Environmental Sociology

Dependence on a vast shared resource built up the economies of herring towns around the north-central and northeastern Atlantic during the first half of the 20th century. During the postwar years, culminating in the early-1960s spike, the fishery rapidly drew down its resource. This killer spike disastrously coincided with an adverse climatic event, collapsing the fishery in the late 1960s. That pattern, of collapse resulting from climatic variation on top of overfishing, has characterized other fisheries crises (for example see Hamilton et al., 2004b). The fisheries events reflect a more general proposition: climate changes tend to impact human affairs largely through interactions with resource use and distribution behaviour, which can reduce or exacerbate climate impacts. We should not expect to see simple, physical impacts from climate alone, unmitigated by social factors.

This working paper examines the concept of metabolism and its potential as a critical analytical lens to study the contemporary city from a political perspective. The paper illustrates how the metabolism concept has been used historically, both as a metaphor to describe the technological, social, political and economic dimensions of human-environment relations, and as a concrete analytical tool to quantify and better understand how flows of matter and energy shape the territorial and spatial configurations of cityscapes. Drawing on the example of the urban water metabolism of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), the paper shows how the metabolism concept can be applied to study the politics of water in the city.

Climate change is arguably the greatest threat to society as power plants, the single largest human source of heat-trapping pollution, continue to emit massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Sociologists have identified several possible structural determinants of electricity-based CO 2 emissions, including international trade and global normative regimes, national political–legal systems, and organizational size and age. But because they treat these factors as competing predictors, scholars have yet to examine how they might work together to explain why some power plants emit vastly more pollutants than others. Using a worldwide data set of utility facilities and fuzzy-set methods, we analyze the conjoint effects of global, political, and organizational conditions on fossil-fueled plants' CO 2 emissions. Findings reveal that hyperpolluters' emission rates are a function of four distinct causal recipes, which we label coercive, quiescent, expropriative, and inertial configurations, and these same sets of conditions also increase plants' emission levels.

... a typical naive set of assumptions about "group oriented" cultures it that the participants within them are basically altruistic, self-effacing, self-sacrificing and sociable. A society of such individuals should exhibit the very best of human civilization working in equitable, democratic communities. By contrast, those from individualistic cultures should be cold, grasping, selfish, egotistical and almost incapable of the cooperation demanded by a civil society. Indeed, a society of individualists, by this stereotype would be a dog eat dog affair, dedicated to conflict, riven with disloyalty and betrayal, forever failing to build a stable and humanistic community.

Diplomová práce se zabývá multiagentním modelováním (ABM, počítačová simulační
metoda) vycházejícím z konceptu analytické sociologie a jeho využitím v empirické
sociologii. Využití je demonstrováno tvorbou modelu založeném na principech
environmentální sociologie zkoumající vliv sociálních faktorů na životní prostředí. Práce
vychází z empiricko-teoretického konceptu Nové ekologické paradigma (NEP), které
měří hodnoty a názory na životní prostředí. Vznik práce byl motivován absencí projektů
snoubících metodu empiricky kalibrovaného multiagentního modelování a sociologický
základ, zejména v českém kontextu, ale převážně i v zahraničí. Na základě
environmentálního modulu českých dat ISSP 2010 a výzkumné otázky „Jak parametry
sociální sítě ovlivňují ochotu lidí třídit odpad?“ byl vytvořen a následně i analyzován
model. Byl nalezen vztah mezi oběma typy agentů (třídícími i netřídícími během celé
simulace) a jejich bezprostředním okolím (sousedy). Čím větší byl počet sousedů, tím
více se vyskytovalo agentů s tímto typem chování. Pravděpodobnost vytvoření pouta se
vzdálenějším sousedem na úkor zrušení blízké vazby se ukázala být bez vlivu na počet
ne/třídících agentů. Zdá se tedy, agenti mají tendence replikovat jednání svých sousedů
v bezprostředním okolí, aby se v něm mohli cítit komfortně.

Umwelt, Technik & Risiko – damit verbinden wir eine Symptomatik, die für die Moderne von bestandskritischer Bedeutung ist. Soweit herrscht Einigkeit. Kontrovers sind hingegen Diagnose und Therapie. Ist die industriegesellschaftliche Risikoproblematik auf die In- und Extensivierung der Inanspruchnahme der Natur zurückzuführen? Oder herrschen kulturelle Veränderungen in der Wahrnehmung von Unsicherheiten vor? Diesen Fragen folgend werden Probleme der Forschung, der Gesellschaftstheorie und des Risikomanagements erörtert.

This paper discusses the results of a qualitative analysis
that deployed focus groups, involving individuals selected among the population of the “Valle del Mela” (that is, the area of Milazzo, in Sicily) in order to investigate customs, images, and perception of risks related to the living condition in a complex industrial area. This survey is part of a broader study on risk perception carried out in the framework of the agreement between the Siclian Government (Ufficio speciale aree a rischio) and the World Health Organization European Region. The area under investigation is characterized by the presence of a large refinery process plants, a power plant and a number of small factories operating in various highly polluting sectors.

This paper analyzes the politics of bluefin tuna in Malta within the first years of EU accession (2004-9). The paper concludes that despite making certain impacts, ENGOs (environmental non-governmental organizations) were unsuccessful in creating a hegemonic formation to stop the fishing of bluefin tuna until stocks recover.

At the end of the 2000, Italy experienced the emergence of a new cycle of environmental mobilizations at the local level against infrastructure projects, contributing to a renewal of discourse on the environment and introducing new forms of collective action. In 2009, almost 166 spontaneously born citizens’ committees were engaged in a variety of forms of contentious politics in Tuscany related to the environment. This group eventually formed an informal regional platform— the Tuscan Network of Citizens’ Committees—to share common problems, alternative information and strategies. A similar phenomenon happened in Veneto between 2011 and 2013, where hundreds of citizens groups mobilizing against a variety of environmental threats—highways, hydroelectric power stations, waste incinerators, regasification plants, among others—met regularly under the banner of a common platform called «the Regional Network of Environmental Committees». More visible and sustained than in other places, these spontaneous citizen mobilizations found one of their key resources in the participation of several experts and in the use of expert knowledge. Close examination shows that the mobilization of expertise and research into credible and feasible alternatives were the core characteristics of this wave of Italian «new environmentalism».

A survey was conducted in a small New England town following the discovery that the town’s water supply had become contaminated by industrial chemicals. Principal findings include: (1) respondents from more affluent households were more concerned about the pollution problem; (2) long-term or older residents tended to be less concerned; and (3) women with young children viewed the problem as particularly serious. The first two findings are consistent with previous research on similar "technological catastrophes" and on environmental protection in general. The third finding has not appeared in environmental protection research, but it is consistent with reports from Three Mile Island. Such technological catastrophes transform environmental issues into safety issues, thereby raising parents’ anxieties about the safety of their children -- perhaps more so for women than for men. These safety concerns may eventually be generalized to broader environmental issues, as toxic waste and other disasters continue to occur.

Die vorliegende Untersuchung fragt nach den Ursachen für das Zustandekommen des globalen Klimaschutzabkommens von Paris: Welche Ereignisse haben dazu geführt, dass die politische Staatengemeinschaft im Dezember 2015 einen Vertragstext verabschiedet hat, der von einigen Beobachtern sogar als "Wunder von Paris " bezeichnet wird? Ausgehend von einer zweiwöchigen Ethnografie auf dem Gelände des Weltklimagipfels in Frankreich wird das Verhältnis verschiedener Stakeholder auf der größten diplomatischen Versammlung der Menschheitsgeschichte genauer beleuchtet. Zur Erschließung des empirischen Materials wird ein akteurzentriertes Analysemodell entwickelt, bei dem der Zeitfaktor von zentraler Bedeutung ist ("AKSA-Modell "). Mit einer um die Kategorien der sachlichen "Kreuzung" , zeitlichen "Synchronisation" und sozialräumlichen "Arena" erweiterten Differenzierungstheorie wird das lokale Zusammenspiel zwischen ökonomischen, politischen, wissenschaftlichen, massenmedialen und religiösen Akteuren genauer in den Blick genommen. Dabei zeigt sich, dass das Pariser Klimaschutzabkommen kein politischer Alleingang war, sondern das Produkt eines gesellschaftlichen Synchronisationsprozesses.

The forces of mechanization and industrialization using man made materials ruthlessly induced the alteration of traditional methods and the serene environment, which the earth initially had. These two forces have faltered in obvious and not-so-obvious ways and their negative impact has unbalanced many ecosystems making irreversible changes in the habitat and reducing the biodiversity of the colonies and conquered territories. In their lust for power and to enjoy better quality of life and affluence the industrialized countries have reaped rich harvests from the short term positive impacts in exploiting the resources of the colonies as well as their own and did not take any account of the consequences of the long range negative impact of the diverse changes. Irreversible changes in the habitat and reducing the biodiversity increase the entropy of the ecosystem and constitute acts of social Pollution; they are as such not sustainable.

Nella centrifuga semiotica della comunicazione contemporanea, il concetto di Smart City ha avuto  la capacità di  imporsi  nel  dibattito pubblico senza perdere  il  mistero del  suo contenuto.  Questo  breve contributo mira a srotolare le tematiche pilastro del discorso sulla Smart City e a proporre  alcuni sentieri potenzialmente prolifici per la ricerca sociale.

The literature reports different benefits of people's relationship with nature. However, for the field of psychology the evidence is partial and not integrated. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to understand the psychological benefits of people's relationship with nature from a systemic review of empirical articles indexed in the Wos, Scopus and Scielo database, between the years 2015 and 2020. We used the PRISMA model for the search, identification and suitability of the articles, which were analyzed in their bibliometric characteristics and thematic content. The main bibliometric findings show that articles produced in the United Kingdom and the United States predominate, conducted in urban natural environments using quantitative methodologies with the use of surveys and physiological measurements. Thematically, we distinguish five dimensions of psychological benefits: restoration of attention, restoration and/or reduction of stress, psychological well-being, mental health and psychosocial benefits. We argue that these benefits are articulated by an activity that mediates people's relationship with nature. We conclude by pointing out the relevance of future research in the Latin American context, the integration of mediating activities and the use of qualitative methodologies.

Do temperature anomalies affect political polarization over global warming? Amer-icans' attitudes about global warming are affected by whether they reside in states experiencing unseasonably warm (or cold) temperatures versus those experiencing milder temperatures. Specifically, in terms of causal attribution, political polarization over global warming is more pronounced in states experiencing temperature anomalies. Using pooled data collected during 2013–2014, this study utilizes logistic regression to explore how temperature anomalies exacerbate the political polarization among Americans over perceptions of whether global warming impacts are immediately evident as well as the attribution of global warming to human activity. Results indicate that very cold or warm temperature anomalies from a 5-year baseline predict perceptions of global warming impacts and exacerbate existing political polarization over the causal attribution of global warming. These effects are particularly noticeable among Democrats. This analysis provides a contribution to understanding how temperature anomalies from the recent past shape the sociophysical context of global warming attitudes.

This article seeks to construct a comparative investigation of the role and application of militaristic metaphors in three contested areas of science-society discourse (invasive species, foot-and-mouth disease, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). It examines differences in the uses of metaphors and the role played by the emergence or neglect of critical linguistic engagement in these areas of public concern. It contributes to debates about the relationship between language use, policy, and the public understanding of science and technology. It demonstrates that militaristic metaphors are still part of a pervasive, but by no means inevitable, mode of science and policy communication.

Dal 9 marzo scorso sono vigenti le modifiche apportate agli articoli 9 e 41 della Costituzione con la riforma introdotta dalla Legge Costituzionale n° 1 approvata in Parlamento l'11 febbraio 2022 e pubblicata nel n° 44-22/02/2022 della Gazzetta Ufficiale Finalmente la tutela dell'ambiente è posta al centro dell'attenzione nazionale: essendo stata espressamente inserita tra i principi fondamentali della Costituzione, ricompresi fra gli articoli 1-12 della Carta, oltre a un interesse pubblico è anche un dovere che impegna lo Stato in primis ma anche tutti i cittadini, in particolare i proprietari di terreni, i gestori di aziende agricole e i titolari e manager di società e imprese che svolgono qualsiasi tipo di attività economica nel Paese.

We examine some new ways of imagining carbon, energy, and energy futures as a possible option for motivating public desire to stop climate change. We argue that refram-ing how we see carbon is core to the project of stopping climate change. Carbon is central to life, and indeed to human beings. The human body is a complex mixture of six elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium , and phosphorus. Approximately 18% of our bodies are carbon. Our children are partially composed of carbon and carbon consumption is a part of children's lives, although their voices are not often considered in debates about climate change. The worlds into which children are born rely on industrial and commercial carbon consumption. However, until the recent rise of global protests about climate change, children's voices and agency have largely been omitted from discussions of carbon consumption. In this article, we bring children into discussions about carbon consumption and carbon imaginaries through examining contemporary perspectives on posthumanism and energy cultures. We bring these together with data from three research projects that each begins to map children's perspectives on carbon production and consumption. In some respects this work is long overdue, as children stand to inherit a precarious global climate that rests significantly on cultural practices, values, and understandings of carbon and energy cultures. Any approach to thinking about carbon and energy cultures is necessarily a posthuman inquiry, because we are all entangled with carbon and carbon imaginaries. We are attached to systems run on carbon, enmeshed with places geared to produce coal, enamored with carbon heavy or "carbon neutral" objects and profoundly entangled with the more-than-human world:. .. phenomena do not merely mark the epistemological inseparability of observer and observed; rather, phenomena are the ontological inseperability of agentially intra-acting "components.". .. phenomena are the ontological entanglement of objects and agencies of observation. Hence it is the ontological inseparability or entanglement of the object and the agencies of observation that is the basis for complementarity. (Barad, 2007, pp. 308-309) Karen Barad's concept of quantum entanglement helps to show the relational and responsive nature of how and where we are attached. Quantum entanglement is considered a "posthuman" concept because it shows how fundamentally the human is composed of and by the more than human. We use the word posthuman to express criticism of the individual subject, the age of enlightenment, and associated beliefs that predominantly White, male, European men and knowledges are the center of our world and knowledge systems. If the White, male, European man can been seen as the model of the human-or as "humanism," 997582C SCXXX10.1177/1532708621997582Cultural Studies <span class="symbol" cstyle="symbol">↔</span> Critical MethodologiesHickey-Moody et al. research-article2021 Abstract In this article, we examine the connection between how we imagine carbon, energy and energy futures, and carbon use. We argue that to act on climate change we must reframe our cultural understanding carbon. Where children have often been left out of discussions of carbon use, we bring children into these conversations about carbon consumption and imaginaries through examining contemporary perspectives on posthumanism and energy cultures. We demonstrate that children's imaginative renderings of possible climate change solutions offer an effectively very different way of connecting with climate change, perhaps a more motivating and inspiring means of relating to the more than human world and reworking our entanglements with energy cultures.

This paper examines local sustainability concepts in Connemara, a predominantly rural region in the West of Ireland, to show how they are (re-)constituted through people’s interactions with social and biophysical environments. We argue that these interactions produce diverse forms of lay environmental knowledge and expertise that encompass cognitive and emotional aspects, a fact that is frequently ignored in environmental policy-making which prioritises rational arguments over reactions rooted in people’s sense of place and community. Local people’s responses to this dominance of “official” rational-technical sustainability concepts are central to recent cases of environmental controversy and lack of compliance to environmental policies that have characterised the study area but that show many parallels to conflicts and disputes elsewhere. Drawing on rich qualitative evidence from interviews and ethnographic fieldwork, this paper demonstrates how communities’ responses to environmental policies depend on how well (or poorly) sustainability concepts underpinning these policies match local people’s social-ecological practices and related place-specific views of what should be sustained.

Keywords: lay knowledge; sustainability; expertise; environmental policy; Connemara; Ireland

In an article titled “Robochop,” The Economist reported a practical problem and its technological solution. The problem was that swarms of jellyfish clogged up the pipes of a Swedish nuclear power plant on the Baltic Sea coast, forcing the plant’s temporary shutdown. The proposed solution involved utilizing an invention of “a fleet of killer robots that turn jellyfish into mush.” The devices known as JEROS (Jellyfish Elimination Robotic Swarms) are designed to follow a lead robot and work in formation: they can apparently chop up to 900 kilograms of jellyfish an hour.''

The report raises an irrepressible question: Is there not something wrong—even deeply disturbing—about this picture?