University of Minnesota, Duluth
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Global spatiotemporal multi-criteria analysis of coastal risk: current and future hot spots and clusters
No full textCoastal zones are among the environments most threatened by climate change. Although various efforts for global mapping and classification of coastal social and ecological systems have been undertaken, the ability to analyse and describe the spatial heterogeneity and multidimensionality of these phenomena remains limited. In the current study, we developed a methodological framework for assessing risk from extreme sea levels and examined its application at the global level. A multi-criteria analysis method was applied to the current scenario and to two future combinations of shared socioeconomic (SSP2 and 5) and representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and 8.5), accounting for risk attitudes. Risk maps derived from multi-criteria analysis aggregation of spatial indicators of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure enabled the identification of global hot spots, comprising large areas facing high levels of risk, mostly located in Northern Europe, South-East Asia and Southern USA. Spatial clusters with common risk features were identified and mapped using multivariate analysis. The results contribute to improving the state of the art by providing a synoptic view of global coastal risks. Given the high spatial resolution (1 km), the proposed methods may also be helpful for improving adaptation strategies at the regional and national scales and for facilitating the sharing of solutions between areas with similar situations identified by cluster mapping
Accepting e-documents with e-signatures: A small step for government, a giant leap for the country
No full textThe room for exporters to improve their competitiveness by reducing time to export is significantly constrained by the procedures and processing time imposed by Sri Lankan border agencies. Sri Lanka can improve the competitiveness of its exporters by reducing processing times at the border. A proven method in this regard is the use of Electronic Document (e-document) processing platforms for trade. Currently in Sri Lanka, the benefit of this particular opportunity is being hobbled by the non-acceptance of electronic signatures (e-signatures). This policy note sets out the main findings of a study conducted on the non-acceptance of e-signatures in Sri Lanka and provides recommendations to overcome bureaucratic inaction on accepting e-signatures
Decentralising environmental public spending: from political platforms to actual policies in the EU countries
No full textEnvironmental challenges increasingly shape political discourses across Europe, yet their influence on actual environmental governance remains unclear. This paper examines the political economy mechanisms linking environmental change, party platforms, and the decentralisation of environmental protection expenditure in 27 EU member states from 2002 to 2022. We distinguish between political signalling – the commitments parties make in electoral manifestos – and policy implementation, measured through actual decentralised environmental spending. Our results reveal a sharp asymmetry: while extreme events substantially increase the salience of environmental protection in party platforms, they do not translate into changes in the territorial allocation of environmental expenditure. Instead, decentralisation responds primarily to long-term structural conditions, such as the relative weight of locally versus globally relevant emissions. Political orientations of governing coalitions, whether on environmental issues or decentralisation, show no systematic association with spending outcomes. Taken together, these findings highlight a persistent gap between electoral incentives and policy implementation in multilevel environmental governance, consistent with public-choice theories emphasising institutional inertia and limited political responsiveness beyond the stage of platform competition
Dyess Farms, Arkansas: The First Experiment with a New Kind of Rural Community
No full textExcerpts: During the depression in 1934, and the first six months of 1935, a total of 43 State Rural Rehabilitation Corporations, under the direction of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, began to help families on or near relief to become permanently self-supporting. The Corporations loaned the families the funds they needed to get a new start in farming operations and helped them plan the most economical way of working their farm. The first and largest rural community developed under the FERA was Dyess Farms, located In Mississippi County, in the Delta area of north eastern Arkansas. Cotton as the dominant crop in this part of the country. In 1930, 90 percent of the farms depended almost solely on cotton for their income, and the fall in cotton prices plus the Nation-wide depression struck hard at a large number of Mississippi County farm families. Nine out of every ten farmers in Mississippi County were either tenants or sharecroppers
Frequently Asked Questions (BioPreferred Program)
No full text[Contents:] Questions for Businesses Manufacturing and Selling Biobased Products --- Questions for Consumers about Biobased Products --- Questions for Federal Procurement Preference --- Glossary of Terms
Assessing the Climate Impact of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Planned Through Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve Using Greenhouse Gas Flux Analysis
No full textThis study assessed the climate impact of the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway (LCCH) planned through the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve (SCFR), using greenhouse gas (GHG) flux analysis. Data were sourced from geospatial datasets and remote sensing via the Earthmap engine, with greenhouse gas (GHG) estimation conducted using the Environmental Externalities Accounting Framework. Results indicated a total carbon balance of 3,511,562 tCO₂e, representing a net release of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) was the dominant contributor, accounting for 3,510,847 tCO₂e, primarily from biomass removal and soil carbon loss, while nitrous oxide (N₂O) contributed 715 tCO₂e due to disruption of nitrogen cycling. The findings demonstrate that the intervention would convert SCFR from a major carbon sink into a significant carbon source, resulting in the loss of existing forest carbon stocks and future sequestration capacity. The associated economic cost of these emissions was estimated at approximately US$554.8 million, reflecting the high climate value of the forest reserve. The study concludes that SCFR constitutes a critical climate mitigation asset whose protection is non-negotiable, and that infrastructure interventions such as the LCCH should be rerouted well away from the reserve. It recommends the avoidance of intact forest ecosystems in infrastructure planning, the integration of comprehensive climate impact assessments into project appraisal, and the prioritisation of forest conservation as a core component of national, regional, and global climate mitigation strategies
Low emissions rice and the way forward
No full textRice consumption is expected to increase by up to 50% from 2010 levels by 2050, with demand largely in Asia and, more recently in Africa. Rice-growing areas will need to intensify and expand in these regions. Conventional intensified irrigated rice systems have been critical in ensuring global food security. They are also among the major sources of anthropogenic Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane and nitrous oxide. Practice changes towards climate-smart agriculture and low-emissions management, such as direct seeded rice (DSR), alternate wetting and drying (AWD), short duration variety and improved straw management, have led to increased yields, reduced inputs use and cost of production, and GHG emission reductions averaging from 7% to 30% across different regions. These benefits are site-specific and depend on the local context of production, requiring strategic packaging and targeted implementation. This presentation will provide an overview of our current understanding of the impacts and co-benefits of proven low-emission practices as well as the challenges to their scalability. We will also explore emerging technologies such as varietal improvement and soil health engineering that present potential for emission reductions. Finally, we will discuss how these solutions can accelerate the system transformation and how partnerships and collaboration among development organisations, private and public institutions can co-create ethical and sustainable impact for rice farmers, consumers, and the planet at scale
Convergence: The potential legal implications of juggling environmental responsibility with economic ambition
No full textSince ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the development of policy aimed at building climate resilience has largely focussed on holding the increase in global temperature average whilst making finance flow consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development; with buzzwords such as ‘ESG’, ‘net zero’, ‘climate-smart’ and ‘natural capital’ now common in day-to-day vernacular. Whilst the emergence of these terms has coincided with statutory obligations to report on sustainability initiatives or climate risks, as well as investment opportunities in renewable energy projects or alternative food production technologies, it is arguable that such terminology demonstrates a continued focus by government and business to value natural assets and food security through a numerical lens of economic growth and development. Although placing a numerical value on nature and food production can help promote innovation or incentivise environmental protection; it is a little-known fact that the Paris Agreement was entered into in pursuit of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which both reiterate that:
• increasing our ability to adapt to climate change, foster climate resilience, and reducing
greenhouse gas development must be done in a manner that does not threaten food
production, and
• when taking action to address climate change, parties must consider:
• their respective obligations on human rights, and
• the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security, food production systems, and Mother Earth.
Furthermore, few decision-makers are aware that courts of law across multiple jurisdictions are now scrutinizing the alleged failures by government or business to consider the aesthetic and spiritual value of nature in the context of human rights through climate litigation; in a real-time convergence demonstrating the importance of returning to the first principles of ecologically sustainable development
Lessons from the Pacific
No full textThis paper examines the evolving landscape of climate resilience within the agrifood systems of Pacific Island countries, where agriculture, fisheries, transportation, and food distribution networks are deeply interconnected and highly vulnerable to climate change. Pacific Island agrifood systems – spanning smallholder crop and livestock production, subsistence and semicommercial fishing, food processing, and marketing – are facing escalating threats from more frequent extreme weather, sea level rise, and resource scarcity. Through regional case studies drawn from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, the analysis highlights how climate-smart agriculture, local innovations, and strengthened institutional collaboration are not only helping to safeguard production but also ensuring that food supply chains, market access, and rural livelihoods remain viable under changing climatic conditions. The paper underscores the importance of evidence-based interventions, such as crop diversification, extension services, and improved value chain connectivity, for fostering a more adaptive and inclusive agrifood sector. Despite positive developments, significant challenges persist, such as underdeveloped infrastructure, limited agrifood financing, and challenges in knowledge-sharing across the region. The study provides actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening the agrifood system’s adaptive capacity – emphasising the need for integrated policies, investment in resilient infrastructure, and multistakeholder engagement – so Pacific Island countries can achieve sustainable food security and resilient rural economies in the midst of ongoing climate pressures
U.S. Ethanol: An Examination of Policy, Production, Use, Distribution, and Market Interactions
No full textExcerpt from the Foreword: Inquiries concerning ethanol from a broad spectrum of people, including U.S. policymakers, international leaders, and various interest groups, led to the commissioning of this report. It intends to bring clarity to the complex interaction of ethanol production with agricultural markets and government policies. While there are many other ethanol studies available, this report is unique in that it centers on the pivotal role that ethanol plays in the crop and feed markets. In addition, it provides detailed and current analyses on ethanol production costs, profitability, processing technology, and the infrastructure that supports the industry. Also examined are the economics of blending ethanol into gasoline for octane enhancement and to meet clean air regulations. Federal and State policies are described to illustrate the importance of energy legislation, environmental regulation, and farm policy to the development of the ethanol industry