Environmental peacebuilding is a rapidly growing field of research and practice at the intersection of environment, conflict, peace and security. Focusing on these linkages is crucial in a time when the environment is a core issue of international politics and the number of armed conflicts remains high. This article introduces a special issue with a particular emphasis on environmental opportunities for building and sustaining peace. We first detail the definitions, theoretical assumptions and intellectual background of environmental peacebuilding. The article then provides context for the special issue by briefly reviewing core findings and debates of the first two generations of environmental peacebuilding research. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the next generation of research, and to which the articles in this special issue contribute: bottom-up approaches, gender, conflict-sensitive programming, use of big data and frontier technology, and monitoring and evaluation.

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Mycophenolic acid can be administered orally using mycophenolate mofetil or enteric-coated mycophenolate. In renal transplant patients on immunosuppressant combination therapy, the overall mycophenolic acid exposure after oral dosing with mycophenolate mofetil and enteric-coated mycophenolate is similar. This study compared pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of mycophenolic acid after equivalent doses of enteric-coated mycophenolate (360 mg twice daily) or mycophenolate mofetil (500 mg twice daily) in 7 patients with progressive IgA nephritis (glomerular filtration rate 20-35 mL/min) using a randomized crossover design. The pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid concentrations and pharmacodynamics (using inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase activity as a bio-marker) were sequentially monitored for 12 hours. After enteric-coated mycophenolate treatment, the mycophenolic acid peak concentration (Cmax = 12.8 vs 6.0 microg/mL, P < .05) and the overall exposure were significantly higher (AUC = 60.9 vs 40.7 microg.h/mL, P < .05), and the apparent clearance was significantly lower (CL/F = 7.9 vs 10.7 L/h, P < .05) as compared to that after mycophenolate mofetil. Paradoxically, inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase activity was not significantly different. In conclusion, the steady-state mycophenolic acid exposure was higher during treatment with enteric-coated mycophenolate as compared to mycophenolate mofetil, which might be explained by more extensive enterohepatic recycling of mycophenolic acid after administration of enteric-coated mycophenolate, whereas inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase suppression was not different.

Climate change may have dramatic consequences for several regions. Most vulnerable are fragile countries with limited capacities to adapt. Without timely action, the stresses induced by climate change may increase the risk of violent conflict. Designing and implementing adaptation strategies is becoming imperative to mitigate conflict potentials and prevent escalation. This article will discuss existing national and international approaches with focus on the UNFCCC process. It will be emphasized that a purely technical understanding of adaptation is insufficient to cope with the socio-political consequences of climate change. Indeed, adaptation may even contribute to conflict potentials if ill-designed. Thus, it is necessary to develop conflict-sensitive approaches complemented by internationally supported capacity development measures.

The German Packaging Ordinance of 1991 marked one of the first attempts to introduce the concept of producer responsibility into environmental policy. The topic, thus, allows for useful insights into the factors which influence the outcomes of modern environmental governance. This paper uses the tool of policy network analysis to assess the outcomes, in addition to the environmental and economic efficiency, of the German packaging policy. It places special emphasis on the many links between actors, interests, policy design and their collective influence on policy outcomes. The research for this paper was based on a study of primary and secondary literature, interviews and workshops with involved decision-makers.The assessment of the policy outcomes gives an overview of the related costs and environmental effects, and demonstrates that announcement effects lead to reasonable reductions in packaging consumption. In conclusion, the experience of the German Packaging Ordinance shows that, within the field of producer responsibility policy, it is important to recognize the economic interests of all participating actors. In addition, it underlines the assumption that realistic legal frameworks and the threat of sanctions are indispensable for ensuring cooperation among the parties concerned. Copyright

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