The "Assessment of Assessments" (AoA) is a start-up phase of a regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment including socio-economic aspects. AoA represents the most comprehensive initiative undertaken to date by the UN system to better coordinate ocean governance. Its central recommendation calls for a mechanism that builds on existing global, regional and national institutions and processes while integrating all available information, including socio-economic data, on how our seas and oceans are actually being used.--Publisher's description.
Despite the central role oceans play in the economic, environmental and social affairs of the planet's 6.7 billion inhabitants, significant gaps exist in our understanding and management of the complex processes at work from the global climate system, to the water cycle and circulation of nutrients, to changes affecting marine habitats. In addition, the vastness of the world's oceans have for far too long been perceived as impervious and indestructible to human impact. To deal with this situation, improved monitoring and observation practices, regular assessments to provide a deeper understanding of the status and trends of environmental changes, and the know-how and ability to prevent, mitigate and adapt to these changes are urgently required. The UN General Assembly in 2005 -- recommended that a regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including its socio-economic aspects (Regular Process), be initiated. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) were asked to serve as the lead agencies in the start-up phase that came to be known as the "Assessment of Assessments" (AoA). Under the AoA, an Expert Group have developed options and a framework for such a Regular Process, which can serve as the mechanism to keep the world's oceans and seas under continuing review.
The promotion of entrepreneurship in higher education appears in the political spectrum as a new economic policy arena. In this field policy blanks and new kinds of problems need to be addressed. Scholars agree that many of the current structures and models in higher education do not fit the necessary requirements for the development of entrepreneurship training. New perspectives in this field can be gained through an analysis of the feasibility of a policy transfer of the German EXIST-II-Program to Mexico. This program was developed to address the entrepreneurial potential within higher educational institutions through the coordination of entrepreneurial efforts carried out by regional, national and supranational actors. An empirical analysis of the objectives, regulations, actors and governance, personnel (staff), financial resources, beneficiaries and output of the program as well as a comparative study of Germany versus Mexico in this book demonstrates under what conditions the transfer of know-how from Germany, specifically from the EXIST-II-Program to universities in Mexico could be implemented. The research offers alternatives to improve the current ongoing initiatives in Mexico.
This report examines cross-border collaboration on innovation, building on case studies of cross-border areas that include the following countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom and Ireland.
Regional policies are increasingly focusing on human resources and their orientation towards market demand and improvement of partnerships. This volume casts a new light on these issues, providing a useful source of information and inspiration for regional actors and their national partners.
This book explores the benefits of using risk analysis techniques in the evaluation of flood protection structures, and examines the results of the environmental impact assessment for selected planned flood protection projects. The objective of the book is to propose a methodology for environmental impact assessment in water management. In more detail, flood mitigation measures are investigated with the aim of selecting the best option for the approval process. This methodology is intended to streamline the process of environmental impact assessment for structures in the field of the water management. The book’s environmental impact assessment system for water management structures analyzes the respective risks for different options. The results are intended to support the selection of future projects that pose minimum risks to the environment. Comparison of alternatives and designation of the optimal variant are implemented on the basis of selected criteria that objectively describe the characteristics of the planned alternatives and their respective impacts on the environment. The proposed Guideline for environmental impact assessment of flood protection objects employs multi-parametric risk analysis, a method intended to not only enhance the transparency and sensitivity of the evaluation process, but also successfully addresses the requirements of environmental impact assessment systems in the European Union. These modifications are intended to improve the outcomes of the environmental impact assessment, but may also be applied to other infrastructure projects. The case study proves that the primary aim – to improve transparency and minimize subjectivity in the environmental impact assessment process specific to flood protection structure projects – is met for the planned project in Kružlov, Slovakia.
Examines the transformation of the Russian electricity system during post-Soviet marketization, arguing for a view of economic and political development as mutually constitutive.
Going West? questions how the Neolithic way of life was diffused from the Near East to Europe via Anatolia. The contributors have focused their studies on the vast area of the Eastern Balkans and the Pontic region between the Bosporus and the rivers Strymon, Danube and Dniestr, offering an overview of the current state of research regarding the Neolithisation of these areas and also providing useful starting points for future investigations. Using previous studies as a basis for fresh research, this volume presents exciting new interpretations by analyzing recently discovered materials and applying modern methods of interdisciplinary investigations.
