ICT-driven projects for land governance in Kenya: disruption and e-government frameworks

Critical academic research has yet to comprehensively identify conceptual linkages and tensions between information communication technologies (ICTs) and land governance projects. In order to make a contribution to these complex research fields, this article examines three Kenyan projects to illustrate different aspects of competing theoretical frameworks for ICT-based land rights projects. The projects documented land and property in the informal settlements of Kibera and Mathare in Nairobi, and in the rural community of Lari in Kiambu County. Drawing particularly on conceptual frameworks that emphasize the ‘disruptive’ potentials of ICTs, and frameworks based on e-government models, the article argues that these projects include both disruptive aspects, which work through applying pressure on the state, and more ‘integrative’ approaches which seek to build state capacity. The projects also rely on multiple stakeholders, and cannot be easily categorized within simple narratives of crowdsourcing, for example. Instead the realities are more complex and ‘success’ is difficult to assess, and potential uses of such projects are open and multiple.     

An Empirical Evaluation of the Influence of Ethanol on Natural Attenuation of Gasoline Constituents

Since the 1990s, questions have arisen as to whether the release of ethanol‐blended fuel will inhibit natural attenuation of other gasoline constituents in groundwater. This study evaluated the hypothesis that ethanol affects hydrocarbon attenuation and whether the use of ethanol‐blended fuel alters the applicability of monitored natural attenuation (MNA) as an approach for managing risks at fuel‐release sites. Groundwater data from California's GeoTracker database were used to compare attenuation of benzene, toluene, methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE), and tert‐butyl alcohol (TBA) at sites with and without detections of ethanol. Excel‐based tools were developed to conduct attenuation evaluations on thousands of wells simultaneously. Ethanol was detected at least once in 4.5% of the wells and 0.6% of the samples of which it was analyzed. The distribution of Mann‐Kendall concentration trend analysis results and first‐order attenuation rates were essentially the same at sites with or without ethanol detections. Median plume lengths were shorter at sites where ethanol had not been detected compared to sites where ethanol was detected (36 vs. 43 m for benzene; 36 vs. 42 m for toluene; 43 vs. 52 m for MTBE; and 44 vs. 59 m for TBA). However, the distribution of plume lengths was similar irrespective of ethanol concentrations, suggesting other factors may influence plume elongation. Finally, while anaerobic ethanol degradation can result in methane generation, the distributions of methane concentrations were the same at sites with and without ethanol detections. These results suggest that the use of ethanol‐blended fuel should not limit the application of MNA at most biodegrading fuel‐release sites.     

Overcoming cross-scale challenges to climate change adaptation for local government: a focus on Australia

This paper aims to identify key cross-scale challenges to planned adaptation within the context of local government in Australia, and suggest enabling actions to overcome such challenges. Many of the impacts of climate change and variability have or will be experienced at the local level. Local governments are embedded in a larger governance context that has the potential to limit the effectiveness of planned adaptation initiatives on the ground. This study argues that research on constraints and barriers to adaptation must place greater attention to understanding the broader multi-governance system and cross-scale constraints that shape adaptation at the local government scale. The study identified seven key enabling actions for overcoming cross-scale challenges faced by local governments in Australia when undertaking climate change adaptation planning and implementation. A central conclusion of this study is that a cooperative and collaborative approach is needed where joint recognition of the scale of the issue and its inherent cross-scale complexities are realised. Many of the barriers or constraints to adaptation planning are interlinked, requiring a whole government approach to adaptation planning. The research suggests a stronger role at the state and national level is required for adaptation to be facilitated and supported at the local level.