Article
Environmental Studies
Maria Angeles Rodriguez-Domenech, Maria Carmen Canizares Ruiz
Summary: This study analyzes the evolution of sustainability policies in Spanish cities, focusing on the transition from Local Agenda 21 to current sustainable development strategies. The research covers five provincial capitals in the Castilla-La Mancha region. The findings highlight progress made towards urban sustainability in these medium-sized cities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chandni Bedi, Arun Kansal, Pierre Mukheibir
Summary: This paper addresses the complexity of assessing the liveability of cities and aims to enhance the understanding of the concept for planners and policymakers. It provides a systematic understanding of liveability and its key constructs, suggests various measurement methods, and emphasizes the trade-offs between liveability and sustainability in urban planning. The paper also highlights the social construction of liveability and suggests the use of cognitive, participatory, and micro-scale indicators. It introduces a participatory assessment approach called SaRVO and recommends it to future town planners, policymakers, and researchers.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Isabelle D. Wolf, Gordon Waitt
Summary: In this review, we examine how the relationships between public urban nature spaces and wellbeing vary by ethnicity in cities of the Global North. The review includes 65 articles that explore the positive and negative relationships between public urban nature spaces, ethnicity and wellbeing in four interrelated domains: integration/relationship building, therapy, safety, and capabilities/competency building. The findings offer twelve wellbeing pathways to design urban nature spaces that are more inclusive to all residents, providing valuable insights for park management.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tong Zou, Ayotunde Dawodu, Eugenio Mangi, Ali Cheshmehzangi
Summary: The current global food system is facing significant threats due to various factors, and there is a lack of comprehensive tools for assessing urban food system sustainability. This study aims to investigate the impacts of food system studies on sustainable communities or cities and develop a framework for urban food systems.
Article
Ecology
Deep Chandra Suyal, Divya Joshi, Saurabh Kumar, Pankaj Bhatt, Arun Narayan, Krishna Giri, Manali Singh, Ravindra Soni, Rakshak Kumar, Ashok Yadav, Rubee Devi, Tanvir Kaur, Divjot Kour, Ajar Nath Yadav
Summary: The Himalayas, uplifted 60-70 million years ago, are home to diverse ecosystems and microorganisms with applications in agriculture and environmental sustainability. Microbes from the Himalayas have been identified as potential biofertilizers and biopesticides, aiding in plant growth and remediation of pollutants in the region.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jose A. Puppim de Oliveira, Rodrigo A. Bellezoni, Wan-yu Shih, Bogachan Bayulken
Summary: Traditional engineering approaches are insufficient for the sustainability challenges posed by urbanization. Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) can provide cost-effective solutions and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, knowledge on strategic innovation of GBI in cities is limited.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jose A. Puppim de Oliveira, Rodrigo A. Bellezoni, Wan-yu Shih, Bogachan Bayulken
Summary: This article discusses the importance of urban Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) and how innovation in these infrastructure can address challenges faced by cities, while also providing theoretical discussions and future research directions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jhon Ricardo Escorcia Hernandez, Sara Torabi Moghadam, Ayyoob Sharifi, Patrizia Lombardi
Summary: This paper systematically reviews the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on urban sustainability, using a methodology that combines bibliometric analysis and content analysis. The study identifies resilient urban planning as a key concept for building sustainable cities in the post-pandemic scenario, and suggests several future research topics.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chao Ye, Patrick Schroder, Dongyang Yang, Mingxing Chen, Can Cui, Liang Zhuang
Summary: Urbanization and public health are closely interconnected with global natural and social changes. To create a healthy China, the focus should be on healthy urbanization, wellbeing, and sustainable development. The concept and approaches of liveable cities can complement the deficiencies of the current centralized planning approach.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Urban Studies
Yaryna Khmara, Jakub Kronenberg
Summary: Cities have the potential to serve as places for experiments in social, economic, and ecological transition. A new narrative of 'urban degrowth economics' is necessary to implement degrowth on a larger scale. By analyzing strategies and policies of selected case study cities, we can assess which approaches are closest to degrowth values.
Article
Urban Studies
N. Valenzuela-Levi, L. Fuentes, M. Ramirez, S. Rodriguez, A. Senoret
Summary: With increasing levels of urbanization globally, the concept of urban sustainability has become a crucial element in discussions on sustainable development. Discontent and social crises are common in major cities around the world, often linked to the neoliberal urbanization process. This study proposes a new approach to analyze urban sustainability using households' perceived satisfaction, with data collected from Chile's main metropolitan areas.
Article
Business
Maximilian A. Richter, Markus Hagenmaier, Oliver Bandte, Vinit Parida, Joakim Wincent
Summary: The Smart city is crucial for sustainability, and investment in emerging technologies for urban mobility is a key area for achieving sustainability goals. This article presents a simulation-based comparison between different cities and autonomous vehicle adoption scenarios to understand the impact of AVs on urban mobility. The results indicate that promoting AV-shuttle use would deliver the greatest advantage for certain city archetypes, while micromobility would be more beneficial for developing urban powerhouses.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Economics
Christina R. Ergler, Claire Freeman, Tess Guiney
Summary: Although pre-literate children's voices are absent from urban debates, this paper explores their experiences and expectations in the city through a participatory research project. The findings suggest that young children deeply engage with and value their city and its inhabitants, despite being absent from planning and policy discourses. The preschoolers in the study created a city that cares for its citizens by being safe, socially and physically connected, and providing destinations, amenities, and services for all ages and abilities.
TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR ECONOMISCHE EN SOCIALE GEOGRAFIE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Liliana De Simone, Mario Pezoa
Summary: This article discusses the discrepancies between the environmental effects of large retail buildings in urban centers and the media and corporate discourses on sustainability. By analyzing data from two major shopping centers in Santiago, the research highlights the presence of greenwashing campaigns in the retail industry, impacting corporate legitimacy and diminishing environmental responsibilities in vulnerable urban areas.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Linlang He, Nathan Hultman
Summary: This study examines the association between regional integration plans in Chinese city clusters and their environmental management capacity. The results show differences in enforcement activities and compliance capacity between cities inside and outside the major urban agglomerations, as well as different capacity-building opportunities in environmental enforcement and compliance for the two groups. This study provides empirical evidence for the important managerial implications in local environmental protection and urban agglomeration development planning in China.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manob Das, Arijit Das, Mahashweta Saha, Paulo Pereira
Summary: The study evaluated the urban river ecosystem services of Mahananda River in Eastern India using the social perception and preference (SPP) approach. The findings highlighted the high dependency on provisioning ES by the stakeholders residing along the river and limited access to cultural ES. The satisfaction level was relatively low, suggesting the need for prioritizing improvements in recreation, aesthetic value, bio-diversity, and water purification.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Siyuan Feng, Jingyi Ding, Tianyu Zhan, Wenwu Zhao, Paulo Pereira
Summary: The response of plant communities to global climate change is crucial for ecological restoration. In this study, the relationship between environmental factors and the root:shoot ratio was explored using transect surveys in Inner Mongolia. The results showed that low precipitation use efficiency results in a high root:shoot ratio, while high precipitation use efficiency leads to a low root:shoot ratio. The study highlights the importance of precipitation use efficiency in determining aboveground and belowground biomass allocation.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Vedran Krevh, Lana Filipovic, Dragutin Petosic, Ivan Mustac, Igor Bogunovic, Jasminka Butorac, Ivica Kisic, Jasmina Defterdarovic, Zoran Nakic, Zoran Kovac, Paulo Pereira, Hailong He, Rui Chen, Gurpal S. Toor, Antoine Versini, Thomas Baumgartl, Vilim Filipovic
Summary: This study evaluates long-term data on soil water regime and nitrate dynamics at an agricultural experimental site and explores the implications of nitrogen management on groundwater pollution. The results highlight the complex interactions among various factors and emphasize the importance of optimizing nitrogen fertilizer applications based on specific environmental conditions.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Caichun Yin, Wenwu Zhao, Bojie Fu, Michael E. Meadows, Paulo Pereira
Summary: This study identified the major dimensions of Sustainable Development Goals through Principal Component Analysis. It found that resources and ecosystems, the living environment, and well-being and equality are the key dimensions supporting basic needs, governance, and higher needs goals, respectively. The study also revealed that high-income countries have made better progress in basic needs, while most countries are progressing slowly in higher needs. These findings contribute to identifying research priorities and developing effective strategies for achieving the SDGs by 2030.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cong Cong, Haozhi Pan, Jessica Page, Stephan Barthel, Zahra Kalantari
Summary: This paper presents a framework that helps stakeholders identify the demands, locations, and types of nature-based solutions (NbS) interventions to achieve carbon neutrality at the local scale. The framework was tested in Stockholm, Sweden, and results showed that improving access to green spaces and streetscapes is recommended for urban centers, while preserving and utilizing natural areas should be prioritized in rural and suburban areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caichun Yin, Wenwu Zhao, Jingqiao Ye, Monica Muroki, Paulo Pereira
Summary: Ecosystem carbon sequestration service (ECSS) is crucial for regulating climate, stabilizing development, and supporting SDGs. This study examines the contribution of ECSS to SDGs in China's Loess Plateau region. Results show higher progress on resource and environmental SDGs, while positive linear responses are observed between ECSS and water, energy, climate, and ecosystems SDGs. Improvement in ECSS management is necessary to protect carbon pool, enhance carbon sequestration, and promote social-ecological co-benefits.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Khabat Khosravi, Fatemeh Rezaie, James R. Cooper, Zahra Kalantari, Soroush Abolfathi, Javad Hatamiafkoueieh
Summary: Accurate assessment of soil water erosion susceptibility is crucial for reducing land degradation and mitigating negative impacts. Deep learning algorithms have shown promise in geoscience, but their potential for predicting erosion susceptibility is not well understood. This study quantifies the potential of three deep learning algorithms - CNN, RNN, and LSTM - in predicting soil erosion susceptibility.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Omid Rahmati, Seyed Masoud Soleimanpour, Mahmood Arabkhedri, Sardar Mehrjo, Zahra Kalantari, Marco Cavalli, Stefano Crema, Aref Bahmani
Summary: This study investigated the performance of contour trenching program, a nature-based solution for soil erosion prevention in the hillslopes of Khamsan watershed in Iran. The results showed that contour trenching significantly reduced sediment connectivity and improved soil conservation. The study highlights the importance of contour trenching program in reducing soil erosion.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carla S. S. Ferreira, Milica Kasanin-Grubin, Marijana Kapovic Solomun, Svetlana Sushkova, Tatiana Minkina, Wenwu Zhao, Zahra Kalantari
Summary: Wetlands are nature-based solutions for water management, with the ability to regulate hydrological fluxes and improve water quality. They can store and release runoff, modulating peak flows and positively impacting soil moisture. Wetlands also influence evapotranspiration, infiltration, and groundwater recharge, altering the overall water balance. They effectively remove organic and inorganic pollutants through various physical, chemical, and biological processes. Their performance is influenced by size, design, vegetation, water and pollutant characteristics, and local conditions. Taking a wetlandscape approach, rather than focusing on individual wetlands, is crucial for optimal water management and maximizing ecosystem services.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jalil Helali, Milad Nouri, Mehdi Mohammadi Ghaleni, Seyed Asaad Hosseni, Farshad Safarpour, Azim Shirdeli, Parisa Paymard, Zahra Kalantari
Summary: Precipitation forecasts using machine learning algorithms showed strong associations with El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and Least Squares Support Vector Machine (LSSVM) algorithms performing well. However, LSSVM showed a tendency towards overfitting. Precipitation forecasting in hyper-arid and arid areas proved challenging due to erratic and sparse distribution. Clustering precipitation regimes and considering microclimate were found to be vital for reliable forecasts. These findings have implications for drought/flood risk management and improving food-water security in Iran.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Zahra Kalantari, Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira, Haozhi Pan, Paulo Pereira
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Albert Muleke, Matthew Tom Harrison, Rowan Eisner, Peter de Voil, Maria Yanotti, Ke Liu, Marta Monjardino, Xiaogang Yin, Weilu Wang, Jiangwen Nie, Carla Ferreira, Jin Zhao, Feng Zhang, Shah Fahad, Narasinha Shurpali, Puyu Feng, Yunbo Zhang, Daniel Forster, Rui Yang, Zhiming Qi, Wang Fei, Xionghui Gao, Jianguo Man, Lixiao Nie
Summary: While comprising a small proportion of global agricultural land use, irrigated agriculture plays a crucial role in the global agricultural economy. To ensure profitability under future climates, sustainable intensification through crop rotations, efficient water application infrastructure, and increased farm area under irrigation is essential. This research highlights the complex interplay between climate change, land-use changes, and farm profitability.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Kristina Potocki, Pavel Raska, Carla S. S. Ferreira, Nejc Bezak
Summary: Climate change has increasing impacts on water resources. Conventional engineering solutions face challenges in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Nature-based solutions are proposed as viable approaches to complement engineering solutions. Integrating nature-based solutions knowledge into higher education curricula can enhance their implementation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mahdi Panahi, Khabat Khosravi, Fatemeh Rezaie, Carla S. S. Ferreira, Georgia Destouni, Zahra Kalantari
Summary: Flooding is a serious natural hazard that affects human life, property, and the environment. This study developed a deep learning approach for large-scale flood modeling in Sweden, using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and optimized versions combined with the Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO) or the Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA). The results show high flood susceptibility in certain areas, with aspect being the most influential factor.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi Han, Wenwu Zhao, Jingyi Ding, Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira
Summary: Drylands in China face the dual threat of water erosion and wind erosion. This study explores the spatial variation of soil erodibility in China's drylands and examines the effects of aridity, vegetation, and soil properties on soil erodibility. The results show that aridity has a negative effect on water erosion, while soil properties have a more pronounced effect on soil erodibility than vegetation. This study provides valuable information for implementing vegetation restoration and soil conservation measures in drylands.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elizabeth Alvarez-Chavez, Stephane Godbout, Mylene Genereux, Caroline Cote, Alain N. Rousseau, Sebastien Fournel
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of alternative filtering materials and bed aeration on the retention of nutrients and fecal bacteria in woodchip bedded stand-off pads for cows. The results showed that the alternative biofilters were more efficient in removing COD, SS, TN, and NO3-N, while conventional biofilters were more efficient for PO4-P removal. Aeration did not have a significant effect under the tested temperature conditions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yike Zhang, Zengyi Ma, Zhuoting Fang, Yuandong Qian, Zhiping Huang, Yilong Ye, Jianhua Yan
Summary: This study investigates the application of oxygen enrichment melting technology in the melting of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash. The results demonstrate that oxygen enrichment technology can reduce energy consumption and operating costs, as well as decrease pollution emissions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liangang Xiao, Mingkai Leng, Philip Greenwood, Rongqin Zhao, Zhixiang Xie, Zengtao You, Junguo Liu
Summary: This study investigates the effects of grazing exclusion on soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and vegetation recovery. It finds that grazing exclusion can increase the potential for SOC accumulation, and higher annual precipitation is positively correlated with SOC accumulation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Beatrice Cantoni, Jessica Ianes, Beatrice Bertolo, Selena Ziccardi, Francesco Maffini, Manuela Antonelli
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of ozonation and adsorption as in-series processes compared to standalone processes for the removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in drinking water. The combination of both processes proves to be more effective than adsorption and ozonation alone. Ozonation improves the adsorption performance of poorly-oxidizable CECs but worsens that of well-oxidizable compounds. This research highlights the importance of considering both processes in the removal of CECs in drinking water treatment plants.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dan Li, Bingjun Liu, Yang Lu, Jianyu Fu
Summary: A new Standardized compound Drought and Saltwater intrusion Index (SDSI) was developed to detect changes in the severity of CDSEs in six estuaries. The study found that saltwater intrusion plays a dominant role in influencing SDSI severity, and CDSEs vary in frequency, duration and severity among different estuaries.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yong-Qiang Li, Rui Sun, Chong-Miao Zhang, Zi-Xuan Liu, Rui-tao Chen, Jian Zhao, Hua-dong Gu, Huan-Cai Yin
Summary: In this study, an electron beam excitation multi-wavelength ultraviolet (EBE-MW-UV) system was established and found to have significantly higher microbial inactivation effects compared to single-wavelength UV-LEDs in water. Mechanism analysis revealed that EBE-MW-UV damaged microbial DNA and proteins, and generated additional reactive oxygen species, leading to microbial inactivation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kaili Ma, Xinxin Han, Qiujuan Li, Yu Kong, Qiaoli Liu, Xu Yan, Yahong Luo, Xiaopin Li, Huiyang Wen, Zhiguo Cao
Summary: This study reveals that the use of a tryptophan-degrading microbial consortium (TDC) can enhance the hydrolysis efficiency of waste activated sludge (WAS), increasing the yield and quality of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and improving the solubilization and release of organic substances from WAS.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ling Xiong, Rui Li
Summary: Incorporating Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) into land use planning can provide informed land management decisions. This study evaluates the ESV of Guizhou Province in China's karst region. The results show an increase in total ESV over the past two decades due to ecological restoration projects.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Geetha Jenifel
Summary: This article discusses the importance of water and the pollution of freshwater resources, and introduces the use of machine learning models and blockchain technology to predict and protect water quality.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stanslaus Terengia Materu, Taotao Chen, Chang Liu, Daocai Chi, Meng Jun
Summary: The study showed that H2SO4-modified biochar can reduce P leaching, increase soil available P, and enhance plant P uptake in alternate wetting and drying irrigation systems. Biochar additions B20A and IAWDB20A-M were effective in improving yield, reducing P leaching, and increasing APB.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amir Nouri, Ali Akbar Zinatizadeh, Sirus Zinadini, Mark Van Loosdrecht
Summary: This study focuses on the development of an air-lift bio-electrochemical reactor (ALBER) with a continuous feeding regime to enhance nitrogen removal from synthetic wastewater. The effect of temperature, hydraulic retention time (HRT), N -NH+4 /TN ratio, and current density on the reactor performance was investigated, and the ALBER achieved a maximum TN removal of 73%. The results suggest that the ALBER has potential for treating industrial wastewater at low temperatures.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peifang Wang, Guoxiang You, Yang Gao, Juan Chen, Xun Wang, Chao Wang
Summary: This study investigated the ecological processes of microbial communities and N- and P-transformation processes in multistage agricultural drainage ditches. The results showed that the microbial communities were co-shaped by agricultural practices and ditch size, which further governed the N and P removal performance.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaofeng Niu, Huan Wang, Tao Wang, Peiyu Zhang, Huan Zhang, Hongxia Wang, Xianghong Kong, Songguang Xie, Jun Xu
Summary: Microorganisms play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem balance, and environmental stressors can affect the assembly processes of microbial communities. The study found that different stressors have opposite effects on microbial community assembly in water and sediment, and warming has different influences compared to herbicides and nutrients.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuqing Tan, Qiming Cheng, Fengwei Lyu, Fei Liu, Linhao Liu, Yihong Su, Shaochun Yuan, Wenyu Xiao, Zhen Liu, Yao Chen
Summary: The exacerbation of global warming, extreme weather events, and rapid urbanization have led to increased flooding in urban areas. China has adopted sponge city as an efficient means of preventing and controlling urban floods. Using a SWMM-FVCOM model, the hydrological reduction and control effect of sponge city construction (SPCC) within a university campus were evaluated. The study found that implementing SPCC effectively mitigates surface runoff and reduces the severity of urban flooding. However, the efficacy of runoff control decreases with longer rainfall return periods.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhonghan Chen, Qiuyan Li, Shibo Yan, Juan Xu, Qiaoyun Lin, Zhuangming Zhao, Ziying He
Summary: Tidal rivers are important biochemical reaction channels, receiving carbon from wastewater and agricultural drains, affecting CO2 emissions. Through modeling and data analysis, researchers explored carbon distribution, emissions, and greenhouse effects, emphasizing the potential of river management to change global CO2 emissions under climate change.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2024)
