Olli Varis
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 1934902 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Olli Varis |
| PRENOMES | Olli |
| SOBRENOME | Varis |
| ASSINATURA | VARIS O |
| AFILIAÇÕES | Aalto University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9231-4549 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 34 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 41 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 32 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 2 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2000 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 3 |
Census to sense
Climate change and socio-economic transitions are intensifying disaster risks, calling for integrated, cross-disciplinary mitigation strategies. The complex dynamics of disaster vulnerability pose challenges for risk management, particularly in resource-constrained countries. Existing assessments often focus on composite vulnerability scores and obscure the multifaceted dynamics of vulnerability and its components, limiting their relevance for ri…
Unpacking climate governance and SDG interactions
Bridging gaps, saving lives
Flood risks and impacts on population are expected to escalate globally especially where flood forecasting and warning capabilities are limited. Establishing an effective link between early warning and early actions can mitigate flood risks. Yet, scientific methods to strengthen this link remain scarce, as highlighted by common practical challenges: 1) Insufficient integration of scientific spatial risk information in existing early action protoc…
Effects of new-type urbanization on resource pressure
To address the resource and environmental challenges posed by rapid urbanization, China has devised and executed the strategy of new-type urbanization (NU). This study aims to discuss the effects of NU on resource pressure in view of the water-energy-food (WEF) system. Taking 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2020 as samples, this paper firstly establishes a comprehensive evaluation indicator system of NU from the population, economic, spatial, …
World's human migration patterns in 2000-2019 unveiled by high-resolution data
Despite being a topical issue in public debate and on the political agenda for many countries, a global-scale, high-resolution quantification of migration and its major drivers for the recent decades remained missing. We created a global dataset of annual net migration between 2000 and 2019 (~10 km grid, covering the areas of 216 countries or sovereign states), based on reported and downscaled subnational birth (2,555 administrative units) and de…
A framework for assessing freshwater vulnerability along China's Belt and Road Initiative
Large net forest loss in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake protected areas during 1992–2019
Historical land-use practices have caused forest loss in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake area (TSLA), the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. However, it remains unclear if this deforestation trend had continued since 2001 when the land was designated as protected areas. Using satellite imagery, we investigated forest conversion flows and fragmentation patterns in the TSLA for 1992–2001, 2001–2010, and 2010–2019, respectively. Results show subst…
The potential of water security in leveraging Agenda 2030
Climate change risks pushing one-third of global food production outside the safe climatic space
Food production on our planet is dominantly based on agricultural practices developed during stable Holocene climatic conditions. Although it is widely accepted that climate change perturbs these conditions, no systematic understanding exists on where and how the major risks for entering unprecedented conditions may occur. Here, we address this gap by introducing the concept of safe climatic space (SCS), which incorporates the decisive climatic f…
Global migration is driven by the complex interplay between environmental and social factors
Migration manifests an important response and adaptation measure to changes in the environment and socioeconomic conditions. In a time when environmental stressors and risks are unprecedentedly increasing, understanding the interplay between the underlying factors driving migration is of high importance. While the relationships between environmental and socioeconomic drivers have been identified conceptually, the comprehensive global-scale spatia…
The demanding quest for harmony
China’s millennial quest for harmony between nature and humanity is as important today as it has always been. Today’s challenges are momentous; but at the same time, China’s capacity to cope with them is strengthening rapidly. We analyse China’s freshwaters using the social-ecological systems approach in a novel way. Quantitative, globally-scaled indicators for freshwater vulnerability, adaptive capacity (AC) and resilience, and their temporal ev…
Greenhouse gas emissions of hydropower in the Mekong River Basin
The Mekong River Basin in Southeast Asia is undergoing extensive hydropower development, but the magnitudes of related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are not well known. We provide the first screening of GHG emissions of 141 existing and planned reservoirs in the basin, with a focus on atmospheric gross emissions through the reservoir water surface. The emissions were estimated using statistical models that are based on global emission measuremen…
Bringing it all together
Water and Security in Central Asia
In discussing the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, McCaffrey (1998) gave a theoretical example of the late-developer problem. This paper complements that theoretical example with a real case study of the Zerafshan basin in Central Asia. While McCaffrey addressed the water quantity issue in his example, the focus here also includes water pollution. The aim of the paper is to analyze some of the provisions of the mechanisms in the field of internat…
Over the hills and further away from coast
Proximity to the coast and elevation are important geographical considerations for human settlement. Little is known, however, about how spatial variation in these factors exactly relates to human settlements and activities, and how this has developed over time. Such knowledge is important for identifying vulnerable regions that are at risk from phenomena such as food shortages and water stress. Human activities are a key driving force in global …
Facilitating bricolage through more organic institutional designs? The case of water users’ associations in rural Nepal
This study scrutinizes the institutional realities of water project implementation in remote, rural Nepal. It demonstrates that both sound institutional design and local bricolage capabilities are required for sustainable operation and maintenance of local institutions in the challenging operational environment. Institutional bricolage processes are best facilitated through providing locally legitimate, inspiring spaces to local agencies for cont…
Reductionist and integrative research approaches to complex water security policy challenges
Diet change—a solution to reduce water use
VK: T20702
From Food Insufficiency towards Trade Dependency
Achieving global food security is one of the major challenges of the coming decades. In order to tackle future food security challenges we must understand the past. This study presents a historical analysis of global food availability, one of the key elements of food security. By calculating national level dietary energy supply and production for nine time steps during 1965-2005 we classify countries based on their food availability, food self-su…
M yanmar under reform
M yanmar's water‐related sectors are subject to intensive changes, as the country's abundant land and water resources provide substantial scope for development. Recent steps towards economic reform in M yanmar have led to a surge of foreign investment directed towards intensified natural resource extraction. Both the agricultural and the energy sector are increasingly affected by foreign investments that will impact the status of water, energy an…
Lost food, wasted resources
Reducing food losses and waste is considered to be one of the most promising measures to improve food security in the coming decades. Food losses also affect our use of resources, such as freshwater, cropland, and fertilisers. In this paper we estimate the global food supply losses due to lost and wasted food crops, and the resources used to produce them. We also quantify the potential food supply and resource savings that could be made by reduci…
Mekong at the Crossroads
Is physical water scarcity a new phenomenon? Global assessment of water shortage over the last two millennia
In this letter we analyse the temporal development of physical population-driven water scarcity, i.e. water shortage, over the period 0 AD to 2005 AD. This was done using population data derived from the HYDE dataset, and water resource availability based on the WaterGAP model results for the period 1961-90. Changes in historical water resources availability were simulated with the STREAM model, forced by climate output data of the ECBilt-CLIO-VE…
Management of Transboundary Rivers and Lakes
Poverty, Economic Growth, Deprivation, and Water
Poverty reduction decorates all development agendas, but the complexity of the poverty issue is too often hidden behind simplistic indicators and development goals. Here, a closer look is taken at the concepts of "deprivation" and "vulnerability" as outcomes of poverty. Deprivation leads typically to social exclusion and marginalization; such groups are particularly weak in getting themselves out of poverty by "self-help," and economic growth doe…
Reductionist and integrative research approaches to complex water security policy challenges
M yanmar under reform
M yanmar's water‐related sectors are subject to intensive changes, as the country's abundant land and water resources provide substantial scope for development. Recent steps towards economic reform in M yanmar have led to a surge of foreign investment directed towards intensified natural resource extraction. Both the agricultural and the energy sector are increasingly affected by foreign investments that will impact the status of water, energy an…
World's human migration patterns in 2000-2019 unveiled by high-resolution data
Despite being a topical issue in public debate and on the political agenda for many countries, a global-scale, high-resolution quantification of migration and its major drivers for the recent decades remained missing. We created a global dataset of annual net migration between 2000 and 2019 (~10 km grid, covering the areas of 216 countries or sovereign states), based on reported and downscaled subnational birth (2,555 administrative units) and de…
Mekong at the Crossroads
The Mekong region is undergoing rapid transitions, socially, economically, and environmentally. Economies are stabilizing after the political turbulence of the last several decades, and development pressures as well as ambitions are vast. Water is related to these social, economic, and environmental changes in many ways and in a very profound manner. This article summarizes the approach and major conclusions of the research project title "Integra…
Mekong at the Crossroads
Climate Change in China
Bringing it all together
Facilitating bricolage through more organic institutional designs? The case of water users’ associations in rural Nepal
This study scrutinizes the institutional realities of water project implementation in remote, rural Nepal. It demonstrates that both sound institutional design and local bricolage capabilities are required for sustainable operation and maintenance of local institutions in the challenging operational environment. Institutional bricolage processes are best facilitated through providing locally legitimate, inspiring spaces to local agencies for cont…
Poverty, Economic Growth, Deprivation, and Water
Poverty reduction decorates all development agendas, but the complexity of the poverty issue is too often hidden behind simplistic indicators and development goals. Here, a closer look is taken at the concepts of "deprivation" and "vulnerability" as outcomes of poverty. Deprivation leads typically to social exclusion and marginalization; such groups are particularly weak in getting themselves out of poverty by "self-help," and economic growth doe…
Backyard of the Rich North
The Arctic zone is full of controversies, unknowns, contrasts, and challenges. The following example is enlightening. Saudi Arabia is a country that has been considered to have almost unlimited possibilities because of its enormous oil earnings. The country has US$60 thousand million purchasing power parity oil income each year for its mere 22 million inhabitants. Astonishingly, the Arctic zone's income from oil, gas, and minerals is at least as …
World Water Vision
World Water Vision
Climate Change in China
Climate Change in China
Are Floods Growing
Water Management in Megacities
Water Management in Megacities
Backyard of the Rich North
The Arctic zone is full of controversies, unknowns, contrasts, and challenges. The following example is enlightening. Saudi Arabia is a country that has been considered to have almost unlimited possibilities because of its enormous oil earnings. The country has US$60 thousand million purchasing power parity oil income each year for its mere 22 million inhabitants. Astonishingly, the Arctic zone's income from oil, gas, and minerals is at least as …
Management of Transboundary Rivers and Lakes
Poverty, Economic Growth, Deprivation, and Water
Poverty reduction decorates all development agendas, but the complexity of the poverty issue is too often hidden behind simplistic indicators and development goals. Here, a closer look is taken at the concepts of "deprivation" and "vulnerability" as outcomes of poverty. Deprivation leads typically to social exclusion and marginalization; such groups are particularly weak in getting themselves out of poverty by "self-help," and economic growth doe…
Mekong at the Crossroads
The Mekong region is undergoing rapid transitions, socially, economically, and environmentally. Economies are stabilizing after the political turbulence of the last several decades, and development pressures as well as ambitions are vast. Water is related to these social, economic, and environmental changes in many ways and in a very profound manner. This article summarizes the approach and major conclusions of the research project title "Integra…
Is physical water scarcity a new phenomenon? Global assessment of water shortage over the last two millennia
In this letter we analyse the temporal development of physical population-driven water scarcity, i.e. water shortage, over the period 0 AD to 2005 AD. This was done using population data derived from the HYDE dataset, and water resource availability based on the WaterGAP model results for the period 1961-90. Changes in historical water resources availability were simulated with the STREAM model, forced by climate output data of the ECBilt-CLIO-VE…
Lost food, wasted resources
Reducing food losses and waste is considered to be one of the most promising measures to improve food security in the coming decades. Food losses also affect our use of resources, such as freshwater, cropland, and fertilisers. In this paper we estimate the global food supply losses due to lost and wasted food crops, and the resources used to produce them. We also quantify the potential food supply and resource savings that could be made by reduci…
Mekong at the Crossroads
From Food Insufficiency towards Trade Dependency
Achieving global food security is one of the major challenges of the coming decades. In order to tackle future food security challenges we must understand the past. This study presents a historical analysis of global food availability, one of the key elements of food security. By calculating national level dietary energy supply and production for nine time steps during 1965-2005 we classify countries based on their food availability, food self-su…
M yanmar under reform
M yanmar's water‐related sectors are subject to intensive changes, as the country's abundant land and water resources provide substantial scope for development. Recent steps towards economic reform in M yanmar have led to a surge of foreign investment directed towards intensified natural resource extraction. Both the agricultural and the energy sector are increasingly affected by foreign investments that will impact the status of water, energy an…
Diet change—a solution to reduce water use
VK: T20702
Water and Security in Central Asia
In discussing the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, McCaffrey (1998) gave a theoretical example of the late-developer problem. This paper complements that theoretical example with a real case study of the Zerafshan basin in Central Asia. While McCaffrey addressed the water quantity issue in his example, the focus here also includes water pollution. The aim of the paper is to analyze some of the provisions of the mechanisms in the field of internat…
Over the hills and further away from coast
Proximity to the coast and elevation are important geographical considerations for human settlement. Little is known, however, about how spatial variation in these factors exactly relates to human settlements and activities, and how this has developed over time. Such knowledge is important for identifying vulnerable regions that are at risk from phenomena such as food shortages and water stress. Human activities are a key driving force in global …
Facilitating bricolage through more organic institutional designs? The case of water users’ associations in rural Nepal
This study scrutinizes the institutional realities of water project implementation in remote, rural Nepal. It demonstrates that both sound institutional design and local bricolage capabilities are required for sustainable operation and maintenance of local institutions in the challenging operational environment. Institutional bricolage processes are best facilitated through providing locally legitimate, inspiring spaces to local agencies for cont…
Reductionist and integrative research approaches to complex water security policy challenges
Bringing it all together
Greenhouse gas emissions of hydropower in the Mekong River Basin
The Mekong River Basin in Southeast Asia is undergoing extensive hydropower development, but the magnitudes of related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are not well known. We provide the first screening of GHG emissions of 141 existing and planned reservoirs in the basin, with a focus on atmospheric gross emissions through the reservoir water surface. The emissions were estimated using statistical models that are based on global emission measuremen…
The demanding quest for harmony
China’s millennial quest for harmony between nature and humanity is as important today as it has always been. Today’s challenges are momentous; but at the same time, China’s capacity to cope with them is strengthening rapidly. We analyse China’s freshwaters using the social-ecological systems approach in a novel way. Quantitative, globally-scaled indicators for freshwater vulnerability, adaptive capacity (AC) and resilience, and their temporal ev…
The potential of water security in leveraging Agenda 2030
Geography (22 obras) · Environmental Science (19 obras) · Economics (16 obras) · Ecology (14 obras) · Environmental resource management (11 obras) · Political science (11 obras) · Biology (9 obras) · Climate change (9 obras) · Natural resource economics (9 obras) · Population (9 obras)