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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.11.005 Byline: Aseel A. Takshe (a)(d), Meg Huby (a)(b), Sofia Frantzi (c), Jon C. Lovett (a)(d) Abstract: In July 2006 a war between Lebanon and Israel resulted in severe environmental damage in Lebanon from Israeli bombing raids. An attack on the Lebanese Jiyyeh Power Plant released 15,000 tons of heavy fuel oil into the Mediterranean Sea. Remarkably, a clean-up operation was effected despite a continued state of war and lack of capacity in the Lebanese government. Civil society environmentalists played a key role in dealing with the pollution and complying with pollution-control legislation. In this study we use Q-methodology to analyse discourses on the effectiveness of pollution legislation during times of conflict using the Jiyyeh oil spill as an example. We interviewed 35 people from eight different stakeholder groups involved in environmental issues. Five distinct discourses were generated covering compensation schemes, need for new legislation, role of stakeholders during wartime and strengthening government ministries. Author Affiliation: (a) Centre for Ecology, Law and Policy, Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK (b) Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK (c) Department of Environmental Policy Analysis, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands (d) CSTM, Twente Centre for Studies in Technology and Sustainable Development, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands Article History: Received 26 April 2009; Revised 17 November 2009; Accepted 27 November 2009

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.08.013 Byline: Sofia Frantzi (a)(b), Neil T. Carter (b), Jon C. Lovett (c)(d) Abstract: Extensive research has been done on the 'high politics' of negotiations of international environmental agreements. However, little attention has been paid to the effectiveness of their implementation after coming into force. Effectiveness cannot be easily measured, since different stakeholders use different criteria as the basis of their opinion. The purpose of this study is to investigate discourses on the effectiveness of an international environmental regime. The regime chosen is the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) - and its legal framework, the Barcelona Convention - which was established in 1975 under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Q methodology was used to reveal discourses on the effectiveness of UNEP/MAP. After collecting relevant literature and identifying the stakeholders, 25 in-depth interviews were conducted. The stakeholders were from the Secretariat of the Convention, academia, NGO workers, and others that studied or knew the subject well. From these interviews 294 statements were extracted, from which 44 were finally selected to be used in the Q study. The interviewees were approached for the second time to complete the Q sorts. This study revealed four distinct discourses concerning the effectiveness of international environmental regimes. It concludes that there is no one 'right' way of defining effectiveness and that no approach can provide more than a partial evaluation of the overall effectiveness of a regime. Author Affiliation: (a) Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK (b) Department of Politics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK (c) Centre for Ecology, Law and Policy, Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK (d) Technology and Sustainable Development Section, Centre for Clean Technology and Environmental Policy, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands Article History: Received 25 October 2006; Revised 7 August 2007; Accepted 23 August 2007

This study fills an important gap in policymaker understanding of the effectiveness and implementation costs of marine plastic cleanup technologies. Previous studies have mainly listed inventories of different plastic litter cleanup technologies, not systematically examined their cost-effectiveness. Through a survey in Europe and North America that asked for cost and cleanup capacity data, per kilogram cost figures were calculated for several categories of cleanup technologies, ranging from fixed-in-place filters in stormwater drainage systems to mobile skimmers on water. Mobile skimmers and dredgers appear to be most cost-effective. Adding performance criteria related to operational conditions and ease of use, such as energy use and economies of scale, dredgers and stormwater filters rank higher. Litter traps in drainage systems are most preferred when furthermore considering weather sensitivity and whether technologies operate standalone, making them an interesting complementary technology to skimmers and dredgers to prevent plastic litter from entering water courses. These results show how sensitive the outcome of the ranking is to the inclusion of additional operational criteria, how different categories of technologies can effectively be combined in the plastic waste supply chain, and what the cost implications are for the future upscaling of plastic litter cleanup technologies. • The cost-effectiveness of plastic cleanup technologies is not well understood. • Technologies range from fixed-in-place filters in stormwater drainage to mobile water skimmers. • In this study, water-based technologies appear to be most cost-effective. • A combination of land-based and water-based technologies is preferred when adding performance criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution of our oceans from land-based sources and shipping spills raises concerns for marine ecosystems, maritime industries and human health. This paper examines the systems and processes in place in the case of plastic pollution due to a shipping spill in the North Sea and the instruments and mechanisms to hold polluters accountable. A desk-based analysis was conducted, and 11 expert interviews contextualised the desk findings. From the 263 reported incidents from 1917 to 2021, 39 % of the reported container loss cases occurred in, or near, the North Sea. Fragmented jurisdiction, frail and uncoordinated policies, aid the shipping sector to deflect responsibility. Around 62 % of the obstacles mentioned by the interviewees addressed governance, including, notably, the lack of international measures, and regulations on shipping routes to protect sensitive areas. The study also identifies the difficulty to enforce compensation for the damage made to ecosystems and biodiversity. • 263 shipping spills were reported from 1917 to 2021 worldwide. • 39 % of reported container loss cases occurred in or near the North Sea. • Instruments to hold polluters accountable exist at multiple governance levels. • No specific regulations were found to address the case of container loss. • Enforcing compensation for damage made to biodiversity is difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although there is fierce debate about how best to evaluate the effectiveness of international regimes, most writers regard institutional effectiveness as the best measure. This article examines the institutional effectiveness of one regime—the Barcelona Convention (or the Mediterranean Action Plan)—where there are sharply contrasting views of its institutional effectiveness. The study finds that the regime was indeed successful when created, but its contemporary institutional performance is inadequate. The article demonstrates that there is no simple answer as to whether a regime is effective; instead, in most cases it depends on the specific criteria each approach employs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study examines the role of science in the operation of environmental regimes using the Barcelona Convention/Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) as a case study. The ‘epistemic communities’ theory suggests that emergence of the Mediterranean Action Plan was largely driven by scientific experts. In order to test the hypothesis that this theory also explains the operation of the regime, we used three methods of analysis. Firstly, we attempted statistical analysis of environmental data available from MED POL, secondly we analysed policy documents prepared by MAP including meeting documents and scientific publications and finally we conducted interviews with scientists. We found that the scientific epistemic community theory is appropriate to explain the formation of MAP, but it cannot account for its current operation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study reviews existing legal, institutional and policy tools and frameworks, relevant to the introduction and adoption of new marine litter clean-up technologies in two regional European seas, the Mediterranean and the Baltic. A combination of desk studies in six countries bordering the Baltic (Estonia, Germany, Sweden) and the Mediterranean (Greece, Italy, Tunisia), and interviews with experts and stakeholders, is used to identify key drivers and barriers to the adoption and diffusion of marine litter technologies. The main conclusion of the study is that the most influential pieces of legislation relevant to marine litter management are top-down EU policies, often forming the basis of regional and national plans. Moreover, the study finds that several drivers of marine litter technologies may at the same time be critical barriers. These factors include public awareness, consumer behaviour, enforcement of legislation, and the rise of SMEs engaged in recycling and eco-labelling of marine litter. • Existing legal and policy frameworks for marine litter management are analysed. • Marine litter management in European seas is based on post-pollution remedies. • European legislation and Regional Action Plans are key drivers. • Lack of financial resources is a barrier to adopt marine litter technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]