Article
Economics
Mohammad Arzaghi, Jay Squalli
Summary: This paper investigates the relationship between fuel subsidy policies and environmental emissions and finds that high fossil fuel subsidies are associated with greater greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel subsidy reform can help reduce global GHG emissions, but it is not a silver bullet solution.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shunichi Hienuki, Haruka Mitoma, Mari Ogata, Izumi Uchida, Shigemi Kagawa
Summary: This study analyzes and compares the energy consumption and GHG emissions of hydrogen and gasoline energy systems over their entire life cycle, finding that hydrogen energy system performs better. The development of hydrogen energy may have positive impacts on future energy systems.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Miguel A. Martinez, Angeles Camara
Summary: This study analyzes the impact of a decrease in household consumption on greenhouse gas emissions in Spain post-economic crisis, finding that older household providers lead to smaller reductions in emissions. The results show that industries such as mining and construction have experienced reductions in emissions after the 2008 crisis.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Benjamin Alles, Josephine Brunin, Helene Fouillet, Alison Dussiot, Florine Berthy, Elie Perraud, Serge Hercberg, Chantal Julia, Francois Mariotti, Melanie Deschasaux-Tanguy, Bernard Srour, Denis Lairon, Philippe Pointereau, Julia Baudry, Mathilde Touvier
Summary: Our understanding of the environmental pressures associated with dietary patterns has grown in the last decade, but little research has focused on the impacts of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the specific stages in the food chain that contribute the most. This study examined the environmental pressures of diets based on UPF consumption using data from a representative sample of French adults. The results showed that UPF accounted for 19% of the diet, but contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, water use, land use, and energy demand. The processing and packaging stages were found to have substantial environmental impacts in UPF-rich diets.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Arunima Malik, Michael Padget, Sarah Carter, Takako Wakiyama, Isis Maitland-Scott, Aditya Vyas, Sinead Boylan, Georgina Mulcahy, Mengyu Li, Manfred Lenzen, Kate Charlesworth, Arne Geschke
Summary: Climate change is causing various impacts on communities, while the health system in New South Wales is found to have significant environmental impacts, responsible for a considerable portion of greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and waste production in the state's economy. Targeted policies are needed to reduce not only the direct impacts of health systems, but also those from their supply chains connecting with other economic sectors.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin van Selm, Renske Hijbeek, Martin K. van Ittersum, Ollie van Hal, Corina E. van Middelaar, Imke J. M. de Boer
Summary: Livestock and feed production are often separated and this disrupts nutrient cycles and leads to environmental degradation. Reconnecting livestock and feed production at a local level can enhance circularity and decrease emissions. This study shows that recoupling livestock and feed production has the potential to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Manfred Lenzen, Mengyu Li, Shauna A. Murray
Summary: This study explores the impact of transitioning from terrestrial livestock to marine and estuarine aquaculture on global diets, finding that aquaculture has the potential to replace meat consumption from terrestrial sources. However, harmful algal blooms (HABs) may have regional and global implications on protein supply, potentially leading to reduced protein intake.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Li Xue, Xiaojie Liu, Shijun Lu, Guangyan Cheng, Yuanchao Hu, Junguo Liu, Zhengxia Dou, Shengkui Cheng, Gang Liu
Summary: Characterizing and quantifying food loss and waste (FLW) is crucial for sustainable food systems. This study in China provides FLW data for various commodities at different stages of the food supply chain, along with associated environmental footprints and effectiveness of FLW reduction scenarios. The research reveals that a significant amount of food is lost or wasted annually in China, with postharvest handling and out-of-home consumption activities being major contributors.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mairead Connolly, Yuli Shan, Benedikt Bruckner, Ruoqi Li, Klaus Hubacek
Summary: A good understanding of household carbon emissions is crucial for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. In developing countries, there are significant disparities in carbon footprints between urban and rural areas, with urban dwellers having higher per capita emissions. Electricity consumption and transportation are major contributors to carbon emissions across all income groups.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yi-Chen Lan, Vivian Wy Tam, Weiqi Xing, Rina Datt, Zhonghua Chan
Summary: There is a lack of research on the environmental impacts of cut flowers from growing facilities to end consumers, and no review has been conducted on this topic. Current studies on life cycle assessment (LCA) of cut flowers show inconsistencies in the choice of functional unit and a focus on carbon footprint and energy consumption. The various flower species and cultivation methods make it challenging to compare environmental performance. To enhance environmental sustainability, suggestions include improving greenhouse technology, implementing integrated nutrient and pest management, introducing certification and labeling for cut flowers, developing sea transport with refrigerated containers, and increasing consumer awareness of environmental impact. There is still room for improvement in LCA of cut flowers, particularly in terms of allocation, waste treatment, and uncertainty analysis.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elie Perraud, Juhui Wang, Marion Salome, Francois Mariotti, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot
Summary: Protein intake patterns are linked to the environmental and nutrition/health impacts of diets. This study analyzed the alignment of environmental pressures and nutritional impacts in different protein profiles of a western population. The results showed that the protein profile with the lowest meat intake had the lowest environmental impact and long-term risk.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Simon H. Roberts, Barney D. Foran, Colin J. Axon, Alice V. Stamp
Summary: The service industry is not as emissions light as commonly thought, as imported inputs significantly impact emissions. Enhancing energy and goods use efficiency, as well as considering emission intensities of imports, is necessary to tackle service sector emissions. Key goods supporting the UK service industry show continuous growth, and achieving net-zero emissions through energy policy requires treating the service industry as a unified entity.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Peter Scarborough, Michael Clark, Linda Cobiac, Keren Papier, Anika Knuppel, John Lynch, Richard Harrington, Tim Key, Marco Springmann
Summary: This study combines dietary data from 55,504 individuals with food-level data on environmental impact, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, eutrophication, and biodiversity. The results show a positive association between animal-based food consumption and environmental indicators. Vegans have lower environmental impacts compared to high meat-eaters, with at least 30% differences found for most indicators. These findings highlight the need to reduce animal-based food consumption.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mushaer Ahmed, Imranul Bashar, Shahriar Tanvir Alam, Absar Ishraq Wasi, Ismat Jerin, Sinthea Khatun, Mazidur Rahman
Summary: This study systematically reviews the environmental impacts of cement manufacturing in Asia and ways to improve its environmental performance. Key factors contributing to environmental impacts are identified, along with mitigation measures such as energy efficiency and innovative technologies. Adequate government funding and research efforts are needed to promote the adoption of emerging technologies.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Non G. Williams, James M. Gibbons, Dave R. Chadwick, Karina A. Marsden, A. Prysor Williams
Summary: The study showed that reseeding and applying lime and fertilizer can significantly increase daily grass growth on pasture, while not affecting pasture quality. Rotovating and ploughing increased N2O emissions from soil, while lime and fertilizer applications reduced N2O emissions per unit of grass produced.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Paula Quinteiro, Marisa Isabel Almeida, Joao Serra, Luis Arroja, Ana Claudia Dias
Summary: This study conducted a life cycle assessment of ceramic roof tiles produced in two Portuguese ceramic plants and found that the environmental performance of the tiles improved over a 10-year period due to technical and energy-saving measures. However, one type of tile had worse environmental performance in terms of acidification and photochemical oxidant formation, attributed to the use of refractory material.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
E. Appolloni, G. Pennisi, I. Paucek, A. Cellini, A. Crepaldi, F. Spinelli, G. Gianquinto, X. Gabarrell, F. Orsini
Summary: Growing conditions and agronomical inputs are crucial for fruit quality and nutritional traits. Supplementary LED interlighting during greenhouse tomato cultivation can increase fruit firmness, extend storage time, and maintain nutritional content.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Beatriz Espinosa-Aquino, Xavier Gabarrell Durany, Roberto Quiros Vargas
Summary: The social and spatial segregation structures in Latin America lead to the concentration of social or demographic groups in specific geographic sectors of the city, creating poor, wealthy, and marginal areas. This segregation destroys the symbolic and territorial urban continuity, resulting in marginalization and fragmentation. A bibliographic evaluation was conducted in eight Latin American countries to understand the behavior and conditions of informal waste pickers. The study evaluated their environmental contribution, organizations, and their link with urban metabolism. The findings showed that well-organized waste pickers contribute to the city's sustainability and provide better living conditions, while marginal groups engage in waste collection for economic support.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gaia Stringari, Joan Villanueva, Antoni Rosell-Mele, Nuria Moraleda-Cibrian, Francesco Orsini, Gara Villalba, Xavier Gabarrell
Summary: The promotion of urban green installations can increase sustainable and accessible food production, as well as improve the environmental performance and liveability of city buildings. However, the increase in biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) caused by these installations, especially indoors, may raise health concerns and limit the implementation of building-integrated agriculture.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eduardo Entrena-Barbero, Sandra Ceballos, Antonio Cortes, Xavier Esteve-Llorens, Maria Teresa Moreira, Pedro Villanueva-Rey, Diego Quinoy, Cheila Almeida, Antonio Marques, Paula Quinteiro, Ana Claudia Dias, Jara Laso, Maria Margallo, Ruben Aldaco, Gumersindo Feijoo
Summary: Indicators from life cycle assessment methodologies are accessible and intuitive tools for communicating environmental impacts to the public. However, their focus on single issues is a drawback. The Water-Energy-Food nexus aims to raise awareness of the connections between water supply, energy security, and food provision. This paper provides guidance for calculating a single WEF nexus index for eco-labelling seafood products in the European framework, aiming to improve communication between producers and consumers.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cheila Almeida, Jara Laso, David Baptista de Sousa, Ronan Cooney, Paula Quinteiro, Neil Rowan, Ana Claudia Dias, Eoghan Clifford, Rodrigo G. Reboredo, Maria Margallo, Maria Leonor Nunes, Antonio Marques
Summary: Packaging is crucial for food protection, consumer information, and waste reduction, but it can also negatively impact the environment. Recycling waste treatment offers more environmental benefits, yet only 66% of packaging waste is recycled in the EU. To minimize environmental impact, reducing packaging production and promoting reuse are the key approaches. Assessing consumer willingness to reduce environmental impact of seafood packaging is important.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luiza R. Melo de Lima, Ana C. Dias, Tito Trindade, Jose M. Oliveira
Summary: The circulation of motor vehicles with an exhaust system is a major cause of pollution, and countries are making efforts to achieve a sustainable level of air quality and limit CO2 emissions. There is significant interest in developing technological innovations such as alternative fuels and lighter thermoplastic composites for auto applications. A comparative LCA of PP-based GnPs nanocomposite and PP/GF composite for automotive applications showed that using nanocomposites can reduce the environmental impact caused by auto parts.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Elisa Appolloni, Ivan Paucek, Giuseppina Pennisi, Luigi Manfrini, Xavier Gabarrell, Giorgio Gianquinto, Francesco Orsini
Summary: In a high-wire tomato greenhouse, solar radiation is mostly intercepted by the top of the crop canopy, and the role of lower leaves diminishes with age, turning them into sink organs rather than sources. Basal leaf defoliation is a widely used practice in high-wire greenhouse cultivation management. However, supplemental LED lighting for high-density tomato production may affect the role of basal leaves, promoting their source role for fruit development and growth.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francesco Cirone, Mara Petruzzelli, Fabio De Menna, Antonella Samoggia, Enrico Buscaroli, Emanuele Durante, Francesco Orsini, Marti Rufi-Salis, Pietro Tonini, Xavier Gabarrell Durany, Luuk Graamans, Agnes Fargue-Lelievre, Veronique Saint-Ges, Runrid Fox-Kaemper, Kathrin Specht, Jose J. Pascual-Fernandez, Matteo Vittuari
Summary: To assess the sustainability of City Region Food Systems in Europe, a simplified scoring system was designed and tested based on a Life Cycle Thinking approach. The research involved stakeholders from multidisciplinary expertise and resulted in a qualitative-quantitative appraisal survey tool, providing insights on the social, economic, and environmental impacts.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrei Briones-Hidrovo, Paula Quinteiro, Ana Claudia Dias
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzes an aquaculture system in Portugal by applying life cycle assessment and resources-protein nexus approaches, revealing that feed is the main factor responsible for overall environmental impacts. The study shows that 504.1 MJex is needed to obtain 1 kg of edible protein, with a high dependency on non-renewable resources (59%), mainly oil by-product fuels used in feed production. The study suggests potential strategies such as resource consumption reduction, eco-certification, and ecosystem-based management to ensure long-term aquaculture production and environmental sustainability.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Susana Toboso-Chavero, Antonio Luis Montealegre, Sergio Garcia-Perez, Jorge Sierra-Perez, Joan Munoz-Liesa, Gara Villalba, Xavier Gabarrell Durany, Cristina Madrid-Lopez
Summary: The external resource dependency of urban areas leads to the externalization of environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Implementing food, energy, and water production systems on urban rooftops can increase cities' self-sufficiency, depending on the city's urban morphology. This study analyzed the supply potential and impacts of different roof mosaic scenarios in Cerdanyola, a town in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. The results showed variations in self-sufficiency levels and impacts based on different urban forms.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Pietro Tonini, Pere Munoz Odina, Xavier Gabarrell Durany
Summary: This study aimed to understand food waste behaviors in households with children and investigate the predictive abilities of socioeconomic characteristics and related behaviors. The findings showed that perishable food items were the primary items wasted in these households, and two patterns of food waste were identified - inadequate food management and over-purchasing perishable items. Household type and purchasing habits were significant predictors.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Urban Studies
Perla Zambrano-Prado, Alejandro Josa, Joan Rieradevall, Ramon Alamus, Fernando Perez, Juan Marchan, Santiago Gasso, Xavier Gabarrell
Summary: In recent years, rooftops have been increasingly utilized as productive spaces, and this study aims to explore the potential of using hyperspectral data to identify roof materials for resource production. The case study conducted in a Mediterranean region north of Barcelona identified diverse building typologies, uses, and population densities. By employing two hyperspectral remote sensors, the study successfully identified seven roof classes using the k-means clustering algorithm. The majority of roofs were found to be made of metals, followed by ceramic tiles. The findings indicate that 51% of the rooftops analyzed have the potential for food, water, or energy production, although further criteria are needed for a more comprehensive assessment.
JOURNAL OF URBAN TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Veronica Arcas-Pilz, Xavier Gabarrell, Francesco Orsini, Gara Villalba
Summary: Urban agriculture activities are becoming more popular and important due to increased food demands and reduced agricultural land. The recovery of nutrients from waste sources in urban areas can enhance circularity, self-sufficiency, and reduce environmental costs. This study identifies various strategies for nutrient recovery and assesses their potential to meet the nutrient demands of urban agriculture in Barcelona. The results show that while the current perception, legislation, and costs hinder the implementation of nutrient recovery strategies, they hold promise for the future.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Agronomy
V. Arcas-Pilz, G. Stringari, R. Gonzalez, G. Villalba, X. Gabarrell Durany
Summary: Recent research has shown the potential of struvite in hydroponic agriculture for reducing nitrogen emissions to water, while sustaining plant growth. Further work is needed to improve N2O detection.
XXXI INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS, IHC2022: INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON URBAN HORTICULTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY, URBANFOOD2022
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lars odegaard Bentsen, Narada Dilp Warakagoda, Roy Stenbro, Paal Engelstad
Summary: This study investigates uncertainty modeling in wind power forecasting using different parametric and non-parametric methods. Johnson's SU distribution is found to outperform Gaussian distributions in predicting wind power. This research contributes to the literature by introducing Johnson's SU distribution as a candidate for probabilistic wind forecasting.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xing Liu, Qiuchen Wang, Yunhao Wen, Long Li, Xinfang Zhang, Yi Wang
Summary: This study analyzes the characteristics of process parameters in three lean gas ethane recovery processes and establishes a prediction and multiobjective optimization model for ethane recovery and system energy consumption. A new method for comparing ethane recovery processes for lean gas is proposed, and the addition of extra coolers improves the ethane recovery. The support vector regression model based on grey wolf optimization demonstrates the highest prediction accuracy, and the multiobjective multiverse optimization algorithm shows the best optimization performance and diversity in the solutions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cairong Song, Haidong Yang, Xian-Bing Meng, Pan Yang, Jianyang Cai, Hao Bao, Kangkang Xu
Summary: The paper proposes a novel deep learning-based prediction framework, aTCN-LSTM, for accurate cooling load predictions. The framework utilizes a gate-controlled multi-head temporal convolutional network and a sparse probabilistic self-attention mechanism with a bidirectional long short-term memory network to capture both temporal and long-term dependencies in the cooling load sequences. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method, which can serve as an effective guide for HVAC chiller scheduling and demand management initiatives.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhe Chen, Xiaojing Li, Xianli Xia, Jizhou Zhang
Summary: This study uses survey data from the Loess Plateau in China to evaluate the impact of social interaction on the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) technology by farmers. The study finds that social interaction increases the likelihood of farmers adopting SWC, and internet use moderates this effect. The positive impact of social interaction on SWC adoption is more pronounced for farmers in larger villages and those who join cooperative societies.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chenghua Zhang, Yunfei Yan, Kaiming Shen, Zongguo Xue, Jingxiang You, Yonghong Wu, Ziqiang He
Summary: This paper reports a novel method that significantly improves combustion performance, including heat transfer enhancement under steady-state conditions and adaptive stable flame regulation under velocity sudden increase.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
