Gaps In Protection Research Articles

Development of a NASA roadmap for planetary protection to prepare for the first human missions to Mars

As part of planning for future space exploration, COSPAR (The Committee on Space Research) together with participating space agencies, organized and held interdisciplinary meetings to consider next steps in addressing knowledge gaps for planetary protection for future human missions to Mars. Beginning with the results of these meetings and earlier work by NASA, ESA, and COSPAR (e.g., Criswell et al., 2005; Hogan et al., 2006; Rummel et al., 2008) as a base the authors of this paper carried out a follow-on NASA planning activity to identify the necessary steps to be accomplished to close knowledge gaps. We identified significant overlap between the planetary protection needs and other sets of Mars preparation roadmaps (1) microbial monitoring requirements for crew health and medical systems, (2) studies of the microbiome of the built environment, (3) environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS), (4) waste management, and (5) planetary surface operations. In many cases, efforts to mature exploration class systems for Mars that are occurring in other domains can be leveraged with minor changes to address planetary protection gaps as well. In other cases, work planned for testing on the International Space Station (ISS) as an analog for crew Mars transit, or on the lunar surface as an analog for Mars surface operations can be used to close planetary protection technology and knowledge gaps. An overall strategic framework that combines these domains has the advantage of being more comprehensive, efficient, and timely for closing gaps.This approach has led to the development of a NASA roadmap for addressing planetary protection integrated with other related roadmaps. NASA's development and execution of the planetary protection is now viewed in an integrated way with related technology development and testing. Key features of the integrated capabilities roadmap include:•A focus on microbial monitoring needs for crewed systems overall, and the additional work needed to develop and demonstrate baseline vs. abnormal changes in microbial communities over time.•Integrated consideration of planetary protection and crew health requirements relevant to crew quarantine and science sample transportation.•Specific and targeted studies of microbial growth and biofilms in microgravity and lunar surface ECLSS systems.•Development of sterilization, cleaning, and waste handling technologies that meet habitation needs as well as planetary protection needs.

Inhibition of Human Coronaviruses by Combinations of Host-Targeted and Direct-Acting Antivirals.

Antiviral compounds targeting cellular metabolism are part of the therapeutic arsenal to control the spread of virus infection, either as sole treatment or in combination with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) or vaccines. Here, we describe the effect of two of them, lauryl gallate (LG) and valproic acid (VPA) both exhibiting a wide antiviral spectrum, against infection by coronaviruses such as HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and SARS-CoV-2. A consistent 2 to 4-log-decrease in virus yields was observed in the presence of each antiviral, with an average IC50 value of 1.6 μM for LG and 7.2 mM for VPA. Similar levels of inhibition were observed when adding the drug 1 h before adsorption, at the time of infection or 2 h after infection, supporting a postvirus entry mechanism of action. The specificity of the antiviral effect of LG against SARS-CoV-2, relative to other related compounds such as gallic acid (G) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), predicted to be better inhibitors according to in silico studies, was also demonstrated. The combined addition of LG, VPA, and remdesivir (RDV), a DAA with a proven effect against human coronaviruses, resulted in a robust synergistic effect between LG and VPA, and to a lesser extent between the other drug combinations. These findings reinforce the interest of these wide antiviral spectrum host-targeted compounds as a first line of defense against viral diseases or as a vaccine complement to minimize the gap in antibody-mediated protection evoked by vaccines, either in the case of SARS-CoV-2 or for other possible emerging viruses.

Habitat suitability and potential biological corridors for waterbirds in Yancheng coastal wetland of China

Yancheng coastal wetland, as an important part of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, provided habitat for more than 200 migratory waterbirds by rest and over-winter. After it was listed as a “World Heritage List” in 2019, the protection of waterfowl habitat in Yancheng coastal wetland has attracted extensive attention from the international community. As an indicator species of Yancheng coastal wetland ecosystem health, waterbirds have practical significance for the protection of Yancheng coastal wetlands. Due to the long-term impact of human activities, the waterbird habitats are facing the threat of habitat fragmentation and lose, posing a serious challenge to its survival and diversity. Based on the survey data obtained Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, and Anseriformes waterbirds during the whole years from 2017 to 2021, this paper used the Maxent software for modeling species niches and distributions, a comprehensive evaluation method based on fuzzy mathematics, and Linkage Mapper model to assess the habitat suitability distribution of waterbirds, identify protection gaps and potential biological corridors for waterbirds in Yancheng coastal wetland. The results showed that habitat suitability and anthropogenic disturbance were the decisive factors affecting habitat selection of waterbirds. The suitable habitats for Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, and Anseriformes waterbirds were 23868, 22670, and 24870 ha, respectively. The suitable habitat area of waterbirds was 121,930 ha, concentrated on the study area's central and southern coast. Sheyang estuary was identified as a vital conservation gap in the study area. Meanwhile, biological corridors of a total of 33 waterbirds were identified in the study area. The longest biological corridor was 18.78 km, and the shortest was 0.09 km. Our research can provide scientific support for Yancheng coastal wetland protection and the improvement of waterbird diversity, together with the achievements of an ecological and sustainable situation between environmental conservation and economic development.

Addressing the Responsibility Gap in Data Protection by Design: Towards a More Future-oriented, Relational, and Distributed Approach

Addressing the Responsibility Gap in Data Protection by Design: Towards a More Future-oriented, Relational, and Distributed Approach

The ‘contract’ and its discontents: Can it address protection gaps for migrant agricultural workers in Canada?

AbstractCanada's Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program has often been portrayed as a model for temporary migration programmes. It is largely governed by the Contracts negotiated between Canada and Mexico and Commonwealth Caribbean countries respectively. This article provides a critical analysis of the Contract by examining its structural context and considers the possibilities and limitations for ameliorating it. It outlines formal recommendations that the article co‐authors presented during the annual Contract negotiations between Canada and sending states in 2020. The article then explains why these recommendations were not accepted, situating the negotiation process within the structural context that produces migrant workers' vulnerability, on the one hand, and limits the capacity of representatives of sending and receiving states to expand rights and offer stronger protections to migrant farmworkers, on the other hand. We argue that fundamental changes are required to address the vulnerability of migrant agricultural workers. In the absence of structural changes, it is nevertheless important to seek improvements in the regulation of the programme through any means possible, including strengthening the Contract.

Large-scale genetic surveys for main extant population of wild giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reveals an urgent need of human management.

There are only six isolated living giant panda populations, and a comprehensive understanding of their genetic health status is crucial for the conservation of this vulnerable species. Liangshan Mountains is one of the main distribution areas of living giant pandas and is outside the newly established Giant panda national park. In this study, 971 giant panda fecal samples were collected in the heartland of Liangshan Mountains (Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve: MB; Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve: MG; and Heizhugou Nature Reserve: HZG). Microsatellite markers and mitochondrial D-loop sequences were used to estimate population size and genetic diversity. We identified 92 individuals (MB: 27, MG: 22, HZG: 43) from the three reserves. Our results showed that: (1) genetic diversity of three giant panda populations was moderate; (2) several loci deviated significantly from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and almost all these deviated loci showed significant heterozygote deficiencies and inbreeding; (3) three giant panda populations have substantial genetic differentiation with the most differentiation between MB and the two other populations; and (4) a large amount of giant panda feces outside the three reserves were found, implying the existence of protection gap. These results indicated that under stochastic events, the giant panda populations in Liangshan Mountains are at risk of genetic decline or extinction and urgent need of human management. This study revealed that high attention should be paid to the protection of these giant panda populations outside the Giant panda national park, to ensure their survival in their distribution areas.

Anticipating the effects of climate warming and natural habitat conversion on waterbird communities to address protection gaps

Thermal adjustment of waterbird communities to climate warming is crucial but hampered by natural habitat conversion, increasing their climatic debt. As it is, in contrast, facilitated in protected areas, assessing the adequacy of the current protected areas network with respect to future climate and land-use changes and identifying priority sites to protect is of major importance. In this study, we assess the thermal adjustment limitations that non-breeding waterbird communities might experience by the end of the 21st century in the Mediterranean region to highlight priorities for wetland protection. Priorities were set by combining the exposure of waterbird communities to natural habitat conversion and climate warming with their thermal specialization. The latter was calculated using winter abundance data of 151 species from 2932 sites of the International Waterbird Census in 21 Mediterranean countries. Exposure was assessed using future projections of temperature and land-use under four CMIP6 scenarios (SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, SSP3–7.0, and SSP5–8.5). We found that strictly protected areas are located in wetlands whose waterbird communities, without protection, would likely experience high limitations in thermal adjustment in the coming decades. This highlights that the location of existing protected areas may effectively support the thermal adjustment of waterbird communities to future climate warming. However, 490 sites considered at risk lack protection, including 32 sites of international importance for waterbirds, stressing the need to strengthen the protected areas network in these sites in priority. Our study provides important guidance for conservation planning in the Mediterranean region to support waterbird responses to climate change.

Occupational and geographical differentials in financial protection against healthcare out-of-pocket payments in Nepal: Evidence for universal health coverage.

The low-and middle-income countries, including Nepal, aim to address the financial hardship against healthcare out-of-pocket (OOP) payments through various health financing reforms, for example, risk-pooling arrangements that cover different occupations. World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended member states to establish pooling arrangements so that the financial risks owing to health uncertainty can be spread across population. This study aims to analyse the situation of financial protection across occupations and geography using nationally representative annual household survey (AHS) in Nepal. We measured catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) due to OOP using two popular approaches-budget share and capacity-to-pay, and impoverishment impact at absolute and relative poverty lines. This study is the first of its kind from south-east Asia to analyse disaggregated estimates of financial protection across occupations and geography. The inequality in financial risk protection was measured using concentration index. Data were extracted from AHS 2014-15 -a cross-sectional survey that used standard consumption measurement tool (COICOP) and International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). We found a CHE of 10.7% at 10% threshold and 5.2% at 40% threshold among households belonging to agricultural workers. The corresponding figures were 10% and 4.8% among 'plant operators and craft workers'. Impoverishment impact was also higher among these households at all poverty lines. In addition, CHE was higher among unemployed households. A negative concentration index was observed for CHE and impoverishment impact among agricultural workers and 'plant operators and craft workers'. In rural areas, we found a CHE of 11.5% at 10% threshold and a high impoverishment impact. Across provinces, CHE was 12% in Madhesh and 14.3% in Lumbini at 10% threshold, and impoverishment impact was 1.9% in Madhesh, Karnali and Sudurpachim at US $1.90 a day poverty line. Households belonging to informal occupations were more prone to CHE and impoverishment impact due to healthcare OOP payments. Impoverishment impact was disproportionately higher among elementary occupations, agricultural workers, and 'plant operators and craft workers'. Similarly, the study found a wide urban/rural and provincial gap in financial protection. The results can be useful to policymakers engaged in designing health-financing reforms to make progress toward UHC.

Entomological Surveillance Planning Tool (ESPT)-generated actionable evidence on human and vector behaviours optimizes present interventions and reduces exposure to Anopheles vectors in two communities of Guna Yala, Panamá

BackgroundAlthough most of Panamá is free from malaria, localized foci of transmission persist, including in the Guna Yala region. Government-led entomological surveillance using an Entomological Surveillance Planning Tool (ESPT) sought to answer programmatically relevant questions on local entomological drivers of transmission and gaps in protection to guide local vector control decision-making.MethodsThe ESPT was used to design a sampling plan to answer priority programmatic questions about the appropriateness of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and spaces and times where humans remain exposed to Anopheles bites (gaps in protection) in the communities of Permé and Puerto Obaldía, Guna Yala. Adult Anopheles were sampled at three time points via human landing catches (HLCs) during the rainy and dry seasons (2018/2019). Human behaviour observations (HBOs) were conducted alongside HLCs to examine intervention use, indoor versus outdoor activity, and sleeping patterns. HLC and HBO data were integrated to evaluate HBO-adjusted human biting rate (HBR).ResultsA total of 7,431 adult Anopheles were collected across both sites. Of the 450 specimens molecularly confirmed to species-level, 75.5% (n = 340) were confirmed as Anopheles Nyssorhynchus albimanus, followed by Anopheles (Ny.) aquasalis. Anopheles host seeking activity was demonstrated to be primarily exophagic throughout all sampling periods and in both communities. When adjusted with HBOs, exposure to mosquito bites was predominantly indoors and overnight in Permé (Nov, Mar), compared to predominantly outdoors in Puerto Obaldía (Nov, Mar, Jul). Differences in site-specific human-vector exposure profiles were due to contrasting cultural and lifestyle practices between Permé and Puerto Obaldía (possibly partly influenced by the absence of electricity in Permé), and lower LLIN use in Permé. This evidence supported a previously planned LLIN campaign alongside a social behaviour change communication (SBCC) strategy in the Guna Yala Comarca (Jul 2019), which increased LLIN use. In turn, this led to a reduction of indoor exposure to mosquito bites, and a shift to predominant outdoor exposure to mosquito bites.ConclusionESPT-based question-driven planning and the integration of HBOs, intervention, and HLC data generated evidence towards answering the programmatic questions. This evidence enabled the characterization of site-specific human-vector exposure profiles, and the quantification of remaining gaps in protection. These data also provide important insights into remaining gaps in protection that must be addressed to further reduce human exposure to mosquito bites at these sites.

Computational aerodynamics with isogeometric analysis

AbstractThe superior accuracy isogeometric analysis (IGA) brought to computations in fluid and solid mechanics has been yielding higher fidelity in computational aerodynamics. The increased accuracy we achieve with the IGA is in the flow solution, in representing the problem geometry, and, when we use the IGA basis functions also in time in a space–time (ST) framework, in representing the motion of solid surfaces. It is of course as part of a set of methods that the IGA has been very effective in computational aerodynamics, including complex-geometry aerodynamics. The set of methods we have been using can be categorized into those that serve as a core method, those that increase the accuracy, and those that widen the application range. The core methods are the residual-based variational multiscale (VMS), ST-VMS and arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian VMS methods. The IGA and ST-IGA are examples of the methods that increase the accuracy. The complex-geometry IGA mesh generation method is an example of the methods that widen the application range. The ST Topology Change method is another example of that. We provide an overview of these methods for IGA-based computational aerodynamics and present examples of the computations performed. In computational flow analysis with moving solid surfaces and contact between the solid surfaces, it is a challenge to represent the boundary layers with an accuracy attributed to moving-mesh methods and represent the contact without leaving a mesh protection gap.

Distribution Modeling and Gap Analysis of Shorebird Conservation in Northern Brazil

Migratory shorebirds are currently at significant risk, with populations of multiple species dropping globally, often due to habitat disruption and loss. The coast of northern Brazil, along the states of Pará and Maranhão, encompasses one of the broadest expanses of shorebird overwintering habitat for many shorebird species in the Atlantic Americas Flyway. Delineating how current management protects shorebird habitat is an important first step to identifying gaps in protections that then need to be prioritized. Different frameworks of conservation decision-making, such as focusing on flagship, umbrella, or biodiversity, can be used to prioritize what habitat needs to be protected. Understanding the effects of these different conservation perspectives is key to making informed management decisions. Multiple dates of Landsat 8 imagery at different tidal stages were used to identify intertidal habitats for further analysis. MaxEnt species distribution models were derived for each species using remote sensing and landscape metrics, as well as point-count survey data collected during the winters of 2016 and 2017. Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 image data were included as direct inputs to the model rather than interpreted and mapped first into different habitat types. The resulting Maxent models successfully delineated between presence and absence locations for five of the eight target shorebird species. The model outputs were combined to map the intertidal habitat covered under several different management scenarios. These scenarios included using red knots as a flagship species, semipalmated sandpipers as an umbrella species, and species richness as a metric of shorebird diversity. Slightly more than 25% of delineated intertidal habitat was found to be included within a designated Marine Extractive Reserve, with three major gaps in current protections identified. The flagship, umbrella, and biodiversity perspectives result in different prioritizations of these distinct locations. While umbrella and diversity approaches are successful at protecting diverse communities, community assemblages of rarer or specialist species, such as the red knots, may fall outside their protective shadows. A hybrid approach that uses both diversity and the extent of rare flagship species produces results that best meet the management goals of identifying gaps in existing conservation to protect the most at-risk species while conserving the diverse assemblages they coexist with.

Study on the Lightning Protection Performance for a 110 kV Non-Shield-Wired Overhead Line with Anti-Thunder and Anti-Icing Composite Insulators

Due to micro landforms and climate, the 110 kV transmission lines crossing the mountain areas are exposed to severe icing conditions for both their high voltage (HV) conductors and shield wires during the winter. Ice accumulation on the shield wire causes excessive sag, which leads to a reduced clearance between earth and HV wires, and could eventually result in tripping of the line due to phase-to-ground flashover. Due to the lack of effective de-icing techniques for the shield wires, removing them completely from the existing overhead line (OHL) structure becomes a reasonable solution to prevent icing accidents. Nevertheless, the risk of exposure to lightning strikes increased significantly after the shield wires were removed. In order to cope with this, the anti-thunder and anti-icing composite insulator (AACI) is installed on the OHLs. In this article, the 110 kV transmission line without shield wire is considered. The shielding failure after installation of the AACIs is studied using the lightning strike simulation models established in the ATP software. The lightning stroke flashover tests are carried out to examine the shielding failures on various designs for the AACIs. Assuming the tower’s earth resistance is 30 Ω, the LWL of back flashover and direct flashover are 630.88 kA and 261.33 kA, respectively, after the installation of AACIs on an unearthed OHL. Due to the unique mechanism of the AACI, the operational voltage level and the height of the pylon have a neglectable influence on its lightning withstand level (LWL). When the length of the parallel protective gap increases from 450 mm to 550 mm, the lightning trip-out rate decreases from 0.104 times/100 km·a to 0.014 times/100 km·a, and the drop rate reaches 86.5%. Therefore, increasing the gap distance for the AACI to provide additional clearance is proven to be an effective method to reduce the shielding failure rates for non-shield-wired OHLs.

Migtech, fintech and fair migration in Malaysia: addressing the protection gap between migrant rights and labour policies

This paper suggests that digitalisation fills the protection gap between labour policies and practices on migrant rights. Digital technologies have shaped how the Malaysian state views its migrant protection policy. Malaysia has tapped into the potential of migration technology (migtech) and financial technology (fintech) to address various challenges faced in its labour migration governance. Malaysia, a migrant-receiving country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has improved its migrant protection policy by digitalising migration management governance, wage payments, and financial services for migrant workers. This paper thus contributes to ongoing debates on fair migration by looking at how technology interventions could bridge the long-standing protection gap resulting from states’ institutional limitations, defective migration systems, unethical recruitment by intermediaries, and implementation gaps (i.e. discrepancies between labour legislation and implementation by state and non-state actors). Digitalisation addresses migrant protection gaps through preventing unethical recruitment, offsetting barriers to regular migration, monitoring labour law infringements, and ensuring employer compliance with immigration and labour laws.

A New Era of Data Protection and Privacy; Unveiling Innovations & Identifying Gaps in the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023

A New Era of Data Protection and Privacy; Unveiling Innovations & Identifying Gaps in the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023

The European system for the protection of children’s rights: experience for Kazakhstan

The protection of childhood is one of the main tasks of the State. Minors, due to the peculiarities of their physical and mental development, are more susceptible to various negative influences than other categories of people, which can become the basis for the development of their personal deviation. Despite the progress made, children’s rights are violated on a daily basis around the world. There are still gaps in the legal protection of children, and there is an even greater gap between law and practice. Children still suffer from violence in the family, in the community, in institutions and in other conditions, face the risk of poverty, trafficking, sexual violence.In this regard, the main purpose of the article is to determine the mechanism for the formation, development and implementation of state policy for the protection of children’s rights and the definition of a model for the protection of children’s rights in the EU and Kazakhstan.As the methodological basis for the article were used: general scientific, comparative, historical method, analysis of the regulatory framework, analysis of statistical data, content analysis of Internet resources, monitoring. The article also identified the main mechanisms for protecting the rights of children in the EU and Kazakhstan, analyzed the activities and role of non-governmental public organizations for the protection of children in the EU and Kazakhstan.

Study on Dynamic Performance and Induced Breakdown of the Plasma-Triggered-Based Protective Gas Gap Switch

The plasma-triggered-based protective gas switch (PTGS) has obvious advantages in the control switch application of fast energy dissipation device used in the hybrid dc transmission projects. However, the high-pressure environment critically limits the plasma jet ability, easily leading to the trigger failure. Therefore, this article establishes a plasma-jet-triggered experimental platform to study the dynamic performance and induced breakdown laws of PTGS. It is shown that the evolution of plasma jet is divided into three stages: plasma jet of high-pressure, saturated stability, and dissipation. The induced breakdown mainly occurs in the high-pressure jet and saturated stability stage. The initial plasma jet velocity increases, as the energy storage capacitance and the charging voltage increase, making it faster to reach the jet length for induced breakdown, resulting in a significant reduction in switch-on time and improving the PTGS trigger stability. The increase in trigger gas pressure inhibits the plasma jet ability, but improves the electrical strength of PTGS. In order to achieve induce breakdown of PTGS, the plasma jet must reach the critical jet length. SF6 gas improves the insulation strength of PTGS and prevents the formation of plasma jet. To achieve stable trigger conduction, the trigger energy of PTGS must be increased. The findings can be used to develop theoretical guidance for improving the working performance of the high-voltage and large-capacity protective gas gap switches (GGSs).

Weather insurance in European crop and horticulture production

Weather risks threaten food production and put farms’ profitability at risk. Insurance solutions can compensate for the resulting financial losses and thereby serves as important risk management tool. While insurance providers in Europe have recently largely expanded the number and scope of offered weather insurance solutions, this remained undocumented in scientific literature. We here provide a structured assessment of agricultural insurance products that are on the market to cover weather risks in crop and horticulture production in dynamic European insurance markets, focusing on Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. We systematically collect information on supplied insurance products (N = 107) and find large diversity in market concentrations, offered products, insured weather risks, and political market interventions. We find that for most economically relevant weather risks (especially for hail), insurance solutions are available to farmers, but we identify certain insurance protection gaps (e.g., flood in Germany). Additionally, drought and heat risks seem underrepresented in current insurance products, especially given their economic relevance. Indemnity insurance (where payouts are based on assessed losses) is offered most frequently, but weather index insurance (where payouts depend on the realization of an index, such as cumulative precipitation) is also increasingly available in Europe. Most of current weather index insurance solutions have a unique design, indicating a preference to stand out from the competition, and we observe little knowledge spillovers between markets. There are different levels of political market intervention and in particular a trend to introduce premium subsidies and towards a convergence of premium subsidy levels between markets. We highlight the need to align any political market intervention to other policy goals and to the transition to a more sustainable agriculture. Finally, we underline the important role of research in improving current insurance systems.

Medically Assisted Procreation and Same-Sex Couples: The Italian Corte di Cassazione Stands its Ground

Abstract This contribution examines a recent ruling of the Italian Corte di Cassazione, concerning the recognition of parentage resulting from medically assisted procreation (“map”) techniques performed abroad by female same-sex couples. In cases where the birth of the child occurs in Italy, the Italian birth certificate usually contains the indication of the woman who gave birth, but does not mention the intentional mother, even when the latter has a biological relationship with the child. The Corte di Cassazione has confirmed its consolidated position in denying the amendment of the birth certificate, on the basis of a rigorous interpretation of the limits provided by the Law No. 40/2004. The Italian law prohibits the access of map techniques by same-sex couples, because their condition cannot be equated to a pathological infertility. The ruling under review overlooks the human rights implications possibly deriving from the recognition of intentional motherhood: in rejecting the allegations concerning the infringment of the fundamental rights enshrined by the European Convention on Human Rights (“echr”), the court has stated that the gaps in protection that may result from the application of Italian law may only be solved through an intervention of the lawmaker.

Mind the gaps: the new whistleblower regime and some recent interpretations of statutory whistleblower protections by australian courts

This article critically examines recent legislative changes to Australia’s corporate whistleblowing regime. The article explains key changes, identifies gaps in protections and considers recent jurisprudence that interprets new provisions. It is argued that courts have adopted narrow interpretative approaches in the decisions considered, with practical impacts that are in tension with the policy and purpose of the new regime.

Climate mobility to Europe: The case of disaster displacement in Austrian asylum procedures

Disaster displacement is an increasing challenge in the context of climate change. However, there is a lack of research focusing on Europe as a destination area, including on the question how the normative protection gap with regard to cross-border disaster displacement is addressed from a European perspective. Against this background this article provides evidence from a European case study focusing on the role of disaster, such as droughts or floods, in asylum procedures in Austria. Based on a qualitative content analysis of 646 asylum decisions rendered by the Austrian appellate court (supplemented by qualitative interviews with relevant Austrian stakeholders), it is demonstrated that disasters are—to a certain extent—already taken into consideration in Austrian asylum procedures: impacts of disasters are not only brought forward by applicants for either leaving the country of origin or for not wanting or not being able to return. They are also increasingly discussed in the legal reasoning of judgments of the Austrian appellate court. The analysis shows that impacts of disasters play an important role mainly in decisions concerning persons from Somalia, and here primarily in the assessment of the non-refoulement principle under Article 3 ECHR and subsidiary protection. This can be regarded as a response to the protection gap—even though not necessarily applied consistently.