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The use of microalgae and bacteria as a strategy for the startup of bioreactors for the treatment of industrial wastewater can be a sustainable and economically viable alternative. This technology model provides satisfactory results in the nitrification and denitrification process for nitrogen removal, organic matter removal, biomass growth, sedimentation, and byproducts recovery for added-value product production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of microalgae and bacteria in their symbiotic process when used in the treatment of paper pulp industry wastewater. The experiment, lasting fourteen days, utilized four bioreactors with varying concentrations in mgVSS/L of microalgae to bacteria ratio (R1-100:100, R2-100:300, R3-100:500, R4-300:100) in the startup process. Regarding the sludge volumetric index (SVI), the results show that the R1 and R2 reactors developed SVI30/SVI10 biomass in the range of 85.57 ± 7.33% and 84.72 ± 8.19%, respectively. The lipid content in the biomass of reactors R1, R2, R3 e R4 was 13%, 7%, 19%, and 22%, respectively. This high oil content at the end of the batch, may be related to the nutritional stress that the species underwent during this feeding regime. In terms of chlorophyll, the bioreactor with an initial inoculation of 100:100 showed better symbiotic growth of microalgae and bacteria, allowing exponential growth of microalgae. The total chlorophyll value for this bioreactor was 801.46 ± 196.96 μg/L. Biological removal of nitrogen from wastewater from the paper pulp industry is a challenge due to the characteristics of the effluent, but the four reactors operated in a single batch obtained good nitrogen removal. Ammonia nitrogen removal performances were 91.55 ± 9.99%, 72.13 ± 19.18%, 64.04 ± 21.34%, and 86.15 ± 30.10% in R1, R2, R3, and R4, respectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The demand for paper and paper-based packaging has seen a massive increase in past years, resulting in accelerated deforestation to meet the rising demand, negatively impacting the environment, and there is a need to look towards different non-woody raw materials. Kraft pulping (KP) is widely used in paper making, for which the chemical dose, temperature, time, and energy required must be optimized, for which many insignificant experimental trials are performed. An effort is made to solve this problem by developing the regression equations with the help of Excel using One Factor at a Time Analysis (OFAT), followed by carrying out design of experiments (DoE) using orthogonal approach and regression analysis in Minitab software. Life cycle Assessment (LCA) using the Open-LCA software estimates the effect of chemicals and energy required during pulping on human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. Using regression analysis, the equations for predicting kappa number, yield (%), total energy consumed, and mechanical properties of the paper sheet showed a good fit with an R 2 value in the range of 0.90-0.99. Apart from that, the mechanical properties, namely tensile index (41.43 Nm/g), tear index (6.96 mN m 2 /g), bending stiffness (0.5 mN m), and burst index (3.92 kPa m 2 /g) of the unbeaten sheet, were determined experimentally at optimized conditions. Based on the Open-LCA result, the optimized pulping conditions had less impact on human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. Industries can use the model to predict the values of kappa number, yield, mechanical properties, and energy consumption without performing optimization experiments that may impact the industry's economy to a greater extent., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The proper treatment and utilization of kraft black liquor, generated from the pulp and paper industry through the kraft pulping method, is required to reduce environmental impacts prior to the final disposal. It also improves the economic performance through the utilization of waste. Microbial valorization appears to demonstrates the dual benefits of waste management and resource recovery by providing an innovative solution to convert kraft black liquor into resource for reuse. A comprehensive review on the microbial valorization of kraft black liquor, describing the role in valorization and management, is still lacking in the literature, forming the rationale of this article. Thus, the present study reviews and systematically discusses the potential of utilizing microorganisms to valorize kraft black liquor as a sustainable feedstock to develop a numerous portfolio of platform chemicals, bioenergy, and other value-added products. This work contributes to sustainability and resource efficiency within the pulp and paper industry. The recent developments in utilization of synthetic biology tools and molecular techniques, including omics approaches for engineering novel microbial strains, for enhancing kraft black liquor valorization has been presented. This review explores how the better utilization of kraft black liquor in the pulp and paper industry contributes to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) as well as the affordable and clean energy goal (SDG 7). The current review also addresses challenges related to toxicity, impurities, low productivity, and downstream processing that serve as obstacles to the progress of developing highly efficient bioproducts. The new directions for future research efforts to fill the critical knowledge gaps are proposed. This study concludes that by implementing microbial valorization techniques, the pulp and paper industry can transition from a linear to a circular bioeconomy and eco-friendly manage the kraft black liuor. This approach showed to be effective towards resource recovery, while simultaneously minimizing the environmental burden., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass with ionic liquids (ILs) are considered as an advantageous approach for the preparation of carbonaceous materials. The commonly used imidazolium and pyridinium based ILs have drawbacks such as toxicity, resistance to biodegradation, high cost and viscosity. These issues can be mitigated by diluting ILs with water, although excessive water content above 1 wt% can reduce the solubility of biomass. This research aims to investigate the potential of pretreating wastepaper with a "fully green" ILs, amino acid-based IL with high water content, followed by pyrolysis without IL, in enhancing the properties of biochar. For this purpose, the paper was treated with an aqueous solution of IL cysteine nitrate ([Cys][NO 3 ]), and the IL was not involved in the pyrolysis process to prevent the formation of secondary gaseous pollutants. The findings revealed that the hemicellulose and mineral filler in the paper were eliminated during pretreatment, leading to higher carbon content but lower oxygen content. As a result, the biochar exhibited micropores of 0.42 cm3g-1 and a specific surface area of 1011.21 m2 g−1. The biochar demonstrated high adsorption capacities for Cd2+, enrofloxacin, bisphenol A, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline, with values of 45.20 mg g−1, 49.82 mg g−1, 49.90 mg g−1, 49.88 mg g−1, and 49.65 mg g−1, respectively. The proposed mechanism for the adsorption of enrofloxacin by the biochar primarily involves physical adsorption such as pore filling and electrostatic interactions, along with chemical adsorption facilitated by graphitic nitrogen. [Display omitted] • Amino acid-based IL with high water content removed the hemicellulose and minerals. • The specific surface area was four times of that of biochar without pretreatment. • More nitrogen was retained in the biochar and provided adsorption sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of escalating urban pluvial floods exacerbated by climate change, conventional roof systems fall short of effectively managing precipitation extremes. This paper introduces a smart predictive solution: the Smart Internal Drainage Roof (SIDR) system, which leverages forecasted data to enhance the mitigation of pluvial floods in Central Business District (CBD) areas. Unlike traditional approaches, SIDRs utilize a synergistic combination of Rule-based Control (RBC) and Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithms, tailored to optimize the operational efficiency of both grey and green roofs. Within the examined 1.3 km2 area in Beijing, China, SIDRs, covering 11% of the site, decreased total flooded areas by 30%–50% and eliminated 60%–100% of high-risk zones during three actual events. Moreover, SIDRs streamlined outflow processes without extending discharge time and reduced flood duration at a high-risk underpass by more than half. The SIDR's distinct features, including a high control resolution of 5 min, integration with existing waterproofs, and advanced 2D dynamic runoff visualization, position it as a scalable and cost-efficient upgrade in urban flood resilience strategies. [Display omitted] • SIDRs employ RBC and MPC algorithms to mitigate pluvial floods in CBDs. • SIDRs reduce 30%–50% of flooded areas and 60%–100% of high-risk zones. • Runoff control dynamics of SIDRs are illustrated on high-precision 2D girds. • SIDRs can streamline outflow processes without prolonging discharge time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several countries have imposed either a ban or a tax on single-use plastic packaging, motivated by their contribution to marine plastic pollution. This may lead consumers to opt for similar unregulated substitutes, potentially undermining or even counteracting the intended effect of the policy instrument. The purpose of this study is to theoretically and empirically compare the environmental and welfare effects of the first-best Pigouvian taxes on both plastic bags and a substitute (paper bags), with two alternative second-best policy instruments: a tax on plastic products alone, and a common uniform tax on all packaging materials. The empirical analysis accounts for two different types of environmental externalities from the use of both bag types: marine pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It also compares results for two countries, Denmark and the USA, which differ in the demand for plastic and paper bags. The theoretical analysis shows that a unilateral tax on plastic bags should equal the marginal environmental damage of plastic bags minus a fraction of the marginal environmental cost of paper bags, hence being lower than the Pigouvian tax. The optimal common tax should equal a weighted average of the marginal environmental damage of the two bag types and would be lower than the Pigouvian tax on plastics if the marginal external cost of plastic bags exceeds that for paper bags. The empirical analysis shows that for default parameters, the variation in tax level across the studied scenarios is small. It also shows that if Pigouvian taxes cannot be implemented, a common uniform tax on both bag types would result in a higher welfare gain than a tax on plastic bags alone. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the level of the second-best taxes and their associated environmental and welfare impacts are sensitive to assumptions regarding the littering rate and decay rate of plastic bags in the marine environment. • A separate tax on plastic bags leads to substitution towards unregulated products. • Both plastic bags and substitutes cause marine pollution and GHG emissions. • We estimate first and second-best environmental taxes on plastic and paper bags. • Pigouvian taxes on both plastic and paper bags yield the highest welfare effect. • A uniform tax on all bags yields higher welfare than a single tax on plastic bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public service sectors play crucial roles in maintaining societal functioning through the provision of essential services. However, amidst the backdrop of air pollution, their developmental trajectories may veer off course from their intended goals. Quantifying the impact of air pollution on public service sectors, particularly from an employment perspective, offers valuable insights for policymakers aiming to foster the sustainable growth of these sectors and expand the analysis framework on air pollution externalities. Drawing on monthly data spanning from January 2015 to December 2019 across 269 prefecture cities, this paper therefore explores the impact of air pollution on public service sector employment using a cross-lagged panel model with fixed effects. I find that air pollution negatively affects the employment scales in public service sectors. This negative employment shock is also unevenly distributed across areas and sub-sectors and intensifies over time. Cities belong to key areas for air pollution prevention and control, small and medium-sized cities, and secondary-industry dominated cities, suffer disproportionately negative employment shocks in their public service sectors. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers to implement targeted measures supporting the continued growth of public service sectors and deepen understanding of the economic ramifications of air pollution. • This paper explores the employment impact of air pollution in public service sectors. • Air pollution negatively affects the employment scales in public service sectors. • The negative employment shock intensifies over time. • Small and medium-sized cities suffer particularly negative employment shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of a global shift towards low-carbon energy systems, this paper provides an in-depth analysis of deep-sea mining's (DSM) potential role in enhancing global energy security. Addressing the growing demand for critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles (EVs), and energy storage systems, the paper examines how DSM can diversify the global mineral supply and reduce reliance on geopolitically sensitive sources. It explores DSM's capacity to recalibrate energy prices, influence the competitive landscape of clean energy technologies, and shift geopolitical dynamics. The paper delves into the multi-faceted impacts of DSM on energy security, including geopolitical shifts, supply chain diversification, and environmental trade-offs. By providing a holistic view that links mineral supply security to sustainable energy transitions, this study extends beyond prior research focused mainly on the technical and environmental aspects of DSM. The findings illustrate DSM's intersection with international politics, its effect on energy pricing strategies, and the balance between resource exploitation and environmental stewardship. Strategic policy recommendations are offered to optimize DSM's benefits while minimizing its ecological impacts, aligning the emerging DSM industry with global sustainability goals. In addition to identifying challenges, the paper proposes actionable solutions, contributing a unique perspective to the discourse on DSM and energy security. • Explores DSM's role in global energy security. • Analyzes DSM's impact on clean energy supply. • Evaluates DSM's environmental trade-offs. • Highlights DSM's geopolitical implications. • Proposes DSM policy and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate policy uncertainty (CPU) may have an adverse impact on the environment by interfering with the effectiveness of environmental policies, but there is currently little evidence to support this indirect effect. By incorporating CPU into the transition function, this paper utilizes the panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) to dynamically analyze how CPU affects the relationship between environmental taxes (ETR) and energy transition. When CPU exceeds the threshold, the promoting effect of ETR on energy transition weakens or reverses. The robustness of the main conclusions is demonstrated by establishing a PSTR estimator with the instrumental variable. This paper also constructs a counterfactual scenario, showing that CPU reduces the positive impact of ETR on renewable energy consumption and generation by 7.6% and 3.5%, respectively. Further analysis indicates that this negative effect arises because CPU likely increases investment risk, particularly for long-term green projects, thereby inhibiting the clean energy market and energy-related green technological innovation. Heterogeneity analysis find that the weakening effect of CPU on the effectiveness of ETR is stronger in countries with low energy resource endowment, high energy intensity, and lower economic development levels, underscoring the need for tailored policy approaches. This research emphasizes that for countries with ambitious energy transition goals, climate policy stability is crucial for ensuring the healthy development of environmental taxes policy and renewable energy markets. [Display omitted] • Indirect effect of climate policy uncertainty (CPU) on energy transition is studied. • Instrumental variable panel smooth transition regression proves the robustness. • A counterfactual scenario is constructed to quantify the net negative effect of CPU. • The indirect impact of CPU varies by a country's energy resource and economic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of energy-related efficiency has promoted energy-sustainable development in China; however, it may be inhibited by energy poverty. This paper constructs an index system to measure China's energy poverty. Subsequently, we evaluate energy-related efficiency towards SDG7 comprised of energy production efficiency and energy sustainable utilization efficiency using a dynamic two-stage data envelopment analysis model. Furthermore, we adopt fixed effect models to quantify the impact of energy poverty on improving energy-related efficiency and the underlying mechanism. The findings indicate that: (1) China's energy poverty situation gradually improves from 2011 to 2020. The energy-related system's performance is medium due to the poor performance in its energy production stage in 30 provinces during 2011–2020. Energy-related efficiency is greater in areas with a higher response to SDG7. (2) The impact of energy poverty on improving energy-related efficiency is significantly negative. Addressing energy poverty significantly improves energy-related efficiency in regions characterized by a high energy poverty index and low energy-related efficiency. However, it bears no impact in regions with a low energy poverty index and high energy-related efficiency. (3) The moderating effect of technological innovation effectively improves energy-related efficiency, whereas the marketization level has an inverse effect. Consequently, this paper suggests several policy implications. • Use principal component analysis to measure energy poverty in China. • Evaluate the energy-related system towards SDG7 using a dynamic two-stage DEA model. • Investigate the role of energy poverty in improving energy-related efficiency. • Clarify the moderating effects of technological innovation and marketization level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural radioactive decay of uranium in rocks and soils gives rise to the presence of radon in groundwater. The existence of radon in groundwater at activity levels way higher than the reference limits set by US-EPA and WHO was widely covered in literature. The exposure to elevated levels of radon in ground and drinking water have been reported in literature to cause adverse health impacts. The aim of the present paper is to give an overview of radon gas in groundwater followed by the safe limits suggested by international organizations and agencies such as US-EPA and WHO. The paper also discusses the health effects associated with the exposure to radon levels and the estimation of the annual effective dose through ingestion and inhalation. This is followed by the radon levels around the world as well as the corresponding annual effective doses reported in literature. The determination techniques of radon levels in water covered in literature such as liquid scintillation counting, gamma-ray spectrometry and emanometry were also discussed and reviewed in the present work. Next, the paper sheds light on the most frequently used treatment techniques such as aeration, adsorption, filtration as well as biological techniques and evaluates their efficiency in mitigating radon levels in water. The paper also highlights the main precautions and future mitigation plans for radon in groundwater as well as delved onto future research perspectives of radon. It was found out that the type of rock played a key role in determining the radon levels. For instance, granitic rock types were reported to contribute to the elevation in the groundwater radon levels due to their characteristic permeability as a result of the formed fractures as well as their natural incorporation of high levels of uranium. Some of the reported radon levels in groundwater in literature were way higher than the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water and US-EPA alternative higher maximum contaminant level. This review paper could be of importance to researchers working on the evaluation as well as the treatment of radon gas in water as it will provide a critical and state of the art review on radon gas in groundwater. [Display omitted] • Safe levels of radon in drinking water as per US EPA & WHO standards were presented. • Health effects associated with radon in groundwater and air were discussed. • Determination techniques of radon level in water were highlighted. • Radon levels and radiological risk assessments around the world were reported. • Main treatment techniques of radon in water and their efficiencies were shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In future decarbonised energy systems, residual carbon emissions require strategic planning and management. In environmental management, an evaluation of carbon removal considering local geographic frameworks is needed. This paper introduces a scalable and adaptable model for evaluating the economics and geography of future carbon capture and storage (CCS) configurations across geographical scales, covering capture, transport, and storage of carbon. The model is applied to the North Denmark Region, showing that future energy production carbon sources will be concentrated in Thisted and Jammerbugt, while industrial sources remain in Aalborg and Rebild municipalities. Carbon transport configurations, including truck, pipeline, and shipping are assessed, for the carbon to be stored in onshore and offshore geological storages. The regional scale findings suggest that pipelines and onshore storage provide the most economical configuration. However, a sensitivity study using a smaller geographical scope indicates potential for optimising carbon transport by evaluating both carbon volume and distance. The paper discusses how the model's flexibility and scalability enable the integration of alternate cost components, thereby supporting the calculation of the carbon repurposing potentials, including carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) configurations. • Develops a scalable geographical cost model for CCS. • Quantifies CO 2 from future energy production and industrial facilities by 2045. • Estimates 2.45 million tonnes of annual capturable CO 2 for CCS by 2045. • Transport analyses show trucking and piping cost benefits for smaller CO 2 sources. • Locates infrastructure opportunities for CO 2 utilisation via CCS geographic routing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of Circular Economy, the significance of municipal solid waste management systems (MSWMSs) has increased, as well as the need for comprehensive assessment tools of their sustainability. In the Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) framework, the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA), which is a methodology aiming to evaluate the environmental, economic, and social burdens throughout the various phases of waste management, has raised great interest. The paper describes the state-of-the-art of the implementation of LCT tools, with high regard to LCSA, for the evaluation of MSWMSs through their life cycle, with a deep focus on the use of both midpoint and endpoint categories. Drawing insights from an analysis of 69 case studies, the paper identifies the most frequently applied midpoint and endpoint categories for the sustainability assessment of MSWMSs. These categories are exposed in terms of their significance and applicability to specific waste management scenarios, providing valuable guidance for experts and researchers seeking to employ LCSA in MSWMSs assessments. Additionally, the paper outlines the limits associated with the implementation of LCSA, thereby highlighting areas for further research and improvement. In contrast to other reviews in this field, this paper uniquely focuses on the implementation of LCSA in the specific context provided by MSWMSs. By disseminating such insights, the paper aspires to foster the widespread adoption of LCSA by experts and researchers, ultimately advancing the sustainability discourse in municipal solid waste management. [Display omitted] • The evaluation of MSWMSs sustainability through LCT tools was reviewed. • The most used midpoint and endpoint impact categories were described. • Research gaps of LCSA for MSWMSs were identified for future research perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital industrialization represented by big data provides substantial support for the high-quality development of the digital economy, but its impact on urban energy conservation development requires further research. To this end, based on the panel data of Chinese cities from 2010 to 2019 and taking the establishment of the national big data comprehensive pilot zone (NBDCPZ) as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper explores the impact, mechanism, and spatial spillover effect of digital industrialization represented by big data on urban energy conservation development using the Difference-in-Differences (DID) method. The results show that digital industrialization can help achieve urban energy conservation development, which still holds after a series of robustness tests. Mechanism analysis reveals that digital industrialization impacts urban energy conservation development by driving industrial sector output growth, promoting industrial upgrading, stimulating green technology innovation, and alleviating resource misallocation. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the energy conservation effect of digital industrialization is more significant in the central region, intra-regional demonstration comprehensive pilot zones, large cities, non-resource-based cities, and high-level digital infrastructure cities. Additionally, digital industrialization can promote energy conservation development in neighboring areas through spatial spillover effect. This paper enriches the theoretical framework concerning the relationship between digital industrialization and energy conservation development. The findings have significant implications for achieving the coordinated development of digitalization and conservation. [Display omitted] • Take the national big data comprehensive pilot zone as a quasi-natural experiment. • Digital industrialization contributes to urban energy conservation development. • Industrial output growth, industrial upgrading and green innovation are mechanisms. • Urban endowment affects the energy conservation effect of digital industrialization. • Exhibit the spatial spillover effect on energy conservation for neighboring areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately identifying the historical causes of carbon emissions in the process of national economic development is an important basis for developing countries to achieve carbon emission reduction. This paper explores the intrinsic institutional causes of China's high CO2 emission growth based on the characteristic economic growth target system of China, and attempts to empirically test the environmental effects behind this system. The results of the study show that the setting of absolute economic growth targets significantly increases the carbon dioxide emissions of cities under horizontal competition, and the setting of relative economic growth targets exacerbates the above carbon emission effect under vertical competition. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis shows that the carbon emission effect of setting economic growth targets is stronger in resource-dependent cities and cities with a lower level of economic development. Mechanism tests show that economic growth targets not only significantly increases total fossil energy consumption and reduces energy efficiency at the firm level, but also leads to the increase of energy consumption and the reduction of energy efficiency at the industry level. The findings of this study provide an intrinsic institutional explanation for China's high carbon emissions and provide useful guidance for the design of mechanisms to achieve large-scale carbon emission reductions in developing countries. • This paper investigates the impact of economic growth targets on carbon emissions. • How economic growth targets setting system affects carbon emissions remains underexplored. • There are significant differences in the impacts of EGT setting regimes on carbon emissions in cities with different types of development. • The economic growth targeting system influences regional carbon emissions through two pathways: energy consumption levels and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of green intelligent buildings (GIBs) is regarded as an effective way to reduce carbon emissions and environmental pollution. How to formulate a reasonable and practical subsidy mechanism is crucial to promote the development of GIBs. However, there is still a lack of research on dynamic subsidy mechanism. To solve the research gap, based on consumer utility maximization theory, combining Hotelling model, the paper constructs an evolutionary game model between local governments and developers, and discusses the decision-making and evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) of both players under the dynamic subsidy mechanism. In addition, the paper defines a symbol event and analyzes in depth the possibility of effective diffusion of GIBs. Finally, the paper provides corresponding policy suggestions and draws the following conclusions: (1) ESS exists only after the introduction of dynamic subsidy mechanism, so it is necessary for local governments to formulate dynamic subsidy policies; (2) Under the dynamic subsidy mechanism, different subsidy adjustment rates will affect the evolutionary efficiency of the system; (3) The sensitivity of influence factors from high to low is as follows: subsidy adjustment rate, financial incentives for consumers, additional taxes for conventional buildings developers, carbon trading income for GIB developers and comprehensive residential benefits for GIB homebuyers. Improving these factors can increase the possibility of effective diffusion of GIBs. • This paper attemps to solve the gap in the existing literature which only considers static subsidy mechanism. • This paper reveals how consumers indirectly influence the behavioral strategies of developers and local governments. • This paper defines a symbol event about the diffusion of GIBs and optimizes the parameters. • This paper finds that some parameters have threshold effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive measurement and analysis of urban resilience is essential to ensure sustainable urban development. This paper creates a multilevel urban resilience evaluation index system based on four dimensions of economy, society, ecology, and infrastructure and the three attributes (resistance, recovery, and adaptability), then applies the framework to Qingdao, China. The results suggest that: (1) The overall level of urban resilience in Qingdao showed an upward trend, rising from a relatively high level in 2012 to a high level in 2021. Economic and social resilience maintained a high consistency, developing rapidly, while the development of ecological and infrastructure resilience fluctuated, and infrastructure resilience was slow and lagging. (2) Qingdao's overall resilience is higher than other cities in the same region, but infrastructure resilience is relatively low. Moreover, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) of the resilience of the four subsystems in Qingdao has evolved from near imbalance to good coordination. (3) Infrastructure resilience is the primary obstacle factor in the dimension layer, followed by ecological resilience. Based on the results, corresponding improvement strategies are proposed. A comprehensive multidimensional measurement of the urban resilience of Qingdao can identify the main shortcomings and provide a reference for decision-making and resource allocation in resilient cities. • We constructed a "social-economic-ecological-infrastructure" urban resilience assessment framework. • The paper developed a comprehensive evaluation framework for the urban resilience. • The infrastructure system was the primary obstacle to urban resilience in Qingdao. • Our results provide a basis for the development of comprehensive management framework for urban resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How are decisions around Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arrived at in the mining sector, particularly in Ghana? To date, the literature on mining and development in the region has mostly analysed individual interventions made in the name of CSR and critiqued the case for embracing it. These assessments, however, very crucially overlook exploration, an essential phase of the mine lifecycle, during which inaugural dialogues are initiated with local communities that ultimately have a bearing on CSR strategy over the long term. This paper examines the dynamics of CSR at the exploration phase of mining projects, surveys local communities' perspectives on the subject, and assesses the actions of international mineral exploration companies. It does so using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with policymakers, exploration company officials, and inhabitants of and leaders in mining communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The findings suggest that while mineral exploration companies use CSR as platform to showcase their commitments to social and environmental standards, they have made little efforts to understand the socio-cultural, economic and political dynamics of their host communities. It was also revealed that host communities are not afforded the opportunity to provide inputs into decisions on how CSR should be operationalised. The paper calls for a revision of policies and regulations governing mining in Ghana by making CSR a key requirement for mineral exploration companies seeking to undertake exploration or prospecting activities in the country. • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is important to safeguard mining investments. • The exploration phase of mining projects is crucial for the industry's sustainability. • Obtaining a social license to operate is the focus of companies at the exploration phase of mining projects. • Little attention is given to CSR issues at the exploration phase of mining projects. • 'Local voices' should be prioritised in framing CSR policies and programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has exacerbated the frequency and magnitude of extreme rainfall, which has led to the perpetuation of flooding as a hazard to humans and society. China has begun to consider introducing Flood drainage rights (FDR), a sustainable flood control measure, into non-engineering measures as a complement to engineering measures for flood control. FDR represent the right of regions to discharge regional floodwaters caused by extreme rainfall into the river, and are the primary means of controlling the amount of floodwaters from regions when regional flood capacity is exceeded. However, existing studies on quantitative FDR allocation still have limitations, and some previous methods have resulted in allocation schemes that are not entirely reasonable and fair because they do not comprehensively consider the influencing factors of FDR or the allocation method is unreasonable. This paper explores the impact of flooding on rural and agricultural areas. We incorporate the factors of agricultural economy and security and construct a system of the allocation indicators of FDR composed of five principles: Natural Environmental Endowment, General Economic and Social Development, Agricultural Economy and Security, Macro policy regulation, and Respect for Historical Background. Second, considering the influence of expert judgment and data of different time nodes on the allocation of FDR, we introduce the concepts of expert weight and time weight into the allocation model of FDR, and construct a new set of framework for the allocation of FDR, i.e., "[(expert weight + subjective weight)+(time weight + objective weight)]+decision making model ". To reduce the loss of information during the transformation of subjective judgments, we also introduced triangular fuzzy numbers for the transformation between expert judgments and numbers. Finally, we take the five provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River as an example. Using the data from 2010 to 2021, we obtain the final allocation scheme (proportion) of FDR as Henan (33.26%) > Shaanxi (23.08%) > Inner Mongolia (21.31%) > Shanxi (14.44%) > Shandong (7.91%). On this basis, this paper utilizes sensitivity analysis and comparative validation to demonstrate the rationality and effectiveness of the method, and identifies several indicators that have a greater impact on the results of the allocation of FDR. FDR can form part of a set of integrated flood management system together with flood control projects, which greatly alleviates the drainage conflicts arising from flooding caused by extreme precipitation. Under extreme rainfall conditions, FDR improves drainage efficiency and minimizes the overall damage caused by flooding in the watershed. This study can contribute to the sustainable development of the watershed and provide a reference for the promotion and utilization of sustainable flood control measures. • Climate change has exacerbated extreme rainfall, causing more severe flooding. • Flood drainage rights (FDR) is a sustainable flood control measure that mitigates drainage conflicts in the basin. • We take agricultural economy and security into account in our FDR indicators. • We constructed a new framework of "[(expert weights + subjective weights) + (time weights + objective weights)] + decision model" for the allocation of FDR. • This study provides a reference for FDR in agricultural priority areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative green technology innovation is potentially the answer to the lack of motivation for independent green innovation, which can effectively alleviate many difficulties faced by enterprises engaging in independent green innovation. Internet development provides new opportunities to stimulate innovative cooperation of enterprises. However, little literature has studied the impact of Internet development on enterprises' cooperative green technology innovation. Based on the data of Chinese A-share 3284 listed companies from 2010 to 2019, this paper uses a panel two-way fixed effects model to assess the effect of Internet development on enterprises' cooperative green innovation. The findings are: (1) Internet development significantly drives firms' collaborative green innovation behavior. The result remains robust even after performing a series of robust tests. (2) The Internet empowers green innovation cooperation among firms by improving information availability, including market information availability and technical information availability. (3) The heterogeneous results show enterprises use the Internet to accomplish high-quality collaborative green innovation. Internet development is more helpful in encouraging the cooperative green innovation of enterprises located in central cities and state-owned enterprises. This study provides novel and targeted policy implications to empower enterprises' green innovation cooperation and drive sustainable economic development through Internet development. [Display omitted] • This paper uncovers the role of Internet development on firms' cooperative green technology innovation. • Internet development significantly drives collaborative green innovation behavior of firms. • Market information availability and technological information availability are influencing mechanisms. • Some constructive policy recommendations are proposed for promoting cooperative green technology innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Game interventions have drawn much attention for their playful features and "painless" promotion of simple game-targeted pro-environmental behaviors (GPEBs), which could spill over to more "costly" prosocial behaviors for pro-environmental causes (PSBPs). The literature places much emphasis on game-targeted mechanisms (e.g., enjoyment and competition) to explain the impacts of game interventions, but pays little attention to non-game-targeted mechanisms to explore their spillover effect. Using online survey data from 1246 Chinese residents, this paper first compares players' and nonplayers' levels of engagement with GPEBs and with two common PSBPs, finding a positive spillover effect from game-targeted simple behaviors to more diverse PSBPs. Based upon goal theory, self-perception theory, and learning theory, the paper then examines the underlying mediating mechanisms of the positive relationship between GPEBs and PSBPs for subsamples of players and nonplayers respectively. The results demonstrate that individual awareness of problem and self-efficacy could be enhanced through engaging in simple GPEBs, which could spill over to more challenging and "costly" PSBPs, including charitable giving and volunteering for pro-environmental causes. The study provides important insights on helping to encourage specific types of more challenging PSBPs not directly targeted by the game. • Non-game-targeted mechanisms were applied to explore the spillover effect in an environmental game. • A positive spillover effect exists from game-targeted behaviors to diverse prosocial behaviors for pro-environmental causes. • Engaging in game-targeted pro-environmental behaviors enhances individual awareness of problem and self-efficacy. • Individual awareness of problem and self-efficacy could spill over to prosocial behaviors for pro-environmental causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in utilizing spinel ferrite and their nanocomposites as Fenton-like catalysts. The use of these materials offers numerous advantages, including ability to efficiently degrade pollutants and potential for long-term and repeated use facilitated by their magnetic properties that make them easily recoverable. The remarkable catalytic properties, stability, and reusability of these materials make them highly attractive for researchers. This paper encompasses a comprehensive review of various aspects related to the Fenton process and the utilization of spinel ferrite and their composites in catalytic applications. Firstly, it provides an overview of the background, principles, mechanisms, and key parameters governing the Fenton reaction, along with the role of physical field assistance in enhancing the process. Secondly, it delves into the advantages and mechanisms of H 2 O 2 activation induced by different spinel ferrite and their composites for the removal of organic pollutants, shedding light on their efficacy in environmental remediation. Thirdly, the paper explores the application of these materials in various Fenton-like processes, including Fenon-like, photo-Fenton-like, sono-Fenton-like, and electro-Fenton-like, for the effective removal of different types of contaminants. Furthermore, it addresses important considerations such as the toxicity, recovery, and reuse of these materials. Finally, the paper presents the challenges associated with H 2 O 2 activation by these materials, along with proposed directions for future improvements. [Display omitted] • Low cost and reuse ability of magnetic spinel ferrites and their composites as Fenton-like catalyst. • Rare earth and transition metals increase active sites, modify the electronic structure and activity. • Incorporation of silica also addressed issues related to agglomeration, leaching, and toxicity. • Carbonaceous materials present a solution to overcome the challenge of solid-liquid separation. • Metal oxides enhance the catalytic activity and enables better control and regulation of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review critically assesses traditional and emerging technologies for domestic wastewater treatment and reuse, focusing on the transition from conventional centralised systems to innovative decentralised approaches. Through an extensive literature search on domestic wastewater systems serving a population equivalent of less than or equal to 10, the study juxtaposes linear and circular methods and highlights their impact on urban water management and the environment. The papers reviewed were classified into five categories: Environmental studies, economic studies, social studies, technological studies, and reviews and policy papers. The analysis was carried out separately for linear and circular approaches within each category. In addition, the maturity of the technology (lab/pilot or full-scale application) was taken into account in the analysis. The research landscape is shown to be evolving towards circular methods that promise sustainability through resource recovery, despite the dominance of linear perspectives. The lack of clear progress in decentralised technologies, the scarcity of circularity assessments and the challenges of urban integration are highlighted. Operational reliability, regulatory compliance and policy support are identified as key barriers to the adoption of decentralised systems. While conventional pollutants and their environmental impacts are well addressed for linear systems, the study of emerging pollutants is in its infancy. Conclusions on the impact of these hazardous pollutants are tentative and cautious. Social and economic studies are mainly based on virtual scenarios, which are useful research tools for achieving sustainability goals. The conceptual frameworks for assessing the social dimension need further refinement to be effective. The paper argues for a balanced integration of centralisation and decentralisation, proposing a dual strategy that emphasizes the development of interoperable technologies. It calls for further research, policy development and widespread implementation to promote decentralised solutions in urban water management and pave the way for sustainable urban ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Reviewed linear and circular approaches for small domestic wastewater systems. • A balanced integration of centralisation and decentralisation in wastewater systems is viable. • Linear systems are more mature; environmental impact has been studied. • Full-scale experiments on circular systems are needed for future research. • Future studies must address emerging pollutants in decentralised systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing clean energy is a key pathway and an inevitable choice for achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. From a global perspective, technology is increasingly affecting the trajectory of energy transition, driving clean energy into a stage of rapid development. Therefore, this paper focuses on exploring the dynamic evolutionary characteristics of clean energy transitions driven by different productivity. Using panel data from 171 economies from 1990 to 2019, this paper systematically examines the impact of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) on clean energy transitions. The empirical results indicate that both TFP and GTFP positively impact clean energy transition. Specifically, clean energy consumption increases by 3.35% and 6.03%with a one standard deviation change in TFP and GTFP respectively. Upon decomposing TFP and GTFP, it was found that Green Efficiency Change (GECH) and Green Technical Change (GHCH), especially GECH, are the main factors driving the clean energy transition. Heterogeneity analysis shows that, in developed economies, GTFP has a larger positive impact on clean energy transition than TFP. Furthermore, GTFP demonstrates a significant positive impact on the clean energy transition both before and after the 2008 financial crisis, whereas TFP's positive impact is only evident before the crisis. Our findings emphasize the social benefits of further investments in GTFP. • Impact of productivity on clean energy transition from 171 countries over 1990–2019. • GTFP can increase the proportion of clean energy consumption by at least 3.92%. • GECH and GHCH have heterogeneous effects for developed and developing countries. • GTFP positively impacts clean energy transition both before and after the 2008 financial crisis. • Compared with GTFP, the impact of TFP is only valid before the financial crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing threat of economic downturns and global warming, the governments of developing countries urgently need effective measures that can both stimulate economic development and promote low-carbon transitions. As a widely accepted method for stimulating economic growth, the improvement of the business environment and its effect on economic activity have been fully discussed. However, little is known about whether and how the business environment affects the low-carbon transition. By leveraging city-level data from China, this paper exploits whether and through which channels a favorable business environment promotes a low-carbon transition. We find that improving the business environment has a positive impact on carbon efficiency. This relationship is verified to be robust through various alternative tests. Additionally, it is demonstrated that enhancing the business environment can increase carbon efficiency by promoting green technology progress and stimulating new firm entry. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effect of the business environment is pronounced for cities with intensive environmental regulation, sufficient environmentally targeted fiscal expenditure, and loose economic growth requirements. This paper reveals the unintentional environmental gains of business environment optimization and provides important insights into the low-carbon transition for developing economies. • We measure the indexes of the business environment and the carbon efficiency. • We examine the impact of the business environment on carbon efficiency. • The improvement of the business environment has a positive impact on carbon efficiency. • The business environment can improve carbon efficiency by promoting green technology progress and stimulating new firm entry. • The government plays a crucial role in business environment's effect on carbon efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent need to address the construction sector's significant contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions underscores the importance of developing more sustainable construction practices. This paper presents a comprehensive review that offers valuable insights into evolving research and guides future strategies for sustainable resource management in construction processes. A systematic literature review (SLR) examined on-site activity data to identify emission reduction measures, and ten in-depth interviews with industry practitioners validated the theoretical concepts against field experiences and practices. The research identified seventy-three (73) measures with emissions mitigation potential within six resource categories: transport, fuel, heating, electricity, water, and waste. The study highlights a gap between theoretical knowledge and on-site practices, with many identified measures not being used in practice. Only 26% of reviewed articles measured on-site resource consumption, indicating a need for on-site monitoring and real-time evaluation of emissions. The interviews revealed 31 challenges hindering the practical implementation of these measures and identified nine enablers to overcome these obstacles. The findings emphasise the opportunities presented by regulatory initiatives, technological advancements, and standardised methods for conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) and data collection. The paper underscores that collaboration among stakeholders and policymakers is not just beneficial but crucial for driving meaningful progress in reducing the construction sector's environmental footprint. Ultimately, this integrated approach, validated, and contextualised by the interviews, provides practical insights that enrich our understanding of sustainable construction practices. • Extensive literature review and practitioner interviews for real-world insights. • Highlights the gap between theoretical reduction measures and practical application. • Resource reduction measures: 15 for transport and 58 for on-site processes. • Strategies to remove barriers for sustainable construction processes. • Recommends real-time metering for informed decision-making in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is a key measure to control energy consumption and promote the improvement of industrial structure, energy market allocation reform has rarely been concerned with its impact on employment, an important livelihood issue. To fill this gap, this paper takes the Energy-Consumption Rights Trading System (ECRTS) enacted by China in 2016 as a research background and adopts the difference-in-difference approach to explore the effects and mechanisms of the ECRTS on enterprise labor demand. The results show that the ECRTS significantly reduces firms' labor demand, particularly for low-skilled workers, through both production scale effects and technological upgrading effects. Specifically, the ECRTS has led to a decrease in sales revenues and an increase in labor productivity, thereby reducing firms' labor demand. Heterogeneity tests indicate that the ECRTS has a greater impact on employment in firms with lower energy-consumption intensity, domestic capital injections, weaker innovation capacity, and lower market power. The paper also explores the welfare consequences of the policy, finding that while the ECRTS does not improve the environmental performance of firms it does not pass on the compliance costs of regulations to incumbent workers. The overall impact is neutral. This paper extends the study of the economic consequences of the ECRTS and has implications for other developing countries in reconciling energy regulation and employment. • The ECRTS notably diminished firms' labor demand, particularly affecting low-skilled workers. • The ECRTS decreases enterprise employment via the "production scale effects" and "technological upgrading effects". • The impact of the ECRTS on labor demand shows obvious heterogeneity across firms. • The ECRTS neither enhances environmental performance nor reduces employee wages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Businesses embracing green innovation can encourage high-quality green economic development in addition to reducing emissions. In this paper, we use the Difference-in-Differences (DID) to investigate the influence of green investor behavior on the green innovation of companies, using the first-ever green investor investment in a company as a quasi-natural experiment. According to research, green investors have the power to accelerate corporate green innovation greatly. Three key strategies that green investors can use to do this include raising institutional investment levels, enhancing the green perception of executives, and bringing in top talent. Heterogeneity analysis shows that non-high-polluting, big, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are more likely to benefit from green investors' green innovation effects. Further analysis reveals that (ⅰ) green investors' influence on an enterprise's level of green innovation can help it improve its ESG ratings; (ii) green investors can encourage green innovation in source control but have little effect on green innovation in end-of-pipe treatment; (ⅲ) green investors can support both non-green and green innovation in enterprises, but have a greater influence on green innovation. This study strengthens the micro relationship between green investors and corporate green innovation. It also supports the theoretical underpinnings of corporate green innovation, which is significant for advancing green innovation, environmental protection, and high-quality economic development in emerging economies. • This paper explores the relationship between green investor behavior and corporate green innovation. • Green investors have the power to accelerate corporate green innovation greatly. • Green investors significantly accelerate corporate green innovation mainly through raising institutional investment levels, enhancing the green perception of executives, and bringing in top talent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing a Carbon Peak Action Plan at the regional level requires comprehensive consideration of the developmental heterogeneity among different provinces, which is an effective pathway for China to realize the goal of carbon peak by 2030. However, there is currently no clear provincial roadmap for carbon peak, and existing studies on carbon peak pathways inadequately address provincial heterogeneity. Therefore, this paper employs the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model to decompose assess 8 factors influencing carbon emissions of 30 provinces. According to scenario analysis, the paper explores the differentiated pathways for provincial carbon peaks based on policy expectation indicators (including population, economy, and urbanization rate) and comprises policy control indicators (including the energy structure, energy efficiency, industrial structure, transportation structure, and innovation input). The results indicate that population, per capita GDP, urbanization rate, and innovation input are the primary factors for influencing (negatively) the growth of carbon emissions. In contrast, the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure, energy intensity, energy structure, and transportation structure have mitigating effects on carbon emissions, especially for the first two factors. The forecasting results reveal that robust regulations of the energy and industry can effectively accelerate carbon peak at a reduced magnitude. If developed at BAU, China cannot achieve carbon peak by 2030, continuing an upward trend. However, by maximizing the adjustment strength of energy and industrial transformation within the scope of provincial capabilities, China could achieve carbon peak as early as 2025, with a peak of 12.069 billion tons. In this scenario, 24 provinces could achieve carbon peak before 2030. Overall, this study suggests the feasibility of differentiated pathway to achieve carbon peaks in China, exploring the carbon peak potential and paths of 30 provinces, and identifying provinces where carbon peak is more challenging. It also provides a reference for the design of carbon peak roadmaps at both provincial and national levels and offers targeted recommendations for the implementation of differentiated policy strategies for the government. [Display omitted] • Exploring the national carbon peaking path from a provincial perspective. • Expanding the STIRPAT model combined with scenario analysis to study provinces. • Adjusting industry and reducing energy intensity are key to carbon control. • China can achieve carbon peak as early as 2025, with a peak of 12.069 billion tons. • Research on carbon peaking pathway based on provincial heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of climate change and development present significant challenges and complexities that require new solutions, wise choices, and multi-disciplinary integration. In this context, emotional intelligence (EI) plays a crucial role. However, traditional engineering education and practice overlook the importance of understanding and managing emotions. This research aims to determine the impact of EI as a tool to enhance proactive decision-making and implement sustainable measures within the engineering profession.The study makes three main research contributions. First, it confirms a positive relationship between EI and proactive sustainable decision-making among engineers. This means that engineers with high EI are more likely to consider the impacts of their decisions on various stakeholders and dimensions of sustainability. Second, it suggests that EI can enhance creativity and innovative thinking in engineering, helping engineers to develop effective solutions for challenges related to climate change. Third, the study advocates for incorporating EI training and assessment into engineering curriculums to foster a sustainable and ethical engineering culture. By improving EI, engineers can enhance their interpersonal skills, self-awareness, and emotional management, which in turn can significantly improve teamwork in addressing challenges related to climate change. • Innovative Approach: The paper introduces emotional intelligence (EI) as a novel factor in engineering decision-making for climate change adaptation, which provides a fresh perspective within the realm of sustainable practices. • Relevance to Sustainability: It emphasizes the role of EI in fostering proactive and strategic decision-making, which is crucial for mitigating and adapting to a changing climate, aligning with the journal's focus on sustainable solutions1. • Multidisciplinary Integration: The study bridges engineering, psychology, and environmental science, reflecting the journal's interdisciplinary approach to addressing sustainability challenges. • Practical Implications: By exploring the attitudes of engineers and their decision-making tendencies in relation to EI, the paper offers insights that can lead to targeted interventions, contributing to the journal's aim of promoting sustainable practices. • This paper does not constitute a bibliometric study; rather, it provides empirical research on the impact of EI on sustainable decision-making among engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the literature on energy and environmental economics, it is generally acknowledged that renewable energy can improve environmental quality; however, certain papers suggest that an optimal level of the usage of renewable energy sources may exist. Consequently, the utilization of renewable energy sources can result in environmental degradation up to a certain threshold. Then, environmental quality can be enhanced through the continued application of renewables. This indicates that the link between renewable energy and environmental devastation is inverted U-shaped. This paper presents empirical evidence concerning this possible association between renewable energy and environmental destruction in Türkiye, a country where fossil energy predominates in the energy mix. Additionally, the paper investigates the environmental influences of natural resource rents and schooling. This study utilizes annual data from 1971 to 2020 and implements time series methodologies that rely on the Fourier approximation. The paper thus accounts for an undetermined quantity of structural breaks. The results suggest that an inverted U-shaped link occurs between renewable energy and environmental destruction, signifying renewable energy initially contributes to a diminution in environmental quality before subsequently improving it. Additionally, environmental quality is positively associated with natural resource rents and negatively associated with schooling, according to the findings. Furthermore, the findings reveal that schooling worsens the combined effect of renewable energy on environmental degradation. These conclusions are discussed in the paper. [Display omitted] • A nonlinear pattern exists between renewable energy and the environment. • Natural resource rents decrease environmental destruction. • Schooling increases environmental destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a natural pyrite/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system for the removal of antibiotic contamination from water represented an economic and green sustainable strategy. Yet, a noteworthy knowledge gap remained considering the underlying reaction mechanism of the system, particularly in relation to its pH sensitivity. Herein, this paper investigated the impacts of critical reaction parameters and initial pH levels on the degradation of sulfadiazine (SDZ, 3 mg/L) in the pyrite/PMS system, and elucidated the pH dependence of the reaction mechanism. Results showed that under optimal conditions, SDZ could be completely degraded within 5 min at a broad pH range of 3.0–9.0, with a pseudo-first-order reaction rate of >1.0 min−1. The low or high PMS doses could lower degradation rates of SDZ through the decreased levels of active species, while the amount of pyrite was positively correlated with the removal rate of SDZ. The diminutive concentrations of anions exerted minor impacts on the decomposition of SDZ within the pyrite PMS system. Mechanistic results demonstrated that the augmentation of pH levels facilitated the transition from the non-radical to the radical pathway within the natural pyrite/PMS system, while concurrently amplifying the role of •OH in the degradation process of SDZ. This could be attributed to the change in interface electrostatic repulsion induced by pH fluctuations, as well as the mutual transformation between active species. The stable presence of the relative content of Fe(II) in the used pyrite was ensured owing to the reduced sulfur species acting as electron donors, providing the pyrite/PMS system excellent reusability. This paper sheds light on the mechanism regulation of efficient removal of organic pollutants through pyrite PMS systems, contributing to practical application. [Display omitted] • Natural Pyrite/PMS system completely removes sulfadiazine within 5 min. • Unsuitable peroxymonosulfate dose affects levels of reactive oxygen species. • (Non-) free radical pathways and reactive oxygen species are regulated by pH levels. • Stabilisation of Fe(II) valence state in natural pyrite ensures reuse stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a literature review on the economic valuation of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) impacts, identifying methodological challenges, policy implications, and gaps. Unlike previous literature reviews, we are particularly interested in determining whether the economic valuations of HABs have included a policy analysis. Our paper provides a conceptual framework that allows us to evaluate whether applications of economic studies of HABs are consistent with a well-defined economic welfare analysis. It links methodologies and techniques with welfare measures, data types, and econometric methods. Based on this literature review, we present an example of economic valuation that closes the gap between policy analysis and valuation methodology. We use a stated preferences study to estimate a "seafood price premium" to create a fund to support monitoring systems and for damage compensation to producers in the presence of HABs. Results show that most economic studies on HAB valuation do not consider any cost-benefit analysis of a defined policy intervention. The predominant economic valuation methodology uses market information to estimate a proxy for welfare measure of the impact of HABs (loss revenue, sales, exports). Moreover, nonuse and indirect use values are ignored in the literature, while stated preference methodologies are underrepresented. Finally, results from 1293 surveys found that people are willing to pay an increase in the price of mussels to support a policy that informs on HAB. However, the lack of institutional trust affects the probability of paying negatively. • Economic losses will increase due to Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) intensifying. • Most of the valuation literature does not correctly identify the avoidable costs of any policy intervention preventing HABs. • The literature shows a gap in estimating nonuse value and identifying policy instruments for HAB. • Lack of institutional trust significantly affects the acceptability of implementing a policy requiring people to pay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between digital transformation(DT) and environmental, social, and governance(ESG) greenwashing using Chinese listed companies as a sample from 2012 to 2022. Furthermore, it analyzes the enterprise and regional heterogeneity as well as the influencing mechanisms on this relationship. The research results indicate that corporate digital transformation significantly inhibits ESG greenwashing, with a more pronounced effect on companies in non-high-pollution industries, high-tech industries, and the eastern region. In addition, mechanism tests reveal that internal control and financing constraints play a partial mediating role. Digital transformation suppresses ESG greenwashing by enhancing the quality of internal control and alleviating financing constraints. The primary contribution of this paper lies in demonstrating that digital transformation can serve as a strategic tool to mitigate ESG greenwashing. This enriches the research on the outcomes of digital transformation as well as the factors influencing ESG greenwashing. The conclusions of this paper provide theoretical foundations and policy recommendations for better ESG development by enterprises and governments in emerging markets. At the same time, this paper has a certain guiding role for the introduction and implementation of policies to encourage digital transformation. • This study examines the relationship between digital transformation (DT) and corporate greenwashing behavior in the context of ESG. • The study reveals that corporate digital transformation significantly inhibits greenwashing behavior in the ESG domain. • The inhibitory effect of digital transformation is more pronounced in non-polluting enterprises, high-tech enterprises, and companies located in the central-western region. • The internal control level and financing constraints of enterprises play a partial mediating role, indicating that digital transformation suppresses greenwashing by enhancing internal control and alleviating financing constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Water Conference 2023 highlighted the need for concrete actions to boost integrated water resources management for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and called for strategies to enhance cooperation among stakeholders. Technical cooperation between countries and institutions in transboundary systems, e.g., on environmental data collection, is an effective way to promote international diplomacy and prevent disputes between riparian states. Still, establishing collaborations to inform bilateral dialogues on the identification of environmental challenges, their causes, and development priorities may be a difficult task in itself. This is particularly true in the African context because of limited resources and lack of data. In this paper, we analyse the case of nine transboundary river basins in Sub-Saharan Africa to identify which water-management challenges are perceived as most important by the different riparian countries from a policy and scientific perspective. Our insights are based on the most up-to-date scientific papers, open access reports and technical literature, river basin authority's strategy papers, projects' summary reports, and national policy documents. We also complement these sources with the pieces of information we gained through collaborations with regional and local experts, and management bodies (such as river basin authorities). We highlight the current water-related conflicts and the gap between the priorities identified by the scientific community and different riparian countries on how to tackle hydro-climatic change and improve food and energy security, human and environmental health. Based on our experience, we discuss some keys to building trust among stakeholders, strengthening cooperation, and identifying shared water-governance measures in transboundary river basins. They are: (i) connect science and policy to provide sound knowledge for the right questions, (ii) value local knowledge and exploit the complementarity of different perspectives, (iii) consider multiple spatial scales and multi-level stakeholders to leave no one behind, (iv) promote a culture which values trade-offs and handles complexity, and (v) co-create data and knowledge to facilitate stakeholder dialogue from problem definition to intervention identification. [Display omitted] • We implement activities in Sub-Saharan Africa for transboundary cooperation on water management. • We combine literature review, policy documents, and local experts' knowledge to identify water challenges. • Water priorities in policy documents and scientific literature sometimes do not match. • Lack of data, data sharing and consensus on data quality are common and undermine cooperation. • Science-policy-stakeholder collaboration can improve water management by compensating for data gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective engagement is crucial for enhancing environmental decision-making processes, fostering more sustainable and equitable outcomes. However, the success of engagement is highly variable and context-dependent. While theoretical frameworks have been developed to explain outcome variance in engagement in environmental decision-making, they have not yet been tested in digital contexts, leaving their applicability to digital engagement processes unclear. More broadly, there are unanswered questions about the effectiveness of digital tools in achieving the goals of engagement, which have become increasingly pertinent amidst growing concerns about the potential of digital technologies for exacerbating exclusions, ethical issues, and systematically undermining democratic progress. This paper addresses this evidence gap by presenting findings from interviews with practitioners in UK public, private, and third sector organisations. Our results provide empirical insights into the technical, ethical, and inclusivity debates surrounding digital tools and their effectiveness in promoting accessible engagement, high-quality social interaction, place-based decision-making, and more trustworthy and credible outcomes. Our findings indicate that while current engagement theories are applicable to digital environments, the key explanatory factors acquire new dimensions in digital compared to in-person contexts. Drawing on the findings, this study contributes novel insights to expand current theory for explaining "what works" in engagement in environmental decisions, enhancing its relevance and applicability in the digital age. The paper concludes with evidence-led recommendations for environmental practitioners to improve engagement processes in digital and remote settings. [Display omitted] • There is a lack of evidence on the benefits and drawbacks of digital tools for engagement. • The applicability of current theories for engagement to digital and remote settings is unclear. • Key factors known to shape outcomes in engagement take on new dimensions in digital, remote environments. • There are new considerations which make engagement theory more relevant and applicable in digital contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of cities in developing countries has led to many environmental problems, and the mechanism of urban expansion (UE), as a more complex human-land coupled system, has always been a difficult issue to research. This paper introduces a new approach by establishing an analytical framework for spatiotemporal pattern mining, exemplified by studying the urban growth of Changsha City from 1990 to 2019. Initially, an emerging hotspot analysis model (EHA) is employed to examine the spatiotemporal changes of urban growth on a macro scale. Mathematical models are subsequently utilized to quantify the correlations between urban expansion and selected infrastructural and topographical factors. Building on these findings, the paper constructs mathematical models to further quantify the spatiotemporal evolution of various urban sprawl patterns across different regions, aiming to elucidate and quantify the significant variations in UE over time and space. The study reveals that, as an emerging city, Changsha's hotspots of urban expansion prior to 2003 were primarily concentrated in the city centre, subsequently spreading to the periphery. The radial influence of metro stations on UE is notably less than that of railway stations—approximately 3 km versus 8 km—and the impact diminishes rapidly before gradually tapering off. Moreover, UE in Changsha predominantly occurs on slopes with gradients ranging from 1.1° to 7.5°, and significant development capacity is observed at elevations between 36.1 m and 78.3 m above sea level, with a tendency for urban sprawl to migrate to lower elevations. The paper also identifies three distinct patterns of urban expansion across different regions: an initial slow-growth phase, followed by a rapid escalation to a peak, and subsequently a swift decline to near stagnation. Additionally, it highlights a significant correlation between the proportion of built-up areas at the micro-regional scale and the stages of UE. This correlation was quantitatively analysed by constructing a logistic function, which demonstrated a robust fit that effectively captures spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the dynamics of UE. These insights enhance the selection of drivers in urban simulation models and deepen the understanding of the complex dynamics that influence urban development. • New applications of spatiotemporal pattern mining and emerging hotspot analysis in urban expansion. • Exploring the impact of key infrastructure and topographical factors on urban expansion. • Focusing on revealing and quantifying the different inherent expansion mechanisms within various micro scales of cities. • The saturation of built-up areas in local regions correlates with the stages of urban expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of digital finance provides new opportunities for improving energy efficiency and promoting green development. This paper calculates green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE) using the super-efficiency SBM model and examines the impact of digital finance on GTFEE. Digital finance has a significant positive impact on GTFEE. Under a bank-dominated financial structure, the positive impact of digital finance on GTFEE is quite significant. In regions with intense banking competition, a large amount of green credit, and lower resource dependence, digital finance is conducive to enhancing GTFEE. Optimizing the allocation efficiency of production factors is an essential mechanism for digital finance to encourage improvements in GTFEE. Digital finance alleviates distortions in factor markets and enhances the matching of the marginal output and the price of capital, labor, and energy factors, thereby facilitating improvements in GTFEE. Further analysis indicates that digital finance has a significant, positive spatial spillover effect on GTFEE, enhancing GTFEE levels in both local and neighboring regions. This study enriches the research on the relationship between digital finance and energy efficiency and provides theoretical foundations and policy references for how digital finance can better serve the green transition of the economy. • This paper analyzes the impact of digital finance on green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE). • Digital finance alleviates distortions in factor markets, thereby promoting GTFEE. • Digital finance's impact on GTFEE depends on financial structure, banking competition, green credit and resource dependence. • Digital finance has a significant positive spatial spillover effect on GTFEE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike most previous studies considering the yields on green bonds versus conventional bonds or the hedging ability of green bonds against downside market risk, the main purpose of this paper is to paper examine the short-term response of green and conventional bonds to the Russia-Ukraine conflict shock and the US Federal monetary policy tightening. Using daily data from August 3, 2021 to March 29, 2022, this paper conducts an event-based study (Cumulative Abnormal Returns, CAR) and then applies a hedging analysis in the context of increasing geopolitical risk and financial stress. The analysis reveals that green bonds exhibit a stronger reaction to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US Federal rate hike than conventional, municipal, and treasury bonds in different time frames. Compared to conventional, municipal, and treasury bonds, green bonds offer lower negative CAR responses during the event window and the [-5, +5] period, suggesting a rigidity feature. The dynamic correlation and hedging analysis indicate that green bonds, unlike the other bonds indices, have a negative dynamic correlation with both geopolitical risks and financial stress, implying a hedging ability around the conflict shock and the Federal tightening cycle. These findings enrich the existing literature on green bonds, offering a wide range of applications for investment managers and policymakers. • Use event-study, conditional correlation analysis, and hedging analysis. • Green bonds react more to Russia-Ukraine conflict and rate hikes than conventional bonds. • Green bonds offer lower negative CAR responses than conventional bonds. • Geopolitical risk and financial stress are negatively related to green bonds. • Green bonds hedge geopolitical risks and financial stress during the event days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]