Environmental Protection Mechanisms Research Articles

Ensuring compliance with Antarctic environmental protection through inspections: Problems and prospects

Environmental protection occupies an increasingly important place in Antarctic governance, but compliance mechanisms for Antarctic environmental protection have received little attention compared to multilateral environmental agreements. Antarctic inspection is an important tool for ensuring compliance by States Parties. However, it has been shown that inspection is mostly used as a means of information exchange and capacity building, while its monitoring role tends to be undermined. Based on empirical analysis, this paper identifies the outstanding issues in existing inspection practices, and proposes specific measures for improvement. It also explores the possibility of establishing an independent inspection body to complement existing inspections undertaken by Consultative Parties, with a view to fully utilizing its monitoring role as part of compliance mechanisms for the Antarctic environment.

Analysis of criminal law on ecocide: A case study of war in Ukraine

While actions leading to environmental degradation already have global consequences threatening the very existence of humanity, the war in Ukraine has once again proved the effectiveness of existing international environmental protection mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to analyze existing international environmental protection mechanisms from the perspective of the possibility of criminalizing the crime of ecocide. Based on the analysis of the domestic law of countries that have incorporated ecocide as a crime, it follows that national approaches to addressing this issue depend on historical conditions and have significant differences. These differences hinder the prosecution of ecocide in the absence of appropriate international legal mechanisms, while the consequences of ecocide cause global damage. An analysis of the state of international regulations has shown that despite the existence of an extensive environmental protection mechanism, it remains imperfect, thus making it impossible to prosecute ecocide unless it is done in connection with war crimes. An assessment of the data presented in the reports on the war in Ukraine shows that participation in relevant international conventions does not in any way guarantee that the aggressor country will not violate its international obligations. It is shown that recognizing ecocide as a crime at the international level remains the only effective means to bring perpetrators to justice. The results of the study can be used to further improve the legal mechanisms for prosecuting ecocide, in teaching legal disciplines, and in further academic research.

Law on environmental protection in tourist villages in the context of sustainable development of the tourism industry: A qualitative case study in Vietnam

After the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam's tourism industry welcomed 1.37 million international visitors. For the whole year 2023, the total number of international visitors will reach 12.6 million, nearly 3.5 times higher than in 2022, exceeding 57% of the original target (8 million) and reaching the adjusted target (12 -13 million views). In Vietnam, which a country which is undergoing economic development, this is a good sign for many workers and businesses, but it can create great pressure on environmental protection in many localities with tourist destinations. For example, as a destination attracting foreign tourists in Hoi A City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, the average amount of waste per day is nearly 100 tons; of which single-use plastic waste accounts for 15 - 23% (Thu Huong 2022). In order to prevent and minimize environmental pollution in tourist villages, the Goverment of Vietnam has issued many different documents such as: Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP orienting no circulation after 2025 and using single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic packaging in tourist areas and destinations; Decision No. 1316/QD-TTg Project to strengthen plastic waste management in Vietnam also points out that by 2025, 100% of tourist resorts and accommodation establishments will not use single-use plastic products and plastic bags which are so hard to decompose. In addition, the Government has also issued a set of criteria guiding environmental protection for tourism establishments and services in tourist areas and destinations, with instructions on minimizing plastic waste...However, around the issue of environmental protection in tourist villages in Vietnam, there are still problems that need to be solved. Through qualitative analysis method, the authors will analyze and propose solutions to remove regulations related to environmental protection mechanisms in tourist villages, aiming at sustainable development of the tourism industry towards a circular economy in the current period.

Resilience in action: Kosovo's National Development Strategy to incorporate sustainable development goals

AbstractThrough resilience theory, this paper explores the integration and alignment of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) within Kosovo's National Development Strategy (NDS). It highlights how adaptability and strategic planning underpin sustainable development in emerging national contexts like Kosovo, offering a qualitative analysis to identify gaps and suggest improvements for SDG integration. Utilizing a qualitative analysis, this study identifies gaps and provides recommendations for better SDG integration within Kosovo's national development agenda. Data analysis involves the thematic coding of qualitative data and synthesis of case study findings by examining existing documents, strategies, and plans as manifestations of Kosovo's commitment to fostering resilience and achieving a sustainable future. Key insights include recommendations for enhancing governance, environmental protection mechanisms, and social inclusivity to achieve resilient and sustainable economic growth. The study contributes to the discourse on resilience theory in national sustainable development strategies amidst political uncertainty.

LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE ARCTIC ZONE OF RUSSIA WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXTRACTIVE SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY

The article considers the main aspects of legal environmental protection in mining in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The existing environmental problems are highlighted, the issues of implementing effective legal mechanisms for environmental protection and business regulation are considered, as well as key theoretical concepts in this area, such as "legal environmental protection", "environmental risk", "environmental insurance". The necessity of adopting a special law in the field of legal environmental protection of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is indicated.

Natural resource extraction and environmental sustainability in Africa: The role of voice and accountability

AbstractWe examine the effect of natural resource extraction on environmental sustainability in Africa. Using comprehensive panel data from 30 countries for the 2004–2021 period, we find that natural resource extraction reduces environmental sustainability, particularly in resource‐poor countries. However, the nature of this nexus is time‐varying, with natural resource extraction exerting a positive and negative impact on environmental sustainability in the short and long run, respectively. We also note that strong economic institutions like voice and accountability can enhance environmental sustainability. In short, our results shed light on the complex dynamics of the extraction–sustainability nexus in an extremely young and rapidly developing part of the world. Moreover, our results demonstrate that robust economic institutions can be an effective environmental protection mechanism independent of initial natural resource endowment.

Aquaculture of Animal Species: Their Eukaryotic Parasites and the Control of Parasitic Infections.

Parasites are very diverse and common in both natural populations and in stocks kept in aquacultural facilities. For most cultured species, there are important bacteria and viruses causing diseases, but eukaryotic parasites are also very important. We review the various combinations of aquacultured species and eukaryotic parasitic groups and discuss other problems associated with aquaculture such as eutrophication, zoonotic species, and invasive species, and we conclude that further development of aquaculture in a sustainable manner must include a holistic approach (One Health) where many factors (e.g., human health, food safety, animal health and welfare, environmental and biodiversity protection and marketability mechanisms, etc.) are considered.

Protecting the Environment with Human Rights: Mechanism Rooted in Anthropocentric Approach

Anthropocentric and eco-centric are the two existing philosophical views on protecting the environment. The latter emphasises environmental protection for its intrinsic value, while the former is human-centred. This paper explores the relationship between promoting human rights and protecting the environment by arguing that the anthropocentric approach, which places humanity at its centre and is grounded in utilitarianism theory, can be a valuable tool in bridging these two areas. According to utilitarianism, achieving all fundamental human rights will contribute to raising environmental standards. Hitherto, the anthropocentric approach has been regarded to be only advantageous to humans, but in reality, it has a positive which mutually reinforces the effect on both the environment and humans. Humans will naturally turn their attention to environmental protection after they obtain all rights to meet a standard life. In the pursuit of environmental justice, humans will endeavour to improve their surroundings sustainably while upholding their fundamental rights. Through this relationship, a rights-based approach and environmental protection mechanisms are established, allowing individuals to seek redress for any kind of environmental harm as a distinct category of human rights. In conclusion, by establishing a distinct environmental-human right and tying it to human rights, environmental protection can be realised more practically.

The legal mechanism for environmental protection in Ukraine

Purpose. To study the aspects of implementing the legal mechanism of environmental protection (LMEP) and the requirements for it. To propose a definition of the “LMEP” concept. To develop recommendations for improving the legal mechanism, propose measures for its implementation and determine its main components. Methodology. The study uses general and special methods of cognition: comparative analysis – to establish LMEP indicators; critical analysis – for formation of requirements for LMEP and its definition; abstract-logical analysis – to determine the need for strategic dynamic approach to the implementation of LMEP; induction and deduction – to offer tool of “feedback” between the implementation of legal norms, and the effectiveness of their practical implementation; logical abstraction - for development of recommendations improving LMEP, measures for its implementation, its components, and the codification of environmental legal provisions. Findings. The requirements for the LMEP implementation are specified. Indicators for evaluating the LMEP effectiveness are proposed. “Feedback” tool between the implementation of environmental and legal norms and the effectiveness of their practical implementation and mechanism for the gradual adaptation of these norms are proposed. The definition of the concept “legal mechanism of environmental protection” is proposed. The absence of systematic approach and the insufficiency of analytical work at the stage of preparation of normative legal acts and after their adoption are pointed out. Specific ways of solving this problem are proposed. In order to prevent offenses, the need to increase the role of administrative justice in environmental protection cases and to expand the application of administrative law for this purpose is indicated. Originality. The necessity of forming a strategic dynamic approach to the implementation of LMEP and adjusting the adoption of its stages in view of the effectiveness of tools for the development of legal and environmental awareness of citizens is indicated. Practical value. The proposed regulatory clarification of the concept of “significant damage” will strengthen compliance with the principle of matching the violation with the punishment.

The Conflict and Coordination Mechanism of Interpersonal Relationship between New and Old Residents in Community Reorganization at Heritage Sites: A Model Based on Tangkou in Huangshan

During the transition to the tourism service community, the heritage community has absorbed more and more new residents, and the community undergoes constant reorganization. The relationship between new arrivals and original residents has caused many conflicts in the process of community restructuring, which in turn affects the sustainable development of the heritage site. Based on the survey of the typical heritage community in Tangkou, Huangshan, combined with grounded theory, it is found that interpersonal relationship conflicts between new arrivals and original residents of the heritage community are mainly affected by economic interests, environmental cognition, emotional exchanges, cultural customs, and so on. It is suggested to improve the interest coordination mechanism between new arrivals and original merchants, give play to the role of industry associations, protect the interests of marginalized or disadvantaged groups, strengthen the construction of community public leisure space, encourage residents to participate in the protection and inheritance of traditional cultural customs in the community, and establish community environmental protection and responsibility mechanisms.

International Legal Mechanisms for Holding the Russian Federation Accountable for Causing Environmental Damage as a Result of Armed Aggression against Ukraine

As a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, significant damage was caused to the environment. Official data published by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine regarding the extent of environmental damage already caused indicates catastrophic consequences. That is why it is important to establish the illegality of causing environmental damage as a result of hostilities, to properly collect evidence, establish the amount of damage caused and to hold the Russian Federation accountable for causing this damage. The steps taken by Ukraine to achieve the abovementioned tasks were disclosed. The article analyses existing international mechanisms for environmental protection during armed conflicts and the possibility of holding Russian Federation responsible for environmental damage caused to Ukraine as a result of armed aggression. A conclusion was made about the possibility of holding the Russian Federation accountable for environmental damage according to the customary norms of the law of international responsibility by creating a special international tribunal.

Environmental insurance in the mechanism of environmental protection in Russia: how to improve its efficiency with the help of law?

Purpose The purpose of this study is to formulate a proposal to fill the gap in national legislation, which will increase the effectiveness of mandatory environmental insurance. Design/methodology/approach This is a review of scientific doctrine and legislation, which shows the problems and prospects for the development of mandatory environmental insurance on the example of one country. Findings At the moment, environmental insurance in Russia is at the very beginning of its development. Despite the experiments carried out and fragmentary references in the law, there is a classic example of a gap in the law, when the procedure provided for by the norms of law lacks a clear implementation mechanism. To fill this gap and increase the effectiveness of environmental insurance, the authors propose to clearly localize the scope of its operation, fixing the obligation of environmental insurance only for objects that have a significant or moderate negative impact on the environment (objects of categories I and II), provided for by the Federal Law “On mandatory Environmental Protection.” Originality/value A new concept of a mandatory environmental insurance contract is substantiated, which optimizes civil liability for causing harm to the environment, life, health and property of citizens (property of legal entities) as a result of accidents and man-made disasters.

Analysis of the barriers to the adoption of green buildings labels in Brazil by the validated Interpretative Structural Modeling (VISM) technique

Green Buildings Labels (GBL) are indicated as one of the means with the potential to contribute to sustainable development. Worldwide, more than 850,000 green buildings have already had their project and development helped by just three of the GBLs (LEED, BREEAM, and BASIX). Brazil, however, has only 874 LEED-certified projects. Aiming to propose strategies to foster the adoption of GBL in the country, this paper developed an interpretative model involving barriers to them in Brazil. For this, the technique of Validated Interpretative Structural Modeling (VISM) was developed aiming to add statistical validity to interpretative models even in situations of research with small sample sizes. VISM is a modeling technique that incorporates the simplicity of Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) with the significance testing procedures of Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Adopting the VISM, the barriers model was then developed in five steps: (1) identification of indicators; (2) definition of constructs; (3) identification of relations between constructs; (4) validation of relations between constructs; and (5) creation of the conceptual model. As a result, VISM proved to be an effective innovative modeling technique in the development of models for exploratory research and presents results consistent with the reality studied. Regarding the model developed, the main barriers identified by the study to the adoption of GBL in Brazil are: “environmental protection mechanisms”; “costs and return on investment”; “mistrust of the benefits from GBL”; “corporate and public awareness”; “maturity and market economics”; and the “project, construction, and operation of green buildings".

Optimal dispatch of nearly-zero carbon integrated energy system considering waste incineration plant-carbon capture system and market mechanisms

Considering the waste incineration plant-carbon capture (WIP-CC) system and market mechanisms, the optimal dispatching strategy of nearly-zero carbon integrated energy system (NZC-IES) is proposed. The incineration of large amounts of Municipal Solid Waste can result in significant carbon emission and air pollution. However, lack of consideration of mechanisms for carbon processing and environmental protection will prevent the development of NZC-IES. Accordingly, a novel mixed integer nonlinear mathematical model, NZC-IES, is established that minimizes the total cost and controls carbon emission and air pollution. Unlike previous studies of optimal dispatching for WIP-CC system, the climate and health costs of WIP and the social costs of energy sources for CC are considered. A model of adjustable thermoelectric ratios for WIP and a model for CC with the storage tanks are established to enhance the flexibility of the thermoelectric output. Also, demand response model and ladder-type carbon trading model are developed to serve for NZC-IES. Case studies reveal that the proposed optimal dispatching strategy can realize the waste to energy utilization and low-carbon emission with economic performance.

Spatio-temporal variations in the ecological vulnerability of the Upper Mzingwane sub-catchment of Zimbabwe

Profiling eco-environmentally vulnerable (EV) areas can contribute to the development of mechanisms for environmental protection and sustainable management of ecological resources. Land cover change, population density, annual precipitation, mean temperature, remotely sensed indices, actual evapotranspiration, land surface temperature (LST), and runoff for the catchment for 1990, 2000, 2011, and 2020 were used to assess spatiotemporal ecological vulnerability. Spatial principal component analysis (SPCA) was used to assess thematic vulnerability for each year. The analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was then used to determine the weighting of the thematic maps to produce the final ecological vulnerability maps. Our results showed that most of the sub-basin had low and moderate vulnerability in 1990, 2000, 2011, and 2020, with the combined proportion of these areas being 80.6%, 55.45%, 83.92%, and 85.1%, respectively. The areas classified as high vulnerability decreased steadily over the investigated years, except in 2000, where an increase was observed. Most areas in the southern parts of the sub-basin were classified as moderately vulnerable, while high vulnerability values were recorded in the northern areas. The southern parts of the Upper Mzingwane basin are drier and less populated than the northern parts. The spatial architecture of vulnerability presented will help inform decision makers in mitigation planning and overall disaster risk management initiatives in the basin.

Astroenvironmentalism as SF

AbstractThe New Space Age is awash with discourses about space colonization and resource exploitation, and these happily coexist with the age-old and curiosity-driven question, “Are we alone in the universe?” Astrobiology addresses this question and, at the same time, codifies knowledge useful for protecting our planet and other celestial bodies from harmful contamination. This article critically examines astroenvironmentalism as discussed within astrobiology and attempts to rescue it from becoming a principle of border creation in otherworldly ecologies. To do so, it merges astrobiology with visions and images from feminist postcolonial and decolonial theory, STS, and science fiction, and reflects on the enduring colonial tropes that provide the building blocks of current knowledge on outer space. The same colonial cartographic imagination at play in the much-debated frontier narrative animates the concept of planetary parks. These have gained increased popularity as a mechanism of environmental protection in space, but it is important to note how they entertain a settler future in outer space and legitimize claims to territorial property and extraction. In a dialogue that is contrapuntal to the codification of this form of transplanetary environmentalism, this article traces how Lynn Margulis’s cosmic symbiosis, Donna Haraway’s sympoiesis, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World Is Forest (1976) intersect with concerns of astrobiological knowledge. Crucially, they enable the blurring of three types of borders: between science and fiction; planetary inside and outside; life and matter. This border-crossing can be generative of a process of creating more-than-human relationalities beyond Earth-centric geographies.

Spatiotemporal Distribution and Driving Force Analysis of the Ecosystem Service Value in the Fujiang River Basin, China

Identification of spatiotemporal changes in ecosystem service value and their drivers is the basis for ecosystem services management and decision making. This research selects Fujiang River Basin (FJRB) as the area of study, using the equivalent factor method to estimate the ecosystem service value (ESV) variation and characteristics of its spatial distribution. The contributions of the drivers of ecosystem service value and their interactions were also explored using the optimal parameters-based geographical detectors (OPGD) model. The results showed the following: (1) the total ESV increased from 104,891.22 × 106 yuan to 105,032.08 × 106 yuan from 2000 to 2020, and displayed an upward trend from the southeast to northwest; (2) The distribution of ESV showed a strong positive spatial autocorrelation. High ESVs were concentrated upstream of the study region with a higher elevation and vegetation coverage, whereas low values were mainly found in the midstream and downstream regions, where frequent human activity occurs; (3) The elevation of natural factors, HAI and LA of human-social factors, and PEL of landscape pattern factors were the main forces leading to ESV differentiation, and the spatial heterogeneity of ESV in the study area resulted from the synergistic effect of natural factors, human socioeconomic activities, and landscape pattern factors. This research reveals the spatial and temporal patterns and drivers of ecosystem service values in the FJRB, and provides a scientific reference for the establishment of land-use planning and ecological environmental protection mechanisms in this region.

Շրջակա միջավայրի պահպանության տնտեսական կառուցակարգի տեսամեթոդական հիմունքներն ու առանձնահատկությունները

The purpose of the article is to reveal the theoretical and methodological foundations and features of the economic mechanism used in the field of environmental protection, creating a scientific and informational basis for improving and developing the economic mechanism of the environment, in particular, atmospheric air protection in Armenia. In order to achieve the stated goal, the task was set to study the necessity of applying the economic mechanism in the field of environmental protection from an economic point of view, to identify the prerequisites and background of the formation of the economic mechanism, to distinguish the main elements and types of the economic mechanism, to introduce the tasks of the mechanism and the possibilities of their realization with the help of separated elements. The research was carried out using such methods as historical, abstractive, analytical and comparison, graphical representation, induction and deduction methods. As a result of the conducted research, it can be concluded that in a market economy the economic mechanism plays a key role in environmental protection. The economic mechanism is aimed at solving the problem of externalities caused by the market failure, the existence of which is the reason of ecological problems. Consequently, through the systematic and effective use of the elements of the economic mechanism, it is possible to achieve the desired ecological and economic results. However, the economic mechanism of environmental protection in Armenia is of a "soft" nature, which is not justified from the point of view of ensuring sustainable development and ecological security, therefore, the results of this study can contribute to the improvement and development of the national mechanism.

Possibilities of Implementation of the Ecological and Legal Mechanism of Environmental Protection for the Regulation of Economic Activity in the Coastal Territories of Lake Baikal

In the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation, designed to regulate public relations about nature, the concept of nature protection is a priority. Lake Baikal is a territory with special conditions of use, with unique natural characteristics and a powerful system of ecological and legal regulation of public relations in the field of environmental protection. For effective planning and regulation of economic activity in the coastal territories of Lake Baikal, it is advisable to involve an ecological and legal mechanism for environmental protection, which allows unambiguously determining the priority right to use the territory, relying on environmental legislation and protecting the rights of nature in resolving conflict situations. The use of the legal environmental zoning tool, which significantly enhances the ecological and legal mechanism by means of cartographic visualization, implemented with the involvement of geoinformation systems, allows us to simultaneously display the effect of all regulatory and legal restrictions on a specific area of the territory. This makes it easy to navigate the legislative space manifested on the ground, taking into account the characteristics of the territory, determine the priority right to use the territory and find the optimal permitted option for conducting permitted activities. So, on the example of the Slyudyansky district of the Irkutsk region, a comparison of the categories of legal zoning with maps of real use of resources was carried out, which clearly showed contradictions in real and permitted use. The visual implementation of the ecological and legal mechanism and the possibility of improving environmental management is shown, through the introduction of a mechanism that allows to identify violations in the regulated use of the territory in an operational mode, ensuring safe rational use of natural resources through the search for the optimal use of different areas of the territory.

Legal principles of transboundary movement of waste and fiscal priorities of the state

The article examines the legal principles of transboundary movement of waste, which express the essence of state policy in the field of waste management, identifies its main features and patterns. The author analyzed the tax and customs rules applied to waste operations, the fiscal consequences of the application of the customs procedure for the destruction of goods and the fiscal status of waste generated as a result of the destruction of goods under customs control. The economic effect of taxation of waste operations should be more active involvement of waste in secondary economic turnover. As a result, the volumes of waste placed in landfills are reduced and the negative impact on the environment is weakened. Optimization of the fiscal consequences of the transboundary movement of waste will make the economic mechanism of environmental protection more effective.