Environmental Protection Research Articles

Social Movements and Environmental Activism: Interactive Mechanisms of Leadership, Organization and Resource Mobilization

The paper focuses on the interactive relationship between leadership, organizational structure, and resource mobilization in environmental protection activities, revealing their pivotal roles. Leadership, as the core driving force, guides the vision of environmental conservation and unleashes the potential of the team. The organizational system serves as the cornerstone for efficient operation, ensuring clear responsibilities, information flow, and resource sharing while fostering team and cultural development. Resource mobilization provides the material foundation for activities, enhancing their momentum and effectiveness through diversified funding and efficient allocation. These three elements are tightly interconnected, forming a synergistic effect that boosts the efficiency and sustainability of environmental protection activities. Strengthening leadership, optimizing organizations, and expanding resource channels are the crucial pathways to constructing an efficient environmental protection mobilization mechanism, holding profound significance for the cause of environmental protection.

Tesla’s Strategic Growth and Challenges in the Chinese Electric Vehicle Market

In recent years, the global focus on environmental protection and sustainable development has led to the rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, with Tesla emerging as a global leader. Particularly in China, the world’s largest automotive market, Tesla’s performance has been remarkable. This study focuses on Tesla’s development in the Chinese market, exploring its strategic decisions, challenges, and competitive environment. Through a combination of policy analysis, market research, and competitive benchmarking, this study examines Tesla’s market entry strategies, the impact of government support for new energy vehicles (NEVs), and the challenges posed by local competitors and regulatory constraints. The study concludes that Tesla’s success in China is largely attributed to its brand strength, technological innovation, and localized production through the Shanghai Gigafactory. However, it faces significant challenges, including competition from domestic NEV manufacturers, regulatory complexities, and geopolitical tensions. To maintain its competitive advantage, Tesla must continue to innovate, localize its products, and adapt to an evolving political and market environment.

Farmers' Perceptions and Practices in Managing Vegetable Pests and Pesticide Use in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia: In the Case of the Koga Irrigation System

This experiment was carried out to assessment of farmers’ perceptions, knowledge, and current management practices on the major pests among vegetable growers in the Koga irrigation system, Ethiopia. Understanding the farmers’ awareness and pest management is essential for designing a research agenda, and awareness creation. The survey was carried out from November 2020 to March 2021 in Koga irrigation, with a total of 63 vegetable growers. A semi-structured questionnaire was used. Almost all farmers in the study area overwhelmingly depend on pesticides to control the pests on their vegetable crops. Profenofos, Dimethoate, and Lambda-cyhalothrin were dominantly and commonly used insecticides in the study area with different trade names for more than two vegetables. There are two common and widely used fungicides named Metalaxyl-M 68 %WG and Mancozeb regarding disease control. The farmers used wrong application techniques, inappropriate spraying, wrong storage practices, and protective measure of pesticides. This wrong perception and practice could be associated with their limited knowledge about pesticides and related activities. Hence, it is recommended that government or non-governmental organizations should focus to improve the misuse and misperception of farmers in pesticide use, including personal and environmental protection through education and community intervention.

Attachment and Detachment of Oil Droplets on Solid Surfaces: Insights from Molecular Simulations

The behavior of oil droplets at solid surfaces is a key aspect of oil production and environmental protection. In this paper, the mechanisms of attachment and detachment of oil aggregates are studied via molecular dynamics simulations. The influence of oil–surface interactions on the shape and structure of adsorbed clusters is discussed. Using selected shape metrics, we prove quantitatively that the shape of oil aggregates changes from almost spherical droplets, through multilayer structures, to monolayer films. The oil detachment from solid surfaces plays a major role in enhanced oil recovery. Here, we investigated oil droplet detachment from the solid surface immersed in Janus nanoparticle suspensions. The nanoparticle is modeled as a dimer built of segments that exhibit different affinities to oil and solvent molecules. Our results indicated that the adsorption of Janus dimers on the surface of oil droplets played an essential role in the oil removal processes. Stronger adsorption causes faster detachment of the oil droplet. Based on our findings, suspensions of Janus dimers can be considered to be high-performance agents in removing oil droplets from solid surfaces.

Application and Research Progress of Perovskite in the Field of Optoelectronic Materials

Perovskite refers to a class of materials with the formula of ABO3. These oxides were first discovered in calcium titanate compounds. Perovskite materials have attracted widespread attention in the field of contemporary photovoltaic research due to their excellent photovoltaic properties, heralding their potential as protagonists of a new generation of photovoltaic materials. Nevertheless, the stability of perovskite materials needs to be enhanced. In addition, reducing the toxicity of the materials is a key challenge in advancing their commercialization. Currently, the rapid development of perovskite in the field of optoelectronics and its unique combination of properties have laid a solid foundation for its position as a mainstream optoelectronic material of the future. Therefore, this work focuses on the properties and applications of perovskite optoelectronics. With deeper scientific research and technological innovation, perovskites have the potential to overcome existing limitations and move towards large-scale commercial production. In the future, the further application of perovskite optoelectronic materials would have far-reaching implications for the global energy transition and environmental protection.

Key Advances in Solution Blow Spinning of Polylactic-Acid-Based Materials: A Prospective Study on Uses and Future Applications

Solution blow spinning (SBS) is a versatile and cost-effective technique for producing nanofibrous materials. It is based on the principles of other spinning methods as electrospinning (ES), which creates very thin and fine fibers with controlled morphologies. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer derived from renewable resources, is widely used in biomedical fields, environmental protection, and packaging. This review provides a theoretical background for PLA, focusing on its properties that are associated with structural characteristics, such as crystallinity and thermal behavior. It also discusses various methods for producing fibrous materials, with particular emphasis on ES and SBS and on describing in more detail the main properties of the SBS method, along with its processing conditions and potential applications. Additionally, this review examines the properties of nanofibrous materials, particularly PLA-based nanofibers, and the new applications for which it is thought that they may be more useful, such as drug delivery systems, wound healing, tissue engineering, and food packaging. Ultimately, this review highlights the potential of the SBS method and PLA-based nanofibers in various new applications and suggests future research directions to address existing challenges and further enhance the SBS method and the quality of fibrous materials.

3D Graphene-like Carbon Structures from Poly(Acrylic Acid): A Novel Synthetic Route.

Emerging contaminants, such as the hormone 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE), in aquatic environments pose a serious risk to both human and environmental health, making efficient removal essential. This study evaluated the effectiveness of three-dimensional porous carbon structures derived from poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc, Carbopol 990) as adsorbents for removing EE from aqueous solutions. Activated carbon materials were prepared using varying ratios of KOH as an activating agent (PAAc:KOH; 1:0 AAC, 1:1 AC1, 1:2 AC2, and 1:3 AC3). Adsorption tests were conducted by adding 10 mg of the adsorbent to 40 mL of an EE solution (100 ppm, 20% acetonitrile in water). Analyses including TGA, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy were performed to evaluate the materials' structural properties and adsorption capacities. Among the materials, AC3 exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for EE (238 mg g-1), followed by AC2 (153 mg g-1) and AC1 (82 mg g-1). The superior efficiency of AC3 can be attributed to its larger surface area and pore volume, enabling greater interaction with EE molecules. These materials demonstrated higher adsorption capacities compared to commercial activated carbons and single-walled carbon nanotubes. This work opens new possibilities for developing efficient adsorbents, contributing to more effective and sustainable solutions for water purification and environmental protection.

Sustainable leadership: empowering green organizational citizenship behaviour through employee green value in the Indian healthcare sector

Purpose Leadership is crucial for promoting employees’ environmental behaviour, essential for implementing sustainability initiatives. Academics and practitioners emphasize the need for integrated top-to-bottom actions to address environmental issues effectively. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate how Environment-Specific Servant Leadership (ESSL), via Employee Green Value (EGV), promotes Green Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (GOCB). Design/methodology/approach The present study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional approach. Additionally, a total of 333 data points were collected from employees working in various hospitals in Ranchi, India. The data and hypothesized relationships were analysed using PLS-SEM with SmartPLS 4.0 software. Findings The present results indicate that ESSL has a notable direct effect on employees’ GOCB. Moreover, EGV was identified as a partial mediator in the relationship between ESSL and GOCB. Practical implications The findings imply that leaders who prioritize sustainability and exhibit environmentally responsible behaviour, along with employees who value and prioritize green initiatives, can create a workplace that value pro-environmental practices. In this workplace employees are also likely to demonstrate green organizational citizenship behaviour, therefore promoting sustainable practices and outcomes. Originality/value This study provides valuable insight into the individual psychological mechanisms that drive voluntary participation in environmental protection and conservation efforts. Furthermore, the study also highlighted the relationship between ESSL, EGV and GOCB in terms of their work environment as well as highlighting the potential for organizations to create a more sustainable and socially responsible workplace.

The correlation between the degree of green transformation of the financial industry and China’s economic growth——Based on empirical analysis

With the increasingly serious global environmental problems, green finance has become an important way to promote sustainable economic development. As the world’s largest developing country, China’s financial industry’s green transformation degree of impact on economic growth is significant. Based on empirical analysis, this study explores the relationship between the degree of green transformation of the financial sector and China’s economic growth. By constructing an econometric model, using the time series data, this study analyzes the expenditure of energy conservation and environmental protection as the main explanatory variables, analyzes its influence on economic growth, and reveals its mechanism. The results show that the green transformation of the financial sector can significantly promote China’s economic growth. In addition, this study also discussed the green finance policy in promoting economic growth is likely to face challenges in the process of, and puts forward the corresponding policy Suggestions, to further enhance the green transformation of the financial industry, to strengthen its promoting effect on economic growth.

The Potential of Graphene Electronics in Environment

The Earth’s environment has been severely damaged, necessitating urgent protection measures. In this context, graphene, a highly popular material, shows promising potential for application in environmental protection. Drawing from previous studies, this article will provide a concise overview of graphene’s remarkable characteristics, such as its high conductivity, large surface area, and exceptional strength. It will then explore how graphene and its derivatives can be utilized in the environmental field, focusing on its structure and surface area, which are key to its effectiveness.The difference between activated carbon (AC) and graphene is also discussed to highlight graphene’s unique advantages. New technology is able to apply graphene family in cleaning up water and soil by obsorbing ions through its chemical properties. the report also addresses the current limitations and challenges associated with the widespread utilization of graphene, highlighting areas for further research and development. Building upon these insights, this article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of graphene’s potential in environmental remediation.

Solar Light Elimination of Bacteria, Yeast and Organic Pollutants by Effective Photocatalysts Based on Ag/Cr-TiO2 and Pd/Cr-TiO2

This study focused on searching for more effective nanomaterials for environmental remediation and health protection; thus, coliform bacteria, yeast and the organic food dye sunset yellow were selected as target pollutants to be eliminated under solar light by Ag/Cr-TiO2 and Pd/Cr-TiO2. Firstly, Cr3+ was in situ incorporated into the anatase crystalline lattice by the sol-gel method; then, Ag or Pd nanoparticles were deposited on Cr-TiO2 by chemical photoreduction. The scientific challenge addressed by the development of these composites was to analyse the recovery of Cr, to be employed in photocatalyst formulation and the enhancement of the TiO2 photocatalytic activity by addition of other noble metals. By extensive characterization, it was found that after TiO2 doping with chromium, the parameters of the crystal lattice slightly increased, due to the incorporation of Cr ions into the lattice. The TiO2 band gap decreased after Cr addition, but an increase in the optical absorptions towards the visible region after noble metals deposition was also observed, which was dependent of the Ag or Pd loading. Generally, it was observed that the noble metals type is a factor that strongly influenced the effectiveness of the photocatalysts concerning each substrate studied. Thus, by using Ag(0.1%)/Cr-TiO2, the complete elimination of E. coli from samples of water coming from a highly polluted river was achieved. Pd(0.5%)/Cr-TiO2 showed the highest efficiency in the elimination of S. cerevisiae from a lab prepared strain. On the other hand, the Pd(0.1%)/Cr-TiO2 sample shows the highest dye degradation rate, achieving 92% of TOC removal after 180 min.

Novel polycyclic "turn-on" and "turn-off" pyrazoline and pyrazole fluorescent sensors for selective real-world monitoring of Fe3+/Fe2+ in aqueous environments.

Seven novel polycyclic pyrazoline and pyrazole sensors were synthesised and screened for useful photophysical properties with pyrazoline 2 and pyrazole 7, displaying an Fe3+ "turn-off" response in aqueous environments with Fe3+ limits of detection (LoD) of 2.12 μM and 3.41 μM, respectively. Both 2 and 7 sensors functioned in aqueous environments with real-world examples of Fe3+ detection in tap water and mineral water samples. 2 and 7 are suitable for the detection of Fe3+ at concentrations below the maximum iron limits for drinking water set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European Union (EU).

Analysis of groundwater and surface water quality using modelled water index and multivariate statistics in Kampala and Mbarara Districts, Uganda

The demand for domestic, public and industrial use of water increases with population growth. However, activities from humans and natural environment have resulted into decline in water quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of groundwater and surface water collected from Kampala and Mbarara districts of Uganda using water quality index and multivariate statistics. A total of 10 physicochemical parameters (pH, water temperature, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total solids, and phosphate) were measured monthly to evaluate the quality of water in the study districts. Results showed that sulphate, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were observed with significantly high values in surface water than the groundwater for both seasons. Among all the parameters measured, electrical conductivity was observed with the highest value (2129.67 ± 1.41 µS/cm) while nitrate concentration (0.57 ± 0.02 mg/L) was observed with the lowest during the wet season in surface water. In addition, the mean values of nitrate, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and sulphate detected in the groundwater and surface water were within the recommended limits, while phosphate and chloride were observed with mean concentrations above the regulatory limits in 50% of the samples. The correlation analysis revealed strong and positive association between electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids in groundwater and surface water for both seasons. Also, the chemical make-up of groundwater and surface water within the study districts revealed that the determination of water quality rests on two major indices (conductivity and anthropogenic-pollutants) based on the factor analysis. The two indices accounted for 0.619% in groundwater and over 0.70% in surface water, indicating more pollution in surface water. Moreover, the water quality index (WQI) values obtained ranged from 14.81 to 115.73 in dry season and 7.77 to 108.24 during the wet season. According to WQI classification, 42% of the samples collected fell within the “excellent” and “good” categories while others fell within “poor” and “unfit” categories (58%) during the dry season. Based on these findings, appropriate treatment methods, proper sanitation and waste management should be implemented in locations with critical water conditions. Also, frequent monitoring of groundwater and surface water quality by environmental protection agency is highly recommended.

A Study on the Development of the Tesla Brand and Its Societal Impact

This study explores the development of the Tesla brand and its profound societal impact. As a pioneer in the global electric vehicle industry, Tesla has achieved remarkable advancements in technological innovation while attracting widespread social attention through its unique business model and marketing strategies. The study first analyzes the background and evolution of the Tesla brand and then discusses its societal impact from the perspectives of environmental protection, technological progress, industrial chain influence, and social responsibility. The results indicate that Tesla has expanded the global electric vehicle market, promoted the adoption of green energy, and shifted public perceptions of the automotive industry. Additionally, Tesla’s branding strategies have inspired innovation and marketing approaches in other companies. Despite its success in sustainability and technological breakthroughs, Tesla faces challenges in labor management and financial sustainability. This study provides valuable insights into the future development of the electric vehicle industry and calls for companies to balance technological advancements with the fulfillment of social responsibilities.

Dynamics of Land Use and Coverage and its Impacts on the Upper Moquegua River Hydrographic Basin

Objective: Evaluate; identify and qualify the impacts of the dynamics of land use and coverage in the years 1973 and 2016 in the Hydrographic Basin and in the marginal strip of the Upper Moquegua River in Moquegua Peru. Theoretical framework: In the area studied, human activities and global climate change have disturbed the balance of natural systems, causing major impacts and complex consequences on land use and cover. Method: Digital image processing techniques and supervised classification using the maximum likelihood method were used, followed by matrix editing with refinement of the base and thematic cartography, reaching 94.4% accuracy in interpretation for the year 2016. Result and discussion: The main changes identified regarding the dynamics of land use and coverage were similar in the basin area and in the marginal strip. An increase was noted in the urban area of the entire basin of 568.53ha (1,097.96%) and 134.86ha (1,263.33%) in the marginal strip, which may have been largely influenced by mining activity, which was not observed in 1973, but present in 2016, occupying an area of 1,092.77ha throughout the basin, with 171.99ha in the marginal strip. The areas that had the greatest reduction were those of the glacier, with 2,275.39ha (-93.33%) in the entire basin and 83.77ha (-100.00%) in the marginal strip. Conclusion: With the results of this research, we hope to contribute to the literature related to the topic and to actions and public policies that encourage the appropriate use of land in the Upper Moquegua River Basin, especially in environmental protection areas.

Decarbonization and waste reduction in a disrupted food supply chain: a step towards achieving food sustainability

PurposeThis study aims to reduce carbon emissions and minimize waste in the event of disruptions in a short and fast-food perishable such as fruits, vegetables, packaged food items, etc. supply chain through optimal investment in green and preservation technologies.Design/methodology/approach This study utilized a Hessian matrix approach to optimize decision variables with an objective to maximize the profit function.FindingsThe study demonstrates that investing in both green and preservation technology within a short and fast-food supply chain is highly beneficial for decarbonization and waste reduction and it leads to profit maximization. It has been shown with the help of a numerical experiments with investment in both green and preservation technology that total profit is 3.09% higher than without investment made in either technology.Practical implicationsThis study aids the industry in achieving food sustainability by minimizing waste of perishables and also minimizes carbon emissions which is essential for environmental protection. It assists industries in determining the optimal investment in preservation technology to minimize waste and in green technology to reduce emissions, thereby maximizing profits.Originality/valueThe current study formulates an inventory model that helps in decarbonization and waste reduction in food supply chain with the consideration of machine learning, demand disruption, preservation technology investment, screening of purchased items, waste disposal, a double triangular distribution deterioration rate, green technology investment, carbon emissions from various supply chain activities, carbon tax policy and fuel price variation over time for perishable food products in a two-warehouse system.

Simulated Surface‐Column NO2 Connections for Satellite Applications

AbstractObservations of near‐surface NO2 show a diurnal pattern with midday minima and daily maxima in the morning and evening. These surface cycles are dependent on chemical processing, transport, and emissions. We evaluate these cycles with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) community multiscale air quality (CMAQ) model data from the EPA Air Quality Time Series (EQUATES) project, compared with ground‐based measurements from the EPA air quality system, two Pandora measurement sites, and satellite data from TROPOMI. We find that the morning vertical column density (VCD) lags surface concentrations by 1 hr on average, where this lag varies with location and day. The peak VCD can also lead the surface maximum concentration, especially in the evening, responding to transport and afternoon compression of the boundary layer. Modeled NO2 VCD is sensitive to column calculation technique. With hourly daytime satellite‐based NO2 observations newly available from the TEMPO instrument, the timing and magnitude of cycles in near‐surface NO2 versus column NO2 will help inform the utilization of hourly satellite data. This work will help inform the timing of surface‐column connections to better interpret new hourly satellite observations for health and air quality applications, including emissions characterization.

Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factor Analysis of Aerosol Optical Depth in Terrestrial Ecosystems in Northern Xinjiang from 2001 to 2023

Investigating the spatiotemporal variations in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) in terrestrial ecosystems and their driving factors is significant for deepening our understanding of the relationship between ecosystem types and aerosols. This study utilized 1 km resolution AOD data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Mann–Kendall (M-K) trend test to analyze the spatiotemporal variations in AOD in seven ecosystems in Northern Xinjiang from 2001 to 2023. The geographic detector model was employed to investigate the effects of driving factors, including gross domestic product, population density, specific humidity, precipitation, temperature, wind speed, soil moisture, and elevation, on the distribution of AOD in the ecosystems. The results indicate that over the past 23 years, wetlands had the highest annual average AOD values, followed by settlements, farmlands, deserts, grasslands, others, and forests, respectively. Furthermore, the AOD values decrease with increasing ecosystem elevation. The annual mean of AOD in Northern Xinjiang generally shows a fluctuating upward trend. The M-K test shows that the proportion of area with an increasing trend in AOD in the settlement ecosystems is the highest (92.17%), while the proportion of area with a decreasing trend in the forest ecosystem is the highest (21.78%). On a seasonal scale, grassland, settlement, farmland, forest, and wetland ecosystems exhibit peak values in spring and winter, whereas desert and other ecosystems only show peaks in spring. Different types of ecosystems show different sensitivities to driving factors. Grassland and forest ecosystems are primarily influenced by temperature and altitude, while desert and settlement ecosystems are most affected by wind speed and humidity. Farmlands are mainly influenced by wind speed and altitude, wetlands are significantly impacted by population density and humidity, and other ecosystems are predominantly affected by humidity and altitude. This paper serves as a reference for targeted air pollution prevention and regional ecological environmental protection.

Ecological Turn of Humanities, Science, and Technology with examples from Mexico's Conahcyt and China's Global Influence

This article emphasizes the importance of integrating humanistic knowledge into the ecological transformation within the fields of humanities, science, and technology, with a particular focus on how these ideas align with China's green development initiatives. The article critically explores the role of humanistic knowledge in fostering a sustainable relationship between humanity and nature, challenging the capitalist economic model that has historically alienated nature through the relentless exploitation of natural resources. This exploitation has prompted the development of new paradigms centered on sustainable growth, which prioritize environmental protection, the development of ecological industries, and the preservation of biodiversity. By using a comparative case study approach, the article analyzes the practices of Mexico's Conahcyt and China in global ecological governance, demonstrating how the adoption of these sustainable paradigms promotes a more inclusive approach to development. The ecological Marxism movement finds particular resonance in China's concept of Ecological Civilization, i.e., Eco-Marxism being Chinese in orientation. Additionally, the article examines how Mexico has integrated the humanities with science and technology through its Research and Development (R&D) initiatives, led by Conahcyt, to restore the balance between nature and society. The article further reviews the implications of these paradigms for global cooperation, highlighting China's Ecological Civilization Thinking as a guiding framework for global environmental governance, particularly during the 2021 Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). This work underscores the need for innovative strategies that combine human knowledge with scientific and technological advancements to achieve sustainable development goals.

Evolution and Elements of Collaborative Governance Theory

With the advancement of globalization and the formation and development of a network society, there have been governance issues that cross departments, organizations, regions, and national borders, including environmental protection, immigration, international trade disputes, and digital government construction. Such a “thorny” problem is difficult to solve by a single organization, so cross-border collaborative governance has become increasingly important. In such an interdependent world, collaborative governance has begun to be widely concerned by academic circles. The attention to the theory of collaborative governance reached its first peak at the third Minobrook Conference and has gradually become a hot topic in the field of public administration in the last ten years. This paper focuses on the historical background of the evolution and development of collaborative governance theory, sorts out the definitions of collaborative governance by scholars at home and abroad, and introduces the main components of collaborative governance in the initial stage, process stage, and result stage. These achievements have certain reference significance for understanding collaborative governance.