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Adopting a scoping review method, we examined peer‐reviewed academic papers published about human–lion conflict (HLC) (including coexistence) and identified knowledge gaps. We searched papers published between January 1981 and December 2023 using academic databases, with the key terms African lion, human–lion conflict, human–lion coexistence, and human–lion interaction. This produced 485 records, reduced to 137 after using additional criteria. Ninety‐eight papers were focused on lions in Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Ten pan‐African studies were identified in our review. Our inductive analysis identified four themes related to HLC: attitudes and perceptions toward lions, causes of HLC, consequences of HLC, and mitigating HLC. Some limitations identified in systematic reviews of human–wildlife conflict have been addressed in recent years, such as broadening the geographical scale of research. However, some knowledge gaps remain, including a lack of assessment of mitigation strategies and studies on climate changes impact on human–lion conflict. Addressing the knowledge gaps highlighted in this review will require diversifying the disciplinary composition of the research teams and increasing researcher reflexivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While we live in times of pervasive digital transformation, the world faces a physical challenge: climate change. Addressing it requires the global economy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. "Net zero" describes a state in which, globally, the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount of emissions removed. As some sectors and firms are more difficult to decarbonize, net-zero pathways indicate that othersmustmove beyond net zero and adopt a regenerative approach. Although carbon emissions are inherently physical, digital innovation might be the key to accelerating progress on net zero, given its potential to measure, coordinate, and change the emissions logic of the current economy. This paper aims to construct a novel perspective on digital sustainability by exploring how digitally enabled and digital-first innovation can contribute to net zero. We develop a framework of four complementary digital netzero strategies by synthesizing insights fromprior literature with empirical illustrations. The framework serves as a starting point for future research and provides practical guidance for net-zero strategizing. It challenges digital sustainability research and practice to complement emissions reduction efforts with removal and regeneration and to explore both digitally enabled and digital-first innovation for net zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall is one of the remarkable hydrologic variables that is directly connected to the sustainable environment for any region over the globe. The present study aims to review different research papers on rainfall forecasting using artificial intelligence (AI) models including a bibliographic assessment of the most popular AI models and a comparison of the results based on the accuracy parameters. 39 journal papers, published in renowned international journals from 2000 to 2023, were studied extensively to categorize modeling techniques, best models, characteristics of input data, the period for the input variables, data division, and so forth. Although certain drawbacks still exist, the results of reviewed studies suggest that AI models may help simulate rainfall in various geographic locations. In some cases, the data splitting mechanism was delivered to the model itself so that the model accuracy gets improved. The recommendations from the reviewed papers will help future researchers fill the research gaps, especially tuning the hyperparameters while building the training models. Hybrid models were advised in some cases to minimize the gap between the simulated and the observed data. All recommendations from reviewed papers aimed to achieve a resilient rainfall forecasting model in the era of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is impacting many aspects of human life in many ways. In Ghana, climate change knowledge remains low and discussions linking climate change and health are scarce. In this paper, authors contribute to the shaping of discussions about climate and health with a focus on how climate change increases certain ailments. First, the paper addresses the need for research in Ghanaian communities to link climate change and health. Second, the paper suggests the development of policies to address the link. Third, public health educators are advised in this paper to educate the public. Plain Language Summary: The paper addresses the link between climate change and health. Authors call for this link to be considered in Ghana and policies developed to meet worsening health problems. Key Points: Climate change is an important driver of negative health outcomesClimate change exacerbates the already precarious health inequality in GhanaResearchers, policymakers, and public health educators should focus on the impact of climate change on health in Ghana [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine how field settlements are formed over time by zooming in on the actions and reactions of field incumbents as they seek to make sense of and collectively respond to external pressures for change in their field. We illustrate this process through an in-depth case study of the staff and members of an international industry association as they attempted to deal with pressures to change current industry practices relating to water and climate change. Specifically, we show how field settlements that change a field's "rules of the game" are constituted by the sequential and cumulative layering of increasingly committing interim agreements between incumbents (which we refer to as microsettlements), themselves facilitated or impeded by practices that help calibrate tension levels between them. Our process model of microsettlement outcomes and trajectories contributes to extant research by theorizing how the inner workings of field-configuring organizations and the composition and structure of field settlements shape field (re)formation processes, thereby illuminating new pathways of action for organizations seeking to tackle societal grand challenges in creative, substantive, and meaningful ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper examined the global landscape of research on continental flood early warning systems (EWS), shedding light on key trends, geographic disparities, and research priorities. Continental floods stand as one of the most pervasive and devastating disasters worldwide, necessitating proactive measures to mitigate their impact. Drawing upon a comprehensive analysis of the scholarly literature indexed in the Web of Science repository, this study unveiled significant patterns in EWS research. While the emphasis on flooding is evident, a considerable portion of research focuses on precipitation as a variable and modeling approaches. Furthermore, the influence of climate change emerges as a prominent theme, though distinguishing between climate change and variability remains a crucial area for exploration. Geographically, Europe, particularly England and Italy, dominates research efforts in flood related EWS. Conversely, the limited representation of Central America and other regions such as Asia and Oceania, underscores the need for greater attention to regions facing significant flood risks. Importantly, the concept of total link strength emerges as a valuable metric, highlighting collaborative networks established by European countries and the United States. Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed to enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of flood related EWS research, including a broader consideration of socio-economic factors, fostering collaboration among researchers from diverse regions, and prioritizing initiatives to strengthen research capacities in vulnerable areas. Ultimately, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking to advance flood risk management strategies on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution models (SDMs) have been used to forecast the impact of climate change on species' potential distribution, with results that might support decisions for conservation and biodiversity management. Despite their vulnerability to parameterization and data quality input, SDM use has been increasing in the last decades. In fact, inappropriate inputs and the lack of awareness about the effects of methodological decisions on results can lead to potential unreliability in results, a problem that might gain relevance when SDMs are used to predict climate change impacts on species-suitable areas. Aiming to assess how far such a topic is considered, an analysis of the calibration data and methodological decisions was conducted for recent publications (2018 to 2022) that include SDMs in this context, aiming to identify putative deviations from the consensual best practices. Results show that the parameters presented more consistently are the algorithm in use (MaxEnt was used in 98% of the studies), the accuracy measures, and the time windows. But many papers fail to specify other parameters, limiting the reproducibility of the studies. Some papers fail to provide information about calibration procedures, others consider only a fraction of the species' range, and others provide no justification for including specific variables in the model. These options can decrease reliability in predictions under future scenarios, since data provided to the model are inaccurate from the start or there is insufficient information for output discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change (CC) impact. Thus, there is a need to mitigate emission and implement strategies to adapt to the impacts of CC. This study is a review of publications on CC mitigation and/or adaptation in Nigeria. The aims are as follows: to identify commonly adopted climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS) and their determinants; and to identify the climate change mitigation strategies (CCMS) that are widely deployed to reduce emissions in Nigeria. Relevant keywords were used to search for publications in Scopus and Google Scholar. Our dataset shows that from 1999 to the present, there has been an exponential growth in the number of publications on CCAS and CCMS. In total, 75.2% of the papers were on CCAS, 19.6% were on CCMS and 5.2% combined CCAS and CCMS. Many of the papers on CCMS were on 'Energy' and 'Agriculture'. Other sectors identified from the included studies pertinent to mitigation in Nigeria included 'forestry', 'waste management', 'industry' and others. Most (80.7%) of the CCAS papers were related to 'Agriculture', showing the most important sector where CC-adaptive capacity is required in Nigeria. In all, 45% of the papers on CCAS were on 'Social' adaptation, followed by 'Structural measures' (42%), with the smallest amount being on 'Institutional' measures (13%). The relatively fewer number of papers on institutional CCAS highlights the need for more research. This is because institutional measures which include policies, legal and fiscal support are important to build resilience to climate change impact. The greatest determinant influencing the adoption of CCAS is 'Education'. A higher number of publications on 'Agriculture' for both CCMS and CCAS underscores the importance of the sector and the need to develop its mitigation and adaptive capacity strategies. Our results and findings were also compared and discussed in line with similar works on CCMS and CCAS in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review research paper delves into the pivotal domain of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM), exploring the strategies employed by businesses to adopt and implement eco-friendly practices. As the global community grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, organizations are increasingly recognizing the imperative to integrate sustainability into their supply chain operations. The paper begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the conceptual framework underpinning GSCM, emphasizing its role in fostering environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility. Subsequently, it delves into a meticulous analysis of diverse strategies that enterprises employ to imbue their supply chains with environmentally conscious practices. These strategies encompass procurement of sustainable materials, eco-design, waste reduction, energy efficiency, and the adoption of green technologies. Furthermore, the review elucidates the multifaceted benefits accruing from the adoption of GSCM, ranging from cost savings and enhanced brand reputation to regulatory compliance and risk mitigation. The paper also navigates through the challenges faced by businesses in implementing green strategies, including initial investment costs, stakeholder alignment, and supply chain complexities. The synthesis of findings from various empirical studies and industry reports facilitates the identification of emerging trends and best practices in GSCM. Additionally, the paper offers insights into the role of technology, government policies, and collaboration among supply chain partners in advancing eco-friendly initiatives. This review paper contributes to the burgeoning discourse on sustainable business practices by providing a nuanced understanding of GSCM strategies. It serves as a valuable resource for academics, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to foster eco-friendly supply chain practices in the pursuit of a more sustainable and resilient global economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activity is considered a central driver of current climate change. A recent paper, studying the consensus regarding the hypothesis that the recent increase in global temperature is predominantly human-made via the emission of greenhouse gasses (see text for reference), argued that the scientific consensus in the peer-reviewed scientific literature pertaining to this hypothesis exceeds 99%. This conclusion was reached after the authors scanned the abstracts and titles of some 3000 papers and mapped them according to their (abstract) statements regarding the above hypothesis. Here, we point out some major flaws in the methodology, analysis, and conclusions of the study. Using the data provided in the study, we show that the 99% consensus, as defined by the authors, is actually an upper limit evaluation because of the large number of "neutral" papers which were counted as pro-consensus in the paper and probably does not reflect the true situation. We further analyze these results by evaluating how so-called "skeptic" papers fit the consensus and find that biases in the literature, which were not accounted for in the aforementioned study, may place the consensus on the low side. Finally, we show that the rating method used in the study suffers from a subjective bias which is reflected in large variations between ratings of the same paper by different raters. All these lead to the conclusion that the conclusions of the study does not follow from the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides an overview of a special issue on landscape ecology, which explores the relationships between ecological and environmental processes in various types of landscapes. The issue includes articles from researchers worldwide, covering topics such as landscape design, climate change interactions, sustainability, and the impact of human activities. The research utilizes tools like remote sensing and GIS to analyze landscape patterns and changes. The articles emphasize the importance of optimizing landscape patterns to reduce environmental degradation and maintain ecosystem services, particularly in the context of urbanization and climate change. The special issue also highlights the interdisciplinary nature of landscape ecology and the significance of cultural perspectives in landscape management. [Extracted from the article]

Climate-change-induced unpredictable weather patterns are adversely affecting global agricultural productivity, posing a significant threat to sustainability and food security, particularly in developing regions. Wealthier nations can invest substantially in measures to mitigate climate change's impact on food production, but economically disadvantaged countries face challenges due to limited resources and heightened susceptibility to climate change. To enhance climate resilience in agriculture, technological solutions such as the Internet of Things (IoT) are being explored. This paper introduces a digital twin as a technological solution for monitoring and controlling temperatures in a greenhouse tunnel situated in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The study incorporates an aeroponics trial within the tunnel, analysing temperature variations caused by the fan and wet wall temperature regulatory systems. The research develops an analytical model and employs a support vector regression algorithm as an empirical model, successfully achieving accurate predictions. The analytical model demonstrated a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.93 °C and an R 2 value of 0.8, while the empirical model outperformed it with an RMSE of 1.76 °C and an R 2 value of 0.9 for a one-hour-ahead simulation. Potential applications and future work using these modelling techniques are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: During overwintering diapause, the gynes of paper wasps (Polistes sp.) are mainly dormant in sheltered hibernacles, protecting them against predators and adverse weather conditions but hardly against low temperatures. By measuring the temperature inside hibernacles occupied by species from both Mediterranean (Italian; P. dominula, P. gallicus) and temperate (Austrian; P. dominula) climates (mean hibernacle temperatures: 8.5 °C and 3.2 °C, respectively), we were able to calculate the energetic demand of overwintering. The cumulative energetic costs differed between the populations. Costs were lowest for the P. dominula population from the cooler Austrian winter climate and significantly higher in P. dominula and P. gallicus from the warmer Italian climate. The lower costs of the temperate species were a result of the lower winter temperature and physiological acclimation processes. Energetic calculations with an assumed temperature increase of up to 3 °C due to climate change predict a dramatic increase of up to 40% in overwintering costs in all species. Gynes of paper wasps (Polistes sp.) spend the cold season in sheltered hibernacles. These hibernacles protect against predators and adverse weather conditions but offer only limited protection against low temperatures. During overwintering diapause, wasps live on the energy they store. We investigated the hibernacles' microclimate conditions of species from the Mediterranean (Italy, P. dominula, P. gallicus) and temperate (Austria, P. dominula) climates in order to describe the environmental conditions and calculate the energetic demand of overwintering according to standard metabolic rate functions. The temperatures at the hibernacles differed significantly between the Mediterranean and temperate habitats (average in Austria: 3.2 ± 5.71 °C, in Italy: 8.5 ± 5.29 °C). In both habitats, the hibernacle temperatures showed variance, but the mean hibernacle temperature corresponded closely to the meteorological climate data. Cumulative mass-specific energetic costs over the studied period were the lowest for the temperate P. dominula population compared with both Mediterranean species. The lower costs of the temperate species were a result of the lower hibernacle temperature and acclimation to lower environmental temperatures. Model calculations with an increased mean temperature of up to 3 °C due to climate change indicate a dramatic increase of up to 40% in additional costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmental pollution and energy poverty have always been serious challenges for the global energy system. Results: Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2020, this paper uses FE and sys-GMM models to explore the impact of environmental regulations and climate change on energy poverty. The results show that climate change increases energy poverty, with rising energy for cooling in hot summers, and unchanged income in the short term. Moreover, environmental regulation plays a moderating role between climate change and energy poverty. Specifically, economical environmental regulation has a negative moderating effect, while legal and supervised environmental regulations have positive moderating effects. Finally, the national basic energy poverty line used is lower than that in the eastern region, higher than that in the western region, and close to that in the central region, which reflects the heterogeneity of energy poverty in different regions of China. Conclusions: The findings in this paper clarify the nexus between climate change, environmental regulation, and energy poverty, addressing in this way a gap in existing research, which has great significance for environmental and energy policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Severe inequality from climate change exists between the Global North and Global South. The North significantly contributes to climate change yet retreats to protect itself against its harmful impacts. Conversely, members of the Global South bear the brunt of the climate crisis with limited protection against its destructive effects. Climate justice aims to address this inequality. This paper explores the effects of climate change reforms and policies that have been established to foster accountability and climate justice. Design/methodology/approach: This research follows a qualitative exploratory case study method. It draws on a supply- and demand-led approach and local accounts to analyse the (in)effectiveness with which six national and international reforms and policies have achieved accountability for climate justice. The research analysed a variety of empirical documents including contemporary research, reports, academic literature, non-government and government documents and policies, media releases and Pacific Islander accounts. Findings: Climate change reforms and policies, which come together to form supply-side accountability, have largely failed to engender accountability in the Global North for the impacts of climate change. Nor have they mitigated climate change to any tangible extent at all. This has created a system of modern-day climate apartheid. Improving accountability and remediating climate injustices going forward will require a focus on demand-led instruments and accountability, which includes the voice of citizens. Originality/value: This paper responds to AAAJ's special issue call for examining accounting and accountability with regard to environmental and climate racism. Limited research to date explores the issue of climate apartheid and climate justice and its relationship with accountability. This research attempts to fill that gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, forest fires have been occurring frequently around the globe, affected by extreme weather and dry climate, causing serious economic losses and environmental pollution. In this context, timely detection of forest fire smoke is crucial for realizing real-time early warning of fires. However, fire and smoke from forest fires can spread to cover large areas and may affect distant areas. In this paper, a lightweight joint forest fire and smoke detection network, SmokeFireNet, is proposed, which employs ShuffleNetV2 as the backbone for efficient feature extraction, effectively addressing the computational efficiency challenges of traditional methods. To integrate multi-scale information and enhance the semantic feature extraction capability, a feature pyramid network (FPN) and path aggregation network (PAN) are introduced in this paper. In addition, the FPN network is optimized by a lightweight DySample upsampling operator. The model also incorporates efficient channel attention (ECA), which can pay more attention to the detection of forest fires and smoke regions while suppressing irrelevant features. Finally, by embedding the receptive field block (RFB), the model further improves its ability to understand contextual information and capture detailed features of fire and smoke, thus improving the overall detection accuracy. The experimental results show that SmokeFireNet is better than other mainstream target detection algorithms in terms of average APall of 86.2%, FPS of 114, and GFLOPs of 8.4, and provides effective technical support for forest fire prevention work in terms of average precision, frame rate, and computational complexity. In the future, the SmokeFireNet model is expected to play a greater role in the field of forest fire prevention and make a greater contribution to the protection of forest resources and the ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of electric vehicles is currently generating significant interest worldwide. They are beneficial for the environment as they save up fuel, reduce pollution and carbon footprint too, but their market consumption is at the nascent level. The demand for these electric vehicles in developing countries is currently very slow and not that steady. The importance of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the upcoming future is high and so it is crucial to figure out why these EVs are not being sold as much as we expect them in the market today. This paper tries to find out the multiple reasons why these vehicles are not in high demand, and why their counterparts, gasoline-fuelled vehicles are more in demand in the market. This paper discusses, after reviewing multiple other papers, why the consumption of EVs is low. Why their market demand is not where it should be and also multiple other facets. Finally, the paper finds that reasons like higher costs and low government incentives among multiple others are some factors leading to a low market demand for EVs. Also, the paper discusses the future scope of these EVs and how we can increase their consumption in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global surveys show that young people are concerned about sustainability and climate change and how it will affect their future. Education for Sustainability is seen as a key approach that can equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to act for climate justice. Despite much policy attention on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), this paper argues that current educational approaches inadequately prepare young people to understand and engage with climate change and sustainability issues. Drawing on a unique survey of 1655 young people in England, this study identifies significant knowledge gaps in understandings of sustainability concepts and a strong demand for educational reforms. Quantitative data reveal variations in sustainability understandings across age, gender, and income, while qualitative insights uncover young people's feelings about the gaps in their education, exposing their fears, anger, powerlessness, and hopes for change. This study highlights the dominance of consumer choice in young people's perceptions of sustainability, emphasizing the need to shift from individualistic to collective actions. This paper concludes with a call to integrate sustainability education into the English National Curriculum to promote holistic and action-oriented learning and create opportunities for nurturing hope through transformative education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysing the entire project life cycle is a new trend in sustainability assessment in the construction sector. Research on sustainability issues in the construction sector started with issues related to buildings, while research for other structures such as infrastructure projects and bridges was not originally an integral part of the research. Therefore, the findings, knowledge and practical applications for buildings are more comprehensive than for infrastructure projects. This paper deals with the assessment of the sustainability of bridges throughout their life cycle and emphasises the importance of life cycle analysis of bridges in the early stages of planning and design. The study provides an overview of existing life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) methodologies for environmental (Life Cycle Assessment LCA), economic (Life Cycle Cost LCC) and social (Social Life Cycle Assessment S-LCA) aspects. This paper provides a critical overview of the current state of the art in the field of LCSA of bridges. To identify knowledge gaps, a review of the literature on LCSA of bridges, which performs a comparative life cycle analysis of different variants or components of the load-bearing structure of bridges is provided. The main objective of the paper is to provide recommendations for conducting LCSA of bridges and to identify research directions for design criteria for sustainable bridges of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the creation, development, and dissemination of prefabricated concrete rural houses in Jiangsu Province in East China from 1961 to the 1980s, an example of the technological transition provoked by the depletion of forest and timber in China. Through archival research, fieldwork and interviews, the paper examines the two waves of design and dissemination of prefabricated concrete rural houses between 1961 and 1965 and their subsequent 'vernacularisation' in the 1970s and the 1980s. This research provides a twofold insight into the current scholarly debates surrounding built heritage and global climate change. On one hand, it addresses a historical context of concrete overuse in contemporary China, a matter of critical importance in relation to carbon emissions and global climate change. On the other hand, it offers a counter-argument to today's call for reintroducing timber structures in many places, as evidenced by the case of East China, where the widespread use of materials like concrete was primarily a consequence of the ecological crisis following decades of deforestation and timber resource depletion. In addition, the 'vernacularisation' of concrete structures manifested by this case still provides lessons for today's efforts to popularise more eco-friendly construction materials and technologies, especially in rural areas, and the prefabricated concrete houses possess potential heritage values as trackers of ecological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of climate change on forest dynamics is likely to increase in importance in the forthcoming decades. For this reason, it is essential to predict the extent to which changes in temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric CO2 might affect the development of forest ecosystems and successional pathways. The gap model ZELIG-CFS was used to simulate the potential long-term effects of climate change on species-specific annual change in mean basal area and stand density under two scenarios of representative concentration pathways (RCP), 4.5 and 8.5, for the boreal forest region of Ontario, Canada, where mean temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric CO2 are expected to increase. Forest ecosystems in this boreal region included pure and mixed stands of black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss), northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.), American larch (Larix laricina [Du Roi] K. Koch), and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.). Simulation results under climate change generally predicted a decline in the basal area and stand density for black spruce, balsam fir, jack pine, and white spruce, but an increase for paper birch, trembling aspen, American larch, and balsam poplar. However, the extent of change differed regionally among species. Forest composition is expected to change over the long term. Simulation results indicated that shade-intolerant deciduous and conifer species will increase their dominance over the 100-year time horizon. This transition toward the increasing presence of deciduous forests is likely explained by more favorable temperature conditions for their growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of climate change on agricultural quality development under the constraint of China's "Double Carbon" target has been widely discussed by policy practitioners and academic theorists. This paper attempts to deconstruct the logic of how climate change affects agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) in three dimensions—the structure of agricultural input factors, the change in the cropping system, and the stability of crop supply. This paper also reveals the mechanism through which biased technological progress increases agricultural TFP by weakening the magnitude of climate change and empirically tests it by using China's provincial-level data from 2000 to 2021. This study showed that average annual temperature and annual precipitation had significant negative effects on agricultural TFP, that the number of sunshine hours had a significant positive effect on agricultural TFP, and that obvious regional differences existed in the effect of climate change on agricultural TFP. Further mechanism tests revealed that biased technological progress positively moderated the effect of climate change on agricultural TFP. Based on these findings, the appropriate countermeasures for improving climate early warning mechanisms, promoting the progress of appropriate technology, and fostering new agricultural management bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To reduce the effects of climate change, the current fossil-based energy system must transition to a low-carbon system based largely on renewables. In both academic literature and non-academic discourse concerning the energy transition, resilience is frequently mentioned as an additional objective or requirement. Despite its frequent use, resilience is a very malleable term with different meanings in different contexts. Main text: This paper seeks to identify how resilience is understood in the field of the energy system and whether there are similar aspects in the different ways the term is understood. To this end, we review more than 130 papers for definitions of energy system resilience. In addition, we use different aspects to categorize and examine these. The results paint a diverse picture in terms of the definition and understanding of resilience in the energy system. However, a few definition archetypes can be identified. The first uses a straightforward approach, in which the energy system has one clearly defined equilibrium state. Here, resilience is defined in relation to the response of the energy system to a disturbance and its ability to quickly return to its equilibrium. The second type of resilience allows for different equilibriums, to which a resilient energy system can move after a disruption. Another type of resilience focuses more on the process and the actions of the system in response to disruption. Here, resilience is defined as the ability of the system to adapt and change. In the papers reviewed, we find that the operational definition of resilience often encompasses aspects of different archetypes. This diversity shows that resilience is a versatile concept with different elements. Conclusions: With this paper, we aim to provide insight into how the understanding of resilience for the energy system differs depending on which aspect of the energy system is studied, and which elements might be necessary for different understandings of resilience. We conclude by providing information and recommendations on the potential usage of the term energy system resilience based on our lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research teams working with indigenous people or local communities in the field of global environmental change represent local knowledge and concerns related to climate or environmental issues in the resulting scientific texts. However, by highlighting some aspects in particular ways and fading others to the background, every representation simultaneously reveals, conceals, and distorts aspects of what is represented. This paper aims to analytically highlight how frames in scientific texts are at work in emphasizing some aspects of local knowledge and concerns while fading other aspects into the background, which inevitably has micro and macro consequences through how local knowledge is incorporated, represented, and added to the body of knowledge of a given field. I have adapted a widely used frame concept from media studies to make it suitable for the analysis of scientific texts. The proposed method identifies main frames of a paper, maps how devices for achieving selective emphases, such as repetitive formulations and strong words, are at work in the text, and elicits how the frame's key functions occur in papers: (1) identify problems, (2) diagnose causes, (3) make moral judgments, (4) suggest solutions or offer a path toward solutions, and (5) attribute roles. Points (4) and (5) are specifically designed for the analysis of scientific texts. In addition, I have added a step that shows how frames shape representations of local knowledge and concerns in scientific texts. This method is meant to develop reflexive awareness among the scholarly community about their writing practices and promote critical thinking about the unintended impacts that uncritical reproduction of taken-for-granted frames may have through their shaping of representations of local and indigenous knowledge and concerns. To illustrate the potential of the frame concept for analyzing scientific texts, I applied the new method to two papers. Further, the paper discusses the potential of frame analysis as a tool for reflexivity among research teams that work with and within local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, climatic pressures have altered the forested landscape of Bavaria. Widespread loss of trees has unevenly impacted the entire state, of which 37% is covered by forests (5% more than the national average). In 2018 and 2019—due in large part to drought and subsequent insect infestations—more tree-covered areas were lost in Bavaria than in any other German state. Moreover, the annual crown condition survey of Bavaria has revealed a decreasing trend in tree vitality since 1998. We conducted a systematic literature review regarding the remote sensing of forests in Bavaria. In total, 146 scientific articles were published between 2008 and 2023. While 88 studies took place in the Bavarian Forest National Park, only five publications covered the whole of Bavaria. Outside of the national park, the remaining 2.5 million hectares of forest in Bavaria are understudied. The most commonly studied topics were related to bark beetle infestations (24 papers); however, few papers focused on the drivers of infestations. The majority of studies utilized airborne data, while publications utilizing spaceborne data focused on multispectral; other data types were under-utilized- particularly thermal, lidar, and hyperspectral. We recommend future studies to both spatially broaden investigations to the state or national scale and to increase temporal data acquisitions together with contemporaneous in situ data. Especially in understudied topics regarding forest response to climate, catastrophic disturbances, regrowth and species composition, phenological timing, and in the sector of forest management. The utilization of remote sensing data in the forestry sector and the uptake of scientific results among stakeholders remains a challenge compared to other heavily forested European countries. An integral part of the Bavarian economy and the tourism sector, forests are also vital for climate regulation via atmospheric carbon reduction and land surface cooling. Therefore, forest monitoring remains centrally important to attaining more resilient and productive forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change affects water resources through the decrease in rainfall and the increase in temperatures and evapotranspiration. An indirect impact of climate change is also the increase in water uses by human activities. In this review, 320 papers were retrieved, of which 134, spanning five continents and dealing with impacts and solutions, were selected to be used to better understand the effects of climate change on water resources, ecosystems, human health, security, and socio-economic aspects. Here, suggestions and proposals towards solutions by scientists from around the world, tips and ideas to deal with climate change, and the best solutions for future water management are presented. The main solutions highlighted concern integrated water resource management, political direction, policies, an increase in knowledge, and new technologies. Furthermore, most of the analyzed papers underline that water resource management needs to incorporate the protection and restoration of ecosystems and their services. Nature-based solutions need to be the starting point of new scientific and innovative ways to deal with climate change and look towards future climate adaptation. In this complex evolution of the water resource, the political position of Italy is also shown, illustrating what actions could be implemented for water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Chile (CC, latitudes 32–40°S) experienced very active fires in 2017 and 2023. These fires burned large areas and killed many people. These unprecedented fires for CC presented a need for more defined fire weather conditions on the synoptic scale. In this paper, fire weather conditions were analyzed using various satellite-derived fire data (hotspots, HSs), wind streamlines, distribution maps of wind flow and temperature, and various synoptic-scale weather maps. Results showed that local winds, known as Puelche, blew on the peak fire days (26 January 2017 and 3 February 2023). The number of HSs on these days was 2676 and 2746, respectively, about 90 times the average (30). The occurrence of Puelche winds was confirmed by streamlines from high-pressure systems offshore of Argentina to the study area in CC. The formation of strong winds and high-temperature areas associated with Puelche winds were identified on the Earth survey satellite maps. Strong winds of about 38 km h−1 and high temperatures above 32 °C with low relative humidity below 33% were actually observed at the weather station near the fire-prone areas. Lastly, some indications for Puelche winds outbreaks are summarized. This paper's results will be used to prevent future active fire occurrences in the CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA) are essential tools for environmental and economic assessment and decision-making in an evolving world with continuous climate change. In the same conditions, one of the most used and assessed solutions for facing climate change is using pervious pavements, with many papers proving its benefits. However, the literature has shown a need for more research on the LCA methodological aspects in the context of new green infrastructure. This research aims to review pervious pavements, LCA and LCCA combined, while discussing possible differences in boundaries, functional units, and other parameters. Thus, a string search was performed, leading to 89 documents. The main results indicate LCA is usually scope-bounded in the field of pervious pavements, with different benefits and characteristics, such as traffic impact, urban heat island effects, and carbonation. As for LCCA, private and public cost differentiation provide a scope definition and monetisation difficulties. In conclusion, both tools offer promising applications in pervious pavements. As a significant deliverable and recommendation of this paper, both LCA and LCCA theoretical frameworks were provided based on the benefits and specific characteristics included in the literature. These frameworks introduce novel ideas and perspectives, inviting further exploration and discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change adversely affects Africa's agriculture which would worsen the widespread food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies. Vulnerable populations, especially female farmers, women, and children are disproportionately affected. Methods: The paper synthesizes available peer-reviewed and grey literature on the intersections of climate change, food insecurity, agriculture, gender disparities, health, child nutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies in Africa. It explores the economic ramifications of these factors, particularly their impact on public health and economic stability. The work aggregates insights into the current and future challenges of agricultural sustainability and the expected human capital development and economic costs of climate variations. Results: The prevalence of hunger and undernourishment in Africa is notably higher compared to other regions. Climate change directly threatens agriculture, with anticipated reductions in crop and livestock yields, compounded by the negative impact of greenhouse emissions on the nutritional quality of staple foods. Female farmers contribute notably to agriculture, but their labor share is less dominant than previously assumed. Exposure to high temperatures, especially for outdoor workers and pregnant women, presents significant health risks, further impacting agricultural and economic output. These interdependencies are presented in a framework along with suggested interventions that could be contextualized to address the climate drivers and interconnectivity across agriculture, health, and livelihoods. Conclusion: The interdependence between food, agriculture, health, nutrition, and human productivity, all of which are exacerbated by the impacts of climate change in Africa, form a complex challenge with profound health and economic implications. A multifaceted strategy is needed, encompassing climate-resilient farming practices, gender-sensitive interventions, health-focused measures like micronutrient supplementation, and comprehensive economic policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potentially limiting nature of central bank mandates, together with non-existent standards to assess the impact of climate risks used to inhibit the incorporation of climate change considerations in central bank decisions. This paper analyses how, despite these challenges, climate change risk analysis spread among central banks by examining 941 European financial stability reports of 38 central banks in Europe and their source references. We show that the Dutch and Belgian central banks pioneered significant engagement with climate change risk in financial stability reports, followed by central banks in other Eurozone countries. Then the ECB stepped in, aggregated novel research methods into an accepted analytical framework, and moved to the centre of the stage of the process. Our analysis indicates that various types of proximity played a significant role in the spread of climate friendly central bank mandate interpretations and analytical techniques, but the engagement of a central player was crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) could revolutionize our ability to understand and address climate change. Studies to date have focused on specific AI applications to climate science, technologies, and policy. Yet despite the vast demonstrated potential for AI to change the way in which climate research is conducted, no study has presented a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the way in which AI is intersecting with climate research around the world. Using a novel merged corpus of scholarly literature which contains millions of unique scholarly documents in multiple languages, we review the community of knowledge at the intersection of climate change and AI to understand how AI methods are being applied to climate-related research and which countries are leading in this area. We find that Chinese research institutions lead the world in publishing and funding research at the intersection of climate and AI, followed by the United States. In mapping the specific AI tasks or methods being applied to specific climate research fields, we highlight gaps and identify opportunities to expand the use of AI in climate research. This paper can therefore greatly improve our understanding of both the current use and the potential use of AI for climate research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of digitalization in enhancing wastewater treatment processes, emphasizing its potential to optimize resource utilization, reduce energy consumption, and improve water quality. By examining the implementation of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML), the study demonstrates how these tools enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and intelligent decision-making in wastewater treatment operations. The paper provides a comparative analysis based on key performance indicators (MAPE, RMSE, R2) to evaluate the effectiveness of these digital solutions. Additionally, it discusses the benefits and challenges associated with integrating digital tools in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), including cost, complexity, and data security concerns. The study also addresses the impact of digitalization on carbon neutrality goals, highlighting how data-driven approaches can enhance resource allocation and management. By offering insights into current practices and future directions, this paper aims to contribute to the advancement of sustainable wastewater treatment and support the achievement of UN SDG#6, ensuring clean water and sanitation for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial that focuses on the importance of addressing climate change in urban environments and the role of cities in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. It emphasizes the need for adaptation strategies and highlights the interdependence between urban ecosystems and climate change. The document includes several articles that provide facts and figures on the changing climate and its impacts on the environment, society, finance, and health. These articles discuss various topics related to urbanization, climate change, and sustainable cities, such as the impact of urbanization on nighttime surface urban heat islands, the environmental effects of single-use plastic water bottles in hotels, the role of urban ecosystems in mitigating climate change, the challenges of smart city development, and the vulnerability of developing nations to climate change. The papers stress the importance of sustainable and resilient strategies to address these issues and promote the well-being of urban environments. [Extracted from the article]

Bioengineered/genome-edited carbon capture and sequestration (BE/GEd-CCS) crops are being developed to mitigate climate change. This paper explores how technology, regulation, funding, and social implications, could shape the development and deployment of these crops. We conclude that some of the technological efforts to create BE/GEd-CCS crops may work. Still, stakeholders must agree on generally accepted methods of measuring how much carbon is captured in the soil and its value. The regulatory space for BE/GEd-CCS crops remains fluid until the first crops are reviewed. BE/GEd-CCS crops have received considerable initial funding and may benefit financially more from other federal programs and voluntary carbon markets. BE/GEd-CCS crops may continue perpetuating social equity concerns about agricultural biotechnology due to a lack of oversight. We argue that stakeholders need to pursue a multidisciplinary view of BE/GEd-CCS crops that draw in varying perspectives for effective development and deployment. Communication is needed between researchers and policymakers involved in either developing BE/GEd-CCS crops or developing voluntary carbon markets. We argue for the start of a conversation both across disciplines and between researchers and policymakers about the development and deployment of BE/GEd-CCS crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of terrestrial carbon cycle research, net primary productivity is an important parameter to evaluate the quality of terrestrial ecosystem and plays an important role in the analysis of global climate change and carbon balance. Anhui Province is in the Yangtze River Delta region in eastern China. Based on the theoretical basis of CASA model, this paper uses MODIS NDVI, vegetation type data, meteorological data, and LUCC to estimate the NPP of Anhui Province during 2001–2020 and analyzes its spatial-temporal pattern. The results showed that the average NPP in Anhui province was 508.95 gC· (m2 ·a) -1, and the spatial heterogeneity of NPP was strong, and the high value areas were mainly distributed in the Jiangnan Mountains and Dabie Mountains. NPP increased in most areas of Anhui Province, but decreased significantly in 17.60% of the area, mainly in the central area affected by urban and rural expansion and the transformation of the Yangtze River. The dynamic change of NPP in Anhui province is the result of climate change and land use change. Meteorological data are positively correlated with NPP. Among them, the correlation between temperature and solar radiation is higher, and the correlation between NPP and precipitation is the lowest among the three. The NPP of all land cover types was more affected by temperature than precipitation, especially forest land and grassland. The decrease of cultivated land and the increase of Artificial Surfaces (AS) may have contributed to the decrease of NPP in Anhui Province. Human activities have weakened the increase in NPP caused by climate change. In conclusion, this study refined the drivers of spatial heterogeneity of NPP changes in Anhui province, which is conducive to rational planning of terrestrial ecosystems and carbon balance measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problem of mapping land cover types in Senegal and recognition of vegetation systems in the Saloum River Delta on the satellite images. Multi-seasonal landscape dynamics were analyzed using Landsat 8-9 OLI/TIRS images from 2015 to 2023. Two image classification methods were compared, and their performance was evaluated in the GRASS GIS software (version 8.4.0, creator: GRASS Development Team, original location: Champaign, Illinois, USA, currently multinational project) by means of unsupervised classification using the k-means clustering algorithm and supervised classification using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. The land cover types were identified using machine learning (ML)-based analysis of the spectral reflectance of the multispectral images. The results based on the processed multispectral images indicated a decrease in savannas, an increase in croplands and agricultural lands, a decline in forests, and changes to coastal wetlands, including mangroves with high biodiversity. The practical aim is to describe a novel method of creating land cover maps using RS data for each class and to improve accuracy. We accomplish this by calculating the areas occupied by 10 land cover classes within the target area for six consecutive years. Our results indicate that, in comparing the performance of the algorithms, the SVM classification approach increased the accuracy, with 98% of pixels being stable, which shows qualitative improvements in image classification. This paper contributes to the natural resource management and environmental monitoring of Senegal, West Africa, through advanced cartographic methods applied to remote sensing of Earth observation data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper explores the indigenous climate knowledge (ICK) of the Gwadar fishing community in Pakistan. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the accuracy of ICK and how climatic change brings changes to it and the social lives of local fishers. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative research methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews and oral histories, were used to collect the data. Findings: Finding from this long fieldwork shows that this fishing community has a harmonious relationship with nature and local ecology. Their knowledge of local ecology enables them to have equal access to natural resources, sustainable resource management, disaster risk reduction and strong social organization on the coast of Gwadar. Recently their deep relationship with local ecology and sociocultural organization has been disturbed due to huge climate changes caused by human manipulation of the environment. Their ability to foresee climatic events has been reduced. They are finding it impossible to estimate fish availability due to massive climate changes. Local communities are losing their traditional livelihoods and socioeconomic autonomy as a result of growing climate change. Climatic change adds to the existing poverty situation and increases political instability in the region. Practical implications: The study suggests using the fishermen's valuable indigenous knowledge of local ecology, climate and its ties to local traditions, culture and resource management for a scientific understanding of climate change and marine resource management in Gwadar, Pakistan. Originality/value: This is an ethnographic study based on a long term field work. Fishing community is passing through catastrophic climatic changes in the region. This community has been ignored by both government and researchers to record their problems and bring them to academia and media. Therefore, this study will help them raise their voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly explores the feasibility of using desert sand (DS) and recycled aggregate in cement-stabilized bases. Recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and DS serve as the substitutes of natural coarse and fine aggregates, respectively, in cement-stabilized bases. A four-factor and four-level orthogonal test is designed to analyze the unconfined compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and compressive resilient modulus. Furthermore, this paper investigates the effects of cement content, fly ash (FA) replacement rate, RCA replacement rate, and DS replacement rate on the road performance of cement-stabilized bases composed of RCA and DS. The test results reveal that the performance of cement-stabilized bases with partial RCA instead of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) and partial DS instead of natural fine aggregate satisfies the road use. The correlation and microscopic analyses of the test results imply the feasibility of applying DS and recycled aggregate to cement-stabilized bases. This paper calculates and evaluates the life cycle of carbon emissions of desert sand and recycled coarse aggregate cement-stabilized macadam (DRCSM) and finds that both DS and RCA can reduce the carbon emissions of CSM, which has a positive effect on improving the environment and solving the climate crisis. It is hoped that this paper can offer a solid theoretical foundation for promoting the application of DS and recycled aggregate in road engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at investigating the harm from ecosystem services (ESs) according to agricultural land conversion (ALC) by using meta-analysis. The results of meta-regression showed that spatiotemporal effects had significant influences on some ES losses, and the maximum spatial impacts were relevant to Asia and Europe. Moreover, the results of ALC rate coefficients in meta-regression indicated that three large losses of ES were related to soil erosion (0.314), air pollution (0.202), and climate change (0.161). Therefore, the ALC should be done at a suitable conversion rate to reduce ES losses. Accordingly, administrators are suggested to consider careful research planning for the ALC in the process of economic development. Other strategies highlighted the importance of ALC–ES interactions for human well-being, such as measuring the pricing of goods and services based on land resources, continuously monitoring illegal ALC, and imposing taxes on unplanned ALC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To align the buildings sector with the 1.5°C climate change trajectory, enormous improvements in energy efficiency are needed. It is therefore crucial that the tools used to evaluate buildings' energy use undergo robust testing. This paper tests, for the first time, the outcome of the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and an author-modified version of the Radiant Time Series Method (RTSM), following the Building Energy Simulation Test (BESTEST). The results show that while the validity of the modified-RTSM is slightly superior to that of the PHPP, both tools pass less than 35% of the cases -- necessitating further calibration and challenging the widely-held belief that the PHPP is 'validated'. As the PHPP and the modified-RTSM present a relatively simple and quick way of evaluating buildings' energy performance, calibrating their methodologies so they pass the BESTEST cases could put them at an advantage over the fully dynamic and resource-intensive tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governing transitions have assumed increasing significance in managing change with respect to climate change and rapid periurbanization. In this respect, evidence from sustainability transitions research in South Asia stipulates the need for institutional innovations that are suitable to the governance context, which is characterized by a fuzzy field of "speculative frontiers," and strong hierarchically structured mechanisms. This paper focuses on Chennai, India to ascertain the potentials of "adaptive governance" in this periurban region of the Global South. We approach this by (a) defining the periurban space from a bio-regional, socioecological systems perspective, (b) complementing it with a zonal classification considering disaster and climate change risks, and (c) presenting an adaptive governance framework. Based on analyzing existing governance structures, the paper discusses identified syndromes, synergistic potentials and activities for adaptive governance, especially highlighting water and agroecologyrelated pathways. Our integrated analytical approach is (a) multi-dimensional deploying the adaptive governance framework, (b) multi-level considering local, intermediate and state governance, and (c) multi-scalar applying macro, meso and micro scales. The implications underscore that transformative interventions, sooner or later, will have to challenge the system that produces such climate vulnerabilities. In spite of several barriers, there are noteworthy indications of adaptive governance practices discernible in numerous niche projects in the Chennai region that demonstrate diverse embryonic forms to build more strategic and conscientious approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization and climate change exacerbate the urban heat island effect, increasing the vulnerability of urban residents to extreme heat. Although many studies have assessed urban heat vulnerability, there is a significant lack of standardized criteria and references for selecting indicators, building models, and validating those models. Many existing approaches do not adequately meet urban planning needs due to insufficient spatial resolution, temporal coverage, and accuracy. To address this gap, this paper introduces the U-HEAT framework, a conceptual model for analyzing urban heat vulnerability. The primary objective is to outline the theoretical foundations and potential applications of U-HEAT, emphasizing its conceptual nature. This framework integrates machine learning (ML) with remote sensing (RS) to identify urban heat vulnerability at both long-term and detailed levels. It combines retrospective and forward-looking mapping for continuous monitoring and assessment, providing essential data for developing comprehensive strategies. With its active learning capacity, U-HEAT enables model refinement and the evaluation of policy impacts. The framework presented in this paper offers a standardized and sustainable approach, aiming to enhance practical analysis tools. It highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research in bolstering urban resilience and stresses the need for sustainable urban ecosystems capable of addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change and increased urban heat. This study provides valuable insights for researchers, urban administrators, and planners to effectively combat urban heat challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of challenges and available solutions for exterior insulated panels suitable for deep energy retrofits of existing building envelopes. The analysis covers a review of available technologies that provide flexible retrofit insulated panels suitable for multiple climates and building typologies. Moreover, the paper proposes a new design for insulated retrofit panels that account for the majority of identified technical risks including cost, architectural diversity, climate variations, structural concerns, moisture resilience, air sealing, and water sealing. Additionally, the proposed design can be easily installed with minimal disruption to the occupants. A series of parametric and optimization analyses is carried out to identify the optimal design specifications for insulated panels suitable for deep retrofits of existing US housing stocks. The analysis results show that the optimal design criteria for the insulated panels can reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by up to 80% and HVAC capacities by 70%. Moreover, the results indicate that these insulated panels are highly cost effective for retrofitting US housing units located in cold climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy modelling plays a crucial role in assisting governmental and policymaking bodies to strategise long-term investments within the context of energy transition. Among the well-established open-source optimisation models, OSeMOSYS—the Open-Source Energy Modelling System—stands out. This paper introduces clicSAND, a novel user interface designed for OSeMOSYS, aimed at reducing the learning curve and supporting novice energy modelers in efficiently conducting long-term investment analyses. clicSAND, freely available and open-source, features a user-friendly Excel interface for data input, integrated solvers, and a visualisation dashboard for result interpretation. The outcomes, projected up to 2070, hold the potential to inform policy decisions and mobilise financial resources for sustainable development endeavors, such as ensuring affordable and secure energy supply and mitigating climate change impacts. This advancement not only democratises access to energy modelling tools but also empowers policymakers and stakeholders to conduct thorough long-term investment analyses with ease. This paper elaborates on clicSAND's key advantages, architecture, and functionalities. Additionally, it discusses the evolutionary journey from clicSAND 1.0 to 3.0, emphasising a commitment to continuous improvement and user-centric adaptation, thereby enhancing its utility and relevance. The inclusion of a South African case study, conducted during the EMP-A (Energy Modelling Platform for Africa) 2021 international capacity-building event, showcases clicSAND's efficacy in facilitating knowledge transfer and skill development among inexperienced users, while providing a tangible example of its application in addressing specific regional energy challenges and policy contexts. Finally, current applications and future extensions of the software are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Offshore wind energy (OWE) will play a significant role in achieving climate neutrality. For example, several scenarios for Germany (e.g., Kopernikus base, Kopernikus 1.5 degree, Prognos CN65, and CN60) depict substantial OWE annual installed capacity additions, especially after 2030. This tendency promotes OWE technology development as deployment expands, allowing manufacturers to gain expertise and optimize wind turbine construction. The global trend towards ever-larger components (e.g., hub height and rotor diameter) is critical to achieving higher-rated capacities. These aspects and others, such as wind quality, influence not only OWE annual electricity production but also its environmental performance. In addition, future supply chains might reduce their environmental impacts and enhance OWE climate change mitigation. In this paper, a prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) is developed and applied exemplarily for a 9.5-MW offshore wind turbine (OWT) on the North Sea coast of Germany for the years 2030 and 2050. Considering that the current OWTs under construction in Europe have an average capacity of 10 MW, Germany plans to instal OWTs of 9.5-MW. This exemplary OWT describes the potential advances for offshore wind turbines in 2030 and 2050, considering component scale-up and learning effects. Yet, the methodology is adaptable to various installed capacities and regions. This approach allows us to analyse not only the potential future characteristics of wind turbines, but also future developments in OWE supply chains. Therefore, relevant parameters related to OWT construction and operation (e.g., rotor diameter, hub height, distance to the shore, lifetime, etc.) as well as prospective life cycle inventory data for background systems that reflect potential future developments in the broader economy are considered. In this way, scenarios (e.g., optimistic, moderate, and pessimistic) for OWE elucidate the expected environmental impacts, such as climate change, marine eutrophication, and abiotic depletion potential, in 2030 and 2050. Results: The findings describe the variability of the environmental impacts of a 9.5-MW offshore wind turbine representing the technologies expected to be available in Germany in 2030 and 2050 and show that climate change impacts could vary between 7 and 18 g CO2-eq per kWh produced in 2030 and between 5 and 17 g CO2-eq per kWh in 2050. However, marine eutrophication could experience a significant increase (100% increase), depending on the consideration of hydrogen as a fuel in the electricity mix, as demonstrated in the climate-neutral scenarios adopted for Germany. Overall, construction efficiency improvements in 2050 might reduce the required materials, leading to a 6% decrease in abiotic depletion potential compared to 2030 values. Conclusions: This paper highlights the need to consider temporal improvements in LCA studies, particularly when assessing the environmental impacts of offshore wind turbines. The complex nature and rapid growth of offshore wind technology require a comprehensive life cycle approach to deepen our understanding of its potential environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangalia area harbors in the western Black Sea a distinctive marine environment thriving under specific hydrochemical conditions, largely influenced by a significant number of sulphurous springs occurring in shallow marine waters. These springs led to the designation of the area as part of the Natura 2000 Marine Protected Area (MPA) network at European level (Underwater Sulphurous Springs from Mangalia - ROSAC0094), as unique hydro-geomorphological features in the region. In 2021 and 2023, two research cruises led by GeoEcoMar investigated underwater sulphurous springs primarily located offshore of Mangalia (Constant, a County, Romania). The study area, located between 17-29 meters water depth and 1.8-3 km offshore, encompasses two marine protected areas: the Underwater Sulphurous Springs from Mangalia (ROSAC0094) and Cape Aurora (ROSCI0281). The research combined geophysical and geochemical techniques and sediment sampling. Considering the susceptibility of these natural systems to human activities such as fishing and dredging, as well as the impact of ecological and climate changes, this paper offers significant insights contributing to the development of effective conservation and management strategies for these environments. The surveys were conducted for benthic habitats mapping, with the objective of improving our understanding of these ecosystems' distribution, composition and dynamics. As these sulphurous waters are rich inmethane, a powerful greenhouse gas, our results also contribute to the inventory of greenhouse gas sources. The results presented in this paper provide valuable new insights into this specific environment, contributing to the understanding of its complex functioning and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation, desertification and tree mortality related to global climate change have been in the spotlight of remote sensing research in recent decades since extreme climatic events could affect the composition, structure, and biogeography of forests. However, the complexity of tree mortality processes requires a holistic approach. Herein, we present the first global assessment and a historical perspective of forest tree mortality by reviewing both remote sensing and meteorological ground-based studies. We compiled 254 papers on tree mortality that make use of remotely sensed products, meteorological ground-based monitoring, and climatic drivers, focusing on their spatial and temporal patterns and the methods applied while highlighting research gaps. Our core results indicate that international publications on tree mortality are on the increase, with the main hotspots being North America (39%) and Europe (26%). Wetness indicators appear as the barometer in explaining tree mortality at a local scale, while vegetation indicators derived from multispectral optical sensors are promising for large-scale assessments. We observed that almost all of the studies we reviewed were based on less than 25 years of data and were at the local scale. Longer timeframes and regional scale investigations that will include multiple tree species analysis could have a significant impact on future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Awareness of the potential threat posed by drought necessitates the implementation of appropriate procedures to enable effective and systematic actions aimed at mitigating, or at least partially limiting, the impacts of drought events. This paper seeks to analyze the spatial and temporal changes of atmospheric drought in the period 1961–2020 and assesses drought hazards in southwest Bulgaria, which is a region susceptible to periodic water shortages. In this study, the standardized precipitation evaporation index (SPEI), accounting for both precipitation and temperature changes, was used to analyze drought characteristics. The analysis reveals significant temporal changes and spatial differences in drought patterns across southwest Bulgaria. The northeastern part of the region, including the Sofia district, exhibits the lowest risk of drought, while the central part of the region shows a tendency toward moderate and occasional low drought events. Some stations, particularly in the southern part of the region, consistently experienced more severe drought conditions (Blagoevgrad and Sandanski), as indicated by negative SPEI values in different time scales (3, 6, and 12 months). Results indicate an increased frequency of droughts during 1990–2020 compared to 1961–1990, which was driven by climate change and human activities. Across all stations and in both SPEI time scales, the period from the early to mid-1990s was characterized by significant droughts. The study of drought hazards using short-term and long-term SPEI analysis reveals different levels of drought risk and increased hazard from the northern to southern parts of the study area. The share of areas with a high drought hazard exceeds 40% of the territory in the areas with a transitional and continental-Mediterranean climate. Based on the results, the paper highlights the need to integrate drought risk assessments with regional planning to improve agricultural resilience and water resource management in response to anticipated droughts, especially in drought-prone areas such as southwest Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The One Health (OH) concept has evolved significantly in recent decades, emerging as a key framework guiding international research and policy in managing new infectious diseases, chiefly zoonoses. While its initial conception revolved around managing zoonotic diseases as they traverse the interface between animals and humans through the environment, this concept has transformed beyond its origins as a collaboration solely between veterinary and public health stakeholders. Notably, the past decade has ushered in a new era of addressing complex issues in a novel manner. Emerging evidence has led to a fresh theoretical framework, highlighting interconnected terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Understanding these links is crucial in tackling emerging issues and resultant health challenges within these systems under what we call One Health 2.0. The current paper describes Climate-Smart One Health (CS-OH) and Climate-Smart Integrated Pest Management (CS-IPM) approaches, emphasizing holistic perspectives and practical tools. The One Health (OH) 2.0 concept applies to the agricultural sector and more specifically to agrifood systems exposed to climate change impacts. It is meant to address, in a comprehensive manner, soil, water, plant, animal, rural and urban farmers and farming communities, and consumer health issues. The One Health (OH) 2.0 concept is embodied in the Climate-Smart One Health (CS-OH) approach. The latter is designed for applications in agrifood systems. Pathways for the deployment of both CS-OH and CS-IPM interventions are proposed in this paper. A Ghanaian case is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]