A comprehensive petrochemical vulnerability index for marine fishes in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil and gas extraction activities occur across the globe, yet species-specific toxicological information on the biological and ecological impacts of exposure to petrochemicals is lacking for the vast majority of marine species. To help prioritize species for recovery, mitigation, and conservation in light of significant toxicological data gaps, a trait-based petrochemical vulnerability index was developed and applied to the more than 1700 marine fishes present across the entire Gulf of Mexico, including all known bony fishes, sharks, rays and chimaeras. Using life history and other traits related to likelihood of exposure, physiological sensitivity to exposure, and population resiliency, final calculated petrochemical vulnerability scores can be used to provide information on the relative sensitivity, or resilience, of marine fish populations across the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas activities. Based on current knowledge of traits, marine fishes with the highest vulnerability scores primarily occur in areas of high petrochemical activity, are found at or near the surface, and have low reproductive turnover rates and/or highly specialized diet and habitat requirements. Relative population vulnerability scores for marine fishes can be improved with additional toxicokinetic studies, including those that account for the synergistic or additive effect of multiple stressors, as well as increased research on ecological and life history traits, especially for deep living species.

Contributions of municipal vulnerability map of the population of the state of Maranhão (Brazil) to the sustainable development goals.

Human vulnerability represents an open field of study that allows us, through the use of indicators, to measure a territory's weakness and potential for dealing with negative climate impacts. This kind of assessment is important within the scope of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially as a tool that is able to direct the strategies and planning in countries in the context of regional climate change (SDG 13.2). The aim of this work is to demonstrate the application of a method that uses a software created for the Brazilian context (SISVUCLIMA) to evaluate human vulnerability to climate change in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. Via an assessment of socioeconomics, demographics, climate, epidemiological, and environmental aspects compiled to develop a municipal vulnerability index, it was clear that the central and western mesoregions of Maranhão are more fragile regarding exposure, sensitivity, and adaptative capacities. These locations may be the most affected by rising temperatures and reduced rainfall that is projected for the next 20 years in the region. It is believed that the results obtained in this study may contribute indirectly to the adoption of effective actions directed at SDG 13 and other SDGs in the country. By considering the socio-ecological and health determinants that define the vulnerability profile of the municipalities of Maranhão, it will be possible to suggest specific actions to reduce the fragility of the local population to climate impacts. Through a spatial and multi-dimensional view of the problem, the proposed indicators can act as an effective instrument for overall environmental management from a sustainable perspective.

Population transitions and temperature change in Minas Gerais, Brazil: a multidimensional approach / Transições populacionais e mudança de temperatura em Minas Gerais, Brasil: uma abordagem multidimensional / /Transiciones poblacionales y cambio de temperatura en Minas Gerais, Brasil: un abordaje multidimensional

Climate change will exacerbate the vulnerability of places and people around the world in the next decades, especially in less developed regions. In this paper, we investigate future scenarios of population vulnerability to climate change for the next 30 years in 66 regions of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Based upon the Alkire & Foster Index, we integrate simulated and projected dimensions of population vulnerability into a Multidimensional Index, showing how scenarios of temperature change would affect each region's relative vulnerability in the future. Results suggest that economic and health dimensions are the highest contributors to increases in temperature-related vulnerability, with the poorest and agribusiness regions being the most impacted in decades to come...

As mudanças climáticas exacerbarão, nas próximas décadas, a vulnerabilidade de populações, lugares e pessoas ao redor do mundo, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento. Este artigo investiga cenários hipotéticos futuros de vulnerabilidade às mudanças climáticas para os próximos 30 anos, em 66 microrregiões do Estado de Minas Gerais. Com base no Índice de Alkire e Foster, são integradas as dimensões simuladas e projetadas de vulnerabilidade populacional em um indicador multidimensional, o qual mostra como cenários de mudanças de temperatura afetariam a vulnerabilidade relativa de cada região no futuro. Os resultados sugerem que as dimensões econômica e de saúde são as maiores contribuintes para o aumento da vulnerabilidade relacionada às alterações na temperatura média, com as regiões mais pobres e voltadas ao agronegócio constituindo as mais afetadas em cenários futuros...

En las próximas décadas, el cambio climático exacerbará la vulnerabilidad de las poblaciones alrededor del mundo, especialmente en los países en desarrollo. En este artículo se investigan escenarios hipotéticos futuros de vulnerabilidad frente al cambio climático para los próximos 30 años en 66 microrregiones del estado de Minas Gerais. Sobre la base del Índice de Alkire y Foster, se integran en un indicador multidimensional las dimensiones simuladas y proyectadas de vulnerabilidad poblacional, mostrando cómo los escenarios de cambios de temperatura afectarían la vulnerabilidad relativa de cada región en el futuro. Los resultados sugieren que las dimensiones económica y de salud son las que más contribuyen en el aumento de la vulnerabilidad relacionada con las alteraciones de la temperatura media, y que las regiones más pobres y volcadas al agronegocio constituirán las más afectadas en estos escenarios futuros...