US President Joe Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,starting a new round of large-scale infrastructure construction in the United States.Biden’s team calls it a“once-in-a-generation inv...US President Joe Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,starting a new round of large-scale infrastructure construction in the United States.Biden’s team calls it a“once-in-a-generation investment”in American infrastructure and competitiveness,which will determine whether the US can win“the competition of the 21 st century.”Biden’s infrastructure plan is in two parts:Build Back Better domestically and Build Back Better World globally.It attempts to improve national competitiveness and restore the foundation of American hegemony by coordinating shortand long-term goals,soft and hard infrastructure,and the internal and external layout.Thus far,there is a big gap between Biden’s ambitious infrastructure plan and its implementation;political obstacles are the biggest problem with Biden’s infrastructure plan.展开更多
Recently,the US announced its Build Back Better World(B3 W)initiative,followed by the Clean Green Initiative(CGI)by the UK and the Global Gateway(GG)by the EU.All driven by Western values,these infrastructure investme...Recently,the US announced its Build Back Better World(B3 W)initiative,followed by the Clean Green Initiative(CGI)by the UK and the Global Gateway(GG)by the EU.All driven by Western values,these infrastructure investment plans are global in scope,focused on soft infrastructure and intended to mobilize private capital through development finance institutions(DFIs).At present,all of them have entered the project selection phase.However,due to the inadequate capabilities of the US and Europe to deliver promised funds,their diverging policies toward China,the difficulties faced by their governments to leverage private capital,and the paradox of Western values,great uncertainty surrounds the results and effectiveness of these plans.Moreover,these plans may have difficulty in fundamentally affecting China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Yet it is still necessary for China to take heed of the combined impacts of these plans.Particular attention should be paid to the impacts of equity investments and the increasingly complex situations in surrounding countries.Related to these,China must reinforce the functions and roles of its financial institutions,whether development-oriented or policy-based,strengthen supportive policies,increase cooperation in new economic fields,improve infrastructure construction models,communicate relevant concepts,and foster more favorable public opinion.展开更多
A heavy armed conflict erupted in Tigray region of Ethiopia in 2020,and the crisis continued up to 2022.This study investigates the impacts of this crisis on the status of natural resources,and Soil and Water Conserva...A heavy armed conflict erupted in Tigray region of Ethiopia in 2020,and the crisis continued up to 2022.This study investigates the impacts of this crisis on the status of natural resources,and Soil and Water Conservation(SWC)efforts.We collected primary data through field observations,measurements,in-terviews and group discussions during the wartime.We also reviewed published articles and official archives to complement the primary data,which were often challenging to obtain due to the war.We found that vegetated landscapes were damaged by artillery fire and bombings.The average depth of the surveyed bomb craters along the asphalts was 1.15±0.47 m(n=16),whereas the average surface diameter of the craters and their rim was 2.66±0.67 m.In addition,the construction of numerous military trenches along croplands and hillsides exposed the soil particles into erosion and water pollution.The conflict also halted SWC efforts on various land uses,which were carried out annually during peacetime.For instance,20,591 km/year of stone bunds were not constructed per year due to the crisis.Moreover,terraces and stone bunds were demolished to construct temporary ground fortifications.Indirectly,the critical energy crisis further increased pressure on forests.In this context,the poor farmers shift their livelihood strategies from the long-term sustainability to immediate economic recovery during the critical time.To conclude,the pathways of the warfare undermined the status of natural resources,and the ongoing decades of re-greening programs.Therefore,our ground-based findings can be used to prioritize and rehabilitate the war-damaged landscape services.展开更多
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030(SFDRR) represents an inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction, linked to development and recovery. Building on previous international guidelines, the SF...The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030(SFDRR) represents an inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction, linked to development and recovery. Building on previous international guidelines, the SFDRR promotes practical and measurable outcomes for reducing disaster losses, including indicators to measure progress towards seven specific global targets.Evaluated in the context of the priorities and global targets of the SFDRR, the article considers the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 to illustrate advances and limitations in pre-disaster tsunami hazard engineering and post-disaster recovery. With respect to the targets set out in the Sendai Framework related to risk reduction and tsunami engineering, especially Priority 1,understanding disaster risk, there have been significant advances in hazard assessment and systems for tsunami detection and warning. Although the SFDRR emphasizes actions in the recovery phase through Priority 4, enhancing disaster preparedness with an emphasis on the concept of build back better, on its own this does not function as a clear directive for guiding recovery. However, the overall people-centered and inclusive approach of the SFDRR, as well as the global targets and several sub-priorities, can be a useful way to shape good practices in recovery and evaluate recovery progress.展开更多
This study revisits the concept of resilience by critically reviewing the contents of previous literature. Furthermore, it explains a new methodology for measuring resilience based on the theory of springs and qualita...This study revisits the concept of resilience by critically reviewing the contents of previous literature. Furthermore, it explains a new methodology for measuring resilience based on the theory of springs and qualitatively appraises the resiliency of Minamisanriku town as a case study. Minamisanriku is a tiny coastal town located in the northeastern part of the Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The town was affected by an earthquake on March 11, 2011, with a magnitude of 9.0, followed by a tsunami. According to the authors’ previously proposed conceptual framework, resilience should be considered by dividing it into three components: onsite capacity, instantaneous survivability, and the recovery potentiality of an area. Each component of the framework depends on two or three factors that can be measured using different indicators and sub-indicators. Onsite capacity is the ability of a given place to withstand a tsunami before it arrives, and it has been considered indispensable for the prevention of a tsunami. Instantaneous survivability is the power to be alive at the point of a disaster climax. Returning speed to its normal daily routines once a catastrophe is over is called recovery potentiality. It is understood that strengthening onsite capacity by moving residences to higher ground, building seawalls and paved roads, relocation of fishing industry infrastructure, and land elevation in Minamisanriku town makes it a benchmark for resilient cities.展开更多
文摘US President Joe Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,starting a new round of large-scale infrastructure construction in the United States.Biden’s team calls it a“once-in-a-generation investment”in American infrastructure and competitiveness,which will determine whether the US can win“the competition of the 21 st century.”Biden’s infrastructure plan is in two parts:Build Back Better domestically and Build Back Better World globally.It attempts to improve national competitiveness and restore the foundation of American hegemony by coordinating shortand long-term goals,soft and hard infrastructure,and the internal and external layout.Thus far,there is a big gap between Biden’s ambitious infrastructure plan and its implementation;political obstacles are the biggest problem with Biden’s infrastructure plan.
文摘Recently,the US announced its Build Back Better World(B3 W)initiative,followed by the Clean Green Initiative(CGI)by the UK and the Global Gateway(GG)by the EU.All driven by Western values,these infrastructure investment plans are global in scope,focused on soft infrastructure and intended to mobilize private capital through development finance institutions(DFIs).At present,all of them have entered the project selection phase.However,due to the inadequate capabilities of the US and Europe to deliver promised funds,their diverging policies toward China,the difficulties faced by their governments to leverage private capital,and the paradox of Western values,great uncertainty surrounds the results and effectiveness of these plans.Moreover,these plans may have difficulty in fundamentally affecting China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Yet it is still necessary for China to take heed of the combined impacts of these plans.Particular attention should be paid to the impacts of equity investments and the increasingly complex situations in surrounding countries.Related to these,China must reinforce the functions and roles of its financial institutions,whether development-oriented or policy-based,strengthen supportive policies,increase cooperation in new economic fields,improve infrastructure construction models,communicate relevant concepts,and foster more favorable public opinion.
文摘A heavy armed conflict erupted in Tigray region of Ethiopia in 2020,and the crisis continued up to 2022.This study investigates the impacts of this crisis on the status of natural resources,and Soil and Water Conservation(SWC)efforts.We collected primary data through field observations,measurements,in-terviews and group discussions during the wartime.We also reviewed published articles and official archives to complement the primary data,which were often challenging to obtain due to the war.We found that vegetated landscapes were damaged by artillery fire and bombings.The average depth of the surveyed bomb craters along the asphalts was 1.15±0.47 m(n=16),whereas the average surface diameter of the craters and their rim was 2.66±0.67 m.In addition,the construction of numerous military trenches along croplands and hillsides exposed the soil particles into erosion and water pollution.The conflict also halted SWC efforts on various land uses,which were carried out annually during peacetime.For instance,20,591 km/year of stone bunds were not constructed per year due to the crisis.Moreover,terraces and stone bunds were demolished to construct temporary ground fortifications.Indirectly,the critical energy crisis further increased pressure on forests.In this context,the poor farmers shift their livelihood strategies from the long-term sustainability to immediate economic recovery during the critical time.To conclude,the pathways of the warfare undermined the status of natural resources,and the ongoing decades of re-greening programs.Therefore,our ground-based findings can be used to prioritize and rehabilitate the war-damaged landscape services.
基金supported by the Core Research Cluster of Disaster Science in Tohoku University (Designated National University)Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.Willis Research Network (WRN)。
文摘The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030(SFDRR) represents an inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction, linked to development and recovery. Building on previous international guidelines, the SFDRR promotes practical and measurable outcomes for reducing disaster losses, including indicators to measure progress towards seven specific global targets.Evaluated in the context of the priorities and global targets of the SFDRR, the article considers the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 to illustrate advances and limitations in pre-disaster tsunami hazard engineering and post-disaster recovery. With respect to the targets set out in the Sendai Framework related to risk reduction and tsunami engineering, especially Priority 1,understanding disaster risk, there have been significant advances in hazard assessment and systems for tsunami detection and warning. Although the SFDRR emphasizes actions in the recovery phase through Priority 4, enhancing disaster preparedness with an emphasis on the concept of build back better, on its own this does not function as a clear directive for guiding recovery. However, the overall people-centered and inclusive approach of the SFDRR, as well as the global targets and several sub-priorities, can be a useful way to shape good practices in recovery and evaluate recovery progress.
基金This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP 16H05648.
文摘This study revisits the concept of resilience by critically reviewing the contents of previous literature. Furthermore, it explains a new methodology for measuring resilience based on the theory of springs and qualitatively appraises the resiliency of Minamisanriku town as a case study. Minamisanriku is a tiny coastal town located in the northeastern part of the Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The town was affected by an earthquake on March 11, 2011, with a magnitude of 9.0, followed by a tsunami. According to the authors’ previously proposed conceptual framework, resilience should be considered by dividing it into three components: onsite capacity, instantaneous survivability, and the recovery potentiality of an area. Each component of the framework depends on two or three factors that can be measured using different indicators and sub-indicators. Onsite capacity is the ability of a given place to withstand a tsunami before it arrives, and it has been considered indispensable for the prevention of a tsunami. Instantaneous survivability is the power to be alive at the point of a disaster climax. Returning speed to its normal daily routines once a catastrophe is over is called recovery potentiality. It is understood that strengthening onsite capacity by moving residences to higher ground, building seawalls and paved roads, relocation of fishing industry infrastructure, and land elevation in Minamisanriku town makes it a benchmark for resilient cities.
