Our research addresses knowledge integration for the good governance of the environment and the oceans: (a) through a comprehensive legal, political science, and anthropological analysis; and (b) by providing an examination of crucial research foci and research gaps in the fields of environmental and marine governance, along the North–South divide. Our subsequent critical synopsis reveals how existing research within each discipline offers complementary insights for future research. We concludes with a call for further testing of tools, approaches, and methods to enable comprehensive research on the conceptualization of knowledge integration.

This contribution explores ecological literacy as a critical facet of legal inquiry, focusing on expanding knowledge and practices oriented towards nature protection. Evolving to encompass interdisciplinarity and a systems-thinking approach, ecological literacy is crucial for achieving environmental sustainability. The study argues that integrating an approach promoting eco-responsible behaviors is essential for sustainability-centered legal research and education. This necessitates a shift in foundational pillars of legal methodology, moving beyond conventional dogmatic approaches and embracing a participatory and active dimension. The study provides a theoretical foundation for future applications for rethinking legal methodology to implement ecological literacy effectively.

The research investigates the problems and maps the solutions to the serious threat that plastics pose to the oceans, food safety, and human health, with more than eight million tons of plastic debris dumped in the sea every year. The aim of this study is to explore how to better improve the regulatory process of ocean plastics by integrating scientific results, regulatory strategies and action plans so as to limit the impact of plastics at sea. Adopting a problem-solving approach and identifying four areas of intervention enable the establishment of a regulatory framework from a multi-actor, multi-issue, and multi-level perspective. The research methodology consists of a two-pronged approach: 1. An analysis of the state-of-the-art definition of plastics, micro-, and nanoplastics (respectively, MPs and NPs), and 2. The identification and discussion of loopholes in the current regulation, suggesting key actions to be taken at a global, regional and national level. In particular, the study proposes a systemic integration of scientific and regulatory advancements towards the construction of an interconnected multi-tiered (MT) plastic governance framework. The milestones reached by the project SECURE at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway provide evidence of the strength of the theory of integration and rights-based approaches. The suggested model holds substantial significance for the fields of environmental protection, food security, food safety, and human health. This proposed MT plastic governance framework allows for the holistic and effective organization of complex information and scenarios concerning plastics regulation. Containing a clear definition of plastics, grounded on the precautionary principle, the MT plastic framework should provide detailed mitigation measures, with a clear indication of rights and duties, and in coordination with an effective reparatory justice system.

This article aims to analyse the participatory mechanisms in environmental decision making with a focus on indigenous peoples (IP)’s engagement in the Arctic Council (AC)’s decisions. The first part offers a comprehensive perspective of the IP self-determination requirement as both the means and the end of their full participation to environmental decisions: self-determination is both the grounding factor for IP participation and the driving force to the empowerment, self-sufficiency and autonomy of the participants themselves. The second part briefly sketches the role of the Arctic Council as the active arena for the development of international initiatives primarily focusing on the protection of the Arctic environment, as well as looking at it as the platform where non-state actors (IP in particular) play a major role as permanent participants. The third and final part focuses on the participatory tools enabling a pluralistic engagement of IP in general and of the IP within the Arctic Council in particular.

The overall aim of this report is to document the experience gained during the book launch and co-created, experiential workshop on the book "Follow Your Heart: the school for multipotentialites." Reflecting on the dynamic process triggered by the research gathered and further developed throughout the book helps to create ideas and practices toward transformative change in research and education. The authors planned three book launches, structured as innovative academic presentations combined with creativity workshops that follow some of the suggested activities that were specifically created for the book. The first book launch was held in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK, and hosted by the educational farm The Good Life Projects, coordinated by Craig Stevens, on February 18, 2023. The proceeds from the book launch (collected through book sales) were donated to Windsor Hill Wood, a place of refuge and community in the local area that helps people heal, grow, and rebuild their lives while taking care of nature and encouraging sustainable livelihoods. Windsor Hill Wood as a community and philosophy closely align with the authors' beliefs and the main concepts of Follow Your Heart, which made the overall impact of the first book launch exceptionally more meaningful. This report is designed to share the key insights from the event and promote further discussion within the field of emotional and ecological education, in line with the project ECO_CARE. The report is accordingly divided into the following sections: 1. Introduction; 2. Follow Your Heart: audience, vision and development; 3. Ways forward; 4. Reference list.