Sara C. Carvalho, Fátima Alves, Ulisses M. Azeiteiro and Pablo A. Meira‐Cartea
Environmental threats of immediate risk in areas such as coastal zones (CZ) have aroused new trends of citizenship and participatory democracy. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmental threats of immediate risk in areas such as coastal zones (CZ) have aroused new trends of citizenship and participatory democracy. The purpose of this paper is to analyse elements within those trends, such as environmental culture, socio‐political context, dynamics of social associative movement and integration of local knowledge. It also aims to contribute to an overview of the opportunities and barriers found in considering socio‐cultural and educational challenges in CZ.
Design/methodology/approach
In this analysis, case studies of integrated coastal management occurring worldwide were selected and reviewed, considering several nuances of socio‐economic and political contexts of CZ. Experiences of public response to coastal catastrophes such the Prestige oil spill in Spain, are also described.
Findings
Whether implementing sustainable coastal management through either balanced systems (between large and small‐scale strategies) or through largely bottom‐up approaches, participation is detected as one of the main factors for a successful integrated approach. Principles such as participatory governance and social justice should be adopted in initial phases of sustainable management processes and preferably involve all of the implied actors of CZ.
Originality/value
The literature reviewed highlighted specific factors that have empirically contributed to participatory sustainability of CZ, integrating three dimensions of citizenship: education, society's dynamics and culture.
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Keywords
Miguel Pardellas Santiago, Pablo Meira Cartea and Lucía Iglesias da Cunha
This paper deals with the experiences of three European universities that have implemented transition initiatives, using the Transition Network’s methodology to promote their…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper deals with the experiences of three European universities that have implemented transition initiatives, using the Transition Network’s methodology to promote their sustainability plans. The Transition Communities’ model for change is presented from a socio-educational perspective as an effective methodology for encouraging university environmental sustainability processes. In this context, the purpose of this paper was to analyze Transition Communities at universities using an environmental–educational approach in three different scenarios: the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), the University of Edinburgh (UEd) and the Universidade do Minho (UMinho).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors engaged in a comparative analysis of multiple case studies in the Transition “phenomenon”, looking for convergences and divergences among them.
Findings
The comparative analysis revealed three very different scenarios, which ironically shared an absence of explicit theoretical–methodological references in the design, execution and evaluation of the educational actions that were implemented. Examination of the impact and continuity of these initiatives uncovered the existence of a “glass ceiling” in university environmental sustainability strategies. Even the innovative Transition methodology was unable to subvert the established academic, corporate, organizational and cultural structures and dynamics that perpetuate unsustainability.
Originality/value
This study was carried out from an innovative perspective with few precedents in the Transition context. The authors’ educational–environmental approach provides insight for articulating educational strategies for environmental sustainability at universities and for constructing a Transition model for education.
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The causes of climate change and extreme events have been widely discussed in academic and scientific circles. Between natural and historical factors characterized by determinism…
Abstract
The causes of climate change and extreme events have been widely discussed in academic and scientific circles. Between natural and historical factors characterized by determinism and imponderability and the anthropogenic factors resulting from human, social, and economic-productive evolution, consensus is not always easy to define. However, scientific research has increasingly shown that human action has contributed to the great acceleration of the effects since the emergence of the era of humans.
More than just a list of causes, it is important to understand the impacts in different regions of the world, particularly in terms of the affectation on people. The populations that suffer the most from the effects of extreme weather events are the poorest, who live in close dependence on nature and therefore suffer from vulnerability without foreseeing the risks they face. The population that is most affected and often suffers from threats to their lives is forced to leave, either individually, in groups, or massively with no return date. Today, the international community recognizes the need to analyze and frame these people who seek international protection without being offered and guaranteed.
This chapter presents a discussion of the causes of the multiplication of extreme environmental events, particularly climatic events, in order to better understand the social and human implications of the production of forced social movements due to environmental causes. Although multilateral organizations recognize the existence of new categories of people in mobility for environmental reasons, there is still a gap in the framework of international law, which represents a global challenge.