Effects Of Environmental Degradation Research Articles

The effect of environmental degradation on self-reported health: the role of renewable energy consumption.

Although there are a number of studies in the literature that have explored the effect of environmental degradation on the subjective well-being and life satisfaction, no previous study has addressed the role of renewable energy consumption in examining the effect of environmental degradation on self-reported health. To this end, we employ a conditional mixed process (CMP) model, using a unique dataset that combines both micro-level data fromthe 6th (2010-2014) and 7th (2017-2022) Waves of the World Values Survey (WVS) database and macro-level data from the World Bank. Our study has several important empirical findings. First, while environmental degradation deteriorates self-reported health, social capital and health expenditure have a positive impact on self-reported health. Second, the share of renewable energy consumption in total final energy consumption has a statistically significant negative impact on environmental degradation. Third, urbanization has a deteriorating effect on environmental quality and the total number of people increases environmental degradation.

Advanced Catalyst Design and Reactor Configuration Upgrade in Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Conversion.

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2 RR) driven by renewable energy shows great promise in mitigating and potentially reversing the devastating effects of anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation. The simultaneous synthesis of energy-dense chemicals can meet global energy demand while decoupling emissions from economic growth. However, the development of CO2 RR technology faces challenges in catalyst discovery and device optimization that hinder their industrial implementation. In this contribution, a comprehensive overview of the current state of CO2 RR research is provided, starting with the background and motivation for this technology, followed by the fundamentals and evaluated metrics. Then the underlying design principles of electrocatalysts are discussed, emphasizing their structure-performance correlations and advanced electrochemical assembly cells that can increase CO2 RR selectivity and throughput. Finally, the review looks to the future and identifies opportunities for innovation in mechanism discovery, material screening strategies, and device assemblies to move toward a carbon-neutral society.

Biogenic polymer nanoparticles to remove hydrophobic organic contaminants from water.

Soil and water pollution is of significant concern worldwide because of the consequences of environmental degradation and harmful effects on human health. Water bodies are very much polluted by various organic and inorganic pollutants by different human activities, including industrial wastes. Environmental pollution remains high because of urbanization-induced industrial developments and human lifestyle. It accumulates pollutants in the environment including plants and living organisms. Even mothers' milk is poisoned because of the uncontrolled, widespread increase in pollution. The discharge levels of organic hydrophobic contaminants in the water and soil are increasing rapidly. This severe pollution must be remediated to upgrade the environment and ensure the safety of human beings. It is vital to eradicate soil and water pollution to guarantee sufficient food and water. Different techniques available to remove the pollutants vary according to the type of pollutants. Hydrophobic contaminants are more dangerous than heavy metals and other pollutants; they cannot be easily removed, requiring special care. Hydrophobic organoxenobiotics released in the environment pose severe contamination in soil and water. Therefore, developing efficient and cost-effective processes is necessary to remove hydrophobic contaminants from soil and water. With nanoparticle-mediated remediation techniques, the green-synthesized nanoparticles exhibit improved performance. This review consolidates reports on the remediation techniques of hydrophobic contaminants, focusing on green-synthesized remediation agents. The very limited works on green synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles, particularly polyurethane-based materials for organic contaminants removal demand more attention in this area. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Consolidated the effects of hydrophobic organic and plastic contaminants on environment degradation. Summarized the advantages of green synthesized polymer nanoparticles for efficient removal of hydrophobic contaminants. Discussed the different sources of pollution and remediation techniques referring 112 research works.

Conditional Effect of Environmental Degradation and Institutional Environment on Human Development in Developing Countries: Evidence from Method of the Moment-Quantile Regression with Fixed Effect

The study examines the conditional effect of environmental degradation and institutional environment on the conditional distribution of human development, using the Method of the Moment Quantile Regression (MM-QR) technique with fixed effect, Fully Modified OLS (FMOLS) and Dynamic OLS (DOLS) estimators. The study uses strongly balanced data from 20 developing countries with the full data from 1996 to 2021. The findings confirmed heterogenous effects of environmental degradation and institutional environment on human development. The results reveals that lower environmental degradation promote human development across all levels of human development, but the effect higher in countries with low human development. The study shows that institutional environment has positive effect across all levels of human development, with higher effect in countries with low human development. The findings for the control variables show that financial development, population growth and FDI promote human development across all levels of human development. However, the strength of the coefficients also increases with higher quantiles. The results also confirmed unidirectional causality running from environmental degradation and institutional environment to human development, while bidirectional causality between financial development and human development. To promote human development, policymakers at developing countries should focus on climate action policies and building strong institutions.

Causes and Consequences of Environmental Degradation in Mizoram, Northeast India

The problem of environmental degradation due to deterioration of natural resources has become an important issue and is one of the burning problems in the 21st century in northeast India, especially in Mizoram. It is clear that deforestation, ground water depletion, soil erosion, decline in rainfall, river water pollution and volume decreases in dry season are the major threats to environmental degradation in this fragile terrain. Anthropogenic activities by land use changes due to settlement expansion, over exploitation of land and forest resources for intensive agriculture appear to be the major causes for the fast depletion of resources. Therefore, it is necessary to protect natural resources in order to mitigate multi-dimensional environmental degradation. This study is an attempt to analyze the causes and consequences of environmental degradation in this area based on the resources of land, water and forest. Implementation of appropriate measures like judicious use of natural resources, utilizing education to minimize economic backwardness and inclusion of community participation helps to mitigate environmental deterioration to great extent.

Combining Camera Trap Data and Environmental Data to Estimate the Effects of Environmental Gradients on Abundance of the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus in Cambodia

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) populations in Cambodia are currently declining, and the effect of environmental degradation on the abundance and health of elephants is poorly understood. We used camera trap data from 42 locations between 2016 to 2020 in the southern Cardamom Mountains to investigate the impact of environmental degradation on the abundance and condition of Asian elephants. Camera trap data were organized using CameraSweet software to retrieve both number of individuals and their condition. For a number of individuals, we defined independent captures spatially and temporally. To assess condition, we created a visual scoring system based on past research (Wemmer et al. 2006, Fernando et al. 2009, Morfeld et al. 2014, Wijeyamohan et al. 2014, Morfeld et al. 2016, Schiffmann et al. 2020). This scoring system relies on visual assessment of the muscle and fat in relation to the pelvis, ribs, and back bone. To validate this subjective scoring system, two scorers reviewed elephant captures by using 10 reference photos and then reviewing each other’s assessment in the first five images showing the elephant's body condition. This method minimizes subjective assessment from two scorers. Environmental variables (Suppl. material 1) such as distance to forest edge, forest integrity index, elevation, global human settlements, distance to road, distance to river, night light and forest cover were obtained, then reclassified in ArcGIS to a common 1 km grid. We implemented hierarchical N-mixture models to investigate the impacts of environmental variables on abundance and used cumulative link models to investigate the impact of the same environmental variables on condition. We found that Asian elephant abundance exhibited a significant positive relationship with distance to forest edges, where abundance was greater further away from a forest edge. We found that body condition score exhibited the relationship with forest cover and Forest Landscape Integrity Index, which suggested that grassland and less dense forest support better condition. Moreover, males exhibited significantly higher scores for body condition than females, while babies, juveniles, and subadults all exhibited lower body condition scores compared to adults. The significantly lower body condition of young elephants is concerning and suggests that conservation managers in the region should prioritize environmental conditions that support young elephant health. Our results identify key environmental variables that appear to promote Asian elephant abundance and health in the Cardamom Mountains, thus informing relevant conservation actions to support this endangered species in Cambodia and beyond.

Examination of the poverty-environmental degradation nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa

The relationship between environmental degradation and poverty has increasingly become the focus of national strategic decision-making in recent years. However, despite several theoretical explorations on the nexus, a dearth of empirical literature on the poverty-environmental degradation nexus, specifically on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), still exists. In this study, we investigated the poverty-environmental degradation nexus in SSA. We hypothesized that poverty is both a cause and effect of environmental degradation, and this relationship is explained as a vicious cycle. Unlike previous studies, we employed several alternative indicators of environmental degradation to examine the poverty-environmental degradation nexus in this study. We used data from 41 countries of SSA between 1996 and 2019 and employed the generalized method of moments (GMM) approach. The findings suggest a cyclical relationship between poverty and environmental degradation in SSA, which confirms that an increase in poverty leads to an increase in environmental degradation, especially in deforestation and PM2.5 emissions. Similarly, the increase in environmental degradation positively affects poverty in SSA. We also confirmed that exogenous conditioning factors such as population growth rate, education, industrialization, and income inequality, institutional quality indicators such as governance effectiveness, control of corruption, freedom ad civil liberty, and democracy, and endogenous factors including fossil fuel energy use, fuelwood energy use, household health expenditure, infant mortality rate, and agriculture productivity influence the nexus between poverty and environmental degradation. The findings on the relationship between poverty and environmental degradation in SSA are a testimonial evidence that both poverty and environmental degradation are significant issues in SSA. Hence, poverty alleviation policies in SSA should not lead to PM2.5 emissions and deforestation, which may as well force people into a poverty-environmental degradation trap. Instead, poverty reduction policies should simultaneously achieve environmental conservation.

Performing meat reduction across scripted social sites: exploring the experiences and challenges of meat reducers in Norway

Current meat consumption trends are associated with extensive resource use, environmental degradation, and detrimental effects on animal and human health, making meat reduction a core sustainability target. The experiences of meat reducers, often conceptualised as flexitarians, have gradually attracted more academic attention. This literature has shown that in many cases meat reducers do not radically reduce their meat intake and have untangled a complex web of factors contributing to meat consumption, reduction and avoidance. This article contributes to a nuanced understanding of the experiences, approaches and challenges faced by meat reducers. The data was collected through in-depth interviews with 26 self-declared meat reducers in Norway. By framing consumption as embedded in social practices, this article highlights how broader cultural, social and material conditions structure eating and hence meat consumption. A central finding is that through processes of socialisation and habituation, performances of eating often conform to the prevailing conventions inscribed in the socio-material environment in which they are embedded. We thus question the popular depictions of individuals as efficient drivers of dietary changes and highlight the many factors involved in reproducing the ‘normalness’ of meat-intense diets, demonstrating how individual intentions, choices and habits are themselves rooted in, and circumscribed by, prevailing conventions, that is, practices.

A comparative study of muscle nutrition and intermuscular bone number in improved diploid carp

The common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., COC, 2n = 100) is one of the most widely consumed and distributed freshwater fish in the world. It ranks fourth in total freshwater aquaculture volume in various regions of China, behind Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and Aristichthys nobilis. However, in recent years, environmental degradation, inbreeding, disordered breeding, and other adverse effects have caused problems such as low seed quality and poor disease and stress resistance of the carp. In our laboratory, we developed two types of improved diploid carp the hybrid F1 of common carp (♀) × blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala, BSB, 2n = 48) (♂). To investigate the differences between IDC and IDMC compared to COC, in this study we compared the relevant characteristics of these two types of improved carp with those of COC in terms of muscle nutrient composition, intermuscular bone type, and number. The results showed that among the muscle nutrients, IDC had a higher protein content (18.50%) and lower carbohydrate content (0.70%). In addition, the unsaturated fatty acid content of IDC (3.45%) and IDMC (1.25%) were significantly higher than that of COC (P < 0.05) (0.50%). For monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (OA, C18:1 n-9) and linoleic acid (PA, C16:1), the content of IDC and IDMC were also abundant. In terms of intermuscular bone morphology, the morphology and type of intermuscular bone in IDC and IDMC medullary arch ossicles were consistent with those of COC. However, the number of intermuscular bones was different, and the average number of intermuscular bones of IDMC decreased by 14.77% (P < 0.05) compared with COC. The advantages of IDC and IDMC are different, with IDC having a higher value of muscle nutrients and IDMC having a lower intermuscular bone content. The distant hybridization of common carp (♀) × blunt snout bream (♂) developed two improved diploid carp varieties with excellent traits, which added carp germplasm resources with high muscle nutrition and lower intermuscular bone, and provided theoretical support for their production application.

Something in the air

This paper considers the issue of environmental racism as it relates to Indigenous and Black communities in Canada. Although the climate crisis affects us all, certain communities have felt the effects of environmental degradation more acutely and for a longer period. Environmental policy or practice that disproportionately disadvantages a racial group is an example of environmental racism. The article examines different policy responses to environmental racism in a Canadian context. The paper looks at proposed avenues for addressing environmental racism through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Private Members Bills, Senate Bills or the new Federal Housing Advocate position associated with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. It also examines a number of grassroots initiatives taking action against environmental racism. The article argues that having the right to a healthy environment encoded in the Charter is the best option for policy reform and that grassroots organizations working in coalitions continue to make meaningful social change as the policy battle continues. &#x0D; &#x0D; How it fits theme:&#x0D; The political power of the Canadian government has important implications for all citizens, but that power is not exerted equally against all sectors of society. There is implicit power in policy and practice that has lived consequences for those living in communities that experience systemic inequalities in healthcare, employment, and environment. However, these systemic barriers do not render individuals powerless. Grassroots movements are the fundamental origin of all civil rights victories experienced thus far, and will continue to have an integral role in changing the balance of power for generations to come. The example of environmental racism in Canada is a good place to examine the role of state power in racialized communities. At the same time, the individuals fighting against environmental racism through policy and social movements simultaneously are an inspiring example of resistance in praxis.

Environmental degradation and economic growth: Investigating linkages and potential pathways

Concerns about the incessant rise in emissions and their attendant effects on climate change, which is ravaging the globe, are on the ascendency. The literature has almost concluded that economic activities and growth contribute significantly to environmental degradation. Despite the plethora of studies on the effect of economic growth on environmental degradation, empirical studies examining the reverse – i.e., how environmental degradation affects economic growth – are limited. However, the associated literature postulates that attaining economic growth is accompanied by increased environmental degradation. To guide the development of non-conflicting environmental and structural policies, this study examines whether the rise in environmental degradation is associated with economic growth. It also examines the potential channels through which environmental degradation could affect economic growth. Using a global panel comprising 140 countries from 1980 to 2021 and the two-step dynamic system-generalized method of moment technique to control endogeneity, the findings generally indicate a retarding effect of environmental degradation on economic growth. Further analysis, however, reveals that emissions exhibit an inverted U-shaped relationship with economic growth. However, ecological footprint indicators of environmental degradation have a U-shaped relationship with economic growth. Pathway analysis highlighted that health, foreign direct investment, and technological innovation are the potential channels through which environmental degradation could retard economic growth. The policy implications are discussed.

Energy Security, Decarbonization, and the Environmental Justice Movement

This article will analyse two key challenges of today: 1) energy security and decarbonization in the context of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, and 2) decarbonization and energy security from the perspective of environmental justice. Energy security and decarbonization are integral components of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, they are addressed in SDG 7, which aims to ensure universal access to clean and affordable energy. Access to energy is crucial for the development of vital sectors such as agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare, and transportation, and a lack of access to energy can impede human and economic development. In addition, the effects of climate change are disproportionately borne by those residing in the developing world. This inequity needs to be at the core of any climate change research – both at a practical and theoretical level. However, some scholars have argued that dominant modes of thinking about climate change and environmental hazards have often chosen to ignore this inequity or have not placed such inequity at the core of their analysis. This is where the Environmental Justice movement acts as a game-changer. We argue that it provides an alternative rationality to approach environmental hazards, with the social injustices and inequities at its center that are direct or indirect effects of environmental degradation and climate change.

Agricultural Food Marketing, Economics and Policies

Agriculture and food production have long been called upon to become more sustainable in order to contribute positively to the transformations taking place in this historic era, such as the increase in world population and living standards in certain areas of the planet that poses problems in terms of safeguarding food and nutrition security, mitigating the effects of climate change and environmental degradation that are particularly intense in certain territories and achieving wealth and well-being equality for all players in the food chain [...]

Sustainable development goals perspective: nexus between Christians' religious tourism, geopolitical risk, and CO2 pollution in Italy.

Travel and tourism support a country's economy and improve its social outlook. The religious inclination is an important factor influencing tourism and constitutes a significant part of general tourism. Thus, assessing and evaluating its real impacts on a country is crucial. As the world continues to grapple with the effects of environmental degradation, numerous studies have delved into the research between tourism, energy consumption, and pollution emissions. However, the impact of religious tourism on the environment is often overlooked. To bridge this gap, this study explores the relationship between religious tourist arrivals, geopolitical risk, and environmental quality in Italy. By employing ARDL and wavelets coherence analysis on the Italian data from 1997 to 2019, the findings of this study reveal a mitigation effect of religious tourist arrivals and geopolitical risk on CO2 pollution levels. In contrast, it highlights the significance of foreign direct investment and transportation as significant contributors to CO2 pollution. In conclusion, the study highlights the crucial role that religious tourism and religious leaders can play in mitigating environmental pollution and the importance of considering this aspect in future environmental studies as well as emphasize the need for Italian authorities to pay close attention to the impact of foreign direct investment and transportation energy consumption on the environment to achieve sustainable development goals.

Semi-VOCs of Wood Vinegar Display Strong Antifungal Activities against Oomycete Species Globisporangium ultimum and Pythium aphanidermatum

Plant disease outbreaks are increasingly exacerbated by climate change and the conditions of stress combinations. They are negatively affecting crop yield and driving threats to food security in many areas of the world. Although synthetic pesticides offer relative success in the control of pests and plant diseases, they are often overused, and this method faces numerous drawbacks, including environmental toxicity, soil degradation, and adverse effects on human health. Therefore, alternatives are being developed and examined, including the biocontrol of pests and pathogens and biomass pyrolysis leading to wood vinegar that has shown great promise in agriculture and organic farming. However, while wood vinegar use is expanding and allows the control of numerous pests and bacterial and fungal diseases, its application to control oomycete diseases is limited. This study aimed to test wood vinegar for the control of oomycete plant pathogens from which six wood vinegars of pistachio, pomegranate, almond, pine, cypress, and walnut were produced. The inhibitory effects of volatile metabolites (semi-VOCs) of different wood vinegars concentrations (100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and 6.25%) were examined against the hyphal growth of Globisporangium ultimum and Pythium aphanidermatum isolates. An in vitro analysis unambiguously demonstrated that for Globisporangium ultimum, the wood vinegar semi-VOCs of almond, pistachio (C 100% and 50%), and walnut (C 100%) totally inhibited mycelial growth. On the other hand, Pythium aphanidermatum, pistachio (C 100%, 50%, and 25%), and cypress (C 100%) expressed their abilities to completely inhibit the mycelial growth. Other treatments, including relevant concentrations of pine and pomegranate significantly inhibited the growth of mycelia of both species compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). Therefore, wood vinegar could be considered a natural and organic product to use in agriculture to cope not only against pests, bacterial and fungal pests but also against emerging oomycete plant diseases.

Economic Growth Theory and Natural Resource Constraints: A Stocktake and Critical Assessment

AbstractSociety is facing significant environmental challenges. The effects of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are being increasingly felt worldwide. In recent years, researchers have attempted to adapt neoclassical and endogenous growth theory to account for constraints imposed by scarce natural resources. In this article, we review where, and how, researchers tend to incorporate natural resources and natural capital into growth theory. We then outline areas and questions that remain unanswered, including how novel impact investing and the eroding trade‐off between GDP and the environment affect growth theory.

Population, Poverty and Environmental Dilapidation: A Theoretical Analysis

This paper is an attempt to find out the causality between population, poverty, and environmental dilapidation in Himachal Pradesh. The population, and environmental relations advocates that poverty is the consequence of environmental degradation, while population pressure exacerbates both poverty and environmental degradation. However, the effects of the poverty on the environmental degradation are found indecisive after the empirical analysis of these variables. Himachal Pradesh government repeatedly announce its commitment to become the Green State of India through nurturing renewable energy, clean industries, sustainable tourism models and other developmental polices. However, this ideal model turned out to be more of green- washing with the need of increasing economic development of the state.

Effect of Environmental Degradation on the Inhabitants of Obodo Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

This study examines the effect of environmental degradation on the inhabitants of Obodo community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) of Nigeria. The study utilized structured questionnaires that were randomly administered to 105 recipients, of who 80 responded. These respondents represent a cross-section of the stakeholders (oil industry/company workers, farmers, teachers, transporters as well as public servants). The questionnaire consisted of 20 structured questions grouped into two categories to cover various aspect of oil and gas related environmental pollutions. Simple percentages and chi-squared test were employed in analyzing the collected data. The study showed that there were significant relationship between environmental degradation and economic hardship within Obodo community in the NDR of Nigeria. The study recommends that Government and the various oil companies should always take steps to enhance, resuscitate and improve on the environmental related challenges of the communities within the Niger Delta.

COMPLIANCE WITH EX LEGE QUARANTINE LAW

Health protection, as referred to in article 1 section 68 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland does not only concern ensuring access to healthcare services for everyone, but also combating epidemic diseases and preventing the negative health effects of environmental degradation. One of the manifestations of a preventive form of health protection are the activities of authorized bodies aimed at ensuring food safety and hygiene. However, this does not mean consent to the lack of respect for other constitutionally guaranteed human rights and freedoms and the principles of correct legislation. The act of imposing a quarantine based on a legal act issued in violation of the above-mentioned legal rules is then ineffective.

Species richness of Antbirds (Thamnophilidae) in more central and peripheral sites of terra firme forest in the eastern edge of the Amazonia

Antbirds (Thamnophilidae) comprise many insectivorous, mostly understory birds present in all Neotropical biomas. Many species occur specifically in the Amazonia, so a decline in species richness is expected from central Amazonian sites, to peripheral ones; this pattern is due primarily to the evolutionary history of the taxon. Rapid surveys to state the antbird species richness were performed in six sites of terra firme forest in the Belém Center of Endemism, the Easternmost and one of the most threatened regions in the Amazonia. These sites followed a series from more central to more peripheral areas, the latter being located in the edge of the Amazonia. The antbird species richness of every site was stated by presence-absence criteria. Two surveys were made in each site, by walking three transects in each of two trails in every survey. This species richness progressively fell from 19 species in the most central site (Gurupi Biological Reserve) to only two in the most peripheral one (São Luís). Probably, the gradient in the species richness is primarily associated to the evolutionary history of this group, however new studies using methods appropriated to assess the effects of environmental degradation in the regional richness of Thamnophilidae and other forest bird species should be encouraged.