May-June Sustainable Development

Read the articles selected in May-June 2016

Ogni anno la malnutrizione uccide 3,1 milioni di bambini, secondo Save the Children

42,5 percent of the Children in South-Asia and 37,6 percent in Sub-saharian suffers from malnutrition. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child obligates the legislations of the States members to contrast this reality.

Household Consumption (EPIC)

Source: http://www.oecd.org/

An OECD survey on 10.000 respondents analyses what determines the consumers choices toward greener lifestyles and how policies can influence the citizens household behaviour in daily life for all that has an impact on the environment.

A huge, floating screen will sift plastic out of the Ocean

by Knvul Sheikh

Source: Scientific American, 24 June

A Dutch nonprofit foundation has launched a project to clean the oceans through a floating barrier that will collect plastic trash. If the test with a 100-meter prototype in the North Sea will succeed, t a 100km long filter-barrier will be deployed between Haway and the U.S. west coast.

Ozone layer on the mend, thanks to chemical ban

by Eric Hand

Source: Science, 30 June

The Antarctic hozone hole is shrinking. Evidently the 1987 international agreement on the industrial production of chlorofluorocarbons has had its result. Researcher have used a 3D atmospheric model to separate the effects of chemicals from those of weather.

Targeting food safety and health benefits, npj Science of Food announced in China

by Zhang Li

Source: Nature, 30 June

Nature Research with an agreement with Beijing university has launched the journal Science of Food, to study the effects of food processing and additives on the health of consumers and to bridge food and nutrition sciences with biological and medical sciences.

Nella Giornata Mondiale del Rifugiato l’Unhcr lancia la campagna #WithRefugees

by Flavia Belladonna

Source: http://www.asvis.it/, 21 June

After the UNHCR report on the migrants situation in the world, EU migratory politics figures out among the explicit priorities of the European Commission. Meanwhile, UNHCR has launched a campaign to sensitivize the public opinion against intolerance and disinformation.

The Humanities and Environmentalism

by Martin Greenup

Source: https://green.harvard.edu/, 17 June

Environmentalism is also a matter of the Humanities. An Harvard’s course in Expository Writing, that trains students as academic writers and critical thinkers, is concerned with the relationship between humanities and nature, and with the power of imagination to change the environment.

Daring to care: deep ecology and effective popular environmentalism

by Zeke Benshirim

Source: green.harvard.edu/, 21 June

This article goes back to the origins in the 1960s of the international environmental movement , from Naess’ “deep ecology,” that rejected the anthropocentrism, to Lovelock’s anthropocentric vision of Earth as a “living superorganism” and to the “deep love for the beauty of nature” of Carson’s “Silent spring”.

The way Americans eat is becoming more divided

by Lisa Rapaport

Source: Scientific American, 21 June

Standing to a study that looked at 34.000 adults, Americans are improving their diet, but racial disparities in eating habits still persist, and depend not only on popular culture and physician education, but also and almost on affordability.

More ambitious policies needed to address changes facing agriculture

by Carmel Cahill

Source: http://www.oecd.org/, 16 June

A new OECD report highlights the need to move from assistance policies in agricultural sector like price support and input subsidies to policies for innovation , productivity and sustainability.

1 persona su 113 costretta alla fuga nel mondo: le migrazioni forzate raggiungono i livelli più alti di sempre

Source: https://www.unhcr.it/, 20 June 2016

The striking UNHCR data on refugees all over the world, 65.3 m people,1 person out of 113, half of them children, forced to escape because of wars and persecutions, show evidently that refugees are not “them”, but they are part of us, because it’s the collective interest of the humankind at stake.

Environmental governance for all

by Eduardo S. Brondizio and Francois-Michel Le Tourneau

Source: Science, 10 June

Engaging with the claims, rights and knowledge of local and indigenous populations in the immense and sparsely populated territories of the world, distant from our overpopulated civilization, is crucial for a governance that would combine poverty alleviation and environmental policy.

Nutrition: Fall in fish catch threatens human health

by Christopher D. Golden, Edward H. Allison, William W. L. Cheung, Madan M. Dey, Benjamin S. Halpern, Douglas J. McCauley, Matthew Smith, Bapu Vaitla, Dirk Zeller& Samuel S. Myers

Source: Nature,15 June 2016

The increasing population living on Earth, and in particular in the developing nations, will have to face by 2050 nutritional deficiencies due to the lack of micronutrients provided by the declining fish populations.This perspective underlines the need of nutrition-sensitive fisheries policies.

Appetite for Destruction: Some Fish are Developing a Taste for Microplastics

by Layla Eplett

Source: Scientific American, 10 June

Some larval fish living in the Baltic Sea and consumers of microplastics develope a food preference for plastic over the natural sources and become more likely to be eaten by predators, and these more likely to die for contaminants bioaccumulation.

Aperta la consultazione pubblica sulla politica di sviluppo dell’Ue

by Lorenza Geronimo

Source: http://www.asvis.it/ 5 June

From 30 May to 21 August is open a public consultation where citizens can express their opinion about the European development policy. This initiative is an effect of the 2030 Agenda, that reformed the European Consensus to a more significative democratic participation.

Implementing the Paris Agreement in a world of fossil abundance

by Simon Upton

Source: http://www.oecd.org/, 21 April

What governments do-or don’t do in the next very few years will determine once and for all the level of climate risk we are exposed to, but fossil fuels remain the dominant form of energy, powering the global expansion.

Sustainability-engaging future generations now

by Ban Ki-moon

Source: The Lancet, 11 June 2016

Today’s young people will inherit the world we are trying to make better. And yet millions of girls and boys are trapped in a cycle of poverty and inequality. It is crucial to invest in adolescents, who are from now the key drivers of change.

Better Policies for 2030: an OECD Action Plan on the Sustainable Development Goals

Source: http://www.oecd.org/, 1-2 June

With this paper, the OECD supports the vision for the world provided by the 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda, which has contributed to shaping, with its historic engagement on all aspects of sustainable development, promoting sound public policies, working to generate evidence and indentifying good practices.

Il ruolo della società civile e il programma di lavoro dell’Alleanza

Source: http://www.asvis.it/

The new Goals of Sustainable Development, defined with the participation of citizens and public authorities, can’t do without a good governance, without the safeguard of the fundamental rights and the fight against discriminations and violence to women.

Discovering soil-less farming

by Katie Hammer,

Source: http://green.harvard.edu/, 1 June

An Harvard graduate is experimenting alternative farming methods for growing food in absence of soil. These systems, that save water and eliminate pesticides, can be considered in case of droughts, floods and food crises, but they rely completely on electricity.

Scholactivism – A growing movement of scholar-activists

by Rebecca Farnum

Source: University World News, 3 Giugno

“Scolactivism” is a kind of activism proper of academics, increasingly aware that the knowledge their work produce can lead to social change and shape society.

Don’t overstate what judges (or clergy) can do to make a better world

Source: The Economist, 5 June

At a Vatican gathering the Pope told that there is nor order, nor sustainable development, nor peace, without combating human trafficking and forced labour, and that “justice” is not only application of laws, but also in a state of fairness and righteousness.

Looking for a home

Source: The Economist, 28 May

Europe, where the global refugee system of international protection for refugees began with the Un’s 1951 Refugee Convention, must apprehend how difficult its carefullly constructed asylum and border rules match with mass migrations, now that the world’s displaced population has reached 60 m.

“Sostenibilità, uno spadone per affrontare la crisi”

by Donato Speroni

Source: http://www.asvis.it/, 31 May 2016

The meeting organized by ASviS on 30 May has underlined the importance of Government, media and enterprises’participation to the sustainability challenge, meaning not only an environmental, but also a social issue, that would ensure everybody dignity in the worklife, the right to health and the care of children and adolescents.

Exposure to common flame retardant chemicals may increase thyroid problems in women

Source:http://green.harvard.edu/, 25 May

A new study of researchers at Harvard has shown that post-menopausal women exposed to flame retardant chemicals are more likely to develop a tyroid desease. These chemicals are largely used in quantities up to 20% of the furniture, but migrate into the air in dust .

Is Intelligence Hereditary?

Source: Scientific American, 1 May

Scientists are finding more and more genes that explain by now about 5 of 50%percent of the differences among people in intelligence. Predicting cognitive potential from DNA can be tremendously useful to prevent or to ameliorate cognitive deseases that result in intellectual disability.

Settimana europea dello sviluppo sostenibile: il convegno ASviS (medaglia del Presidente della Repubblica) il 30 maggio e le altre iniziative degli aderenti

Source: http://www.asvis.it/, 19 May

In the European Week of the Sustainable Development, that will take place from 30 May to 5 June, are recommended some interessant appointments, such as the meetengs organized in Rome by Cgil “Green is the future of work”and in Trento by Acli: “A country at a juncture: which development?”.

Consulta l’articolo:

http://www.asvis.it/home/46-582/settimana-europea-dello-sviluppo-sostenibile-il-convegno-asvis-medaglia-del-presidente-della-repubblica-il-30-maggio-e-le-altre-iniziative-degli-aderenti

A platform to promote sustainable development in Europe

Fonte: http://www.esdw.eu/news/

The European Commission has created an internet platform on the ESDW website (http://www.esdw.eu/) where you can schedule and promote activities for the European Week from the 30 May to 5 June, inspiring people and policies at national and EU level to think the best strategies to realize the 17 SDGs.

Città sostenibili: le risposte dei candidati sindaci sugli obiettivi dell’Agenda 2030

Source: http://www.asvis.it/

ASviS and Anci have called the candidates mayors of next administrative elections, the first which will take place after the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement, to work for “more inclusive, safe, long-lasting and sustainable” cities.

Major cell phone radiation study reignites cancer questions

by Dina Fine Maron

Source: Scientific American, 27 May

The studies realized until now didn’t establish evident health effects from radio frequency signals used in cellphones. A new experiment showed that rates exposed to costant low level radiations developed rare forms of brain and heart cancer exhibiting a direct dose-response relationship.

Preparing Harvard for the effects of climate change

by Adam Zewe

Source: http://green.harvard.edu/ , 24 May

Students in Harvard work with creativity to find climate change resilience strategies. For example , to cooling buildings during heat, they suggested thermal systems that chill water at night , and vents that let in cool air at night, expelling warm air during the day.

Why the historic deal to expand US chemical regulation matters

by Jeff Tollefson

Source: Nature, 25 May

The review bipartisan law about chemicals just approved by US Congress will give the EPA the power to require all informations from the companies, that won’t more allowed to oppose a trade secret. The EPA will take its decisions in order to ensure public safety without considering economic implications.

When the drugs don’t work

Fonte: The Economist, 21 Maggio

The 700.000 deaths for antibiotics resistance could reach 10 m in 2050. Are important not only sensible policies and legislations, but also incentives to innovate, because consums and sales of new drugs have to be kept low for safety reasons and this slows research .

Consulta l’articolo:

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21699116-how-combat-dangerous-rise-antibiotic-resistance-when-drugs-donu2019t-work

Greens in pinstriped suits

Source: The Economist, 21 May

Four of the five largest private oil companies will meet their shareholders this week, in order to adjust their business plans to the more stringent climate change policies agreed in Paris in December , by now shared also by many climate-conscious shareholders.

99 Percent Chance 2016 Will Be the Hottest Year on Record

by Andrea Thompson

Source: Scientific American, 18 May

2016 will be likely the hottest year on record, standing to the temperatures rated in April, after a continue remarkable streak of record-warm months. Temperatures will come down slightly next year, but there is evidence that we are getting to permanently exceeding key thresholds.

Negotiators Try to Figure Out What the Paris Climate Agreement Means

by Jean Chemnick

Source: Scientific American, 17 May

On 16 May started the Bonn Climate Change Conference whose task is to fill in the gaps left in the landmark Paris Agreement of last December. This will take effect when 55 countries totaling 55 percent of the world’s gas emissions will have joined.

Academics to action with Austin Blackmon

by Victoria Elliot

Source: green.harvard.edu, 13 May

In a recent event organized in Harvard Boston’s Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space, advised students to implement environmental change in positive ways, like studying at business schools, and to look at the success of startups, where the signs of progress are clear.

Come preparare una buona strategia per lo sviluppo sostenibile. Le prime proposte della società civile

Source: http://www.asvis.it/

ASviS ha solicited the Government for a national sensitivization about Sustainable Development, and the Parliament for a legislative contribution to the 17 Onu Goals 2030. The Environment Minister underlined that it is a challenge able to draw a new model of a global society.

Looking up

Source: The Economist, 14 May

In America the white, middle -class men aged 45 to 54% were more likely to die in 2013 than they were in 1999, and this has depended on the financial crisis and and on lower earnings. Across the whole population, the mortality depends less on economic circumstances.

Can cities be sustainable?

byPola Lem

Source: Scientific American, 11 May

Cities are the drivers of climate change, in better and in worse. Urban sprawl leads to deforestation and to the increase of pollution, but cities have a big say in deciding how to plan their energy use in a social inclusive way.

Consulta l’articolo:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-cities-be-sustainable/

Hope for America's next generation

Source: Science, 6 May

Many studies have shown that poorer communities suffer worse health conditions. But a recent study challenges this conventional wisdom despite the rising inequality in almost every dimension of American life .

Targeting the ills of climate change

by Alvin Powell

Source: Green Harvard, 6 May

Secretary of State John Kerry has visited Harvard to help launch an important initiative focused on the effects of climate change on the global health, in order to reach a research- based understanding of problems usually overshadowed by more immediate concerns.

Biodiesel one slick solution, but more to come

by Colin Durrant

Source: Green Harvard, 10 May

Harvard’s university is a living laboratory for the discover and demonstration of the many ways of reducing energy and enhancing the well-being in a creative and personalized manner, opening new prospectives that are useful on a larger local, regional and global level.

Meeting in Rome during the European Week of Sustainable Development

Source: asvis.it

On 30 May will take place a meeting organized by ASviS between experts, politicians, trade unionists and entrepreneurs, who will discuss together about the ONU goals 2030.

Factbook Ocse: aumentano gli investimenti per la ricerca, ma cresce la povertà relativa

Source: asvis.it, 30 April

The ASVIS website reports the indicators of the new Ocse’s Factbook about the advances in the 34 participant countries to the 17 Social Development Goals (SDGs), very useful for the historic and comparative data synthesis that offers.

“Investendo in resilienza e sicurezza alimentare si può combattere la fame e costruire la pace

Source: asvis.it, 28 April

With the report “Peace and Food security 2016” the Fao explains the vicious cycle between poverty and hunger, on one hand, and civil conflicts and political instability, on the other hand.

Greening starts at home

Source: Green Harvard, 21 April

Multidisciplinary research and teaching are needed to face environmental challenges. Sustainability changes our lives, and requires a joint community effort from people of many different backgrounds.

Translating research into practice

Source: Green Harvard

The Harvard Community is engaged in the reduction of gas emissions, energy and organic waste, and that means not only to save energy, but also more efficiency and well-being.

Read more:
http://report.green.harvard.edu/

Forum 2016 Issues: Productivity & inclusive growth

Source: www.oecd.org

From 31 May to 2 June will take place the OECD Week, including a Forum and other meetings on the new concept of productivity, that means sustainable and inclusive growth, with the intent to extend knowledge and technology to the weaker companies.

The nuclear option

Source: Nature, 4 May

22 of 44 nuclear plants under construction in the world are Chinese. Despite its zeal for advanced nuclear technology , China is promoving also the processing of atomic fuel. It would be simpler and safer to use green energies.

Saudi Arabia’s post-oil future

Source: The Economist, 30 April

Muhammad bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince, declared that by 2020 his kingdom will overcome any dependence on oil, investing instead in non-oil sectors with the promise of more work for the women.

A nuclear disaster that brought down an empire

Source: The Economist, 26 April

Thirty years ago Chernobyl’s radioactive explosion, 400 times stronger as Hiroshima, blew away the whole Sovietic system much more as did the perestroika.

Waste not, want not, emit less

by Jessica Aschemann-Witzel

Source: Science, 22 April

Waste of food involves not only waste of carbon emissions , but also an additional environmental impact for its disposal. Waste reducing requires synergic efforts by politics, culture, marketing and individual consumers.

New water purification system could help slake the world’s thirst

by Robert Service

Source: Science, 27 April

New water purification solar-powered plants working with aluminium have been invented by Chinese researchers to face the lack access to fresh water that by 2025 will affect two-thirds of the world’s population.

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Pubblicato il : 09/08/2016
Modificato il : 07/12/2019

May-June Sustainable Development

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