Current Research in Environmental Sustainability最新文献

India is facing a dearth in the area of particulate matter (PM) source apportionment studies. Frequent exceedances and unusual high concentrations of PM observed in North India further presses the identification and quantification of particulate pollution sources to plan mitigation measures. But most of the PM source apportionment studies performed here are concentrated in and around Delhi, so this paper sets to explore the sources of PM in an understudied region of North India. The present study employed positive matrix factorization (PMF) 5.0 model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) for source characterisation of particulate matter quantified at Mohali in May 2012. Application of US EPA PMF 5.0 to a hybrid dataset of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds identified seven source factors, namingly, dust, wheat residue burning, biofuel use and waste disposal, mixed daytime, cars, two-wheelers) and industrial emissions and solvent use. The contributions of these individual source factors to PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 mass loadings were found to be 48.8%, 20.6%, 15.8%, 7.79%, 2.89%, 2.86%, 1.37% and 33.6%, 22.6%, 29.6%, 4.97%, 2.05%, 4.07% and 3.07% respectively. Dust and biomass burning were the major sources of PM in Mohali that contributed relatively highest average concentrations of PM₁₀ (∼321 μg/m³) and PM_2.5 (∼123 μg/m³) during morning hours (05:00–10:00 LT) in May 2012. This study reaffirmed the need to check anthropogenic activities and calls for strict air quality measures, especially in May to limit PM emissions in northwest India.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has affected societies across the world while its economic impact has cut deeper than any recession since the Second World War. Climate change is potentially an even more disruptive and complex global challenge. Climate change could cause social and economic damage far larger than that caused by COVID-19. The current pandemic has highlighted the extent to which societies need to prepare for disruptive global environmental crises. Although the dynamics of combating COVID-19 and climate change are different, the priorities for action are the same: behavioral change, international cooperation to manage shared challenges, and technology's role in advancing solutions. For a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis to be durable and resilient, a return to ‘business as usual’ and the subsequent often environmentally destructive economic activities must be avoided as they have significantly contributed to climate change. To avoid this, we draw lessons from the experiences of the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond to advance sustainable development.

Whilst COVID-19 has left a devastating trail of economic and social losses, it has spurred incidental transitory positive externalities for the environment and climate. Key among these include; improved air and water quality, clearer skies and a projected 8% global blip in carbon emissions by the end of 2020. The global wave of restrictive lock downs implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the short term account for these gains. The lockdowns were defined by limited public and private travel, closure of airports and borders, and a decline in industrial activity. However, most of these climate and environmental gains were secondary effects of the COVID-19 induced lockdowns and not based on decisive deliberate policy action, which casts doubts on their sustainability and ability to contribute to a green economy transition. Sustaining accrued environmental and climate benefits will depend on the direction of the COVID-19 stimuli and recovery packages – whether they are designed to work for the planet or against it. This article therefore elaborates on how state and non-state actors across the globe ought to be agile in building back sustainably to upend the ongoing collision course between the planet and economic development. It emphasizes the use of Sustainable Development Goals and Nationally Determined Contributions on climate change (NDCs) as a compass to shape the direction of COVID-19 recovery packages. It further enumerates six strategies that must underpin recovery packages to ensure win-win for the economy, society, and the planet.