Pub Date : 2025-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107810
Jing Zhong , Jiafeng Liu , Limin Jiao , Christian Geiß , Ariane Droin , Hannes Taubenböck
Urban vegetation plays a pivotal role in mitigating environmental challenges, yet its growth is influenced by both positive and negative impacts of urbanization. The spatio-temporal dynamics of these dual effects, particularly the indirect benefits, remain insufficiently explored. Taking Chengdu as a case study, we applied two complementary urban intensity gradients, a conceptual (local) and a physical (rural-urban) approach, to quantify urbanization's impacts on vegetation, as measured by net primary productivity (NPP), and to investigate temporal and spatial variations. Both approaches indicate that urbanization initially has a negative effect on vegetation, but transitions to positive impact as overall urban intensity increases. The conceptual gradient analysis demonstrates a marked temporal increase in positive indirect effect, rising from 0.99 % in 2000 to 49.51 % in 2010 and reaching 85.15 % in 2018, highlighting significant temporal variability in vegetation enhancement. Meanwhile, the physical gradient reveals pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with stable and prominent indirect compensation effects in suburban areas compared to urban cores. These findings deepen the understanding of urban vegetation dynamics and provide valuable guidance for targeted vegetation management and sustainable urban planning.
{"title":"Unveiling the spatio-temporal patterns of vegetation growth influenced by diverse urban intensity gradients","authors":"Jing Zhong , Jiafeng Liu , Limin Jiao , Christian Geiß , Ariane Droin , Hannes Taubenböck","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban vegetation plays a pivotal role in mitigating environmental challenges, yet its growth is influenced by both positive and negative impacts of urbanization. The spatio-temporal dynamics of these dual effects, particularly the indirect benefits, remain insufficiently explored. Taking Chengdu as a case study, we applied two complementary urban intensity gradients, a conceptual (local) and a physical (rural-urban) approach, to quantify urbanization's impacts on vegetation, as measured by net primary productivity (NPP), and to investigate temporal and spatial variations. Both approaches indicate that urbanization initially has a negative effect on vegetation, but transitions to positive impact as overall urban intensity increases. The conceptual gradient analysis demonstrates a marked temporal increase in positive indirect effect, rising from 0.99 % in 2000 to 49.51 % in 2010 and reaching 85.15 % in 2018, highlighting significant temporal variability in vegetation enhancement. Meanwhile, the physical gradient reveals pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with stable and prominent indirect compensation effects in suburban areas compared to urban cores. These findings deepen the understanding of urban vegetation dynamics and provide valuable guidance for targeted vegetation management and sustainable urban planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107810"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107811
Haixiang Li , Dongxue Fu , Meiyue Yang , Sijie Lin , Song Zongzhong , Wei Jiang Liu , Qing Hu
There is a serious issue of data distortion in groundwater self-monitoring (GSM) on the basis of key soil pollution regulatory units (KSPRUs). In the absence of widespread online multiparameter water quality monitoring devices, traditional blockchain technology (BT) can ensure only the secure transmission and storage of data; however, it cannot effectively improve data quality. Therefore, by categorizing and analysing four types of data distortion—execution deviations, data conflicts, outliers, and data inaccuracies—three main factors contributing to data distortion are identified in this study: operational errors, nonstandard operations, and human falsification. Each factor is further broken down into specific behaviours. On this basis, a BT-based GSM model is proposed. The framework of this model includes four modules: task management and distribution, monitoring process control, intelligent data analysis and sharing, and pollution emergency plan activation. The goal is to gain confirmation from all participants and effectively prevent data disputes. During the monitoring process, BT ensures that all step-by-step information is recorded and stored through methods such as auto-filling, barcode scanning, photo input, and full-process video recording. Subsequent reviews by the system and quality control units can prevent operational errors, non-compliance, and human falsification. Through encryption storage and traceability features, the system can restore modified data without authorization and identify the individuals responsible, thereby reducing the likelihood of data falsification. Finally, data auditing and verification on the basis of Benford's law (BL) demonstrate that the BT-based GSM can effectively improve the quality of groundwater monitoring data in practical applications. After applying this model, issues related to data conflicts, outliers, inaccuracies, and human execution deviations are effectively resolved, and the possibility of human data falsification is significantly reduced.
{"title":"Research on improving the quality of groundwater self-monitoring via Blockchain technology","authors":"Haixiang Li , Dongxue Fu , Meiyue Yang , Sijie Lin , Song Zongzhong , Wei Jiang Liu , Qing Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a serious issue of data distortion in groundwater self-monitoring (GSM) on the basis of key soil pollution regulatory units (KSPRUs). In the absence of widespread online multiparameter water quality monitoring devices, traditional blockchain technology (BT) can ensure only the secure transmission and storage of data; however, it cannot effectively improve data quality. Therefore, by categorizing and analysing four types of data distortion—execution deviations, data conflicts, outliers, and data inaccuracies—three main factors contributing to data distortion are identified in this study: operational errors, nonstandard operations, and human falsification. Each factor is further broken down into specific behaviours. On this basis, a BT-based GSM model is proposed. The framework of this model includes four modules: task management and distribution, monitoring process control, intelligent data analysis and sharing, and pollution emergency plan activation. The goal is to gain confirmation from all participants and effectively prevent data disputes. During the monitoring process, BT ensures that all step-by-step information is recorded and stored through methods such as auto-filling, barcode scanning, photo input, and full-process video recording. Subsequent reviews by the system and quality control units can prevent operational errors, non-compliance, and human falsification. Through encryption storage and traceability features, the system can restore modified data without authorization and identify the individuals responsible, thereby reducing the likelihood of data falsification. Finally, data auditing and verification on the basis of Benford's law (BL) demonstrate that the BT-based GSM can effectively improve the quality of groundwater monitoring data in practical applications. After applying this model, issues related to data conflicts, outliers, inaccuracies, and human execution deviations are effectively resolved, and the possibility of human data falsification is significantly reduced.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107811"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107809
Ahmed Usman , Syed Muhammad Muddassir Abbas Naqvi , Ilhan Ozturk , Ali Hassan , Asma Arif
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) allows for real-time monitoring of energy consumption in urban areas. Energy security may be improved by optimizing energy usage, minimizing waste, and improving energy distribution via smart grids, energy management systems, and Internet of Things devices. Thus, this analysis inspects the linkage between ICT, smart urbanization, and energy security risks in Group7 and Emerging 7 economies by employing the Cross-sectionally Augmented ARDL of Chudik and Pesran (2015) for the period of 1995–2020. The results show that increased internet, telephone, and mobile usage help lower the energy security risk in Group 7 and Emerging 7 economies. In contrast, the rising urbanization causes the energy security risk to escalate in both groups of countries. On the other hand, ICT-driven smart urbanization mitigates energy security risk in both Group 7 and Emerging 7; however, these effects are stronger in Group 7 economies. The policymakers in the Group 7 economies should optimize the advantages of ICT-driven urbanization where modern infrastructure and urbanization are more common. On the other hand, policymakers in the Emerging 7 countries should progressively exploit ICT's promise for future energy security while addressing current energy availability and sustainability issues.
{"title":"ICT-driven urbanization and energy security risk: Empirical evidence from Group 7 and Emerging 7 economies","authors":"Ahmed Usman , Syed Muhammad Muddassir Abbas Naqvi , Ilhan Ozturk , Ali Hassan , Asma Arif","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Information and Communication Technology (ICT) allows for real-time monitoring of energy consumption in urban areas. Energy security may be improved by optimizing energy usage, minimizing waste, and improving energy distribution via smart grids, energy management systems, and Internet of Things devices. Thus, this analysis inspects the linkage between ICT, smart urbanization, and energy security risks in Group7 and Emerging 7 economies by employing the Cross-sectionally Augmented ARDL of Chudik and Pesran (2015) for the period of 1995–2020. The results show that increased internet, telephone, and mobile usage help lower the energy security risk in Group 7 and Emerging 7 economies. In contrast, the rising urbanization causes the energy security risk to escalate in both groups of countries. On the other hand, ICT-driven smart urbanization mitigates energy security risk in both Group 7 and Emerging 7; however, these effects are stronger in Group 7 economies. The policymakers in the Group 7 economies should optimize the advantages of ICT-driven urbanization where modern infrastructure and urbanization are more common. On the other hand, policymakers in the Emerging 7 countries should progressively exploit ICT's promise for future energy security while addressing current energy availability and sustainability issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107809"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycling plays a critical role for the construction industry to comply with the circular economy. It predominantly hinges on robust government promotion efforts. However, in practice, challenges such as the high recycling cost of CDW, insufficient awareness of CDW recycled products, and lack of support from policies and standards, lead to bottlenecks in the sales of CDW recycled products. To explore the effects of multiple strategic contexts on the promotion of CDW recycled products, this study innovatively developed a hybrid simulation system with Agent-based modelling (ABM), integrating viewpoint dynamics, infectious disease models, and Back-propagation neural network (BPNN) predictive model from a new perspective of information dissemination and interaction. The proposed hybrid system was verified. It is found that all single strategies show positive effects compared to the baseline context. In terms of promotional impact, strategies are ranked as follows: product enhancement (58.73 %) exerts the greatest influence, followed by enterprise enhancement (42.97 %), marketing promotion (36.94 %), industry rectification (22.16 %), internal promotion (17.37 %), and external publicity (7.00 %) has the least impact. Furthermore, the combined strategy shows the best promotional impact, witnessing a 71.29 % surge in the number of individuals' intention to use CDW recycled products. Therefore, this study highlights the crucial role of enterprise optimization in advancing CDW recycling and underscores the necessity of fostering a synergistic effect with product and enterprise enhancement at its core, bolstered by marketing promotion and governmental guidance as supplementary elements. A multi-dimensional integrated promotion strategy will become an important driving force for the vigorous development of the CDW recycled product market.
{"title":"Assessment of promotional strategies for construction and demolition waste recycled products based on hybrid simulation system","authors":"Zhikun Ding , Xinyue Huang , Xinrui Wang , Jian Zuo","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycling plays a critical role for the construction industry to comply with the circular economy. It predominantly hinges on robust government promotion efforts. However, in practice, challenges such as the high recycling cost of CDW, insufficient awareness of CDW recycled products, and lack of support from policies and standards, lead to bottlenecks in the sales of CDW recycled products. To explore the effects of multiple strategic contexts on the promotion of CDW recycled products, this study innovatively developed a hybrid simulation system with Agent-based modelling (ABM), integrating viewpoint dynamics, infectious disease models, and Back-propagation neural network (BPNN) predictive model from a new perspective of information dissemination and interaction. The proposed hybrid system was verified. It is found that all single strategies show positive effects compared to the baseline context. In terms of promotional impact, strategies are ranked as follows: product enhancement (58.73 %) exerts the greatest influence, followed by enterprise enhancement (42.97 %), marketing promotion (36.94 %), industry rectification (22.16 %), internal promotion (17.37 %), and external publicity (7.00 %) has the least impact. Furthermore, the combined strategy shows the best promotional impact, witnessing a 71.29 % surge in the number of individuals' intention to use CDW recycled products. Therefore, this study highlights the crucial role of enterprise optimization in advancing CDW recycling and underscores the necessity of fostering a synergistic effect with product and enterprise enhancement at its core, bolstered by marketing promotion and governmental guidance as supplementary elements. A multi-dimensional integrated promotion strategy will become an important driving force for the vigorous development of the CDW recycled product market.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107814"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107815
Marianna Garfí , David Requejo-Castro , Cristina M. Villanueva
The aim of this study was to develop a novel Social Life Cycle Assessment framework to assess the social impacts of different drinking water choices in the city of Barcelona (Spain): i) tap water; ii) bottled mineral water (PET bottle); iii) tap water treated with a domestic activated carbon filter (countertop pitchers with activated carbon); iv) tap water treated with domestic reverse osmosis. Their impacts on different stakeholder groups (i.e. workers, consumers, value chain actors, local community, and society) were evaluated. Five impact categories were included (i.e. health and safety, working conditions, human rights, governance and socio-economic repercussions), which comprise 14 different impact subcategories and a total of 21 indicators. Performance Reference Points were used to assess all the indicators. The results showed that tap and bottled mineral water showed good social performance in all the stakeholder impact categories. In particular, tap water showed the best social performance in: i) health and safety (i.e. presence of certifications) for workers; ii) end-of-life responsibility (i.e. no waste production) and transparency (i.e. presence of sustainability reports) for consumers; iii) access to material resources (i.e. presence of certified environmental management systems and no environmental risks) for local communities; and, iv) technological development (i.e. partnerships in research and development) for society. However, its social acceptance is significantly lower than bottled mineral water. In general, domestic devices for tap water treatment (i.e. countertop pitchers with activated carbon and reverse osmosis) did not improve the social performance of tap water, but they significantly enhanced consumers' acceptance up to the level of bottled mineral water.
{"title":"Social life cycle assessment of drinking water: Tap water, bottled mineral water and tap water treated with domestic filters","authors":"Marianna Garfí , David Requejo-Castro , Cristina M. Villanueva","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study was to develop a novel Social Life Cycle Assessment framework to assess the social impacts of different drinking water choices in the city of Barcelona (Spain): i) tap water; ii) bottled mineral water (PET bottle); iii) tap water treated with a domestic activated carbon filter (countertop pitchers with activated carbon); iv) tap water treated with domestic reverse osmosis. Their impacts on different stakeholder groups (i.e. workers, consumers, value chain actors, local community, and society) were evaluated. Five impact categories were included (i.e. health and safety, working conditions, human rights, governance and socio-economic repercussions), which comprise 14 different impact subcategories and a total of 21 indicators. Performance Reference Points were used to assess all the indicators. The results showed that tap and bottled mineral water showed good social performance in all the stakeholder impact categories. In particular, tap water showed the best social performance in: i) health and safety (i.e. presence of certifications) for workers; ii) end-of-life responsibility (i.e. no waste production) and transparency (i.e. presence of sustainability reports) for consumers; iii) access to material resources (i.e. presence of certified environmental management systems and no environmental risks) for local communities; and, iv) technological development (i.e. partnerships in research and development) for society. However, its social acceptance is significantly lower than bottled mineral water. In general, domestic devices for tap water treatment (i.e. countertop pitchers with activated carbon and reverse osmosis) did not improve the social performance of tap water, but they significantly enhanced consumers' acceptance up to the level of bottled mineral water.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107815"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107813
Huili Li, Xiaodong Yang, Shuyi Niu
Urban settlement regeneration faces financial pressures, while the economic participation potential of residents, the primary beneficiaries, remains largely unexploited. Residents are embedded in complex social networks, and their funding-participation behavior is dynamically influenced by network structures. However, developing behavior nudging methods that adapt to evolving social networks remain challenging. This study constructs a conceptual model based on the extended theory of planned behavior, integrating factors from individual psychological cognition and social practice motivation to explain funding-participation behavior. The model was validated through an empirical survey of 505 respondents in Chongqing, China. Subsequently, a scale-free network was employed to characterize the evolving social network formed through opinion interactions. An interaction model was further developed to reveal the dynamic nudging effects of influencing factors embedded in the social network. Simulation experiments were conducted to elucidate the dynamic process of residents adopting funding-participation behavior. Empirical results indicate that stimulating psychological cognitive and practice motivation could significantly influence funding-participation behavior. Simulation results demonstrate that evolving social networks serve as a crucial medium for nudging this behavior. It also advocates leveraging social learning, opinion dissemination, and moral contagion processes within networks to shape funding-participation propensity, and promoting behavior by overcoming path dependence, activating social capital support, and strengthening benefit perception. To nudge funding-participation behavior, policy implications are proposed to advance inclusive settlement regeneration and construct sustainable participation mechanisms.
{"title":"What nudges residents' funding-participation behavior in urban settlement regeneration? A perspective of evolving social network","authors":"Huili Li, Xiaodong Yang, Shuyi Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban settlement regeneration faces financial pressures, while the economic participation potential of residents, the primary beneficiaries, remains largely unexploited. Residents are embedded in complex social networks, and their funding-participation behavior is dynamically influenced by network structures. However, developing behavior nudging methods that adapt to evolving social networks remain challenging. This study constructs a conceptual model based on the extended theory of planned behavior, integrating factors from individual psychological cognition and social practice motivation to explain funding-participation behavior. The model was validated through an empirical survey of 505 respondents in Chongqing, China. Subsequently, a scale-free network was employed to characterize the evolving social network formed through opinion interactions. An interaction model was further developed to reveal the dynamic nudging effects of influencing factors embedded in the social network. Simulation experiments were conducted to elucidate the dynamic process of residents adopting funding-participation behavior. Empirical results indicate that stimulating psychological cognitive and practice motivation could significantly influence funding-participation behavior. Simulation results demonstrate that evolving social networks serve as a crucial medium for nudging this behavior. It also advocates leveraging social learning, opinion dissemination, and moral contagion processes within networks to shape funding-participation propensity, and promoting behavior by overcoming path dependence, activating social capital support, and strengthening benefit perception. To nudge funding-participation behavior, policy implications are proposed to advance inclusive settlement regeneration and construct sustainable participation mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107813"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107812
Patrick Amoatey , Ralph Trancoso , Zhiwei Xu , Darsy Darssan , Nicholas J. Osborne , Dung Phung
Heatwaves affect public health. Previous human heat vulnerability assessment studies, mostly focused in urban areas, suggest association with heat-related deaths. However, these associations have not been thoroughly examined in Australia. We examined the association between heatwave vulnerability index (HVI) and risk of heatwave-related deaths across Australia.
Seasonal (December–February) all-cause mortality and heatwave data across 2189 Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2s) spatial units were acquired from 2001 to 2019. We also used SA2 level heatwave vulnerability index (HVI) data estimated from 2021 national census data and heatwave data (2001–2019) across Australia. In each SA2, we calculated seasonal mortality rates using the empirical Bayes smoothing approach to account for spatial variations in deaths. We then used a quasi-Poisson regression model to quantify the mortality rates associated with SA2-specific heatwave days across Australia. Finally, we used a linear regression analysis to examine the association between HVI and heatwave-related deaths. We observed an association between HVI (β: 0.18, 95 % CI: 0.08–0.27) and increased in percentage (%) of heatwave-related deaths across the capital cities. A unit increase in HVI -associated deaths was higher under severe heatwave days (β: 0.39, 95 % CI: 0.05–0.74) compared to low-intensity heatwave days (β: 0.21, 95 % CI: 0.09–0.32). We also found that the HVI component factor formed by low education, low income, low healthcare professionals, and diabetes prevalence is strongly associated with all the heatwave-related deaths in the capital cities. In an Australia-wide analysis, we did not find an association (β: -0.06, CI: −0.17-0.05) between HVI and risk of heatwave-related death. However, there was evidence of stronger association between HVI component factor formed by Indigenous population exposed to longer heatwave days and increased % of heatwave-associated deaths. HVI is positively associated with heatwave-related deaths in Australia, particularly in capital cities. Heatwave management strategies should include HVI maps to help protect communities against heatwave-related death, and morbidity.
{"title":"Evaluating the association between heatwave vulnerability index and related deaths in Australia","authors":"Patrick Amoatey , Ralph Trancoso , Zhiwei Xu , Darsy Darssan , Nicholas J. Osborne , Dung Phung","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heatwaves affect public health. Previous human heat vulnerability assessment studies, mostly focused in urban areas, suggest association with heat-related deaths. However, these associations have not been thoroughly examined in Australia. We examined the association between heatwave vulnerability index (HVI) and risk of heatwave-related deaths across Australia.</div><div>Seasonal (December–February) all-cause mortality and heatwave data across 2189 Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2s) spatial units were acquired from 2001 to 2019. We also used SA2 level heatwave vulnerability index (HVI) data estimated from 2021 national census data and heatwave data (2001–2019) across Australia. In each SA2, we calculated seasonal mortality rates using the empirical Bayes smoothing approach to account for spatial variations in deaths. We then used a quasi-Poisson regression model to quantify the mortality rates associated with SA2-specific heatwave days across Australia. Finally, we used a linear regression analysis to examine the association between HVI and heatwave-related deaths. We observed an association between HVI (β: 0.18, 95 % CI: 0.08–0.27) and increased in percentage (%) of heatwave-related deaths across the capital cities. A unit increase in HVI -associated deaths was higher under severe heatwave days (β: 0.39, 95 % CI: 0.05–0.74) compared to low-intensity heatwave days (β: 0.21, 95 % CI: 0.09–0.32). We also found that the HVI component factor formed by low education, low income, low healthcare professionals, and diabetes prevalence is strongly associated with all the heatwave-related deaths in the capital cities. In an Australia-wide analysis, we did not find an association (β: -0.06, CI: −0.17-0.05) between HVI and risk of heatwave-related death. However, there was evidence of stronger association between HVI component factor formed by Indigenous population exposed to longer heatwave days and increased % of heatwave-associated deaths. HVI is positively associated with heatwave-related deaths in Australia, particularly in capital cities. Heatwave management strategies should include HVI maps to help protect communities against heatwave-related death, and morbidity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107812"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107805
Sahar Nava , Zaid Chalabi , Sarah Bell , Gemma Moore
Engaging with different stakeholders in decision making over the regeneration of housing estates is a legislative requirement in many countries. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) methodology and in general, Sustainability Assessment Frameworks (SAFs) are suitable tools to allow for a holistic comparison of different regeneration scenarios and their impacts. Understanding the priorities and meeting the expectations of different stakeholder groups and recognising the disablers and values of a participatory SAF are the main challenges in conducting a multistakeholder holistic sustainability assessment. Towards identifying a suitable stakeholder-driven SAF for decision-making on housing estate regeneration schemes (HERS), this paper has four aims to: 1) explore the perception of different stakeholders on their priorities concerning estate regeneration; 2) identify the barriers to participation; 3) identify the values of a holistic SAF; and 4) evaluate the effectiveness of the available SAFs. These aims have been explored through an extensive review of literature followed by a mixed-methods survey design, employing deductive and inductive approaches with stakeholders of HERS in the UK. The criteria for each section of the survey have been identified through review of literature. The inductive approach involves identifying the perceived importance of the pre-identified criteria through quantitative scoring, and the deductive approach involves qualitative analysis of open-ended questions to identify emerging new codes and themes. Thematic Analysis (TA), coding, Content Analysis (CA), and descriptive statistics were used for analysing the results. Triangulation and consolidation of the analyses reveal the importance of goal and scope definition and relevance of sustainability indicators for a participatory SAF due to the varying priorities of different stakeholder groups. Lack of meaningful engagement, transparent communication, a clear framework, and client interest are identified as the main barriers to a participatory SAF, while inclusivity, transparency, and knowledge advocacy are noted among the highest values. The findings highlighted the importance of ethical considerations and institutional barriers for stakeholder-driven decision-making for HERS, and potential of integrating participatory approaches into assessment frameworks. The participants' low perception of the current SAFs reiterates the necessity of this novel research. We recommend future research to explore these findings outside of the study sample, and further study how the identified implementation gaps can be addressed.
{"title":"Multistakeholder sustainability assessment of housing estate regeneration schemes: Analysis of a mixed methods survey","authors":"Sahar Nava , Zaid Chalabi , Sarah Bell , Gemma Moore","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107805","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107805","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Engaging with different stakeholders in decision making over the regeneration of housing estates is a legislative requirement in many countries. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) methodology and in general, Sustainability Assessment Frameworks (SAFs) are suitable tools to allow for a holistic comparison of different regeneration scenarios and their impacts. Understanding the priorities and meeting the expectations of different stakeholder groups and recognising the disablers and values of a participatory SAF are the main challenges in conducting a multistakeholder holistic sustainability assessment. Towards identifying a suitable stakeholder-driven SAF for decision-making on housing estate regeneration schemes (HERS), this paper has four aims to: 1) explore the perception of different stakeholders on their priorities concerning estate regeneration; 2) identify the barriers to participation; 3) identify the values of a holistic SAF; and 4) evaluate the effectiveness of the available SAFs. These aims have been explored through an extensive review of literature followed by a mixed-methods survey design, employing deductive and inductive approaches with stakeholders of HERS in the UK. The criteria for each section of the survey have been identified through review of literature. The inductive approach involves identifying the perceived importance of the pre-identified criteria through quantitative scoring, and the deductive approach involves qualitative analysis of open-ended questions to identify emerging new codes and themes. Thematic Analysis (TA), coding, Content Analysis (CA), and descriptive statistics were used for analysing the results. Triangulation and consolidation of the analyses reveal the importance of goal and scope definition and relevance of sustainability indicators for a participatory SAF due to the varying priorities of different stakeholder groups. Lack of meaningful engagement, transparent communication, a clear framework, and client interest are identified as the main barriers to a participatory SAF, while inclusivity, transparency, and knowledge advocacy are noted among the highest values. The findings highlighted the importance of ethical considerations and institutional barriers for stakeholder-driven decision-making for HERS, and potential of integrating participatory approaches into assessment frameworks. The participants' low perception of the current SAFs reiterates the necessity of this novel research. We recommend future research to explore these findings outside of the study sample, and further study how the identified implementation gaps can be addressed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107805"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107807
Matthew Rumsa, Michele John, Wahidul Biswas
A valuable depth of knowledge has developed in the academic and grey literature as more voices have joined the conversation on decarbonising heavy industry. This paper analyses the current state of research through a critical review of global iron and steel decarbonisation roadmaps to 2050. The consensus among scenarios and modelled pathways is that the sector will achieve near-zero emissions, falling short of net-zero targets by around 10%. The key barriers identified include the availability of recycled scrap, limited availability of high-grade iron ore, de-risking technology investment, uncertain demand and cost gap, the availability, affordability, and reliability of renewable energy and hydrogen, skilled workforce shortages, weak policy signals, and the lack of certification and regulation for fair competition. The roadmaps focus on breakthrough technology pathways for steel producers, while emphasising the need for consistent improvements to yield, energy efficiency, secondary steelmaking, and carbon capture solutions. However, significant sustainability gaps exist in the largely carbon dioxide (CO2) focused plans, as discussion of social and environmental impacts from the raw mineral extraction, transport, use, and end-of-life stages of steelmaking are limited. Strategic international collaboration and shared responsibility are integral for decarbonising the steel value chain and achieving a just sustainability transition.
{"title":"Global steel decarbonisation roadmaps: Near-zero by 2050","authors":"Matthew Rumsa, Michele John, Wahidul Biswas","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A valuable depth of knowledge has developed in the academic and grey literature as more voices have joined the conversation on decarbonising heavy industry. This paper analyses the current state of research through a critical review of global iron and steel decarbonisation roadmaps to 2050. The consensus among scenarios and modelled pathways is that the sector will achieve near-zero emissions, falling short of net-zero targets by around 10%. The key barriers identified include the availability of recycled scrap, limited availability of high-grade iron ore, de-risking technology investment, uncertain demand and cost gap, the availability, affordability, and reliability of renewable energy and hydrogen, skilled workforce shortages, weak policy signals, and the lack of certification and regulation for fair competition. The roadmaps focus on breakthrough technology pathways for steel producers, while emphasising the need for consistent improvements to yield, energy efficiency, secondary steelmaking, and carbon capture solutions. However, significant sustainability gaps exist in the largely carbon dioxide (CO2) focused plans, as discussion of social and environmental impacts from the raw mineral extraction, transport, use, and end-of-life stages of steelmaking are limited. Strategic international collaboration and shared responsibility are integral for decarbonising the steel value chain and achieving a just sustainability transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107807"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107798
Natalia Rebolo-Ifrán , Nicolás A. Lois , Sergio A. Lambertucci
Airspace fragmentation caused by human activity threatens wildlife. Wind turbines occupy a range of altitudes frequently used by many flying vertebrates, potentially leading to collisions and other adverse effects. Here, we review the impact of wind farms on birds and bats in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and found that research is lacking, with just 22 available articles focusing on only six countries. Indirect effects, such as habitat fragmentation and barrier effects remain understudied, with most studies focusing on direct collision mortality. We identified more than 16,000 wind turbines in operation or being planned in LAC countries. Nearly half of the region's threatened bird and bat species inhabit areas with operating wind farms, including the densely wind farmed Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico, the Guajira region in Colombia, and the Caribbean islands, among others. Passeriformes, followed by Psittaciformes, were the bird orders most frequently found in areas with wind turbines. Additionally, we found some migratory bat species, which are particularly prone to collision with wind turbines, were commonly associated with regions of high wind turbine density. Our results suggest that expansion of wind energy in Latin America and the Caribbean could affect several threatened species. Finally, we provide a map showing potential areas for future wind energy development and recommend conducting focused field studies on habitat use by local bird and bat species in these regions to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts.
{"title":"Wind energy development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Risk assessment for flying vertebrates","authors":"Natalia Rebolo-Ifrán , Nicolás A. Lois , Sergio A. Lambertucci","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Airspace fragmentation caused by human activity threatens wildlife. Wind turbines occupy a range of altitudes frequently used by many flying vertebrates, potentially leading to collisions and other adverse effects. Here, we review the impact of wind farms on birds and bats in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and found that research is lacking, with just 22 available articles focusing on only six countries. Indirect effects, such as habitat fragmentation and barrier effects remain understudied, with most studies focusing on direct collision mortality. We identified more than 16,000 wind turbines in operation or being planned in LAC countries. Nearly half of the region's threatened bird and bat species inhabit areas with operating wind farms, including the densely wind farmed Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico, the Guajira region in Colombia, and the Caribbean islands, among others. Passeriformes, followed by Psittaciformes, were the bird orders most frequently found in areas with wind turbines. Additionally, we found some migratory bat species, which are particularly prone to collision with wind turbines, were commonly associated with regions of high wind turbine density. Our results suggest that expansion of wind energy in Latin America and the Caribbean could affect several threatened species. Finally, we provide a map showing potential areas for future wind energy development and recommend conducting focused field studies on habitat use by local bird and bat species in these regions to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 107798"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143132515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}