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The London Convention (LC), adopted in 1972, and its successor, the London Protocol (LP) of 1996, constitute key regulatory frameworks working in parallel, aimed at mitigating waste dumping at sea and safeguarding the marine environment. These treaties, which share the objective of controlling marine pollution, have also evolved to address emerging environmental issues such as marine geoengineering and carbon capture and storage within the context of the current triple planetary crisis. As the LC/LP regime marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2022, both achievements and ongoing challenges in combating pollution from dumping activities were acknowledged, emphasising the need for continual adaptation to protect the marine environment effectively. This article examines the adaptability and impact of the LC/LP regime over the past five decades, identifying strengths and proposing future steps to ensure the preservation of ocean health for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizon scanning is a process to generate foresight – insight into how the future could unfold. Horizon scanning involves systematically searching a wide range of information sources for early signals of change, collecting those signals in a database, and exploring their possible implications for the future. The focus is often on external change in the broad contextual environment of a field or organization, i.e., the social, economic, technological, and governance domains. External change could be highly disruptive and is unlikely to be on the radar of decision makers. Early awareness of changes and monitoring their development over time can help natural resource planners, managers, and policymakers prepare for emerging challenges and opportunities. This paper introduces horizon scanning, characterizes different approaches and techniques, outlines the basic process, and briefly describes artificial intelligence in horizon scanning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late 2022, the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency National Institute of Forensic Science (ANZPAA NIFS) Document Specialist Advisory Group (DocSAG) began a capability mapping project with the broad aim to consider, in the Australian and New Zealand context, forensic document examination: where are we now, and where to from here? Our capability mapping project is based largely on the approach used for the 2022 Forensic Capability Mapping – Firearm Examination Project, led by ANZPAA NIFS. A survey was developed and disseminated to capture information addressing key topics: current and emerging risks, improvement areas, current and future capability, and business continuity. This paper outlines the project process and summarizes key findings of the first round of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late 2022, the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency National Institute of Forensic Science (ANZPAA NIFS) Document Specialist Advisory Group (DocSAG) began a capability mapping project with the broad aim to consider, in the Australian and New Zealand context, forensic document examination: where are we now, and where to from here? Our capability mapping project is based largely on the approach used for the 2022 Forensic Capability Mapping – Firearm Examination Project, led by ANZPAA NIFS. A survey was developed and disseminated to capture information addressing key topics: current and emerging risks, improvement areas, current and future capability, and business continuity. This paper outlines the project process and summarizes key findings of the first round of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural and food production systems are constantly evolving in response to societal and environmental factors. These sectors are also laden with occupational hazards, creating an opportunity for emerging and re-emerging issues such as emerging markets and changing worker demographics. The Upper Midwest is a region of intensive agricultural production, with many states leading the United States in livestock and crop production. As a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) is tasked with protecting the health and safety of the region's agricultural workers. UMASH implements an Emerging Issues program to effectively respond to emerging and re-emerging issues impacting agricultural health and safety in the Upper Midwest. To direct such work, UMASH developed a novel Selection, Planning and Action Process Model. This model guides all stages of the UMASH Emerging Issues response and emphasizes the ongoing need for monitoring, evaluation, and feedback from agricultural communities. In conjunction with the UMASH Process Model, the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum of Public Participation frames the work of the Emerging Issues Program in meaningfully engaging the community of stakeholders across all stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa, marijuana) is the largest cash crop in California. While it is difficult to characterize the size of the industry, the total production is estimated at 15 to 16 million pounds per year, with total revenues exceeding $10 billion per year. Despite the huge size and rapid growth of the industry, there has been little research on the health and safety of cannabis workers. The goal of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility of collecting cannabis worker health data with a self-administered survey and to analyze the first systematically collected data on occupational health symptoms among California cannabis cultivation workers. We performed a cross-sectional survey of demographic and job characteristics as well as eye, nasal, respiratory, and dermal symptoms among 29 workers at two cannabis farms in the Sacramento area, California. Most participants were men aged less than 30 years, with 48% of participants self-identifying as non-Hispanic white and 58% reporting at least some college education. The most frequently reported work-related symptom was nasal irritation, and 38% of the participants reported symptoms suggestive of asthma. The participants had a demographic makeup distinct from traditional California agricultural workers, and a very high prevalence of current use of cannabis (93%). The high proportion of respondents with symptoms suggestive of asthma raises concern; sensitization to the cannabis plant has been reported among cannabis workers and users and there are many well-documented agricultural exposures causing asthma and asthma-like syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus pandemic situation is acknowledged as a terrifying situation to human beings and has generated a tremendous loss in many perspectives to human life worldwide. People get impacted by physical, psychosocial, economic, and environmental crises amidst any pandemic crisis. Objectives: The current study aimed to interpret and explore the perception of the impact of a pandemic crisis on mental health, emerging issues, and governance among the people of a developing country during the lockdown of Covid-19, the second wave. This study also assessed their knowledge to assess their level of mental preparedness during Covid-19. Methods and Materials: An online cross-sectional survey was performed among a sub-set of a developing country population using a modified pre-validated structured tool. The sample size was 124. Responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of Chi-square and regression analysis. Results: About 55.47% (71) had adequate knowledge. The mean knowledge score was 6.04, with a Standard Deviation (SD) of 2.16, indicating a low knowledge level. There was a higher significant association between demographics and mental health in terms of variables of psychosocial domains (p<0.05). Also, a negative association was found between their knowledge and their profession (p<0.05). Conclusion: Partial lockdown at the time of the study due to Covid-19 has led the majority of the people to undergo mental stress disregarded to their age, education, or their boundness to the healthcare profession. The healthcare system needs to emphasize enhancing appropriate knowledge to adopt preventive measures and efficient protocols, including vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing complexity and uncertainty of the future may stimulate demand for more monitoring emerging issues. Futurists have long advocated for monitoring the future on an ongoing basis or for tracking the findings of project work in practice. However, clients have historically been reluctant to invest time and money in monitoring, and little practical guidance is available on how to set up a monitoring. This article describes a pilot monitoring capability that is simple and practical to implement. It was developed as a "plug-in" to supplement an ongoing horizon scanning system. The monitoring system tracks the movement of emerging issues that were identified by horizon scanning. It provides a means to keep policy-makers informed about the progress of emerging issues and provides advance warning to develop an appropriate strategic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The rapidly changed global context for internationalization (IZN) over the next decade prompted a decision to use a futurist perspective for identifying issues to be considered in the organization's next strategic plan. This paper aims to report on this project to identify current and strategic issues influencing the future strategy of the higher education (HE) IZN for Thailand on behalf of the Bureau of International Cooperation Strategy and the Office of the Higher Education Commission. Design/methodology/approach: The research approach was a customized version of the University of Houston's Framework Foresight method. It involved framing the domain with a description and domain map, scanning for signals of change within the domain and emerging issues analysis to produce a set of current and emerging issues. A planning step synthesizes a set of recommended actions. Findings: The key findings reported in this paper are the identification of 14 current and emerging issues influencing the future of the IZN of HE in Thailand. The issues were organized along with the three horizons framework: H1: how are we [currently] doing? H2: what should we do next and H3, where do we want to go? The primary recommendation of this research reported on in this study is to consider the 14 issues for inclusion into the next strategic plan. Seven specific strategic options mapped over three phases were identified as well. The research reported here was carried out for Thailand, but the process could easily be adapted by other countries and other topics. Research limitations/implications: The modified version of the University of Houston Framework Foresight approach has been applied successfully to many topics. The topic explored here is focused on one nation, Thailand. The authors feel the lessons are, however, broadly applicable. Practical implications: The ability to use a futurist perspective to identify current and emerging issues is highlighted. The organizing of the issues using the three horizons framework proved to be particularly useful in helping the client to develop a sense of timing regarding the future, that is, when and to what degree to pay attention to the many issues that typically confront any organization. Originality/value: The use of the three horizons framework in the analysis of the emerging issues provide benefits in two ways in situating the likely timing of signals of change in horizon scanning and "scan hits" both scanning for the identification of issues and organizing the resulting current and emerging issues along the three horizons with H1 current issues: how are we [currently] doing?; H2 emerging issues: what should we do next and H3 emerging issues, where do we want to go? The paper also includes a section exploring the impact of Covid-19 on the likely timing of the issues identified just before the pandemic hit, finding that timing of some issues would speed up, some would stay the same and some would slow down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses four specific technological innovations - artificial meat, blockchain, drones for delivery, and off-grid electricity - by looking at them as weak signals and emerging issues with potentially positive and negative impacts on the environment. They are arising at a remarkably fast pace and this work examines the patterns of their emergence. The main purpose of this paper is to challenge the dominant view on their probable future and stimulate policymakers to consider their alternatives, and ultimately increase policymaking resilience. The analysis is based on a systematic review of available academic and non-academic literature, with the aim of synthesising obtainable knowledge on each of the considered technologies and enabling a broad understanding of potential threats and opportunities related thereto. Reduction of the total greenhouse gas emissions, improvements in energy efficiency, decreased pressure on limited natural resources, and increased protection of ecosystems are the main areas to which the selected technologies could make an important contribution. Yet, the complexity and the wide array of risks associated with their diffusion challenge the conventional view that technological innovations are the panacea for global environmental problems. We argued instead that potential risks and threats related to their dissemination must be addressed through adequate policies, adopted in a timely manner, and founded upon extensive research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fog computing paradigm is emerging after a decade's dominance of cloud‐based system design and architecture. Now, instead of centralising the computation and coordination to remote services, these are deployed and distributed to all over physical surroundings and network nodes, including cloud services, smart gateways, and network edge devices. At the moment, the majority of the Internet of things (IoT) systems and software has built on top of open Web‐based technologies. The authors assume that with the ever‐growing number and heterogeneity of connected devices, it becomes ever‐more crucial to have open standards that support interoperability and enable interactions. They review the current technological space for architecting Web technology‐based IoT software in the coming era of fog computing. They focus on fundamental research challenges and discuss the emerging issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article puts the transnational crime of human trafficking in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa and its quickly growing youth bulge. Through Causal Layered Analysis of various alternative future scenarios as well as the identification of the core narrative surrounding the international discourse, it illustrates more deeply the forces that underlie trafficking and what change is possible. With the provision of a reconstructed narrative that avoids the current blind spots, this research points out the need for a new leadership paradigm that allows for a more holistic and future-oriented inquiry about socio-economic and political change and what it entails for human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managers and policy makers are continually working toward a desired future within a context of rapid and turbulent change. To be effective in this context, they must look ahead to anticipate emerging trends, issues, opportunities, and threats. Horizon scanning is a foresight method that can help managers and policy makers develop and maintain a broad and externally focused forward view to anticipate and align decisions with both emerging (near-term) and long-term futures. This article reports on the design and early stage development and implementation of a horizon scanning system established for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Strategic Foresight Group, and developed cooperatively with the University of Houston Foresight Program. The goal of the project is to develop an ongoing horizon scanning system as an input to developing environmental foresight: insight into future environmental challenges and opportunities, and the ability to apply that insight to prepare for a sustainable future. In addition, the horizon scanning system is supported by volunteers from within the Forest Service. By including participants from throughout the Forest Service, the project seeks to foster a culture of foresight within the organization, and eventually to develop a more forward looking organizational structure for the USFS and other natural resource management agencies. Lessons learned from the experience to date are shared as well as future challenges for keeping the horizon scanning system in good working order--current, relevant, and consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Molitor Model of Change was developed over a period of forty years by American futurist, Graham T. T. Molitor (1934–2017). It encompassed his lifelong work to reveal how public policy issues emerge, how they are advanced and how they are resolved. This article offers a 2009 summary of his model that was fully presented in his 2003 book, The Power to Change the World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past three years, while teaching an Introduction to Global Futures Studies course at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Seoul, Korea), the “Innovations/Issues Change Tracking and Forecasting Term Project” has been an essential component of the course. This group project (5-7 in a group) includes individual reports and presentations divided into three sections: (1) past changes, (2) present changes, and (3) forecasts of three to five scenarios. Progressive stages of the project are based on research assignments, which are foresight exercises that build upon each other: (1) online environmental scanning—where students scan online for STEEP (Social–Technological–Economical-Environmental–Political) innovations and issues to consider for the project; (2) change tracking of the selected innovation/issue—where changes are tracked from origin to present within a 5-25 year time range; (3) present time change tracking—where students research and analyze recent impacts and changes to the chosen innovation/issue; (4) in-class timeline construction—where all results are fused into one timeline; and (5) in-class futures wheel scenario constructions. Based on the results, 3-5 scenarios are constructed (from a future time frame of either 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years), and should include: (1) a baseline scenario—a trend-based continuation of past changes (from STEEP categories); (2) an alternative futures scenario—based on weak signals within present changes; and (3) a “wild card” scenario—a speculative attempt to foresee the unforeseeable. This article will report on the stages of development, student experiences, and results of the term project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's business environment is very different from that of the past. New and innovative measures need to be found in order to optimize production and operations management in supply chain systems. Several emerging issues, such as risk and uncertainty management, environmental sustainability, optimal strategies under competition, sophisticated incentive alignment schemes, and optimal operations with strategic consumer behaviors, are critical to the success of modern supply chain management. This introduction provides a concise review of these critical research issues and introduces the related papers featured in this special volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay is a personal narrative of meetings with Graham Molitor, both as person and as text. His contribution is not just his invention of emerging issues analysis but his graciousness as a scholar and practitioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because drivers and pressures on biodiversity, societal expectations, and ecological knowledge evolve rapidly, biodiversity conservation policies need to adapt continuously. Anticipating such changes can however be difficult given the profusion and complexity of data and when signals indicating future risks and opportunities may be weak. To tackle this challenge, the French Environment ministry asked a research team at AgroParisTech to develop a new method for identifying emerging issues for biodiversity policies by 2020 in France (except for overseas territories). This project, called BioPIQuE 2013, involved both scientists and stakeholders in an interdisciplinary assessment. As a result, 25 emerging issues were identified, among which 10 issues were highlighted for their strategic interest. A majority of these issues are current trends not yet taken into account by biodiversity policies (such as "why do we have to and how can we improve our ability to restore - with ambitious biodiversity objectives - urbanised and highly degraded areas?"), and a few of them are weak signals (such as "how can we deal with trade-offs and conflicts between biodiversity policies and other environmental policies?"). All stakeholders, including researchers, NGOs, public administrations, private companies and politicians, can find in the results some inputs for developing their biodiversity conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical and informative exploration of the emerging roles and rising influence of the Global South in shaping the future of global governance. Specifically, it inquires into the following questions: How is the Global South impacting the way we govern globally? What are the pushers, pulls and weights to the futures of global governance? Using Jim Dator's alternative futures archetype, what is the future of global governance? What are the emerging issues and trends? Design/methodology/approach - It uses Sohail Inayatullah's futures triangle to map the drivers - the pushes, pulls and weights of global governance and Jim Dator's archetypes - continued economic growth, collapse, conserver and transformation - to imagine and construct alternative futures of global governance. Findings - The futures triangle analysis maps and reveals three diverse but causally linked Global South narratives of global governance. The pulls of the future include the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa leading the way, and emerging economies reinforcing the pluralization of global governance discourses and systems. New governance regimes create new global governance dynamics and North - South relations. Their increasing social, political and economic clout leads to new governance structures. The Global South's rising human development index, economic growth, decreasing financial reliance, the rise of minilateralism and South - South cooperation is a push of the present. Weights are recurring financial constraints, their lack of technical capacity, existing international laws, stagnating bureaucracy, poverty, domestic issues and state centrism (among others). Four alternative global governance scenarios emerge: a harmonious world is everybody's business - a state-centric and economic growth global governance future. Here, the dynamics of global governance remain the same as zero-sum thinking informs the rules of the game. In dangerous transitions and the rise of the rest, however, the status quo is disrupted as power shifts rapidly and detrimentally. Then, in mosaic of the old structure, the South embraces protectionism, and the old vanguards return. Finally, in all boats rise substantially, power is redistributed as emerging states gain larger, formal (and informal) leadership roles in global governance. The global world order is re-designed for the Global South. A world parliament is created and stronger regional confederation or unions emerge. Research limitations/implications - This paper extensively utilizes existing and emerging literature, official reports, blogs, interviews, books and other digital texts on global governance. The sources relevance is analyzed using the futures triangle tool and dissected to present four detailed scenarios using Dator's alternative futures archetype. This study seeks to initially explore alternative futures of global governance from the perspective of the Global South. While some studies have approached the topic, only a few authors have addressed global governance using futures tools and methods. The goal of this research is to map and explore some alternative futures of global governance. The paper is less useful in predicting what lies ahead. Its intention is to highlight the "rise of the different" and to create a space for more meaningful conversations on global governance. Practical implications - This research could provide futurists, policy-makers, international relations scholars and global governance advocates some alternative narratives, frameworks and images of global governance. While it does not offer any specific structures and solutions, it offers a number of emerging issues and perspectives from the Global South that decision-makers and institutions might want to consider as they rethink global governance. Social implications - This paper highlights the emerging roles and perspectives of the Global South in global governance. It identifies some "trading zones" and "emerging issues" that may inspire actors to create new global governance spaces, innovate alternative narratives and design new frameworks of global governance. Originality/value - It maps and constructs some plausible scenarios of global governance that emphasize Global South perspectives while using futures tools and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired neuropathies represent most of the neuropathies encountered in clinical practice. Hundreds of causes have been identified even though up to 41 % of patients are still classified as idiopathic (Rajabally and Shah in J Neurol 258:1431-1436, ). Routine evaluation relies on comprehensive medical history taking, clinical examination, nerve conduction studies and laboratory tests. Other investigations such as nerve biopsy or nerve or muscle imaging are performed in specific settings. This review focuses on recent advances in acquired neuropathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This reflection examines some of the continuing and emerging issues in the open educational resources (OER) field. These include blending OER with university management structures; formal and non-formal OER; the need for sustainable OER business models; and expanding awareness, adoption, and use of OER. In the future, research will need to examine the concept of open educational practices (OEP) and OER issues relevant to faculty incentives and career advancement in the university. The author suggests there is no silver bullet solution to the “open” road ahead. Proprietary and open content will coexist in the education sector. OER are not a panacea for resolving all the range of global education issues and divides. OER are, however, a valuable resource that must be developed and sustained. OER may ultimately be the genuine equalizer for education and for empowering social inclusion in a pluralistic, multicultural, and imperfect world. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The NIOSH Construction Program worked with industry stakeholders to develop a National Occupational Safety and Health Construction Agenda to target future research and activities. The Program and its partners are also cognizant that new developments can emerge over time and that research can play an important role in helping to understand and address these emerging issues. Examples of emerging issues relevant to construction safety and health are described. These include: (a) climate change and energy considerations; (b) green construction developments and opportunities; (c) new materials; (d) changes in industry structure and practice; (e) workforce developments and disparities; (f) injury underreporting and cost and risk shifting; and (g) increased interest in addressing root causes. Responding to emerging issues while maintaining a focus on fundamental longstanding issues represents an ongoing challenge for researchers and industry organizations. Additional research to understand the diffusion and adoption of research by the industry is also needed. Research accomplished to date provides a strong foundation for addressing future industry needs and trends. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This introduction to the journal’s supplement on emerging food and feed safety issues summarizes the objectives and activities of the EU-funded SAFE FOODS project in general and its work package focusing on the early identification of emerging food safety risks, in particular. Within this work package, a number of studies have been carried out on methods enabling the early awareness, identification, and prevention of emerging issues before they can become real risks. The various reviews in this supplement explore the background of the emergence of known food safety risks, both of microbial and chemical/biochemical nature, as well the methods that can be used to identify such risks. Another review identifies a number of chemical and microbiological hazards that are likely to be affected by a changing climate. A major conclusion from these explorative reviews is that monitoring and information exchange systems or procedures are in place to detect, in an early phase, the emergence of potential food safety risks linked to known hazards. Additional systems are needed to predict the development of new potential food safety risks, which are linked to either new hazards or known hazards to which exposure has been altered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article provides an overview of recent lessons from the Shared Governance literature, a description of a 4-year evaluation study and a highlighting of important issues which emerge from this. Early UK Shared Governance implementation relied heavily on North American experience, but there is now a growing body of UK experience. The literature review draws upon evaluation research to date, provides a contextual description of the Shared Governance site and the approach adopted, together with a description of the quantitative and qualitative evaluation design used. The findings indicate that early problems had the most profound impact, that there were continuing chronic difficulties and that a number of important issues have subsequently emerged. The article concludes that there are some significant successes, but that Shared Governance implies cultural change, is subject to ‘fashion swings’ and that there are practical limits to what can be achieved. Implementation means hard work but can produce worthwhile results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]