Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101395
G. Carroll , C. Wangui , I. Kyriazakis
In high-income countries, pig production predominantly occurs in conventional indoor systems, but interest in alternative systems is growing. This research applied social science frameworks to understand barriers and facilitators influencing adoption of alternative pig farming practices. Using the COM-B model (Capability-Opportunity-Motivation = Behaviour) and Theoretical Domains Framework, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with stakeholders from conventional indoor and alternative (free-range and organic) systems. Eighteen interviews (Conventional: n = 9; Alternative: n = 9) and two focus groups (Conventional: n = 5; Alternative: n = 4) explored individual- and industry-level factors affecting the adoption of alternative systems, with pig farming stakeholders. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling, and data were analysed using a deductive Framework approach. Barriers to adoption related to Capability (e.g., shortage of skilled staff, lack of knowledge of alternative farming methods), Motivation (e.g., alternative farming perceived as a hobby), and Opportunity (e.g., power dynamics in the industry, profitability). Facilitators included Capability (e.g., diversification of activities) and Opportunity (e.g., availability of woodlands, support from family and community). The majority of the identified barriers related to lack of opportunity, highlighting the need for a physical and social environment that facilitates the development of alternative pig farming systems. A supportive regulatory and physical environment are essential in progressing alternative pig farming systems.
{"title":"Lack of Social and Physical Opportunity are key barriers to adopting alternative pig farming systems","authors":"G. Carroll , C. Wangui , I. Kyriazakis","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In high-income countries, pig production predominantly occurs in conventional indoor systems, but interest in alternative systems is growing. This research applied social science frameworks to understand barriers and facilitators influencing adoption of alternative pig farming practices. Using the COM-B model (Capability-Opportunity-Motivation = Behaviour) and Theoretical Domains Framework, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with stakeholders from conventional indoor and alternative (free-range and organic) systems. Eighteen interviews (Conventional: n = 9; Alternative: n = 9) and two focus groups (Conventional: n = 5; Alternative: n = 4) explored individual- and industry-level factors affecting the adoption of alternative systems, with pig farming stakeholders. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling, and data were analysed using a deductive Framework approach. Barriers to adoption related to Capability (e.g., shortage of skilled staff, lack of knowledge of alternative farming methods), Motivation (e.g., alternative farming perceived as a hobby), and Opportunity (e.g., power dynamics in the industry, profitability). Facilitators included Capability (e.g., diversification of activities) and Opportunity (e.g., availability of woodlands, support from family and community). The majority of the identified barriers related to lack of opportunity, highlighting the need for a physical and social environment that facilitates the development of alternative pig farming systems. A supportive regulatory and physical environment are essential in progressing alternative pig farming systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101395"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145652125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101421
Chikako Ishizuka , Hiromi Sato
This study examines how embedding cultural heritage within corporate-led urban green initiatives (UGIs) can sustain them over time and broaden prevailing understandings of sustainability. A qualitative case study was conducted on Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co., a 280-year-old brewery that integrates environmental action with the transmission of sake-brewing culture. Unlike other breweries that cultivate rice to support regional revitalization or enhance product value, Hakutsuru undertook rooftop rice farming at its Tokyo Ginza branch with the deliberate aim of cultural expression. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using NVivo with inductive coding. The results showed that the UGI had a limited direct effect on consumer purchases, which were largely driven by exclusivity and brand loyalty. However, the initiative generated significant socio-cultural value, including public interest, cross-industry cooperation, and educational engagement. Three key drivers were identified as supporting sustainability: alignment with the company's cultural mission, gradual evolution from modest beginnings, and co-creation with the community. By exploring a case that reframes rice farming as cultural transmission rather than material production, this study expands the understanding of how socio-cultural drivers sustain corporate UGIs in urban contexts. UGIs can persist when rooted in cultural heritage, enabled by voluntary employee involvement, and expanded through community partnership—compensating for limited economic returns. Policymakers and practitioners should recognize UGIs, not just as ecological tools but also as socio-cultural assets, and design support systems that embed heritage and community engagement into green strategies.
{"title":"Urban green initiatives and cultural heritage: Insights from a traditional industry case study","authors":"Chikako Ishizuka , Hiromi Sato","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101421","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101421","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines how embedding cultural heritage within corporate-led urban green initiatives (UGIs) can sustain them over time and broaden prevailing understandings of sustainability. A qualitative case study was conducted on Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co., a 280-year-old brewery that integrates environmental action with the transmission of sake-brewing culture. Unlike other breweries that cultivate rice to support regional revitalization or enhance product value, Hakutsuru undertook rooftop rice farming at its Tokyo Ginza branch with the deliberate aim of cultural expression. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using NVivo with inductive coding. The results showed that the UGI had a limited direct effect on consumer purchases, which were largely driven by exclusivity and brand loyalty. However, the initiative generated significant socio-cultural value, including public interest, cross-industry cooperation, and educational engagement. Three key drivers were identified as supporting sustainability: alignment with the company's cultural mission, gradual evolution from modest beginnings, and co-creation with the community. By exploring a case that reframes rice farming as cultural transmission rather than material production, this study expands the understanding of how socio-cultural drivers sustain corporate UGIs in urban contexts. UGIs can persist when rooted in cultural heritage, enabled by voluntary employee involvement, and expanded through community partnership—compensating for limited economic returns. Policymakers and practitioners should recognize UGIs, not just as ecological tools but also as socio-cultural assets, and design support systems that embed heritage and community engagement into green strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101421"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101437
Cali Nuur , Solmaz Filiz Karabag
In recent years, the circular economy (CE) model has emerged as a central approach to reconcile ecological sustainability with the organisation of production and consumption. In industrial contexts, CE transformation represents a move away from linear throughput models toward systems that recirculate materials, redesign production, and align technological, institutional, and market structures with regenerative principles. However, industrial change unfolds within inherited production, governance, and spatial arrangements that constrain what firms perceive as feasible. In this perspective paper, we examine how CE ambitions interact with the structural realities of process industries. We consider whether sectors such as steel and pulp and paper can achieve comprehensive circular transformation without addressing the technological, institutional, and temporal tensions that operate within specific spatial contexts.
We argue that despite the well-intentioned goals of CE, its implementation can encounter persistent structural challenges. We identify three core structural tensions related to technology, institutions, and time, each of which is shaped by spatial conditions. These tensions influence how organisations balance efficiency, legitimacy, and long-term adaptation. The analysis shows that pulp and paper benefits from regional governance, coordination, and gradual experimentation. In contrast, steel faces technological lock in, centralised systems, and long investment cycles that restrict transformative outcomes and often produce symbolic rather than systemic circular progress.
{"title":"Between continuity and disruption: Organisational tensions in circular economy transitions of process industries","authors":"Cali Nuur , Solmaz Filiz Karabag","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101437","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101437","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the circular economy (CE) model has emerged as a central approach to reconcile ecological sustainability with the organisation of production and consumption. In industrial contexts, CE transformation represents a move away from linear throughput models toward systems that recirculate materials, redesign production, and align technological, institutional, and market structures with regenerative principles. However, industrial change unfolds within inherited production, governance, and spatial arrangements that constrain what firms perceive as feasible. In this <em>perspective paper</em>, we examine how CE ambitions interact with the structural realities of process industries. We consider whether sectors such as steel and pulp and paper can achieve comprehensive circular transformation without addressing the technological, institutional, and temporal tensions that operate within specific spatial contexts.</div><div>We argue that despite the well-intentioned goals of CE, its implementation can encounter persistent structural challenges. We identify three core structural tensions related to technology, institutions, and time, each of which is shaped by spatial conditions. These tensions influence how organisations balance efficiency, legitimacy, and long-term adaptation. The analysis shows that pulp and paper benefits from regional governance, coordination, and gradual experimentation. In contrast, steel faces technological lock in, centralised systems, and long investment cycles that restrict transformative outcomes and often produce symbolic rather than systemic circular progress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101437"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101440
Banki T. Chunwate , Robert A. Marchant , Eleanor K.K. Jew , Lindsay C. Stringer
Community participation in conserving forests and biodiversity is crucial. This study evaluates community involvement in forest conservation around three gazetted forest reserves in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. The study examined community perceptions of forest ownership and management, explored community involvement in forest conservation, and assessed perceptions of future sustainability in forest management. Using a mixed methods approach, including household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, information was obtained from forest-dependent communities. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the three forest reserves from the state's geopolitical zones, considering accessibility and security. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were performed using SPSS and NVivo. Findings show mixed understanding regarding government ownership of forest reserves. Most participants reported involvement in conservation strategies like tree planting and protecting desirable trees, primarily for economic reasons, despite shrinking forest cover. However, they expressed concern about biodiversity loss, including the disappearance of large mammals and other wildlife from the reserves, alongside other environmental impacts. The study found that utilizing community and government laws, physically demarcating zones within protected areas with buffer zones, and establishing alternative livelihoods could be effective strategies for sustainability within these reserves. Importantly, cultural traditions-including sacred sites, shrine-based protection practices, and customary rules that restrict harmful forest use-play a significant role in shaping conservation behaviour. These cultural systems act as informal governance mechanisms that complement state regulations, demonstrating that sustaining cultural practices is vital for long-term forest conservation. Integrating local knowledge within government institutions, such as the Forestry Commission, in collaboration with local administrative authorities, is crucial for promoting tree planting, implementing policies, and increasing surveillance and security in protected forest areas. These actions can help to ensure effective management and the conservation of these regions for the benefit of communities, society at large, and future generations.
{"title":"Community perceptions on conservation management and sustainability around the protected area reserves in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria","authors":"Banki T. Chunwate , Robert A. Marchant , Eleanor K.K. Jew , Lindsay C. Stringer","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101440","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Community participation in conserving forests and biodiversity is crucial. This study evaluates community involvement in forest conservation around three gazetted forest reserves in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. The study examined community perceptions of forest ownership and management, explored community involvement in forest conservation, and assessed perceptions of future sustainability in forest management. Using a mixed methods approach, including household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, information was obtained from forest-dependent communities. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the three forest reserves from the state's geopolitical zones, considering accessibility and security. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were performed using SPSS and NVivo. Findings show mixed understanding regarding government ownership of forest reserves. Most participants reported involvement in conservation strategies like tree planting and protecting desirable trees, primarily for economic reasons, despite shrinking forest cover. However, they expressed concern about biodiversity loss, including the disappearance of large mammals and other wildlife from the reserves, alongside other environmental impacts. The study found that utilizing community and government laws, physically demarcating zones within protected areas with buffer zones, and establishing alternative livelihoods could be effective strategies for sustainability within these reserves. Importantly, cultural traditions-including sacred sites, shrine-based protection practices, and customary rules that restrict harmful forest use-play a significant role in shaping conservation behaviour. These cultural systems act as informal governance mechanisms that complement state regulations, demonstrating that sustaining cultural practices is vital for long-term forest conservation. Integrating local knowledge within government institutions, such as the Forestry Commission, in collaboration with local administrative authorities, is crucial for promoting tree planting, implementing policies, and increasing surveillance and security in protected forest areas. These actions can help to ensure effective management and the conservation of these regions for the benefit of communities, society at large, and future generations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101440"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147420467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101443
Jae-hyuck Lee
The green–green conflict associated with renewable energy facilities suggests that plans should consider local conditions to minimize ecological damage, support existing industries, and enhance energy efficiency. However, the absence of spatial planning techniques that include local stakeholders can lead to conflicts, environmental destruction, and economic degradation. This study develops and applies an integrated statement-space Q methodology to address these challenges in the context of floating solar power development in Saemangeum, South Korea. Through analysis of 32 key stakeholders representing fishermen, government officials, environmental groups, businesses, and experts, we identified three distinct stakeholder perspectives: Fishery (prioritizing preservation of the fishing industry), Existing Plan (supporting efficient development with environmental safeguards), and Ecology (emphasizing ecological conservation). The integrated approach simultaneously analyzes policy and spatial preferences, revealing both areas of conflict and consensus. Results demonstrate that all stakeholder groups support development near existing infrastructure while avoiding ecologically sensitive areas, yet disagree on specific locations based on underlying concerns about livelihoods, efficiency, and habitat protection. The developed collaborative spatial plan demonstrates how renewable energy can be integrated with existing infrastructure, such as roads, utilize a single power grid linking onshore and offshore facilities, reduce environmental damage, maintain resident livelihoods, and connect to nearby industries. These findings advance theoretical understanding of green-green conflicts beyond binary energy-ecology tensions to encompass environmental justice dimensions, demonstrate how participatory methods can operationalize collaborative planning principles, and provide policy guidance for just and sustainable green transitions. The study contributes a replicable methodology for inclusive renewable energy planning that other jurisdictions can adapt to their contexts.
{"title":"Integrating stakeholder perspectives in the spatial planning of floating solar power plants: A case study using Q methodology","authors":"Jae-hyuck Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The green–green conflict associated with renewable energy facilities suggests that plans should consider local conditions to minimize ecological damage, support existing industries, and enhance energy efficiency. However, the absence of spatial planning techniques that include local stakeholders can lead to conflicts, environmental destruction, and economic degradation. This study develops and applies an integrated statement-space Q methodology to address these challenges in the context of floating solar power development in Saemangeum, South Korea. Through analysis of 32 key stakeholders representing fishermen, government officials, environmental groups, businesses, and experts, we identified three distinct stakeholder perspectives: Fishery (prioritizing preservation of the fishing industry), Existing Plan (supporting efficient development with environmental safeguards), and Ecology (emphasizing ecological conservation). The integrated approach simultaneously analyzes policy and spatial preferences, revealing both areas of conflict and consensus. Results demonstrate that all stakeholder groups support development near existing infrastructure while avoiding ecologically sensitive areas, yet disagree on specific locations based on underlying concerns about livelihoods, efficiency, and habitat protection. The developed collaborative spatial plan demonstrates how renewable energy can be integrated with existing infrastructure, such as roads, utilize a single power grid linking onshore and offshore facilities, reduce environmental damage, maintain resident livelihoods, and connect to nearby industries. These findings advance theoretical understanding of green-green conflicts beyond binary energy-ecology tensions to encompass environmental justice dimensions, demonstrate how participatory methods can operationalize collaborative planning principles, and provide policy guidance for just and sustainable green transitions. The study contributes a replicable methodology for inclusive renewable energy planning that other jurisdictions can adapt to their contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101443"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101416
Lindiwe Hayo , Peter Terrance Jacobs , Hideo Hasegawa
Cereal crop farming in South Africa is critical in supplying staple foods and for generating export revenue. However, intensified farming practices are tied to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, challenging national climate goals. This study employs the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis to analyze time-series data (1961–2021) and identify the cereal yield threshold where emissions begin to decline. The main goal is to find a turning point that balances food security with climate mitigation actions. Employing both parametric and nonparametric techniques, the analysis finds an inverted U-shaped link between cereal yield and emissions, with a turning point at 3.40 tonnes per hectare. The results confirm a nonlinear relationship, with linear and quadratic yield terms statistically significant at the 1 % and 5 % levels, respectively. Above the turning point, higher cereal yields correlate with lower emissions, supporting the feasibility of sustainable intensification strategies. These findings reveal a crucial emissions-reduction benchmark, linking mitigation measures with policy and supporting yield-linked carbon credit schemes to promote sustainable agriculture and lower emissions. The study advances EKC research in agriculture and offers actionable insights for integrating food security with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This research contributes to discussions on sustainable development and climate-smart agriculture.
{"title":"Cereal yield's effect on greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa: Examining the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis","authors":"Lindiwe Hayo , Peter Terrance Jacobs , Hideo Hasegawa","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cereal crop farming in South Africa is critical in supplying staple foods and for generating export revenue. However, intensified farming practices are tied to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, challenging national climate goals. This study employs the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis to analyze time-series data (1961–2021) and identify the cereal yield threshold where emissions begin to decline. The main goal is to find a turning point that balances food security with climate mitigation actions. Employing both parametric and nonparametric techniques, the analysis finds an inverted U-shaped link between cereal yield and emissions, with a turning point at 3.40 tonnes per hectare. The results confirm a nonlinear relationship, with linear and quadratic yield terms statistically significant at the 1 % and 5 % levels, respectively. Above the turning point, higher cereal yields correlate with lower emissions, supporting the feasibility of sustainable intensification strategies. These findings reveal a crucial emissions-reduction benchmark, linking mitigation measures with policy and supporting yield-linked carbon credit schemes to promote sustainable agriculture and lower emissions. The study advances EKC research in agriculture and offers actionable insights for integrating food security with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This research contributes to discussions on sustainable development and climate-smart agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101416"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daylighting urban waterways is one form of nature-based solution (NBS) gaining attention amongst cities internationally. Urban daylighting – which involves removing historically buried waterways from underground pipes and bringing them back to the surface – is an intensive form of NBS which can address urban stormwater management, reduce combined-sewage overflow issues, improve riparian habitat, and increase biodiversity. The process of reinserting a waterway in an urban environment makes daylighting an important context for analyzing urban NBS trade-offs and their associated justice implications. We use a typology of trade-offs – rigid, governance, and functional trade-offs – intersected with a socio-ecological justice lens to critically approach and understand the implications of trade-offs in urban daylighting projects. We apply this framework to the contemporary case study of daylighting Tibbetts Brook in The Bronx, New York City. Data was collected through interviews with stakeholders involved in the project, and street interviews, to capture the perceptions of trade-offs related to daylighting. We find governance trade-offs related to the inclusion of local community, and choices between accessibility and ecological functioning. Additionally, we identify functional trade-offs related to daylighting as infrastructural upgrades or maximized ecological benefits, considerations of future use and impacts, and the trade-off between novel and landscaped ecosystems. We examine the differentiated socio-ecological justice dilemmas associated with the trade-offs for diverse groups, including non-human nature. Moreover, we indicate how wider policy and social drivers interconnect and shape the trade-offs in daylighting Tibbetts Brook. Overall, we highlight the socio-ecological benefits that daylighting can provide, as well as the complexity of daylighting in cities and the interconnected infrastructural, social, and ecological factors which create justice dilemmas.
{"title":"Uncovering streams, dreams, and dilemmas: A case study analyzing trade-offs and justice in the urban stream daylighting of Tibbetts Brook in New York City, USA","authors":"Charlotte Stijnen , Katinka Wijsman , Timon McPhearson , Niki Frantzeskaki","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101391","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101391","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Daylighting urban waterways is one form of nature-based solution (NBS) gaining attention amongst cities internationally. Urban daylighting – which involves removing historically buried waterways from underground pipes and bringing them back to the surface – is an intensive form of NBS which can address urban stormwater management, reduce combined-sewage overflow issues, improve riparian habitat, and increase biodiversity. The process of reinserting a waterway in an urban environment makes daylighting an important context for analyzing urban NBS trade-offs and their associated justice implications. We use a typology of trade-offs – rigid, governance, and functional trade-offs – intersected with a socio-ecological justice lens to critically approach and understand the implications of trade-offs in urban daylighting projects. We apply this framework to the contemporary case study of daylighting Tibbetts Brook in The Bronx, New York City. Data was collected through interviews with stakeholders involved in the project, and street interviews, to capture the perceptions of trade-offs related to daylighting. We find governance trade-offs related to the inclusion of local community, and choices between accessibility and ecological functioning. Additionally, we identify functional trade-offs related to daylighting as infrastructural upgrades or maximized ecological benefits, considerations of future use and impacts, and the trade-off between novel and landscaped ecosystems. We examine the differentiated socio-ecological justice dilemmas associated with the trade-offs for diverse groups, including non-human nature. Moreover, we indicate how wider policy and social drivers interconnect and shape the trade-offs in daylighting Tibbetts Brook. Overall, we highlight the socio-ecological benefits that daylighting can provide, as well as the complexity of daylighting in cities and the interconnected infrastructural, social, and ecological factors which create justice dilemmas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101391"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101409
Monalin Mishra , A. Asutosh , Boopathy Ramasamy , Rajasekhar Reddy , Vamsi G , Trupti Das
Background
Bhubaneswar, a rapidly developing smart city in eastern India, faces persistent air quality challenges primarily due to vehicular emissions, construction, and industrial activities. Conventional monitoring in the city has been limited to a few fixed stations, providing insufficient spatial coverage to represent citywide pollution variability.
Methodology
To address this gap, a dense low-cost sensor (LCS) network comprising 21 stations was deployed across Bhubaneswar's residential, traffic, and industrial zones. The network operated continuously for one year (2022–2023), and the LCS-based PM2.5 and PM10 data were validated against co-located gravimetric reference measurements and compared with MERRA-2 reanalysis datasets to assess performance and spatial representativeness.
Major findings
The LCS-based PM2.5 measurements showed strong agreement with reference gravimetric data (r ∼ 0.92), confirming the reliability of the network for long-term urban monitoring. The observed PM2.5/PM10 ratio (∼0.92) indicated a dominant contribution from fine anthropogenic particles. The network identified pollution hotspots near major highways and dense traffic corridors, where pollutant concentrations exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for more than 50 % of the observation period. A notable positive weekend effect was observed across most stations, in contrast to trends reported for other Tier-II Indian cities.
Conclusions
This study provides the first high-resolution, yearlong characterization of PM pollution in Bhubaneswar using a citywide LCS network. The results highlight the potential of low-cost sensing systems for cost-effective, scalable urban air-quality surveillance and support the formulation of targeted mitigation strategies for rapidly urbanizing regions in the Global South.
{"title":"Insights from sensor-based hyperlocal air pollution measurements over Bhubaneswar, India","authors":"Monalin Mishra , A. Asutosh , Boopathy Ramasamy , Rajasekhar Reddy , Vamsi G , Trupti Das","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Bhubaneswar, a rapidly developing smart city in eastern India, faces persistent air quality challenges primarily due to vehicular emissions, construction, and industrial activities. Conventional monitoring in the city has been limited to a few fixed stations, providing insufficient spatial coverage to represent citywide pollution variability.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>To address this gap, a dense low-cost sensor (LCS) network comprising 21 stations was deployed across Bhubaneswar's residential, traffic, and industrial zones. The network operated continuously for one year (2022–2023), and the LCS-based PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> data were validated against co-located gravimetric reference measurements and compared with MERRA-2 reanalysis datasets to assess performance and spatial representativeness.</div></div><div><h3>Major findings</h3><div>The LCS-based PM<sub>2.5</sub> measurements showed strong agreement with reference gravimetric data (r ∼ 0.92), confirming the reliability of the network for long-term urban monitoring. The observed PM<sub>2.5</sub>/PM<sub>10</sub> ratio (∼0.92) indicated a dominant contribution from fine anthropogenic particles. The network identified pollution hotspots near major highways and dense traffic corridors, where pollutant concentrations exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for more than 50 % of the observation period. A notable positive weekend effect was observed across most stations, in contrast to trends reported for other Tier-II Indian cities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study provides the first high-resolution, yearlong characterization of PM pollution in Bhubaneswar using a citywide LCS network. The results highlight the potential of low-cost sensing systems for cost-effective, scalable urban air-quality surveillance and support the formulation of targeted mitigation strategies for rapidly urbanizing regions in the Global South.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101409"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101408
Rani Lefler , Yoram Reich
This article addresses the management of socially sensitive environmental projects that pose significant risks to human health, society, and the environment. Such projects require a careful balance between the interests of diverse stakeholders, as well as the evaluation of complex environmental, health, and economic impacts. We propose a unique systems engineering (SE) framework that integrates both established and innovative methods to improve project management, mitigate risks, and facilitate informed decision-making.
The methodology involves an interdisciplinary analysis of two actual case studies in Israel: the removal of friable asbestos from a school in Haifa and the proposed establishment of a phosphate mine in Sde Barir, near the city of Arad. Employing the systems thinking (ST) approach, the study integrates both conceptual and technical perspectives. ST provides an overarching worldview for understanding interdependencies, feedback loops, and social dynamics, while SE contributes structured processes, analytical rigor, and lifecycle management methods.
The study integrates a tailored combination of engineering and decision-support tools – including, but not limited to, After Action Review (AAR), the Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP), and Value-Oriented Requirements Analysis (VORA) – to construct a comprehensive framework for managing complex environmental risks and addressing diverse stakeholder concerns. The primary research question is: How can systems engineering frameworks and tools improve the management of socially sensitive environmental projects?
The framework evolved through two carefully selected case studies, each providing an in-depth examination of complex, socially sensitive environmental projects. These cases demonstrate the framework's potential and its capacity to be further strengthened through future applications in additional contexts. The findings indicate that integrating ST with a coordinated set of SE tools significantly improves the balance between competing objectives and enhances decision-making processes. This combined approach promotes a more holistic understanding of project dynamics, enabling better management of environmental, technical, and social dimensions within socially sensitive projects.
{"title":"Addressing environmental and societal challenges through systems thinking: Lessons from socially sensitive environmental projects","authors":"Rani Lefler , Yoram Reich","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article addresses the management of socially sensitive environmental projects that pose significant risks to human health, society, and the environment. Such projects require a careful balance between the interests of diverse stakeholders, as well as the evaluation of complex environmental, health, and economic impacts. We propose a unique systems engineering (SE) framework that integrates both established and innovative methods to improve project management, mitigate risks, and facilitate informed decision-making.</div><div>The methodology involves an interdisciplinary analysis of two actual case studies in Israel: the removal of friable asbestos from a school in Haifa and the proposed establishment of a phosphate mine in Sde Barir, near the city of Arad. Employing the systems thinking (ST) approach, the study integrates both conceptual and technical perspectives. ST provides an overarching worldview for understanding interdependencies, feedback loops, and social dynamics, while SE contributes structured processes, analytical rigor, and lifecycle management methods.</div><div>The study integrates a tailored combination of engineering and decision-support tools – including, but not limited to, After Action Review (AAR), the Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP), and Value-Oriented Requirements Analysis (VORA) – to construct a comprehensive framework for managing complex environmental risks and addressing diverse stakeholder concerns. The primary research question is: How can systems engineering frameworks and tools improve the management of socially sensitive environmental projects?</div><div>The framework evolved through two carefully selected case studies, each providing an in-depth examination of complex, socially sensitive environmental projects. These cases demonstrate the framework's potential and its capacity to be further strengthened through future applications in additional contexts. The findings indicate that integrating ST with a coordinated set of SE tools significantly improves the balance between competing objectives and enhances decision-making processes. This combined approach promotes a more holistic understanding of project dynamics, enabling better management of environmental, technical, and social dimensions within socially sensitive projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101408"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101400
Mohammad Forrukh Hossain Khan , Faysal Ahamed Akash , Shaik Muntasir Shovon , Istiak Ahmed , Tania Sultana Sweety
Mining is a significant driver of economic development in developing countries, fueling industrialization, employment, and infrastructure growth. Bangladesh, despite its limited geographic size, relies heavily on fossil fuels, with coal as a primary energy source for electricity generation. The Barapukuria Coal Mine, Bangladesh's only operational coal mine, underscores this dependency on coal. However, coal extraction is associated with substantial carbon emissions and environmental degradation. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the environmental impacts of coal mining in Bangladesh, identifying critical research gaps and addressing key dimensions such as water and stream sediment quality, soil and mine tailings management, and temperature fluctuations with cascading ecological effects. The analysis also examines public health implications, socio-economic impacts, land cover and land use changes, and air quality. The review further explores sustainable mitigation and management strategies to address these challenges. Comparative analyses with global case studies and advanced modeling approaches are recommended to enhance predictive understanding of the long-term environmental impacts of coal mining and to inform effective mitigation planning.
{"title":"Sustainability challenges and environmental consequences of the Barapukuria coal mine: A comprehensive review","authors":"Mohammad Forrukh Hossain Khan , Faysal Ahamed Akash , Shaik Muntasir Shovon , Istiak Ahmed , Tania Sultana Sweety","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mining is a significant driver of economic development in developing countries, fueling industrialization, employment, and infrastructure growth. Bangladesh, despite its limited geographic size, relies heavily on fossil fuels, with coal as a primary energy source for electricity generation. The Barapukuria Coal Mine, Bangladesh's only operational coal mine, underscores this dependency on coal. However, coal extraction is associated with substantial carbon emissions and environmental degradation. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the environmental impacts of coal mining in Bangladesh, identifying critical research gaps and addressing key dimensions such as water and stream sediment quality, soil and mine tailings management, and temperature fluctuations with cascading ecological effects. The analysis also examines public health implications, socio-economic impacts, land cover and land use changes, and air quality. The review further explores sustainable mitigation and management strategies to address these challenges. Comparative analyses with global case studies and advanced modeling approaches are recommended to enhance predictive understanding of the long-term environmental impacts of coal mining and to inform effective mitigation planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101400"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}