European Environment Research Articles

ВІЙНА РОСІЇ В УКРАЇНІ ТА МАЙБУТНЄ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ

The paper contains the analysis of the existing approaches to the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on European security and the scenarios of further involve- ment of Ukraine’s partners from both sides of the Atlantic in its defense. The most significant consequences of the war for the European security environment are considered. Particular attention is paid to the following issues, which remain debatable: approaches to how Ukraine can win; factors that hinder larger and faster military aid from the West to Kyiv; threats stemming from an incomplete understanding by some Western leaders of Moscow’s true goals; ways in which the EU and NATO can support Ukraine not only on the battlefield, but also by integrating it into their institutions. The study is based on a critical analysis of papers on this subject in authoritative professional publications on internation- al relations, statistical data on the aid from the states of the collective West to Kyiv, and the results of public opinion polls on the continuation of support for Ukraine’s struggle in European states and the USA. The West is facing a critical choice: to support Ukraine so that it can defend its territory and rebuild its forces for offensive operations, recapture the occupied lands and exhaust the aggressor to the point of imposing a lasting peace, or to give in to a Russia, which believes it can survive the will of the West. The former is desirable not only for Ukrainians. For Europe, Ukraine’s success or failure in this struggle will determine the security of the entire continent. For the United States, it will shape the future of the world order which it leads. Developing and following a consistent and realistic strategy for the victory of Ukraine will re- quire greater and faster US and European military aid, investment by European countries in their defense industrial potential, strengthening of sanctions against Russia and better enforcement thereof, opening the way for Ukraine to join the EU and NATO. It will benefit all Europeans by restoring and expanding the area of peace, prosperity and stability on the continent.

Using random forest to improve EMEP4PL model estimates of daily PM2.5 in Poland

Long-term exposure to poor air quality is responsible for many diseases and increased mortality worldwide. European Environmental Agency reports that Poland is one of the most polluted countries in Europe due to high emissions associated with large coal and wood consumption and specific weather conditions. Exceedances of WHO-recommended PM2.5 thresholds are still common in Poland, so further action is needed to protect the health of the population. Atmospheric chemical transport models (CTMs) provide information on air quality to the public and are used to regulate air pollutant emissions. However, uncertainties associated with CTMs, related to e.g. physical/chemical processes and input data quality often lead to underestimation of pollutant concentrations, especially for PM2.5, and limits the applicability of CTMs e.g. for health impact studies.A hybrid approach combining the EMEP4PL chemical transport model for Poland with the Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithm was applied to address the limitations of CTM and reduce its underestimation. We used EMEP4PL-modelled PM2.5 concentrations for period 2016–2019 as a predictor and measured daily PM2.5 from 71 monitoring stations in Poland as a dependent variable in three RF scenarios, which differed in terms of the selected predictors. The impact of different additional variables for the area was revealed, including population and emission data, dominant type of land use, Weather and Research Forecast (WRF) meteorological parameters, and temporal patterns of PM2.5 concentrations across the years. The models were evaluated in a random 5-fold and spatial leave-one-station-out cross-validations (LOSOCV), as well as for an independent test set. Our final model achieved a test set R2 of 0.71, compared to 0.38 for EMEP4PL, along with a reduction in negative bias (0.25 μg m−3 for the final RF, compared to −11 μg m−3 for EMEP4PL) and an improved ability to detect severe PM2.5 episodes. Enhanced coefficients of determination were observed in all seasons and at all monitoring sites included in the study, for both types of cross-validation and for the test set. We estimated the contribution of each group of variables separately and discovered, that the most impactful predictors for the area of Poland included temporal patterns of PM2.5 calculated based on the averages of EMEP4PL outcome (such as day of the year, week number, etc.) and meteorological modelled factors related to temperature, planetary boundary layer height, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. The developed approach provides a basis for improved spatiotemporal estimates and forecasting of PM2.5 in the region, which is an important step toward better understanding the impact of air pollution on the local population well-being.

Development of working memory and inhibitory control in early childhood: Cross-sectional analysis by age intervals and gender in Ecuadorian preschoolers.

Working memory (WM) and inhibitory control (IC) play a crucial role in learning during early childhood. The literature suggests a non-linear developmental trajectory of executive functions (EFs) with varied results according to gender, usually attributed to environmental factors. However, there is insufficient and inconclusive data on whether this pattern is reproduced in the Latin American preschool population since most studies have been conducted in English-speaking, European, and Asian environments. Thus, objectively comparing children's executive performance across diverse international geographical contexts becomes challenging. This study aimed to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of the performance in WM and IC of 982 Ecuadorian preschoolers aged between 42 and 65 months (M = 53.71; SD = 5.714) and belonging to medium-high, medium, and low-medium socioeconomic strata. The participants consisted of 496 boys (M = 53.77; SD = 5.598) and 486 girls (M = 53.65; SD = 5.834), representing nine cities in Ecuador. To assess the effect of age and gender on performance in these two domains, the sample was divided into four 6-month age intervals. Two tests were administered to the participants, and a survey was conducted with 799 of their usual caregivers. Viewing the cross-sectional mean scores of the WM and IC tests as a temporal continuum reveals an upward trend in each age interval studied. Girls outperformed boys on the IC test, showing statistically significant differences in the earliest age interval. The gender differences in executive performance reported in the literature emphasize the need to explore the modulating effect of environmental variables on early childhood development. This information could offer valuable insights for adapting and optimizing cognitive and didactic strategies in early childhood tailored to the characteristics and needs of the preschool population.

Engaging women, peace, and security in defence: the role of the NATO committee on gender perspectives

ABSTRACT As NATO marks its 75th anniversary it is facing a future more uncertain than at any point since the end of the Cold War. The European security environment is changed and challenged by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, while the Israel-Gaza war poses further challenges. Given this critical moment, this article offers a strategic intervention to highlight and reinforce the essential role of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in defence and deterrence, including through the integration of a gender perspective, for NATO members and partners. It does so by bringing together former Chairs of the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) into conversation about the continued importance of NATO’s oldest committee in ensuring NATO’s future approach to WPS is fit for purpose. Drawing upon their reflections and insights, we recommend policy points to embed and advance WPS and the gender perspective in NATO’s response to this new security environment.

Multitemporal Seagrass Mapping and Monitoring of Posidonia Meadows and Banquettes for Blue Carbon Conservation: The Poseidon Project

Abstract. In the framework of mapping underwater environments, Posidonia Oceanica (PO) is a fundamental indicator for environmental monitoring and related studies and analyses for climate change. The POSEIDON project aims to study, develop and test new methodologies to provide knowledge, as well as ultra-high-resolution (UHR) and beyond ultra-high-resolution (BUHR) mapping and monitoring data for the conservation of the PO and related meadows and banquettes in the Mediterranean area. The project is funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and stems from the recommendation of international organizations (European Environmental Directives, Mediterranean PO Network, International Partnership for Blue Carbon, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO in the Save the Wave project). Starting from new integrated survey methods and legacy data, the PO, ichthyofauna and seagrass banquettes will be mapped to understand their evolution and extract indicators and useful trends. Furthermore, the produced information will be stored and shared in a webGIS and a dedicated app to prevent unexpected damages during sailing or other activities. POSEIDON will use imaging sensors (RGB and multi/hyperspectral cameras) to extract information. With specific lighting equipment for significant water depths, these sensors will be conducted (by scuba divers or Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) next to the object to acquire BUHR data. Finally, to monitor the fauna (fish, other species, invertebrates), terrestrial and underwater videogrammetry will be applied using mono and stereo-cameras with object detection algorithms.

Digital Health Technology (DHT) in European Clinical Trials, How to Improve the Status-Quo of the Regulatory Landscape?

Digital health technology (DHT) is increasingly used to facilitate the conduct of clinical drug trials. The European regulatory environment would benefit from some adjustments to realize the full potential of DHTs. Considering current discussions such as the European Accelerating Clinical Trial Initiative (ACT EU), we propose four concrete adjustments to this regulatory landscape to introduce risk-based qualification approaches for DHTs. In our view, these changes would have the potential to facilitate the use of DHT in clinical research and thus provide access to innovative therapies in Europe.

On Some Aspects of European Security and Defence in the Context Of War in Ukraine

The European security environment is currently significantly affected by Russian aggression against Ukraine. However, right from the start of the war, the European Union and its member states acted decisively, they unequivocally condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and began to help it politically, economically, humanitarianly and by supplying military equipment, weapons, ammunition, and training members of the Ukrainian armed forces. And although no European member state of the European Union or the North Atlantic Alliance has been attacked, the ongoing conflict negatively affects European stability and disrupts the European security and defence system. That is also why the authors, using relevant scientific methods and approaches within the framework of interdisciplinary research, deal in the article with some selected aspects of European security and defence in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. They point out how Russian aggression has influenced discussions about the roles of the European Union in ensuring security and defence on the European continent, shed light on the Union's security and defence policy, deal with issues of European strategic autonomy and related relations between the EU and NATO, and at the end of the article indicate challenges, which are closely related to European security and defence in the context of the war in Ukraine.

The Development of the Berliner as a Political Person under the Influence of the Urban Cultural Environment

Introduction. The article explores the reasons for the emergence of ethnic diversity in the city of Berlin, encompassing political, historical, geographical, anthropological, and sociological aspects of the urban environment. It also outlines the current issues in German society that shape the political culture of its people. The relevance of the topic is driven by the political radicalization of migrants in Germany, particularly in Berlin, resulting from cultural globalization that impacts traditional political institutions and behavioral models of the city's residents. The crisis of the liberal-democratic model and the increase in the number of Eurosceptics also play a significant role in the transformation of the political culture of contemporary Berliners. Solving the problem of political radicalization of migrants is equally important for the Russian Federation, especially in St. Petersburg, combining characteristics of the European urban environment and the polyethnic Russian state, whose residents consider themselves Russians despite national and cultural differences. Methodology and sources. The research is grounded in Ernest Burgess's model of concentric zones. The study relies on research methods such as synthesis, comparison, analysis, and sociological approaches. Data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the results of the 2016 elections to the Berlin House of Deputies, the 2021 elections, and the subsequent 2023 elections, historical data, and findings from other researchers on the topic served as sources for the study. Results and discussion. The study identifies features of urban culture shaping the polyethnic Berlin society, including the ethnic diversity of residents, unique self-identification of Berliners, the presence of distinct urban districts, squatter movements, and the influence of architectural and spatial characteristics on the formation of human social behavior. Some city problems were also highlighted, such as the crisis of formation of a distorted perception of right and left currents among Berliners, the failure of multiculturalism policies, the migration crisis, and housing shortages. Conclusion. The development of a Berliner as a political being is influenced by the characteristics of the urban environment and certain issues facing the city, where the residential district, properties of the city's political culture, and ethnic background impact the political views of its inhabitants

Unleashing Culture and Creativity Power in European Education Processes

The European educational system stands in a unique position at the crossroads of training, research and innovation, in shaping sustainable and resilient economies, and in making its territories greener, more inclusive and more digital through culture and creativity. This paper is the result of a one-year collaboration between the Alma Mater Studiorum — Università di Bologna and the Jagiellonian University, under the umbrella of the EIT Culture & Creativity (EIT C&C), in the interim co-chairing of the Direction linked to the Action Program 1 Talent Scaler, to define activities and strategies for the operationalization of the Strategic Objective 1 about Education. This involvement opened up the possibility to activate a fruitful international cooperation with all the members of Una Europa, the alliance of Europe’s eleven largest leading research universities that aim to create a truly European inter-university environment, a University of the Future.

An improved habitat suitability index for the great crested newt Triturus cristatus

An improved habitat suitability index for the great crested newt Triturus cristatus

Effective Communication: Digital, Informational, Sociolinguistic Aspects (European Experience)

The modern era of digital technologies and globalization has led to significant changes in approaches to communication. The present paper analyzes how digital, informational and sociolinguistic aspects influence the processes of effective communication, with a special focus on the European experience. The impact of digital transformation, information transparency, linguistic diversity and cultural adaptation on communication processes in modern society has been considered. The research has found that digitalization contributes to increased accessibility and speed of communication, but also poses challenges related to the digital divide and data protection. Information transparency and accessibility proved to be crucial to ensuring trust and effective exchange of information. Sociolinguistic aspects, especially language and cultural adaptation, have become of key importance to the development of effective intercultural communication, which is critical in a multilingual and culturally diverse European environment. The ability to adapt communication approaches to the specifics of each culture and language context has proven to be crucial in achieving success in international interaction and cooperation. Awareness of the cultural differences, norms, values and language of each target audience helps create more accurate and effective communication strategies, ensuring greater engagement and efficiency. Practical applications of these findings may involve the development of communication strategies that take into account cultural diversity and language, as well as ensure information security and transparency.

Dynamic Neural Assimilation: a deep learning and data assimilation model for air quality predictions

Ambient air pollution is known to be a serious issue that has an impact on human health and the environment. Assessing air quality is of the utmost importance to protect human health and the environment. Different tools are available, from monitoring stations to complex models. These systems are capable of accurately predicting air quality levels, but they are often computationally very expensive which makes them poorly efficient. In this paper, we developed a novel model called Dynamic Neural Assimilation (DyNA) integrating Recurrent Neural Networks and Data Assimilation methods to derive a physics-informed system capable of accurately forecasting air pollution tendencies and investigating the relationship with industrial statistics. DyNA is trained in historical data and is fine-tuned as soon as new data comes available. We trained and tested the system on real data provided by the air quality monitoring stations located in Italy from the European Environment Agency and simulated results derived from the air quality modelling system Atmospheric Modelling System-Model to support the International Negotiation on atmospheric pollution on a National Italian level. We analysed air pollution data in Italy from the years 2003–2010 and studied its correlation with nearby industries in some regions where monitoring sensors were available.

The Non-Deterioration Obligation in the Nature Restoration Regulation – a Necessary and Proportionate Addition to the Habitats Directive or a Monstrosity with Disastrous Consequences for Society?

Abstract On June 22, 2022, the European Commission proposed a nature restoration regulation with the aim of restoring degraded ecosystems across the EU by 2050. Under the proposal, Member States must prepare national restoration plans to meet various ecosystem-specific targets and obligations. Controversial is the non-deterioration obligation that will apply in areas where restoration measures are taken and in areas where certain habitat types occur. After the European Parliament (ep) and the European (Environment) Council had both adopted positions that include significant amendments of the non-deterioration provisions, in November 2023 the Council announced a compromise text as the result of the trilogue. This contribution assesses how the compromise text of the non-deterioration obligation addresses drawbacks from the previous proposals, identifies associated questions and offers some suggestions for the interpretation.

The EU Commission’s Infringement Procedures in the Water Sector

Abstract Under Article 17 teu, the EU Commission has to ensure that EU law is implemented by the Member States. For a long time, the European Commission kept its activities with regard to the implementation of Article 258 tfeu rather confidential. Since about ten years, the Commission changed its policy. The Commission installed a database, where it lists all decisions under Article 258 tfeu which it adopted. The present contribution will, on the basis of that database, the different implementation reviews, other Commission publications and the information of the European Environment Agency on the state of the EU environment, retrace the state of affairs with regard to the monitoring, by the Commission, of the implementation of Union legislation in the water sector. This review will show whether the database is up-to-date and it will also provide data to discuss the infringment practice of the Commission in the field of water protection.

The International Standards on Auditing and the Accuracy of Auditors’ Going Concern Disclosures: Evidence for Private Firms in a Low Litigious Environment

ABSTRACT This paper examines the effect of adopting the International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 570 on going concern (GC) disclosures in the audit report in a European environment characterized by low litigation and reputation risk. We exploit a natural experiment in Belgium, where the global GC standard ISA 570 replaced the local GC standard. We examine whether this shift in standards changed the accuracy of auditors’ GC disclosures. Using a sample of 30,339 stressed private companies with audited financial statements for periods ending on or after 15 December 2012 till 14 December 2016, our findings suggest that the adoption of the ISA 570 improves the accuracy of auditors’ GC disclosures. Specifically, we find that the implementation of the ISA 570 is associated with an 8 percent decrease in false positive misclassifications (GC opinion without subsequent bankruptcy), while the rate of false negative misclassifications (bankruptcy without prior GC opinion) remains unchanged.

Bioethics-CSR Divide

Bioethics-CSR Divide

Modelling of Aircraft Non-CO2 Emissions Using Freely Available Activity Data from Flight Tracking

The objective of this work is to develop a new modelling tool to quantify non-CO2 emissions from aircraft during the landing and take-off (LTO cycle) considering the following criteria: (i) utilising freely available activity data; (ii) using widely recommended emission factors; (iii) providing emissions with the spatial and temporal resolution required for local air quality assessment. Freely available flight tracking data obtained from Flightradar24 and emission factors from the European Environment Agency (EEA/EMEP) are considered for the algorithm implementation and tested for Lisbon airport. The analyses of aircraft emissions during various flight stages reveal that HC and CO are mostly emitted during taxiing (93%), while NOX and PM are mostly produced during climb-out (48% and 35%, respectively). Sensitivity analysis, by using simplified activity data from publicly available databases against detailed engine models and emission factors, showed variations in the daily emissions of less than 13% in the case of CO and NOX, but up to 34% for HC and PM. The modelling approach based on freely available activity data developed in this work may offer valuable insights for quantifying airport emissions, providing crucial inputs for air quality assessment, and supporting the definition of mitigation strategies aimed at enhancing sustainability in aviation practices.

Exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and breast neoplasm incidence: A cohort study

BackgroundPhthalates are ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors. As the predominant phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) has been considered possibly carcinogenic to humans but large-scale longitudinal evidence is needed to further clarify its carcinogenicity. ObjectivesTo examine the association between DEHP exposure and incidence of breast malignant neoplasm, carcinoma in situ and benign neoplasm. MethodsA total of 273,295 women from UK Biobank cohort were followed up for a median of 13.5 years. Disease information was collected from National Health Service Cancer Registry and National Death Index. Baseline and yearly-average level of DEHP exposure were estimated for each individual by linking chemical monitoring record of European Environment Agency with home address of the participants by Kriging interpolation model. Cox proportional hazard model was employed to estimate the association between DEHP exposure and breast neoplasms. ResultsThe median (IQR) of baseline and yearly-average DEHP concentration were 8000.25 (interquartile range: 6657.85–11,948.83) and 8000.25 (interquartile range: 1819.93–11,359.55) μg/L. The highest quartile of baseline DEHP was associated with 1.11 fold risk of carcinoma in situ (95 % CI, 1.00, 1.23, p < 0.001) and 1.27 fold risk of benign neoplasm (95 % CI, 1.05, 1.54, p < 0.001). As for yearly-average exposure, each quartile of DEHP was positively associated with higher risk of malignant neoplasm (HR, 1.05; 95 % CI, 1.03, 1.07, p < 0.001), carcinoma in situ (HR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 1.04, 1.11, p < 0.001) and benign neoplasm (HR, 1.13; 95 % CI, 1.07, 1.20, p < 0.001). Stratification analysis showed no significant modification effects on the DEHP-neoplasm relationship by menopausal status or ethnicity but a suggestive higher risk in younger women and those who underwent oral contraceptive pill therapy. In sensitivity analysis, the associations remained when excluding the cases diagnosed within 2 years post baseline. ConclusionsReal-world level of DEHP exposure was associated with higher risk of breast neoplasms. Because of the health risks associated with DEHP, its release to the environment should be managed.

Making the whole university entrepreneurial – decades of legitimacy-building through Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship

This article investigates how more than 25 years of combined entrepreneurial activities have not only developed the third mission of an entrepreneurial university but also improved the first and second missions of education and research. The case, Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship, displays how faculty and annual cohorts of student surrogate entrepreneurs taking on university spinoffs, champion pragmatic and moral legitimacy eventually resulting in cognitive legitimacy within the university and beyond. The effects have not only been commercial, making Chalmers University of Technology into a leading European incubation environment, but have also stimulated education and research to become more entrepreneurial. The article introduces an intrapreneurial capability approach to transforming entrepreneurial universities where legitimacy-building over decades around a new entrepreneurial model complements an incrementalist understanding of university development.

Assessment of oceanographic services for the monitoring of highly anthropised coastal lagoons: The Mar Menor case study

Ocean monitoring systems are designed for continuous monitoring of the seas and oceans to track their evolution and thus anticipate environmental issues. However, they are often based on Internet of Things (IoT) systems that are expensive, hard to maintain, and offer little spatial coverage. An emerging alternative is Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) systems that offer good geographical coverage but, as a reliable and real-time monitoring system, they also face several challenges such as environmental conditions, spatio-temporal granularity, terrain oleography, etc. This paper introduces an easy-to-use software tool to crawl water-quality data from up to 6 satellite instruments (i.e. Sentinel 3A, Sentinel-3B, NOAA VIIRS, SNPP VIIRS, Aqua MODIS, Terra MODIS) of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Coopernicus system and NASA's Marine Environmental Monitoring Service. We also provide an in-depth analysis in terms of reliability and data coverage for the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in a highly anthropised local/regional context like the Mar Menor lagoon (Murcia, Spain), where serious socio-environmental issues are arising due to the eutrophication process. Our results show a good linear correlation between in situ data, obtained by several Spanish public institutions since 2016, and data generated by the IRTM-NN (Inverse Radiative Transfer Model-Neural Network) algorithm of Sentinel 3 in general, reaching coefficient correlation values close to 0.9. They also show that organic matter inputs from ephemeral streams are relevant in determining Chl-a concentrations. Moreover, the temporal coverage using a single instrument is rather limited, as no data were recorded for 80% of the days studied. This figure decreases to 30% when data from the 6 satellite instruments are combined, increasing the temporal granularity of the measurements from approximately 5 to 1.5 days, suggesting the need for a combination of these systems for a robust SRS system.