Online Poster Session
Climate Change and Criminal Law: An International, European and Italian Perspective View Digital Media
Poster Session Giulia Rizzo Minelli
The study investigates the role that criminal law could play within the framework of actions that must be put in place in Italy to deal with climate change. Even if the issue related to the climatic crisis has been reflected in numerous recent legislative and judicial initiatives (found in the national legal systems and at international levels), as well as in the actual disruptive exposure of the topic in public debate, there has not been sufficient reflection on a possible role for criminal law to counter this phenomenon. A criminalist reflection is appropriate to assess what role should be attributed to criminal law in dealing with international climate crimes and to ponder whether such action, within the limits of the fundamental principles governing the subject (starting with those of offensiveness, personal responsibility, proportionality and subsidiarity), is exhausted within the scope of national legislation or can be extended to the international perspective. Starting from the observation that there is a deep distinction between “climate” and “environment”, an attempt will be made to identify and define "climate", to assess whether it can rise to the status of an autonomous interest protected by the law worthy of protection by criminal law. This proves essential for the identification of a possible “punitive” law of climate, which could presumably be characterized by the use of criminal sanction with a purely ancillary function to the administrative law – called upon to regulate the issue – if not by the use of administrative sanction alone.
Exploring Water Hyacinth Pyrolysis for South Africa's Decarbonisation and Just Energy Transition View Digital Media
Poster Session Obianuju Patience Ilo, Mulala Danny Simatele
South Africa, heavily reliant on coal, aims to reduce carbon emissions by transitioning to cleaner energy sources. One promising avenue is using pyrolysis on water hyacinth, an invasive species that threatens sustainability, to create a low-carbon economy. Traditional control methods for water hyacinths are costly and ineffective, prompting the search for alternative solutions. This study uses Response Surface Methodology to optimise pyrolysis parameters, precisely temperature and particle size, to enhance the yield of liquid fractions from water hyacinths. Experiments were carried out at temperatures ranging from 273.22 to 676.78 °C and particle sizes from 380 to 2620 µm, with a heating rate of 30 °C/min and a nitrogen flow rate of 25 l/min. Findings indicate that higher temperatures and larger particle sizes increase liquid yields while decreasing char production. The pyro-oil yield peaked at 48.45 wt.% at 575 °C, compared to 24.36 wt.% at 273.22 °C, before slightly declining at higher temperatures. Conversely, char production dropped from 58.21 wt.% at the lowest temperature to 33.84 wt.% at the highest tested temperature. The study suggests that valorising water hyacinths through optimised pyrolysis can yield significant socio-economic and environmental benefits. This approach, supported by sound policies and strategies, could facilitate the transition towards commercialising bio-oil production, contributing to sustainable energy solutions for South Africa.
Digital Tools and Climate Change Education: Exploring the Role of Digital Games View Digital Media
Poster Session Adib Jawad
This study explores the potential of digital technologies, particularly games, to enhance Climate Change Education (CCE) by engaging learners in innovative and interactive ways. Through a multimodal discourse analysis of digital games, the research examines how game elements—such as narratives, visual design, and interactivity—can effectively communicate climate change concepts, foster environmental empathy, and promote problem-solving skills. The study also addresses the inclusion and accessibility of these games, focusing on gender dynamics and technological accessibility to ensure they can reach diverse audiences. Additionally, it considers the practical challenges of implementing game-based learning in educational settings. By providing insights into the role of digital games in CCE, this study informs educators, policymakers, and game developers on how to better engage students and promote climate literacy, offering a forward-thinking approach to addressing the global climate crisis through education.
Featured Political Climates and Nonprofit Environmentalism: A Comparative Analysis of State Influence on Environmental Nonprofits in Florida and California View Digital Media
Poster Session Maya Lis
This research analyzes the long-term impact of political viewpoints on the environmental nonprofit sector. The focus is on the differences and similarities among nonprofits operating in politically conservative and politically liberal state environments. Specifically, the study explores how the political climate of a state influences the mission, goals, and support systems of environmental nonprofits. It examines how these organizations are affected by state government policies, particularly in terms of formation, funding, and operational execution. The study compares environmental nonprofits in the conservative state of Florida to those in the liberal state of California. Key questions explored include: How do nonprofits' missions align with or resist the prevailing political ideologies? What are the differences in how nonprofits receive funding in different political climates, particularly regarding public and private sector support? Finally, the study assesses the role of state governments in shaping the strategic goals and operational effectiveness of these organizations. Through interviews, case studies, and a comparative policy analysis across several states, the research provides insights into how political environments affect environmental nonprofits’ missions, strategies, and sustainability, offering valuable recommendations for nonprofit leaders and policymakers.
The Spillway: Photographs from St. Charles Parish, Louisiana View Digital Media
Poster Session Lily Brooks
This photography-based work-in-progress examines the 12-square miles of the Bonnet Carré Spillway, an Army Corps-controlled Mississippi River outlet located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. I believe this landscape and its surroundings are emblematic of the ways we intersect with the natural world as our climate continues to change. With an interest in the spillway's history as a sugar plantation, current use as a site for recreation, and proximity to the petrochemical industry, my hope is that this project will demonstrate how capitalism, white supremacy, and human desire shape the landscape we inhabit. I seek to generate a dialogue which examines our experience of the climate crisis through our vulnerability and culpability. The Bonnet Carré Spillway’s 7000-foot flood control structure is itself an engineering marvel, and first drew me to the site. On either end, parallel seven-mile levees connect the river to Lake Pontchartrain, creating a contained basin for flooding. Working within this local landscape, I connect Louisiana and the Gulf South to global discourse regarding sites of extraction–using the visual to address the violence and erasure endemic to such spaces. Made from an expressive and hopefully-poetic (rather than documentary) position, I intend for the photographs to operate with openness instead of generating a prescriptive or authoritative narrative. Through photographs, video and text, the project draws together the nuanced forces at work at this site–some of which are emblematic of the Anthropogenic landscape–while also bringing visibility to the nuance of this particularly historic, complicated, captivating place.
The Impact of Climate Change on Forced Migration in the Sahel: A Human Rights Perspective View Digital Media
Poster Session Jerome Nenger
Climate change profoundly impacts Nigeria’s Sahel region, driving environmental degradation, displacing communities, and exacerbating human rights abuses. This narrative review examines the human rights dimensions of climate-induced migration in the region, using Environmental Migration Theory, Human Rights-Based Approach, Intersectionality Theory, and Governance and Policy Theory. It explores the environmental drivers, impacts, and potential solutions to this issue. Key findings reveal that factors such as droughts, desertification, and erratic rainfall serve as significant "push" factors forcing migration. Climate change adversely affects livelihoods, food security, and human rights, particularly concerning food, water, health, and education among vulnerable groups. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach involving mitigation and adaptation efforts, legal protections for climate migrants, humanitarian aid, and sustainable development initiatives. The review emphasizes the need for collaboration among stakeholders to address root causes and protect human rights, prioritizing equity and inclusion in all interventions.
