Climate Change Research Articles

Towards a Greener Future: Sustainable Banking Practices in Bangladesh's Commercial Banks

Green Banking is nowadays the most crucial issues in the financial arena. Globally the financial institutions are trying to accord to conserve the environment. The central bank of Bangladesh also formed some policy regulations for the banks and financial institutions to gain feasible development. The prime objectives of such article toward present the current status of sustainable banking practices of commercial banks in Bangladesh. A questionnaire survey method was used to collect required data about green banking awareness, online banking, greener future, natural environment, ethical and energy efficiency, training for consumer awareness, communication transaction, solar& biogas, green deposits and accounts, sustainability of banking, minimizing greenhouse effects, reducing carbon footprint from banking activities, pollution checkup camps, mitigate the risk of climate change, focuses on saving paper, debit & credit cards practices on 300 employees of different commercial banks. Also secondary data was collected from various articles to learn throughout the green banking implementation. From this research it has been figured out that there is designed green banking practices of merchant banks in Bangladesh. In order to improve the degree of satisfaction, motivation of clients various programs are offered by the commercial banks. This report is not sufficient for developing any conclusion but still the report may be useful for designing any further study to evaluate the green banking facilities provided by the financial institutions in Bangladesh.

Climate silence: a comparative study of governmental and non-governmental messaging on soil health in Wisconsin, USA

ABSTRACT Soils are the foundation of healthy ecosystems, and promoting soil health is a primary aim of agricultural strategies intended to sequester carbon and combat climate change. In this exploratory study, we conducted a qualitative content analysis to characterize soil health messaging from 10 governmental and 10 non-governmental sources targeting Wisconsin farmers. Data were collected through internet searches, focusing on accessible web content from governmental agencies, public universities, and local offices, as well as prominent industry, nonprofit, and advocacy groups within the agricultural sector. A coding framework, developed through an iterative and inductive approach, identified six primary categories and 37 sub-categories representing key themes in soil health messaging. The study compared messaging across source types by analyzing code term frequency, highlighting differences in content emphasis between governmental and non-governmental sources. Findings indicate that governmental messaging largely advocates for conservation agriculture and associated principles but does not reference climate change nor connections between soil health and broader environmental issues. In contrast, non-governmental messaging offers a wider array of information while drawing connections among soil health, organic agriculture, ecosystem health, and climate change. The omission of climate change by governmental sources may be a significant constraint on soil health discourse and climate action.

ASSESSING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAZILIAN ELECTRIC VEHICLES MARKET: A STUDY INTEGRATING A STRUCTURE-CONDUCT-PERFORMANCE (SCP) MODEL AND A PESTEL ANALYSIS

Climate change is one of the biggest political and economic challenges faced by global economy. To slow down climate change, mitigation actions and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets have been adopted, promoting electric vehicles (EVs) globally. In Brazil, however, emission reduction strategies for the transport sector are based on the broad use of biofuels. This paper studies the Brazilian light-duty vehicle EVs market investigating the reasons behind its current state. A Structure-Conduct-Performance Model with a PESTEL Analysis and the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index integrated to the structure analysis was used. The Brazilian EV market has grown in the period from 2019 to 2023, albeit timidly and restricted to a luxury market. The lack of actions promoting electric mobility, a less than promising economic scenario, the challenges in implementing a charging infrastructure and the conduct of the incumbent firm in the market – investing in high priced hybrid models – contribute to low penetration of EVs in the market and the dominance of hybrids amongst them. In the light of these findings, this study highlights that the Brazilian EVs market would benefit from public policies developed to promote electric mobility, and investment of private companies to develop EV models with more competitive prices.

The protein transition—environmental footprints of farmed fish, microalgae and chicken for food, a case study in Kenya

AbstractChallenges of land scarcity, climate change and water shortage are contributing to escalating the shortage of protein rich food in sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya a total of 27.8% of the population was undernourished, and a total of 72.3% were categorised as moderately or severe food insecure in 2021–2022. The need to investigate alternative protein sources with less impacts on land, water and climate change, which potentially could replace, at least some of the current production of livestock as the main protein source, is getting increasingly urgent. The main aim of this study is therefore to conduct an environmental footprint analysis of favourable protein production systems in Kenya to evaluate environmental impacts on land, water, and climate. The methodological approach used in this study is referred to as environmental footprint analysis, which is applied to assess; (1) farmed fish in ponds, (2) farmed fish in solar based affordable recirculation aquaculture systems (A-RAS), (3) dried spirulina (Arthrospira Platensis), and (4) chicken from semi-intensive farms. The results show that the most promising alternatives to cattle production are dried spirulina produced in ponds, followed by fish produced in affordable recirculation systems (A-RAS) run on solar energy. Spirulina fully replacing beef production would reduce water usage with 34.7 billion m3/year, land/water surface area with 34.8 thousand km2/year, and GHG emission with 28.2 megaton CO2eq/year. For fish farmed in A-RAS, such replacement would reduce water, land and emissions with 30.7 billion m3/year, 32.0 thousand km2/ year and 23.0 megaton CO2eq/year, respectively. This study illustrates that it is possible to tackle urgent challenges of food and nutrition security for millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa and worldwide with a sustainable protein transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive production system of small-scale farmers, if making use of alternative protein sources, such as from solar based A-RAS and microalgae.

Framing of Flood News in The Borneo Post, a Regional Malaysian Newspaper

In recent years, climate change and unpredictable weather are causing more frequent severe floods in various areas, but little is understood about how regional newspapers shape public reactions to and preparations for natural disasters. This study investigated the framing of flood news by The Borneo Post, an English-language newspaper circulated in Sarawak, Malaysia. The specific aspects examined were: (a) frequency of thematic and episodic framing of flood events and (b) frame dimensions used in articles. Altogether 76 articles (25,676 words) on floods published by The Borneo Post from 1 January to 31 December 2023 were analysed. All articles were in the episodic frame. The main frame dimension was attribution of responsibility (79%), where authorities act as disseminators and narrators of disaster facts. However, the absence of thematic framing of floods lowers attribution of responsibility to authorities to plan long-term solutions to flooding. The economic consequences frame ranked second (14.5%), emphasising losses suffered. Little attention was given to human interest (3.9%) or conflict (1.3%). There was no morality frame, and 1.3% of articles were fact-filled and did not have an obvious frame dimension. The findings suggest that fact-focused flood reporting lacking the humanity element may not move readers to action.

The Promise of Resistance: A New Lens for Climate Change Adaptation Research and Practice

ABSTRACTOver the years, thousands of climate change adaptation projects have been implemented globally. While there has been substantial scholarship on the extent and nature of adaptation efforts, fewer studies have examined why and how adaptation projects are being resisted. An analysis of resistance to adaptation offers critical insights to scholars and practitioners by recognizing the contentious nature of adaptation pathways and highlighting alternative visions for adaptation. Drawing on 20 case studies identified through a systematic review of the literature, we identify nine insights for research and practice. First, there is little literature on resistance to adaptation, suggesting that it is being underreported. Second, resistance to adaptation is not an anomaly, spanning sectors, actors, and geographies. Third, resistance to adaptation initiatives often has little to do with climate change skepticism. Fourth, the modes and outcomes of resistance are creative and diverse. Fifth, the state plays a critical, but not uniform, role in adaptation and thus resistance. Sixth, formal participation mechanisms can accommodate, neutralize, or facilitate resistance to adaptation. Seventh, the diverse goals of resistance reflect the multiplicity of imagined adaptation futures. Eighth, resistance is generative of material outcomes and novel subjectivities. Ninth, resistance can be costly, fracturing, and ineffective. This review highlights the need to further investigate resistance to climate change adaptation, which should be seen as a site of political struggle between different conceptions of what adaptation is and should be. It also provides insights for identifying maladaptation and pathways toward more emancipative forms of adaptation.

Dynamic Coupling Between Intensified Physical Erosion and Asian Dust Activity Under Late Cenozoic Global Cooling

AbstractDistinguishing the independent contributions of tectonic denudation and climate‐driven erosion on the production and supply of clastic materials of Chinese eolian deposits is important in understanding the dynamic links between global climate changes, tectonics, and Asian dust emission. Here, multi‐proxy rock magnetic records of detrital fractions of Chinese eolian deposits since ∼6 Ma, combined with further comparison with dust accumulation rates and geochemical data, suggest that limited production and supply of clastic materials of Chinese eolian deposits were observed between 5.6 and 4.4 Ma in a warmer climate, and thereafter an increasing trend is evident during a cooler world. We propose that intense physical erosion under cooler conditions caused increasing production of fresh detrital components, exerting dominant influences on the sediment supply to Asian eolian deposits. This study provides direct evidence of dynamic coupling between intensified physical erosion and Asian dust activity under late Cenozoic global cooling.

Aware and In Denial: Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet as Climate Fiction

With each of its four books named after a season, Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet (2016–20) is structured according to life’s cyclical time patterns. As with all of Smith’s fiction, these novels are characterised by metamorphosis and transition. The Seasonal Quartet, however, also registers a sense of loss, as when one of the characters in Autumn laments the time “[w]hen we still had seasons, not just the monoseason we have now.” In this paper, I take up these and other references strewn through the novels and propose to read these four novels as climate fiction. Rather than representing grand-scale destruction and dislocation, however, the Seasonal Quartet registers the minute disruptions of and changes in our everyday lives due to anthropogenic climate change. The narrative form of Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer shows how the conditions of life in the present are affected and altered by climate change, whether it concerns changing weather patterns, migration patterns, and so on. The novels house both characters who are acutely aware of the current crisis, as well as those who remain in denial; as novels, however, they do make visible the effects of humanity having entered the Anthropocene. The Seasonal Quartet, therefore, shows how the radically other of our planet’s ecological and meteorological systems has entered and started to shape human lives. If these novels disclose the loss of the world as we have known it, they also find a more hospitable home in the world of art. In art, there is connection and the potentiality of a new world.

Shedding light on biodiversity: reviewing existing knowledge and exploring hypothesised impacts of agrophotovoltaics

ABSTRACTThe growing demand for energy and the shift towards green energy solutions have led to the conversion of open spaces and agricultural fields into photovoltaic (PV) power plants, exacerbating the “food–energy–environment” trilemma. Agrophotovoltaics (APVs), a dual‐use system combining agriculture and energy production on the same land, presents a potential solution to this challenge. While the environmental impacts of ground‐mounted utility‐scale PV (USPV) power plants and the effects of APV systems on agricultural yields have been extensively studied and reviewed, the implications for wildlife and biodiversity remain largely unexplored. This knowledge gap is pressing, given the accelerated global adoption of APV systems and the urgency of understanding their broader ecological consequences. In this concise review, we synthesise existing literature on the impacts of USPV installations on biodiversity and the effects of APV on crop production. Building on these foundations, we propose novel hypotheses concerning the potential pathways and mechanisms through which APV systems may influence biodiversity. We explore the complex interactions between agroecosystems and natural ecosystems, examining both direct and indirect effects. Our review culminates in a set of key research questions designed to guide future studies on the biodiversity outcomes of APV deployment. Future research should comprehensively address factors such as habitat type, climate, spatial scale, technology, and agricultural practices, as well as the overarching impacts of climate change. By highlighting the importance of these variables, we aim to facilitate a nuanced understanding of how APV systems can either support or undermine biodiversity. This work not only underscores the critical need for empirical studies in this emerging field but also sets the stage for more informed and sustainable implementation of APV technologies.

A review of migratory Alosidae marine ecology in the northwest Atlantic

AbstractMigratory animals play a crucial role in connecting distinct habitats by transferring matter and energy across ecosystem boundaries. In the North Atlantic, anadromous species exemplify this through their movement between freshwater and marine environments. Alosids, including species such as alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), and American shad (Alosa sapidissima), exhibit this migratory behavior to maximize growth and fecundity and are, therefore, vital components of Atlantic coastal ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, these species have experienced considerable population declines. Due to a research focus on dams and the freshwater phase of their ecology, the marine ecology of Alosids remains much less understood, potentially hindering effective management. This paper synthesizes current knowledge on the marine ecology of anadromous alewife, blueback herring, and American shad in the northwest Atlantic, focusing on life‐history aspects, migratory patterns, and foraging behavior at sea. The paper also outlines current fisheries management and the anthropogenic threats these species face during their marine phase. We identified knowledge gaps regarding marine distribution, migration routes, impacts of climate change on movement and behavior, population dynamics, and the identification of gaspereau. By identifying gaps in the literature, we highlight research needs, emphasizing the role of telemetry studies in tracking marine movements and the impact of climate change on habitat use. Addressing these gaps through targeted research on marine ecology and movement patterns is essential for developing informed management strategies aimed at increasing Alosid populations.

Vulnerability assessment of English and Welsh coastal areas

The escalating threat of climate change has placed global coastal communities at risk, with rising sea levels and intensified storm events presenting unprecedented challenges. Coastal vulnerability assessments, conducted every 3–5 years, are crucial. This empirical study assesses the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) for the distinct coastal contexts of Dawlish, Happisburgh (England), and Aberystwyth (Wales). The CVI method consists of the Physical Coastal Vulnerability Index (PCVI) and the Economic Coastal Vulnerability Index (ECVI), which provide a multidimensional assessment of vulnerability for coastal zones. This integrated index allows for a nuanced evaluation of vulnerability, distinguishing between sites based on various factors. Additionally, this study conducted a correlation analysis to understand the associations between the parameters. The findings demonstrate that physical features like beach and dune widths significantly impact a location’s natural defences, and economic factors such as property values and population density are equally crucial in determining societal risks and potential financial repercussions. The Combined Coastal Vulnerability Index (CCVI) results confirm the effectiveness of incorporating a diverse range of variables. Despite its substantial economic value, it reveals that Dawlish requires targeted protective measures, whereas Happisburgh needs an increased focus on its most vulnerable sectors. Aberystwyth emerges as the area with the highest overall vulnerability, underscoring the need for comprehensive coastal management practices. The study’s conclusions emphasize the essential role of adaptive, integrated management strategies in enhancing coastal resilience against the complex threats posed by climate dynamics. Moving forward, the indices established herein advocate for their use in strategic planning and policymaking to strengthen coastal regions in the face of sea-level rise and climatic variability. This investigation lays the groundwork for future research, aimed at refining and expanding these methodologies, aspiring to develop a detailed national coastal vulnerability atlas, a critical tool for informed decision-making and safeguarding at-risk communities.

Navigating Carbon Peaking and Neutrality in MENA: The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment and Trade Openness Using Panel PCSE and FGLS Techniques

ABSTRACTIn response to the global challenge of climate change and the drive towards carbon neutrality, this study investigates the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade openness (TO) on carbon emissions (CEM) within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The research spans 18 countries from 1990 to 2022, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 13. Utilizing Porter's hypothesis and the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory, the study applies quantitative methods including panel corrected standard errors (PCSE) and feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) to ensure robustness. To address potential endogeneity, two‐stage least squares and lagged effect estimations are employed. The findings reveal that both FDI and TO are associated with reduced CEM, indicating positive environmental impacts. Also, the pairwise causality tests show bidirectional causality between FDI, TO, and CEM, while a unidirectional causality is found from industrialization (IND) and energy consumption (EC) to CEM. These results underscore the importance of integrating FDI and TO into strategies for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing sustainable development goals, offering actionable insights for policymakers.

LEGISLAÇÃO E REGULAMENTAÇÃO SOBRE A EMISSÃO DE GASES DE EFEITO ESTUFA NA NAVEGAÇÃO: ESTADO, EVOLUÇÃO E IMPACTOS NO BRASIL

This paper analyzes aspects of international and Brazilian legislation on maritime transport activities and the actions of Brazilian authorities and companies in the sector to ensure compliance with existing environmental requirements, with emphasis on the control of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The paper analyzes the ongoing climate change process and international initiatives to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by economic activity sectors, with an emphasis on maritime transport activities in Brazil, A bibliographical research was conducted on greenhouse gas emissions through scientific articles, government websites and websites of various entities and organizations. A survey was conducted on the initiatives of companies in the sector and on the perception of shipping professionals about the state and prospects for progress in the implementation of measures to mitigate emissions on vessels. The results showed that the regional approach complements global regulations and reinforces the need for a coordinated response to address the environmental challenges posed by international shipping and that the integration of these international regulations is essential to promote sustainable practices and ensure global compliance.

Uneven global retreat of persistent mountain snow cover alongside mountain warming from ERA5-land

The warming of mountains has become evident in recent years, with a mean global warming rate of 1.19 °C from 1979 to 2022. However, unveiling the global divergent decline of persistent mountain snow cover in the face of climate shifts remains unexplored. However, the global decline of persistent mountain snow cover due to climate change is not well understood. This study uses reanalysis and satellite data to examine changes in snow cover lasting over six months across our global mountain regions. We reveal a significant global mean decline of 7.79% in persistent snow cover over the past 44 years. The regional snow cover trends exhibit a heterogeneous and non-linear response to its regional warming rate. Our findings highlight the interplay between global warming and snow cover, emphasizing the need for sustainable development strategies to address the potential impacts of diminishing mountain snow.

Contributions of ecological restoration policies to China’s land carbon balance

Unleashing the land sector’s potential for climate mitigation requires purpose-driven changes in land management. However, contributions of past management changes to the current global and regional carbon cycles remain unclear. Here, we use vegetation modelling to reveal how a portfolio of ecological restoration policies has impacted China’s terrestrial carbon balance through developing counterfactual ‘no-policy’ scenarios. Pursuing conventional policies and assuming no changes in climate or atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) since 1980 would have led China’s land sector to be a carbon source of 0.11 Pg C yr−1 for 2001–2020, in stark contrast to a sink of 175.9 Tg C yr−1 in reality. About 72.7% of this difference can be attributed to land management changes, including afforestation and reforestation (49.0%), reduced wood extraction (21.8%), fire prevention and suppression (1.6%) and grassland grazing exclusion (0.3%). The remaining 27.3% come from changes in atmospheric CO2 (42.2%) and climate (−14.9%). Our results underscore the potential of active land management in achieving ‘carbon-neutrality’ in China.

Assessment of climate change knowledge of residents of informal sectors of Abuja Federal Capital City, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Urban informal settlement dwellers face uncertainties from climate change (CC) and need to understand its causes and impacts to adapt effectively. Few studies explore their levels of CC knowledge. This research surveyed 388 purposively selected households across five informal sectors in Abuja, Nigeria (Apo, Gaduwa, Garki, Jabi, and Mabushi), using structured questionnaires. Key variables assessed for their influence on CC knowledge included age, family size, education, income, livelihood type, tenure security, and marital status. Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests evaluated the significance of these factors. Findings showed that most households are aware of local CC trends, with perceptions closely aligning with scientific insights. However, understanding of CC causes and consequences remains limited. Among seven hypotheses tested, age, family size, income, and livelihood type significantly influenced CC knowledge, while education, tenure security, and marital status had little effect. The study highlights that even educated residents may lack comprehensive knowledge of CC causes. Enhancing scientific understanding in CC-prone communities is essential for effective adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Climate Change Perception, Climate Change Anxiety, & Pro-environmental Behaviors of Tertiary Students

The Philippines is one of the most climate change-vulnerable countries in the world. As the climate crisis pose physical and mental threats, it is crucial to understand the factors affecting environmental behavior. However, local studies on the role of Psychology in encouraging pro-environmental behaviors (PEB) appear to be few in the Philippines. This study was designed to determine the level and the predictive ability of climate change perception (CCP) and climate change anxiety (CCA) on PEB. A stepwise regression analysis was used on data collected from 430 stratified randomly sampled tertiary students in Bacolod city, Philippines who completed the Climate Change Perception Scale, Climate Change Anxiety Scale, and Pro-environmental Behavior Scale. Results showed that the parsimonious model that include climate change anxiety (t=13.585, p=.000) and climate change perception (t=6.409, p=.000) significantly predicted pro-environmental behaviors F(1, 426) = 115.284, p < .001, adj. R2 = .349. Further, findings indicate that 34.9% of the variance in the pro-environmental behaviors can be explained by the model. In conclusion, when tertiary students experience higher levels of climate change anxiety and perceive climate change as a significant threat, they are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. Results suggest a need for further research in determining other factors that predict PEB. This study contributes to the scarce literature on Environmental Psychology in the country.

Mann-Kendall and Sen's Slope Estimator Test to Analyze Trends for Temperature and Rainfall in Eastern Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh, India

In the past ten years, climate change has gained significant attention. Global climate change does not always affect various places in the same way. One important weather factor associated with climate change is rainfall. An appropriate first step in assessing how climate change may impact food security and water availability is to examine patterns in temperature and rainfall. The temperature, precipitation, and changes at several Arunachal Pradesh districts from 2001 to 2021 are examined in this study. We examined fourteen districts using the Mann-Kendall (MK) and Sen's Slope estimator test, which may identify long-term monotonic trends as well as variations in temperature and rainfall. The maximum and lowest temperature data revealed notable upward and decrease patterns, indicating that the region had experienced a change in climate. Nonetheless, there was an increase in rainfall patterns.

Challenges and Strategies for the Sustainable Architectural Education in the Context of Post-Urbanization and Climate Change

The transformation of urbanization patterns due to the pandemic and climate change have significantly reshaped construction market demands, presenting substantial challenges to current architectural education (AE) models. In order to address these challenges and propose effective reform strategies, this study utilizes questionnaires and expert interviews to gather perspectives from architecture students and professionals in a Chinese university. The findings highlight three main issues in AE: (1) misalignment between talent development stages and educational goals; (2) slow updates to curriculum content, leading to lagging behind the needs of times; and (3) inadequate integration of curriculum design with practical application, coupled with excessively lengthy academic programs. To address these challenges, the study proposes the strategies: (1) adopting multi-objective and multi-track approaches for educational goals; (2) reducing length of programs and implementing flexible academic structures; and (3) developing curricula that integrate knowledge with practice. This research offers valuable insights for reforming architectural education within the framework of sustainable development, emphasizing the need for educational goals, curriculum, and cultivation system to evolve to meet the demands of modern practice and development.

Not one inconvenient truth, but many: emergency narratives and climate change

ABSTRACT A crisis is a decisive moment that can provide an opportunity for a change, but also reaffirm power asymmetries. This conceptual article highlights the Janus-faced character of declaring a climate emergency. More than 2,300 municipalities worldwide have done so. On the one hand, climate crisis and emergency narratives imply a disruption in which the dominant economic system is collectively challenged, enabling citizens to exercise power with others for greater sustainability. On the other hand, climate knowledge is often perceived as conclusive, paving the way for greater power over citizens and towards authoritarianism.