Environmental Protection Measures Research Articles

Nexus between climate change and mitigation approaches for sustainable development: a bibliometric review

Purpose Today’s world is struggling with the hardship of climate change that has drastically disturbed human life, wildlife and the earth’s biological system. This study aims to show how implementing climate change mitigation strategies and environmental protection measures can ensure sustainable development through collaborative efforts between governmental authorities and the nation’s populace. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review of studies is conducted from across the world concentrating on holistic, sustainable development, enabling a showcase of various conferences, action plans initiated and resolutions passed. VOSviewer software is used to quantify the results of bibliometric analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 260 research studies released between 1993 and 2022 on the Scopus platform are quantified in terms of topmost publications, collaborations among authors, citations index and year-wise publication. The search string has keywords including “climate change,” “sustainable development” and “environment protection.” Findings The study results revealed a steep increase in research publications in the last three years, from 2017 to 2021, which serves as the basis of the emergence of high-impact articles. The most cited document in this context throws light on assessing vulnerability to climatic risk and building adaptive capacity. It also draws attention to voluntary carbon markets’ rationale while condemning emission trading systems for climate change due to structural flaws, negative consequences and questionable emission-cutting effectiveness. Low energy demand, zero energy buildings and shared socioeconomic pathways should be implemented as strategies for sustainable development. Practical implications This study provides a significant opportunity to construct a valuable addition to mitigate climate change. Also, it shows a positive and significant correlation between mitigation and adaptation policies by analyzing publication efforts worldwide considering local climate risks and national adaptation mandates. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in its comprehensive approach, combining literature review, bibliometric analysis and cluster analysis to provide insights into current research trends, challenges and potential strategies for addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development. The study’s emphasis on the correlation between mitigation and adaptation policies adds practical significance to its findings.

Potential effects of the discharge of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents in benthic communities: evidence from three distinct WWTP systems.

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents can be sources of environmental contamination. In this study, we aimed to understand whether effluents of three different WWTPs may have ecological effects in riverine recipient ecosystems. To achieve this, we assessed benthic phytobenthos and macroinvertebrate communities at three different locations relative to the effluent discharge: immediately upstream, immediately downstream and 500-m downstream the effluent discharge. Two approaches were employed: the ecological status classification as defined in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) based on biological indicators; constrained multivariate analysis to disentangle the environmental drivers (physicochemical variables and contaminants, namely metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products) of ecological changes across the study sites. The results showed inconsistencies between the WFD approach and the multivariate approach, as well as between the responses of macroinvertebrates and diatoms. The WWTP effluents impacted benthic communities in a single case: macroinvertebrates were negatively affected by one of the WWTP effluents, likely by the transported pharmaceuticals (other stressors are essentially homogeneous among sites). Given the findings and the scarcity of consistent evidence on ecological impacts that WWTP effluents may have in recipient ecosystems, further research is needed towards more sustainable regulation and linked environmental protection measures.

Addressing Data Challenges to Drive the Transformation of Smart Cities

Cities serve as vital hubs of economic activity and knowledge generation and dissemination. As such, cities bear a significant responsibility to uphold environmental protection measures while promoting the welfare and living comfort of their residents. There are diverse views on the development of smart cities, from integrating Information and Communication Technologies into urban environments for better operational decisions to supporting sustainability, wealth, and comfort of people. However, for all these cases, data is the key ingredient and enabler for the vision and realization of smart cities. This article explores the challenges associated with smart city data. We start with gaining an understanding of the concept of a smart city, how to measure that the city is a smart one, and what architectures and platforms exist to develop one. Afterwards, we research the challenges associated with the data of the cities, including availability, heterogeneity, management, analysis, privacy, and security. Finally, we discuss ethical issues. This article aims to serve as a “one-stop shop” covering data-related issues of smart cities with references for diving deeper into particular topics of interest.

Global Transformations: Trends towards Increasing Instability and Sustainable Development Drivers in Current Situation

The ongoing global transformations and the high turbulence of global processes call into question sustainability of development of most countries, make it necessary to identify factors leading to instability and search for drivers of sustainable development in current situation. The conducted research allowed us to determine that the trends towards increasing instability are mainly determined by the processes of deglobalization, the dominance of maximizing production and consumption ideas, increasing social inequality, uneven distribution of resources between the environmental, social, and economic components of sustainable development, human violation of the laws of biosphere development, insufficient environmental protection measures, the consequences of recent crises, international conflicts, disadvantages of management. The considered factors of instability growth, the strengthening of their influence and the associated risks led to setting a new task: to determine what can be a driver of stability in modern difficult situation. Our study shows that positive impulses for sustainable development include: the dissemination of ideas and steps towards the implementation of the green economy; the establishment of specific deadlines for achieving targets of sustainable development by many countries; the development of technological sovereignty of countries based on a green worldview; the implementation of the concept of sustainable development not only by governments, but also at the micro level — by companies; the emergence of new financial instruments, in particular, green and social bonds to attract capital and invest in projects with environmental and social benefits; advances in the taxonomy of green finance. An important result of the study is the conclusion that despite the possibility of deceleration in certain periods, sustainable development is a long-term trend in the functioning of our civilization and further research should be aimed at improving management decisions to support it in the short and long term.

Implementation and effectiveness evaluation of environmental protection measures under sustainable supply chain planning

This paper aims to discuss the implementation and effectiveness evaluation of environmental protection measures under sustainable supply chain planning. Firstly, the background and importance of sustainable supply chain management are introduced, and the role of environmental protection measures in supply chain is expounded. Then the selection and implementation of environmental protection measures are discussed in detail, including classification, selection criteria and implementation methods and methods. Then the evaluation method, including the setting of evaluation index and the application of evaluation tools, is expounded. Through case analysis, the implementation cases of environmental protection measures under specific sustainable supply chain planning are presented and their effects are evaluated. The impact of the implementation of environmental protection measures on sustainable supply chain management, as well as the challenges and problems in the implementation process are discussed and analyzed. Finally, the paper summarizes the research results and puts forward some suggestions on the implementation of environmental protection measures under sustainable supply chain planning, aiming at providing guidance and inspiration for practice. Through this study, we can better understand and apply environmental protection measures in sustainable supply chain management, and promote enterprises to achieve sustainable development goals in practice.

ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ КОМПЕНСАЦИИ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЯ АТМОСФЕРЫ

The article examines the effectiveness of environmental protection measures carried out at enterprises that have sources of pollutant emissions

Social, behavioral and environmental determinants of vector-borne diseases: A narrative review of evidence and implications for integrated control approaches.

Vector-borne diseases exert immense health burdens worldwide. Malaria alone causes over 200 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually. Transmission involves complex drivers requiring examination beyond entomological factors. A systematic literature search across databases identified relevant studies on vector-borne disease determinants published in the last two decades, with priority given to rigorous designs like longitudinal analyses, reviews, and meta-analyses from diverse epidemic regions, allowing narrative synthesis of key determinants, relationships, and gaps. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on social, behavioral, and environmental determinants of major vector-borne disease risks over the past decade. Lower education, poverty, unplanned urbanization, gender inequities, inadequate water and waste management, climate variations, and land-use changes stood out as key determinants. However, significant knowledge gaps remain around quantifying precise threshold effects and impacts of tailored interventions across contexts. A social-ecological perspective recognizing interdependencies between determinants should frame integrated control programs. Multicomponent strategies addressing environmental modifications, protective measures, behavioral motivators, and infrastructure alongside governance and community engagement require implementation research and impact evaluation. Overall, this review highlights priority areas for advancing evidence-based vector control through contextualized, determinant-targeted policies and interventions. Further research incorporating modeling, trials, and cost-effectiveness analyses is critical to validate approaches that address influential drivers, leverage motivators, and reduce the global burden.

Empirical analysis of the development relationship between Shanghai shipping industry and primary industry based on VAR model

This study employs the Vector Autoregression (VAR) model to conduct an in-depth empirical analysis of the dynamic relationship between Shanghai’s shipping industry and the development of the primary sector from 2002 to 2022. The findings reveal that, as a globally significant maritime hub, the development of Shanghai’s shipping industry has a notable positive impact on the growth of the primary sector, particularly in agriculture and fisheries. Through ADF unit root tests, cointegration tests, and Granger causality tests, a stable long-term relationship was identified between shipping industry indicators, such as container throughput and total waterborne cargo transport volume, and the output value of the primary sector. Impulse response analysis and variance decomposition further reveal the critical roles and mechanisms through which the shipping industry influences the development of the primary sector. Based on these insights, the paper proposes policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the integrated development of shipping and the primary sector, promoting technological innovation in the shipping industry, optimizing the policy environment, enhancing environmental protection measures, and bolstering international cooperation. These strategies are intended to foster synergistic development between the two sectors and drive sustainable economic growth.

Evaluation of Ecosystem Services in Ruoergai National Park, China

This study utilizes ArcGIS10.8 and ENVI5.3 software and the InVEST model to analyze and operate field survey data and remote sensing image data from Ruoergai National Park. The work simulates the soil retention, carbon storage, water supply, and habitat quality of the park to evaluate and analyze its four major ecosystem services. Subsequently, important areas of ecosystem services are zoned based on the results, aiming to provide decision-makers with a theoretical and scientific basis for formulating ecological environment restoration, protection, and management measures in Ruoergai National Park. The results showed the following: (1) In the study area, the land use types, ranked from largest to smallest, are grassland, unused land, forest, water area, and construction land. (2) Soil retention and water supply show an increasing trend, while carbon storage shows a decreasing trend. Habitat quality remains relatively stable, with most areas maintaining a high level of quality. (3) The importance zoning of ecosystem services in the study area exhibited a trend of “four increases and one decrease”. Specifically, the areas classified as moderately important, highly important, and extremely important all increased, while the area designated as generally important decreased. The findings indicate that climate change, land use type changes, and human activities are the primary factors influencing changes in ESs. It is crucial to prioritize highly important and extremely important areas for protection and utilization within Ruoergai National Park. Moving forward, it will be essential to minimize human activities that disrupt the ecosystem, while also focusing on the conservation and sustainable use of forest and grassland.

Numerical Hydrodynamic Modelling As A Tool For Research And Use Of Tidal Rivers

Tidal estuaries play a crucial role, serving as major hubs for economic activities while also contributing to the preservation of natural diversity and bioproductivity. In Russia, these estuaries are primarily located in remote regions of the European North and the Far East, making them vital for energy and transportation usage as they essentially form the ‘cores’ of territorial development along the Northern Sea Route. To facilitate the development of energy and navigation infrastructure in tidal estuaries, as well as to plan and implement environmental protection measures, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of their hydrological regime. Unlike regular river flow, tidal estuaries exhibit more complex hydrodynamics, influenced by both river and marine factors. Due to the considerable challenges of conducting field hydrological studies in remote areas, numerical hydrodynamic modelling has emerged as a valuable method for obtaining information on the flow and water level regime in tidal estuaries. This paper presents an application of one-dimensional HEC-RAS and two-dimensional STREAM_2D CUDA numerical models to investigate the parameters of reverse currents in the hypertidal Syomzha estuary flowing into the Mezen Bay of the White Sea. The limitations and accuracy of the models are discussed, along with the potential for their improvement considering recent advancements in understanding the hydraulics of reverse currents.

Link between Oil Pollution and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Oil exploration in the Niger Delta has led to severe environmental pollution. This study investigates the association between exposure to crude oil and adverse pregnancy outcomes. 
 Study Design: This was a comparative cross-sectional study of the differences in adverse pregnancy outcomes of people living in heavily oil polluted and non-polluted communities
 Place and Duration of Study: Kegbara Dere (K-Dere), a rural Community in Ogoniland, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State and Obohia community in Ndoki kingdom, Ukwa East LGA of Abia state between June 2022 and Jan 2023.
 Methodology: We recruited 900 study participants (450 each from the crude oil impacted and the non-oil polluted communities) using multi-stage random sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-demographics and adverse pregnancy history by case definitions using the adapted WHO indirect sisterhood method of maternal mortality estimate. Data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Differences in proportions were compared using Chi Square test. The association between living in an oil polluted community or exposure to crude oil pollutants and adverse pregnancy outcomes was determined using crude odds ratio. Confidence intervals were determined at 95% level and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
 Results: Pregnant women in the polluted community experienced a significantly higher prevalence of adverse outcomes, including stillbirth, abortion, and birth defects. The risk of experiencing an adverse pregnancy outcome was 30 times higher in the polluted area.
 Conclusion: This study suggests a strong link between oil pollution and pregnancy complications. Further research with robust designs is needed to confirm causality. Environmental cleanup and protective measures for pregnant women are crucial in these areas.

Evaluation of surface water contamination and its impacts on health in the mining districts of Kambélé and Bétaré-Oya (Eastern-Cameroon)

This study aimed to assess water contamination and associated health risks for populations residing in the mining areas of Kambélé and Bétaré-Oya. Key parameters, including pH, EC, TDS, TSS, and concentrations of metallic elements (Cd, Cr, Fe, Pb and Mn), were measured using established water analysis techniques. The analysis included multivariate statistical assessments, calculation of metal pollution and water quality indices, and health risk determinations, including daily intake (DI) and hazard quotient (HQ). Findings indicate a diverse pH range (5.26 < pH < 8.72), low mineralization (33.22 < EC (μS/cm) < 179.64), and elevated TSS content (22.53 < TSS (in mg/l) < 271.51). Metallic elements were observed in the descending order of Fe > Mn > Pb > Cr > Cd. Water quality assessments using the Water Quality Index (WQI) categorized sites as displaying doubtful to very poor quality, notably Woupy (WQI = 719.14) in Kambélé and Mali (WQI = 794.24) in Bétaré-Oya, with Heavy metal Pollution Index (HPI) values exceeding 100. These outcomes highlight consistent chemical degradation of surface water, posing potential risks to local populations' health and well-being. The study emphasizes the critical need for proactive environmental protection measures in mining areas, recommending the adoption of healthy mining practices and effective site reclamation strategies. Furthermore, future studies should consider exposure duration's potential impact on residents' health problems in these areas. Overall, this study contributes significantly to understanding and addressing the intricate interplay between mining activities, water quality, and public health in the Cameroon countryside.

Комплексная оценка экологической, социальной и управленческой эффективности предприятий рыбодобывающей и рыбоперерабатывающей отрасли

The purpose of the work is to form provisions for determining a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the activities of a fishing and fish processing company in the field of ecology, social responsibility and in matters of management activities. When forming this assessment, indicators are taken into account that characterize the effectiveness of environmental protection measures; improvement of working conditions of employees, organization of corporate governance. To aggregate these characteristics, methods based on the position of the theory of fuzzy sets are proposed. The computing complex itself for processing information about the state of controlled parameters is implemented in the form of a hierarchical fuzzy inference system and an additional block that is used to distribute objects of analysis by state classes. The computing complex includes fuzzy inference systems based on the Sugeno algorithm. As a result of aggregation of the estimated parameters, two estimates are formed: one allows you to rank the analyzed objects, the second – to correlate the object of analysis with a certain class of state. The simulation showed that the computing complex has a high sensitivity: if at least one of the input variables is in the range of low (bad) values, this leads to a decrease in the value of the final score. This property makes it possible to exclude the occurrence of massaging of “bad” values of individual variables with “good” values of other variables. The results of the study confirmed the ability of the complex to distribute the objects of analysis by state classes. The results can be used for the development of corporate governance systems that are oriented for use in enterprises of the fisheries industry.

Water Quality of Lake Erhai in Southwest China and Its Projected Status in the near Future

The water quality of Lake Erhai has deteriorated in recent decades due to socioeconomic development in the lake basin. After the massive implementation of water environmental protection measures in Lake Erhai in 2016, the trend of water quality deterioration has been curbed and the intensity and frequency of algal blooms has decreased. However, water quality monitoring data show that pollutant concentrations in Lake Erhai still exceed acceptable values, and there is a risk of water quality standard limits being further exceeded in the future. Therefore, it is urgent to systematically study the variability characteristics of water quality in Lake Erhai to provide practical methods to predict the future evolution of water quality. Based on water quality monitoring data from 2009 to 2019, the current water quality characteristics of Lake Erhai were analyzed, and a two-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality mathematical model was built to predict the water quality in 2025. The results showed that the total phosphorus (TP) concentration declined after 2016, mainly due to the significant reduction of TP entering the lake due to pollution interception. However, the concentrations of the potassium permanganate index (CODMn) and total nitrogen (TN) increased after 2016, demonstrating that the pollution control measures have had little effect on the improvement of CODMn and TN. The spatial and temporal distribution of pollutants showed that the water quality in winter and spring was better than in summer and autumn, and the water quality in the southern lake was better than in the northern lake. This analysis indicates that non-point source pollution remains the main source of pollution in Lake Erhai, and that rainfall is the main driving force of pollutants exceeding the water quality standard. According to the water quality predictions, without additional pollution control measures, pollutant concentrations in Lake Erhai will exceed the Class II water quality standard by 2025. This study analyzes the water quality characteristics, predicts the direction of future water quality changes, and provides a theoretical basis for the future water quality protection of Lake Erhai.

Constitutional law matters of sustainable development under martial law: The case of Ukraine

The article discusses a general vision of constitutional law matters related to sustainable development during wartime in Ukraine. The research contributes to the study of legislation by using legal norms, acts and cases. Enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution of Ukraine, the state strategic course for Ukraine’s full membership in the European Union and NATO provides for positive developments in approximating Ukrainian legislation to EU regulations. The article shows that the benefits of cooperation for sustainable development may occur only if the central and municipal authorities undertake environmental protection measures in Ukraine in three dimensions: environmental security and preventing the pollution of the environment during the war; private–public cooperation under martial law; and community leadership and mass media contacts.

Affordable cellulose-based solid phase extraction adsorbent for efficient chromatographic analysis of trace contaminants in environmental waters for developing countries

The current work reports on a new low-cost solid phase extraction (SPE) material obtained by crosslinking cellulose with 4,4–methylenebisphenyldiisocyanate (CMDI-1) for the pre-concentration of two contaminants of emerging concern (CEC): Chloramphenicol (CAP) and Bisphenol-A (BPA) from water. The results obtained show good analytical performance with low Limit of Detection of 71.9 ng/L and 10 ng/L for the pre-concentration of CAP and BPA respectively, and a good linear range between 0.5 and 8 µg/L, with r2 values > 0.99. The application of the developed method for the analysis of real water samples achieved good percentage recoveries (86.8 – 96.2 %), comparable to that of an expensive commercial HLB adsorbent (89.8 – 107 %). Response Surface Methodology modelling indicates that adsorbent dose, elution volume, and sample volume had a significant influence on CAP recovery, while solution pH, elution volume, and ionic strength had a significant influence on BPA recovery. From our economic assessment, a pack of 30 SPE tubes of 500 mg CMDI-1 SPE adsorbent will cost 82 % less than a similar amount of Oasis HLB adsorbent. This study demonstrates and validates a feasible and inexpensive approach to the use of cellulose to develop low-cost SPE adsorbents for the effective pre-concentration and determination of trace contaminants in water. The CMDI-1 SPE adsorbent can be easily prepared and adopted for use by water professionals in developing countries to enhance understanding on the presence and fate of such contaminants in the environment and also in technical systems, towards developing relevant environmental protection measures for sustainability.

Effective ways of forming environmental competence of school students: modern aspects of task implementation

The purpose of the work is to determine the main effective ways of forming the environmental competence of school children. Methodology: in the process of research, to identify modern forms of teaching environmental competence using game methods, computer technologies and the involvement of schoolchildren in health and recreational activities by organizing excursions, hikes, thematic events in the natural environment. The above proposed forms of education allow to attract more schoolchildren, the learning process becomes more objective and interesting for children and young people. The use of actual pedagogical practices based on modern trends allows to draw more attention to environmental problems. Scientific novelty: modern aspects of the implementation of ecological competence are summarized in the form of modern approaches to learning by means of interactive classes, project works with involvement in ecological activities of health and recreation orientation. Conclusions. Implementation of the task of forming environmental competence among schoolchildren requires a comprehensive approach and the application of various modern forms and methods aimed at increasing environmental awareness and developing a responsible attitude towards nature, which consists in creating conditions for direct contact of children with nature, which contributes to their psychophysical development, forms a habit careful attitude towards nature. The issue of environmental competence must be highlighted in international sports arenas, involving prominent athletes, cultural figures, and famous figures in environmental projects, involving all spheres of society, including government structures, business, educational institutions, and public organizations, to cooperate in the implementation of environmental protection measures, for the formation of environmental culture children and youth.

Prospects for the development of legal regulation of Green Recovery in Ukraine

Ukraine has committed itself to developing and implementing long-term measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As a party to the Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the state is obliged to make its nationally determined contribution to achieve the goals of sustainable low-carbon development of all sectors of the economy and increase the ability to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. The official announcement of joining the European Green Deal demonstrates Ukraine’s unwavering intention to overcome the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation by transforming into a modern resource-efficient and competitive economy. In June 2022, Ukraine was granted the status of a candidate for EU membership. These measures should be implemented despite Russia’s anti-Ukrainian armed aggression and difficult economic challenges.&#x0D; The purpose of this work is to determine the main directions of development of the legal mechanism for preventing climate change, which is being formed in the context of military realities, while ensuring that Ukraine strictly complies with its obligations under the European Green Deal.&#x0D; It is concluded that when developing the conceptual legal framework of the environmental security component as part of the Strategy for Post-War Recovery and Development of Ukraine and the relevant Action Plan, as well as sectoral programs for the restoration of the State, an appropriate climate policy should be formulated, coordinated with Ukraine’s further European integration.&#x0D; These include updated priority measures of the national climate policy, broad state support for environmental protection measures; digitalization of environmental relations; provision of funding for measures and investments aimed at developing competitive renewable generation and improving existing infrastructure, developing the potential of the hydrogen ecosystem, increasing the energy efficiency of buildings through the integration of renewable energy sources, decarbonizing insulation and cooling of buildings, ensuring the development of transport with low.

Accumulation of Beryllium in Bottom Sediments of Rivers in the Kizelovsky Coal Basin

The studies have been carried out on the accumulation of beryllium in bottom sediments of the river. Kosva (Western Urals, RF), which receives acidic waters from 8 water outflows, characterized by a sulfate iron-calcium composition, high mineralization and a significant beryllium content. It is concluded that a river suspension of colloidal size acts as a sorption barrier for beryllium, transported with the flow of water and gradually settling at the bottom. It is noted that the aggregation of particles among themselves with the formation of a larger suspension leads to the fact that, with distance from the source of pollution, a gradual increase in the beryllium content in coarse water suspension is observed with a decrease in the total beryllium content in water. It is recommended that the identified features of beryllium migration and accumulation be taken into account when developing environmental protection measures for the ecological rehabilitation of the river Kosvy.

Environment and Digitalization: The New Paradigms in the European Stock Markets

In a European context in which the objectives of climate neutrality and digitalization appear fundamental, the work analyzes the relationships between the price of the main stock market indices and the most representative variables such as carbon emissions, digitalization, use of renewable energy, research and development expenses, environmental taxes, and all economic and management activities aimed at reducing or eliminating any form of pollution. The analysis was developed through three different regressions involving the long period 1995–2020 and the short period 2017–2020. The results show how increasing carbon emissions and environmental taxes positively impact stock indices. The former is linked to an increase in production and, therefore, economic growth, and the latter encourages sustainability. Taxes on transport and energy in the long term generate higher costs, which damage profitability and negatively impact the performance of stock indices. Finally, in the short term, implementing environmental protection measures or the sustainable management of resources may lead to higher operating costs for the companies involved. These cost increases can negatively impact profit margins and reduce the value of companies. These results, therefore, show us how environmental sustainability has a significant impact on European stock markets; consequently, the relevant regulations and policies should also consider the economic and managerial impacts that companies implement to achieve their objectives of the Green Deal.