Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is a call for papers for the Topic ‘Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability’, which has been devised in order to empower decision-makers and energy stakeholders to join forces and proactively address the challenges of climate change. The current global warming measure of 1.0–1.1 °C above pre-industrial level has caused various natural disasters that are significantly challenging to human living environments. In the coming decades, climate change will hit the threshold of 1.5 °C with much severer environmental, economic and social consequences. This Topic aims to set up a holistic framework to address the major challenges of climate change, whilst achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

In this framework, climate change mitigation—decarbonization of society—is the root to address the climate change challenge. Notwithstanding, adaptation is an immediate and win–win action to increase resilience and reduce climate-related impacts and risks. The framework prioritizes sustainable urban–rural transformation and built environment decarbonization since cities and the built environment are the main settlements of human beings and the key implementer of climate resiliency, mitigation and adaptation. Moreover, this framework encourages the involvement and participation of all professions of society to accelerate climate change mitigation and adaptation progress, by developing sound climate-related governance systems in guidance, education, policy and advocacy.

The Topic ‘Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability’ welcomes high-quality works that focus on the development and implementation of systems, ideas, pathways, solutions, strategies, technologies, pilot cases and exemplars that are relevant to climate change impact measurement and assessment, mitigation and adaptation strategies and techniques, public participation and governance. Relevant themes include but are not limited to the following:

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

• Greenhouse gas emission and measurement;
• Climate-related disasters and reduction;
• Risk and vulnerability assessment and visualization;
• Impacts of climate change on health and well-being;
• Ecosystem services and carbon sequestration;
• Sustainable transport and climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• Sustainable building and construction;
• Industry decarbonization and economic growth;
• Renewable and clean energy potential and implementation;
• Environmental, economic and social benefits of climate change mitigation.

Sustainable Urban–Rural Planning and Design

• Climate change and regional economic development;
• Territorial spatial planning and carbon neutrality;
• Urban overheating mitigation and adaptation;
• Water sensitive urban design;
• Smart development for urban habitats;
• Sustainable land use and planning;
• Low-carbon cities and communities;
• Wind sensitive urban planning and design;
• Nature-based solutions;
• Urban morphology and environmental performance;
• Innovative technologies, models, methods and tools for spatial planning.

Decarbonization of Built Environment

• Climate-related impacts on the built environment;
• Health and well-being of occupants;
• Demands on energy, materials and water;
• Assessment methods, systems, and tools;
• Sustainable energy, materials, and water systems;
• Energy-efficient design technologies and appliances;
• Smart technology and sustainable operation;
• Uptake and integration of clean energy;
• Innovative materials for carbon reduction and environmental regulation;
• Building demolition and material recycling and reusing;
• Sustainable building retrofitting and assessment.

Climate-Related Governance and Challenges

• Targets, pathways and roadmaps towards carbon neutrality;
• Pathways for climate resilience and future sustainability;
• Challenges, opportunities and solutions for climate resilience;
• Climate change governance coalitions (networks) development and challenges;
• Co-benefits and synergies between adaptation and mitigation measures;
• Conflicts and trade-offs between adaptation and mitigation measures;
• Mapping, accounting and trading carbon emissions;
• Governance models, policies, regulations and programs;
• Financing urban climate change mitigation;
• Education, policy and advocacy of climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• COVID-19 and alike crisis impacts and lessons.

Prof. Dr. Baojie He
Prof. Dr. Ayyoob Sharifi
Prof. Dr. Chi Feng
Prof. Dr. Jun Yang
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Atmosphere atmosphere	2.9	4.1	2010	17.7 Days	CHF 2400
Buildings buildings	3.8	3.1	2011	14.6 Days	CHF 2600
Land land	3.9	3.7	2012	14.8 Days	CHF 2600
Remote Sensing remotesensing	5.0	7.9	2009	23 Days	CHF 2700
Sustainability sustainability	3.9	5.8	2009	18.8 Days	CHF 2400

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Published Papers (362 papers)

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35 pages, 18024 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Classification and Validation of Spatio-Temporal Changes in Land Use/Land Cover and Land Surface Temperature of Multitemporal Images

by Vimala Kiranmai Ayyala Somayajula, Deepika Ghai, Sandeep Kumar, Suman Lata Tripathi, Chaman Verma, Calin Ovidiu Safirescu and Traian Candin Mihaltan

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15677; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142315677 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2084

Abstract

Land transfiguration is caused by natural as well as phylogenesis-driving forces, and its consequences for the regional environment are a significant issue in understanding the relationship between society and the environment. Land use/land cover plays a crucial part in the determination, preparation, and [...] Read more.

Land transfiguration is caused by natural as well as phylogenesis-driving forces, and its consequences for the regional environment are a significant issue in understanding the relationship between society and the environment. Land use/land cover plays a crucial part in the determination, preparation, and execution of administrative approaches to fulfilling basic human needs in the present day. In this study, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, A.P., India, is considered as a study area to explain the Land use/land cover (LULC) classification, Land Surface Temperature (LST), and the inverse correlation between LST and the NDVI of Temporal Landsat satellite images at intervals of 5 years from 2000 to 2020. We performed easy and thoroughgoing classifications based on vegetation phenology, using an extended LULC field database, a time series of LANDSAT satellite imagery, and a pixel-based classifier. In total, five land-use and land-cover types have been identified: dense vegetation, vegetation, built-up, barren land, and water. Over the period of inquiry, there were notable increases in the area of built-up land, dense vegetation, and vegetation, whereas there was a marked decrease in water bodies and barren land. The diverse effects of land transformation on the natural environment have been assessed using Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The used technique achieved very good levels of accuracy (90–97%) and a strong kappa coefficient (0.89–0.96), with low commission and omission errors. The variation of the land surface temperature was studied using the Mono-Window algorithm. Change detection, and the transition of the natural land cover to man-made land use, were statistically computed for the study area. Results exposed that there had been significant variations in the land use and cover during the tagged eras. In general, two land use and land cover change patterns were confirmed in the study zone: (i) compatible growth of the zone in built-up areas, barren land, plantations, and shrubs; and (ii) continual diminishment in agriculture and water; maximum urban development took place between 2000 to 2020. The results showed drastic changes in urbanization and decrements in vegetation that had environmental consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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34 pages, 27784 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Relationship between Land Use/Land Cover Change and Land Surface Temperature Using Google Earth Engine; Case Study: Melbourne, Australia

by Yashar Jamei, Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, Elmira Jamei, Ben Horan, Saad Mekhilef and Alex Stojcevski

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14868; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142214868 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2815

Abstract

The rapid alteration to land cover, combined with climate change, results in the variation of the land surface temperature (LST). This LST variation is mainly affected by the spatiotemporal changes of land cover classes, their geospatial characteristics, and spectral indices. Melbourne has been [...] Read more.

The rapid alteration to land cover, combined with climate change, results in the variation of the land surface temperature (LST). This LST variation is mainly affected by the spatiotemporal changes of land cover classes, their geospatial characteristics, and spectral indices. Melbourne has been the subject of previous studies of land cover change but often over short time periods without considering the trade-offs between land use/land cover (LULC) and mean daytimes summer season LST over a more extended period. To fill this gap, this research aims to investigate the role of LULC change on mean annual daytime LST in the hot summers of 2001 and 2018 in Melbourne. To achieve the study’s aim, LULC and LST maps were generated based on the cost-effective cloud-based geospatial analysis platform Google Earth Engine (GEE). Furthermore, the geospatial and geo-statistical relationship between LULC, LST, and spectral indices of LULC, including the Normalised Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), were identified. The findings showed that the mean daytime LST increased by 5.1 °C from 2001 to 2018. The minimum and maximum LST values were recorded for the vegetation and the built-up area classes for 2001 and 2018. Additionally, the mean daytime LST for vegetation and the built-up area classes increased by 5.5 °C and 5.9 °C from 2001 to 2018, respectively. Furthermore, both elevation and NDVI were revealed as the most influencing factors in the LULC classification process. Considering the R² values between LULC and LST and their NDVI values in 2018, grass (0.48), forest (0.27), and shrubs (0.21) had the highest values. In addition, urban areas (0.64), bare land (0.62), and cropland (0.61) LULC types showed the highest R² values between LST regarding their NDBI values. This study highlights why urban planners and policymakers must understand the impacts of LULC change on LST. Appropriate policy measures can be proposed based on the findings to control Melbourne’s future development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 1437 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Measures for Optimizing China’s Provincial Territorial Space Based on the Perspective of Resource and Environmental Carrying Capacity in the New Situation

by Chong Wu, An-ding Jiang and Wenlong Zheng

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13754; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142113754 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1480

Abstract

The comprehensive resource and environment carrying capacity (RECC) evaluation is an important method for measuring the rationality of the population, resource, and environment allocation, which is an important scientific guidance for scientific research and the judgment of regional economic and social development potential [...] Read more.

The comprehensive resource and environment carrying capacity (RECC) evaluation is an important method for measuring the rationality of the population, resource, and environment allocation, which is an important scientific guidance for scientific research and the judgment of regional economic and social development potential and the optimization of the national land spatial pattern. This paper constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system of the RECC under the new situation of climate policy and high-quality economic development; it analyzes the factors influencing the RECC, the overall level, the spatial difference, and the carrying status by using the TOPSIS model based on the entropy weight method, and it identifies the shortcomings; then, it analyzes the characteristics of regional dynamic change and sustainable development trend, and finally, it simulates the optimal spatial pattern under the scenario simulated by the FLUS model. The conclusions are as follows: ① the resource factors have the greatest influence on the carrying capacity of the resources and the environment, followed by economic factors. Among them, per capita water resources, forest coverage rate, and health institutions have the highest impact on RECC. ② The overall level of comprehensive RECC from 2015 to 2020 shows an upward trend, and although the positive impact of resource-led provinces on the level of economic development power and RECC is greater than the negative one, the environmental support is the shortcoming of the future development of the regional economy. ③ The overall spatial performance of RECC is characterized as being high in Guanzhong, second in northern Shaanxi, and low in southern Shaanxi. The northern area of Yulin in the Guanzhong Plain City Cluster, which is an important national energy chemical base, is the core of the national-level urbanization development areas, and the northern area of the Guanzhong Plain City Cluster is the key choice of the provincial-level urbanization development areas. The area along the west bank of the Yellow River in the Qinba Mountain area in southern Shaanxi and the Baiyu Mountain area in northern Shaanxi can be positioned as national key ecological function areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 4497 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on Behavioral Decision-Making of Subjects on Cultivated Land Conservation under the Goal of Carbon Neutrality

by Yun Teng and Peiwen Lin

Land 2022, 11(10), 1664; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11101664 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1622

Abstract

Protecting cultivated land is an urgent mitigation measure for China to reconcile the contradiction between food safety and carbon neutrality. In the context of carbon neutrality, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model among local governments, agricultural technology service organizations (ATSOs), and farmers [...] Read more.

Protecting cultivated land is an urgent mitigation measure for China to reconcile the contradiction between food safety and carbon neutrality. In the context of carbon neutrality, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model among local governments, agricultural technology service organizations (ATSOs), and farmers based on China’s cultivated black land, and discusses the factors influencing the strategy choice of each stakeholder group and the final form of evolutionary stabilization strategies adopted by each stakeholder from the perspective of agricultural extension. Through numerical simulations, we reveal that two stable situations exist in the current state of protection of cultivated black land in China: full subject participation and government subject participation only. In order to achieve the optimal realization of the dynamic equilibrium of the three parties, we identify the key issues of cultivated land protection (CLP) and put forward reasonable suggestions, which are summarized as follows: (1) prohibit the excessive subsidies to farmers, and keep the appropriate subsidies at 100~140 CNY/mu to help the protection of cultivated land, if more than 140 CNY/mu is not conducive to the participation of local governments in CLP (mu, a Chinese unit of land measurement that equals to 1/15 a hectare); (2) an increase in the farmers’ fines has a dampening effect on farmers digging black soil, and the game model achieves the ideal equilibrium when it reaches 10 billion CNY, which can be implemented as a long-term cultivated land protection policy; (3) maintaining the incentive fund at 5 billion CNY provides the greatest incentive for ATSOs to promote low-carbon agricultural technologies (LCAT), while the production trusteeship subsidies has no beneficial impact on ATSOs; (4) reducing production trusteeship costs and not increasing service charges is the most effective way of incentivizing ATSOs to promote LCAT. This means the service fee is maintained at 400 CNY/mu and the service cost is reduced to 308 CNY/mu. This study reveals the inner mechanism of CLP, provides a theoretical basis for the promotion of CLP technology, and proposes effective cultivated land protection suggestions, aiming to improve the overall implementation effect of CLP in China and help carbon neutrality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 4689 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) as a Climate-Smart Drought-Tolerant Crop under Jordanian Arid Environments

by Nabeel Bani Hani, Fakher J. Aukour and Mohammed I. Al-Qinna

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12249; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141912249 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2005

Abstract

To investigate drought tolerance under arid conditions, eleven pearl millet breeds (HHVBC tall B6; IP13150; IP19586; IP19612; IP22269; IP6110; IP7704; MC94C2; P. millet icms7709; Sudan-pop I; Sudan-pop III) were tested under arid water-scarce climatic conditions. A field randomized complete block design experiment with [...] Read more.

To investigate drought tolerance under arid conditions, eleven pearl millet breeds (HHVBC tall B6; IP13150; IP19586; IP19612; IP22269; IP6110; IP7704; MC94C2; P. millet icms7709; Sudan-pop I; Sudan-pop III) were tested under arid water-scarce climatic conditions. A field randomized complete block design experiment with three replicates per year was conducted at the Deir-Alla Regional Agriculture Research center in the middle Ghor within the Jordan Valley from 2010 to 2020. The plant-deficit irrigation was maintained at 80% based on the crop water requirements using a time-domain reflectometer. The plant morphological characteristics, forage production, seed formation, and water-use efficiency (WUE) were monitored for ten years for two case scenarios: seed and forage production. The individual and combined drought indices of the precipitation, temperature, and vegetation were calculated and correlated with the millet morphological and yield parameters. Climate change analyses show significant impacts, reaching a 1 mm/year reduction in precipitation and a 0.04 mm/year increase in air temperature, which causes the study area to be more prone to drought events. Along with the proven increase in the drought intensity over time, the millet breeds showed significant drought-tolerance capacities under arid, drought-prone conditions by adjusting their system to tolerate salt, heat, and water stresses. For the seed production scenario, the WUE ranged from 27 to 57.3 kg/ha·mm, and from 7.1 to 14.9 kg/ha·mm for fresh and dry conditions, respectively. The IP13150 millet breed showed the highest capacity to tolerate the drought of Jordan’s environment, and it is thus recommended as a good substitute under water-scarcity situations, with an average production of 17.7 ton/ha. For the vegetative production scenario, the WUE ranged from 32.03 to 64.82 kg/ha·mm for the fresh biomass and from 10.8 to 24.6 kg/ha·mm for the dry biomass. Based on the WUEs and vegetative production results, the IP19586, IP22269, IP19612, IP7704, and HHVBC tall B6 millet breeds are recommended as forage support due to their phenological characteristics, which tolerate drought and heat conditions. In contrast to the vegetation drought index, both the precipitation and temperature drought indices show strong correlations (above r > 0.6) with the plant growth factors and a moderate correlation (0.3 < r < 0.6) with the yield factors. Both precipitation and temperature indices are capable of explaining the variations among millet breeds, especially as related to millets’ morpho-physiological characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 9820 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Meteorological Elements in the Vertical Direction at Airports and Hourly Airport Visibility Prediction by Artificial Intelligence Methods

by Jin Ding, Guoping Zhang, Jing Yang, Shudong Wang, Bing Xue, Xiangyu Du, Ye Tian, Kuoyin Wang, Ruijiao Jiang and Jinbing Gao

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12213; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141912213 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1264

Abstract

Based on second-level L-band sounding data, the vertical distribution and variation of meteorological elements at airports in 2010–2020 are investigated. At the same time, the relationships between airport visibility and meteorological elements at different potential heights are also investigated. Then, based on hourly [...] Read more.

Based on second-level L-band sounding data, the vertical distribution and variation of meteorological elements at airports in 2010–2020 are investigated. At the same time, the relationships between airport visibility and meteorological elements at different potential heights are also investigated. Then, based on hourly measurements of 26 meteorological elements in 2018–2020, the hourly visibility of airports is predicted by 9 artificial intelligence algorithm models. The analyses show: (1) For the vertical changes in four meteorological elements of the airports, the negative vertical trends of temperature and relative humidity increase clearly from northwestern to southeastern China. The significant negative trend of air pressure in the vertical direction in the eastern China is greater. (2) Within about 2000 geopotential metres (gpm) from the ground, the visibility has a strong correlation with the air pressure, and most of them are negative. Within 400 gpm from the ground, airport visibility is negatively correlated with the relative humidity. At 8:00 a.m., airport visibility is positively correlated with the wind speed within 2000 gpm from the ground at most airports, while at 20:00 p.m., the positive correlation mainly appears within 400 gpm from the ground. (3) The passive aggressive regression-(PAR) and isotonic regression-(IST) based models have the worst effect on airport visibility prediction. The dispersion degree of the visibility simulation results obtained by Huber regression-(HBR) and random sample consensus regression-(RANSAC) based models is relatively consistent with the observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1619 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Guizhou Karst Carbon Sink and Sustainability—An Overview

by Min Zhang, Wu Yang, Mingxing Yang and Jun Yan

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11518; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141811518 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2132

Abstract

Global warming and climate change are becoming the most popular topics among scientists. In this century, the research focusing on the process and mechanism of the carbon cycle, especially the research of reducing the concentration of atmospheric CO₂ (carbon sink and carbon [...] Read more.

Global warming and climate change are becoming the most popular topics among scientists. In this century, the research focusing on the process and mechanism of the carbon cycle, especially the research of reducing the concentration of atmospheric CO₂ (carbon sink and carbon sequestration technology), are the core issues of global change. The karst carbon sink was neglected due to the consideration that it was a geological process with a long timescale. Recently, studies have proven that carbonate rock weathering is a rapid and sensitive process, and the Fifth Climate Change Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirmed this. Guizhou, as the center of karst in China, has the unique advantages of the karst carbon sink, and is the core area of the karst carbon sink. On the basis of summarizing the development and evolution trend of karst carbon sinks, through data collection and field research, the Carbon Neutralization Research Group of Guizhou Institute of Technology has conducted an exploratory investigation on karst carbon sinks in Guizhou Province, and basically identified the mechanism, influencing factors and measurement methods of karst carbon sinks in Guizhou karst areas. The results show that the potential of the karst carbon sink in Guizhou is huge. Vegetation restoration, soil improvement, irrigation with external water and the cultivation of aquatic plants are important ways to increase the karst carbon sink by artificial intervention. A series of achievements have been made in the theory, technology and platform construction of the karst carbon cycle geological survey and carbon sink effect evaluation. It is worth noting that there are still great challenges in karst carbon sink measurement and verification, and in the demonstration of artificial intervention in carbon sequestration and sink enhancement, which need to be continuously tackled and improved in the “14th Five-Year Plan” period and beyond, so as to meet the needs of the carbon neutralization target of geological carbon sink services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1408 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Long-Term Integrated Crop–Livestock System with Two Levels of P and K Fertilization

by Arminda Moreira de Carvalho, Divina Clea Resende dos Santos, Maria Lucrecia Gerosa Ramos, Robélio Leandro Marchão, Lourival Vilela, Thais Rodrigues de Sousa, Juacy Vitória Malaquias, Adriano Dicesar Martins de Araujo Gonçalves, Thais Rodrigues Coser and Alexsandra Duarte de Oliveira

Land 2022, 11(9), 1535; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091535 - 11 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2250

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions resulting from nitrogen (N) fertilization have been documented. However, no data on the effects of other nutrients, such as phosphate (P) and potassium (K), on N₂O emissions in integrated crop–livestock systems are available so far. [...] Read more.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions resulting from nitrogen (N) fertilization have been documented. However, no data on the effects of other nutrients, such as phosphate (P) and potassium (K), on N₂O emissions in integrated crop–livestock systems are available so far. In the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 growing seasons, we measured N₂O emissions from a long-term system, established in 1991 in the Cerrado biome (a tropical savanna ecoregion in Brazil), fertilized with two P and K levels. The studied no-tillage farming systems consisted of continuous crops fertilized with half of the recommended P and K rates (CC-F1), continuous crops at the recommended P and K rates (CC-F2), an integrated crop–livestock system with half of the recommended P and K rates (ICL-F1), and an integrated crop–livestock at the recommended P and K rates (ICL-F2). The cumulative N₂O emissions (603 days) and soil chemical properties were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial design (long-term agricultural systems x fertilization). The cumulative N₂O emissions from CC-F2 and ICL-F1 were 2.74 and 1.12 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively. The yield-scaled N₂O emissions from soybean were 55.5% lower from ICL-F1 than from CC-F2 in the 2015/2016 growing season. For off-season sorghum, the mean yield-scaled N₂O emissions were 216 mg N₂O m⁻² kg⁻¹ (in a range from 79.83 to 363.52 mg N₂O m⁻² kg⁻¹, for ICL-F2 and CC-F1, respectively). The absence of pasture and the presence of soybean and sorghum promoted the highest cumulative N₂O emissions, favored by the recommended rate in relation to half of the P and K. In the total evaluation period (603 days), the presence of grazed land in the years prior to this study and land fertilized with half the recommended P and K rates in an integrated crop–livestock system reduced the resulting cumulative N₂O emissions by 59%. Thus, we conclude that crop–livestock systems can be beneficial in reducing P and K applications and also in mitigating N₂O emissions in comparison with continuous cropping systems fertilized with the full recommended P and K rates. In view of the global fertilizer crisis, this aspect is extremely relevant for agriculture in Brazil and around the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1020 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Turkish Households’ Climate Change-Related Behaviors: Theory of Planned Behavior Approach

by Ahmad Samim Pouya and Özge Can Niyaz

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11290; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141811290 - 08 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2307

Abstract

Global environmental problems are both the cause and outcome of human actions. Even though families contribute significantly to the problem, little is known about the reasons for household climate change behavior. Prior research has shown that household intentions and behavior play an essential [...] Read more.

Global environmental problems are both the cause and outcome of human actions. Even though families contribute significantly to the problem, little is known about the reasons for household climate change behavior. Prior research has shown that household intentions and behavior play an essential role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The goal of this exploratory study was to see how climate change-related factors influenced climate change-related intentions and behaviors. In terms of climate change, Turkey is a vulnerable country in Mediterranean Europe. As a result, the goal of this study is to apply the Theory of Planned Behavior to simulate Turkish households’ climate change-related behavior. Using a random sampling method, an online self-reported questionnaire of 400 Turkish households assessed the impact of practices to adapt and mitigate climate change. Within the context of the Theory of Planned Behavior, Structural Equation Modeling was used to examine household attitudes and behaviors about climate change. The findings imply that household intentions are important predictors of climate change-related behavior in Turkey. In addition, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control influence the goals of Turkish households. As a result, efforts should be undertaken to provide households with the subjective and perceptual abilities and tools they need to manage their climate-related activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 2844 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Oil Palm Economic Benefit Distribution to Regions for Environmental Sustainability: Indonesia’s Revenue-Sharing Scheme

by Fitri Nurfatriani, Ramawati, Galih Kartika Sari, Wiko Saputra and Heru Komarudin

Land 2022, 11(9), 1452; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091452 - 01 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3036

Abstract

Palm oil is considered a key commodity in supporting the Indonesian economy, generating both domestic revenue and foreign exchange. Such revenue needs to be distributed equally for the benefit of the government and society. This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of the [...] Read more.

Palm oil is considered a key commodity in supporting the Indonesian economy, generating both domestic revenue and foreign exchange. Such revenue needs to be distributed equally for the benefit of the government and society. This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of the proposed revenue-sharing scheme, DBH Sawit, sourcing from palm oil, particularly between central and local governments. It examines how the proposed scheme can be implemented and what strategies can reward regions for moving toward environmental sustainability practices. Research methods used in this paper include a literature study, stakeholder interviews, the SWOT method and analytical hierarchy processes. Results indicate that DBH Sawit is one of several fiscal instruments that could potentially incentivize sustainability. It has both strengths and anticipated opportunities, such as increased CPO production and global demand for palm oil. It faces, however, serious weaknesses, such as unauthorized oil palm plantations and the absence of traceability systems. It is also threatened by unfair market and global policies. This paper recommends diverse strategies to increase palm oil productivity, accelerate sustainability certification and develop a tracing system. To accelerate the adoption of environmental sustainability, the paper advocates an ecological-based fiscal transfer system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2243 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Development and Application of Models for Landslide Hazards in Northern Pakistan

by Tahir Ali Akbar, Siddique Ullah, Waheed Ullah, Rafi Ullah, Raja Umer Sajjad, Abdullah Mohamed, Alamgir Khalil, Muhammad Faisal Javed and Anwarud Din

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10194; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141610194 - 17 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

In this paper, new models were investigated and developed for landslide hazards in Muzaffarabad District, located in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan. The influential factors used in the landslide modelling were land use/landcover (LULC), elevation, slope, slope aspect, rainfall, drainage, [...] Read more.

In this paper, new models were investigated and developed for landslide hazards in Muzaffarabad District, located in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan. The influential factors used in the landslide modelling were land use/landcover (LULC), elevation, slope, slope aspect, rainfall, drainage, road, surface roughness, and topographic index. The GIS-based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model was applied by utilizing the database of 35 active landslides and their pixels present in classes of all influential factors. The mean landslide hazard values, obtained from the mean landslide hazard analysis, were used as hazard weightages in the AHP model for development of a landslide hazard zone map. The highest mean hazard values for: (i) bare soil in LULC was 14.6%; (ii) 600–800 m in elevation was 6.89%; (iii) 30°–35° in slope was 6%; (iv) S and SW in slope aspect was 9.01%; (v) 1350–1405 mm/yr in rainfall was 9.03%; (vi) 40–80 m in buffered drainage was 12.83%; (vii) 40–80 m in buffered road was 12.48%; (viii) 60–138 in surface roughness index was 10.99%; (ix) −1.74–−1.25 in topographic position index was 13.07%. The percentages of very low, low, moderate, high, and very high landslide hazard zones were 1.48%, 11.80%, 39.36%, 37.36%, and 9.57% respectively. The co-efficient of the determination (r²) value of 0.96 indicated a strong relationship between the model development and validation. Thus, landslide hazard zone map models and methodology indicated a very high accuracy. This landslide hazard zone map could be utilized for the landslide damages’ reduction and the planning and development of road and building infrastructures in the study area. Additionally, this research could be replicated in other landslide prone areas of Pakistan for the minimizing the damages of landslides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3334 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Pattern Identification and Driving Mechanism of Urban Shrinkage in the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2020

by Wei Gao, Xinzheng Zhao, Jianwei Li, Dekang Zhang, Yang Rui, Tongsheng Li and Min Lei

Land 2022, 11(8), 1325; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081325 - 16 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1465

Abstract

The regional differences in the Yellow River Basin have increased, and the aggravation of this unbalanced state has seriously restricted the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin during the accelerated urbanisation that has taken place in recent years. In this regard, heterogeneity [...] Read more.

The regional differences in the Yellow River Basin have increased, and the aggravation of this unbalanced state has seriously restricted the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin during the accelerated urbanisation that has taken place in recent years. In this regard, heterogeneity in the trends of evolution and the causes of population shrinkage in different regions of the Yellow River Basin can be adopted as targeted countermeasures. The present study uses data from the fifth, sixth, and seventh national censuses and takes the administrative units of different levels in the Yellow River Basin as the object, considering 72 prefecture-level cities within the autonomous prefectures and 595 county-level administrative units in nine provinces (autonomous regions). The population shrinkage coefficient, night light index, bivariate spatial autocorrelation, geographic detectors, and other methods were used, with the final objective of exploring the spatial–temporal distribution pattern and impact mechanism of urban shrinkage from 2000 to 2020. The results of the study show the following: (1) The shrinkage patterns in 2000–2010 (T1) and 2010–2020 (T2) were quite different. From T1 to T2, the shrinkage situation worsened, with the number of districts experiencing population shrinkage increasing from 175 to 373 and the number of districts experiencing continuous night light and shrinkage districts increasing from 146 to 163. (2) The phenomenon of urban shrinkage is spatially scale dependent, with the shrinkage of prefecture-level cities and county-level cities being characterised by both spatial differentiation and spatial nesting relationships. (3) There is a certain inconsistency in the representation of the shrinkage patterns of the nighttime lighting and population data. The nighttime lighting dimension can reflect the structural shrinkage characteristics of the city more accurately and sensitively, and the representation of population loss is lagging. (4) The main impact factors and the intensity of urban shrinkage are the aggravated aging level, the declining level of industrial greening and intensification under market-driven economic structure adjustments, and the decreased natural growth rate in the population structure and public service facilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 592 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Asymmetric and Long-Run Effect of Financial Stability on Environmental Degradation in Norway

by Dervis Kirikkaleli, Rui Alexandre Castanho, Sema Yilmaz Genc, Modupe Oluyemisi Oyebanji and Gualter Couto

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10131; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141610131 - 16 Aug 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1939

Abstract

Risks associated with climate change can have an injurious impact on the economy as well as the financial system as a whole. There is a possibility that certain risks, such as losses to financial intermediaries and disruptions in the functioning of financial markets, [...] Read more.

Risks associated with climate change can have an injurious impact on the economy as well as the financial system as a whole. There is a possibility that certain risks, such as losses to financial intermediaries and disruptions in the functioning of financial markets, can aggravate vulnerabilities in the financial system under certain conditions, including sudden increases in the prices of large asset classes. Using the dataset for Norway between 1995 and 2018, this study investigates how financial stability affects environmental degradation in Norway while controlling openness in trade, ecological clean energy, and economic growth. Findings from the results demonstrate that (i) financial stability causes a reduction in environmental degradation; (ii) growth causes carbon emissions to climb significantly; and (iii) renewable energy has been favorable for emissions in Norway. Lastly, surprisingly, trade openness causes a decline in carbon emissions. The study recommends that since financial stability in Norway reduces environmental degradation by incorporating climate-related risks into the financial stability monitoring framework, it can contribute to lowering carbon emissions to a greater extent. Norway’s policymakers should conduct detailed analyses of the role of global emissions in long-term petroleum policy and the economic viability of selected climate policy scenarios before implementing such a policy. Moreover, policymakers should be updated on the financial system’s vulnerabilities, considering climate-related shocks are likely to affect all financial systems. In addition, policymakers should encourage the use of sustainable energy to raise the availability of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to everyone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 6176 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Factor Analysis Backpropagation Neural Network Model for Vegetation Net Primary Productivity Time Series Estimation in Western Sichuan

by Song Li, Rui Zhang, Lingxiao Xie, Junyu Zhan, Yunfan Song, Runqing Zhan, Age Shama and Ting Wang

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(16), 3961; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14163961 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1766

Abstract

Vegetation net primary productivity (VNPP) is the main factor in ecosystem carbon sink function and regulation of environmental processes. However, NPP data products have data missing in some areas, which affects the availability and overall accuracy level of data. Therefore, we adopted the [...] Read more.

Vegetation net primary productivity (VNPP) is the main factor in ecosystem carbon sink function and regulation of environmental processes. However, NPP data products have data missing in some areas, which affects the availability and overall accuracy level of data. Therefore, we adopted the Factor Analysis Backpropagation neural network model (FA-BP model) to acquire a high-accuracy and high-reliability NPP result without missing or empty areas by using a series of easily accessible datasets, such as meteorological data and remote sensing data. We selected the western Sichuan region as the study area and carried out a VNPP time series estimation from 2000 to 2016. Comparative simulations also verify the accuracy of the time series estimation results: The Pearson correlation r of VNPP prediction results ranged from 0.807 to 0.917, the mean absolute error ranged from 29.1 to 38.9, the root mean square error was between 37.3 and 51.8, and the mean relative error varies from 0.10 to 0.14. Further analysis shows that the spatial pattern of estimated VNPP during the past 17 years in western Sichuan shows a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest. Besides, the VNPP time series is generally on an upward trend in this period. The increasing and decreasing areas of VNPP values in the study area accounted for 81.42% and 18.58%, respectively. Moreover, we find that temperature dominates the change of VNPP in the whole western Sichuan region. The data processing method and experimental results presented in this paper can provide a reference for accurately acquiring VNPP and related studies on natural resources and climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 8965 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Responses to Climate Change and Human Activities in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of Xinjiang in China

by Yanqing Zhou, Yaoming Li, Wei Li, Feng Li and Qinchuan Xin

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(16), 3911; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14163911 - 12 Aug 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2005

Abstract

Understanding the impacts and extent of both climate change and human activities on ecosystems is crucial to sustainable development. With low anti-interference ability, arid and semi-arid ecosystems are particularly sensitive to disturbances from both climate change and human activities. We investigated how and [...] Read more.

Understanding the impacts and extent of both climate change and human activities on ecosystems is crucial to sustainable development. With low anti-interference ability, arid and semi-arid ecosystems are particularly sensitive to disturbances from both climate change and human activities. We investigated how and to what extent climate variation and human activities influenced major indicators that are related to ecosystem functions and conditions in the past decades in Xinjiang, a typical arid and semi-arid region in China. We analyzed the changing trends of evapotranspiration (ET), gross primary productivity (GPP) and leaf area index (LAI) derived from the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite product and the Breathing Earth System Simulator (BESS) model in Xinjiang for different climate zones. We separated and quantified the contributions of climate forcing and human activities on the trends of the studied ecosystem indicators using the residual analysis method for different climate zones in Xinjiang. The results show that GPP and LAI increased and ET decreased from 2001 to 2015 in Xinjiang. Factors that dominate the changes in ecosystem indicators vary considerably across different climate zones. Precipitation plays a positive role in impacting vegetation indicators in arid and hyper-arid zones and temperature has a negative correlation with both GPP and LAI in hyper-arid zones in Xinjiang. Results based on residual analysis indicate that human activities could account for over 72% of variation in the changes in each ecosystem indicator. Human activities have large impacts on each vegetation indicator change in hyper-arid and arid zones and their relative contribution has a mean value of 79%. This study quantifies the roles of climate forcing and human activities in the changes in ecosystem indicators across different climate zones, suggesting that human activities largely influence ecosystem processes in the arid and semi-arid regions of Xinjiang in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 22204 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Snow Indices in Assessing Snow Cover Depth in Northern Kazakhstan

by Zhanassyl Teleubay, Farabi Yermekov, Ismail Tokbergenov, Zhanat Toleubekova, Amangeldy Igilmanov, Zhadyra Yermekova and Aigerim Assylkhanova

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9643; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159643 - 05 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2133

Abstract

This study compares the performances of four existing snow indices (Normalized-Difference Snow Index, Normalized-Difference Snow and Ice Index, Difference Snow Index, and Ratio Snow Index) in estimating snow cover depth at three agricultural enterprises in different soil zones, namely, the “North Kazakhstan Agricultural [...] Read more.

This study compares the performances of four existing snow indices (Normalized-Difference Snow Index, Normalized-Difference Snow and Ice Index, Difference Snow Index, and Ratio Snow Index) in estimating snow cover depth at three agricultural enterprises in different soil zones, namely, the “North Kazakhstan Agricultural Experimental Station”, A.I. Barayev “Research and Production Center for Grain Farming”, and “Naidorovskoe”. From 30 January to 9 February 2022, the snow cover thickness and density were measured at 410 and 285 points, respectively, throughout the agricultural enterprise territories. It was found that: (1) snow-covered territories were effectively classified using all spectral indices except both combinations of RSI; (2) the snow cover fraction maps generated from DSI most accurately classified the non-snow areas as forest plantations, settlements, and strongly blown uplands; (3) the maps generated from DSI-2 presented a clear pattern of objects in all three study areas; (4) the liquid water in snowpacks is available in excess for possible reservation and rational use in agriculture during the dry season. At the “North Kazakhstan AES”, A.I. Barayev “Research and Production Center for Grain Farming”, and “Naidorovskoe”, the RMSE varied from 5.62 (DSI-2) to 6.85 (NDSII-2), from 3.46 (DSI-2) to 4.86 (RSI-1), and from 2.86 (DSI-2) to 3.53 (NDSII-1), respectively. The DSI-2-based snow depths best matched the ground truth, with correlations of 0.78, 0.69, and 0.80, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 19271 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Future Risk of Tourism Pressures under Climate Change: A Case Study in the Three-River-Source National Park

by Yuxi Zeng, Ling-en Wang and Linsheng Zhong

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(15), 3758; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14153758 - 05 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1551

Abstract

Tourism is considered one of the main sources of pressure on the global ecosystem, which is being increasingly affected by climate change. Few studies have evaluated the spatial patterns of tourism pressure that ecosystems will suffer under the changing climate in the future. [...] Read more.

Tourism is considered one of the main sources of pressure on the global ecosystem, which is being increasingly affected by climate change. Few studies have evaluated the spatial patterns of tourism pressure that ecosystems will suffer under the changing climate in the future. Considering the Three-River-Source National Park, China, as the study area, we applied statistical and remote sensing techniques to examine the spatial pattern of the risk of tourism pressure in 2070 and 2100 under two climate scenarios: the representative concentration pathway of radiative forcing levels of 8.5 W/m² (RCP8.5) and RCP4.5. The results indicate that regions at high risk of tourism pressure in the study area will expand in the future. Areas with a high risk of tourism pressure in 2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario accounted for 6.75% of the entire study area, with the largest area under impact being in the Lancang-River-Source Park, accounting for 20.61% of the sub-park. The distribution density of areas with a high risk of tourism pressure in 2100 is also the highest under RCP8.5 (5.3 points/km²), and the average density of Lancang-River-Source Park will be the highest (16.58 points/km²) among the three sub-parks, suggesting that larger areas of the Three-River-Source National Park will face an increased risk of tourism pressure in the context of future climate change, with the greatest change poised to be in the Lancang-River-Source Park. Tourism pressure management strategies must be implemented in these areas with an increased risk of tourism pressure. This study provides useful insights for managing tourism pressures and improving adaptability under climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 2585 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Rising Temperature and Carbon Dioxide on the Growth, Photophysiology, and Elemental Ratios of Marine Synechococcus: A Multistressor Approach

by Samarpita Basu and Katherine R. M. Mackey

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9508; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159508 - 03 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1905

Abstract

Marine picocyanobacteria belonging to the genus Synechococcus are one of the most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth. They are often exposed to large fluctuations in temperature and CO₂ concentrations in the ocean, which are expected to further change in the coming decades [...] Read more.

Marine picocyanobacteria belonging to the genus Synechococcus are one of the most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth. They are often exposed to large fluctuations in temperature and CO₂ concentrations in the ocean, which are expected to further change in the coming decades due to ocean acidification and warming resulting from rising atmospheric CO₂ levels. To decipher the effect of changing temperature and CO₂ levels on Synechococcus, six Synechococcus strains previously isolated from various coastal and open ocean sites were exposed to a matrix of three different temperatures (22 °C, 24 °C and 26 °C) and CO₂ levels (400 ppm, 600 ppm and 800 ppm). Thereafter, the specific growth rates, photophysiological parameters (σ_PSII and F_v/F_m), C/N (mol/mol) ratios and the nitrogen stable isotopic composition (δ¹⁵N (‰)) of the strains were measured. Temperature was found to be a stronger driver of the changes in specific growth rates and photophysiology in the Synechococcus strains. Carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCM) operational in these strains that shield the photosynthetic machinery from directly sensing ambient changes in CO₂ possibly played a major role in causing minimal changes in the specific growth rates under the varying CO₂ levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 6603 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Soil Temperature, Humidity, and Salinity on Bird Island within Qinghai Lake Basin, China

by Zhirong Chen, Deyong Yu, Guangchao Cao, Kelong Chen, Jianxin Fu, Yuanxi Ma and Xinye Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9449; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159449 - 02 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1584

Abstract

The temperature, moisture, and salt content of soil in alpine regions are sensitive to changes in climatic factors and are important indicators of ecosystem functions. In this study, we collected soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity data at different depths at a sampling [...] Read more.

The temperature, moisture, and salt content of soil in alpine regions are sensitive to changes in climatic factors and are important indicators of ecosystem functions. In this study, we collected soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity data at different depths at a sampling site on Bird Island in Qinghai Lake during winter using a continuous soil temperature, moisture and salt content monitoring system and analyzed their variations and influential factors. The variation in soil moisture showed an obvious ‘V-shaped’ pattern from 00:00 to 23:00 and an upward trend with soil layer depth. From 00:00 to 23:00, the overall soil temperature data fitted a ‘unimodal’ curve and showed a clear and continuous upward trend with soil layer depth at a rate of 0.684 (p < 0.001). Soil electrical conductivity data also exhibited a distinct ‘V-shaped’ pattern from 00:00 to 23:00 and a continuous increase with increasing soil depth. The correlation between soil temperature, moisture, and conductivity and the spatial distribution of five climate factors indicated that climate factors accounted for 53.6% of the changes in soil temperature, moisture, and salinity. Climate factors showed a significant positive correlation with soil temperature, moisture, and conductivity (p < 0.001), and air temperature was the most important factor influencing soil temperature and soil moisture changes, whereas wind direction was the most important factor influencing soil conductivity. (Wind direction and wind speed affect soil evapotranspiration, and then affect soil moisture and solute transport process). The results of this preliminary study reveal the characteristics associated with soil temperature, moisture, and salinity changes in winter within the wetlands of Bird Island on Qinghai Lake in the context of climate change, and they can be used as valuable reference data in further studies investigating associated changes in ecosystem functions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 807 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Fiscal Ecological Cost of Land in China: Estimation and Regional Differences

by Yubo Wang and Xizhu Yang

Land 2022, 11(8), 1221; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081221 - 02 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1460

Abstract

This study explains the fiscal ecological costs of land in China by dividing them into three periods: early ecological cost refers to loss of ecosystem service value after the conversion of agricultural land, mid-term ecological cost refers to land development in urban built-up [...] Read more.

This study explains the fiscal ecological costs of land in China by dividing them into three periods: early ecological cost refers to loss of ecosystem service value after the conversion of agricultural land, mid-term ecological cost refers to land development in urban built-up areas, and later ecological cost refers to the investment cost of increasing the fiscal ecological service function of the land. Using data for 31 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2017, we perform a “link between groups” cluster analysis with SPSS 22.0 statistical software. Squared Euclidean distance is used to analyze land in these provinces. Ecological cost in the early, middle, and late stages is clustered, and the provinces are divided into five areas according to the ecological cost of each stage in absolute terms and as a proportion of land fiscal revenue. The research shows that: (1) the fiscal ecological cost of land in China presents a spatial pattern of “higher in the east than in the west, higher in the south than in the north,” and (2) the cost is highest in the early stage, second highest in the late stage, and lowest in the middle stage. The findings yield differentiated policy recommendations for reducing the fiscal ecological cost of land in different areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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29 pages, 10730 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Has Urban Construction Land Achieved Low-Carbon Sustainable Development? A Case Study of North China Plain, China

by Qing Wang and Yuhang Xiao

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9434; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159434 - 01 Aug 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2106

Abstract

The rapid expansion of urban construction land (UCL) provides a guarantee to support rapid economic development and meet the social needs of urban residents. However, urban construction land is also an important source of carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, it is of great research [...] Read more.

The rapid expansion of urban construction land (UCL) provides a guarantee to support rapid economic development and meet the social needs of urban residents. However, urban construction land is also an important source of carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, it is of great research value to investigate the relationship between UCL and carbon emissions in depth. Based on this, using panel data of 57 cities in the North China Plain from 2007 to 2018, the study found that there is a strong positive correlation between UCL and CO₂ emissions. It can be seen that the expansion of UCL is an important source of CO₂ emissions. On the basis of this research conclusion, first, this paper uses the Tapio decoupling model to analyze the decoupling relationship between UCL and carbon emissions in the North China Plain. Then, the spatial autocorrelation analysis was applied to explore the spatial correlation characteristics of the carbon emission intensity of UCL in cities in the North China Plain. Finally, using the GTWR model to analyze the influencing factors of the carbon emission intensity of UCL, the following conclusions were drawn. In 2007–2015, the decoupling relationship performed well, but it deteriorated significantly from 2015 to 2018; in addition, there was a significant positive spatial correlation of carbon emission intensity of UCL. Various influencing factors have a significant impact on the carbon emission intensity of UCL, for example, the urbanization rate, industrial structure, economic development level, and population density have a positive impact, and environmental regulations, foreign investment intensity, land use efficiency and greenery coverage have a negative impact. The research results of this paper provide a scientific basis for making decisions and optimizing pathways to achieve carbon emission reduction from UCL in the North China Plain, as well as certain reference values for other regions to achieve low-carbon development of UCL. This is significant for exploring the optimal solution of land and carbon emissions and building a harmonious human–land relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 864 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change and Human Response to Sustainable Environmental Governance Policy: Tax or Emissions Trading?

by Qinglong Wang, Jiale Huang, Xian Zhang, Weina Qin, Huina Zhang and Yani Dong

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9412; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159412 - 01 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1512

Abstract

With climate change, humans are looking for effective ways to improve the ecological environment and provide comfortable survival space for sustainable development. There are two main economic methods for controlling environmental pollution: emissions fees (Pigouvian taxes) and emissions standards (emissions trading). However, the [...] Read more.

With climate change, humans are looking for effective ways to improve the ecological environment and provide comfortable survival space for sustainable development. There are two main economic methods for controlling environmental pollution: emissions fees (Pigouvian taxes) and emissions standards (emissions trading). However, the two policies have their applicable conditions in dealing with different sources of pollution and dynamic ecosystems, and many problems will arise if they are misused. This paper theoretically proves that significant (minor) pollution sources could satisfy the condition that the benefit function’s curvature is greater (less) than that of the cost function. When the speed of ecological absorption is constant, a price policy controlling significant pollution sources will generate uncertainty; the quantity policy will generate a higher total social cost of managing the minor pollution source. When the speed of ecological absorption is not constant, adjusting the number of part pollution permits will lead to two kinds of pollutant leakage. If the pollution permits can be freely circulated, it will lead to the pollution of regional $b$ (less regulated areas) inflow into the region $a$ (more regulated areas); if permits are not freely circulated, otherwise not. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 5055 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Can the Layout of Public Service Facilities Be Optimized to Reduce Travel-Related Carbon Emissions? Evidence from Changxing County, China

by Fengying Yan, Ningyu Huang and Yehui Zhang

Land 2022, 11(8), 1200; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081200 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1656

Abstract

With the developments in urbanization and motorization, travel-related carbon emissions are increasing rapidly. The layout of public service facilities (LPSF) has a direct impact on travel-related carbon emissions. However, existing public service facility planning methods focus on population, economy, and other aspects, ignoring [...] Read more.

With the developments in urbanization and motorization, travel-related carbon emissions are increasing rapidly. The layout of public service facilities (LPSF) has a direct impact on travel-related carbon emissions. However, existing public service facility planning methods focus on population, economy, and other aspects, ignoring the environmental impact. So, how do we optimize the LPSF to reduce carbon emissions? This paper proposed a method to optimize the LPSF under the constraint of travel carbon emissions. We selected medical facilities in Changxing County, China, and applied the method we proposed. We found that (1) the carbon reduction effect was significant—the total monthly emissions in Changxing were reduced by 26.10%, and the area covered by high emissions was reduced; (2) the medical facilities in Changxing under a low-carbon goal should be distributed in the county center and surrounding urban areas in a multi-center form; and (3) improving the accessibility of facilities can help to form a low-carbon facilities layout. This paper provides a spatial planning method to guide the specific locations of facilities under low-carbon goals. It also provides scientific suggestions for low-carbon land-use policies at the county level in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 977 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Carbon Trading System on Green Economic Growth in China

by Xin Nie, Zhoupeng Chen, Linfang Yang, Qiaoling Wang, Jiaxin He, Huixian Qin and Han Wang

Land 2022, 11(8), 1199; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081199 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2253

Abstract

Whether China’s economy can maintain sustainable growth has been debated both in China and internationally, and the most representative critique has been summarized in the “Krugman Query”. Faced with such doubts, how to achieve a “win-win” for economic growth and environmental protection has [...] Read more.

Whether China’s economy can maintain sustainable growth has been debated both in China and internationally, and the most representative critique has been summarized in the “Krugman Query”. Faced with such doubts, how to achieve a “win-win” for economic growth and environmental protection has become one of the central objectives of local government work while striving for the new vision of development. Taking China’s carbon trading pilot policy as an example, and based on panel data of 30 provincial administrative regions in China from 2001 to 2018, this paper uses the Data Envelopment Analysis-Malmquist index model and the Propensity Score Matching-Difference in Difference method to measure the level of green economic growth from two aspects: green development mode and economic growth effect, and further explore the impact of China’s carbon trading system on green economic growth. The results show that the implementation of the carbon trading system promoted both the green development level and economic growth of pilot cities, and positively affected green total factor productivity, refuting the “Krugman Query”. Finally, the study puts forward a series of recommendations in strengthening environmental regulation, improving green technology innovation, and developing low-carbon industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 495 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of China’s Economic Structural Changes under Carbon Emission Constraints: Based on the Linear Programming Input–Output (LP-IO) Model

by Xiaoxiang Xu and Mingqiu Liao

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9336; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159336 - 29 Jul 2022

Viewed by 1183

Abstract

China has established a carbon emission reduction goal for 2030. For the Chinese government, there is a dilemma between reducing carbon emissions while still striving to maintain continuous economic growth in future. To achieve these “dual goals”, it is necessary to predict the [...] Read more.

China has established a carbon emission reduction goal for 2030. For the Chinese government, there is a dilemma between reducing carbon emissions while still striving to maintain continuous economic growth in future. To achieve these “dual goals”, it is necessary to predict the optimal industrial structure under these constraints in 2030. By integrating the linear programming input–output model (LP-IO) with the RAS updating technique, this paper predicts the industrial structure in China in 2030 and compares it with the year 2018. The results show that China’s industry structure will experience major changes. In particular, most of the industries related to manufacturing, such as mining, petroleum, and metal, will lose their important positions in the economic system, while service industries such as culture, sports, and public service will take over the position as pillars of the economy. Additionally, carbon emissions in 2030 will be at least 12.8 billion tons. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the Chinese government should increase investment in service industries in advance to meet the goal of reducing carbon emissions earlier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 11417 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Approach for Retrieving Consistent Time Series “Urban Core–Suburban-Rural” (USR) Structure Using Nighttime Light Data from DMSP/OLS and NPP/VIIRS

by Yaohuan Huang, Jie Yang, Mingxing Chen, Chengbin Wu, Hongyan Ren and Yesen Liu

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(15), 3642; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14153642 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1531

Abstract

The long time series and consistent “urban core-suburban-rural” (USR) structure in a city region is essential to understanding urban–suburban–rural interaction and urbanization pathways. It is always considered to be a single land use type (e.g., impervious area) in remote sensing research. The long-term [...] Read more.

The long time series and consistent “urban core-suburban-rural” (USR) structure in a city region is essential to understanding urban–suburban–rural interaction and urbanization pathways. It is always considered to be a single land use type (e.g., impervious area) in remote sensing research. The long-term (1992–present) nighttime light (NTL) data of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) and the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP-VIIRS) provide the potential for retrieving time series of USR structure. In this study, we propose an improved approach to mapping the USR structure of the three subcategories based on a heuristic algorithm of Mann–Kendall mutation detection on the NTL quantile curve. First, a minor adjustment of VIIRS NTL is applied for matching the value ranges of DMSP NTL data and keeping the advantage of VIIRS to generate a long-term NTL dataset. Second, the heuristic algorithm of Mann–Kendall mutation detection is processed to find two optimal thresholds in the NTL quantile curve, which is used for USR extraction. Finally, a temporal consistency check is used to post-process the initial USR area for obtaining a more consistent and reliable USR sequence. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, we retrieved the USR structures of 19 typical cities in China from 1992 to 2020 based on NTL datasets. The evaluations of spatiotemporal consistency compared with the validation data indicate that the USR retrieval results show good agreement with the land use map derived from Landsat images and the time series product from MODIS. The average overall accuracy (OA) of overall urban extent is higher than 0.95 and the average kappa coefficient (KC) reaches 0.6. Moreover, we investigated the urban dynamics and USR interactions of 19 cities from 1992 to 2020. Overall, this study proposes an improved approach for long-term USR mapping from NTL images at a regional scale and it will provide a valuable method for urbanization dynamics analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2839 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Personal Carbon Budgets: A Pestle Review

by Alice Brock, Simon Kemp and Ian D. Williams

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9238; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159238 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4074

Abstract

Personal Carbon Budgets (PCBs) are a radical policy innovation that seek to reduce an individual’s carbon consumption. This review identifies three archetypes of PCBs in the current literature; Personal Carbon Trading, Carbon Tax and Carbon Labelling. We theorised that carbon trading could affect [...] Read more.

Personal Carbon Budgets (PCBs) are a radical policy innovation that seek to reduce an individual’s carbon consumption. This review identifies three archetypes of PCBs in the current literature; Personal Carbon Trading, Carbon Tax and Carbon Labelling. We theorised that carbon trading could affect equity and allow quality of life and consumption to be driven by income rather than needs. We, therefore, developed a new model (Personal Carbon Allowance with no trading) to compare to existing archetypes. A PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental) framework was applied to each archetype to analyse and compare their costs and benefits and to critically evaluate and identify which model may be the most appropriate to reduce emissions severely but equitably. We conclude that the only model that can achieve this is our proposed Personal Carbon Allowance (PCA) model with no trading. PCA has a hard cap on emissions allowing for controllable severe cuts to emissions, and the lack of trading would prohibit those with wealth from continuing high-consumption lifestyles at the expense of those with lower incomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 4664 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of the Impact of Temperature Rise Due to Climate Change on Asphalt Pavement in China

by Yinghao Miao, Jiajia Sheng and Jin Ye

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9044; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159044 - 23 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1804

Abstract

In the global warming context, understanding the impact of temperature rise on asphalt pavement is the basis for making adaptation strategies. An approach based on historical climate data and pavement performance models was employed to assess the potential impact of temperature rise on [...] Read more.

In the global warming context, understanding the impact of temperature rise on asphalt pavement is the basis for making adaptation strategies. An approach based on historical climate data and pavement performance models was employed to assess the potential impact of temperature rise on asphalt pavement in China. It is shown that permanent deformation is one sensitive aspect of asphalt pavement performance, which increased on average by 20.70% from 1992 to 2019. Another one is low-temperature cracking, which decreased by 20.99% from 1970 to 1997, but has remained almost unchanged since 1997. Global mean surface temperature anomalies of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C will increase the permanent deformation of asphalt pavement by 18.63% and 36.71%, respectively, compared to 2019. Global warming is bringing serious challenges to the structure and material design of asphalt pavement due to the increasing service temperature range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 794 KiB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

Farmers’ Demand for Climate Information Services: A Systematic Review

by Adama Ouedraogo, Irene S. Egyir, Mathieu Ouedraogo and John Baptist D. Jatoe

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9025; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159025 - 23 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2015

Abstract

The importance of climate information services (CIS) for farm decision-making is known worldwide. Its use is widely recommended by academics, governments, and development partners, especially in Africa. However, the supply of commercial CIS in Africa remains very low. Considering that the commercial CIS [...] Read more.

The importance of climate information services (CIS) for farm decision-making is known worldwide. Its use is widely recommended by academics, governments, and development partners, especially in Africa. However, the supply of commercial CIS in Africa remains very low. Considering that the commercial CIS suppliers are business-oriented, the lack of supply is mainly due to the lack of evidence on the demand for it. The specific objectives of the review were to assess the demand for CIS, the key characteristics of the demanded CIS. and the key drivers for the demand for CIS in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Through a systematic review, 123 articles were identified on the SCOPUS and Google Scholar databases and 52 papers were included in the study. The models of assessment done by the majority of authors were a simple description based on needs assessments and econometrics modelling to identify the key drivers. The results show that 68% of the farmers in ECOWAS demanded CIS. The average willingness to pay for CIS is estimated to be USD 2.01 for daily forecasts. The usability of CIS, daily forecasts and geolocalized CIS, and customized CIS are the key characteristics farmers are looking for in the ECOWAS region. The main drivers of CIS demand are price, income, vulnerability to climate variability, beliefs and religion, complementary services, gender, type of crops, and farm size. According to the consumer theory, information such as elasticity of price and income, ranked substitutes of CIS, which are still lacking, are key for understanding the CIS demand. However, the review showed that little research work has been conducted in this area. The review also shows the importance of determining among which type of goods CIS should be classified. Knowing whether CIS is a necessity good is vital for suppliers’ decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 2786 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Effectiveness of Administrative District Realignments Based on a Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Model

by Zhenghui Zhu, Yao Lu, Li Wang, Wanbo Liu and Lingen Wang

Land 2022, 11(8), 1126; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081126 - 22 Jul 2022

Viewed by 1295

Abstract

The long-term effects of administrative division adjustments on economic development in Dalian City, China, is presently unclear. Therefore, we employed a geographically and temporally weighted regression model to construct an index assessment system using the annual number of newly registered enterprises as the [...] Read more.

The long-term effects of administrative division adjustments on economic development in Dalian City, China, is presently unclear. Therefore, we employed a geographically and temporally weighted regression model to construct an index assessment system using the annual number of newly registered enterprises as the dependent variable. We empirically studied the effects of administrative division adjustments of townships in Dalian City from 2010 to 2020. The results showed that: (i) adjustments in townships administrative divisions negatively affected regional enterprise concentrations and economic development in general, whereas industrial and transportation factors demonstrated positive effects to variable degrees, and the effects of policy, location, and population factors were not significant. (ii) Over time, the effects of townships administrative division adjustments changed from positive to negative, and the negative effects displayed an increasing trend, revealing that (iii) the effect of administrative division adjustments in Dalian City was positive and negative over time. This further reveals the objective problem that administrative division adjustment in recent years was effective over the short term, but not over the long term. (iv) During the study period, administrative division adjustments positively affected regional enterprise concentrations and economic development solely during a short time frame and in a small geographical area. However, its negative effects increased extensively, which infers that maintaining a relatively stable administrative division is more beneficial for promoting economic development in Dalian City. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 6459 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Differences in Land Surface Temperature under Different Land Use/Land Cover Types from the Perspective of Different Climate Zones

by Jiaxing Xin, Jun Yang, Dongqi Sun, Tianyu Han, Chunrui Song and Zhipeng Shi

Land 2022, 11(8), 1122; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081122 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1946

Abstract

The process of urbanization is accelerating, and land surface temperature (LST) is increasing, seriously threatening human health. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the differences in LST of different land use/land cover (LULC) types. Using MOD11A2 and MCD12Q1 data, this study explored the [...] Read more.

The process of urbanization is accelerating, and land surface temperature (LST) is increasing, seriously threatening human health. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the differences in LST of different land use/land cover (LULC) types. Using MOD11A2 and MCD12Q1 data, this study explored the seasonal differences in LST of each LULC type from the perspective of different climate zones. The results showed that the maximum and minimum LSTs during the day were higher than those at night. During the day, the LSTs of urban and built-up and barren lands were higher than those of forests, grasslands, and water bodies; at night, the LSTs of urban and built-up lands decreased but remained high, while barren lands showed a significant decrease to LSTs even lower than those of water bodies. In addition, the difference in daytime LST of the LU16 type (barren lands) in different climatic zones was the most obvious and was much higher than that of other LULC types in the middle temperate and south temperate zones, but much lower than those in the middle subtropical and north subtropical zones. This comparison of the LST differences of each LULC type under different climate backgrounds provides an important reference for rational urban planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 3193 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Bayesian Calibration for Office-Building Heating and Cooling Energy Prediction Model

by Yu Cui, Zishang Zhu, Xudong Zhao, Zhaomeng Li and Peng Qin

Buildings 2022, 12(7), 1052; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12071052 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1444

Abstract

Conventional building energy models (BEM) for heating and cooling energy-consumption prediction without calibration are not accurate, and the commonly used manual calibration method requires the high expertise of modelers. Bayesian calibration (BC) is a novel method with great potential in BEM, and there [...] Read more.

Conventional building energy models (BEM) for heating and cooling energy-consumption prediction without calibration are not accurate, and the commonly used manual calibration method requires the high expertise of modelers. Bayesian calibration (BC) is a novel method with great potential in BEM, and there are many successful applications for unknown-parameters calibrating and retrofitting analysis. However, there is still a lack of study on prediction model calibration. There are two main challenges in developing a calibrated prediction model: (1) poor generalization ability; (2) lack of data availability. To tackle these challenges and create an energy prediction model for office buildings in Guangdong, China, this paper characterizes and validates the BC method to calibrate a quasi-dynamic BEM with a comprehensive database including geometry information for various office buildings. Then, a case study analyzes the effectiveness and performance of the calibrated prediction model. The results show that BC effectively and accurately calibrates quasi-dynamic BEM for prediction purposes. The calibrated model accuracy (monthly CV(RMSE) of 0.59% and hourly CV(RMSE) of 19.35%) meets the requirement of ASHRAE Guideline 14. With the calibrated prediction model, this paper provides a new way to improve the data quality and integrity of existing building energy databases and will further benefit usability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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32 pages, 8141 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Analysis of the Sustainability of Livestock Farms in the Area of the Southwest of Bihor County to Climate Change

by Olimpia Smaranda Mintaș, Daniel Mierliță, Octavian Berchez, Alina Stanciu, Alina Osiceanu and Adrian Gheorghe Osiceanu

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8841; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14148841 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1624

Abstract

The concepts of sustainability and vulnerability are complementary and closely linked; mitigating the vulnerability of the human environment/climate change can increase its resilience or sustainability. Climate change can increase existing vulnerabilities and deepen socioeconomic imbalances. Measures to reduce and adapt to the effects [...] Read more.

The concepts of sustainability and vulnerability are complementary and closely linked; mitigating the vulnerability of the human environment/climate change can increase its resilience or sustainability. Climate change can increase existing vulnerabilities and deepen socioeconomic imbalances. Measures to reduce and adapt to the effects of climate change are needed in the livestock sector, as they can help reduce the damage caused by natural disasters and other effects of climate change. The future effects of climate change are a significant challenge for livestock managers, users of livestock products and other players, as they may face a number of problems, such as the qualitative and quantitative decline in cereals (feedstock), depletion of conventional sources of energy that provide the electricity and heat needed for animal husbandry, damage to animal shelters, changes in flood frequency and the effects of flooding on the process of spreading manure on land and unforeseen operating and maintenance costs. The adaptation of the intensive animal husbandry process to climate change is a complex process considering the variability of effects, physical vulnerability, degree of socioeconomic development of the entire analyzed area, natural adaptability, health services and disaster surveillance mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to help local authorities in the process of preparing for this transition in a way that takes into account not only socioeconomic factors but also the development constraints imposed by climate change. The studied area, Ciumeghiu–Avram Iancu, located in the southern part of Bihor County, Romania, has been designated as a disadvantaged area of socioeconomic development so that economic agents can apply for the financing of rural development projects with co-financing from European funds (up to 90%). The study presents an analysis of economic development (zootechnical activities) in the southern part of Bihor County, Romania in relation to the climatic vulnerability of the area. Knowing the changes induced in an area by climate change is still a challenge for any local community, and for a socioeconomically vulnerable area, such as the study area, it is important to have at hand studies that can indicate the directions and constraints of development in dictated by these changes. Through this study, we aimed to identify a correlation between the changes induced by climate change and the development capacity of livestock farms, as many economic agents have developed or are developing technical projects for the construction of animal farms in this area. This study is based on the requirements of European reference documents, standards and guidelines. Based on the data available at this time, the applied risk analysis methodology identified a moderate risk associated with increasing extreme temperatures, changes in average precipitation, increasing average temperature, availability of water/drought resources, floods, desertification and risks associated with soil erosion, and the risk of vegetation fires. The correlation of all these factors led us to the conclusion that the area allows for the strictly controlled development of new livestock farms based on plans for the development of territorial units in the area. These units must include desertified areas and define the areas for planting vegetal curtains that will both reduce the phenomenon of erosion and block the circulation of air masses with odor released from the activity of animal husbandry and manure management. The results of the analysis show that it is necessary to take into account the diverse nature of environmental evolution/climate change in different areas of economic development specific to a development area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 3569 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Landscape Pattern Vulnerability of the Eastern Hengduan Mountains, China and Response to Elevation and Artificial Disturbance

by Jiarui Sun, Lu Zhou and Hua Zong

Land 2022, 11(7), 1110; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11071110 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1775

Abstract

The eastern Hengduan Mountains are located in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and are important for global biodiversity and water conservation in China. However, their landscape pattern vulnerability index (LVI) and its influencing factors have not been [...] Read more.

The eastern Hengduan Mountains are located in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and are important for global biodiversity and water conservation in China. However, their landscape pattern vulnerability index (LVI) and its influencing factors have not been systematically studied. Therefore, the spatial distribution patterns, LVI, and the landscape artificial disturbance intensity (LHAI) of Ganzi Prefecture were analyzed using ArcGIS software based on landscape data and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) digital elevation data. Then, the LVI response to LHAI and elevation was discussed. The results showed that Ganzi Prefecture was dominated by low- and middle-LVI areas, together accounting for 56.45% of the total area. LVI values were highest in the northern regions, followed by the southern and eastern regions. Batang and Derong counties had the highest LVI values. Most areas in Ganzi Prefecture had very low- or low-LHAI values, accounting for 81.48% of the total area, whereas high-LHAI areas accounted for 2.32% of the total area. Both the LVI and LHAI of Ganzi Prefecture had clustered distributions. Spearman analysis indicated that when elevation exceeded 4500 m, it was the most important factor affecting LVI and LHAI. In the range of 4500–5400 m, the relationship between elevation and LVI shifted from a weak positive correlation to a negative correlation, whereas LHAI was positively correlated with elevation. In addition, LVI also responded significantly to LHAI. However, the relationship kept changing as elevation increased. Hence, the ecological vulnerability of high elevation areas above 4500 m deserves greater attention. In addition, pasture areas in the upstream reaches of the Yalong River in the northern region, the coastal area in the downstream reaches of the Jinsha River in the southern region, and the eastern mining area, should be prioritized for protection and restoration. This research provides a basis for appropriate environmental planning mechanisms and policy protections at the landscape level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 8170 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Health Risk Assessment and Influencing Factors Analysis of High Temperatures on Negative Emotions

by Huanchun Huang, Shuying Zhang, Shangao Xiong and Chunxiang Shi

Buildings 2022, 12(7), 1040; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12071040 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1606

Abstract

The emotional health of urban residents has been seriously threatened by frequent and normalized heat waves. This study constructed the VI-level assessment standard for emotional health risk using data from satellite images, meteorological sites, questionnaire surveys, and statistical yearbooks to assess the effect [...] Read more.

The emotional health of urban residents has been seriously threatened by frequent and normalized heat waves. This study constructed the VI-level assessment standard for emotional health risk using data from satellite images, meteorological sites, questionnaire surveys, and statistical yearbooks to assess the effect of high temperatures on negative emotions in Hangzhou. The results showed that the morphological changes of urban high-temperature areas were aggregated from a cross-shape to a large patch shape, then dispersed into cracked patch shapes. Additionally, the health risk of daytime negative emotions peaked at the VI-level from 1984 to 2020, and the influence level of the typical period risk increased by 1–2 levels compared with the daytime. Additionally, driven by urban spatial structure policies, the risk pattern of emotional health expanded outward from a single center into multiple centers. The emotional health risk level rose and then descended in urban centers, and the innovation industries drove the variation tendency of hot spots. Furthermore, high educational background, employment, and couples living together were critical variables that could alleviate the emotional health risk to the middle-aged and elderly population. This study aimed to optimize the urban spatial structure and alleviate residents’ emotional health hazards for healthy urban planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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27 pages, 2346 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Spatial Spillover Effects of Environmental Regulation and Regional Energy Efficiency and Their Interactions under Local Government Competition in China

by Fangyu Ju and Mengfan Ke

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8753; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14148753 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1582

Abstract

Under the pressure of serious environmental pollution and energy shortage, China needs to improve its energy efficiency to alleviate these problems. Environmental regulation is an important constraint on economic development, which has an impact on energy efficiency. Meanwhile, energy efficiency is a reference [...] Read more.

Under the pressure of serious environmental pollution and energy shortage, China needs to improve its energy efficiency to alleviate these problems. Environmental regulation is an important constraint on economic development, which has an impact on energy efficiency. Meanwhile, energy efficiency is a reference factor for adjusting environmental policies, which has an impact on environmental regulation. Therefore, the relationship between environmental regulation and energy efficiency needs to be further studied under a unified framework. Based on Chinese provincial panel data, we first use a stochastic frontier model to estimate the energy efficiency of China’s 30 provinces from 2004 to 2019, and then employ a spatial simultaneous equation model to study the spatial spillover effects of environmental regulation and energy efficiency and their interactions. The results show that: (1) Both energy efficiency and environmental regulation have significantly positive spatial spillover effects. Specifically, an overall increase of 1% in energy efficiency in the surrounding areas can promote an improvement in the local energy efficiency by about 1.0404%, and an overall increase of 1% in environmental regulation in the surrounding areas can lead to an increase of about 0.6075% in the local environmental regulation. (2) The impact of environmental regulation on energy efficiency is significantly positive; i.e., under the current situation in China, an increase of 1% in environmental regulation can promote local energy efficiency by about 0.2777%. (3) The impact of energy efficiency on environmental regulation is significantly positive; i.e., a 1% increase in energy efficiency may stimulate local governments to strengthen their environmental regulation by 1.5981%. Accordingly, some targeted policy suggestions are given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3306 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Heterogeneity of Public Service Facilities in the Living Circle and Its Influence on Housing Prices: A Case Study of Central Urban Dalian, China

by Jinlian Hao and Haitao Ma

Land 2022, 11(7), 1095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11071095 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2697

Abstract

The spatial layout of public service facilities (PSFs) markedly influences residents’ quality of life. Based on Baidu map data, spatial information on 27,552 PSFs across eight categories was collected for urban Dalian, China, and analyzed using the nearest neighbor index and nuclear density. [...] Read more.

The spatial layout of public service facilities (PSFs) markedly influences residents’ quality of life. Based on Baidu map data, spatial information on 27,552 PSFs across eight categories was collected for urban Dalian, China, and analyzed using the nearest neighbor index and nuclear density. Then, PSF accessibility across eight dimensions of residential quarters was calculated based on the cumulative opportunity method, and its impact on housing prices was analyzed. The results revealed the following: (1) The degree of spatial agglomeration for PSFs varied, with that of business facilities being higher than that of other public welfare facilities. The distribution of business facilities was characterized by a dense center and sparse periphery, whereas public welfare facilities were laid out in a relatively balanced “multi-center” distribution across the study area. (2) Significant spatial differences in the number and types of accessible resident facilities were identified. The number of accessible PSFs in the core area of central urban regions was large and the types were relatively complete, whereas the accessible PSFs in the western and northern marginal areas were limited in number, few in type, and lacking across certain categories, such as educational facilities and life services. (3) The spatial distribution of PSF accessibility was unbalanced. The accessibility of various PSFs in the Shahekou District was the highest, followed by that in the Zhongshan, Xigang, and Ganjingzi Districts. (4) The accessibility of educational, sport, and cultural facilities, and the total accessibility and greening rate of residential areas were the most significantly positively correlated with housing prices; however, the number of households in residential areas and the distances between residential areas and large shopping centers were significantly negatively correlated. Our findings will expand the research perspective of PSFs, provide a basis for meeting residents’ needs and a rational allocation of PSFs, and provide references for people’s decisions to buy houses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 3098 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Land Use Improvement as the Drought Mitigation to Manage Climate Change in the Dodokan Watershed, Lombok, Indonesia

by Ryke Nandini and Ambar Kusumandari

Land 2022, 11(7), 1060; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11071060 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2050

Abstract

The Dodokan watershed is one of the priority watersheds on Lombok Island, which is a mainstay for providing water for the community but has a high vulnerability to drought. This condition causes disruption to the fulfillment of water needs, so it needs to [...] Read more.

The Dodokan watershed is one of the priority watersheds on Lombok Island, which is a mainstay for providing water for the community but has a high vulnerability to drought. This condition causes disruption to the fulfillment of water needs, so it needs to be anticipated early with mitigation actions. Understanding the trend of drought is needed as a basis for developing mitigation measures, especially related to land use in the watershed. This study aims to analyze the hydro-meteorological drought trend that occurred from 2009 to 2020 and to find out the role of land use improvement in mitigating drought, which is predicted in the next 10 years. The Thornthwaite–Mather method was used for drought analysis, and its predictions for the next 10 years were determined by using trend analysis. Land use simulation using a spatial analysis was carried out as an effort to prepare for drought mitigation actions. The results show that the drought in the Dodokan Watershed has increased in the period between 2009–2020 and is predicted to continue to increase. Land use improvement by restoring the forest is a more appropriate mitigation method to overcome the drought than rearranging the agricultural land on slopes above 25%. The simulation results have succeeded in increasing the water surplus and reducing the water deficit in 2030 so that it can be used for drought mitigation in the Dodokan watershed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2326 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

New Strategy for Innovative RD&D in View of Stakeholder Interaction during Climate Technology Transfer

by Woo-Jin Lee and Rose Mwebaza

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8363; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14148363 - 08 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1475

Abstract

To tackle the global climate change issues, many countries have been interested in technology research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) during climate technology development and transfer processes in terms of technology innovation. According to our previous staged innovation model, technology RD&D is regarded as [...] Read more.

To tackle the global climate change issues, many countries have been interested in technology research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) during climate technology development and transfer processes in terms of technology innovation. According to our previous staged innovation model, technology RD&D is regarded as a crucial stage enabling the transition from technology-push to market-pull innovation. However, the strategic operation of RD&D during the climate technology transfer processes is still inactive. Thus, in the present work, we first elucidated innovative features by reviewing the RD&D activities during the climate technology transfer processes in terms of three elements of innovation: technology, market, and regulation. Moreover, innovative barriers to participating in the RD&D projects were identified by analyzing brief survey for various stakeholders from academia, private sectors, and governments. Based on both findings from case study and survey, new strategies were proposed for innovative RD&D facilitation, considering the interactions between the technology transfer matchmaker and Triple Helix during transferring climate technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 5988 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Temporal and Spatial Distribution Changes, Driving Force Analysis and Simulation Prediction of Ecological Vulnerability in Liaoning Province, China

by Dong Li, Chongyang Huan, Jun Yang and Hanlong Gu

Land 2022, 11(7), 1025; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11071025 - 06 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2268

Abstract

As China’s main grain-producing region, the ecological security pattern of Liaoning Province has an extremely important impact on the ecological security of Northeast China and even the whole country. Furthermore, the construction of the ecological security pattern is restricted by the ecological vulnerability [...] Read more.

As China’s main grain-producing region, the ecological security pattern of Liaoning Province has an extremely important impact on the ecological security of Northeast China and even the whole country. Furthermore, the construction of the ecological security pattern is restricted by the ecological vulnerability assessment in order to explore the ecological vulnerability pattern of spatial distribution and the trend of future vulnerability development in Liaoning Province and guide how to formulate ecological protection policies scientifically. Based on the sensitivity–resilience–pressure (SRP) conceptual model which is combined with natural and socio-economic factors, the ecological vulnerability evaluation index system of Liaoning Province is established in this paper. This paper also evaluates the ecological vulnerability of Liaoning Province from 2010 to 2020 and analyzes the driving factors by using a geographic detector and the CA-Markov model. Moreover, the study forecasts the growing tendency of vulnerability in 2025. The results show that (1) the ecological vulnerability of Liaoning Province is mainly light and has medium vulnerability, which gradually decreases from northwest to southeast; (2) the spatial heterogeneity of the ecological vulnerability index (EVI) is very significant in the southeast and northwest region but not significant in the middle; (3) from the past decade to the next five years, the ecological vulnerability of Liaoning Province has been improving, and the overall distribution pattern of ecological vulnerability is relatively stable; (4) the analysis of driving factors indicates that the impact of natural environmental factors such as land-use type and habitat quality on EVI is more significant than socio-economic factors such as population density. The research results implicate that it is necessary to formulate an ecological protection and restoration plan in Liaoning Province to prevent further ecological degradation in high-value areas of northwest Liaoning, and to balance the relationship between human development and ecological protection and restoration in the metropolitan district. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2787 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of Ecosystem Service Values of Watershed and Ecological Compensation Scheme Considering Its Realization in Spatial Planning

by Ziyong Su, Zhanqi Wang and Liguo Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 8204; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14138204 - 05 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1536

Abstract

A reasonable ecological compensation scheme for watersheds is beneficial for water resource protection and ecological sustainability. The existing literature has few watershed ecological compensation (WEC) schemes based on long-term observation and large spatial scale analysis of ecosystem service value (ESV) and considering its [...] Read more.

A reasonable ecological compensation scheme for watersheds is beneficial for water resource protection and ecological sustainability. The existing literature has few watershed ecological compensation (WEC) schemes based on long-term observation and large spatial scale analysis of ecosystem service value (ESV) and considering its realization in spatial planning. Therefore, in order to establish a WEC scheme and integrate it into spatial planning, we take the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MRSNWDP), a water resource area protecting the water resources at a huge local economic development cost, as a case study, and calculate the change trend and change range of the watershed’s total ESV from 1990 to 2015, thus, forming the WEC scheme. The results show the total ESV in the study area shows a slight downward fluctuation trend from 1990 to 2015, decreasing by 3310.70. The total ESV in most types of ecosystem service (ES) functions is relatively reduced except for the increase in functions of water conservation, waste treatment, and entertainment and culture. In addition, the change rate of total ESV has been in a high-value agglomeration, and the ES capabilities have been increasing since 2000, while the growth trend of the ES capabilities has been weak, and the high-value agglomeration has been expanding from the core area of Danjiangkou reservoir to the upstream and surrounding areas since 2005. We formulate a WEC scheme according to the partition idea of spatial planning that the priority compensation area accounts for 25.34% of the total study area, and the second priority compensation area, the general compensation area, and the potential compensation area account for 25.34%, 47.48%, and 12.80%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2902 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variability in Water-Use Efficiency in Tianshan Mountains (Xinjiang, China) and the Influencing Factors

by Jun Chen and Liguo Cao

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 8191; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14138191 - 05 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1704

Abstract

Water-use efficiency (WUE) is a crucial physiological index in carbon–water interactions and is defined as the ratio of vegetation productivity to water loss. The variation in climatic variables and drought have the most significant effects on WUE and evapotranspiration (ET). Nevertheless, how WUE [...] Read more.

Water-use efficiency (WUE) is a crucial physiological index in carbon–water interactions and is defined as the ratio of vegetation productivity to water loss. The variation in climatic variables and drought have the most significant effects on WUE and evapotranspiration (ET). Nevertheless, how WUE varies with climate factors and drought processes in the Tianshan Mountains (TMS) is still poorly understood. In the present work, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in WUE, and investigated the correlations between WUE, climate factors, and drought, in the study area. The results showed that, in the TMS during 2000–2020, annual net primary productivity (NPP) ranged from 147.9 to 189.4 gC·m⁻², annual ET was in the range of 212.5–285.8 mm, and annual WUE ranged from 0.66 to 0.78 gC·kg⁻¹·H₂O. Both NPP and ET exhibited an increasing trend with some fluctuation, whereas WUE showed the opposite tendency during the study period. The obtained results demonstrated that the decrease in WUE was primarily because of the increase in ET. There were obvious differences in WUE, under different land-use types, caused by NPP and ET. However, the interannual variation in WUE showed small fluctuations and the dynamic process of WUE in each land-use type showed good consistency. Temperature and wind speed had a positive influence on WUE in the middle and eastern regions of the TMS. Precipitation also played a mainly positive role in enhancing WUE, especially on the northern slope of the TMS. There was strong spatial heterogeneity of the correlation coefficient (0.68, p < 0.05) between WUE and the temperature vegetation drought index (TVDI). Moreover, the slopes of WUE and TVDI showed good consistency in terms of spatial distribution, suggesting that drought had a significant impact on ecosystem WUE. This work will enhance the understanding of WUE variation, and provide scientific evidence for water resource management and sustainable utilization in the study area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 6348 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Recent Environmental Legislation in Brazil and the Impact on Cerrado Deforestation Rates

by Carlos Henrique Pires Luiz and Valdir Adilson Steinke

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 8096; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14138096 - 02 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2540

Abstract

This study aims to relate the recent trajectory of Brazilian environmental policies with the last 20 years deforestation rates observed in the Cerrado through the PRODES-Cerrado monitoring initiative. The main hypothesis is that the improvement of environmental legislation in Brazil, mainly during the [...] Read more.

This study aims to relate the recent trajectory of Brazilian environmental policies with the last 20 years deforestation rates observed in the Cerrado through the PRODES-Cerrado monitoring initiative. The main hypothesis is that the improvement of environmental legislation in Brazil, mainly during the period between 2005 and 2012, influenced the decrease in deforestation rates. In addition, policies to control environmental compliance, such as the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) also influenced the reduction of deforestation. In the early 2000s, there was a significant increase in public environmental policies and implementation of an environmental management structure with the creation of conservation, protection, and management agency for conservation units (ICMBio), the Brazilian Forest Service for the management of public forests and Rural Environment Registry (CAR). Comparing the annual deforestation rate, it was observed that between 2000 and 2005, when 12.60% of the Cerrado was deforested, the annual deforestation average rate was 2.52%. Between 2006 and 2012, the period that precedes the revision of the Forest Code, the total deforestation is equivalent to 7.98%, which results in an annual average rate of 1.33%. After the enactment of the new Forest Code, between 2013 and 2020, there was a deforestation of 7.03% of the Cerrado area, which is equivalent to a deforestation annual average rate of 1.00%. One of the positive aspects of the new legislation was the creation of CAR, which obliges rural landowners to make an environmental attributes declaration of their property, this program being the main environmental management tool created in Brazil recently. After CAR regulation in 2014, there was a decrease in deforestation from 10,904 km² to 7905 km² in 2020. On the other hand, since 2016, changes occurred in the political scenario that increased agribusiness influence and the rise of a more conservative agenda, which jeopardizes the future of environmental quality in Brazil (illustrated, for example, by the increased release of pesticides from 104 in 2010 to 493 in 2020). As the main conclusion of this research, we showed that the state’s commitment to environmental management can contribute to deforestation reduction. The regulation of programs such as CAR can also contribute to the reduction of deforestation since it is one more tool for monitoring and ensure compliance of environmental regularization and recovery vegetation programs. At the same time, is necessary to keep on monitoring deforestation once the influence of the agricultural lobby has gained strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3719 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on Ecological Loss in Coal Mining Area Based on Net Primary Productivity of Vegetation

by Shuai Fu, Zhongke Bai, Boyu Yang and Lijun Xie

Land 2022, 11(7), 1004; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11071004 - 01 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1657

Abstract

Opencast mining contributes to the severe disturbance of vegetation and serious damage to the ecological environment. Scientific assessment of the ecological losses may provide guidance for the sustainable land use in mining areas. This study uses the Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model [...] Read more.

Opencast mining contributes to the severe disturbance of vegetation and serious damage to the ecological environment. Scientific assessment of the ecological losses may provide guidance for the sustainable land use in mining areas. This study uses the Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model to estimate the net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation in the Pingshuo mining area from 2006 to 2020 and uses statistical analysis and mathematical models to study the impact of mining and land reclamation on NPP. The results show that NPP decreased slowly at a rate of 0.809 gC/(m²·month) per year. In 2006, the urban area of Pinglu and the opencast coal mining area were located in the western part of the study area, while the eastern part was distributed with a large amount of grassland, forested and cultivated land, and the NPP showed a high pattern in the east and low in the west. With the continued eastward movement of Antaibao and Anjialing mining areas, as well as the construction and continuous westward expansion of the East opencast mine, the pits of all three opencast mines moved to a central location in 2020, changing the spatial distribution of NPP to high in the surroundings and low in the middle. The NPP within the three opencast mines decreased significantly, but the change in NPP increased from −7.34 gC/(m²·month) to 7.15 gC/(m²·month) as the reclamation area increased, indicating that mining increased ecological losses while land reclamation mitigated them. The variation of NPP within 600 m outside the mining area is 2.06~7.45 gC/(m²·month), and 0.11~1.00 gC/(m²·month) from 600 m to 1000 m, indicating that NPP is sensitive to the influence of mining. The results may provide guidance for further analysis of the impact of mining on local environments and exploration of more appropriate land reclamation measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 7103 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Scenario Simulation of Land Use Changes with Ecosystem Service Value in the Yellow River Basin

by Yuanyuan Lou, Dan Yang, Pengyan Zhang, Ying Zhang, Meiling Song, Yicheng Huang and Wenlong Jing

Land 2022, 11(7), 992; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11070992 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 3144

Abstract

Land use change plays a crucial role in global environmental change. Understanding the mode and land use change procedure is conducive to improving the quality of the global eco-environment and promoting the harmonized development of human–land relationships. Large river basins play an important [...] Read more.

Land use change plays a crucial role in global environmental change. Understanding the mode and land use change procedure is conducive to improving the quality of the global eco-environment and promoting the harmonized development of human–land relationships. Large river basins play an important role in areal socioeconomic development. The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is an important ecological protective screen, economic zone, and major grain producing area in China, which faces challenges with respect to ecological degradation and water and sediment management. Simulating the alterations in ecosystem service value (ESV) owing to land use change in the YRB under multiple scenarios is of great importance to guaranteeing the ecological security of the basin and improve the regional ESV. According to the land use data of 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2018, the alterations in the land use and ESV in the YRB over the past 30 years were calculated and analyzed on the basis of six land use types: cultivated land, forestland, grassland, water area, built-up land, and unused land. The patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model was used to simulate the land use change in the study area under three scenarios (natural development, cultivated land protection, and ecological protection in 2026); estimate the ESV under each scenario; and conduct a comparative analysis. We found that the land use area in the YRB changed significantly during the study period. The ESV of the YRB has slowly increased by ~USD 15 billion over the past 30 years. The ESV obtained under the ecological protection scenario is the highest. The simulation of the YRB’s future land use change, and comparison and analysis of the ESV under different scenarios, provide guidance and a scientific basis for promoting ecological conservation and high-quality development of river basins worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 24114 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Three-Dimensional Dynamic Variations of Ground/Air Surface Temperatures and Their Correlation with Large-Scale Circulation Indexes in Southwest China (1980–2019)

by Hanyu Jin, Qingping Cheng and Ping Wang

Atmosphere 2022, 13(7), 1031; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13071031 - 28 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1422

Abstract

Air/soil temperatures play important roles in land–atmosphere interactions. The three-dimensional (temporal, spatial, and vertical) variations of maximum, mean, and minimum ground soil temperature at 0 cm (GSTx, GSTm, and GSTn, respectively), surface air temperature at 2 m (SATx, SATm, and SATn, respectively), and [...] Read more.

Air/soil temperatures play important roles in land–atmosphere interactions. The three-dimensional (temporal, spatial, and vertical) variations of maximum, mean, and minimum ground soil temperature at 0 cm (GSTx, GSTm, and GSTn, respectively), surface air temperature at 2 m (SATx, SATm, and SATn, respectively), and soil–air temperature difference (SATDx, SATDm, and SATDn, respectively) and their potential linkages with large-scale indexes in Southwest China during 1980–2019 were analyzed. Variations of GST and SAT at the majority of stations (pixels) exhibited significant (p ≤ 0.05) warming, albeit at different rates; consequently, SATD exhibited different variation. Moreover, the period of GST, SAT, and SATD was similar in intra-annual and interannual oscillation but was different in interdecadal oscillation. The variation rate of GST, SAT, and SATD exhibited significant (p ≤ 0.05) correlation with elevation, but with different variation gradient. Notably, asymmetric variation of SATDx (downward trend) and of SATDn (upward trend) with elevation was found at elevations >3 km. Wavelet coherence showed that the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation is the dominant factor affecting GST and SAT, whereas the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation make the greatest contributions to SATD. It was found that GST, SAT, and SATD exhibit different variations under the effects of global warming, the driving mechanism of which requires further study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 291 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Environmental Pollution, Environmental Regulation and Resident Health in the Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of Yangtze River, China: Spatial Effect and Regulating Effect

by Qizhong Deng, Yansi Qin and Najid Ahmad

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7801; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137801 - 27 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1499

Abstract

The Healthy China 2030 Initiative is closely related to the coordinated development between national health, economy, and society. This major move demonstrates China’s active engagement in global health governance and in the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). Based on [...] Read more.

The Healthy China 2030 Initiative is closely related to the coordinated development between national health, economy, and society. This major move demonstrates China’s active engagement in global health governance and in the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). Based on Grossman’s health production function, this paper introduces key factors such as environmental pollution and environmental regulation to empirically investigate the regulating effect of environmental regulation, as well as the spatial spillover of environmental pollution and environmental regulation acting on resident health. We examine these effects by using the panel data of 28 cities of the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMYRY) between 2009 and 2019. The results show that: (1) Environmental pollution brings a loss to resident health. Among the urban agglomerations, the circum-Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan urban agglomeration (CCZXUA) and the Poyang Lake urban agglomeration (PLUA) have a much lower health effect of environmental pollution than the Wuhan urban agglomeration (WUA). (2) With the growing intensity of environmental regulation, the negative effect of environmental pollution on resident health will gradually decrease. Regionally, the environmental regulation in the CCZXUA has the best effect on residents’ health, followed by the WUA and the PLUA, which have the worst. (3) As a whole, the spatial spillover of environmental regulation and pollution has a significant impact on residents’ health, and the spatial spillover effect between urban agglomerations is stronger than that between cities in each urban agglomeration. The conclusions remain robust with various tests such as replacing control variables, introducing lagged explanatory variables, and considering endogeneity. Based on robust empirical evidence, several specific region policy suggestions, including rolling out proper environmental regulation policies, and establishing a linking mechanism of environmental management, were put forward to improve the environmental pollution state and resident health level of the UAMYRY. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

19 pages, 6882 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on Frequency Response Modeling and Frequency Modulation Parameters of the Power System Highly Penetrated by Wind Power

by Junfeng Qi, Fei Tang, Jiarui Xie, Xinang Li, Xiaoqing Wei and Zhuo Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7798; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137798 - 27 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1750

Abstract

Renewable energy units led by wind power participate in diversified control primary frequency modulation, making the frequency response modes and the setting of frequency modulation parameters more complex. This paper proposes a frequency response model of the power system which is highly penetrated [...] Read more.

Renewable energy units led by wind power participate in diversified control primary frequency modulation, making the frequency response modes and the setting of frequency modulation parameters more complex. This paper proposes a frequency response model of the power system which is highly penetrated by wind power based on the two mainstream control strategies of wind power that participate in primary frequency modulation. The model considers the influence of wind capture devices, maximum power point tracking (MPPT), and other complex control strategies on system frequency response. Based on this model, the calculation formulas of the maximum change rate of dynamic frequency, the lowest point of dynamic frequency, and the maximum steady-state frequency deviation of the system after fault disturbance are derived in the frequency domain. The influences of wind power permeability and two typical frequency response control strategies on system frequency stability are analyzed. On the one hand, it is found that the proposed model can fit the system frequency response better than the traditional system frequency response model. Beyond that, two control strategies are mainly aimed at the different frequency stability requirements. On the other hand, under the condition of meeting the system’s stability requirements, the paper calculates the control parameters of frequency response of the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG). The time-domain simulation model of the improved IEEE three-machine nine-node system and IEEE 39-node system with high permeability of wind power are built. Through the different fault scenarios, the simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed model and the accuracy of control strategy parameter calculation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 1766 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Community Perceptions of Climate Change Issues in Peninsular Malaysia

by Mashitoh Yaacob, Winnie Wing-Mui So and Noriko Iizuka

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7756; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137756 - 25 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2936

Abstract

The urbanization process in Peninsular Malaysia has resulted in an increase in temperature. Large cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bharu, and George Town are experiencing rapid urbanization processes, resulting in unpredictable changes in temperature and weather, which consequently impact community livelihoods. Many [...] Read more.

The urbanization process in Peninsular Malaysia has resulted in an increase in temperature. Large cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bharu, and George Town are experiencing rapid urbanization processes, resulting in unpredictable changes in temperature and weather, which consequently impact community livelihoods. Many believe that the recent flooding in urban residential areas in Peninsular Malaysia has been worsened by climate change. Hence, this paper explores and discusses recent community perceptions of the climate change issue in Peninsular Malaysia. A group of 350 community members from different states in Peninsular Malaysia gave their views and opinions related to climate change via an online quantitative survey questionnaire. Their perception of the urbanization process and its impact on the increase in temperature was descriptively analyzed using the frequency analysis technique and mean score, while their suggestions in verbatim form on reducing the effects of climate change were analyzed thematically. The respondents perceived the climate change issue as attributable to the factors of urbanization, namely the manufacturing industry, population density, and private motor vehicles. Respondents provided suggestions for reducing the effects of climate change, ranging from government policies to community actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 2168 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Use of Fuels in the Productivity of Ecuadorian Companies: Assessment of Their Impact on Climate Change

by Miguel Aizaga, Esteban Celi and Renato Toasa

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7649; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137649 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1418

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the relationship between fuel consumption (gasoline, diesel, and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and total production in Ecuadorian companies that use some fuel in their processes, in addition to quantifying the CO₂ emissions generated by these fuels in [...] Read more.

This article aims to analyze the relationship between fuel consumption (gasoline, diesel, and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and total production in Ecuadorian companies that use some fuel in their processes, in addition to quantifying the CO₂ emissions generated by these fuels in 2019. For this purpose, a correlational study of these variables (Pearson’s correlation coefficient) has been made, using statistical data from the ENESEM 2019 Structural Enterprise Survey, prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). The results show that the relationship between the consumption of Extra gasoline and Ecopais with total production is not significant, while it is in the case of consumption of Super gasoline, Diesel, and LPG. As for CO₂ emissions, it is observed that the largest generator is diesel, with almost 4.5 megatons per year, second to gasoline, with a little less than 2 megatons, and finally is LPG, with less than 0.5 megatons. In conclusion, LPG fuel, whose association with total production is the most significant, is the least polluting and in total these business sectors generate almost 7 megatons of CO₂ per year of the total 40 megatons generated by the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 4747 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Characteristics, Progress and Trends of Urban Microclimate Research: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

by Yichen Zhou, Na An and Jiawei Yao

Buildings 2022, 12(7), 877; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12070877 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3152

Abstract

Climate change has been a hot topic in recent years. However, the urban microclimate is more valuable for research because it directly affects people’s living environments and can be adjusted by technological means to enhance the resilience of cities in the face of [...] Read more.

Climate change has been a hot topic in recent years. However, the urban microclimate is more valuable for research because it directly affects people’s living environments and can be adjusted by technological means to enhance the resilience of cities in the face of climate change and disasters. This paper analyses the literature distribution characteristics, development stages, and research trends of urban microclimate research based on the literature on “urban microclimate” collected in the Web of Science core database since 1990, using CiteSpace and VOSviewer bibliometric software. It is found that the literature distribution of the urban microclimate is characterized by continuous growth, is interdisciplinary, and can be divided into four stages: nascent exploration, model quantification, diversified development and ecological synergy. Based on the knowledge mapping analysis of keyword clustering, annual overlap, and keyword highlighting, it can be predicted that the research on foreign urban land patch development has three hot trends—multi-scale modelling, multi-factor impact, and multi-policy guidance. The study’s findings help recognize the literature distribution characteristics and evolutionary lineage of urban microclimate research and provide suggestions for future urban microclimate research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 4734 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Spatial and Temporal Differentiation Pattern of Carbon Emission and Carbon Compensation in China’s Provincial Areas

by Hequ Huang and Jia Zhou

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7627; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137627 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2224

Abstract

Excessive carbon emissions lead to global warming, which has attracted widespread attention in the global society. Carbon emissions and land use are closely related. An analysis of land use carbon emissions and carbon fairness can provide guidance for the formulation of energy conservation [...] Read more.

Excessive carbon emissions lead to global warming, which has attracted widespread attention in the global society. Carbon emissions and land use are closely related. An analysis of land use carbon emissions and carbon fairness can provide guidance for the formulation of energy conservation and emission reduction policies. This study uses data on agricultural production activities, land use and energy consumption and uses the carbon emission coefficient method to calculate carbon emissions and carbon absorption. The tendency value is used to analyze trends in land use carbon emissions and carbon absorption. The Gini coefficient, ecological support coefficient and economic contributive coefficient are used to analyze the fairness and difference of carbon emissions. The results showed that: (1) During the study period, there were fewer provinces with rapid growth in carbon emissions and carbon absorption and more provinces with slow growth. (2) Cultivated land and woodland are the main carriers of land use carbon absorption, and most provinces steadily maintain the type of carbon absorption to which they belong. (3) Carbon emissions from construction land are the main source of total carbon emissions, and the high concentration areas of carbon emissions are mainly located in the more economically developed areas. (4) There are obvious regional differences in the net carbon emissions. By 2015, Shanxi–Shandong High–High agglomeration areas and Yunnan–Guangxi Low–Low agglomeration areas were finally formed. (5) The distribution of carbon emissions in different provinces is not fair, and the spatial distribution is obviously different. Based on the analysis results, relevant suggestions are made from the perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon sink enhancement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 989 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Legal Framework for Combating Gas Flaring in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry: Can It Promote Sustainable Energy Security?

by Olusola Joshua Olujobi, Tunde Ebenezer Yebisi, Oyinkepreye Preye Patrick and Afolabi Innocent Ariremako

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7626; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137626 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4954

Abstract

Gas flaring is a global problem affecting oil-producing countries. The Nigerian petroleum industry is not an exemption. Gas flaring is responsible for the emission of greenhouse gas, depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, and climate change. The study aims to offer legal [...] Read more.

Gas flaring is a global problem affecting oil-producing countries. The Nigerian petroleum industry is not an exemption. Gas flaring is responsible for the emission of greenhouse gas, depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, and climate change. The study aims to offer legal panaceas to the menace of gas flaring, which has affected Nigeria’s economy. Many scholars have raised concerns and the need for discontinuance of gas flaring in Nigeria due to its adverse effect on oil-producing areas and human health. The study adopts a doctrinal legal research method, exploring both primary and secondary sources of information to achieve its aim. The study finds that weak enforcement of the existing anti-gas-flaring laws in Nigeria made some oil companies flare gas. The study designs a hybrid model or mechanism for combating the menace and advocates that defaulting companies should be made to pay dearly for violation of anti-gas-flaring laws to promote the commercialisation of fled gas. The study recommends stringent enforcement of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and advocates replication of the provisions of the anti-gas-flaring laws of other advanced climes, especially the selected case-study countries where gas flaring has been abated. The study further advocates the need for the use of sophisticated or advanced technologies in oil and gas operations. In conclusion, it is believed that if the government adopts and implements stringent laws, it would combat gas flaring in Nigeria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2222 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Determinants of Households’ Vulnerability to Drought in Western Cape, South Africa

by Isaac Busayo Oluwatayo and Tamunotonye Mayowa Braide

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7582; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137582 - 22 Jun 2022

Viewed by 2373

Abstract

This paper examines the determinants of household vulnerability to drought in the Western Cape province, South Africa. The study used secondary data collected by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The dataset is made up of 240 households located in the City of [...] Read more.

This paper examines the determinants of household vulnerability to drought in the Western Cape province, South Africa. The study used secondary data collected by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The dataset is made up of 240 households located in the City of Cape Town along with two small towns in the West Coast District Municipality (Piketberg and Clanwilliam). While descriptive statistics were used to analyse households’ socioeconomic variables, an ordered logit model was employed to analyse the factors contributing to households’ vulnerability to drought in the study area. The paper revealed that 28% of the households were extremely vulnerable to drought. The result of the ordered logit regression model showed that factors such as the age of the household head, communication of water restrictions by the authorities, household water consumption in the last two years, and public cooperation with water restrictions were significant factors influencing households’ vulnerability to drought. It was also discovered that female-headed and older household members were more vulnerable to drought than their male-headed and younger members respectively. The paper concluded that to minimise vulnerability to drought among the households, stakeholders in the province should be better prepared to implement proactive policies with regard to climate disasters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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10 pages, 1048 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Wheat Production in Drought-Prone Agro-Ecologies in Ethiopia: Diagnostic Assessment of Farmers’ Practices and Sustainable Coping Mechanisms and the Role of Improved Cultivars

by Yared Belete, Hussein Shimelis and Mark Laing

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7579; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14137579 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2315

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agro-ecologies in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Wheat productivity in these agro-systems is considerably low (<2.4 t/ha) due to climate change-induced drought and heat stress, a lack of modern production technologies, including [...] Read more.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is traditionally cultivated under drought-affected and low-input agro-ecologies in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Wheat productivity in these agro-systems is considerably low (<2.4 t/ha) due to climate change-induced drought and heat stress, a lack of modern production technologies, including climate-smart varieties, and an array of biotic and abiotic factors. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of wheat production in drought-prone agro-ecologies and to assess farmers’ practices and sustainable coping mechanisms and the role of improved cultivars in Ethiopia. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study was conducted involving 170 randomly selected wheat farmers in the drier areas of Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State. Results showed that wheat and tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were the most widely grown cereal crops in the study areas as the primary food source and cash income. Yield losses varying from 63.1 to 73.8% were reported by farmers due to drought stress occurring mainly during grain filling stage. The majority of the respondent farmers (>50%) planted wheat in early July using the broadcasting method. Their land was of medium fertility, and the application of inorganic fertilizer was suboptimal. Due to crop failures by intense drought conditions in the study areas, above 50% of the respondent farmers had not expressed coping strategies against drought stress except resorting to government food aid. However, about 22% of the respondent farmers reported improved agronomic practices, such as the cultivation of early maturing wheat varieties and soil and water conservation methods as sustainable solutions to mitigate against drought. Therefore, current and future wheat breeding in Ethiopia should target drought and heat stress tolerance and adaptive crop traits as ideal coping strategies under low input agriculture systems for sustainable wheat production and productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 7402 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Key Bio-Temperature Indicators and Their Effects on Vegetation Dynamics in the Great Lakes Region of Central Asia

by Xuan Gao and Dongsheng Zhao

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(12), 2948; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14122948 - 20 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1778

Abstract

Dryland ecosystems are fragile to climate change due to harsh environmental conditions. Climate change affects vegetation growth primarily by altering some key bio-temperature thresholds. Key bio-temperatures are closely related to vegetation growth, and slight changes could produce substantial effects on ecosystem structure and [...] Read more.

Dryland ecosystems are fragile to climate change due to harsh environmental conditions. Climate change affects vegetation growth primarily by altering some key bio-temperature thresholds. Key bio-temperatures are closely related to vegetation growth, and slight changes could produce substantial effects on ecosystem structure and function. Therefore, this study selected the number of days with daily mean temperature above 0 °C (DT₀), 5 °C (DT₅), 10 °C (DT₁₀), 20 °C (DT₂₀), the start of growing season (SGS), the end of growing season (EGS), and the length of growing season (LGS) as bio-temperature indicators to analyze the response of vegetation dynamics to climate change in the Great Lakes Region of Central Asia (GLRCA) for the period 1982–2014. On the regional scale, DT₀, DT₅, DT₁₀, and DT₂₀ exhibited an overall increasing trend. Spatially, most of the study area showed that the negative correlation between DT₀, DT₅, DT₁₀, DT₂₀ with the annual Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) increased with increasing bio-temperature thresholds. In particular, more than 88.3% of the study area showed a negative correlation between annual NDVI and DT₂₀, as increased DT₂₀ exacerbated ecosystem drought. Moreover, SGS exhibited a significantly advanced trend at a rate of −0.261 days/year for the regional scale, while EGS experienced a significantly delayed trend at a rate of 0.164 days/year. Because of changes in SGS and EGS, LGS across the GLRCA was extended at a rate of 0.425 days/year, which was mainly attributed to advanced SGS. In addition, our study revealed that about 53.6% of the study area showed a negative correlation between annual NDVI and LGS, especially in the north, indicating a negative effect of climate warming on vegetation growth in the drylands. Overall, the results of this study will help predict the response of vegetation to future climate change in the GLRCA, and support decision-making for implementing effective ecosystem management in arid and semi-arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3322 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Coupling Coordination and Spatiotemporal Evolution between Carbon Emissions, Industrial Structure, and Regional Innovation of Counties in Shandong Province

by Jianshi Wang, Chengxin Wang, Shangkun Yu, Mengcheng Li and Yu Cheng

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7484; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127484 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2258

Abstract

Industrial structure and regional innovation have a significant impact on emissions. This study explores, from the multivariate coupling and spatial perspectives, the degree of coupling coordination between three factors: industrial structure, carbon emissions, and regional innovation of 97 counties in Shandong Province, China [...] Read more.

Industrial structure and regional innovation have a significant impact on emissions. This study explores, from the multivariate coupling and spatial perspectives, the degree of coupling coordination between three factors: industrial structure, carbon emissions, and regional innovation of 97 counties in Shandong Province, China from 2000 to 2017. On the basis of global spatial autocorrelation and cold and hot spots, this article analyzes the spatial characteristics and aggregation effects of coupled and coordinated development within each region. The results are as follows. (1) The coupling degree between carbon emissions, industrial structure, and regional innovation in these counties fluctuated upward from 2000 to 2017. Coupling coordination progressed from low coordination to basic coordination. Regional differences in coupling coordination degree are evident, showing a stepped spatial distribution pattern with high levels in the east and low levels in the west. (2) During the study period, the coupling coordination showed a positive correlation in spatial distribution. Moran’s I varies from 0.057 to 0.305 on a global basis. Spatial clustering is characterized by agglomeration of cold spots and hot spots. (3) The coupling coordination exhibited significant spatial differentiation. The hot spots were distributed in the eastern part, while the cold spots were located in the western part. The results of this study suggest that the counties in Shandong Province should promote industrial structure upgrades and enhance regional innovation to reduce carbon emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2034 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variation and Driving Factors of Embodied Carbon in China-G7 Trade

by Yingying Hu and Wei Wu

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7478; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127478 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1636

Abstract

China and G7 countries contribute 70% global GDP and 55% global carbon emissions. The carbon leakage between China and G7 is a crucial issue in achieving the synergetic emission abatement globally. The motivation of this study is to evaluate the embodied carbon transfer [...] Read more.

China and G7 countries contribute 70% global GDP and 55% global carbon emissions. The carbon leakage between China and G7 is a crucial issue in achieving the synergetic emission abatement globally. The motivation of this study is to evaluate the embodied carbon transfer between China and G7 in the trade between 2000 and 2014, and investigate the driving factors that impact the embodied carbon trend. A multiregional input–output (MRIO) model based on the WIOD database is constructed, and a structural decomposition analysis (SDA) is employed. The results indicate that China plays the role of net exporter of embodied carbon in trade with G7, which mainly flows to the US (5825.67 Mt), Japan (3170.36 Mt) and Germany (1409.93 Mt). However, China’s embodied carbon exports to the G7 show an inverted U-shaped trend with a turning point after financial crisis, while the G7’s embodied carbon exports to China continue to rise. The conclusion is that to achieve the climate goal of carbon neutrality, it is not enough to rely solely on the low-carbon transition on the production side, the demand side should also be adjusted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 4400 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on Eco-Environmental Effects of Land-Use Transitions and Their Influencing Factors in the Central and Southern Liaoning Urban Agglomeration: A Production–Living–Ecological Perspective

by Ruiqiu Pang, Ning Hu, Jingrui Zhou, Dongqi Sun and Hongying Ye

Land 2022, 11(6), 937; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11060937 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2214

Abstract

From the perspective of the production–living–ecological space, this paper reclassifies the land-use categories in the central and southern Liaoning urban agglomeration in the years 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2018. It then quantitatively analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of land-use transitions by adopting the [...] Read more.

From the perspective of the production–living–ecological space, this paper reclassifies the land-use categories in the central and southern Liaoning urban agglomeration in the years 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2018. It then quantitatively analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of land-use transitions by adopting the land-use transfer matrix and other methods. This paper further uses the eco-environmental quality index and ecological contribution rate to explore the eco-environmental effects of the land-use transition. Finally, it identifies the influencing factors of the eco-environmental effect and the spatial differentiation law of the effect in the study area through the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model. The main conclusions reached are as follows: (1) During the study period, a slow increase was seen in the ecological land of the central and southern Liaoning urban agglomeration. A sharp decline occurred in the production land, and a rapid rise was found in the living land. (2) From 1990 to 2018, the eco-environmental quality index in the study region showed significant spatial differentiation, with the distribution characteristics being high in the east and low in the west. The areas have expanded and spread along the Shenyang-Dalian axis to form medium-low quality agglomerations. The encroachment of agricultural production land and urban and rural living land on forest ecological land is the main contributor to the deterioration of the eco-environmental quality during the study period. (3) Compared with the geographically weighted regression model and the ordinary least squares model, a remarkable advancement can be seen in the MGWR model, which is more suitable for research on the influencing factors of eco-environmental quality. In addition, different influencing factors have significant spatial differences in the degree and scale of impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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35 pages, 14678 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Monitoring of Desertification in Ningdong Based on Landsat Images and Machine Learning

by Peixian Li, Peng Chen, Jiaqi Shen, Weinan Deng, Xinliang Kang, Guorui Wang and Shoubao Zhou

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7470; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127470 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2293

Abstract

The ecological stability of mining areas in Northwest China has been threatened by desertification for a long time. Remote sensing information combined with machine learning algorithms can effectively monitor and evaluate desertification. However, due to the fact that the geological environment of a [...] Read more.

The ecological stability of mining areas in Northwest China has been threatened by desertification for a long time. Remote sensing information combined with machine learning algorithms can effectively monitor and evaluate desertification. However, due to the fact that the geological environment of a mining area is easily affected by factors such as resource exploitation, it is challenging to accurately grasp the development process of desertification in a mining area. In order to better play the role of remote sensing technology and machine learning algorithms in the monitoring of desertification in mining areas, based on Landsat images, we used a variety of machine learning algorithms and feature combinations to monitor desertification in Ningdong coal base. The performance of each monitoring model was evaluated by various performance indexes. Then, the optimal monitoring model was selected to extract the long-time desertification information of the base, and the spatial-temporal characteristics of desertification were discussed in many aspects. Finally, the factors driving desertification change were quantitatively studied. The results showed that random forest with the best feature combination had better recognition performance than other monitoring models. Its accuracy was 87.2%, kappa was 0.825, Macro-F1 was 0.851, and AUC was 0.961. In 2003–2017, desertification land in Ningdong increased first and then slowly improved. In 2021, the desertification situation deteriorated. The driving force analysis showed that human economic activities such as coal mining have become the dominant factor in controlling the change of desert in Ningdong coal base, and the change of rainfall plays an auxiliary role. The study comprehensively analyzed the spatial-temporal characteristics and driving factors of desertification in Ningdong coal base. It can provide a scientific basis for combating desertification and for the construction of green mines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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29 pages, 4850 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Spatial-Temporal Evolution of China’s Carbon Emission Intensity and the Analysis of Regional Emission Reduction Potential under the Carbon Emissions Trading Mechanism

by Xiufan Zhang and Decheng Fan

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7442; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127442 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1733

Abstract

It is of great significance to study the regional differences and temporal and spatial evolution of China’s carbon emission intensity under the carbon emissions trading mechanism, and to explore the potential for regional emission reduction. This paper uses the Theil index and Moran [...] Read more.

It is of great significance to study the regional differences and temporal and spatial evolution of China’s carbon emission intensity under the carbon emissions trading mechanism, and to explore the potential for regional emission reduction. This paper uses the Theil index and Moran index to analyze the regional differences and temporal and spatial evolution trend of carbon emission intensity in China from 2010 to 2019, further constructs the emission reduction effect standard of carbon emissions trading mechanisms, discusses the emission reduction effect of the trading mechanisms, and measures the regional emission reduction potential according to the environmental learning curve. The results showed that: (1) China’s overall carbon emissions continued to increase, but the carbon emission intensity showed an overall decreasing trend. There are strong regional differences in China’s carbon emission intensity. The carbon emission intensity in the western region is higher, and the overall regional difference is decreasing year by year. (2) China’s carbon emissions trading mechanism has a significant reduction effect, but the total quota slack of the Tianjin, Beijing, and Chongqing carbon emissions trading pilot markets is loose. (3) Shanghai, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Inner Mongolia, and Beijing are high-efficiency carbon emission reduction provinces (more than 35%), and Fujian and Xinjiang are low-efficiency carbon emission reduction provinces (less than 15%). It is necessary to further develop the demonstration effect of high emission reduction potential areas and increase the emission reduction efforts in low emission reduction potential areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1302 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Dynamic Perspective on the Gender Diversity–Firms’ Environmental Performances Nexus: Evidence from the Energy Industry

by Mohamed M. Sraieb and Lasha Labadze

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7346; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127346 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1729

Abstract

We explore the role that a country’s economic and political uncertainty plays in shaping its environmental performance. We put emphasis on the role played by gender diversity in the board of firms, and we address two limitations characterizing the literature on the topic: [...] Read more.

We explore the role that a country’s economic and political uncertainty plays in shaping its environmental performance. We put emphasis on the role played by gender diversity in the board of firms, and we address two limitations characterizing the literature on the topic: (i) the use of static modelling that prevents identifying static and dynamic endogeneity and (ii) the assumption that the relationship is linear, which prevents accounting for the factors that affect the magnitude and the shape of this nexus. Using a System-GMM approach, we find evidence that gender diversity is associated positively with firms’ environmental results. Furthermore, the intensity of this relationship is increasing in gender diversity, and more importantly, the effect tends to be greater in less uncertain countries. These findings are of first importance in terms of the policy. Improving environmental quality can be achieved cost-effectively through the promotion of gender diversity, along with building/strengthening institutions to mitigate the effects of economic and political uncertainty. The benefits of these actions can support an effective implementation of the UN SDGs related to gender equality (Goal 5) and several environment-related SDGs (Goal 13 and Goal 15). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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11 pages, 451 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Influencing Factors and Mechanism of Rural Carbon Emissions in Ecologically Fragile Energy Areas—Taking Ejin Horo Banner in Inner Mongolia as an Example

by Jian Wang, Dongqian Xue, Meng Wang and Weibin Yan

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7126; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127126 - 10 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1493

Abstract

To achieve carbon neutrality in our country, studying the carbon emissions of rural residents in ecologically fragile energy areas is an important way to scientifically explore a green and low-carbon development mechanism of rural regional systems. Taking Ejin Horo Banner as an example, [...] Read more.

To achieve carbon neutrality in our country, studying the carbon emissions of rural residents in ecologically fragile energy areas is an important way to scientifically explore a green and low-carbon development mechanism of rural regional systems. Taking Ejin Horo Banner as an example, and based on the survey data drawn from it, this paper analyzes the characteristics and mechanism of carbon emissions in rural regional systems by using the methods of the carbon emissions factor method and multiple stepwise regression. The result showed that: (1) in the total composition of carbon emissions in Ejin Horo Banner, the sources of rural carbon emissions had remarkable characteristics. Energy consumption and livestock and poultry breeding accounted for the largest proportion, 63.89% and 22.72%, respectively. (2) In the family attributes of the rural villages in Ejin Horo Banner, the two factors that had the greatest correlation with the total carbon emissions were age and income. In energy consumption, the largest correlation coefficient with carbon emissions was 0.804 for coal, and the lowest was 0.550 for gasoline. In agricultural inputs, chemical fertilizer had the strongest correlation with carbon emissions, with a correlation coefficient of 0.734, and irrigation had the weakest, with a correlation coefficient of 0.657. In livestock production, cattle had the strongest correlation with carbon emissions, with a correlation coefficient of 0.724. In family life, the factors of daily diet consumption had a strong correlation with carbon emissions, among which the highest was the liquor consumption at 0.784, and the lowest was wastewater treatment at 0.442. (3) The multiple stepwise regression result showed that in the three production and living sectors of energy consumption, agricultural and animal husbandry investment, and household life, 21 factors had a significant predictive power on the carbon emissions in the rural regional systems of Ejin Horo Banner. Through the analysis, it was found that accelerating the popularization of green energy-saving technology, promoting the transformation of rural traditional energy utilization, improving energy efficiency, and advocating a green lifestyle are the important ways to realize rural green development in ecologically fragile energy areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1777 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Empowering the Voiceless: Securing the Participation of Marginalised Groups in Climate Change Governance in South Africa

by Nomfundo Sibiya, Mikateko Sithole, Lindelani Mudau and Mulala Danny Simatele

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7111; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127111 - 10 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2608

Abstract

For many of the world’s poor people, adaptation to climate change is not a choice but a reality. Existing evidence suggests that the poor, particularly those in the developing world, are the most vulnerable to any changes in climate variability and change. Using [...] Read more.

For many of the world’s poor people, adaptation to climate change is not a choice but a reality. Existing evidence suggests that the poor, particularly those in the developing world, are the most vulnerable to any changes in climate variability and change. Using research methods inspired by the tradition of participatory research, we explore and discuss community perceptions on climate change adaptation governance in South Africa. We examine the myriad ways in which climate change adaptation policies and strategies are developed, and we systematically discuss the factors which either facilitate or hamper the involvement of all stakeholders in the development of these intervention measures. Our findings indicate that women seem to be the group of people who are mostly unaware of community initiatives, policies, and strategies for the adaptation to climate change. Thus, it is argued that, although South Africa has developed good climate change initiatives, policies, and strategies, the implementation of these policies seems to present difficulties, as those for whom they have been developed do not seem to have any knowledge of their effectiveness in helping them build resilience against extreme weather events. This study recommends that, in order to achieve successful public participation in climate change adaptation policy development, there must be an all-inclusive system which incorporates all stakeholders, including vulnerable groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2711 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Walking Accessibility to the Bus Stop: Does It Affect Residential Rents? The Case of Jinan, China

by Qingchun Liu, Peixiong Zhao, Yan Xiao, Xin Zhou and Jun Yang

Land 2022, 11(6), 860; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11060860 - 07 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2094

Abstract

It is a crucial question to understand the relationship between public transit and residential rents for the proposal of a sustainable transportation system and efficient allocation of lands during the policy marking process. Little has been discovered in the current literature regarding the [...] Read more.

It is a crucial question to understand the relationship between public transit and residential rents for the proposal of a sustainable transportation system and efficient allocation of lands during the policy marking process. Little has been discovered in the current literature regarding the impact of the bus system on residential rents. This study investigated walking accessibility to the bus stop based on the average daily on-ridership data of bus stops and street networks in Jinan, China, and analysed the impact on the spatial differentiation of residential rents using the spatial autocorrelation analysis and the geographically weighted regression (GWR) method. Our results suggested that residential rent levels in Jinan had evident spatial dependence and spatial differentiation characteristics, which was signified by a significant high rent, and a high accessibility distribution pattern surrounding both city and sub-city centres. GWR results further showed that walking accessibility to the bus stop could significantly improve residential rents. On the spatial scale, a 1% increase in walking accessibility could result in a premium of up to 0.427% and a 2.984% decline in rental prices. Lastly, we found that walking accessibility to the bus stop significantly affected housing rents incrementally with increasing distance between residences and the city centre. Moreover, walking accessibility to the bus stop showed a marginal ‘first increase and then decrease’ effect on residential rents as the distance to the bus stop increased. The premium effect was the most significant among residences within 500–900 m of a bus stop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 764 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Legal Aspect of Plastic Waste Management in Indonesia and Malaysia: Addressing Marine Plastic Debris

by Hanim Kamaruddin, Maskun, Farida Patittingi, Hasbi Assidiq, Siti Nurhaliza Bachril and Nurul Habaib Al Mukarramah

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 6985; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14126985 - 07 Jun 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6118

Abstract

Marine plastic debris is a common issue faced by the entire international community, with some countries finding it exceptionally difficult to address and combat the issue, including Indonesia and Malaysia. The two neighboring countries are ranked as the largest contributors of plastic waste [...] Read more.

Marine plastic debris is a common issue faced by the entire international community, with some countries finding it exceptionally difficult to address and combat the issue, including Indonesia and Malaysia. The two neighboring countries are ranked as the largest contributors of plastic waste in the ocean. Unmanaged plastic waste that will ultimately end up in waters and seas has become a major issue that Indonesia and Malaysia must deal with, and a firm legal approach holds a key role for both countries in solving the issue. This paper is devoted to normatively analyzing the various legal approaches that are/can be used by Indonesia and Malaysia, and to identify the problems related to such approaches. This article applies normative legal research, in which various legal instruments and other secondary legal materials are descriptively analyzed to unravel the legal issues. The main findings reveal that laws and regulations, as well as public policies that serve as a legal basis and approaches to deal with plastic waste governance in Indonesia and Malaysia, still possess some weaknesses, including the absence of distinctive provisions specifically aimed at dealing with plastic waste, the lower legal binding power of some instruments due to their soft-law nature, and the application of rather ineffective approaches. One important initial step towards actually exerting the legal approaches in governing plastic waste in both countries is to strengthen the governing structure and legal culture surrounding the management of plastic waste. Finally, this paper encourages the establishment of a bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Malaysia that will allow both countries to formulate a more legally binding framework for tackling the issues of marine waste in general and marine plastic debris in particular. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 2442 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Genotype Stress Tolerance as an Effective Way to Sustain Wheat Production under Salinity Stress Conditions

by Mirela Matković Stojšin, Sofija Petrović, Borislav Banjac, Veselinka Zečević, Svetlana Roljević Nikolić, Helena Majstorović, Radiša Đorđević and Desimir Knežević

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 6973; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14126973 - 07 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1746

Abstract

The creation of salt-tolerant wheat genotypes can provide a basis for sustainable wheat production in areas that are particularly sensitive to the impacts of climate change on soil salinity. This study aimed to select salt-tolerant wheat genotypes that could serve as a genetic [...] Read more.

The creation of salt-tolerant wheat genotypes can provide a basis for sustainable wheat production in areas that are particularly sensitive to the impacts of climate change on soil salinity. This study aimed to select salt-tolerant wheat genotypes that could serve as a genetic resource in breeding for salinity tolerance. A two-year experiment was established with 27 wheat genotypes, grown in salinity stress and non-stress conditions. Agronomic parameters (plant height, spike weight, number of grains per spike, thousand grain weight, and grain yield/plant) were analyzed in the phenophase of full maturity, while biochemical parameters (DPPH radical scavenging activity and total phenolic content) were tested in four phenophases. Grain yield/plant was the most sensitive parameter to salinity, with a 31.5% reduction in value. Selection based on salt tolerance indices (STI, MP, and GMP) favored the selection of the genotypes Renesansa, Harmonija, Orašanka, Bankut 1205, KG-58, and Jugoslavija. Based on YI (1.30) and stability analysis, the genotype Harmonija stands out as the most desirable genotype for cultivation in saline conditions. The presence of positive correlations between grain yield/plant and biochemical parameters, in all phenophases, enables the selection of genotypes with high antioxidant activity and high yield potential, even in the early stages of plant development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1910 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Positive and Negative Environmental Behaviours Influence Sustainable Tourism Intentions

by Li-Yao Shien, Chih-Hsing Liu and Yi-Min Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6922; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116922 - 06 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2467

Abstract

This study developed and examined a theoretical model of moderated mediation in which positive and negative environmental behaviours (e.g., attitudes, destruction, conservation, and eco-friendliness) serve as a moderating mechanism that explains the link between the two critical mediating effects of escape and sustainable [...] Read more.

This study developed and examined a theoretical model of moderated mediation in which positive and negative environmental behaviours (e.g., attitudes, destruction, conservation, and eco-friendliness) serve as a moderating mechanism that explains the link between the two critical mediating effects of escape and sustainable experiences on revisit intentions. The results of a study of 483 foreign tourists provide support for our hypothesized model. First, the results showed that motivations have indirect and positive effects on revisit intentions through sustainable experiences and escape-seeking. Second, the moderating effects of positive environmental behaviours were found to be positive, while negative environmental behaviours had negative effects on the dimensions of escape and experience on revisit intentions for sustainable tourism. Third, we discussed how this interesting pattern of the moderated mediation setting could be explained by using the theoretical background and considering previous studies on sustainable tourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 16804 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Emission Inversion Model from Provincial to Municipal Scale Based on Nighttime Light Remote Sensing and Improved STIRPAT

by Qi Wang, Jiejun Huang, Han Zhou, Jiaqi Sun and Mingkun Yao

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6813; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116813 - 02 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1950

Abstract

Carbon emissions and consequent climate change directly affect the sustainable development of ecological environment systems and human society, which is a pertinent issue of concern for all countries globally. The construction of a carbon emission inversion model has significant theoretical importance and practical [...] Read more.

Carbon emissions and consequent climate change directly affect the sustainable development of ecological environment systems and human society, which is a pertinent issue of concern for all countries globally. The construction of a carbon emission inversion model has significant theoretical importance and practical significance for carbon emission accounting and control. Established carbon emission models usually adopt socio-economic parameters or energy statistics to calculate carbon emissions. However, high-precision estimates of carbon emissions in administrative regions lacking energy statistics are difficult. This problem is especially prominent in small-scale regions. Methods to accurately estimate carbon emissions in small-scale regions are needed. Based on nighttime light remote-sensing data and the STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology) model, combined with the environmental Kuznets curve, this paper proposes an ISTIRPAT (Improved Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology) model. Through the improved STIRPAT model (ISTIRPAT) and panel data regression, provincial carbon emission inventory data were downscaled to the municipal level, and municipal scale carbon emission inventories were obtained. This study took the 17 cities and prefectures of Hubei Province, China, as an example to verify the accuracy of the model. Carbon emissions for 17 cities and prefectures from 2012 to 2018 calculated from the original STIRPAT model and the ISTIRPAT model were compared with real values. The results show that using the ISTIRPAT model to downscale the provincial carbon emission inventory to the municipal level, the inversion accuracy reached 0.9, which was higher than that of the original model. Overall, carbon emissions in Hubei Province showed an upward trend. Regarding the spatial distribution, the main carbon emission area was formed in the central part of Hubei Province as a ring-shaped mountain peak. The lowest carbon emissions in the central area expanded outward, increased, and gradually decreased to the edge of the province. The overall composition of carbon emissions in eastern Hubei was higher than those in western Hubei. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 18642 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Climate Change on Habitat Connectivity: A Case Study of the Brown-Eared Pheasant in China

by An Cao and Xueyi Shi

Land 2022, 11(6), 806; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11060806 - 29 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1689

Abstract

Climate change has caused habitat fragmentation and reduced connectivity. The Fen River Basin in Shanxi Province, China is an important habitat for the central population of the brown-eared pheasant (BEP). The effects of climate change need to be considered in the conservation planning [...] Read more.

Climate change has caused habitat fragmentation and reduced connectivity. The Fen River Basin in Shanxi Province, China is an important habitat for the central population of the brown-eared pheasant (BEP). The effects of climate change need to be considered in the conservation planning of BEP habitats. We used a species dispersion model to determine the BEP core habitat and graph theory to explore the connectivity of the BEP’s main habitats. The pinch point areas of BEP dissemination were determined by circuit theory. Least-cost pathways were used to identify the critical corridors for BEP dissemination. A gap analysis was conducted to estimate the efficiency of BEP conservation measures. Under the future climate scenarios, BEP habitats decreased by between 54.69% and 97.63%, and the connectivity of the main habitats was reduced by a similar magnitude. The BEP core habitat shifted to the southwestern region under the influence of climatic conditions. Currently, 90.84% of the species’ critical habitat remains unprotected. Due to climate change, the core habitat in the future was projected to differ from the current protected area. Enhancing the protection of the pinch point region may aid in the restoration of habitat connectivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3118 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Source Apportionment of PAHs Occurrence in Aquatic Suspended Particulate Matter at a Typical Post-Industrial City: A Case Study of Freiberger Mulde River

by Zhuotao Qiu, Zhenyu Wang, Jie Xu, Yi Liu and Jin Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6646; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116646 - 29 May 2022

Viewed by 1816

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have received extensive attention because of their widespread presence in various environmental media and their high environmental toxicity. Thus, figuring out the long-term variances of their occurrence and driving force in the environment is helpful for environmental pollution control. [...] Read more.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have received extensive attention because of their widespread presence in various environmental media and their high environmental toxicity. Thus, figuring out the long-term variances of their occurrence and driving force in the environment is helpful for environmental pollution control. This study investigates the concentration levels, spatial variance, and source apportionment of PAHs in suspended particulate matter of Freiberger Mulde river, Germany. Results show that the concentrations of the 16 priority PAHs suggested by USEPA (Σ₁₆PAHs) were in the range of 707.0–17,243.0 μg kg⁻¹ with a mean value of 5258.0 ± 2569.2 μg kg⁻¹ from 2002 to 2016. The relatively high average concentrations of Σ₁₆PAHs were found in the midstream and upstream stations of the given river (7297.5 and 6096.9 μg kg⁻¹ in Halsbrucke and Hilbersdorf, respectively). In addition, the annual average concentration of Σ₁₆PAHs showed an obvious decreasing pattern with time. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model identified three potential sources: coke ovens (7.6–23.0%), vehicle emissions (35.9–47.7%), and coal and wood combustion (34.5–47.3%). The source intensity variation and wavelet coherence analysis indicated that the use of clean energy played a key role in reducing PAHs pollution levels in suspended sediments. The risk assessment of ecosystem and human health suggested that the Σ₁₆PAHs in the given area posed a non-negligible threat to aquatic organisms and humans. The data provided herein could assist the subsequent management of PAHs in the aquatic environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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27 pages, 10964 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Smart Post-Processing System for Forecasting the Climate Precipitation Based on Machine Learning Computations

by Adel Ghazikhani, Iman Babaeian, Mohammad Gheibi, Mostafa Hajiaghaei-Keshteli and Amir M. Fathollahi-Fard

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6624; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116624 - 28 May 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2032

Abstract

Although many meteorological prediction models have been developed recently, their accuracy is still unreliable. Post-processing is a task for improving meteorological predictions. This study proposes a post-processing method for the Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSV2) model. The applicability of the proposed method [...] Read more.

Although many meteorological prediction models have been developed recently, their accuracy is still unreliable. Post-processing is a task for improving meteorological predictions. This study proposes a post-processing method for the Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSV2) model. The applicability of the proposed method is shown in Iran for observation data from 1982 to 2017. This study designs software to perform post-processing in meteorological organizations automatically. From another point of view, this study presents a decision support system (DSS) for controlling precipitation-based natural side effects such as flood disasters or drought phenomena. It goes without saying that the proposed DSS model can meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) with regards to a grantee of human health and environmental protection issues. The present study, for the first time, implemented a platform based on a graphical user interface due to the prediction of precipitation with the application of machine learning computations. The present research developed an academic idea into an industrial tool. The final finding of this paper is to introduce a set of efficient machine learning computations where the random forest (RF) algorithm has a great level of accuracy with more than a 0.87 correlation coefficient compared with other machine learning methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1875 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Spatio-Temporal Differentiation Characteristics and Factors of Typical Square Cities in China from the Perspective of Human Settlements

by Jiaji Gao, Songbo Li, Dongqi Sun, Yingjia Zhang and Xueming Li

Buildings 2022, 12(6), 727; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12060727 - 27 May 2022

Viewed by 2039

Abstract

Taking Dalian, a typical square city in China, as an example based on data from remote sensing images, questionnaires, spatial statistics, social economy, etc., 48 squares in the main districts were constructed from the perspective of human settlements in order to build five [...] Read more.

Taking Dalian, a typical square city in China, as an example based on data from remote sensing images, questionnaires, spatial statistics, social economy, etc., 48 squares in the main districts were constructed from the perspective of human settlements in order to build five systems: nature, humanity, society, residence and support. The aim was to explore the spatio-temporal differentiation characteristics and their driving mechanism. The results show the following: (1) The index system was constructed based on the human settlements perspective, and PCA was used to comprehensively evaluate it. Four principal component factors were extracted, and their cumulative contribution rate is 78.701%. On this basis, city squares were divided into four types: comprehensive square, recreational square, commercial service square and traffic square. (2) Using Mapinfo to visualize the square space, and taking the People’s Square as the center, the squares from the Tsarist Russia and Japanese colonial rule time periods were mainly distributed within 5 km, mostly in the direction of NE-SEE. During the construction of New China, city squares were distributed in all directions of the city, mainly between NE-SE and NNW-SSW. (3) ArcGIS was used to create an analysis chart of square service scope. Compared with 1999, it was more concentrated in central cities in 2016, and the service scope was relatively small. However, a square with high popularity has a wider influence. (4) The formation and evolution of the spatial pattern of city squares are affected by many factors, such as nature, economy, society, politics, ecological environment and technology. In the planning and development of city squares, Dalian should pay full attention to human settlements perpectives and add luster to the development of livable cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 4376 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Potential Flood Risk in the City of Guasave, Sinaloa, the Effects of Population Growth, and Modifications to the Topographic Relief

by Héctor José Peinado Guevara, Mauro Espinoza Ortiz, Víctor Manuel Peinado Guevara, Jaime Herrera Barrientos, Jesús Alberto Peinado Guevara, Omar Delgado Rodríguez, Manuel de Jesús Pellegrini Cervantes and Moisés Sánchez Morales

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6560; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116560 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1686

Abstract

The coastal city of Guasave, Sinaloa, located on the Mexican Pacific coast, is subject to extreme precipitation events, which have caused flooding with damage to the city’s infrastructure. The factors that influence flooding are vegetation, geology, degree of soil saturation, drainage characteristics of [...] Read more.

The coastal city of Guasave, Sinaloa, located on the Mexican Pacific coast, is subject to extreme precipitation events, which have caused flooding with damage to the city’s infrastructure. The factors that influence flooding are vegetation, geology, degree of soil saturation, drainage characteristics of the watershed, and the shape of the topographic relief. Of the above factors, the topographic relief, which is the subject of the study, has been partially modified in some areas by infrastructure works (from 20.2 m to 17.6 m), and the population of the urban area has grown by 51.8% in 17 years (2004–2021); therefore, the objective is to evaluate the potential flood risk due to changes in this factor and the growth of the urban area. When using this method, the potential flood risk was determined considering four extreme events, 1982, 1990, 1998, and 2019. It was found that the potential risk increases for the whole city, being more intense in sector III, which, before the modification of the topographic relief, was the area with the lowest risk of flooding. In an extreme event such as Hurricane Paul in 1982, practically the entire city would be flooded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 3061 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change and Seed System Interventions Impact on Food Security and Incomes in East Africa

by Gloria Otieno, Robert John O Ogola, Tobias Recha, Jemal Nurhisen Mohammed and Carlo Fadda

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6519; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116519 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3360

Abstract

Climate change is challenging agricultural productivity, especially in Africa. Adoption of improved or diverse seed varieties is a promising strategy to achieve increased yields, support food security and reduce poverty under climate change in East Africa. However, rigorous impact evaluations linking the contributions [...] Read more.

Climate change is challenging agricultural productivity, especially in Africa. Adoption of improved or diverse seed varieties is a promising strategy to achieve increased yields, support food security and reduce poverty under climate change in East Africa. However, rigorous impact evaluations linking the contributions of improved seeds to the welfare of households have been limited. This paper evaluates the impact of diversified seed systems on farm household production, sales, income, consumption and seed storage in Kenya and Uganda. It applies four-cell analysis to explore the intra-specific diversity of crops within farming systems, using primary data obtained from a random sampling of 207 treatment households and 87 control households. Propensity score matching was used to investigate the relationship between adoption of improved seeds and changes in production, sales, income, consumption, seed storage and food security. Econometric results indicate that treatment households using improved seeds saw a significant positive impact on income from bean seed sales, sorghum and millet consumption, bean livestock feed and maize and millet seed stored. We conclude that increasing seed diversity helps farmers cope with climate change and increases productivity, food availability, incomes and food security. Partnerships among seed improvement stakeholders need to be enhanced to ensure a continued supply of appropriate seeds to farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 2393 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Contribution of Incorporating the Phosphorus Cycle into TRIPLEX-CNP to Improve the Quantification of Land Carbon Cycle

by Juhua Ding, Qiuan Zhu, Hanwei Li, Xiaolu Zhou, Weiguo Liu and Changhui Peng

Land 2022, 11(6), 778; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11060778 - 25 May 2022

Viewed by 1655

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is a key and a limiting nutrient in ecosystems and plays an important role in many physiological and biochemical processes, affecting both terrestrial ecosystem productivity and soil carbon storage. However, only a few global land surface models have incorporated P cycle [...] Read more.

Phosphorus (P) is a key and a limiting nutrient in ecosystems and plays an important role in many physiological and biochemical processes, affecting both terrestrial ecosystem productivity and soil carbon storage. However, only a few global land surface models have incorporated P cycle and used to investigate the interactions of C-N-P and its limitation on terrestrial ecosystems. The overall objective of this study was to integrate the P cycle and its interaction with carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) into new processes model of TRIPLEX-CNP. In this study, key processes of the P cycle, including P pool sizes and fluxes in plant, litter, and soil were integrated into a new model framework, TRIPLEX-CNP. We also added dynamic P:C ratios for different ecosystems. Based on sensitivity analysis results, we identified the phosphorus resorption coefficient of leaf (rpleaf) as the most influential parameter to gross primary productivity (GPP) and biomass, and determined optimal coefficients for different plant functional types (PFTs). TRIPLEX-CNP was calibrated with 49 sites and validated against 116 sites across eight biomes globally. The results suggested that TRIPLEX-CNP performed well on simulating the global GPP and soil organic carbon (SOC) with respective R² values of 0.85 and 0.78 (both p < 0.01) between simulated and observed values. The R² of simulation and observation of total biomass are 0.67 (p < 0.01) by TRIPLEX-CNP. The overall model performance had been improved in global GPP, total biomass and SOC after adding the P cycle comparing with the earlier version. Our work represents the promising step toward new coupled ecosystem process models for improving the quantifications of land carbon cycle and reducing uncertainty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2087 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Imbalance of Embodied CO₂ in China’s Imports, Exports and Its Causes

by Zhiheng Chen and Yaru Tan

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6460; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116460 - 25 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1457

Abstract

Constraining the embodied CO₂ from international trade is a crucial part of China’s efforts to achieve emission peak and carbon neutrality. By referring to the WIOD, this article applies the Global Multi-Regional Input-Output (GMRIO) Model and the Value-added Trade Accounting Method to [...] Read more.

Constraining the embodied CO₂ from international trade is a crucial part of China’s efforts to achieve emission peak and carbon neutrality. By referring to the WIOD, this article applies the Global Multi-Regional Input-Output (GMRIO) Model and the Value-added Trade Accounting Method to calculate the amount of embodied CO₂ in China’s international trade from 2000 to 2014. Results indicate that China’s embodied CO₂ in imports and exports is imbalanced in three dimensions: product, region, and industry. One direct cause of this phenomenon is China’s higher carbon emission factors compared to its trading partner. However, the real cause is the global relocation of energy-intensive industries, which leads China to undertake the production of high-carbon industries. To achieve the 3060 Dual Carbon Goal and high-quality economic development, China needs comprehensive and systematic reforms in its economic structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 2552 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Intensification in Olive Growing Reduces Global Warming Potential under Both Integrated and Organic Farming

by Salvatore Camposeo, Gaetano Alessandro Vivaldi, Giovanni Russo and Francesca Maria Melucci

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6389; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116389 - 24 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2327

Abstract

The relationship between agriculture and climate change is gaining prominence year by year in due to both adaptation and mitigation issues, because agriculture contributes to carbon emissions and acts as a carbon sink. Innovation on olive growing may help improve production systems for [...] Read more.

The relationship between agriculture and climate change is gaining prominence year by year in due to both adaptation and mitigation issues, because agriculture contributes to carbon emissions and acts as a carbon sink. Innovation on olive growing may help improve production systems for a more sustainable agriculture. In recent years, the olive sector is shifting towards intensification via a new growing system implementation with a strong economic impact. Indeed, the olive-growing systems are moving from low-density (<250 trees/ha) to medium-density (300–500 trees/ha), and mostly to super-high-density (>1200 trees/ha) systems. The aims of the present study were to compare these different olive-growing systems, managed by both integrated and organic farming, and to assess the effects of different agricultural practices on global warming potential (GWP), referring to one hectare and to one ton of olives as functional units. For both functional units and for all olive-growing systems, in the organic farming method, there is a greater environmental impact compared to integrated farming because of the higher number of mechanical operations (e.g., for weed control) in the former. The super-high-density growing system exhibited a lower GWP, considering both one hectare and one ton for both farming methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1034 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Ethnobotany and Ecosystem Services in a Tidal Forest in Thailand

by Prateep Panyadee, Janjira Meunrew, Henrik Balslev and Angkhana Inta

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6322; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106322 - 22 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2351

Abstract

Ecosystem services from ecosystems have been providing different kinds of goods to people living in and around them. Here, the ecosystem services of the tidal forest in Thailand were investigated using the ethnobotanical research method. A total of 101 informants living around a [...] Read more.

Ecosystem services from ecosystems have been providing different kinds of goods to people living in and around them. Here, the ecosystem services of the tidal forest in Thailand were investigated using the ethnobotanical research method. A total of 101 informants living around a tidal forest in Rayong Province, Thailand was interviewed using the free-listing technique. Totally, 48 species and 992 uses were recorded. Among these, the highest use value species included Cratoxylum cochinchinense, Garcinia cowa, Melientha suavis, and Nelumbo nucifera. Half of the informants received income from selling plant products which varied from 75 to 4000 USD annually without a significant difference between male and female informants. We found a significant correlation between economic value and the number of use-reports. Most economic species are food plants except one which was weaving material. Gender equality is supported by the ecosystem services since the difference in knowledge and generated income were not observed. Significantly, our results support that economic value is one of the most important factors to promote the recognition of traditional uses of local plants or on the other hand, the service from the ecosystem. Therefore, to conserve the existence of traditional knowledge, efforts from various stakeholders, e.g., the communities and the local and central governments, are required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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11 pages, 299 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Relationships among Financial Development, Economic Growth, Energy Use, and Carbon Emissions by Co-Integration with Multiple Structural Breaks

by Umut Burak Geyikci, Serkan Çınar and Fatih Mehmet Sancak

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6298; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106298 - 21 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1986

Abstract

In this study, the effects of financial and economic development on energy consumption and CO₂ emissions are analyzed using multiple structural breaks, second-generation panel unit root tests, the Westerlund Cointegration Test, and PMG and MG estimators. Unlike classical studies, financial development is [...] Read more.

In this study, the effects of financial and economic development on energy consumption and CO₂ emissions are analyzed using multiple structural breaks, second-generation panel unit root tests, the Westerlund Cointegration Test, and PMG and MG estimators. Unlike classical studies, financial development is included, in the analysis, as an indicator of the accumulated capital as a result of industrial production that has been realized for many years. We conducted a panel data analysis on 13 developing countries for which we could obtain uninterrupted data in the Morgan Stanley Developing Countries index. We found significant relationships between economic growth, energy usage, and CO₂ emissions. Financial development and carbon emissions are cointegrated in the long-term, and financial development is found to accelerate environmental pollution. Therefore, energy economists should consider the effect of financial development on energy use and carbon emissions in future studies. Policy-makers in emerging markets are also advised to take necessary actions to reduce carbon emissions while increasing financial development. It is important that the same results were obtained in medium- and small-scale countries, as well as in large economies (e.g., China) under the scope of this review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

30 pages, 7133 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Water and Heat Fluxes of a Very Humid Forest Ecosystem and Their Relationship with Environmental Factors in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing

by Kai Wang, Yunqi Wang, Yujie Wang, Jieshuai Wang, Songnian Wang and Yincheng Feng

Atmosphere 2022, 13(5), 832; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13050832 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

The high-humidity mountain forest ecosystem (HHMF) of Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing is a fragile ecosystem that is sensitive to climate change and human activities. Because it is shrouded in fog year-round, illumination in the area is seriously insufficient. However, the flux (energy, water) [...] Read more.

The high-humidity mountain forest ecosystem (HHMF) of Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing is a fragile ecosystem that is sensitive to climate change and human activities. Because it is shrouded in fog year-round, illumination in the area is seriously insufficient. However, the flux (energy, water) exchanges (FEs) in this ecosystem and their influencing factors are not clear. Using one-year data from flux towers with a double-layer (25 m and 35 m) eddy covariance (EC) observation system, we proved the applicability of the EC method on rough underlying surfaces, quantified the FEs of HHMFs, and found that part of the fog might also be observed by the EC method. The observation time was separated from day and night, and then the environmental control of the FEs was determined by stepwise regression analysis. Through the water balance, it was proven that the negative value of evapotranspiration (ETN), which represented the water vapor input from the atmosphere to the ecosystem, could not be ignored and provided a new idea for the possible causes of the evaporation paradox. The results showed that the annual average daily sensible heat flux (H) and latent heat flux (LE) ranged from −126.56 to 131.27 W m⁻² and from −106.7 to 222.27 W m⁻², respectively. The annual evapotranspiration (ET), positive evapotranspiration (ETP), and negative evapotranspiration (ETN) values were 389.31, 1387.76, and −998.45 mm, respectively. The energy closure rate of the EC method in the ecosystems was 84%. Fog was the ETN observed by the EC method and an important water source of the HHMF. Therefore, the study area was divided into subtropical mountain cloud forests (STMCFs). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the H and LE during the day were mainly determined by radiation (Rn) and temperature (Tair), indicating that the energy of the ecosystem was limited, and future climate warming may enhance the FEs of the ecosystem. Additionally, ETN was controlled by wind speed (WS) in the whole period, and WS was mainly affected by altitude and temperature differences within the city. Therefore, fog is more likely to occur in the mountains near heat island cities in tropical and subtropical regions. This study emphasizes that fog, as an important water source, is easily ignored in most EC methods and that there will be a large amount of fog in ecosystems affected by future climate warming, which can explain the evaporation paradox. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 2696 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Land Transactions Affect Carbon Emissions: Evidence from China

by Longji Zeng, Yuandi Wang and Yajuan Deng

Land 2022, 11(5), 751; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050751 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

Land use change has become the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after fossil energy combustion. In the context of developing a low-carbon economy, it is important to study how to achieve energy savings and emission reduction by adjusting land prices, and transforming [...] Read more.

Land use change has become the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after fossil energy combustion. In the context of developing a low-carbon economy, it is important to study how to achieve energy savings and emission reduction by adjusting land prices, and transforming land trading methods and land use types. Utilizing a balanced panel dataset about 291 sample cities in China, during the period of 2010–2016, this paper divided land transactions into three dimensions: land transaction price, land transaction modes, and land transfer structure; then employed a fixed-effect model to investigate the relationship between land transactions and carbon emissions. On top of this, we further analyzed the moderating role of economic development level and emission reduction policy. This study found that land transaction price can significantly inhibit carbon emissions; the amount of land sold by auction and listing has a stronger inhibitory effect on carbon emissions than by bidding; the higher the transfer proportion of industrial land, the higher the carbon emissions, while the transfer proportion of residential land is significantly negatively correlated with carbon emissions; the moderating mechanism shows that the level of economic development and emission reduction policy can play a moderating role in the relationship between land transactions and carbon emissions, but the moderating effect of emission reduction policy is limited, only existing in the relationships between land transaction price, the amount of listed land, and carbon emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2399 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Real-World Eco-Driving Cycle for Motorcycles

by Triluck Kusalaphirom, Thaned Satiennam, Wichuda Satiennam and Atthapol Seedam

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6176; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106176 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1947

Abstract

Climate change is a major issue all around the world. The transportation industry currently accounts for most CO₂ emissions. The goal of this research is to develop a real-world eco-driving cycle for internal combustion engine motorcycles that can reduce fuel consumption and [...] Read more.

Climate change is a major issue all around the world. The transportation industry currently accounts for most CO₂ emissions. The goal of this research is to develop a real-world eco-driving cycle for internal combustion engine motorcycles that can reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. This study developed onboard measuring equipment to measure the speed profile and fuel consumption of a motorcycle driving in real time. A total of 78 motorcycle riders rode a test motorcycle with the onboard equipment along a road network to collect real-world data. All of the collected real-world data were analyzed by cluster analysis based on fuel consumption (km/L) to divide riders into two groups, high-fuel-consumption riders and low-fuel-consumption riders. The collected real-world data of the low-fuel-consumption riders were used to develop a real-world eco-driving cycle, whereas the collected real-world data from the high-fuel-consumption riders were used to develop a real-world non-eco-driving cycle. The CO₂ emissions were calculated by the speed profiles of the developed driving cycles. The findings reveal that the real-world eco-driving cycle provided a fuel consumption rate 39.3% lower than the real-world non-eco-driving cycle. In addition, the real-world eco-driving cycle provided a CO₂ emission rate 17.4% lower than the real-world non-eco-driving cycle. The application of the developed real-world eco-driving cycle for motorcycles is proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2869 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Emission Prediction Model and Analysis in the Yellow River Basin Based on a Machine Learning Method

by Jinjie Zhao, Lei Kou, Haitao Wang, Xiaoyu He, Zhihui Xiong, Chaoqiang Liu and Hao Cui

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6153; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106153 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 2919

Abstract

Excessive carbon emissions seriously threaten the sustainable development of society and the environment and have attracted the attention of the international community. The Yellow River Basin is an important ecological barrier and economic development zone in China. Studying the influencing factors of carbon [...] Read more.

Excessive carbon emissions seriously threaten the sustainable development of society and the environment and have attracted the attention of the international community. The Yellow River Basin is an important ecological barrier and economic development zone in China. Studying the influencing factors of carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin is of great significance to help China achieve carbon peaking. In this study, quadratic assignment procedure regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin from the perspective of regional differences. Accurate carbon emission prediction models can guide the formulation of emission reduction policies. We propose a machine learning prediction model, namely, the long short-term memory network optimized by the sparrow search algorithm, and apply it to carbon emission prediction in the Yellow River Basin. The results show an increasing trend in carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin, with significant inter-provincial differences. The carbon emission intensity of the Yellow River Basin decreased from 5.187 t/10,000 RMB in 2000 to 1.672 t/10,000 RMB in 2019, showing a gradually decreasing trend. The carbon emissions of Qinghai are less than one-tenth of those in Shandong, the highest carbon emitter. The main factor contributing to carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2010 was GDP per capita; after 2010, the main factor was population. Compared to the single long short-term memory network, the mean absolute percentage error of the proposed model is reduced by 44.38%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 10902 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Land Cover Change Analysis to Assess Sustainability of Development in the Mongolian Plateau over 30 Years

by Yu Zhang, Juanle Wang, Yi Wang, Altansukh Ochir and Chuluun Togtokh

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6129; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106129 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2152

Abstract

The changes in land cover patterns in the Mongolian Plateau can reveal the regional status of sustainable development. Based on land cover data from 1990–2020, the study reveals the process of land cover change on the Mongolian plateau and integrates those changes with [...] Read more.

The changes in land cover patterns in the Mongolian Plateau can reveal the regional status of sustainable development. Based on land cover data from 1990–2020, the study reveals the process of land cover change on the Mongolian plateau and integrates those changes with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to further evaluate regional sustainable development status. Result revealed there is a stable rate of land cover change (0.16%) for the Mongolian Plateau, but with diverse shifting trends for various land cover types and SDGs indicators in past 30 years. Croplands (SDG2) showed a growth trend in the last five years, which was different from its initial obviously decreasing trend. The status of water (SDG6) showed a clear decreasing trend, which presents a major threat to this arid-to-semi-arid region. The built area (SDG11) increased continuously, but the long upward trend has slowed in recent years. The forest area (SDG15) declined, but it has recently recovered. Grasslands showed diverse changes in various steppe types (including real, meadow, and desert steppe types) while still experiencing land degradation. The expansion of sand areas presents a hidden risk of increasing sandstorms. Comparative analysis revealed that there have clear differences between Mongolia and Inner Mongolia due to the various government policies. In general, the land use degree in Mongolian Plateau increased annually. This indicated that the climate change and human activities have more and more influences, and it is still facing severe challenges for specific SDGs indicators in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 3325 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emission from Seedless Lime Cultivation Using Organic Fertilizer in a Province in Vietnam Mekong Delta Region

by Le Tran Thanh Liem, Yukihiro Tashiro, Pham Van Trong Tinh and Kenji Sakai

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6102; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106102 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1932

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from conventional cultivation (S1) of seedless lime (SL) fruit in Hau Giang province, in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. We adjusted the scenarios by replacing 25% and 50% of nitrogen chemical fertilizer with [...] Read more.

This study aimed to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from conventional cultivation (S1) of seedless lime (SL) fruit in Hau Giang province, in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. We adjusted the scenarios by replacing 25% and 50% of nitrogen chemical fertilizer with respective amounts of N-based organic fertilizer (S2 and S3). Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect primary data. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology with the “cradle to gate” approach was used to estimate GHG emission based on the functional unit of one hectare of growing area and one tonnage of fresh fruit weight. The emission factors of agrochemicals, fertilizers, electricity, fuel production, and internal combustion were collected from the MiLCA software, IPCC reports, and previous studies. The S1, S2, and S3 emissions were 7590, 6703, and 5884 kg-CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) per hectare of the growing area and 273.6, 240.3, and 209.7 kg-CO₂e for each tonnage of commercial fruit, respectively. Changing fertilizer-based practice from S1 to S2 and S3 mitigated 887.0–1706 kg-CO₂e ha^–1 (11.7–22.5%) and 33.3–63.9 kg-CO₂e t^–1 (12.2–25.6%), respectively. These results support a solution to reduce emissions by replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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26 pages, 4023 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Does Climate Change Affect Rapeseed Production in Exporting and Importing Countries? Evidence from Market Dynamics Syntheses

by Arifa Jannat, Yuki Ishikawa-Ishiwata and Jun Furuya

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6051; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106051 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3060

Abstract

Globally, non-cereal crops such as vegetable oils and their associated products will surpass cereals in demand by 2050, according to the World Bank (WB). Despite being considered an energy-efficient food crop, the production and supply capability of rapeseed is mostly influenced by climate [...] Read more.

Globally, non-cereal crops such as vegetable oils and their associated products will surpass cereals in demand by 2050, according to the World Bank (WB). Despite being considered an energy-efficient food crop, the production and supply capability of rapeseed is mostly influenced by climate conditions. Aiming in this context, the study explored how temperature and rainfall patterns influence rapeseed production, as well as how rapeseed prices in major trading countries may influence production and consumption patterns in developing countries. To do this, a supply and demand model approach has been employed for major exporting (Canada) and importing countries, i.e., China, the United States (U.S.) along with Bangladesh, a developing nation. The baseline study period was considered from 1991 to 2018, and simulations were performed up to 2040. The findings revealed that the most important effect on rapeseed yield is directly related to changes in temperature, which are positively related to the growing season but negatively related to the maturity stages of rapeseed in all studied countries. Rapeseed exports from Canada are expected to rise by 2040, while imports from China and the U.S. will rise simultaneously. In Canada, the per capita consumption of rapeseed oil is expected to increase from 16 to 24 kg per year between 2019 and 2040. Over the projection period, oil per capita consumption has steadily increased in China, the U.S., and Bangladesh. The relative demand for rapeseed oil is projected to increase by 2060, according to representative concentration pathways (RCPs). Therefore, it is necessary to determine market prices considering the probable climatic effect and increasing market demand for rapeseed to sustain the international market access of trading nations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 802 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Determinants of the Growth of the European Bioplastics Sector—A Fuzzy Cognitive Maps Approach

by Aikaterini Konti, Diomi Mamma, Nicolae Scarlat and Dimitris Damigos

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6035; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106035 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1748

Abstract

The extensive use of plastics and the environmental burden associated with their disposal have attracted the attention of scientists, politicians and citizens in Europe. In this frame, the EU has adopted a European Strategy for Plastics aiming, on the one hand, at reducing [...] Read more.

The extensive use of plastics and the environmental burden associated with their disposal have attracted the attention of scientists, politicians and citizens in Europe. In this frame, the EU has adopted a European Strategy for Plastics aiming, on the one hand, at reducing the use of plastic and, on the other hand, promoting their reuse in the context of a circular economy directly linked with the recently adopted Bioeconomy Strategy. Bioplastics could be an alternative to the conventional plastics, but they still have a limited share in the market. In this paper, Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs), a soft computing technique for analysing complex decision-making problems, is applied to identify the factors acting as drivers or barriers towards a bio-based plastics industry, their relative importance and the interactions between them. Experts with diverse backgrounds (technical experts, policy makers, industry executives) were interviewed in order to capture their perceptions and create a collective FCM capturing the strong and the weak points of the system. The collective FCM has a total number of 38 factors, which reflect the different approaches and knowledge of the experts. Overall, the “bio-based plastics” system is influenced mainly by the following factors: “EU Legislation”, “Monomers purity”, “Properties of the product”, “Recycling potential”, “Research & Development”, “National Legislation” and “Production cost”. The effect of the most significant political, social and techno-economic factors on the potential growth of the bioplastics sector has also been examined via simulations. The analysis demonstrated that the model is affected more (is more sensitive) to shifts in technoeconomic factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3063 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Tripartite Evolution Game of Environmental Governance under the Intervention of Central Government

by Yongming Zhu, Lanxiao Niu, Zheyun Zhao and Jing Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6034; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106034 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2061

Abstract

Environmental pollution management is about the sustainable development effects of enterprises and the quality of life of people. However, the frequent occurrence of various types of enterprises polluting the environment in recent years has revealed many problems, such as the lack of monitoring [...] Read more.

Environmental pollution management is about the sustainable development effects of enterprises and the quality of life of people. However, the frequent occurrence of various types of enterprises polluting the environment in recent years has revealed many problems, such as the lack of monitoring by relevant central agencies, the ineffective supervision by local governments, and the failure of public complaints. This paper considers the rent-seeking phenomenon of enterprises in pollution prevention and control, constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model between enterprises, local governments and central government, analyzes the evolutionary stability of each participant’s strategy choice, explores the relationship between the influence of each factor on the strategy choice of the three parties, and further analyzes the stability of the equilibrium point in the tripartite game system. The results show that there is no evolutionary equilibrium strategy in the current Chinese environmental governance system; the reward and punishment policies of the local government and central government have a guiding effect on the strategy choices of enterprises in a short period of time, but the guiding effect will gradually weaken after a period of time, and cannot completely curb the irregular strategies of enterprises; the dynamic reward scheme can effectively alleviate the fluctuation of the game system and make the strategy choices of enterprises converge to the ideal state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 7797 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Sodium-Ion Batteries with Ti₁Al₁TiC_1.85 MXene as Negative Electrode: Life Cycle Assessment and Life Critical Resource Use Analysis

by Maria Leonor Carvalho, Giulio Mela, Andrea Temporelli, Elisabetta Brivio and Pierpaolo Girardi

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5976; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14105976 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2783

Abstract

Electrochemical storage systems are an enabling solution for the electric system ecological transition, allowing a deeper penetration of nonprogrammable renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar energy. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are state of the art energy storage technology. Nevertheless, LIBs show critical [...] Read more.

Electrochemical storage systems are an enabling solution for the electric system ecological transition, allowing a deeper penetration of nonprogrammable renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar energy. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are state of the art energy storage technology. Nevertheless, LIBs show critical problems linked to their production, especially for what concerns energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and rare raw materials use. Finding alternative storage technologies seems crucial for support energy transition, but at the same time, it is important to study their sustainability from the very beginning of their technological development. Using this framework, this paper presents a life cycle based environmental-economic assessment, comparing Na-ion coin cells (Ti₁Al₁TiC_1.85 MXene as anode material) with LIBs. LCA results show that the assessed Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are less environmentally friendly than LIBs, an outcome driven by the SIBs’ lower energy density. However, if results are shown by mass, SIBs can represent potential alternatives to LIBs. On the other hand, the analysis shows that even Na-ions already use less critical resources, both in absolute and in relative values, highlighting the need, at least for the European Union, to find valid alternatives to LIBs if the 2050 decarbonization targets are to be met. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1654 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Applying Ecological Succession Theory to Birds in Solar Parks: An Approach to Address Protection and Planning

by Markus Klemens Zaplata and Sandra Dullau

Land 2022, 11(5), 718; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050718 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3236

Abstract

Renewable energy production will require large areas of land; production sites should be designed to include biodiversity conservation. Guidance for decision-makers on reasonable coexistence is needed. We use time-series data alongside a meta-study on birds in solar parks, utilizing succession theory to indicate [...] Read more.

Renewable energy production will require large areas of land; production sites should be designed to include biodiversity conservation. Guidance for decision-makers on reasonable coexistence is needed. We use time-series data alongside a meta-study on birds in solar parks, utilizing succession theory to indicate which bird groups can thrive in solar parks. Using an evidence-based and interdisciplinary approach, we documented biodiversity and conditions at a 6 ha site in the newly created post-mining landscape of Lusatia, Germany, for 16 years, grouping avian species depending on the ecosystem state in which they were observed. In a key mid-period of early succession lasting eight years, the avifauna was characterized by successional groups 2, herbaceous plant-preferring, ground-breeding species; and 3, open shrub-preferring species. The preceding and following groups were: (1) pioneer bird species that prefer open ground; and (4), pre-forest species. Comparison of these data with available bird monitoring in solar parks showed that bird species of groups 2 and 3 can also successfully settle in open-space solar parks that have some natural habitat attributes, whereas this is hardly possible for the preceding and following groups. Using this information, opportunities for habitat improvement are facilitated, and potential conflicts can be addressed more purposefully. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2081 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Urban Form on CO₂ Emissions under Different Socioeconomic Factors: Evidence from 132 Small and Medium-Sized Cities in China

by Ran Guo, Hong Leng, Qing Yuan and Shiyi Song

Land 2022, 11(5), 713; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050713 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2302

Abstract

The accurate estimation of the impact of urban form on CO₂ emissions is essential for the proposal of effective low-carbon spatial planning strategies. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between urban form and CO₂ emissions in small and medium-sized [...] Read more.

The accurate estimation of the impact of urban form on CO₂ emissions is essential for the proposal of effective low-carbon spatial planning strategies. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between urban form and CO₂ emissions in small and medium-sized cities, and it is especially unclear whether the relationship varies across cities with different socioeconomic characteristics. This study took 132 small and medium-sized cities in the Yangtze River Delta in China to explore how urban form affects CO₂ emissions, considering the socioeconomic factors of industrial structure, population density, and economic development level. First, nighttime light data (DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS) and provincial energy data were used to calculate CO₂ emissions. Second, four landscape metrics were used to quantify the compactness and complexity of the urban form based on Chinese urban land-use data. Finally, panel data models were established to analyze whether and how different socioeconomic factors impacted the relationship between urban form and CO₂ emissions. The results showed that the three socioeconomic factors mentioned above all had obvious influences on the relationship between urban form and per capita CO₂ emissions in small and medium-sized cities. The effect of compactness on per-capita CO₂ emissions increased with a rise in the proportion of the tertiary industry, population density, and per-capita GDP. However, compactness shows no effects on per-capita CO₂ emissions in industrial cities and low-development-level cities. The effect of complexity on per-capita CO₂ emissions only increased with the rise in population density. The results may support decision-makers in small and medium-sized cities to propose accurate, comprehensive, and differentiated plans for CO₂ emission control and reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 2601 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

«Let’s Go Deep into the Game to Save Our Planet!» How an Immersive and Educational Video Game Reduces Psychological Distance and Raises Awareness

by Vicky-Lauren Bekoum Essokolo and Elisabeth Robinot

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5774; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14105774 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2997

Abstract

Climate change appears to be the ecological issue which benefits from the most attention in the literature, compared to equally alarming situations such as plastic pollution. In fact, waste management issues took a new step with the recent discovery of microplastics in human [...] Read more.

Climate change appears to be the ecological issue which benefits from the most attention in the literature, compared to equally alarming situations such as plastic pollution. In fact, waste management issues took a new step with the recent discovery of microplastics in human blood for the first time, as it used to be a hypothesis. Instead of separating those questions, some researchers tend to consider that a link exists between the effects of global warming and plastic degradation in the ocean. Research focusing on the construal-level theory and the psychological distance explain the lack of public interest in the environmental crisis. However, recent studies highlight the empirical support of the psychological distance instead of the CLT, especially regarding climate change, but a few studies explore the psychological distance related to plastic pollution. With that in mind, any means to reduce the perceived psychological distance regarding environmental issues such as plastic pollution might increase their sensitivity and motivation to act. Moreover, the change of habit could be induced by a new event that would disrupt someone’s daily life according to the habit discontinuity hypothesis, and the use of immersive media such as video games might be the solution. Given numerous possibilities of creation with the scenarios, gameplay, public of interest and gaming contexts, video games also influence motivation, engagement and learning ability. We can also find specific components and mechanisms from game design in media that do not focus on entertainment first but on pedagogical purpose: serious games. Thus, this study investigates how immersive media might reduce specific psychological distance dimensions and trigger emotions using an educational video game on plastic pollution, which might play a major role in changing ones’ daily habits. The research uses a qualitative method centered on semi-structured individual interviews and the experimentation of a video game named Plasticity. Results support all the propositions and show that different types of immersion might reduce each dimension of the psychological distance, which is a first, reinforcing environmental awareness and new intentions of pro-environmental behavior. Other areas of discussion are furthered explored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 16497 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Quantitative Analysis Method of Regional Rainfall-Induced Landslide Deformation Response Variation Based on a Time-Domain Correlation Model

by Tingchen Wu, Xiao Xie, Haoyu Wu, Haowei Zeng and Xiaoya Zhu

Land 2022, 11(5), 703; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050703 - 07 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1813

Abstract

Landslide deformation is the most intuitive and effective characterization of the evolution of landslides and reveals the inherent risk of landslides. Considering the inadequacy of existing deformation monitoring data for early warnings regarding landslide hazards, resulting in insufficient disaster response times, this paper [...] Read more.

Landslide deformation is the most intuitive and effective characterization of the evolution of landslides and reveals the inherent risk of landslides. Considering the inadequacy of existing deformation monitoring data for early warnings regarding landslide hazards, resulting in insufficient disaster response times, this paper proposes a time-domain correlation model. Based on the process of rainfall-induced landslide deformation, the time-domain correlation between regional rainfall and landslide deformation is proposed, which can reflect the temporal characteristics of landslide responses to rainfall, and the calculation method of the impulse response function is designed to quantitatively model and calculate the correlation. Furthermore, rainfall monitoring data are used to optimize the landslide deformation monitoring indicator system for early warnings regarding landslide instability. The feasibility of the method proposed in this paper is verified by analyzing the historical monitoring data of rainfall and landslide deformation at nine typical locations in five landslide hazard areas in Fengjie County, Chongqing city. (1) The correlation models for the XP landslide involve a delayed rainfall response time of 5 for deformation, respectively, as well as the existence of a cycle of 55–56 days, which means that the above area can advance the landslide warning by one lag time based on the cycle; (2) The correlation models for the OT landslide show consistent correlations under a 48–50-day cycle, which means that the deformation in the above areas can be predicted based on rainfall accumulation. (3) The HJWC landslide presents a turbulence correlation, which means that other monitoring data need to be supplemented and analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 1689 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Resilience Park Index from the Perspective of Flood and Wind Disasters

by Hao-Zhang Pan, Sheng-Jung Ou and Che-Yu Hsu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5560; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095560 - 05 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2364

Abstract

At present, various climate disasters, global warming and other problems feed off of one another. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, and drought as well as human-made disasters such as petrochemical plant safety accidents and steam explosion accidents pose a threat to [...] Read more.

At present, various climate disasters, global warming and other problems feed off of one another. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, and drought as well as human-made disasters such as petrochemical plant safety accidents and steam explosion accidents pose a threat to and affect the development of cities. Therefore, scholars, scientists, and urban planners must study and discuss disasters, so as to work toward important concepts such as resilient cities, resilient landscapes, and disaster prevention parks. This study discusses the resilience park from the perspective of the resilient city. Since the harm caused by natural disasters to parks is mainly due to flooding and high winds, this study focuses on the prevention and control of flood and wind damage. This study is an attempt to explore the indicators of resilience of parks in the context of flood and wind damage, calculate the indicator weight of resilience parks, and establish an indicator evaluation system for resilience parks. The research methods of this study are the Fuzzy Delphi method and the network analysis program method. The results show that the indicators of a resilience park under flood disaster are different types of soil drainage capacity grade (0.199), the lawn to permeable ratio (0.248), the permeable pavement grade (0.125), and the degradation basin grade (0.177). The indicators of a resilience park under high winds are the wind resistance grade of tree species (0.064), the multilayer planting configuration grade (0.053), the tree height and wind resistance grade (0.066), and the bearing capacity grade of trunk and root system (0.067). The weight of each index is calculated. Finally, the park toughness index evaluation system is established. Through this study, we hope to put forward reconstruction suggestions for different parks and provide the evaluation criteria of park toughness so as to improve the disaster resistance of parks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 5064 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Temporal and Spatial Effects of Urbanization on Regional Thermal Comfort

by Yang Zhang, Chao Zhang, Kun Yang, Zongqi Peng, Linfeng Tang, Haimei Duan, Changhao Wu and Yi Luo

Land 2022, 11(5), 688; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050688 - 04 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2261

Abstract

Human urbanization has a great impact on the surface ecological environment, and few existing studies have explored the impact of urbanization on regional comfort on a long time scale. This study took Chenggong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, where urbanization was obvious, [...] Read more.

Human urbanization has a great impact on the surface ecological environment, and few existing studies have explored the impact of urbanization on regional comfort on a long time scale. This study took Chenggong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, where urbanization was obvious, as the study area, and used the comfort evaluation model to evaluate the annual summer Discomfort Index (DI) in different periods of urbanization. Meanwhile, the impact strength of each factor characterizing human activities (Impervious surface, Gross National Product, and Total Population) on DI changes was analyzed, and the contribution rate of the main factors was quantified. The experimental results show that (1) over the past 20 years, under the background of the rapid economic development of Chenggong District, the annual average DI in summer showed an upward trend. The growth rate after the completion of University Town (2010–2020, Post-UT) was higher than that before the completion of University Town (2001–2005, Pre-UT). University Town was growing much faster than other regions. The monthly average DI changes were similar to the annual average changes. However, due to the movement of students in University Town during the summer vacation, the growth rate of DI in June was significantly higher than that in other months. (2) In terms of spatial changes, DI in the central and northwestern parts of Chenggong District increased significantly from 2001 to 2020. There were differences in the change rate before and after the completion of University Town. The area occupied by significant growth areas in June was much higher than in other months. It is proved that the economic and social development of Chenggong District would impact the regional human comfort, and the construction of University Town has aggravated the intensity of this impact. (3) In the during-UT, affected by the complex changes in land use types, the DI in Chenggong District showed fluctuations in time, but there was no obvious change in space. (4) The correlation and contribution analysis showed that the annual average DI in summer was closely related to human activities, especially the impervious surface had a strong contribution rate of 52.7%. The research shows that the development of new cities would have a strong impact on regional DI changes. And the obtained results will provide theoretical support for rational planning and management in the process of urban development in the future, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2829 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Climate Change on Hydropower Generation in China Based on a WEAP Model

by Li Sun, Xiaoyu Zhou and Alun Gu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5467; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095467 - 02 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2016

Abstract

Changes in climate patterns not only affect precipitation and precipitation patterns, but also cause the spatiotemporal redistribution of precipitation and runoff, affecting hydrogeneration in turn. Based on the coupling relationship between the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) climate change model and surface [...] Read more.

Changes in climate patterns not only affect precipitation and precipitation patterns, but also cause the spatiotemporal redistribution of precipitation and runoff, affecting hydrogeneration in turn. Based on the coupling relationship between the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) climate change model and surface runoff in China, a database of China’s major hydropower stations was constructed in this study and the Water Evaluation and Planning model was applied to analyze the impacts of climate change on hydropower generation in China by region and basin under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. During the forecast period, national power generation compared with base year first decreased in the 2030s and then increased in the 2070s, while a risk of excessive hydropower generation was concentrated in the southwestern provinces, Yangtze River Basin, and giant hydropower stations. During the 2030s, hydropower generation may face a risk of electricity generation decrease which will limit its contribution to the Nationally Determined Contribution target. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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11 pages, 4769 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Climatic Factors on Lightning Fires in the Primeval Forest Region of the Northern Daxing’an Mountains, China

by Yang Shu, Chunming Shi, Bole Yi, Pengwu Zhao, Lijuan Guan and Mei Zhou

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5462; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095462 - 01 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1715

Abstract

Forest fires lead to permafrost degradation and localized drought, and regional droughts increase the probability of forest fires, leading to a positive feedback loop between climate change and fires. However, the relationship between fire occurrence and climatic factors change is unclear for boreal [...] Read more.

Forest fires lead to permafrost degradation and localized drought, and regional droughts increase the probability of forest fires, leading to a positive feedback loop between climate change and fires. However, the relationship between fire occurrence and climatic factors change is unclear for boreal forests, which represent the largest land-based biome and stock of carbon. Here, we analyzed the relationship between lightning fire occurrence and meteorological and topographic factors based on the fire frequency, burned area, and meteorological data from the primeval forest region of the northern Daxing’an Mountains in China. We found that lightning fires occurred most frequently at an altitude of 600 to 700 m. From 1999 to 2019, the frequency of lightning fires showed an overall upward trend, whereas the affected area had no obvious change. It can be attributed to fire suppression efforts and greatly increased investment in fire prevention in China. Snow cover had a strong regulatory effect on the start and end dates of lightning fires for seasonal cycle. The frequency of lightning fires was positively correlated with the average temperature, maximum temperature, and surface evaporation and negatively correlated with precipitation and surface soil moisture (0–10 cm). The result will be useful in the spatially assessment of fire risk, the planning and coordination of regional efforts to identify areas at greatest risk, and in designing long-term lightning fires management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 71943 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Do Eco-Innovation Projects Target Environmental Fragile Areas? The Case Study of Some Italian Southern Regions through a Spatial Approach

by Stefano De Falco and Alberto Corbino

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5447; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095447 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1333

Abstract

A fundamental objective for the effectiveness and, above all, for the efficiency of the dynamics of environmental sustainability is related to the correct directing of project actions towards those areas that need them most. This contribution intends to verify whether the spatial distribution [...] Read more.

A fundamental objective for the effectiveness and, above all, for the efficiency of the dynamics of environmental sustainability is related to the correct directing of project actions towards those areas that need them most. This contribution intends to verify whether the spatial distribution of eco-innovation projects in some regions of Southern Italy affects areas characterized by greater environmental fragility. The proposed approach highlights a centrality of the spatial perspective, thus underlining how important and necessary it is for political actors to evaluate the goodness of projects not in absolute terms but in relation to their relationship with the territory in which they are implemented. To this end, the methodology used envisages two actions, a cartographic comparison between the distribution of environmental projects and that of environmental fragility and an analytical evaluation of the spatial autocorrelation between contiguous areas to detect any geographical determinisms. The results show a “positive” independence regarding the presence of eco-innovation even in the absence of environmental fragility but not vice versa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1461 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Environmental Regulation and Carbon Emissions on Green Technology Innovation from the Perspective of Spatial Interaction: Empirical Evidence from Urban Agglomeration in China

by Xiaowen Wang, Shuting Wang and Yunsheng Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5381; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095381 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2008

Abstract

As an important means of reducing carbon emissions, environmental regulation and green technology innovation have become a top research topic in academia in recent years. Existing studies have investigated the phenomenon of green technology innovation responses to carbon emissions, but there is less [...] Read more.

As an important means of reducing carbon emissions, environmental regulation and green technology innovation have become a top research topic in academia in recent years. Existing studies have investigated the phenomenon of green technology innovation responses to carbon emissions, but there is less existing literature explaining this phenomenon from a spatial perspective and exploring the effect of the joint mechanism of carbon emissions and environmental regulation on green technology innovation. Based on the spatial econometric model, this study used the panel data of 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from 2010 to 2019, to measure the impact of environmental regulation and carbon emissions on green technology innovation from the perspective of spatial interaction. The findings are as follows: green technology innovation in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration shows a trend of “high in the east and low in the west” and has spatial autocorrelation; green technology innovation responds positively to changes in environmental regulations and carbon emissions and, by decomposing the spatial effects, it can be observed that there is a spatial spillover effect of environmental regulations and carbon emissions on green technology innovation in the surrounding areas; there is a substitution effect between environmental regulations and carbon emissions. This paper combines the above results and proposes the corresponding policy recommendations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 815 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Environmental “Fee-to-Tax” and Heavy Pollution Enterprises to De-Capacity

by Li Ji and Tian Zeng

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5312; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095312 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2240

Abstract

Will environmental “fee-to-tax”, which strengthens the rigidity of levies and increases the environmental costs of heavy pollution enterprises, force heavy pollution enterprises to de-capacity. This paper examines the impact and heterogeneity of the environmental “fee-to-tax” on heavy pollution enterprises’ de-capacity by taking the [...] Read more.

Will environmental “fee-to-tax”, which strengthens the rigidity of levies and increases the environmental costs of heavy pollution enterprises, force heavy pollution enterprises to de-capacity. This paper examines the impact and heterogeneity of the environmental “fee-to-tax” on heavy pollution enterprises’ de-capacity by taking the official implementation of the Environmental Protection Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China in 2018 as the institutional impact and the listed industrial enterprises in Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares from 2015 to 2019 as the sample. The study found that environmental “fee-to-tax” pushed heavy pollution enterprises to de-capacity. After parallel trend tests, placebo tests, eliminate policy interference, propensity score matching, and replacement variables, the findings of this paper are robust. Further analysis shows that the effect of environmental “fee-to-tax” on heavy pollution enterprises’ de-capacity is more significant in state-owned enterprises, high financing constraints enterprises, and areas with higher tax collection and management; this effect is still effective and more significant in areas with low economic development because all environmental tax revenues are included in local finance. This paper follows up and tests the implementation effect of environmental regulations in China and provides a valuable reference for the government to promote the task of de-capacity and green transformation and upgrading of industrial structure through actively playing the role of environmental protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1926 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Approach for Village Carbon Emissions Index and Planning Strategies Generation Based on Two-Stage Optimization Models

by Zishuo Huang, Yingfang Liu, Jing Gao and Zhenwei Peng

Land 2022, 11(5), 648; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050648 - 27 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2224

Abstract

With the implementation of China’s rural revitalization strategy, the social economy of villages is expected to fully develop; however, their carbon emissions must be controlled within a reasonable range. Realization of this goal is part of the guidance and control of village planning. [...] Read more.

With the implementation of China’s rural revitalization strategy, the social economy of villages is expected to fully develop; however, their carbon emissions must be controlled within a reasonable range. Realization of this goal is part of the guidance and control of village planning. Clarifying the coupling relationship between village land uses and rural carbon emissions is fundamental for low-carbon village planning. In this study, by exploring the relationships between carbon emissions factors, land-use types, and human activities, the reference range of carbon emissions coefficients for various land-use types in rural areas is obtained. Then, based on the interval values of carbon emissions coefficients, a two-stage optimization model for village carbon emissions analysis is established, which is used to generate the minimal value of village carbon emissions and planning schemes to achieve different carbon emissions target values. First, the smallest carbon emissions value for a certain village is obtained based on a linear programming model. Then, to analyze the planning scheme possibilities under different carbon emissions targets, an objective planning model (including various parameters) is constructed. Through this two-stage optimization model, the optimal planning scheme is set and corresponding planning indicators under different scenarios are obtained through a sensitivity analysis. Combined with a case study in Dongzhuang Village, Shanghai, the results indicate that, with continuous improvement of the basic national carbon emissions database, the range of carbon emissions coefficients for typical local land uses can be determined, and the carbon emissions and land-use types of villages can be co-planned using the two-stage optimization model. With the proposed model, the range of carbon emissions for villages and scenario analysis results considering carbon emissions values associated with various land-use planning schemes can be obtained, contributing greatly to low-carbon village planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 2021 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Ecological Traits between Plants Grown In Situ and Ex Situ and Implications for Conservation

by Qinglin Sun, Liming Lai, Jihua Zhou, Sangui Yi, Xin Liu, Jiaojiao Guo and Yuanrun Zheng

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5199; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095199 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1633

Abstract

Ex situ conservation plays an important role in maintaining global plant biodiversity and protects thousands of wild plants. Plant conservation in botanical gardens is an important part of ex situ conservation; however, little attention has been given to whether plant ecophysiological traits change [...] Read more.

Ex situ conservation plays an important role in maintaining global plant biodiversity and protects thousands of wild plants. Plant conservation in botanical gardens is an important part of ex situ conservation; however, little attention has been given to whether plant ecophysiological traits change and whether plant conservation goals are reached following ex situ conservation. In this study, tree and shrub plants were selected from Shanxi, Beijing of China and from Beijing Botanical Garden, and plants with good growth and similar ages were randomly selected to measure their light response curves, CO₂ response curves with a portable photosynthesis system (Li-6400XT), relative chlorophyll contents using a chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502) and leaf water potential using a dew point water potential meter (WP4C). In comparison with cultivated plants, wild plants had higher water use efficiencies among all plants considered (by 92–337%) and greater light use efficiencies among some of plants considered (by 107–181%), while light response curves and CO₂ response curves for wild plants were either higher or lower compared with cultivated plants. Ecological traits of wild and cultivated plants changed more as a result of habitat factors than due to plant factors. The initial slope of the light response curve, net photosynthetic rate at light saturation, light saturation point, maximum light energy utilization efficiency, maximum water use efficiency, leaf water content, and the leaf water potential of wild plants were larger or equal to those of cultivated plants, while dark respiration rate (by 63–583%) and light compensation point (by 150–607%) of cultivated plants were higher than those of wild plants. This research compared the ecophysiological traits of common green space plants cultivated in botanical gardens and distributed in different areas in wild environments. The response of plant ecophysiological traits to the changing environment has important theoretical and practical significance for wild plant conservation and urban green space system construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 4409 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Governance Strategies for Informal Settlements in China: The Case of Guangzhou

by Jinkun Yang, Yayin Cai, Haitao Ma and Lisheng Weng

Buildings 2022, 12(5), 547; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12050547 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3146

Abstract

Informal settlements in developing countries have attracted widespread attention, and existing research is mainly concerned with the causes and evolution of informal settlements. However, few studies have focused on investigating the spatial governance strategies of informal settlements in order to understand the evolution [...] Read more.

Informal settlements in developing countries have attracted widespread attention, and existing research is mainly concerned with the causes and evolution of informal settlements. However, few studies have focused on investigating the spatial governance strategies of informal settlements in order to understand the evolution of informal settlements in the context of institutional arrangements. The aim of this research is to develop a framework for the spatial governance of informal settlements to explain their causes. The research finds that informal settlements in China are influenced by an urban–rural dual land system in which the collective land ownership system means that villagers are ambiguous in their approach to land development. During rapid urbanization, villagers have adopted diverse land development strategies based on land rent incentives to attract capital investment and earn profits, which has led to the rapid spread of informal settlements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 2255 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Adoption Trend of Climate-Resilient Rice Varieties in Bangladesh

by Swati Nayak, Muhammad Ashraful Habib, Kuntal Das, Saidul Islam, Sk Mosharaf Hossain, Biswajit Karmakar, Roberto Fritsche Neto, Sankalp Bhosale, Hans Bhardwaj, Sudhanshu Singh, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Vikas Kumar Singh, Ajay Kohli, Uma S. Singh and Lutful Hassan

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5156; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095156 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3747

Abstract

Rice is a major crop in Bangladesh that supports both food security and livelihoods. However, a need remains for improved productivity and adaptation to the risks associated with climate change. To accomplish this, the increased adoption of climate-resilient and high-yielding rice varieties can [...] Read more.

Rice is a major crop in Bangladesh that supports both food security and livelihoods. However, a need remains for improved productivity and adaptation to the risks associated with climate change. To accomplish this, the increased adoption of climate-resilient and high-yielding rice varieties can be beneficial. Therefore, we conducted a study in Bangladesh over three consecutive years: 2016, 2017, and 2018. The scope of the study included the major cropping season (wet), Aman. The yield advantages of climate-resilient rice varieties were evaluated and compared with those of the varieties popular with farmers. We included new stress-tolerant varieties, such as submergence-tolerant rice (BRRI dhan51 and BRRI dhan52) and drought-tolerant rice (BRRI dhan56 and BRRI dhan71), along with farmer-chosen controls, in the study. We conducted the evaluation through on-farm trials to compare the varieties in both submergence- and drought-affected environments. The seasonal trials provided measured results of yield advantages. The participating farmers were also studied over the three-year-period to capture their varietal adoption rates. We calculated both the location estimated yield advantages (LEYA) and the location observed yield advantages (LOYA). The results revealed that, under non-stress conditions, the grain yields of climate-resilient varieties were either statistically similar to or higher than those of the farmer-chosen controls. Our study also revealed a year-to-year progressive adoption rate for the introduced varieties. The study suggests that the wide-scale introduction and popularization of climate-resilient varieties can ensure higher productivity and climate risk adaptation. The close similarity between LOYA and LEYA indicated that the observational and experiential conclusions of the host farmers were similar to the scientific performance of the varieties. We also found that comparison performed through on-farm trials was a critical method for enhancing experiential learning and obtaining an accurate estimation of yield advantages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 5500 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Suitability Prediction and Enhancement of Future Water Supply Systems in Barwon Region in Victoria, Australia

by Shihao Zhang, Junhe Tan, Junhang Liu, Jiaqi Wang and Ata Tara

Land 2022, 11(5), 621; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050621 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1856

Abstract

Intensive agricultural production accompanied by the climate change impacts in post-Colonial rural landscapes have continuously increased the demand for water resources and coastal areas, showing an unprecedented water supply crisis. By taking extreme weather conditions and rainfall events for future trends, a resilient [...] Read more.

Intensive agricultural production accompanied by the climate change impacts in post-Colonial rural landscapes have continuously increased the demand for water resources and coastal areas, showing an unprecedented water supply crisis. By taking extreme weather conditions and rainfall events for future trends, a resilient water storage facility for the landscape requires the collaborative approach of natural systems and simulation modelling techniques to develop sustainable future scenarios. In this study, an ecological suitability model is used to identify potential sites for the construction of multi-purpose dams. As part of the model structure, multi factors are classified using the patterns of changing landscapes, and then weighted overlay analysis is conducted on a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. Compared to previous studies, this paper derives its principal impact parameters and projections based on historical land cover information. The suitability maps that are generated visually guide the geographical location of the multi-purpose dams and indicate the areas from highly suitable to least suitable, clarifying the possibility of building blue infrastructure alongside the waterways in west-central Barwon. The workflow proposes a resilient water system based on existing land characteristics and measures that future water storage capacity will be a valid increase of approximately 1.5 times. This strategy alleviates water scarcity during the dry season to benefit traditional agricultural activities. Digital calculations are utilized to demonstrate the feasibility of the experimental results, providing a methodology for regulating the distribution and supply of river flows throughout the year while retaining runoff in a hierarchical pattern at precipitation periods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 5031 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change in Africa and Vegetation Response: A Bibliometric and Spatially Based Information Assessment

by Oladayo Amed Idris, Prosper Opute, Israel Ropo Orimoloye and Mark Steve Maboeta

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4974; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14094974 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3482

Abstract

The impact of climate change over the coming decades will increase the likelihood of many species undergoing genetic alterations or even becoming extinct. Vegetation and belowground organisms are more vulnerable to the intensified impact of climate change due to a possible lack of [...] Read more.

The impact of climate change over the coming decades will increase the likelihood of many species undergoing genetic alterations or even becoming extinct. Vegetation and belowground organisms are more vulnerable to the intensified impact of climate change due to a possible lack of genetic plasticity and limited mobility. Organisms are inter-dependable in ecosystems; hence, this study focused on the impact of climate change, examining the soil condition in Africa, vegetation responses and the overview of species’ responses to climate change through a bibliometric study and an analysis of remote sensing information. The bibliometric study examines climate change-related literature published from 1999 to 2019, collected from the Web of Science and Scopus database platforms, and this reveals an overall rapid increase in the number of climate change publications in Africa, with South Africa occupying a leading position in all the studied parameters. The spatially based information on soil moisture, temperature and the photosynthetic activities of vegetation affirmed that there is increasing amount of drought in Africa with more impact in northern, southern and eastern Africa. African countries, especially in the above-mentioned regions, need to urgently invest in support programs that will ease the impact of climate change, particularly on food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1975 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Community Participation Strategy for Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Xiamen, China

by Jinkun Yang, Linchuan Yang and Haitao Ma

Land 2022, 11(5), 600; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050600 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4823

Abstract

Urban regeneration is an important strategic choice in promoting urban development globally. Existing research on urban regeneration mainly focuses on the community’s economic benefits. However, less research concentrates on how community participation contributes to the sustainable development of communities. The aim of this [...] Read more.

Urban regeneration is an important strategic choice in promoting urban development globally. Existing research on urban regeneration mainly focuses on the community’s economic benefits. However, less research concentrates on how community participation contributes to the sustainable development of communities. The aim of this study is to explore the community regeneration approach in the context of urban regeneration in a typical village community in China. This study finds that participatory planning, which is mainly characterized by public participation, can be an effective way of communication and cooperation. The collaborative workshops provide a participatory platform for stakeholders and promote sustainable community development. Therefore, traditional planning approaches may need to be changed. The contribution of this article is to develop a collaborative planning approach for sustainable community development, which can serve as a reference for community governance in China and other developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2559 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Towards a LCA Database for the Planning and Design of Zero-Emissions Neighborhoods

by Christofer Skaar, Carine Lausselet, Håvard Bergsdal and Helge Brattebø

Buildings 2022, 12(5), 512; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12050512 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2459

Abstract

The integration of science-based knowledge on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into practice-based neighborhood design and planning is key to inform and implement climate mitigation strategies. LCA is a method that is commonly used to provide objective and science-based information on the environmental impacts [...] Read more.

The integration of science-based knowledge on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into practice-based neighborhood design and planning is key to inform and implement climate mitigation strategies. LCA is a method that is commonly used to provide objective and science-based information on the environmental impacts of specified systems or products. To use a LCA methodology at neighborhood scale is in turn dependent on the development of a common structure for life cycle inventory data. Such a LCA database does not operate on its own, but functions as a structured source of relevant high-quality data inputs linked to other different analytical tools. The aim of this study is to analyze the needs and requirements and provide a foundation for a LCA database at neighborhood scale that can provide users with an interface to find and access life cycle data in the users’ preferred format. The result of this study is the outline of the foundations of a user-centric LCA database for neighborhoods, including several sub-systems (buildings, infrastructure, mobility, and energy supply). Recommendations are given in the Conclusions Section to provide harmonized decision support on reducing GHG emissions at local levels in the planning and design of urban development projects at the neighborhood scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 4234 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Built Environment Factors (BEF) and Residential Land Carbon Emissions (RLCE)

by Qinghua Liao, Xiaoping Zhang, Hu Zhao, Yili Liao, Peng Li and Yichen Liao

Buildings 2022, 12(5), 508; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12050508 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2226

Abstract

Evaluating the effects of built environment factors (BEF) on residential land carbon emissions (RLCE) is an effective way to reduce RLCE and promote low-carbon development from the perspective of urban planning. In this study, the Grey correlation analysis method and Universal global optimization [...] Read more.

Evaluating the effects of built environment factors (BEF) on residential land carbon emissions (RLCE) is an effective way to reduce RLCE and promote low-carbon development from the perspective of urban planning. In this study, the Grey correlation analysis method and Universal global optimization method were proposed to explore the effects of BEF on RLCE using advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) data in Zibo, a representative resource-based city in China. The results indicated that RLCE can be significantly affected by BEF such as intensity, density, morphology, and land. The morphology is the most critical BEF in reducing RLCE. Among them, the building height (BH) and building shape coefficient (BSC) had positive effects on RLCE, while the high-rise buildings ratio (HRBR) and RLCE decreased first and then increased. The R² of BH, BSC, and HRBR are 0.684, 0.754, and 0.699. The land had limited effects in reducing RLCE, and the R² of the land construction time (LCT) is only 0.075, which has the least effect on RLCE. The results suggest that urban design based on BEF optimization would be effective in reducing the RLCE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3927 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variation in Land Use Land Cover in the Response to Local Climate Change Using Multispectral Remote Sensing Data

by Sajjad Hussain, Linlin Lu, Muhammad Mubeen, Wajid Nasim, Shankar Karuppannan, Shah Fahad, Aqil Tariq, B. G. Mousa, Faisal Mumtaz and Muhammad Aslam

Land 2022, 11(5), 595; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11050595 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 5553

Abstract

Climate change is likely to have serious social, economic, and environmental impacts on farmers whose subsistence depends on nature. Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes were examined as a significant tool for assessing changes at diverse temporal and spatial scales. Normalized Difference Vegetation [...] Read more.

Climate change is likely to have serious social, economic, and environmental impacts on farmers whose subsistence depends on nature. Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes were examined as a significant tool for assessing changes at diverse temporal and spatial scales. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has the potential ability to signify the vegetation structures of various eco-regions and provide valuable information as a remote sensing tool in studying vegetation phenology cycles. In this study, we used remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques with Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) to identify the LULC changes for 40 years in the Sahiwal District. Later, we conducted 120 questionnaires administered to local farmers which were used to correlate climate changes with NDVI. The LULC maps were prepared using MLC and training sites for the years 1981, 2001, and 2021. Regression analysis (R²) was performed to identify the relationship between temperature and vegetation cover (NDVI) in the study area. Results indicate that the build-up area was increased from 7203.76 ha (2.25%) to 31,081.3 ha (9.70%), while the vegetation area decreased by 14,427.1 ha (4.5%) from 1981 to 2021 in Sahiwal District. The mean NDVI values showed that overall NDVI values decreased from 0.24 to 0.20 from 1981 to 2021. Almost 78% of farmers stated that the climate has been changing during the last few years, 72% of farmers stated that climate change had affected agriculture, and 53% of farmers thought that rainfall intensity had also decreased. The R² tendency showed that temperature and NDVI were negatively connected to each other. This study will integrate and apply the best and most suitable methods, tools, and approaches for equitable local adaptation and governance of agricultural systems in changing climate conditions. Therefore, this research outcome will also meaningfully help policymakers and urban planners for sustainable LULC management and strategies at the local level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1982 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of a Cool Roof System on the Mitigation of Building Temperature: Empirical Evidence from a Field Experiment

by Jaehong Park and Sugie Lee

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4843; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084843 - 18 Apr 2022

Viewed by 2254

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effects of a cool roof system on the building temperature mitigation using a field experiment under current climate conditions in Seoul, Korea. Particularly, this study analyzed which meteorological factors affect the performance of the cool roof system [...] Read more.

This study aimed to examine the effects of a cool roof system on the building temperature mitigation using a field experiment under current climate conditions in Seoul, Korea. Particularly, this study analyzed which meteorological factors affect the performance of the cool roof system based on the results of a field experiment during four seasons at the study site with real-time changes in various urban meteorological variables. This study also examined the extent to which each meteorological variable affects a cool roof system. Automatic temperature data loggers were installed on the roof of a Dobong eco-class building with reduced experimental models that included both conventional and cool roofs. A multiple regression analysis showed that when applying the cool roof system with other explanatory variables being controlled, the surface temperature of the building roof decreased by approximately 5.6 °C, and the indoor air temperature of the experimental model decreased by approximately 0.56 °C. These temperature reduction effects are meaningful, as the annual average reduction effects include nighttime and daytime. In addition, the most influential weather condition variable for roof surface or indoor temperature is external temperature, followed by insolation and humidity. Finally, the surface temperature reduction values in the actual roof of the study site and those of the roof surface of the experimental model were different. This suggests that the effect of temperature change on cool roofs is related to environmental factors as well as roofing materials. Therefore, the study suggests that cool roof policies should consider not only solar reflectivity but also other building environmental conditions and roofing materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 2677 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Indication of Sr Isotopes on Weathering Process of Carbonate Rocks in Karst Area of Southwest China

by Cheng Chang, Howard Omar Beckford and Hongbing Ji

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4822; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084822 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1822

Abstract

Based on the determination of the major and trace element content, and the Sr isotope composition of soils from limestone and dolomite profiles in the karst area of Southwest (SW) China, this study discussed the distribution and migration characteristics of the elements and [...] Read more.

Based on the determination of the major and trace element content, and the Sr isotope composition of soils from limestone and dolomite profiles in the karst area of Southwest (SW) China, this study discussed the distribution and migration characteristics of the elements and the influencing factors of Sr isotope fractionation, in order to better understand the chemical weathering and pedogenesis process, as well as to explore the material source of laterite. The chemical weathering analysis results (Chemical Index of Alteration, mass balance coefficient, and A-CN-K ternary) indicate that the weathering intensity of dolomite profile PB is higher than that of limestone profiles CZ and CY. The correlation analysis between Sr isotopes and P₂O₅ suggests that in addition to illite, apatite in the dolomite profile also affects the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr composition. Sr content and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr demonstrate two stages in the weathering process of the carbonate, carbonate dissolution stage, and residual silicate weathering stage. As the carbonate minerals dissolve at the beginning of weathering, the Sr content decreases and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr increases slightly. After the decomposition of carbonate, the Sr content remains unchanged and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr increases. Finally, the study suggests that the material source of laterite is more likely to be underlying bedrock rather than the aeolian source. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2190 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Does Business Group’s Conscious of Social Responsibility Enhance its Investment Efficiency? Evidence from ESG Disclosure of China’s Listed Companies

by Mengdie Hai, Ziwei Fang and Zhaohua Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4817; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084817 - 17 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3378

Abstract

Business groups are industry exemplars whose investment decisions and social responsibility commitments are important for future sustainable development. We use data from China’s listed firms from 2012 to 2018 to investigate the effects of ESG-related disclosure on corporate investment efficiency by comparing the [...] Read more.

Business groups are industry exemplars whose investment decisions and social responsibility commitments are important for future sustainable development. We use data from China’s listed firms from 2012 to 2018 to investigate the effects of ESG-related disclosure on corporate investment efficiency by comparing the heterogeneity in ESG-related disclosure between group-affiliated firms and standalone firms, as well as between member firms within groups at different pyramid levels. We find that (1) group-affiliated firms are more willing to disclose ESG information than independent ones, and compared with lower-level pyramid member firms, higher-level pyramid member firms have a higher propensity of ESG disclosure; (2) over-investment for group-affiliated firms and under-investment for higher-level pyramid member firms are all moderated by their higher propensity for ESG disclosure. That is, corporate disclosure of ESG information significantly promotes investment efficiency; (3) by grouping the sample firms according to analyst attention and industry external financing dependence, respectively, we find that the promotion effect of ESG disclosure on corporate investment efficiency is more significant when the firms are followed by fewer analysts, or when firms belong to industries with higher external financing dependence. Our findings suggest that ESG disclosure plays an important role in driving a firm’s investment toward desirable levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 3145 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Climate Change on the Yield and Water Footprint of Winter Wheat in the Haihe River Basin, China

by Dongdong Jia, Chunying Wang, Yuping Han, Huiping Huang and Heng Xiao

Atmosphere 2022, 13(4), 630; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13040630 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1747

Abstract

Climate change can impact the yield and water footprint of crops. Therefore, assessing such impacts carries great significance for regional water and food security. This study validated and verified the variety parameters of winter wheat for the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer [...] Read more.

Climate change can impact the yield and water footprint of crops. Therefore, assessing such impacts carries great significance for regional water and food security. This study validated and verified the variety parameters of winter wheat for the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model, using the long-term (1993–2013) growth and yield data observed from six agricultural experiment stations in the Haihe River Basin (HRB), China. The growth process was simulated under three representative concentration pathways (RCPs), named RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5—climate scenarios driven by the HadGEM2-ES model. The variety parameters of winter wheat showed high accuracy in the simulation of the anthesis and maturity dates, and could be used for long-term prediction of the growth process. The trends of climate change had positive impacts on the water footprint of winter wheat but adverse impacts on the yield. The growing period was shortened by 3.6 days, 4.7 days, and 5.0 days per decade in the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively, due to the rapid accumulation of heat. The yield would be increased in lower emissions scenarios (17% in RCP2.6), but decreased in high-emissions scenarios due to high temperatures, which may restrict the growth of wheat. The water footprint was decreased by 10%, 11%, and 13% in the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively, indicating that the water-use efficiency could be improved in the future. The results showed broad application prospects of the DSSAT model in simulating the response of crop growth to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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33 pages, 5802 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

International Migration Projections across Skill Levels in the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways

by Soheil Shayegh, Johannes Emmerling and Massimo Tavoni

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4757; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084757 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2229

Abstract

International migration is closely tied to demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors and their interaction with migration policies. Using a combination of a gravity econometric model and an overlapping generations model, we estimate the probability of bilateral migration among 160 countries in the period [...] Read more.

International migration is closely tied to demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors and their interaction with migration policies. Using a combination of a gravity econometric model and an overlapping generations model, we estimate the probability of bilateral migration among 160 countries in the period of 1960 to 2000 and use these findings to project international migration flows and their implications for income inequality within and between countries in the 21st century under five shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Our results show that international migration increases welfare in developing countries, and closes the inequality gap both within and between low-skilled and high-skilled labor in these countries as well. In most developed countries, on the contrary, international migration increases the inequality gap and slightly reduces output. These changes are not uniform, and vary significantly across countries depending on their population growth and human capital development trajectories. Overall, while migration is strongly affected by inequality between developed and developing countries, it has an ambiguous impact on inequality within and between countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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27 pages, 7068 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Using Remote Sensing to Quantify the Joint Effects of Climate and Land Use/Land Cover Changes on the Caatinga Biome of Northeast Brazilian

by Alexandre Maniçoba da Rosa Ferraz Jardim, George do Nascimento Araújo Júnior, Marcos Vinícius da Silva, Anderson dos Santos, Jhon Lennon Bezerra da Silva, Héliton Pandorfi, José Francisco de Oliveira-Júnior, Antônio Heriberto de Castro Teixeira, Paulo Eduardo Teodoro, João L. M. P. de Lima, Carlos Antonio da Silva Junior, Luciana Sandra Bastos de Souza, Emanuel Araújo Silva and Thieres George Freire da Silva

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(8), 1911; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14081911 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5347

Abstract

Caatinga biome, located in the Brazilian semi-arid region, is the most populous semi-arid region in the world, causing intensification in land degradation and loss of biodiversity over time. The main objective of this paper is to determine and analyze the changes in land [...] Read more.

Caatinga biome, located in the Brazilian semi-arid region, is the most populous semi-arid region in the world, causing intensification in land degradation and loss of biodiversity over time. The main objective of this paper is to determine and analyze the changes in land cover and use, over time, on the biophysical parameters in the Caatinga biome in the semi-arid region of Brazil using remote sensing. Landsat-8 images were used, along with the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) in the Google Earth Engine platform, from 2013 to 2019, through spatiotemporal modeling of vegetation indices, i.e., leaf area index (LAI) and vegetation cover (V_C). Moreover, land surface temperature (LST) and actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) in Petrolina, the semi-arid region of Brazil, was used. The principal component analysis was used to select descriptive variables and multiple regression analysis to predict ET_a. The results indicated significant effects of land use and land cover changes on energy balances over time. In 2013, 70.2% of the study area was composed of Caatinga, while the lowest percentages were identified in 2015 (67.8%) and 2017 (68.7%). Rainfall records in 2013 ranged from 270 to 480 mm, with values higher than 410 mm in 46.5% of the study area, concentrated in the northern part of the municipality. On the other hand, in 2017 the lowest annual rainfall values (from 200 to 340 mm) occurred. Low vegetation cover rate was observed by LAI and V_C values, with a range of 0 to 25% vegetation cover in 52.3% of the area, which exposes the effects of the dry season on vegetation. The highest LST was mainly found in urban areas and/or exposed soil. In 2013, 40.5% of the region’s area had LST between 48.0 and 52.0 °C, raising ET_a rates (~4.7 mm day⁻¹). Our model has shown good outcomes in terms of accuracy and concordance (coefficient of determination = 0.98, root mean square error = 0.498, and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient = 0.907). The significant increase in agricultural areas has resulted in the progressive reduction of the Caatinga biome. Therefore, mitigation and sustainable planning is vital to decrease the impacts of anthropic actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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28 pages, 2373 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Sentiment Analysis Using Lexicon, Machine Learning and Hybrid Approaches

by Nabila Mohamad Sham and Azlinah Mohamed

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4723; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084723 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6697

Abstract

The emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the biosphere have the consequence of warming up the planet, hence the existence of climate change. Sentiment analysis has been a popular subject and there has been a plethora of research conducted in [...] Read more.

The emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the biosphere have the consequence of warming up the planet, hence the existence of climate change. Sentiment analysis has been a popular subject and there has been a plethora of research conducted in this area in recent decades, typically on social media platforms such as Twitter, due to the proliferation of data generated today during discussions on climate change. However, there is not much research on the performances of different sentiment analysis approaches using lexicon, machine learning and hybrid methods, particularly within this domain-specific sentiment. This study aims to find the most effective sentiment analysis approach for climate change tweets and related domains by performing a comparative evaluation of various sentiment analysis approaches. In this context, seven lexicon-based approaches were used, namely SentiWordNet, TextBlob, VADER, SentiStrength, Hu and Liu, MPQA, and WKWSCI. Meanwhile, three machine learning classifiers were used, namely Support Vector Machine, Naïve Bayes, and Logistic Regression, by using two feature extraction techniques, which were Bag-of-Words and TF–IDF. Next, the hybridization between lexicon-based and machine learning-based approaches was performed. The results indicate that the hybrid method outperformed the other two approaches, with hybrid TextBlob and Logistic Regression achieving an F1-score of 75.3%; thus, this has been chosen as the most effective approach. This study also found that lemmatization improved the accuracy of machine learning and hybrid approaches by 1.6%. Meanwhile, the TF–IDF feature extraction technique was slightly better than BoW by increasing the accuracy of the Logistic Regression classifier by 0.6%. However, TF–IDF and BoW had an identical effect on SVM and NB. Future works will include investigating the suitability of deep learning approaches toward this domain-specific sentiment on social media platforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 6152 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Case Study: Development of the CNN Model Considering Teleconnection for Spatial Downscaling of Precipitation in a Climate Change Scenario

by Jongsung Kim, Myungjin Lee, Heechan Han, Donghyun Kim, Yunghye Bae and Hung Soo Kim

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4719; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084719 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2032

Abstract

Global climate models (GCMs) are used to analyze future climate change. However, the observed data of a specified region may differ significantly from the model since the GCM data are simulated on a global scale. To solve this problem, previous studies have used [...] Read more.

Global climate models (GCMs) are used to analyze future climate change. However, the observed data of a specified region may differ significantly from the model since the GCM data are simulated on a global scale. To solve this problem, previous studies have used downscaling methods such as quantile mapping (QM) to correct bias in GCM precipitation. However, this method cannot be considered when certain variables affect the observation data. Therefore, the aim of this study is to propose a novel method that uses a convolution neural network (CNN) considering teleconnection. This new method considers how the global climate phenomena affect the precipitation data of a target area. In addition, various meteorological variables related to precipitation were used as explanatory variables for the CNN model. In this study, QM and the CNN models were applied to calibrate the spatial bias of GCM data for three precipitation stations in Korea (Incheon, Seoul, and Suwon), and the results were compared. According to the results, the QM method effectively corrected the range of precipitation, but the pattern of precipitation was the same at the three stations. Meanwhile, for the CNN model, the range and pattern of precipitation were corrected better than the QM method. The quantitative evaluation selected the optimal downscaling model, and the CNN model had the best performance (correlation coefficient (CC): 69% on average, root mean squared error (RMSE): 117 mm on average). Therefore, the new method suggested in this study is expected to have high utility in forecasting climate change. Finally, as a result of forecasting for future precipitation in 2100 via the CNN model, the average annual rainfall increased by 17% on average compared to the reference data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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28 pages, 4510 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of the Financial Feasibility of an OTEC Ecopark: A Case Study at Cozumel Island

by Jessica Guadalupe Tobal-Cupul, Erika Paola Garduño-Ruiz, Emiliano Gorr-Pozzi, Jorge Olmedo-González, Emily Diane Martínez, Andrés Rosales, Dulce Daniela Navarro-Moreno, Jonathan Emmanuel Benítez-Gallardo, Fabiola García-Vega, Michelle Wang, Santiago Zamora-Castillo, Yandy Rodríguez-Cueto, Graciela Rivera, Alejandro García-Huante, José A. Zertuche-González, Estela Cerezo-Acevedo and Rodolfo Silva

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4654; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084654 - 13 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3124

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show how an OTEC Ecopark could provide comprehensive, sustainable, and quality products that satisfy the diverse needs of coastal communities in Mexico. An offshore 60 MW hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant is proposed, which [...] Read more.

The aim of this article is to show how an OTEC Ecopark could provide comprehensive, sustainable, and quality products that satisfy the diverse needs of coastal communities in Mexico. An offshore 60 MW hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant is proposed, which will provide products that will not only fulfill the water, energy, and food needs of the coastal communities, but also energize the local blue economy. An assessment of the financial feasibility of the plant as well as a comparative analysis against other forms of energy generation was carried out. The methodology section includes a market description, literature review for the technical design, methods for mitigating socio-environmental risks, and an analysis of operational risks. To determine financial feasibility, the CAPEX, OPEX and annual revenue, including the sale of CELs and carbon credits, were evaluated. The Internal Rate of Return suggests that the system would pay for itself in year 5 of the system’s 30-year life. The methodology used for this case study, with site-specific adaptations, can be applied to other coastal communities across the globe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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26 pages, 5678 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigating a Retrofit Thermal Power Plant from a Sustainable Environment Perspective—A Fuel Lifecycle Assessment Case Study

by Yihsuan Wu and Jian Hua

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4556; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084556 - 11 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2584

Abstract

Retrofitting thermal power plants is a valuable opportunity to guide Taiwan’s electricity generation towards sustainability. Using an existing power plant nearing decommissioning as a case study, we hypothesized about fuel source options for retrofitting the power plant and compared the resulting impact on [...] Read more.

Retrofitting thermal power plants is a valuable opportunity to guide Taiwan’s electricity generation towards sustainability. Using an existing power plant nearing decommissioning as a case study, we hypothesized about fuel source options for retrofitting the power plant and compared the resulting impact on lifecycle atmospheric emissions. Our use of the lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology reflected Taiwan’s heavy reliance on the imports and shipping of primary energy sources. We found that after accounting for the contribution of liquefaction and regasification (17%), gas-fired electricity still has significantly lower lifecycle greenhouse gases (GHGs) than coal or fuel oil (FO). In addition, we found that if natural gas (NG) is selected to achieve the greenhouse gas reduction of thermal power, the co-benefit of air pollution reduction can also be achieved at the same time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3493 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Decreasing the Interception of Solar Illuminance by Vegetation on Ground Temperature in Degraded Grasslands

by Hui Zhang, Juan Fan, Di Gao, Yulin Liu and Huishi Du

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4488; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084488 - 09 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1757

Abstract

Reduced vegetation cover caused by grassland degradation results in the interception of solar illuminance significantly decreasing, then leading to an increase in ground temperature, which has a significant impact on biological growth and regional climate. Based on the field experiment, we explore the [...] Read more.

Reduced vegetation cover caused by grassland degradation results in the interception of solar illuminance significantly decreasing, then leading to an increase in ground temperature, which has a significant impact on biological growth and regional climate. Based on the field experiment, we explore the interception of solar illuminance by grasslands with three degrees of degradation and its effect on the soil temperature. Solar illuminance at various heights and times was measured to obtain the interception by vegetation, which included reduction by physical shielding and consumption by the plants’ life activities. Solar illuminance in the subareas sprayed with herbicide was merely reduced by physical shielding, and the difference in solar illuminance interception between normally growing grasslands and fatal grasslands was used for the plants’ life activities. This method described above was almost the first to be used for the exploration of the functional allocation of solar illuminance interception. The percentage of solar illuminance interception was largest in the non-degraded grassland (80–95% at different times), including a 50–60% reduction on account of physical shielding and a 20–45% consumption by the grass’s life activities. Light interception by grassland vegetation directly reduced the grassland temperature. The increment of ground temperature reaches 4–13 °C when a non-degraded grassland turns into a severely degraded grassland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 4111 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Advantages of Using Kaolin-Based Particle Films to Improve Coffee Production in the Minas Gerais Cerrado Biome

by Newton de Matos Roda, Bruna Angela Branchi, Regina Márcia Longo, João Pontin, Deivisson Pelegrino de Abreu, Paulo Ricardo dos Santos and Eliemar Campostrini

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4485; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084485 - 09 Apr 2022

Viewed by 2134

Abstract

Climate change, such as increases in atmospheric air temperature, threatens Brazilian coffee production, which is mainly carried out on small rural properties in a family farming model. Increases in air temperature causes heat stress to the plants, resulting in physiological damage. This work [...] Read more.

Climate change, such as increases in atmospheric air temperature, threatens Brazilian coffee production, which is mainly carried out on small rural properties in a family farming model. Increases in air temperature causes heat stress to the plants, resulting in physiological damage. This work studied the application of processed kaolinite-based particle films (PKPF) as part of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. This innovative technology aims to increase the productivity of coffee grown in full sunlight and evaluate the interest of coffee growers in incorporating this input in the management of crops as an alternative to the traditional model of increasing production through the expansion of cultivated areas. This is a review of the state of the art of the use of PKPF in coffee, and a descriptive and exploratory research, supported by a literature review and field data collected, through a structured questionnaire applied to a group of coffee producers from the Cerrado in Minas Gerais. The concept of environmentally sustainable coffee production is latent among coffee growers, who adopt practical actions to respect and preserve the environment during the production process. Increases in productivity are related to the adoption of technological innovations such as the use of PKPF in the management of plantations, being a viable alternative to increasing the plantation areas, and thus reducing native vegetation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 7343 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Relationship between Night Time Light and Land Surface Temperature: A Case Study of Beijing, China

by Zhe Li, Feng Wu, Huiqiang Ma, Zhanjun Xu and Shaohua Wang

Land 2022, 11(4), 548; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040548 - 08 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1834

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has triggered significant changes in urban land surface temperature (LST), which in turn affects urban ecosystems and the health of residents. Therefore, exploring the interrelationship between urban development and LST can help optimize the urban thermal environment and promote sustainable development. [...] Read more.

Rapid urbanization has triggered significant changes in urban land surface temperature (LST), which in turn affects urban ecosystems and the health of residents. Therefore, exploring the interrelationship between urban development and LST can help optimize the urban thermal environment and promote sustainable development. Based on remote sensing data from 2004–2019 within the sixth ring road of Beijing, this study investigates the spatiotemporal coupling law of night time light (NTL) and LST using an overall coupling model and analyzes the degree of coordination between them using a coordination model. The spatial response law between them was also analyzed using standard deviation ellipses and bivariate spatial autocorrelation. The results show that, from the perspective of spatiotemporal evolution, the spatial distributions of NTL and LST within the sixth ring road of Beijing were closely related from 2004 to 2019, although the overall coupling of NTL and LST was initially decreased and then continuously increased. From the perspective of coordination types, the main types of coordination between NTL and LST deteriorated over time. The increase in LST lagged behind NTL from 2004 to 2009 (heating hysteresis type), while LST increased ahead of NTL from 2014 to 2019 (heating advance type). This suggests that urban development became less efficient, while LST increases became more significant. In terms of correlation, NTL and LST showed significant positive correlation and spatial positive correlation; the correlation coefficient first decreased significantly and then continued to increase. From 2004 to 2009, the temperature increase caused by urbanization was suppressed due to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and related ecological protection policies, resulting in a significant decrease in the correlation coefficient between NTL and LST. From 2009 to 2019, short-term measures taken by Beijing during the Olympic Games were no longer effective, and the opposition between urban development and related policies made the policies increasingly less effective, thereby increasing the correlation coefficient between NTL and LST, and the increase in LST was more significant. This will greatly affect the urban ecological environment and residents’ health and make the previous government investment to suppress the temperature increase all in vain. This study can provide theoretical and practical support for the development of thermal environment optimization schemes and LST mitigation strategies in Beijing and other cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 296 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Education for Environmental Sustainability and the Emotions: Implications for Educational Practice

by Lynda Dunlop and Elizabeth A. C. Rushton

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4441; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084441 - 08 Apr 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3543

Abstract

Increasing attention is being paid to the emotions in education and in communication about the climate crisis and other sustainability challenges. This has tended to focus on the relationship between emotions and environmental perceptions and behaviours. In this study, we understand emotions as [...] Read more.

Increasing attention is being paid to the emotions in education and in communication about the climate crisis and other sustainability challenges. This has tended to focus on the relationship between emotions and environmental perceptions and behaviours. In this study, we understand emotions as evaluative feelings which meaningfully connect people and their environment. We draw on data from teachers, teacher educators, and young people (n = 223) to describe educationally-relevant emotions and identify the implications for educational practice. We argue that emotionally-responsive pedagogies are needed to identify responsibilities, develop coping potential, and improve future expectations. These pedagogies must act on the causes and consequences of environmental damage and develop teachers’ and students’ capabilities to take action and ultimately transform emotional appraisals. A more enabling policy environment is needed for teachers to adopt these approaches and empower them to take action relating to climate and ecological crises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

17 pages, 2301 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Response Mechanism and Threshold of Spring Wheat to Rapid Drought

by Fei Chen, Heling Wang, Funian Zhao, Runyuan Wang, Yue Qi, Kai Zhang, Hong Zhao, Guoying Tang and Yang Yang

Atmosphere 2022, 13(4), 596; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13040596 - 07 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1688

Abstract

In order to deeply understand the effect mechanism of rapid drought stress on the physiological and biochemical properties of crop leaves and determine drought thresholds, the potted spring wheat under two water treatments, adequate water supply and continuous drought stress, was researched. In [...] Read more.

In order to deeply understand the effect mechanism of rapid drought stress on the physiological and biochemical properties of crop leaves and determine drought thresholds, the potted spring wheat under two water treatments, adequate water supply and continuous drought stress, was researched. In the early stage of drought, the parameters of leaves decreased in the order of stomatal conductance (g_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), maximum electron transfer rate (J_max), mesophyll conductance (g_m), photosynthetic rate (P_n,) leaf water content (LWC), triose phosphate utilization rate (TPU), transpiration rate (T_r), and maximum carboxylation rate (V_cmax). Photosynthesis was dominated by stomatal limitation and also limited by carboxylation and mesophyll limitation. The carboxylation limitation was mainly caused by the reduction of electron transport capacity. In the late stage of drought, stomatal limitation first decreased, and then mesophyll limitation decreased. During extreme drought, carboxylation limitation also decreased. With the decrease of relative soil moisture (RSM), except for C_i, which first decreased and then increased, other physicochemical parameters of leaves all showed an S-shaped, decreasing trend. Mild and severe drought thresholds were determined to be 56.6% and 43.6% of the RSM, respectively, according to the curve’s inflection point, corresponding to 16.6% and about 52.2% of the average initial decrease amplitude among all parameters. This will provide a reference for monitoring as well as an early warning of rapid drought in spring wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 916 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Government Stability and Investment Profile on Forest Area: The Role of Natural Protected Areas

by Sha Qiao, Caihong Zhang, Lizeth Cuesta, Rafael Alvarado, Stefania Pinzón and Diana Bravo-Benavides

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4395; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084395 - 07 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1694

Abstract

Forest area plays a fundamental role in air and water quality and directly impacts agricultural productivity. This research aims to examine the impact of government stability and investment profiles on forest cover in countries within the ASEAN region. Specifically, the research includes Brunei [...] Read more.

Forest area plays a fundamental role in air and water quality and directly impacts agricultural productivity. This research aims to examine the impact of government stability and investment profiles on forest cover in countries within the ASEAN region. Specifically, the research includes Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In the research development, we examine the role which protected natural areas play in the conservation of forests. We employ second-generation cointegration methods of cross-section dependence and slope heterogeneity. The results suggest that forest cover has been significantly reduced in this region, while government stability and the investment profile have a volatile behavior. The second-generation cointegration test results suggest there is no long-term relationship between the three series. Likewise, the short- and long-term elasticities highlight the importance of environmental protection policies to conserve forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 8931 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Modeling of Extreme Temperature in Northeast Thailand

by Prapawan Senapeng, Thanawan Prahadchai, Pannarat Guayjarernpanishk, Jeong-Soo Park and Piyapatr Busababodhin

Atmosphere 2022, 13(4), 589; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13040589 - 06 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2068

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to examine and predict the annual maximum temperature in the northeast of Thailand by using data from 25 stations and employing spatial extreme modeling which is based on max-stable process (MSP) using schlatter’s method. We analyzed [...] Read more.

The objective of the present study was to examine and predict the annual maximum temperature in the northeast of Thailand by using data from 25 stations and employing spatial extreme modeling which is based on max-stable process (MSP) using schlatter’s method. We analyzed extreme temperature data using the MSP using latitude, longitude, and altitude variables. Our result showed that the maximum temperature has an increasing trend. The return level estimates of the study areas from both the local generalized extreme value (GEV) model and MSP models show that the Nong Khai, Maha Sarakham, and Khon Kaen stations had higher return levels than the other stations for every return period, whereas Pak Chong Agromet had the lowest return levels. Furthermore, the results showed that MSP modeling is more suitable than point-wise GEV distribution. We realize that the spatial extreme modeling based on MSP provides more precise and robust return levels as well as some indices of the maximum temperatures for both the observation stations and the locations with no observed data. The results of this study are consistent with those of some previous studies. The increasing trend in return levels could affect agriculture and the surrounding environment in northeast Thailand. Spatial extreme modeling can be beneficial in the impact management and vulnerability assessment under extreme event scenarios caused by climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 269 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Environmental Transformation on Small-Scale Fishing Communities’ Livelihood

by Rabiul Islam, Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani, Sabina Sultana and Emil Mahyudin

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4337; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074337 - 06 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2070

Abstract

In Malaysia’s northern area, small-scale fishing (SSF) communities in inland open water are among the most vulnerable people. This study looked at the impact of climate change on small-scale fishing communities in Malaysia’s northern region from a vulnerability standpoint, using two vulnerability indexes. [...] Read more.

In Malaysia’s northern area, small-scale fishing (SSF) communities in inland open water are among the most vulnerable people. This study looked at the impact of climate change on small-scale fishing communities in Malaysia’s northern region from a vulnerability standpoint, using two vulnerability indexes. One is the Livelihood Vulnerability Index’ (LVI) and the other is the Vulnerability Framework Approach of IPCC (LVI-IPCC method). The primary purpose of this study is to assess how climate change affects small-scale fishing communities. Data on SSF households were collected at random from three states to suit the research goal: Kedah, Penang, and Perlis. For an interview, a total of 352 SSF families were contacted. According to the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) research, SSFs in Perlis are more susceptible than those in Kedah and Penang. Adjustments to food policy, health services, informal credit facilities, training, and the establishment of more effective early warning systems are all necessary initiatives that the government must take to enhance the quality of life for SSF communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

20 pages, 4267 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Management Practices for Urban Green Spaces to Support Green Infrastructure: An Italian Case Study

by Monica Pantaloni, Giovanni Marinelli, Rodolfo Santilocchi, Alberto Minelli and Davide Neri

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4243; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074243 - 02 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3386

Abstract

Traditional land-use planning models have proven inadequate to address contemporary issues in sustainable development and protection governance. In recent years, new ‘performance based’ approaches that integrate ecosystem services (ES) provided via green infrastructure (GI) into traditional spatial planning models have been proven to [...] Read more.

Traditional land-use planning models have proven inadequate to address contemporary issues in sustainable development and protection governance. In recent years, new ‘performance based’ approaches that integrate ecosystem services (ES) provided via green infrastructure (GI) into traditional spatial planning models have been proven to reach a higher level of environmental performance, necessary to improve quality of life for all people. In Italy, there are no mandatory planning instruments to design and manage GI, which still remains a component of the traditional land-use plan. Here, the development of urban green spaces (UGS) based on ‘quantitative assessment’ is not suitable for guaranteeing the supply of ES. In addition, the scarcity of financial resources to develop ‘green standards’, as prescribed in the land-use plan to strategically design the GI, is an issue for most Italian public administrations. The paper provides the results of a test case conducted in a public green area of the city of Ancona, where the experimentation of a diversified maintenance strategy of an urban lawn significantly reduced the management cost and improved the environmental performance of green spaces. The identification of a unified management strategy to be applied to all the public UGS can help to achieve better results in support of sustainability, to redesign the continuity of GI and to develop strategies for future urban green master plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 1507 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Climate Change on Productivity and Technical Efficiency in Canadian Crop Production

by Viktoriya Galushko and Samuel Gamtessa

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4241; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074241 - 02 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2365

Abstract

There is a wide consensus that throughout the 20th century climate has changed globally, with many parts of the world facing increases in average temperatures as well as an increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. While the existing climate models can [...] Read more.

There is a wide consensus that throughout the 20th century climate has changed globally, with many parts of the world facing increases in average temperatures as well as an increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. While the existing climate models can predict future changes in climate with a high degree of confidence, the potential impacts of climate change on agricultural production and food security are still not well understood. In this work, we investigate the link between climate change, output, and inefficiency in Canadian crop production using provincial data for the period of 1972–2016. This study has built a unique climate dataset from station-level weather data and uses a panel stochastic frontier model to explore the effect of climatic conditions on crop production and inefficiency. The results reveal that climatic variables are significant predictors of both the maximum potential output (frontier) and technical inefficiency. The combined effect of higher temperatures and lower precipitation, as reflected in a lower Oury index, is a downward shift of the crop production frontier. While greater variability of daily temperatures during the growing season is found to have no statistically significant effect in the frontier equation, greater variation in rainfall results in a downward frontier shift. The results also show that weather shocks measured as a deviation from historical weather normals are significant predictors of technical inefficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1378 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Conceptual Landscape-Level Approach to Assess the Impacts of Forestry on Biodiversity

by Eskil Mattsson, Martin Erlandsson, Per Erik Karlsson and Hampus Holmström

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4214; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074214 - 01 Apr 2022

Viewed by 2990

Abstract

In this study, we propose a conceptual approach to assessing biodiversity impacts in the life-cycle assessments (LCAs) of forest wood production with a focus on Nordic managed forests at the landscape level. As a basis for our methodology, we suggest assessing the proportion [...] Read more.

In this study, we propose a conceptual approach to assessing biodiversity impacts in the life-cycle assessments (LCAs) of forest wood production with a focus on Nordic managed forests at the landscape level. As a basis for our methodology, we suggest assessing the proportion of the total land area of productive forest under the control of a forest owner that fulfils certain criteria that can be regarded as having a positive impact on the development of forest biodiversity. A similar assessment of the forest management performed on the surrounding land is used to define a site-specific reference situation. In the context of an attributional LCA, the suggested method for the specification of business-as-usual (BAU) or environmental quality objectives (EQO) baselines encourages forest owners to choose forest management options that increase the proportion of productive forest land with properties that are more favorable to biodiversity over time. We illustrate the BAU baseline approach with two examples in Sweden to calculate the biodiversity impact from wood production for individual forest owners using four biodiversity indicators from the Swedish national Environmental Quality Objectives (EQOS)—‘Living Forests’. The approach defined in this study is at this stage only applicable to forestry assessments. Using a BAU baseline approach similar to that used for international climate reporting is a simple but novel approach that makes use of consensuses that have already been drawn and approaches that have already been established. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2674 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Inter-Provincial Differences in Potential Obstacles to Land Transfer Income to Support Rural Revitalization in China

by Yubo Wang, Yuyu Xue and Jianchao Xi

Land 2022, 11(4), 510; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040510 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2022

Abstract

This study analyzes the triple path obstacles of land transfer income in supporting rural revitalization under the premise of existing policy support. It is innovative to try to de-qualitatively analyze the obstacle factors and quantitatively measure the degree of obstacles. We examined the [...] Read more.

This study analyzes the triple path obstacles of land transfer income in supporting rural revitalization under the premise of existing policy support. It is innovative to try to de-qualitatively analyze the obstacle factors and quantitatively measure the degree of obstacles. We examined the potential obstacles to land transfer income supporting rural revitalization in China, measured the potential comprehensive obstacle degree of 31 provincial-level administrative divisions’ land transfer income supporting rural revitalization, and constructed a way to resolve the differences. We employed inter alia the entropy method, ideal solution similarity ranking method, and cluster analyses. Potential obstacles were divided into nine types. The resolution path was constructed by combining the original and weighted values of various obstacle factors in the top three obstacle factors. It is of great significance to ensure the effective implementation of China’s “opinions on adjusting and improving the scope of land transfer income to give priority to supporting rural revitalization” (2020). This study addresses the theoretical gap in the analysis of possible paths needed to support rural revitalization in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 3395 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Modelling Land Use and Land Cover in the Transboundary Mono River Catchment of Togo and Benin Using Markov Chain and Stakeholder’s Perspectives

by Sophie Thiam, Eric Ariel L. Salas, Nina Rholan Hounguè, Adrian Delos Santos Almoradie, Sarah Verleysdonk, Julien G. Adounkpe and Kossi Komi

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4160; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074160 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2760

Abstract

Integrating both modeling approach and stakeholders’ perspectives to derive past and future trends of land use land cover (LULC) is a key to creating more realistic results on LULC change trajectories and can lead to the implementation of appropriate management measures. This article [...] Read more.

Integrating both modeling approach and stakeholders’ perspectives to derive past and future trends of land use land cover (LULC) is a key to creating more realistic results on LULC change trajectories and can lead to the implementation of appropriate management measures. This article assessed the past changes of LULC in the Mono River catchment using Landsat images from the years 1986, 2000, 2010, and 2020 by performing Machine Learning Classification Method Random Forest (RF) technique, and using Markov chain method and stakeholder’s perspective to simulate future LULC changes for the years 2030 and 2050. LULC was classified as savanna, cropland, forest, water bodies, and settlement. The results showed that croplands and forests areas declined from 2020 to 2050 with decreases of −7.8% and −1.9%, respectively, a modest increase in settlement (1.3%), and savanna was the dominant LULC in the study region with an increase of 8.5%. From stakeholders’ perspective, rapid population growth, deforestation, rainfall variability/flood, urbanization, and agricultural expansion were the most important drivers associated with the observed LULC changes in the area. Other factors, such as lack of political commitment, distance to river, and elevation were also mentioned. Additionally, most the land-use scenarios identified by stakeholders would intensify land degradation and reduce ecosystem services in the area. By considering all of these potential LULC changes, decision-makers need to develop and implement appropriate solutions (e.g., land use planning strategies, reforestation campaigns, forest protection measures) in order to limit the negative effects of future LULC changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 689 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Systems Thinking Approach Investigating the Estimated Environmental and Economic Benefits and Limitations of Industrial Hemp Cultivation in Ireland from 2017–2021

by Sinéad M. Madden, Alan Ryan and Patrick Walsh

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4159; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074159 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3506 | Correction

Abstract

There may be unrecognised environmental and economic benefits in cultivating industrial hemp for CO₂ sequestration in Ireland. By using a Systems Thinking approach, this study aims to answer how industrial hemp, which can sequester between 10 tonnes (t) to 22 t of [...] Read more.

There may be unrecognised environmental and economic benefits in cultivating industrial hemp for CO₂ sequestration in Ireland. By using a Systems Thinking approach, this study aims to answer how industrial hemp, which can sequester between 10 tonnes (t) to 22 t of CO₂ emissions per hectare, has been helpful towards carbon sequestration efforts in Ireland. A mixed-methods design combining qualitative and quantitative secondary material is used to inform Behaviour over Time Graphs (BoTGs) to illustrate the data from 2017 to 2021. In 2019 at its peak of hemp cultivation in Ireland the total CO₂ emissions from agriculture was 21,156.92 kilotonnes, and the total land cultivated with hemp was 547 hectares which represented an estimated 0.0079% of total land use and 0.011% of agricultural land use. Based on a sequestration rate of between 10 t and 22 t of CO₂, industrial hemp had the potential to remove between 5470 t and 24,068 t of CO₂ in 2019. The total amount of estimated CO₂ sequestrated between 2017 and 2021 was between 14,660 t and 64,504 t of CO₂. This represents an estimated contribution in carbon tax equivalent of between €348,805 and €1,534,742, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 253 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Critical Analysis of the Challenges of Collaborative Governance in Climate Change Adaptation Policies in Bandar Lampung City, Indonesia

by Maulana Mukhlis and Ryzal Perdana

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4077; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074077 - 30 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3417

Abstract

It is not uncommon that collaborative governance is now generating new attention in Indonesia as a method of governing. This is because of the terrible historical experience of governance during the New Order era, including the state’s dominant role, the government’s unwillingness to [...] Read more.

It is not uncommon that collaborative governance is now generating new attention in Indonesia as a method of governing. This is because of the terrible historical experience of governance during the New Order era, including the state’s dominant role, the government’s unwillingness to engage actors outside the state, and a centralized and top-down development pattern. Collaborative governance, specifically the recommendation to involve multiple stakeholders (government, private sector, and society) in government management and public policy, addresses these issues. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide a critical review of the ongoing collaborative governance process and to determine whether various challenges associated with collaborative governance are influencing the success of climate change adaptation policies in increasing adaptive capacity in Bandar Lampung City. This study was conducted in Bandar Lampung City on the Indonesian island of Sumatra using a qualitative approach and involved informants who were both apparatus and members of the Bandar Lampung City Climate Change Resilience Coordination Team. Interviews and document analysis were used to collect data, which were then analyzed using a content analysis procedure. The findings indicate that this city has achieved a number of milestones in its efforts to improve the adaptive capacity of government institutions and society. However, the collaborative governance approach, which is hailed as the optimal method for implementing long-term public policies, is not always smooth, demonstrating that collaborative governance remains vulnerable to failure due to cultural, institutional, and political factors. The article concludes with suggestions for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

16 pages, 402 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Gaps in Regulation and Policies on the Application of Green Technologies at Household Level in the United Kingdom

by Imma Bortone, Hacer Sakar and Ana Soares

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4030; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074030 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2455

Abstract

Green technologies (Green-Tech) are solutions aiming to mitigate or reverse the effects of human activity on the environment. The United Kingdom (UK) government established a Ten-Point Plan and over GBP 5 billion to support Green-Tech to lay the foundations for a green industrial [...] Read more.

Green technologies (Green-Tech) are solutions aiming to mitigate or reverse the effects of human activity on the environment. The United Kingdom (UK) government established a Ten-Point Plan and over GBP 5 billion to support Green-Tech to lay the foundations for a green industrial revolution and reduce emissions by 180 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) by 2032. Households and buildings contribute around 40% of the UK’s total GHG emissions, which implies that key actions are needed in all areas around the building sector (Point 7). This study provides an overview and analysis of the existing regulation and standards in the UK building/household sector, to understand the current state-of-the-art and identify gaps preventing Green-Tech wider implementation and use. Discrepancies in regulation and standards were identified. Given that households bring together and adhere to numerous standards and regulations, the analysis highlighted that it is critical to formulate relevant actions starting from the individuals with engagement and information. Complete and clear guidelines addressing environmental awareness, the performance and economical convenience of Green-Tech implementation and related regulations, are required to come to a consensus on the best way to move forward to achieve sustainability and NET-ZERO targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 7246 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Detection of Drought Events in Setúbal District: Comparison between Drought Indices

by Tiago Silva, Vanda Pires, Tânia Cota and Álvaro Silva

Atmosphere 2022, 13(4), 536; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13040536 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2078

Abstract

Due to the lack of a general drought definition, water users and managers have developed and used different indices. Many studies using drought indices have been made so as to detect drought events or just to compare their results and assess their advantages [...] Read more.

Due to the lack of a general drought definition, water users and managers have developed and used different indices. Many studies using drought indices have been made so as to detect drought events or just to compare their results and assess their advantages and disadvantages. In Portugal, these studies have been done for common drought indices; however, an integrated evaluation and comparison using recent data is needed. Therefore, this study is intended to give an updated overview of the behaviour of the proposed indices. This study proposes the usage of PDSI, scPDSI, SPI and SPEI. With the exception of the PDSI, all indices have been calculated through R packages. The results for the studied regions in mainland Portugal suggest that the drought situations are, in general, most significant and frequent than the wet periods. From our results, we can conclude that the SPI model is more sensitive to extreme drought events and can detect them earlier. The PDSI, scPDSI and SPEI are more reliable for drought monitorization at medium and long spells, which might represent the environmental interactions more closely to the reality. Also, the scPDSI tends to reduce the importance of short period recovering. It is then advisable that impact and scientifical studies consider all of these indices or at least some of them to have a broader and complete understanding of the drought situations to be studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 18365 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Estimation Method for PM_2.5 Based on Aerosol Optical Depth Obtained from Remote Sensing Image Processing and Meteorological Factors

by Jilin Gu, Yiwei Wang, Ji Ma, Yaoqi Lu, Shaohua Wang and Xueming Li

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(7), 1617; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14071617 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2415

Abstract

Understanding the spatiotemporal variations in the mass concentrations of particulate matter ≤2.5 µm (PM_2.5) in size is important for controlling environmental pollution. Currently, ground measurement points of PM_2.5 in China are relatively discrete, thereby limiting spatial coverage. Aerosol optical depth [...] Read more.

Understanding the spatiotemporal variations in the mass concentrations of particulate matter ≤2.5 µm (PM_2.5) in size is important for controlling environmental pollution. Currently, ground measurement points of PM_2.5 in China are relatively discrete, thereby limiting spatial coverage. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) data obtained from satellite remote sensing provide insights into spatiotemporal distributions for regional pollution sources. In this study, data from the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) AOD (1 km resolution) product from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and hourly PM_2.5 concentration ground measurements from 2015 to 2020 in Dalian, China were used. Although trends in PM_2.5 and AOD were consistent over time, there were seasonal differences. Spatial distributions of AOD and PM_2.5 were consistent (R² = 0.922), with higher PM_2.5 values in industrial areas. The method of cross-dividing the test set by year was adopted, with AOD and meteorological factors as the input variable and PM_2.5 as the output variable. A backpropagation neural network (BPNN) model of joint cross-validation was established; the stability of the model was evaluated. The trend in the predicted values of BPNN was consistent with the monitored values; the estimation result of the BPNN with the introduction of meteorological factors is better; coefficient of determination (R²) and RMSE standard deviation (SD) between the predicted values and the monitored values in the test set were 0.663–0.752 and 0.01–0.05 μg/m³, respectively. The BPNN was simpler and the training time was shorter compared with those of a regression model and support vector regression (SVR). This study demonstrated that BPNN could be effectively applied to the MAIAC AOD data to estimate PM_2.5 concentrations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 7395 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Confirmatory Analysis of the Effect of Socioeconomic Factors on Ecosystem Service Value Variation Based on the Structural Equation Model—A Case Study in Sichuan Province

by Yong Cui, Haifeng Lan, Xinshuo Zhang and Ying He

Land 2022, 11(4), 483; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040483 - 26 Mar 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2360

Abstract

Understanding the regional distribution characteristics of ecological service values (ESV) and their driving factors can provide background information and scientific basis for regional environmental protection policy. This paper adopted the revised equivalent factor method to calculate the ESV of Sichuan province in 2015 [...] Read more.

Understanding the regional distribution characteristics of ecological service values (ESV) and their driving factors can provide background information and scientific basis for regional environmental protection policy. This paper adopted the revised equivalent factor method to calculate the ESV of Sichuan province in 2015 and 2020, and the spatial distribution and variation characteristics of the ESV were identified accordingly. Then, the structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore the effects of socioeconomic factors on ESVs in Sichuan Province. The results show that the ESV in Sichuan Province increased by 2521.45 million USD during the period, an increase of approximately 0.67%. The western area had higher ESV values compared to the eastern area, with eastern Sichuan showing a downward trend and the cities in western Sichuan showing an upward trend. The factors of population, affluence, and science and technology can indirectly affect ESV through affecting land use and cover, and this indirect effect is stronger than the direct effect on regional ESV. Among them, the effect of population is the strongest, followed by affluence, and science and technology is the weakest. The result of this paper also suggests that it is necessary to propose differentiated ecological protection policies in eastern and western Sichuan Province to achieve the coordinated development of society, economy, and environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 5449 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Processes and Characteristics of Vegetation Recovery in the Earthquake Area: A Case Study of Wenchuan, China

by Jingzhong Li, Xiao Xie, Bingyu Zhao, Xiao Xiao and Bing Xue

Land 2022, 11(4), 477; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040477 - 26 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1937

Abstract

The quantitative and qualitative assessment of post-disaster vegetation damage and recovery in the core area of the Wenchuan earthquake is of great significance for the restoration and reconstruction of natural ecosystems and the construction of human settlements in China. This study used time [...] Read more.

The quantitative and qualitative assessment of post-disaster vegetation damage and recovery in the core area of the Wenchuan earthquake is of great significance for the restoration and reconstruction of natural ecosystems and the construction of human settlements in China. This study used time series analysis to determine the time of MODIS data and used the data to study the vegetation damage and restoration in the core area of the Wenchuan earthquake. The determined MODIS images were used to quantitatively analyze a series of vegetation damage changes and the vegetation recovery rate in the core area of the Wenchuan earthquake before and after the earthquake. By applying the topographic factors, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the dynamic changes of vegetation damage and the recovery rate in the disaster area. The results show that the study area’s vegetation damage was correlated to topographic factors and distance from towns. Besides, the overall vegetation restoration after the disaster was relatively optimistic. In some areas, the vegetation restoration level even exceeded the vegetation coverage level before the disaster. The recovery study of MODIS-NDVI showed a specific lag delay effect on the image of vegetation cover. The vegetation damage and the recovery rate of vegetation cover were significantly correlated with the distance from towns and the topographic factor. Overall, the results contribute to the theoretical support for the damage and recovery of vegetation in the core area affected by the earthquake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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31 pages, 4352 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Implementation Perspectives for the European Green Deal in Central and Eastern Europe

by Melania-Gabriela Ciot

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3947; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14073947 - 26 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3498

Abstract

The present paper aims to identify the main factors that influence the capacity building for the Green Deal’s implementation in Member States from the central EU (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania) and the improvements that can be made in this regard. [...] Read more.

The present paper aims to identify the main factors that influence the capacity building for the Green Deal’s implementation in Member States from the central EU (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania) and the improvements that can be made in this regard. The research is empirical and explanatory, using qualitative strategy and the following methods: observation, a case study and a comparative method, for a period of ten years (2011–2020). The main findings of the research indicate four distinct categories of factors that could predict the capacity building for the Green Deal’s implementation: cultural, political, economic and social; as well as a differentiation of the Green Deal’s implementation in different stages at the EU level: industrialized Member States from the west and north, Member States from the south and north (Baltic states), and Member States from the central and south-east. The elaboration of national and regional plans for implementation and regional cooperation will provide suitable solutions, supported by the recovery and resilience funds. The research reveals that the prognosis for the Green Deal’s implementation in all of the investigated Member States is negative. The limitation of the research consists in its explanatory nature, which inhibits the ability to make definite conclusions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 715 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Forest Area: Old and New Factors That Affect Its Dynamics

by Elisa Toledo, Wilman Santiago Ochoa-Moreno, Rafael Alvarado, Lizeth Cuesta, Muntasir Murshed and Abdul Rehman

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3888; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14073888 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

The analysis of the nexus between environmental degradation and economic progress has focused on polluting emissions. However, the forest area plays a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to the environment. Forest area is directly related to air and [...] Read more.

The analysis of the nexus between environmental degradation and economic progress has focused on polluting emissions. However, the forest area plays a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to the environment. Forest area is directly related to air and water quality and the absorption of polluting residues. At the same time, in recent decades, economic progress processes have been internationalised and knowledge has improved in the context of persistent income inequality. The objective of this research is evidence that economic progress is destroying nature; for this, we use forest area as a measure of environmental quality. The nexus between the two variables is moderated by the globalisation KOF index, income inequality, and knowledge. Using non-linear methods, we find a threshold effect in globalisation, inequality, and economic progress. This result implies that before the threshold, the impact of the covariates differs from the impact after the threshold, generating findings different from those shown by the previous environmental literature. The results reveal that after a threshold, the impact of economic progress on forest area is negative. This fact reveals that the main obstacle to achieving environmental sustainability is in the least developed countries, where inequality and globalisation reinforce the degradation of the forest area. We find that knowledge is a mechanism to prevent deforestation, particularly in more developed countries. Those responsible for pro-environmental policy should promote global strategies to prevent economic progress from being based on the destruction of nature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 900 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Analysis of the Relationship between Energy Trilemma and Economic Growth

by Hyunsoo Kang

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3863; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14073863 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3642

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between energy trilemma (ET) and economic growth in 109 countries between 2000 and 2020 across income levels and regions. This study constructed an extended Cobb-Douglas production function including three elements of ET such as energy security, energy equity, [...] Read more.

This study analyzed the relationship between energy trilemma (ET) and economic growth in 109 countries between 2000 and 2020 across income levels and regions. This study constructed an extended Cobb-Douglas production function including three elements of ET such as energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability as their effects on economic growth differ by income level and region. The methodology of this study differs from that of previous studies, which utilized the representative value of ET based on principal component analysis. To analyze the panel series, this study utilized econometric procedures, panel regression of pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), feasible generalized least squares (FGLS), fixed effects, and dynamic panel analysis of generalized methods of moments (GMM) by three income levels. In addition, this study undertook a time series analysis between ET and economic growth for each country. The results showed that each element of ET is not balanced. Moreover, each element can contribute differently to economic growth due to differences in income levels and regions. This study suggested that a balanced environmental policy reflecting various aspects of ET is required and can contribute to the economic growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 4772 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Do China’s Development Zones Affect Environmental Pollution under Government Domination

by Weijie Jiang, Kairui Cao, Laiqun Jin, Yongyi Cheng and Qunfang Xu

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3790; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14073790 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1723

Abstract

Environmental pollution has recently become a serious economic issue, and finding ways to reduce pollution in economic development is an urgent task for developing countries, especially China. In this paper, we aim to document the policy role of development zones (DZs) in promoting [...] Read more.

Environmental pollution has recently become a serious economic issue, and finding ways to reduce pollution in economic development is an urgent task for developing countries, especially China. In this paper, we aim to document the policy role of development zones (DZs) in promoting China’s economic development on environmental pollution and consider the establishment of DZs as a quasi-natural experiment. Specifically, we identify the establishment of DZs on pollution emissions based on the staggered difference-in-difference (DID) approach by setting a dummy variable for DZ policies. Furthermore, we examine the heterogeneity of provincial and national (high-tech and economic development zones) DZs on pollution to detect the government domination effect. Finally, in order to deal with the potential spatial spillover effects of DZs, this paper applies the spatial difference-in-difference (SDID) method to explore the spatial reallocation effects of DZs. The results indicate that the provincial DZs can aggravate China’s pollution intensity, but they will no longer play the same role for national-level policies. Moreover, we find that national high-tech industrial DZs (HTZs) can reduce pollution intensity. In particular, the national DZs can bring about the reallocation of pollution among cities working as a selective place-based policy. That means that the national HTZs will not only reduce the local pollution intensity, but also reduce that of surrounding areas. Our empirical results highlight that cities should be encouraged to set up national HTZs in order to achieve an environmentally friendly high-quality development goal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 250 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Climate Change and the Diversification of Green Social Capital in the International Political Economy of the Middle East and North Africa: A Review Article

by Mohd Irwan Syazli Saidin and Jodie O’Neill

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3756; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14073756 - 22 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2800

Abstract

This article critically reviews the idea of economic diversification of green social capital in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through renewable and sustainable energy projects that strive to tackle climate change and alleviate the negative consequences of human interaction in the [...] Read more.

This article critically reviews the idea of economic diversification of green social capital in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through renewable and sustainable energy projects that strive to tackle climate change and alleviate the negative consequences of human interaction in the ecological system. The western dominance and monopolisation of natural resources has caused an unlevel playing field for development, economic advancement and climate change in the region through the imbalance of power in the oil market. The reliance on oil could affect the development in the region with long-term financial recession due to heavy reliance on the resource. These challenges posit a question for the Middle East: (1) how can the region adopt a transition to a diverse economic framework that is less reliant on oil, and (2) since the phenomenon of climate change does not discriminate its adverse effects on the global community, including the aspect of international political economy in the region, in what ways are the MENA nations planning to stimulate sustainable economic development via green social capital? Our review for these issues is based on a qualitative approach and is methodologically centred upon selected case studies and document analysis of literature on economic diversification and sustainable ecological innovations via green social capital enterprises in the MENA region. We argue that green social capital, as opposed to traditional capitalism, has positive effects in the MENA region such as creating new job opportunities, boosting the economy and developing knowledge on climate change. The green social capital approach is viewed to continue to have positive results in the region through investment, the collaboration between the public sector and private enterprises and creating innovative ideas. Green social capital is not perfect by any means, but the method is diverse from traditional capitalism which can benefit the population in the global south, particularly in the MENA region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

15 pages, 1386 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Systematic Literature Review

by Mohd Idris Nor Diana, Nurul Atikah Zulkepli, Chamhuri Siwar and Muhd Ridzuan Zainol

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3639; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063639 - 19 Mar 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5595

Abstract

This systematic review focuses on the relationship between the factors of adaptation strategies and the impact of climate change among farmers in Southeast Asia. Climate change, a phenomenon that occurs over many years, has affected the lives of farmers in the agricultural sector. [...] Read more.

This systematic review focuses on the relationship between the factors of adaptation strategies and the impact of climate change among farmers in Southeast Asia. Climate change, a phenomenon that occurs over many years, has affected the lives of farmers in the agricultural sector. Therefore, it is essential to analyse the factors that affect farmers’ decisions to determine their ability to adapt to climate change and maintain their livelihoods. As such, the present study examines farmers’ understanding of climate change and its impact on adaptation strategies in Southeast Asia. Approximately 15 related studies were found based on a systematic review of the repositories from Scopus and the Web of Sciences using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Hence, the paper delineates five key themes: (1) sociodemographic factors, (2) physical capital, (3) assistance, (4) information, and (5) social networking. Therefore, the results underlining the determinant factors, such as income, household members, farm size, land, number of workers, access to information, education, experiences, training, support from agencies, and social networks, influence the adaptation strategies among Southeast Asian farmers. This systematic review study emphasises information accessibility, education, training, and income as the most important factors for developing adaptation strategies for farmers to deal with climate change, rather than programme, internet usage, relatives, and the number of workers. Finally, combining the main factors can promote technological advancement for farmers who rely on agriculture as their main source of income and help farmers deal with climate variability to sustain their livelihood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2772 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Intensive Evaluation and High-Quality Redevelopment of Enterprise Land Use: A Case Study in China

by Zhiheng Yang, Shaoxing Li, Dongqi Sun, Chenxi Li and Jiahui Wu

Land 2022, 11(3), 432; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030432 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2231

Abstract

The reuse of existing industrial spatial resources in China’s major urban agglomerations is still very unbalanced and needs more in-depth research. This study used intensive evaluation technology for industrial land in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei to evaluate Tianjin and Hebei development zones, and [...] Read more.

The reuse of existing industrial spatial resources in China’s major urban agglomerations is still very unbalanced and needs more in-depth research. This study used intensive evaluation technology for industrial land in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei to evaluate Tianjin and Hebei development zones, and took the Dingzhou Economic Development Zone as an example to evaluate and analyze the intensive use of enterprise land; it suggests the influencing factors for the intensive use of development zones and the measures that can take advantage of the potential of enterprise stock land so as to provide a basis for the rationale behind upgrading industrial land structures and the efficient use of industrial land in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. The results show that the typical enterprise land use in the typical economic development zone is extensive, which suggests that the intensive use of land in the Dingzhou economic development zone is low and that there is still potential for land redevelopment. According to the classification system developed for available land, there is ample opportunity for land-use redevelopment in the development zone, especially in the area of approved but not supplied land and extended enterprise land. Therefore, the redevelopment of enterprise land could also provide a better land guarantee for industrial transfer projects in the equipment manufacturing industry. This study also offers strategies to redevelop available industrial land. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1442 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Offshore Ferry Lidar Measurements in the Southern Baltic Sea with ASCAT, FINO2 and WRF

by Daniel Hatfield, Charlotte Bay Hasager and Ioanna Karagali

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(6), 1427; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14061427 - 15 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2128

Abstract

This article highlights the inter-comparisons of the wind measurement techniques available in deep water areas working towards combining them to obtain optimal estimates of the wind power potential. More specifically, this article presents comparisons of the Ferry Lidar Experiment wind data with those [...] Read more.

This article highlights the inter-comparisons of the wind measurement techniques available in deep water areas working towards combining them to obtain optimal estimates of the wind power potential. More specifically, this article presents comparisons of the Ferry Lidar Experiment wind data with those of the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT), the FINO2 meteorological mast, and the New European Wind Atlas (NEWA) simulations performed using the Weather Research, and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model. To be comparable to ASCAT surface winds, which are referenced at 10 m, the ferry lidar and FINO2 wind profile measurements were extrapolated down to 10 m using atmospheric stability information derived from the bulk Richardson number formulation. ASCAT had the lowest associated error compared with that of the ferry lidar in near-neutral atmospheric stratifications, whereas FINO2, despite a distance range of 30 km and a moving ferry lidar target, had the highest correlation and lowest RMSE in all atmospheric conditions. Due to the high frequency of low-level jets caused by the proximity to land from all directions as well as typically stable atmospheric conditions, the extrapolated ferry lidar measurements underpredicted the ASCAT 10 m wind speeds. WRF consistently underperformed compared to the other measurement methods, even with the ability to directly compare results with all other sources at all heights. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 6534 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climatic Change Characteristics towards the “Warming–Wetting” Trend in the Pan-Central-Asia Arid Region

by Xinyang Yan, Qiang Zhang, Xueyuan Ren, Xiaoyong Wang, Xiaomin Yan, Xiaoqin Li, Lan Wang and Lili Bao

Atmosphere 2022, 13(3), 467; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13030467 - 14 Mar 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2922

Abstract

In recent years, the warming–wetting trend in the arid region of Northwest China has attracted widespread attention. To reveal whether this phenomenon exists in the whole Pan-Central-Asia arid region, this paper adopts the latest monthly gridded dataset of the Climate Research Unit Time [...] Read more.

In recent years, the warming–wetting trend in the arid region of Northwest China has attracted widespread attention. To reveal whether this phenomenon exists in the whole Pan-Central-Asia arid region, this paper adopts the latest monthly gridded dataset of the Climate Research Unit Time Series version 4.05 (CRU TS v4.05) and the multi-model ensemble data of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CIMP6) for discussion from multiple perspectives. The results show that the Pan-Central-Asia arid region has been getting warmer and wetter in the last 80 years. Since the turn of the 21st century, there has been an apparent slowdown in the regional wetting trend despite the acceleration of precipitation increase, mainly caused by the growth in evapotranspiration potential. The interannual scale dominates the precipitation change, including significant quasi-three-year and quasi-six-year cycles. The interannual variability in precipitation is mainly affected by the change in the phases of Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), while long-term variation dominates the temperature change, which is significantly related to the variations in the Arctic oscillation (AO). Thus, future research and predictions of regional precipitation should focus on the PDO variations, followed by the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), whereas for research on, and predictions of, temperature, the effect of AO variations should be emphasized. Except for a few regions in Central-Eastern Mongolia and Central Kazakhstan, precipitation levels in most parts of the Pan-Central-Asia region have been increasing. The regional temperature exhibits a distribution pattern which decreases from northwest to southeast. The increase in precipitation in the Pan-Central-Asia arid region alleviates the drought in most regions, including most of Northwest China. However, the arid and semi-arid climate patterns in this region have not changed. The warming–wetting trend will significantly accelerate in medium-emissions scenarios in the next 80 years. Although the increase in precipitation may be a positive aspect of this trend, the rise in potential evapotranspiration caused by sharp warming may cause greater challenges to the regional climate and ecological environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 6718 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploratory Analysis on the Spatial Distribution and Influencing Factors of Beitang Landscape in the Shangzhuang Basin

by Shangzhou Song, Shaohua Wang, Huichun Ye and Yong Guan

Land 2022, 11(3), 418; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030418 - 12 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2301

Abstract

Beitang landscape is a production system and land use pattern that ancient people created to adapt to droughts and floods during a long traditional farming culture. It has a critical reference meaning for water resource use and water systems protection in modern cities. [...] Read more.

Beitang landscape is a production system and land use pattern that ancient people created to adapt to droughts and floods during a long traditional farming culture. It has a critical reference meaning for water resource use and water systems protection in modern cities. Taking the Shangzhuang Basin (China) as an example, this study used multi-source data, such as remote sensing images, Beitang vector dataset, land-use dataset, elevation, slope, river, road, and field survey, to investigate the spatial distribution and influencing factors Beitang landscape. Results showed that in a typical small watershed basin, an area of ponds accounted for 1.0%, about 12 ponds per square kilometer—the average area of ponds is 814 m², of which the vast majority is less than 1000 m². The study found that the spatial distribution of Beitang in the Shangzhuang Basin has cluster characteristics, influenced by elevation, slope, aspect, river, roads, villages, farmland, woodland, and other factors, all of which have closely related to the natural environment development and human activities. The upstream, middle, and downstream of three Beitang landscapes were coordinated to support the Beitang landscape system in the small watershed of the basin. Findings provided a model for protecting and utilizing natural water systems in rural areas during the construction of sponge cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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9 pages, 19588 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Suitability and Sensitivity of the Potential Distribution of Cyclobalanopsis glauca Forests under Climate Change Conditions in Guizhou Province, Southwestern China

by Wangjun Li, Jun Hu, Tu Feng and Qing Liu

Atmosphere 2022, 13(3), 456; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13030456 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1618

Abstract

Global climate change is becoming increasingly prominent and has already begun to influence natural biological systems. Assessing the potential impact of climate change on ecosystems is an important research topic of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). Based on current distribution data, climate data, [...] Read more.

Global climate change is becoming increasingly prominent and has already begun to influence natural biological systems. Assessing the potential impact of climate change on ecosystems is an important research topic of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). Based on current distribution data, climate data, climate change scenarios (RCP8.5 scenario, 2070–2099), and application of the MaxEnt model, this study assessed suitability and sensitivity of the potential distribution of Cyclobalanopsis glauca forests under climate change conditions in Guizhou Province. The results were as follows: (1) Area under the curve values of training data and texting data indicated excellent performance of the model; (2) Compared to the current climate, areas of probability <0.4 were decreased, and the other areas presented an increasing trend under the RCP8.5 scenario; (3) Positive sensitivity areas were much larger than negative sensitivity areas under climate change. In either case, slight sensitivity areas accounted for the largest proportion; (4) The mean altitude of slight sensitivity areas measured the lowest, and highly negative sensitivity areas were the highest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 35879 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Coupling Coordination of Urban Pseudo and Reality Human Settlements

by Shenzhen Tian, Bing Yang, Zhangli Liu, Xueming Li and Wei Zhang

Land 2022, 11(3), 414; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030414 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2140

Abstract

Urban pseudo and reality human settlements (PHSs and RHSs) are important components of the human–land relationship regional system. To explore the coupling and coordination relationship and principle among them is an important approach to high-quality coordinated urban development. Based on the three-dimensional development [...] Read more.

Urban pseudo and reality human settlements (PHSs and RHSs) are important components of the human–land relationship regional system. To explore the coupling and coordination relationship and principle among them is an important approach to high-quality coordinated urban development. Based on the three-dimensional development of human settlements, the theoretical system of a “three states” dynamic frame diagram is constructed. The spatio-temporal heterogeneity and driving principle of coupling coordination among PHSs and RHSs in 34 prefecture-level cities in northeast China from 2011 to 2019 were explained by using the coupling coordination degree, spatial trend surface analysis and geographic detector techniques, and the evolution principle of spatio-temporal coordination was revealed. The results show that: (1) in the temporal dimension, the coupling coordination degree among PHSs and RHSs in the three provinces shows a smooth growth from “slight disadjustment” to “near disadjustment”; (2) With Shenyang, Dalian, Changchun and Harbin as the center, the coordination degree shows a circular pattern decreasing from the transition area to peripheral area. In the direction of south and north, the spatial evolution trend shows a gradual change from a “—” shape to “U” shape. There is spatio-temporal variation of the trend surface from an inverted “U” shape to “—” shape in the east–west direction; (3) The socioeconomic situation is an important driving factor, and the tool system is a new driving system for the coupling and coordinated development of urban PHSs and RHSs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 1249 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Menu Choice and Meat-Eating Habits: Results of a Field Experiment in Two University Canteens

by Gian-Andrea Egeler and Priska Baur

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3296; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063296 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2386

Abstract

In a transdisciplinary field experiment in two Swiss university canteens over 12 weeks, how customers respond to a revised menu choice of meat dishes and ovo-lacto-vegetarian or vegan dishes was investigated. Several interventions were implemented: the vegetarian menu line was abolished, the meat [...] Read more.

In a transdisciplinary field experiment in two Swiss university canteens over 12 weeks, how customers respond to a revised menu choice of meat dishes and ovo-lacto-vegetarian or vegan dishes was investigated. Several interventions were implemented: the vegetarian menu line was abolished, the meat and veg-dishes were randomly distributed across the three menu lines, vegetarian and vegan dishes (veg-dishes) were not labelled or marketed as such, and in the 6 ‘intervention weeks’ the share of veg-dishes was increased compared to the 6 ‘base weeks’. Based on the lunchtime eating habits in the canteen, regular canteen visitors were categorised into either seven or five different ‘lunch types’. During the intervention weeks, the share of meat dishes decreased for every lunch type, although with different response patterns. It is particularly noteworthy that customers with meat-oriented lunchtime eating habits ate in the canteen more frequently. This indicates that the usual choices in the two canteens are more appealing for meat-eaters. Overall, the data show a clear potential to reduce meat consumption in canteens by increasing the range of attractive veg-dishes without explicitly marketing them as vegetarian or vegan. We conclude this also to be an economically profitable strategy, as it provides a chance to attract customers with veg-oriented lunchtime eating habits without either losing meat eaters or meat lovers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 22116 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Slow Pyrolysis of Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) for Sustainable Production of Bio-Oil and Biochar

by Apip Amrullah, Obie Farobie, Asep Bayu, Novi Syaftika, Edy Hartulistiyoso, Navid R. Moheimani, Surachai Karnjanakom and Yukihiko Matsumura

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3233; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063233 - 09 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3289

Abstract

Ulva Lactuca is a fast-growing algae that can be utilized as a bioenergy source. However, the direct utilization of U. lactuca for energy applications still remains challenging due to its high moisture and inorganics content. Therefore, thermochemical processing such as slow pyrolysis to [...] Read more.

Ulva Lactuca is a fast-growing algae that can be utilized as a bioenergy source. However, the direct utilization of U. lactuca for energy applications still remains challenging due to its high moisture and inorganics content. Therefore, thermochemical processing such as slow pyrolysis to produce valuable added products, namely bio-oil and biochar, is needed. This study aims to conduct a thorough investigation of bio-oil and biochar production from U. lactuca to provide valuable data for its further valorization. A slow pyrolysis of U. lactuca was conducted in a batch-type reactor at a temperature range of 400–600 °C and times of 10–50 min. The results showed that significant compounds obtained in U. lactuca’s bio-oil are carboxylic acids (22.63–35.28%), phenolics (9.73–31.89%), amines/amides (15.33–23.31%), and N-aromatic compounds (14.04–15.68%). The ultimate analysis revealed that biochar’s H/C and O/C atomic ratios were lower than feedstock, confirming that dehydration and decarboxylation reactions occurred throughout the pyrolysis. Additionally, biochar exhibited calorific values in the range of 19.94–21.61 MJ kg⁻¹, which is potential to be used as a solid renewable fuel. The surface morphological analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed a larger surface area in U. lactuca’s biochar than in the algal feedstock. Overall, this finding provides insight on the valorization of U. lactuca for value-added chemicals, i.e., biofuels and biochar, which can be further utilized for other applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3218 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of China’s Contribution to Global Greening over the Past Three Decades

by Jing Peng, Fuqiang Yang, Li Dan and Xiba Tang

Land 2022, 11(3), 393; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030393 - 08 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2053

Abstract

China’s contribution to global greening is regulated by increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, climate change, and land use. Based on TRENDY project data, this study identified that the shifts in China’s contribution to the global leaf area index (LAI) trend strongly reduced during [...] Read more.

China’s contribution to global greening is regulated by increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, climate change, and land use. Based on TRENDY project data, this study identified that the shifts in China’s contribution to the global leaf area index (LAI) trend strongly reduced during the warming hiatus, translating from 13.42 ± 26.45% during 1982–1998 into 7.91 ± 25.45% during 1999–2012. First, significant negative sensitivities of LAI to enhanced vapor pressure deficit (VPD), when only considering the climate effect derived from TRENDY models in China, were found to have shifted substantially after the late 1990s. However, globally, LAI had positive rather than negative responses to enhanced VPD. These opposing shifts in the response of LAI to enhanced VPD reduced the national contribution to global vegetation greening. Second, shifts in land-use change and their effects on the LAI trends in the two periods in China were accompanied by major changes in land cover and land management intensity, including forestry. Consequently, the contribution of land use in China reduced by −47.68% during the warming hiatus period, as compared with the warming period. Such a shift in the impact of land-use change on LAI simulated by ecosystem models might result from the models’ lack of consideration of conserving and expanding forests with the goal of mitigating climate change for China. Our results highlight the need for ecosystem models to reproduce the enhanced negative impact on global LAI and consider the shifts in man-made adaptation policies (e.g., forest management) to improve terrestrial ecosystem models in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 4492 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Risk Assessment and Prediction of Air Pollution Disasters in Four Chinese Regions

by Guoqu Deng, Hu Chen, Bo Xie and Mengtian Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 3106; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14053106 - 07 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2281

Abstract

Evaluating the regional trends of air pollution disaster risk in areas of heavy industry and economically developed cities is vital for regional sustainable development. Until now, previous studies have mainly adopted a traditional weighted comprehensive evaluation method to analyze the air pollution disaster [...] Read more.

Evaluating the regional trends of air pollution disaster risk in areas of heavy industry and economically developed cities is vital for regional sustainable development. Until now, previous studies have mainly adopted a traditional weighted comprehensive evaluation method to analyze the air pollution disaster risk. This research has integrated principal component analysis (PCA), a genetic algorithm (GA) and a backpropagation (BP) neural network to evaluate the regional disaster risk. Hazard risk, hazard-laden environment sensitivity, hazard-bearing body vulnerability and disaster resilience were used to measure the degree of disaster risk. The main findings were: (1) the air pollution disaster risk index of Liaoning Province, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong Province increased year by year from 2010 to 2019; (2) the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of each regional air pollution disaster risk index in 2019, as predicted by the PCA-GA-BP neural network, were 0.607, 0.317 and 20.3%, respectively; (3) the predicted results were more accurate than those using a PCA-BP neural network, GA-BP neural network, traditional BP neural network, support vector regression (SVR) or extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), which verified that machine learning could be used as a method of air pollution disaster risk assessment to a considerable extent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 9982 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Using Net Primary Productivity to Characterize the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Ecological Footprint for a Resource-Based City, Panzhihua in China

by Shuhui Zhang, Fuquan Li, Yuke Zhou, Ziyuan Hu, Ruixin Zhang, Xiaoyu Xiang and Yali Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 3067; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14053067 - 06 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1900

Abstract

An ecological footprint is a primary indicator in measuring the sustainability of regional development, especially in resource-based cities. Here, we built an ecological footprint-based framework to assess the sustainability for a resource-based city of Panzhihua, in China. In this framework, a suite of [...] Read more.

An ecological footprint is a primary indicator in measuring the sustainability of regional development, especially in resource-based cities. Here, we built an ecological footprint-based framework to assess the sustainability for a resource-based city of Panzhihua, in China. In this framework, a suite of long-term ecological parameters (2000–2020), essentially including Net Primary Productivity (NPP), land cover, as well as social statistical data, was used as the input indices of a provincial hectare ecological footprint model. The model outputs are composed of the ecological footprint (EF), ecological footprint per capita (PEF), ecological capacity (EC), ecological capacity per capita (PEC), ecological deficit/surplus (ED/S), and per capita ecological deficit/surplus (PED/S). Then the sustainable development capability of the city was comprehensively evaluated using a suite of ecological indices, including the ecological pressure index (EPI), ecological footprint per ten thousand GDP (EFG), ecological sustainability index (ESI), and ecological coordination index (ECI). The study reveals that, from 2000–2020, (1) PEC and PED/S presented an increasing trend (0.2401 hm²/person and 2.1421 hm²/person, respectively), while PEF decreased by 1.9 hm²/person. In the case of the ecological deficit, fossil energy land and forest were the dominant land types in controlling the ecological footprint and ecological capacity, (2) EPI and EFG decreased by 6.6381 hm²/person and 2.2462 hm²/person, respectively, and ESI and ECI increased by 0.3436 hm²/person and 0.2897 hm²/person, respectively. These indices also reflect that the utilization rate of natural resources in Panzhihua City has been improved, with enhanced sustainability, as well as a decline in ecological pressure. This ecological footprint-based framework could work as a template for evaluating the sustainability of resource-based cities from positive and negative ecological footprint indices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 4564 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Contrast and Interactive Effects of Potential Drivers on Land Surface Temperature in the Sichuan Basin, China

by Ziyi Wang, Dongqi Sun, Chunguang Hu, Yu Wang and Jingxiang Zhang

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(5), 1292; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14051292 - 06 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2511

Abstract

Little is known about the seasonal heterogeneity of land surface temperature (LST) and the interaction relationship between potential drivers in Sichuan Basin, China. In this study, based on exploring the spatial heterogeneity of LST in Sichuan Basin, China, multi-source remote sensing data as [...] Read more.

Little is known about the seasonal heterogeneity of land surface temperature (LST) and the interaction relationship between potential drivers in Sichuan Basin, China. In this study, based on exploring the spatial heterogeneity of LST in Sichuan Basin, China, multi-source remote sensing data as potential drivers were selected and a Geo-detector model was applied to analyze the main drivers and the interactive relationship between drivers on LST during different seasons. The results showed that the high-temperature areas in Sichuan Basin in different seasons all appeared in the cities near the high mountains on the edge of the basin. This phenomenon was summarized as “sinking heat island” by us. From the driving factors, the biophysical parameters (DEM, SLOPE and NDVI) had the greatest impact on LST in each season, reaching the peak in the transition season. The climate parameters (WIND, HUM, PRE and TEM) and socioeconomic parameters (LIGHT, POP and ROAD) also had a certain impact on LST. The influence of a single landscape parameter (SHDI, PD, LPI, ED and LSI) on LST is limited. From the effect of factor interaction on LST, the interaction of biophysical parameters, climatic parameters and landscape parameters from summer to the transitional season was strengthened obviously, and it showed a downward trend in the winter; in contrast, the socioeconomic parameters showed the opposite characteristics, indicating that the interaction between human activities and other factors affected LST more obviously in the winter. The results of this study are not only valuable for understanding the spatial features of LST but also important for formulating mitigation strategies and sustainable development of urban heat island in Sichuan Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 969 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of Carbon Emissions in China’s Power Industry Based on the Mixed-Data Sampling (MIDAS) Regression Model

by Xiaoxiang Xu and Mingqiu Liao

Atmosphere 2022, 13(3), 423; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13030423 - 05 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2299

Abstract

China is currently the country with the largest carbon emissions in the world, to which, the power industry contributes the greatest share. To reduce carbon emissions, reliable and timely forecasting measures are important and necessary. By using different frequency variables, in this study, [...] Read more.

China is currently the country with the largest carbon emissions in the world, to which, the power industry contributes the greatest share. To reduce carbon emissions, reliable and timely forecasting measures are important and necessary. By using different frequency variables, in this study, we used the mixed-data sampling (MIDAS) regression model to forecast the annual carbon emissions of China’s power industry compared with a benchmark model. It was found that the MIDAS model had a higher prediction accuracy than models such as the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. Moreover, our results showed that the MIDAS model could conduct timely nowcasting, which is useful when the data have some releasing lag. Through this prediction method, the results also demonstrated that the carbon emissions of the power industry have a significant relationship with GDP and thermal power generation, and that the value of carbon emissions would keep increasing in the years of 2021 and 2022. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2579 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Variability of Wind Erosion Climatic Erosivity and Their Relationships with Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulation in Xinjiang, China

by Yaqin Wang, Haimei Yang, Wenbo Fan, Changlu Qiao and Kai Sun

Atmosphere 2022, 13(3), 419; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13030419 - 04 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1518

Abstract

Xinjiang has a serious wind erosion problem due to its fragile ecological condition and sensitivity to climate change. Wind erosion climatic erosivity is a measure of climatic factors influencing wind erosion; evaluating its spatiotemporal variations and relationship with the large-scale circulation pattern can [...] Read more.

Xinjiang has a serious wind erosion problem due to its fragile ecological condition and sensitivity to climate change. Wind erosion climatic erosivity is a measure of climatic factors influencing wind erosion; evaluating its spatiotemporal variations and relationship with the large-scale circulation pattern can contribute to the understanding of the climate change effect on wind erosion risk. Thus, this study quantified the wind erosion climatic erosivity and examined the connections between climatic erosivity and climate indices using trend analysis, geo-statistical analysis, and cross-wavelet analysis based on the observed daily meteorological data from 64 weather stations in Xinjiang, China during 1969–2019 (50 years). The results indicated that the climatic erosivity showed a significant downward trend at seasonal and annual scales over the past 50 years. Strong seasonality in the C-factor was found, with its highest values in the spring and summer and its lowest values in the winter. The average climatic erosivity was weaker during El Niño events than during La Niña events. The impact of El Niño events on climatic erosivity in Xinjiang continued from the beginning of the event to two months after the end of the events. The La Niña events had a lag effect on the climatic erosivity in Xinjiang, with a lag period of 4 months. From a statistical perspective, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Arctic Oscillation (AO) indices showed relationships to the climatic erosivity in Xinjiang in terms of their correlation and periodicity. The relationships between the climatic erosivity and ENSO were not clearly positive or negative, with many correlations advanced or delayed in phase. The NAO and AO indices showed a consistent in-phase relationship with climatic erosivity on significant bands, whereas the profound mechanisms involved in this require further study. The results of this study provide a preliminary perspective on the effect of large-scale atmospheric circulation on wind erosion risk in arid and semi-arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 708 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Valuing Ecosystem Services for Agricultural TFP: A Review of Best Practices, Challenges, and Recommendations

by Moriah Bostian and Tommy Lundgren

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 3035; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14053035 - 04 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2500

Abstract

This paper provides a brief overview of methods to incorporate ecosystem service values into measures of agricultural total factor productivity (TFP), both in theory and in practice. This includes a review of the academic literature, a summary of related economic index theory, and [...] Read more.

This paper provides a brief overview of methods to incorporate ecosystem service values into measures of agricultural total factor productivity (TFP), both in theory and in practice. This includes a review of the academic literature, a summary of related economic index theory, and a comparison of agency guidelines. We consider areas of consensus between the agencies and the research literature, as well as open debates surrounding the implementation of a standardized ecosystem accounting framework to integrate with existing TFP measures. This helps to bridge the gap between theoretical approaches to measurement and valuation in the research literature and their implementation in practice by national accounting agencies. Better connecting theory to practice also serves to highlight common challenges in the field, including questions of definition, scope, and scale for ecosystem services, as well as data collection and dissemination. We end with a summary of recommendations for moving forward. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 16586 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Three-Dimensional Box-Counting Method to Study the Fractal Characteristics of Urban Areas in Shenyang, Northeast China

by Shengjun Liu and Yijing Chen

Buildings 2022, 12(3), 299; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12030299 - 03 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2630

Abstract

Modern expansion and three-dimensional growth are rapidly altering the morphological features of traditional cities. This morphological phenomenon fully reflects the internal organization mode and composition rules of modern cities. This study draws on the research method of three-dimensional fractal, focusing on the situation [...] Read more.

Modern expansion and three-dimensional growth are rapidly altering the morphological features of traditional cities. This morphological phenomenon fully reflects the internal organization mode and composition rules of modern cities. This study draws on the research method of three-dimensional fractal, focusing on the situation where there is less research on the fractal form at the block scale, and conducts a fractal research on the three-dimensional form of a city at the meso and micro scales, in order to reveal the fractal characteristics of modern urban density. Based on fractal theory, the urban form of Shenyang, Northeast China, was quantitatively analyzed using the box-counting (Minkowski–Bouligand) method to calculate the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) box dimensions of urban areas. Next, by analyzing the correlations between morphological indicators and 2D and 3D fractal dimensions, this study proposes cluster features of the correlation between the 3D fractal dimension and floor-area ratio. Then, this study summarizes the fractal characteristics of Shenyang’s urban form, based on the cluster analysis and spatial features of various urban areas within the city. The analysis results show the fractal dimension of Shenyang’s urban form to have characteristic expected values; fractal dimension clusters reflect spatial differences in the forms of different urban areas. The 3D D value of architectural morphology fractal in urban areas of Shenyang is between 2.41 and 2.70. From this, the representative characteristics of Shenyang’s urban form were obtained: first, it has the fractal characteristics of morphological hierarchy and system embeddedness; second, under unified and standardized management, its basic urban form structure displays the fractal characteristics of morphological similarity and system hierarchy; and third, its 3D urban form characteristics include the spatial accumulation of clusters and morphological patches, creating a patchwork of different building heights and densities, with the spatial clustering of density form highly correlated with the fractal dimension. The results of this research will provide reference samples for the morphological identification, design control, and design review of modern cities, and enrich the research results of the application of fractal theory to urban morphology at the meso and micro scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 2789 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Coordinated Relationship between Compactness and Land-Use Efficiency in Shrinking Cities: A Case Study of Northeast China

by Yangyang Wang, Yanjun Liu, Guolei Zhou, Zuopeng Ma, Hongri Sun and Hui Fu

Land 2022, 11(3), 366; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030366 - 02 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3072

Abstract

Compact development and efficient land use are effective ways to address the development dilemma and boost the vitality of shrinking cities. Moreover, it is critical to investigate the relationship between compactness and land-use efficiency in order to healthily and sustainably develop shrinking cities. [...] Read more.

Compact development and efficient land use are effective ways to address the development dilemma and boost the vitality of shrinking cities. Moreover, it is critical to investigate the relationship between compactness and land-use efficiency in order to healthily and sustainably develop shrinking cities. This study developed an analytical framework to study the coordinated interaction between urban compactness and land-use efficiency in the context of city shrinkage. Fifteen typical shrinking cities in Northeast China were taken as an example of the phenomenon and the entropy value method and super-slack-based measure model were used to quantitatively measure the compactness and land-use efficiency. Furthermore, the coordinated development level and the coordinated relationship between the two were explored with the help of the coupled coordination degree model as well as the quadrant diagram method. The results of the study show that: (1) The overall level of compactness of 15 shrinking cities in Northeast China was low and the improvement of land-use efficiency was not obvious, while the differences of compactness and land-use efficiency between shrinking cities were significant. (2) The coordination between compactness and land-use efficiency was limited; however, the overall coordination remained intermediate, with significant spatial differences and a tendency to further expand. The problem of lagged development of land-use efficiency in shrinking cities could be characterized as serious. (3) Economic development and population size promote the coordinated development of urban compactness and land-use efficiency, whereas science and technology development, industrial structure, as well as government regulation inhibited the coordinated development of urban compactness and land-use efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2220 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Roles of Orbital and Meltwater Climate Forcings on the Southern Ocean Dynamics during the Last Deglaciation

by Gagan Mandal, Jia-Yuh Yu and Shih-Yu Lee

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2927; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052927 - 02 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2538

Abstract

The last deglacial climate evolution, from 19 to 9 thousand years before the present, represents the vital role of feedback in the Earth’s climate system. The Southern Ocean played a fundamental role by exchanging nutrients and carbon-rich deep ocean water with the surface [...] Read more.

The last deglacial climate evolution, from 19 to 9 thousand years before the present, represents the vital role of feedback in the Earth’s climate system. The Southern Ocean played a fundamental role by exchanging nutrients and carbon-rich deep ocean water with the surface during the last deglaciation. This study employs a fully coupled Earth system model to investigate the evolution of Southern Ocean dynamics and the roles of changes in orbital and meltwater forcings during the last deglaciation. The simulation supports that the Southern Ocean upwelling was primarily driven by windstress. The results show that the melting and formation of Antarctic sea ice feedback influenced Southern Ocean surface buoyancy flux. The increase in Antarctic sea ice melt-induced freshwater flux resulted in a steepened north-south surface salinity gradient in the Southern Ocean, which enhanced the upwelling. The single-forcing experiments indicate that the deglacial changes in orbital insolation influenced the Southern Ocean upwelling. The experiments also highlight the dominant role of Northern Hemisphere meltwater discharge in the upper and lower branch of the Meridional Overturning Circulation. Furthermore, orbital forcing shows lesser deglacial Antarctic sea ice retreat than the Northern Hemisphere meltwater forcing, which follows the bipolar seesaw mechanism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3410 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Development Limitations for Wave Energy Utilization in the Baltic Sea

by Nikon Vidjajev, Riina Palu, Jan Terentjev, Olli-Pekka Hilmola and Victor Alari

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2832; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052832 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2485

Abstract

The use of renewable energy sources is one of the most promising options for slowing down climate change and the variability of resources would benefit the energy systems even further. Research provides an initial assessment of the Baltic Sea region concerning the possibility [...] Read more.

The use of renewable energy sources is one of the most promising options for slowing down climate change and the variability of resources would benefit the energy systems even further. Research provides an initial assessment of the Baltic Sea region concerning the possibility of using wave energy as a supplement to the current renewables in this region. During the study, the main parameters of the environment were examined (waves, salinity, tides, and the effect of ice). In addition to the technical and economic feasibility assessment (from a supplier perspective), marketability research was conducted among sector stakeholders through a survey. The majority of the respondents among maritime and energy sector stakeholders showed interest in applying wave energy in less than a 10-year perspective, particularly in the specific areas of their industries, such as seaports. This research is important as it demonstrates the limitations of the Baltic Sea environment, effects of regional economic activity, and local and EU level political, legal, and administrative burdens in applying wave energy within the studied region. Based on this study, policies and legislative frameworks need to be adapted (e.g., environmental protection areas and open access data of sea) to facilitate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 937 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Improving Anaerobic Digestion of Brewery and Distillery Spent Grains through Aeration across a Silicone Membrane

by Zachary P. Berry, John H. Loughrin, Stuart Burris, Eric D. Conte, Nanh C. Lovanh and Karamat R. Sistani

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2755; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052755 - 26 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

An increase in the number of independent breweries and distilleries has led to an increase in the amount of spent grains with inadequate means of disposal. One option for disposal is as feedstock for anaerobic digestion if digester stability is ensured. In this [...] Read more.

An increase in the number of independent breweries and distilleries has led to an increase in the amount of spent grains with inadequate means of disposal. One option for disposal is as feedstock for anaerobic digestion if digester stability is ensured. In this study, brewers’ spent grain and distillers’ spent grain were used as substrate for anaerobic digestion for 32 weeks. The digestate was treated by recirculation through a silicone hose located in an external tank filled with saline solution. The hose served as a permeable membrane allowing for the passage of gases. The recirculation tanks were fitted with check valves to maintain three pressure/gas regimes: 26 mm Hg N₂, 26 mm Hg aeration or 100 mm Hg aeration. A fourth digester was operated with no recirculation as the control. These treatments were chosen to determine if differences in digester stability, wastewater treatment efficiency, and biogas production could be detected. A combination of dairy and swine manure was used as seeding to provide a methanogenic consortium and bicarbonate buffering. However, despite trying to provide for adequate initial bicarbonate buffering, all four digesters had low initial buffering and consequently low pH as short-chain fatty acids accumulated. After six weeks, bicarbonate buffering and pH increased as methane production increased, and short-chain fatty acids decreased. Later, despite the fluxes of O₂ and N₂ across the silicone membrane being very low, differences between the various treatments were noted. The pH of the digestate treated by N₂ recirculation was lower than the other digesters and decreased further after distillers’ spent grain was substituted for brewers’ spent grain. Aeration at a pressure of 26 mm Hg and 100 mg Hg increased biogas production compared to other treatments but only significantly so at 100 mm Hg. These results suggest that partial purging of dissolved gases in anaerobic digestate by the small fluxes of N₂ or O₂ across a permeable membrane may affect digester performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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26 pages, 309 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploratory Approach to Issues and Strategy Involved in Creating Industrial Revolution Time Environmental Sustainability by Construction Firms on Sites

by Amusan Lekan, Okalome Chukwuemeka and Aigbavboa Clinton

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2739; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052739 - 25 Feb 2022

Viewed by 1654

Abstract

Research outcomes all over the world have indicated that the building production sector of the construction industry relates more to the environment than other sectors of the economy and is directly involved with its sustainable activities in terms of waste generation and balancing [...] Read more.

Research outcomes all over the world have indicated that the building production sector of the construction industry relates more to the environment than other sectors of the economy and is directly involved with its sustainable activities in terms of waste generation and balancing the outcome has further been enhanced through industrial revolution time. The main aim of the study, therefore, was to carry out research on issues and challenges that revolve around contractors’ attitudes towards maintaining a controlled environment on construction sites. A mixed research design method that involved the quantitative and qualitative analysis was used for the study, while the samples were picked with a random sampling method. The total sample size of respondents is 100 questionnaires which were randomly selected for questionnaire administration to selected construction firms in Lagos state. The questionnaires were administered to professionals from different firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed in this review while 92 questionnaires were duly returned by the respondents, which constitute 92% of the total questionnaires distributed. The categorical regression method was used in the analysis. ANOVA, Chi-square, and factor analysis were used for the analysis. The study discovered among other things that the following components of environmental sustainability are important to sustain on sites: environmental impact assessment, antiquities on-site, erodible surface, soil erosion monitoring, environmental ecosystem, and environmental biomass, rock mass found on-site, soil contamination monitoring and ecosystem services valuation, soil salinity monitoring, and water resources conservation. The study concludes by recommending that the design of an effective way of disposing of waste on-site and continually improving construction methods and procedures to enhance performance in achieving a sustainable environment are vital to sustaining a viable construction environment among other factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

20 pages, 5392 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Decoupling Regional Economic Growth from Industrial CO₂ Emissions: Empirical Evidence from the 13 Prefecture-Level Cities in Jiangsu Province

by Jingxing Liu, Hailing Li and Tianqi Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2733; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052733 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1403

Abstract

Amid global climate warming, it is necessary to explore the decoupling relationship between economic growth (EG) and industrial CO₂ emissions (ICEs). This paper uses the Tapio decoupling model and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) model synthetically to analyze the decoupling relationship [...] Read more.

Amid global climate warming, it is necessary to explore the decoupling relationship between economic growth (EG) and industrial CO₂ emissions (ICEs). This paper uses the Tapio decoupling model and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) model synthetically to analyze the decoupling relationship between EG and ICEs and reveal the driving force of growth of CO₂ emissions (CEs) based on ICE panel data from 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu province from 2011 to 2015. From the research results, it can be seen that the decoupling status in southern Jiangsu, middle Jiangsu and northern Jiangsu presented weak decoupling (WD), weak negative decoupling (WND) and WD, respectively. In 2011–2013, seven prefecture-level cities exhibited states of WD, and strong decoupling (SD) occurred only in Zhenjiang, with a decoupling index value of −0.3359. In 2013–2015, five prefecture-level cities exhibited states of WD. The energy intensity and carbon emission intensity had negative inhibitory effects on ICEs, and economic development and the energy structure had positive promotion effects on ICEs. The research results have important theoretical and practical significance for future energy savings, carbon emissions reductions and the realization of a low-carbon economy in the economic development of Jiangsu. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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28 pages, 370 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Establishment of Corporate Energy Management Systems and Voluntary Carbon Information Disclosure in Chinese Listed Companies: The Moderating Role of Corporate Leaders’ Low-Carbon Awareness

by Erli Dan and Jianfei Shen

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2714; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052714 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2396

Abstract

The “Energy-Saving and Low-Carbon Action Implementation Plan for Ten Thousand Enterprises” urged Chinese energy users to establish an energy management system (EEM) that emphasizes energy conservation and emission reduction. This study applied the voluntary information disclosure theory, stakeholder theory, and legitimacy theory to [...] Read more.

The “Energy-Saving and Low-Carbon Action Implementation Plan for Ten Thousand Enterprises” urged Chinese energy users to establish an energy management system (EEM) that emphasizes energy conservation and emission reduction. This study applied the voluntary information disclosure theory, stakeholder theory, and legitimacy theory to construct a research framework for corporate voluntary carbon information disclosure (CID) under combined action of disclosure decision, EEM related to carbon information collection, and pressure to disclose. This study uses A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2017 as its research sample. Panel data regression analyses show that EEM positively affects CID in the high-carbon industry, and LLA positively affects CID in the low-carbon industry. In addition, ownership concentration has significant effects on CID. Moreover, the existence of state-owned shares positively affects CID of AH-share samples. The moderating effect test found that LLA has a negative moderating effect (a positive moderating effect) on the relationship between EEM and CID in the high-carbon industry (in AH-share samples). This study has verified the promoting effect of energy policies implementation related to carbon reduction and leaders’ carbon awareness on CID. It provided a strong basis for the significance of accelerating climate-change policies and promotion effects of international capital markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

26 pages, 24189 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Bottom-Overhead Design Variables on Pedestrian-Level Thermal Comfort during Summertime in Different High-Rise Residential Buildings: A Case Study in Chongqing, China

by Ji Weng, Ben Luo, Hengling Xiang and Bo Gao

Buildings 2022, 12(3), 265; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12030265 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2522

Abstract

The design of bottom-overhead (or lift-up) buildings is advantageous in improving the thermal environment of high-density cities and enhancing the comfort level of occupants’ activity space on the ground floor. This study aims to investigate the impact of multiple architectural design variables on [...] Read more.

The design of bottom-overhead (or lift-up) buildings is advantageous in improving the thermal environment of high-density cities and enhancing the comfort level of occupants’ activity space on the ground floor. This study aims to investigate the impact of multiple architectural design variables on the ground floor overhead area of slab-like and tower high-rise residential buildings from the perspective of pedestrian-level thermal comfort with ENVI-met simulations and Standard Effective Temperature (SET*) evaluation. The design variables of the 25 tested models include the number of continuously arranged buildings, aspect ratio, overhead form, overhead space height, positions of overhead space enclosures, and openness degree, derived from existing overhead buildings in Chongqing. The results demonstrate that when the number of continuously arranged buildings and the aspect ratio increase, the overhead area has a more comfortable environmental state, while the overhead height is negatively correlated. In addition, when the enclosures are on opposite sides and their openness degree is 0.75–0.5, the area tends to be more comfortable. For slab-like buildings, the thermal comfort of the partial-overhead form is the worst while the semi-overhead form is relatively better. However, the overhead form has no significant impact on the thermal comfort of tower buildings. These findings can provide some suggestions and inspiration for the design of overhead buildings to create a more sustainable and livable microenvironment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1730 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Achieving a Climate-Change Resilient Farming System through Push–Pull Technology: Evidence from Maize Farming Systems in Ethiopia

by Desalegn A. Gugissa, Zewdu Abro and Tadele Tefera

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2648; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052648 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3606

Abstract

Building climate-resilient farming systems is important to promote the sustainability of agriculture at the global level. Scaling-up agroecological approaches in main staple crops, such as maize, is particularly important in enhancing the climate resilience of millions of smallholder farmers in developing countries. In [...] Read more.

Building climate-resilient farming systems is important to promote the sustainability of agriculture at the global level. Scaling-up agroecological approaches in main staple crops, such as maize, is particularly important in enhancing the climate resilience of millions of smallholder farmers in developing countries. In this regard, push–pull technology (PPT) is an ecological approach to a farming system that aims to improve the climate resilience of maize producers in a smallholder mixed farming system. PPT is primarily designed to control pests and weeds in an ecofriendly approach, to improve soil fertility, to improve livestock feed, and to increase farmers’ incomes. In this study, we compared the level of climate resilience between PPT maize farming systems and non-PPT maize farming systems in southern Ethiopia. Using the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Self-Evaluation and Holistic Assessment of Climate Resilience of Farmers and Pastoralists (SHARP), we measured 13 agroecosystem indicators of climate resilience and compared the degree to which the two farming systems differ in their level of resilience to climate change. The results indicate that PPT farming systems are more climate-resilient than their non-PPT counterparts. PPT maize farming systems had a significant impact on 8 out of the 13 agroecosystem indicators of climate resilience. To harness the full benefits of PPT, governmental extension agents, NGOs, and agricultural researchers should promote PPT-based maize farming systems. The promotion of PPT needs concerted efforts and strong national coordination in solving PPT implementation barriers, such as improving access to input and output markets and animal health services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 3524 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Ozone Distribution Vertically and Horizontally in Urban Street Canyons Based on Field Investigation and ENVI-met Modelling

by Chunping Miao, Wei Chen and Shuai Yu

Buildings 2022, 12(3), 262; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12030262 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2445

Abstract

High concentrations of ozone (O₃) is a major air problem in urban areas, which creates a serious threat to human health. Urban street canyon morphology plays a key role in air pollutant dispersion and photochemical reaction rate. In this study, a [...] Read more.

High concentrations of ozone (O₃) is a major air problem in urban areas, which creates a serious threat to human health. Urban street canyon morphology plays a key role in air pollutant dispersion and photochemical reaction rate. In this study, a one-year observation at three height levels was performed to investigate the O₃ distribution vertically in a street canyon of Shenyang. Then, field investigation and ENVI-met modelling were conducted to quantify the influence of street canyon morphology and microclimatic factors on O₃ distribution at the pedestrian level. All O₃ concentrations at the three height levels were high from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both O₃ concentrations at pedestrian level and the middle level in the canyon were 40% higher than at roof level. O₃ accumulated in the canyons rather than spread out. The in-canyon O₃ concentrations had significantly positive correlations with building height, aspect ratio, sky view factor, air temperature, and wind speed. Both field investigation and ENVI-met modelling found high O₃ concentrations in medium canyons. Photochemical reaction intensity played a more important role in in-canyon O₃ distribution than dispersion. Wide canyons were favorable for removing O₃. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 5282 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Fires on Ice: Emerging Permafrost Peatlands Fire Regimes in Russia’s Subarctic Taiga

by Vera Kuklina, Oleg Sizov, Elena Rasputina, Irina Bilichenko, Natalia Krasnoshtanova, Viktor Bogdanov and Andrey N. Petrov

Land 2022, 11(3), 322; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030322 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2844

Abstract

Wildfires in permafrost areas, including smoldering fires (e.g., “zombie fires”), have increasingly become a concern in the Arctic and subarctic. Their detection is difficult and requires ground truthing. Local and Indigenous knowledge are becoming useful sources of information that could guide future research [...] Read more.

Wildfires in permafrost areas, including smoldering fires (e.g., “zombie fires”), have increasingly become a concern in the Arctic and subarctic. Their detection is difficult and requires ground truthing. Local and Indigenous knowledge are becoming useful sources of information that could guide future research and wildfire management. This paper focuses on permafrost peatland fires in the Siberian subarctic taiga linked to local communities and their infrastructure. It presents the results of field studies in Evenki and old-settler communities of Tokma and Khanda in the Irkutsk region of Russia in conjunction with concurrent remote sensing data analysis. The study areas located in the discontinuous permafrost zone allow examination of the dynamics of wildfires in permafrost peatlands and adjacent forested areas. Interviews revealed an unusual prevalence and witness-observed characteristics of smoldering peatland fires over permafrost, such as longer than expected fire risk periods, impacts on community infrastructure, changes in migration of wild animals, and an increasing number of smoldering wildfires including overwintering “zombie fires” in the last five years. The analysis of concurrent satellite remote sensing data confirmed observations from communities, but demonstrated a limited capacity of satellite imagery to accurately capture changing wildfire activity in permafrost peatlands, which may have significant implications for global climate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 12350 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Characteristics and Evaluation of Future Droughts across China through the CMIP6 Multi-Model Ensemble

by Zice Ma, Peng Sun, Qiang Zhang, Yifan Zou, Yinfeng Lv, Hu Li and Donghua Chen

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(5), 1097; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14051097 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2931

Abstract

Understanding historical and future drought patterns is crucial to acclimation and the mitigation of drought. The negative impact of China’s droughts on the social economy has attracted attention; however, there is still no comprehensive or long-term monitoring pattern for future droughts. Here we [...] Read more.

Understanding historical and future drought patterns is crucial to acclimation and the mitigation of drought. The negative impact of China’s droughts on the social economy has attracted attention; however, there is still no comprehensive or long-term monitoring pattern for future droughts. Here we evaluated the precipitation and temperature simulation capability of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and evaluated the temporal and spatial pattern of droughts during 1961–2099 across China. The results show that the multi-model ensemble mean (MME) is more representative of the observed precipitation and temperatures across China than the single climate model. China experienced an overall drying trend in the historical period. After 1991, the drought frequency (DF), drought duration (DD), and drought intensity (DI) in the northwest of the Inland River Basin and in the Yangtze River Basin increased significantly. Compared with the historical period, China will suffer more frequent drought events, although the DD and DI will be weakened under SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5, while China will experience longer DD and more serious drought events under SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5. The Hai River Basin and Huai River Basin are expected to have more serious drought trends in summer. Compared with historical periods, the drought trend will increase by 2.9–5.7 times and 1.1–4.2 times, respectively. The results can be used for decision making regarding future drought control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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0 pages, 6359 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Prediction of AOT in Coal Resource Cities: A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China

by Yan Tang, Rui Xu, Mengfan Xie, Yusu Wang, Jian Li and Yi Zhou

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2498; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052498 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1726

Abstract

As aerosols in the air have a great influence on the health of residents of coal resource-based cities, these municipalities are confronting the dilemma of air pollution that is caused by the increase of suspended particles in the atmosphere and their development process. [...] Read more.

As aerosols in the air have a great influence on the health of residents of coal resource-based cities, these municipalities are confronting the dilemma of air pollution that is caused by the increase of suspended particles in the atmosphere and their development process. Aerosol optical thickness could be used to explore the aerosol temporal and spatial variations and to develop accurate prediction models, which is of great significance to the control of air pollution in coal resource-based cities. This paper explored the temporal spatial variation characteristics of aerosols in coal resource-based regions. A total of 11 typical coal-resource prefecture-level cities in the Shanxi Province were studied and inverted the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) among these cities based on MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data and analyzed the significant factors affecting AOT. Through inputting significant correlation factors as the input variables of NARX (nonlinear auto regressive models with exogenous inputs) neural network, the monthly average AOTs in the Shanxi Province were predicted between 2011 and 2019. The results showed that, in terms of time series, AOT increased from January to July and decreased from July to December, the maximum AOT was 0.66 in summer and the minimum was 0.2 in autumn, and it was related to the local monsoon, temperature, and humidity. While as far as the space alignment is concerned, the figure for AOT in Shanxi Province varied significantly. High AOT was mainly concentrated in the centre and south and low AOT was focused on the northwestern part. Among the positively correlated factors, the correlation coefficient of population density and temperature exceeded 0.8, which was highly positive, and among the negatively correlated factors, the correlation coefficient of NDVI exceeded -0.8, which was highly negative. After improving the model by adding the important factors that were mentioned before, the error between the predicted mean value and the actual mean value was no more than 0.06. Considering this charge, the NARX neural network with multiple inputs can contribute to better prediction results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 5574 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The SST–Wind Causal Relationship during the Development of the IOD in Observations and Model Simulations

by Yao Xiao, Youmin Tang, Xiaoxiao Tan, Yanling Wu and Zhixiong Yao

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(5), 1064; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14051064 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1619

Abstract

In this paper, we employ reanalysis data to systematically investigate the development of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), thereby distinguishing the SST–wind causal relationship during IOD development. The results indicate that the variations in sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) are particularly important during [...] Read more.

In this paper, we employ reanalysis data to systematically investigate the development of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), thereby distinguishing the SST–wind causal relationship during IOD development. The results indicate that the variations in sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) are particularly important during IOD development. SSTAs over the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) lead to variations in Sumatran coastal winds and equatorial zonal winds, whereas SSTAs over the western Indian Ocean (WIO) lag behind these variations. On this basis, the Community Earth System Model (CESM) is adopted to examine the influences of different atmospheric physical processes and model resolutions on the simulation of the IOD evolution. For this purpose, four sets of sensitivity experiments are carried out involving two versions of the Community Atmospheric Model (CAM4 or CAM5) and two atmospheric model resolutions (0.9° × 1.25° or 1.9° × 2.5°). The CAM5 simulation experiments better capture the detailed characteristics of IOD development, especially the wind–SST causal relationship, than the CAM4 experiments. Moreover, increasing the resolution of the atmospheric model can effectively reduce the simulation bias, thus benefiting the simulation of the SST–wind relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2969 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Estimating China’s Population over 21st Century: Spatially Explicit Scenarios Consistent with the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs)

by Jie Chen, Yujie Liu, Ermei Zhang, Tao Pan and Yanhua Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2442; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042442 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2574

Abstract

Accurate and reliable subnational and spatially explicit population projections under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) for China will be helpful for understanding long-term demographic changes and formulating targeted mitigation and adaptation policies under climate change. In this study, national and provincial populations for China [...] Read more.

Accurate and reliable subnational and spatially explicit population projections under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) for China will be helpful for understanding long-term demographic changes and formulating targeted mitigation and adaptation policies under climate change. In this study, national and provincial populations for China by age, sex, and education level to 2100 under five SSPs were estimated using the population-development-environment model. These parameters include fertility, mortality, migration, and education and consider the most recent birth policy in China. To quantify these projections spatially, the gridded population was provided at 1 km × 1 km by spatial downscaling. Results show the national population is highest under SSP3, with 1.71 × 10⁹ people in 2100. Guangdong, Henan, and Shandong are the most populous in SSP1, 2, 4, 5, while Guangxi is the most populous province in SSP3, reaching 1.54 × 10⁸ people. The differences in education level among scenarios are obvious, especially in 2100 where education level for SSP1 and SSP5 is the highest. The spatial distribution of population varies across the country, with the majority of the population concentrated in southern and eastern China, especially in the coastal regions. Our results under different SSPs could provide a reference to project disaster risks, formulate relevant policies and guide sustainable development from a long-term perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3656 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Local Grasslands on Wild Grass Pollen Emission in Bavaria, Germany

by Stephan Jung, Ye Yuan, Maria Stange Del Carpio, Thomas Pawlik, Stephan Hartmann, Nicole Estrella, Jose Oteros, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Athanasios Damialis, Jeroen Buters and Annette Menzel

Land 2022, 11(2), 306; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020306 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2793

Abstract

Meteorological conditions and the distribution of pollen sources are the two most decisive factors influencing the concentration of airborne grass pollen. However, knowledge about land-use types, their potential pollen emission, and the importance of local sources remains limited. In this study, wild grass [...] Read more.

Meteorological conditions and the distribution of pollen sources are the two most decisive factors influencing the concentration of airborne grass pollen. However, knowledge about land-use types, their potential pollen emission, and the importance of local sources remains limited. In this study, wild grass pollen concentrations from 27 stations in Bavaria, Germany, were linked to potential pollen within a 30 km radius. Agricultural grass pollen sources were derived from the InVeKos database, which contains detailed information on agricultural land-use types and their spatial distribution. Non-agricultural grassland was identified by OpenStreetMap. Further source classification was conducted using a cultivation intensity indicator and wind direction. We show that the grassland percentage and pollen concentrations, specified as annual pollen integral and pollen peak vary strongly between pollen stations. Correlation analyses indicated that the impact of the grassland on pollen concentration was greater within 10 km of the pollen traps. At greater distances, the correlation coefficient between the grassland percentage and pollen indicators steadily declined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 9600 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Estimating Method for Carbon Emissions of China Based on Nighttime Lights Remote Sensing Satellite Images

by Tianjiao Yang, Jing Liu, Haibo Mi, Zhicheng Cao, Yiting Wang, Huichao Han, Jiahui Luan and Zhaoxuan Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2269; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042269 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2618

Abstract

In September 2020, China proposed the achievement of the emission reduction targets of “carbon peak” and “carbon neutral” by 2030 and 2060, respectively. As an important area of energy consumption in addition to industry and transportation, the construction industry has great energy-saving potential [...] Read more.

In September 2020, China proposed the achievement of the emission reduction targets of “carbon peak” and “carbon neutral” by 2030 and 2060, respectively. As an important area of energy consumption in addition to industry and transportation, the construction industry has great energy-saving potential and is gradually becoming the key to achieving China’s energy-saving and emission-reduction goals. Energy data is an important basic support for measuring carbon emissions, analyzing energy-saving potential, and formulating energy-saving targets. In order to solve the he lack of data on China’s carbon emissions, this paper uses lamplight remote sensing image data in the study. Combined with China’s eastern, central, and western regions of building carbon emissions data and the establishment of a partition of China building carbon emissions calculation model, panel data found building carbon emissions and smooth lamp brightness values between the balanced relations. After that, using the building carbon emissions models of the three regions, the building carbon emissions of 30 provinces, 360 cities, and 2778 counties in China were measured, and the changing trends and temporal and spatial directions of building carbon emissions at three spatial scales were analyzed. The results showed that although the total carbon emissions of civil buildings in China has been increasing year by year, its average annual growth rate is gradually slowing down. In addition, the temporal and spatial development directions of carbon emissions from buildings of different spatial scales are basically the same, and they all show a trend of shifting to the east. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 2725 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Drought and Climatic Factors on Vegetation Dynamics in the Yellow River Basin and Yangtze River Basin, China

by Weixia Jiang, Zigeng Niu, Lunche Wang, Rui Yao, Xuan Gui, Feifei Xiang and Yuxi Ji

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(4), 930; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14040930 - 14 Feb 2022

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 4939

Abstract

Understanding the impacts of drought and climate change on vegetation dynamics is of great significance in terms of formulating vegetation management strategies and predicting future vegetation growth. In this study, Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlations between drought, climatic factors [...] Read more.

Understanding the impacts of drought and climate change on vegetation dynamics is of great significance in terms of formulating vegetation management strategies and predicting future vegetation growth. In this study, Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlations between drought, climatic factors and vegetation conditions, and linear regression analysis was adopted to investigate the time-lag and time-accumulation effects of climatic factors on vegetation coverage based on the standardized evapotranspiration deficit index (SEDI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and gridded meteorological dataset in the Yellow River Basin (YLRB) and Yangtze River Basin (YTRB), China. The results showed that (1) the SEDI in the YLRB showed no significant change over time and space during the growing season from 1982 to 2015, whereas it increased significantly in the YTRB (slope = 0.013/year, p < 0.01), and more than 40% of the area showed a significant trend of wetness. The NDVI of the two basins, YLRB and YTRB, increased significantly at rate of 0.011/decade and 0.016/decade, respectively (p < 0.01). (2) Drought had a significant impact on vegetation in 49% of the YLRB area, which was mainly located in the northern region. In the YTRB, the area significantly affected by drought accounted for 21% of the total area, which was mainly distributed in the Sichuan Basin. (3) In the YLRB, both temperature and precipitation generally had a one-month accumulated effect on vegetation conditions, while in the YTRB, temperature was the major factor leading to changes in vegetation. In most of the area of the YTRB, the effect of temperature on vegetation was also a one-month accumulated effect, but there was no time effect in the Sichuan Basin. Considering the time effects, the contribution of climatic factors to vegetation change in the YLRB and YTRB was 76.7% and 63.2%, respectively. The explanatory power of different vegetation types in the two basins both increased by 2% to 6%. The time-accumulation effect of climatic factors had a stronger explanatory power for vegetation growth than the time-lag effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 362 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

FDI, Green Innovation and Environmental Quality Nexus: New Insights from BRICS Economies

by Najabat Ali, Khamphe Phoungthong, Kuaanan Techato, Waheed Ali, Shah Abbas, Joshuva Arockia Dhanraj and Anwar Khan

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2181; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042181 - 14 Feb 2022

Cited by 77 | Viewed by 4874

Abstract

One major concern about foreign direct investment (FDI) is the potential negative environmental impact due to increased CO₂ emissions. However, there is a possibility that FDI mitigates CO₂ emissions through green innovation and creates a cleaner environment. In the existing literature, [...] Read more.

One major concern about foreign direct investment (FDI) is the potential negative environmental impact due to increased CO₂ emissions. However, there is a possibility that FDI mitigates CO₂ emissions through green innovation and creates a cleaner environment. In the existing literature, there is no significant empirical evidence on the linkage among FDI, green innovation and CO₂ emissions in the context of BRICS countries. Hence, this study aims to analyze the impact of FDI and green innovation on the environmental quality of BRICS economies for 1990–2014. The study employed Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimators for empirical data analysis. The study’s findings depict that foreign direct investment, energy use, and economic growth have a significant and positive impact on the CO₂ emissions of BRICS economies. Moreover, green innovation has a significant inverse impact on CO₂ emissions. The results show bidirectional causalities between CO₂ emissions and green innovation, trade openness and CO₂ emissions, energy use and CO₂ emissions, and urbanization and CO₂ emissions. Additionally, the findings reveal a one-way causality from CO₂ emissions to GDP and CO₂ emissions to urbanization. This study offers essential policy recommendations for the environmental sustainability of BRICS countries through green innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

21 pages, 21231 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Coastal Vulnerability Assessment: A Case Study of the Nigerian Coastline

by Mary O. Oloyede, Akan B. Williams, Godwin O. Ode and Nsikak U. Benson

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2097; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042097 - 12 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5000

Abstract

Coastal regions are one of the essential spots on the earth as they are hosts to various important ecosystems, natural resources and the increasing population. Based on their proximity to the seas, they are mainly affected by sea-level rise, which is one of [...] Read more.

Coastal regions are one of the essential spots on the earth as they are hosts to various important ecosystems, natural resources and the increasing population. Based on their proximity to the seas, they are mainly affected by sea-level rise, which is one of the adverse effects of climate change. This has resulted in associated hazards, such as beach erosion, flooding, coastal inundation, habitat destruction, saltwater intrusion into ground water aquifers and ecosystem imbalance. This study quantifies and classifies the vulnerability of the Nigerian coastline to these threats using the analytical hierarchical approach. This involved calculating the coastal vulnerability index (CVI) employing physical and geomorphological variables, and socioeconomic indicators that characterized the coastline vulnerability. The Nigerian coast was divided into seventeen (17) segments based on geomorphic units. The different vulnerability variables were assigned ranks ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the highest and 1 indicating the lowest vulnerabilities. The geomorphological and physical parameters include coastal slope, bathymetry, geomorphology, wave height, mean tidal range, shoreline change rate and relative sea-level rise, while the socioeconomic parameters include population, cultural heritage, land use/land cover and road network. The calculated CVI values (Saaty method) ranged from 11.25 to 41.66 with a median value of 23.60. Based on Gornitz approach, the calculated measures ranged between 3.51–4.77 and 3.08–5.00 for PVI and SoVI, respectively. However, the aggregated coastal vulnerability index computed using this approach ranged from 3.29 to 4.70. The results obtained from both approaches showed that 59–65% of the entire Nigerian coastline is under moderate to high vulnerability to sea-level rise. Data indicted how the coastal populations are highly vulnerable to both physical–geomorphological and socioeconomic stressors. Coastal vulnerability maps, highlighting the physical–geomorphological and socioeconomic vulnerability status of Nigerian coastline were also generated. The information from this study will assist coastal planners in identifying vulnerable segments in the study area and subsequently aid decisions that would mitigate the predicted impacts in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 1297 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Emergence of Different Local Resilience Arrangements Regarding Extreme Weather Events in Small Municipalities—A Case Study from the Wielkopolska Region, Poland

by Adam Choryński, Iwona Pińskwar, Dariusz Graczyk and Michał Krzyżaniak

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2052; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042052 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2895

Abstract

Compared with other parts of the world, Poland is a relatively safe country in terms of natural disasters. Nevertheless, extreme weather events have become a significant threat in recent years, especially for local communities. These are exposed to intense rainfall, heavy wind, and [...] Read more.

Compared with other parts of the world, Poland is a relatively safe country in terms of natural disasters. Nevertheless, extreme weather events have become a significant threat in recent years, especially for local communities. These are exposed to intense rainfall, heavy wind, and heatwaves, as are larger towns. However, small municipalities have different economic, social, and human potential for undertaking preventive actions regarding meteorological extremes. In this paper, we are looking at what activities local communities from the Wielkopolska region in Poland undertake to cope with extreme weather events—specifically, heavy rainfall and heatwaves. We analyze the municipalities that are most and least exposed to extremes, based on meteorological data. These are further compared with local resilience measures in the event of extreme meteorological events through the risk management analysis of selected municipalities. The emergence of two approaches regarding extreme weather events has been observed. First, local arrangements consist of different resilience types. Both of the identified approaches are concentrated around rescue activities, representing recovery resilience. They differ in the second component of resilience: municipalities that have suffered more from weather extremes manifest more resistance resilience, whereas those communities where fewer meteorological events took place demonstrate more creativity-type resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 11050 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Bandung Rainfall Forecast and Its Relationship with Niño 3.4 Using Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous Neural Network

by Resa Septiani Pontoh, Toni Toharudin, Budi Nurani Ruchjana, Novika Sijabat and Mentari Dara Puspita

Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 302; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13020302 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1878

Abstract

The city of Bandung, as the capital city of West Java, is one of several areas in Indonesia with high rainfall. This situation can cause disasters, such as floods and landslides, that can harm many parties. Rainfall in Indonesia, particularly on the island [...] Read more.

The city of Bandung, as the capital city of West Java, is one of several areas in Indonesia with high rainfall. This situation can cause disasters, such as floods and landslides, that can harm many parties. Rainfall in Indonesia, particularly on the island of Java itself, is closely related to the global phenomenon of Niño 3.4. In the period from January 2001–November 2021, the rainfall and Niño 3.4 showed some extreme values. In order to foresee the disasters, an accurate rainfall forecast should be performed. For this reason, we try to construct a model of rainfall forecast and its relation to the global phenomenon of Niño 3.4 using the nonlinear autoregressive exogenous neural network (NARX NN). The result shows that NARX NN (13-7-1) with a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) value of 6.26% and R² of 85.37% is best suited for the prediction of this phenomenon. In addition, this study provides forecast results for the next six periods, which can be used as a reference for the relevant authorities to foresee the possibility of flooding in Bandung city. From the forecast results, it can be concluded that the highest rainfall forecasts in the city of Bandung are in February 2022, and will slowly decrease in March 2022. To prevent hydro-meteorological disasters, such as floods in Bandung city, the community can clear waterways, such as clogged drains, rivers, and dams, as well as prepare tools for evacuation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 3126 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Population-Land-Economic Urbanization and Its Impact on Urban Carbon Emissions in Shandong Province, China

by Kui Liu, Jian Wang, Xiang Kang, Jingming Liu, Zheyi Xia, Kai Du and Xuexin Zhu

Land 2022, 11(2), 266; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020266 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2661

Abstract

New-type urbanization is a dynamic process composed of numerous elements and multiple subsystems. Coordination and coherence of various subsystems are critical for promoting urban-rural integration and regional synergistic development and will have a complicated impact on sustainable development in the trade-off between socioeconomic [...] Read more.

New-type urbanization is a dynamic process composed of numerous elements and multiple subsystems. Coordination and coherence of various subsystems are critical for promoting urban-rural integration and regional synergistic development and will have a complicated impact on sustainable development in the trade-off between socioeconomic growth and environmental conservation. This paper theorized the interconnected and mutually influential coupling coordination relationship between population-land-economic urbanization (PLEU) and the mechanism by which this relationship affects urban carbon emissions. The Wavelet Neural Network (WNN), Coupling Coordination Degree model, and econometric model were used to reveal this relationship and mechanism. A total of 17 cities in Shandong Province, China, were used as study subjects for empirical examination. The results show that the level of PLEU in Shandong was significantly improved from 2007 to 2016, but the gap between cities tended to further expand. The 17 cities gradually got rid of the antagonistic disorder issue of the coupling coordination relationship of PLEU from 2007 to 2016, spatially showing the agglomeration characteristics with Qingdao and Jinan as the core, respectively. The influence of the coupling coordination degree of PLEU on urban carbon emissions presents an inverted, U-shaped characteristic, that is, the total urban carbon emissions will first increase and then decrease as the improvement of the coupling coordination relationship of PLEU. China’s new-type urbanization has provided an efficient solution to sustainable development, namely planning and designing at the highest strategic level to establish scientific goals. This new-type urbanization strategy could provide an effective alternative for other emerging countries worldwide, for addressing the challenges to sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1000 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Obstacle Factors and Spatial Measurement of the Well-Being of the Elderly in China

by Lijing Dong, Zhanhua Jia, Lingyu Zhang and Shaohua Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 1950; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14041950 - 09 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1675

Abstract

This paper takes 31 provinces in China as the research object and constructs an evaluation index system for the well-being of the elderly in four aspects (health well-being, income well-being, social well-being and educational well-being) and uses a set-pair analysis model to spatially [...] Read more.

This paper takes 31 provinces in China as the research object and constructs an evaluation index system for the well-being of the elderly in four aspects (health well-being, income well-being, social well-being and educational well-being) and uses a set-pair analysis model to spatially measure the well-being of the elderly. Then, barrier analysis is used to identify the main factors that lead to the differences in the well-being levels of the elderly in different regions. The results show that: (1) The provinces with higher levels of well-being of the elderly are mainly concentrated in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, Pearl River Delta region, Yangtze River Delta region and Bohai Sea Rim region. (2) The differences in income well-being levels are the largest among provinces, and the differences in health levels are the smallest among provinces. (3) Analysis of the barriers to elderly well-being shows that the number of beds per 1000 population in health care facilities, elderly dependency ratio, number of higher education schools for adults, number of nursing homes and urban road area per capita are the main factors affecting the differences in the well-being levels of elderly people across provinces. Finally, policy recommendations are made to introduce localized policies for the elderly in China to continuously promote solutions to the problems of the elderly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 5054 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Population–Food Relationship from the Perspective of Climate Productivity Potential: A Case Study of Eastern Gansu in Northwest China

by Junqi Cheng and Shuyan Yin

Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 287; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13020287 - 08 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1344

Abstract

Suffering from the double blow of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and floods, food security issues have once again become a source of concern. Eastern Gansu is an important dry farming area in northwestern China, and agricultural production has been greatly affected by [...] Read more.

Suffering from the double blow of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and floods, food security issues have once again become a source of concern. Eastern Gansu is an important dry farming area in northwestern China, and agricultural production has been greatly affected by climate change. Based on the climate data of 17 national meteorological stations in eastern Gansu from 1961 to 2020 and the data on population, grain planting area and grain production in each region from 1986 to 2019, using the Thornthwaite Memorial model, this paper analyzed the climate production potential (T_SPV), population carrying capacity and population carrying capacity index in eastern Gansu, and then revealed the relationship between population and food in eastern Gansu. The findings and results revealed that: (1) over the past 60 years, the temperature in eastern Gansu has been increasing and precipitation has been decreasing; (2) T_SPV has been increasing. Moreoever, the spatial distribution was significantly different, showing a trend of decreasing from the southeast to the northwest. Lintao, Huining, and Jingtai displayed a decreasing trend, while other areas exhibited an increasing trend. Precipitation was the main limiting factor for T_SPV; (3) Grain production continued to increase due to changing hydrothermal conditions and improved production efficiency. Cultivated land–population carrying capacity and climate production potential–population carrying capacity (T_SPV–population carrying capacity) both exhibited a significant increasing trend (p < 0.01). Cultivated land–population capacity increased from southeast to northwest, and all stations expressed an increasing trend. T_SPV–population carrying capacity increased from southeast to northwest, and the whole region displayed an increasing trend. Even in extremely reduced production years, T_SPV–population carrying capacity was also greater than cultivated land–population carrying capacity. This revealed that, under ideal conditions, T_SPV–population carrying capacity can fully meet the needs of the current population. (4) The population carrying capacity index showed a significant downward trend (p < 0.01). It showed a trend of decreasing from south to north, and whole area underwent a decreasing trend consistently, indicating that the population–food relationship in eastern Gansu tended to be balanced. This result was conducive to correct assessment of the relationship between people and food in the study area, and provided a reference for formulating food policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 4242 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Weather Preferences for Urban Tourism: An Empirical Study in the Greek Capital of Athens, Greece

by Dimitrios Kapetanakis, Elena Georgopoulou, Sevastianos Mirasgedis and Yannis Sarafidis

Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 282; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13020282 - 08 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1911

Abstract

Several climate indices have been developed to analyze the relationship between climatic variables and tourist comfort at different destinations, although, none of the indices applied so far in cities have been informed by empirical data collected exclusively at urban tourist destinations. The present [...] Read more.

Several climate indices have been developed to analyze the relationship between climatic variables and tourist comfort at different destinations, although, none of the indices applied so far in cities have been informed by empirical data collected exclusively at urban tourist destinations. The present paper aims to cover this gap by developing an “Urban Climate Comfort Index” (UCCI) that integrates critical climate variables for urban tourism and is informed by empirical data from an in-situ survey conducted in southern Europe, namely, in close proximity to the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece. The survey provided input on the ideal and unacceptable climatic conditions as perceived by urban tourists and on the relevant weight of the selected climatic parameters. Tourist preferences were then translated into a numerical scale by assigning utility scores of 0% and 100% to the “unacceptable” and “ideal” values while using a linear change for the intermediate values. Hence, a best-fitting utility function for each climatic variable was created, and all utility functions were then aggregated through their relative weights to form the UCCI index. The new index can be applied to other similar urban tourist destinations and assist impact assessment studies and tourism management measures, including climate change adaptation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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33 pages, 1643 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Green Are the National Hydrogen Strategies?

by Wenting Cheng and Sora Lee

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1930; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031930 - 08 Feb 2022

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 11211

Abstract

Since Japan promulgated the world’s first national hydrogen strategy in 2017, 28 national (or regional, in the case of the EU) hydrogen strategies have been issued by major world economies. As carbon emissions vary with different types of hydrogen, and only green hydrogen [...] Read more.

Since Japan promulgated the world’s first national hydrogen strategy in 2017, 28 national (or regional, in the case of the EU) hydrogen strategies have been issued by major world economies. As carbon emissions vary with different types of hydrogen, and only green hydrogen produced from renewable energy can be zero-emissions fuel, this paper interrogates the commitment of the national hydrogen strategies to achieve decarbonization objectives, focusing on the question “how green are the national hydrogen strategies?” We create a typology of regulatory stringency for green hydrogen in national hydrogen strategies, analyzing the text of these strategies and their supporting policies, and evaluating their regulatory stringency toward decarbonization. Our typology includes four parameters, fossilfuel penalties, hydrogen certifications, innovation enablement, and the temporal dimension of coal phasing out. Following the typology, we categorize the national hydrogen strategies into three groups: zero regulatory stringency, scale first and clean later, and green hydrogen now. We find that most national strategies are of the type “scale first and clean later”, with one or more regulatory measures in place. This article identifies further challenges to enhancing regulatory stringency for green hydrogen at both national and international levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 9775 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment and Prediction of Carbon Storage Based on Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics in the Tropics: A Case Study of Hainan Island, China

by Qing Liu, Dongdong Yang, Lei Cao and Bruce Anderson

Land 2022, 11(2), 244; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020244 - 06 Feb 2022

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4674

Abstract

Land use and land cover (LULC) change in tropical regions can cause huge amounts of carbon loss and storage, thus significantly affecting the global climate. Due to the differences in natural and social conditions between regions, it is necessary to explore the correlation [...] Read more.

Land use and land cover (LULC) change in tropical regions can cause huge amounts of carbon loss and storage, thus significantly affecting the global climate. Due to the differences in natural and social conditions between regions, it is necessary to explore the correlation mechanism between LULC and carbon storage changes in tropical regions from a broader geographical perspective. This paper takes Hainan Island as the research object, through the integration of the CA-Markov and Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) models, based on multi-source data, analyses the dynamics of LULC and carbon storage from 1992 to 2019 and the relationship between the two, and predicts future LULC and carbon storage under different scenarios. The results show that (1) the built-up land area of Hainan Island expanded from 103.59 km² to 574.83 km² from 1992 to 2019, an increase of 454.91%; the area of cropland and shrubland decreased; and the area of forest increased. (2) Carbon storage showed an upward trend during 1992–2000, and a downward trend during 2000–2019. Overall, LULC changes during 1992–2019 reduced carbon storage by about 1.50 Tg. (3) The encroachment of cropland in built-up land areas is the main reason for the reduction of carbon storage. The conversion of shrubland to forest is the main driving force for increasing carbon storage. The increase and decrease of carbon storage have obvious spatial clustering characteristics. (4) In the simulation prediction, the natural trend scenario (NT), built-up land priority scenario (BP) and ecological priority scenario (EP) reduce the carbon storage of Hainan Island, and the rate of decrease is BP> NT > EP. The cropland priority scenario (CP) can increase the LULC carbon storage, and the maximum increase in 2050 can reach 0.79 Tg. This paper supplements and improves the understanding of the correlation between LULC and carbon storage changes in tropical regions, and can provide guidance for the optimization of LULC structure in tropical regions with high economic development from a low-carbon perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 3028 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Urban “Three States” Human Settlements High-Quality Coordinated Development

by Shenzhen Tian, Ao Qi, Zihang Li, Xiaobai Pan, Yushi Liu and Xueming Li

Buildings 2022, 12(2), 178; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12020178 - 04 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2314

Abstract

The high-quality interaction of urban reality human settlements (RHSs), pseudo-human settlements (PHSs) and image human settlements (IHSs) can better explain the constantly updated human settlements phenomena under the human–land-relationship regional system. At present, the basic connotation, empirical exploration and optimized path of high-quality [...] Read more.

The high-quality interaction of urban reality human settlements (RHSs), pseudo-human settlements (PHSs) and image human settlements (IHSs) can better explain the constantly updated human settlements phenomena under the human–land-relationship regional system. At present, the basic connotation, empirical exploration and optimized path of high-quality and coordinated development of “three states” of human settlements are not clear. In this paper, we take 14 prefecture-level cities in Liaoning Province as case areas and empirically explore their spatial patterns, coupling and coordination spatial relationships, driving mechanisms and development paths by using a coupling and coordination model, the entropy weight method and the geographic detector method. The results indicate that: (1) The spatial pattern of high-quality development of “three states” of human settlements varies significantly in different regions, forming a “dual-core” and “hump” spatial structure. (2) RHSs, PHSs and IHSs are not completely coordinated, forming “high–high–high” and “low–low–low” types, represented by Shenyang and Fuxin. (3) The high-quality coordinated development of “three states” of human settlements is driven by economic conditions, population conditions, entertainment systems and other factors. The population system, the social communication system and the support system, respectively, lead the high-quality coordinated development of RHSs, PHSs and IHSs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 11119 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Collective-Led and State-Led Land Development in China from the Perspective of Institutional Arrangements: The Case of Guangzhou

by Jinkun Yang, Zhouqian He and Haitao Ma

Land 2022, 11(2), 226; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020226 - 03 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1728

Abstract

The existing literature explains well how dual urbanization promotes land development and spatial expansion in China, but few studies have examined the emergence of state-led and village-led land development by measuring the urban expansion ratio from the perspective of institutional arrangements. To fill [...] Read more.

The existing literature explains well how dual urbanization promotes land development and spatial expansion in China, but few studies have examined the emergence of state-led and village-led land development by measuring the urban expansion ratio from the perspective of institutional arrangements. To fill this gap, this study examines the spatial pattern and evolution of urban expansion and then explains the institutional dynamics in evolving different spatial forms of land development in Guangzhou. Among the findings of our research, two important points merit special attention. First, this study examines the emergence of collective-led and state-led development in Chinese cities from the perspective of institutions with the support of empirical evidence from Guangzhou. Herein, urban expansion intensity (UEI) was used to improve urban expansion as an evaluation index of urbanization speed. Second, the present study developed a theoretical framework based on land property rights from an institutional perspective to explain the two forms of land development in the dynamic urbanization process. From a broader theoretical perspective, diverse spatial forms of land development in Chinese cities contribute to the understanding of urban land expansion based on an institutional approach. The policy implication of this study is that the speed of urban expansion will gradually slow with the advancement of new urbanization, and growth in collective land in the urban area will gradually decrease. Land redevelopment policies and regulations should be taken into account for collective land in urban areas, which is necessary for sustainable urban development in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 6412 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Workers’ Satisfaction vis-à-vis Environmental and Socio-Morphological Aspects for Sustainability and Decent Work

by Abeer Elshater, Hisham Abusaada, Abdulmoneim Alfiky, Nardine El-Bardisy, Esraa Elmarakby and Sandy Grant

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1699; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031699 - 01 Feb 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3161

Abstract

This study examines worker satisfaction vis-à-vis outdoor places in terms of their environmental and socio-morphological aspects. Numerous studies have considered decent work as the eighth goal of sustainable development. However, it is worth investigating outdoor workers’ satisfaction with a view to the practical [...] Read more.

This study examines worker satisfaction vis-à-vis outdoor places in terms of their environmental and socio-morphological aspects. Numerous studies have considered decent work as the eighth goal of sustainable development. However, it is worth investigating outdoor workers’ satisfaction with a view to the practical design of the surrounding context that supports their work in outdoor places. Using bibliometric analysis, this study investigates possible approaches toward providing decent work in a public place in Cairo as a case study, focusing on outdoor workers’ satisfaction. In the bibliometric analysis, this study used query settings in the Scimago database to search for manuscripts published in the previous five years. The result yielded 195 manuscripts that were filtered down to 50 manuscripts and then grouped using VOSviewr Software. Environmental noise and heat assessment analyses were performed using noise level measurements, remote sensing, and the Grasshopper platform. Further, we conducted an ethnographic study employing 77 participant observations. The results show that work hours and time affect worker satisfaction, as do environmental conditions, particularly noise and heat. However, unexpected findings from participant observation in this study do not accord with findings in other scholarly sources, where other observers find workers neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the spatial morphology in the case study. Per this study, the alignment of worker satisfaction with convenient socio-morphological tangible elements of the workplace and with other environmental aspects should be attained in both specified replicable methods to engender decent work for outdoor workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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31 pages, 1368 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Green Mortgages, EU Taxonomy and Environment Risk Weighted Assets: A Key Link for the Transition

by Lorenzo Esposito, Giuseppe Mastromatteo, Andrea Molocchi, Paola Cristina Brambilla, Maria Leonor Carvalho, Pierpaolo Girardi, Benedetta Marmiroli and Giulio Mela

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1633; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031633 - 30 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5512

Abstract

The need for a quick and radical green transition gives a key role to the financial system as the main source to fund the change. This debate also involves the development of banking regulation tools able to serve the transition. Building on previous [...] Read more.

The need for a quick and radical green transition gives a key role to the financial system as the main source to fund the change. This debate also involves the development of banking regulation tools able to serve the transition. Building on previous works, we propose a method to weight banks’ assets that combines conventional financial risks and environmental risks to calculate prudential capital requirements, and we apply it to the EU Taxonomy’s technical screening criteria to build an environmental risk indicator based on the buildings’ energy consumptions. We show how to calculate the tool endogenously for the taxonomy sections related to buildings (new construction, purchase of building, renovation), thus proving its immediate enforceability, using data from the Lombardy’s housing stocks. Finally, we conduct a stress test for the Italian banking system showing that our proposal would be an effective incentive for the banks to fund the green transition of the construction sector. Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the authors and do not involve the responsibility of the Bank of Italy or RSE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3049 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering on Meteorological Droughts in West Africa

by Adéchina Eric Alamou, Ezéchiel Obada, Eliézer Iboukoun Biao, Esdras Babadjidé Josué Zandagba, Casimir Y. Da-Allada, Frederic K. Bonou, Ezinvi Baloïtcha, Simone Tilmes and Peter J. Irvine

Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 234; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13020234 - 29 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3101

Abstract

This study assesses changes in meteorological droughts in West Africa under a high greenhouse gas scenario, i.e., a representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5), and under a scenario of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering (SAG) deployment. Using simulations from the Geoengineering Large Ensemble (GLENS) project that [...] Read more.

This study assesses changes in meteorological droughts in West Africa under a high greenhouse gas scenario, i.e., a representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5), and under a scenario of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering (SAG) deployment. Using simulations from the Geoengineering Large Ensemble (GLENS) project that employed stratospheric sulfate aerosols injection to keep global mean surface temperature, as well as the interhemispheric and equator-to-pole temperature gradients at the 2020 level (present-day climate), we investigated the impact of SAG on meteorological droughts in West Africa. Analysis of the meteorological drought characteristics (number of drought events, drought duration, maximum length of drought events, severity of the greatest drought events and intensity of the greatest drought event) revealed that over the period from 2030–2049 and under GLENS simulations, these drought characteristics decrease in most regions in comparison to the RCP8.5 scenarios. On the contrary, over the period from 2070–2089 and under GLENS simulations, these drought characteristics increase in most regions compared to the results from the RCP8.5 scenarios. Under GLENS, the increase in drought characteristics is due to a decrease in precipitation. The decrease in precipitation is largely driven by weakened monsoon circulation due to the reduce of land–sea thermal contrast in the lower troposphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 6648 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Combining MSPA-MCR Model to Evaluate the Ecological Network in Wuhan, China

by Chunguang Hu, Ziyi Wang, Yu Wang, Dongqi Sun and Jingxiang Zhang

Land 2022, 11(2), 213; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020213 - 29 Jan 2022

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 3833

Abstract

Rapid urbanization development and construction has seriously threatened the connectivity of habitat patches in cities and hindered the construction of ecological networks in highly urbanized areas. Among them, China is affected by early compressed urbanization, and the broken ecological space in cities and [...] Read more.

Rapid urbanization development and construction has seriously threatened the connectivity of habitat patches in cities and hindered the construction of ecological networks in highly urbanized areas. Among them, China is affected by early compressed urbanization, and the broken ecological space in cities and towns has attracted the extensive interest of researchers. To avoid the subjective randomness and single analysis of ecological space in urbanization areas, this paper takes the central urban area of Wuhan as the main research area. It comprehensively evaluates the ecological network space by combining the MSPA-MCR model. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Identifying the ecological landscape types with important ecological significance in the study area: Core (88.29%), Islet (0.25%), Perf (0.63%), Edge (9.74%), Loop (0.22%), and Bridge (0.14%). Through the dPC landscape index, seven important ecological sources south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River were identified. (2) According to the comprehensive factors of natural and human factors constructed by the MCR model, the minimum cumulative ecological resistance surface was established, with an average value of 2.65, a maximum value of 4.70, and a minimum value of 1.00, showing a trend that the ecological resistance values in the central and eastern parts are lower than those in the western part. (3) According to the standard deviation ellipse, the distribution direction of NE–SW in ecological sources was analyzed. The ecological sources distributed in the north were less, and the spatial distribution was scattered on the whole. The strong global positive correlation and local spatial aggregation characteristics of ecological resistance surface were evaluated according to spatial autocorrelation. Based on the gravity model, the interaction intensity of ecological corridors between source areas was evaluated, and the importance of ecological corridor protection and restoration was quantitatively analyzed. The research results provide scientific and reasonable references and a basis for ecological planning of Wuhan central city. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1251 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Recreational and Cultural Ecosystem Services Value of Islands

by Na Zhao, Hui Wang, Jingqiu Zhong and Dongqi Sun

Land 2022, 11(2), 205; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020205 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3606

Abstract

With the gradual expansion of benefits provided by islands to human wellbeing, it has become increasingly important to quantify the cultural ecosystem service functions of islands. In this study, the zone travel cost method (ZTCM) and individual travel cost method (ITCM) are used [...] Read more.

With the gradual expansion of benefits provided by islands to human wellbeing, it has become increasingly important to quantify the cultural ecosystem service functions of islands. In this study, the zone travel cost method (ZTCM) and individual travel cost method (ITCM) are used to assess the recreational and cultural ecosystem services value of the island region of Changhai County, China, and the recreational value of Xiaochangshan, Dachangshan, and Guanglu Islands based on questionnaire survey data. The results are as follows: (1) The overall recreational and cultural ecosystem services value of Changhai County in 2019 was 533.14 million USD, including a traveling cost of 395.71 million USD and consumer surplus of 137.43 million USD. (2) Further, based on the choice and consumption behaviors of tourists, multiple recreational values of the county were also inferred: the aesthetic experience presented the greatest contribution, while educational knowledge accounted for a lower percentage. (3) The recreational and cultural ecosystem services value 294.16, 60.03, and 143.26 million USD for Xiaochangshan, Dachangshan, and Guanglu Islands, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, future research will focus on the planning and development of Xiaochangshan Island tourism to maximize consumer surplus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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9 pages, 597 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Is the Ecological Footprint Enough Science for Algerian Fisheries Management?

by Sonia Akrour and Samir Grimes

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1418; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031418 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3142

Abstract

There is an urgent need to understand the fishing sector, given the uncertainties and the importance it has gained due to the potential of Algerian waters. The main objective of this paper is to establish a diagnosis of the demand for fishery resources [...] Read more.

There is an urgent need to understand the fishing sector, given the uncertainties and the importance it has gained due to the potential of Algerian waters. The main objective of this paper is to establish a diagnosis of the demand for fishery resources at Algiers fishing ports and provide additional information regarding energy use at a reduced scale. According to the estimated ecological footprint (EF) of fishery production (EFf), Algiers fishing is in the status of ecological surplus, as the demand for fisheries production averages 15,338.49 gha compared to more than 108 thousand gha of biologically productive fishing area. In addition to this overall output, this metric indicates each species’ primary production requirement (PPR), which could help to restructure the fishing effort based on the stock’s condition. For the energy component, the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions expressed in metric tons of CO₂ were used to estimate the required area for carbon sequestration, valued roughly at 500 gha. The latter is a reference state and remains approximate because it was derived from unofficial data provided by the fishers. This study demonstrated that EF is informative and could be used for resources management. However, it must be built on precise data and supported by further analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2003 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Neuroscience and CSR: Using EEG for Assessing the Effectiveness of Branded Videos Related to Environmental Issues

by Milan Janić, Marko Ćirović, Nikolaos Dimitriadis, Neda Jovanović Dimitriadis and Panayiota Alevizou

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1347; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031347 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3563

Abstract

The majority of studies evaluating the effectiveness of branded CSR campaigns are concentrated and base their conclusions on data collection through self-reporting questionnaires. Although such studies provide insights for evaluating the effectiveness of CSR communication methods, analysing the message that is communicated, the [...] Read more.

The majority of studies evaluating the effectiveness of branded CSR campaigns are concentrated and base their conclusions on data collection through self-reporting questionnaires. Although such studies provide insights for evaluating the effectiveness of CSR communication methods, analysing the message that is communicated, the communication channel used and the explicit brain responses of those for whom the message is intended, they lack the ability to fully encapsulate the problem of communicating environmental messages by not taking into consideration what the recipients’ implicit brain reactions are presenting. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of CSR video communications relating to environmental issues through the lens of the recipients’ implicit self, by employing neuroscience-based assessments. For the examination of implicit brain perception, an electroencephalogram (EEG) was used, and the collected data was analysed through three indicators identified as the most influential indicators on human behaviour. These three indicators are emotional valence, the level of brain engagement and cognitive load. The study is conducted on individuals from the millennial generation in Thessaloniki, Greece, whose implicit brain responses to seven branded commercial videos are recorded. The seven videos were a part of CSR campaigns addressing environmental issues. Simultaneously, the self-reporting results from the participants were gathered for a comparison between the explicit and implicit brain responses. One of the key findings of the study is that the explicit and implicit brain responses differ to the extent that the CSR video communications’ brain friendliness has to be taken into account in the future, to ensure success. The results of the study provide an insight for the future creation process, conceptualisation, design and content of the effective CSR communication, in regard to environmental issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 2904 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of Agricultural Vulnerability in the Context of Global Climate Change: A Case Study in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam

by Duong Thi Loi, Le Van Huong, Pham Anh Tuan, Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, Tong Thi Quynh Huong and Bui Thi Hoa Man

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1282; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031282 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3974

Abstract

Climate change is considered a major challenge of mankind in the 21st century. Agriculture is known as one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. This study aims to evaluate agricultural vulnerability to climate change in Ha Tinh province. The agricultural vulnerability [...] Read more.

Climate change is considered a major challenge of mankind in the 21st century. Agriculture is known as one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. This study aims to evaluate agricultural vulnerability to climate change in Ha Tinh province. The agricultural vulnerability zoning map is presented by using the index method with eight influential indicators across three components: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Agricultural vulnerability is quantified and classified into five levels, namely very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The results indicated that Ha Tinh’s agriculture was heavily affected by climate change, and the most vulnerable area is found in Huong Khe district and Thach Ha district. People and their activities play an important role in mitigating the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change. The results obtained from this study provide useful information for planning and determining guidelines to help farmers in the area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 5951 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Reducing Carbon Emissions for the Vehicle Routing Problem by Utilizing Multiple Depots

by Sihan Wang, Cheng Han, Yang Yu, Min Huang, Wei Sun and Ikou Kaku

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1264; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031264 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3354

Abstract

Emission reductions could be achieved by replacing the single-depot mode with a multi-depot mode of vehicle routing. In our study, we identified situations under which multiple depots could be used to effectively reduce carbon emissions. We proposed a branch-and-price (BAP) algorithm to obtain [...] Read more.

Emission reductions could be achieved by replacing the single-depot mode with a multi-depot mode of vehicle routing. In our study, we identified situations under which multiple depots could be used to effectively reduce carbon emissions. We proposed a branch-and-price (BAP) algorithm to obtain an optimal solution for the multi-depot green vehicle routing problem. Based on the BAP algorithm, we accurately quantified the carbon emission reduction potential of the multi-depot mode over the single-depot mode. Factors such as the number of depots, vehicle speed, customer demand, and service time were considered and analyzed. Computational tests were conducted, and the results showed that using multiple depots in a vehicle routing problem can reduce carbon emissions by at most 37.6%. In sensitivity analyses, we show relationships between these factors, and several managerial insights that can be used to successfully reduce carbon emissions were summarized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 4081 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Responses of Ecosystem Service Value during the Development of Urban Agglomerations

by Huisheng Yu, Jun Yang, Dongqi Sun, Tong Li and Yanjun Liu

Land 2022, 11(2), 165; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020165 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 2858

Abstract

This study analyzed data from 1995, 2005, and 2015 using mathematical calculations, spatial analysis, and a geographically weighted regression model. The results showed that from 1995 to 2015, the comprehensive regional development degree (RDD) of urban agglomeration in the middle of Jilin Province [...] Read more.

This study analyzed data from 1995, 2005, and 2015 using mathematical calculations, spatial analysis, and a geographically weighted regression model. The results showed that from 1995 to 2015, the comprehensive regional development degree (RDD) of urban agglomeration in the middle of Jilin Province increased overall, with the average RDD increasing from 0.250 in 1995 to 0.323 in 2015. Especially in Changchun, a sub-provincial city, the RDD increased by nearly one-third, and the gap between this and other cities has been increasing. However, the ecosystem service value (ESV) decreased overall, with the average ESV decreasing from 108.3 in 1995 to 105.4 in 2015, and showed a strong spatial correlation. The maximum quantile in southeast–northwest direction was 1.712, with good homogeneity. The spatial influence coefficient of the RDD on the ESV showed a trend from positive to negative in the northwest–southeast direction. This value decreased continuously while the negative agglomeration area was gradually expanding, corresponding to the stressful effects of the RDD on ESV. The results of this study can provide a reference for urban planning and development as well as encourage reasonable regional spatial planning to ensure the sustainable development of urban agglomerations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 2341 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Hotspots of Yield Loss for Four Crops of the Belt and Road Terrestrial Countries under 1.5 °C Global Warming

by Miao Tong, Erfu Dai and Chunsheng Wu

Land 2022, 11(2), 163; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020163 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2140

Abstract

The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) shows that climate change poses severe risks to the Belt and Road region and could cut future crop production. Identifying the positions and features of hotspots, which refer to regions with [...] Read more.

The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) shows that climate change poses severe risks to the Belt and Road region and could cut future crop production. Identifying the positions and features of hotspots, which refer to regions with severe yield loss at 1.5 °C global warming, is the key to developing proper mitigation and adaptation policies to ensure regional food security. This study examined yield loss hotspots of four crops (maize, rice, soybean and wheat) at 1.5 °C global warming under RCP8.5. Yield data were derived from simulations of multiple climate-crop model ensembles from the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI-MIP). Hotspots were identified by setting a threshold of the 10th percentile of crop yields during the reference period (1986–2005). To quantify the likelihood of crop yield loss hotspots within multi-model ensembles, the agreement of model combinations for hotspots was calculated for each crop at the grid scale with 0.5° × 0.5° spatial resolution. Results revealed spatial heterogeneity of cultivation structure and hotspot likelihood for four crops. The four crops’ production of SA (South Asia) and SEA (Southeast Asia) accounts for more than 40% of the total production in the Belt and Road region, roughly four times the amount produced in CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) and NEA (Northeast Asia). Besides, the hotspots likelihood of maize, rice and soybean is generally larger in SA/SEA than that in CEE/NEA which means the risk of yield reduction is higher in the current main agricultural area. According to IPCC’s classification rules for likelihood, four crops’ hotspot patterns were displayed under the 1.5 °C global warming. As the highest-yielding crop, maize shows the largest proportion of “likely” hotspots (hotspot likelihood > 66%), which is about 6.48%, accounting for more than four times that of the other three crops. In addition, four crops’ hotspots are mainly distributed in SEA and SA. Overall, SEA and SA are vulnerable subregions and maize is the vulnerable crop of the Belt and Road region. Our results could provide information on target areas where mitigation or adaptations are needed to reduce the adverse influence of climate change in the agricultural system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1324 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Plant Diversity, Functional Group Composition and Legumes Effects versus Fertilisation on the Yield and Forage Quality

by Gintarė Šidlauskaitė, Vilma Kemešytė, Monika Toleikienė and Žydrė Kadžiulienė

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1182; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031182 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2013

Abstract

Elevating plant diversity and functional group composition amount in the swards may contribute to lower N fertiliser use. The excessive use of fertilisers in agriculture is one of the causes of environmental pollution issues. We investigated the effects of plant diversity, functional community [...] Read more.

Elevating plant diversity and functional group composition amount in the swards may contribute to lower N fertiliser use. The excessive use of fertilisers in agriculture is one of the causes of environmental pollution issues. We investigated the effects of plant diversity, functional community composition, and fertilisation on the dry matter yield and its quality at the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Central Lithuania. The study aimed to determine the productivity potential of single-species and multi-species swards with three, four, six, and eight plant species in the mixtures including four grasses and four legumes. Two experimental backgrounds were used with N₀ and N₁₅₀ kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for all treatments. In the two-year experiment manipulating species richness and functional group diversity had a positive effect on the dry matter yield and produced better quality of the forage when compared with single-species swards. Crude protein in the forage of grass–legume mixtures was significantly greater than for grass monocultures. Investigating fertilisation background was a concern; it had a positive effect on the single-species sward yield but decreased the yield of multi-species swards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2756 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Landscape Pattern into Characterising and Optimising Ecosystem Services for Regional Sustainable Development

by Yangbiao Li, Chen Zeng, Zhixin Liu, Bingqian Cai and Yang Zhang

Land 2022, 11(1), 140; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010140 - 17 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2305

Abstract

Humans benefit from ecosystem services (ES) and profoundly influence the ecosystem in rapid urbanisation and large-scale urban sprawl contexts, especially at the landscape level. However, the impacts of landscape pattern, the driving mechanism of sub-ES and the spatially explicit regional optimisation, have been [...] Read more.

Humans benefit from ecosystem services (ES) and profoundly influence the ecosystem in rapid urbanisation and large-scale urban sprawl contexts, especially at the landscape level. However, the impacts of landscape pattern, the driving mechanism of sub-ES and the spatially explicit regional optimisation, have been largely ignored. In response, to the present paper explores two primary aspects: the relationship among ES, landscape pattern, urban income and agricultural output, and the regional governance of optimised ES values (ESV), using the Wuhan urban agglomeration as a case study area. The survey method is employed in obtaining the adjusted magnitude matrix of land use and ecosystem services. Spatial regression analyses are conducted on each ES, including food provision, climate regulation and soil maintenance, with socio-economic indicators and landscape pattern index as explanatory variables. Finally, geographically weighted regression and scenario analyses are conducted on each sub-ESV to generate adjusted coefficients in each county for ESV regulation. The results show that urban per capita disposable income and agricultural output significantly contribute to ESV change, with the former being negative and the latter being positive. A highly aggregated landscape also produces reduced ESV, particularly in soil maintenance and gas and climate regulation. We summarise the ESV in 2020 and in the period after adjustment in different administrative counties. Provision, regulation and culture ecosystem benefits substantially increase when attempts are made to lower the landscape aggregation pattern by 1%. In general, counties and county-level cities have the largest ESV, with food provision as the optimum ecosystem benefit. Districts in the capital city show an immense growth in provision and regulation, and county-level cities show the highest growth rate in cultural service. Integrating the landscape pattern into characterising and optimising ES, provides references for regional governance on land-use planning and socio-economic development, which is vital to sustainable regional development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 29420 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Under-Canopy Regeneration of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) as Adaptive Potential in Building a Diverse Stand Structure

by Anna Zawadzka and Alicja Słupska

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 1044; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14021044 - 17 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

Under-canopy natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand is able to create stands with a complex structure, which are characterised by greater resistance to extreme phenomena related to climate change. The main aim of the work was to analyse the potential [...] Read more.

Under-canopy natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand is able to create stands with a complex structure, which are characterised by greater resistance to extreme phenomena related to climate change. The main aim of the work was to analyse the potential of pine undergrowth, its role in the stand, and its usefulness in further breeding plans to create stands of various structure, with greater stability and tolerance to stress factors, including greater resistance to climate change. The study was carried out in north-eastern Poland, in pine stands thinned by strong (hurricane level) wind in 2002. The study area covers 225.2 ha and is located in 29 stands. Naturally regenerated pine saplings with a minimum height of 0.5 m, characterised by a high density, growing under the upper cover of the stand, with varying degrees of thinning, were qualified for the study. On average 7.820 pine saplings were recorded in the area of one hectare. Over 65% of the examined saplings were determined to be of very good or good quality, prognostic for further development and the creation of the main stand in the future. The principle of increasing the structural diversity of stands is the method of increasing the adaptability of forests to environmental changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 4484 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Soil Erodibility K Value and Its Influencing Factors in the Changyan Watershed, Southwest Hubei, China

by Xiaofang Huang, Lirong Lin, Shuwen Ding, Zhengchao Tian, Xinyuan Zhu, Keren Wu and Yuanzhe Zhao

Land 2022, 11(1), 134; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010134 - 15 Jan 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3659

Abstract

Soil erodibility K factor is an important parameter for evaluating soil erosion vulnerability and is required for soil erosion prediction models. It is also necessary for soil and water conservation management. In this study, we investigated the spatial variability characteristics of soil erodibility [...] Read more.

Soil erodibility K factor is an important parameter for evaluating soil erosion vulnerability and is required for soil erosion prediction models. It is also necessary for soil and water conservation management. In this study, we investigated the spatial variability characteristics of soil erodibility K factor in a watershed (Changyan watershed with an area of 8.59 km²) of Enshi, southwest of Hubei, China, and evaluated its influencing factors. The soil K values were determined by the EPIC model using the soil survey data across the watershed. Spatial K value prediction was conducted by regression-kriging using geographic data. We also assessed the effects of soil type, land use, and topography on the K value variations. The results showed that soil erodibility K values varied between 0.039–0.052 t·hm²·h/(hm²·MJ·mm) in the watershed with a block-like structure of spatial distribution. The soil erodibility, soil texture, and organic matter content all showed positive spatial autocorrelation. The spatial variability of the K value was related to soil type, land use, and topography. The calcareous soil had the greatest K value on average, followed by the paddy soil, the yellow-brown soil (an alfisol), the purple soil (an inceptisol), and the fluvo-aquic soil (an entisol). The soil K factor showed a negative correlation with the sand content but was positively related to soil silt and clay contents. Forest soils had a greater ability to resist to erosion compared to the cultivated soils. The soil K values increased with increasing slope and showed a decreasing trend with increasing altitude. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 4721 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Valuing the Impact of Forest Disturbances on the Climate Regulation Service of Western U.S. Forests

by Raymundo Marcos-Martinez, José J. Sánchez, Lorie Srivastava, Natthanij Soonsawad and Dominique Bachelet

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 903; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020903 - 13 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1621

Abstract

The protection and expansion of forest carbon sinks are critical to achieving climate-change mitigation targets. Yet, the increasing frequency and severity of forest disturbances challenge the sustainable provision of forest services. We investigated patterns of forest disturbances’ impacts on carbon sinks by combining [...] Read more.

The protection and expansion of forest carbon sinks are critical to achieving climate-change mitigation targets. Yet, the increasing frequency and severity of forest disturbances challenge the sustainable provision of forest services. We investigated patterns of forest disturbances’ impacts on carbon sinks by combining spatial datasets of forest carbon sequestration from biomass growth and emissions from fire and bark beetle damage in the western United States (U.S.) and valued the social costs of forest carbon losses. We also examined potential future trends of forest carbon sinks under two climate-change projections using a global vegetation model. We found that forest carbon losses from bark-beetle damage were larger than emissions from fires between 2003 and 2012. The cumulative social costs of forest carbon losses ranged from USD 7 billion to USD 72 billion, depending on the severity of global warming and the discount rate. Forest carbon stocks could increase around 5% under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 or 7% under RCP 8.5 by 2091 relative to 2011 levels, mostly in forests with high net primary productivity. These results indicate that spatially explicit management of forest disturbances may increase forest carbon sinks, thereby improving opportunities to achieve critical climate-change mitigation goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 3968 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Flood Resilience Typology: A Systemic Transitional Adaptation from Peitou Plateau, Taiwan

by Tzen-Ying Ling

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 875; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020875 - 13 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1554

Abstract

Resilience practice is a place-based activity. This study incorporates the notion of “Transitional Progress” as an available scoping tool pin-pointing the human-habitat domain; the critical human resilience build-up can be identified by the site-specific and locally adapted practice as the residents’ perception and [...] Read more.

Resilience practice is a place-based activity. This study incorporates the notion of “Transitional Progress” as an available scoping tool pin-pointing the human-habitat domain; the critical human resilience build-up can be identified by the site-specific and locally adapted practice as the residents’ perception and interaction within the local geographical character are examined. The assessment framework is proposed as a measurable process, followed by an adaptive cycle valuation performed for each of the scales at the different transitional stages. This resilience varies from the degree and time exposed to flood and the resident’s respective responses regarding people, community, and place; accordingly, the semi-structured interview documented respondents’ self-evaluation from the Peitou Plateau in Taipei. The study ascertained that in the face of climate risks: (1) adaptive measures aided and enhanced the information gathered for risk impact is based on the residents’ perception of the habitat and human domain (2) adaptive capacity assessment is an effective mean in understanding residents’ mitigation will and confidence, and (3) community ability to reflect on past actual time scenario. Most importantly, the assessment framework contributes to understanding local adaptation practice and contributes toward the sustainability of the urbanity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3800 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Impact of Global Migration on Carbon Transfers Based on Complex Network and Stepwise Regression Analysis

by Cuixia Gao, Ying Zhong, Isaac Adjei Mensah, Simin Tao and Yuyang He

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 844; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020844 - 12 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2064

Abstract

Considering the advancement of economic globalization, the reasons for migration together with the lifestyles of migrants will change the use of energy, environment of origin and destination. This study therefore explores the patterns of global trade-induced carbon emission transfers using “center-of-gravity” and complex [...] Read more.

Considering the advancement of economic globalization, the reasons for migration together with the lifestyles of migrants will change the use of energy, environment of origin and destination. This study therefore explores the patterns of global trade-induced carbon emission transfers using “center-of-gravity” and complex network analysis. We further investigate the determinants of carbon transfers by integrating the impact of population migration through the STIRPAT framework for 64 countries over the period 2005–2015 using the stepwise regression approach. Our results unveil that higher levels of migration flow induce higher carbon flow. Specifically, every 1% increase in migration, triggers carbon transfers to increase within the range of 0.118–0.124%. The rising impact of migration cannot be ignored, even though the coefficients were not so high. Besides, for both male and female migrants, their impact on carbon transfers generated by the intermediate products were higher than those generated by the final products. However, the influence is more obvious in male migrants. With the aim of dividing the sample of countries into three income groups, the results generally show that the impacts of migration vary across levels of income. Therefore, the environmental pressure caused by immigration should be considered by destination countries in the formulating of migration policies. On the other hand, origin countries should take some responsibility for carbon emissions according to their development characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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26 pages, 6402 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of Daily Mean PM₁₀ Concentrations Using Random Forest, CART Ensemble and Bagging Stacked by MARS

by Snezhana Gocheva-Ilieva, Atanas Ivanov and Maya Stoimenova-Minova

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 798; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020798 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1943

Abstract

A novel framework for stacked regression based on machine learning was developed to predict the daily average concentrations of particulate matter (PM₁₀), one of Bulgaria’s primary health concerns. The measurements of nine meteorological parameters were introduced as independent variables. The goal [...] Read more.

A novel framework for stacked regression based on machine learning was developed to predict the daily average concentrations of particulate matter (PM₁₀), one of Bulgaria’s primary health concerns. The measurements of nine meteorological parameters were introduced as independent variables. The goal was to carefully study a limited number of initial predictors and extract stochastic information from them to build an extended set of data that allowed the creation of highly efficient predictive models. Four base models using random forest, CART ensemble and bagging, and their rotation variants, were built and evaluated. The heterogeneity of these base models was achieved by introducing five types of diversities, including a new simplified selective ensemble algorithm. The predictions from the four base models were then used as predictors in multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) models. All models were statistically tested using out-of-bag or with 5-fold and 10-fold cross-validation. In addition, a variable importance analysis was conducted. The proposed framework was used for short-term forecasting of out-of-sample data for seven days. It was shown that the stacked models outperformed all single base models. An index of agreement IA = 0.986 and a coefficient of determination of about 95% were achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 275 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Conflicted Energy Transition—Conception of a Theoretical Framework for Its Investigation

by Olaf Kühne, Debi Parush, Deborah Shmueli and Corinna Jenal

Land 2022, 11(1), 116; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010116 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2400

Abstract

Energy transition plays a central role in efforts to reduce anthropogenic global warming. However, energy transition involves physical manifestations, for example in the form of wind turbines, photovoltaic plants, and power lines, which trigger resistance, especially among those who live in the vicinity [...] Read more.

Energy transition plays a central role in efforts to reduce anthropogenic global warming. However, energy transition involves physical manifestations, for example in the form of wind turbines, photovoltaic plants, and power lines, which trigger resistance, especially among those who live in the vicinity of the (planned) plants. The reasons for this resistance are complex, as they relate to residents’ emotional ties and/or stereotypical common-sense expectations of landscape. The complexity of landscape conflicts in general, and energy transition-related conflicts in particular, makes it difficult to capture the intricacy of the subject matter by means of a single theoretical perspective. To address this difficulty, a neopragmatic approach of identifying and combining appropriate theoretical perspectives is utilized to develop an analytic framework for understanding these conflicts. To this end, we draw on Dahrendorf’s conflict theory and the framing approach. Both have high complementary explanatory potential and empirical applicability, with the framing approach broadening the theoretical prism to include micro-individuals and groups to Dahrendorf’s meso-social perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

16 pages, 3062 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Shifts in Dry-Wet Climate Regions over China and Its Related Climate Factors between 1960–1989 and 1990–2019

by Jinqin Xu, Xiaochen Zhu, Mengxi Li, Xinfa Qiu, Dandan Wang and Zhenyu Xu

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 719; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020719 - 10 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1878

Abstract

The shifts in dry-wet climate regions are a natural response to climate change and have a profound impact on the regional agriculture and ecosystems. In this paper, we divided China into four dry-wet climate regions, i.e., arid, semi-arid, semi-humid, and humid regions, based [...] Read more.

The shifts in dry-wet climate regions are a natural response to climate change and have a profound impact on the regional agriculture and ecosystems. In this paper, we divided China into four dry-wet climate regions, i.e., arid, semi-arid, semi-humid, and humid regions, based on the humidity index (HI). A comparison of the two 30-year periods, i.e., 1960–1989 and 1990–2019, revealed that there was a shift in climate type in each dry-wet climate region, with six newly formed transitions, and the total area of the shifts to wetter conditions was more than two times larger than that of the shifts to drier conditions. Interestingly, the shifts to drier types were basically distributed in the monsoon region (east of 100${}^{\circ }$ E) and especially concentrated in the North China Plain where agricultural development relies heavily on irrigation, which would increase the challenges in dealing with water shortage and food production security under a warming climate. The transitions to wetter types were mainly distributed in western China (west of 100${}^{\circ }$ E), and most areas of the Junggar Basin have changed from arid to semi-arid region, which should benefit the local agricultural production and ecological environment to some extent. Based on a contribution analysis method, we further quantified the impacts of each climate factor on HI changes. Our results demonstrated that the dominant factor controlling HI changes in the six newly formed transition regions was P, followed by air temperature (Ta). In the non-transition zones of the arid and semi-arid regions, an increase in P dominated the increase of HI. However, in the non-transition zones of the semi-humid and humid region with a more humid background climate, the thermal factors (e.g., Ta, and net radiation (Rn)) contributed more than or equivalent to the contribution of P to HI change. These findings can provide scientific reference for water resources management and sustainable agricultural development in the context of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 2718 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Dynamic of Cold Stress during Heading and Flowering Stage and Its Effects on Rice Growth in China

by Zhenwang Li, Zhengchao Qiu, Haixiao Ge and Changwen Du

Atmosphere 2022, 13(1), 103; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13010103 - 10 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1857

Abstract

Short episodes of low-temperature stress during reproductive stages can cause significant crop yield losses, but our understanding of the dynamics of extreme cold events and their impact on rice growth and yield in the past and present climate remains limited. In this study, [...] Read more.

Short episodes of low-temperature stress during reproductive stages can cause significant crop yield losses, but our understanding of the dynamics of extreme cold events and their impact on rice growth and yield in the past and present climate remains limited. In this study, by analyzing historical climate, phenology and yield component data, the spatial and temporal variability of cold stress during the rice heading and flowering stages and its impact on rice growth and yield in China was characterized. The results showed that cold stress was unevenly distributed throughout the study region, with the most severe events observed in the Yunnan Plateau with altitudes higher than 1800 m. With the increasing temperature, a significant decreasing trend in cold stress was observed across most of the three ecoregions after the 1970s. However, the phenological-shift effects with the prolonged growing period during the heading and flowering stages have slowed down the cold stress decreasing trend and led to an underestimation of the magnitude of cold stress events. Meanwhile, cold stress during heading and flowering will still be a potential threat to rice production. The cold stress-induced yield loss is related to both the intensification of extreme cold stress and the contribution of related components to yield in the three regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 914 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Efficiency of Urban Industrial Land in Metropolitan Areas: Evidence from China

by Lei Li, Chenzi Pan, Shuai Ling and Mingqi Li

Land 2022, 11(1), 104; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010104 - 09 Jan 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2396

Abstract

Industrial land is an indispensable strategic resource in urban development that plays an indispensable role in ensuring the industrial space of urban construction and development. Measuring and analyzing the eco-efficiency of industrial land utilization (ECILU) can provide insights into how to maximize the [...] Read more.

Industrial land is an indispensable strategic resource in urban development that plays an indispensable role in ensuring the industrial space of urban construction and development. Measuring and analyzing the eco-efficiency of industrial land utilization (ECILU) can provide insights into how to maximize the input–output ratio of industrial land and ensure the sustainable development of land resources and economies. Based on the undesirable output slacks-based measure (SBM) model, choosing land, capital, and labor as input indicators, and the industrial added value and carbon emissions as desirable and undesirable output indicators, this study measured the ECILUs in 78 cities and 13 metropolitan areas in four Chinese major economic zones from 2007 to 2018, analyzed their spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and regional differences, and constructed a Tobit regression model to test the influence mechanism of each variable on the ECILUs in different regions. This has important theoretical and practical significance for the Chinese government in formulating relevant policies and realizing the green utilization of urban land in the future. Empirical results showed that the ECILUs in most cities were low and that the differences between regions were large. The ECILU in the Western Economic Zone was relatively high, followed by the Eastern, Central, and Northeastern Economic Zones. According to the ECILU value and urban synergy degree of each metropolitan area, this study divided the 13 metropolitan areas into four categories. The regression analysis results showed that the variables had different effects on the ECILUs of all cities and the four economic zones in China. It is suggested that all economic zones should reinforce the optimization of industrial structure, control industrial pollutant discharge, and solve the phenomenon of labor surplus. The Eastern Zone should maintain the growth of its economy while focusing on soil quality. The Central Zone should focus on the efficient use of infrastructure, and the Western, Northeastern, and Central Zones should balance the green coverage area and the industrial land area to ensure the efficient use of urban industrial land. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 851 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Agricultural Employment and Export Diversification Index on Environmental Pollution: Building the Agenda towards Sustainability

by Guirong Jiang, Rafael Alvarado, Muntasir Murshed, Brayan Tillaguango, Elisa Toledo, Priscila Méndez and Cem Isik

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 677; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020677 - 08 Jan 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2526

Abstract

Agricultural activities have a significant impact on environmental quality, because they generate waste that pollutes water and soil. In parallel, the supply of products has diversified in recent years to meet growing demand, exerting strong pressure on nature’s capacity for regeneration and absorption [...] Read more.

Agricultural activities have a significant impact on environmental quality, because they generate waste that pollutes water and soil. In parallel, the supply of products has diversified in recent years to meet growing demand, exerting strong pressure on nature’s capacity for regeneration and absorption of waste. This research aims to examine the impact of agricultural employment and the export diversification index on ecological footprints, using advanced techniques of panel data econometrics. This relationship is moderated by population density and real per capita product. Cross-section dependence and slope homogeneity were included in the econometric models. The cointegration and causality analysis was reinforced by estimating the short- and long-term elasticities, using the AMG, CCE-MG, FMOLS, and DOLS models. Using annual data for 96 countries, we found a heterogeneous impact of agricultural employment and the export diversification index on ecological footprint, between the short and long term. The findings reveal that the increase of the product increases the pressure on the ecological footprint. The achievement of SDGs must include joint efforts between countries, and not in isolation. Those responsible for environmental policy should promote the idea that production must be friendly to the environment and promote the green growth of countries. The adoption of new technology, higher productivity agricultural employment, and the regulation of exports of sustainable products can contribute to achieving environmental sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 5940 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate, CO₂, and Anthropogenic Drivers of Accelerated Vegetation Greening in the Haihe River Basin

by Wenjing Yang, Yong Zhao, Qingming Wang and Buliao Guan

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(2), 268; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14020268 - 07 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

Vegetation regulates the exchange of terrestrial carbon and water fluxes and connects the biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Over the last four decades, vegetation greening has been observed worldwide using satellite technology. China has also experienced a notably widespread greening trend. However, the responsiveness [...] Read more.

Vegetation regulates the exchange of terrestrial carbon and water fluxes and connects the biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Over the last four decades, vegetation greening has been observed worldwide using satellite technology. China has also experienced a notably widespread greening trend. However, the responsiveness of vegetation dynamics to elevated CO₂ concentration, climate change, and human activities remains unclear. In this study, we attempted to explore the impact of natural (precipitation, air temperature), biogeochemical (CO₂), and anthropogenic drivers (nighttime light, afforestation area) on changes in vegetation greenness in the Haihe River Basin (HRB) during 2002–2018 at the county-level. We further determined the major factors affecting the variation in satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) for each county. The results indicated that over 85% of the counties had a significantly increased NDVI trend, and the average linear trend of annual NDVI across the study region was 0.0037 per year. The largest contributor to the NDVI trend was CO₂ (mean contribution 45%), followed by human activities (mean contribution of 27%). Additionally, afforestation was a pronounced driving force for NDVI changes in mountainous areas, resulting from ecosystem restoration efforts. Our findings emphasize the crucial role of CO₂ fertilization in vegetation cover change, while considering CO₂ concentration, climate change, and human activities, and shed light on the significant influences of afforestation programs on water resources, especially in mountainous areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2554 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Pattern of the Vitality of Chinese Characteristic Towns: A Perspective from Nighttime Lights

by Yuqing Zhang, Kun Shang, Zhipeng Shi, Hui Wang and Xueming Li

Land 2022, 11(1), 85; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010085 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2479

Abstract

Nighttime light images are valuable indicators of regional economic development, and nighttime light data are now widely used in town monitoring and evaluation studies. Using the nighttime light data acquired through Luojia1-01 and the geographic information system spatial analysis method, this study analyzed [...] Read more.

Nighttime light images are valuable indicators of regional economic development, and nighttime light data are now widely used in town monitoring and evaluation studies. Using the nighttime light data acquired through Luojia1-01 and the geographic information system spatial analysis method, this study analyzed the spatial vitality pattern of 402 characteristic towns in six geographic divisions of China. The average DN (Digital Number) value of Guzhen, having the highest vitality level, was 0.05665221, whereas that of Xin’an, having the lowest vitality level, was 0.00000186. A total of 89.5% of towns have a low level of vitality. The regional differences were significant; high vitality towns are concentrated in economically developed coastal areas, mainly in two large regions of east China and south central. The average lighting densities of the towns in east China and south central were 0.004838 and 0.003190, respectively. The lighting density of the towns in west central was low, and the vitality intensity was generally low. A spatially significant positive correlation of small-town vitality was observed, and “high–high” agglomeration was primarily distributed in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Fujian coastal areas in east and south China. The towns with high vitality intensity had similarities in their geographical location, convenient transportation conditions, and profound historical heritage or cultural accumulation along with many industrial enterprises. This research empirically demonstrates the feasibility of using the 130-m-high resolution of the nighttime lighting data of Luojia1-01 to evaluate the vitality at the town scale, and the vitality evaluation focuses on the spatial attributes of the town, which is meaningful to guide the development of the town in each region given the vast area of China and the large differences in the development of different regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 374 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Transition to a Circular Economy (CE) in Vietnam by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

by Thảo Việt Trần, Thảo Hương Phan, Anh Thị Trâm Lê and Trang Mai Trần

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 613; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020613 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3567

Abstract

Currently, the transition to a circular economy is becoming a development trend of many countries around the world to cope with climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Vietnam is also one of the countries in the process of taking steps to transition to [...] Read more.

Currently, the transition to a circular economy is becoming a development trend of many countries around the world to cope with climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Vietnam is also one of the countries in the process of taking steps to transition to a circular economy. However, to make a successful transition to a circular economy, citizen participation is essential. Thus, the question is, are people ready to participate in the circular economy? Therefore, this study surveyed 431 people regarding their willingness to participate in the circular economy based on the theory of planned behavior and the structural equation model. The results of empirical research have shown that the factors attention to the environment, and attitude towards intention are the factors that have a strong impact on willingness to participate in the circular economy. Based on the given influencing factors, the authors make some policy suggestions for the Vietnamese government in the transition to a circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1250 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Bibliometric Analysis of Highly Cited Papers on Resources and the Environment in China

by Guosheng Han, Rundong Luo, Kaiyue Sa, Min Zhuang and Hui Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 604; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14020604 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2543

Abstract

To review the current state of resources and environmental sciences in China, this study assessed highly cited papers of five leading CSSCI journals sourced from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database. The fields of resources and environmental sciences were the research focus, and [...] Read more.

To review the current state of resources and environmental sciences in China, this study assessed highly cited papers of five leading CSSCI journals sourced from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database. The fields of resources and environmental sciences were the research focus, and the bibliometric analysis software CiteSpace was used to perform co-occurrence analysis on keywords, authors, and research institutions based on bibliometrics and social network analysis. Furthermore, the research hotspots, scientist groups, and main cooperation models in the field of resources and environmental sciences in China were also explored. The results show that: (1) For 30 years, the interdisciplinarity of resources and environmental sciences has become more and more intense, and research themes have become increasingly extensive. The research hotspots of highly cited papers focused on energy, ecology, land, water resources, and sustainable development. In recent years, problems associated with energy and carbon emissions have aroused great interest. The ecological and sustainable development of resources and environmental elements has emerged as a future research trend. (2) An analysis of scientist-oriented networks shows that highly cited papers are mostly published by group authors. Scientists work closely within their respective academic groups, while intergroup academic cooperation is rare. Furthermore, connectedness between cooperation networks is poor, and scientists are largely connected through their research institutions. Cooperation among scientists is greatly affected by their geographical locations. Research institutions in the same region are more likely to cooperate. Beijing and Nanjing are high-producing areas of highly cited papers. The Institute of Geographic Sciences and Resources, CAS, is the most influential research institution. This paper introduces the state-of-the-art research hotspots of Chinese resources and environmental sciences to international academic circles and provides a basis for the research practice of resources and environmental sciences worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 15447 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Mean Radiant Temperature in Urban Canyons Using Google Street View: A Case Study on Seoul

by Eun-Sub Kim, Seok-Hwan Yun, Chae-Yeon Park, Han-Kyul Heo and Dong-Kun Lee

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(2), 260; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14020260 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3791

Abstract

Extreme heat exposure has severe negative impacts on humans, and the issue is exacerbated by climate change. Estimating spatial heat stress such as mean radiant temperature (MRT) is currently difficult to apply at city scale. This study constructed a method for estimating the [...] Read more.

Extreme heat exposure has severe negative impacts on humans, and the issue is exacerbated by climate change. Estimating spatial heat stress such as mean radiant temperature (MRT) is currently difficult to apply at city scale. This study constructed a method for estimating the MRT of street canyons using Google Street View (GSV) images and investigated its large-scale spatial patterns at street level. We used image segmentation using deep learning to calculate the view factor (VF) and project panorama into fisheye images. We calculated sun paths to estimate MRT using panorama images from Google Street View. This paper shows that regression analysis can be used to validate between estimated short-wave, long-wave radiation and the measurement data at seven field measurements in the clear-sky (0.97 and 0.77, respectively). Additionally, we compared the calculated MRT and land surface temperature (LST) from Landsat 8 on a city scale. As a result of investigating spatial patterns of MRT in Seoul, South Korea, we found that a high MRT of street canyons (>59.4 °C) is mainly distributed in open space areas and compact low-rise density buildings where the sky view factor is 0.6–1.0 and the building view factor (BVF) is 0.35–0.5, or west-east oriented street canyons with an SVF of 0.3–0.55. However, high-density buildings (BVF: 0.4–0.6) or high-density tree areas (Tree View Factor, TVF: 0.6–0.99) showed low MRT (<47.6). The mapped MRT results had a similar spatial distribution to the LST; however, the MRT was lower than the LST in low tree density or low-rise high-density building areas. The method proposed in this study is suitable for a complex urban environment consisting of buildings, trees, and streets. This will help decision makers understand spatial patterns of heat stress at the street level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 9800 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the Spatiotemporal Variation of Evapotranspiration of Different Land Cover Types and the Contribution of Its Associated Factors in the Xiliao River Plain

by Nan Lin, Ranzhe Jiang, Qiang Liu, Hang Yang, Hanlin Liu and Qian Yang

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(2), 252; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14020252 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1631

Abstract

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a vital constituent of the hydrologic cycle. Researching changes in ET is necessary for understanding variability in the hydrologic cycle. Although some studies have clarified the changes and influencing factors of ET on a regional or global scale, these variables [...] Read more.

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a vital constituent of the hydrologic cycle. Researching changes in ET is necessary for understanding variability in the hydrologic cycle. Although some studies have clarified the changes and influencing factors of ET on a regional or global scale, these variables are still unclear for different land cover types due to the range of possible water evaporation mechanisms and conditions. In this study, we first investigated spatiotemporal trends of ET in different land cover types in the Xiliao River Plain from 2000 to 2019. The correlation between meteorological, NDVI, groundwater depth, and topographic factors and ET was compared through spatial superposition analysis. We then applied the ridge regression model to calculate the contribution rate of each influencing factor to ET for different land cover types. The results revealed that ET in the Xiliao River Plain has shown a continuously increasing trend, most significantly in cropland (CRO). The correlation between ET and influencing factors differed considerably for different land cover types, even showing an opposite result between regions with and without vegetation. Only precipitation (PRCP) and NDVI had a positive impact on ET in all land cover types. In addition, we found that vegetation can deepen the limited depth of land absorbing groundwater, and the influence of topographic conditions may be mainly reflected in the water condition difference caused by surface runoff. The ridge regression model eliminates multicollinearity among influencing factors; R² in all land cover types was over 0.6, indicating that it could be used to effectively quantify the contribution of various influencing factors to ET. According to the results of our model calculations, NDVI had the greatest impact on ET in grass (GRA), cropland (CRO), paddy (PAD), forest (FOR), and swamp (SWA), while PRCP was the main influencing factor in bare land (BAR) and sand (SAN). These findings imply that we should apply targeted measures for water resources management in different land cover types. This study emphasizes the importance of comprehensively considering differences among various hydrologic cycles according to land cover type in order to assess the contributions of influencing factors to ET. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 4404 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Key Concerns and Drivers of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensor Use

by Priyanka Nadia deSouza

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 584; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010584 - 05 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5633

Abstract

Low-cost sensors are revolutionizing air pollution monitoring by providing real-time, highly localized air quality information. The relatively low-cost nature of these devices has made them accessible to the broader public. Although there have been several fitness-of-purpose appraisals of the various sensors on the [...] Read more.

Low-cost sensors are revolutionizing air pollution monitoring by providing real-time, highly localized air quality information. The relatively low-cost nature of these devices has made them accessible to the broader public. Although there have been several fitness-of-purpose appraisals of the various sensors on the market, little is known about what drives sensor usage and how the public interpret the data from their sensors. This article attempts to answer these questions by analyzing the key themes discussed in the user reviews of low-cost sensors on Amazon. The themes and use cases identified have the potential to spur interventions to support communities of sensor users and inform the development of actionable data-visualization strategies with the measurements from such instruments, as well as drive appropriate ‘fitness-of-purpose’ appraisals of such devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 3548 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Measurement and Monitoring of Particulate Matter in Construction Sites: Guidelines for Gravimetric Approach

by Ingrid Priscylla Silva Araújo and Dayana Bastos Costa

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 558; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010558 - 05 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3241

Abstract

Studies on particulate matter (PM) from construction activities are still at an early stage. Thus, there is still no consensus on standardized experimental methods for monitoring PM in construction sites, which impedes the advancement of knowledge on this subject. This work proposes guidelines [...] Read more.

Studies on particulate matter (PM) from construction activities are still at an early stage. Thus, there is still no consensus on standardized experimental methods for monitoring PM in construction sites, which impedes the advancement of knowledge on this subject. This work proposes guidelines for measuring and monitoring the concentration of suspended PM and the annoyance generated by sedimented particles on construction sites in urban areas. These guidelines aim to reduce the variability and uncertainties that exist during the PM sampling processes at construction sites. This study adopts a literature review strategy in order to update the available scientific literature based on empirical evidence obtained in experimental PM studies and relevant documents from government agencies. The proposed guidelines were applied in a study protocol for gravimetric monitoring PM and annoyance tracking generated by sedimented particles using sticky pads. As a result, this article details sampling techniques, procedures, and instruments, focusing on gravimetric sampling, highlighting their characteristics compared to other monitoring approaches. Additionally, it points out a series of parameters for the measurement and monitoring of PM. This paper seeks to support future researchers in this area, inform decision making for experimental sampling, and provide a benchmark for measuring and monitoring PM at construction sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 3899 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Forest Structural Types along an Aridity Gradient in Peninsular Spain: Integrating Low-Density LiDAR, Forest Inventory, and Aridity Index

by Julián Tijerín-Triviño, Daniel Moreno-Fernández, Miguel A. Zavala, Julen Astigarraga and Mariano García

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(1), 235; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14010235 - 05 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2995

Abstract

Forest structure is a key driver of forest functional processes. The characterization of forest structure across spatiotemporal scales is essential for forest monitoring and management. LiDAR data have proven particularly useful for cost-effectively estimating forest structural attributes. This paper evaluates the ability of [...] Read more.

Forest structure is a key driver of forest functional processes. The characterization of forest structure across spatiotemporal scales is essential for forest monitoring and management. LiDAR data have proven particularly useful for cost-effectively estimating forest structural attributes. This paper evaluates the ability of combined forest inventory data and low-density discrete return airborne LiDAR data to discriminate main forest structural types in the Mediterranean-temperate transition ecotone. Firstly, we used six structural variables from the Spanish National Forest Inventory (SNFI) and an aridity index in a k-medoids algorithm to define the forest structural types. These variables were calculated for 2770 SNFI plots. We identified the main species for each structural type using the SNFI. Secondly, we developed a Random Forest model to predict the spatial distribution of structural types and create wall-to-wall maps from LiDAR data. The k-medoids clustering algorithm enabled the identification of four clusters of forest structures. A total of six out of forty-one potential LiDAR metrics were utilized in our Random Forest, after evaluating their importance in the Random Forest model. Selected metrics were, in decreasing order of importance, the percentage of all returns above 2 m, mean height of the canopy profile, the difference between the 90th and 50th height percentiles, the area under the canopy curve, and the 5th and the 95th percentile of the return heights. The model yielded an overall accuracy of 64.18%. The producer’s accuracy ranged between 36.11% and 88.93%. Our results confirm the potential of this approximation for the continuous monitoring of forest structures, which is key to guiding forest management in this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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28 pages, 13998 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Precipitation and Anthropogenic Activities Jointly Green the China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor

by Xiang Li, Xueqin Zhang and Xiaoming Xu

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(1), 187; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14010187 - 01 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2333

Abstract

Climate change and anthropogenic activities are widely considered the main factors affecting vegetation growth. However, their relative contributions are under debate. Within the non-climatic impact, detailed human activities, particularly government policy adjustments, are less investigated. In this study, we develop a fractional vegetation [...] Read more.

Climate change and anthropogenic activities are widely considered the main factors affecting vegetation growth. However, their relative contributions are under debate. Within the non-climatic impact, detailed human activities, particularly government policy adjustments, are less investigated. In this study, we develop a fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) extraction method based on MODIS-EVI satellite data to analyze the spatiotemporal variation of vegetation and its attributions in the China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor (CMREC). The average FVC has improved, with a general increase of 0.02/10a from 2000 to 2020. We construct a driving factor identification system for FVC change, based on partial and multiple correlation coefficients, and we divide the driving forces of FVC changes into seven climate-driven types and one non-climate-driven type. The results reveal that FVC changes caused by climatic factors account for 28.2% of CMREC. The most prominent greening (19.5%) is precipitation-driven, and is extensively distributed in Khentii Aimag, Mongolia; southeast Inner Mongolia; west Jilin Province; and southwest Heilongjiang Province, China. Moreover, we quantify the relative contribution of climatic and non-climatic factors to significant FVC change using the first-difference multivariate regression method. The results indicate that the effects of non-climatic factors on vegetation change outweigh those of climatic factors in most areas. According to the land cover change and regional policy adjustment, anthropogenic activities such as afforestation, reclamation, and planting structure adjustment explain most vegetation improvement in the Northeast Plain; eastern Inner Mongolia; and the Hetao Irrigation District, China. Meanwhile, both vegetation improvement and degradation disperse concurrently in the Mongolian and Russian parts of CMREC, where climate change and anthropogenic activities positively and negatively affect vegetation change, respectively. Despite the greening in most CMREC, it must be noted that human-induced greening is unsustainable to some degree. The overdevelopment of black soil area and sandy land, adverse effects of afforestation projects, and natural hazards related to weather and climate extremes altogether threaten the local ecological security in the long run. Therefore, governments should develop new desertification countermeasures in accordance with the laws of nature, and enhance international cooperation to guarantee the ecological safety of CMREC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 5248 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Wetland Change Mapping Using Machine Learning Algorithms, and Their Link with Climate Variation and Economic Growth: A Case Study of Guangling County, China

by Gadisa Fayera Gemechu, Xiaoping Rui and Haiyue Lu

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 439; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010439 - 31 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3104

Abstract

Wetlands are a distinctive terrestrial ecosystem that benefits living things, including people, in various ways. Sustainable wetland ecosystem resources are needed to protect the global environment. Wetlands in China have undergone positive and negative changes in response to several factors, but studies documenting [...] Read more.

Wetlands are a distinctive terrestrial ecosystem that benefits living things, including people, in various ways. Sustainable wetland ecosystem resources are needed to protect the global environment. Wetlands in China have undergone positive and negative changes in response to several factors, but studies documenting their long-term dynamicity have been few, particularly in Guangling County. This study examines the change of wetlands area based on remotely sensed data while exploring trends associated with climate variations and economic growth in Guangling County, China. Analysis of remotely sensed imagery, mainly in hilly and nonhomogeneous environments is problematic, largely as a result of interference and their high spectral non-homogeneity. We conducted experiments using five classical machine learning algorithms based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) and obtained the greatest robustness and accuracy using a Support Vector Machine (SVM)—Radial Basis Function (RBF) kernel approach, with overall accuracy and kappa statistics ranging from 86% to 98.1% and from 0.789 to 0.960, respectively. Based on the SVM-RBF model’s outperformance of four other algorithms, we identified spatial distributions of wetland in the study area and associated change trends. We found that 45.71 km² of wetland area was lost over the past 3.7 decades (January 1984–December 2020), or 81.82% of wetland area coverage. In this paper, we explore how factors such as county economic growth (GDP), humidity, and temperature variations are tightly linked with wetland change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1821 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Responsible Consumer Behavior: Driving Factors of Pro-Environmental Behavior toward Post-Consumption Plastic Packaging

by Widayat Widayat, Ardik Praharjo, Viajeng Purnama Putri, Sri Nastiti Andharini and Ilyas Masudin

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 425; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010425 - 31 Dec 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5644

Abstract

This quantitative investigation aims to test the model of responsible consumption behavior (RCB). The specific purpose is to examine the relationship of pro-environmental behavior, attitudes, norms, intention, and awareness using the theory of planned behavior as an underlying theoretical framework. A multistage sampling [...] Read more.

This quantitative investigation aims to test the model of responsible consumption behavior (RCB). The specific purpose is to examine the relationship of pro-environmental behavior, attitudes, norms, intention, and awareness using the theory of planned behavior as an underlying theoretical framework. A multistage sampling technique was used to select people (n = 665). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from sample respondents. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM)–partial least square (PLS). The findings revealed that attitudes, norms, and awareness all have a role in predicting the intention to engage in post-consumer plastic packaging activity. This finding supports the theory of planned behavior, and it can be extended to explain environmental behavior by adding a reasonable variable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3471 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A New Remote Sensing Index for Assessing Spatial Heterogeneity in Urban Ecoenvironmental-Quality-Associated Road Networks

by Xincheng Zheng, Zeyao Zou, Chongmin Xu, Sen Lin, Zhilong Wu, Rongzu Qiu, Xisheng Hu and Jian Li

Land 2022, 11(1), 46; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010046 - 29 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2225

Abstract

Although many prior efforts found that road networks significantly affect landscape fragmentation, the spatially heterogeneous effects of road networks on urban ecoenvironments remain poorly understood. A new remote-sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) is proposed to calculate the ecoenvironmental quality, and a local model (geographically [...] Read more.

Although many prior efforts found that road networks significantly affect landscape fragmentation, the spatially heterogeneous effects of road networks on urban ecoenvironments remain poorly understood. A new remote-sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) is proposed to calculate the ecoenvironmental quality, and a local model (geographically weighted regression, GWR) was applied to explore the spatial variations in the relationship between kernel density of roads (KDR) and ecoenvironmental quality and understand the coupling mechanism of road networks and ecoenvironments. The average effect of KDR on the variables of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land surface moisture (LSM), and RSEI was negative, while it was positively associated with the soil index (SI), normalized differential build-up and bare soil index (NDBSI), index-based built-up index (IBI), and land surface temperature (LST). This study shows that rivers and the landscape pattern along rivers exacerbate the impact of road networks on urban ecoenvironments. Moreover, spatial variation in the relationship between road network and ecoenvironment is mainly controlled by the relationship of the road network with vegetation and bare soil. This research can help in better understanding the diversified relationships between road networks and ecoenvironments and offers guidance for urban planners to avoid or mitigate the negative impacts of roads on urban ecoenvironments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 6563 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Simulating Potential Impacts of Future Climate Change on Post-Rainy Season Sorghum Yields in India

by Keerthi Chadalavada, Sridhar Gummadi, Koteswara Rao Kundeti, Dakshina Murthy Kadiyala, Kumara Charyulu Deevi, Kailas Kamaji Dakhore, Ranjitha Kumari Bollipo Diana and Senthil Kumar Thiruppathi

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 334; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010334 - 29 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2258

Abstract

Given the wide use of the multi-climate model mean (MMM) for impact assessment studies, this work examines the fidelity of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) in simulating the features of Indian summer monsoons as well as the post-rainy seasons for assessing [...] Read more.

Given the wide use of the multi-climate model mean (MMM) for impact assessment studies, this work examines the fidelity of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) in simulating the features of Indian summer monsoons as well as the post-rainy seasons for assessing the possible impacts of climate change on post-rainy season sorghum crop yields across India. The MMM simulations captured the spatial patterns and annual cycles of rainfall and surface air temperatures. However, bias was observed in the precipitation amounts and daily rainfall intensity. The trends in the simulations of MMM for both precipitation and temperatures were less satisfactory than the observed climate means. The Crop Environment Resource Synthesis (CERES)-sorghum model was used to estimate the potential impacts of future climate change on post-rainy season sorghum yield values. On average, post-rainy season sorghum yields are projected to vary between −4% and +40% as well as +10% and +59% in the near future (2040–2069) for RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively, and between +20% and +70% (RCP 4.5) as well as +38% and +89% (RCP 8.5) in the far future (2070–2099). Even though surface air temperatures are increasing in future climate change projections, the findings suggest that an increase in the post-rainy season sorghum yields was due to an increase in the rainfall amounts up to 23% and an increase in the atmospheric CO₂ levels by the end of the 21st century. The results suggest that the projected climate change during the post-rainy season over India is an opportunity for smallholders to capitalize on the increase in rainfall amounts and further increase sorghum yields with appropriate crop management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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10 pages, 1967 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Modeling the Impact of High Temperature on Mortality in Pakistan

by Mushtaq Ahmad Khan Barakzai and S.M. Aqil Burney

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 332; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010332 - 29 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1955

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to model and study the impact of high temperature on mortality in Pakistan. For this purpose, we have used mortality and climate data consisting of maximum temperature, variation in monthly temperature, average rainfall, humidity, dewpoint, as well [...] Read more.

The objective of this paper is to model and study the impact of high temperature on mortality in Pakistan. For this purpose, we have used mortality and climate data consisting of maximum temperature, variation in monthly temperature, average rainfall, humidity, dewpoint, as well as average air pressure in the country over the period from 2000 to 2019. We have used the Generalized Linear Model with Quasi-Poisson link function to model the number of deaths in the country and to assess the impact of maximum temperature on mortality. We have found that the maximum temperature in the country has a significant impact on mortality. The number of deaths in Pakistan increases as the maximum temperature increases. We found that, as the maximum temperature increase beyond 30 °C, mortality increases significantly. Our results indicate that mortality increases by 27% when the maximum temperature in the country increases from medium category to a very high level. Similarly, the number of deaths in the country increases by 11% when the temperature increases from medium temperature to high level. Furthermore, our study found that when the maximum temperature in the country decreases from a medium level to a low level, the number of deaths in the country decreases by 23%. This study does not consider the impact of other factors on mortality, such as age, medical conditions, gender, geographical location, as well as variability of temperature across the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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26 pages, 2277 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Qualitative Modeling for Bridging Expert-Knowledge and Social-Ecological Dynamics of an East African Savanna

by Maximilien Cosme, Christelle Hély, Franck Pommereau, Paolo Pasquariello, Christel Tiberi, Anna Treydte and Cédric Gaucherel

Land 2022, 11(1), 42; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010042 - 28 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2166

Abstract

Sub-Saharan social-ecological systems are undergoing changes in environmental conditions, including modifications in rainfall pattern and biodiversity loss. Consequences of such changes depend on complex causal chains which call for integrated management strategies whose efficiency could benefit from ecosystem dynamic modeling. However, ecosystem models [...] Read more.

Sub-Saharan social-ecological systems are undergoing changes in environmental conditions, including modifications in rainfall pattern and biodiversity loss. Consequences of such changes depend on complex causal chains which call for integrated management strategies whose efficiency could benefit from ecosystem dynamic modeling. However, ecosystem models often require lots of quantitative information for estimating parameters, which is often unavailable. Alternatively, qualitative modeling frameworks have proved useful for explaining ecosystem responses to perturbations, while only requiring qualitative information about social-ecological interactions and events and providing more general predictions due to their validity for wide ranges of parameter values. In this paper, we propose the Ecological Discrete-Event Network (EDEN), an innovative qualitative dynamic modeling framework based on “if-then” rules generating non-deterministic dynamics. Based on expert knowledge, observations, and literature, we use EDEN to assess the effect of permanent changes in surface water and herbivores diversity on vegetation and socio-economic transitions in an East African savanna. Results show that water availability drives changes in vegetation and socio-economic transitions, while herbivore functional groups have highly contrasted effects depending on the group. This first use of EDEN in a savanna context is promising for bridging expert knowledge and ecosystem modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 4238 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Footprint Calculator Customized for Rice Products: Concept and Characterization of Rice Value Chains in Southeast Asia

by Reiner Wassmann, Nguyen Van-Hung, Bui Tan Yen, Martin Gummert, Katherine M. Nelson, Shabbir H. Gheewala and Bjoern Ole Sander

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 315; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010315 - 28 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4062

Abstract

In this study, we developed user-friendly software (CF-Rice) for calculating the carbon footprints (CF) of rice products. The approach follows the principles of Life Cycle Assessment while incorporating more flexibility for activities specific to rice production. The graphical user interface provides [...] Read more.

In this study, we developed user-friendly software (CF-Rice) for calculating the carbon footprints (CF) of rice products. The approach follows the principles of Life Cycle Assessment while incorporating more flexibility for activities specific to rice production. The graphical user interface provides empirical emission and conversion factors obtained from the literature and from primary research studies of rice value chains. CF-Rice also allows the entering of new values for specific processes or practices. Data outputs distinguish among the contributions of individual stages of the value chain as well as different greenhouse gases (GHG), namely, CH₄, N₂O and CO₂. The new tool was then applied to a scenario assessment of rice production in the regional context of Southeast Asia. The CF baseline of a typical rice value chain in the region accounted for a value of around 2300 g CO₂e/kg_Prod. The CF can be reduced by about 27.4% through water-saving practices alone and can further be reduced up to 37.3% through interventions that increase product recovery rates and, thus, reduce food losses. In contrast, straw incorporation into the soil increased the CF by 26.0%. The tool is well suited for impact assessments of advanced practices and technologies of rice value chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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27 pages, 2787 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Suitability of Different Methods for Measuring Black Carbon Emissions from Marine Engines

by Päivi Aakko-Saksa, Niina Kuittinen, Timo Murtonen, Päivi Koponen, Minna Aurela, Anssi Järvinen, Kimmo Teinilä, Sanna Saarikoski, Luis M. F. Barreira, Laura Salo, Panu Karjalainen, Ismael K. Ortega, David Delhaye, Kati Lehtoranta, Hannu Vesala, Pasi Jalava, Topi Rönkkö and Hilkka Timonen

Atmosphere 2022, 13(1), 31; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos13010031 - 26 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3702

Abstract

Black carbon (BC) emissions intensify global warming and are linked to adverse health effects. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) considers the impact of BC emissions from international shipping. A prerequisite for the anticipated limits to BC emissions from marine engines is a reliable [...] Read more.

Black carbon (BC) emissions intensify global warming and are linked to adverse health effects. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) considers the impact of BC emissions from international shipping. A prerequisite for the anticipated limits to BC emissions from marine engines is a reliable measurement method. The three candidate methods (photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), laser-induced incandescence (LII), and filter smoke number (FSN)) selected by the IMO were evaluated with extensive ship exhaust matrices obtained by different fuels, engines, and emission control devices. A few instruments targeted for atmospheric measurements were included as well. The BC concentrations were close to each other with the smoke meters (AVL 415S and 415SE), PAS (AVL MSS), LII (Artium-300), MAAP 5012, aethalometers (Magee AE-33 and AE-42), and EC (TOA). In most cases, the standard deviation between instruments was in the range of 5–15% at BC concentrations below 30 mg Sm⁻³. Some differences in the BC concentrations measured with these instruments were potentially related to the ratio of light-absorbing compounds to sulphates or to particle sizes and morphologies. In addition, calibrations, sampling, and correction of thermophoretic loss of BC explained differences in the BC results. However, overall differences in the BC results obtained with three candidate methods selected by the IMO were low despite challenging exhaust compositions from marine diesel engines. Findings will inform decision making on BC emission control from marine engines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 14043 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Restoration Potential of the Grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau

by Ruijing Wang, Qisheng Feng, Zheren Jin and Tiangang Liang

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(1), 80; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs14010080 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2871

Abstract

While the alpine grassland ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) have generally improved in recent years, some grasslands still suffer from varying degrees of degradation. Studying the restoration potential (R) of the grasslands on the TP is crucial to the conservation and restoration [...] Read more.

While the alpine grassland ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) have generally improved in recent years, some grasslands still suffer from varying degrees of degradation. Studying the restoration potential (R) of the grasslands on the TP is crucial to the conservation and restoration of its alpine grassland ecosystems. Few studies have assessed the restoration value of the alpine grasslands on the TP. We attempt to estimate the actual (ANPP) and potential net primary productivity (PNPP) of the grasslands on the TP. On this basis, we defined R as the “gap” between the current and highest achievable levels of restoration of a grassland. Then, R estimates were yielded for the alpine grasslands on the TP, which we used to analyze the restoration value of these grasslands. Specifically, based on the meteorological data for the period 2001–2019, in conjunction with remote-sensing imagery acquired by a moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer for the same period, the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach model was selected to produce ANPP estimates for the grasslands on the TP. Then, the Thornthwaite memorial model, the principle of similar habitats, and the Chikugo model, were employed to generate PNPP estimates for these grasslands. In addition, the R of these grasslands was then assessed based on the difference between their PNPP and ANPP. The main results are summarized as follows. (1) A multiyear mean R of 332.33 g C·m^–2 (81.59% of the ANPP) was determined for the grasslands on the TP over the period 2001–2019. A notable spatial distribution pattern of high Rs in the southwestern, eastern and middle parts of the TP, and low Rs in the northwestern part of the TP were also identified. Most of the grasslands in areas such as the southern part of Nagqu, the southwestern part of Ngari, Xigaze, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture were found to have high restoration value. (2) Grasslands with a stable R account were the highest proportion (76.13%) of all the grasslands on the TP, followed by those with a decreasing R (19.62%) and those with an increasing R (4.24%). Grasslands with an increasing R were mainly concentrated in the southern part of Xigaze, and parts of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. (3) Analysis based on the local conditions of the TP revealed a high restoration value for three types of grassland (i.e., alpine meadows, mountain meadows, and temperate meadow steppes), the grasslands distributed at altitudes of 3000–4000 m, and the grasslands located in the warm temperate zone. The results of this study are expected to provide scientific and theoretical support for the formulation of policies and measures aimed at conserving grasslands, as well as restoring ecosystems and degraded grasslands on the TP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1975 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

High-Speed Rail Network Expansion and Its Impact on Regional Economic Sustainability in the Yangtze River Delta, China, 2009–2018

by Wei Sun, Chen Wang, Chonggang Liu and Lei Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 155; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010155 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3048

Abstract

The rapid expansion of high-speed rail (HSR) has significantly improved spatial accessibility and connectivity efficiency, and affected the reallocation of spatial resources and regional economic sustainability. This study examined 40 prefecture-level (or above) cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, and explored [...] Read more.

The rapid expansion of high-speed rail (HSR) has significantly improved spatial accessibility and connectivity efficiency, and affected the reallocation of spatial resources and regional economic sustainability. This study examined 40 prefecture-level (or above) cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, and explored the evolution process of the HSR service network and its impact on the sustainability of economic development. The research results show that: (1) From the perspective of intercity travel time and service connections from 2009 to 2018, the rapid development of HSR has increased the city’s rail accessibility by about 50%, leading to closer intercity connections. (2) There are obvious regional differences in the effect of HSR on urban functional levels and the intensity of inter-city connections. Compared with 2009, the central cities play a greater role as transportation hubs in 2018, creating a significant Matthew effect of accumulated advantage. (3) The distribution pattern of regional urban intensity index is uneven, and the difference in urban intensity index in 2018 is significantly greater than that in 2009. (4) The evolution of the HSR network has significantly affected regional economic development, especially the development of tertiary industry, and increased the polarization of economic development in the YRD. This research can provide a certain reference for regional sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 5697 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Towards Multi-Scale Space-Time Characteristics of Air Quality and Population Exposure Risk

by Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xie, Bingyu Zhao, Jingzhong Li and Bing Xue

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 96; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010096 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2653

Abstract

In order to formulate policies to control regional air pollution and promote sustainable human–land system development, it is crucial to study the space–time distribution of air pollution and the population exposure risk. Existing studies are limited to individual fine particulate pollutants, which does [...] Read more.

In order to formulate policies to control regional air pollution and promote sustainable human–land system development, it is crucial to study the space–time distribution of air pollution and the population exposure risk. Existing studies are limited to individual fine particulate pollutants, which does not fully reflect the comprehensiveness of air quality. In addition, the spatiotemporal distribution of air quality and population exposure risk at different scales need to be further quantified. In this study, we used air monitoring station data and population spatial distribution data to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of air quality, including seasonal variations, variations before and during heating periods, and the occurrence frequency of priority pollutants in the traditional industrial areas of Northeast China in 2015. The population exposure–air pollution risk (PE-APR) model was used to calculate the population exposure risk at different spatial scales. The results suggest that GIS methods and air monitoring data help to establish a comprehensive air quality analysis framework, revealing spring–summer differentiation and the change trend of air quality with latitude. There are significant clustering features of air quality. A grid-scale population exposure–air pollution risk map is not restricted by administrative boundaries, which helps to discover high-risk areas of the main regional economic corridors and differences between inner cities and suburbs. This study provides a reference for understanding the space–time evolution of regional air pollution and formulating coordinated cross-regional air pollution strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2281 KiB  

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Digitalization to Achieve Technology Innovation in Climate Technology Transfer

by Woo-Jin Lee and Rose Mwebaza

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 63; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010063 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4183

Abstract

Technology Innovation has the potential to play a strategic role in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of national efforts to address climate change. The United Nations (UN) Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is mandated to support developing countries’ climate change responses through [...] Read more.

Technology Innovation has the potential to play a strategic role in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of national efforts to address climate change. The United Nations (UN) Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is mandated to support developing countries’ climate change responses through innovative technologies to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. In order to enhance the role of the CTCN as an innovation matchmaker, it is important to explore and leverage the implementation potential of new digital technologies and their transformational impact. Thus, in this research, to engage digitalization as an innovative tool with the environment, we first explored digitalization during the climate technology transfer processes by comprehensively reviewing CTCN Technical Assistance (Digitalization Technical Assistance, D-TA) activities in three climate sectors of risk prediction, policy decision making, and resource optimization. Then, by applying analytical methodologies of in-depth interviews with major digital-climate stakeholders and a staged model for technology innovation, we propose future strategies for enhancing the role of CTCN as an innovation matchmaker in the three digitalization cases of digital collection, digital analysis, and digital diffusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 20693 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Bacterial Community in Paddy Soil after Short-Term Application of Pig Manure and the Corresponding Organic Fertilizer

by Min Wang, Chenyan Sha, Jianqiang Wu, Peng Li, Juan Tan and Shenfa Huang

Land 2022, 11(1), 9; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010009 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

Agricultural fertilization significantly affects nutrients cycling in paddy soils. However, there are few systematic studies on the response of the application of livestock manure and corresponding organic fertilizer resulting in the microorganism and its nutrients entering farmland. Short-term application of pig manure and [...] Read more.

Agricultural fertilization significantly affects nutrients cycling in paddy soils. However, there are few systematic studies on the response of the application of livestock manure and corresponding organic fertilizer resulting in the microorganism and its nutrients entering farmland. Short-term application of pig manure and its corresponding organic fertilizer on the microorganisms of paddy fields were investigated. High-throughput sequencing technology was conducted to comprehensively study the microbial community composition and structure. Our results showed that organic fertilizer effectively enhanced nutrient substances such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium at ripening stage and reduced the pH of soil, benefitting the soil fertility and the growth of rice. Though application of pig manure maintained higher microbial diversity, it increased the relative abundance of several pathogenic bacteria, which could threaten the soil health of the paddy fields. A large number of pathogenic bacteria can be reduced through composting pig manure to organic fertilizer. Nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria such as Anaerolineaceae, Pseudarthrobacter, Bacillus, and Nitrospira in the paddy soil were significantly promoted. The heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, and Cd, and nutrient substances such as phosphorus, as well as temperature, have important influences on the microbial compositions in ripening stage. The correlation analysis revealed more correlation efficiencies were observed with manure application, especially with the application of organic fertilizer. This study will provide a theoretical basis for improving land productivity and sustainable development in paddy fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 878 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Effect of an Environmental Protection Tax Policy on Haze Control in China—Empirical Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data

by Xia Li and Guangyao Deng

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 41; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010041 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2923

Abstract

This paper describes the construction of a model to explore the effectiveness of environmental protection taxes on haze emission reduction in China. The model is based on panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China, from 2003–2019. It is found that the [...] Read more.

This paper describes the construction of a model to explore the effectiveness of environmental protection taxes on haze emission reduction in China. The model is based on panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China, from 2003–2019. It is found that the current environmental protection tax has a significant inhibitory effect on haze. In addition, an upfront pollutant discharge fee can guide enterprises to significantly reduce the emission of haze-causing pollutants. A robustness test is conducted, using the variable substitution method of taking sulfur dioxide (SO₂) as haze, and the research conclusions are consistent. We then put forward three specific suggestions: (1) Expand the scope of the environmental protection tax, gradually increase the tax rate, or adopt an excessive progressive tax rate. For example, China could consider including mobile pollution sources into the scope of taxation. (2) Increase the supervision and collection of the environmental protection tax. (3) Strengthen the multiple linkages between regional taxation departments and environmental protection departments, in order to form a collaboration between the departments in an effort to control haze and promote the sustainable development of the Chinese economy and the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 9079 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Is Green Credit a Good Tool to Achieve “Double Carbon” Goal? Based on Coupling Coordination Model and PVAR Model

by Yi Hu and Jiayu Zheng

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 14074; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132414074 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3975

Abstract

China attaches importance to the combination of credit policy and environmental protection, tries to use credit policy tools to protect ecology and pollution prevention, and prevent environmental credit risk. With the proposal of the goal of “carbon peak and carbon neutralisation” (“double carbon”), [...] Read more.

China attaches importance to the combination of credit policy and environmental protection, tries to use credit policy tools to protect ecology and pollution prevention, and prevent environmental credit risk. With the proposal of the goal of “carbon peak and carbon neutralisation” (“double carbon”), green credit is also regarded as an important policy tool to achieve this goal. Firstly, this paper selects the time series data of green credit at the national level from 2013 to 2019 according to the official statistics and evaluates the coupling and coordinated development of credit system and environmental system based on the coupling coordination model. The results show that the two systems show well-coordinated development, but the interaction has annual fluctuations. Secondly, by calculating the provincial carbon emissions and green credit panel data from 2005 to 2019, the dynamic internal mechanism is analysed based on Panel Vector Autoregression (PVAR) model. It is found that green credit has a significant inhibitory effect on carbon emissions. The research results of this paper provide an overall evaluation of the quantity and quality of green credit for China’s banking industry. It also provides reasonable and effective support for green credit as a policy tool to promote realising the “double carbon” goal. In addition, China should maintain the consistency, stability and durability of green credit policy and continue to contribute to the low-carbon transformation of the economy and society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2751 KiB  

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Multi-Scale Features of Regional Poverty and the Impact of Geographic Capital: A Case Study of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province, China

by Binyan Wang, Junfeng Tian, Peifeng Yang and Baojie He

Land 2021, 10(12), 1406; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121406 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2669

Abstract

Poverty is a challenge worldwide. Policy and regulations guiding anti-poverty measures for governments, NGOs, and multilateral institutions have not considered the spatial scale effect of regional poverty, resulting in low-efficiency poverty alleviation actions. This study addressed research gaps by analyzing the multi-scale (county, [...] Read more.

Poverty is a challenge worldwide. Policy and regulations guiding anti-poverty measures for governments, NGOs, and multilateral institutions have not considered the spatial scale effect of regional poverty, resulting in low-efficiency poverty alleviation actions. This study addressed research gaps by analyzing the multi-scale (county, township, and village) features of regional poverty in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin province, China. It examined the impact of geographic capital and associated spatial heterogeneity from four dimensions: natural environment, transport location, facilities accessibility, and socioeconomic development. The results identified that regional poverty varied at different scales: lower-scale poverty had higher levels of spatial differences, agglomeration, and spatial autocorrelation than higher-scale poverty, and the “island effect” was prominent. The factors potentially impacting regional poverty varied at different scales for geographical capital. At the township scale, only transport location and socioeconomic development dimensions could make significant differences. Factors in all four dimensions could affect village-scale poverty significantly, and the natural environment dimension was more effective than the other three dimensions. The impact of geographic capital and its spatial heterogeneity at the village scale varied, implying that local and diverse anti-poverty measures should increase. This study improves understanding of the multi-scale features of regional poverty and supports the formulation of effective anti-poverty measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 400 KiB  

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China’s Carbon Emission Trading Pilot Policy and China’s Export Technical Sophistication: Based on DID Analysis

by Chaobo Zhou and Shuang Zhou

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 14035; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132414035 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1927

Abstract

This paper takes China’s carbon emission trading pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and adopts a difference-in-difference approach and data from 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2016 to empirically study the influence of this policy on China’s export technical sophistication. The [...] Read more.

This paper takes China’s carbon emission trading pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and adopts a difference-in-difference approach and data from 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2016 to empirically study the influence of this policy on China’s export technical sophistication. The empirical analysis revealed that the policy can generate a Porter effect and progressively promote China’s export technical sophistication by reinforcing carbon productivity. By analyzing the regional heterogeneity and influence channels, the policy is found to work better in the central-western region than in the eastern region. The reason for this finding is that the policy has brought innovation offset effects to the central-western region and increased carbon productivity, but the policy has not improved carbon productivity in the eastern region. By studying the effect of three measures of policy implementation on export technical sophistication, we found that restricting carbon emission quotas distributed to participating enterprises is necessary. In addition, we found that the financial punishment method for non-performance is advantageous to the enhancement of export technical sophistication. These research conclusions can provide directions and policy recommendations for upgrading the emissions trading market, as well as a learning case and some experience for countries that have not yet established carbon trading markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 3812 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Nongrowing Season CO₂ Emissions Determine the Distinct Carbon Budgets of Two Alpine Wetlands on the Northeastern Qinghai—Tibet Plateau

by Chenggang Song, Fanglin Luo, Lele Zhang, Lubei Yi, Chunyu Wang, Yongsheng Yang, Jiexia Li, Kelong Chen, Wenying Wang, Yingnian Li and Fawei Zhang

Atmosphere 2021, 12(12), 1695; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12121695 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

Alpine wetlands sequester large amounts of soil carbon, so it is vital to gain a full understanding of their land-atmospheric CO₂ exchanges and how they contribute to regional carbon neutrality; such an understanding is currently lacking for the Qinghai—Tibet Plateau (QTP), which [...] Read more.

Alpine wetlands sequester large amounts of soil carbon, so it is vital to gain a full understanding of their land-atmospheric CO₂ exchanges and how they contribute to regional carbon neutrality; such an understanding is currently lacking for the Qinghai—Tibet Plateau (QTP), which is undergoing unprecedented climate warming. We analyzed two-year (2018–2019) continuous CO₂ flux data, measured by eddy covariance techniques, to quantify the carbon budgets of two alpine wetlands (Luanhaizi peatland (LHZ) and Xiaobohu swamp (XBH)) on the northeastern QTP. At an 8-day scale, boosted regression tree model-based analysis showed that variations in growing season CO₂ fluxes were predominantly determined by atmospheric water vapor, having a relative contribution of more than 65%. Variations in nongrowing season CO₂ fluxes were mainly controlled by site (categorical variable) and topsoil temperature (T_s), with cumulative relative contributions of 81.8%. At a monthly scale, structural equation models revealed that net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) at both sites was regulated more by gross primary productivity (GPP), than by ecosystem respiration (RES), which were both in turn directly controlled by atmospheric water vapor. The general linear model showed that variations in nongrowing season CO₂ fluxes were significantly (p < 0.001) driven by the main effect of site and T_s. Annually, LHZ acted as a net carbon source, and NEE, GPP, and RES were 41.5 ± 17.8, 631.5 ± 19.4, and 673.0 ± 37.2 g C/(m² year), respectively. XBH behaved as a net carbon sink, and NEE, GPP, and RES were –40.9 ± 7.5, 595.1 ± 15.4, and 554.2 ± 7.9 g C/(m² year), respectively. These distinctly different carbon budgets were primarily caused by the nongrowing season RES being approximately twice as large at LHZ (p < 0.001), rather than by other equivalent growing season CO₂ fluxes (p > 0.10). Overall, variations in growing season CO₂ fluxes were mainly controlled by atmospheric water vapor, while those of the nongrowing season were jointly determined by site attributes and soil temperatures. Our results highlight the different carbon functions of alpine peatland and alpine swampland, and show that nongrowing season CO₂ emissions should be taken into full consideration when upscaling regional carbon budgets. Current and predicted marked winter warming will directly stimulate increased CO₂ emissions from alpine wetlands, which will positively feedback to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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31 pages, 4292 KiB  

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A Hypothetical Extraction Method Decomposition of Intersectoral and Interprovincial CO₂ Emission Linkages of China’s Construction Industry

by Adedayo Johnson Ogungbile, Geoffrey Qiping Shen, Jin Xue and Tobi Michael Alabi

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13917; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413917 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2089

Abstract

Understanding the complex CO₂ emissions in inter-sectoral and interregional interactions of the construction industry is significant to attaining sustainability in China. Many previous studies focused on aggregating the construction sector’s CO₂ emissions on a national level, with the provincial characteristics and [...] Read more.

Understanding the complex CO₂ emissions in inter-sectoral and interregional interactions of the construction industry is significant to attaining sustainability in China. Many previous studies focused on aggregating the construction sector’s CO₂ emissions on a national level, with the provincial characteristics and interactions often overlooked. Using extended environmental input–output tables, we adopted a hypothetical extraction method combined with extended-environmental multi-regional input–output tables for 2012, 2015, and 2017 data to decompose the CO₂ emissions linkages in 30 provincial construction sectors. The provincial carbon emissions data from a complete system boundary informed the recategorization of China’s construction sector as a high-carbon-intensity industry. The interprovincial interactions results show relatively small backward CO₂ emissions linkages compared to forward CO₂ emissions linkages depicting the industry’s significant role in China’s economic growth and an essential target in CO₂ emissions reduction plans. The provinces exhibited different impacts on the directional push–pull, with less developed provinces having one-way directional effects. The more developed provincial sectors behaved more like demand-driven industries creating an overall imbalance in CO₂ emissions interaction between the sectors in interregional emission trades. We identified construction sectors in Gansu, Xingjian, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia as the most critical, with more significant CO₂ emissions interactions than other provinces. Improving the technical level in less developed provincial construction sectors, considering provincial characteristics in policy formulation, and a swift shift to renewable energy as a primary energy source would aid in reducing the emissions intensities in the construction sector, especially in the less developed provinces, and achieving China’s quest to reach a CO₂ emissions peak by 2030. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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10 pages, 917 KiB  

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Technological Breakthrough for the Afforestation of Populus euphratica in the Mu Us Desert in China

by Fei Tuo, Beibei Gao and Zhibao Dong

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13900; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413900 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2139

Abstract

The Mu Us Desert (MUD) is one of the four largest sandy lands in China. On 22 April 2020, the Shaanxi Forestry Bureau announced that the desertification land control rate in Yulin reached 93.24%, which means that the Mu Us Desert was about [...] Read more.

The Mu Us Desert (MUD) is one of the four largest sandy lands in China. On 22 April 2020, the Shaanxi Forestry Bureau announced that the desertification land control rate in Yulin reached 93.24%, which means that the Mu Us Desert was about to “disappear” from the territory of Shaanxi. However, the problem of biological diversity, mostly for Pinus sylvestris and shrubs in the Mu Us Desert, remains serious. In order to consolidate the current forest conservation efforts, Populus euphratica has been considered an ideal candidate since the 1950s. However, the low survival rate and conservation rate of Populus euphratica in the MUD led us to perform further large-scale introduction for over 70 years. In this study, by using root control seedling technology, the survival and the conservation rate of Populus euphratica were increased to more than 90%. This study makes possible the introduction of Populus euphratica in the MUD, and the successful introduction of Populus euphratica will provide a new barrier for forest ecosystem stability in the desertification control project in the Yulin area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 9995 KiB  

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Spatio-Temporal Fish Catch Assessments Using Fishing Vessel Trajectories and Coastal Fish Landing Data from around Jeju Island

by Solomon Amoah Owiredu and Kwang-Il Kim

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13841; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413841 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2496

Abstract

While pressure on marine ecosystems leading to declines in global fish catches have been attributed to excessive fishing and to unregulated and unreported fishing, existing management practices have yet to fully address these declines. Estimation of spatial and temporal distribution of fisheries resources [...] Read more.

While pressure on marine ecosystems leading to declines in global fish catches have been attributed to excessive fishing and to unregulated and unreported fishing, existing management practices have yet to fully address these declines. Estimation of spatial and temporal distribution of fisheries resources and the extent of fishing impacts on marine ecosystems using vessel trajectories has become central in recent studies. This study proposed the use of trajectories of 771 Korean coastal and offshore fishing vessels and one-year fish landing data to estimate variations in commercial fish species, vessel, and fishing gear activity distributions in the waters around Jeju island. A set of standards were applied to identify individual fishing tracks of major gears and uniformly distributed catch to fishing segments of trajectories to produce spatio-temporal distributions of catch, fishing activities, and vessel reliance on fishing grounds at a fine spatial scale. The method identified reference points that can inform management at local and regional scales. We discuss the opportunities of combining larger datasets collected over a longer period and applying predictive modeling techniques in making extensive assessments, including climate change impacts on fishing activities that can inform resource management and marine spatial planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 4450 KiB  

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Mapping Land Use Land Cover Changes and Their Determinants in the Context of a Massive Free Labour Mobilisation Campaign: Evidence from South Wollo, Ethiopia

by Bichaye Tesfaye, Monica Lengoiboni, Jaap Zevenbergen and Belay Simane

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(24), 5078; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13245078 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5089

Abstract

Northern Ethiopia is characterised by fragile mountain eco-systems that are highly susceptible to land degradation, impacting food security and livelihoods. This study appraises Land Use Land Cover Changes (LULCC) and their determinants from 2000 to 2020 in Dessie Zuria and Kutaber Woredas. It [...] Read more.

Northern Ethiopia is characterised by fragile mountain eco-systems that are highly susceptible to land degradation, impacting food security and livelihoods. This study appraises Land Use Land Cover Changes (LULCC) and their determinants from 2000 to 2020 in Dessie Zuria and Kutaber Woredas. It explores the LULCC and the key anthropogenic drivers of the change over the past 20 years through a mix of satellite imagery and a survey of local understandings. Six land use types (agriculture, forest, area closure, grazing, settlement and bare land) were mapped from satellite imagery that was acquired from Landsat 7 for the years 2000, 2005, and 2010, and Landsat 8 and OLI multispectral imageries for the years 2015 and 2020 with a spectral resolution of 30-m obtained from USGS. The results showed that agricultural land increased from 29.68% in 2000 to 35.77% in 2020.Furthermore, settlement and grazing lands enlarged from 5.95% and 6.04%, respectively, to 8.31% and 6.35% during the same period, while bare land increased from 9.89% to 10.92% in 2020. On the contrary, forest and area closure decreased from 18.45% and 29.99% to 17.8% and 17.38%, respectively. Meanwhile, population growth, unrestricted grazing, losing a sense of ownership of protected area closures and forests, lack of cooperation, using the free labour mobilisation schemes for government-induced agendas, weak enforcement of laws and bylaws, and engaging farmers for extended days on the campaign were prominent determinants of the changes. This research has implications for development actors across land management and food security towards implementing sustainable land management in the area and beyond. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 2232 KiB  

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Does the Agglomeration of Producer Services and the Market Entry of Enterprises Promote Carbon Reduction? An Empirical Analysis of the Yangtze River Economic Belt

by Tianling Zhang, Panda Su and Hongbing Deng

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13821; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413821 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2389

Abstract

As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China has been committed to carbon emission reduction and green development. Under the goal of “double carbon”, adjusting the industrial structure and promoting the development of producer services are regarded as effective emission reduction paths. In this [...] Read more.

As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China has been committed to carbon emission reduction and green development. Under the goal of “double carbon”, adjusting the industrial structure and promoting the development of producer services are regarded as effective emission reduction paths. In this paper, from the perspective of market entry of enterprises, we firstly investigate the transmission mechanism between market entry of enterprises and industrial agglomeration and summarize the carbon emission reduction mechanism of producer services. Based on the panel data of 110 prefecture-level cities in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 2003 to 2017, we analyze the impact of producer services on carbon emission reduction by using the dynamic spatial panel model. The empirical results show that China’s urban carbon dioxide emissions have noticeable spatial spillover effects and high emission club clustering characteristics and exhibit a noticeable snowball effect and leakage effect in time and space dimensions. The development of the producer services can effectively reduce carbon emission levels, effectively solving the dilemma of “stabilizing growth and promoting emission reduction”. Furthermore, there is an apparent synergistic effect between enterprises’ market entry and industrial agglomeration. The agglomeration of producer services can effectively promote the entry of innovative new enterprises, thus increasing the carbon emission reduction effect. However, due to resource mismatch and isomorphic development, this carbon emission reduction effect has apparent industrial heterogeneity and regional heterogeneity. Finally, this paper makes suggestions for optimizing regional industrial structure, strengthening inter-regional linkage cooperation, and promoting the advanced development of the producer services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 5215 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Trends of Rainfall Onset, Cessation, and Length of Growing Season in Northern Ghana: Comparing the Rain Gauge, Satellite, and Farmer’s Perceptions

by Winifred Ayinpogbilla Atiah, Francis K. Muthoni, Bekele Kotu, Fred Kizito and Leonard K. Amekudzi

Atmosphere 2021, 12(12), 1674; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12121674 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4796

Abstract

Rainfall onset and cessation date greatly influence cropping calendar decisions in rain-fed agricultural systems. This paper examined trends of onsets, cessation, and the length of growing season over Northern Ghana using CHIRPS-v2, gauge, and farmers’ perceptions data between 1981 and 2019. Results from [...] Read more.

Rainfall onset and cessation date greatly influence cropping calendar decisions in rain-fed agricultural systems. This paper examined trends of onsets, cessation, and the length of growing season over Northern Ghana using CHIRPS-v2, gauge, and farmers’ perceptions data between 1981 and 2019. Results from CHIRPS-v2 revealed that the three seasonal rainfall indices have substantial latitudinal variability. Significant late and early onsets were observed at the West and East of 1.5° W longitude, respectively. Significant late cessations and longer growing periods occurred across Northern Ghana. The ability of farmers’ perceptions and CHIRPS-v2 to capture rainfall onsets are time and location-dependent. A total of 71% of farmers rely on traditional knowledge to forecast rainfall onsets. Adaptation measures applied were not always consistent with the rainfall seasonality. More investment in modern climate information services is required to complement the existing local knowledge of forecasting rainfall seasonality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 330 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Inclusion of Resilience as an Element of the Sustainable Dimension in the LOMLOE Curriculum in a European Framework

by Elisa Gavari-Starkie, Josep Pastrana-Huguet, Inmaculada Navarro-González and Patricia-Teresa Espinosa-Gutiérrez

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13714; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413714 - 12 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2489

Abstract

This article provides the research community with a conceptual framework from a historical perspective of the impulse of education sustainability in the official international literature. In addition, the United Nations International Conferences held on Japanese territory in order to foster education for risk [...] Read more.

This article provides the research community with a conceptual framework from a historical perspective of the impulse of education sustainability in the official international literature. In addition, the United Nations International Conferences held on Japanese territory in order to foster education for risk reduction and for training resilient individuals and communities are analyzed. The study of the content of both approaches, education for sustainability and education for risk reduction, constitute an innovative approach especially relevant after the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The article advances with a historical analysis of the use of the concept of resilience in the European Institutions’ official documents. Our findings show that it is particular after 2015 when resilience is linked to sustainability. Before this, the European approach was mostly linked to food crises and emergencies. The article offers a synthesis of the global and European approaches in tables so that we can compare the progress in the United Nations discourse and the European Union one. In this conceptual framework, we offer a contribution to the debate for European national education systems. In particular, we offer contribute to the debate of the Organic Law LOMLOE approved in Spain in 2020, in which education for sustainability is strongly considered but not so much resilience education. The article intends to contribute to the inclusion of resilience as an element of the curriculum linked to the education for sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

15 pages, 2677 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Knowledge Mapping Analysis of Transnational Agricultural Land Investment Research

by Jing Han, Mengying Jiang, Xupeng Zhang and Xinhai Lu

Land 2021, 10(12), 1374; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121374 - 11 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2526

Abstract

With the expansion of the global transnational agricultural planting scale, research on transnational agricultural land investment is growing. In order to analyze the development context and basic characteristics of this research, and to discover the research hotspots and frontiers, this study used documentation [...] Read more.

With the expansion of the global transnational agricultural planting scale, research on transnational agricultural land investment is growing. In order to analyze the development context and basic characteristics of this research, and to discover the research hotspots and frontiers, this study used documentation and bibliometric methods to examine the achievements of it. The results show the following: (1) Transnational agricultural land investment research is mainly focused on the social sciences, development studies, economics, environmental sciences and geography. (2) The concentration of researchers in this research field is not high, and there is still a lack of authoritative researchers with high influence. The cooperation network has been initially formed between research institutions. Among them, universities and research institutes are the main institutions of transnational agricultural land investment research, but the degree of integration among the research teams is not high. (3) The evolution of the research theme of the field has experienced three stages—an embryonic stage, growth stage and stable stage—and the research content shows a trend of continuous divergence and deepening. (4) From 2005 to 2019, the research hotspots of the research focused on “Land Grabbing, Global Land, Africa, Investment”. At present, the emerging frontier research topics are “Indonesia, Livelihood, Trajectory and Sustainability”. With many years of development, the research has become an obvious "land" attribute, independent from traditional agricultural economic research, and the research topics are becoming more and more mature, refined and diversified. Transnational agricultural land investment research is attracting continuous attention from scholars in multiple disciplines and fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1726 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Marginal Abatement Cost of Carbon Emissions under Different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways

by Na Liu and Futie Song

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13693; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413693 - 11 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2335

Abstract

Future emissions scenarios have served as a primary basis for assessing climate change and formulating climate policies. To explore the impact of uncertainty in future emissions scenarios on major outcomes related to climate change, this study examines the marginal abatement cost (MAC) of [...] Read more.

Future emissions scenarios have served as a primary basis for assessing climate change and formulating climate policies. To explore the impact of uncertainty in future emissions scenarios on major outcomes related to climate change, this study examines the marginal abatement cost (MAC) of carbon emissions under the latest Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) subject to the economic optimum and the 1.5 °C temperature increase constraint using the Epstein-Zin (EZ) climate model. Taking the “Regional Rivalry” (SSP3) scenario narrative under the economic optimum as a representative case, the expected MACs per ton CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) emissions in the years 2015, 2030, 2060, 2100, and 2200 are: $102.08, $84.42, $61.19, $10.71, and $0.12, respectively. In parallel, the associated expected average mitigation rates (AMRs) are 0%, 63%, 66%, 81%, and 96%, respectively. In summary, in a world developing towards regional rivalry (SSP3) or fossil-fueled development (SSP5) with high mitigation pressure, the MAC values have approximately doubled, compared with the sustainability (SSP1) and inequality (SSP4) storylines with low mitigation pressure levels. The SSP2 (Middle of the Road) shows a moderate MAC decreasing trend with moderate mitigation pressure. The results provide a carbon price benchmark for policy makers with different attitudes towards the unknown future and can be used to formulate carbon mitigation strategy to respond to specific climate goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 4281 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Data-Driven Models for Estimating Dust Loading Levels of ERV HEPA Filters

by Seung-Hoon Park, Jae-Hun Jo and Eui-Jong Kim

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13643; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413643 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2539

Abstract

With increasing global concerns regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) and air pollution, concerns about regularly replacing ventilation devices, particularly high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, have increased. However, users cannot easily determine when to replace filters. This paper proposes models to estimate the dust [...] Read more.

With increasing global concerns regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) and air pollution, concerns about regularly replacing ventilation devices, particularly high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, have increased. However, users cannot easily determine when to replace filters. This paper proposes models to estimate the dust loading levels of HEPA filters for an energy-recovery ventilation system that performs air purification. The models utilize filter pressure drops, the revolutions per minute (RPM) of supply fans, and rated airflow modes as variables for regression equations. The obtained results demonstrated that the filter dust loading level could be estimated once the filter pressure drops and RPM, and voltage for the rated airflow were input in the models, with a root mean square error of 5.1–12.9%. Despite current methods using fewer experimental datasets than the proposed models, our findings indicate that these models could be efficiently used in the development of filter replacement alarms to help users decide when to replace their filters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 5374 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Grassland Phenology’s Sensitivity to Extreme Climate Indices in the Sichuan Province, Western China

by Benjamin Adu, Gexia Qin, Chunbin Li and Jing Wu

Atmosphere 2021, 12(12), 1650; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12121650 - 09 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2333

Abstract

Depending on the vegetation type, extreme climate and drought events have a greater impact on the end of the season (EOS) and start of the season (SOS). This study investigated the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of grassland phenology and its responses to [...] Read more.

Depending on the vegetation type, extreme climate and drought events have a greater impact on the end of the season (EOS) and start of the season (SOS). This study investigated the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of grassland phenology and its responses to seasonal and extreme climate changes in Sichuan Province from 2001 to 2020. Based on the data from 38 meteorological stations in Sichuan Province, this study calculated the 15 extreme climate indices recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). The results showed that SOS was concentrated in mid-March to mid-May (80–140 d), and 61.83% of the area showed a significant advancing trend, with a rate of 0–1.5 d/a. The EOS was concentrated between 270–330 d, from late September to late November, and 71.32% showed a delayed trend. SOS was strongly influenced by the diurnal temperature range (DTR), yearly maximum consecutive five-day precipitation (RX5), and the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI), while EOS was most influenced by the yearly minimum daily temperature (TNN), yearly mean temperature (TEMP_MEAN), and TVDI. The RX5 day index showed an overall positive sensitivity coefficient for SOS. TNN index showed a positive sensitivity coefficient for EOS. TVDI showed positive and negative sensitivities for SOS and EOS, respectively. This suggests that extreme climate change, if it causes an increase in vegetation SOS, may also cause an increase in vegetation EOS. This research can provide a scientific basis for developing regional vegetation restoration and disaster prediction strategies in Sichuan Province. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1747 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Human Activities Introduced Degenerations of Wetlands (1975–2013) across the Sanjiang Plain North of the Wandashan Mountain, China

by Jing Xie, Yeran Sun, Xiao Liu, Zhi Ding and Ming Lu

Land 2021, 10(12), 1361; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121361 - 09 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2136

Abstract

Human-induced dramatic loss and fragmentation of wetlands need further understanding through historical backtracking analysis at a geographical landscape scale. In this study, we investigated time-series wetlands maps from 1975, 1983, 1989, 2000, 2006, and 2013 derived from Landsat images based on the object-oriented [...] Read more.

Human-induced dramatic loss and fragmentation of wetlands need further understanding through historical backtracking analysis at a geographical landscape scale. In this study, we investigated time-series wetlands maps from 1975, 1983, 1989, 2000, 2006, and 2013 derived from Landsat images based on the object-oriented classification of wetlands across the Sanjiang Plain north of the Wandashan Mountains. The spatial and temporal changes in the wetlands that occurred at different time periods and the Euclidean distances between artificial land-use types and natural land-cover areas were evaluated for their impact. Our results showed that wetland was the dominant landscape in 1975; however, arable land became the main land coverage in 2013 owing to severe changes in agricultural development over the past decades. The closer to arable land, the greater the wetland loss during the entire investigated period; agriculture activities were the dominant driving force for the degradation of wetlands based on landscape changes; secondary was the rapid expansion in building land use (i.e., human settlement, transportation, and establishment of irrigation canals). More specifically, the rapid loss of wetland areas over 1975–2000 was mainly owing to extensive agricultural reclamation. The mitigated loss of wetland areas over 2000–2013 was because of the protection and restored implementation of wetlands under governmental policies. The wetlands of the study area suffered severe human disturbance, and our analysis may help explain the loss process of wetlands, but more effective management and administration is still needed to address the issues around the balance between agricultural production and wetland protection for further sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 751 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Farmers’ Satisfaction with Land Expropriation System Reform: A Case Study in China

by Chenxi Li, Jingyao Wu, Zenglei Xi and Weiqiang Zhang

Land 2021, 10(12), 1353; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121353 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2743

Abstract

Farmers’ satisfaction with reform of the land expropriation system has not been fully examined, so it is difficult to comprehensively and successfully judge the effectiveness of the reforms. Traditional statistical methods cannot accurately explain the relationship between the variables. In order to fully [...] Read more.

Farmers’ satisfaction with reform of the land expropriation system has not been fully examined, so it is difficult to comprehensively and successfully judge the effectiveness of the reforms. Traditional statistical methods cannot accurately explain the relationship between the variables. In order to fully understand the implementation, progress, and applicability of land expropriation system reform, this paper analyzes the factors influencing farmers’ satisfaction, presents the shortcomings of land expropriation system reform, and puts forward improvement suggestions. Taking the land expropriation system reform pilot in Dingzhou city as an example, this paper investigates the satisfaction of the farmers who have had their land expropriated by establishing a structural equation model (SEM) to obtain feedback on the implementation effect of the pilot work. The results show that the factors affecting farmers’ satisfaction with the reform of land expropriation systems can be summarized into four variables: land expropriation compensation standard, land income distribution, land expropriation security mode, and land expropriation procedure. The parameter estimation between these four potential variables and their corresponding observation variables shows that, in the process of land expropriation, the comparison of land expropriation compensation standards and observation variables with market entry projects is an important factor affecting the satisfaction of farmers with regard to land expropriation. The income of municipal and county governments and village collective incomes have a great impact on farmers, indicating that the satisfaction of farmers is not only related to the absolute level of compensation and income, but is also affected by the relative level. In addition, providing farmers with a variety of reasonable security methods is an important element to enable the smooth progress of land expropriation. Furthermore, attention should also be paid to the formulation of land expropriation schemes and emergency plans to solve land expropriation conflicts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2353 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Heavy Metal Contamination and Human Health Implications in the Chan Thnal Reservoir, Cambodia

by Lita Chheang, Nisakorn Thongkon, Tongchai Sriwiriyarat and Sudtida Pliankarom Thanasupsin

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13538; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413538 - 07 Dec 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3924

Abstract

Chan Thnal reservoir, built during the Pol Pot period, is the major water source for the people in Krang Chek commune, Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia. Metal pollution caused by agricultural activities, improper wastewater treatment, and municipal waste disposal poses serious environmental health problems. [...] Read more.

Chan Thnal reservoir, built during the Pol Pot period, is the major water source for the people in Krang Chek commune, Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia. Metal pollution caused by agricultural activities, improper wastewater treatment, and municipal waste disposal poses serious environmental health problems. In this study, the concentrations of four potential toxic metals (i.e., Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) from six locations across the reservoir were investigated both in the water and sediment. The results reflected progressive deterioration and indicated moderate to heavy pollution from the metals. The metal levels in the water were in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. The statistical analysis revealed primary sources of heavy metals contamination in the water. Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb in the water likely originate from anthropogenic activities including agricultural runoff (i.e., the use of fertilizers and pesticides) and urban runoff (i.e., improper wastewater discharge and waste disposal). Among the four metals, the Pb levels in the water significantly exceeded the guideline for drinking water in all locations. The health risk assessment revealed serious non-carcinogenic risks of Pb intake in the children at the age below 10 and infants. Appropriate control and protection strategies are urgently needed to cut off the main Pb exposure pathway in pregnant women, children, and infants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 11374 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigations of a Weathered and Closely Jointed Rock Slope Failure Using Back Analyses

by Kuo-Shih Shao, An-Jui Li, Chee-Nan Chen, Chen-Hsien Chung, Ching-Fang Lee and Chih-Ping Kuo

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13452; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313452 - 05 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2118

Abstract

This study presents the case of a landslide triggered by a high groundwater level caused by several days of continuous rainfall in the northeastern region of Taiwan. The slope where this landslide occurred consists of closely jointed and weathered bedrock. By means of [...] Read more.

This study presents the case of a landslide triggered by a high groundwater level caused by several days of continuous rainfall in the northeastern region of Taiwan. The slope where this landslide occurred consists of closely jointed and weathered bedrock. By means of finite element limit analysis and the Hoek–Brown failure criterion, this study performed a slope failure simulation similar to the actual landslide and deduced the reasonable value range for the combination of key Hoek–Brown failure criterion parameters through back analyses. The results indicate that the key parameters affecting the bedrock’s slope stability were the geological strength index (GSI) and the disturbance factor (D), whereas the effects of the unconfined compressive strength (σ_ci) were less significant. The results of the back analysis reveal that the suitable D-value range and GSI of closely jointed and weathered sandstone in the northeastern region of Taiwan are 0.8 to 0.9 and 20 to 30, respectively. These back-analyzed value ranges can serve as a reference for broader applications in the preliminary stability analysis of similar rock slopes where it is difficult to perform in situ investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 8583 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Method for Fast Map Construction Based on GPS Data and Compressed Grid Algorithm

by Jian Zhang, Shuai Ling, Ping Wang, Xiaoyang Hu and Lu Liu

Land 2021, 10(12), 1322; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121322 - 01 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2160

Abstract

Electronic maps play an important role in the field of urban traffic management, but the interface functions provided by map service agencies are limited, and commercial maps are generally expensive. Furthermore, the map generation algorithms based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) data [...] Read more.

Electronic maps play an important role in the field of urban traffic management, but the interface functions provided by map service agencies are limited, and commercial maps are generally expensive. Furthermore, the map generation algorithms based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) data can be very complex and take up a lot of storage space, which limits their application to specific practical problems, such as the real-time update of area maps, temporary road control, emergency route planning, and other scenarios. In order to solve this problem, an intuitive, extensible, and flexible method of constructing urban road maps is proposed. Using the Othello-coordinated method, the representation of the unit grid cell was redesigned. Through this method, the disadvantages of the raster map’s large storage space and computing resource requirements are compensated for during processing, improving the topological expression ability of the raster map and the speed with which the construction of the map is realized. The application potential of the proposed method is demonstrated by the evaluation of public transport service and road network resilience. In our experiments, the optimization efficiency of storage space was up to 99.914%, and the calculation accuracy of bus coverage was about 99.86%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 2289 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Green’s Function for Static Klein–Gordon Equation Stated on a Rectangular Region and Its Application in Meteorology Data Assimilation

by Hao Cheng, Xiyu Mu, Hua Jiang, Ming Wei and Guoqing Liu

Atmosphere 2021, 12(12), 1602; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12121602 - 30 Nov 2021

Viewed by 1290

Abstract

The meteorology data assimilation applications often encounter variational problems with unknown weights, where the corresponding Euler equation is an elliptic partial differential equation. This research focused on retrieving the weights in remote sensing data assimilation by means of the computer-friendly form of the [...] Read more.

The meteorology data assimilation applications often encounter variational problems with unknown weights, where the corresponding Euler equation is an elliptic partial differential equation. This research focused on retrieving the weights in remote sensing data assimilation by means of the computer-friendly form of the Green’s function obtained by eigenfunction expansion for the boundary value problem of the static Klein–Gordon equation on a rectangular region. With the help of the proposed retrieving method, the assimilation problem of estimating regional precipitation with weather radar and rain-gauge is solved in the Green’s function method. Results show that high accuracy of the proposed method makes it a good candidate for data assimilation problems in operational use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 6130 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Long-Term Trends of Heat Stress for South Africa

by Katlego P. Ncongwane, Joel O. Botai, Venkataraman Sivakumar, Christina M. Botai and Abiodun M. Adeola

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13249; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313249 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3107

Abstract

Increasing air temperature coupled with high humidity due to ongoing climate change across most parts of South Africa is likely to induce and intensify heat exposure, particularly in densely populated areas. The adverse health implications, including heatstroke, are expected to be common and [...] Read more.

Increasing air temperature coupled with high humidity due to ongoing climate change across most parts of South Africa is likely to induce and intensify heat exposure, particularly in densely populated areas. The adverse health implications, including heatstroke, are expected to be common and more severe during extreme heat and heat wave events. The present study was carried out to examine heat stress conditions and long-term trends in South Africa. The study aimed to identify geographical locations exposed to elevated heat stress based on over two decades of hourly ground-based data. Selected heat stress indicators were calculated based on Steadman’s apparent temperature (AT in °C). The trends in AT were assessed based on the non-parametric Mann–Kendall (MK) trend test at 5% significance level. Positive trends were detected in 88% of the selected weather stations except in Welkom-FS, Ficksburg-FS, Langebaanweg-WC, Lambertsbaai Nortier-WC, Skukuza-MP, and Thabazimbi-LP. Approximately 47% of the detected positive trends are statistically significant at 5% significant level. Overall, high climatological annual median (ATmed) values (>32 °C) were observed at 42 stations, most of which are in low altitude regions, predominately along the coastlines. The hottest towns with ATmed values in the danger category (i.e., 39–50 °C) were found to be Patensie-EC (41 °C), Pietermaritzburg-KZN (39 °C), Pongola-KZN (39 °C), Knysna-WC (39 °C), Hoedspruit-LP (39 °C), Skukuza-MP (45 °C), and Komatidraai-MP (44 °C). The results provide insight into heat stress characteristics and pinpoint geographical locations vulnerable to heat stress conditions at the community level in South Africa. Such information can be useful in monitoring hotspots of heat stress and contribute to the development of local heat–health adaptation plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2113 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Trusting in the “Eye in the Sky”? Farmers’ and Auditors’ Perceptions of Drone Use in Environmental Auditing

by Xiaomeng Lucock and Victoria Westbrooke

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13208; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313208 - 29 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2748

Abstract

Worldwide, the agricultural sector is under pressure to demonstrate environmental sustainability. In New Zealand, farm environment plans (FEPs) and their auditing were intended to guide farmers towards sustainable practices by meeting regulations. However, on-farm audits can be time consuming, costly, and stressful for [...] Read more.

Worldwide, the agricultural sector is under pressure to demonstrate environmental sustainability. In New Zealand, farm environment plans (FEPs) and their auditing were intended to guide farmers towards sustainable practices by meeting regulations. However, on-farm audits can be time consuming, costly, and stressful for farmers. Meanwhile, the advancement of drone technology has made it possible to incorporate such tools in environmental audits. By means of field observation and in-depth interviews with both farmers and auditors, this research investigated the processes and perceptions of incorporating drones in environmental audits. The aerial views provided additional, high-quality information for the audit. However, flying a drone is subject to weather conditions. Additionally, reductions in audit time were dependent on farm scale, topography, and the auditor’s knowledge of the farm and the farmer. Farmer-auditor relationships are critical for enabling the benefits of drone use within the FEP audit process. Such relationships require a high level of interaction-based trust between farmers and auditors. Further clarity around the use and ownership of drone images could enhance trust, enabling the benefits of drones in audits to be fully utilised, hence furthering the environmental management and compliance processes towards achieving their objectives of better environmental outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1443 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Interventions and Indicators in Nepal: Implications for Sustainable Adaptation

by Gyanendra Karki, Balram Bhatta, Naba R Devkota, Ram P Acharya and Ripu M Kunwar

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13195; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313195 - 29 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3388

Abstract

We reviewed 76 climate change adaptation projects that were operational between 2010 and 2020. The review was followed by office and field visits for verification. The office visit helped crosscheck the findings, and the field observations carried out between December 2020 and April [...] Read more.

We reviewed 76 climate change adaptation projects that were operational between 2010 and 2020. The review was followed by office and field visits for verification. The office visit helped crosscheck the findings, and the field observations carried out between December 2020 and April 2021 asked 24 key informants and collected supplementary information appraisal and indicator development. Of the CCA projects studied, the most (n = 48, 32%) were community-based initiatives, while the least (n = 12, 8%) were ecosystem-based interventions. The main environment-centered projects were Ecosystem-based Adaptations and Ecosystems Protecting Infrastructure and Communities (EPIC) while Enhanced Action of Inclusive CSOs for Participation in Climate Resilient Economic Growth (UTHAN), Initiative for CCA (ICCA), Support to Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalayas (HIMALICA), etc., adaptation projects were community-based. Capacity building and awareness-raising were the major thrust of the CbA projects, while the abatement of climate vulnerabilities and risks through nature-based solutions were priorities of EbA. Payment for Ecosystem services is a nature-based solution that can play a role in enhancing adaptation to climate change at a local scale by adopting community-based and culturally appropriate methods and enhancing and incentivizing adaptation measures and capacities. A set of 11 criteria and 40 indicators comprised the institutional and behavioral responses and the use of technologies, and the design of climate-resilient plans and climate-smart practices were proposed as appraisal measures to evaluate the success of CCA interventions. The importance of criteria and indicators lies in the fact that such a comprehensive assessment would lead to effective and efficient adaptation projects, which could help benefit beyond the borders. It also furthers ongoing adaptation interventions and is set to be an integral part of associated studies and monitoring and review of new adaptation interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 7471 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change and Livestock Management Drove Extensive Vegetation Recovery in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

by Enqin Liu, Xiangming Xiao, Huaiyong Shao, Xin Yang, Yali Zhang and Yang Yang

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(23), 4808; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13234808 - 27 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1876

Abstract

The vegetation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), China, is diverse and sensitive to climate change. Because of extensive grassland degradation in the QTP, several ecological restoration projects, which affect the livestock population, have been implemented in the QTP. Although many studies have reported [...] Read more.

The vegetation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), China, is diverse and sensitive to climate change. Because of extensive grassland degradation in the QTP, several ecological restoration projects, which affect the livestock population, have been implemented in the QTP. Although many studies have reported the impacts of climate change on vegetation in the QTP, our knowledge on the impacts of both climate change and livestock on vegetation remains very limited. Here, we investigated the impacts of climate change and livestock population on vegetation growth by using the annual maximum normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI_max) and growing-season climate data from 1981 to 2019. We analyzed the relationship between NDVI_max and climate and livestock population using the modified Mann-Kendall trend Test and Pearson correlation analysis. For the entire QTP, NDVI_max had a two-phase trend, with a slow rise during 1981–2000 and a rapid rise during 2000–2019. Overall, NDVI_max in the QTP increased and decreased in 63.7% and 6.7% of the area in 2000–2019. In areas with significant changes in NDVI_max, it was strongly correlated with relative humidity and vapor pressure. The small positive trend in NDVI_max during 1981–2000 was influenced by warmer and wetter climate, and the overgrazing by a large population of livestock slowed down the rate of increase in NDVI_max. Livestock population for Qinghai and Tibet in recent years has been lower than in the 1980s.The warmer and wetter climate and substantial drops in the livestock population contributed to large recovery in vegetation during 2001–2019. Vegetation degradation in Qinghai during 1981–2000 and central-northern Tibet during 2000–2019 was driven mainly by drier and hotter climatic. Although 63.7% of the area in the QTP became greener, the vegetation degradation in central-northern Tibet should not be ignored and more measures should be taken to alleviate the impact of warming and drying climate. Our findings provide a better understanding of the factors that drove changes in vegetation in the QTP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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11 pages, 3787 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Heavy Lake-Effect Snowfall Changes and Mechanisms for the Laurentian Great Lakes Region

by Oleksandr Huziy, Bernardo Teufel, Laxmi Sushama and Ram Yerubandi

Atmosphere 2021, 12(12), 1577; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12121577 - 27 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1776

Abstract

Heavy lake-effect snowfall (HLES) events are snowfall events enhanced by interactions between lakes and overlying cold air. Significant snowfall rates and accumulations caused during such events disrupt socioeconomic activities and sometimes lead to lethal consequences. The aim of this study is to assess [...] Read more.

Heavy lake-effect snowfall (HLES) events are snowfall events enhanced by interactions between lakes and overlying cold air. Significant snowfall rates and accumulations caused during such events disrupt socioeconomic activities and sometimes lead to lethal consequences. The aim of this study is to assess projected changes to HLES by the end of the century (2079–2100) using a regional climate model for the first time with 3D representation for the Laurentian Great Lakes. When compared to observations over the 1989–2010 period, the model is able to realistically reproduce key mechanisms and characteristics of HLES events, thus increasing confidence in future projections. Projected changes to the frequency and amount of HLES suggest decreasing patterns, during the onset, active and decline phases of HLES. Despite reduced lake ice cover that will allow enhanced lake–atmosphere interactions favouring HLES, the warmer temperatures and associated increase in liquid to solid precipitation ratio along with reduced cold air outbreaks contribute to reduced HLES in the future climate. Analysis of the correlation patterns for current and future climates further supports the weaker impact of lake ice fraction on HLES in future climates. Albeit the decreases in HLES frequency and intensity and projected increases in extreme snowfall events (resulting from all mechanisms) raise concerns for impacts on the transportation, infrastructure and hydropower sectors in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3959 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Land Use Change Related Carbon Source/Sink Examination in Jiangsu Province

by Xiaomin Guo and Chuanglin Fang

Land 2021, 10(12), 1310; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121310 - 27 Nov 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2509

Abstract

Carbon emission (CE) threatens global climate change severely, leading to the continuous strengthening of the greenhouse effect. Land use changes can greatly affect the ecosystem carbon budget and anthropogenic CE. Based on the land use grids, net ecosystem productivity (NEP), energy consumption-related CE, [...] Read more.

Carbon emission (CE) threatens global climate change severely, leading to the continuous strengthening of the greenhouse effect. Land use changes can greatly affect the ecosystem carbon budget and anthropogenic CE. Based on the land use grids, net ecosystem productivity (NEP), energy consumption-related CE, this study employed various methods to investigate the impact of land use change on carbon balance. The results showed 10.03% of total land use area has land use type changed between 2000 and 2015. Built-up land occupied cropland was the main land use transfer type. The period with the most intense land use changes was 2005–2010, which was constant with the process of China’s urbanization. NEP presented an overall increasing trend excluding built-up land and water areas. Temporally, CE showed an increasing trend in 2000–2015, especially in the industry sector. Spatially, areas with the high energy-related CE were mainly distributed in the south, which has a relatively high economic level. The land use intensity values of cities in Jiangsu all presented an overall increasing trend, which is related to the economic development and local endowment. Cities with higher land use intensity were usually accompanied with high CE, suppressing NEP growth. From 2000 to 2015, soil carbon storage reduced by 0.15 × 10⁸ t, vegetation carbon storage reduced by 0.04 × 10⁸ t, and CE reached 17.42 × 10⁸ t. Total CE caused by land use change reached 15.46 × 10⁸ t. The findings can make references for the low-carbon development from ecological land protection, strengthen land management, and optimize urban planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 6788 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Biophysical Effects of Temperate Forests in Regulating Regional Temperature and Precipitation Pattern across Northeast China

by Yue Jiao, Kun Bu, Jiuchun Yang, Guangshuai Li, Lidu Shen, Tingxiang Liu, Lingxue Yu, Shuwen Zhang and Hengqing Zhang

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(23), 4767; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13234767 - 24 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2360

Abstract

The temperate forests in Northeast China are an important ecological barrier. However, the way in which temperate forests regulate the regional temperature and water cycling remains unclear. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the role that temperate forests play in the regulation of [...] Read more.

The temperate forests in Northeast China are an important ecological barrier. However, the way in which temperate forests regulate the regional temperature and water cycling remains unclear. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the role that temperate forests play in the regulation of the regional temperature and precipitation by combining remote sensing observations with a state-of-the-art regional climate model. Our results indicated that the forest ecosystem could slightly warm the annual air temperature by 0.04 ± 0.02 °C and bring more rainfall (17.49 ± 3.88 mm) over Northeast China. The temperature and precipitation modification function of forests varies across the seasons. If the trees were not there, our model suggests that the temperature across Northeast China would become much colder in the winter and spring, and much hotter in the summer than the observed climate. Interestingly, the temperature regulation from the forest ecosystem was detected in both forested regions and the adjacent agricultural areas, suggesting that the temperate forests in Northeast China cushion the air temperature by increasing the temperature in the winter and spring, and decreasing the temperature in the summer over the whole region. Our study also highlights the capacity of temperate forests to regulate regional water cycling in Northeast China. With high evapotranspiration, the forests could transfer sufficient moisture to the atmosphere. Combined with the associated moisture convergence, the temperate forests in Northeast China brought more rainfall in both forest and agricultural ecosystems. The increased rainfall was mainly concentrated in the spring and summer; these seasons accounted for 93.82% of the total increase in rainfall. These results imply that temperate forests make outstanding contributions to the maintainance of the sustainable development of agriculture in Northeast China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 4707 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Panama’s Current Climate Replicability in a Non-Hydrostatic Regional Climate Model Nested in an Atmospheric General Circulation Model

by Reinhardt Pinzón, Noriko N. Ishizaki, Hidetaka Sasaki and Tosiyuki Nakaegawa

Atmosphere 2021, 12(12), 1543; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12121543 - 23 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2324

Abstract

To simulate the current climate, a 20-year integration of a non-hydrostatic regional climate model (NHRCM) with grid spacing of 5 and 2 km (NHRCM05 and NHRCM02, respectively) was nested within the AGCM. The three models did a similarly good job of simulating surface [...] Read more.

To simulate the current climate, a 20-year integration of a non-hydrostatic regional climate model (NHRCM) with grid spacing of 5 and 2 km (NHRCM05 and NHRCM02, respectively) was nested within the AGCM. The three models did a similarly good job of simulating surface air temperature, and the spatial horizontal resolution did not affect these statistics. NHRCM02 did a good job of reproducing seasonal variations in surface air temperature. NHRCM05 overestimated annual mean precipitation in the western part of Panama and eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. NHRCM05 is responsible for this overestimation because it is not seen in MRI-AGCM. NHRCM02 simulated annual mean precipitation better than NHRCM05, probably due to a convection-permitting model without a convection scheme, such as the Kain and Fritsch scheme. Therefore, the finer horizontal resolution of NHRCM02 did a better job of replicating the current climatological mean geographical distributions and seasonal changes of surface air temperature and precipitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 1106 KiB  

Open AccessCase Report

Environmental Innovation and Green Growth in the Repair and Maintenance of Cars—Case Study

by Milan Majerník, Naqib Daneshjo, Peter Malega, Vladimír Rudy and Samer Abdo Saleh Al-Rabeei

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12853; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212853 - 20 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2522

Abstract

The current phase of the sustainable development of production is primarily focused on innovation and environmental products and services, and on greening the economy through the implementation of standardized tools (according to ISO). The paper presents the application of results of ongoing research [...] Read more.

The current phase of the sustainable development of production is primarily focused on innovation and environmental products and services, and on greening the economy through the implementation of standardized tools (according to ISO). The paper presents the application of results of ongoing research through case studies under particular conditions. We have expanded our previously proposed business model as an input/output transformation system, presented in our previous research that was published at the 18th International Scientific Conference “Globalization and Its Socio-Economic Consequences” in Zilina and supported by the fact that we are co-creators of STN EN ISO standards 14051:2012 (839051) and STN EN ISO 14045:2013 (839045). Here, it is supplemented by the proposal of a procedure for selecting an instrument for greening the economy according to the area of economic activities (NACE coding). The methodological principles and the proposed procedure are applied through a case study in a small car repair company. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 8243 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Does Rural Production–Living–Ecological Spaces Have a Preference for Regional Endowments? A Case of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, China

by Peng Zeng, Sihui Wu, Zongyao Sun, Yujia Zhu, Yuqi Chen, Zhi Qiao and Liangwa Cai

Land 2021, 10(11), 1265; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111265 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1962

Abstract

Production–Living–Ecological Space (PLES) is the functional projection of sustainable development in territory spatial planning. Its rational layout has become the most important task for developing countries to enhance ecological awareness and achieve sustainable goals. This study took the rural areas of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) [...] Read more.

Production–Living–Ecological Space (PLES) is the functional projection of sustainable development in territory spatial planning. Its rational layout has become the most important task for developing countries to enhance ecological awareness and achieve sustainable goals. This study took the rural areas of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) as an example to analyze the relationship by means of quantitative cumulation between regional endowments (natural factors, location and facilities) and PLES to figure out the preference mechanism. The Boosted Regression Tree model (BRT) was used to obtain the contribution rate of factors and the internal marginal effect between 1980~2018. Our conclusions are as follows: Living space (LS) enjoyed the highest advantage of regional endowment level, followed by production space (PS). Except for the distance to water, other indicators were significantly different in the PLES, and the suitable range of various types was expanded from LS to PS and ecological space (ES). During the transfer, elevation had a universal effect. The process of increasing naturalness was affected by the distance of high-level urban areas, which verified the continuous effect of Chinese ecological civilization. This study clarified the selectivity of regional endowments to PLES, which will greatly guide the direction of regional territory spatial planning and the next step of regional sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 5858 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Disaster Risk Mapping: A Desk Review of Global Best Practices and Evidence for South Asia

by Giriraj Amarnath, Upali A. Amarasinghe and Niranga Alahacoon

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12779; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212779 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5209

Abstract

The frequency, intensity, and variability of natural hazards are increasing with climate change. Detailed sub-national information on disaster risks associated with individual and multi-hazards enables better spatial targeting of adaptation and mitigation measures. This paper reviews the global best practices of disaster risk [...] Read more.

The frequency, intensity, and variability of natural hazards are increasing with climate change. Detailed sub-national information on disaster risks associated with individual and multi-hazards enables better spatial targeting of adaptation and mitigation measures. This paper reviews the global best practices of disaster risk mapping (DRM) to assess the nature and magnitude of disasters, and the vulnerability and risks at the sub-national level in South Asian countries. While some global DRMs focus on vulnerability, others assess risks. Most DRMs focus on national-level vulnerability and risks. Those which focus on the sub-national risks have a limited scope and different methodologies for evaluating risks, mainly in relation to the population. Climate change exposes not only people but also many infrastructures, assets and their impacts to disaster risk. For DRMs to be useful tools for sub-national planning, they require a coherent methodology and a high-resolution spatial focus. The vulnerability and risk assessments should focus on different aspects, including population, infrastructure, and assets in various economic sectors of agriculture, industry, and services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 277 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

#ProtectNature—How Characteristics of Nature Conservation Posts Impact User Engagement on Facebook and Twitter

by Annika Miller and Stefan Heiland

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12768; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212768 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2237

Abstract

Social networks expand the communication tools of nature conservation. Nonetheless, to date there is hardly any scientific literature on nature conservation communication in social networks. For this reason, this paper examines 600 Facebook and Twitter posts of three German nature conservation organizations: Federal [...] Read more.

Social networks expand the communication tools of nature conservation. Nonetheless, to date there is hardly any scientific literature on nature conservation communication in social networks. For this reason, this paper examines 600 Facebook and Twitter posts of three German nature conservation organizations: Federal Agency for the Conservation of Nature (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN), Naturschutzbund Deutschland e. V. (NABU), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Germany. Using the Mann–Whitney U method and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis, it reveals how post design affects communication success and provides respective recommendations for German conservation organizations. Communication success was divided into four indicators: reactions, comments, shares, and overall engagement as a synthesis of the three. On Facebook, the use of hashtags, images, and many characters (up to 1500) leads to higher success, whereas emojis and videos can reduce it. On Twitter, links, images, and longer posts promote user interactions. Emojis have a positive influence on comments and overall engagement, but a negative influence on reactions and shares. In addition, hashtags reduce overall engagement on Twitter. These results are discussed with reference to similar studies from other political fields in order to provide recommendations for conservation organizations. A validation and expansion of the presented results is recommended due to the growing relevance of digital nature conservation communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1662 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of Different Prefabricated Rates for Building Construction

by Shaozhe Wang and Rajib Sinha

Buildings 2021, 11(11), 552; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings11110552 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4947

Abstract

In recent years, Sweden has promoted prefabricated buildings supporting the increasing of prefabricated rates in buildings with precast components, in order to reduce the environmental problems caused by the construction sector. This study, focusing on the construction activities, examines how the increasing prefabricated [...] Read more.

In recent years, Sweden has promoted prefabricated buildings supporting the increasing of prefabricated rates in buildings with precast components, in order to reduce the environmental problems caused by the construction sector. This study, focusing on the construction activities, examines how the increasing prefabricated rate could influence the environmental impacts of the construction sector. This study conducts a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of a reference building with a prefabricated rate of 26% in the Stockholm Royal Seaport, and compares nine scenarios with prefabricated rates, ranging from 6% to 96%. The results indicate the water footprint decreases, but the total energy footprint and carbon footprint increase as the prefabricated rate increases. Among other impacts, terrestrial ecotoxicity shows the biggest increase with an increase of the prefabricated rate. This study reveals that material extraction is the largest influencing factor, causing a water footprint when the prefabricated rate increases. The impact changes in the energy footprint, carbon footprint, and terrestrial ecotoxicity, and are primarily determined by transport and are sensitive to transport distance and vehicle types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 1940 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Foreign Direct Investment and Environmental Quality: Revisiting the EKC in Latin American Countries

by Wilman-Santiago Ochoa-Moreno, Byron Alejandro Quito and Carlos Andrés Moreno-Hurtado

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12651; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212651 - 16 Nov 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2652

Abstract

In this study we aim to test the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on carbon emissions (CO₂) in 20 Latin American countries during the period of 1990–2018. Based on the atlas method of the World Bank, we divided the countries [...] Read more.

In this study we aim to test the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on carbon emissions (CO₂) in 20 Latin American countries during the period of 1990–2018. Based on the atlas method of the World Bank, we divided the countries into three groups according to their real gross national income per capita: high-income, upper-middle-income and lower-middle-income countries. We used cointegration techniques and causality tests to evaluate the relationship between the variables. To assess the strength of the cointegration vector, we applied the dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLSs) model for individual countries and the dynamic panel ordinary least squares (PDOLSs) model for groups of countries. The results suggest that the entry of FDI into Latin American (LA) countries increases CO₂ emissions, affecting the environmental quality. These findings disagree with the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis but, in contrast, they are in line with the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH). Moreover, we show evidence in long-term equilibrium relationship between FDI input and CO₂ emissions, which is not the case for the short-term equilibrium. Some additional results suggest that FDI flows do not cause the CO₂ emissions in LA countries. The empirical findings suggest policymakers to design policies to “the second-best theory”, targeting FDI flows to their economies to solve economic problems in the short term, but thereafter they may guarantee the reduction in environmental pollution, based on environmentally responsible FDI and stronger regulations. In other words, the transition from a pollution haven to the applicability of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). This study contributes with scarce empirical evidence for LA countries in this issue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 3541 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Environment Factors on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in a Heavy Industry City—A Case of Xigu District of Lanzhou City

by Haili Zhao, Yuhan Du, Jialiang Li, Minghui Wu and Fang Zhang

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12636; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212636 - 16 Nov 2021

Viewed by 1693

Abstract

Taking Xigu District of Lanzhou City as an example, this paper systematically analyzes the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) and compares the differences between heating period and non-heating period. Furthermore, the impact paths of natural environmental factors and [...] Read more.

Taking Xigu District of Lanzhou City as an example, this paper systematically analyzes the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) and compares the differences between heating period and non-heating period. Furthermore, the impact paths of natural environmental factors and built-up environmental factors on NCD are probed with the help of the geographic detector. The results are as follows: In time, the incidence of NCD in Xigu district fluctuated from 2012 to 2019. In space, there was an overall declining trend in high incidence rate from the central area to the surrounding areas, among which Xigucheng street was the high-risk area. The incidence of NCD in heating period was higher than that of in non-heating period, and the number of H-H cluster areas was witnessed an obviously increasing growth in Sijiqing Street. There are significant differences in the explanatory power of different factors (if any) for NCD. The explanatory power of each index in Xigu District is as follows: Facility > SO₂ > NO₂ > PM2.5 > food > Beverage Service > Green Facilities > Traffic Regulations > medical facilities. The interaction between plant facilities and SO₂ has the strongest effect on NCD. Except for the negative correlation between greening and medical facilities and the incidence of NCD, all the influencing factors were positively correlated with NCD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 7810 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Accessibility of Public Health Facilities in Hierarchical Municipalities and the Spatial Pattern Characteristics of Their Services in Doumen District, China

by Dahao Zhang, Guojun Zhang and Chunshan Zhou

Land 2021, 10(11), 1249; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111249 - 14 Nov 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2662

Abstract

This study used the two-step floating catchment area method and potential model to calculate facility accessibility and potential service scope of public health infrastructure distribution, and to evaluate its spatial equity. We applied the Gini coefficient to measure the spatial equilibrium at each [...] Read more.

This study used the two-step floating catchment area method and potential model to calculate facility accessibility and potential service scope of public health infrastructure distribution, and to evaluate its spatial equity. We applied the Gini coefficient to measure the spatial equilibrium at each level of public health infrastructure in Doumen District, Guangdong, China, from different perspectives. The following results were obtained: (1) Significant spatial differences were observed in the accessibility of public health facilities among different levels; the higher the health facility level, the greater the difference in spatial accessibility. Spatial differences in the accessibility of public health infrastructure at the primary level and higher were distributed in a block-like pattern, while spatial differences in the accessibility of rural health stations were distributed in a circular pattern. Administrative villages tended to have the highest and lowest accessibility of tertiary and secondary hospitals, but not of primary hospitals and rural health stations. The frequencies for administrative villages with the highest and lowest accessibility were 32.8% and 49.6% of the total number of villages in the district, respectively, for tertiary hospitals; 39.2% and 48.8% for secondary hospitals; 19.2% and 24.8% for primary hospitals; 16.8% and 21.6% for rural health stations. (2) The potential service scope was spatially dissociative for tertiary hospitals, and differed more significantly in terms of space for secondary hospitals; the potential service scope of the two overlapped. The potential service scope of primary hospitals was relatively balanced, with strong spatial continuity, while that of rural health service centers was spatially fragmented. The service scope of rural health service centers was mostly consistent with their respective village-level administrative divisions. (3) The higher the level of public health infrastructure, the less balanced its spatial layout. Conversely, the lower the level of public health infrastructure, the more balanced its spatial layout. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 3178 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Correlation Analysis between Land-Use/Cover Change and Coastal Subsidence in the Yellow River Delta, China: Reviewing the Past and Prospecting the Future

by Yi Zhang, Yilin Liu, Xinyuan Zhang, Haijun Huang, Keyu Qin, Zechao Bai and Xinghua Zhou

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(22), 4563; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13224563 - 13 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2026

Abstract

In recent years, noticeable subsidence depressions have occurred along the coastal zone of the Yellow River Delta. Consistent with these changes, dramatic human modifications within the coastal zone stand out, and the coastline is altered from an undisturbed natural area to an artificial [...] Read more.

In recent years, noticeable subsidence depressions have occurred along the coastal zone of the Yellow River Delta. Consistent with these changes, dramatic human modifications within the coastal zone stand out, and the coastline is altered from an undisturbed natural area to an artificial coastline. However, very few studies have attempted to quantitatively analyze the relationship between subsidence depression and human activities. Here, the subsidence characteristics of the different land-use types in the Yellow River Delta are examined, and their spatiotemporal trends are quantified using a long-term satellite-observed time series of 30 years (1984–2017) regarding the land use map in combination with the InSAR-derived vertical ground deformations during three typical periods (P1: 1992–2000, P2: 2007–2010, and P3: 2016–2017). Noticeably, the highest subsidence rates were observed in areas where substantial human activities were observed, such as the subsidence in the salt fields ranging from 13 mm/year to 32 mm/year to 453 mm/year, respectively. Moreover, through the land-use prediction of Land Change Modeler (LCM), it is found that the salt field area will be further expanded in the future. The ecological vulnerability of the Yellow River Delta coastal zone should receive more attention in the future in terms of planning environmental protection strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 6221 KiB  

Open AccessReview

On the Theoretical Conceptualisations, Knowledge Structures and Trends of Green New Deals

by Zaheer Allam, Ayyoob Sharifi, Damien Giurco and Samantha A. Sharpe

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12529; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212529 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3076

Abstract

The increasing impacts of climate change, coupled with the Greta Thunberg effect, the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, and varied environmental policy documents, are pointing to the need for urgent and cohesive climate action and mitigation frameworks. One [...] Read more.

The increasing impacts of climate change, coupled with the Greta Thunberg effect, the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, and varied environmental policy documents, are pointing to the need for urgent and cohesive climate action and mitigation frameworks. One potent solution, gaining global acceptance, is that of the Green New Deal (GND), positioned as a radical rethinking of political and economic structures in view of pushing sustainability at the forefront of national, regional, and global issues. With the model rapidly gaining ground in various geographies, and in different forms in view of contextualization needs, there is a need to better understand its evolution, knowledge structures, and trends. This paper thus sets forth to provide an understanding of the evolution and implementation of GND through a bibliometric analysis and science mapping techniques using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to identify the thematic focus of 1174 articles indexed in the Web of Science since 1995. To understand the thematic evolution of the field over time, we divided the study period into three sub-periods, namely 1995–2014, 2015–2019, and 2020–2021. These sub-periods were determined considering important milestones related to GNDs. Term co-occurrence analyses were then conducted to understand thematic focus and associated trends. Also, co-citation analysis and bibliographic coupling were other methods applied to identify major sources, authors, publications, and countries that have made more contributions to the development of research on GNDs. The findings of this paper can help both researchers and policy makers understand the evolution and trends of GNDs to better formulate GNDs strategies and policies in accordance with varying needs and geographies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 11902 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Temperature Trends and SPEI on Yields of Major Cereal Crops in the Gambia

by Fanta F. Jabbi, Yu’e Li, Tianyi Zhang, Wang Bin, Waseem Hassan and You Songcai

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12480; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212480 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2429

Abstract

Variations in the climate constitute a significant threat to the productivity of food crops in the Gambia. A good understanding of the influence of climate variability on crop production is vital for climate resilience and improved food security. This study examined the trends, [...] Read more.

Variations in the climate constitute a significant threat to the productivity of food crops in the Gambia. A good understanding of the influence of climate variability on crop production is vital for climate resilience and improved food security. This study examined the trends, relationships, and the extent to which growing season temperatures and the SPEI (Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index) impacted sorghum, millet, maize, and rice yields in three agro-ecological regions of the Gambia during 1990–2019. Mean temperatures and the SPEI exhibited increasing trends while observed yields showed a decline across all regions. The SPEI had a significant positive relationship with yields, and temperatures were negatively associated with yields. Though yield response to climate variability differs among regions, 20% to 62% of variations in the four crop yields were due to climate trends. The combined effect of the SPEI and temperatures decreased yields from 3.6 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ to 29.4 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, with the most severe decline observed in rice and maize yields in the Sahelian zone. Although uncertainties might arise from not considering related extreme climate events, this study highlights how past climate trends affect cereal yields in the Gambia; thus, any unfavorable change in the local climate could have severe repercussions on the country’s food security. There is a need for concerted efforts to increase investments in adaptation strategies to lessen the effects of the climate for improved crop productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2692 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Global Commodity Markets, Chinese Demand for Maize, and Deforestation in Northern Myanmar

by Enze Han and Qiongyu Huang

Land 2021, 10(11), 1232; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111232 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2822

Abstract

This paper makes a significant contribution to understanding the logic of deforestation in Northern Myanmar and connects global trends and regional political economy with local environmental changes. Methodologically, through a combination of remote sensing GIS analysis, for which we use a newly available [...] Read more.

This paper makes a significant contribution to understanding the logic of deforestation in Northern Myanmar and connects global trends and regional political economy with local environmental changes. Methodologically, through a combination of remote sensing GIS analysis, for which we use a newly available Myanmar Forest Change dataset produced by TerraPulse and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, as well as on-the-ground field research observations and interviews with farmers, this paper examines how the expansion of maize plantations in the northern part of Myanmar has implications for deforestation in the region. It argues that a combination of global commodity price shock around 2011–2012 plus easy market access to China generated strong incentives for local farmers to increase the cultivation of maize. The paper contributes to how we understand the environmental impacts of Chinese demands for agricultural products in Southeast Asia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 4726 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Spatial Distribution and Prediction of Soil Heavy Metals Based on Measured Samples and Multi-Spectral Images in Tai Lake of China

by Huihui Zhao, Peijia Liu, Baojin Qiao and Kening Wu

Land 2021, 10(11), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10111227 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

Soil is an important natural resource. The excessive amount of heavy metals in soil can harm and threaten human health. Therefore, monitoring of soil heavy metal content is urgent. Monitoring soil heavy metals by traditional methods requires many human and material resources. Remote [...] Read more.

Soil is an important natural resource. The excessive amount of heavy metals in soil can harm and threaten human health. Therefore, monitoring of soil heavy metal content is urgent. Monitoring soil heavy metals by traditional methods requires many human and material resources. Remote sensing has shown advantages in the field of monitoring heavy metals. Based on 971 heavy metal samples and Sentinel-2 multi-spectral images in Tai Lake, China, we analyzed the correlation between six heavy metals (Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cu, Zn) and spectral factors, and selected As and Hg as the input factors of inversion model. The correlation coefficient of the best model of As was 0.53 (p < 0.01), and of Hg was 0.318 (p < 0.01). We used the methods of partial least squares regression (PLSR) and back propagation neural network (BPNN) to establish inversion models with different combinations of spectral factors by using 649 measured samples. In addition, 322 measured samples were used for accuracy evaluation. Compared with the PLSR model, the BP neural network builds the model with higher accuracy, and B1-B4 combined with LnB1-LnB4 builds the model with the highest accuracy. The accuracy of the best model was verified, with an average error of 19% for As and 45% for Hg. Analyzing the spatial distribution of heavy metals by using the interpolation method of Kriging and IDW. The overall distribution trend of the two interpolations is similar. The concentration of As elements tends to increase from north to south, and the relatively high value of Hg elements is distributed in the east and west of the study area. The factories in the study area are distributed along rivers and lakes, which is consistent with the spatial distribution of heavy metal enrichment areas. The relatively high-value areas of heavy metal elements are related to the distribution of metal products factories, refractory porcelain factories, tile factories, factories and mining enterprises, etc., indicating that factory pollution is the main reason for the enrichment of heavy metals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 4032 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Towards the Three Dimensions of Sustainability for International Research Team Collaboration: Learnings from the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems Research Programme

by Rashieda Davids, Pauline Scheelbeek, Nafiisa Sobratee, Rosemary Green, Barbara Häesler, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Suparna Chatterjee, Nikhil Srinivasapura Venkateshmurthy, Georgina Mace, Alan Dangour and Rob Slotow

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12427; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212427 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2346

Abstract

This paper highlights the potential for learning and virtual collaboration in international research teams to contribute towards sustainability goals. Previous research confirmed the environmental benefits of carbon savings from international virtual conferences. This paper adds the social and economic dimensions by using a [...] Read more.

This paper highlights the potential for learning and virtual collaboration in international research teams to contribute towards sustainability goals. Previous research confirmed the environmental benefits of carbon savings from international virtual conferences. This paper adds the social and economic dimensions by using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to measure the constraints and benefits for personal development, economic costs, efficiency and team learning of holding international virtual conferences (VCs). Using the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) research programme as a case study, we analysed VC participant survey data to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of VCs. We estimated ‘saved’ GHG emissions, costs, and time, of using VCs as an alternative for a planned in-person meeting in Chennai, India. Hosting VCs reduced North–South, gender, and researcher inclusivity concerns, financial and travelling time costs, and substantially reduced emissions. For one international meeting with 107 participants, changing to a virtual format reduced the per capita GHG emissions to half the annual global average, and avoided 60% of travel costs. The benefits of VCs outweighed weaknesses. The main strengths were inclusivity and access, with 20% more early/mid-career researchers attending. This study identified opportunities for international research partnerships to mitigate their carbon footprint (environmental benefit) and enhance inclusivity of early/mid-career, women and Global South participants (social benefit), whilst continuing to deliver effective collaborative research meetings (economic benefit). In doing so, we present a holistic view of sustainability opportunities for virtual collaboration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 11900 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Global Value Chain of the Manufacturing Industry

by Jiaze Sun, Huijuan Lee and Jun Yang

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12370; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212370 - 09 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4045

Abstract

This paper adopts the GDYN model to estimate the dynamic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global manufacturing industry and the value chain. Our simulation finds that (1) In the short run, the low-tech manufacturing industries will suffer greater shocks, with a decline [...] Read more.

This paper adopts the GDYN model to estimate the dynamic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global manufacturing industry and the value chain. Our simulation finds that (1) In the short run, the low-tech manufacturing industries will suffer greater shocks, with a decline of output growth in 2021 by 6.0%. The growth rate of the high-tech manufacturing industry showed an increasing trend of 3.7% in 2021. (2) In the post-epidemic period, the total manufacturing output will return to the baseline level, from which the growth rate of low-tech manufacturing will rebound, demonstrating a V-shaped development trajectory. (3) From the perspective of Global Value Chain (GVC), the participation in GVCs of manufacturers in countries along the Belt and Road, the European Union and the United States will weaken, while China’s manufacturing industry has witnessed an obvious improvement in export competitiveness. The import added value of China has decreased, which shows that its ability to meet domestic demand has been improving. This indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic is providing a crucial opportunity for China to upgrade its manufacturing value chain, which contributes to the accelerated construction of a new dual-cycle development pattern. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 8698 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Sustainable Development of Tourism Cities Based on SDGs and Tourism Competitiveness Index: Analysis of 221 Prefecture-Level Cities in China

by Junli Gao, Chaofeng Shao, Sihan Chen and Zizhang Wei

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12338; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212338 - 09 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2864

Abstract

Based on the Sustainable Development Goals and competitiveness index, an evaluation index system for sustainable development of tourism cities was established. The sustainable development level of 221 outstanding tourism cities in 2018 was evaluated, and their sustainable development paths were designed accordingly. The [...] Read more.

Based on the Sustainable Development Goals and competitiveness index, an evaluation index system for sustainable development of tourism cities was established. The sustainable development level of 221 outstanding tourism cities in 2018 was evaluated, and their sustainable development paths were designed accordingly. The results show the following: (1) There is a large gap in sustainable development scores. In general, no city has achieved a strong sustainable development model. Natural and cultural resources and protection systems are the shortcomings of the systems. (2) The weights of natural and cultural resources and protection systems are the largest, and the weights of natural and cultural resources endowment, degree of tourism infrastructure construction, and economic support for natural and cultural resources are larger. Nature reserve coverage index, network popularity, and other indicators have greater weight. (3) There is a gap in the sustainable development level of tourism cities in the eight comprehensive economic zones. The economic zones in the eastern and southern coastal areas are better than those in the northwest and the middle reaches of the Yellow River. (4) The driving factors of the eight types of tourism cities distinguished by their characteristics are basically the same, but the obstacles are different. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 4199 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Air Quality and the Spatial-Temporal Differentiation of Mechanisms Underlying Chinese Urban Human Settlements

by Xueming Li, Songbo Li, Shenzhen Tian, Yingying Guan and He Liu

Land 2021, 10(11), 1207; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111207 - 08 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1615

Abstract

Urban air has its typical structural characteristics. With the continuous optimization of urban human settlement indicators, the key issue and single system of “air quality” in urban human settlements needs to be further discussed. Based on air conditions, this paper attempts to visually [...] Read more.

Urban air has its typical structural characteristics. With the continuous optimization of urban human settlement indicators, the key issue and single system of “air quality” in urban human settlements needs to be further discussed. Based on air conditions, this paper attempts to visually measure the spatial-temporal distribution of human settlements in 283 prefecture-level cities in China using ArcGIS and Matlab and tries to reveal the influencing mechanisms: (1) There is no significant difference between the average of the comprehensive score of human settlements in 6 years. The overall level of those in all cities decreases from 0.6581 to 0.6004 year by year, and the average level order in the seven regions of China is Southern China (0.7310) > Southwest China (0.6608) > East China (0.6515) > Northeast China (0.6496) > Northwest China (0.6049)> Central China (0.5901) > North China (0.5565). (2) The global Moran’s I index of China’s human settlements is between 0.3750–0.7345, showing a positive spatial correlation, and the comprehensive development level has the characteristics of local spatial convergence of low-value clusters in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and high-value clusters in the south coast and Heilongjiang Province. (3) The spatial econometric model tests the influencing mechanism. There is a significant spatial positive correlation between science and technology investment in each city. The urbanization rate, the degree of advanced industrial structure, and the urban average elevation have a certain spatial spillover, showing a negative correlation. Science and technology investment and the degree of advanced industrial structure have the greatest impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 2584 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Climate Resilience of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): A Metric-Based Approach

by Douglas Sono, Ye Wei and Ying Jin

Land 2021, 10(11), 1205; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111205 - 07 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4189

Abstract

The impacts of climate change have resulted in the emergence of resilience as the de factor framework for countries seeking to capture the differential and uneven ability to prepare, react, respond and cope with volatile and rapid changes of climate-related stresses. Despite being [...] Read more.

The impacts of climate change have resulted in the emergence of resilience as the de factor framework for countries seeking to capture the differential and uneven ability to prepare, react, respond and cope with volatile and rapid changes of climate-related stresses. Despite being considered by many researchers the most vulnerable region to the negative effects of climate change, the climate resilience of Sub-Saharan Africa has not been extensively studied. Using countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as a study area, this paper constructed a pragmatically based resilience metric called the composite national climate resilience index (CNCRI) that can be used as a tool for the policy word. The inherent variables used to construct the CNCRI were justified and used to measure the resilience of countries in SSA based on five different dimensions. The result indicates that the CNCRI score, 1.05 (least resilient) to 44.8 (most resilient), and the island countries of Mauritius, Seychelles, and Cape Verde are comparatively more resilient than the rest of the countries in the study area. Regionally, Southern Africa is more resilient compared to East, West, and Central Africa. The vulnerability and readiness metric suggested that Cape Verde is the only country in SSA to have low vulnerability and high readiness, while most countries have high vulnerability and low readiness, making them the least resilient countries needing urgent mitigation and adaptation actions. Lastly, finding from this study could provide the policy world with insight for improving the overall ability to prepare and respond to the negative impacts of climate in the study area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 905 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 Disruption on the Decarbonisation Agenda at Airports: Grounded or Ready for Take-Off?

by Peter Hemmings, Michael Mulheron, Richard J. Murphy and Matt Prescott

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12235; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112235 - 05 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2631

Abstract

COVID-19 has had wide-ranging impacts on organisations with the potential to disrupt efforts to decarbonise their operations. To understand how COVID-19 has affected the climate change mitigation strategies of Airport Operators (AOs), questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with Sustainability Managers were undertaken in late [...] Read more.

COVID-19 has had wide-ranging impacts on organisations with the potential to disrupt efforts to decarbonise their operations. To understand how COVID-19 has affected the climate change mitigation strategies of Airport Operators (AOs), questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with Sustainability Managers were undertaken in late 2020 amidst a period of disruption. While all reported that COVID-19 impacted delivery of interventions and projects to mitigate climate change, the majority stated that it would not impact their long-term climate goals, such as Net Zero by 2050. The most popular climate change mitigation interventions AOs intend to deploy between now and 2030 are on-site renewables and Electric Vehicles and related infrastructure. Engineered carbon removal interventions were considered highly unlikely to be deployed in this timeframe, with potential implications for Net Zero decarbonisation pathways. Despite the severe impacts of COVID-19 on the sector, results indicate that AOs remain committed to decarbonisation, with climate change action remaining the key priority for airports. Given ongoing financial and resource constraints, AOs will need to explore new business models and partnerships and nurture collaborative approaches with other aviation stakeholders to not only maintain progress toward Net Zero but “build back better”. Government support will also be needed to stimulate the development of a sustainable, resilient, low-carbon aviation system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 959 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

On European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Policy (the Case of Romania)

by Melania-Gabriela Ciot

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12233; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112233 - 05 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3678

Abstract

Reaching the EU climate-neutrality objective in 2050 is very ambitious, especially for the Member States from Central-Eastern Europe. All the Member States will face challenges of transformational changes, but a good preparation of their administrative capacity will be a consistent support. The aim [...] Read more.

Reaching the EU climate-neutrality objective in 2050 is very ambitious, especially for the Member States from Central-Eastern Europe. All the Member States will face challenges of transformational changes, but a good preparation of their administrative capacity will be a consistent support. The aim of this article is to analyze Romania’s decision-making process for the implementation of the European Green Deal Strategy, reflected in its administrative capacity. For achieving this goal, an interesting model of analysis was elaborated, which takes into consideration three levels and dimensions: strategic (with executive and legislative dimensions), administrative (national and regional dimensions) and outcomes (assessed from a well-being lens and public opinions surveys). The model will be applied at the European and national levels (Romania). It uses qualitative research strategies and methods. The transversal character of the EGD strategy, the coordination needed for its implementation, and the interdependencies and regional approach are important components that pave the way for the elaboration of the National Green Deal Plan, which becomes compulsory for an adequate design of the sustainable, adaptive, and mature Romanian administrative capacity. In addition, the article proposes a few recommendations at the national and local levels for the preparation of a better implementation of the EGD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 3840 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Vulnerability Assessment of Maize Yield Affected by Precipitation Fluctuations: A Northeastern United States Case Study

by Peng Su, Shiqi Li, Jing’ai Wang and Fenggui Liu

Land 2021, 10(11), 1190; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111190 - 05 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1726

Abstract

Crop yields are threatened by global climate change. Maize has high water requirements, and precipitation fluctuations can impact its yield. In this study, we used the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model to simulate maize yields in eight northeastern U.S. states. We used [...] Read more.

Crop yields are threatened by global climate change. Maize has high water requirements, and precipitation fluctuations can impact its yield. In this study, we used the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model to simulate maize yields in eight northeastern U.S. states. We used precipitation fluctuations and the coefficient of variation (CV) of yield as indicators to construct a vulnerability curve for the CV of yield and precipitation fluctuations. We then evaluated the vulnerability of maize yields under precipitation fluctuations in the region. We obtained the following results: (1) the fitted vulnerability curves were classified into three categories (positive slope, negative slope, and insignificant fit), of which the first category accounted for about 92.7%, indicating that the CV of maize yield was positively correlated with precipitation fluctuations in most parts of the study area; and (2) the CV of maize yield under 11 precipitation fluctuation scenarios was mapped to express the CV at the spatial level, and the maize yield in Connecticut and Maryland proved to be the most sensitive to precipitation fluctuations. This study provided a theoretical and experimental basis for the prevention of maize yield risk under fluctuating precipitation conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 3587 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Gross Ecosystem Productivity Dominates the Control of Ecosystem Methane Flux in Rice Paddies

by Hong Li, Min Zhao, Changhui Peng, Haiqiang Guo, Qing Wang and Bin Zhao

Land 2021, 10(11), 1186; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111186 - 04 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1810

Abstract

Although rice paddy fields are one of the world’s largest anthropogenic sources of methane CH₄, the budget of ecosystem CH₄ and its’ controls in rice paddies remain unclear. Here, we analyze seasonal dynamics of direct ecosystem-scale measurements of CH₄ [...] Read more.

Although rice paddy fields are one of the world’s largest anthropogenic sources of methane CH₄, the budget of ecosystem CH₄ and its’ controls in rice paddies remain unclear. Here, we analyze seasonal dynamics of direct ecosystem-scale measurements of CH₄ flux in a rice-wheat rotation agroecosystem over 3 consecutive years. Results showed that the averaged CO₂ uptakes and CH₄ emissions in rice seasons were 2.2 and 20.9 folds of the wheat seasons, respectively. In sum, the wheat-rice rotation agroecosystem acted as a large net C sink (averaged 460.79 g C m⁻²) and a GHG (averaged 174.38 g CO₂eq m⁻²) source except for a GHG sink in one year (2016) with a very high rice seeding density. While the linear correlation between daily CH₄ fluxes and gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) was not significant for the whole rice season, daily CH₄ fluxes were significantly correlated to daily GEP both before (R²: 0.52–0.83) and after the mid-season drainage (R²: 0.71–0.79). Furthermore, the F partial test showed that GEP was much greater than that of any other variable including soil temperature for the rice season in each year. Meanwhile, the parameters of the best-fit functions between daily CH₄ fluxes and GEP shifted between rice growth stages. This study highlights that GEP is a good predictor of daily CH₄ fluxes in rice paddies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 3372 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Effectiveness of Environmental Spending in China and the Environmental Kuznets Curve

by Lin Cui, Alistair Hunt and Bruce Morley

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12141; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112141 - 03 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1561

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine whether recent environmental spending in China has enabled it to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases in the context of an Environmental Kuznets Curve-based model and promote sustainable economic development. Following the Paris Agreement in [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to determine whether recent environmental spending in China has enabled it to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases in the context of an Environmental Kuznets Curve-based model and promote sustainable economic development. Following the Paris Agreement in 2015, there has been a coordinated effort to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and prevent the excessive warming of the climate. The study uses annual regional data across China and a dynamic panel data approach for estimating an EKC model which includes measures of the increased use of fossil fuels and the spending across China to reduce environmental damage. The results suggest that the policies have been effective in controlling emissions across a variety of pollutants and that the EKC tends to hold in China but varies according to the pollutant. This suggests that these policies should be continued and where possible, extended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 1272 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Can Green Finance Development Reduce Carbon Emissions? Empirical Evidence from 30 Chinese Provinces

by Xi Chen and Zhigang Chen

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12137; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112137 - 03 Nov 2021

Cited by 107 | Viewed by 7968

Abstract

Dealing with the relationship between environment and economic development is the core issue of China’s sustainable development. At present, China’s economic transformation is urgent, and green finance is being widely concerned. This paper measured the development level of China’s green finance from the [...] Read more.

Dealing with the relationship between environment and economic development is the core issue of China’s sustainable development. At present, China’s economic transformation is urgent, and green finance is being widely concerned. This paper measured the development level of China’s green finance from the perspective of green credit, green securities, green investment, and green insurance. Then, it used a spatial dynamic panel model to empirically test the mechanism of the impact of green finance on carbon emissions with panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2005 to 2018. The following can be seen from the results: (1) The development of green finance contributes to carbon emission reduction. (2) The spatial spillover effect of green finance is significant. Specifically, the development of green finance can not only reduce the carbon emissions of the local region but also inhibit that of adjacent areas. (3) The development of green finance indirectly leads to a decrease in carbon emissions by reducing financing constraints and boosting green technology innovation. In order to stimulate the carbon emission reduction effect of green finance to a greater extent, we should further support the development of green finance, reduce the financing constraints of energy-saving and environmental-protection enterprises, and encourage the research and development of green innovative technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 3540 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

CO₂ Emissions Embodied in International Trade and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence for OECD and Non-OECD Countries

by Hyunsoo Kang

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12114; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112114 - 02 Nov 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2665

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between CO₂ emissions embodied in international trade and economic growth for OECD and non-OECD countries between 2005 and 2015. Unlike the traditional environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, which does not account for trade patterns, CO₂ emissions [...] Read more.

This study examined the relationship between CO₂ emissions embodied in international trade and economic growth for OECD and non-OECD countries between 2005 and 2015. Unlike the traditional environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, which does not account for trade patterns, CO₂ emissions embodied in trade balances were adopted in several models. To analyze the panel series, this study utilized econometric procedures: panel regression, the panel unit root test, the panel cointegration test, and panel Granger causality. To investigate evidence supporting the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH), this study constructed an equation including CO₂ emissions embodied in net exports as a proportion of consumption. The results from the panel regression model validated the EKC hypothesis, even considering the CO₂ emissions embodied in trade. Results of the panel unit root, panel cointegration, and Granger causality tests showed that CO₂ emissions embodied in trade and economic growth have bi-directional Granger causality. This study provided evidence for the PHH, although some upper countries of net exporters or net importers for CO₂ emissions can be observed. This study highlighted the need to intensify international cooperation to decrease environmental pollutants in both developed and developing countries, and considered the importance of CO₂ emissions embodied in trade by expanding globalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 4471 KiB  

Open AccessCommunication

Is Soil Bonitet an Adequate Indicator for Agricultural Land Appraisal in Ukraine?

by Leonid Shumilo, Mykola Lavreniuk, Sergii Skakun and Nataliia Kussul

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12096; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112096 - 02 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4711

Abstract

Agriculture land appraisal analysis is an important component of the land market. This task is especially essential for Ukraine, which plans to lift the moratorium on land transactions and legalize farmland sales in 2021. Most post-Soviet countries adopted the notion of a soil [...] Read more.

Agriculture land appraisal analysis is an important component of the land market. This task is especially essential for Ukraine, which plans to lift the moratorium on land transactions and legalize farmland sales in 2021. Most post-Soviet countries adopted the notion of a soil bonitet—a quantitative score representing natural soil fertility. This score is also proposed in Ukraine to perform agricultural land appraisals. However, this is a static parameter and does not account for the dynamics of actual crop production on the agricultural lands. Moreover, the bonitet score is not crop-specific. Therefore, in this study, we use maps of bonitet based on the soil map and natural-agricultural districts of Ukraine and crop yields at the village scale to explore the relationships between bonitet values and actual crop production in Ukraine. We found that land appraisal is not correlated with the actual soil bonitet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 7174 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

PM_2.5 Concentration Prediction Based on Spatiotemporal Feature Selection Using XGBoost-MSCNN-GA-LSTM

by Hongbin Dai, Guangqiu Huang, Huibin Zeng and Fan Yang

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12071; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112071 - 01 Nov 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2586

Abstract

With the rapid development of China’s industrialization, air pollution is becoming more and more serious. Predicting air quality is essential for identifying further preventive measures to avoid negative impacts. The existing prediction of atmospheric pollutant concentration ignores the problem of feature redundancy and [...] Read more.

With the rapid development of China’s industrialization, air pollution is becoming more and more serious. Predicting air quality is essential for identifying further preventive measures to avoid negative impacts. The existing prediction of atmospheric pollutant concentration ignores the problem of feature redundancy and spatio-temporal characteristics; the accuracy of the model is not high, the mobility of it is not strong. Therefore, firstly, extreme gradient lifting (XGBoost) is applied to extract features from PM_2.5, then one-dimensional multi-scale convolution kernel (MSCNN) is used to extract local temporal and spatial feature relations from air quality data, and linear splicing and fusion is carried out to obtain the spatio-temporal feature relationship of multi-features. Finally, XGBoost and MSCNN combine the advantages of LSTM in dealing with time series. Genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to optimize the parameter set of long-term and short-term memory network (LSTM) network. The spatio-temporal relationship of multi-features is input into LSTM network, and then the long-term feature dependence of multi-feature selection is output to predict PM_2.5 concentration. A XGBoost-MSCGL of PM_2.5 concentration prediction model based on spatio-temporal feature selection is established. The data set comes from the hourly concentration data of six kinds of atmospheric pollutants and meteorological data in Fen-Wei Plain in 2020. To verify the effectiveness of the model, the XGBoost-MSCGL model is compared with the benchmark models such as multilayer perceptron (MLP), CNN, LSTM, XGBoost, CNN-LSTM with before and after using XGBoost feature selection. According to the forecast results of 12 cities, compared with the single model, the root mean square error (RMSE) decreased by about 39.07%, the average MAE decreased by about 42.18%, the average MAE decreased by about 49.33%, but R² increased by 23.7%. Compared with the model after feature selection, the root mean square error (RMSE) decreased by an average of about 15%. On average, the MAPE decreased by 16%, the MAE decreased by 21%, and R² increased by 2.6%. The experimental results show that the XGBoost-MSCGL prediction model offer a more comprehensive understanding, runs deeper levels, guarantees a higher prediction accuracy, and ensures a better generalization ability in the prediction of PM_2.5 concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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30 pages, 6061 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Predicting the Impact of Future Land Use and Climate Change on Potential Soil Erosion Risk in an Urban District of the Harare Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe

by Andrew K. Marondedze and Brigitta Schütt

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(21), 4360; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13214360 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3107

Abstract

Monitoring urban area expansion through multispectral remotely sensed data and other geomatics techniques is fundamental for sustainable urban planning. Forecasting of future land use land cover (LULC) change for the years 2034 and 2050 was performed using the Cellular Automata Markov model for [...] Read more.

Monitoring urban area expansion through multispectral remotely sensed data and other geomatics techniques is fundamental for sustainable urban planning. Forecasting of future land use land cover (LULC) change for the years 2034 and 2050 was performed using the Cellular Automata Markov model for the current fast-growing Epworth district of the Harare Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe. The stochastic CA–Markov modelling procedure validation yielded kappa statistics above 80%, ascertaining good agreement. The spatial distribution of the LULC classes CBD/Industrial area, water and irrigated croplands as projected for 2034 and 2050 show slight notable changes. For projected scenarios in 2034 and 2050, low–medium-density residential areas are predicted to increase from 11.1 km² to 12.3 km² between 2018 and 2050. Similarly, high-density residential areas are predicted to increase from 18.6 km² to 22.4 km² between 2018 and 2050. Assessment of the effects of future climate change on potential soil erosion risk for Epworth district were undertaken by applying the representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) climate scenarios, and model ensemble averages from multiple general circulation models (GCMs) were used to derive the rainfall erosivity factor for the RUSLE model. Average soil loss rates for both climate scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, were predicted to be high in 2034 due to the large spatial area extent of croplands and disturbed green spaces exposed to soil erosion processes, therefore increasing potential soil erosion risk, with RCP4.5 having more impact than RCP8.5 due to a higher applied rainfall erosivity. For 2050, the predicted wide area average soil loss rates declined for both climate scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, following the predicted decline in rainfall erosivity and vulnerable areas that are erodible. Overall, high potential soil erosion risk was predicted along the flanks of the drainage network for both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios in 2050. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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30 pages, 5381 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Variability and Temporal Heterogeneity of Surface Urban Heat Island Patterns and the Suitability of Local Climate Zones for Land Surface Temperature Characterization

by Ziqi Zhao, Ayyoob Sharifi, Xin Dong, Lidu Shen and Bao-Jie He

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(21), 4338; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13214338 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 106 | Viewed by 7079

Abstract

This study investigated monthly variations of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) and the applicability of the local climate zones (LCZ) scheme for land surface temperature (LST) differentiation within three spatial contexts, including urban, rural and their combination, in Shenyang, China, a city [...] Read more.

This study investigated monthly variations of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) and the applicability of the local climate zones (LCZ) scheme for land surface temperature (LST) differentiation within three spatial contexts, including urban, rural and their combination, in Shenyang, China, a city with a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate. The monthly SUHII and LST of Shenyang were obtained through 12 LST images, with one in each month (within the period between 2018 and 2020), retrieved from the Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) 10 in Landsat 8 based on a split window algorithm. Non-parametric analysis of Kruskal-Wallis H test and a multiple pairwise comparison were adopted to investigate the monthly LST differentiations with LCZs. Overall, the SUHII and the applicability of the LCZ scheme exhibited spatiotemporal variations. July and August were the two months when Shenyang underwent strong heat island effects. Shenyang underwent a longer period of cool than heat island effects, occurring from November to May. June and October were the transition months of cool–heat and heat–cool island phenomena, respectively. The SUHII analysis was dependent on the definition of urban and rural boundaries, where a smaller rural buffering zone resulted in a weaker SUHI or surface urban cool island (SUCI) phenomenon and a larger urban area corresponded to a weaker SUHI or SUCI phenomenon as well. The LST of LCZs did not follow a fixed order, where in July and August, the LCZ-10 (Heavy industry) had the highest mean LST, followed by LCZ-2 (Compact midrise) and then LCZ-7 (Lightweight low-rise). In comparison, LCZ-7, LCZ-8 (Large low-rise) and LCZ-9 (Sparsely built) had the highest LST from October to May. The LST of LCZs varied with urban and rural contexts, where LCZ-7, LCZ-8 and LCZ -10 were the three built LCZs that had the highest LST within urban context, while LCZ-2, LCZ-3 (Compact low-rise), LCZ-8, LCZ-9 and LCZ-10 were the five built LCZs that had the highest LST within rural context. The suitability of the LCZ scheme for temperature differentiation varied with the month, where from July to October, the LCZ scheme had the strongest capability and in May, it had the weakest capability. Urban context also made a difference to the suitability, where compared with the whole study area (the combination of urban and rural areas), the suitability of built LCZs in either urban or rural contexts weakened. Moreover, the built LCZs had a higher level of suitability in an urban context compared with a rural context, while the land-cover LCZs within rural had a higher level of suitability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1526 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Drivers of Supply Chain Resilience in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from an Emerging Economy

by Mohammad Ali Yamin

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11939; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132111939 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3447

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chain operations globally. Nevertheless, resilient firms have the capacity to combat an unprecedented situation with the right strategic approach. The current research has developed an integrated research model that combines factors such as supply chain intelligence, supply [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chain operations globally. Nevertheless, resilient firms have the capacity to combat an unprecedented situation with the right strategic approach. The current research has developed an integrated research model that combines factors such as supply chain intelligence, supply chain communication, leadership commitment, risk management orientation, supply chain capability and network complexity to investigate supply chain resilience. The research model of this study was empirically tested with 309 responses collected from supply chain managers. Results revealed that supply chain resilience is measured with supply chain intelligence, supply chain communication, leadership commitment, risk management orientation, supply chain capability and network complexity and demonstrated a substantial variance $R^2$ of 0.548% towards supply chain resilience. Practically, this study suggests that supply chain managers should focus on factors such as big data analytics, risk management orientation,1 supply chain communication and leadership commitment to enhance supply chain resilience and sustainable supply chain performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1236 KiB  

Open AccessReview

A Review of Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability and Resilience: Implications for the Rocky Desertification Control

by Haiyan Liu, Kangning Xiong, Yanghua Yu, Tingling Li, Yao Qing, Zhifu Wang and Shihao Zhang

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11849; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132111849 - 27 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2620

Abstract

With a changing climate and socio-economic development, ecological problems are increasingly serious, research on ecosystem vulnerability and ecological resilience has become a hot topic of study for various institutions. Forests, the “lungs of the earth”, have also been damaged to varying degrees. In [...] Read more.

With a changing climate and socio-economic development, ecological problems are increasingly serious, research on ecosystem vulnerability and ecological resilience has become a hot topic of study for various institutions. Forests, the “lungs of the earth”, have also been damaged to varying degrees. In recent years, scholars have conducted numerous studies on the vulnerability and resilience of forest ecosystems, but there is a lack of a systematic elaboration of them. The results of a statistical analysis of 217 related documents show: (1) the number of studies published rises wave upon wave in time series, which indicates that this area of study is still at the stage of rising; (2) the research content is concentrated in four dimensions—ecosystem vulnerability assessment, ecosystem vulnerability model prediction, ecological resilience, and management strategies—among which the ecosystem vulnerability assessment research content mainly discusses the evaluation methods and models; (3) the research areas are mainly concentrated in China and the United States, with different degrees of distribution in European countries; and (4) the research institutions are mainly the educational institutions and forestry bureaus in various countries. In addition, this paper also reveals the frontier theory of forest ecosystem vulnerability and resilience research from three aspects—theoretical research, index system, and technical methods—puts forward the problems of current research, and suggests that a universally applicable framework for forest ecosystem vulnerability and resilience research should be built in the future, and theoretical research should be strengthened to comprehensively understand the characteristics of forest ecosystems so that sustainable management strategies can be proposed according to local conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 4431 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture in EU Countries—State and Perspectives

by Paulina Mielcarek-Bocheńska and Wojciech Rzeźnik

Atmosphere 2021, 12(11), 1396; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12111396 - 25 Oct 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5237

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has great potential for mitigating climate change. The aim of this study is to analyze the amount, dynamics of changes, and structure of GHG emissions from agriculture in the EU [...] Read more.

Agriculture is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has great potential for mitigating climate change. The aim of this study is to analyze the amount, dynamics of changes, and structure of GHG emissions from agriculture in the EU in the years 2005–2018. The research based on data about GHG collected by the European Environment Agency. The structure of GHG emissions in 2018 in the EU is as follows: enteric fermentation (45%), agricultural soils (37.8%), manure management (14.7%), liming (1.4%), urea application (1%), and field burning of agricultural residues (0.1%). Comparing 2018 with the base year, 2005, emissions from the agricultural sector decreased by about 2%, which is less than the assumed 10% reduction of GHG emissions in the non-emissions trading system (non-ETS) sector. The ambitious goals set by the EU for 2030 assume a 30% reduction in the non-ETS sector. This will require a significant reduction in GHG emissions from agriculture. Based on the analysis of the GHG emission structure and available reduction techniques, it was calculated that in this period, it should be possible to reduce emissions from agriculture by about 15%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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8 pages, 576 KiB  

Open AccessCommunication

Preliminary Study on Water Bodies’ Effects on the Decomposition Rate of Goldenrod Litter

by Szabina Simon, Brigitta Simon-Gáspár, Gábor Soós and Angéla Anda

Atmosphere 2021, 12(11), 1394; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12111394 - 25 Oct 2021

Viewed by 1326

Abstract

Leaf-litter input constitutes a major load in natural waters; therefore, to achieve and maintain high water quality, it is important to thoroughly examine and understand the litter decomposition process. The widespread Solidago canadensis exerts a negative effect on the composition of the ecosystem, [...] Read more.

Leaf-litter input constitutes a major load in natural waters; therefore, to achieve and maintain high water quality, it is important to thoroughly examine and understand the litter decomposition process. The widespread Solidago canadensis exerts a negative effect on the composition of the ecosystem, causes extinction of species, and modifies the function of the system. In Hungary, goldenrod constantly spreads to newer areas, which can also be observed around Lake Balaton and at the bank of the Hévíz canal. In our investigation, we examined the decomposition rate of the leaves and stems of the goldenrod with the commonly applied method of leaf litter bags. As water temperature, ranging from 24.0 °C to 13.7 °C, decreases in Hévíz canal away from Lake Hévíz (−0.32 °C/100 m), we chose three different sampling sites with different water temperatures along the canal to determine how water temperature influences the rate of decomposition. For both leaves and stems, the fastest decomposition rate was observed at the first site, closest to the lake. At further sites with lower water temperatures, leaf litter decomposition rates decreased. Results observed through Hévíz canal demonstrated that higher water temperature accelerated the goldenrod decomposition dynamics, while the drift also impacted its efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 463 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi

by Harold L. W. Chisale, Paxie W. Chirwa, Folaranmi D. Babalola and Samuel O. M. Manda

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11748; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132111748 - 25 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3778

Abstract

The emerging risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on forest ecosystems present significant threats to forest-based livelihoods. Understanding climate change and its consequences on forests and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities could support forest-based strategies for responding to climate [...] Read more.

The emerging risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on forest ecosystems present significant threats to forest-based livelihoods. Understanding climate change and its consequences on forests and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities could support forest-based strategies for responding to climate change. Using perception-based assessment principles, we assessed the effects of climate change and extreme weather events on forests and forest-based livelihood among the forest-dependent communities around the Mchinji and Phirilongwe Forest Reserves in the Mchinji and Mangochi districts in Malawi. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The impact of erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts was investigated using logistic regression models. The respondents perceived increasing erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts as key extreme climate events in their locality. These results varied significantly between the study sites (p < 0.05). Erratic rainfall was perceived to pose extended effects on access to the forest in both Phirilongwe in Mangochi (43%) and Mchinji (61%). Climate change was found to be associated with reduced availability of firewood, thatch grasses, fruits and food, vegetables, mushrooms, and medicinal plants (p < 0.05). Erratic rainfall and high temperatures were more likely perceived to cause reduced availability of essential forest products, and increased flooding and strong winds were less likely attributed to any effect on forest product availability. The study concludes that climate change and extreme weather events can affect the access and availability of forest products for livelihoods. Locally based approaches such as forest products domestication are recommended to address threats to climate-sensitive forest-based livelihoods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1972 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Urbanization and Industrial Structure on Carbon Emissions: Evidence from Huaihe River Eco-Economic Zone

by Qinghua Pang, Weimo Zhou, Tianxin Zhao and Lina Zhang

Land 2021, 10(11), 1130; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111130 - 25 Oct 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2021

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in China greatly contributes to carbon emissions, while the industrial structure greatly contributes to changes in the variation of carbon emissions. This research addresses the impact of urbanization and industrial structure on carbon emissions from 2010 to 2018, by focusing on [...] Read more.

Rapid urbanization in China greatly contributes to carbon emissions, while the industrial structure greatly contributes to changes in the variation of carbon emissions. This research addresses the impact of urbanization and industrial structure on carbon emissions from 2010 to 2018, by focusing on the Huaihe River Eco-economic Zone, which is an important economic corridor along the north–south division of China. Although many studies have focused on investigating the impact of urbanization or industrial structure on carbon emissions, few studies further addressed an analysis of the impact of both on carbon emissions, using multiple measurement models. This paper reveals the holistic and local impact of industrial structure and urbanization on carbon emissions, by integrating a threshold regression model with geographically weighted regression. The results are as follows: (1) From a holistic point of view, industrial structure and urbanization had both, single threshold, and double threshold effects on carbon emissions in the Huaihe River Eco-economic Zone. (2) From a regional perspective, the coefficients of industrial structure on carbon emissions were all positive, but the rate of increase gradually slowed down. The coefficients of urbanization on carbon emissions were all negative, reaching a maximum value of negative effect in 2013. Understanding the holistic and local impact of urbanization and industrial structure on carbon emissions provides governments with differentiated and forward-looking suggestions for mitigating carbon emissions in the Huaihe River Eco-economic Zone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 5935 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Accuracy Evaluation on Geolocation of the Chinese First Polar Microsatellite (Ice Pathfinder) Imagery

by Ying Zhang, Zhaohui Chi, Fengming Hui, Teng Li, Xuying Liu, Baogang Zhang, Xiao Cheng and Zhuoqi Chen

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(21), 4278; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13214278 - 24 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2825

Abstract

Ice Pathfinder (Code: BNU-1), launched on 12 September 2019, is the first Chinese polar observation microsatellite. Its main payload is a wide-view camera with a ground resolution of 74 m at the subsatellite point and a scanning width of 744 km. BNU-1 takes [...] Read more.

Ice Pathfinder (Code: BNU-1), launched on 12 September 2019, is the first Chinese polar observation microsatellite. Its main payload is a wide-view camera with a ground resolution of 74 m at the subsatellite point and a scanning width of 744 km. BNU-1 takes into account the balance between spatial resolution and revisit frequency, providing observations with finer spatial resolution than Terra/Aqua MODIS data and more frequent revisits than Landsat-8 OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI. It is a valuable supplement for polar observations. Geolocation is an essential step in satellite image processing. This study aims to geolocate BNU-1 images; this includes two steps. For the first step, a geometric calibration model is applied to transform the image coordinates to geographic coordinates. The images calibrated by the geometric model are the Level1A (L1A) product. Due to the inaccuracy of satellite attitude and orbit parameters, the geometric calibration model also exhibits errors, resulting in geolocation errors in the BNU-1 L1A product. Then, a geometric correction method is applied as the second step to find the control points (CPs) extracted from the BNU-1 L1A product and the corresponding MODIS images. These CPs are used to estimate and correct geolocation errors. The BNU-1 L1A product corrected by the geometric correction method is processed to the Level1B (L1B) product. Although the geometric correction method based on CPs has been widely used to correct the geolocation errors of visible remote sensing images, it is difficult to extract enough CPs from polar images due to the high reflectance of snow and ice. In this study, the geometric correction employs an image division and an image enhancement method to extract more CPs from the BNU-1 L1A products. The results indicate that the number of CPs extracted by the division and image enhancements increases by about 30% to 182%. Twenty-eight images of Antarctica and fifteen images of Arctic regions were evaluated to assess the performance of the geometric correction. The average geolocation error was reduced from 10 km to ~300 m. In general, this study presents the geolocation method, which could serve as a reference for the geolocation of other visible remote sensing images for polar observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 5156 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of the Spatial Extent on Modelling Giant Panda Distributions Using Ecological Niche Models

by Ziye Huang, Anmin Huang, Terence P. Dawson and Li Cong

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11707; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132111707 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2065

Abstract

Climate change and biodiversity loss have become increasingly prominent in recent years. To evaluate these two issues, prediction models have been developed on the basis of ecological-niche (or climate-envelope) models. However, the spatial scale and extent of the underlying environmental data are known [...] Read more.

Climate change and biodiversity loss have become increasingly prominent in recent years. To evaluate these two issues, prediction models have been developed on the basis of ecological-niche (or climate-envelope) models. However, the spatial scale and extent of the underlying environmental data are known to affect results. To verify whether the difference in the modelled spatial extent will affect model results, this study uses the MaxEnt model to predict the suitability range of giant pandas in the Min Mountain System (MMS) area through modelling performed (1) at a nationwide scale and (2) at a restricted MMS extent. The results show that, firstly, both models performed well in terms of accuracy. Secondly, extending the modelling extent does help improve the modelling results when the distribution data is incomplete. Thirdly, when environmental information is insufficient, the qualitative analysis should be combined with quantitative analysis to ensure the accuracy and practicality of the research. Finally, when predicting a suitability distribution of giant pandas, the modelling results under different spatial extents can provide management agencies at the various administrative levels with more targeted giant panda protective measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 3125 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evolution of the Global Scientific Research on the Environmental Impact of Food Production from 1970 to 2020

by Alessio Cimini

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11633; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132111633 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

Food production and consumption account for a significant share of the impact of various pressing and important environmental concerns such as climate change, eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity. In this work, a bibliometric analysis of the last 50 years of research papers, written [...] Read more.

Food production and consumption account for a significant share of the impact of various pressing and important environmental concerns such as climate change, eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity. In this work, a bibliometric analysis of the last 50 years of research papers, written in English and indexed on Scopus database, was carried out to highlight the evolution of the global scientific research in the environmental assessment of food production (EAFP). The research papers in EAFP started to significantly increase from 2005, being most frequently published by the Journal of Cleaner Production and International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. The United States of America was the first publishing country, followed by China, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Wheat, rice, fish, maize, and milk were the food items mainly studied, with different importance depending on the authors’ publishing country. Life Cycle Analysis, Carbon Footprint, and Water Footprint were the first three standard methods used to assess climate change, energy consumption, and environmental impact. The Wageningen University, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Research Centre, and China Agricultural University were the main publishing research centers. All the papers published worldwide received 18.1 citations per paper, the UK and Chinese papers being those mostly and minimally cited, respectively. Over the last five years, this research field largely aimed to managing the agricultural practices, mitigating global warming and water use, assuring food security and sustainable food consumption, while minimizing food waste formation. Such an objective evaluation of this research topic might help guide researchers on where to address their future research work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1250 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Reservoirs: A Review

by Ion V. Ion and Antoaneta Ene

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11621; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132111621 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3206

Abstract

In order to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a reservoir or from several reservoirs in a country or a climatic zone, simpler or more complex models based on measurements and analyses of emissions presented in the literature were developed, which take [...] Read more.

In order to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a reservoir or from several reservoirs in a country or a climatic zone, simpler or more complex models based on measurements and analyses of emissions presented in the literature were developed, which take into account one or more reservoir-specific parameters. The application of the models in the assessment of GHG emissions from a multipurpose reservoir gave values that are more or less close to the average values reported in the literature for the temperate zone reservoirs. This is explained by the fact that some models only consider emissions caused by impoundment and not degassing, spillway emissions, and downstream emissions, or those that use different calculation periods. The only model that calculates GHG emissions over the life cycle that occur pre-impoundment, post-impoundment, from unrelated anthropogenic sources and due to the reservoir construction is the model used by the G-res tool. In addition, this tool is best suited for multipurpose reservoirs because it allocates GHG emissions for each use, thus facilitating the correct reporting of emissions. The G-res tool used to calculate GHG emissions from the Stânca-Costești Multipurpose Reservoir shows that this is a sink of GHG with a net emission of −5 g CO_2eq/m²/yr (without taking into account the emissions due to dam construction). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 13943 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Sea Ice Leads in the Arctic Ocean Retrieved from IceBridge Laxon Line Data 2012–2018

by Dexuan Sha, Younghyun Koo, Xin Miao, Anusha Srirenganathan, Hai Lan, Shorojit Biswas, Qian Liu, Alberto M. Mestas-Nuñez, Hongjie Xie and Chaowei Yang

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(20), 4177; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13204177 - 19 Oct 2021

Viewed by 2808

Abstract

The ocean and atmosphere exert stresses on sea ice that create elongated cracks and leads which dominate the vertical exchange of energy, especially in cold seasons, despite covering only a small fraction of the surface. Motivated by the need of a spatiotemporal analysis [...] Read more.

The ocean and atmosphere exert stresses on sea ice that create elongated cracks and leads which dominate the vertical exchange of energy, especially in cold seasons, despite covering only a small fraction of the surface. Motivated by the need of a spatiotemporal analysis of sea ice lead distribution, a practical workflow was developed to classify the high spatial resolution aerial images DMS (Digital Mapping System) along the Laxon Line in the NASA IceBridge Mission. Four sea ice types (thick ice, thin ice, open water, and shadow) were identified, and relevant sea ice lead parameters were derived for the period of 2012–2018. The spatiotemporal variations of lead fraction along the Laxon Line were verified by ATM (Airborne Topographic Mapper) surface height data and correlated with coarse spatial resolution sea ice motion, air temperature, and wind data through multiple regression models. We found that the freeboard data derived from sea ice leads were compatible with other products. The temperature and ice motion vorticity were the leading factors of the formation of sea ice leads, followed by wind vorticity and kinetic moments of ice motion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 5245 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Quantification of Natural and Anthropogenic Driving Forces of Vegetation Changes in the Three-River Headwater Region during 1982–2015 Based on Geographical Detector Model

by Siqi Gao, Guotao Dong, Xiaohui Jiang, Tong Nie, Huijuan Yin and Xinwei Guo

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(20), 4175; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13204175 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 2420

Abstract

The three-river headwater region (TRHR) supplies the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lantsang rivers, and its ecological environment is fragile, hence it is important to study the surface vegetation cover status of the TRHR to facilitate its ecological conservation. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) [...] Read more.

The three-river headwater region (TRHR) supplies the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lantsang rivers, and its ecological environment is fragile, hence it is important to study the surface vegetation cover status of the TRHR to facilitate its ecological conservation. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) can reflect the cover status of surface vegetation. The aims of this study are to quantify the spatial heterogeneity of the NDVI, identify the main driving factors influencing the NDVI, and explore the interaction between these factors. To this end, we used the global inventory modeling and mapping studies (GIMMS)-NDVI data from the TRHR from 1982 to 2015 and included eight natural factors (namely slope, aspect, elevation, soil type, vegetation type, landform type, annual mean temperature, and annual precipitation) and three anthropogenic factors (gross domestic product (GDP), population density, and land use type), which we subjected to linear regression analysis, the Mann-Kendall statistical test, and moving t-test to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of the NDVI in the TRHR over 34 years, using a geographical detector model. Our results showed that the NDVI distribution of the TRHR was high in the southeast and low in the northwest. The change pattern exhibited an increasing trend in the west and north and a decreasing trend in the center and south; overall, the mean NDVI value from 1982 to 2015 has increased. Annual precipitation was the most important factor influencing the NDVI changes in the TRHR, and factors, such as annual mean temperature, vegetation type, and elevation, also explained the vegetation coverage status well. The influence of natural factors was generally stronger than that of anthropogenic factors. The NDVI factors had a synergistic effect, exhibiting mutual enhancement and nonlinear enhancement relationships. The results of this study provide insights into the ecological conservation of the TRHR and the ecological security and development of the middle and lower reaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 8200 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Surface Urban Heat Island Assessment of a Cold Desert City: A Case Study over the Isfahan Metropolitan Area of Iran

by Alireza Karimi, Pir Mohammad, Sadaf Gachkar, Darya Gachkar, Antonio García-Martínez, David Moreno-Rangel and Robert D. Brown

Atmosphere 2021, 12(10), 1368; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12101368 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3909

Abstract

This study investigates the diurnal, seasonal, monthly and temporal variation of land surface temperature (LST) and surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) over the Isfahan metropolitan area, Iran, during 2003–2019 using MODIS data. It also examines the driving factors of SUHII like cropland, [...] Read more.

This study investigates the diurnal, seasonal, monthly and temporal variation of land surface temperature (LST) and surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) over the Isfahan metropolitan area, Iran, during 2003–2019 using MODIS data. It also examines the driving factors of SUHII like cropland, built-up areas (BI), the urban–rural difference in enhanced vegetation index (ΔEVI), evapotranspiration (ΔET), and white sky albedo (ΔWSA). The results reveal the presence of urban cool islands during the daytime and urban heat islands at night. The maximum SUHII was observed at 22:30 p.m., while the minimum was at 10:30 a.m. The summer months (June to September) show higher SUHII compared to the winter months (February to May). The daytime SUHII demonstrates a robust positive correlation with cropland and ΔWSA, and a negative correlation with ΔET, ΔEVI, and BI. The nighttime SUHII displays a negative correlation with ΔET and ΔEVI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 4060 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Complementarity in the Greek Seas Based on ERA5 Data

by Kimon Kardakaris, Ifigeneia Boufidi and Takvor Soukissian

Atmosphere 2021, 12(10), 1360; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12101360 - 18 Oct 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3582

Abstract

In this work, 20 years (2000–2019) of ERA5 wave and wind data are analyzed and evaluated for the Greek Seas by means of in-situ measurements derived from the POSEIDON marine monitoring system. Four different statistical measures were used at six locations, where in-situ [...] Read more.

In this work, 20 years (2000–2019) of ERA5 wave and wind data are analyzed and evaluated for the Greek Seas by means of in-situ measurements derived from the POSEIDON marine monitoring system. Four different statistical measures were used at six locations, where in-situ wind and wave measurements are available from oceanographic buoys. Furthermore, the ERA5 wind and wave datasets were utilized for the estimation of the available wind and wave energy potential for the Greek Seas, as well as for the assessment of complementarity and synergy between the two resources. In this respect, an event-based approach was adopted. The spatial distribution of the available wind and wave energy potential resembles qualitatively and quantitatively the distributions derived from other reanalysis datasets. Locations with high synergy and complementarity indices were identified taking into account water depth. Finally, taking into consideration a particular offshore wind turbine power curve and the power matrix of the PELAMIS wave energy converter, the estimation of the combined energy potential on a mean annual basis is performed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 7483 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Future Study of an Environment Driving Force (EDR): The Impacts of Urmia Lake Water-Level Fluctuations on Human Settlements

by Somayeh Mohammadi Hamidi, Christine Fürst, Hossein Nazmfar, Ahad Rezayan and Mohammad Hassan Yazdani

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11495; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011495 - 18 Oct 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2882

Abstract

Lake Urmia, one of the world’s largest salt lakes, is rapidly losing water and drying up. This environmental hazard has raised concerns about the consequences and impact on the surrounding communities. In this paper, we use a futuristic view (horizon of 10 years [...] Read more.

Lake Urmia, one of the world’s largest salt lakes, is rapidly losing water and drying up. This environmental hazard has raised concerns about the consequences and impact on the surrounding communities. In this paper, we use a futuristic view (horizon of 10 years based on medium-term planning) to identify the main environmental drivers in the surrounding settlements of the Urmia Lake basin. A qualitative method, based on cross-impact analysis, was used as a means of future research. We also used a Delphi-based expert panel method to collect data and extract the environmental impacts of Urmia Lake. After the three rounds of the Delphi process, the expert panel reached a high level of agreement (100%) on the top 17 environmental consequences. Then, these consequences were classified by driving force and dependency using the MICMAC method. The results show that reducing pasture area, soil and water salinity, groundwater decline and depletion, and destruction of surrounding agricultural lands play a significant role in environmental change in Urmia Lake. Overall, any small change in these variables may lead to fundamental changes in the entire system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 18379 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Artificial Elements on Mountain Landscape Perception: An Eye-Tracking Study

by Suling Guo, Wei Sun, Wen Chen, Jianxin Zhang and Peixue Liu

Land 2021, 10(10), 1102; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10101102 - 17 Oct 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3740

Abstract

The landscape is an essential resource for attracting tourists to a destination, but this resource has long been overused by tourism development. Tourists and scholars have begun noticing the interference of human structures in the natural environment and how this can change the [...] Read more.

The landscape is an essential resource for attracting tourists to a destination, but this resource has long been overused by tourism development. Tourists and scholars have begun noticing the interference of human structures in the natural environment and how this can change the meaning of a landscape. In this study, the impact of artificial elements on mountain landscapes was investigated by measuring the characteristics of visual perception and a landscape value assessment using eye-tracking analysis. Furthermore, this study includes socio-demographic features for testing whether they have an impact on landscape perception. The results show that human structures impact both visual perception and the perceived value of landscapes. Hotels and temples attract more visual attention than a purely natural landscape. Modern hotels appear to have a negative influence on mountain landscape valuation, while temples with unique culture have positive impacts. Socio-demographic groups differ significantly in how they observe landscape images and, to a degree, how they value the landscape therein. Our study should be of value to landscape planning and tourism policy making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 2076 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Temperature Variations and Possible Forcing Mechanisms over the Past 300 Years Recorded at Lake Chaonaqiu in the Western Loess Plateau

by Keke Yu, Le Wang, Lipeng Liu, Enguo Sheng, Xingxing Liu and Jianghu Lan

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11376; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011376 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

Understanding the synchronicity of and discrepancy among temperature variations on the western Loess Plateau (WLP), China, is critical for establishing the drivers of regional temperature variability. Here we present an authigenic carbonate-content timeseries spanning the last 300 years from sediments collected from Lake [...] Read more.

Understanding the synchronicity of and discrepancy among temperature variations on the western Loess Plateau (WLP), China, is critical for establishing the drivers of regional temperature variability. Here we present an authigenic carbonate-content timeseries spanning the last 300 years from sediments collected from Lake Chaonaqiu in the Liupan Mountains, WLP, as a decadal-scale record of temperature. Our results reveal six periods of relatively low temperature, during the intervals AD 1743–1750, 1770–1780, 1792–1803, 1834–1898, 1930–1946, and 1970–1995, and three periods of relatively high temperature during 1813–1822, 1910–1928, and since 2000. These findings are consistent with tree-ring datasets from the WLP and correlate well with extreme cold and warm events documented in historical literature. Our temperature reconstruction is also potentially representative of large-scale climate patterns over northern China and more broadly over the Northern Hemisphere. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) might be the dominant factor affecting temperature variations over the WLP on decadal timescales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 2248 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Low-Carbon Design Path of Building Integrated Photovoltaics: A Comparative Study Based on Green Building Rating Systems

by Ke Liu, Beili Zhu and Jianping Chen

Buildings 2021, 11(10), 469; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings11100469 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3741

Abstract

CO₂ emissions of buildings have a critical impact on the global climate change, and various green building rating systems (GBRS) have suggested low-carbon requirements to regulate building emissions. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), as an integrated technology of photovoltaics and buildings, is an important [...] Read more.

CO₂ emissions of buildings have a critical impact on the global climate change, and various green building rating systems (GBRS) have suggested low-carbon requirements to regulate building emissions. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), as an integrated technology of photovoltaics and buildings, is an important way to reduce building CO₂ emissions. At present, the low-carbon design path of BIPV from architecture is still not unified and clear, and there is a lack of BIPV research regarding GBRS or from the perspective of architectural design in China. The objective of this study is to propose a framework of indicators related to carbon emission control in BIPV, guiding the path of BIPV low-carbon design. This study makes comparisons among the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), and Assessment Standard for Green Buildings (ASGB), mainly in terms of the scope weight, induction, and measure features. The BIPV low-carbon design involves energy, materials, environmental adaptability, management, and innovation, in which energy and materials are the main scopes with weights of 10.98% and 7.46%, respectively. The five scopes included 17 measures. Following the measures, the path of the BIPV low-carbon design was defined with six aspects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 4425 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Global Runoff Signatures Changes and Their Response to Atmospheric Environment, GRACE Water Storage, and Dams

by Sheng Yan, Jianyu Liu, Xihui Gu and Dongdong Kong

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(20), 4084; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13204084 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1853

Abstract

Runoff signatures (RS), a special set of runoff indexes reflecting the hydrological process, have an important influence on many fields of both human and natural systems by flooding, drought, and available water resources. However, the global RS changes and their causes remain largely [...] Read more.

Runoff signatures (RS), a special set of runoff indexes reflecting the hydrological process, have an important influence on many fields of both human and natural systems by flooding, drought, and available water resources. However, the global RS changes and their causes remain largely unknown. Here, we make a comprehensive investigation of RS changes and their response to total water storage anomalies (TWSA) from GRACE satellites, atmospheric circulation, and reservoir construction by using daily runoff data from 21,955 hydrological stations during 1975–2017. The global assessment shows that (1) in recent years, the global extreme flow signatures tend to decrease, while the low and average flow signatures are likely to increase in more regions; (2) the spatial patterns of trends are similar for different RS, suggesting that the runoff distribution tends to entirely upward in some regions, while downward in other regions; (3) the trends in RS are largely consistent with that in TWSA over most regions in North America and eastern South America during 1979–2017, indicating that the GRACE-based TWSA have great potential in hydrological monitoring and attribution; (4) atmospheric circulation change could partly explain the global spatiotemporal variation patterns of RS; (5) dams have important influences on reducing the high flow signature in the catchments including dams built during 1975–2017. This study provides a full picture of RS changes and their possible causes, which has important implications for water resources management and flood and drought disaster assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 7136 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Framework to Evaluate the SDG Contribution of Fluvial Nature-Based Solutions

by Tatiana Andrikopoulou, Ralph M. J. Schielen, Chris J. Spray, Cor A. Schipper and Astrid Blom

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11320; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011320 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3396

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are measures reflecting the ‘cooperation with nature’ approach: mitigating fluvial flood risk while being cost-effective, resource-efficient, and providing numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. Since 2015, the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda has provided UN member states with goals, targets, [...] Read more.

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are measures reflecting the ‘cooperation with nature’ approach: mitigating fluvial flood risk while being cost-effective, resource-efficient, and providing numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. Since 2015, the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda has provided UN member states with goals, targets, and indicators to facilitate an integrated approach focusing on economic, environmental, and social improvements simultaneously. The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of fluvial NBSs to the UN 2030 Agenda, using all its components: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets, and indicators. We propose a four-step framework with inputs from the UN 2030 Agenda, scientific literature, and case studies. The framework provides a set of fluvial flooding indicators that are linked to SDG indicators of the UN 2030 Agenda. Finally, the fluvial flooding indicators are tested by applying them to a case study, the Eddleston Water Project, aiming to examine its contribution to the UN 2030 Agenda. This reveals that the Eddleston Water Project contributes to 9 SDGs and 33 SDG targets from environmental, economic, societal, policy, and technical perspectives. Our framework aims to enhance the systematic considerations of the SDG indicators, adjust their notion to the system of interest, and thereby enhance the link between the sustainability performance of NBSs and the UN 2030 Agenda. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 12381 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing the Spatial Heterogeneity of the Built Environment and Its Impact on the Urban Thermal Environment—Case Study of Downtown Shanghai

by Jiejie Han, Xi Zhao, Hao Zhang and Yu Liu

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11302; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011302 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1881

Abstract

Ongoing urban expansion has accelerated the explosive growth of urban populations and has led to a dramatic increase in the impervious surface area within urban areas. This, in turn, has exacerbated the surface heat island effect within cities. However, the importance of the [...] Read more.

Ongoing urban expansion has accelerated the explosive growth of urban populations and has led to a dramatic increase in the impervious surface area within urban areas. This, in turn, has exacerbated the surface heat island effect within cities. However, the importance of the surface heat island effect within urban areas, scilicet the intra-SUHI effect, has attracted less concern. The aim of this study was to quantitatively explore the relationship between the spatial heterogeneity of a built environment and the intra-urban surface heat island (intra-SUHI) effect using the thermally sharpened land surface temperature (LST) and high-resolution land-use classification products. The results show that at the land parcel scale, the parcel-based relative intensity of intra-SUHI should be attributed to the land parcels featured with differential land developmental intensity. Furthermore, the partial least squares regression (PLSR) modeling quantified the relative importance of the spatial heterogeneity indices of the built environment that exhibit a negative contribution to decreasing the parcel-based intra-SUHI effect or a positive contribution to increasing the intra-SUHI effect. Finally, based on the findings of this study, some practical countermeasures towards mitigating the adverse intra-SUHI effect and improving urban climatic adaption are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1098 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

When Harmful Tax Expenditure Prevails over Environmental Tax: An Assessment on the 2014 Mexican Fiscal Reform

by Sugey de Jesús López Pérez and Xavier Vence

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11269; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011269 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2209

Abstract

This article examines the role of environmental taxation in mitigating environmental problems and contributing to sustainability in Mexico. It focuses on environmental tax revenues and tax expenditures since the 2014 Public Financial Reform (PFR), according to pro- or anti-environmental orientation. The research carried [...] Read more.

This article examines the role of environmental taxation in mitigating environmental problems and contributing to sustainability in Mexico. It focuses on environmental tax revenues and tax expenditures since the 2014 Public Financial Reform (PFR), according to pro- or anti-environmental orientation. The research carried out combines the study of the regulation of the selected tax instruments, their classification and the empirical analysis of the tax revenues and tax expenditures associated with the different taxes over the periods of validity of the taxes and benefits studied, using the databases of the CIAT and the Mexican SHCP. A critical analysis addresses the weak environmental function of environment-related taxes (IEPS, ISAN…), as well as the late implementation and reduced impact of the carbon and pesticide taxes introduced in 2014. The evolution of tax incentives and expenditure is thoroughly examined by examining both environmental measures, which have evolved positively but within a very reduced level, and the most prevalent tax expenditure measures, with harmful impacts to the environment. Based on the results obtained, long-term structural changes in the Mexican tax system are suggested. As for the short to medium term, profound changes in tax expenditure are proposed to eliminate of those tax benefits harmful to the environment, introduce of tax benefits for circular activities (e.g., repairing, reusing and remanufacturing) and broaden the carbon tax base and rates. The conclusions include recommendations for moving towards a systemic green tax reform that assists the transformation towards a sustainable economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 20922 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Evolution of the Urban Residential Space Structure and Driving Forces in the Megacity—A Case Study of Shenyang City

by He Sun, Xueming Li, Yingying Guan, Shenzhen Tian and He Liu

Land 2021, 10(10), 1081; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10101081 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2141

Abstract

For megacities, they are in a period of transformation from extensive development to smart growth. Recognizing new characteristics and new changes of the residential space in megacities under the backdrop of new development has great practical significance for realizing the sustainable development of [...] Read more.

For megacities, they are in a period of transformation from extensive development to smart growth. Recognizing new characteristics and new changes of the residential space in megacities under the backdrop of new development has great practical significance for realizing the sustainable development of the city. As the only megacity in Northeast China, Shenyang was selected to be the research object, with 1989–2018 as the research period. The research comprehensively used multiple spatial representation methods and statistical methods to study the residential space pattern and driving factors in Shenyang City. The results showed that: (1) Residential space expansion can be divided into four stages: slow development, rapid expansion, speedy expansion, and stable extension. (2) The residential space structure presented a spatial evolution characteristic of overall expansion, forming multiple secondary core density centers. The east-west direction had a larger extension range than the northeast-southwest direction. There was an axisymmetric zonal distribution on both sides of the Hun River. (3) The agglomeration of different residential forms was obvious, and the spatial heterogeneity was increasingly stronger. (4) Urban planning measures and economic strength were the main driving forces of residential space expansion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3548 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment and Estimation of the Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Landscape Patterns and Their Impact on Habitat Quality in Nanchang, China

by Yanan Li, Linghua Duo, Ming Zhang, Zhenhua Wu and Yanjun Guan

Land 2021, 10(10), 1073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10101073 - 12 Oct 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2485

Abstract

Assessing and predicting the evolution of habitat quality based on land use change under the process of urbanization is important for establishing a comprehensive ecological planning system and addressing the major challenges of global sustainable development. Here, two different prediction models were used [...] Read more.

Assessing and predicting the evolution of habitat quality based on land use change under the process of urbanization is important for establishing a comprehensive ecological planning system and addressing the major challenges of global sustainable development. Here, two different prediction models were used to simulate the land use changes in 2025 based on the land use distribution data of Nanchang city in three periods and integrated into the habitat quality assessment model to specifically evaluate the trends and characteristics of future habitat quality changes, explore the impact of landscape pattern evolution on habitat, and analyze the differences and advantages of the two prediction models. The results show that the overall habitat quality in Nanchang declined significantly during the period 1995–2015. Habitat degradation near cities and in various watersheds is relatively significant. During the period 2015–2025, the landscape pattern and habitat quality of Nanchang will continue to maintain the trend of changes observed between 1995 and 2015, i.e., increasing construction land and decreasing habitat quality, with high pressure on ecological restoration. This study also identified that CA-Markov simulates the quantity of land use better, while FLUS simulates the spatial pattern of land use better. Overall, this study provides a reference for exploring the complex dynamic evolution mechanism of habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 1584 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment on the Use of Meteorological and Social Media Information for Forest Fire Detection and Prediction in Riau, Indonesia

by Anni Arumsari Fitriany, Piotr J. Flatau, Khoirunurrofik Khoirunurrofik and Nelly Florida Riama

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11188; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011188 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2154

Abstract

In this study, tweets related to fires in Riau, Sumatra, were identified using carefully selected keywords for the 2014–2019 timeframe. The TAGGS algorithm was applied, which allows for geoparsing based on the user’s nationality and hometown and on direct referrals to specific locations [...] Read more.

In this study, tweets related to fires in Riau, Sumatra, were identified using carefully selected keywords for the 2014–2019 timeframe. The TAGGS algorithm was applied, which allows for geoparsing based on the user’s nationality and hometown and on direct referrals to specific locations such as name of province or name of city in the message itself. Online newspapers covering Riau were analyzed for the year 2019 to provide additional information about the reasons why fires occurred and other factors, such as impact on people’s health, animal mortality related to ecosystem disruption, visibility, decrease in air quality and limitations in the government firefighting response. Correlation analysis between meteorological information, Twitter activity and satellite-derived hotspots was conducted. The existing approaches that BMKG and other Indonesian agencies use to detect fire activity are reviewed and a novel approach for early fire detection is proposed based on the crowdsourcing of tweets. The policy implications of these results suggest that crowdsourced data can be included in the fire management system in Indonesia to support early fire detection and fire disaster mitigation efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 175 KiB)

18 pages, 714 KiB  

Open AccessReview

What Nudge Techniques Work for Food Waste Behaviour Change at the Consumer Level? A Systematic Review

by Hannah Barker, Peter J. Shaw, Beth Richards, Zoe Clegg and Dianna Smith

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 11099; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131911099 - 08 Oct 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 9746

Abstract

In European countries over 40% of food loss and waste occurs at the retail and consumer stages; this situation cannot be sustained and remediation is urgently needed; opportunities for change must be created. “Nudge” techniques have been shown to be effective in changing [...] Read more.

In European countries over 40% of food loss and waste occurs at the retail and consumer stages; this situation cannot be sustained and remediation is urgently needed; opportunities for change must be created. “Nudge” techniques have been shown to be effective in changing behaviour in areas related to food consumption (e.g., healthy diet), but the effectiveness of interventions using nudge techniques to change food waste behaviours remains unclear, despite a growing body of research. The aim of this review is to elucidate means to change household food waste behaviour using nudge approaches and identify priority needs for further research. Four databases, grey literature and reference lists were searched systematically to identify relevant research on nudges to change food waste behaviours. This search identified sixteen peer-reviewed research articles and two grey literature reports that were critically appraised using a critical appraisal checklist framework for descriptive/case series. Four studies deemed reliable show interventions using nudges of social norms, reminders or social norms with disclosure were effective in changing food waste behaviours at the household level, while disclosure alone, i.e., revealing environmental costs of food waste, was not. This review, unique in the application of a critical appraisal, suggests there is reliable information on the effectiveness of nudge for food waste recycling interventions when incorporating nudges of social norms, reminders or disclosure alongside use of social norms. If food waste recycling behaviour is considered an upstream measure to raise consumers’ consciousness on the amount of food waste they produce, this may have a positive impact on food waste reduction and therefore has important policy implications for food waste behaviour change at the household level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 3374 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution Equilibrium and Relationship between Construction Land Expansion and Basic Education Schools in Shanghai Based on POI Data

by Zhenchao Zhang, Weixin Luan, Chuang Tian, Min Su and Zeyang Li

Land 2021, 10(10), 1059; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10101059 - 08 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2371

Abstract

Basic education is about improving the quality of life of a country’s population and promote social cohesions, and it is also an important factor in shaping a country and region’s person-to-person relationship. This study analyzes the spatial morphological patterns, aggregation characteristics, and distribution [...] Read more.

Basic education is about improving the quality of life of a country’s population and promote social cohesions, and it is also an important factor in shaping a country and region’s person-to-person relationship. This study analyzes the spatial morphological patterns, aggregation characteristics, and distribution inequality among kindergarten, elementary, and junior high schools within districts in Shanghai, using point of interest data, kernel density estimation, Ripley’s K-function, location quotient, and grid analysis to investigate the effect on the distribution of schools using construction land growth data. The findings were as follows. (1) There was little difference in the spatial distribution characteristics of the three school types. They all exhibited the spatial distribution characteristics of core area clustering and the coexistence of multiple circadian layers, in which both the agglomeration size and the aggregation intensity showed the order of kindergarten > elementary school > junior high schools. The spatial distribution characteristics of the three types of schools are highly positively correlated with the population distribution. (2) Spatially, low-level schools were adjacent to high-level schools, and the structure of the three school types showed an uneven distribution overall. The aggregation characteristics of the seven inner districts within Shanghai were relatively balanced, while Pudong District showed the phenomenon of being “high in the southeast and low in the northeast”, and the suburban areas showed an uneven distribution of core district aggregation overall. (3) The longer the construction land growth cycle, the greater the density of school points, and the more consistent the distribution of school points with the direction of construction land expansion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 6665 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Application of the Adapted Approach for Crop Management Factor to Assess Soil Erosion Risk in an Agricultural Area of Rwanda

by Albert Poponi Maniraho, Richard Mind’je, Wenjiang Liu, Vincent Nzabarinda, Patient Mindje Kayumba, Lamek Nahayo, Adeline Umugwaneza, Solange Uwamahoro and Lanhai Li

Land 2021, 10(10), 1056; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10101056 - 08 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1941

Abstract

Land use and land cover (LULC) management influences the severity of soil erosion risk. However, crop management (C) is one factor of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model that should be taken into account in its determination, as it influences soil [...] Read more.

Land use and land cover (LULC) management influences the severity of soil erosion risk. However, crop management (C) is one factor of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model that should be taken into account in its determination, as it influences soil loss rate estimations. Thus, the present study applied an adapted C-factor estimation approach (CvkA) modified from the former approach (Cvk) to assess the impact of LULC dynamics on soil erosion risk in an agricultural area of Rwanda taking the western province as a case study. The results disclosed that the formerly used Cvk was not suitable, as it tended to overestimate C-factor values compared with the values obtained from t CvkA. An approximated mean soil loss of 15.1 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 47.4 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 16.3 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 66.8 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 15.3 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2018, respectively, was found. The results also indicated that there was a small increase in mean annual soil loss from 15.1 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 2000 to 15.3 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 2018 (1.3%). Moreover, the soil erosion risk categories indicated that about 57.5%, 21.8%, 64.9%, 15.5% and 73.8% had a sustainable soil erosion rate tolerance (≤10 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), while about 42.5%, 78.2%, 35.1%, 84.5% and 16.8% had an unsustainable mean soil erosion rate (>10 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2018, respectively. A major portion of the area fell under the high and very high probability zones, whereas only a small portion fell under the very low, low, moderate and extremely high probability zones. Therefore, the CvkA approach presents the most suitable alternative to estimate soil loss in the western province of Rwanda with reasonable soil loss prediction results. The study area needs urgent intervention for soil conservation planning, taking into account the implementation of effective conservation practices such as terracing for soil erosion control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1983 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Tracking Topics and Frames Regarding Sustainability Transformations during the Onset of the COVID-19 Crisis

by Mariana Madruga de Brito, Danny Otto and Christian Kuhlicke

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 11095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131911095 - 07 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2307

Abstract

Many researchers and politicians believe that the COVID-19 crisis may have opened a “window of opportunity” to spur sustainability transformations. Still, evidence for such a dynamic is currently lacking. Here, we propose the linkage of “big data” and “thick data” methods for monitoring [...] Read more.

Many researchers and politicians believe that the COVID-19 crisis may have opened a “window of opportunity” to spur sustainability transformations. Still, evidence for such a dynamic is currently lacking. Here, we propose the linkage of “big data” and “thick data” methods for monitoring debates on transformation processes by following the COVID-19 discourse on ecological sustainability in Germany. We analysed variations in the topics discussed by applying text mining techniques to a corpus with 84,500 newspaper articles published during the first COVID-19 wave. This allowed us to attain a unique and previously inaccessible “bird’s eye view” of how these topics evolved. To deepen our understanding of prominent frames, a qualitative content analysis was undertaken. Furthermore, we investigated public awareness by analysing online search behaviour. The findings show an underrepresentation of sustainability topics in the German news during the early stages of the crisis. Similarly, public awareness regarding climate change was found to be reduced. Nevertheless, by examining the newspaper data in detail, we found that the pandemic is often seen as a chance for sustainability transformations—but not without a set of challenges. Our mixed-methods approach enabled us to bridge knowledge gaps between qualitative and quantitative research by “thickening” and providing context to data-driven analyses. By monitoring whether or not the current crisis is seen as a chance for sustainability transformations, we provide insights for environmental policy in times of crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 4933 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Total Column and Surface Mixing Ratio of Carbon Monoxide Derived from the TROPOMI/Sentinel-5 Precursor with In-Situ Measurements from Extensive Ground-Based Network over South Korea

by Ukkyo Jeong and Hyunkee Hong

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(19), 3987; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13193987 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2496

Abstract

Atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) significantly impacts climate change and human health, and has become the focus of increased air quality and climate research. Since 2018, the Troposphere Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) has provided total column amounts of CO (C_TROPOMI) with a [...] Read more.

Atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) significantly impacts climate change and human health, and has become the focus of increased air quality and climate research. Since 2018, the Troposphere Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) has provided total column amounts of CO (C_TROPOMI) with a high spatial resolution to monitor atmospheric CO. This study compared and assessed the accuracy of C_TROPOMI measurements using surface in-situ measurements (S_KME) obtained from an extensive ground-based network over South Korea, where CO level is persistently affected by both local emissions and trans-boundary transport. Our analysis reveals that the TROPOMI effectively detected major emission sources of CO over South Korea and efficiently complemented the spatial coverage of the ground-based network. In general, the correlations between C_TROPOMI and S_KME were lower than those for NO₂ reported in a previous study, and this discrepancy was partly attributed to the lower spatiotemporal variability. Moreover, vertical CO profiles were sampled from the ECMWF CAMS reanalysis data (EAC4) to convert C_TROPOMI to surface mixing ratios (S_TROPOMI). S_TROPOMI showed a significant underestimation compared with S_KME by approximately 40%, with a moderate correlation of approximately 0.51. The low biases of S_TROPOMI were more significant during the winter season, which was mainly attributed to the underestimation of the EAC4 CO at the surface. This study can contribute to the assessment of satellite and model data for monitoring surface air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2585 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Increased Ecosystem Carbon Storage between 2001 and 2019 in the Northeastern Margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

by Peijie Wei, Shengyun Chen, Minghui Wu, Yinglan Jia, Haojie Xu and Deming Liu

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(19), 3986; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13193986 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2437

Abstract

Global alpine ecosystems contain a large amount of carbon, which is sensitive to global change. Changes to alpine carbon sources and sinks have implications for carbon and climate feedback processes. To date, few studies have quantified the spatial-temporal variations in ecosystem carbon storage [...] Read more.

Global alpine ecosystems contain a large amount of carbon, which is sensitive to global change. Changes to alpine carbon sources and sinks have implications for carbon and climate feedback processes. To date, few studies have quantified the spatial-temporal variations in ecosystem carbon storage and its response to global change in the alpine regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Ecosystem carbon storage in the northeastern QTP between 2001 and 2019 was simulated and systematically analyzed using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. Furthermore, the Hurst exponent was obtained and used as an input to perform an analysis of the future dynamic consistency of ecosystem carbon storage. Our study results demonstrated that: (1) regression between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and biomass (coefficient of determination (R²) = 0.974, p < 0.001), and between NDVI and soil organic carbon density (SOCD) (R² = 0.810, p < 0.001) were valid; (2) the spatial distribution of ecosystem carbon storage decreased from the southeast to the northwest; (3) ecosystem carbon storage increased by 13.69% between 2001 and 2019, and the significant increases mainly occurred in the low-altitude regions; (4) climate and land use (LULC) changes caused increases in ecosystem carbon storage of 4.39 Tg C and 2.25 Tg C from 2001 to 2019, respectively; and (5) the future trend of ecosystem carbon storage in 92.73% of the study area shows high inconsistency but that in 7.27% was consistent. This study reveals that climate and LULC changes have positive effects on ecosystem carbon storage in the alpine regions of the QTP, which will provide valuable information for the formulation of eco-environmental policies and sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 6926 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Radiative Energy Flux Variation from 2001–2020

by Hans-Rolf Dübal and Fritz Vahrenholt

Atmosphere 2021, 12(10), 1297; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12101297 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 31867

Abstract

Radiative energy flux data, downloaded from CERES, are evaluated with respect to their variations from 2001 to 2020. We found the declining outgoing shortwave radiation to be the most important contributor for a positive TOA (top of the atmosphere) net flux of 0.8 [...] Read more.

Radiative energy flux data, downloaded from CERES, are evaluated with respect to their variations from 2001 to 2020. We found the declining outgoing shortwave radiation to be the most important contributor for a positive TOA (top of the atmosphere) net flux of 0.8 W/m² in this time frame. We compare clear sky with cloudy areas and find that changes in the cloud structure should be the root cause for the shortwave trend. The radiative flux data are compared with ocean heat content data and analyzed in the context of a longer-term climate system enthalpy estimation going back to the year 1750. We also report differences in the trends for the Northern and Southern hemisphere. The radiative data indicate more variability in the North and higher stability in the South. The drop of cloudiness around the millennium by about 1.5% has certainly fostered the positive net radiative flux. The declining TOA SW (out) is the major heating cause (+1.42 W/m² from 2001 to 2020). It is almost compensated by the growing chilling TOA LW (out) (−1.1 W/m²). This leads together with a reduced incoming solar of −0.17 W/m² to a small growth of imbalance of 0.15 W/m². We further present surface flux data which support the strong influence of the cloud cover on the radiative budget. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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17 pages, 5449 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Quantitative Modeling and Prediction Method for Sustained Rainfall-PM_2.5 Removal Modes on a Micro-Temporal Scale

by Tingchen Wu, Xiao Xie, Bing Xue and Tao Liu

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 11022; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131911022 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1703

Abstract

PM_2.5 is unanimously considered to be an important indicator of air quality. Sustained rainfall is a kind of typical but complex rainfall process in southern China with an uncertain duration and intervals. During sustained rainfall, the variation of PM_2.5 concentrations in [...] Read more.

PM_2.5 is unanimously considered to be an important indicator of air quality. Sustained rainfall is a kind of typical but complex rainfall process in southern China with an uncertain duration and intervals. During sustained rainfall, the variation of PM_2.5 concentrations in hour-level time series is diverse and complex. However, existing analytical methods mainly examine overall removals at the annual/monthly time scale, missing a quantitative analysis mode that applies micro-scale time data to describe the removal phenomenon. In order to further achieve air quality prediction and prevention in the short term, it is necessary to analyze its micro-temporal removal effect for atmospheric environment quality forecasting. This paper proposed a quantitative modeling and prediction method for sustained rainfall-PM_2.5 removal modes on a micro-temporal scale. Firstly, a set of quantitative modes for sustained rainfall-PM_2.5 removal mode in a micro-temporal scale were constructed. Then, a mode-constrained prediction of the sustained rainfall-PM_2.5 removal effect using the factorization machines (FM) was proposed to predict the future sustained rainfall removal effect. Moreover, the historical observation data of Nanjing city at an hourly scale from 2016 to January 2020 were used for mode modeling. Meanwhile, the whole 2020 year observation data were used for the sustained rainfall-PM_2.5 removal phenomenon prediction. The experiment shows the reasonableness and effectiveness of the proposed method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3637 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Grain for Green Program Intensifies Trade-Offs between Ecosystem Services in Midwestern Shanxi, China

by Baoan Hu, Zhijie Zhang, Hairong Han, Zuzheng Li, Xiaoqin Cheng, Fengfeng Kang and Huifeng Wu

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(19), 3966; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13193966 - 03 Oct 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2724

Abstract

Ecological engineering is a widely used strategy to address environmental degradation and enhance human well-being. A quantitative assessment of the impacts of ecological engineering on ecosystem services (ESs) is a prerequisite for designing inclusive and sustainable engineering programs. In order to strengthen national [...] Read more.

Ecological engineering is a widely used strategy to address environmental degradation and enhance human well-being. A quantitative assessment of the impacts of ecological engineering on ecosystem services (ESs) is a prerequisite for designing inclusive and sustainable engineering programs. In order to strengthen national ecological security, the Chinese government has implemented the world’s largest ecological project since 1999, the Grain for Green Program (GFGP). We used a professional model to evaluate the key ESs in Lvliang City. Scenario analysis was used to quantify the contribution of the GFGP to changes in ESs and the impacts of trade-offs/synergy. We used spatial regression to identify the main drivers of ES trade-offs. We found that: (1) From 2000 to 2018, the contribution rates of the GFGP to changes in carbon storage (CS), habitat quality (HQ), water yield (WY), and soil conservation (SC) were 140.92%, 155.59%, −454.48%, and 92.96%, respectively. GFGP compensated for the negative impacts of external environmental pressure on CS and HQ, and significantly improved CS, HQ, and SC, but at the expense of WY. (2) The GFGP promotes the synergistic development of CS, HQ, and SC, and also intensifies the trade-off relationships between WY and CS, WY and HQ, and WY and SC. (3) Land use change and urbanization are significantly positively correlated with the WY–CS, WY–HQ, and WY–SC trade-offs, while increases in NDVI helped alleviate these trade-offs. (4) Geographically weighted regression explained 90.8%, 94.2%, and 88.2% of the WY–CS, WY–HQ, and WY–SC trade-offs, respectively. We suggest that the ESs’ benefits from the GFGP can be maximized by controlling the intensity of land use change, optimizing the development of urbanization, and improving the effectiveness of afforestation. This general method of quantifying the impact of ecological engineering on ESs can act as a reference for future ecological restoration plans and decision-making in China and across the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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21 pages, 914 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Building Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience through Soil Organic Carbon Restoration in Sub-Saharan Rural Communities: Challenges and Opportunities

by Alex Taylor, Maarten Wynants, Linus Munishi, Claire Kelly, Kelvin Mtei, Francis Mkilema, Patrick Ndakidemi, Mona Nasseri, Alice Kalnins, Aloyce Patrick, David Gilvear and William Blake

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10966; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910966 - 02 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3859

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is widely recognised as pivotal in soil function, exerting important controls on soil structure, moisture retention, nutrient cycling and biodiversity, which in turn underpins a range of provisioning, supporting and regulatory ecosystem services. SOC stocks in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [...] Read more.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is widely recognised as pivotal in soil function, exerting important controls on soil structure, moisture retention, nutrient cycling and biodiversity, which in turn underpins a range of provisioning, supporting and regulatory ecosystem services. SOC stocks in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are threatened by changes in land practice and climatic factors, which destabilises the soil system and resilience to continued climate change. Here, we provide a review of the role of SOC in overall soil health and the challenges and opportunities associated with maintaining and building SOC stocks in SSA. As an exemplar national case, we focus on Tanzania where we provide context under research for the “Jali Ardhi” (Care for the Land) Project. The review details (i) the role of SOC in soil systems; (ii) sustainable land management (SLM) techniques for maintaining and building SOC; (iii) barriers (environmental, economic and social) to SLM implementation; and (iv) opportunities for overcoming barriers to SLM adoption. We provide evidence for the importance of site-specific characterisation of the biophysicochemical and socio-economic context for effective climate adaptation. In particular, we highlight the importance of SOC pools for soil function and the need for practitioners to consider the type of biomass returns to the soil to achieve healthy, balanced systems. In line with the need for local-scale site characterisation we discuss the use of established survey protocols alongside opportunities to complement these with recent technologies, such as rapid in situ scanning tools and aerial surveys. We discuss how these tools can be used to improve soil health assessments and develop critical understanding of landscape connectivity and the management of shared resources under co-design strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 1283 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Differentiation of the School-Age Migrant Population in Liaoning Province, China, and Its Driving Factors

by Wenwen Xu, Chunrui Song, Dongqi Sun and Baochu Yu

Land 2021, 10(10), 1036; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10101036 - 02 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1843

Abstract

This study analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution and driving factors of the floating school-age population in Liaoning Province, China from 2008 to 2020 using county-level statistical education data combined with spatial autocorrelation and the multiscale geographically weighted regression model. The major findings are as [...] Read more.

This study analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution and driving factors of the floating school-age population in Liaoning Province, China from 2008 to 2020 using county-level statistical education data combined with spatial autocorrelation and the multiscale geographically weighted regression model. The major findings are as follows. From 2008 to 2020, the distribution of the school-age migrant population exhibited obvious spatial imbalance characteristics both in terms of the number and proportion of school-age migrants. Specifically, the school-age migrant population was concentrated in the municipal districts of large and medium-sized cities and continued to increase over time in the suburbs of large and medium-sized cities. Over the past 12 years, the distribution of the school-age migrant population in Liaoning Province exhibited significant spatial autocorrelation. From the number of school-age migrants, the cold and hot spot area expanded. Conversely, from the proportion of school-age migrants, the cold and hot spot area decreased gradually, whereas the cold spot area became more diffuse. Regarding the driving factors, the quantity and quality of teaching staff, the quality of teaching equipment and conditions, and the quality of the education environment played a role in promoting or restraining the differentiation of the school-age migrant population in Liaoning Province. Moreover, the degree of influence of the driving factors exhibited substantial spatial differences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 8314 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Absolute Contribution of the Non-Uniform Spatial Distribution of Atmospheric CO₂ to Net Primary Production through CO₂-Radiative Forcing

by Jing Peng, Li Dan, Jinming Feng, Kairan Ying, Xiba Tang and Fuqiang Yang

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10897; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910897 - 30 Sep 2021

Viewed by 1404

Abstract

Atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ are the most important driver of the Earth’s climate and ecosystems through CO₂-radiative forcing, fueling the surface temperature and latent heat flux on half-century timescales. We used FGOALS-s2 coupled with AVIM2 to estimate the response of [...] Read more.

Atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ are the most important driver of the Earth’s climate and ecosystems through CO₂-radiative forcing, fueling the surface temperature and latent heat flux on half-century timescales. We used FGOALS-s2 coupled with AVIM2 to estimate the response of net primary production (NPP) to spatial variations in CO₂ during the time period 1956–2005. We investigated how the induced variations in surface temperature and soil moisture influence NPP and the feedback of the oceans and sea ice on changes in NPP. The spatial variations in the concentrations of CO₂ resulted in a decrease in NPP from 1956 to 2005 when we included ocean and sea ice dynamics, but a slight increase in NPP without ocean and sea ice dynamics. One of the reasons is that the positive feedback of sea temperature to the surface temperature leads to a significant decrease in tropical NPP. Globally, the non-uniform spatial distribution of CO₂ absolutely contributed about 14.3% ± 2.2% to the terrestrial NPP when we included ocean and sea ice dynamics or about 11.5% ± 1.1% without ocean and sea ice dynamics. Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to the response of NPP to spatial variations in atmospheric CO₂ through CO₂-radiative forcing, particularly at low latitudes, to better constrain the predicted carbon flux under current and future conditions. We also highlight the fundamental importance of changes in soil moisture in determining the pattern, response and magnitude of NPP to the non-uniform spatial distribution of CO₂ under a warming climate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 261 KiB  

Open AccessReview

A Review of Key Sustainability Issues in Malaysian Palm Oil Industry

by Lakshmy Naidu and Ravichandran Moorthy

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10839; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910839 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8600

Abstract

The palm oil industry has contributed enormously to the economic growth of developing countries in the tropics, including Malaysia. Despite the industry being a development tool for emerging economies, the oil palm crop is inundated with allegations of its unsustainable plantation practices and [...] Read more.

The palm oil industry has contributed enormously to the economic growth of developing countries in the tropics, including Malaysia. Despite the industry being a development tool for emerging economies, the oil palm crop is inundated with allegations of its unsustainable plantation practices and viewed as environmentally detrimental and socially adverse. These negative perceptions are amplified through anti-palm oil campaigns and protectionist trade regulations in developed countries, particularly in the European Union (EU). This situation, if further exacerbated, could potentially affect the export of palm oil and the industry as a whole. As such, this article provides a critical review of the key sustainability issues faced by the Malaysian palm oil industry as the second biggest exporter of palm oil to the global market. The various insights and the interpretations of sustainability are contested according to the contexts and the interests of the countries involved. Hence, palm oil is constantly exposed to bias masked by non-tariff barriers from consumer countries to protect their domestically produced vegetable oils. This could constrain the commodity competitiveness in the international market. As issues on palm oil sustainability continue to evolve, policymakers at key stakeholder agencies need to devise strategies to manage global disruption in the palm oil trade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

22 pages, 7279 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring Meteorological Drought in Southern China Using Remote Sensing Data

by Li Liu, Ran Huang, Jiefeng Cheng, Weiwei Liu, Yan Chen, Qi Shao, Dingding Duan, Pengliang Wei, Yuanyuan Chen and Jingfeng Huang

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(19), 3858; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13193858 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2340

Abstract

Severe meteorological drought is generally considered to lead to crop damage and loss. In this study, we created a new standard value by averaging the values distributed in the middle 30–70% instead of the traditional mean value, and we proposed a new index [...] Read more.

Severe meteorological drought is generally considered to lead to crop damage and loss. In this study, we created a new standard value by averaging the values distributed in the middle 30–70% instead of the traditional mean value, and we proposed a new index calculation method named Normalized Indices (NI) for meteorological drought monitoring after normalized processing. The TRMM-derived precipitation data, GLDAS-derived soil moisture data, and MODIS-derived vegetation condition data from 2003 to 2019 were used, and we compared the NI with commonly used Condition Indices (CI) and Anomalies Percentage (AP). Taking the mid-to-lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) as an example, the drought monitoring results for paddy rice and winter wheat showed that (1) NI can monitor well the relative changes in real precipitation/soil moisture/vegetation conditions in both arid and humid regions, while meteorological drought was overestimated with CI and AP, and (2) due to the monitoring results of NI, the well-known drought event that occurred in the MLRYR from August to October 2019 had a much less severe impact on vegetation than expected. In contrast, precipitation deficiency induced an increase in sunshine and adequate heat resources, which improved crop growth in 78.8% of the area. This study discusses some restrictions of CI and AP and suggests that the new NI index calculation provides better meteorological drought monitoring in the MLRYR, thus offering a new approach for future drought monitoring studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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28 pages, 1257 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change, Adaptation Planning and Institutional Integration: A Literature Review and Framework

by Nate Kauffman and Kristina Hill

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10708; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910708 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5544

Abstract

The scale and scope of climate change has triggered widespread acknowledgement of the need to adapt to it. Out of recent work attempting to understand, define, and contribute to the family of concepts related to adaptation efforts, considerable contributions and research have emerged. [...] Read more.

The scale and scope of climate change has triggered widespread acknowledgement of the need to adapt to it. Out of recent work attempting to understand, define, and contribute to the family of concepts related to adaptation efforts, considerable contributions and research have emerged. Yet, the field of climate adaptation constantly grapples with complex ideas whose relational interplay is not always clear. Similarly, understanding how applied climate change adaptation efforts unfold through planning processes that are embedded in broader institutional settings can be difficult to apprehend. We present a review of important theory, themes, and terms evident in the literature of spatial planning and climate change adaptation to integrate them and synthesize a conceptual framework illustrating their dynamic interplay. This leads to consideration of how institutions, urban governance, and the practice of planning are involved, and evolving, in shaping climate adaptation efforts. While examining the practice of adaptation planning is useful in framing how core climate change concepts are related, the role of institutional processes in shaping and defining these concepts—and adaptation planning itself—remains complex. Our framework presents a useful tool for approaching and improving an understanding of the interactive relationships of central climate change adaptation concepts, with implications for future work focused on change within the domains of planning and institutions addressing challenges in the climate change era. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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13 pages, 1607 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Energy Poverty in Urban Regions of Mexico: The Role of Thermal Comfort and Bioclimatic Context

by Karla G. Cedano, Tiare Robles-Bonilla, Oscar S. Santillán and Manuel Martínez

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10646; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910646 - 25 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1993

Abstract

The increase of energy access to households has been a global priority. By 2018, 89.59% of the world population had access to electricity, while 97.26% of the persons living in urban areas (The Mexican Government reports it at 99.99%) had access. We must [...] Read more.

The increase of energy access to households has been a global priority. By 2018, 89.59% of the world population had access to electricity, while 97.26% of the persons living in urban areas (The Mexican Government reports it at 99.99%) had access. We must now move beyond access to electricity and address energy poverty in urban spaces. A household is energy poor when their inhabitants are incapable of securing proper domestic energy services. Several different methodologies were developed to measure energy poverty. The Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) by Nussbaumer has been successfully used in Africa and in Latin-America. The MEPI considers five dimensions: cooking, lighting, household appliances, entertainment/education and communication. We developed a Multidimensional Energy Deprivation Index (MEDI), based on MEPI. Thermal comfort has been included as sixth dimension, by considering the temperature of the region where the household is located. We found important differences between MEPI and MEDI for Mexico at the national level (urban-MEPI at 0.028 vs. 0.071 urban-MEDI, which implies a higher degree of energy poverty). Also, differences between geopolitical and bioclimatic regions were found. Having better ways to assess energy poverty in the urban context is a key factor to develop effective public policies that might alleviate it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 1242 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

A Systematic Literature Review of Inclusive Climate Change Adaption

by Ha Pham and Marc Saner

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10617; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910617 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4292

Abstract

Inclusive approaches have been applied in many areas, including human resources, international development, urban planning, and innovation. This paper is a systematic literature review to describe the usage trends, scope, and nature of the inclusive approach in the climate change adaptation (CCA) context. [...] Read more.

Inclusive approaches have been applied in many areas, including human resources, international development, urban planning, and innovation. This paper is a systematic literature review to describe the usage trends, scope, and nature of the inclusive approach in the climate change adaptation (CCA) context. We developed search algorithms, explicit selection criteria, and a coding questionnaire, which we used to review a total of 106 peer-reviewed articles, 145 grey literature documents, and 67 national communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); 318 documents were reviewed in total. Quantitatively, the methodology reveals a slight increase in usage, with a focus on non-Annex 1 countries, gender issues, and capacity building. Qualitatively, we arranged the key insights into the following three categories: (1) inclusion in who or what adapts; (2) motivating inclusive processes; and (3) anticipated outcomes of inclusive CCA. We conclude, with the observation, that many issues also apply to Annex 1 countries. We also argue that the common language nature of the word ‘inclusive’ makes it applicable to other CCA-relevant contexts, including government subsidies, science policy, knowledge integration and mobilization, performance measurement, and the breadth of the moral circle that a society should adopt. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 10278 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Political Science into Climate Modeling: An Example of Internalizing the Costs of Climate-Induced Violence in the Optimal Management of the Climate

by Shiran Victoria Shen

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10587; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910587 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5064

Abstract

Extant modeling of the climate has largely left out political science; that needs to change. This paper provides an example of how a critical political concept—human security—can be accounted for in climate modeling. Scientific evidence points to an active link between climate change [...] Read more.

Extant modeling of the climate has largely left out political science; that needs to change. This paper provides an example of how a critical political concept—human security—can be accounted for in climate modeling. Scientific evidence points to an active link between climate change and the incidence of interpersonal and inter-group violence. This paper puts forth a new method to internalize the costs of climate-induced violence in the optimal management of the climate. Using the established MERGE integrated assessment model, this paper finds that based on the median estimates of the climate–violence relationship, such internalization can roughly double the optimal carbon price—the carbon price at which the net social benefit of carbon emissions would be maximized—consistently over time in most sensitivity scenarios. Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be the biggest beneficiary of such internalization in terms of avoided damages related to climate-induced violence as a percentage of the regional GDP, avoiding up to a 27 percent loss of GDP by 2200 under high-end estimates. That is significant for many African countries that have been suffering from underdevelopment and violence. The approach of this paper is a first for the climate modeling community, indicating directions for future modeling that could further integrate relevant political science considerations. This paper takes empirical findings that climate change mitigation can reduce violence-related damages to the next step toward understanding required to reach optimal policy decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 10262 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Sea Level Seasonal, Interannual and Decadal Variability in the Tropical Pacific Ocean

by Jianhu Wang, Juan Li, Jiyuan Yin, Wei Tan and Yuchen Liu

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(19), 3809; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13193809 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1824

Abstract

The satellite altimeter data, temperature and salinity data, and 1.5-layer reduced gravity model are used to quantitatively evaluate the contributions of the steric effect and the dynamic process to sea level variations in the Tropical Pacific Ocean (TPO) on different time scales. Concurrently, [...] Read more.

The satellite altimeter data, temperature and salinity data, and 1.5-layer reduced gravity model are used to quantitatively evaluate the contributions of the steric effect and the dynamic process to sea level variations in the Tropical Pacific Ocean (TPO) on different time scales. Concurrently, it also analyses the influence of wind forcing over the different regions of the Pacific Ocean on the sea level variations in the TPO. Seasonal sea level variations in the TPO were the most important in the middle and eastern regions of the 5°–15°N latitude zone, explaining 40–60% of the monthly mean sea level variations. Both the steric effect and dynamic process jointly affected the seasonal sea level variations. Among them, the steric effect was dominant, contributing over 70% in most regions of the TPO, while the dynamic process primarily acted near the equator and southwest regions, contributing approximately 55–85%. At the same time, the seasonal dynamic sea level variations were caused by the combined actions of primarily local wind forcing, alongside subtropical north Pacific wind forcing. On the interannual to decadal time scale, the sea level interannual variations were significant in the northwestern, southwestern, and middle eastern regions of the TPO and explained 45–60% of the monthly mean sea level variations. The decadal sea level variations were the most intense in the eastern Philippine Sea, contributing 25–45% to the monthly mean sea level variations. The steric effect and the dynamic process can explain 100% of the interannual to decadal sea level variations. The contribution of the steric effect was generally high, accounting for more than 85% in the regions near the equator. The impact of the dynamic process was mainly concentrated in the northwest, northeast, and southern regions of the TPO, contributing approximately 55–80%. Local wind forcing is the leading role of interannual to decadal sea level variations. The combined actions of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) can explain 90% of the interannual to decadal sea level variations in the northwestern and eastern of the TPO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 680 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Good, the Bad and the Future: A SWOT Analysis of the Ecosystem Approach to Governance in the Baltic Sea Region

by Savitri Jetoo and Varvara Lahtinen

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10539; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910539 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5302

Abstract

The ecosystem approach has been used extensively as a guiding principle in water policies of the Baltic Sea Region since the 1970s. In addition to its operationalization as a management framework in this region, it also has expansive theoretical underpinnings. However, despite extensive [...] Read more.

The ecosystem approach has been used extensively as a guiding principle in water policies of the Baltic Sea Region since the 1970s. In addition to its operationalization as a management framework in this region, it also has expansive theoretical underpinnings. However, despite extensive literature on this approach, there has not yet been any systematic assessment of the internal and external factors that influence its implementation. This kind of assessment could form the basis for improved thinking around the concept and better implementation actions. As such, this article presents a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the ecosystem approach in the Baltic Sea Region by using content analysis on Baltic Sea documents. This study found that key strengths of the principle are its interdisciplinary focus and its acceptance as a framework for conservation, whilst resource intensiveness and its operational complexity are key weaknesses. The SWOT analysis revealed that a key opportunity in the external environment is the ease of alignment with other policies whilst the key external threat is the difficulty integrating disciplines. This study showed that with a streamlined allocation of resources, more stakeholder engagement through capacity building and political leadership, the ecosystem approach could facilitate interdisciplinary knowledge pooling to achieve a good ecological status of the Baltic Sea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 15591 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Bus Load Forecasting Method of Power System Based on VMD and Bi-LSTM

by Jiajie Tang, Jie Zhao, Hongliang Zou, Gaoyuan Ma, Jun Wu, Xu Jiang and Huaixun Zhang

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10526; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910526 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2192

Abstract

The effective prediction of bus load can provide an important basis for power system dispatching and planning and energy consumption to promote environmental sustainable development. A bus load forecasting method based on variational modal decomposition (VMD) and bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) network [...] Read more.

The effective prediction of bus load can provide an important basis for power system dispatching and planning and energy consumption to promote environmental sustainable development. A bus load forecasting method based on variational modal decomposition (VMD) and bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) network was proposed in this article. Firstly, the bus load series was decomposed into a group of relatively stable subsequence components by VMD to reduce the interaction between different trend information. Then, a time series prediction model based on Bi-LSTM was constructed for each sub sequence, and Bayesian theory was used to optimize the sub sequence-related hyperparameters and judge whether the sequence uses Bi-LSTM to improve the prediction accuracy of a single model. Finally, the bus load prediction value was obtained by superimposing the prediction results of each subsequence. The example results show that compared with the traditional prediction algorithm, the proposed method can better track the change trend of bus load, and has higher prediction accuracy and stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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30 pages, 9288 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Forces of Sustainable Development of Urban Human Settlements in China for SDGs

by Xueping Cong, Xueming Li and Yilu Gong

Land 2021, 10(9), 993; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090993 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2767

Abstract

As the world’s largest developing country, China has actively implemented the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable development of urban human settlements is the result of localization and the deepening of sustainable development theory in China. This study combines SDGs to construct an [...] Read more.

As the world’s largest developing country, China has actively implemented the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable development of urban human settlements is the result of localization and the deepening of sustainable development theory in China. This study combines SDGs to construct an evaluation index system for the sustainable development of urban human settlements in China, using optimization methods, such as natural breaks (Jenks), exploratory spatial data analysis, and GeoDetector, to conduct systematic research on the spatiotemporal evolution of the current sustainable development level and analyze the core driving forces of urban human settlements in 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2000 to 2019. Our study revealed that: (1) The overall sustainable development level of urban human settlements and their subsystems in China has improved steadily, but the levels of subsystems are quite different; (2) the sustainable development level of the urban human settlements in China can be expressed as a spatial pattern of “high in the east and low in the west, high in the south and low in the north” and has relatively significant spatial correlation characteristics; notably, the development level of each subsystem has different spatial characteristics; (3) the sustainable development level of urban human settlements is mainly based on medium sustainability, and the main development model is to progress from a medium-low development level to a medium-high development level; (4) the sustainable development level of urban human settlements is mainly driven by the per capita gross domestic product (GDP), housing price-to-income ratio, investment in education and scientific research, Internet penetration, and PM_2.5. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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22 pages, 9513 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Would We Cycle Today If We Had the Weather of Tomorrow? An Analysis of the Impact of Climate Change on Bicycle Traffic

by Anton Galich, Simon Nieland, Barbara Lenz and Jan Blechschmidt

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10254; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131810254 - 14 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

Bicycle usage is significantly affected by weather conditions. Climate change is, therefore, expected to have an impact on the volume of bicycle traffic, which is an important factor in the planning and design of bicycle infrastructures. To predict bicycle traffic in a changed [...] Read more.

Bicycle usage is significantly affected by weather conditions. Climate change is, therefore, expected to have an impact on the volume of bicycle traffic, which is an important factor in the planning and design of bicycle infrastructures. To predict bicycle traffic in a changed climate in the city of Berlin, this paper compares a traditional statistical approach to three machine learning models. For this purpose, a cross-validation procedure is developed that evaluates model performance on the basis of prediction accuracy. XGBoost showed the best performance and is used for the prediction of bicycle counts. Our results indicate that we can expect an overall annual increase in bicycle traffic of 1–4% in the city of Berlin due to the changes in local weather conditions caused by global climate change. The biggest changes are expected to occur in the winter season with increases of 11–14% due to rising temperatures and only slight increases in precipitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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24 pages, 6508 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Response of NDVI of Natural Vegetation to Climate Changes and Drought in China

by Huaijun Wang, Zhi Li, Lei Cao, Ru Feng and Yingping Pan

Land 2021, 10(9), 966; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090966 - 13 Sep 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3662

Abstract

Temporal and spatial changes in vegetation and their influencing factors are of great significance for the assessment of climate change and sustainable development of ecosystems. This study applied the Asymmetric Gaussians (AG) fitting method, Mann-Kendall test, and correlation analysis to the Global Inventory [...] Read more.

Temporal and spatial changes in vegetation and their influencing factors are of great significance for the assessment of climate change and sustainable development of ecosystems. This study applied the Asymmetric Gaussians (AG) fitting method, Mann-Kendall test, and correlation analysis to the Global Inventory Monitoring and Modeling System (GIMMS) third-generation Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and gridded climate and drought data for 1982–2015. The temporal and spatial changes to NDVI for natural grassland and forest during the growing season were analyzed. Relationships among NDVI, climate change, and droughts were also analyzed to reveal the influence of vegetation change. The results showed that: (1) Land use/cover change (LUCC) in China was mainly represented by increases in agricultural land (Agrl) and urban and rural land (Uril), and decreases in unutilized land (Bald), grassland, forest, and permanent glacier and snow (Snga). The increase in agricultural land was mainly distributed in the western northwest arid area (WNW) and northern North China (NNC), whereas regions with severe human activities such as southern South China (SNC), western South China (WSC), and eastern South China (ESC) showed significant decreases in agricultural land due to conversion to urban and rural land. (2) The start of the growing season (SOS) was advanced in WNW, SNC, WSC, and ESC, and the end of growing season (EOS) was delayed in WNW, NNC, and SNC. The growing season length (GSL) of natural vegetation in China has been extended by eight days over the last 34 years. However, the phenology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (TP) was opposite to that of the other regions and the GSL showed an insignificant decreasing trend. (3) The NDVI increased significantly, particularly in the SNC, WSC, ESC, and the grassland of the WNW. Precipitation was found to mainly control the growth of vegetation in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China (WNW and ENW), and precipitation had a much greater impact on grassland than on forests. Temperature had an impact on the growth of vegetation throughout China, particularly in SNC, ESC, and WSC. (4) The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) showed a downward trend, indicating an aridification trend in China, particularly in ENW, NNC, and WNW. Similar to precipitation, the main areas affected by drought were WNW and ENW and grassland was found to be more sensitive to drought than forest. The results of this study are of great significance for predicting the response of ecosystem productivity to climate change under future climate change scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 1550 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Residents’ Willingness to Pay for a Carbon Tax

by Ie Zheng Goh and Nitanan Koshy Matthew

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10118; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131810118 - 09 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3767

Abstract

Addressing environmental issues has been a significant challenge. Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of economic, social, and land use development but high in CO₂ emission rates. The introduction of a carbon tax is seen to reduce greenhouse gases [...] Read more.

Addressing environmental issues has been a significant challenge. Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of economic, social, and land use development but high in CO₂ emission rates. The introduction of a carbon tax is seen to reduce greenhouse gases emission (GHG), but the uncertain extent of implementation, based on economic theory, remains unknown. Hence, the current study’s objectives are to assess residents’ knowledge and attitude towards GHG. It is also to analyse the factors influencing residents’ Willingness to Pay (WTP). Three hundred and eleven (311) residents from Klang were selected using convenience sampling. The result shows that most of the respondents were willing to pay and had medium knowledge and a high level of attitude towards GHG. Poisson regression analysis results showed that gender, age, income, education, number of households, and marital status variables significantly influenced the maximum WTP. Overall, the residents’ WTP for a carbon tax was estimated at RM36.31 per year for open-ended (CVM): RM36.96 and double bound (CVM): RM35.65. A mechanism such as investment in green technology, eco-transportation, and green energy using the tax can be applied. This study is pivotal towards achieving SDG 13: Climate action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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12 pages, 8170 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Warm Island Effect in the Lake Region of the Tengger Desert Based on MODIS and Meteorological Station Data

by Nan Meng, Nai’ang Wang, Liqiang Zhao, Zhenmin Niu, Xiaoyan Liang, Xinran Yu, Penghui Wen and Xianbao Su

Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1157; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12091157 - 08 Sep 2021

Viewed by 1804

Abstract

The northeastern part of the Tengger Desert accommodates several lakes. The effect of these lakes on local temperatures is unclear. In this study, the effects of the lakes were investigated using land surface temperature (LST) from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data from [...] Read more.

The northeastern part of the Tengger Desert accommodates several lakes. The effect of these lakes on local temperatures is unclear. In this study, the effects of the lakes were investigated using land surface temperature (LST) from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data from 2003 to 2018 and air temperatures from meteorological stations in 2017. LST and air temperatures are compared between the lake-group region and an area without lakes to the north using statistical methods. Our results show that the lake-group region is found to exhibit a warm island effect in winter on an annual scale and at night on a daily scale. The warm island effect is caused by the differing properties of the land and other surfaces. Groundwater may also be an important heat source. The results of this study will help in understanding the causative factors of warm island effects and other properties of lakes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3535 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Importance of Ecological Land in Arid Hilly Cities in Northwest China: A Case Study of the Core Urban Area of Lanzhou

by Yiping Liu, Chengpeng Lu, Jinhuang Mao, Jiaxing Pang, Zhiliang Liu and Muchen Hou

Land 2021, 10(9), 942; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090942 - 07 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1862

Abstract

Cities in hilly arid areas of northwest China have generally experienced a low level of economic development; they also have unique natural characteristics such as climate, soil, terrain, environment, and surface cover. High quality ecological lands are those that provide humans and the [...] Read more.

Cities in hilly arid areas of northwest China have generally experienced a low level of economic development; they also have unique natural characteristics such as climate, soil, terrain, environment, and surface cover. High quality ecological lands are those that provide humans and the environment with relatively high levels of ecological services including soil, water, and air purification, adsorbing pollutants, or providing water or nutrients needed by plants. In this study, ecological lands were classified as woodland, grassland, water area, and bare land. The present study constructed an ecological land model designed to evaluate the importance of such land from the perspective of ecological service function and ecological demand intensity. Results revealed that: (1) This model can help researchers to better analyze the structure and spatial characteristics of ecological land in cities and also meet the needs of ecological protection and urban management in highly urbanized areas. (2) In terms of ecological service function and ecological demand intensity, the most important ecological land is mostly distributed in densely populated and urbanized areas, and the spread of urbanization is conducive to the improvement of land ecological value for the arid hilly area of northwest China. (3) Among all types of ecological land, the water area had the highest ecological value in the study area, while the grassland had the most potential for improvement, as careful planning and use can allow grassland to function as an ecological barrier while providing good, aesthetically pleasing space for leisure activities for the general public. (4) Qilihe and Xigu districts have more generally important graded areas of forest, grassland, and bare land, although the current ecological value of these lands is limited, though they have great potential for ecological improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1667 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Composting and Methane Emissions of Coffee By-Products

by Macarena San Martin Ruiz, Martin Reiser and Martin Kranert

Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1153; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12091153 - 07 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3380

Abstract

In the last 20 years, the demand for coffee production has increased detrimentally, heightening the need for production, which is currently driving the increase in land cultivation for coffee. However, this increase in production ultimately leads to the amplification of waste produced. This [...] Read more.

In the last 20 years, the demand for coffee production has increased detrimentally, heightening the need for production, which is currently driving the increase in land cultivation for coffee. However, this increase in production ultimately leads to the amplification of waste produced. This study aims to develop an experimental methodology for sustainable coffee by-products (Pulp (CP)) in Costa Rica for nutrient-rich compost. The performance of the experiments is to explore and optimize composting processes following its key parameters. This will allow quantifying the emissions rate to obtain an emission factor for CP during the open composting process and optimizing the conditions to minimize CH₄ emissions using P and green waste (GW) materials. Five CP and GW mixtures were analyzed for the composting process for ten weeks, acting P as primary input material as a by-product. Quantification of the methane emissions was performed in two areas: composting area and open field deposition. Peak temperatures of compost appeared at twenty-five days for control and five days for GW added treatments. CP emission factors provide a similar result with the standard values recommended by the literature, accomplishing the emission reductions. Thus, this study designed and validated a sustainable protocol for transforming coffee by-products into compost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 2895 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Decoupling the Relationships between Carbon Footprint and Economic Growth within an Urban Agglomeration—A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta in China

by Fengsong Pei, Rui Zhong, Li-An Liu and Yingjuan Qiao

Land 2021, 10(9), 923; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090923 - 01 Sep 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2723

Abstract

Carbon footprint is emerging as an effective tool for carbon emission management, especially that from fossil energy consumption. In addition, decoupling analysis is important to keep a high pace of economic growth while reducing carbon emission and its carbon footprint. Taking the Yangtze [...] Read more.

Carbon footprint is emerging as an effective tool for carbon emission management, especially that from fossil energy consumption. In addition, decoupling analysis is important to keep a high pace of economic growth while reducing carbon emission and its carbon footprint. Taking the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration in China as a case, this paper examined the changes in carbon footprint and carbon footprint pressure by incorporating land resource limits. On this basis, we further analyzed the decoupling relationships between carbon footprint, carbon footprint pressure and economic growth. The GeoDetector was also employed to detect the spatial heterogeneity of the carbon footprint pressure. The results showed that despite the decrease of carbon emissions from 2011 to 2019 in the YRD, carbon footprint pressure still revealed an increased trend in this period. As to the decoupling relationships between carbon footprint, carbon footprint pressure and economic growth, they were improved in most of the cities in the YRD, changing from expansive coupling to weak decoupling to strong decoupling. However, the descending trend of decoupling elasticity coefficient for carbon footprint pressure is smaller than that of the carbon footprint. This result could be explained by the fact that not only carbon emission but also carbon sequestration (by productive lands including forests and grasslands) pose large impacts on carbon footprint pressure. The findings indicate the necessity not only to reduce carbon emission, but also to protect productive lands to realize low carbon economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 4078 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Inconsistency of Global Vegetation Dynamics Driven by Climate Change: Evidences from Spatial Regression

by Dou Zhang, Xiaolei Geng, Wanxu Chen, Lei Fang, Rui Yao, Xiangrong Wang and Xiao Zhou

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(17), 3442; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13173442 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2939

Abstract

Global greening over the past 30 years since 1980s has been confirmed by numerous studies. However, a single-dimensional indicator and non-spatial modelling approaches might exacerbate uncertainties in our understanding of global change. Thus, comprehensive monitoring for vegetation’s various properties and spatially explicit models [...] Read more.

Global greening over the past 30 years since 1980s has been confirmed by numerous studies. However, a single-dimensional indicator and non-spatial modelling approaches might exacerbate uncertainties in our understanding of global change. Thus, comprehensive monitoring for vegetation’s various properties and spatially explicit models are required. In this study, we used the newest enhanced vegetation index (EVI) products of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Collection 6 to detect the inconsistency trend of annual peak and average global vegetation growth using the Mann–Kendall test method. We explored the climatic factors that affect vegetation growth change from 2001 to 2018 using the spatial lag model (SLM), spatial error model (SEM) and geographically weighted regression model (GWR). The results showed that EVI_max and EVI_mean in global vegetated areas consistently showed linear increasing trends during 2001–2018, with the global averaged trend of 0.0022 yr⁻¹ (p < 0.05) and 0.0030 yr⁻¹ (p < 0.05). Greening mainly occurred in the croplands and forests of China, India, North America and Europe, while browning was almost in the grasslands of Brazil and Africa (18.16% vs. 3.08% and 40.73% vs. 2.45%). In addition, 32.47% of the global vegetated area experienced inconsistent trends in EVI_max and EVI_mean. Overall, precipitation and mean temperature had positive impacts on vegetation variation, while potential evapotranspiration and vapour pressure had negative impacts. The GWR revealed that the responses of EVI to climate change were inconsistent in an arid or humid area, in cropland or grassland. Climate change could affect vegetation characteristics by changing plant phenology, consequently rendering the inconsistency between peak and mean greening. In addition, anthropogenic activities, including land cover change and land use management, also could lead to the differences between annual peak and mean vegetation variations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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10 pages, 584 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Impact of District Heating System Retrofitting

by Aleksandrs Zajacs, Anatolijs Borodinecs and Nikolai Vatin

Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1110; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12091110 - 29 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1946

Abstract

Retrofitting of district heating systems is a comprehensive process which covers all stages of district heating (DH) systems: production, distribution and consumption. This study quantitatively shows the effect of retrofitting measures and represents strengths and weaknesses of different development scenarios. Improvements in production [...] Read more.

Retrofitting of district heating systems is a comprehensive process which covers all stages of district heating (DH) systems: production, distribution and consumption. This study quantitatively shows the effect of retrofitting measures and represents strengths and weaknesses of different development scenarios. Improvements in production units show improvements in fuel use efficiency and thus indirectly reduce CO₂ emissions due to unburned fuel. For this purpose, validated district planning tools have been used. Tool uses mathematical model for calculation and evaluation of all three main components of the DH system. For the quantitative evaluation, nine efficiency and balance indicators were used. For each indicator, recommended boundary values were proposed. In total, six simulation scenarios were simulated, and the last scenario have shown significant reduction in CO₂ emissions by 40% (from 3376 to 2000 t CO₂ compared to the actual state), while share of biomass has reached 47%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3730 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Linking Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis and Circuit Theory to Identify Ecological Security Pattern in the Loess Plateau: Taking Shuozhou City as an Example

by Ronglei Yang, Zhongke Bai and Zeyu Shi

Land 2021, 10(9), 907; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090907 - 28 Aug 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2926

Abstract

Located in an ecologically fragile area in China’s eastern part of the Loess Plateau, Shuozhou City has faced environmental challenges imposed by frequent urban expansion and mining activities in recent years. As ecological security patterns (ESP) identification and optimization are significant to regional [...] Read more.

Located in an ecologically fragile area in China’s eastern part of the Loess Plateau, Shuozhou City has faced environmental challenges imposed by frequent urban expansion and mining activities in recent years. As ecological security patterns (ESP) identification and optimization are significant to regional biodiversity and ecosystem services, this study combined morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and circuit theory to construct and optimize regional ESP. Results show the number and area of ecological sources in the study area decreased from 21 to 20 between 2010 and 2017. The total area of ecological sources fell from 1923.35 km² to 1869.37 km², with their proportion in the study area dropped from 18.14% to 17.64%. From 2010 to 2017, the number of obstacles increases from 63 to 80, mainly consisting of farmland, unused land, transportation land, and construction land. The area of obstacles reached 10.17 km² in 2017. A framework of “one protection area, two regulation areas, and three restoration areas” is proposed to optimize the ESP of the study zone. This study explored a combination of ESP analysis tools and focused on improving regional ecosystem service and biodiversity. It will support local urban planning and provide a reference for similar studies in resource-based cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 4505 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Saline-Alkali Land Improvement on Regional Climate: Process, Mechanisms, and Implications

by Lingxue Yu, Jiuchun Yang, Kun Bu, Tingxiang Liu, Yue Jiao, Guangshuai Li, Luoman Pu and Shuwen Zhang

Remote Sens. 2021, 13(17), 3407; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rs13173407 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2487

Abstract

Studying land use change and its associated climate effects is important to understand the role of human activities in the regulation of climate systems. By coupling remote sensing measurements with a high-resolution regional climate model, this study evaluated the land surface changes and [...] Read more.

Studying land use change and its associated climate effects is important to understand the role of human activities in the regulation of climate systems. By coupling remote sensing measurements with a high-resolution regional climate model, this study evaluated the land surface changes and corresponding climate impact caused by planting rice on saline-alkali land in western Jilin (China). Our results showed that paddy field expansion became the dominant land use change in western Jilin from 2015 to 2019, 25% of which was converted from saline-alkali land; this percentage is expected to increase in the near future. We found that saline-alkali land reclamation to paddy fields significantly increased the leaf area index (LAI), particularly in July and August, whereas it decreased albedo, mainly in May and June. Our simulation results showed that planting rice on saline-alkali land can help decrease the air temperature and increase the relative humidity. The temperature and humidity effects showed different magnitudes during the growing season and were most significant in July and August, followed by September and June. The nonradiative process, rather than the radiative process, played a dominant role in regulating the regional climate in this case, and the biophysical competition between evapotranspiration (ET) and albedo determined the temperature and relative humidity response differences during the growing season. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2912 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Simulating Grassland Carbon Dynamics in Gansu for the Past Fifty (50) Years (1968–2018) Using the Century Model

by Meiling Zhang, Stephen Nazieh, Teddy Nkrumah and Xingyu Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9434; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13169434 - 23 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1858

Abstract

China is one of the countries most impacted by desertification, with Gansu Province in the northwest being one of the most affected areas. Efforts have been made in recent decades to restore the natural vegetation, while also producing food. This has implications for [...] Read more.

China is one of the countries most impacted by desertification, with Gansu Province in the northwest being one of the most affected areas. Efforts have been made in recent decades to restore the natural vegetation, while also producing food. This has implications for the soil carbon sequestration and, as a result, the country’s carbon budget. Studies of carbon (C) dynamics in this region would help to understand the effect of management practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) as well as aboveground biomass (ABVG), and to aid informed decision-making and policy implementation to alleviate the rate of global warming. It would also help to understand the region’s contribution to the national C inventory of China. The CENTURY model, a process-based model that is capable of simulating C dynamics over a long period, has not been calibrated to suit Gansu Province, despite being an effective model for soil C estimation. Using the soil and grassland maps of Gansu, together with weather, soil, and reliable historical data on management practices in the province, we calibrated the CENTURY model for the province’s grasslands. The calibrated model was then used to simulate the C dynamics between 1968 and 2018. The results show that the model is capable of simulating C with significant accuracy. Our measured and observed SOC density (SOCD) and ABVG had correlation coefficients of 0.76 and 0.50, respectively, at p < 0.01. Precipitation correlated with SOCD and ABVG with correlation coefficients of 0.57 and 0.89, respectively, at p < 0.01. The total SOC storage (SOCS) was 436.098 × 10⁶ t C (approximately 0.4356% of the national average) and the average SOCD was 15.75 t C/ha. There was a high ABVG in the southeast and it decreased towards the northwest. The same phenomenon was observed in the spatial distribution of SOCD. Among the soils studied, Hostosols had the highest SOC sequestration rate (25.6 t C/ha) with Gypsisols having the least (7.8 t C/ha). Between 1968 and 2018, the soil carbon stock gradually increased, with the southeast experiencing the greatest increase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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25 pages, 67320 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Output of Climate Models: A Weather Generator for Climate Change Impact Studies

by Pietro Croce, Paolo Formichi and Filippo Landi

Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 1074; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos12081074 - 21 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2463

Abstract

Evaluation of effects of climate change on climate variable extremes is a key topic in civil and structural engineering, strongly affecting adaptation strategy for resilience. Appropriate procedures to assess the evolution over time of climatic actions are needed to deal with the inherent [...] Read more.

Evaluation of effects of climate change on climate variable extremes is a key topic in civil and structural engineering, strongly affecting adaptation strategy for resilience. Appropriate procedures to assess the evolution over time of climatic actions are needed to deal with the inherent uncertainty of climate projections, also in view of providing more sound and robust predictions at the local scale. In this paper, an ad hoc weather generator is presented that is able to provide a quantification of climate model inherent uncertainties. Similar to other weather generators, the proposed algorithm allows the virtualization of the climatic data projection process, overcoming the usual limitations due to the restricted number of available climate model runs, requiring huge computational time. However, differently from other weather generation procedures, this new tool directly samples from the output of Regional Climate Models (RCMs), avoiding the introduction of additional hypotheses about the stochastic properties of the distributions of climate variables. Analyzing the ensemble of so-generated series, future changes of climatic actions can be assessed, and the associated uncertainties duly estimated, as a function of considered greenhouse gases emission scenarios. The efficiency of the proposed weather generator is discussed evaluating performance metrics and referring to a relevant case study: the evaluation of extremes of minimum and maximum temperature, precipitation, and ground snow load in a central Eastern region of Italy, which is part of the Mediterranean climatic zone. Starting from the model ensemble of six RCMs, factors of change uncertainty maps for the investigated region are derived concerning extreme daily temperatures, daily precipitation, and ground snow loads, underlying the potentialities of the proposed approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3747 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Are Land Use Options in Viticulture and Oliviculture in Agreement with Bioclimatic Shifts in Portugal?

by Cristina Andrade, André Fonseca and João Andrade Santos

Land 2021, 10(8), 869; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10080869 - 19 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2848

Abstract

Land and climate are strongly connected through multiple interface processes and climate change may lead to significant changes in land use. In this study, high-resolution observational gridded datasets are used to assess modifications in the Köppen–Geiger and Worldwide Bioclimatic (WBCS) Classification Systems, from [...] Read more.

Land and climate are strongly connected through multiple interface processes and climate change may lead to significant changes in land use. In this study, high-resolution observational gridded datasets are used to assess modifications in the Köppen–Geiger and Worldwide Bioclimatic (WBCS) Classification Systems, from 1950–1979 to 1990–2019 in Portugal. A compound bioclimatic-shift exposure index (BSEI) is also defined to identify the most exposed regions to recent climatic changes. The temporal evolution of land cover with vineyards and olive groves between 1990 and 2018, as well as correlations with areas with bioclimatic shifts, are analyzed. Results show an increase of CSa Warm Mediterranean climate with hot summer of 18.1%, followed by a decrease in CSb (warm summer) climate of −17.8%. The WBCS Temperate areas also reveal a decrease of −5.11%. Arid and semi-arid ombrotypes areas increased, conversely humid to sub-humid ombrotypes decreased. Thermotypic horizons depict a shift towards warmer classes. BSEI highlights the most significant shifts in northwestern Portugal. Vineyards have been displaced towards regions that are either the coolest/humid, in the northwest, or the warmest/driest, in the south. For oliviculture, the general trend for a relative shift towards cool/humid areas suggests an attempt of the sector to adapt, despite the cover area growth in the south. As vineyards and olive groves in southern Portugal are commonly irrigated, options for the intensification of these crops in this region may threaten the already scarce water resources and challenge the future sustainability of these sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1720 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Public’s Intention and Influencing Factors of Dockless Bike-Sharing in Central Urban Areas: A Case Study of Lanzhou City, China

by Wei Ji, Chengpeng Lu, Jinhuang Mao, Yiping Liu, Muchen Hou and Xiaoli Pan

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9265; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13169265 - 18 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2099

Abstract

Taking the main district in Lanzhou city of China as an example, the questionnaires were designed and distributed, and then the effects of five factors, i.e., behavioral attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, on the behavioral [...] Read more.

Taking the main district in Lanzhou city of China as an example, the questionnaires were designed and distributed, and then the effects of five factors, i.e., behavioral attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, on the behavioral intention of dockless bike-sharing (DBS) use were empirically analyzed based on the integrated model of technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as well as the structural equation model. Results show that the five factors all impose significantly positive effects on the public’s behavioral intention of DBS use but differ in influencing degrees. Behavioral attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control can all directly affect the public’s behavioral intention of DBS use, with direct influence coefficients of 0.691, 0.257 and 0.198, while perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness impose indirectly effects on behavioral intention, with indirect influence coefficients of 0.372 and 0.396. Overall, behavioral attitude imposes the most significant effect, followed by perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and subjective norm, and finally perceived behavioral control. This indicates that the public’s behavioral intention of DBS use depends heavily on their behavioral attitude towards the shared bikes. In view of the limited open space of the main district in Lanzhou, the explosive growth of shared bikes, oversaturated arrangements, disordered competition, unclear and unscientific divisions of parking regions, and hindrance of traffic, this study proposes a lot of policy suggestions from the research results. A series of supporting service systems related to DBS should be formulated. The shared bikes with different characteristics should be launched for different age groups, gender groups and work groups. The corresponding feedback platform for realtime acquisition, organization, analysis and solution of data information, as well as the adequate platform feedback mechanism, should be established. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1016 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Competitiveness of Industrial Companies Forming the Value Chain of Wind Energy Components: The Case of Lithuania

by Akvile Cibinskiene, Daiva Dumciuviene, Viktorija Bobinaite and Egidijus Dragašius

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9255; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13169255 - 18 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2350

Abstract

Sustainable energy development has attracted attention worldwide, partly because of the value chain of the wind energy industry that focuses on the overall value creation and innovation. In order to achieve not only ambitious goals in the fight against climate change, but also [...] Read more.

Sustainable energy development has attracted attention worldwide, partly because of the value chain of the wind energy industry that focuses on the overall value creation and innovation. In order to achieve not only ambitious goals in the fight against climate change, but also to create significant economic benefits for European Union citizens, it is necessary to ensure the production of renewable energy components in Europe itself and in Lithuania at the same time. This paper aims to evaluate the competitiveness of Lithuanian companies that manufacture wind energy components. The research was conducted applying methods such as a survey of manufacturers of wind energy components, expert assessment and descriptive analysis. The results of the competitiveness assessment revealed that the existing conditions and trends are favourable for the development of their performance and strengthening of their competitiveness. The government solutions to promote industry could facilitate the performance of companies operating in the value chain of wind energy components and encourage new companies to join it. This would encourage the Lithuanian industry to expand its participation in the value chain of the European Union’s renewable energy industry, create more jobs, and increase the added value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability)

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