steering Committee, Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee, Documentation, all photos are available in this pdf.

Implementing SDG 14 Under Principles, Ethical Values, and Environmental and Economic Justice for Small-Scale Artisanal Fishermen in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, as in other countries, vulnerability and marginalization experienced by small-scale artisanal fishermen, fisherwomen, and mollusk collectors are the result of the absence of a human rights‐based approach to marine conservation and development in the coastal areas. Usually non-formality, absence of tenure and access rights, bad health services, and low education compared to other productive sectors are part of what fisherfolks experience. This commentary shares how working in a long-term and integral way with these communities and incorporating a human rights‐based approach strengthens the contributions that the sector provides toward the sustainable use of the fishing resource of their marine territories with dignity, equity, and justice, especially in the context of SDG 14, the Ocean Decade, and 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. Born during the COVID pandemic, the initiative of a fair and equitable Sea Market for the fishing products of these small-scale communities supported by CoopeSoliDar RL and the Marine Responsible Fishing areas and marine territories of life network in Costa Rica is today a concrete example of how a fair and just market can contribute positively to the objectives of sustainable development and the fundamental elements contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity, preservation of the natural environment, sustainable use, and fair and equitable distribution of benefits.

Multi-Technology Driven R&D Cost Improvement Scheme and Application Utility of EESP in Energy-Intensive Manufacturing Industry

Facing the sustainable use of electric power resources, many countries in the world focus on the R&D investment and application of electrochemical energy storage projects (i.e., EESP). However, the high R&D cost of EESP has been hindering large-scale industrial promotion in the energy-intensive manufacturing industry represented by the tobacco industry. Reducing and controlling the R&D cost has become an urgent problem to be solved. In this context, this paper innovatively proposes a multi-technology driven R&D cost improvement scheme, which integrates WBS (i.e., Work Breakdown Structure), EVM (i.e., Earned Value Method), BD (i.e., Big Data), and ML (i.e., Machine Learning) methods. Especially, the influence of R&D cost improvement on EESP application performance is discussed through mathematical model analysis. The research indicates that reducing EESP R&D costs can significantly improve the stability of EESP power supply, and ultimately improve the application value of EESP in energy-intensive manufacturing industries. The R&D cost management scheme and technical method proposed in this paper have important theoretical guiding values and practical significance for accelerating the large-scale application of EESP.

edna2021: The fourth annual meeting of The eDNA Society “Species distributions, and beyond”

The eDNA Society was founded in Japan in 2018 to develop eDNA science as a discipline that contributes to the human well‐being and the sustainable use of ecosystems. Since then, the society has expanded attracting a wide variety of people from international universities, research institutes, consultant companies, and local/national governments. Here we report edna2021, the fourth annual meeting of The eDNA Society, which was held mainly online on November 20–21, 2021. We had c.a. 500 participants in total, from at least 15 countries. In the meeting, we discussed not only the technical aspects of environmental DNA but also its potential for various applications including its combinations with environmental RNA, sediment core samples, population genetic analyses, etc.

Negotiating an International Legal Instrument on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: A Look Ahead

The negotiation of the future Agreement governing the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction is in its final stage. Essentially a treaty for the protection of general interests, the Agreement can generate several benefits for the governance of the oceans. However, in the first three sessions of the intergovernmental conference, deep discrepancies have emerged with respect to the core issues of the package agreed in 2011. This article identifies various formulas and strategies that have been considered in the negotiations and incorporated in the Revised draft text as possible regulatory options with the potential to bring positions closer and facilitate the agreement: avoiding explicit reference to the legal status of marine genetic resources;the incorporation of differential and contextual norms;the introduction of due diligence obligations;the incorporation of internal soft law;and the reduction of the scope of the treaty. These options may help to provide flexibility and differentiation in the regulation but, as essentially pragmatic measures, they tend to sacrifice the ambition of the final Agreement. On the other hand, if States assume their real role and responsibility in the process - that of interpreters of general interest and custodians of marine biodiversity - they would be in a better position to find novel and more ambitious solutions for bringing this crucial Agreement to fruition. This article advocates a return to basics and the placing of the marine environment at the centre of the regulations.