Regional Framework Research Articles

The Horizon of the Third Pole: Mapping future scenarios and strategic responses

The Third Pole region, comprising the vast glaciers and water systems of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), is emerging as a key indicator of global climate change. Often referred to as the “Water Tower of Asia,” it sustains nearly 2 billion people through its water resources, yet the region is experiencing unprecedented changes. This review examines the region's evolving climate dynamics, focusing on key climate scenarios and potential strategic responses. The paper synthesizes data from the latest climate models, regional governance frameworks, and international climate policy developments to explore future pathways for the Third Pole. It also delves into the region's socio-economic vulnerabilities, water security challenges, and the geopolitical complexities of transboundary environmental governance. Our findings emphasize the need for proactive adaptation strategies, transboundary cooperation, and innovative policy mechanisms to mitigate climate risks. The review provides a roadmap for policymakers, scientists, and regional stakeholders to navigate the looming environmental crises, highlighting pathways that could forge a resilient future for the Third Pole.

Regional Approaches to Enforcing MARPOL: Lessons from the European Union and ASEAN

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the enforcement of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) within two regional frameworks: the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Using a mixed-method approach, the study examines key factors such as regulatory coherence, institutional capacity, compliance monitoring, and economic challenges that affect MARPOL enforcement in these regions. The results reveal that the EU's enforcement is more advanced due to its harmonized legal frameworks, centralized oversight through the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and robust technical capacity. In contrast, ASEAN faces fragmented enforcement, limited institutional capacity, and economic constraints, leading to varying levels of compliance across member states. The study identifies best practices from the EU that could inform improvements in ASEAN’s enforcement mechanisms, emphasizing the need for enhanced regional cooperation and capacity building. These findings offer valuable insights for global efforts to strengthen MARPOL enforcement, particularly in developing regions with similar challenges.

Kalman filter framework for a regional mass change model from GRACE satellite gravity

In this study a regional modelling framework for water mass changes is developed. The approach can introduce geodetic observation types of varying temporal and spatial resolution including their correlated error information. For this purpose a Kalman filter process was set up using a regional parameterisation by space-localising radial basis functions and a process model based on stochastic prediction. The feasibility of the approach is confirmed in a closed-loop simulation experiment using gridded water storage estimates derived from simulated monthly solutions of the GRACE satellite gravimetry mission and considering realistic error patterns. The resulting mass change time series exhibit strongly reduced noise and a very high agreement with the reference model. The modelling framework is designed to flexibly allow a future extension towards combining satellite gravimetry with other geodetic observations such as GNSS station displacements or terrestrial gravimetry.

Seeing Through a “Nuclear” Glass Darkly: Envisioning Irreversible Nuclear Disarmament in the Middle East

ABSTRACT Applying the concept of “Irreversible Nuclear Disarmament” (IND) to the Middle East presents several challenges. Conceptually, the key frameworks for addressing the nuclear challenge in the region – namely the establishment of a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East (MEWMDFZ) – lacks a robust disarmament pillar to anchor IND. A further challenge is structural and relates to the markedly different nuclear context prevailing in the Middle East to that which governed the evolution of the IND concept. Although still at a nascent stage, the conceptual and political frameworks underpinning irreversibility at the global level have evolved within the relatively stable context of strategic interactions between the Nuclear Weapons States and a well-defined global discourse regarding nuclear arms control and disarmament. Attempting to transpose frameworks of irreversibility as they have developed in this relatively stable context to the more complex, unstable and fluid regional setting of the Middle East is fraught with difficulty. This paper presents a “first-cut” attempt to address these challenges. It argues that the most viable approach for applying IND to the Middle East is through a regional multilateral framework embedded in the MEWMDFZ. However, the zone framework as it has been formulated thus far, requires further development. Specifically, there is a need to incorporate a viable disarmament pillar, as well as provisions aimed at mitigating regional nuclear hedging and latency dynamics in order to provide for a more conducive regional nuclear environment to achieve high levels of irreversibility.

Improved Algorithms Based on Trust Region Framework for Solving Unconstrained Derivative Free Optimization Problems

This paper is devoted to developing new derivative-free optimization (DFO) methods for solving optimization problems where derivative information is not available or cannot be calculated numerically. To overcome the computational difficulties arising from time-consuming estimations of the objective function, we propose two algorithms. One algorithm is a variant of the surrogate model-based DFO algorithm under the trust region method, where the surrogate model is formulated through sparse low-rank interpolation and quadratic polynomial interpolation. This algorithm serves as a comparative baseline. The second algorithm leverages the characteristics of the sparse regression model, which can handle sparsity and noise issues, to construct the surrogate model. The coefficients of the sparse surrogate model are then estimated using the alternating direction method of multipliers and refined through a correction strategy based on the R-square. Finally, numerical results, evaluated in terms of performance and data profiles, demonstrate the effectiveness and competitiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Relationships among village spatial form, electricity use, and photovoltaic potential: Evidence from 120 villages in Huaiyuan County, China

Village areas cover 94.7% of the land in China and are carriers for energy use and renewables. To support national decarbonization strategy, it is essential to devise proper village decarbonization measures. Understanding the relationships among village spatial form, electricity use and photovoltaic potential is critical to provide empirical references. However, due to the scarcity of spatial form and electricity use data, previous studies have been mostly conducted by simplified simulation models, making it difficult to reveal actual relationships accurately. This study proposed a framework to explore the relationship among spatial form, socioeconomic factors, and comprehensive energy use and photovoltaic potential. Electricity use, socioeconomic status, and 3D models of 120 villages in Huaiyuan, China, were collected by investigation and oblique photography. These villages were clustered into three types by the k-means. Photovoltaic potential was analyzed by numerical models upon 3D spatial forms. Quantitative analysis of spatial form, electricity use intensity, electricity generation intensity, net energy use intensity (NEUI) in each cluster were carried out. The average electricity use intensity is 1.87 GWh/m2/y, and the highest energy generation intensity reaches 9.67 GWh/m2/y. Cluster A showed the best performance in NEUI and had the greatest potential for photovoltaic deployment. Average building height, registered resident population, and average building width were the relevant factors to the NEUI in Clusters A, B, and C. The findings provided a framework for other regions to explore factors related to energy use based on actual data, and a reference for low-carbon village policy in China.

Geographic Determinants and Spatial Epidemiology of Prescription Drug Abuse: A Comprehensive Analysis of Distribution Patterns, Treatment Accessibility and Intervention Strategies

This study examines the complex spatial patterns and geographic variations in prescription drug abuse, analyzing their impact on treatment outcomes and public health interventions. Through comprehensive spatial epidemiological analysis, we investigate how geographic factors influence abuse patterns across urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. The research synthesizes data on healthcare accessibility, socioeconomic conditions, and regional policy frameworks to understand their collective impact on prescription drug misuse. Our findings reveal significant geographic disparities in treatment accessibility, with rural areas facing substantial barriers to addiction services compared to urban centers. Analysis of prescription drug monitoring programs demonstrates varying effectiveness across regions, highlighting the need for spatially-tailored interventions. The study identifies distinct regional profiles of drug misuse, influenced by factors including healthcare infrastructure, cultural norms, and local regulatory environments. Advanced spatial analysis techniques, including geospatial mapping and hotspot analysis, revealed significant correlations between geographic determinants and abuse patterns. Results indicate that proximity to healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical distribution networks, and demographic characteristics contribute to localized risk profiles. The integration of multiple data sources, including prescription records and treatment admissions, provided insights into space-time clustering of abuse patterns. This research emphasizes the importance of developing geographically-informed approaches to combat prescription drug abuse, suggesting that intervention strategies should be tailored to specific regional contexts while addressing broader systemic issues. The findings have significant implications for public health policy, healthcare resource allocation, and the development of targeted prevention strategies.

International Centre of the Prosecution of Russia’s Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine and the Role of New Technologies and Justice Hubs in the Fight Against Impunity

The accountability response to Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine attests to the growing importance of regional accountability frameworks in the fight against impunity. Many Member States of the European Union have taken active steps towards accountability for core international crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine by initiating domestic criminal investigations. The creation of centralised justice hubs, such as the International Centre for the Prosecution of Russia’s Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine, can bridge the knowledge gap between different accountability actors involved in international investigations, and additionally contribute towards developing best practices and the universalisation of investigative standards. In this context, new technology infrastructure and expertise play the role of an accelerant, actively contrib-uting to the coordinated fight against impunity and fostering information exchange and collaboration on an increasingly global scale.

Different types of Anthropocene signals recorded in Huguangyan Maar Lake over the past 450 years

Over the past few centuries, human activities have increasingly impacted global climate and ecological environments. The “Anthropocene” has been proposed to highlight the significant influence of human activities on the environment. However, prior research has focused on analyzing a single type of human activity in lake sediments. In this study, we examined the historical changes in water eutrophication, terrestrial vegetation, and heavy metal pollution in the sediments of Huguangyan Maar Lake over the past 450 years. By comparing different human activity records within the same regional and chronological framework, we found that the timing of significant impacts on lake sediments varied by activity type. Eutrophication, induced by population growth and agricultural fertilization, began around 1950 CE. Changes in vegetation owing to agricultural and forestry practices occurred around 1780, 1880, and 1980 CE. Significant enrichment of heavy metals from industrial production began around 1950 CE. We suggest that, in reconstructing the history of human activities or defining the onset of the “Anthropocene,” it is crucial to consider both the types of human activities and their spatial extent.

Effectively managing area-based management tools: A new toolkit for the conservation of marine mammals

Marine mammals play crucial roles in marine ecosystem function yet are threatened by increasing pressures from anthropogenic activities within marine ecosystems. Area-based Management Tools (ABMT) are key for their conservation and protection, yet their effectiveness is often hindered by lack of resources, technical capacity and political support. Yet, ABMTs are grounded in local, national, regional, and international agreements and policy frameworks including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). To support marine managers, the “Marine Mammals Management Toolkit” was developed and is composed of three core components, including the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), founded on the Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) framework, and is a multiple-choice tool that enables managers to evaluate the effectiveness of management plans regarding marine mammals through the production of a Management Effectiveness Score (MES). The SAT has been utilised across 24 MPAs in 18 countries. Two case studies are provided on its application. The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) evaluated their existing management plan, and scored an MES value of 7.8 with the Bermuda Marine Mammal Sanctuary (BMMS) scoring 4.7. The results of the SAT enabled the Bermudian Government to make informed decisions in developing a Marine Spatial Plan for the BMMS, and enables SBNMS to set a baseline to track effectiveness over the life-time of SBNMS and respective management plans; guiding local and national policy, as well as enabling Bermuda and the United States of America to contribute to their international commitments.

Does gender diversity in corporate boards and executive management teams influence carbon performance? Evidence from Europe

ABSTRACT We examine how gender diversity in both corporate boards and executive management teams influence both procedure-oriented carbon management performance (PCMP) and real carbon emission reduction performance (RCRP) of European listed firms. Drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives, our empirical models employ firm fixed-effects estimators to analyse a large dataset, consisting of 5327 firm-year observations, covering a period of fifteen years. Our findings are three-fold. First, our primary evidence suggests that gender diversity in both corporate boards and executive management teams has a statistically significant positive association with PCMP and RCRP. Second, we provide robust evidence on the link between female directors’ cognitive attributes and PCMP, as well as RCRP. Third, we find that board gender diversity reinforces the positive influence of gender-diverse executive management teams on PCMP and RCRP. Overall, our study results suggest that female directors and executives play complementary roles in influencing and shaping a company's response to global climate risk. Our results are generally robust to controlling for governance mechanisms, alternative measures/estimations and endogeneities. Our findings have implications for policies relating to gender-responsive governance reforms, as well as the integration of gender diversity into firm-level, country-specific and regional frameworks for climate change policies and reforms.

Geology of the Golobar and Rumaceo faults, Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees

ABSTRACT The lateral transition between different styles of deformation is crucial for understanding local-scale structures since it influences orogenic reconstructions at the crustal scale. This is especially important at the westernmost Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees, where the transition from the thin-skinned Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees to the thick-skinned Cantabrian Mountains remains a subject of debate. To address this, detailed geological mapping and proper fault characterisation are critical. This research focused on the surface characterisation of the Golobar Fault System, one of the faults located at the transition between the two styles of deformation. The results of this study include not only a detailed geological map of the Golobar Fault System but also its integration with neighbouring seismic sections and well data. This approach enhances the understanding of the deeper portions and lateral thickness variations, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of the Golobar area within the regional framework.

Regional Framework Towards Establishing Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) Facilities for PV Waste Management in the Philippines: A Case Study of Laguna Province

Abstract. The accelerated adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems for renewable power generation in the Philippines will yield a tremendous amount of PV waste. However, the country lacks a comprehensive framework for understanding PV module waste volume growth and optimally siting Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities for PV waste management based on minimum siting factor. The study aims to develop a regional framework that utilizes a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach to find the potential sites and optimal locations of TSD facilities in Laguna, Philippines, based on the estimated PV module waste growth of solar energy systems with service contracts and minimum siting criteria under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2013-22. By 2060, the projected amount of PV module waste in Laguna province will be around 162,230 metric tons based on the waste projection results. The suitable sites cover around 19,720.5 hectares or 11.21% of the total land area of Laguna, which were determined by various siting factors that encompass social, economic, and environmental factors and obtained using binary suitability analysis and vector overlay analysis. The optimal locations of the two TSD facilities were identified using strategic positioning based on hotspot analysis, clustering algorithm, and proximity analysis. Consequently, the distance and GHG emissions of the two optimal locations were calculated. Indeed, the approach will serve as a guide for policymakers and other stakeholders in understanding PV module waste growth and strategically and optimally position TSD facilities on suitable sites for efficient and effective PV waste management.

An Interview with Anthony C.K. Kakooza, J.D., Ph.D.

In this insightful interview, Anthony Kakooza engages in a comprehensive exploration of legal frameworks and their intersection with traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). The dialogue, facilitated by Sara R. Benson and Siyao Cheng from the Journal of Copyright in Education and Librarianship (JCEL), delves into a nuanced analysis of the role that copyright law plays in protecting TCEs. The conversation extends to encompass a wide array of topics related to the ongoing debates surrounding TCEs. Specifically, Kakooza addresses the prevalent misunderstandings associated with TCEs and sheds light on the intricate challenges posed by a regional framework for TCE protections. Furthermore, the conversation navigates to the merits of the sui generis approach to TCE protection and explores the implications of adopting a legal framework for indigenous communities and their TCEs. Drawing on Kakooza’s educational background and field experience, the interview serves as a valuable reference for readers aiming to grasp the complex dynamics between legal mechanisms and the protection of TCEs. Keywords: copyright, traditional cultural expressions, intellectual property, sui generis, indigenous communities

Regional Claims Through Exhibitions—The Transnational Circulation of Włocławek “Fajans” in East Central Europe

The article examines the exhibition history of hand-painted ceramic objects from the “Fajans” factory in Włocławek and the politics of regional contextualization during the period of détente in the 1970s and 1980s. It extends both existing scholarship on transnational art history in socialist Europe and the notion of cultural diplomacy, approached here in the context of regional politics and economic frameworks. The paper highlights the peripheral networks and movements that developed in relation to the socialist cultural politics of working-class artistic engagement and artistic practice as labor. Questions of cooperation between Poland and other socialist states are of particular interest, as are the implications of détente for East Central Europe. The reconstruction of the transnational circulation of “Fajans” objects is based on a comparative analysis of international “Fajans” exhibitions, using documentation from the archives of the Faience Department of the Museum of the Kujawy and Dobrzyń Land, as well as from the archives of the city of Novi Sad. Based on the researched material and the conceptual framework of transnational art history, the article proposes a concept of regional cultural diplomacy.

How does China's Winter Heating policy impact corporate sustainable development performance?

The China's Winter Heating policy plays a crucial role in China's regional environmental regulatory framework, particularly concerning the challenge of atmospheric pollution. This study investigates the impact of this policy on corporate sustainable development performance in the “2 + 26” cities of the Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei region (BTH2+26) at the micro-level. It employs a dual perspective focusing on emission reduction and efficiency enhancement (i.e., sustainable development), utilizing a DID model based on the policy shock from the first implementation of the China's Winter Heating policy in 2017. The findings indicate that this policy not only effectively promotes pollution reduction among heavy-polluting companies, thereby enhancing their environmental performance, but also improves their financial performance. Robustness tests confirm the significance of these results. Mechanism analysis reveals that the policy's facilitative effect on heavy-polluting companies is mediated through promoting green innovation and easing financing constraints, with the innovation investment being the main channel to promote the corporate environmental performance. Heterogeneity analysis shows differential impacts across company nature and industry attributes, highlighting the policy's varied effects on environmental performance and financial performance across sectors. This research contributes empirical evidence and policy insights into enhancing sustainable development performance among heavy-polluting companies under the China's Winter Heating policy framework.

Place-based regional planning: shaping governance, planning policy and practices in a South African region, 1994–2022

ABSTRACT The governance of regions is activated through actors and institutions representing diverse interests. Using place-based planning, this paper reviews local planning in South Africa drawing upon a case study of the iLembe District. We argue that region building is constructed through economic and political forces, currently blocked by poor relationships between the state, civil society, business, and inter-governmental complexities. The study uses empirical evidence on the regional conditions of the iLembe District and associated municipalities, reviews of planning documents and legislation, and interviews with key stakeholders. The authors argue that the local planning framework is ineffectual, lacking strategic direction, and primarily servicing provincial and nationally derived compliance requirements, rather than meeting strategic developmental objectives. Most recently, the global pandemic emphasized interlinked vulnerabilities and weak linkages associated with globalisation and sustainable development, particularly with global supply and value chains, health systems, settlement patterns, energy production and food security. We argue for a new form of collaborative regional planning and governance framework which could be laid through a “learning region” approach as identified in the place-based literature. An example is unlocking green energy production as a value addition to the established but crisis-laden sugar industry in the case study.

The rise and fall of the Bank of the South: challenges in Latin American post-neoliberal regionalism

In the early 21st century, the rise of left-wing administrations in South America bolstered regional frameworks. The proposal to establish a new regional financial architecture materialized as the Bank of the South, formalizing its Constitutive Treaty in 2009. Despite this, the Bank remains uncapitalized. This study examines its rise and decline, addressing factors behind its establishment; the impact of divergent regional approaches by Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela, and the reasons for its decline in the second decade of the 21st century. The research attributes the Bank’s demise not only to the crisis in post-neoliberal regionalism but also to internal disagreements among proponents. Drawing on a thorough literature review, primary source analysis from the Bank, and insights from policymakers’ memoirs, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the Bank of the South’s trajectory.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THE GLOBAL DIGITAL ECONOMY: A CASE STUDY ON THE AFRICAN DIGITAL TRADE FRAMEWORK

Abstract Global digital integration is desirable and perhaps even inevitable for most States. However, there is currently no systematic framework or narrative to drive such integration in trade agreements. This article evaluates whether community values can offer a normative foundation for rules governing digital trade. It uses the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol as a case study and argues that identifying and solidifying the collective needs of the African region through this instrument will be key to shaping an inclusive and holistic regional framework. These arguments are substantiated by analysis of the regulation of cross-border data flows, privacy and cybersecurity.

Regionalized ensemble estimation of wave periods for assessing wave energy resources across Canada. Part I: Improved wave-period modelling methodology

Large-scale estimations of wave periods are desired for wave energy assessment, ocean engineering, and wave climate research. Long-term global wave data from satellite altimeters are routinely applied to the estimations. However, this is challenged by uncertainties in wave-period models (WPMs), inaccuracies in data, and simplifications in modeling. Additionally, there exists a gap in the comprehensive examination of the variational mechanisms governing wave periods or model performances. As an effort to address them, we innovate a macroscale regionalized ensemble wave-period modeling (MREWPM) method by optimizing four wave-period models, driven by enhanced altimeter-based REWS (regionalized ensemble wave simulation) estimates of wave heights and wind speeds, within a regionalization framework in macroscale water environments. Results show that MREWPM driven by REWS dataset outperforms existing methods and performs better at larger scales (e.g., in eliminating local-scale overestimation). WPMs are more accurate over remote, deep, and windy regions in cool seasons under metrics-, scale- and data-dependent variations of performances with driving factors (mainly geographical features). This study serves as a foundational contribution towards the enhancement of wave-period simulations, the advancement of understanding wave-period dynamics, and the scientific evaluation of wave energy at macroscales.