Successful Policy Implementation Research Articles

Implementasi Kebijakan Perlindungan Anak Korban Kekerasan di Kabupaten Kediri

This research aims to analyze the implementation of child protection policies for victims of violence in Kediri Regency, focusing on four key variables according to George C. Edwards III's theory: communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure, using a qualitative approach. Data were gathered from interviews, observations, documentation, and relevant secondary sources such as books and scholarly articles. The research was conducted at the Office of Population Control, Family Planning, Women's Empowerment, and Child Protection (DP2KBP3A) in Kediri Regency. The findings indicate that 1) Communication success in policy implementation has been effective, marked by clear and consistent information transmission between the head of DP2KBP3A Kediri, PPA department staff, and the community. 2) Challenges persist in the resources variable concerning staff numbers and facilities like the absence of a shelter, which does not align with Edwards III's theory of implementation success. However, existing resources have been optimally utilized through information and authority. 3) Disposition has been effectively implemented, evidenced by policy implementers' high commitment to policy execution. 4) Bureaucratic structure at DP2KBP3A Kediri has been well-implemented, supporting the smooth implementation of child protection policies for victims of violence.

Implementation of Education Re-Entry Policy for Adolescent Mothers in Urambo District, Tanzania

In Tanzania, adolescent mothers were pre+viously been prohibited from returning to public secondary schools particularly during the fifth government phase led by the late President John Joseph Pombe Magufuli. However, under his successor President Samia Suluhu Hassan, a new re-entry policy for adolescent mother has been re-introduced. The policy aims to address the challenges faced by adolescent mothers who drop out of school due to pregnancy. Although the policy granted the opportunities for adolescent mothers to continue with their studies after giving birth, its implementation in country is still uncertain. It is against this backdrop that the current study explored the perceptions held by selected educational stakeholders and adolescent mothers to appraise the extent to which the re-entry education policy has thus far been implemented, drawing on a case of the secondary schools sampled from Urambo District, in Tanzania. The study deployed the interpretivist approach and phenomenological research design. Purposive sampling was used to select ten study participants reflecting two counter factual scenarios, namely: adolescent mothers who enrolled through re-entry program after delivery and who did not do so after delivery. The methods of data collection included in-depth interview with adolescent mothers and key informants; and focus grouped discussions with community members. The data were analysed through thematic analysis. The study findings revealed that implementation of the re-entry policy is marked with several challenges on part of the adolescent mothers which include: lack of support from families and schools. More to say, there prevails a stubbornly rigid and unchanging social stigma subjecting the typologies of the mothers into a state of dilemma, making it difficult for them to perform both the expected double roles of a mother and student simultaneously. The study also disclosed a lack of clarity on the re-entry policy guidelines, which has forced some of the re-entry policy implementers to use their own discretions. Additionally, the findings indicated that awareness creation was not sufficient enough to enable adolescent mother especially in remote areas to enrol back to school after pregnancy. The paper recommends that, for successful implementation of the re-entry policy, comprehensive counselling programmes for adolescent mothers and awareness creation among the educational stakeholders and community members are inevitable.

Change Management Strategy in Improving Teacher Performance in Junior High Schools in Sintang District

The objective of this research is to determine the most effective change management strategies for enhancing the performance of educators in junior high schools throughout the Sintang District. Educational institutions, such as junior high schools, are confronted with the demands of a dynamic work environment, as well as technological and social changes. Interviews, documentation, and observations are employed in this qualitative descriptive research to gather data from school principals and instructors regarding the modifications implemented. The research findings indicate that educators' performance is enhanced by the implementation of a change management strategy that adheres to John P. Kotter's model, which involves three stages: terminating outdated policies, initiating change, and implementing new policies. Classroom management, learning methods, student assessment, and educational vision and mission are among the modifications. The successful implementation of new policies requires the active participation of all members of educational institutions, as well as effective communication and strong leadership. It is the conclusion of this investigation that effective change management strategies not only enhance the performance of educators but also equip schools to confront future educational obstacles.

Policy Information Communication in Shanghai’s 15-Minute Community Living Circle--Taking Jing’an District as an Example

This paper examines the communication strategies of the “15-minute community life circles” policy in Shanghai Jing’an District. The study highlights the critical role of effective information dissemination in fostering public understanding and engagement with the policy. Analyzing current communication channels, including online platforms such as WeChat and Weibo, the paper identifies key challenges such as inadequate coverage, low public awareness, and insufficient interaction between policy content and residents’ daily lives. The paper also critiques the reliance on traditional media, which may not effectively reach younger demographics. Recommendations are provided to enhance the policy’s communication, including diversifying media channels, tailoring content to specific audience segments, and integrating more interactive and relatable narratives. By improving these aspects, the policy can better achieve its goal of creating sustainable, well-connected communities that meet the needs of all residents. This study underscores the importance of adaptive and responsive communication strategies in the successful implementation of public policies.

Mental health support for healthcare workers: what is it about governance and policy implementation

Abstract Background We adopt a health system and governance perspective to address the mental health needs of healthcare workers, considering the nature of interventions and the levels and actors involved in governance. The aim is to move the debate forward by identifying governance gaps hampering the implementation of health workforce policies and exploring strategies to effectively increase mental health support. Methods A qualitative comparative methodology is applied based on a case study design utilising a multi-level intersectoral governance matrix. The assessment matrix comprises four key categories: health policy and data, social policy and psycho-social conditions, organisation of work, and job and professional conditions. We conducted a rapid assessment of healthcare workforce developments in the European context, drawing on secondary sources and country experts. The country sample comprises Germany, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Results Awareness of mental health threats among healthcare workers increased, but policy discourse is driven by service delivery and labour market demands. The attention to healthcare workers’ needs is stronger on the international level especially supported by WHO action, and weakest at national/regional levels. Although organisations and professions demonstrate varying degrees of activity, their efforts are scattered and lack sustainability. Similar challenges were identified across healthcare systems, including limited action, disconnected actors, missing coordination, and a lack of attention to governance gaps and system weaknesses. Conclusions There are similar problems across countries. Mental health policy is driven by labour market needs and ignores research evidence and the individual needs. Successful mental health policy implementation needs multi-level governance and coherent coordination mechanisms, and generally greater attention to the ‘human side’ of the healthcare workforce. Speakers/Panelists Sara Alidina Central Administration of the Health System, Lisbon, Portugal Tomas Zapata WHO/Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark

Overcoming barriers in implementing healthy school nutrition policies: insights from Ukraine

Abstract The general mortality rate from NCDs in Ukraine exceeds that in European Union countries, (Yurochko et al., 2023) exacerbated by the ongoing war. Healthy nutrition plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall quality of life and curbing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Despite its significance, ensuring healthy eating habits, particularly during the early stages of life at the period of setting lifelong habits (Jackson et al., 2020; Riley et al., 2018), remains a challenge. Besides, school-based settings represent an ideal environment for effective intervention because they offer a shared common physical, academic, and social space (Tapia-Fonllem et al., 2020). Through a series of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, this study identifies barriers and facilitators to policy implementation, with a focus on educational institutions. Qualitative analysis reveals barriers such as inadequate human resources, funding constraints, resistance from the food industry, and ineffective communication strategies at the family level. Moreover, there exists a disjointed understanding of nutrition standards. However, collaborative efforts with civil society, empowerment of nursing roles, strategic utilization of grants and fundraising, engagement with the food industry, and the adoption of a family-oriented approach emerge as crucial enablers for successful policy implementation. These findings offer theoretical foundations for fostering healthier nutrition environments within schools. This research serves as a roadmap for policymakers and educators striving to create sustainable and effective strategies for promoting healthy eating among early school-age children in Ukraine and beyond. Study finds human resource shortages, funding constraints, and food industry resistance as major barriers to school nutrition policy. Recommendations include collaborative approaches, nurse involvement, and aligned standards for effective school nutrition policy. Key messages • Healthy nutrition plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall quality of life and curbing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. • Through a series of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, this study identifies barriers and facilitators to policy implementation, with a focus on educational institutions.

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF LEGAL REGULATION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOCIAL SPHERE IN THE TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES OF UKRAINE

The article defines that public administration is a system of activities of state authorities aimed at optimizing the use of resources to achieve the priority goals of social policy. It is emphasized that the social sphere covers a wide range of services that ensure the well-being of citizens, including health care, education, social protection and other critically important elements. The study of the problems of public management of the social sphere in territorial communities reveals a number of challenges, such as insufficient financial support, the absence of a clear legal framework, and a low level of public involvement in decision-making processes. Analysis of modern approaches to legal regulation in this area showed that effective management of social policy requires the integration of innovative methods, in particular digitalization of processes, which will contribute to the transparency and accountability of local self-government bodies. As a result of the research, it was found that the public management of the social sphere in the territorial communities of Ukraine is a complex, multifaceted process that requires a comprehensive analysis and a comprehensive approach to its improvement. The development of recommendations for improving management mechanisms should become a priority for researchers and practitioners in this important field. Effective management of the social sphere requires systematic control over the implementation of state policy. This involves not only an internal audit of the activities of local self-government bodies, but also mechanisms of public control that would allow residents to actively participate in the processes of evaluating the effectiveness of social programs. The study showed that the key factors in the effectiveness of public management of the social sphere in territorial communities are: adaptability of management mechanisms; integration of modern technologies; formation of partnership relations; personnel training and development; community involvement in decision-making processes, etc. Legal regulation of public management of the social sphere in territorial communities of Ukraine is conditioned by the need to create effective management mechanisms that meet modern challenges. Among the prospects for the development of legal regulation of public management of the social sphere in the territorial communities of Ukraine, the need for: improvement of the legal framework was emphasized; strengthening of financial autonomy; development of professional training; integration of modern technologies; community involvement in decision-making processes; focus on inclusiveness; monitoring and evaluation of efficiency; cooperation with international organizations; adaptation to changes in the socio-economic environment; increasing the level of trust in the authorities, etc. It is emphasized that the successful implementation of public policy in the social sphere depends on the effective interaction of all interested parties, which in turn will ensure sustainable development and increase the quality of life of the population.

The Challenges and Opportunities of NEP-2020 in the Reference of Inclusive Education in India: An Overview

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides a transformative vision for India's education system by emphasizing inclusive education and offering equal learning opportunities for children from varied socio economic, cultural and ability backgrounds. This paper looks at the challenges and opportunities given by NEP 2020 for promoting inclusive education in India. Infrastructure deficiencies, insufficient teacher preparation, and social biases are major hurdles, but policy-driven changes, technological integration, and financial support mechanisms present potential. This report gives an overview of the challenges and opportunities for implementing inclusive education in light of NEP 2020. Poor infrastructure, a lack of specialized teacher training and entrenched social attitudes about disability and marginalization all impede progress. However, opportunities arise as a result of policy-driven efforts, growing use of information and communication technology (ICT), and financing provisions aimed at fostering more equal learning settings. The research emphasizes the need of teacher capacity building, community participation, and long-term policy commitment in overcoming these challenges and realizing NEP 2020's inclusive vision. According to the findings, successful policy implementation requires stakeholder engagement to establish a more inclusive and easier to able education system in India.

Politico-Administrative Culture and Public Service Reform in Post-Independence Kazakhstan

Classical organizational management literature draws clear parallels between organizational culture and climate and effective use of power and influence as key to successful policy implementation of reforms in public sector organizations. On the other hand, the public policy literature, in particular, policy transfer as a strand within policy studies, emphasizes the role of the national context, more specifically, ‘facilitators’ and ‘constraints’ of ‘‘politico-administrative culture” within the national context, as crucial to understanding processes of transfer, convergence, and diffusion of public policy. There is a plethora of studies by Western scholars of public management who have successfully utilized these theoretical underpinnings to study the effectiveness of public service reforms in mature policy environments such as the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and others. However, the public policy and comparative public management literature only offers a limited number of case studies from developing, middle-/upper-middle countries, which rely on concepts of organizational management in addition to narratives on the impact of policy learning from global doctrines, such as Weberianism, New Public Management (NPM), and New Public Governance (NPG), and national politics, on the implementation of administrative reforms in those contexts. Kazakhstan, as a resource-affluent post-Soviet country and a bastion of modernization and ‘open government’ in Central Asia or the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the post-Soviet era is a case in point. Based on ethnographic research consisting of interviews with elite academics, civil servants, and think-tank activists, as well as reviews of OECD and government strategy reports in Astana, the findings point to a potential abatement of the impact of context constraints such as large power distance and collectivist behavior by context facilitators such as those surrounding the use of ‘trilingualism’ and public diplomacy towards reforms in Kazakhstan particularly in recent years.

Analysis of Attitudes Towards Opt-Out Organ Donation Consent: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Saudi Arabian Residents

ObjectiveThe study aims to investigate public opinion on opt-out organ donation registration in Saudi Arabia, addressing a gap identified in existing research that reveals varied attitudes and intentions among the population, as indicated by studies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. MethodsThis study employed a secondary analysis approach, utilizing data from a cross-sectional survey conducted online among 1397 residents of Saudi Arabia. The survey utilized a GoogleTM form questionnaire adapted from a previous study in Qatar. The questionnaire comprised three sections, gathering socio-demographic information, assessing general awareness about organ donation, and exploring participants' agreement with opt-out consent and beliefs related to organ donation using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) model. ResultsAmong the participants, 44.4% supported opt-out consent, with 25.7% females and 39.1% Saudi citizens. Females and diploma/graduation-level education were significantly associated with opt-out support (p<0.001, p=0.012, respectively). 98.06% of opt-out supporters were familiar with organ donation. 93.05% agreed to promote organ donation, 98.38% believed registration saves lives, and 81.91% were willing if family had no objections. 86.75% were ready with more information, and 85.78% if informed about their religion's perspective. 92.25% believed living and posthumous donation positively impact life after death. Concerns included inadequate care (33.44%) and bodily disfigurement (28.43%) postmortem. Majority felt healthy (45.56%) and appropriate in age for donation (57.67%). Among opt-out supporters, 20.84% expressed interest, 8.4% conveyed disinterest, while 36.34% remained undecided regarding organ donation registration. ConclusionThe study reveals a considerable openness among Saudis toward adopting an opt-out organ donation system, suggesting a potential avenue for increased organ donation rates. While acknowledging cultural nuances, particularly familial influences, targeted interventions are vital to overcome specific barriers and ensure the successful implementation of an opt-out policy.

Public perception and policy development in the transition to renewable energy

The transition to renewable energy is essential for addressing climate change and ensuring a sustainable future. This paper explores the critical role of public perception in shaping the development and implementation of renewable energy policies. It examines the historical evolution of public attitudes toward energy, the factors influencing public perception, and the impact of public support or opposition on policy outcomes. Additionally, the paper reviews current policy frameworks and highlights the challenges policymakers face in balancing public opinion with political, economic, and environmental goals. Public engagement emerges as a key factor in successful policy implementation, with examples from various countries illustrating how public involvement has influenced energy transitions. Finally, the paper discusses future trends in public perception and offers recommendations for policymakers to better align public opinion with the goals of renewable energy transitions. The findings underscore the importance of integrating public perception into policy development to achieve a successful and inclusive energy transition.

Improving antibiotic prescribing – Recommendations for funding and pricing policies to enhance use of point-of-care tests

IntroductionDiagnostics can contribute to the improved quality of antibiotic prescribing. However, there is potential to enhance the use of point-of-care tests (POCTs) in general practice. This paper presents fit-for-purpose policy recommendations related to funding and pricing for POCTs applied for community-acquired acute respiratory tract infections (CA-ARTIs). MethodsThe development of the recommendations was informed by an analysis of the current status of funding and pricing policy frameworks for CA-ARTI POCTs in European countries, and an identification of barriers and facilitators for their uptake. Draft recommendations were developed and subsequently revised based on written and verbal feedback from meetings with experts. ResultsThe proposal includes four recommendations for policy interventions related to funding and three recommendations regarding pricing policies. Two of the funding policy-related recommendations concern physicians’ remuneration, and two relate to product-specific reimbursement (public coverage) of the CA-ARTI POCTs. The pricing-related recommendations include a proposal to explore the introduction of price regulation, to pilot subscription-fee procurement models and to enhance more strategic approaches in public procurement of CA-ARTI POCTs. ConclusionsOptimised pricing and funding policies could make a difference in enhancing uptake of CA-ARTI POCTs. It is crucial for the successful implementation of policies to consider country settings. Additionally, supportive policy action is recommended, including the systematic use of health technology assessment, stakeholder communication, and monitoring and evaluation.

Key Determinants of the Comprehensive Neonatal Emergency Obstetric Services Policy

Background: Effective implementation of comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care programs is vital for improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Specific Background: At RSU Al-Islam H.M Mawardi, various factors—including communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure—affect program implementation. Knowledge Gap: Previous research has often neglected how these factors interact and their influence on healthcare policy implementation. Aims: This study evaluates the relationship between these factors and the implementation of the emergency obstetric and neonatal care program using a quantitative survey approach. Results: Analyzing data from 54 respondents revealed significant correlations between effective communication, resource allocation, and successful policy implementation (p &lt; 0.05), with the questionnaire demonstrating high reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.969). Novelty: This research contributes empirical evidence on the specific elements influencing healthcare policy implementation locally. Implications: Strengthening communication and resource management is essential for enhancing policy implementation effectiveness, ultimately improving community health outcomes. Highlights : Factor Influence: Effective communication and resource allocation significantly impact program success. Research Contribution: The study provides empirical evidence on factors affecting healthcare policy implementation locally. Health Outcomes: Strengthening implementation strategies is crucial for improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Keywords: obstetric care, neonatal care, policy implementation, communication, healthcare resources

A Critical Analysis on the Low Birth Rate Problem and the Effectiveness of Relevant Policy

This paper discusses the importance of the birth rate problem and the effectiveness of Chinas Three-Child policy. In order to efficiently elaborate problems, this paper analyses the issue from several perspectives. Firstly, a declining birth rate will have a negative impact on the global and domestic economic development due to the decrease in labour force. Secondly, this paper suggests that the key reason for this declining birth rate is the rising economic pressure on young people. This paper finds that China, Japan, and South Korea face the same low birth rate problem. Hence, this paper investigates the different wage levels and house prices among these East Asian countries and elaborates on the relationship associated with declining birth rates. Furthermore, this paper also discusses how to ensure the successful implementation of the Three-Child policy, and what effect the social welfare and the Three-Child policy can bring to help the society and the economy.

SANCTIONS POLICY IN THE WORLD: EVOLUTION OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE

The author of the article aims to highlight the specific features of the application of sanctions in the international community in the context of the evolution of political discourse on sanctions policy. In his work, the author relies on the concept of the “three great debates” of the researcher Peter Wallensteen, applying it to the analysis of changes in the political situation around the use of sanctions and the reasons that lead to them. As main examples, the author analyzes sanctions of the League of Nations and the UN, as well as individual states. The author considers the change in political reasons leading to sanctions, as well as their transformation into an effective political instrument that is actively used primarily by international organizations. The issues of the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of sanctions are analyzed. The conclusions that the author comes to indicate that the successful implementation of sanctions policy requires the support of a sufficiently wide number of states. Thus, in the matter of using sanctions against certain states, the role of international organizations is undeniable. The development and formation of world politics and its trends bring new reasons for the use of sanctions. One should also not fail to take into account the leading world powers that are quite actively using sanctions policy for their own purposes.

Examining the link between perceived prison conditions and probability of recidivism among women convicts in Tihar Jail: insight on incarceration

Purpose The purpose of this study is to fill the research gap that exists with respect to availability of research on correctional facilities in India, which restricts one’s ability to comprehend the prison environment and recidivism from the perspective of the inmates. By examining inmates’ perception of their environment within correctional facilities, researchers and policymakers can identify specific aspects of the prison climate that may contribute to increased risks of reoffending. This understanding would not only help to improve prison conditions and encourage humane treatment, but it is also essential to support the inmates in their efforts to find and retain employment, achieve self-sufficiency and personal growth. It is also necessary to encourage the inmates to participate in a variety of therapeutic and prison programmes both inside and outside of prison to help them reintegrate into the community. Design/methodology/approach The present research investigated the association between negative perceptions of prison climate and the heightened probability of recidivism among a sample of 37 adult women convicts incarcerated in Tihar Prisons, Delhi. Data were obtained by administering CSS-M Hindi version and PCQ Hindi version to the convicts in person in the prison premises. Furthermore, the collected data were subjected to Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient to analyse the correlation between the probability of recidivism and the dimensions of prison climate. Findings Results suggested that negative perceptions of relationships in prison (staff–inmate relationship, inmate–inmate relationship), safety, facilities (cell conditions, food quality, etc.), meaningful activities (recreation, education, yard time, etc.) and autonomy in prison were inversely associated with a higher probability of recidivism. The results from the current study demonstrated that recognising and taking cognisance of the inmates’ perceptions of prison environment on their well-being and their probability of recidivism is crucial for the successful implementation of interventions and policies within correctional systems. Research limitations/implications The sample size procured for the research was relatively small, as the number of available women convicts in Tihar Prison at the time of the research was limited, making it difficult to generalise the findings. In addition, this investigation included solely women convicts, while undertrials and detenues were excluded, and thus does not represent all the individuals in conflict with the law. Practical implications The findings of the current investigation allow for the formulation of potential policy recommendations for improving the prison climate, which in turn might consequently impact future criminality. Social implications Policymakers may use these findings when developing policies that foster a rehabilitative prison environment, as it can help in reducing the incidence of recidivism. Originality/value This study is unprecedented in its approach, especially with respect to the Indian context, as it sheds light on the relatively understudied association between the variables of perceived prison climate and the probability of recidivism among women convicts in India. The findings of this study add to the current body of research indicating that subjective experience and perception of prison climate have a substantial influence on the likelihood of recidivism.

The Determinants for Policy Implementation: A Study of Public Service Mall Program in Indonesia

Research on policy implementation altered from building meta-theory towards explaining concerted action across institutional boundaries, the diversity of actors, loci, and levels. Current theory about factors determining the success of public policy implementation includes managerial, organisational, resources, bureaucracy, and politics. The establishment of Public Service Malls (PSM) in Indonesia is used as a case study to carry out this assessment because it represents a considerable challenge in the implementation process. This study aims to provide new perspectives about the determinants of successful public policy implementation, especially in a highly diverse political context such as Indonesia. This policy implementation involves several ministries at the central level and 540 local governments. This study uses an exploratory qualitative approach, and the data was collected through FGDs and in-depth interviews conducted with relevant ministries and local governments. The data is then analysed using NVIVO to find the structure of the concepts and themes according to the conceptual framework used. This research suggests that factors in policy implementation should be placed in a hierarchical order because they are determinants that cause other factors to emerge. In the case of implementing the PSM policy in Indonesia, the political factor becomes the determining factor, which is the highest position, followed by the bureaucracy, managerial, resources, and the organisational at the end

Stakeholder Theory, Public Engagement, and Epistemic Injustice: The Case of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Scotland’s African, Caribbean, and Black Communities

The adoption of a stakeholder approach to public engagement within the public sector has been extensive. However, there remain critical gaps in the understanding of stakeholder participation arising from hidden disparities that contribute to unequal access to communication channels, information, and hence ultimately knowledge and decision making. The term “epistemic injustice” has been used to describe such inequality of access and consequently, the outcome that ensues. Epistemic injustice is much overlooked in stakeholder theory. This article shows how epistemic injustice can act as a barrier to effective stakeholder engagement and hence to successful public policy formulation and implementation. We use the case of vaccine hesitancy among Scotland’s African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities to illustrate this problem of unequal participation. The study drew on primary data involving 85 participants and secondary data sources from extant literature and explored salient factors shaping barriers to vaccine uptake during the recent pandemic. The findings demonstrate how the failure to grasp epistemic injustice undermines the effectiveness of the stakeholder approach, even with the most well-intentioned efforts. We argue that epistemic injustice is a critical barrier to effective stakeholder approaches.

We need targeted policy interventions in the EU to save soil carbon

Globally, annual emissions from managed organic soils accounts for up to 5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Climate-wise management and restoration of degraded organic soils could reduce GHG emissions quickly and at relatively low costs. The European Union (EU) Member States that have large areas of organic soils with high GHG emissions are Sweden, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Netherlands, and the Baltic countries. To meet the climate targets and objectives of the Paris Agreement the land-use sector is indispensable and mitigation policies targeting organic soils will be needed. The international regulatory framework is broad and quite unspecific. In contrast, the European Union has initiated binding regulation for the land-use sector through the EU Climate Law, the EU LULUCF regulation, and the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law. However, even this regulatory approach is not on track to deliver on its binding ambitions, indicating the need for more effective implementation measures also on organic soils in the EU and its member states. Furthermore, we argue that appropriate policy selection should consider current knowledge regarding the climate impacts of management options of organic soils. Lastly, we need more studies on GHG emissions, and standardized methods for GHG inventories, to resolve uncertainties surrounding the impacts of management to GHG emissions. Successful policy implementation requires more efforts but also improved scientific justification through continuous consideration of climate policy integrity and strengthening of the reliability of GHG inventories.

The role of alcohol control policies in the reversal of alcohol consumption levels and resulting attributable harms in China

Yearly adult per capita consumption of alcohol in China between 2016 and 2019 decreased by 2.4 L of pure alcohol, or 33%. According to the World Health Organization, this decrease in consumption was accompanied by reductions in alcohol-attributable mortality of 23% between 2015 and 2019. This paper examines the contribution of alcohol control policies in China to these public health gains. A systematic search of the literature was conducted on alcohol control policies and their effectiveness in China as part of a larger search of all countries in WHO Western Pacific Region. In addition to articles on empirical evidence on the impact of such alcohol control policies, we also searched for reviews. The plausibility of changes of traditional alcohol control policies (taxation increases, availability restrictions, restriction on advertisement and marketing, drink-driving laws, screening and brief interventions) in explaining reductions of consumption levels and attributable mortality rates was explored. There was some progress in the successful implementation of strict drink-driving policies, which could explain reductions in traffic injuries, including fatalities. Other traditional alcohol control policies seem to have played a minimal role in reducing alcohol consumption and attributable harms during the time period 2016–2019. However, an anti-corruption campaign was extensive enough to have substantially contributed to these reductions. The campaign prohibited the consumption of alcoholic beverages in everyday life of government officials and thus contributed to a de-normalization of alcohol. While this anti-corruption campaign was the only policy to potentially explain marked decreases in levels of alcohol consumption and attributable mortality, more detailed research is required to determine exactly how the campaign achieved these decreases.