Search

Developing land use strategies to optimize carbon sinks and improve carbon footprints involves proposing efficient nature-based solutions that industries and businesses can implement while considering financial and legislative constraints. The pulp and paper industry is associated with significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily due to the substantial carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint of its mills. Also, some forestry operations contribute to the release of carbon to the atmosphere in the form of CO2 and methane (CH4). Conversely, this industry could potentially be a significant ally in the fight against climate change by favoring forestry practices that reduce carbon emissions and increase its sequestration, namely, by adding value to industrial by-products (e.g., biosolids) instead of treating them as wastes and landfilling them. Notably, the pulp and paper industry has been seeking alternative uses of its by-products, such as fertilizers to maximize tree growth. In this paper, we identify opportunities and challenges that exist for the pulp and paper industry in regard to recycling industrial by-products to: 1) lower GHG emissions directly at the mill and 2) improve its GHG budget by increasing carbon sequestration in forests and plantations. We illustrate our analyses by describing a case study of a pulp and paper mill in southern Quebec, Canada, that uses its biosolids and other by-products as fertilizers. This case study highlights that this strategy could not only contribute to the reduction of GHGs but could also create added value and improve economic returns of forest operations.

More attention has been paid to environmental regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy industry under the transformation of industrial structure. This paper takes microdata of Chinese energy enterprises from 1998 to 2012 as a sample to build a duty-sharing model, analyzes the effect of environmental regulations on the industrial chain, and explains the "double growth" phenomenon that occurred in China, which is nothing short of miraculous in terms of the environment and economy. In the industrial chain, the environmental obligations and responsibilities will be shared between upstream and downstream enterprises due to trade linkages. This paper finds that environmental responsibilities will move forward through the industrial chain when environmental regulations are strengthened. Downstream companies will loosen "relative" control constraints, thereby expanding output but increasing demand for upstream products. Different from the existing research, we claim that, since environmental regulation has a differential effect on the industrial chain, it will promote the growth of output in the entire chain, in contrast to the theory of "cost compliance", which claims that environmental regulation will inevitably lead to the output. Based on this research, this paper puts forward some suggestions and insights on how the government implements environmental regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry and associated processes emit about 40%-50% of greenhouse gasses globally, making buildings' lifelong impact on the environment inevitable. Although research and development stakeholders have directed their focus on various sustainable, recycled, and upcycled building materials, as well as circular designs and construction methods to reduce the adverse effects of environmental challenges, researchers have not yet fully addressed a building's post-use treatment. Considering that the gap still remains in knowledge concerning how to fully achieve net-zero waste and emissions from construction materials, designs, and processes at the end of a building's life, this study contributes a concise definition of the concept of adaptability with a holistic review to understand Design for Adaptability (DfA) and its potential to reduce the need for unnecessary new construction and eliminate potential waste. This review used the PRISMA guidelines approach to gather key insights from various articles on the concept of adaptability that are relevant to the scope of buildings. Moreover, this review identifies potential areas of further research that could boost confidence in the use of adaptable strategies in the future. A total of 50 articles out of 170 articles were chosen through a selection process involving a new set of inclusion and exclusion criteria based on PRISMA guidelines. The findings show that demographical, technological, and economic motivations drive adaptability's functional, environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, the regulatory, technical, economic, and social barriers hinder its implementation in construction processes. The findings also demonstrate that various promising frameworks for assessing adaptability still lack comprehensive guidelines, assessment, and validation methods for the overall implementation of adaptable strategies. Existing frameworks are mostly limited to spatial assessment of the reuse of spaces and do not account for the structural flexibility and performance of load-bearing building elements despite the fact that most assessed papers were from the engineering field. Nevertheless, this paper concludes that adaptability strategies can be implemented early during the construction of new buildings or during the repurposing of existing buildings, with the end goal being to increase the longevity of the use of structures, prevent premature demolition, and minimize unnecessary construction waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a very debated topic among academia, national and international institutions. Therefore, policies and tools for diminishing pollutant emissions are in place in a number of countries. Among them, taxation and renewable energy use seem to be among the most important. This paper aims at testing the impact of certain tools for climate change policy implementation, such as environmental taxes, renewable energy use, real productivity, employment rate taking into consideration the level of economic development and the GINI coefficient, on the greenhouse gas emissions in two important sectors of the economy: industry and commerce. Panel data analysis is used for a cluster of nine developing countries of the European Union that have the per capita GDP at purchasing power parity lower than 80% of the EU average, during 2008-2021. Similar to other studies, the results show a negative relationship between environmental taxation and greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector, and a positive one in the commercial sector. The latter is explained by the fact that transport, which is a main pollutant sector, is also one of the most difficult sectors to achieve green transition, given high associated costs. The analysis also shows that renewable energy use discourages the emissions of greenhouse gases, both in the industrial and commercial sectors, so that fostering investment in renewables is an important factor for addressing climate change and promoting a sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Editorial: Thermodynamic properties for function fluids in energy utilization," focuses on the development of efficient thermal systems and environmentally friendly fluids to address current environmental challenges. The research topic explores various areas such as CO2 capture technology, energy storage science, advanced energy-saving techniques, and new types of fuels. The article summarizes four papers accepted in this research topic, which cover topics such as refrigerants, nanofluid adsorption, thermally integrated pumped thermal energy storage, particle deposition characteristics in automobile tailpipes, and fracture high-conductivity location diagnostic methods for multilayered reservoirs. The article also discusses the significance of thermodynamic properties in energy utilization systems and highlights the challenges and future directions in this field, including energy efficiency, environmental impact, and infrastructure development. The authors emphasize the importance of embracing renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, and adopting smart technologies to create a sustainable energy future. [Extracted from the article]

The current global food system is characterized by anonymity in the value chain, global food trade, loss of knowledge about food sources, and a distant producerconsumer relationship. In addition, the negative environmental impacts of the agricultural sector, such as pollution, degradation of soil and water quality, loss of biodiversity, and significant greenhouse gas emissions, make this sector a major driver of climate change. In contrast, the city region food system (CRFS) approach captures the complexity of a food system and its actors at the local level. It aims to meet the requirements of sustainable transformation along the food value chain and offers an alternative approach to the challenges of the global food system. However, the actors and their relationships in CRFS are rarely analyzed. To fill this gap, this study focuses on analyzing CRFSs as networks using the Net-Map tool to study different CRFS in seven European cities (Bologna, Naples, Lansingerland, Tenerife, Oslo, Dortmund, and Romainville). The aim of this paper is to concentrate on the method and to show how the Net-Map tool can effectively support the evaluation of the CRFS by identifying different actor roles, recognizing patterns of relationships. Additionally, the strengths and weaknesses of the network can be assessed by a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. The paper highlights the limitations, advantages, and practical use of the Net-Map tool and discusses potential transferability to other case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within Indonesia, the structure of consumption and production differs significantly across provinces. This implies that carbon footprints and intensities between provinces are also diverse. This paper calculates historical consumption- and production-based carbon emissions at the provincial level using a multi-scale input-output (IO) database for 2010, in which an environmentally extended multi-regional IO (EE MRIO) table for 34 Indonesian provinces is integrated in the global EE MRIO EXIOBASE with data for 43 countries and 5 rest of the world regions. Emissions from consumption are detailed by product and their points of origin, while emissions from production are detailed by industry and their destinations. Our results show the heterogeneity of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions under both sides. The Java region is a net importer of carbon emission, while Sumatra and Kalimantan are net exporters. In the global context, the Asia Pacific region plays important role in national GHG emissions. Services product contributed 57.1% of national consumption-based GHG emissions, followed by manufacture (30.6%), and agriculture (12.3%). On the national level, 63.5% of national GHG emissions are related to household consumption. There is a high disparity across provinces in Indonesia in carbon footprints. Provincial average per capita carbon footprints vary from 2 t CO2e/capita in East Nusa Tenggara to 13.84 t CO2e/capita in East Kalimantan. Carbon intensity also varies from 0.83 kt CO2e/M Euro in Jakarta to 2.37 kt CO2e/M Euro in North Kalimantan. Agriculture and food products dominate household carbon footprints, while construction leads in government carbon footprints. Utilities and transportation services play important roles on national carbon intensities. We further correlated the Human Development Index (HDI) with per capita carbon footprints and expenditure, and find that provinces with similar GHG emissions and expenditure per capita income as Java, tend to have a lower HDI. Understanding development status and province-level characteristics is important for selecting policy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural activities constitute the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Proactively mitigating agricultural carbon emissions is crucial for safeguarding the ecological en-vironment, improving agricultural productivity, and fostering long-term ecological sustainability. This paper employs bibliometric analysis to examine the research status, hot topics, and development trends of agricultural carbon emissions in China over the past 2 decades. Based on Citespace software, the study primarily conducts visual analysis on 660 academic articles on agricultural carbon emissions collected from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) between 2001 and May 2023, including publications indexed in Peking University Chinese Core Journals (PKU Core), Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index and Chinese Science Citation Database. The analysis covers publication quantity, author cooperation, institution cooperation, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, keyword burst, keyword timeline, and keyword timezone. Research results indicate: (1) From the annual publication volume changes perspective, research on China's agricultural carbon emissions demonstrates a rapid upward trend in the new era, with increasing research interest. (2) The core net-work of research authors has been established, primarily concentrated in agricultural and forestry universities, and the core network of institutions in this field is gradually forming. However, collaboration networks between authors and research institutions are relatively dispersed, necessitating strengthened collaboration among institutions. (3) Current research on agricultural carbon emissions predominantly focuses on the challenges of reducing agricultural carbon emissions in China under the "dual carbon" goals, measures, and pathways to achieve agricultural carbon emission reductions; performance evaluation of agricultural carbon emissions, factors affecting these emissions, and their reduction potential; as well as the relationship between agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural economic growth. Future research should delve deeper into the precise accounting of agricultural carbon emissions under the "dual carbon" goals, their underlying mechanisms, and issues related to precise and differentiated agricultural carbon reduction strategies. (4) The development trajectory of domestic agricultural carbon emissions research shows a period of germination from 2001 to 2009, a development stage from 2010 to 2015, and a deepening stage from 2016 to 2023, with a notable increase in publications in 2021, signifying a new upward phase in research output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper explores the impact of energy consumption, foreign direct investment, and economic expansion on greenhouse gas emissions in OPECmember states. A panel data of 12 out of 13 OPEC nations over the period 1983 to 2022 obtained from the World Development Indicators is used. The autoregressive distributed lag simulation was adopted to determine the correlation among the series. Our estimations unveil that economic growth in the member states contributes 7.47 per cent to greenhouse gas emissions for every 1 percent increase, trade flow tends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.37 per cent for every 1 percent rise. Though the impact of foreign direct investment on greenhouse gas emissions in the OPEC member states is negative, it is statistically insignificant. The positive association between energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions emphasizes the need for OPEC countries to move to cleaner energy sources in order to reduce environmental damage. A proactive approach to investing in clean technology is critical for governments and companies in OPEC countries. This includes supporting research and development of renewable energy sources, encouraging the adoption of environmentally-safe practices in industry and fostering innovation to promote sustainable development. Strict environmental standards for industries that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions should be adopted and enforced. This includes: Setting caps on emissions, advocating for cleaner production processes, and imposing penalties for non-compliance with environmental regulations. Sustainable practices should be encouraged through tax incentives, subsidies, and other financial mechanisms designed to incentivized companies to adopt environmentally friendly processes. The implications of these findings for policymakers and future studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of economic sustainability and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are becoming more relevant in power system planning. Thus, renewable energy sources (RESs) have been widely used as clean energy for their lower generation costs and environmentally friendly characteristics. However, the strong random uncertainties from both the demand and generation sides make planning an economic, reliable, and ecological power system more complicated. Thus, this paper considers a variety of resources and technologies and presents a coordinated planning model including energy storage systems (ESSs) and grid network expansion, considering the trustworthiness of demand-side response (DR). First, the size of a single ESS was considered as its size has a close effect on maintenance costs and ultimately affects the total operating cost of the system. Second, it evaluates the influence of the trustworthiness of DR. Third, multiple resources and technologies were included in this high-penetration renewable energy integrated power system, such as ESSs, networks, DR technology, and GHG reduction technology. Finally, this model optimizes the decision variables such as the single size and location of ESSs and the operation parameters such as thermal generation costs, loss load costs, renewable energy curtailment costs, and GHG emission costs. Since the problem scale is very large not only due to the presence of various devices but also both binary and continuous variables considered simultaneously, we reformulate this model by decomposition. Then, we transform it into a master problem (MP) and a dual sub-problem (SP). Finally, the proposed method is applied to a modified IEEE 24-bus test system. The results show computational effectiveness and provide a helpful method in planning low-carbon electricity power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal agriculture contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions--an estimated 12%-20% of total anthropogenic emissions. This has led both governmental and private actors to propose various ways to mitigate those climate impacts. This paper applies a One Health lens to the issue, arguing that the choice of solutions should not only consider the potential to reduce GHG emissions--which is not always a given--but also the implications for public health and animal welfare. With this perspective, we examine the potential public health and animal welfare impacts of three types of strategies that are often proposed: (1) "sustainable intensification" methods, aimed at maintaining or increasing production while limiting emissions and avoiding further land conversion; (2) "species shift" approaches, which focus on changing diets to consume meat from animals produced with lower GHG emissions instead of that of animals associated with higher emissions; and (3) "systemic dietary change" approaches that promote shifts towards whole plant-based foods or novel alternatives to conventional animal products. We discuss how some approaches--particularly those associated with sustainable intensification and species shift--could introduce new and significant risks to public health and animal welfare. Promoting systemic dietary change helps to overcome some of these challenges, but requires careful attention to equity to ensure that vulnerable populations still have access to the nutrients they need. We end with recommendations for a more holistic approach to reducing emissions from farmed animals that can help avoid trade-offs and increase synergies with other societal goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry plays a major role in the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and waste generation observed nowadays. Key to the circular economy, structural component reuse arises as a promising solution to divert construction waste from landfilling and avoid the production of new components. In this context, this paper presents the conceptual design of a new slab-and-column system called "Re:Slab", optimized for disassembly and open-ended reassembly over multiple building lifespans. Beyond conventional considerations of modular sizing and reversible connections, the proposed system provides designers with a minimum kit of parts that is capable of exceptionally diverse building layouts-e.g., related to floor geometry, span between supports, applied loads, and spatial transformations. Attention is given to easily operable assembly and disassembly techniques, embodied environmental impacts, and manufacturing costs. As a result, the proposed system reaches unprecedented high levels of versatility, making it capable of adapting to future functional design requirements that are hard to predict over long-term social developments. Options for increased economic viability are identified, which are necessary to promote widespread adoption of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

is essential for achieving low-carbon development. The editorial emphasizes the need for collaboration between enterprises and governments, as well as the importance of dynamic capabilities in overcoming environmental uncertainty and driving eco-innovation. Additionally, the article highlights the potential of the gig economy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a low-carbon society. Overall, the document provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of integrating low-carbon behavior management with digitalization in China. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Due to the problems of greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and vegetable waste pollution during the transportation of vegetables, it is not conducive to the sustainable development of the environment. To mitigate the pollution of the environment during transportation, vegetable green logistics plays a pivotal role in promoting both environmental sustainability and high-quality economic development. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the development of vegetable green logistics. Methods: This research builds a DEMATEL-ANP-FCE model to scientifically assess the development of vegetable green logistics in Lanling County. In the first place, the model uses DEMATEL to verify the relationship and degree of influence between the primary indexes. In the second place, the ANP approach with Super Decisions software to determine the weights of the indexes at each level. Lastly, evaluating and scoring vegetable green logistics in Lanling County based on FCE. Results and discussion: The results of the study show that there is an interaction relationship between the primary evaluation indexes, and its evaluation score is low, the vegetable logistics in Lanling County has not reached the degree of greening. Accordingly, the evaluation results obtained by the DEMATEL-ANP- FCE model in this work are in line with the actual situation of vegetable green logistics in Lanling County, which verifies that the model has good applicability. Moreover, managerial contributions for promoting the development of vegetable green logistics in Lanling County are put forward in response to the evaluation situation. Expecting to enhance the greening level of vegetable logistical development and advance agricultural sustainability. Finally, all four questions raised in this paper are well addressed. This study also provides a new perspective and evaluation model for future related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees are a prominent feature of urban ecosystems. Urban tree productivity is a key component of urban ecosystem energetics and has been identified as a possible pathway for reducing global greenhouse gas concentrations. Recently, extensive research has been directed to evaluating the carbon dynamics of urban trees in cities throughout the world. Here, we synthesize this research, using results from previous studies from 154 cities to identify the distribution of urban tree productivity globally and the basis for generating urban tree productivity estimates. Reported urban tree productivity shows a strong relationship with estimated tree carbon content and exhibits increases with both temperature and precipitation, with land cover differences influencing the degree of climate sensitivity. Compared with a reference productivity estimate, urban trees showed greatly reduced estimated rates of productivity and the magnitude of reduced productivity was inversely correlated with precipitation but was independent of temperature. Reported rates of productivity across all studies suggest climate restrictions that are more important with less intensively managed land covers. Scaling these results globally suggests a limited opportunity for urban trees to contribute to atmospheric carbon dioxide reductions, especially in the absence of major carbon emission reductions. We found that the majority of results are derived from tree inventories from a single period with rates of productivity estimate through quasi-empirical or allometric models. The majority of studies have been conducted in temperate biomes and North America. These results show that existing urban tree assessments have substantial methodological restrictions and regional biases. Future research of urban tree productivity should look toward improved methods and can use this synthesis as a baseline for comparisons and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial published in Frontiers in Genetics titled "Increasing sustainability in livestock production systems through high-throughput phenotyping approaches." The editorial discusses the goals of sustainable animal production systems, including reducing environmental impact, improving social acceptability and consumer perception, and increasing economic profitability. It emphasizes the importance of measuring and analyzing inputs and outputs of animal production systems and making data-informed management and selection decisions. The editorial also highlights the use of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) and machine learning in phenotyping and the genetic mechanisms behind traits related to livestock production. The document concludes by encouraging readers to explore the articles in the Research Topic for a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable and efficient livestock production. [Extracted from the article]

Nitrogen fixation is crucial for plant growth and global agriculture, especially with the projected population growth requiring a significant increase in food production. Traditional nitrogen fixation relies on the Haber-Bosch (H-B) process, which is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful due to greenhouse gas emissions. Emerging technologies, such as cold plasma, offer promising alternatives with lower energy consumption. Cold plasma facilitates reactive nitrogen species generation under ambient conditions, potentially improving the production efficiency of nitrogen oxides (NOx). However, optimizing cold plasma nitrogen fixation requires a synergy between experimental and theoretical approaches. Accurate input data are essential for refining theoretical models, which can then guide the design of more efficient processes. This integrated approach can leverage renewable energy, operate on smaller scales, and minimize environmental impacts, making cold plasma a sustainable solution for future nitrogen fixation needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beef production is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has therefore been placed at the center of global policy and research agendas on climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, detailed quantification of the intensity of beef's contribution to emissions has mostly focused on the farm level. This research uses the calculation of a food miles emissions indicator to analyze the Colombian beef supply network from slaughterhouses to national consumption centers and its emissions between 2019 and 2022, including a network analysis and weighted average source distance (WASD) estimation. The results were compared with emissions from the transport of alternative animal proteins, specifically chicken and pork. The results show that the beef miles emissions indicator in Colombia is equivalent to 0.055330 kg CO2eq/ton of beef/ km, which is higher than pork and chicken. These findings highlight the need to develop comprehensive approaches and strategies to reduce emissions from beef production, recognizing the critical role that the beef supply network, transport distances, infrastructure, and technology play in beef-related emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste in agriculture, particularly from polyethylene mulch, poses significant environmental challenges. Synthetic biodegradable mulch has emerged as a sustainable alternative, derived from renewable resources such as thermoplastic starch, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and copolyesters. This review explores the benefits of synthetic biodegradable mulch, its environmental impact, and the policy landscape to support its adoption. A review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on three aspects: (1) the performance of synthetic biodegradable mulch in crop production and pest control, (2) the environmental, socioeconomic, and climate resilience compared to polyethylene mulch, and (3) the institutional policies that promote synthetic biodegradable mulch adoption. The analysis considered comparative data on yield, pest management, and sustainability metrics. Synthetic biodegradable mulch performs similarly or better than polyethylene mulch in various agricultural practices. It enhances crop yield, quality, and weed suppression, acts as a physical barrier against pests and diseases, reduces chemical usage, and aids in water and nutrient management. Moreover, synthetic biodegradable mulch offers environmental benefits by reducing plastic waste, microplastic pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation. While synthetic biodegradable mulch provides numerous advantages, adoption faces challenges such as high initial costs, farmer preferences, and the regulatory framework. Effective institutional policies and increased consumer demand could drive wider adoption, offering potential for improved livelihoods among small farmers while promoting environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As two important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, CO2 and N2O have been paid much attention to their environmental effects. As a large agricultural and population country in the world, agricultural soil is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, unreasonable agricultural measures will make the soil structure deteriorate and lead to the increase of saline-alkali cultivated land area. Therefore, the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali land has practical significance for agricultural production and ecological environment safety in our country. In this study, the 11th Regiment of Alar City of the First Division of Xinjiang carried out field tests on saline-alkali cultivated land, and improved the saline-alkali cultivated land with desulfurized gypsum and aeolian sand. Six treatments were set up (blank treatment (CK) desulfurized gypsum 15 t/ha (LH), desulfurized gypsum 30 t/ha (LA), desulfurized gypsum 15 t/hamixed application (FL), Aeolian sand 15 t/ha (FH), and Aeolian sand 30 t/ha (FA)). The effects of different treatments on CO2 and N2O emission fluxes in cotton-pepper soil were observed. The results show that: (1) In the growth stage of cotton-pepper, compared with CK, soil moisture increased, and soil ammonium nitrogen decreased; The conductivity increases with the increase of desulphurized gypsum and the decrease of aeolian sand. The results showed that LA treatment had the best water retention effect and FA treatment had the best salt reduction effect. (2) Compared with CK, the cumulative CO2 emission fluxes of cotton soil under different treatments were CK > LH > FL > FH > LA > FA treatment, and those of pepper soil were CK > FL > LH > FH > FA > LA treatment. Among them, the inhibition effect of cumulative soil CO2 emission under LA and FA treatment reached a significant level. (3) Compared with CK, the cumulative N2O emission fluxes of LH, LA, FL, FH and FA treated soil in cotton field were CK > LA > LH > FH > FL > FA, and that of pepper soil was CK > FA > LH > LA > FL > FH. Among them, the inhibition effect of aeolian sand (FA and FH) on soil N2O cumulative emission reached a significant level. (4) Compared with CK, LH, LA, FL, FH and FA treatments reduced the comprehensive greenhouse effect of cotton field and pepper crops by inhibiting soil CO2 emission fluxes, among which FA treatment had the lowest comprehensive greenhouse effect. Therefore, the effects of different treatments on physicochemical properties and gas emissions of saline-alkali soil were comprehensively analyzed, and FA treatment had the best effect on inhibiting CO2 and N2O emissions and improving soil physicochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK has a growing problem in the fast and unsustainable accumulation of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, causing a wide range of negative environmental and social impacts. The UK repair economy, by its nature, is a complex system involving an interplay of legislative (i.e., policy, law, regulation), social (i.e., education, health, wellbeing), economic (i.e., fiscal, business models, supply chains) and environmental aspects (i.e., materials and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions), and stakeholders (i.e., citizens, educators, repair professionals, producers, waste processors, policymakers) at a range of scales (i.e., local, national, and global). Growing a successful UK repair economy can help tackle many negative environmental and social impacts including reducing electronic waste, material consumption, mitigating supply chain risk, and regional inequality. To do this, the needs and interactions of stakeholders at local, national and global level should be supported via coordinated policy and regulation initiatives. This article takes a systems approach to understanding the UK repair economy, identifying key policy and regulatory aspects and opportunities for action and development across global, national, and local contexts to help it grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric hydrogen concentrations have been increasing in recent decades. Hydrogen is radiatively inert, but it is chemically reactive and exerts an indirect radiative forcing through chemistry that perturbs the concentrations of key species within the troposphere, including ozone. Using the atmospheric version of the United Kingdom Earth System Model, we analyse the impact of 10% increased surface concentrations of hydrogen on ozone production and loss. We also analyse the impact of this hydrogen in atmospheres with lower anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides (80% and 30% of present-day anthropogenic surface emissions), as this is a likely outcome of the transition from fossil fuels towards cleaner technologies. In each case, we also assess the changes in hydroxyl radical concentration and hence methane lifetime and calculate the net impact on the hydrogen tropospheric global warming potential (GWP). We find that the hydrogen tropospheric GWP100 will change relatively little with decreases in surface anthropogenic NOx emissions (9.4 and 9.1 for our present day and 30% anthropogenic emissions, respectively). The current estimate for hydrogen GWP100 can therefore be applied to future scenarios of differing NOx, although this conclusion may be impacted by future changes in emissions of other reactive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of meat consumption in health systems is a high-impact pathway for healthcare decarbonization. Effects including changes in greenhouse gas emissions are rarely calculated following interventions, such as the implementation of plant-forward menus in hospitals, and the results of these changes are rarely published in peer-reviewed literature. In this perspective, we discuss the decarbonization outcomes of plant-rich dietary shifts across five health systems worldwide, gathered from peer-reviewed and gray literature. In each case, the implementation of a plant-rich approach reduced food-related greenhouse gas emissions. Health co-benefits are also commonly reported. The measurement of greenhouse gas emissions of plant-rich dietary shifts in future health system interventions is encouraged, with the results published in peer-reviewed journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The goal of this study is to determine whether two commonly used generative learning activities for text-based lessons--writing a summary or creating a drawing--help students learn from a multimedia lesson involving animations with short text captions without prior training in the generative activities. Methods: Students viewed a series of four annotated animations on greenhouse gases. During pauses between the animations, students were asked to generate a written summary, to create a drawing, or to do both, whereas a control group viewed the lesson without any generative learning activities. Students were tested immediately (Experiment 1) or after a one-week delay (Experiment 2). Results: In both experiments, students who produced written summaries scored significantly higher on the posttest than those who engaged in no generative learning activities (d = 0.48 in Experiment 1, d = 0.54 in Experiment 2), but there was no significant difference on the posttest for students who generated drawings compared to those who engaged in no generative learning activities. In addition, those who engaged in drawing and summarizing did not have significantly different posttest performance than those engaged in summarizing alone. Discussion: We conclude that writing summaries during a highly visual animated lesson is effective for learning, possibly because it encourages students to engage in generative processing during learning more than drawing and we discuss potential reasons for this in the discussion. This work helps extend generative learning theory by pinpointing potential boundary conditions for learning by drawing and learning by summarizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study highlights the dual benefits of landfill gas utilization:mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and generating renewable energy. Municipal waste, containing a large proportion of organic matter, is dumped into Solid Waste Disposal Sites (SWDS), which, after anaerobic decomposition, releases methane (CH4). This study aims to assess the methane emissions from the SWDS of Chandigarh, India, and evaluate the potential for electricity generation from captured landfill gas. Waste samples were obtained using the quartile method and examined for proximate and ultimate analysis. The inventory and estimation of CH4 generation were done using the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology, including the potential of electricity generation from the CH4 generated. It has been observed that Chandigarh generates around 350 tons per day (TPD) of waste, with organic material constituting over 50% on average. The estimated amount of municipal waste with observed composition led to the generation of 0.34 Gg/yr of CH4. Depending on the efficiency of the gas energy system, 0.27 MW to 0.77 MW of electric power can be produced in Chandigarh. The study also provides a broader context for solid waste management in India. Analysis of national data revealed that India generates about 160,038.9 TPD of solid waste, with only about half (79,956.3 TPD) being treated. The country has 3,184 existing dumpsites, with significant variations across states. As per the present analysis, when extrapolated to a national scale, India could potentially generate 5,167 MWto 14,355 MWof power fromall its SWDS, resulting in annual financial gains of 4.7 to 13 billion USD. These findings underscore the importance of implementing integrated waste management strategies that prioritize waste reduction, efficient treatment, and energy recovery from landfill gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of vertical farms has been expanding rapidly in recent years to provide more resilient and sustainable global food provisioning closer to consumers. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence on whether vertical farms can provide sustainable sourcing of food. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental performance of a modular cabinet vertical farm producing lettuce and basil on-site at the end-user. To assess the environmental performance of this system, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to determine the total impact of producing lettuce and basil on-site, i.e., a kitchen for an office cafeteria, and compare to conventional sourcing. The results from this study suggest that the modular vertical farm can provide crops with environmental impacts comparable to or less than conventionally sourced options. GHG emissions ranged from 0.78-1.18 kg CO2-eq per kg lettuce and from 1.45-2.12 kg CO2-eq per kg basil from on-site production. The ranges suggest that the environmental performance is sensitive to methodological choices and life cycle inventory (LCI) data choices. These include how to treat the infrastructure for the modular cabinet, as it is often rented as a growingservice system, in addition to the LCI data choices related to the source of electricity. In conclusion, under local conditions (i.e., Stockholm, Sweden) the modular vertical farm can produce lettuce with equivalent emissions and quality to imported lettuce, despite its high energy requirement. The findings and knowledge from this study add to the growing body of literature on vertical farming, providing empirical evidence on the sustainability of an onsite commercial cabinet-based vertical farm. Such information can be used for comparisons and validation of claims in the industry, and to provide empirical evidence to this developing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy system optimization is needed for optimal sustainable net-zero electricity (NZE) mix even at regional/local scales because of the energy storage needs for addressing the intermittency of renewable energy supply. This study presents a novel regional/local energy planning model for optimum sustainable NZE mix under spatiotemporal climate/meteorological and electrical load demand constraints. A generic robust non-linear constrained mathematical programming (NLP) algorithm has been developed for energy system optimization; it minimizes the levelized cost and greenhouse gas emissions while maximizing reliability against stored energy discharge analysis (RADA). Reliability, defined as the ratio of excess stored renewable power discharge to unmet load demand, is a measure of the extent of unmet load demand met by the excess stored renewable power. Coupled with the NLP, the RADA and energy storage evaluations are used to determine the seasonal energy storage (SES) conditions and realistic renewable proportions for NZE. The significance of the proposed framework lies in determining the maximum hours of viable electrical energy storage beyond which the reliability enhancement is infinitesimal. The significant observations of this work include 96 h of maximum viable electrical energy storage beyond which the reliability enhancement is infinitesimal. While this observation is robust based on previous reports for the case of the United States, a realistic NZE mix for Southern United Kingdom is obtained as follows. Direct wind and solar sources can meet 63%, 62%, and 55% of the electricity demands in the southwest, Greater London, and southeast regions of the United Kingdom, respectively; further, battery energy storage systems can increase the renewable proportions by 21%, 22%, and 13% in these three regions. The unmet demands can be met by renewable electricity through SES. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) and pumped hydro storage offer viable SES. Following these, natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS), bioenergy, and hydrogen SES are the choices based on increasing cost per lifecycle climate impact potential to meet the electricity demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the crucial issues confronting China is high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Despite the numerous measures outlined to promote the country's carbon neutrality target, CO2 emissions in the nation continue to increase. This means that more policy options are needed to help improve environmental sustainability (ES) in the nation. Hence, examining the relationship between financial development (FD), foreign direct investment, industrialization, and environmental sustainability in China to provide proper recommendations to drive the carbon neutrality agenda of the nation is deemed fitting. In attaining this goal, time-series data from the period 1990 to 2018 is employed. According to the results, foreign direct investment deteriorates environmental sustainability by promoting more CO2 emissions. This validates the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH). In addition, industrialization and financial development are not friendly to the nation's environmental quality. Furthermore, economic growth and urbanization escalate environmental pollution in the nation. In addition, the interactions between financial development and foreign direct investment and between financial development and industrialization deteriorate the environment in China. Moreover, foreign direct investment and financial development have an inverted U-shaped association with environmental degradation, but industrialization and environmental pollution are not nonlinearly related. The study advocated for the implementation of measures that could help advance the carbon-neutrality targets of the nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions (NBS), in the form of active ecosystem conservation, restoration and improved land management, represent a pathway to accelerate net-zero emissions (NZE) strategies and support biodiversity. Meaningful implementation and successful accounting depend on the ability to differentiate between anthropogenic and natural carbon fluxes on land. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) land carbon accounting methods currently incorporate all CO2 fluxes on managed land in country inventories without distinguishing between anthropogenic and natural components. Meanwhile, natural land carbon sinks are modelled by earth system models but are mostly reported at global level. Here we present a simple yet novel methodology to estimate the present and future progression of natural land sinks at the country and regional level. Forests dominate the uptake of CO2 on land and as such, our analysis is based on allocating global projections of the natural land carbon flux to individual countries using a compilation of forest land areas for a historic and scenario range spanning 1960-2100. Specifically, we use MIT's carbon cycle model simulations that are set in the context of emissions pathways from the Shell Energy Security Scenarios (2023). Our natural land carbon flux estimates for individual countries and regions such as the European Union (EU) show generally good agreement with independent estimates from recent land-use harmonisation studies for 2000-2020. Hence, our approach may also provide a simple, first-order exploration of future natural land fluxes at country level--a potential that other studies do not yet offer. In turn, this enables better understanding of the anthropogenic and natural components contributing to country NZE targets under different scenarios. Nevertheless, our findings also suggest that models such as the Shell World Energy Model (WEM) would benefit from further improvements in the apportionment of land carbon sources and sinks to evaluate detailed actions to meet country targets. More importantly, uncertainties remain regarding the resilience of land ecosystems and their capacity to store increasing amounts of carbon under progressive global warming. Therefore, we recommend that the carbon cycle modelling and energy modelling research communities continue to collaborate to develop a next generation of relevant data products to distinguish anthropogenic from natural impacts at local, regional and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging economies and ecosystems are critically dependent on fossil fuels, and a country's energy dependence is a significant measure of its reliance on foreign suppliers. This study evaluates the impact of energy reliance on energy intensity, CO2 emission intensity, and the utilization of renewable resources in 35 developing and 20 developed nations, as well as the connection between renewable energy (REN), GDP growth, and CO2 emissions. This study employs the generalized linear model (GLM) and the robust least squares (RLS) method to assess the inverse association between renewable energy and developed and developing economy policymakers, utilizing unique linear panel estimate approaches (1970--2022). The impact of renewable energy as a response variable on economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions across four continents is investigated in this study. The findings indicate that developing countries experience a rise in per capita CO2 emissions if their renewable energy use exceeds their capacity. This finding remains significant even when other proxies for renewable energy use are introduced using modified approaches. Furthermore, it is particularly relevant to industrialized nations that possess more developed institutions. Even more surprisingly, in terms of the energy and emission intensity required for growth, energy dependence has accelerated all components. The regional analysis revealed a spillover impact in most areas, suggesting that the consequences of energy dependence are essentially the same in neighboring countries. The growth of the renewable energy sector and the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions depend critically on the ability of regional energy exchange unions to mitigate the negative environmental and economic impacts of energy dependency. These underdeveloped countries need to spend more on research and development to catch up technologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, annual emissions from managed organic soils accounts for up to 5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Climate-wise management and restoration of degraded organic soils could reduce GHG emissions quickly and at relatively low costs. The European Union (EU) Member States that have large areas of organic soils with high GHG emissions are Sweden, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Netherlands, and the Baltic countries. To meet the climate targets and objectives of the Paris Agreement the land-use sector is indispensable and mitigation policies targeting organic soils will be needed. The international regulatory framework is broad and quite unspecific. In contrast, the European Union has initiated binding regulation for the land-use sector through the EU Climate Law, the EU LULUCF regulation, and the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law. However, even this regulatory approach is not on track to deliver on its binding ambitions, indicating the need for more effective implementation measures also on organic soils in the EU and its member states. Furthermore, we argue that appropriate policy selection should consider current knowledge regarding the climate impacts of management options of organic soils. Lastly, we need more studies on GHG emissions, and standardized methods for GHG inventories, to resolve uncertainties surrounding the impacts of management to GHG emissions. Successful policy implementation requires more efforts but also improved scientific justification through continuous consideration of climate policy integrity and strengthening of the reliability of GHG inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aquaponics provide multiple benefits due to the simultaneous yield of vegetables and fish, however they are characterized by increased greenhouse gas emissions owing to intensive production system. The most appropriate method for quantifying the environmental effects of these systems is Life Cycle Assessment with which the identification of hotspots and the suggestion of improved production plans can be achieved. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the environmental impact of a pilot high-tech aquaponic system utilized for the simultaneous production of baby lettuce and rocket as well as rainbow trout, in indicators such as Global Warming Potential. Materials and methods: To achieve this goal, data on inputs and outputs were collected from 12 case studies that were implemented, combining different fertilizer treatments, substrate choices, plant species cultivated and water source provision. Life Cycle Assessment was performed using SimaPro v.9.4.0.2 software. Results: The results showcase that the optimal case studies include the cultivation of baby lettuce and rocket in perlite substrate using wastewater from fish and partial use of synthetic fertilizers. Indicatively, Global Warming Potential of these cases was calculated at 21.18 and 40.59 kg CO2-eq/kg of vegetable respectively. The parameter with the greatest impact on most of the environmental indicators was electricity consumption for the operation of the oxygen supply pump for the fish tanks, while greenhouse infrastructure had the greatest impact in Abiotic Depletion and Human Toxicity impact categories. In an alternative production scenario tested where renewable energy sources were used, system impacts were reduced by up to 50% for Global Warming Potential and 86% for Eutrophication impact. The results of this study aspire to constitute a significant milestone in environmental impact assessments of aquaponic production systems and the adoption of more sustainable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) on the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of host countries. The study finds that China's FDI primarily affects GTFP through green technology efficiency, with both inhibitory and promotional effects. There is no evidence of a "pollution haven effect" associated with China's FDI, and in fact, countries with lower environmental regulations experience more effective GTFP growth from China's FDI. The innovation level of host countries also moderates the relationship between China's FDI and GTFP growth. The study utilizes comprehensive data and advanced methodologies to provide new empirical insights into the environmental impacts of China's FDI and offers a foundation for promoting green and sustainable development. [Extracted from the article]

Fishing vessels are important contributors to global emissions in terms of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. However, few studies have addressed the emissions from fishing vessels on fishing grounds. In this study, a framework for estimating fishing vessel emissions, using a bottom-up dynamic method based on the big data from the Beidou VMS (vessel monitoring system) of fishing vessels, is proposed and applied to a survey of fishing vessel emissions in the East China Sea. The results of the study established a one-year emission inventory of fishing vessels in the East China Sea. This study was the first to use VMS data to estimate fishing vessel emissions in a fishing area, and the results will help to support the management of their carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruminant feed is a major problem for the livestock sector in West African developing countries causing animal nutritional diseases, reducing ruminant production, and creating a massive ecological crisis through greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative feeds, which include agro-industrial by-products, fodder trees, crop residues, insects, fodder legumes, algae, and pulses, constitute enormous feed resources for livestock in Africa. This study was conducted in accordance with the methodological recommendations of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). We conducted a literature search using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify documents related to alternative ruminant feeds using the following keywords: alternative feeds, ruminant products, environmental impacts, and West Africa. Those that met the inclusion criteria were included, resulting in 44 articles published between 2013 and 2023. These studies included 45 alternative feeds divided into six groups, including agro-industrial by-products (48.89%), followed by fodder trees (17.78%), crop residues (13.33%), insects (8.89%), fodder legumes (6.67%) and seaweeds (4.44%). Our results revealed that alternative feed resources and their effects on ruminant's performances and environment are poorly known in West Africa, which limits their inclusion in rations and sometimes leads to their misuse. Future research should focus on these aspects in order to make efficient use of these resources to improve ruminant milk and meat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding urban spatial heterogeneity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sectoral household consumption is crucial to facilitate moves towards low-carbon cities. In this study, we use Xiamen city of China as a case study to reveal the emission characteristics of household GHG as well as spatial heterogeneity. We conducted a face-to-face questionnaire survey and calculated GHG emissions of districts from household energy consumption, food consumption, transportation, housing, household waste and wastewater treatment. The GHG emissions and the amount of urban residential household consumption shows obvious spatial heterogeneity across districts. Total GHG emissions of Xiamen city were 8.39 Mt. CO2e, and average household and per capita of GHG emissions were 8.11 and 2.72 tCO2e, respectively. While total GHG emissions vary from 0.41 to 2.45 Mt. CO2e across six districts and range from 0.16 to 3.39 Mt. CO2e among six sectors. Household GHG emissions differ from 7.08 to 9.40 tCO2e, while the per capita emissions range between 2.41 to 3.14 tCO2e among districts. Results also showed that more urbanized areas with higher population density have larger total urban residential GHG emissions, whereas household emissions were comparatively lower in these areas. In contrast, our study did not show an (inverted-) U relationship or linear relationship between emissions and population, nor between emissions and income level. Household energy use is the largest sector emitting GHGs. These findings will be useful to underpin policy making towards low-carbon cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations has recognised a universal human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. This right should include the right to healthy animals within that environment because (a) logically animals are part of the environment and (b) poor animal health can affect human health through mechanisms such as pathogen transfer, ecosystem damage, unsustainable resource utilisation and greenhouse gas emissions. Current definitions of health and identified risk factors for animal and human health include physical, mental and environmental social factors. This simple logic might be challenged from perspectives of (1) humans waiving their own right to health; (2) purported conflicting priorities; and (3) concerns that animals also have rights, but these challenges do not refute the underlying argument that the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment includes a right to healthy animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy communities (RECs) are clean energy, emergent initiatives that invest in people cooperation in order to meet consumption needs and achieve environmental goals. The main aim of the study is to explore the potential of the renewable energy community in Italy by identifying a methodological perspective to describe the development processes and encourage the diffusion of multi-stakeholders' initiatives across the Italian territory. To do so, we propose a general analysis of the renewable energy community framework, starting with the regulatory and technical-administrative state of the art that regulates renewable energy communities in Italy, based on information from the literature. Then, we interpret the procedure of REC initiatives by systematizing the steps of energy community formation and their characteristics, coming from a literature review of experiences achieved at a national level. Much literature is available on renewable energy technologies, but existing research lacks assessments regarding the description of the formation process of local energy systems applied to realized experiences. To do this, two strategies for the energy community are proposed through a comparative case study analysis to provide a framework for the emerging phenomenon and analyze and define the types of renewable energy communities based on realized experiences in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing environmental concerns are potentially narrowing global yield capacity of agricultural systems. Climate change is the most significant problem the world is currently facing. To meet global food demand, food production must be doubled by 2050; over exploitation of arable lands using unsustainable techniques might resolve food demand issues, but they have negative environmental effects. Current crop production systems are a major reason for changing global climate through diminishing biodiversity, physical and chemical soil degradation, and water pollution. The over application of fertilizers and pesticides contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and toxic soil depositions. At this crucial time, there is a pressing need to transition to more sustainable crop production practices, ones that concentrate more on promoting sustainable mechanisms, which enable crops to grow well in resource limited and environmentally challenging environments, and also develop crops with greater resource use efficiency that have optimum sustainable yields across a wider array of environmental conditions. The phytomicrobiome is considered as one of the best strategies; a better alternative for sustainable agriculture, and a viable solution to meet the twin challenges of global food security and environmental stability. Use of the phytomicrobiome, due to its sustainable and environmentally friendly mechanisms of plant growth promotion, is becoming more widespread in the agricultural industry. Therefore, in this review, we emphasize the contribution of beneficial phytomicrobiome members, particularly plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as a strategy to sustainable improvement of plant growth and production in the face of climate change. Also, the roles of soil dwelling microbes in stress amelioration, nutrient supply (nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization), and phytohormone production along with the factors that could potentially affect their efficiency have been discussed extensively. Lastly, limitations to expansion and use of biobased techniques, for instance, the perspective of crop producers, indigenous microbial competition and regulatory approval are discussed. This review largely focusses on the importance and need of sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches such as biobased/PGPR-based techniques in our agricultural systems, especially in the context of current climate change conditions, which are almost certain to worsen in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we leverage sentiment analysis to investigate public perception towards environmental issues as conveyed through global news articles and its potential implications on the transition to a low-carbon economy. Utilizing an extensive corpus of news articles sourced globally, we deploy Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to quantify sentiment in these articles, capturing public sentiment's dynamism and complexity towards various environmental issues. Our methodology involves sentiment scoring of key aspects like "climate change", "climate policy", "renewable energy", "solar energy", "wind energy", and "environmental impact" which facilitated a detailed sentiment trend analysis over time. We also incorporated a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model to conduct topic modelling, identifying five major topics recurring in the discourse. Our correlation analysis uncovers interesting relationships such as a positive correlation between sentiment scores of "low carbon" and "electric cars", and a negative correlation between "greenhouse gas emissions" and "electric cars". The findings indicate that public sentiment towards environmental issues is not only multifaceted but also evolving, with significant implications for policy-making and stakeholder engagement in the low-carbon transition. These results exemplify sentiment analysis as a powerful tool in understanding public perception, providing actionable insights for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in environmental issues and the lowcarbon economy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the possibility of using wood as a building material for the construction of houses. A comprehensive method was used, which consisted of analysing environmental management regulations, applying the life cycle assessment method to minimise the carbon footprint; using software to calculate the carbon footprint of a wooden house at different stages of the life cycle. The object of study is the carbon footprint of a house built of wood. The Life Cycle Assessment method was used as a methodology for assessing the life cycle. Using the One Click Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost software, the carbon footprint of a log house was calculated for the product life cycle stage mentioned above (A1-A3). When calculating the carbon footprint of wood-based building materials, carbon emissions were taken into account not only from the finished products, but also from all other products obtained as a result of logging. When calculating the carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions from all activities are estimated. We have obtained data on the life cycle cost of a wooden house in terms of electricity use. Accordingly, we obtained a value of global warming potential (A1-A3) of 0.51 kg CO2 e/kWh. We also obtained data on the life cycle cost of a wooden house in terms of diesel consumption. According to the results of the LCA, the value of the global warming potential due to meeting the water supply/sewage needs is (A1-A3) 0.69 kg CO2 e/m3. The value of the global warming potential due to meeting the heat supply needs of production needs is (A1-A3) 0.13 kg CO2 e/kWh. Based on the information obtained, we can conclude that it is advisable to use a wooden log house as a building material, as the carbon footprint is smaller than that of a brick building. The final section presents the results of calculating the life cycle cost of a wooden house by discount factor and inflation, the results of the life cycle cost of a wooden house by percentage of energy costs, and the results of assessing the life cycle cost of a wooden house (displaying parameters according to the European energy certification scale). Based on the carbon footprint assessment (using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology), economic comparison (Life Cycle Cost and total construction costs), and expert assessment (based on technical and ergonomic parameters) of the two construction technologies, the feasibility and possibility of using wood as a building material was established. The study proves the feasibility of applying the LCA method in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Movement-friendly environments with infrastructure favouring active mobility are important for promoting physical activity. This scoping literature review aims at identifying the current evidence for links between mobility infrastructures and (a) behaviour regarding active mobility, (b) health outcomes and (c) co-benefits. Method: This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA scoping review guidelines using PubMed and EMBASE databases. Studies included in this review were conducted in Europe, and published between 2000 and March 2023. Results: 146 scientific articles and grey literature reports were identified. Connectivity of sidewalks, walkability, and accessibility of shops, services and work are associated with walking. Cycling is positively associated with cycle-paths, separation of cycling from traffic and proximity to greenspaces, and negatively associated with traffic danger. Increased active transportation has a protective effect on cardiovascular and respiratory health, obesity, fitness, and quality of life. Co-benefits result from the reduction of individual motorized transportation including reduced environmental pollution and projected healthcare expenditure. Conclusion: Mobility infrastructure combined with social and educational incentives are effective in promoting active travel and reducing future healthcare expenses. A shift to active transportation would increase both individual and community health and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands must be substantially reduced to meet climate mitigation targets. In Germany, annual peatland emissions of 53 Mt CO2e account for more than 7% of total national GHG emissions. Peatland drainage and reclamation is traditionally considered as a symbol of progress and technical achievement, where agriculture has been the major driver. In Germany, an area of 1.3 million ha of drained peatlands used for agriculture ought to be rewetted by 2050 to meet the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. Paludiculture allows a productive use of wet peatlands instead of abandonment following rewetting. This approach might therefore pave the way for voluntary large-scale peatland rewetting. However, implementation remains scarce. The long history and large extent of peatland drainage has shaped the political and legal framework as well as perceptions and attitudes, thus impeding rewetting and climate-friendly peatland use. This policy and practice review investigates the political, legal, economic and social aspects that hinder the implementation in Germany and derives approaches to overcome multifold restrictions. Finally, three major fields of action are identified: (1) To increase and accelerate rewetting, a consistent peatland mainstreaming approach is needed that overcomes structural barriers and adapts the policy and legal framework, e.g., the Common Agricultural Policy, planning law, water law and nature conservation law. (2) To motivate for a rapid transition, a system of immediate, comprehensive and attractive positive incentives is needed. This should be accompanied by early announcement and gradual introduction of negative incentives to set a clear course and provide planning certainty for farmers and landowners. (3) A just transition depends on empowering local communities to develop and pursue perspectives tailored to their peatland region. Future research of peatlands as social-ecological systems can help to identify region-specific drivers for sustainable peatland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is now increasing acknowledgement of the role of indigenous and local people (ILP) in climate change, particularly in impact assessment, mitigation and adaptation. However, the methods and ways on how exactly indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) can be used in climate change action largely remain fragmented. While a growing share of scholarship has addressed the overlaps between ILK and adaptation, limited attention has been given on practical ways of working with indigenous communities to enhance knowledge of implementing mitigation actions. Without clearly articulated indigenous-sensitive methods for ILK integration in mitigation science, holders and users of this knowledge may remain at the boundaries of climate change action. Their knowledge and experiences may not be used to guide effective greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction activities. There are also fears that hurriedly and poorly developed mitigation projects that ignore indigenous and local communities may infringe their customary rights and livelihoods. To contribute to improved guidance on meaningful involvement of ILP in climate change mitigation, this study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) to systematically review literature that links ILK and climate mitigation. We do this by (a) Identifying case studies that examine the overlaps of ILK and climate change mitigation from Scopus and Web of Science databases (n = 43); (b) analysing the methods used for engaging indigenous people in these studies; (c) determining the knowledge, ways, practices and experiences of ILP that show mitigation benefits; and (d) highlighting the direction for participatory engagement of ILP in mitigation research and practice. We have added to the emerging but fast growing knowledge on the overlaps of ILK and climate change mitigation. This intersection is evident in three ways: (a) Validation and application of concepts used to understand carbon sequestration; (b) GHG emission reduction mainly from natural resource dependent livelihoods involving ILP; and (c) the application of participatory methodologies in research and the practice of climate change mitigation. We conclude that studies that focus on the intersection of ILK and climate mitigation need to use indigenous-sensitive methodologies to give more benefits for climate mitigation objectives while recognising the rights of ILP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epipelagic macroalgae of Ulva prolifera and Sargassum are the primary contributors to widespread seaweed tides globally. Both ocean plants release large amounts of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) into the surrounding seawater. The photochemical reactivity of this CDOM, however, has not been adequately addressed. In this study, we extracted CDOM from Ulva prolifera and Sargassum, examined their ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption characteristics, and quantified their broadband apparent quantum yields (AQY) of absorbance photobleaching and photomineralization (in terms of CO2, CO, and CH4 photoproduction). On a per-unit-weight basis, Sargassum leached 3.5 times more CDOM than did Ulva prolifera in terms of the absorption coefficient averaged over 254-500 nm. Both Ulva prolifera and Sargassum CDOM were characterized by quasi-exponential decay absorption spectra, with Sargassum CDOM exhibiting a distinct shoulder over 310-350 nm suggestive of mycosporine amino acids. The Sargassum CDOM had a higher photobleaching AQY but lower photomineralization AQYs compared to Ulva prolifera CDOM. The photobleaching and photomineralization AQYs of both macroalgal CDOM are, however, orders of magnitude higher than those of CDOM in various natural waters. Potential photoproduction rates of CO2 and CO from the Ulva prolifera CDOM and Sargassum CDOM during the bloom periods are several times to orders of magnitude higher than the air-sea fluxes of these gases in the absence of the macroalgae. This study demonstrates that CDOM released by Ulva prolifera and Sargassum is extremely prone to photobleaching and photomineralization, rendering floating mats of these plants in oceans as potential "hotspots" of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. This photochemical feedback should be considered when assessing ocean afforestation as a CO2 removal approach to mitigate climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental data are rapidly accruing on the unsustainability of diets based on animal products, such as dairy and meats. Shifting to alternative sources of protein is inevitable given an increase in the projected global population and protein demand. Left unchecked, a collision between food security and sustainability is imminent. Potatoes could be the strategic food and cash crop to harmonize food security and sustainability worldwide. Recently, there has been a growing interest in extracting proteins from the byproduct of the potato starch industry known as potato fruit juice. These proteins are garnering attention due to their nutritional value, characterized by a well-balanced amino acid profile, as well as their functional properties including emulsifying, foaming, and gelling capabilities. Moreover, these proteins are considered to be less allergenic than some other protein sources. Extracting potato protein, which is sourced as a byproduct, reduces food loss and waste, thereby eliminating pathogenic microorganisms from the environment and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Ethiopia is a major potato producer in East Africa. Potatoes help the country increase household income, ensure food security and revenue generation, and produce starch. However, Ethiopia's potato starch industry has not yet begun protein extraction, despite the vital role of the proteins and the country's huge cultivation potential. Furthermore, the global potato protein market is experiencing significant growth. This information urgently calls for innovative approaches to assess the impact of extracting protein from potatoes produced in Ethiopia. Therefore, this perspective article has two main objectives. First, to scan the extent of potato production in Ethiopia in relation to environmental sustainability and the economy. Second, to provide prospects on the impact of extracting protein isolate from potatoes produced in Ethiopia on environmental sustainability, Ethiopia's economy, and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provides a wide array of tax credits and other incentives for low-carbon energy. The technology-neutral clean generation production tax credit (PTC) (Section 45Y of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code) and the technology-neutral investment tax credit (ITC) (Section 48E) lower the net cost of new electricity generation projects with zero or negative greenhouse gas emission rates. We evaluate the impact of the IRA legislation--specifically the PTC and ITC--on the cost-competitiveness of small modular reactors (SMRs). We use the Argonne Low-carbon Energy Analysis Framework (A-LEAF) model to calculate the capacity factor of an SMR with a range of hypothetical variable operating and maintenance (O&M) costs in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) electricity market. We selected ERCOT for market modeling because of its competitive structure, available data, and extensive use in prior literature. We use a discounted cash flow model to calculate the SMR's net present value based on the market prices and capacity factors from A-LEAF, hypothetical ranges of capital and variable O&M costs, and other input parameters, with or without the IRA tax credits. We determine the SMR owner's optimal choice of PTC or ITC for the hypothetical ranges of capital and variable O&M costs. We also evaluate potential shifts in the SMR owner's optimal choice of PTC or ITC based on historical patterns of nuclear capital cost overruns in the United States. We also assess the sensitivity of our results to longer PTC period and electricity prices from the New England market, which tend to be higher than electricity prices in ERCOT. We find that even with the IRA tax credits, only SMRs with low capital and variable O&M costs would be economically feasible in the low-price ERCOT market scenario modeled. A longer PTC period and higher-price market such as New England, however, would significantly expand the economic feasibility of SMRs in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change has intensified the water cycle, leading to frequent extreme precipitation events, posing a significant threat to railway infrastructure and safety operations. Based on the analysis of past and future precipitation changes in China, this study investigates the impact of climate change on railway safety operations. The study reveals the following findings: (1) Under the influence of the intensified East Asian summer monsoon and the northward shift of the subtropical high during the 2017-2021 compared to the 2012-2016, precipitation has significantly decreased (120 mm) in the regions south of the Yangtze River and South China, while it has increased (60 mm) in the regions from the eastern of Northwest China to the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River; The operational precipitation risk has decreased for Urumqi, Lanzhou, Qinghai-Tibet Group, Xi'an, and Wuhan railway bureaus (abbreviated as Bureau), while it has increased for Nanchang, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang Bureaus. Particularly noteworthy is that despite a decrease in total annual precipitation for Nanchang bureau (15.3 mm/a), the frequency of intense precipitation events has increased, leading to an increased operational precipitation risk. (2) During the 21[sup st] century, under high (SSP5-8.5), medium (SSP2-4.5), and low (SSP1-2.6) forcing scenarios, all projections indicate that most of the China will experience an increasing trend in precipitation, with significant increases in precipitation observed in the regions south of the Yangtze Rive, South and Southwest China. The higher the greenhouse gas emissions, the more pronounced the increasing trend in precipitation. (3) Compared to the 20[sup th] century, under high (SSP5-8.5), medium (SSP2-4.5), and low (SSP1-2.6) forcing scenarios, all projections indicate that the total annual precipitation hours, railway inspection, speed limit, and closure risk hours have all increased on a national scale during the 21[sup st] century. The operational precipitation risk for railways has also increased. The higher the alert level for railway precipitation (precipitation < inspection < speed limit < closure), the higher the proportion of risk hours compared to the 20th century. By the late 21[sup st] century, the railway inspection, speed limit, and closure risk hours have increased by 175%, 463%, and 647%, respectively, compared to the 20[sup th] century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation and climate change, two intricately intertwined phenomena, demand appropriate management solutions to effectively tackle the escalating issues of food and nutritional security. In this context, the realm of agriculture confronts formidable challenges in its pursuit of soil resource reclamation, improving water quality, mitigating climate change, and maintaining soil and natural resources for posterity. Central to these aspirations is the preservation of an optimum organic matter, serving as a linchpin threshold is crucial for protecting the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the soil, while simultaneously sustaining agricultural productivity. To address these multifaceted challenges, the introduction of diverse organic amendments has emerged as a crucial strategy. Noteworthy among these is the application of biochar,which functions as a soil conditioner capable of bolstering soil health, mitigating the impact of climate change, and securing global food security. Biochar is a carbon-enriched substance produced through pyrolysis of assorted biomasswaste. It has a larger surface area, higher cation exchange capacity, and an extended carbon storage capability. The strategic integration of biochar production and subsequent soil application engenders an array of benefits, encompassing the amelioration of soil physical properties, augmented retention and the availability of nutrients, and the enhancement of biological activity, resulting in higher agricultural yields and societal benefits through the curtailment of soil to atmosphere greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, biochar demonstrates its efficacy in the realm of environmental restoration by serving as a medium for extraction and elimination of heavy metals, which often pervade aquatic ecosystems and soil matrices. This review addressed the need for biochar production, characterization, soil health, the possibility for environmental restoration, and crop yield fluctuations owing to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution focuses on reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of solar photovoltaic (PV) carport structures by replacing carbon-intensive steel with a wood-based material. There is a growing need for PV systems that are suitable for urban environments where the lack of roof spaces and open land limits the use of traditional PV installations. To date, PV carports have been mainly constructed with steel, which has a high carbon footprint and can be considered aesthetically unattractive. Wood structures, on the other hand, could act as carbon storage and thus reduce the GHG emissions of the whole system. Emissions and costs of supporting structures for PV systems have received very little attention, and there is virtually no literature specific to them. This study compares wood-based glued laminated timber (GLT) structures with conventional steel structures by investigating the GHG emissions and economic feasibility. The simulated 485 kWp system with wooden structures yielded base-case lifetime GHG emissions of 11.3 g CO2 eq/kWh in Turku Finland (60°N), and 8.2 g CO2 eq/kWh in Dijon France (47° N), representing a 48% lower value compared to systems with steel structures. Furthermore, wooden structures were competitive in terms of costs, being approximately 25% cheaper. Thus, wooden structures provide a very attractive way to make infrastructure integrated PV more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]