Ambitious Action Research Articles

The First Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement: Role, Functioning and Legal Implications

Abstract At the 2023 UN climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the outcome of the first global stocktake (GST) under Article 14 of the Paris Agreement was adopted. This result was hailed by some as a historical achievement, while others considered it a failure. This article explains (i) what the role of GST is; (ii) how it functions; (iii) what the GST outcome from Dubai contained and why it provided reasons (for some) to celebrate; and (iv) what its implications are for the processes under the Paris Agreement and for Parties’ climate change obligations. Importantly, the article sheds light on the role of the GST – which will take place every five years – in informing the increasing level of ambition of Parties’ climate action and support. Regularly conducting the GST is a means for providing an evidence-based, updated assessment of the collective progress of Parties and where they ought to be to achieve the Agreement’s goals. The outcome of the GST shall be taken into account by Parties, as a matter of legal obligation. If undertaken effectively, the GST can thus provide the basis for increasingly ambitious actions and for driving transformational action across all sectors.

Rescuing the Planet: Role of the United Nations+

Since its inception, the United Nations (UN) system has been instrumental in fulfilling the objectives of the UN Charter. Despite these successes, environmental degradation has escalated to critical levels especially in the last six decades. The prevailing development model, reliant on infinite natural resource extraction, is unjust and unsustainable. Growing scientific evidence on planetary boundary warns that this unbalanced developmental model is driving the humanity toward irreversible damage to essential ecological processes. Radical transformations and extraordinary cooperation among nations are required to reverse these. This paper argues that the UN system is critical in facilitating this extraordinary cooperation and charting pathways to a sustainable planetary future by harnessing its convening power, scientific & technical expertise and global presence. To achieve this, the UN must strive for stable and sustainable pathways as a common good by all the 193 member states. This commitment will require structural reforms, robust governance architecture, strengthened multilateralism, and, above all, moving away from artificial geographical boundaries while recognizing the critical role of the UN member states. As a corollary, the UN needs to build capacity and assist sovereign states in translating the ambitious action plans for our planetary future.

Leading the Transition from Halogen Refrigerants to Natural Refrigerants in Indonesia (Pertamina Plaju Refinery as a Pioneer)

Abstract Climate change has become a worldwide concern, prompting Indonesia to take ambitious actions to reduce emissions and control rising temperatures. The rapid growth of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) industry in Indonesia has led to higher greenhouse gas emissions. To tackle these environmental challenges, Pertamina Plaju Refinery is manufacturing natural refrigerants, specifically Musicool (Propane) and Breezone (Propylene), providing sustainable replacements for R-22 and R-32. Pertamina Plaju Refinery has made several process modifications and optimizations to support the production of Musicool and Breezone in the Alkylation and Purification Units. These modifications involve optimizing operating conditions and implementing necessary infrastructure changes. In general, Pertamina’s natural refrigerants consume 20-30% less energy than halogen refrigerants while offering similar cooling capacity to R-22 and R-32. Propane and Propylene-based refrigerants have the lowest impact on global warming and are eco-friendly due to their easy degradation process. Musicool and Breezone, having an ODP of 0.0, with maximum GWP of 3.3, indicating minimal contribution to ozone depletion. Pertamina’s efforts to engage and reach potential customers on these natural refrigerants, involve collaborative efforts among various organizations, including with all District Office Plaju, South Sumatra.

The time for ambitious action is now: Science-based recommendations for plastic chemicals to inform an effective global plastic treaty

The ubiquitous and global ecological footprint arising from the rapidly increasing rates of plastic production, use, and release into the environment is an important modern environmental issue. Of increasing concern are the risks associated with at least 16,000 chemicals present in plastics, some of which are known to be toxic, and which may leach out both during use and once exposed to environmental conditions, leading to environmental and human exposure. In response, the United Nations member states agreed to establish an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, the global plastics treaty. The resolution acknowledges that the treaty should prevent plastic pollution and its related impacts, that effective prevention requires consideration of the transboundary nature of plastic production, use and pollution, and that the full life cycle of plastics must be addressed. As a group of scientific experts and members of the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, we concur that there are six essential “pillars” necessary to truly reduce plastic pollution and allow for chemical detoxification across the full life cycle of plastics. These include a plastic chemical reduction and simplification, safe and sustainable design of plastic chemicals, incentives for change, holistic approaches for alternatives, just transition and equitable interventions, and centering human rights. There is a critical need for scientifically informed and globally harmonized information, transparency, and traceability criteria to protect the environment and public health. The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment must be upheld, and thus it is crucial that scientists, industry, and policy makers work in concert to create a future free from hazardous plastic contamination.

The 15-minute city concept: The case study within a neighbourhood of Thessaloniki.

Cities, crucial cultural hubs, mould individual and group identities. The global urban expansion, with over half the population in urban areas, presents interconnected challenges such as pollution, poverty, inequality, ageing infrastructure, resource overconsumption, land use changes, biodiversity impact and climate change. Addressing these demands ambitious actions targeting political, social and economic systems for transformative change. The theoretical framework guiding city transformation centres on an interdisciplinary approach influenced by the Smart and Green Transition. The '15-minute city' concept, emphasizing human scale and urban experience, proposes that cities enable residents to meet daily needs within a short walk or bike ride. The aim of this study was the exploration of its implementation in Greek cities, particularly Thessaloniki, which reveals inherent characteristics supporting the 15-minute concept. Through an interdisciplinary approach rooted in the Smart and Green Transition framework, the research provides concrete guidance for policymakers in tailoring urban planning strategies, allocating resources effectively and crafting policies conducive to successful and sustainable urban transformations. Moreover, prioritizing public engagement highlights the significance of community involvement in shaping urban development plans, ensuring that proposed initiatives align with residents' needs and desires. In essence, this research contributes tangible insights and actionable recommendations for Greek cities, paving the way for more liveable, resilient and sustainable urban environments.

AMBITION IN LOVE IN NICHOLAS SPARKS’ NOVEL THE NOTEBOOK

This article examines how the first character by the name of Noah Calhoun in Nicholas Sparks' novel, The Notebook, passionately pursues love-driven ambition. Ambition here means having strong determination to achieve personal goals. It is a central theme in the protagonist's journey. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study carefully looks at Noah's various efforts to find love, using ideas from Bridge and Krutus. He sees ambition as a powerful force that drives people to achieve great things. Through this method, the research explores how the protagonist's ambitions in love unfold, showing a deep dive into human hopes and emotions. The study reveals Noah 's ambitious actions in his pursuit of Allie. It shows how he writes letters to her, builds their dream home, and works to bring back her memories. Noah's unwavering dedication and determination showcase his strong love, leading to a heartwarming conclusion where love conquers all obstacles. Overall, this research sheds light on the role of ambition in romantic relationships, highlighting Noah's steadfast pursuit of love amidst life's challenges. His resilience reminds us of how ambition can shape our relationships and stories.

The dawn of a cure for sickle cell disease through CRISPR-based treatment: A critical test of equity in public health genomics.

Equity in access to genomic technologies, resources, and products remains a great challenge. This was evident especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic when the majority of lower middle-income countries were unable to achieve at least 10% population vaccination coverage during initial COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, despite the rapid development of those vaccines. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited monogenic red blood cell disorder that affects hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. Globally, the African continent carries the highest burden of SCD with at least 240,000 children born each year with the disease. SCD has evolved from a treatable to a curable disease. Recently, the UK medical regulator approved its cure through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based treatment, whereas the US Food and Drug Administration has equally approved two SCD gene therapies. This presents a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate equity in public health genomics. This CRISPR-based treatment is expensive and therefore, a need for an ambitious action to ensure that they are affordable and accessible where they are needed most and stand to save millions of lives.

Evidence for the elimination of viral hepatitis B and C in Egypt: Results of a nationwide survey in 2022.

Viral hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV) were at the top of Egypt's most significant public health challenges, with an estimated 14.7% of its population having antibodies to HCV in 2008. Egypt issued an ambitious action plan in 2014 to eliminate viral hepatitis through strengthening infection control and improving patient care. In 2018, an extensive HCV mass screening campaign was conducted for the entire country's population with treating more than 4 million patients with antivirals. This study aimed to evaluate the current prevalence of viral hepatitis in Egypt after all these efforts. A cross-sectional household cluster survey was conducted in all 27 Egyptian governorates to obtain a representative sample of Egypt's population. Subjects aged 1-70 years were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire that included demographics, viral hepatitis knowledge, previous infection and risk factors data. Laboratory testing was performed for all subjects for anti-HCV and HBsAg using chemiluminescence. Subjects positive for anti-HCV were further tested for HCV-RNA by RT-PCR. Prevalence rates were calculated by demographic groups and compared to the demographic health survey 2015 results. Of 20 881 subjects interviewed, 48.8% were males, 20.2% were children <15 years of age, and 53.7% were residents of rural areas. Of all subjects, 92 (0.4%) were HCV-infected, 1577 (7.6%) were anti-HCV positive and 177 (0.8%) were HBV-chronically infected, including one patient who had mixed HBV and HCV current infection. The prevalence of HCV-current and HBV chronic infections decreased by 93% and 20%, respectively, compared to 2015. Egypt achieved the elimination of the viral hepatitis goal. To maintain low rates of viral hepatitis, community health education, in addition to maintaining infection control and blood safety programs, is essential.

Transforming the Future of Surgeon-Scientists.

To create a blueprint for surgical department leaders, academic institutions, and funding agencies to optimally support surgeon-scientists. Scientific contributions by surgeons have been transformative across many medical disciplines. Surgeon-scientists provide a distinct approach and mindset toward key scientific questions. However, lack of institutional support, pressure for increased clinical productivity, and growing administrative burden are major challenges for the surgeon-scientist, as is the time-consuming nature of surgical training and practice. An American Surgical Association Research Sustainability Task Force was created to outline a blueprint for sustainable science in surgery. Leaders from top NIH-sponsored departments of surgery engaged in video and in-person meetings between January and April 2023. A strength, weakness, opportunities, threats analysis was performed, and workgroups focused on the roles of surgeons, the department and institutions, and funding agencies. Taskforce recommendations: (1) SURGEONS: Growth mindset : identifying research focus, long-term planning, patience/tenacity, team science, collaborations with disparate experts; Skill set : align skills and research, fill critical skill gaps, develop team leadership skills; DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY (DOS): (2) MENTORSHIP: Chair : mentor-mentee matching/regular meetings/accountability, review of junior faculty progress, mentorship training requirement, recognition of mentorship (eg, relative value unit equivalent, awards; Mentor: dedicated time, relevant scientific expertise, extramural funding, experience and/or trained as mentor, trusted advisor; Mentee : enthusiastic/eager, proactive, open to feedback, clear about goals; (3) FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: diversification of research portfolio, identification of matching funding sources, departmental resource awards (eg, T-/P-grants), leveraging of institutional resources, negotiation of formalized/formulaic funds flow investment from academic medical center toward science, philanthropy; (4) STRUCTURAL/STRATEGIC SUPPORT: Structural: grants administrative support, biostats/bioinformatics support, clinical trial and research support, regulatory support, shared departmental laboratory space/equipment; Strategic: hiring diverse surgeon-scientist/scientists faculty across DOS, strategic faculty retention/ recruitment, philanthropy, career development support, progress tracking, grant writing support, DOS-wide research meetings, regular DOS strategic research planning; (5) COMMUNITY AND CULTURE: Community: right mix of faculty, connection surgeon with broad scientific community; Culture: building research infrastructure, financial support for research, projecting importance of research (awards, grand rounds, shoutouts); (6) THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONS: Foundation: research space co-location, flexible start-up packages, courses/mock study section, awards, diverse institutional mentorship teams; Nurture: institutional infrastructure, funding (eg, endowed chairs), promotion friendly toward surgeon-scientists, surgeon-scientists in institutional leadership positions; Expectations: RVU target relief, salary gap funding, competitive starting salaries, longitudinal salary strategy; (7) THE ROLE OF FUNDING AGENCIES: change surgeon research training paradigm, offer alternate awards to K-awards, increasing salary cap to reflect market reality, time extension for surgeon early-stage investigator status, surgeon representation on study section, focused award strategies for professional societies/foundations. Authentic recommitment from surgeon leaders with intentional and ambitious actions from institutions, corporations, funders, and society is essential in order to reap the essential benefits of surgeon-scientists toward advancements of science.

Climate change and human rights: a review of international commitments and progress derived from the Paris Agreement in Central America 2015-2022

The article provides a general look at the thematic priorities, language, and concrete actions in the area of human rights that Central American countries have incorporated into public policies on climate change since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. For this, the article identifies and systematizes advances in the seven Central American countries between 2015 and 2022, favoring policies and commitments on climate action that respond to this international agreement, among these, nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). It is observed that, in a period of six years, the countries of the area expanded the contents and scopes of their first NDCs, resulting in concrete ambitious actions, goals and commitments for the protection of the human rights of populations in particular conditions of vulnerability. The multiple actions and future commitments in relation to the links between gender and climate change stand out, which occupy a preponderant place within the strategies and transversal axes of the NDCs, plans and other policies on climate change.

Urgent and ambitious action needed to tackle this challenge

Greater action is urgently needed now We are not powerless, we have the means to effect change Without a focus on equity, the required consensus will not be achieved Equity – in terms of just transition – is relevant nationally as well as globally Net zero is not just about a date but also about cumulative emissions on the journey

Decarbonisation Pathways and How Finance can Accelerate the Business Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area

This report aims to connect decarbonization solutions with necessary finance required to accelerate the net-zero transition in the GBA. It firstly applied a top-down approach to predict macro pathways for the whole GBA, then applied bottom-up approach to analyse specific decarbonization pathways and solutions for key energy consuming sectors--manufacturing industries, road transport, and buildings, to highlight actions most needed to achieve the 30-60 goal, and more ambitious goals to peak emissions and achieve carbon neutrality earlier. Based on the above decarbonization pathways, this report estimated how much investment will be needed and how to solve the challenges faced to ensure finance to help accelerate businesses to transition. Our analysis shows that ambitious actions are needed for GBA’s earlier carbon emission peaking and carbon neutrality.

Clean air in Europe for all: A call for more ambitious action.

Clean air in Europe for all: A call for more ambitious action.

Lipid Recovery from Microalgae Biomass Using Sugaring-Out Extraction in Liquid Biphasic Flotation System

The increase in global temperature calls for ambitious action to reduce the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The transportation sector contributes up to 25% of the total emissions released, mainly from the burning of vehicle fuel. Therefore, scientists from all around the world are focusing on finding a sustainable alternative to conventional vehicle fuel. Biofuel has attracted much attention, as it shows great potential for the replacement of traditional fossil fuels. However, the main bottlenecks of biofuel are the ongoing controversial conflict between food security with biofuel production. Therefore, this study focuses on a sustainable extraction of lipids from microalgae for the production of biofuel using a liquid biphasic flotation system coupled with sugaring-out method. This is the first study to combine the methods of liquid biphasic flotation system with the sugaring-out technique. It represents a holistic study of optimum and effective conditions needed to extract lipids from the system and to understand the reliability of sugar solution as the agent of cell disruption. At the 15-min flotation time, 150 g/L of fructose solution with a 1:2 mass separating agent-acetonitrile ratio successfully extracted up to 74% of lipid from Chlorella sorokiniana CY-1. Two types of fatty acid methyl esters were recovered from the study, with C5:0 being the main component extracted.

Reversing the Decline in a Threatened Species: The Black-Faced Spoonbill Platalea minor

The black-faced spoonbill Platalea minor is a species endemic to the coastal fringes and archipelagos of East Asia. The global population was fewer than 300 individuals in the late 1980s. Since then, two international action plans (1995 and 2010–2020) have been implemented, and the global population has increased to more than 6000 individuals in 2021–2022; the species was downlisted from “Critically Endangered (CR)” to “Endangered (EN)” in 2000. To examine the basis for this success, we reviewed the implementation of the action plans in light of the IUCN Species Conservation Cycle (Assess–Plan–Act–Network–Communicate) framework, using publicly available information documenting the planned activity or policy outcome. Additionally, we used the IUCN Green Status of Species framework to assess the impact of this conservation effort on the black-faced spoonbill’s recovery to date and recovery potential. We found that the action plans for the black-faced spoonbill contain activities across all SCC framework components, though the number of activities implemented differed among countries. Our preliminary Green Status assessment indicates that the black-faced spoonbill is currently Largely Depleted, with a Species Recovery Score of 35%; however, without past conservation actions, we estimate that its score would be only 15% today (Critically Depleted), and that it is biologically possible for the species to fully recover (100%) in the next 100 years, if ambitious actions are taken. This provides further evidence that premeditated, evidence-based conservation interventions can reverse biodiversity loss.

Ambiente e Salute News n.19 - gennaio-febbraio 2023

The recent release (March 2023) of the sixth report on climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presents a comprehensive assessment of the current state of knowledge on the observed impacts and projected risks of climate change. It confirms the strong interactions of natural, social and climate systems and the negative impacts on both nature and people caused by human-induced climate change. The most vulnerable people and systems are disproportionately affected, and climate extremes have led to irreversible impacts. Emphasis is placed on the importance of limiting global warming to 1.5° C if the goal of a just, equitable, and sustainable world is to be realized, and the urgency of taking more ambitious action by highlighting that if we act now, we can still ensure a sustainable and livable future for all. There are feasible and effective adaptation options that can reduce risks to nature and people, and greater ambition is needed in both adaptation and mitigation measures. Climate-resilient development in all human activities is therefore important, and this requires urgent and conscious attention from both policy makers and the general public. In this journal we continue to summarize briefly the main articles published in the monitored journals, including those related to climate change. All articles and editorials deemed worthy of attention are listed divided by topic, with a brief commentary. This issue is based on the systematic monitoring of publications in January and February 2023.

The 3‐Machines Energy Transition Model: Exploring the Energy Frontiers for Restoring a Habitable Climate

AbstractTo stabilize the climate, we need to urgently decarbonize our society and remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere. Ambitions for the transformation are ultimately limited by bio‐physical constraints, which cannot be transgressed even if all economic and societal obstacles could be overcome. Even though it is essential to know what transformation pathways are still feasible, there is a lack of studies and models exploring bio‐physical frontiers for climate action. In this paper, we take a first step to explore the energy frontier by introducing the “3‐machines energy transition model.” This simplified representation of the global energy system includes energy feedbacks and is constrained by the maximum renewable energy potential. Simulation experiments with the model show that with most ambitious actions global peak heating may exceed 1.5°C with a chance of 14%. Simultaneously, it is still energetically possible to return to 350 ppm this century, which is considered to be a safe level for atmospheric CO2 concentration. While these energy‐constrained transformation pathways show that the climate can still be stabilized with a fair chance, they also illustrate the urgency and far‐reaching change required in society.

Climate action or distraction? Exploring investor initiatives and implications for unextractable fossil fuels

Limiting global warming to 1.5 °C requires drastically reducing fossil fuel production and use. Institutional investors who invest in fossil fuels can potentially influence the energy transition. However, few papers investigate how investors can leverage their collective resources to accelerate a transition away from fossil fuels. Hence, this paper asks: How do investor initiatives inform or shape efforts of institutional investors to align with the Paris Agreement and what are the implications of these for a goal of leaving fossil fuels underground? We identify 41 investor initiatives through a document analysis and use a sectoral governance perspective to analyse initiative strategies and policies. We then examine in depth one of the largest initiatives, Climate Action 100+, supported by analysis of 55 newspaper articles. Findings indicate that while initiatives are active in providing resources to investors to assist with aligning their investments with the Paris Agreement, coordinating investor engagement, and have been successful in uniting a critical mass of investors behind climate goals ($500 billion - $106 trillion), there exist many gaps in their capacity to achieve ambitious action on climate from companies or their investor members. A lack of internal accountability, minimal transparency into their goals and timelines, and limited ambition threaten to undermine the potential for investor initiatives to be agents of climate action. Furthermore, loopholes in the net zero policies promoted by initiatives risk diluting their effectiveness in limiting fossil fuel extraction.

Achieving global biodiversity goals by 2050 requires urgent and integrated actions

Achieving global biodiversity goals by 2050 requires urgent and integrated actions

Improving Care in Eosinophil-Associated Diseases: A Charter.

Eosinophil-associated diseases (EADs) are a range of heterogeneous conditions in which eosinophils are believed to play a critical pathological role. EADs include common illnesses such as eosinophilic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis and rare conditions such as hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs). EADs are associated with substantial burdens for the patient, including chronic, debilitating symptoms, increased financial burden, decreased health-related quality of life, and the need for repeated visits to multiple different healthcare professionals (HCPs), emergency departments, and/or hospitals. Poor EAD recognition by HCPs often contributes to delayed diagnoses, which further delays patient access to appropriate care and effective treatments, contributing to poor health outcomes. The objective of this charter is to outline key patient rights and expectations with respect to the management of their condition(s) and to set forth an ambitious action plan to improve health outcomes for patients with EADs: (1) people with EADs, their caretakers, HCPs, and the public must have greater awareness and education about EADs; (2) people with EADs must receive a timely, accurate diagnosis; (3) all people with EADs must have access to an appropriate multidisciplinary team, when necessary; and (4) people with EADs must have access to safe and effective treatment options without unnecessary regulatory delays. The principles described in this charter demonstrate the core elements of quality care that people with EADs must receive, and they represent clear steps by which to reduce patient and caregiver burden and improve patient outcomes. We urge HCPs, healthcare systems, and policymakers worldwide to swiftly adopt these principles to ensure patients with EADs have an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner and access to high-level care and treatment in an appropriate setting.Graphic abstract