Institute of Regional and International Studies’ Post

"... bottom-up environmental accountability requires long-term ecological awareness among youth and civil society." Our new policy brief written by myself and Shivan Fazil identifies approaches for youth accountability towards addressing gaps in Iraq's environmental governance. It lays out practical pathways for the Iraqi youth to engage in strategic environmental management, environmental monitoring and data collection, tracking government performance in environmental governance, and safeguarding ecosystems. This policy brief is part of the Youth for Accountability in Environmental Governance (YAEG) program piloted by Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS). #Iraq #ClimateChange #Water #Environment

PORT FREEPORT AWARDED $1.487 MILLION CLEAN PORTS PROGRAM GRANT BY THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Port Freeport is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $1,487,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports Program. This funding will enhance the port's commitment to environmental innovation and community engagement by supporting zero-emissions equipment, infrastructure improvements, and climate planning initiatives. For more information visit Port Freeport News https://hubs.li/Q02YKj5w0

How will the new National Environmental Policy Act (#NEPA) regulations shape future projects? Starting July 1, 2024, the Council on Environmental Quality’s Phase 2 final rule transforms NEPA from a procedural statute to a proactive planning tool for #environmental and #social improvements. This shift emphasizes minimizing impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns, addressing climate change, and fostering ecosystem #resilience, promising potentially profound impacts on project planning and execution. Learn more from Matt Petersen, our NEPA expert, here.

Iraqi Environment, Water security , and governance has a different meaning after these set of workshops hosted by IRIS Some key takeaways were that -We understood the massive impact of infodemic especially when it comes to environmental issues in Iraq and the necessity to go back to source of the sources to validate information -I got a deeper insight by ministers themselves on why some high potential projects are not meant to be continued -To assess a conflict we need to understand it on the historical, and personal level of involved parties not only geographic and political aspects -Before we blame external parties for our problems we need to check if this issue is internal from the first place and instead of blaming internal parties then we need to understand the needs that Led them to this and work on it ( Root work rather than surface and drama cycle work ) -Empowering youth to speak up and to Take the right actions is crucial in a country nearly 60% of it’s population made of youth -Tribal power is no a joke, and for the moment we need to carry out social marketing to convince people into the choices that goes to everyone’s best interest including themsleves first Finally I’m really greatful and highly enlightened by this program and Looking forward to translate the new knowledge gained back into tangible actions .

In 2020, PNIA was able to contribute to 15 out of the17 UN SDGs through direct and indirect economic impacts supported by the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) which allocated P531,700,000.00 in environmental restoration of mined-out areas, and other environment-related projects and Social Development Management Program (SDMP) amounting to P166,821,000.00. This allocation reflects member companies’ commitment to mitigate their environmental risks while also supporting communities.   READ: https://lnkd.in/giG_hinV   #PNIAShapingTomorrowTogether

We are finishing the environmental assessment of the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project. You’re invited to share your comments on the draft Environmental Assessment Report and potential conditions for the project by May 8. By proving your feedback, you can make a difference in the project’s review 👉 https://lnkd.in/dNRTZ_B7 #EnvironmentalAssessment #Manitoba #OutletChannels

This is an EXCELLENT post International Association of Facilitators (IAF)! It is a great example of how to advocate for good facilitation - and benefits of this! If you are a leader who needs to both achieve outcomes while ensuring a collaborative and supportive process, then understanding how good facilitation can help to achieve these is essential. The IAF does a remarkable job at helping to build the profession of facilitation, working to help the world achieve together sustainable results through quality facilitation. #InsightfulPath; #IAF; #Facilitation

Date SURVEY TO ASSESS AWARENESS 1. What does environmental justice aim to address? a) Inequality in access to clean air and water b) Unequal distribution of natural resources c) Disparities in exposure to pollution and environmental hazards d) All of the above 2. Which of the following is a principle of environmental justice? a) Proximity to nature reserves b) Equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens c) Individual responsibility for environmental issues d) Exclusivity in access to clean technologies 3. Which group is most disproportionately affected by environmental injustices? a) Wealthy individuals b) Indigenous communities c) Urban residents d) Corporations 4. What is a key factor contributing to environmental injustice? a) Lack of government regulations b) Global climate change c) Socioeconomic status d) Technological advancements 5. What is the term for the practice of placing hazardous waste facilities in or near low-income and minority communities? a) Environmental privilege b) Environmental racism c) Environmental activism d) Environmental sustainability 6. Which international agreement addresses environmental justice? a) Kyoto Protocol b) Paris Agreement c) Montreal Protocol d) Stockholm Convention 7. What is the goal of the environmental justice movement? a) To prioritize the needs of affluent communities b) To achieve a fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens c) To exploit natural resources for economic gain d) To eliminate all industrial activity 8. Which government agency is responsible for addressing environmental justice issues in the United States? a) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) b) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) c) Department of Agriculture (USDA) d) Department of Energy (DOE) 9. Which term describes the idea that everyone has the right to live in a clean and healthy environment, regardless of race, income, or nationality? a) Environmental stewardship b) Environmental equity c) Environmental justice d) Environmental sustainability 10. How can individuals contribute to promoting environmental justice? a) By advocating for policies that prioritize environmental protection b) By volunteering for environmental organizations c) By supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability and social responsibility d) All of the above

Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the second phase of its Environmental Justice (EJ) Scorecard. Created to assess the federal government’s progress on advancing EJ, the EJ Scorecard is a snapshot that provides transparency and accountability, as federal agencies should continue to advance their EJ efforts. Find out the actions and achievements of each federal agency in furtherance of #environmentaljustice at: https://lnkd.in/g6FmjKth #equity #climatejustice #

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $20 billion in grants under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), created as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. In our newest article, #GuidehouseExperts discuss key takeaways from a recent hearing and provide insights on how GGRF recipients can minimize risk while maximizing impact. Read the full article to learn more. Guidehouse ES&I