Citizens’ perceptions and environmental risk assessment in Eastern Mediterranean: The case of Limassol

Titolo Rivista ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Autori/Curatori Michalis Makrominas, Angelos Menelaou, Demetris Kletou
Anno di pubblicazione 2025 Fascicolo 2025/1
Lingua Inglese Numero pagine 32 P. 5-36 Dimensione file 561 KB
DOI 10.3280/EFE2025-001001
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

Qui sotto puoi vedere in anteprima la prima pagina di questo articolo.

Se questo articolo ti interessa, lo puoi acquistare (e scaricare in formato pdf) seguendo le facili indicazioni per acquistare il download credit. Acquista Download Credits per scaricare questo Articolo in formato PDF

Anteprima articolo

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

This paper provides a comprehensive study assessing anthropogenic-related environmental risks for the coastal city of Limassol, Cyprus. The case of Limassol is interesting because it is characterized by an increased number of industrial activities, both varied and tightly concentrated in a relatively small geographic area. We initiate the research by looking at citizens’ perceptions for environmental threats through an extended opinion survey. We utilize the results of the survey to direct our research across 6 industries, involving 88 institutional stakeholders. For each sector, we map industrial activities to potential threats and qualify the risk level of each threat as the likelihood of risk realization times the impact to citizens’ wellbeing should the risk event occurs. We thereon identify areas in which threats are interactive and the corresponding risks synergistic. Our findings inform a range of policy recommendations for ameliorating man-made environmental risk for coastal cities. Discrepancies between citizens’ perceptions and actual data underscore the importance of effective risk communication.

Parole chiave:environmental risk-assessment, synergistic risk, risk communication, environmental security, anthropogenic activities.

Jel codes:R11, G28, I15

  1. Anenberg, S. C., Haines, S., Wang, E., Nassikas, N., Kinney, P. L. (2020). Synergistic health effects of air pollution, temperature, and pollen exposure: a systematic review of epidemiological evidence. Environmental Health, 19, 1-19.
  2. Agrotis, N., Anastasiou, L., Ellinas, D., Georgopoulou, C., Hadjioannou, L., Ioannou, B., Kalnis, G., Kleitou, P., Kletou, D., Leontiou, S., Lisciotto, L., Liyue Cai, L., Makrominas, M., Malorey, P., Mammides, C., Maragkidou, S., Menelaou, A., Nicolaou, L., Savva, I. (2022). Blue Limassol Environmental Risk Assessment (Report). Blue Limassol Forum. -- https://www.limassol.org.cy/el/blue-limassol-forum-2022-research.
  3. Ahmed, N., Thompson, S., Glaser, M. (2019). Global aquaculture productivity, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptability. Environmental Management, 63, 159-172.
  4. Alises, A., Molina, R., Gómez, R., Pery, P., Castillo, C. (2014). Overtopping hazards to port activities: Application of a new methodology to risk management (POrt Risk MAnagement Tool). Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 123, 8-20.
  5. Alves, T. M., Kokinou, E., Zodiatis, G., Lardner, R., Panagiotakis, C., Radhakrishnan, H. (2015). Modelling of oil spills in confined maritime basins: The case for early response in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Environmental Pollution, 206, 390-399.
  6. Alves, T. M., Kokinou, E., Zodiatis, G., Radhakrishnan, H., Panagiotakis, C., Lardner, R. (2016). Multidisciplinary oil spill modeling to protect coastal communities and the environment of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Scientific Reports, 6(1), 36882.
  7. Arkema, K. K., Griffin, R., Maldonado, S., Silver, J., Suckale, J., Guerry, A. D. (2017). Linking social, ecological, and physical science to advance natural and nature‐based protection for coastal communities. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1399(1), 5-26.
  8. Assessment, M. E. (2005). Ecosystems and human well-being (Vol. 5, p. 563). Island Press, Washington, DC.
  9. Balance, A., Ryan, P. G., Turpie, J. (2000). How much is a clean beach worth? The impact of litter on beach users in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 96(5), 210-213.
  10. Stern, P. C., Dietz, T., Abel, T., Guagnano, G. A., Kalof, L. (1999). A value-belief-norm theory of support for social movements: The case of environmentalism. Human Ecology Review, 81-97.
  11. Tveit, M. R., Khalifeh, M., Nordam, T., Saasen, A. (2021). The fate of hydrocarbon leaks from plugged and abandoned wells by means of natural seepages. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 196, 108004.
  12. Trbojevic, V. M., Carr, B. J. (2000). Risk based methodology for safety improvements in ports. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 71(1-3), 467-480. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3894(99)00094-1
  13. Vitousek, P. M., Aber, J. D., Howarth, R. W., Likens, G. E., Matson, P. A., Schindler, D. W., Schlesinger, W. H., Tilman, D. G. (1997). Human alteration of the global nitrogen cycle: sources and consequences. Ecological applications, 7(3), 737-750. DOI: 10.2307/2269431
  14. Zhang, N., Zhang, Y., Bai, M., Zhang, Z., Chen, C., Meng, X. (2014). Risk assessment of marine environments from ballast water discharges with laboratory-scale hydroxyl radicals treatment in Tianjin Harbor, China. Journal of Environmental Management, 145, 122-128.
  15. Zodiatis, G., Coppini, G., Perivoliotis, L., Lardner, R., Alves, T., Pinardi, N., Liubartseva, S., De Dominicis, M., Bourma, E., Sepp Neves, A. A. (2018). Numerical modeling of oil pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Oil Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea: Part I: The International Context, 215-254. DOI: 10.1007/698_2017_131
  16. Halpern, B. S., Walbridge, S., Selkoe, K. A., Kappel, C. V., Micheli, F., d’Agrosa, C., Bruno, J. F., Casey, K. S., Ebert, C., Fox, H. E., Fujita, R. (2008). A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science, 319(5865), 948-952.
  17. Jiang, J. J., Lee, C. L., Fang, M. D. (2014). Emerging organic contaminants in coastal waters: Anthropogenic impact, environmental release and ecological risk. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 85(2), 391-399.
  18. Joshi, A., Kale, S., Chandel, S., Pal, D. K. (2015). Likert scale: Explored and explained. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 7(4), 396-403. DOI: 10.9734/BJAST/2015/14975
  19. Katuwawala, H. C., Bandara, Y. M. (2022). System-based barriers for seaports in contributing to Sustainable Development Goals. Maritime Business Review, 7(3), 255-269. DOI: 10.1108/MABR-02-2021-0007
  20. Kim, J. H., Keane, T. D., Bernard, E. A. (2015). Fragmented local governance and water resource management outcomes. Journal of Environmental Management, 150, 378-386.
  21. Liess, M., Henz, S., Shahid, N. (2020). Modeling the synergistic effects of toxicant mixtures. Environmental Sciences Europe, 32, 1-10.
  22. Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of psychology.
  23. Lohner, T. W., Dixon, D. A. (2013). The value of long-term environmental monitoring programs: an Ohio River case study. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185, 9385-9396.
  24. Marignani, M., Bruschi, D., Garcia, D. A., Frondoni, R., Carli, E., Pinna, M. S., Cumo, F., Gugliermetti, F., Saatkamp, A., Doxa, A., Queller, E. M. (2017). Identification and prioritization of areas with high environmental risk in Mediterranean coastal areas: A flexible approach. Science of the Total Environment, 590, 566-578.
  25. Ioannou, B., Nicolaou, L., Serraos, K., Spiliopoulou, G. (2019). Large urban developments as non-planning products: Conflicts and threats for spatial planning. Urban Planning, 4(4), 31-42.
  26. Papatheochari, T., Coccossis, H. (2019). Development of a waterfront regeneration tool to support local decision making in the context of integrated coastal zone management. Ocean & Coastal Management, 169, 284-295.
  27. Peng, M., Zhang, H., Evans, R. D., Zhong, X., Yang, K. (2019). Actual Air Pollution, Environmental Transparency, and the Perception of Air Pollution in China. The Journal of Environment & Development, 28(1), 78-105. DOI: 10.1177/1070496518821713
  28. Renn, O., Klinke, A., Van Asselt, M. (2011). Coping with complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity in risk governance: a synthesis. Ambio, 40, 231-246.
  29. Robson, L. M., Fincham, J., Peckett, F. J., Frost, N., Jackson, C., Carter, A. J., Matear, L. (2018). UK Marine Pressures-Activities Database “PAD”: Methods Report, JNCC Report No. 624, JNCC, Peterborough.
  30. Rombouts, I., Beaugrand, G., Artigas, L. F., Dauvin, J. C., Gevaert, F., Goberville, E., Kopp, D., Lefebvre, S., Luczak, C., Spilmont, N., Travers-Trolet, M. (2013). Evaluating marine ecosystem health: case studies of indicators using direct observations and modelling methods. Ecological Indicators, 24, 353-365.
  31. Schweizer, P. J., Goble, R., Renn, O. (2022). Social perception of systemic risks. Risk analysis, 42(7), 1455-1471.
  32. Slovic, P. (1987). Perception of risk. Science, 236(4799), 280-285.
  33. Song, W., Kwan, M. P., Huang, J. (2024). Assessment of air pollution and air quality perception mismatch using mobility-based real-time exposure. Plos one, 19(2), e0294605.
  34. Balog‐Way, D., McComas, K., Besley, J. (2020). The evolving field of risk communication. Risk Analysis, 40(S1), 2240-2262.
  35. Bergman, B. G. (2016). Assessing impacts of locally designed environmental education projects on students’ environmental attitudes, awareness, and intention to act. Environmental Education Research, 22(4), 480-503. DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2014.999225
  36. Blue flag (2021). Pure water, clean coasts, safety and access for all, Foundation for Environmental Education -- https://www.blueflag.global/.
  37. Bouman, T., Verschoor, M., Albers, C. J., Böhm, G., Fisher, S. D., Poortinga, W., ... Steg, L. (2020). When worry about climate change leads to climate action: How values, worry and personal responsibility relate to various climate actions. Global Environmental Change, 62, 102061.
  38. Brehm, S., Svensson, J. (2017). A fragmented environmental state? Analysing spatial compliance patterns for the case of transparency legislation in China. Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, 1, 471-493.
  39. Brombach, H., Weiss, G., Fuchs, S. (2005). A new database on urban runoff pollution: comparison of separate and combined sewer systems. Water science and technology, 51(2), 119-128.
  40. Cantasano, N., Pellicone, G., Ietto, F. (2017). Integrated coastal zone management in Italy: a gap between science and policy. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 21, 317-325.
  41. Carreño, A., Lloret, J. (2021). Environmental impacts of increasing leisure boating activity in Mediterranean coastal waters. Ocean & Coastal Management, 209, 105693.
  42. Fiorini, L., Zullo, F., Romano, B. (2017). Urban development of the coastal system of the Italian largest islands: Sicily and Sardinia. Ocean & Coastal Management, 143, 184-194.
  43. Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. psychometrika, 16(3), 297-334.
  44. Corrales, X., Coll, M., Ofir, E., Heymans, J. J., Steenbeek, J., Goren, M., Edelist, D., Gal, G. (2018). Future scenarios of marine resources and ecosystem conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean under the impacts of fishing, alien species and sea warming. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 14284.
  45. Ortuño Crespo, G., Dunn, D. C. (2017). A review of the impacts of fisheries on open-ocean ecosystems. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 74(9), 2283-2297.
  46. Dauda, A. B., Ajadi, A., Tola-Fabunmi, A. S., Akinwole, A. O. (2019). Waste production in aquaculture: Sources, components and managements in different culture systems. Aquaculture and Fisheries, 4(3), 81-88.
  47. Department of Environment (2018). Integrated Management of Coastal Zones. -- http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/environment/environmentnew.nsf/All/317E130544A7967FC22580E900475E6A?OpenDocument.
  48. Erftemeijer, P. L., Lewis III, R. R. R. (2006). Environmental impacts of dredging on seagrasses: a review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 52(12), 1553-1572.
  49. Fitzpatrick-Lewis, D., Yost, J., Ciliska, D. et al. (2010). Communication about environmental health risks: A systematic review. Environ Health, 9, 67. DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-9-67
  50. Gallina, V., Torresan, S., Zabeo, A., Critto, A., Glade, T., Marcomini, A. (2020). A multi-risk methodology for the assessment of climate change impacts in coastal zones. Sustainability, 12(9), 3697.
  51. Guerra-García, J. M., Navarro-Barranco, C., Ros, M., Sedano, F., Espinar, R., Fernández-Romero, A., Martínez-Laiz, G., Cuesta, J. A., Giráldez, I., Morales, E., Florido, M. (2021). Ecological quality assessment of marinas: An integrative approach combining biological and environmental data. Journal of Environmental Management, 286, 112237.

Michalis Makrominas, Angelos Menelaou, Demetris Kletou, Citizens’ perceptions and environmental risk assessment in Eastern Mediterranean: The case of Limassol in "ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT" 1/2025, pp 5-36, DOI: 10.3280/EFE2025-001001