Environmental Challenges最新文献

The purpose of this study is to identify SMEs' understanding of decarbonization management and identify stakeholders who have an impact on the CEO who plays a decisive role in carbon strategy. In this study, a structural equation model was constructed and empirically tested to evaluate associations between CEOs and pre-selected stakeholders. For the data, 41 valid responses were used from a survey targeting small and medium-sized enterprises in Nagasaki Prefecture. As a result of analysis, it was confirmed that decarbonization management had not penetrated other than in the initial stage in the SMEs in Nagasaki prefecture. The top manager's willingness is the main factor determining the companies’ level of carbon management. It is noteworthy that there is growing interest in carbon offsetting using local natural-based credits, which some companies are using to achieve carbon neutrality. This study suggests policy implications for SMEs to improve and promote interest in carbon management.

The widespread prevalence of illegal Artisanal Small-Scale Mining has raised significant concerns about its environmental and health impacts. This study investigates the effects of two mining methods (alluvial and chamfi) on soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties four years after mining in three municipalities of the Western Region of Ghana. The study identified four species of Aspergillus fungi (niger, flavus, ochraceous and fumigatus) and Trichoderma species in both mined and control soils. The quantity of A. fumigatus was significantly higher in control plots compared to mined plots. In alluvial sites, bacterial numbers were significantly higher in control plots than in mined plots, while in chamfi sites, bacterial numbers did not differ significantly between mined and control plots. Soil texture in both mined sites was predominantly sandy loam and loamy sand, with a generally high silt to clay ratio. Mined plots at both sites were significant and more acidic (p < 0.05) than the control plots. Additionally, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), and magnesium (Mg²⁺) levels were significantly higher in control plots compared to mined plots. The control plots also exhibited higher base saturation and lower exchangeable acidity than mined plots. Bacteria count at Chamfi sites was generally higher at mined areas than the control sites, with the reverse being the case for Alluvial sites. Soil chemical parameters were higher at control areas than at mined sites, irrespective of the mining approach used. However, there was no clear pattern of differences in soil chemical properties at Chamfi and Alluvial mined sites. This study provides insights and additional perspectives for improving decision-making and guiding the potential restoration of these areas.

This study assesses the impact of land acquisition for cooperative housing development on the land environment in Woldia town from 2004 -2024. Satellite imagery, Google Earth Pro, focus group discussions, personal observation and key informant interviews were used. The results revealed that the proportions of farmland decreased from 19.27 to 6 %, forest cover from 24.95 to 13.98 %, and bare land from 18.84 to 2.37 % for 2004–2024. The built-up increased significantly, from 11.35 to 49.62% during the specified year. The results further indicated that the quality of habitats decreased from 0.79 in 2014 to 0.63 in 2024, due to built-up areas, improper waste disposal, population growth, road expansion, and cooperative housing expansion. Strong negative correlations between habitat quality status and the number of years of habitat quality assessment, built-up areas, waste disposal, population density, roads, and cooperative housing were observed while forest cover showed a strong positive correlation. These problems can be managed through the application of zoning laws, urban planning, compact development, mixed-use development, the promotion of sustainable land use practices, the protection of critical habitats, the development and implementation of policies to increase forest cover, and increasing public awareness. The novel component of this study is the preparation of maps for habitat quality due to land acquisition for cooperative housing development, and to aid in the accomplishment of two 2030 Sustainable Development Goals: goal number 11 (making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable) and goal number 15 (protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of land ecosystems, managing forests sustainably, and stopping land degradation and biodiversity loss). The findings inform decision-makers and planners to plan and manage the land environment sustainably.

The accumulation of microplastics in the environment, particularly due to the significant contribution of synthetic clothing washing water, leads to a need for developing source-based retention solutions. The project's objective is to assess the capability of washing machine filters to capture microfibers from domestic wastewater under real laundry conditions. This involves developing a protocol for quantifying microfibers tailored to washing machine lint samples, estimating the potential microfiber capture by washing machine filters, and evaluating the social acceptability of using such filters in households. Volunteers were recruited and they used their washing machines normally, collecting lint in the filter over a 6-month period and documenting information for each load. Various reagents were tested using plastic controls and lint samples to select the most efficient one for removing organic matter without affecting microplastics. Microscopic visual alterations, chemical signatures via FTIR, and the efficacy of the digestion protocol were assessed through mass balance and visual counting. After discarding digestion protocols affecting plastic integrity, those ensuring the most efficient mass loss of organic matter were identified as H₂O₂ 30 % for 5 days at room temperature (RT), NaOCl 3 % for 24 h at RT, and H₂O₂ 30 % at 40 °C for 24 h. Polyester, acrylic, and polyamide controls were tested with NaOCl 3 % for 24 h and H₂O₂ 30 % for 5 days, showing no changes in SEM images. The FTIR successfully recognized the chemical signature. More significant alterations on positive samples (cotton and cellulose) were observed after NaOCl exposure. The mean mass of microfibers remaining after digestion was estimated at 4.62 mg per liter of washing water or 61 mg/kg of washed garment. The survey revealed that 67.8 % of volunteer participants found the filter installation challenging, and 21.4 % had to hire a plumber, highlighting potential challenges associated with implementing washing machine filters on a large scale.

This study aimed to describe the disposable diaper usage, disposal practices and quantity estimation in a specified rural setting within a developing, sub-Saharan country, South Africa. Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used to collect primary data, which included survey research, focus group discussions, participatory thematic mapping, illegal dumping mapping and member checking. Most diapers end up within the natural receiving environment due to a lack of formalised waste management service provision. Dumping hotspots are water courses and streams. On average, each infant generates 4.47 diapers per day, while an average of 158,154 and 34,493 total diapers are generated daily within Bushbuckridge and Maruleng, respectively. High unemployment and grant-dependency rates characterise the study area, and households often spend the majority of child support grants to purchase diapers. Residents were willing to use a diaper disposal point and are not opposed to incineration. This study forms a comprehensive baseline to determine the feasibility of disposable diaper beneficiation options in rural areas.

Soil erosion, land degradation and climate change are the major environmental threats attributed to low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. To reduce soil erosion and restore degraded lands, integrated soil and water conservation interventions have been implemented. However, the impacts of the intervention measures were not sufficiently studied due to the lack of baseline information. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate and understand the current conditions of biophysical resources in Ferenjua watershed, which is located in Gondar zuria district. In this study, more emphasis was given to the levels of total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (P), organic matter (OM), bulk density (BD), pH, moisture, texture and soil erosion. To collect the biophysical data, the watershed was divided into 144 grid-based sampling points with a resolution of 250 m by 250 m. In addition, the data were collected in 8 representative profile pits. Three primary land uses were identified from supervised land use and land cover classification and described as cultivated land (55.08 %), forestland (30.80 %), and grassland (14.12 %). Erosion hotspot map shows that >40 % of the watershed is moderately and highly susceptible to soil erosion. The highest BD (1.36 gm cm⁻³) was observed at Vertisols-dominated cultivated lands located in the flatlands, whereas, the lowest BD (1.28 gm cm⁻³) was observed under forestland. Regarding the results of TN, P, and OM, >60 % of the watershed was classified as having low to very low soil nutrient levels. Consequently, development interventions should be considered to restore degraded lands for the sustained use of resources in the watershed.

Composting water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) presents a promising approach for managing the weed and the aquatic environment while increasing agricultural production and soil fertility. However, limited research reported on the impact of water hyacinth compost on soil properties and crop production under field conditions. This study aimed to evaluate impact of water hyacinth compost and its combined application with mineral fertilizer on soil properties and crop production. Before field experiments, the compost's phytotoxicity was assessed through bioassays, confirming it was safe for agricultural use with a seed germination index exceeding 80 %. Field trials were conducted using a factorial design with four application rates of water hyacinth compost (0, 8, 16, and 24 t ha^-1) and three rates of the recommended mineral fertilizer for teff production (0/0, 40/23, and 80/46 kg N/P₂O₅ ha^-1). The results indicated that compared to the control group, applying water hyacinth compost increased soil pH by up to 0.69 units and reduced bulk density by 10.3 %. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable potassium increased by 24.3 %, 28.6 %, 80.2 %, 26.2 %, and 112.7 %, respectively. Furthermore, exchangeable acidity and aluminum were reduced by 72.5 % and 78.6 %, respectively. The maximum grain yield (1826 kg ha^-1) and total biomass (8020 kg ha^-1) of teff were achieved by applying 24 t ha^-1 of water hyacinth compost coupled with the full rate of mineral fertilizer. However, compared to adding only full fertilizer, the grain yield that resulted from applying water hyacinth compost at 16 and 24 t ha^-1 along with half of the suggested mineral fertilizer was superior. This implies that water hyacinth compost could substitute 50 % of the mineral fertilizer required. In conclusion, composting water hyacinth offers a dual benefit of weed management and soil enrichment. This could be a sustainable strategy to mitigate weed proliferation while improving soil quality and crop production.

This paper presents the insights from both an ecological and people's perception study, aimed at understanding the ecological status of selected two common Invasive Alien Plants species (IAPs), i.e., Ageratina adenophora (Sprengel) King & Robinson and Lantana camara L., and the perspectives of local communities towards their use, status, and influence on biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as controlling measures of these species. For the examination of the distribution and spread of these invasive species in the forests, a quadrat-based phytosociological assessment was conducted in the three dominant forest types [Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn f.), Chir-pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.), and Banj-oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus)] of Uttarakhand State. However, to assess the perception and awareness of local communities towards these IAPs and their impacts on local biodiversity, ecosystem services, and processes, a questionnaire-based study was conducted in seven villages of the Nainital district, spanning three different vegetation zones: Sal, Chir-pine, and Banj-oak forests. Perception data were gathered from 112 households through questionnaire surveys and interviews with key informants such as teachers, elders, community leaders, and researchers. The results of the ecological assessment indicate that the mid-elevation zone, particularly the Chir-pine forest, is highly prone to species invasion. However, findings from the perception study reveal that the people are aware of these invasive species, and their negative impacts on human and animal health, native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and ecological processes. Interestingly, over the past decade, invasive alien plant species (IAPs) have interfered with forests in the study area, leading to a decline in native species. According to local perceptions, factors such as deforestation, forest fires, climate change, increased transportation, no use of species in daily life, and grazing have contributed significantly to the spread of these IAPs. However, some people use these species as fencing wood, firewood, and for composting, etc. The results of this study indicate that awareness and educational initiatives could play a crucial role in mitigating and managing invasion in the Himalayan region.

This paper investigates the challenge of decarbonizing the steel industry, a pillar of the global economy but also a major carbon emitter. Analyzing current decarbonization strategies, their effectiveness, and the role of corporate commitment and risk management offers insights needed to identify development paths in the current environment characterized by pressure driven by stringent environmental standards and fierce competition. An empirical approach, including a survey model and simulation, is used to answer prominent research questions. Aspects such as the influence of environmental and governance criteria, specific initiatives that can be undertaken, the importance of corporate commitment, and the integration of risk management into strategic planning are examined. Simulations suggest that the probability of meeting the 2030 goals range from 65.08 to 75.98 percent and the delta between low and high commitment ranges from 4.917 to 4.133 percent according to the share of renewables in the energy mix decarbonization. The influence of the energy mix is also included in the analysis. The research highlights the need for greater coordination and commitment across the industry to improve decarbonization efforts. It emphasizes the critical role of government policies and market dynamics in shaping industry actions toward achieving decarbonization goals. The findings contribute to understanding decarbonization processes, offering insights and guidance for the steel sector's transition to a low-carbon economy.

We promote a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental costs associated with AI and “clouds” by raising awareness about the resource and emission-intensive nature of Artificial Intelligence through the use of data centres. While acknowledging the potential sustainability benefits of a green digital transformation, we challenge perceptions of a virtual and dematerialised industry often reinforced through the cloud metaphor. Using the planetary boundary (PB) framework, we go beyond conventional assessments of carbon emissions during a data centre's operational state to train AI and explore their multiple impacts on different Earth systems throughout the entire hardware lifecycle. For each stage of AI's hardware lifecycle, it is necessary to ascertain whether the environmental impacts associated with that stage can be quantified in a manner that allows for comparison with the control variables defined in the PB framework. In a second phase of the study, we examine the geographical distribution of individual lifecycle stages in order to assess the relative vulnerability of countries to the environmental harms associated with AI development stages. By mapping the lifecycle stages around the world, it becomes evident that the extraction, manufacturing, and disposal of AI hardware have a significant detrimental impact on the environment and populations in the Global South (the Majority World), while the benefits of AI development and use are largely concentrated in the West (the Minority World). Our findings underscore the need to scrutinize the benefits and costs associated with AI. To address the issue, it is proposed that more robust environmental policy obligations be introduced for electronic products throughout their entire lifecycle.