UC Research Repository
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The UC Research Repository collects, stores and makes available original research from postgraduate students, researchers and academics based at the University of Canterbury.
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Recent Submissions
A Critical Feminist Evaluation of Climate Adaptation Law and Policy: The Case of Aotearoa New Zealand
(2024) Macpherson , Elizabeth; Masselot , Annick; Jefferson, David; Gunn , Julia
Laws and policies designed to help communities adapt to the effects of climate change
are proliferating around the world. Our analysis of Aotearoa New Zealand’s adaptation
policies reveals that the experiences of women are not adequately accounted for,
and that technocratic, masculinist, and top-down adaptation approaches have
been prioritized over knowledges and approaches from diverse perspectives. We
argue for a critical feminist reconceptualization of climate adaptation, based on: (1)
taking a relational approach to embedding an ethics of care; (2) putting equity and
justice in context; and (3) acknowledging diverse agency and knowledge production.
Our approach suggests possible paths toward more inclusive and equitable climate
adaptation based on relational understandings of reciprocal, human-environment
relationships. This analysis has broad, global relevance for other countries that seek
to adopt adaptation policies, by identifying possible new pathways toward just and
equitable climate adaptation.
The future of sustainable polar ship-based tourism
(Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2023) Liggett, Daniela; Cajiao , Daniela; Lamers, Machiel; Leung, Yu-Fai; Stewart, Emma J.
Abstract
Over the last couple of decades, polar tourism has significantly grown in the number of visitors and diversified in terms of the tourism activities offered. The COVID-19 pandemic brought polar tourism to a halt and has prompted researchers, operators and policy-makers alike to reflect on how Arctic and Antarctic tourism have developed, how they are being managed and governed and, importantly, how tourism operators influence polar socio-ecological systems. Given the dominance of ship-based tourism over other types of tourism in the Polar Regions, we discuss the cornerstones of how polar ship-based tourism has developed over the last 50 years and explore the relevant international and regional governance regimes in this article. We identify which positive and negative biophysical, socio-cultural and economic impacts arising from polar tourism have been identified by researchers. It is difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle impacts caused by tourism alone from those that result from the interactions of multiple pressures at all levels (local, regional and global), and more research is needed to develop reliable and effective indicators to monitor tourism impacts. In addition, a better understanding is needed about the role tourist experiences might play in potentially encouraging long-term positive behavioural changes among visitors to the Polar Regions. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an important opportunity to review polar tourism development and management, and to ask whether an emphasis should be placed on ‘degrowth’ of the sector in the future.
Advances in remote sensing of emperor penguins: first multi-year time series documenting trends in the global population
(The Royal Society, 2024) LaRue, Michelle; Iles , David; Labrousse , Sara; Fretwell , Peter; Ortega , David; Devane , Eileen; Horstmann , Isabella; Viollat , Lise; Foster-Dyer , Rose; Le Bohec , Céline; Zitterbart , Daniel; Houstin , Aymeric; Richter , Sebastian; Winterl , Alexander; Wienecke , Barbara; Salas , Leo; Nixon , Monique; Barbraud, Christophe; Kooyman , Gerald; Ponganis P, Paul; Ainley D, David; Trathan P, Philip; Jenouvrier S, Stephanie
Like many polar animals, emperor penguin populations are challenging to monitor because of the species' life history and remoteness. Consequently, it has been difficult to establish its global status, a subject important to resolve as polar environments change. To advance our understanding of emperor penguins, we combined remote sensing, validation surveys and using Bayesian modelling, we estimated a comprehensive population trajectory over a recent 10-year period, encompassing the entirety of the species’ range. Reported as indices of abundance, our study indicates with 81% probability that there were fewer adult emperor penguins in 2018 than in 2009, with a posterior median decrease of 9.6% (95% credible interval (CI) −26.4% to +9.4%). The global population trend was −1.3% per year over this period (95% CI = −3.3% to +1.0%) and declines probably occurred in four of eight fast ice regions, irrespective of habitat conditions. Thus far, explanations have yet to be identified regarding trends, especially as we observed an apparent population uptick toward the end of time series. Our work potentially establishes a framework for monitoring other Antarctic coastal species detectable by satellite, while promoting a need for research to better understand factors driving biotic changes in the Southern Ocean ecosystem.
Promoting resilience through teaching, research and public engagement
(2023) Kingham, Simon
Establishing a child and adolescent mental health center in Herat, Afghanistan: a project description
(Elsevier BV, 2023) Najm , Abdul Fattah; Niazi , Aziz-ur-Rahman; Alekozay , Mina; Allan , Emily B.; Mathias, Kaaren
Objective: Afghanistan has witnessed a long-lasting 4-decade armed conflict, which together with high levels of poverty and interpersonal violence, resulted in high incidence and prevalence of mental disorders in general population, including children and adolescents. Until mid-2018, there was neither mental health care facility nor a child psychiatrist in Afghanistan. Here, we report the establishment of the first children and adolescents’ mental health center (CAMHC) in Herat province of Afghanistan. Methods: In July 2018, CAMHC was initiated at Mental Health Training Center – Herat. CAMHC was initially planned by the International Assistance Mission (IAM) and Herat Public Health Directorate; and financially supported by the Tearfund UK, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Tearfund Australia. The target population of CAMHC was children and adolescents in Herat and neighboring provinces, healthcare professionals, staff of government and non-governmental organizations, school teachers and community leaders. Results: A group of eight mental health professionals were trained and made the interdisciplinary board for diagnosis and management of mental disorders in children and adolescents. During the initial three-year period, 2 448 patients, including 1 264 (51.6%) boys and 1 184 (48.4%) girls, presented with mental disorders to CAMHC. Diagnosis and management of mental disorders were performed according to standard international protocols. Eighteen awareness-raising seminars were held; 2 000 leaflets, 10 000 posters, and 30 000 brochures were prepared and distributed; and two short video clips were produced and broadcast via IAM website, social media and local TV channels. A database was developed to house for project data, assessment of outcomes and reporting to stakeholders. Conclusion: Establishment of CAMHC resulted in significant achievements in diagnosis and management of mental disorders among children and adolescents, healthcare staff capacity building, and awareness-raising about mental disorders. Data obtained in CAMHC offers government, mental health professionals and the community the opportunity of improving mental health in the region.