Search Results (6,767)

The potential of electric vehicles (EVs) to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector, crucial for meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, is obvious. Despite their advantages, the adoption of electric vehicles faces limitations, particularly those related to battery range and charging times, which significantly impact the time needed for a trip compared to their combustion engine counterparts. However, recent improvements in fast charging technology have enhanced these aspects, making EVs more suitable for both daily and long-distance trips. EVs can now deal with long trips, with travel times only slightly longer than those of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Fast charging capabilities and infrastructure, such as 350 kW chargers, are essential for making EV travel times comparable to ICE vehicles, with brief stops every 2–3 h. Additionally, EVs help reduce noise pollution in urban areas, especially in noise-saturated environments, contributing to an overall decrease in urban sound levels. However, this research highlights a downside of DC (Direct Current) fast charging stations: high-frequency noise emissions during fast charging, which can disturb nearby residents, especially in urban and residential areas. This noise, a result of the growing fast charging infrastructure, has led to complaints and even operational restrictions for some charging stations. Noise-related disturbances are a significant urban issue. The World Health Organization identifies noise as a key contributor to health burdens in Europe, even when noise annoyance is subjective, influenced by individual factors like sensitivity, genetics, and lifestyle, as well as by the specific environment. This paper analyzes the sound emission of a broad sample of DC fast charging stations from leading EU market brands. The goal is to provide tools that assist manufacturers, installers, and operators of rapid charging stations in mitigating the aforementioned sound emissions in order to align these infrastructures with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 11 adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Full article

Agribusiness ranks second as the sector with the highest greenhouse gas emissions linked to methane, constituting a crucial challenge for global sustainability. Although its impact on climate change is considerable, small rural farmers do not have effective technologies to manage the organic waste derived from their daily activities. In this context, anaerobic digestion is an innovative solution that converts waste into biogas and biofertilizers, promoting a sustainable and circular approach. However, its implementation faces significant barriers due to inadequate designs and poor operational practices, which makes its adoption difficult in rural areas. This applied theoretical research seeks to overcome these barriers by improving the design and operation of small-scale biogas plants. The system studied operates at 70% of its capacity, with a hydraulic retention time of 20 days and a feed of 4 kg organic matter. The substrates considered were 30% organic waste and 70% bovine manure, achieving an average production of 63.75 L CH₄/kg of organic matter, which exceeded the usual yields of small biodigesters. A mathematical model was created and applied to the case study with an R² correlation of 98% and a pseudo-R² of 89.5%, evidencing a remarkable predictive capacity. This biogas plant model is efficient and sustainable, and it is presented as a viable solution for small rural farmers. Full article

The rapid evolution of Li-ion battery technologies and manufacturing processes demands a continual update of environmental impact data. The general objective of this paper is to publish up-to-date primary data on battery manufacturing, which is of great importance to the scientific community and decision-makers. The environmental impacts have been calculated and estimated based on publicly available data disclosed under Hungarian government regulations and official decrees. The gate-to-gate energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water consumption, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) consumption are estimated for three battery factories in Hungary, with a total annual capacity of approximately 100 GWh. The factories use around 30–35 kWh energy per kWh of battery capacity and the associated GHG emissions are around 10 kgCO₂eq per kWh of cell production. The water consumption varies considerably among factories, with one plant using 28 L per kWh and the other two using 56 and 67 L per kWh. The specific consumption of NMP was calculated for two factories, resulting in close values of 0.51–0.56 kg per kWh of cell production. As a new approach, we distinguish between global and local GHG emissions related to battery production. The main component of the latter is carbon dioxide from the combustion of natural gas, but the local transport related to the battery factories is also a source of emissions. Our estimations include not only the consumptions required directly for the manufacturing technology, but also those for social purposes (e.g., heating offices), giving a more complete picture of the factory’s environmental impact. We believe that up-to-date primary data are crucial for ensuring transparency and holds significant value for both the scientific community and decision-makers. Full article

Greenhouse gas emissions are primary drivers of climate change, and the intensification of extreme heat and urban heat island effects poses serious threats to urban ecosystems, public health, and energy consumption. This study systematically evaluated the carbon reduction potential of 369 urban parks in Jinan during extreme heat events using land surface temperature (LST) retrieval, combined with CatBoost + SHAP machine learning methods. Results indicate that the LST in Jinan ranged from 1.77 °C to 59.44 °C, and 278 parks exhibited significant cooling effects, collectively saving 2943 tons of CO₂ per day—offsetting 11.28% of the city’s fossil fuel emissions. Small parks, such as community parks, demonstrated higher carbon-saving efficiency (CSE), while large ecological parks showed greater carbon-saving intensity (CSI). CSE was strongly correlated with vegetation coverage and surrounding population density, with efficiency increasing when the vegetation index was within 0.3–0.7 and population density ranged 0–5000 or 15,000–22,500 people. CSI was influenced by evapotranspiration and park geometric form, increasing significantly when the park area exceeded 250 hectares or evapotranspiration ranged 2.5–6.0. However, elevation and albedo negatively impacted both metrics, with the lowest CSI observed when elevation exceeded 150 m or albedo surpassed 18%. Full article

Climate change is a contemporary global challenge that requires comprehensive solutions to mitigate its adverse effects. All human activities contribute to climate change, mainly through atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and methane (CH₄). While most of these emissions are primarily due to fossil fuel use, agriculture and livestock production also contribute to a significant share of approximately 12% of global emissions. Most processes that are implemented within an animal husbandry unit are associated with greenhouse gas emissions, including manure management. This review explores the interconnection between climate change and manure management practices, highlighting the potential for sustainable approaches to mitigating GHG emissions. The key strategies for manure management, such as anaerobic digestion, nutrient management, composting, manure separation and treatment, and improved storage and handling, are discussed, as they are implemented in different livestock production systems (ruminants, poultry, and pigs). Despite the technological progress, there is still a place for further improving manure management approaches, especially in non-ruminant species leading to a higher mitigation potential and a reduction in greenhouse gases emissions. Moreover, policy support and incentives for sustainable practices are crucial for widespread adoption. Full article

The integration of biogas and photovoltaic solar energy systems in sanitary landfills represents a promising strategy for sustainable energy generation and efficient urban waste management. This study evaluates the potential for biogas and photovoltaic energy production in two cells of the Municipal Landfill of Chihuahua, Mexico. Using the LandGEM and MMB models (Landfill Gas Emission Model and the Mexican Biogas Model), biogas generation was estimated by considering the composition of the landfill gas and the characteristics of the cover in each cell, revealing notable differences due to their operational periods and waste deposition. Photovoltaic simulations, conducted with the HelioScope software 2020, evaluated spatial configurations and solar radiation data. The generation potential for 2025 was simulated using predictive models, yielding results between 25.48 and 26.08 MW for the biogas–photovoltaic system, depending on the orientation of the panels and the optimization of the coverage. The novelty of this work lies in the combined evaluation of biogas and photovoltaic potential within a single landfill site, integrating advanced modeling tools to optimize system design. By demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of this hybrid system, the study contributes to clean energy solutions, environmental mitigation, and improved waste management strategies. Our findings emphasize the importance of site-specific management practices and predictive modeling to enhance renewable energy production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting sustainable urban development initiatives. Full article

Global warming and ozone layer depletion signal the onset of climate change, a “slow-onset” disaster exacerbating poverty and social inequality. Addressing this requires global cooperation, as exemplified by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13, which focuses on climate action. Mitigation measures include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to clean energy, and enhancing community resilience. Social workers play a crucial role in climate change adaptation, engaging in community resilience, advocacy, and policy influence. Their work spans individual counseling, social protection, and addressing environmental refugee crises. As climate change impacts intensify, social workers must expand their roles internationally, advocating for human rights, social justice, and disaster risk reduction. Human rights frameworks guide social workers in addressing climate-related health and social inequalities, emphasizing empowerment and equity. International social workers contribute significantly to disaster response, pandemic recovery, and community resilience, advocating for vulnerable populations and promoting sustainable development. Their evolving role underscores the need for a comprehensive, transnational approach to social protection, ensuring equitable access to resources and fostering a more just and resilient global community. Full article

Since the Industrial Revolution, climate change has intensified due to rising greenhouse gas emissions, leading to severe environmental impacts. Given the building sector’s significant contribution to climate change, the circular economy has emerged as a key mitigation strategy. Despite political support and some advancements, significant barriers persist in the building sector’s transition to the circular economy. This article explores the pivotal role of stakeholders as essential agents of change, highlighting the necessity of a concentrated effort on stakeholder engagement in the building sector’s circular economy transition. Using an online questionnaire, this article evaluated the current status of the building sector, as well as stakeholders’ awareness, roles, and perspectives on the transition. The results revealed that while stakeholders are aware of their environmental impacts, knowledge gaps persist, particularly in waste management and circular economy practices. The stakeholders recognize that the transition is happening, but there is a sense of uncertainty about its effectiveness due to substantial barriers. Despite these barriers, there is an increasing commitment toward the practices of the circular economy, underscoring the need for policy development, infrastructure provision, and training programs to support the transition. This article contributes to the literature by providing insights into key stakeholders’ perspectives and offering actionable strategies to enhance engagement for a more effective transition to the circular economy in the building sector. Full article

This work shows a proposal for reducing emissions, fuel costs, and respiratory disease hospitalizations using environmental cost accounting principles for the production of biodiesel production from waste frying oil (WFO). PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and O₃ data from 2017 to 2022 were collected and correlated with the number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases and their costs. WFO samples were collected locally from households and restaurants in the greater ABC region, Brazil, and biodiesel was produced using the samples. The results showed that throughout the studied period, one or more of the polluting gases showed a strong correlation with hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases, corroborating what has already been verified by other studies carried out by the WHO. WFO biodiesel was within the standard limits, and the total annual production was estimated to be 30,435 m³; moreover, the associated annual carbon credits would equal 67 tCO₂, as well as a decrease of 30% in total pollutant emissions. Environmental cost accounting revealed that the annual number of respiratory disease hospitalizations could decrease by 3093 and the associated healthcare cost would decrease by USD 838 thousand per year; moreover, the sale of biodiesel and byproducts can generate an annual profit of USD 19 million. The biodiesel plant project had an NPV of USD 172.5 million, a payback of 1 month, and a return on investment of more than 170 times the initial financing. In addition, the reputation and the quality of life of the greater ABC region’s residents could improve. Full article

This research evaluates the technical and economic aspects of solar photovoltaic (PV) power installations on farmland, utilizing a simulation model in MATLAB to forecast annual system output based on nominal power and meteorological data. This study compares various configurations, including single-sided versus double-sided modules and fixed versus tracker structures, to determine their efficiency, losses, and economic viability. The findings indicate that, while theoretically superior technologies may offer better production rates, their economic feasibility varies significantly depending on specific project conditions. The main conclusions drawn from this research emphasize that land-based PV systems present a promising solution for sustainable energy generation. By addressing challenges such as solar energy intermittency and the need for supportive infrastructure, this study highlights the potential for these systems to significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy resilience. This analysis underscores the importance of optimizing configurations to maximize both technical performance and economic returns, ultimately supporting a transition towards a more sustainable energy future. Full article

Composting is an environmentally friendly method for transforming the nutrients present in livestock manure into organic fertilizer. In this study, the compost quality-enhancing and N₂O and CH₄ emissions-reducing effects of superphosphate were investigated during industrial-scale in-vessel composting of swine manure. Alongside a control group, three different doses of superphosphate were tested: 5% (SSP5), 10% (SSP10), and 15% (SSP15). The results revealed that the superphosphate reduced the N₂O and CH₄ emissions by 18.5–26.3% and 15.8–25.1%, respectively. In addition, the superphosphate enhanced both the N and P contents of the compost. However, it had an adverse impact on compost maturity, with the SSP15 dose showing the lowest germination index (GI) at 70.4% and the highest electrical conductivity (EC) at 9.04 mS·cm⁻¹. These findings suggest that superphosphate has potential for greenhouse gas mitigation and nutrient augmentation in industrial composting. Although the economic benefits of superphosphate addition for GHG reduction are limited, the technology holds considerable economic potential for nitrogen conservation. Further investigations should focus on combining superphosphate addition with other improvements, considering both compost quality and economic viability. Full article

Farmed edible insects are considered a potential resource to help address food security concerns toward the year 2050. The sustainability (e.g., lower environmental impact), nutritional (e.g., high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, fiber, unsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals) and health (e.g., antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory) benefits are the main reasons for the rise in interest for insects as alternative protein sources for food and feed production. Thus, edible insects can address the future global protein demand of an ever-increasing world population. In this context, several aspects related to their sustainability have been explored and addressed from an environmental perspective. This review describes the rationale for using insects as alternative protein sources and provides a comprehensive viewpoint, integrating economic, environmental, and social aspects into their sustainability framework toward addressing food insecurity concerns. For example, edible insects offer a more sustainable protein source comparable to, or even better than, that of conventional livestock. Considering their sustainability advantages, insects are noted for their lower impact on natural resources (e.g., water and agrarian land) and lower greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane). From a socioeconomic point of view, edible insects have lower production costs compared to conventional animal protein sources because of their high feed efficiency conversion, rapid growth rate, and short life cycles. Currently, the market for edible, farmed insects is becoming a significant economic activity that not only meets the needs of industry and consumers but also supports the ability of future generations to maintain a secure and sustainable community. Full article

Google Earth Engine (GEE) is a cloud-based platform revolutionizing geospatial analysis by providing access to vast satellite datasets and computational capabilities for monitoring environmental and societal issues. It incorporates machine learning (ML) techniques and algorithms as part of its tools for analyzing and processing large geospatial data. This review explores the diverse applications of GEE in monitoring and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and uptakes. GEE is a cloud-based platform built on Google’s infrastructure for analyzing and visualizing large-scale geospatial datasets. It offers large datasets for monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and understanding their environmental impact. By leveraging GEE’s capabilities, researchers have developed tools and algorithms to analyze remotely sensed data and accurately quantify GHG emissions and uptakes. This review examines progress and trends in GEE applications, focusing on monitoring carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide/nitrogen dioxide (N₂O/NO₂) emissions. It discusses the integration of GEE with different machine learning methods and the challenges and opportunities in optimizing algorithms and ensuring data interoperability. Furthermore, it highlights GEE’s role in pinpointing emission hotspots, as demonstrated in studies monitoring uptakes. By providing insights into GEE’s capabilities for precise monitoring and mapping of GHGs, this review aims to advance environmental research and decision-making processes in mitigating climate change. Full article

This paper presents a flexible and scalable battery system for maritime transportation, integrating modular converters and hybrid battery technologies that are effectively implemented in real-world scenarios. The proposed system is realized with modular DC-DC converters, which do not require complex design and control or a high number of components and combine high-power (HP) and high-energy (HE) battery cells to optimize the energy and power requirements of vessel operations without oversizing the energy storage system. Moreover, the modular design ensures flexibility and scalability, allowing for easy adaptation to varying operational demands. In particular, the system topology, control mechanisms, and communication protocols are explained in this paper. The concept has been validated through simulations and real-scale laboratory tests, demonstrating its effectiveness. Key results highlight the system’s ability to maintain the DC bus voltage while operating at high efficiency (ranging from 97% to 98%) under different load conditions, supported by reliable and demanding real-time communication using the EtherCAT standard. This real-time capability has been validated, and related results are presented in this paper, showing a synchronization accuracy below 200 ns between two modules and a stable control at a cycle time of 400 µs. This approach offers a promising solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry, aligning with global sustainability goals. Full article

The proper functioning of peatlands depends on maintaining an adequate groundwater table, which is essential for ecosystem services beyond water retention. Most degraded peatlands have been drained for agriculture or forestry primarily through ditch construction. Rewetting through ditch blocking is the most common initial step in peatland restoration. This study analyzed the hydrological response to ditch blocking in three drained raised bogs in Norway (Aurstadmåsan, Midtfjellmåsan and Kaldvassmyra) using a Before–After–Control–Impact (BACI) design. Following rewetting, all sites demonstrated an average increase in groundwater levels of 6 cm across all piezometers affected by ditch blocking. The spatial influence of ditch blocking extended 12.7–24.8 m from the ditch with an average of 17.2 m. Additionally, rewetting increased the duration of favorable groundwater levels for peatland functioning by 27.7%. These findings highlight the effectiveness of ditch blocking in restoring hydrological conditions, although its impact is spatially limited. Future assessments should also address vegetation recovery and greenhouse gas emission reductions to ensure comprehensive restoration success. Full article