Search Results (80)

The ongoing degradation of global forests has severely weakened ecosystem service functions, and traditional judicial remedies have struggled to quantify intangible ecological losses. China has become an important testing ground for restorative justice through the establishment of specialized environmental courts and the practice of environmental public interest litigation. Since 2015, China has actively explored and institutionalized the application of the concept of restorative justice in its environmental justice reform. This concept emphasizes compensating environmental damages through actual ecological restoration acts rather than relying solely on financial compensation. This shift reflects a deep understanding of the limitations of traditional environmental justice and an institutional response to China’s ecological civilization construction, providing critical support for forest ecosystem restoration and enabling ecological restoration activities, such as replanting and re-greening, habitat reconstruction, etc., to be enforced through judicial decisions. This study conducts a qualitative analysis of judicial rulings in forest restoration cases to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of restorative justice in compensating for losses in forest ecosystem service functions. The findings reveal the following: (1) restoration measures in judicial practice are disconnected from the types of ecosystem services available; (2) non-market values and long-term cumulative damages are systematically underestimated, with monitoring mechanisms exhibiting fragmented implementation and insufficient effectiveness; (3) management cycles are set in violation of ecological restoration principles, and acceptance standards lack function-oriented indicators; (4) participation of key stakeholders is severely lacking, and local knowledge and professional expertise have not been integrated. In response, this study proposes a restorative judicial framework oriented toward forest ecosystem services, utilizing four mechanisms: independent recognition of legal interests, function-matched restoration, application of scientific assessment tools, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. This framework aims to drive a paradigm shift from formal restoration to substantive functional recovery, providing theoretical support and practical pathways for environmental judicial reform and global forest governance. Full article

Background—Against childhood lead poisoning, removing lead exposure is the main measure, but how to do it effectively has not been fully established. Our objective was to determine the impact of several interventions (education, housing remediation, and relocation) on children’s blood lead levels. Methods—A historical cohort of childhood lead poisoning was drawn in Marseille, France, from 2011 to 2018. A generalized mixed model was developed to study the kinetics of blood lead levels. Results—We included 151 children, with 56% living in legal substandard housing and others living in slums. Medical follow-up (median: 612 days) included 492 blood samples. In legal substandard housing, blood lead level decrease was significantly associated with every intervention. In slums, blood lead level decrease was significantly associated with housing relocation and education, although to a lesser extent. Conclusions—Every intervention contributed to reducing blood lead levels in substandard housing. Educational intervention is rapidly implemented. Housing remediation follows a long-lasting but effective legal procedure. Some families get housing relocation, depending on their financial resources or whether they are eligible for social housing. In slums, access to legal housing is the most effective against environmental exposure and education has a wider impact on health literacy. Full article

Increasing concern over climate change has made Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) an important tool. Operators use deep geologic reservoirs as a form of favorable geological storage for long-term CO₂ sequestration. However, the success of CCS hinges on the integrity of wells penetrating these formations, particularly legacy wells, which often exhibit significant uncertainties regarding cement tops in the annular space between the casing and formation, especially around or below the primary seal. Misalignment of cement plugs with the primary seal increases the risk of CO₂ migrating beyond the seal, potentially creating pathways for fluid flow into upper formations, including underground sources of drinking water (USDW). These wells may not be leaking but might fail to meet the legal requirements of some federal and state agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), California CalGEM, and Pennsylvania DEP. This review evaluates the impact of CO₂ exposure on cement and casing integrity including the fluid transport mechanisms, fracture behaviors, and operational stresses such as cyclic loading. Findings revealed that slow fluid circulation and confining pressure, primarily from overburden stress, promote self-sealing through mineral precipitation and elastic crack closure, enhancing well integrity. Sustained casing pressure can be a good indicator of well integrity status. While full-physics models provide accurate leakage prediction, surrogate models offer faster results as risk assessment tools. Comprehensive data collection on wellbore conditions, cement and casing properties, and environmental factors is essential to enhance predictive models, refine risk assessments, and develop effective remediation strategies for the long-term success of CCS projects. Full article

The Greek islands have been blessed with excellent wind potential, with hundreds of sites featuring annual average wind velocity higher than 8–10 m/s. Due to specific regulations in the legal framework, some GWs of wind parks have been submitted since the late 2000s by a small number of large investors in the Greek islands, favoring the creation of energy monopolies and imposing serious impacts on natural ecosystems and existing human activities. These projects have caused serious public reactions against renewables, considerably decelerating the energy transition. This article aims to summarize the legal points in the Greek framework that caused this distorted approach and present the imposed potential social and environmental impacts. Energy monopolies distort the electricity wholesale market and lead to energy poverty and a low standard of living by imposing higher electricity procurement prices on the final users. The occupation of entire insular geographical territories by large wind park projects causes important deterioration of the natural environment, which, in turn, leads to loss of local occupations, urbanization, and migration by affecting negatively the countryside life. Serious concerns from the local population are clearly revealed through an accomplished statistical survey as well as a clear intention to be engaged in future wind park projects initiated by local stakeholders. The article is integrated with specific proposed measures and actions toward the rational development of renewable energy projects. These refer mainly on the formulation of a truly supportive and just legal framework aiming at remedying the currently formulated situation and the strengthening of the energy communities’ role, such as through licensing priorities, funding mechanisms, and tools, as well as additional initiatives such as capacity-building activities, pilot projects, and extensive activation of local citizens. Energy communities and local stakeholders should be involved in the overall process, from the planning to the construction and operation phase. Full article

This article examines algorithmic bias as a pressing legal challenge, situating the issue within the broader context of artificial intelligence (AI) governance. We employed comparative legal analysis and reviewed pertinent regulatory documents to examine how the fragmented U.S. approaches and the EU’s user-centric legal frameworks, such as the GDPR, DSA, and AI Act, address the systemic risks posed by biased algorithms. The findings underscore persistent enforcement gaps, particularly concerning opaque black-box algorithmic design, which hampers bias detection and remediation. The paper highlights how current regulatory efforts disproportionately affect marginalized communities and fail to provide effective protection across jurisdictions. It also identifies structural imbalances in legal instruments, particularly in relation to risk classification, transparency, and fairness standards. Notably, emerging regulations often lack the technical and ethical capacity for implementation. We argue that global cooperation is not only necessary but inevitable, as regional solutions alone are insufficient to govern transnational AI systems. Without harmonized international standards, algorithmic bias will continue to reproduce existing inequalities under the guise of objectivity. The article advocates for inclusive, cross-sectoral collaboration among governments, developers, and civil society to ensure the responsible development of AI and uphold fundamental rights. Full article

This study analyzes the influence of natural resource rents, governance indicators, and their interactions on economic growth in twelve oil-producing countries in the MENA region from 2002 to 2021. Various versions of a panel ARDL model are estimated using PMG, MG, and DFE estimators. The results suggest that natural resource rents in MENA oil-producing countries positively affect long-term economic growth when accompanied by good governance. Government effectiveness and control of corruption also contribute positively to economic growth in the long run. Furthermore, financial development is found to enhance long-term economic growth. These findings highlight the potential of natural resources to drive economic growth when supported by strong institutions. To maximize natural resource rent benefits, MENA countries should improve governance indicators such as government effectiveness, control of corruption, and rule of law. This includes enhancing civil service competence, decision implementation, and managing political pressure. Key factors include revenue mobilization, infrastructure quality, policy consistency, and penalties for corruption. Ensuring equality under the law, transparent legal processes, an independent judiciary, and access to legal remedies are crucial for effective rule of law. Additionally, MENA countries should prioritize developing non-oil sectors like tourism, industry, technology, entertainment, transportation, and communication. Full article

A 6-carbon short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), GenX, also known as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and its ammonium salt, has been manufactured in recent years as a replacement for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a traditional long-chain PFAS, due to the increasing environmental regulation of PFAS compounds in recent years. GenX has received significant attention because of the fact that it is more toxic than people originally thought, and it is now one of the six PFAS compounds that are placed under legally enforceable restrictions in drinking water, i.e., 10 ppt, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). In this research, we extended the use of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers from electrospinning for GenX removal from water by coating them with polyaniline (PANI) through in situ polymerization. The obtained PANI-coated electrospun PAN nanofibrous adsorbent (PANI-ESPAN) demonstrated excellent GenX adsorption capability and could remove nearly all GenX (>98%) from a 100 ppb aqueous solution. This research provided valuable insights into short-chain PFAS remediation from water by designing and developing high-performance adsorbent materials. Full article

This study explores the potential of ECs as a conduit for achieving a region’s or a country’s energy goals. The study focuses on Greece, where roughly 1700 energy communities have been founded since 2018. The methodology adopted is based, initially, on an extensive literature survey, aiming to outline the general energy goals on a regional and national level. On a second stage, focused interviews were accomplished with four of the biggest energy communities in Greece, investigating essential topics, such as their motivations, their business models, the obstacles they have faced, and their achievements. Environmental, economic, and energy security reasons were revealed as the main incentives for the foundation of energy communities in Greece. The major obstacles underlined by the interviewees were the bureaucracy and the changing, often towards a less supportive direction, legal framework. The contribution to a more sustainable energy environment, the reduction of the electricity procurement cost, and the remedy of energy poverty feature as the most important achievements. In the context of the ongoing energy transition in Greece, this article concludes that even though ECs can promote energy transition and mobilise a commonly acknowledged dialogue that can aid a nation’s efforts to achieve its energy goals, further investigation is required regarding the proposed policy initiatives, focused on strategies for upscaling the impact of energy communities, thus enabling them to flourish further. Full article

This study explores the evolution of mine planning, with particular emphasis on the integration of environmental and social factors in alignment with the sustainable development. Traditionally, mine planning emphasized technical and economic variables, often overlooking environmental and social impacts. However, the increasing need to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has prompted a shift toward broader definitions that incorporate these factors into resource planning. This paradigm change is crucial for managing risks related to project profitability, which now include environmental considerations. The article also examines how government policies and corporate strategies, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks have evolved to address these impacts. A review of the literature published over the last 25 years identifies four main thematic areas: (1) inclusion of environmental costs in mine planning, (2) quantitative models for calculating environmental and closure costs, (3) legal frameworks in mining, and (4) innovations in public policies. This study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach in mine planning that balances economic, social, and environmental considerations to ensure sustainability and mitigate risks associated with mine closure and environmental remediation. Full article

This article examines the teaching of civic engagement in academic settings, focusing on its role in generating new knowledge and fostering social and personal action. The article proposes regulatory remedies to ensure a fair and balanced curriculum supporting diverse worldviews and productive discourse, promoting student civic participation. The legal principle of equal protection, enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment, serves as the foundation. The Fourteenth Amendment emphasizes equal treatment and opportunities for all, including access to a well-rounded education. By incorporating its principles into education, the article highlights the need to promote fair, civic education that empowers all students to participate actively in their communities. I recommend regulatory remedies to solidify education’s nature and foster a balanced curriculum. The proposed remedies ensure that various worldviews are embraced, promoting productive and amicable discourse among students. Creating an inclusive learning environment also allows students to engage in critical thinking and develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives, ultimately enhancing their civic participation. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the importance of regulatory safeguards against biased or exclusionary educational practices to ensure that all students have equal educational opportunities, regardless of their background or beliefs. By eliminating barriers and promoting a fair educational system, students can develop the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to their communities actively. By incorporating the legal principle of equal protection with respect to perspectives represented on campus, the article advocates for legal and regulatory remedies to promote a fair and balanced curriculum that supports diverse worldviews. Full article

This article explores the complex issue of disharmony within religious marriages, focusing on Jewish approaches to divorce. Contrasting Jewish divorce mediation with other religions’ approaches to marital conflict, this article examines two Judaic models: one viewing divorce as a severe remedy permissible only under certain circumstances, and the other allowing for divorce when a marriage is irreparably broken. The author highlights the positive Jewish commandment to peacefully divorce, discussing how mediation integrates compassion and justice, in line with Jewish legal and ethical traditions. This work emphasizes the benefits of community-based divorce mediation, including lower costs, shorter timelines, and increased communal acceptance. Jewish divorce mediation, the author argues, is particularly effective in maintaining child-centeredness and co-parenting relationships post-divorce. This article calls for a broader adoption of Jewish divorce mediation through charitable organizations to effectuate Jewish family values and provide amicable resolutions within the Jewish community. Full article

Since ancient times, mining activities have been recognised as having a strong environmental impact. Due to the extraordinary amount of waste and impacts on the landscape, environmental concerns caused by mining can be found worldwide. The risks associated with mining waste are of great concern, especially when these residues come from metal mining and its associated potentially toxic elements that can be released into the environment. The reality of many of these metal mining areas is that, despite the extensive regulatory frameworks and remediation techniques applied, they continue to have high levels of contamination, posing a source of environmental and public health risk to their surroundings. The issues underlying this situation are details that can only be detected by experience in the management and thorough knowledge of the dynamics of these tailings in the long term. And in many cases, the key is in the details. For this purpose, the case of the former metal mining district of Cartagena-La Unión (SE Spain), one of the most affected areas in the European continent by these metal mining wastes, has been analyzed. In conclusion, it has been shown that the legal status of these waste and mining operations and the lack of control and effectiveness of rehabilitation activities are behind the worrying environmental situation of these areas. The interaction between the legal framework and the environmental and technical knowledge of these tailings and mining areas reveals practical issues beyond the scope of general analysis. This case study, conducted in the main Spanish metal mining area, concerns waste volume, and its findings offer the potential to improve the safety and environmental quality of metal mining regions elsewhere. Full article

Inadmissible evidence generally biases jurors toward guilty verdicts; jurors who hear inadmissible evidence are more likely to convict than jurors not exposed to inadmissible evidence—even when admissible evidence is constant. When inadmissible evidence is introduced, the common legal remedy is judicial instructions to jurors to disregard it. Appeals courts repeatedly affirm instructions to disregard as a sufficient safeguard of defendants’ constitutional rights, despite research finding that jurors do not disregard when instructed. The goals of this research were to (1) test the main and interactive effects of four theory-driven candidate strategies to help jurors disregard inadmissible evidence (i.e., inducing suspicion, giving a substantive reason for disregarding, committing to disregarding, advising future jurors) and identify an optimized intervention package, and (2) evaluate whether adding the optimized intervention package showed more favorable effects than judicial instructions only. Study 1 used a 2⁴ full factorial randomized controlled trial to evaluate the four candidate intervention strategies. A synergistic interaction among the candidate components suggested an optimized intervention package comprising all four interventions. Study 2 used a parallel four-arm randomized controlled trial to compare conviction rates in the same hypothetical murder trial under four conditions: (1) no exposure to inadmissible evidence, (2) exposure to inadmissible evidence without objection, (3) exposure to inadmissible evidence + judicial instructions (“standard practice”), and (4) exposure + judicial instructions + optimized intervention package. Across both studies, mock jurors who received the optimized intervention package returned significantly lower conviction rates than comparison conditions. These findings show early promise that novel intervention strategies may assist jurors in disregarding inadmissible evidence. Interpretation, limitations, and calls to action are discussed. Full article

The origin and bioavailability of nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and cobalt (Co) have been assessed in the Čemernica River basin among the following soil types: Leptosol on serpentinite and Fluvisol, Vertisol, and Leptosol on sandstone. Alongside the impact of serpentine rocks, part of the region also displays significant anthropogenic activity. A sequential analysis following the modified BCR procedure identified four fractions of heavy metals: F1—exchangeable and acid-soluble, F2—bound to Fe and Mn oxides, F3—bound to organic matter, and F4—residual. The overall content of Ni, Cr, and Co in the soil increases in the following order: Leptosol on sandstone, and Vertisol, Fluvisol, Leptosol on serpentinite. In most samples, the values exceed the maximum allowable concentrations in legal regulations, while in some samples, particularly in serpentine soils, they also exceed the remediation thresholds. The average contribution of nickel in the overall content decreases as follows: F4 > F2 > F3 > F1, chromium as F4 > F3 > F2 > F1, and cobalt in the most samples as F2 > F4 > F1 > F3. The percentage of Ni, Cr, and Co in the fractions of different soil types is similar to that in serpentine soils, though the absolute contents vary significantly, indicating a common origin, which is mostly geochemical. According to the Risk Assessment Code, most samples exhibit a low bioavailability risk. Full article

This paper analyzes the impact of AI systems in the judicial domain, adopting an actor–network theory (ANT) framework and focusing on accountability issues emerging when such technologies are introduced. Considering three different types of AI applications used by judges, this paper explores how introducing non-accountable artifacts into justice systems influences the actor–network configuration and the distribution of accountability between humans and technology. The analysis discusses the actor–network reconfiguration emerging when speech-to-text, legal analytics, and predictive justice technologies are introduced in pre-existing settings and maps out the changes in agency and accountability between judges and AI applications. The EU legal framework and the EU AI Act provide the juridical framework against which the findings are assessed to check the fit of new technological systems with justice system requirements. The findings show the paradox that non-accountable AI can be used without endangering fundamental judicial values when judges can control the system’s outputs, evaluating its correspondence with the inputs. When this requirement is not met, the remedies provided by the EU AI Act fall short in costs or in organizational and technical complexity. The judge becomes the unique subject accountable for the use and outcome of a non-accountable system. This paper suggests that this occurs regardless of whether the technology is AI-based or not. The concrete risks emerging from these findings are that these technological innovations can lead to undue influence on judicial decision making and endanger the fair trial principle. Full article