Sustainable Action Plan Research Articles

Impact of extreme events on the transformation of hydrological characteristics of Asia's largest brackish water system, Chilika Lake.

The earth is experiencing the impact of climate change due to global warming. Lake ecosystems are no exception and are expected to cope with the consequences of extreme climatic events (hereafter ECE), such as storms, floods, and droughts. These events have significant potential to alter the hydrological characteristics (HC) influencing the physical, chemical, and biological behavior of lake ecosystems. Considering such ecosystem's high-value services and benefits, it is the need of the hour to monitor and evaluate the impact of ECE on lake ecosystems. The second-largest brackish water system in the world, Chilika Lake, situated at the shore of the Bay of Bengal (BoB), has encountered a total of 1306 tropical cyclonic storms in the last 131years. Since most tropical cyclones lead to heavy floods, this could be devastating for the ecosystem and its services. Hence, in order to bridge the knowledge gap, the present study was carried out to understand its impact, based on the available field data of more than two decades (1999 to 2020) and historical records of ECE and HC since 1840 and 1915 respectively from the literature. The study revealed that the ECE attributed to short-term changes in HC which were reflected through an immediate change in trophic state index (TSI, indicator of lake health) and trophic switchover (net autotrophic to heterotrophic) between net sink and source of carbon dioxide (CO2) in specific regions. This study showed that both the ECE as well as a human intervention (opening of the new mouth) had an integrated role in the maintenance of HC within the lake as indicated by the variability of salinity level which is the lifeblood of the Chilika. Major ECE factors which controlled the salinity in Chilika were freshwater input through cyclone-induced flash flooding and seawater exchange through varying mouth conditions, i.e., opening of the new mouth, shifting, and widening of existing mouths due to cyclone impacts. The impact of the cyclone-induced flash flood was sustained for a couple of months to years depending on the magnitudes. As evidenced from the historical data available for ECEs, respective mouth variability, and salinity regime, ECE was found to maintain the salinity regime of the lake in the long run. Since the hydrological characteristics are found to be maintained through ECE as well as human intervention, the Chilika Lake recorded a substantial increase in fishery, seagrasses, Irrawaddy dolphins, migratory birds, and reduction in weed infestation. This study highlights the importance of historical data collection through a continuous systematic lake monitoring program which would enable understanding the ecosystem functioning and behavior with ECE-induced changing environmental conditions which is also a key component for formulating a sustainable management action plan for lake ecosystems around the globe.

Integrated cloud computing and cost effective modelling to delineate the ecological corridors for Spectacled bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in the rural territories of the Peruvian Amazon

Spectacled bears (SB) (Tremarctos ornatus) are the only bear species native to South America. This particular bear is the single species of its genus, and it is listed as vulnerable according to the IUCN red list. A critical SB conservation habitat is in the rural territories of the Peruvian Amazon, where anthropogenic land-use changes and landscape fragmentation threaten SB habitats. The following questions arise in this context: How much has land-use changed? How to design the establishment of ecological corridors (ECs) to support the conservation of SB?. We investigated the temporal land use and land cover changes for last 30 years (1990–2020) for a better projection of the ECs and to quantify the temporal landscape metrics. Furthermore, we integrated cloud computing, machine learning models with cost-effective techniques to delineate the ECs for SB within the rural territories. Ensemble Random Forest model associated with Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to develop four land use and land cover (LULC) maps (for the years 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020). The least cost path (LCP) model based on Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm was assembled based on six variables (altitude; slope; distance to roads; distance to population centers; land use map; inventory map of SB). Then, we calculated the ECs based on the multidirectional origin-destination points, we found that forest patches increased by 57% between 1990 and 2020. Results showed statistically significant agreement (R 2 = 0.47; p < 0.05) between cost/ha* and percentage of forest cover. We observed that the higher the forest cover, the better the connectivity and the lower the cost of mobilization in the ECs. Our study outcomes validated through the images obtained from trap cameras that confirms that delineated routs for SB movements. The proposed model can be adopted for other parts of the global forest including other species of interest. To formulate a sustainable conservation action plan, we provided five recommendations that will support conservation practices, design cost-effective ECs for policy makers.

THE HISTORY AND CREATION OF THE AGENDA 2030: DESIGNING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

This article analyzes and studies the history and background of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Firstly, a historical journey has been made to understand the evolution and development of education up to the arrival of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development action plan. In this way, a timeline was presented that reflects the path taken by the United Nations and the international community to arrive at To reach this new international framework. In this line, the post-2015 agenda, conferences, summits and international decades have been examined, as they were decisive events for the adoption of the SDGs. A official UN documents and programmes were analysed, demonstrating the enormous volume of documentation that has been published on the subject. There is no better way to understand the international interest generated by the proposed topic than to read the "Preamble1" of Resolution A/RES/70/1, 25September 2015, Transforming our world: the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this document you can find the new proposal for a better and higher quality future for all people on the planet.

FACTORS INFLUENCING USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG SEXUALLY ACTIVE ADOLESCENTS IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN NAIROBI. A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Purpose: Although knowledge on climate variability is vital in addressing livelihood vulnerability to climate shocks, studies that link climate variability to rural livelihood responses and changes are few. The general objective of the study was to understand perception of climate variability and livelihood response strategies among the communities in the northern part of Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps.&#x0D; Findings: There is need for concerted efforts to build not only on adopted household adaptation strategies but also help them reduce current vulnerability as well as build future resilience.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory and Practice: There is need to engage communities to understand their levels of vulnerability and design their own sustainable adaptation action plans. This can be done through adoption of the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) model which among other measures involve capacity building of community members and development partners to participate in and help local people adapt to their livelihood strategies accordingly.&#x0D; Keywords: Climate change impacts, adaptation, livelihood adaptation strategies, climate variability, household

CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND RESPONSE STRATEGIES AMONG COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF KENYA. A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Purpose: Although knowledge on climate variability is vital in addressing livelihood vulnerability to climate shocks, studies that link climate variability to rural livelihood responses and changes are few. The general objective of the study was to understand perception of climate variability and livelihood response strategies among the communities in the northern part of Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps.&#x0D; Findings: There is need for concerted efforts to build not only on adopted household adaptation strategies but also help them reduce current vulnerability as well as build future resilience.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory and Practice: There is need to engage communities to understand their levels of vulnerability and design their own sustainable adaptation action plans. This can be done through adoption of the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) model which among other measures involve capacity building of community members and development partners to participate in and help local people adapt to their livelihood strategies accordingly.&#x0D; Keywords: Climate change impacts, adaptation, livelihood adaptation strategies, climate variability, household

Sustainability via Active Garden Education: The Sustainability Action Plan Model and Process.

Sustainability of intervention programming is challenging to achieve under real world conditions, since few models exist and many studies do not plan far beyond the funding period. Programming content in early care and education centers (ECECs) is often driven by guidelines. However, implementation is very sensitive to contextual factors, such as the setting and implementer (teacher) characteristics. This paper presents the model, definitions, and methodology used for the sustainability action plan capitalizing on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, developed for a multi-site, multi-level garden-based childhood obesity prevention study, Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE). The Ecologic Model of Obesity is applied to develop a sustainability action plan (SAP) and accompanying measures to link early care and education (ECE) environment, the community, policies, and classroom practices to an early childhood obesity prevention program. The SAGE SAP provides an example of how to iteratively evaluate and refine sustainability processes for an obesity prevention intervention utilizing CBPR approaches and will be applied to assess the sustainability of SAGE in a cluster randomized controlled trial. This SAP model can also help inform intervention delivery and scalability within ECECs.

KAPASITAS SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM KEBUN GIZI MANDIRI MELALUI PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT BERSAMA CITA SEHAT FOUNDATION

Background: The success of health programs to provide long-term benefits remains a challenge. Similarly, the study of sustainability capacity in health programs in Indonesia is still limited. Cita Sehat Foundation strives to support SDG achievement by ensuring thatthe program has sustainable capacity so that it can run and be beneficial in the long periods. One of the programs delivered by the foundation is the implementation of Kebun Gizi Mandiri in Bantul,Yogyakarta, for five years with and provide benefits and pride through several awards.Objective: The aim of the research is to assess the sustainability capacity of Kebun Gizi Mandiri.Methods: This research uses mixed-methods approach with convergent parallel strategy, where qualitative and quantitative data are collected, analyzed separately, and then compared to see the findings. Quantitative data was obtained from PSAT (Program Sustainability Assessment Tool). Qualitative data were obtained through in depth-interviews and focus group discussions from selected informants involving beneficiaries, program managers and development program NGOs with maximum total variation sampling.Results: The sustainability of the program is well supported by the availability of support from the cadre team as the main manager, community and local stakeholders. The availability of information and involvement of cross- stakeholder support the sustainability of program. Strengthening cadre team capacity, innovation in program development, availability of evaluation forms capable of recording program progress and becoming the basis for improvement, as well as availability of allocations from various funding sources to ensure program sustainability are components of sustainability capacity that still needs improvement.Conclusion: There are several domains of sustainability capacity that still need improvement. Therefore, the formulation of a sustainability action plan can be undertaken to follow-up the result based on a sustainability domain review that still needs special attention for improvement.

Becoming an anti-racist interprofessional healthcare organization: Our journey.

The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the egregious disproportionate burden of disease based on race, ethnicity, and failure of organizations to address structural racism. This paper describes a journey by members of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) who came together to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through collaborative efforts, a virtual, interactive workshop was designed and delivered at NAP's 2021 Virtual Forum to facilitate discussions about DEI priorities across professions and to initiate a sustainable action plan toward achieving inclusive excellence. Resulting discoveries and reflections led us to the essential question: can we truly become an anti-racist interprofessional healthcare organization?

Development of a Roadmap for the Implementation of a Sustainable Mobility Action Plan in University Campuses of Emerging Countries

Universities are centers of knowledge and their Campuses are like small cities, thus making them the ideal place to develop, apply and evaluate policies and tools for innovative mobility solutions that can subsequently be extended to other contexts. A review of mobility measures in different European Universities has revealed that many of them apply policies to promote sustainable mobility, but there is a significant lack of standardized mobility plans and roadmaps for their successful implementation. The objective of the present work is to develop a successful roadmap, which is necessary for the smooth implementation of a mobility plan, as it has been found through a thorough review of good practices in Universities. Within this framework, a customizable standardized Roadmap design is proposed, which consists of two documents: a tactical document that provides a global and sequential vision of the entire plan, and an operational document that details the actions for each strategic line. This roadmap is accompanied by a catalog of objectives, measures, and cost and impact indicators. We consider this design instructive for universities because of its universal characteristics in Emerging Countries. To ensure this, it is necessary to apply this roadmap and carry out the corresponding evaluation.

Developing a Capacity Building, Operational Model of a Sustainable Recreation Program

Integrating sustainability concepts, tools, and best practices across the outdoor recreation and park profession has gained momentum over the past three decades. However, missing from the professional and scientific literature have been action-oriented and evaluative research focused on “how” sustainability is being operationalized in the field. Through a qualitative research design focused on the 11 National Forests of the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service, we developed an operational model for how sustainable recreation is being implemented at the Forest level through the Sustainable Recreation Strategy. Data collection included document analysis, stakeholder interviews, and personal observation. Document analysis included a content analysis methodology of 11 Forest-level Sustainable Recreation Action Plans, the principal planning process used to implement the vision and goals set forth by the Regional Sustainable Recreation Strategy. Evidence from the study was used to develop a grounded operational model with three foundational areas of Program, Agency, and Community. Foundational areas were further elaborated into component areas—Program into workforce, communications, outdoor recreation management, financial management, and information management systems—Agency into leadership support, administrative support, and integrated resource management—and Community into partnerships, volunteer program, and conservation education. Operational models such as this can help recreation managers, agency leaders, and policymakers adjust systems, structures, and roles to build program capacity and accelerate program transition towards sustainability.

Transboundary water treaty design for poverty reduction and climate adaptation

When transboundary basins are developed in poor regions where freshwater resources are fully committed, it becomes important to design economically sustainable action plans to address existing poverty, especially in responding to mounting evidence of climate change and population growth. Increasing competition over shared water resources as well as climate water stress has attracted research efforts internationally addressing the benefits and costs of establishing water-sharing treaties. Despite this ongoing interest, few peer-reviewed works have investigated water development and use patterns that could produce economic gains for all parties from establishing transboundary water sharing agreements. This work develops an approach to address the gap by formulating and applying a basin-scale hydro-economic optimization model of West Africa’s Volta River Basin. The work analyzes the effects of a prospective multilateral water allocation and hydropower trade agreement on the size, sign, and distribution of basin-wide economic benefits. The model includes two new large storage reservoirs, five water use purposes, and two climate water supply scenarios with and without a water sharing treaty. From that, it assesses the net economic benefit-maximizing patterns of water use with and without the treaty. Results show a Pareto Improving outcome is achievable for all riparian countries from new storage capacity in the basin for which at least one country is better and none is worse off. This improvement is achievable with a multilateral water sharing treaty implemented with power trading among the six basin countries. Results indicate that all basin countries have the potential to secure significant economic gains from additional hydropower production with the treaty. Under its implementation, upstream countries would reduce agricultural water use in exchange for higher valued hydropower benefits under the climate-stressed low flow scenario. Despite potential benefits that are shareable from negotiation, practical implementation of such a treaty will require considerable diplomatic skill, patience and effort.

Sustainable Palm Oil and Landscape Program

Palm oil is a commodity with a significant land area development. Thus, raises concerns about its impact on the landscape. This study uses a case study in South Tapanuli, a center of smallholder oil palm plantations with a high conservation value and an action plan for a sustainable palm oil program. This study uses a combination of a desk study of government publications and interviews with key stakeholders. The results show that the sustainable palm oil program can affect landscape sustainability through regional development and spatial plans. The sustainable action plan has altered strategic issues in the regional development plan by focusing on oil palm plantations management in forest areas. However, the strategic issues have has not been followed up by targets and programs. Coordination between the central and regional governments is lacking, and related local government organizations do not fully understand the plan. The annual plan has been completed with sufficiently detailed outputs and thus cannot use it as a reference for evaluating achievement stages. Therefore, although the sustainable palm oil program positively impacts regional planning in South Tapanuli, it still needs to be followed up by operationalization in synergistic programs.

The Added Value of and Resistance to the Istanbul Convention: A Comparative Study in 27 European Member States and Turkey

One of the major achievements in tackling violence against women (VAW) is the adoption of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on VAW and Domestic Violence. The Istanbul Convention (IC) is a legally binding instrument tackling violence from a gender perspective, with a comprehensive set of measures. Although 21 European Union Member States (MS) and Turkey have ratified the Istanbul Convention and the European Union itself signed it, opposition towards gender equality has also risen. This paper reviews a study tendered by the European Parliament (the EP study), which aimed to understand the implementation of the Convention, its added value and arguments against its ratification. The EP Study grouped the 27 European Union MS and Turkey into those that have and have not ratified and implemented the IC. The EP study was based on four strands of data collection: 1) a literature review focusing on the impact of and arguments against ratification; 2) a legal mapping of the legislation to compare the criminal codes and support services of each country with relevant articles of the Convention; 3) national data collection to identify challenges in the implementation of the Convention and good practices; 4) a stakeholder on-line consultation. The study was conducted in 2020. The EP study found that ratification of the Convention triggered amendments to existing legislation and/or the adoption of new legal measures, but that legislative changes are less extensive in countries that have not ratified the Convention. Most European Union MS have adopted gender-neutral approaches to laws and policies, thus failing to acknowledge the gendered nature of violence against women and domestic violence. Seven of the European Union countries (BG, HR, LT, LV, MT, RO, TU) refer to physical, psychological, economic and sexual violence in their definitions of domestic violence, while nine countries (AT, BE, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, IE, LU) do not define domestic violence. Remaining challenges in the implementation of the Istanbul Convention include a lack of sustainable national action plans, and insufficient funding for specialist support services. Resistance to the Convention is evident even in countries that have ratified it, in response to proposed legislation on same-sex marriage, adoption or sexuality education in schools. Non-ratifying countries and countries with high resistance to the Convention often display victim-blaming public attitudes to intimate partner violence, stronger gender stereotypes and a stronger resistance to same-sex marriage/rights. The paper concludes by suggesting recommendations. The cut off date for data collection was 16 September 2020 and therefore legal and policy developments after that date were not included in this paper. This includes Poland and Turkey announcing their withdrawal from the IC in respectively July 2020 and March 2021. However, given the focus of this paper is on understanding the reasons behind resistance against the IC and on the differences between countries that ratified and those that did not, this paper contributes to a better understanding of how progress has been made following the IC, and points to the added value of the IC.

Translating climate strategies into action: An analysis of the sustainable, green, and resilient city action plans of the multilateral development banks

AbstractMotivationClimate change is exposing significant urban vulnerabilities. The multilateral development banks (MDBs) have responded by devising a suite of sustainable, green, and resilient (SGR) city advisory services and lending products to prepare cities for future climate change impacts.PurposeThe article comparatively analyses SGR city action plans and companion projects drafted by the MDBs. It thus evaluates the translation of analytical work into investments, reviewing what the MDBs are prioritizing and what this means for development and climate change.Methods and approachThe article qualitatively analyses 124 SGR city action plans and 65 companion lending operations approved by four MDBs between 2014 and 2021, evaluating action plan documents and project appraisal, implementation, and results reports.FindingsThe article finds that while the SGR city action plans propose comprehensive recommendations, the companion projects narrowly focus on infrastructural upgrades that are uncertain to adequately prepare cities for future climate change impacts.Policy implicationsMultilateral interventions targeting climate change expanded considerably during the 2010s. The MDBs, however, continue to prioritize project‐based infrastructural investments financing climate mitigation and resilience actions over more substantive climate adaptation initiatives. This article thus shows that SGR city action plans hold great potential to enact robust and inclusive climate responses but have so far been stymied by the conservatism of project‐based investment lending.

Surveillance data for human leishmaniasis indicate the need for a sustainable action plan for its management and control, Greece, 2004 to 2018.

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) lists human leishmaniasis as a neglected tropical disease; it is not under surveillance at European level.AimWe present surveillance data for visceral (VL) and cutaneous (CL) leishmaniasis for the period 2004 to 2018 in Greece to assess their public health importance.MethodsWe extracted data from the mandatory notification system to analyse separately imported and domestic cases of VL and CL. A case was defined by clinical manifestations compatible with VL or CL and laboratory confirmation.ResultsBetween 2004 and 2018, 881 VL (862 domestic, 19 imported) and 58 CL cases (24 domestic, 34 imported) were recorded. The mean annual notification rate of domestic VL was 0.5 per 100,000 (range: 0.12–1.43/100,000) with a statistically significant increasing trend (p = 0.013). Cases were reported by all regions. The highest notification rate occurred in the age group 0–4 years (1.3/100,000). Overall 24% (164/680) of the cases were immunocompromised and their proportion increased after 2010 (p < 0.001). The mean annual notification rate of domestic CL was 0.05 per 100,000 (range: 0.01–0.19/100,000) with the highest rate in the age group 5–14 years (0.03/100,000). Cases were recorded in six of the 13 regions. Among 34 imported CL cases, 29 were foreign nationals.ConclusionVL is endemic in Greece, with an increasing trend and a considerable burden of severe disease and young children being most affected. CL is rarely reported. A sustainable action plan is needed to reduce the burden of VL and prevent local transmission of CL.

Development of Muruntau–Myutenbai joint open pit mine

Muruntau open pit mine has been in operation since 1967 and is one of the largest open pit mines in the world. As per the project of mining phase V effective since 2020, it is among the world’s three largest open pit mines. The distribution of ore reserves per horizons is analyzed with regard to nature-and-process zones delineated in Muruntau–Myutenbai joint open pit mine. The project parameters of the pit and the scope of mining operations were determined from the geological and mathematical modeling including the detailed survey data and borehole assay results. The open pit mining scenarios within the project limits of mining phase V up to 2030 are considered. The open pit mining scheduling is performed with regard to operational specifics of the deposit, number of nature-and-process zones and duration of the scheduling period. It is concluded that maintenance of the required gold content of ore to be processed needs stimulation of the annual mining output up to 50–60 Mm3 in the easterly direction of the pit at the preserved production output in all nature-and-process zones. To this effect, it is required to formulate a sustainable action plan, with the assigned performance indicators, with regard to the Extra Activity Progr am to Improve Production of Precious Metals at Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat over the period to 2026 and further on to 2040. The authors appreciate participation of Head of a Department at VNIPIpromtekhnologii, Candidate of Engineering Sciences A. V. Seleznev in this study.

Integrating a Local Asset/Resource into Tourism and Leisure Offering: The Case of Tea Resources in Longwu Town, Zhejiang Province, China

The purpose of this article is to report on a research project in the field of tea tourism. The project’s aim was to identify the prerequisites and critical success factors for and to suggest the adequate strategies to achieve an effective pairing/partnership between the tea industry and tourism/leisure activities. Drawing on the blended theoretical foundations of sustainable tourism development, community-based tourism, and strategic marketing planning, this study first analyzed the tea offering as a tourism asset. It then suggested the appropriate pairing between tea offering and tourism/leisure activities. The suggested framework for managing the partnership was empirically tested and validated within the Chinese context. Findings allowed one to form a comprehensive and integrated set of key issues and elements to take into account. Clear and specific development aims along with the necessary conditions are leading to the determination of suitable strategies and adequate actions. The study also indicates the key elements for the successful integration, effective pairing, and sustainable operation of tea tourism offering. The study is completed by summarizing management implications and guidelines for involved stakeholders to attain expected outcomes from sustainable action plans.

Improving Youth Sports Safety: Implementing an Emergency Action Plan for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

BackgroundChildren who participate in youth sports are at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) related to undetected cardiac anomalies or abrupt impact to the chest. Nurse-led interventions may prevent sudden cardiac death by helping leagues implement an emergency action plan to respond to SCA and improve safety. A youth soccer league in the Southeast with participants between the ages of 5–19 years, led by volunteer board members and coaches, did not have reliable access to automated external defibrillators or receive standardized education on SCA and cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a site-specific action plan. MethodsA nurse-led quality improvement pilot project used partnerships to provide league access to automated external defibrillators, institute preseason SCA and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, and establish an emergency action plan for the league's volunteers. Anonymous pre- and post-training testing was conducted to measure participant knowledge, confidence, and willingness to respond to SCA. A cross-sectional survey, using a convenience sample of board members and coaches, evaluated sustainability of the intervention at midseason. InterventionTraining targeted board members (Blue Shirts) to serve as leaders on the field during an SCA event and educated coaches on activating the emergency action plan. ResultsBlue Shirts and coaches showed significant (p < .05) improvement of knowledge, confidence, and willingness to respond to SCA after receiving the standardized preseason intervention; Blue Shirts' changes were sustained at midseason. ConclusionNurses are ideal for helping youth sports leagues implement a sustainable SCA action plan based on best-practice recommendations for emergency health and safety.

The importance of changing urban scenery in the assessment of citizens’ soundscape perception. On the need for different time-related points of view

Abstract The city of Granada is experimenting a big urban transformation, attending national and international commitments on clean air, energy efficiency and savings linked to greenhouse gases reduction strategies and sustainable development action plans. This situation constitutes a good scenario for new noise control approaches that take into account the sound variable and citizens empowering in urban design, such as the soundscape assessment of urban territory. In this way, soundscape tools have been used in Granada as a complementary method for environmental noise characterisation where traditional noise control techniques are difficult to be carried out or give limited results. After 2016 strategic noise map and in the preparation of the new noise action plan, the city came across a great acoustic challenge in a new area located outskirts characterised by growing urbanisation, still under development, the greatest legal protection because of sensitive teaching and hospital buildings and the greatest noise exposure from nearby ring-way supporting heavy traffic flow. As quiet urban areas are not characterised by the absence of noise but for the presence of the right noise, this research intended to provide the local administration with results and proposals to transform this conflict area in a pleasant or quiet urban place. Main results came from important and significative differences in morning and evening characterisation, as great differences appear in soundscape assessment over the day and along the soundwalk path, indicating the importance of time and local issues to adequately characterised citizens perception to be considered by administration in the development of strategies and effective noise control actions.

Ten Million or One Hundred Million Casualties? – The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Least Developed and Developing Countries and Europe’s Sustainability Agenda

This is an updated and extended version of the University of Luxembourg Law Working Paper 2020-008 of 02/10/2020 (https://ssrn.com/abstract=3597657) which puts the European policy response to COVID-19 into context with the European sustainable finance action plan.This chapter argues that the overall impact of the COVID-19 crisis on developing countries is massive, with a potentially very high number of casualties: we float an entirely arbitrary figure of 100 million. To arrive at this number, we collect and collate the different ways in which COVID-19 may hit low- and middle-income countries from a public health perspective as well as economically, and show that the crisis may not only threaten many people’s lives but may even reverse the positive development trend of the last 20 years, putting the realization of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in some doubt. We further show that the response by EU and European countries as well as the world community is unfit to address this calamity. In turn, we propose five policy measures to mitigate the most severe impacts of the crisis on the least developed and developing countries. The chapter is structured as follows: Part 1 provides the context. Part 2 argues that the number of COVID-19 cases and casualties in the least developed and developing countries is almost certainly underestimated and understated. Part 3 lays out the indirect severe impacts of the crisis, namely the inevitable return of hunger and famine to many parts of the world. Part 4 suggests that the abandonment of the UN’s SDGs is one likely effect of the crisis in the absence of coordinated efforts; and Part 5 argues that the global and European support is insufficient to reverse the trend, indicating a departure from, or at least delay of, the sustainability agenda a possible, if not likely scenario. Part 6 presents five policy principles designed to limit the looming human tragedy. Part 7 concludes.