User:Michael Osei Assibey
Homework 1
2. Shared understanding is whereby a situation concerning a decision whereby participants understand the decision options are being taken. There may be disagreements but in all the shared understanding is mostly written down to be assessed by all. It is a very key aspect of open policy practice.
----#: . The participants also understand what facts, opinions, and disagreements exist related to the decision. --Jouni (talk) 11:20, 22 March 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
7. Open assessment is the main knowledge in open policy practice and seeks to answer the question of finding solutions to decision making using scientific information available. The assessment process involves a lot of applications from
- stakeholders,
- scientific methodology and
- opinions from experts
in order to arrive at a conclusion.
----#: . Open assessment is the work to produce information needed in the decision making. --Jouni (talk) 11:20, 22 March 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
18. Open policy practice aims to create a shared understanding in the decision making process and it thus consists of;
- shared understanding,
- execution of the decision support (scientific method used to inform decision maker),
- evaluation and managing of the work (does the work reach its aim?) and
- execution of the decision support (scientific method used to inform decision maker),
Homework 3
Question 1
Is the realistic target of the GHG emissions set by Kuopio excluding the wood-based fuel and other potential sources of emissions since only the reform in the Haapaniemi power plant seemed to have been used?
Question 2
In terms of the health impact in the training asssessment, I could not grab the concept of using the ovariable in the R code.
- Is it similar to the p value in dose-response or exceptionally different?
- Thus could more elaboration be done in class concerning this process?
Homework 5
Report: Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Strategy to the Year 2030 - Summary
Group: Mari and Anni
Comment and Suggestion
The strategic policies that will be put in place concerning the areas of Transport, Land use, Electricity consumption, Heating of buildings, energy generation and distribution together with waste management issues all come into play to help in reducing the carbon dioxide emissions. The public must play a central role in the reduction of these emissions based on the lifestyle choices and energy use in the daily activities of the individual.
Also in clear terms, is the question of combination of these strategies to help achieve the aim taking into consideration other sectors as for example instead of focusing only on homes, services and industry, consideration could be given to the forestry sector in choosing to aid in more green areas around the region or if not possible encourage urban green production of gardens by the citizens in especially areas around Helsinki which are undergoing renovation.
Overall the health impacts on the climate change strategy and towards the environment as well especially with the stressing of public awareness concerning the provision and advantages of public transport and good land use. For the shared understanding, the citizens must play a key role and it is up to the city authorities or the representatives to use all available avenues to make it possible for the target to be reached by 2030.
Homework 10
Evaluation of an Assessment
Evaluation of a classmate's Assessment Dust storm in south of Iran causes lots of environmental impacts and health problems for the country (by Mohammad Shahidehnia and Paula Maatela)
| Category | Characterization | |
|---|---|---|
| Impacts |
The health impacts of the dust storms on the environment and people were identified. | |
| Causes |
Dust storms was the main idea behind this assessment but as to how other pollutants or other factors can confound the problem was not made clear. | |
| Problem owner |
The citizens of Ahvaz will be the ones with most impact and this include decision makers and authorities. | |
| Target | Mostly the ones above but as to if they were the intended targets in the assessment was not fully done. | |
| Interaction |
Not sure about the extent of participation of different users especially since the Decision makers do have the final say and if the citizens do have an influence at all. | |
| Category of interaction within the knowledge-policy interaction framework. | Joint participation (Open interaction) | |
| Dimensions of openness | Scope of participation | Citizens, government, opinion leaders, Paula and Mohammed. |
| Access to information | Level of pollution and health effects with relevant data by WHO . | |
| Timing of openness | Is the time of openness specific for all the participants or the stipulated target year would be the time for the assessment. Not clearly defined. | |
| Scope of contribution | Extent of citizen's contribution not specific but is purported to include all contributions of participants. | |
| Impact of contribution | The outcomes of the results from the assessment creates the image of all contributions but do citizens, government or private entities play a major role?. | |
| Category | Evaluation | Reasoning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of content | 1 | The question could have been rephrased to get stipulated results. Do the citizens and leaders of government have the same level of impact and contribution? However other information are very clear. | |
| Applicability | Relevance | 3 | The relevance of dust storms on the health of people and the environment is very important. |
| Availability. | 3 | It seems that there is a will to make results available to all parties. In reality this might prove problematic. | |
| Usability | 2 | The results gained from this assessment could be applied to other regions like Ghana where we face the same issue in the Northern sector from the Sahara desert but the structure and most of the details are lacking. | |
| Acceptability | 3 | It depends on the citizens to know the environmental and health impacts of these dust storms and the authorities to take relevant action. | |
| Efficiency | 3 | Regional scope of the effects should be also addressed especially between Iran and Iraq but overall the concept and ideas are commendable. | |
Suggestions to improve the draft
The main idea should be reported next time in an assessment and the main parts should be addressed in terms of the contributions from each affected contributor in the assessment to be done.
Evaluation of real-life Assessment Climate change policies in Basel
| Category | Characterization | |
|---|---|---|
| Impacts |
The health and climate impacts of policies to the city of Basel. | |
| Causes |
Air pollution and with GHG emmission reduction in city of Basel. | |
| Problem owner |
Citizens of Basel, decision makers (builders, law makers) and planners. | |
| Target | Buildings including renovations and energy efficiency levels. ----#: . Target means people who may use or need the assessment results. --Jouni (talk) 18:06, 19 May 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) | |
| Interaction |
Interactions between the builders, metropolitan authorities and owners of buildings. | |
| Category of interaction within the knowledge-policy interaction framework. | Joint participation (Open interaction) and law mitigation | |
| Dimensions of openness | Scope of participation | Citizens, city authorities and decision makers. |
| Access to information | The pillars of Basel-City's energy policy, good background on the energy structure and policies. ----#: . What information can the participants access (and what is kept unavailable)? --Jouni (talk) 18:06, 19 May 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) | |
| Timing of openness | The timing of the openness is not clear and the target and comparison years in the 'previous version decision table' not complete however they do give an estimate for the efficiency and passive rate. | |
| Scope of contribution | Percentages of owner's renovation and builder's efficiency and policy of authority well stated. ----#: . To what aspects can the participants give comments? --Jouni (talk) 18:06, 19 May 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) | |
| Impact of contribution | The information of the builders, owners of the buildings and district authorities used in the final assessment so every information is vital. ----#: . Does the stakeholders' knowledge actually affect the conclusions of the assessment? --Jouni (talk) 18:06, 19 May 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) | |
| Category | Evaluation | Reasoning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of content | 4 | Clearly stated results and descriptions as to what the results mean were clear. The pillars of the energy policy of Basel gave a good understanding of the assessment. | |
| Applicability | Relevance | 4 | In comparison with other climate change policies in other cities could lead to mitigation policies that can help reduce air pollution.----#: . Is the assessment relevant for stakeholders? --Jouni (talk) 18:06, 19 May 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) |
| Availability. | 3 | The citizens and building owners would be most affected to see a change in reduction of GHG emissions hence they should be made aware of the assessment on an annual basis.----#: . Is the assessment information available to stakeholders? --Jouni (talk) 18:06, 19 May 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) | |
| Usability | 4 | The policies regarding renovation of old buildings and investment in other renewable sources of energy like solar and biofuels are very helpful. ----#: . Is the assessment information usable by stakeholders? --Jouni (talk) 18:06, 19 May 2015 (UTC) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) | |
| Acceptability | 4 | Majority of these policies require collaboration between district authorities, citizens and builders which is well noted in this assessment. | |
| Efficiency | 3 | The scope of efficiency of the various policies especially in terms of which is more effective than the other is up to the reader or investigator to decide. | |
Suggestions to improve the draft
Repetitions on a year to year basis of the measurements could be done and the citizens especially those who sell or try to renovate buildings should have an idea of the requirements of the city of Basel concerning efficiency.