ALBERT

Description: Compositional variations of amphibole stratigraphically recovered from multiple eruptions at a given volcano have a great potential to archive long-term magmatic processes in its crustal plumbing system. Calcic amphibole is a ubiquitous yet chemically and texturally diverse mineral at Mount St. Helens (MSH), where it occurs in dacites and in co-magmatic enclaves throughout the Spirit Lake stage (last ~4000 years of eruptive history). It forms three populations with distinct geochemical trends in key major and trace elements, which are subdivided into a high-Al (11–14.5 wt% Al2O3), a medium-Al (10–12.5 wt% Al2O3), and a low-Al (7.5–10 wt% Al2O3) amphibole population. The oldest investigated tephra record (Smith Creek period, 3900–3300 years BP) yields a bimodal amphibole distribution in which lower-crustal, high-Al amphibole cores (crystallized dominantly from basaltic andesite to andesite melts) and upper-crustal, low-Al amphibole rims (crystallized from rhyolitic melt) document occasional recharge of a shallow silicic mush by a more mafic melt from a lower-crustal reservoir. The sudden appearance of medium-Al amphiboles enriched in incompatible trace elements in eruptive periods younger than 2900 years BP is associated with a change in reservoir conditions toward hotter and drier magmas, which indicates recharge of the shallow silicic reservoir by basaltic melt enriched in incompatible elements. Deep-crystallizing, high-Al amphibole, however, appears mostly unaffected by such incompatible-element-enriched basaltic recharge, suggesting that these basalts bypass the lower crustal reservoir. This could be the result of the eastward offset position of the lower crustal reservoir relative to the upper crustal storage zone underneath the MSH edifice. Amphibole has proven to be a sensitive geochemical archive for uncovering storage conditions of magmas at MSH. In agreement with geophysical observations, storage and differentiation have occurred in two main zones: an upper crustal and lower crustal reservoir (the lower one being chemically less evolved). The upper crustal silicic reservoir, offset to the west of the lower crustal reservoir, has captured compositionally unusual mafic recharge (drier, hotter, and enriched in incompatible trace elements in comparison to the typical parental magmas in the region), resulting in an increased chemical diversity of amphiboles and their carrier intermediate magmas, in the last ~3000 years of MSH’s volcanic record.

Description: Current global warming results in rising sea-water temperatures, and the loss of sea ice in arctic and subarctic oceans impacts the community composition of primary producers with cascading effects on the food web and potentially on carbon export rates. This study analyzes metagenomic shotgun and diatom rbcL amplicon-sequencing data from sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) of the subarctic western Bering Sea that records phyto- and zooplankton community changes over the last glacial–interglacial cycle, including the last interglacial period (Eemian). Our data show that interglacial and glacial plankton communities differ, with distinct Eemian and Holocene plankton communities. The generally warm Holocene period is dominated by pico-sized cyanobacteria and bacteria-feeding heterotrophic protists, while the Eemian period is dominated by eukaryotic pico-sized chlorophytes and Triparmaceae. In contrast, the glacial period is characterized by micro-sized phototrophic protists, including sea-ice associated diatoms in the family Bacillariaceae and co-occurring diatom-feeding crustaceous zooplankton. Our deep-time record of plankton community changes reveals a long-term decrease in phytoplankton cell size coeval with increasing temperatures, and resembling community changes in the currently warming Bering Sea. The phytoplankton community in the warmer-than-present Eemian period is distinct from modern communities and limits the use of the Eemian as an analog for future climate scenarios. However, under enhanced future warming, the expected shift towards the dominance of small-sized phytoplankton and heterotrophic protists might result in an increased productivity, whereas the community’s potential of carbon export will be decreased, thereby weakening the subarctic Bering Sea’s function as an effective carbon sink.

Description: Several species from various zooplankton taxa perform seasonal vertical migrations (SVM) of typically several hundred meters between the surface layer and overwintering depths, particularly in high-latitude regions. We use OPtimality-based PLAnkton (OPPLA) ecosystem model) to simulate SVM behavior in zooplankton in the Labrador Sea. Zooplankton in OPPLA is a generic functional group without life cycle, which facilitates analyzing SVM evolutionary stability and interactions between SVM and the plankton ecosystem. A sensitivity analysis of SVM-related parameters reveals that SVM can amplify the seasonal variations of phytoplankton and zooplankton and enhance the reduction of summer surface nutrient concentrations. SVM is often explained as a strategy to reduce exposure to visual predators during winter. We find that species doing SVM can persist and even dominate the summer-time zooplankton community, even in the presence of Stayers, which have the same traits as the migrators, but do not perform SVM. The advantage of SVM depends strongly on the timing of the seasonal migrations, particularly the day of ascent. The presence of higher (visual) predators tends to suppress the Stayers in our simulations, whereas the SVM strategy can persist in the presence of non-migrating species even without higher predators.

Description: Background and Aims Dysregulated mineral homeostasis is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated with bone demineralization and vascular calcification. The balance between bone formation and resorption, which reflect the bone calcium (Ca) balance (BCaB), cannot be determined without bone biopsy which is invasive and not easily repeatable. Recently, we have shown that stable (i.e. non-radioactive) Ca isotopes, 42Ca and 44Ca, can be measured in serum and their ratio (δ44/42Caserum) quantitatively determines net bone gain or loss of Ca. Thus, when bone formation exceeds bone resorption, the net BCaB is positive and δ44/42Caserum is high, and when bone resorption is the predominant process δ44/42Caserum is low compared to age-matched controls. In this study we compared δ44/42Caserum against δ44/42Cabone and arterial biopsy samples (δ44/42Caartery) and the sensitivity of δ44/42Ca in predicting changes in bone histology.

Description: The seismic receiver function (RF) technique is widely used as an economic method to image earth's deep interior in a large number of seismic experiments. P-wave receiver functions (RFs) constrain crustal thickness and average Vp/Vs in the crust by analysis of the Ps phase and multiples (reflected/converted waves) from the Moho. Regional studies often show significant differences between the Moho depth constrained by RF and by reflection/refraction methods. We compare the results from RF and controlled source seismology for the Baikal Rift Zone by calculating 1480 synthetic RFs for a seismic refraction/reflection velocity model and processing them with two common RF techniques [H–κ and Common Conversion Point (CCP) stacking]. We compare the resulting synthetic RF structure with the velocity model, a density model (derived from gravity and the velocity model), and with observed RFs. Our results demonstrate that the use of different frequency filters, the presence of complex phases from sediments and gradual changes in the properties of crustal layers can lead to erroneous interpretation of RFs and incorrect geological interpretations. We suggest that the interpretation of RFs should be combined with other geophysical methods, in particular in complex tectonic regions and that the long-wavelength Bouguer gravity anomaly signal may provide effective calibration for the determination of the correct Moho depth from RF results. We propose and validate a new automated, efficient method for this calibration.

Description: The neritic-oceanic squid Illex argentinus supports one of the largest fisheries in the Southwest Atlantic. It is characterized by extensive migrations across the Patagonian Shelf and complex population structure comprising distinct seasonal spawning groups. To address uncertainty as to the demographic independence of these groups that may compromise sustainable management, a multidisciplinary approach was applied integrating statolith ageing with genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. To obtain complete coverage of the spawning groups, sampling was carried out at multiple times during the 2020 fishing season and covered a large proportion of the species' range across the Patagonian Shelf. Statolith and microstructure analysis revealed three distinct seasonal spawning groups of winter-, spring-, and summer-hatched individuals. Subgroups were identified within each seasonal group, with statolith microstructure indicating differences in environmental conditions during ontogeny. Analysis of 〉10 000 SNPs reported no evidence of neutral or non-neutral genetic structure among the various groups. These findings indicate that I. argentinus across the Patagonian Shelf belong to one genetic population and a collaborative management strategy involving international stakeholders is required. The connectivity among spawning groups may represent a "bet-hedging" mechanism important for population resilience.

Description: The dynamics of marine systems at decadal scales are notoriously hard to predict—hence references to this timescale as the “grey zone” for ocean prediction. Nevertheless, decadal-scale prediction is a rapidly developing field with an increasing number of applications to help guide ocean stewardship and sustainable use of marine environments. Such predictions can provide industry and managers with information more suited to support planning and management over strategic timeframes, as compared to seasonal forecasts or long-term (century-scale) predictions. The most significant advances in capability for decadal-scale prediction over recent years have been for ocean physics and biogeochemistry, with some notable advances in ecological prediction skill. In this paper, we argue that the process of “lighting the grey zone” by providing improved predictions at decadal scales should also focus on including human dimensions in prediction systems to better meet the needs and priorities of end users. Our paper reviews information needs for decision-making at decadal scales and assesses current capabilities for meeting these needs. We identify key gaps in current capabilities, including the particular challenge of integrating human elements into decadal prediction systems. We then suggest approaches for overcoming these challenges and gaps, highlighting the important role of co-production of tools and scenarios, to build trust and ensure uptake with end users of decadal prediction systems. We also highlight opportunities for combining narratives and quantitative predictions to better incorporate the human dimension in future efforts to light the grey zone of decadal-scale prediction.

Description: Post-collisional volcanism contains important clues for understanding the processes that prevail in orogenic belts, including those in the mantle and the uplift and collapse of continents. Here we report new geochronological and geochemical data for a suite of post-collisional Miocene to Pleistocene volcanic rocks from northwest Iran. Four groups of volcanic rocks can be distinguished according to their geochemical and isotopic signatures, including: (1) Miocene depleted lavas with high Nd and Hf but low Pb and Sr isotopic ratios, (2) less depleted lavas with quite variable Pb isotopic composition, (3) lavas with non-radiogenic Nd and Hf isotopic values, but highly radiogenic Sr and Pb isotopic composition, and (4) Pleistocene adakitic rocks with depleted isotopic signatures. The isotopic data reveal that the Miocene rocks are derived from asthenospheric and highly heterogeneous sub-continental lithospheric mantle sources. Evidence suggests that the lithospheric mantle contains recycled upper continental material and is isotopically similar to the enriched mantle two (EMII) end-member. Analysis of Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf-O isotopes in both mineral and rock groundmass, in conjunction with energy-constrained assimilation and fractional crystallization (EC-AFC) numerical modeling, demonstrates that the incorporation of continental crust during magma fractionation via AFC had an insignificant impact on the isotopic composition of the Miocene lavas. Moreover, adakites are the youngest rocks and show a geochemical signature consistent with the partial melting of a young and mafic continental lower crust. Both seismological data and geochemical signatures on these Miocene to Pleistocene volcanic rocks indicate the initiation of asthenospheric upwelling and orogen uplift in the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone, which occurred after slab break-off, following the Neotethyan closure.

Description: Primary andesitic magmas could be an important component of arc magma genesis and might have played a key role in the advent of continents. Recent studies hypothesized that primary andesitic magmas occur in the oceanic arc, where the crust is thin. The Kermadec arc has the thinnest crust among all the studied oceanic arcs (〈15 km in thickness); however, there are no studies that corroborate the formation of primary andesitic magmas in the arc. The aim of this study is to develop a better understanding of primary andesites in oceanic arcs through the petrology of the Kermadec arc. Here, we present the petrology of volcanic rocks dredged from the Kibblewhite Volcano in the Kermadec arc during the R/V SONNE SO-255 expedition in 2017. Magma types range from andesite to rhyolite at the Kibblewhite Volcano, but basalts dominate at the neighboring cones. This study focuses on magnesian andesites from the northeastern flank of this volcano. The magnesian andesites are nearly aphyric and plagioclase free but contain microphenocrysts of olivine (Fo84–86) and clinopyroxene (Mg# = 81–87). Using olivine addition models, the primary magmas were estimated to contain 55–56 wt % SiO2 and 10–12 wt % MgO, similar to the high-Mg andesites observed in other convergent plate margins, indicating the generation of primary andesitic magma beneath the Kibblewhite Volcano. The trace element and isotopic characteristics of the magnesian andesites are typical of volcanic rocks from the Kermadec arc. This indicates that the subduction of a young plate or melting of a pyroxenitic source is not necessary to produce magnesian andesites. Instead, we propose that the magnesian andesites were produced by the direct melting of the uppermost mantle of the Kermadec arc. The thin crust of the Kermadec arc should yield low-pressure conditions in the uppermost mantle, allowing the sub-arc mantle to generate primary andesitic melts. This study supports the hypothesis that primary andesitic magmas generate in the arc where the crust is thin and provides a new insight into the magma genesis of the Kermadec arc.

Description: Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of flowering plants are composed of multiple chromosomes. Recombination within and between the mitochondrial chromosomes may generate diverse DNA molecules termed isoforms. The isoform copy number and composition can be dynamic within and among individual plants due to uneven replication and homologous recombination. Nonetheless, despite their functional importance, the level of mitogenome conservation within species remains understudied. Whether the ontogenetic variation translates to evolution of mitogenome composition over generations is currently unknown. Here we show that the mitogenome composition of the seagrass Zostera marina is conserved among worldwide populations that diverged ca. 350,000 years ago. Using long-read sequencing, we characterized the Z. marina mitochondrial genome and inferred the repertoire of recombination-induced configurations. To characterize the mitochondrial genome architecture worldwide and study its evolution, we examined the mitogenome in Z. marina meristematic region sampled in 16 populations from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Our results reveal a striking similarity in the isoform relative copy number, indicating a high conservation of the mitogenome composition among distantly related populations and within the plant germline, despite a notable variability during individual ontogenesis. Our study supplies a link between observations of dynamic mitogenomes at the level of plant individuals and long-term mitochondrial evolution.

Description: Marine algae are central to global carbon fixation and their productivity is dictated largely by resource availability. Reduced nutrient availability is predicted for vast oceanic regions as an outcome of climate change, however there is much to learn regarding response mechanisms of the tiny picoplankton that thrive in these environments, especially eukaryotic phytoplankton. Here, we investigate responses of the picoeukaryote Micromonas commoda, a green alga found throughout subtropical and tropical oceans. Under shifting phosphate (P) availability scenarios, transcriptomic analyses revealed altered expression of transfer RNA (tRNA) modification enzymes and biased codon usage of transcripts more abundant during P-limiting versus P-replete conditions, consistent with the role of tRNA modifications in regulating codon recognition. To associate the observed shift in expression of the tRNA modification enzyme complement with the tRNAs encoded by M. commoda, we also determined the tRNA repertoire of this alga revealing potential targets of the modification enzymes. Codon usage bias was particularly pronounced in transcripts encoding proteins with direct roles in managing P-limitation and photosystem-associated proteins that have ill-characterized putative functions in “light stress”. The observed codon usage bias corresponds to a proposed stress response mechanism in which the interplay between stress-induced changes in tRNA modifications and skewed codon usage in certain essential response genes drives preferential translation of the encoded proteins. Collectively, we expose a potential underlying mechanism for achieving growth under enhanced nutrient limitation, that extends beyond the catalog of up- or down-regulated protein-encoding genes, to the cell biological controls that underpin acclimation to changing environmental conditions.

Description: Omic BON is a thematic Biodiversity Observation Network under the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), focused on coordinating the observation of biomolecules in organisms and the environment. Our founding partners include representatives from national, regional, and global observing systems; standards organizations; and data and sample management infrastructures. By coordinating observing strategies, methods, and data flows, Omic BON will facilitate the co-creation of a global omics meta-observatory to generate actionable knowledge. Here, we present key elements of Omic BON's founding charter and first activities.

Description: Young grapevines (Vitis vinifera) suffer and eventually can die from the crown gall disease caused by the plant pathogen Allorhizobium vitis (Rhizobiaceae). Virulent members of A. vitis harbor a tumor-inducing plasmid and induce formation of crown galls due to the oncogenes encoded on the transfer DNA. The expression of oncogenes in transformed host cells induces unregulated cell proliferation and metabolic and physiological changes. The crown gall produces opines uncommon to plants, which provide an important nutrient source for A. vitis harboring opine catabolism enzymes. Crown galls host a distinct bacterial community, and the mechanisms establishing a crown gall–specific bacterial community are currently unknown. Thus, we were interested in whether genes homologous to those of the tumor-inducing plasmid coexist in the genomes of the microbial species coexisting in crown galls. We isolated 8 bacterial strains from grapevine crown galls, sequenced their genomes, and tested their virulence and opine utilization ability in bioassays. In addition, the 8 genome sequences were compared with 34 published bacterial genomes, including closely related plant-associated bacteria not from crown galls. Homologous genes for virulence and opine anabolism were only present in the virulent Rhizobiaceae. In contrast, homologs of the opine catabolism genes were present in all strains including the nonvirulent members of the Rhizobiaceae and non-Rhizobiaceae. Gene neighborhood and sequence identity of the opine degradation cluster of virulent and nonvirulent strains together with the results of the opine utilization assay support the important role of opine utilization for cocolonization in crown galls, thereby shaping the crown gall community.

Description: Eutrophication in marine waters is traditionally assessed by checking if nutrients, algal biomass and oxygen are below/above a given threshold. However, increased biomass, nutrient concentrations and oxygen demand do not lead to undesirable environmental effects if the flow of carbon/energy from primary producers toward high trophic levels is consistently preserved. Consequently, traditional indicators might provide a misleading assessment of the eutrophication risk. To avoid this, we propose to evaluate eutrophication by using a new index based on plankton trophic fluxes instead of biogeochemical concentrations. A preliminary, model-based, assessment suggests that this approach might give a substantially different picture of the eutrophication status of our seas, with potential consequences on marine ecosystem management. Given the difficulties to measure trophic fluxes in the field, the use of numerical simulations is recommended although the uncertainty associated with biogeochemical models inevitably affects the reliability of the index. However, given the effort currently in place to develop refined numerical tools describing the marine environment (Ocean Digital Twins), a reliable, model-based, eutrophication index could be operational in the near future.

Description: Macroalgal (seaweed) genomic resources are generally lacking as compared to other eukaryotic taxa, and this is particularly true in the red algae (Rhodophyta). Understanding red algal genomes is critical to understanding eukaryotic evolution given that red algal genes are spread across eukaryotic lineages from secondary endosymbiosis and red algae diverged early in the Archaeplastids. The Gracilariales is a highly diverse and widely distributed order including species that can serve as ecosystem engineers in intertidal habitats and several notorious introduced species. The genus Gracilaria is cultivated worldwide, in part for its production of agar and other bioactive compounds with downstream pharmaceutical and industrial applications. This genus is also emerging as a model for algal evolutionary ecology. Here, we report new whole genome assemblies for two species (G. chilensis and G. gracilis), a draft genome assembly of G. caudata, and genome annotation of the previously published G. vermiculophylla genome. To facilitate accessibility and comparative analysis, we integrated these data in a newly created web-based portal dedicated to red algal genomics (https://rhodoexplorer.sb-roscoff.fr). These genomes will provide a resource for understanding algal biology and, more broadly, eukaryotic evolution.

Description: Biological invasions are a global challenge that has received insufficient attention. Recently available cost syntheses have provided policy- and decision makers with reliable and up-to-date information on the economic impacts of biological invasions, aiming to motivate effective management. The resultant InvaCost database is now publicly and freely accessible and enables rapid extraction of monetary cost information. This has facilitated knowledge sharing, developed a more integrated and multidisciplinary network of researchers, and forged multidisciplinary collaborations among diverse organizations and stakeholders. Over 50 scientific publications so far have used the database and have provided detailed assessments of invasion costs across geographic, taxonomic, and spatiotemporal scales. These studies have provided important information that can guide future policy and legislative decisions on the management of biological invasions while simultaneously attracting public and media attention. We provide an overview of the improved availability, reliability, standardization, and defragmentation of monetary costs; discuss how this has enhanced invasion science as a discipline; and outline directions for future development.

Description: The development and physiology of herring larvae were monitored for individuals reared in control and combined warming-acidification crossed with different food quality treatments. The experiment revealed that warming and acidification triggers a stress response at the molecular level and decrease herring larvae size-at-stage. Global change puts coastal systems under pressure, affecting the ecology and physiology of marine organisms. In particular, fish larvae are sensitive to environmental conditions, and their fitness is an important determinant of fish stock recruitment and fluctuations. To assess the combined effects of warming, acidification and change in food quality, herring larvae were reared in a control scenario (11 & DEG;C*pH 8.0) and a scenario predicted for 2100 (14 & DEG;C*pH 7.6) crossed with two feeding treatments (enriched in phosphorus and docosahexaenoic acid or not). The experiment lasted from hatching to the beginning of the post-flexion stage (i.e. all fins present) corresponding to 47 days post-hatch (dph) at 14 & DEG;C and 60 dph at 11 & DEG;C. Length and stage development were monitored throughout the experiment and the expression of genes involved in growth, metabolic pathways and stress responses were analysed for stage 3 larvae (flexion of the notochord). Although the growth rate was unaffected by acidification and temperature changes, the development was accelerated in the 2100 scenario, where larvae reached the last developmental stage at a smaller size (-8%). We observed no mortality related to treatments and no effect of food quality on the development of herring larvae. However, gene expression analyses revealed that heat shock transcripts expression was higher in the warmer and more acidic treatment. Our findings suggest that the predicted warming and acidification environment are stressful for herring larvae, inducing a decrease in size-at-stage at a precise period of ontogeny. This could either negatively affect survival and recruitment via the extension of the predation window or positively increase the survival by reducing the larval stage duration.

Description: Machine learning covers a large set of algorithms that can be trained to identify patterns in data. Thanks to the increase in the amount of data and computing power available, it has become pervasive across scientific disciplines. We first highlight why machine learning is needed in marine ecology. Then we provide a quick primer on machine learning techniques and vocabulary. We built a database of & SIM;1000 publications that implement such techniques to analyse marine ecology data. For various data types (images, optical spectra, acoustics, omics, geolocations, biogeochemical profiles, and satellite imagery), we present a historical perspective on applications that proved influential, can serve as templates for new work, or represent the diversity of approaches. Then, we illustrate how machine learning can be used to better understand ecological systems, by combining various sources of marine data. Through this coverage of the literature, we demonstrate an increase in the proportion of marine ecology studies that use machine learning, the pervasiveness of images as a data source, the dominance of machine learning for classification-type problems, and a shift towards deep learning for all data types. This overview is meant to guide researchers who wish to apply machine learning methods to their marine datasets.

Description: We analyse the consistency of the delay time data in the most recent version of the ISC-EHB bulletin published by the International Seismological Centre covering the years 1964–2018. Considering that the delays are influenced by the lateral heterogeneity in the Earth’s mantle, we construct a tomographic matrix. We use singular value decomposition of the tomographic matrix for 19 707 dense clusters of earthquakes to compute objective estimates of the standard error from data that project into the null space and should be zero if there were no errors. Using a robust initial estimate of the standard deviation of the clustered delay times, we remove a small fraction of outliers before calculating the ultimate errors. We found that the errors depend on the type of body wave, depth of the earthquake (crust or mantle) and the number of decimals with which the arrival time was reported. Using these parameters, we distinguish 45 different classes of delay times for 11 different types of body waves. The errors of each class so divided generally follow a distribution that is approximately normal with a mean that ranges from 0.32 s for PKPbc waves from mantle earthquakes, to 2.82 s for S waves from shallow earthquakes bottoming in the upper mantle. The widths of the distributions of the errors themselves are small enough to serve in formal statistical quantification of the quality of fit in tomographic experiments.

Description: Volcano seismology is an essential tool for monitoring volcanic processes in the advent and during eruptions. A variety of seismic signals can be recorded at volcanoes, of which some are thought to be related to the migration of fluids which is of primary importance for the anticipation of imminent eruptions. We investigate the volcanic crises at Villarrica volcano in 2015 and report on a newly discovered very-long-period (VLP) signal that accompanies phases of periodic long period (LP) signal burst. Despite their low amplitude emergent character, we can locate the source region of the 1 Hz LP signals to the close vicinity of the volcano using a network-based correlation method. The source of the VLP signal with a period of about 30–100 s appears to locate in the vicinity of two stations a few kilometres from the summit. Both stations record very similar VLP waveforms that are correlated with the envelope of the LP bursts. A shallow magma reservoir was inferred by Contreras from surface deformation as the source of inflation following the eruption in 2015. Cyclic volume changes of 6 m3 in this reservoir at 3 km depth can explain the observed amplitudes of the vertical VLP signal. We propose that the LP signal is generated by the migration of gas or gas-rich magma that is periodically released from the inflating reservoir through a non-linear valve structure which modulates the flux, and thereby causes bursts of flow-related LP signals and pressure changes observed as VLP deformation. Our model predicts that the correlated occurrence of LP bursts and VLP surface motion depends on the intensity of the fluid flux. A weaker flux of fluids may not exceed the opening pressure of valve structure, and higher rates might maintain pressure above the closing pressure. In both cases, the VLP signal vanishes. Our observation provides constrains for models of fluid transport inside volcanoes. At Villarrica the VLP signal, and its relation to the LP activity, reveal additional information about fluxes in the magmatic reservoir that might aide forecasting of volcanic activity.

Description: Marine Ökosysteme wie Mangrovenwälder, Seegraswiesen, Salzwiesen und Makroalgen sowie marine Sedimente verfügen über die Eigenschaft, Kohlenstoff in ihrer Biomasse und Sedimenten zu speichern. Durch die Rehabilitation, Wiederherstellung und den Schutz dieser Ökosysteme kann somit das Potential des Ozeans zur Aufnahme von atmosphärischem CO2 erhöht werden. Dieses Potential wurde in Vorbereitung der 15. UN-Klimakonferenz in Kopenhagen 2009 unter dem Konzept „Blue Carbon" eingeführt und wird seitdem weiter erforscht und in politischen Prozessen weiterentwickelt. Die langfristige Sequestrierung von atmosphärischem CO2 durch Blue-Carbon-Ökosysteme unterstützt Umsetzungsprozesse zur Erreichung der Ziele des Pariser Abkommens. Das über Blue-Carbon-Ökosysteme sequestrierte CO2 zählt als Teil der globalen Kohlenstoffsenke als „negative Emissionen". So erreichte negative Emissionen sollten jedoch nicht zur Umgehung von ohnehin notwendigen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Schritten in Richtung einer CO2-neutralen Zukunft führen. Die Wiederherstellung und Rehabilitation von Blue-Carbon-Ökosystemen zur Erhöhung der natürlichen Kohlenstoffsenke des Planeten sollte zusätzlich zu einer signifikanten globalen Emissionsreduktion eingesetzt werden. Diese Studie erörtert die wissenschaftlichen, ökonomischen und politischen Fortschritte im Bereich Blue Carbon und stellt mögliche politische Handlungspfade vor, die das Potential von Blue-Carbon-Ökosystemen zum Klimaschutz in, durch und mit Deutschland stärken. Für die verschiedenen Blue-Carbon-Ökosysteme wird aufgezeigt, inwiefern die Ausweitung und der Schutz dieser Ökosystemen weitere Ziele der Klimaanpassung und der nachhaltigen Entwicklung unterstützen. Aufbauend auf einer Auswertung praktischer Umsetzungsbeispiele von Blue-Carbon-Projekten und möglicher Finanzierungsmechanismen wird nachfolgend ein politischer Handlungsleitpfaden für Deutschland in Bezug auf Blue Carbon entwickelt. Die politischen Handlungsempfehlungen wurden gemeinsam mit dem Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Nukleare Sicherheit entwickelt.

Description: Marine ecosystems like mangroves forests, seagrass meadows, salt marshes and macroalgae can store carbon in their biomass and sediments. Rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of these ecosystems can increase the potential for atmospheric carbon uptake by the ocean. This concept was first introduced as ‘blue carbon’ during the preparation for the 15th UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009 and since then it has seen continuous incorporation into politics and research. The long-term sequestration of atmospheric CO2 via blue carbon ecosystems supports the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. The CO2 that is sequestered by blue carbon ecosystems is part of the global carbon sink and therefore it can be counted as ‘negative emissions’ in the global carbon stocktake. However, such negative emissions should not be implemented as a substitute for necessary political and economic measures towards a carbon neutral future. Rehabilitation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems as a natural carbon sink is one of many measures but cannot replace the significant reduction of global emissions needed for the realisation of the global climate targets. This study discusses the scientific, economic and political realm of blue carbon. Furthermore, possible courses for political action “in”, “by”, and “through” Germany that could strengthen the potential of blue carbon ecosystems to sequester carbon are explored. The study investigates a variety of blue carbon ecosystems to determine to what extent the expansion and conservation of blue carbon ecosystems can support additional climate adaptation targets and Sustainable Development Goals. The evaluation of a multitude of implemented and ongoing blue carbon projects across the globe gives insight to best practices and possible financing mechanisms. A political guideline for Germany regarding blue carbon was developed together with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

Description: Este documento sirve de pauta orientativa para quienes deseen colaborar con las Organizaciones Regionales de Ordenación Pesquera (OROP) y explica cómo lograr medidas de conservación en una OROP, mediante el establecimiento de decisiones jurídicamente vinculantes. Se trata de una destilación de experiencias personales que incluye éxitos, fracasos y reflexiones sobre algunos de los aspectos más arcanos o complejos de las OROP. El propósito de este documento es el imperativo del proyecto STRONG High Seas: explorar el fracturado régimen de gobernanza de los océanos y, más explícitamente, ofrecer orientación práctica para apoyar la implementación de la conservación espacial en alta mar. Por lo tanto, este trabajo se enmarca en el contexto de la obtención de medidas de conservación espacial, usando ejemplos de otros esfuerzos de conservación de la biodiversidad a la vez que ofrece orientación para lograr medidas vinculantes para cualquier asunto, en cualquier OROP.

Description: The challenges facing European regions undergoing structural transformations as they transition towards sustainable development pathways have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Straddling the border between Germany and Poland, Lusatia is experiencing considerable transformation pressure. Various domestic and European funding programmes, for example under the umbrella of the European Green Deal, are intended to cushion the impacts of the phase-out or reduction of coal-fired power generation. The recently adopted EU Just Transition Mechanism aims to support sustainable structural transformations and the broader goal of achieving climate neutrality by mitigating impacts on the workforce and contributing to the diversification of economies in the most affected areas. Funds made available through this mechanism should be deployed in consultation with regional stakeholders in Lusatia to complement national support measures. Further funding programmes are available targeting various policy areas and could be harnessed to strengthen integration throughout the region. Funding programmes that are centrally managed by the European Commission (i.e. not under shared management with national governments) are of particular interest in this context. Closer political and economic cooperation, coupled with a deeper exchange of experience, can accelerate regional integration and guide processes of structural transformation towards sustainable outcomes. However, there are some practical hurdles to overcome in border regions. The primary objectives in using available EU funding are to mitigate the social impacts of processes of structural transformation and to deliver a just transition at all levels. Measures funded through these programmes should be aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and contribute to the goal of achieving climate neutrality.

Description: Ce rapport a été préparé dans le cadre du projet STRONG High Seas, à partir d’une série d’enquêtes menées auprès des parties prenantes et de l’expérience tirée de divers ateliers organisés dans la région de l’Atlantique du Sud-Est, ainsi que d’études documentaires et d’avis d’experts. Le rapport a été revu par plusieurs experts dans le but de valider les résultats et de garantir la rigueur du contenu. Ce document s’inscrit dans une série de rapports couvrant les questions de gouvernance des océans en mettant l’accent sur les ZAJN du Pacifique du Sud-Est et de l’Atlantique du SudEst et s’appuie sur les rapports précédents publiés par le projet STRONG High Seas. Les autres rapports du projet portent sur le cadre juridique et institutionnel applicable aux ZAJN, l’état écologique et l’importance socio-économique des ZAJN dans les régions du projet, les options de gestion et les mesures de conservation de la biodiversité marine dans les ZAJN, et les considérations relatives à la gestion intégrée des océans. Ces rapports sont disponibles sur le site web du projet STRONG High Seas.

Description: Este informe se ha elaborado en el marco del proyecto STRONG High Seas, basándose en una serie de encuestas a las partes interesadas, en la opinión de expertos y estudios bibliográficos, así como en la experiencia adquirida en varios talleres celebrados en la región del Pacífico Sudeste. El informe fue revisado por expertos para validar las conclusiones y garantizar un contenido sólido. Este informe forma parte de una serie de trabajos que abarcan cuestiones de gobernanza de los océanos, centrándose en las ABNJ de las regiones del Pacífico Sudeste y del Atlántico Sudeste, y se basa en informes anteriores publicados por el proyecto STRONG High Seas. Otros informes del proyecto abarcan el marco jurídico e institucional aplicable a las ABNJ, el estado ecológico y la importancia socioeconómica de las ABNJ en las regiones de interés, las distintas opciones en cuanto a medidas de gestión y conservación para la conservación de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ y las consideraciones para la gestión integrada de los océanos. Estos informes están disponibles en el sitio web del proyecto STRONG High Seas. Tras este capítulo introductorio, el capítulo 2 ofrece el contexto pertinente en relación con la gobernanza de los océanos en las zonas que se encuentran fuera de la jurisdicción nacional, las negociaciones en curso para alcanzar un nuevo acuerdo en el marco de la CONVEMAR y las necesidades y enfoques de desarrollo de capacidades relacionados. El capítulo 3 presenta un breve resumen de las encuestas realizadas por el proyecto STRONG High Seas en relación con las necesidades de capacidad en la región del Pacífico Sudeste y el capítulo 4 es un resumen de los correspondientes esfuerzos de desarrollo de capacidad llevados a cabo por parte del proyecto STRONG High Seas. El capítulo 5 ofrece reflexiones y recomendaciones para futuras actividades de desarrollo de capacidades más allá del ámbito del proyecto y destaca las lecciones aprendidas a lo largo de los cinco años de este proyecto. En los Anexos se ofrece información adicional sobre los antecedentes.

Description: This report was prepared as part of the STRONG High Seas project, based on a series of stakeholder surveys and experience gathered through various workshops held in the Southeast Pacific region, as well as on literature surveys and expert opinion. The report was reviewed by experts to validate findings and ensure robust content. This report is part of a series of reports covering issues of ocean governance with a focus on the ABNJ of the Southeast Pacific and the Southeast Atlantic regions and builds on previous reports published by the STRONG High Seas project. Further project reports cover the legal and institutional framework applicable to ABNJ, the ecological state and the socioeconomic importance of ABNJ in the project regions, options for management and conservation measures for conservation of marine biodiversity in ABNJ, and considerations for integrated ocean management. These reports are available through the STRONG High Seas project website. Following this introductory chapter, Chapter 2 provides relevant context with regards to ocean governance in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the ongoing negotiations towards a new agreement under UNCLOS and related capacity development needs and approaches. Chapter 3 presents a short summary of the surveys undertaken by the STRONG High Seas project with regards to capacity needs in the Southeast Pacific region and Chapter 4 is a summary of the corresponding capacity development efforts undertaken as part of the STRONG High Seas project. Chapter 5 provides reflections and recommendations for future capacity development activities beyond the scope of the project and highlights lessons learned through the five years of this project. Additional background information is provided in the Annexes.

Description: Local cooperation between civil society and the public sector is becoming increasingly important – in local transformation projects, in science, and occasionally in politics and administration. Commons-Public Partnerships (CPPs) provide a way to frame, promote and extend this collaboration. In civil society, CPPs are typically defined by the practice of commoning, where local communities exercise self-regulation based on the principles of community welfare and the common good. This discussion paper examines the theory and practice of commoning and other forms of cooperation. While focusing on the challenges of social-ecological transformation, the paper also identifies areas where CPPs can be implemented and highlights fields of tension exposed by the concept.

Description: Measures to support conservation efforts must put the protection of biodiversity and/or ecological integrity as the primary objective and consider cumulative pressures on the marine environment. This also means including ecological connectivity (e.g., migratory routes of marine species, transboundary impacts of human activities), and climate change impacts in their design and implementation. Moreover, the complexity and dynamic nature of the ocean, including in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), requires that conservation efforts acknowledge uncertainty, include options to address it or adapt swiftly to new scientific information, and consider the three-dimensional space of the ocean. This also requires that the best available interdisciplinary scientific and indigenous knowledge provide the basis for the design and implementation of such measures. It will be essential that measures to support conservation efforts apply mechanisms for cross-sectoral consultation, cooperation, and collaboration, as well as consider appropriate spatial and temporal scales for implementation. They must reflect broad societal goals and consider uneven distribution of socio-economic outcomes resulting from exploitative activities in ABNJ. Governance and management actions must recognise coupled and diverse social-ecological systems, and the interconnection between ocean health and human wellbeing, including diverse stakeholder considerations in the design and implementation of the measure or approach. It is essential that the design and implementation of measures to support conservation efforts include appropriate means to ensure the regular monitoring, control, and surveillance of human activities as well as the compliance and enforcement of the laws and regulations in place. States are familiar with legal instruments, such as those under the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions, International Seabed Authority (ISA), and management measures adopted by the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). They have developed governance structures and capacity to support their implementation. The recommendation in this context would be for States to support the consolidation and further development of measures to support conservation efforts with the aim to ensure that they integrate their approach with considerations for ecological connectivity, biodiversity protection, ecosystem-based integrated ocean management and climate change implications for the conservation and management of biodiversity in ABNJ. To be effective, any measures to support conservation efforts proposed for ABNJ in the Southeast Atlantic region must consider the socio-economic and political realities of the countries whose Exclusive Economic Zones border these areas. In this sense, it is important to note the important role that the fishing sector has historically played and continues to play for most economies of this region. The proposed Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Instrument in negotiation at the United Nations, will be fundamental for establishing the legal basis for developing and implementing cross-sectoral measures to support conservation efforts in ABNJ. The way in which the proposed BBNJ Instrument is integrated and how the link to existing conservation and sustainable use measures established under existing management organisations is made will determine the effectiveness of the possible measures to support current and future conservation efforts. In this regard, it is particularly important for the Southeast Atlantic region how existing RFMOs will be able to interact with the proposed BBNJ Instrument. Considering the capacity (technological, experience, financial, logistical) challenges of many of the countries in the Southeast Atlantic, it is important that measures to support conservation efforts under existing international treaties or legal mechanisms be integrated, practical, and cost-effective. The different legal status of the water column and the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction and the different legal provisions in place represent a challenge for the development of a coherent, comprehensive, and integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in ABNJ. Lack of uniformity in compliance among flag States and the lack of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in ABNJ jeopardise the achievement of an integrated approach for conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in these vast areas of ocean. The wide array of existing instruments can be used to improve conservation of biodiversity in ABNJ through improved monitoring and enforced compliance. This remains the responsibility of individual flag States, but at present there is limited reporting of vessels and minimum follow up action by flag or port States.

Description: In April 2021, under the “IMPACT R” project, IASS Potsdam and HEDERA Sustainable Solutions GmbH in Berlin, together with University of Rwanda and Sustainable Villages Foundation (SVF), conducted a household survey in two villages in Rwanda. SVF has started an integrated village development pilot project in those two villages and wanted to better understand the local populations’ needs and establish a baseline for impact measurement, in order to track the project’s progress over time. In parallel, focus group discussions and key stakeholder interviews were carried out. The main results are as follows: Over 80 % of households get their main income from agriculture, largely on small plots. Two-thirds of the households have USD 45 or less to spend on a 5-person family, on average. There is no public electricity grid. Half of the households have access to very basic electricity through solar systems; the other half has none at all. Over 90 % of households use wood and open fire pits or handmade clay stoves for cooking, mostly indoors, causing deforestation and health problems because of the smoke. There is no public or private drinking water supply. Villagers collect rainwater and/or surface water, which has to be carried over several kilometers by adults and children. The water is dirty and not treated before drinking in one-third of households, which triggers diseases. Only 26 % of households are classified as food-secure, whereas 15.5 % are above the severe food insecurity threshold. A significant percentage of the inhabitants does not eat a balanced diet due to lack of resources. The local community especially emphasized the need for: Priority 1: Safe drinking water Priority 2: Electricity Priority 3: Clean cooking devices Another severe challenge is poverty in general. There is a shortage of food in terms of quantity and quality for a significant portion of the population. This is caused by households’ limited financial capacity and insufficient agricultural yield due to the absence of water for irrigation and inefficient agricultural techniques. Furthermore, teacher qualification in English and information technology (IT) is not satisfactory, and the primary school has no electricity in most of the classrooms and no computers. Professional training options are only offered far away from the villages and are very costly. New business development is hindered by the lack of electricity. The target communities seek for support to address all the above challenges and are willing to contribute their part.

Description: This report presents a framework for the systematic monitoring of the global hydrogen economy. It suggests data sources and indicators to systematically survey the most important trends and developments of a future global hydrogen economy. Monitoring based on this framework could provide an important knowledge base for the continuous review of policy measures related to the German and European hydrogen policy.

Description: Im folgenden Bericht wird ein Konzept für ein systematisches Monitoring der globalen Wasserstoffwirtschaft vorgestellt. Der Bericht stellt Datenquellen und Indikatoren zur systematischen Erfassung der wichtigsten Trends und Entwicklungen im Rahmen einer globalen Wasserstoffwirtschaft vor. Ein entsprechendes Monitoring könnte einen wichtigen Beitrag zur kontinuierlichen Überprüfung von Politikmaßnahmen im Rahmen der deutschen und europäischen Wasserstoffpolitik leisten.

Description: Deep-seabed mining in the Area is regulated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) which is mandated to act on behalf of humankind as a whole. Consistent with international environmental law and human rights norms, in its decision making the ISA is expected to engage with its broad constituency. Using ten assessment criteria, this paper analyses the extent to which the ISA has facilitated public participation to date. This paper finds that, while the ISA has increased outreach activities, significant scope for improvement remains. Several ways to improve public participation at the ISA are identified, including (1) proactive consultation with a wider reach, including stakeholders that are hitherto not engaged; (2) mechanisms to ensure stakeholder consultations and submissions are given due consideration, and that the rationale for decisions are publicly communicated; and (3) enhanced public engagement in the implementation of decisions.

Description: La gestión integrada de los océanos (GIO) es un enfoque adaptativo de la gestión de las actividades humanas en el océano, que tiene sus raíces en el enfoque ecosistémico. Requiere la consideración de todas las dimensiones del espacio oceánico – esferas física, oceanográfica, climática, biológica, social y económica – e incluye la dinámica espacial y temporal del sistema. Su objetivo es crear un marco para una economía oceánica sostenible. Para lograr este ambicioso objetivo, los procesos de gestión deben integrarse entre la gobernanza, las partes interesadas, los conocimientos, la dinámica del sistema y ser transfronterizos, lo que constituirá los "pilares" para una integración eficaz. Las características clave del enfoque integrado propuesto para la gestión de los océanos exigen una mayor colaboración, intercambio de conocimientos, transparencia, coordinación y comunicación. Los puntos de vista y valores de la comunidad, así como los conocimientos científicos, tradicionales y locales, desempeñan un papel fundamental en la definición y puesta en marcha de los pilares mencionados. El enfoque de la GIO aún no se ha aplicado a las ABNJ, pero sí a las aguas costeras. La GIO será cada vez más importante en las ABNJ para hacer frente a los crecientes desafíos de lograr la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina. Por ello, este informe pretende ofrecer una visión general de la aplicación de la GIO en el contexto de la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ, especialmente en las regiones del Atlántico Sudeste y del Pacífico Sudeste. En particular, pretende promover la GIO para las ABNJ en todos los sectores y dimensiones ecológicas, considerando la aplicación de condiciones propicias para lograr la cooperación y la colaboración entre los diversos actores que trabajan en las ABNJ o que las afectan. Este informe resume Resumen ejecutivo los retos actuales a los que se enfrenta la gestión de las ABNJ, identifica las oportunidades para aplicar la GIO a través de las fronteras y ofrece recomendaciones para avanzar en esta prioridad urgente, guiada por los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. Abordar la GIO en las ABNJ es especialmente pertinente en este momento, ya que los Estados están negociando un nuevo instrumento jurídicamente vinculante para la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ (denominado en este informe Acuerdo BBNJ). Por lo tanto, existe la oportunidad de que los Estados incorporen disposiciones que permitan que el mecanismo sea plenamente operativo en el marco del Acuerdo BBNJ una vez que éste sea adoptado y ratificado. Este informe abarca los conceptos de la GIO, sus pilares, la importancia de la GIO para la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ y las oportunidades de reforzar la GIO para la conservación de la BBNJ en las dos regiones focales del proyecto STRONG High Seas: el Atlántico Sudeste y el Pacífico Sudeste. Tras analizar las oportunidades en estas dos regiones, este informe destaca algunas vías claras por las que este enfoque integrado puede apoyar significativamente la conservación de la biodiversidad en ABNJ. A continuación, se incluyen algunas recomendaciones de este informe. Para un conjunto más completo de posibles acciones y decisiones que podrían adoptar una serie de actores para mejorar la GIO, véase Table 2 en el capítulo 3.

Description: The high volume of plastic packaging currently consumed in Germany poses a complex socio-ecological risk. As part of the BMBF-funded ENSURE research consortium, environmental psychologists at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam have studied various policy options to promote a reduction in individual consumption of plastic food packaging. A representative nationwide survey of 1,200 persons conducted by the researchers shows that 92 per cent of the interviewed consumers consider plastic waste in the environment a threat to the preservation of our natural resources and the foundations of life. Despite this widespread awareness, the consumption of plastic packaging continues to grow: In 2018, Germany generated over three million tonnes of plastic packaging waste; more than double the amount produced in 1997. The findings of the ENSURE project indicate that consumers are willing and indeed wish to reduce their consumption of plastic packaging; however, they are hindered by personal and structural barriers. Political action is needed to break down these barriers to change and support consumers in their efforts. This IASS Policy Brief presents three strategic policy recommendations that could help reduce the consumption of packaging in daily life. Following an outline of the broader context and key issues, these three recommendations are explained in detail. In conclusion, we highlight the need for a systemic approach to the reduction of plastic packaging.

Description: This report aims to showcase and assess the participative multi-stakeholder approach used in the STRONG High Seas project to co-develop and co-design activities and outputs such as scientific assessments and capacity development programs. In particular, the report provides reflections from the project team on the numerous lessons learned during the project duration on participative multi-stakeholder approaches in transdisciplinary ocean governance research, such as designing and implementing effective engagement strategies, designing targeted capacity development programmes, and fostering co-creative research processes for supporting decision-making and achieving policy impact. The reflections on and recommendations for participative multi-stakeholder approaches within transdisciplinary ocean governance research gained through the course of the STRONG High Seas project can be found in Chapter 3.

Description: This COBENEFITS report gives an overview of enabling policies that have high potential to make fair use of the maximum potential of co-benefit opportunities that can be unlocked by following the pathway of a high share of renewable energies in the power sector. They are presented according to the different COBENEFITS categories. Enabling policies for renewable energy (RE) cobenefits and their specification and implementation are highly context-specific. They need to take into account the context of the country or region they are planned for, and need to be tailored to remove specific barriers preventing communities from unlocking them. Therefore, each enabling policy option presented in this report is accompanied by a short summary of an initial situation that they might solve or improve.

Description: In the last years, the concept of tipping points received increasing recognition in social science and rose on the political agenda. Identifying tipping points would allow researchers to identify the point in time in which a transition happens, and to understand the processes of overcoming lock-in mechanisms and trigger deliberate tipping an existing system into a qualitatively new state. Because tipping points bring about rapid systemic change, it is desirable to further understand how tipping points may be triggered to accelerate the transformation of social and economic systems. There is little doubt that tipping points exist in both social and socio-technical systems because we can observe that systems and societies are fundamentally different today than they were in the past. However, despite a growing body of literature, there remain many open questions how to conceptualise and ultimately operationalize social tipping points. This also stems from a lack of empirical studies and insights observing tipping points in social contexts. In the Tipping.Plus project we addressed this gap with a literature review and empirical case studies investigating tipping dynamics from a public policy and governance perspective. In the literature review we explored definitions, characteristics, and the application of the concept and notion of tipping points in political and governance theories and contexts. In the second step, we conducted an empirical study investigating the socio-economic transition processes of the two German neigbouring cities Essen and Duisburg, which have both phased out their coal industries, as part of the wider structural change in the Ruhr Region. We focused on (political) interventions and their effects on the cities’ development trajectories in the last 30+ years to identify differences in outcome as a function of policy interventions and/or contextual differences. Apart from identifying the key development drivers, we investigate whether either city crossed a tipping point in their transition process (yet), away from coal towards a low carbon but still prosperous future (Mey and Lilliestam 2022). In the following we synthesise the findings of this work and our observations and experiences in order to contribute to the overall Tipping.Plus Integration Framework and Social Theory on social tipping points in energy transitions.

Description: Research undertaken in Task 2.2 identified a range of governance challenges to ocean-based NETs related to the global ocean governance framework, e.g., linked to the transboundary nature of the ocean, potential effects of ocean-based NETs on the ocean’s condition and marine ecosystem services, as well as the many unknowns and uncertainties linked to NET-deployment. The fragmented approaches and frameworks in place to govern the global ocean further complicate comprehensive governance of these emerging technologies. This deliverable presents results from a workshop that explored how ocean-based NETs should be governed to best confront these challenges and integrate international climate targets as well as global goals for ocean and biodiversity conservation, in addition to global ambitions towards sustainable development. The workshop is part of research undertaken by Task 2.2 to assess how ocean-based NETs are addressed by the current global ocean governance framework and develop governance scenarios and recommendations to policy makers for a “good governance” of NETs in the ocean.

Description: Die Arktis erwärmt sich substanziell schneller als der globale Durchschnitt. Der rasche Temperatur-anstieg verändert die Arktis bereits tiefgreifend - und wird dies auch weiterhin tun - mit noch unbekannten Folgen für die Region und die ganze Welt. Gleichzeitig mit dem Rückgang des Meereises und der sich verändernden Verteilung der lebenden Meeresressourcen hat eine Zunahme des wirtschaftlichen Interesses an der Region zu Bedenken hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeit der wirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten in der Arktis geführt. Um Wege zu finden, wie der Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung der arktischen Meeresumwelt gewährleistet werden können, ist ein umfassendes Verständnis der Meeresumwelt, der sie beeinflussen-den Belastungen und der relevanten Regulierungen und Managementmaßnahmen erforderlich. DasEcologic Institut und das Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies haben sich zum Ziel gesetzt, durch eine Reihe von Berichten zum Meeresschutz in der Arktis einen Überblick über die relevantenInformationen zu geben. Die Berichte konzentrieren sich auf die fünf arktischen Anrainerstaaten: Ka-nada, Dänemark (durch Grönland), Norwegen, die Russische Föderation und die Vereinigten Staaten.Darüber hinaus gibt ein regionaler Bericht einen umfassenden Überblick und fasst die einschlägigen internationalen und regionalen Vorschriften zusammen. Der vorliegende Bericht behandelt die für den Meeresschutz in der russischen Arktis relevanten Informationen. Der Bericht deckt vier Hauptthemen ab: Er beginnt mit der Beschreibung der wichtigstenMerkmale der Meeresumwelt der russischen Arktis. Anschließend werden wesentlichen Belastungen untersucht, die sich auf die marine Biodiversität in der Region auswirken, gefolgt von einer Untersuchung der soziokulturellen und wirtschaftlichen Rolle sowie der Umweltauswirkungen der wichtigsten meeresbezogenen menschlichen Aktivitäten in der russischen Arktis. Der letzte Teil des Berichts gibt einen Überblick über die relevanten nationalen Institutionen sowie über Regulierungen, Vorschriften und Instrumente, die zum Schutz der russischen arktischen Meeresbiodiversität und zur Gewährleistung ihrer nachhaltigen Nutzung eingesetzt werden oder eingesetzt werden könnten. Hinweis: Die in diesem Bericht präsentierten Informationen wurden hauptsächlich während der weltweiten Covid-19-Pandemie und vor dem russischen Einmarsch in die Ukraine im Jahr 2022 zusammengetragen. Die (weiteren) politischen und wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen dieser Ereignisse und dies ich daraus ergebenden Veränderungen in der Arktis-Governance sind zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nichtabsehbar, und es ist zu erwarten, dass sich einige der in diesem Bericht dargestellten Entwicklungen und Trends erheblich ändern werden. Die Kernbotschaften des Berichts finden sich unter der folgenden englischen Zusammenfassung.

Description: Global interest and activity in the Arctic have increased greatly in recent decades. The Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average. These rapidly increasing temperatures are already profoundly changing – and will continue to change – the Arctic, with yet unknown consequences for the people, environment, and economy in the region as well as worldwide (SDWG, 2021). The diminishing sea ice extent and the changing distribution of marine living resources have led to an increase in economic interest in the region as well as concerns about the sustainability of economic activities in the Arctic (Raspotnik et al., 2021). The challenge now is to identify development pathways that can ensure the sustainable use and conservation of the Arctic marine environment (SDWG, 2021). In order to identify ways in which conservation and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment can be ensured, a broad understanding of the marine environment, the pressures affecting it, and the relevant regulations is needed. Ecologic Institute and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies aim to provide an overview of relevant information through a series of reports on marine conservation in the Arctic. The reports focus on the five Arctic coastal states: Canada, Denmark (by virtue of Greenland), Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States. In addition, a regional report is providing a broader overview and summarises relevant international and regional regulations. The reports were published in 2022 and are available for download on the websites of the Ecologic Institute and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies. This current report presents an overview of information relevant to marine conservation in the Russian Arctic. The report covers four main issues: it starts with the description of the key characteristics of the Russian Arctic marine environment. Then it examines significant pressures impacting marine biodiversity in the region, followed by exploring the socio-cultural and economic role as well as the environmental impact of the main sea-based human activities in the Russian Arctic. The last part of the report describes the Russian ocean governance system and provides an overview of relevant national institutions as well as rules, regulations and tools which are, or could be, employed to protect marine biodiversity in this region and ensure its sustainable use. NB: The information presented in this report was mainly collated during the global Covid-19 pandemic and prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The (further) political and economic impacts of these events and resulting changes in Arctic governance cannot be foreseen at this point in time and it can be expected that some of the developments and trends presented in this report may change substantially.

Description: Este informe – Estudio sobre medidas para apoyar esfuerzos de conservación en áreas fuera de la jurisdicción nacional en la región del Pacífico Sudeste – pretende proporcionar recomendaciones para la conservación y uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en áreas fuera de la jurisdicción nacional (ABNJ, por sus siglas en inglés) en la región del Pacífico Sudeste. Estas recomendaciones incluyen consideraciones para establecer nuevas medidas de conservación y manejo y expandir o mejorar en la región otras medidas existentes; así como el uso de herramientas que apoyan el desarrollo de medidas de conservación. Este informe ha sido elaborado por investigadores del proyecto STRONG High Seas a partir de una revisión bibliográfica de artículos académicos, análisis de datos, conocimientos de las partes interesadas y experiencias recogidas en talleres de expertos celebrados en la región de interés del proyecto en 2021. La información presentada aquí pretende apoyar a tomadores de decisiones, incluyendo funcionarios de los gobiernos, el sector privado y otras partes interesadas que trabajen en el tema de la gobernanza oceánica en ABNJ y que participen o tengan interés en el actual desarrollo de la Conferencia Intergubernamental sobre un instrumento internacional jurídicamente vinculante en el marco de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar (CONVEMAR) relativo a la conservación y el uso sostenible de la diversidad biológica marina de las áreas fuera de la jurisdicción nacional (BBNJ, por sus siglas en inglés). Este informe hace parte de una serie de informes publicados por el proyecto STRONG High Seas [Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (June 2017 – May 2022)], que cubren aspectos de la gobernanza de los océanos con un foco geográfico en la región del Pacífico Sudeste (y el Atlántico Sudeste).

Description: In diesem Beitrag wird das aktuelle Interesse der politischen und wirtschaftlichen Entscheidungsträger in den öl- und gasproduzierenden Staaten des Golf-Kooperationsrates (GCC) an der Wasserstoffenergie untersucht. Obwohl die Hauptakteure die fossilen Energieträger, die die politische Ökonomie der Region seit Jahrzehnten bestimmen, weiterhin stärken, erkennen sie zunehmend, dass sich das Zeitalter der Kohlenwasserstoffe dem Ende zuneigt. Dies hat zu einer Zunahme verschiedener "Post-Öl"-Energieinvestitionen geführt, zu denen in letzter Zeit auch Wasserstoff gehört. In diesem Diskussionspapier wird untersucht, warum dies der Fall ist, d. h. warum die politischen und unternehmerischen Spitzen des Golf-Kooperationsrates (GCC) an der Förderung von Wasserstoffenergiesystemen in der Region interessiert sind. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Bestrebungen zur Herstellung von "grünem" Wasserstoff - die ihren Ursprung in Europa und insbesondere in Deutschland haben - zunehmend als eine Möglichkeit gesehen werden, den grünen Ruf der Region zu verbreiten und gleichzeitig Investitionen in "blauen" Wasserstoff zu unterstützen, die von den staatlichen Öl- und Gasriesen in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten (VAE) und Saudi-Arabien gefördert werden.

Description: Dieses Paper behandelt Barrieren und positive Einflussfaktoren auf persönliches und öffentliches Engagement für Klimaschutz. Der Erfolg von ambitionierter Klimaschutzpolitik hängt in Demokratien von gesellschaftlicher Zustimmung und Ownership für die unternommenen Maßnahmen ab. AktivistInnen und EntscheidungsträgerInnen müssen ihre Ideen auf eine Weise kommunizieren, die die Menschen anspricht und sie aufrüttelt. Um dabei Erfolg zu haben, muss zunächst verstanden werden, was Menschen zum Handeln motiviert und was sie daran hindert. Dieses Paper trägt zur Beantwortung dieser Fragen bei, indem es einen Überblick über Theorien der Psychologie und der Kommunikationswissenschaft über die kognitiven Tendenzen gibt, die eine logische Entscheidungsfindung behindern. Anschließend wird eine Alternative zum weitverbreiteten „Angstaufruf“ in der Klimawandelkommunikation vorgeschlagen: ein positives, chancenorientiertes Framing, das mit den Werten der Menschen im Einklang steht und das Potenzial hat, langfristiges Engagement für nachhaltige Maßnahmen anzuregen. Schließlich wird aufgezeigt, wie das sogenannte Co-benefits Framing in der Politik genutzt werden kann.

Description: Jordan’s energy transition has been rapid and ambitious: in 2021 renewables accounted for 26 % of electricity production in Jordan, up from less than 1 % in 2014. This massive leap forward was prompted by energy security concerns in the wake of the Arab Spring that forced the government to scramble for alternatives to Egyptian gas. Today, Jordan is a regional clean energy industry frontrunner, with over 300 PV companies and around 13 000 employees in the sector. However, recent policy decisions have stalled further progress. Auctions for new projects have been scaled back or postponed, and new ventures in excess of 1 MW were indefinitely suspended in January 2019. At the same time, changes to electricity tariff structures have dampened demand for residential PV. This loss of momentum is largely due to financial constraints on Jordan’s state-owned National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), which is caught in long-term purchasing agreements for fossil fuels that conflict with the goal of growing Jordan’s renewable energy sector and are exacerbating NEPCO’s already significant debt burden. With 20 % of public debt linked to the electricity sector, this also has ripple effects for the rest of the Jordanian economy. Increased regional cooperation will be needed to re-negotiate Jordan’s commitments to purchase fossil fuels and to expand the regional market for renewable energy, allowing Jordan to export surplus electricity and establish itself as a clean energy hub while at the same time giving neighbours the chance to sell energy elsewhere and increasing regional stability. And while Jordan’s top-down approach to energy policy was crucial to driving the rapid growth of renewables, the current risk of stalling progress makes it clear that stakeholders from different ministries as well as industry and civil society must be involved in future policy development processes to accelerate Jordan’s energy transition and shift the country from the current single-buyer model towards a more competitive market for electricity.

Description: Die lokale Zusammenarbeit von organisierter Zivilgesellschaft und öffentlicher Hand gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung: in lokalen Transformationsprojekten, in der Wissenschaft und vereinzelt auch in Politik und Verwaltung. Commons-Public Partnerships (CPPs) bieten eine Möglichkeit, diese Zusammenarbeit zu rahmen, zu fördern und auszuweiten. Auf Seite der Zivilgesellschaft zeichnen sich CCPs durch die Praxis des Commoning aus, also gemeinschafts- wie gemeinwohlorientierte Praktiken der lokalen Selbstorganisation. Im vorliegenden Diskussionspapier wird sowohl das Commoning als auch die Form der Kooperation konzeptuell und in der Praxis verortet. Mit einem Fokus auf die Herausforderungen der sozialökologischen Transformation werden Potenzialfelder für den Einsatz von CPPs identifiziert. Darüber hinaus werden konzeptuelle Spannungsfelder beleuchtet.

Description: Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) or CO2 utilization technologies attract researchers, policy makers, and industry actors in search of sustainable solutions for industrial processes. This increasing interest can be explained by the fact that these processes comprise the capturing of CO2 – the most relevant greenhouse gas (GHG) – from the air or industrial point sources, and promote its use as a feedstock for the production of goods. CCU processes are expected to contribute to the greenhouse gas neutrality targets of several industrial sectors and the development of a circular economy. Therefore, understanding the environmental impacts and economics of CO2 utilization routes is essential for decision makers from relevant fields, such as technology developers, entrepreneurs, funding agencies, policy makers, administrators and more. A deep understanding of the specific implications of CO2 utilization technologies is needed to make decisions in line with sustainability strategies, and to discard inappropriate solutions. The ‘Techno-Economic Assessment & Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines for CO2 Utilization’1 (henceforth TEA and LCA Guidelines) published by the Global CO2 Initiative (GCI) in October 2018, represent a milestone in the harmonization of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) for evaluating CCU technologies. Henceforth, we refer to this document as TEA and LCA Guidelines. The TEA and LCA Guidelines provide a guide to overcoming methodological discrepancies that lead to confusion among practitioners, concerning how to conduct assessments, and which often lead to contradictory results.2 3 Documents with a similar focus have also been published by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).4 The success of the GCI publication and the demand for such guidelines is evidenced by the strong response that the authors registered in the months following its publication: more than 2,000 copies of the TEA and LCA Guidelines have been distributed in digital form or hard copy, and a growing community of practitioners, and decision makers from science, industry, and public administration are learning how to generate robust and comparable assessments when evaluating CCU technologies. In addition to the guidelines and the present report, the same research group has recently released five illustrative worked examples5 to support the application of the TEA and LCA Guidelines, and three accompanying peer-reviewed articles.6 At the same time, policy officers at national and international levels have frequently signaled the urgency of further developing these tools, to enable evaluation of innovative technologies as a basis for decision making in funding and policy design (e.g., the EU Innovation Fund). Despite the urgent need to address planetary climate change, the development and diffusion of new technologies often takes considerable time. Consequently, leveraging the current momentum amongst all involved actors that CCU has achieved to date is paramount and is an opportunity that must not be missed. Despite demands for aligned assessment methods from the industrial and policy spheres,7 there are evident challenges in dealing with the practical application of such methods in commissioning, reading, and interpreting LCA and TEA studies. There is also a risk of insufficient transfer into policy or other decision-making processes, in cases where the involved actors do not possess disciplinary expertise in the relevant methodology.

Description: This study is part of my research project on "Subnational Climate Governance Policies in the Brazilian Amazon – challenges and opportunities of cross border transformative co-creation", carried out at the IASS Potsdam. To acess my article, access https://www.iass-potsdam.de/en/output/publications/2021/subnational-climate-policiesbrazils- legal-amazon-glance.

Description: In this paper, we investigate the socio-economic transition processes of Essen and Duisburg as part of the wider structural change in the Ruhr Region. In the two case studies, we explore causes and effects of the cities’ development trajectories in the last 30+ years, seeking to identify differences in outcome as a function of the interventions and/or contextual differences. We analyse events, interventions and their impacts on the social and economic systems of the two cities across time. Apart from identifying the key development drivers, we investigate whether either city crossed a tipping point in their transition process (yet), away from coal towards a low-carbon but still prosperous future. Therefore, we specifically evaluate the cities’ development trajectories by seeking evidence for “no”, “incremental” or “radical” changes in a set of indicators. Here, we have taken a long temporal perspective, because trajectories of and trajectory changes in social systems are specifically visible in demographic dynamics, economic structures and political arrangements across time.

Description: Die diesen Handlungsempfehlungen zu Grunde liegende Studie „Mehr Nachhaltigkeit im Quartier erzielen – Erfolgsfaktoren aus drei kommunalen Planungsprozessen“ (DOI: 10.48481/iass.2022.032) des Instituts für transformative Nachhaltigkeitsforschung (IASS) ging der folgenden Frage nach: Wie gelingt es Kommunen, Quartiere mit einem hohem Nachhaltigkeitsanspruch zu planen, ohne die Qualitäten im Prozess zu verlieren?

Description: Die Arktis erwärmt sich substanziell schneller als der globale Durchschnitt. Der rasche Temperatur-anstieg verändert die Arktis bereits tiefgreifend - und wird dies auch weiterhin tun - mit noch unbekannten Folgen für die Region und die ganze Welt. Gleichzeitig mit dem Rückgang des Meereises und der sich verändernden Verteilung der lebenden Meeresressourcen hat eine Zunahme des wirtschaftlichen Interesses an der Region zu Bedenken hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeit der wirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten in der Arktis geführt. Um Wege zu finden, wie der Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung der arktischen Meeresumwelt gewährleistet werden können, ist ein umfassendes Verständnis der Meeresumwelt, der sie beeinflussenden Belastungen und der relevanten Regulierungen und Managementmaßnahmen erforderlich. DasEcologic Institut und das Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies haben sich zum Ziel gesetzt, durch eine Reihe von Berichten zum Meeresschutz in der Arktis einen Überblick über die relevantenInformationen zu geben. Die Berichte konzentrieren sich auf die fünf arktischen Anrainerstaaten: Kanada, Dänemark (durch Grönland), Norwegen, die Russische Föderation und die Vereinigten Staaten.Darüber hinaus gibt ein regionaler Bericht einen umfassenden Überblick und fasst die einschlägigen internationalen und regionalen Vorschriften zusammen. Der vorliegende Bericht gibt einen Überblick über Informationen, die für den Meeresschutz in der Arktis relevant sind. Der Bericht deckt vier Hauptthemen ab: Er beginnt mit der Beschreibung der wichtigsten Merkmale der arktischen Meeresumwelt. Anschließend werden wesentliche Belastungen untersucht, die sich auf die marine Biodiversität in der Region auswirken, gefolgt von einer Untersuchung der soziokulturellen und wirtschaftlichen Rolle sowie der Umweltauswirkungen der wichtigsten meeresbezogenen menschlichen Aktivitäten in der Arktis. Der letzte Teil des Berichts gibt einen Überblick über die relevanten internationalen und regionalen Vereinbarungen und Rahmenwerke sowie über Regulierungen, Vorschriften und Instrumente, die zum Schutz der arktischen Meeresbiodiversität und zur Gewährleistung ihrer nachhaltigen Nutzung eingesetzt werden oder eingesetzt werden könnten. Hinweis: Die in diesem Bericht präsentierten Informationen wurden hauptsächlich während der weltweiten Covid-19-Pandemie und vor dem russischen Einmarsch in die Ukraine im Jahr 2022 zusammengetragen. Die (weiteren) politischen und wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen dieser Ereignisse und dies ich daraus ergebenden Veränderungen in der Arktis-Governance sind zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nichtabsehbar, und es ist zu erwarten, dass sich einige der in diesem Bericht dargestellten Entwicklungen und Trends erheblich ändern werden. Die Kernbotschaften des Berichts finden sich unter der folgenden englischen Zusammenfassung.

Description: The Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average. These rapidly increasing temperatures are already profoundly changing the Arctic – and will continue to do so – with yet unknown consequences for the region as well as worldwide. The diminishing sea ice extent and the changing distribution of marine living resources have led to an increase in economic interest in the region as well as concerns about the sustainability of economic activities in the Arctic. In order to identify ways in which conservation and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment can be ensured, a broad understanding of the marine environment, the pressures affecting it, and the relevant regulations is needed. Ecologic Institute and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies aim to provide an overview of relevant information through a series of reports on marine conservation in the Arctic. The reports focus on the five Arctic coastal states: Canada, Denmark (by virtue of Green-land), Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States. In addition, a regional report is providing a broader overview and summarises relevant international and regional regulations. This current report presents an overview of information relevant to marine conservation in the Arctic.The report covers four main issues: it starts with the description of the key characteristics of the Arctic marine environment. Then it examines significant pressures impacting marine biodiversity in the region, followed by exploring the socio-cultural and economic role as well as the environmental impact of the main sea-based human activities in the Arctic. The last part of the report provides an overview of relevant international and regional agreements and frameworks as well as rules, regulations and tools which are, or could be, employed to protect the Arctic marine biodiversity and ensure its sustain-able use. NB: The information presented in this report was mainly collated during the global Covid-19 pandemic and prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The (further) political and economic impacts oft hese events and resulting changes in Arctic governance cannot be foreseen at this point in time and it can be expected that some of the developments and trends presented in this report may change substantially.

Description: Die Arktis erwärmt sich substanziell schneller als der globale Durchschnitt. Der rasche Temperaturanstieg verändert die Arktis bereits tiefgreifend - und wird dies auch weiterhin tun - mit noch unbekannten Folgen für die Region und die ganze Welt. Gleichzeitig mit dem Rückgang des Meereises und der sich verändernden Verteilung der lebenden Meeresressourcen hat eine Zunahme des wirtschaftlichen Interesses an der Region zu Bedenken hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeit der wirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten in der Arktis geführt. Um Wege zu finden, wie der Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung der arktischen Meeresumwelt gewährleistet werden können, ist ein umfassendes Verständnis der Meeresumwelt, der sie beeinflussenden Belastungen und der relevanten Regulierungen und Managementmaßnahmen erforderlich. Das Ecologic Institut und das Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies haben sich zum Ziel gesetzt, durch eine Reihe von Berichten zum Meeresschutz in der Arktis einen Überblick über die relevanten Informationen zu geben. Die Berichte konzentrieren sich auf die fünf arktischen Anrainerstaaten: Kanada, Dänemark (durch Grönland), Norwegen, die Russische Föderation und die Vereinigten Staaten. Darüber hinaus gibt ein regionaler Bericht einen umfassenden Überblick und fasst die einschlägigen internationalen und regionalen Vorschriften zusammen. Der vorliegende Bericht gibt einen Überblick über Informationen, die für den Meeresschutz in der Arktis relevant sind. Der Bericht deckt vier Hauptthemen ab: Er beginnt mit der Beschreibung der wichtigsten Merkmale der arktischen Meeresumwelt. Anschließend werden wesentliche Belastungen untersucht, die sich auf die marine Biodiversität in der Region auswirken, gefolgt von einer Untersuchung der soziokulturellen und wirtschaftlichen Rolle sowie der Umweltauswirkungen der wichtigsten meeresbezogenen menschlichen Aktivitäten in der Arktis. Der letzte Teil des Berichts gibt einen Überblick über die relevanten internationalen und regionalen Vereinbarungen und Rahmenwerke sowie über Regulierungen, Vorschriften und Instrumente, die zum Schutz der arktischen Meeresbiodiversität und zur Gewährleistung ihrer nachhaltigen Nutzung eingesetzt werden oder eingesetzt werden könnten. Hinweis: Die in diesem Bericht präsentierten Informationen wurden hauptsächlich während der weltweiten Covid-19-Pandemie und vor dem russischen Einmarsch in die Ukraine im Jahr 2022 zusammengetragen. Die (weiteren) politischen und wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen dieser Ereignisse und dies ich daraus ergebenden Veränderungen in der Arktis-Governance sind zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nichtabsehbar, und es ist zu erwarten, dass sich einige der in diesem Bericht dargestellten Entwicklungen und Trends erheblich ändern werden. Die Kernbotschaften des Berichts finden sich unter der folgenden englischen Zusammenfassung.

Description: The Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average. These rapidly increasing temperatures are already profoundly changing the Arctic – and will continue to do so – with yet unknown consequences for the region as well as worldwide. The diminishing sea ice extent and the changing distribution of marine living resources have led to an increase in economic interest in the region as well as concerns about the sustainability of economic activities in the Arctic. In order to identify ways in which conservation and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment can be ensured, a broad understanding of the marine environment, the pressures affecting it, and the relevant regulations is needed. Ecologic Institute and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies aim to provide an overview of relevant information through a series of reports on marine conservation in the Arctic. The reports focus on the five Arctic coastal states: Canada, Denmark (by virtue of Greenland), Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States. In addition, a regional report is providing a broader overview and summarises relevant international and regional regulations. This current report presents an overview of information relevant to marine conservation in Greenland.The report covers four main issues: it starts with the description of the key characteristics of the Greenlandic marine environment. Then it examines significant pressures impacting marine biodiversity in the region, followed by exploring the socio-cultural and economic role as well as the environmental impact of the main sea-based human activities in Greenland. The last part of the report describes the Greenlandic ocean governance system and provides an overview of relevant national institutions as well as rules, regulations and tools which are, or could be, employed to protect the Greenlandic marine biodiversity and ensure its sustainable use. NB: The information presented in this report was mainly collated during the global Covid-19 pandemic and prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The (further) political and economic impacts oft hese events and resulting changes in Arctic governance cannot be foreseen at this point in time and it can be expected that some of the developments and trends presented in this report may change substantially.

Description: Ernährung ist zentral für die sozial-ökologische Transformation und dabei ein für Bürger:innen zugängliches Alltagsthema. Einige Städte und Gemeinden in Deutschland und Frankreich haben das Potenzial einer innovativen lokalen Politik für nachhaltige Ernährung erkannt und spannende Ansätze entwickelt und erprobt. Dabei stoßen sie jedoch auf strukturelle Barrieren, die nicht auf der kommunalen Ebene zu beseitigen sind. Das Deutsch-Französische Zukunftswerk hat zu den Chancen und Hemmnissen lokaler Ernährungswenden recherchiert und engagierte Kommunen beider Länder miteinander in Austausch gebracht. Gemeinsam mit Expert:innen aus der Wissenschaft, Verwaltung und Zivilgesellschaft hat es darüber hinaus die Handlungsempfehlung „Entwicklung lokaler und nachhaltiger Ernährungssysteme priorisieren“ mit fünf Aktionsvorschlägen an die nationalen Regierungen entwickelt. Diese Studie versteht sich als Hintergrundpapier zur Handlungsempfehlung. Anhand des konkreten Beispiels von Mouans-Sartoux und anderen Kommunen beschreibt es die Potenziale einer nachhaltigen kommunalen Ernährungspolitik und liefert – aus der konkreten lokalen Praxis heraus – das Hintergrundwissen für jeden der fünf Aktionsvorschläge.

Description: Food and food policy is central to social-ecological transformation. It is also an everyday issue that is easy to communicate to citizens. Municipalities in Germany and France have recognized the potential of innovative local food policies and have developed and tested innovative approaches to transforming local food systems. However, they are encountering structural barriers that cannot be overcome at the municipal level. The Franco-German Forum for the Future has researched the opportunities and obstacles of local nutritional change and brought engaged municipalities from both countries into exchange with each other. Together with experts from academia, public administrations and civil society, it has developed the seven recommendations for the national governments, one of which concerns "Prioritizing the development of local and sustainable food systems" with five proposals for action. This study is intended as a background paper to the Recommendation. With recourse to the concrete example of Mouans-Sartoux and other municipalities in France and Germany, it describes the potentials of a sustainable municipal food policy and provides – from concrete local practice – the background knowledge for each of the five proposals for action.

Description: Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) employ randomly selected groups of citizens, who work together to develop recommendations on specific issues. In democratic practice, DMPs, which include Citizens’ Assemblies, Citizens’ Councils, Deliberative Panels, Citizens’ Jury, etc., are usually called into action by policymakers to complement representative decision-making. The following describes how DMPs work, why they are used, and what determines their success.

Description: Kenya is a climate and renewable energy frontrunner in the sub-Saharan region. The country is committed to decarbonisation and currently aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 % by 2030, relative to the business-as-usual scenario. Kenya has rapidly increased electrification access over the last decade thanks to a strong on- and off-grid renewable energy sector. Electricity from renewable sources covered 88 % of total domestic demand in 2020. The bulk of this is generated using geothermal energy, followed by hydro and wind power. These are complemented by a growing solar PV sector. Despite this laudable progress and the introduction of policies to foster renewables, the energy sector still faces significant challenges, including a lack of universal access, affordability issues and limitations in the transmission and distribution network. These circumstances result in a capacity surplus of generated electricity that cannot be absorbed by demand. Recent discoveries of oil and gas reserves risk derailing efforts to decarbonise the energy sector unless the Kenyan government strengthens its current course. This policy brief identifies three key areas for action to enhance energy security and continue on a sustainable energy path: Recommendation 1: Improve the quality of the grid Kenya should bolster its digitalisation efforts, support the adoption of new technologies, invest in research to reduce inefficiencies, foster regional integration to increase connectivity, and implement demand scheduling mechanisms to harness the advantages of different energy sources. These efforts should be flanked by an update of the national grid code. Recommendation 2: Liberalise the electricity market The procurement process needs to remain competitive and based on least cost criteria. Net metering programmes and renewables auctions should be implemented in order to attract more players and investment. Improved regulations about public-private partnerships and power purchase agreements will be needed to remove bottlenecks for market entry and establish an equal playing field. These measures should be accompanied by open consultations to ensure public participation and improve the investment climate. Recommendation 3: Promote decentralised energy supply options Decentralised renewable energy generation should be promoted to ensure that off-grid consumers can access affordable, reliable, and secure energy. Kenya should enhance sustainable financing structures and improve tax incentives for technology development and distribution of decentralised energy options. Capacity building efforts should target local communities, domestic companies, and government agencies to facilitate the maintenance and administration of off-grid systems and increase their sustainability.

Description: Integrated ocean management (IOM) is an adaptive approach to managing human activities in the ocean, which is rooted in the ecosystem approach. It requires all dimensions of ocean space to be considered – physical, oceanographic, climatic, biological, social, economic spheres – and includes spatial and temporal dynamics of the system. It aims to create a framework for a sustainable ocean economy. To achieve this ambitious aim, management processes need to be integrated across governance, stakeholders, knowledge, system-dynamics, and be trans- boundary, which will form the ‘pillars’ for effective integration. Key features of the proposed integrated approach to ocean management call for enhanced collaboration, knowledge sharing, transparency, coordination, and communication. Community views and values, and scientific, traditional, and local knowledge play key roles in defining the design and operationalization of the above-mentioned pillars. The IOM approach has yet to be applied to ABNJ but is commonly applied to coastal waters. IOM will be increasingly important in ABNJ for addressing the rising challenges of achieving conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity. This report therefore aims to provide an overview on the application of IOM in the context of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ, particularly within the Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Pacific regions. It particularly aims at promoting IOM for ABNJ across sectors and ecological dimensions by considering the application of enabling conditions to achieve cooperation and collaboration between the various actors working in or affecting ABNJ. This report summarises the current challenges facing management of ABNJ, identifies opportunities to implement IOM across boundaries and provides recommendations for moving forward on this urgent priority, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals. Addressing IOM in ABNJ is particularly relevant at this point in time as States are negotiating a new legally binding instrument for the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ (referred to in this report as the BBNJ Agreement). Therefore, an opportunity exists for States to embed provisions that will allow IOM to be fully operational in the framework of the BBNJ Agreement upon its adoption and ratification. This report covers the concepts of IOM, its pillars, the importance of IOM for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ and the opportunities for strengthening IOM for BBNJ conservation in both STRONG High Seas project focal regions: the Southeast Atlantic and the Southeast Pacific. After analysing opportunities in these two regions, this report highlights some clear pathways by which this integrated approach can significantly support the conservation of biodiversity in ABNJ. Selected recommendations from this report are included below. For a more thorough set of possible actions and decisions that could be adopted by a range of actors to improve IOM, see Table 2 in Chapter 3.

Description: This paper examines the recent interest in hydrogen energy among political and economic leaders in the oil and gas producing states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Although key stakeholders continue to reinforce the fossil fuel systems that have defined the region’s political economy for decades, they increasingly recognize that the hydrocarbon era is drawing to a close. This has led to an increase in various “post-oil” energy investments, which most recently include hydrogen energy. This discussion paper examines why this is the case – that is, why the GCC’s political and corporate leaders are keen on promoting hydrogen energy systems in the region. It shows that the aspiration to produce “green” hydrogen – originating in Europe and Germany in particular – is increasingly seen as a way to broadcast the region’s green credentials, while simultaneously supporting the investments in “blue” hydrogen promoted by the state-owned hydrocarbon giants in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Description: Les mesures visant à soutenir les efforts de conservation doivent faire de la protection de la biodiversité et/ou de l’intégrité écologique leur principal objectif et prendre en compte les pressions cumulatives sur l’environnement marin. Cela implique également d’inclure la connectivité écologique (par ex. les voies de migration des espèces marines ou les impacts transfrontaliers des activités humaines) et les impacts du changement climatique dans leur conception et leur mise en œuvre. En outre, la complexité et la nature dynamique de l’océan, notamment dans les zones situées au-delà de la juridiction nationale (ZAJN), exigent que les efforts de conservation reconnaissent l’incertitude, incluent des options pour y faire face ou s’adapter rapidement aux nouvelles informations scientifiques, et tiennent compte de l’espace tridimensionnel de l’océan. Cela nécessite également que la conception et la mise en œuvre de ces mesures s’appuient sur les meilleures connaissances interdisciplinaires scientifiques et autochtones disponibles. Il sera essentiel que les mesures visant à soutenir les efforts de conservation appliquent des mécanismes de consultation, de cooperation et de collaboration intersectorielles, et qu’elles tiennent compte des échelles spatio-temporelles appropriées pour leur mise en œuvre. Elles doivent refléter des grands objectifs sociétaux et tenir compte de la répartition inégale des retombées socio-économiques découlant des activités d’exploitation dans les ZAJN. Les actions de gouvernance et de gestion doivent reconnaître les systèmes socio-écologiques associés et diversifiés, ainsi que l’articulation entre la santé des océans et le bien-être humain, en intégrant les préoccupations des différentes parties prenantes dans la définition et la mise en œuvre de la mesure ou de l’approche. Il est essentiel que la conception et la mise en œuvre des mesures visant à soutenir les efforts de conservation comprennent des moyens appropriés pour assurer le suivi, le contrôle et la surveillance réguliers des activités humaines, ainsi que le respect et l’application des lois et règlements en vigueur. Les États connaissent bien les instruments juridiques, tels que ceux de la Convention des Nations unies sur le droit de la mer (CNDUM), de l’Organisation des Nations unies pour l’Alimentation et l’Agriculture (FAO, par son acronyme en anglais), des conventions de l’Organisation maritime internationale (OMI), de l’Autorité internationale des fonds marins (ISA, par son acronyme en anglais), ainsi que les mesures de gestion adoptées par les organisations régionales de gestion de la pêche (ORGP). Ils ont développé des structures et des capacités de gouvernance pour soutenir leur mise en œuvre. Dans ce contexte, il est recommandé aux États de soutenir la consolidation et le développement des mesures visant à soutenir les efforts de conservation, afin de s’assurer qu’elles inscrivent leur approche dans le cadre de considérations relatives à la connectivité écologique, à la protection de la biodiversité, à la gestion intégrée des océans fondée sur les écosystèmes et aux implications du changement climatique pour la conservation et la gestion de la biodiversité dans les ZAJN. Pour être efficace, toute mesure visant à soutenir les efforts de conservation proposés pour les ZAJN dans la région de l’Atlantique du Sud-Est doit tenir compte des réalités socio-économiques et politiques des pays dont les zones économiques exclusives bordent ces espaces. En ce sens, il est important de noter le rôle considérable que le secteur de la pêche a historiquement joué et continue de jouer pour la plupart des économies de cette région. La proposition d’instrument relatif à la biodiversité marine des zones situées au-delà de la juridiction nationale (BZAJN), en cours de négociation aux Nations unies, sera fondamentale pour établir la base juridique du développement et de la mise en œuvre de mesures intersectorielles visant à soutenir les efforts de conservation dans les ZAJN. L’efficacité des mesures envisageables pour soutenir les efforts de conservation actuels et futurs dépendra du mode d’intégration de l’instrument BZAJN proposé et de son articulation avec les mesures de conservation et d’utilisation durable établies dans le cadre des organisations de gestion existantes. À cet égard, il est particulièrement important pour la région de l’Atlantique du Sud-Est de savoir comment les ORGP existantes pourront interagir avec l’instrument BZAJN proposé. Compte tenu des difficultés en termes de capacité (technologique, expérience, financière, logistique) de nombreux pays de l’Atlantique du Sud-Est, il est important que les mesures visant à soutenir les efforts de conservation dans le cadre des traités internationaux ou des mécanismes juridiques existants soient intégrées, pratiques et rentables. Le statut juridique différent de la colonne d’eau et des grands fonds marins au-delà de la juridiction nationale et les différentes dispositions juridiques en place représentent un défi pour le développement d’une approche cohérente, complète et intégrée de la conservation et de l’utilisation durable de la biodiversité dans les ZAJN. Le manque d’uniformité dans le respect des règles entre les États du pavillon et l’absence de mécanismes de surveillance et d’application dans les ZAJN compromettent la réalisation d’une approche intégrée pour la conservation et l’utilisation durable de la biodiversité marine dans ces vastes zones océaniques. La grande variété d’instruments existants peut être utilisée pour améliorer la conservation de la biodiversité dans les ZAJN grâce à une meilleure surveillance et une application plus stricte des règles. Cette responsabilité reste celle de chaque État du pavillon, mais à l’heure actuelle, cela se limite au signalement des navires et à une action de suivi minimale de la part des États du pavillon ou du port.

Description: The STRONG High Seas project has published a guidance document to support the implementation of the international legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) that is being negotiated under the United Nations. This work is framed in the context of achieving spatial conservation measures but draws on examples from other biodiversity conservation efforts and offers guidance for achieving binding measures for any matter, in any regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO). Aspirations for achieving biodiversity conservation using enforceable, area-based management tools (ABMTs) in an RFMO will require dedicated action if they are to move from aspirations to actuality. Getting legally binding measures for areas beyond national jurisdiction approved and enforced in an RFMO is a complex, multi-stage process. The guidance document offers insights and strategic considerations on how to achieve biodiversity conservation outcomes in an RFMO and have such measures adopted (i.e. made legally binding). It is a distillation of personal experiences including successes, failures, and insights into some of the more arcane aspects of RFMOs’ functioning, derived from the authors’ participation in dozens of meetings at many RFMOs.

Description: This report - Study on Measures to Support Conservation Efforts in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in the Southeast Pacific Region - aims to provide recommendations for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the Southeast Pacific region. These recommendations include considerations for establishing new conservation and management measures and expanding or improving existing measures in the region, as well as the use of tools to support the development of conservation measures. This report has been prepared by STRONG High Seas project researchers based on a literature review of cademic articles, data analysis, stakeholder insights, and experiences gathered at expert workshops held in the project’s focus regions in 2021. The information presented here is intended to support decision-makers, including government officials, the private sector and other stakeholders working on ocean governance in ABNJ who are involved or have an interest in the ongoing development of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). This report is part of a series of reports published by the STRONG High Seas project [Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (June 2017 - May 2022)], covering aspects of ocean governance with a geographic focus on the Southeast Pacific (and Southeast Atlantic) region.

Description: Malaysia has set ambitious targets to increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in its energy mix. In 2021, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Malaysia (KeTSA) established an aspirational target for national installed RE capacity of 3 1% by 2025.1 This aspiration was recently reaffirmed by the National Energy Policy 2022 – 20402, which lays out a long-term plan for Malaysia’s green future. Although the country has abundant solar, biomass, and hydro resources for clean energy production, a number of barriers are slowing the energy transition. With its economy heavily reliant on fossil fuels, Malaysia risks a carbon lock-in that would perpetuate existing pathdependencies, infrastructure, technologies, institutions and behaviours that are embedded in and intertwined with the carbon economy. State revenues derive to a large extent from fossil fuels and previous reforms to support the growth of renewables have been hampered by the fact that the state is both responsible for shaping energy policy and is also the largest stakeholder in Malaysia’s highly centralised fossil-based energy system. Structural changes in both the energy system and decision-making processes are needed to support a timely transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Post-pandemic recovery packages and policy changes can lend critical momentum to this process if they are properly targeted. In this policy brief we identify three key opportunities for action to advance the Malaysian energy transition: Recommendation 1: Broaden the range of actors in the electricity sector Efforts to liberalise Malaysia’s highly concentrated electricity sector, increase competition, and improve market efficiency should be strengthened. Existing reform plans should be extended to the areas of transmission and distribution. Recommendation 2: Involve stakeholders in policy design processes The government should facilitate the participation of stakeholders in all stages of the policy process by formalising participation processes and establishing permanent, independent bodies to vet government decisions as well as regular forums for stakeholder dialogue. The decentralisation of decision processes should be promoted. Recommendation 3: Prioritise green growth in post-pandemic recovery programmes Recovery programmes should prioritise investment in sustainable energy infrastructure, clean technology industries, capacity-building, and research and development. Targeted social investment is needed to cushion the social impacts of decarbonisation and harness co-benefits.

Description: Als Teil der kollaborativen Aktionsforschung des Deutsch-Französischen Zukunftswerkes beleuchtet diese Studie die aktuellen Entwicklungen der Universitätsstadt Marburg in ihren Bestrebungen, bis 2030 klimaneutral zu werden. Die Analyse skizziert die Chancen und Herausforderungen lokaler Klimapolitik. Sie zeigt auf, wie trotz einer hohen Motivation seitens der lokalen politischen Führung und der Zivilgesellschaft, die Klimaneutralität zu erreichen, strukturelle Hemmnisse – wie zum Beispiel eine versäulte Verwaltung, Mangel an Kapazitäten und Ressourcen für die Messung des Fortschritts und für strukturierte Beteiligungs- und Kollaborationsmöglichkeiten – die Umsetzung des lokalen Klima-Aktionsplans ausbremsen können. Anhand der Daten über einen Beobachtungszeitraum von einem Jahr erläutert die Analyse ebenso, wie transformative Forschungsansätze, in Form von regelmäßigen Reflektionen mit Akteur:innen vor Ort, lokale Bestrebungen der Klimapolitik unterstützen und vorantreiben können.

Description: This paper reflects on how, and under what conditions local transformative change towards climate neutrality can flourish, based on the case of the German city of Marburg, which has committed to become a climate neutral city by 2030. The research findings are drawn from the work of the Franco-German Forum for the Future established in 2020. The Forum seeks to accelerate social and ecological transformation through collaborative action research with pioneering municipalities in France and Germany, through the fostering of dialogue among these initiatives and through the development of political recommendations for the respective national governments. We show how despite a strong political will in Marburg among both political leadership and civil society to act decisively for the achievement of climate neutrality, institutional constraints, such as a lack of flexibility within the local administration, shortage of capacity and resources for the monitoring of progress and the absence of institutionalised mechanisms for citizen participation and collaboration can hamper progress towards achieving the ambitious goals.

Description: W ostatnich latach coraz większą uwagę zyskują wyzwania stojące przed europejskimi regionami związane ze zmianami strukturalnymi w kierunku zrównoważonego rozwoju. Łużyce, leżące na granicy Niemiec i Polski, doświadczają znacznej presji związanej z transformacją. Krajowe i europejskie programy finansowania, m.in. w ramach Europejskiego Zielonego Ładu, mają na celu łagodzenie skutków odchodzenia od wydobycia i konsumpcji węgla. Niedawno przyjęty unijny Mechanizm Sprawiedliwej Transformacji ma za zadanie wspieranie zrównoważonych zmian strukturalnych poprzez pomoc pracownikom i przyczynianie się do dywersyfikacji gospodarki w najbardziej dotkniętych obszarach. Niniejszy Policy Brief przedstawia trzy rekomendacje związane z wykorzystaniem funduszy UE w polsko-niemieckim obszarze granicznym w celu wspierania sprawiedliwej transformacji. Po pierwsze, fundusze udostępnione w ramach Mechanizmu powinny być wykorzystywane w porozumieniu z regionalnymi interesariuszami w Łużycach w celu uzupełnienia krajowych środków wsparcia. Dalsze programy finansowania ukierunkowane na różne obszary polityki publicznej powinny być wykorzystane w celu wzmocnienia spójności w całym regionie. W tym kontekście szczególnie interesujące są programy zarządzane centralnie przez Komisję Europejską (tzn. nie podlegające zarządzaniu dzielonemu z rządami krajowymi). Ściślejsza współpraca polityczna i gospodarcza, w połączeniu z głębszą wymianą doświadczeń, może przyspieszyć integrację regionalną i ukierunkować procesy przekształceń strukturalnych na osiągnięcie trwałych rezultatów. Użycie tych programów w obszarze granicznym obarczone jest jednak praktycznymi przeszkodami, które należy pokonać. Ponadto powyżej wymienione działania powinny być realizowane zgodne z celami zrównoważonego rozwoju (SDGs), przyczyniać się do osiągnięcia celu, jakim jest neutralność klimatyczna, a także do złagodzenia społecznych skutków transformacji strukturalnej na wszystkich poziomach.

Description: The STRONG High Seas project has published a Glossary of Ocean Governance Terms to provide decision-makers and other stakeholders, including the private sector, scientific communities, civil society, and traditional communities, with a reference lexicon on ocean governance related terms to facilitate understanding when engaging in negotiations and implementation of international and national policies and regulations. As in most areas of knowledge or activity, the field of ocean governance is associated with specialized terminology, or jargon. The use of specific terms is essential for clear communication, particularly among peers, but also to a wider audience. However, as one area becomes more specialized and consequently the use of jargons increases, the challenge for comprehensible communication also grows. A shared understanding of terms by stakeholders engaging in policy instruments is particularly critical. Texts of policy instruments and of decisions (or similar documents, such as Resolutions or measures) under these instruments are, in some cases, legally-binding, which makes States Parties generally abide by them. The same word could have different meaning to different audiences and at different times. Having a common understanding of a term will, therefore, ease communication and, ultimately, help decision-makers achieve agreement in a political context.

Description: In dieser qualitativen Analyse dreier kommunaler Planungsprozesse wird das in Norderstedt entstehende Quartier „Grüne Heyde“ mit dem etwa gleichzeitig entstehenden Hamburger Stadtteil „Oberbillwerder“ sowie der lang zurückliegenden Planung des „Rotbäumlesfeldes“ in Ludwigsburg verglichen. In allen drei Fällen wurden besondere Ansprüche an die Nachhaltigkeit der Planungen gestellt und jeweils in unterschiedlichem Grade realisiert und durchgehalten. Die Studie arbeitet heraus, dass insbesondere der Zugriff auf verwaltungsexterne Kompetenzen, die explizite Heraushebung der Vorhaben als „Modelle“, der Bezug auf gesamtstädtisch-strategische Ziele sowie der Mut, beim Projektmanagement strukturell zu experimentieren, in einigen der Fälle zu einem ‚Mehr‘ an Nachhaltigkeit beitrugen bzw. dass diese Faktoren dort, wo sie fehlten, zu Risiken in der Planung führten. Eine strategisch durchdachte Bodenpolitik bildet einen weiteren Einflussfaktor, der sich aufgrund der Fallstudien solide bejahen lässt, während Öffentlichkeitskommunikation und -beteiligung in ihrer Auswirkung auf die städtebaulichen Qualitäten schwerer zu beurteilen sind. Der Studie separat zugeordnet ist ein Einleger mit Handlungsempfehlungen an kommunale Verwaltungen.

Description: In this qualitative analysis of three municipal planning processes, the housing project “Grüne Heyde” in Norderstedt is compared with projects in Hamburg (“Oberbillwerder”) and Ludwigsburg (“Rotbäumlesfeld”). The former two are still being developed whereas the third was planned quite some time ago. In all three cases, special demands were made for sustainable planning which were carried out and maintained to different degrees. The study shows that especially making use of competencies external to public administration, the fact that the projects are explicitly called “models”, the reference to strategic goals for the city as a whole, and the courage to experiment structurally in project management contributed to “more” sustainability in some of the cases. On the other hand, these factors led to risks in planning where they were lacking. A strategically though-out land policy is another influential factor that can be solidly affirmed on the basis of the case studies; however, public communication and participation are more difficult to assess in terms of their impact on urban development qualities. The study is accompanied by an insert with recommendations for action for municipal administrations.

Description: Cette analyse qualitative de trois processus de planification communaux compare le quartier “Grüne Heyde” en cours de réalisation à Norderstedt avec le quartier “Oberbillwerder” à Hambourg, qui a vu le jour à peu près au même moment, ainsi que la planification du “Rotbäumlesfeld” à Ludwigsburg, qui remonte à plus longtemps. Dans les trois cas, des exigences particulières ont été posées à la durabilité des planifications, qui ont été réalisées et maintenues à des degrés divers. L'étude montre que le recours à des compétences externes à l'administration, la mise en avant explicite des projets en tant que “modèles”, la référence à des objectifs stratégiques pour l'ensemble de la ville ainsi que le courage d'expérimenter des structures de gestion de projet ont contribué dans certains cas à un “plus” en matière de durabilité ou que ces facteurs ont entraîné des risques dans la planification lorsqu'ils faisaient défaut. Une politique foncière stratégiquement réfléchie constitue un autre facteur d’une influence positive sur la durabilité de ces études de cas, tandis que la communication et la participation du public sont plus difficiles à évaluer dans leur impact sur les qualités urbanistiques. L'étude est accompagnée d'un encart contenant des recommandations d'action pour les administrations communales.

Description: The deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is accelerating across the globe, as prices continue to fall and countries begin their transition from fossil to renewable energy. Public auctions have become the dominant policy tool for solar PV deployment: 106 countries held renewable energy auctions (dominated by solar) by the end of 2018 (IRENA a, 2019). One third of the 55 countries that held renewable auctions in 2017 – 2018 did so for the first time (ibid.). Little solar-specific experience and capacity in newly adopting countries can result in technical failures and lower solar plant performance (IRENA 2017). For instance, it was reported that 30 percent of nearly 100 analysed projects in different countries indicate severe defects that impact performance (TÜV Rheinland 2015). This makes investment in solar plants in newcomer countries risky, hindering the development of the solar sector and undermining political targets of solar energy deployment in these countries. In this context, international organisations have suggested that policymakers in adopting countries include international quality standards1 as technical requirements in the design of public auctions. This policy brief outlines the potential benefits and challenges of doing so, highlighting the crucial role of the Quality Infrastructure (QI) system in newcomer countries. Key lessons learnt are synthesised from international experiences with technical requirements in solar PV auctions. On this basis, entry points are identified for the development of strategies for their introduction in newly adopting countries. The two key things policymakers should consider are the adoption of appropriate standards based on the specific country context and the implementation of real-time data monitoring.

Description: This report was prepared as part of the STRONG High Seas project, based on a series of stakeholder surveys and experience gathered through various workshops held in the Southeast Atlantic region, as well as on literature surveys and expert opinion. The report was reviewed by multiple experts to validate findings and ensure robust content. This report is part of a series of reports covering issues of ocean governance with a focus on the ABNJ of the Southeast Pacific and the Southeast Atlantic regions and builds on previous reports published by the STRONG High Seas project. Further project reports cover the legal and institutional framework applicable to ABNJ, the ecological state and the socioeconomic importance of ABNJ in the project regions, options for management and conservation measures for conservation of marine biodiversity in ABNJ, and considerations for integrated ocean management. These reports are available through the STRONG High Seas project website.

Description: Ce document est un guide pragmatique à destination de ceux qui souhaitent coopérer avec les organisations régionales de gestion des pêches (ORGP). Il explique comment mettre en œuvre des mesures de conservation dans une ORGP, en adoptant des décisions juridiquement contraignantes. Il s’agit d’une synthèse d’expériences personnelles, composées de réussites et d’échecs, et d’un aperçu de certains des aspects les plus obscurs des ORGP. L’objectif de ce document est celui du projet STRONG High Seas – explorer le régime de gouvernance fracture des océans, et plus précisément pour ce travail, formuler des conseils pour soutenir la mise en œuvre de la conservation spatiale en haute mer. Ce travail s’inscrit donc dans le contexte de la mise en place de mesures de conservation spatiale, mais s’inspire d’exemples tirés d’autres efforts de préservation de la biodiversité et propose des orientations pour la mise en place de mesures contraignantes pour tout type de sujet, dans n’importe quelle ORGP.

Description: In einem Bürgerrat erarbeitet eine heterogen zusammengesetzte und zufällig ausgewählte Gruppe von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern Empfehlungen zu einer bestimmten Fragestellung. Bürgerräte werden meist von politischen Entscheidungsträgerinnen und -trägern eingesetzt und stellen eine Ergänzung zu repräsentativen Entscheidungen dar. Im Folgenden wird dargestellt, wie Bürgerräte ablaufen, warum sie zum Einsatz kommen und was gelungene Bürgerräte ausmacht.

Description: La gestion intégrée des océans (GIO) est une approche adaptative de la gestion des activités humaines dans l'océan, qui est ancrée dans l'approche écosystémique. Elle nécessite la prise en compte de toutes les dimensions de l'espace océanique – sphères physique, océanographique, climatique, biologique, sociale, économique – et inclut la dynamique spatiale et temporelle du système. Elle vise à créer un cadre pour une économie océanique durable. Pour atteindre cet objectif ambitieux, les processus de gestion doivent être intégrés dans la gouvernance, les parties prenantes, les connaissances, la dynamique du système et être transfrontaliers, ce qui constituera les "piliers" d'une intégration efficace. Les principales caractéristiques de l'approche intégrée proposée pour la gestion des océans exigent une collaboration accrue, le partage des connaissances, la transparence, la coordination et la communication. Les points de vue et les valeurs des communautés, ainsi que les connaissances scientifiques, traditionnelles et locales, jouent un rôle clé dans la definition de la conception et de l'opérationnalisation des piliers susmentionnés. L'approche de la GIO n'a pas encore été appliquée aux zones situées au-delà des limites de la juridiction nationale, mais elle est couramment appliquée aux eaux côtières. La GIO sera de plus en plus importante dans les ZAJN pour relever les défis croissants de la conservation et de l'utilisation durable de la biodiversité marine. Ce rapport vise donc à donner un aperçu de l'application de la GIO dans le contexte de la conservation et de l'utilisation durable de la biodiversité marine dans les ZAJN, en particulier dans les régions de l'Atlantique du Sud-Est et du Pacifique du Sud-Est. Il vise en particulier à promouvoir l'application de la GIO pour les ZAJN à travers les secteurs et les dimensions écologiques en envisageant l'application de conditions favorables pour parvenir à une coopération et une collaboration entre les différents acteurs travaillant dans les ZAJN ou les affectant. Ce rapport résume les défis actuels auxquels est confrontée la gestion des ZAJN, identifie les opportunités de mise en œuvre de la GIO à travers les frontières et fournit des recommandations pour aller de l'avant sur cette priorité urgente, guidée par les objectifs de développement durable. La question de la GIO dans les ZAJN est particulièrement pertinente à l'heure actuelle, car les Etats négocient actuellement un nouvel instrument juridiquement contraignant pour la protection et l'utilisation durable de la biodiversité marine dans les ZAJN (appelé dans le présent rapport l'Accord BZAJN). Les États ont donc la possibilité d'intégrer des dispositions qui permettront à la GIO d'être pleinement opérationnelle dans le cadre de l'Accord BZAJN dès son adoption et sa ratification. Ce rapport couvre les concepts de la GIO, ses piliers, l'importance de la GIO pour la conservation et l'utilisation durable de la biodiversité marine dans les ZAJN et les opportunités de renforcement de la GIO pour la conservation des ZAJN dans les deux régions focales du projet STRONG High Seas: l'Atlantique du Sud-Est et le Pacifique du Sud-Est. Après avoir analysé les opportunités dans ces deux régions, ce rapport met en évidence certaines voies claires par lesquelles cette approche intégrée peut soutenir de manière significative la conservation de la biodiversité dans les ZAJN. Les recommandations sélectionnées dans ce rapport sont incluses ci-dessous. Pour un ensemble plus complet d'actions et de décisions possibles qui pourraient être adoptées par une série d'acteurs pour améliorer la GIO, voir Table 2 au chapitre 3.

Description: This report contributes to the modelling work in SENTINEL and beyond in three main ways. First, we provide three social storylines that are closely linked to different governance logics and build on observed social and political drivers and barriers in the European energy transition. This is different than most other storylines used for modelling, because ours are based on governance patterns and normative assumptions of a “good future”, and not on the more commonly used geopolitical or techno-economic storyline assumptions. Second, we provide quantitative, empirical data for several important social/political parameters that can be used together with the storylines or as separate building blocks to answer specific research questions with energy models. Third, to test the usefulness of QTDIAN, we have soft-linked QTDIAN with the energy demand models DESSTINEE, HEB and DREEM, the energy system design model Euro-Calliope, and indirectly with the economic model WEGDYN. Based on feedback from the modelling exercises, we have revised QTDIAN and publish now this updated report 2.0 to improve its usefulness for a more realistic analysis of potential future energy systems.

Description: Die Arktis erwärmt sich substanziell schneller als der globale Durchschnitt. Der rasche Temperatur-anstieg verändert die Arktis bereits tiefgreifend - und wird dies auch weiterhin tun - mit noch unbekannten Folgen für die Region und die ganze Welt. Gleichzeitig mit dem Rückgang des Meereises und der sich verändernden Verteilung der lebenden Meeresressourcen hat eine Zunahme des wirtschaftlichen Interesses an der Region zu Bedenken hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeit der wirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten in der Arktis geführt. Um Wege zu finden, wie der Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung der arktischen Meeresumwelt gewährleistet werden können, ist ein umfassendes Verständnis der Meeresumwelt, der sie beeinflussen-den Belastungen und der relevanten Regulierungen und Managementmaßnahmen erforderlich. DasEcologic Institut und das Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies haben sich zum Ziel gesetzt, durch eine Reihe von Berichten zum Meeresschutz in der Arktis einen Überblick über die relevantenInformationen zu geben. Die Berichte konzentrieren sich auf die fünf arktischen Anrainerstaaten: Ka-nada, Dänemark (durch Grönland), Norwegen, die Russische Föderation und die Vereinigten Staaten.Darüber hinaus gibt ein regionaler Bericht einen umfassenden Überblick und fasst die einschlägigen internationalen und regionalen Vorschriften zusammen. Der vorliegende Bericht behandelt die für den Meeresschutz in der norwegischen Arktis relevantenInformationen. Der Bericht deckt vier Hauptthemen ab: Er beginnt mit der Beschreibung der wichtigsten Merkmale der Meeresumwelt der norwegischen Arktis. Anschließend werden wesentlichenBelastungen untersucht, die sich auf die marine Biodiversität in der Region auswirken, gefolgt von einer Untersuchung der soziokulturellen und wirtschaftlichen Rolle sowie der Umweltauswirkungen der wichtigsten meeresbezogenen menschlichen Aktivitäten in der norwegischen Arktis. Der letzteTeil des Berichts gibt einen Überblick über die relevanten nationalen Institutionen sowie über Regulierungen, Vorschriften und Instrumente, die zum Schutz der norwegischen arktischen Meeresbiodiversität und zur Gewährleistung ihrer nachhaltigen Nutzung eingesetzt werden oder eingesetzt wer-den könnten. Hinweis: Die in diesem Bericht präsentierten Informationen wurden hauptsächlich während der weltweiten Covid-19-Pandemie und vor dem russischen Einmarsch in die Ukraine im Jahr 2022 zusammengetragen. Die (weiteren) politischen und wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen dieser Ereignisse und dies ich daraus ergebenden Veränderungen in der Arktis-Governance sind zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nichtabsehbar, und es ist zu erwarten, dass sich einige der in diesem Bericht dargestellten Entwicklungen und Trends erheblich ändern werden. Die Kernbotschaften des Berichts finden sich unter der folgenden englischen Zusammenfassung.

Description: The Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average. These rapidly increasing temperatures are already profoundly changing the Arctic, and will continue to do so, with yet unknown con-sequences for the region as well as worldwide. The diminishing sea ice extent and the changing distribution of marine living resources have led to an increase in economic interest in the region as well as concerns about the sustainability of economic activities in the Arctic. In order to identify ways in which conservation and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment can be ensured, a broad understanding of the marine environment, the pressures affecting it, and the relevant regulations is needed. Ecologic Institute and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies aim to provide an overview of relevant information through a series of reports on marine conservation in the Arctic. The reports focus on the five Arctic coastal states: Canada, Denmark (by virtue of Green-land), Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States. In addition, a regional report is providing a broader overview and summarises relevant international and regional regulations. This current report presents an overview of information relevant to marine conservation in the Norwegian Arctic. The report covers four main issues: it starts with the description of the key characteristics of the Norwegian Arctic marine environment. Then it examines significant pressures impacting marine biodiversity in the region, followed by exploring the socio-cultural and economic role as well as the environmental impact of the main sea-based human activities in the Norwegian Arctic. The last part of the report describes the Norwegian ocean governance system and provides an overview of relevant national institutions as well as rules, regulations and tools which are, or could be, employed to protect Norwegian Arctic marine biodiversity and ensure its sustainable use. NB: The information presented in this report was mainly collated during the global Covid-19 pandemic and prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The (further) political and economic impacts of these events and resulting changes in Arctic governance cannot be foreseen at this point in time and it can be expected that some of the developments and trends presented in this report may change substantially.

Description: The female flowers (“cones”) of the hop plant (Humulus L.) produce compounds that contribute to the flavor and other properties of beer. Hop leaves and cones produce many of the same compounds, which also confer agronomic traits such as insect and disease resistance. Targeted and untargeted ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight–mass spectrometry with Waters MSE technology (UPLC-QTof-MSE) metabolomics were used to compare leaf phytochemical compositions of greenhouse-grown southwestern American wild Humulus neomexicanus (A. Nelson and Cockerell) Rydb. against a group of commercial hop cultivars consisting of both pure European Humulus lupulus L. and European–North American hybrids. Principal component analysis showed a clear distinction in chemical profiles between the two groups. H. neomexicanus leaves had a significantly higher content of total α acids (p = 4.4 × 10–9), total bitter acids (p = 2.6 × 10–6), cohumulone (p = 1.0 × 10–13), humulone + adhumulone (p = 9.1 × 10–4), and the prenylflavonoids xanthohumol (p = 0.013) and desmethylxanthohumol (p = 0.029) as well as significantly higher densities of glandular trichomes (p = 1.3 × 10–6), the biosynthetic site of those compounds. Most flavonol glycosides measured were also significantly more abundant in H. neomexicanus (p = 1.5 × 10–22 to 0.0027), whereas phenolic acids were consistently, but generally nonsignificantly (p 〉 0.05), more abundant in the cultivars. The higher bitter acid, prenylflavonoid, and flavonol glycoside content of H. neomexicanus leaves may help to confer more favorable insect and disease-resistance properties.

Description: Iron is an indispensable metabolic cofactor in both pro- and eukaryotes, which engenders a natural competition for the metal between bacterial pathogens and their human or animal hosts. Bacteria secrete siderophores that extract Fe3+ from tissues, fluids, cells, and proteins; the ligand gated porins of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane actively acquire the resulting ferric siderophores, as well as other iron-containing molecules like heme. Conversely, eukaryotic hosts combat bacterial iron scavenging by sequestering Fe3+ in binding proteins and ferritin. The variety of iron uptake systems in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens illustrates a range of chemical and biochemical mechanisms that facilitate microbial pathogenesis. This document attempts to summarize and understand these processes, to guide discovery of immunological or chemical interventions that may thwart infectious disease.

Description: While thousands of environmental metagenomes have been mined for the presence of novel biosynthetic gene clusters, such computational predictions do not provide evidence of their in vivo biosynthetic functionality. Using fluorescent in situ enzyme assay targeting carrier proteins common to polyketide (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), we applied fluorescence-activated cell sorting to tunicate microbiome to enrich for microbes with active secondary metabolic capabilities. Single-cell genomics uncovered the genetic basis for a wide biosynthetic diversity in the enzyme-active cells and revealed a member of marine Oceanospirillales harboring a novel NRPS gene cluster with high similarity to phylogenetically distant marine and terrestrial bacteria. Interestingly, this synthase belongs to a larger class of siderophore biosynthetic gene clusters commonly associated with pestilence and disease. This demonstrates activity-guided single-cell genomics as a tool to guide novel biosynthetic discovery.

Description: Full waveform inversion (FWI) is a data-fitting technique capable of generating high-resolution velocity models with a resolution down to half the seismic wavelength. FWI is applied typically to densely sampled seismic data. In this study, we applied FWI to 3D wide-angle seismic data acquired using sparsely spaced ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) from the Deep Galicia Margin west of Iberia. Our dataset samples the S-reflector, a low-angle detachment present in this area. Here we highlight differences between 2D, 2.5D and 3D-FWI performances using a real sparsely spaced dataset. We performed 3D FWI in the time domain and compared the results with 2D and 2.5D FWI results from a profile through the 3D model. When overlaid on multichannel seismic images, the 3D FWI results constrain better the complex faulting within the pre- and syn-rift sediments and crystalline crust compared to the 2D result. Furthermore, we estimate variable serpentinisation of the upper mantle below the S-reflector along the profile using 3D FWI, reaching a maximum of 45 per cent. Differences in the data residuals of the 2D, 2.5D and 3D inversions suggest that 2D inversion can be prone to overfitting when using a sparse dataset. To validate our results, we performed tests to recover the anomalies introduced by the inversions in the final models using synthetic datasets. Based on our comparison of the velocity models, we conclude that the use of 3D data can partially mitigate the problem of receiver sparsity in FWI.

Description: Probing seismic anisotropy of the lithosphere provides valuable clues on the fabric of rocks. We present a 3-D probabilistic model of shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy of the crust and uppermost mantle of Europe, focusing on the mountain belts of the Alps and Apennines. The model is built from Love and Rayleigh dispersion curves in the period range 5–149 s. Data are extracted from seismic ambient noise recorded at 1521 broad-band stations, including the AlpArray network. The dispersion curves are first combined in a linearized least squares inversion to obtain 2-D maps of group velocity at each period. Love and Rayleigh maps are then jointly inverted at depth for shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy using a Bayesian Monte Carlo scheme that accounts for the trade-off between radial anisotropy and horizontal layering. The isotropic part of our model is consistent with previous studies. However, our anisotropy maps differ from previous large scale studies that suggested the presence of significant radial anisotropy everywhere in the European crust and shallow upper mantle. We observe instead that radial anisotropy is mostly localized beneath the Apennines while most of the remaining European crust and shallow upper mantle is isotropic. We attribute this difference to trade-offs between radial anisotropy and thin (hectometric) layering in previous studies based on least-squares inversions and long period data (〉30 s). In contrast, our approach involves a massive data set of short period measurements and a Bayesian inversion that accounts for thin layering. The positive radial anisotropy (VSH 〉 VSV) observed in the lower crust of the Apennines cannot result from thin layering. We rather attribute it to ductile horizontal flow in response to the recent and present-day extension in the region.

Description: Seismic full waveform inversion (FWI) is a powerful method for estimating quantitative subsurface physical parameters from seismic data. As the full waveform inversion is a non-linear problem, the linearized approach updates model iteratively from an initial model, which can get trapped in local minima. In the presence of a high velocity contrast, such as at Moho, the reflection coefficient and recorded waveforms from wide-aperture seismic acquisition are extremely non-linear around critical angles. The problem at the Moho is further complicated by the interference of lower crustal (Pg) and upper mantle (Pn) turning ray arrivals with the critically reflected Moho arrivals (PmP). In order to determine velocity structure near Moho, a non-linear method should be used. We propose to solve this strong non-linear FWI problem at Moho using a trans-dimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, where the earth model between lower crust and upper mantle is idealy parameterized with a 1-D assumption using a variable number of velocity interfaces. Different from common MCMC methods that require determining the number of unknown as a fixed prior before inversion, trans-dimensional MCMC allows the flexibility for an automatic estimation of both the model complexity (e.g. the number of velocity interfaces) and the velocity-depth structure from the data. We first test the algorithm on synthetic data using four representative Moho models and then apply to an ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. A 2-D finite-difference solution of an acoustic wave equation is used for data simulation at each iteration of MCMC search, for taking into account the lateral heterogeneities in the upper crust, which is constrained from travel time tomography and is kept unchanged during inversion; the 1-D model parameterization near Moho enables an efficient search of the trans-dimensional model space. Inversion results indicate that, with very little prior and the wide-aperture seismograms, the trans-dimensional FWI method is able to infer the posterior distribution of both the number of velocity interfaces and the velocity-depth model for a strong nonlinear problem, making the inversion a complete data-driven process. The distribution of interface matches the velocity discontinuities. We find that the Moho in the study area is a transition zone of 0.7 km, or a sharp boundary with velocities from around 7 km/s in the lower crust to 8 km/s of the upper mantle; both provide nearly identical waveform match for the field data. The ambiguity comes from the resolution limit of the band-limited seismic data and limited offset range for PmP arrivals.

Description: To constrain seismic anisotropy under and around the Alps in Europe, we study SKS shear wave splitting from the region densely covered by the AlpArray seismic network. We apply a technique based on measuring the splitting intensity, constraining well both the fast orientation and the splitting delay. Four years of teleseismic earthquake data were processed, from 723 temporary and permanent broad-band stations of the AlpArray deployment including ocean-bottom seismometers, providing a spatial coverage that is unprecedented. The technique is applied automatically (without human intervention), and it thus provides a reproducible image of anisotropic structure in and around the Alpine region. As in earlier studies, we observe a coherent rotation of fast axes in the western part of the Alpine chain, and a region of homogeneous fast orientation in the Central Alps. The spatial variation of splitting delay times is particularly interesting though. On one hand, there is a clear positive correlation with Alpine topography, suggesting that part of the seismic anisotropy (deformation) is caused by the Alpine orogeny. On the other hand, anisotropic strength around the mountain chain shows a distinct contrast between the Western and Eastern Alps. This difference is best explained by the more active mantle flow around the Western Alps. The new observational constraints, especially the splitting delay, provide new information on Alpine geodynamics.

Description: People living or working in the Arctic are faced with uncertainty regarding future social, political, economic, and environmental change. This uncertainty is due not least to the ongoing transformations caused by climate change. This paper presents results from a project entitled “Yamal 2040: Scenarios for the Russian Arctic”, which employed ‘Strategic Foresight’, a specific co-design and engagement methodology, to support stakeholders of one particular region in the Arctic, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Yamal region) in Western Siberia, Russia. It was the project’s objective to respond to this situation of general uncertainty, to develop forward-looking scenarios to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with future transformations in the Arctic. The findings presented here may be of interest for stakeholders in other parts of the Arctic and Russia that depend on the exploitation of fossil fuels and/or are facing complex and uncertain situations.

Description: This report – Study on the socio-economic importance of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the Southeast Atlantic region – aims to analyse the socio-economic importance of the ABNJ adjacent to the countries within the Abidjan Convention Area in West, Central and Southern Africa. It characterizes the socio-economic interests in ABNJ, underpinned by the ecosystem services concept, and the actual and potential social and economic outcomes (costs and benefits) associated with the conservation and use (exploitation) of marine resources, both in qualitative, and to the extent possible in quantitative terms. In this study, the term “socio-economics” is taken in a broad context to include the social aspects related to human well-being, livelihoods, impacts on communities, equity, socio-political systems, as well as economic ones. The analysis is based on an extensive literature review of scientific publications, articles, analysis of available data, stakeholder knowledge and experience, as well as expert opinion gathered through targeted interviews. It provides a narrative and forward-looking assessment of the key activities. The information presented is intend-ed to support decision-makers, including government officials, the private sector and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about ABNJ and weigh environmental, social and eco-nomic objectives, in the context of a new internationally binding treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction, the BBNJ agreement. This report is part of a series of reports covering issues of ocean governance with a focus on the Southeast Atlantic (and Southeast Pacific) published under the STRONG High Seas project – Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (June 2017 – May 2022).

Description: Kopenhagen ist eine der Städte mit der besten Fahrradinfrastruktur weltweit. Um zu verstehen, wie die dänische Hauptstadt das erreicht hat, lohnt sich ein Blick in ihre Vergangenheit. Nach Jahrzehnten der autogerechten Stadtplanung, vor der auch Kopenhagen nicht gefeit war, demonstrierten in den späten 1970er und frühen 1980er Jahren Zehntausende für mehr Radwege – mit Erfolg. Welche Rolle haben Diskurse und Erzählungen über das Fahrrad im Dänemark dieser Zeit gespielt, damit aus Kopenhagen die Fahrradstadt werden konnte, die sie heute ist? Und was können wir daraus lernen, um selbst die politische Förderung des Fahrrads als nachhaltiges Verkehrsmittel kommunikativ zu befördern? Diesen Fragen widmet sich das vorliegende Discussion Paper. Es untersucht drei repräsentative Korpora der auflagenstärksten Tageszeitungen Dänemarks aus den Jahren 1977, 1980 und 1983 mithilfe der im Projekt „Narrative der Nachhaltigkeit“ entwickelten „pentadischen“ Narrativanalyse. Das Ziel ist es, erfolgreiche Narrative für die Verkehrswende hin zu einer nachhaltigen urbanen Mobilität zu identifizieren.

Description: Ce rapport - Étude sur l‘importance socio-économique des zones situées au-delà de la juridiction nationale (ZAJN) dans la région de l‘Atlantique Sud-Est - vise à analyser l‘importance socio-économique des ZAJN adjacentes aux pays de la region de la Convention d‘Abidjan en Afrique occidentale, centrale et australe. Elle caractérise les intérêts socio-économiques dans les ZAJN, étayés par le concept de services écosystémiques, et les résultats sociaux et économiques réels et potentiels (coûts et bénéfices) associés à la conservation et à l‘utilisation (exploitation) des ressources marines, à la fois en termes qualitatifs et, dans la mesure du possible, en termes quantitatifs. Dans cette étude, le terme „socio-économique“ est pris dans un contexte large pour inclure les aspects sociaux liés au bien-être humain, aux moyens de subsistance, aux impacts sur les communautés, à l‘équité, aux systèmes socio-politiques, ainsi que les aspects économiques. L‘analyse se fonde sur une étude approfondie de publications et d‘articles scientifiques, sur l‘analyse des données disponibles, sur les connaissances et l‘expérience des parties prenantes, ainsi que sur l‘opinion d‘experts recueillie lors d‘entretiens ciblés. Elle fournit une évaluation narrative et prospective des activités clés. Les informations présentées ont pour but d‘aider les décideurs, y compris les responsables gouvernementaux, le secteur privé et d‘autres parties prenantes, à prendre des décisions éclairées sur les ZAJN et à peser les objectifs environnementaux, sociaux et économiques, dans le contexte d‘un nouveau traité international contraignant pour la conservation et l‘utilisation durable de la biodiversité marine audelà de la juridiction nationale, l‘accord BZAJN. Ce rapport fait partie d‘une série de rapports couvrant les questions de gouvernance des océans avec un accent sur l‘Atlantique du Sud-Est (et le Pacifique du Sud-Est) publiés dans le cadre du projet STRONG High Seas - Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (juin 2017 - mai 2022).

Description: Este reporte tiene como objetivo evaluar la con-tribución al bienestar humano de las activida-des socioeconómicas, actuales y potenciales, en las áreas marinas fuera de la jurisdicción nacio-nal (ABNJ por sus siglas en inglés) del Pacífico Sudeste, destacando la dependencia humana de los servicios ecosistémicos que la biodiver-sidad marina en las áreas fuera de la jurisdic-ción nacional (o BBNJ por sus siglas en inglés) provee, así como también de aquellas activi-dades que compiten en uso o bien generan efectos negativos sobre ella como consecuen-cia de su desarrollo. El estudio se focaliza en los aspectos socioeconómicos que dependen de, e interactúan con, la BBNJ en la región FAO 87, correspondiente al área f rente a las áreas juris-diccionales de Chile, Perú, Ecuador y Colombia (países miembros de la Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur o CPPS1), y de manera general para el bienestar de la humanidad. Como parte de esta introducción, se presenta a continuación una primera subsección que provee de contexto en relación a la importancia de los ecosistemas marinos y la relación de la BBNJ con el bienestar humano, seguida por una segunda donde se describe la organización de este reporte.

Description: While the positive impacts of renewable energy development, the implementation and use of renewable energy for people and the planet are widely recognised, the direct contribution of local renewable energy projects to local community well-being has received limited attention. And while the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have been rightfully celebrated as global milestones towards securing livelihoods and opportunities now and in the future, they lack societal ownership and traction among communities, who are decisive in supporting and driving the necessary sustainability transformation. However, aside from energy access, the opportunities for local energy projects to provide broader positive effects (such as community revenues) through co-investments are largely regarded as secondary co-benefits, if not entirely ignored by development policies and practices. Tapping into these opportunities for effective policies and practices in climate action and international development calls for a different approach to sustainable energy development (energy transitions in some countries): a social performance approach to energy development and investment, which we outline in this paper. In the context of this paper, the social performance of energy sector investments refers to direct and positive social impacts on the well-being of individuals and communities during the development and implementation of energy projects and the usage of locally generated energy, in both monetary and non-monetary ways. In essence, the social performance approach in energy-sector investments and energy-project development puts the needs and well-being of people – both current and future generations – at the centre of energy development and related investments and activities. The social performance approach that we propose builds on the conceptual foundations of the capability approach, the co-benefits approach, the Need–Opportunity–Ability (NOA) model, and important groundwork on community development in South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). An important aspect of the social performance approach is its focus on the direct contribution of these investments in fostering the well-being of individuals in a manner that reflects their aspirations for good quality of life. This approach can facilitate regular evaluation of progress and ensures accountability and adjustment of implementation strategies so that future investments, design, and implementation strategies perform both for people and the planet. Social performance can be used to compare how different energy options (e.g., a coal-mining site, a renewable wind park, or decentralised energy services such as solar mini-grids) may effectively and comprehensibly improve the lives of people and local communities. The social performance approach helps to identify concrete intervention points or enablers, to ensure and increase the positive contributions of energy-sector investments to the well-being of individuals and communities, either in monetary ways such as local economic value creation and employment, or in non-monetary ways such as community cohesion and social inclusion. In this paper we suggest that, consequently, policy interventions and investments aimed at decarbonising energy systems should not simply be monitored in view of how they perform for communities and people on the ground; rather, these interventions and investments should be intentionally designed to maximise their social performance for individuals and communities.

Description: Die Klimagerechtigkeitsbewegung (KB) hat in jüngster Zeit eine erstaunliche Dynamik entwickelt und dazu beigetragen, die Klimakrise in Deutschland auf die politische Agenda zu setzen. Die sichtbarsten und mobilisierungsstärksten Bewegungsakteur*innen sind Extinction Rebellion (XR), Ende Gelände (EG) und Fridays for Future (FFF). In ihrer öffentlichen Kommunikation zur Klimakrise zeigen sich unterschiedliche thematische Schwerpunkte. Die Studie analysiert vergleichend die narrativen Strukturen von Pressemitteilungen und Blog-Artikeln von XR, EG und FFF aus dem Jahr 2019 und führt die dortigen Motive und (Mikro-)Erzählungen auf ihre jeweiligen Grundwerte zurück. Es werden Potenziale identifiziert, wie XR, EG und FFF ihre politischen Anliegen innerhalb rhetorisch überzeugenderer, (strukturell vollständigerer) Erzählungen kommunizieren können. Die Untersuchung von Klima-Frames thematisiert zudem, ob und wie ein Bezug nicht nur zu Klimaschutz, sondern zu Klimagerechtigkeit hergestellt wird.

Description: Sowohl der deutsche als auch der polnische Teil der Lausitz stehen unter einem erhöhten Transformationsdruck. Der Ausstieg beziehungsweise die Reduktion der Kohleverstromung soll sowohl durch EU-Förderprogramme abgefedert werden. Der Policy Briefe gibt Empfehlungen, wie diese Programm genutzt werden können.

Description: This article reflects the partial results of my ongoing research as part of the International Climate Fellowship Program of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which I am carrying out at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies – IASS Potsdam, Germany.

Description: Post-pandemic recovery plans will play an important role in strengthening healthcare systems and rebuilding economies. These stimulus packages and policy responses present a unique opportunity to steer the global economy towards sustainable growth, increase resilience and bolster efforts to tackle the challenge of climate change. This IASS Discussion Paper shows how policymakers could align post-pandemic recovery planning with existing climate goals to unlock co-benefits for sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Description: The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is presently developing regulations (the “Mining Code”) to govern the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources of the international seabed (or “Area”). Whilst the financial mechanism is a critical component of this Mining Code, its development has been delegated to the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group of the Council. These informal discussions have prioritized a model that gives preference to enabling mining over delivering fair compensation for the loss of resources. This policy brief argues that a fundamentally different and comprehensive approach is required and outlines some of its key components.

Description: Wenn die EU einen CO2-Grenzausgleich (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM) einführt, könnten Länder, denen die Ressourcen für die Dekarbonisierung fehlen, schwerwiegende wirtschaftliche Folgen zu spüren bekommen. Die EU sollte daher mögliche politische Risiken berücksichtigen und Stakeholder aus Drittstaaten in die Gestaltung des CBAM einbeziehen. Sie sollte mit den CBAM-Einnahmen die Dekarbonisierung in den von Risiken betroff enen Ländern fördern und die Emissionsberichterstattung mit bestehenden internationalen Vorgaben verknüpfen.

Description: The German government has resolved to phase out coal-fired power plants at the latest by 2038. The coal exit will inevitably mean the end of lignite mining in Lusatia, a central economic sector that has played a major role in shaping the region’s identity. However, against the backdrop of the worsening climate crisis, lignite is a hotly contested political issue. Although there are many people in Lusatia who reject the coal exit by 2038, lignite is not uncontroversial here either. (see Bischoff et. al. 2021). At the same time, in recent years the right-wing populist and to some extent radical right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has gained mass appeal among some of the Lusatian population. With their right-wing populist orientation and simplistic friend-foe argumentation, the AfD is driving social polarisation. The party rails against the coal exit, sheds doubt on man-made climate change and, more recently, has sought proximity to pandemic deniers. But why exactly is right-wing populism so popular in Lusatia? Why does this success pose a threat to structural change in the region? And how might we remove the breeding ground for right-wing populism and counteract social polarisation? This Discussion Paper addresses these questions and develops three approaches for countering social polarisation so that the coming structural change in Lusatia can be successful. Acknowledge diversity Lusatia is often presented as a homogeneous area with a homogeneous population. This in no way reflects the social reality on the ground. The population in Upper and Lower Lusatia is very heterogeneous in terms of their origins, political views, and religious beliefs. This diversity must be acknowledged and viewed as a resource for the region. Establish a culture of immigration Since 2000 alone, the population in Lusatia has declined by about 20 per cent, from 1.4 million to 1.1 million, and the average age has increased significantly (WRL 2019, 27). For the future, it is imperative to establish a culture of immigration to make the region attractive both for people who left as young adults and for people from other parts of Germany and abroad. Take fears about the future seriously, but do not exacerbate them The massive economic and social changes of the 1990s have stirred fear of change in the region. For this reason, it is important to establish spaces where dialogue can take place on what the future might look like without strengthening vague fears stemming from past experiences.

Description: The purpose of this study is to examine if and how the EU CBAM influences the climate policy debate in Ukraine, one of the countries that is expected to be most affected due to its large share of carbon- intensive exports to the EU. The study seeks to find out how the EU CBAM can be made more instrumental in promoting an increase in the country’s climate policy ambition.

Description: Für die wirksame Umsetzung und Weiterentwicklung der Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie müssen fortlaufend neu auftauchende Themen exploriert sowie wissenschaftlich basierte Impulse entwickelt werden, um Transformationen (weiter) anzuschieben. Die Wissenschaftsplattform Nachhaltigkeit 2030 (wpn2030) tut dies, je nach Fragestellung und Zweck, über unterschiedliche Prozesse wie etwa Arbeitsgruppen, Konsultationen, Konferenzen oder den Beirätedialog. Mit dem „DNS-Lab“ hat die wpn2030 ein weiteres Format aufgesetzt, das besonders auf Agilität setzt. Bezüglich einer spezifischen Fragestellung werden in kurzer Zeit (halber Tag) und mit wissenschaftlichen Methoden in Vorbereitung, Durchführung und Nachbereitung Perspektiven aus einem breiten transdisziplinärem Spektrum integriert, um neue Themen zu explorieren oder/und Impulse für Transformationen zu entwickeln.

Description: This report contributes to the modelling work in SENTINEL and beyond in two main ways. First, we provide three social storylines that are closely linked to different governance logics and build on observed social and political drivers and barriers in the European energy transition. This is different than most other storylines used for modelling, because ours are based on governance patterns and normative assumptions of a “good future”, and not on the more common geopolitical or techno-economic storyline assumptions. Second, we provide quantitative, empirical data for several important social/political parameters that can be used together with the storylines or as separate building blocks to answer specific research questions with energy models.

Description: Air pollution exposure in urban areas is a threat to human health. One of the largest sources of air pollution in urban areas is vehicles. This is particularly true for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and underlines the need for a shift away from motorized individual transport toward healthy, sustainable transport. The paradigm shift - the Verkehrswende or Mobilitätswende (Traffic Transition or Mobility Transition) - as it has come to be called, has enjoyed broad support from citizens and decision- makers alike for decades, yet remains largely unrealized. Berlin was the first city to pass a Mobilitätsgesetz (Mobility Act). This law has many provisions to expand infrastructure for sustainable transport, such as supporting more cycling infrastructure, prioritizing cycling, walking, and public transit, and overall a more liveable, accessible city. To understand the effect of mobility policy on air quality, real-world experiments provide an opportunity to quantitatively assess the effect of such infrastructure changes on air quality. Here we found that the implementation of a bike lane reduced the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide that cyclists are exposed to. Furthermore, the small-scale repurposing of street space through a temporary Spielstrasse (community space) which closed a section of a street to vehicles to open the space for the community, also reduced air pollution during the occurrence of the community space. Such quantitative assessments of urban mobility policies can provide valuable information for policy decisions.

Description: Für diese Studie konnte ein Großteil der Schüler:innen Lauchhammers im Mai und Juni 2021, während der dritten Welle der Corona-Pandemie, in Präsenz befragt werden. Zentrale Erkenntnisse der Studie sind, dass (1) etwa 60 Prozent der Schüler:innen, Angst vor dem Coronavirus haben, (2) auch nach einem Jahr Pandemie bei vielen Schüler:innen die technischen Voraussetzungen für Homeschooling nicht ausreichend gegeben sind und (3) dass sich die überwiegende Mehrheit der Schüler:innen in der Kinder- und Jugendbeteiligung engagieren wollen.

Description: For this study, a majority of school pupils in the town of Lauchhammer were interviewed in person in May / June 2021 during the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The central findings of the study are that (1) about 60 percent of the students are afraid of the coronavirus, (2) as the pandemic enters its second year, many school pupils still lack the technical resources required for home-schooling, and (3) the vast majority of pupils want to get involved in child and youth participation.

Description: Die Luftverschmutzung in urbanen Gebieten gefährdet die menschliche Gesundheit. Eine der größten Quellen der Luftverschmutzung in der Stadt – insbesondere durch Stickstoffdioxid (NO2) – sind Fahrzeuge mit Verbrennungsmotoren. Die Gefahren für die Gesundheit unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit, den motorisierten Individualverkehr zugunsten einer gesunden und nachhaltigen Mobilität zurückzudrängen. Dieser Paradigmenwechsel – die Verkehrs- oder Mobilitätswende –genießt zwar seit Jahrzehnten breite Unterstützung bei Bürger*innen und Entscheidungsträger*innen gleichermaßen, bleibt jedoch weitgehend unrealisiert. Berlin war das erste Bundesland in Deutschland, das ein Mobilitätsgesetz verabschiedet hat. Dieses Gesetz enthält viele Bestimmungen, wie die Verkehrsinfrastruktur nachhaltig ausgebaut werden soll, z.B. durch die Priorisierung von Radfahren, Zu-Fuß-Gehen und öffentlichem Nahverkehr. Um die Auswirkungen einer veränderten Infrastruktur auf die Luftqualität quantitativ zu bewerten, bieten sich Experimente in der realen Welt an. Die Ergebnisse eines solchen Realexperimentes am Kottbusser Damm zeigen, dass eine Fahrradspur die Konzentration von Stickstoffdioxid in der Luft, der Radfahrer*innen ausgesetzt sind, reduziert. Darüber hinaus führte die kleinräumige Umwidmung von Straßenraum durch eine temporäre Spielstraße ebenfalls zu einer reduzierten Luftverschmutzung. Solche Messungen unter realen Bedingungen können der städtischen Mobilitätspolitik wertvolle Informationen für politische Entscheidungen liefern.