Better Governance, Planning and Services in Local Self-Governments in Poland


Book Description

This report provides an assessment of public governance and territorial development in Polish local self-government units (LSGUs). It offers key recommendations to governments at the national, regional and local levels in Poland on how to enhance development, improve service delivery and strengthen management processes within LSGUs.




Cities and Local Governments in Central Asia


Book Description

This book presents the changing roles of urban governments and how local governments struggle to gain administrative, fiscal, and political power to combat current urban challenges in Kazakhstan. Focusing on the cities and regions selected by the national government of Kazakhstan to be the drivers of national economic development, the author analyses the impact of decentralization on the role of local governments. The book examines the practical experiences of city and regional governments with an emphasis on urban planning, public investment in national projects, and management of urban transport. Due to the complexity and irregular distribution of political reforms at different levels of local government in Kazakhstan, three separate studies are presented, each looking at a specific aspect of decentralization reform and local government function related to physical urban development and distribution of public investment. The author argues that, if the national government of Kazakhstan wants to concentrate economic resources in urban agglomerations, it is not enough to assume that local governments are ready to play the role of efficient planners and managers of urban development. A useful analysis illustrating cities and urban conglomerations as engines of growth in economic development, this book will be of interest to academics studying Central Asian Studies, in particular political and economic development, Development Studies, and Urban Studies.




Planning Education to Care for the Earth


Book Description

The World Conservation Union brings together states, government agencies, and a diverse range of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in a unique world partnership that seeks to influence, encourage, and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature as well as to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. This book contains case studies in environmental communication and education that were presented at the General Assembly workshop of the World Conservation Union held in January 1994. The book is divided into three sections: the first seeks to provide some bases for planning education and communication, the second looks at NGO education programs, and the third addresses planning education at the national level. Papers include: (1) "Influences on Pro-environmental Practices" (Joy Palmer); (2) "Behaviour, Social Marketing, and the Environment" (William Smith); (3) "A Basis for Environmental Education in the Sahel" (Raphael Ndiaye); (4) "Communication: An Instrument of Government Policy" (Agnes Gomis and Frits Hesselink); (5) "Seabird Conservation on the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence: The Effects of Education on Attitude and Behaviour towards a Marine Resource" (Kathleen Blanchard); (6) "Environmental Education Programmes for Natural Areas: A Brazilian Case Study" (Suzana Padua); (7) "Addressing Urban Issues Through Environmental Education" (Shyamala Krishna); (8) "The CAMPFIRE Programme in Zimbabwe: Changes of Attitudes and Practices of Rural Communities towards Natural Resources" (Taparendava Maveneke); (9) "IUCN in Environmental Education in Western Africa and the Sahel" (Monique Trudel); (10) "A Matter of Motivation" (Ibrahim Thiaw); (11) "Education and Communication Support to the Establishment of Protected Area Systems" (Rutger-Jan Schoen); (12) "Canada: National Environmental Citizenship Initiative" (T. Christine Hogan); (13) "The Netherlands: Inter-departmental Cooperation on Environmental Education" (Peter Bos); (14) "Scotland: Developing a National Strategy for Environmental Education" (John C. Smyth); (15) "Spain: The Coordination of Environmental Education" (Susana Calvo); (16) "Australia: Community Involvement in Conservation of Biological Diversity" (Chris Mobbs); (17) "Australia: Education and Extension: Management's Best Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park" (Donald J. Alcock); (18) "Nepal: Environmental Education and Awareness as Elements of the National Conservation Strategy" (Dadri Dev Pande); (19) "Zambia: Environmental Education" (Juliana Chileshe); and (20) "Ecuador: Raising Environmental Awareness" (Marco Encalada). (JRH)










Public Perception of Climate Change


Book Description

Despite the findings on global climate change presented by the scientific community, there remains a significant gap between its recommendations and the actions of the public and policy makers. So far scientists and the media have failed to successfully communicate the urgency of the climate change situation in such a way that long-term, comprehensive, and legally binding policy commitments are being made on the national and international level. This book examines the way the public processes information, how they perceive threats and other perceptual factors that have a significant effect on how and to what degree climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies are supported. Understanding public risk perception plays a vital role in communicating the challenges of global climate change. Using a diverse range of international case studies, this book explores the nature of public perceptions of climate change and identifies the perception factors which have a significant impact on the public’s willingness to support global climate change policies or commit to behavioral changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve urban resiliency. The comparative study of social and cultural factors, beliefs, attitudes and trust provides an international overview of best practices regarding the design, implementation and generation of public support for climate change policies at a global level. Offering valuable insight into climate change and risk communication, the book should be of interest to students and scholars of environment studies, politics, urban planning, and media and cultural studies.




The Role of Communication in Large Infrastructure


Book Description

This book describes how the timely use of two-way communication in large water infrastructure projects leads to improved project design and is key to identify and address problems that could result in project delays and incremental costs.




Water Spectrum


Book Description




Fishing for Human Perceptions in Coastal and Island Marine Resource Use Systems, 2nd Edition


Book Description

Human perceptions, decision-making and (pro-) environmental behaviour are closely connected. This Research Topic focuses on bringing together perceptions and behaviour for sustainable coastal and island marine resource use systems. Management and governance of (large and small-scale) coastal marine resource use systems function in highly complex social and ecological environments, which are culturally embedded, economically interest-led and politically biased. Management processes therefore have to integrate multiple perspectives as well as perception-driven standpoints on the individual as well as the decision-makers’ levels. Consequently, the analysis of perceptions has developed not only as part of philosophy and psychology but also of environmental science, anthropology and human geography. It encompasses intuitions, values, attitudes, thoughts, mind-sets, place attachments and sense of place. All of these influence human behavior and action, and are collected or are available within the respective marine resource use system, which may support the livelihood of a large part of the local population. Management and governance are not only about mediating between resource use conflicts or establishing marine protected areas, they deal with people and their ideas and perceptions. Understanding the related decision-making processes on multiple scales and levels hence means much more than economically assessing the available marine resources or existing threats to the associated system. Over the past decade, there has been a growing inter- and transdisciplinary international community becoming interested in research which integrates perceptions of coastal and inland residents, local and regional stakeholder groups, as well as resource and environmental managers and decision-makers. By acknowledging the importance of the individual perspective and interest-led personal views, it became obvious how valuable and important these sources of information are for coastal research. An increase of research effort spent on the link between perceptions and behaviour in marine resource use systems is thus both timely and needed. By offering a diversity of inspiring and comprehensive contributions on the link between perceptions and behaviour, this Research Topic aspires to critically enlighten the discourse and applicability of such research for finding sustainable, locally identified, anchored and integrated marine resource use pathways.




Encyclopedia of Geography


Book Description

Simply stated, geography studies the locations of things and the explanations that underlie spatial distributions. Profound forces at work throughout the world have made geographical knowledge increasingly important for understanding numerous human dilemmas and our capacities to address them. With more than 1,200 entries, the Encyclopedia of Geography reflects how the growth of geography has propelled a demand for intermediaries between the abstract language of academia and the ordinary language of everyday life. The six volumes of this encyclopedia encapsulate a diverse array of topics to offer a comprehensive and useful summary of the state of the discipline in the early 21st century. Key Features Gives a concise historical sketch of geography′s long, rich, and fascinating history, including human geography, physical geography, and GIS Provides succinct summaries of trends such as globalization, environmental destruction, new geospatial technologies, and cyberspace Decomposes geography into the six broad subject areas: physical geography; human geography; nature and society; methods, models, and GIS; history of geography; and geographer biographies, geographic organizations, and important social movements Provides hundreds of color illustrations and images that lend depth and realism to the text Includes a special map section Key Themes Physical Geography Human Geography Nature and Society Methods, Models, and GIS People, Organizations, and Movements History of Geography This encyclopedia strategically reflects the enormous diversity of the discipline, the multiple meanings of space itself, and the diverse views of geographers. It brings together the diversity of geographical knowledge, making it an invaluable resource for any academic library.