Abstract
Bangladesh has been dealing with one of the world’s largest refugee emergencies along its border with Myanmar (especially in the rough wooded zone of Ukhiya sub-district, Cox’s Bazar) due to a massive influx of Rohingya refugees, particularly since 25 August 2017. Resulting high impacts threaten the viability of local plantation as well as natural forests (societal and ecological assets). This research aims to evaluate the impact of the influx on the physical landscape in the Ukhiya sub-district as well as changes of socio-cultural landscape. The study was relied on both geo-spatial and survey data analysis. We argue that Rohingya flooding has a significant impact on changes of physical and socio-cultural landscape of the area in and around Rohingya camps. Results from the normalized difference vegetation index analysis identified that during 2015–2018 the forestry adjacent to the Kutupalong camps (Ukhiya sub-district) declined by 11.23 km . Forestry cover fell from a
By Maria Burke2021-02-25T09:30:00+00:00
Climate change has the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and biodiversity has the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service (IPBES), but no comparable body exists to oversee the environmental impact of waste and chemicals. Now, an international group of scientists is calling for an equivalent body for chemicals and waste, and the idea has been broadly welcomed.
The science-policy body would conduct scientific assessments, identify emerging concerns, and connect policymakers and scientists, providing a scientific basis for action on chemicals and waste, says Zhanyun Wang, a senior scientist at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and one of the scientists proposing the new body. ‘We need international cooperation to address issues that transcend borders, such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and plastic wastes.’
Scientists: Chemical Pollution Is A Global Threat That Needs Global Action
An international group of scientists is calling for a global intergovernmental science-policy body for informing policymakers, business, and the public about reducing harm from chemical pollution. In a paper published today in
Science, the group explains how limited and fragmented science-policy interactions on chemicals and waste have contributed to widespread health and environmental problems. We need international cooperation to address issues that transcend borders, such as the harms of heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and plastic wastes, said lead author Dr. Zhanyun Wang, a Senior Scientist at the ETH Zürich in Switzerland. This is critical for developed and developing countries where developing countries are the world s dumping grounds for toxics.
University of Gothenburg
An international group of scientists is proposing a global intergovernmental science-policy body for informing policymakers and the public on chemicals and waste. In a paper published today in Science, the group explains how limited and fragmented science-policy interaction in current international governance of chemicals has contributed to widespread health and environmental harm.
“Chemical use in society is a double edge-sword. On the one hand, chemicals are vital for modern society, for example as building or packaging materials but also as pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. However, at the same time, chemicals are also a global hazard for human health and the environment. We therefore need a dedicated structure, an “interface”, between science and policy that enables the long-term systematic exchange of scientific knowledge and societal demands. This is what we outline in the paper”, says Thomas Backhau
An international group of scientists is calling for a global intergovernmental science-policy body for informing policymakers, business, and the public about reducing harm from chemical pollution.