Environmental Protection Strategy Research Articles

A methodological framework for understanding shared social values in deliberative valuation

Deliberative methods elicit social values and provide a framework for explicit representation of value dimensions that go beyond narrow self-interest; these dimensions are obscured by methods that focus on monetary value. The primary objective of this paper is to explore the reasoning behind people's assessments of the value of ecosystem services in a deliberative context. To do so, we collected quantitative and qualitative data from four workshops of residents in New Hampshire's Great Bay watershed in the Northeastern United States. Quantitative data come from participant surveys and expressed group preferences, while qualitative data were derived from transcripts of the group deliberations. This paper aims to understand the process of social value construction by identifying themes of discussion that affected participants' preferences changes over the course of deliberation. We visualized the dynamic process by which participants develop their preferences over time and developed two metrics using applied thematic analysis to better understand how people talk about themes related to ecosystem service tradeoffs. Our results suggest that preferences were formed mainly from ecological and common good considerations. Policymakers could use this insight to support environmental protection strategies and policies, improve environmental decisions, and better allocate resources among competing objectives.

Theoretical foundations of sustainable development of Azerbaijan

Sustainable development is one of the fateful paradigms of modern humanity, the most important economic challenge facing society. The successful economic policy pursued during the years of independence allowed Azerbaijan to achieve high rates of economic growth, exceeding the same indicator not only in the post-Soviet space, but in some years throughout the world. The purpose of this study is to investigate the theoretical foundations of sustainable development in Azerbaijan, as well as to explore the theoretical foundations of the concept of sustainable development in general. The study of the theoretical aspect of sustainable development as a concept, as well as sustainable development on the example of Azerbaijan, was accomplished with general scientific methods of scientific cognition. The main toolkit included the methodology of a systemic, integrated, and structurally functional approach to the study of sustainable development issues, as well as the principles of deduction, induction, generalisation, and analysis. In the process of scientific research, statistical, logical, and other methods of processing and generalising information were used due to specific goals and objectives. This study examines complex strategies for development, sustainable development, and environmental protection both in the economy as a whole and in individual sectors. The short-term and long-term goals of the concept of sustainable development of Azerbaijan were also considered. The practical value of this study lies in the fact that its results can be used to study the main aspects of sustainable development. The results of this study can also be used to learn about the level of sustainable development of Azerbaijan.

A multi-scenario input-output economy-energy-environment nexus management model for Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration

Synergistic management of economy-energy-environment nexus (EEEN) system is essential for balancing the tradeoff among economic development, energy supply, and environment conservation. In this study, a multi-scenario input-output economy-energy-environment nexus management (abbreviated as MIO-ENM) model is developed through incorporating input-output model (IOM), scenario analysis, and simulation-optimization techniques within a general framework. MIO-ENM is capable of identifying the main factors affecting the EEEN system as well as generating optimal strategies supporting regional sustainability. The MIO-ENM model is applied to planning EEEN of Pearl River Delta (abbreviated as PRD) urban agglomeration over a long-term planning horizon (2021–2035). Results for planning economic and energy-related activities have been obtained, which can be used for further generating decision alternatives. Results disclose that: (i) development of advanced manufacturing and service industry can improve the regional economic efficiency; (ii) under all scenarios, the proportion of electricity in energy consumption would exceed 35% mainly due to the environmental requirement; (iii) the annual economic growth rate is suggested around 6.0% during 2021–2035; (iv) compared to the conventional approach, the integrated modeling of EEEN can generate optimal joint-management strategies for economy development, energy production, and environmental protection, which are beneficial to the sustainability of the PRD urban agglomeration.

The Necessity for the Implementation of a Global Environmental Policy for the Needs and Conditions and Local Communities. A Comparative Study

Dynamic economic development, especially of highly industrialised regions, is a real threat to the local community through the too extensive exploitation of the natural environment. In the field of environmental protection, a global policy of sustainable development is applied, of which numerous conventions and international agreements are the evidence. From a regional point of view, however, the policy created by the regional authorities is of greater importance. This claim is also a research hypothesis of this research. Hence, the subject of this study will be the analysis of environmental protection policies carried out by the authorities of two partner municipalities, Józefów in Poland and Bitetto in Italy. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of the activities of the local authorities of two partner municipalities in terms of local environmental protection, and to show that environmental policies should take into account in global and national approaches, but they should take their real shape based on local conditions and needs. The result of the work will be the conclusions on the effectiveness of local environmental protection policy. The study will use the method of analysing local environmental protection strategy and statistical data analysis, and an analysis of Polish and Italian law.

Policy and Legislations on Microplastics Pollution Management in Vietnam

Plastic pollution has become a major global environmental problem. The amount of plastic waste, including microplastics discharged into the environment, is on the increase, causing harm to the environment, ecosystems, especially marine ecosystems, entering the food chain, and affecting human health. Recognizing the environmental risks of plastic waste, the State has issued many legal documents on plastic waste management such as the Law on Environmental Protection (2014, 2020); Law on Environmental Protection Tax 2010; National environmental protection strategy up to 2020, Vision 2030; National strategy on integrated solid waste management up to 2025, Vision 2050, among others. However, there are still many shortcomings to plastic waste management in Vietnam, e.g. there are no effective solutions in reducing, sorting, collecting, reusing, recycling and treating waste. More importantly, public awareness and understanding of microplastic pollution in Vietnam still need improving. Therefore, pollution caused by microplastics needs to be studied and evaluated in relation to its origin, current situation, impacts and management policies.

Estimation of the Potential Achievable Solar Energy of the Buildings Using Photogrammetric Mesh Models

Estimating the potential achievable solar energy in urban buildings is significantly important for the long-term planning and development of environmental protection strategies. Nevertheless, conventional methods based on LiDAR data are often costly and require more than one platform to obtain complete building surface information. The development of oblique photogrammetry technology enables fast and accurate acquiring of the 3D information of the surface. In this paper, we propose an efficient method to estimate the potential achievable solar energy of building surfaces based on photogrammetric mesh models. In this method, we use photogrammetric mesh models as the input data and then propose a hierarchical algorithm for shadow analysis. Combined with the solar radiation model, we then obtain the potential achievable solar energy of the building surface. We further investigate the performance of the proposed method and it is shown that this method outperforms the multi-source LiDAR data.

The importance of green infrastructure for improving the air quality of Ho Chi Minh city

Ho Chi Minh City is becoming one of the cities which has the highest level of air pollution in Vietnam. The Urban Air Quality Index (AQI) sometimes hits an alarming threshold that shows how contaminated the air is. Air pollution has been set as a major concern for the people of Ho Chi Minh City for more than 20 years after the promulgation of the city developing resolution by the government, by which managing urban is still a challengeable burdensome. Investigating 100 city dwellers upon the issue came uploads of comments of urban citizens towards concerning about alarming polluted air, lacking green spaces, seeking for improvable environmental policies and developing social infrastructures in medication, transport, eco-system, etc. There are some typical solutions like planting more trees, using fewer polluting means of transport, prioritizing the use of clean fuels, using the public transport system, and raising public awareness. Furthermore, generally, citizens can improve their living standards, also enhance their awareness to stop behaving badly to the environment due to ameliorate community consciousness and perform the main role in investing in friendly environmental goods. The research is completed by combining, analysing journal documents and uses methods of an interview as well as a survey to come up with the most effective solutions. To manage the urban environment well, limit pollution, and improve the environment, we need to have long-term strategies. In order to have a good environmental protection strategy, it requires the participation of urban residents. This strategy should be linked to the visions and resolutions in developing industrial planning, transportation, etc. The research initiates multiple solutions for improving the quality of the air in urban places, social medication, and a better environment in the future.

Analysis of Environmental Protection and Green Ecological Construction in Northwest China

With the rapid development of China’s economy and society, innovative design concepts such as green, ecology and environmental protection have gradually penetrated into all aspects of modern people’s daily life and work. China’s economic development is in a high-speed stage, but in today’s China, the unbalanced development has a long history. At present, under the leadership of President Xi, all aspects have been well planned and governed. The proposal of environmental protection strategy and the construction of green ecological infrastructure have improved China’s overall ecological environment to a certain extent and promoted sustainable development, which is also the best strategic choice to achieve coordinated and sustainable development of economy, society and environment.

Characterization of steel slag by SEM-EDS, XRD, and INAA

Steel slag is considered a by-product of the steel industry and its reuse is a strategy for environmental protection, since it consists of potential polluting materials. Its main applications involve the use of large quantities of the raw material, but the extraction of ores in smaller proportions can be attractive. For example, magnetite (Fe3O4) may be of great interest for its magnetic properties in the production of composites with different applications. On the other hand, rare earth elements (REE) production is vital for new technologies and since traces of the different REE are found in most iron ores, their extraction can be conducted together. However, previous characterization of the slag is necessary; since they vary in mineralogical composition conform to steelmaking operations. Classical characterization techniques of ores such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) may be limited to characterize small fractions of materials. Therefore, in this study, neutron activation analysis was used as the characterization technique to confirm the presence of iron and REE in the slag. The steel slag composite sample of the Linz-Donawitz (LD) process was collected in a steelwork localized in the Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The steel slag sample was characterized by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), using the nuclear research reactor TRIGA MARK I IPR-R1. The results are compared with the characterizations made with XRD and SEM-EDS. Although XRD and EDS results indicated the presence of magnetite in a small proportion, INAA was decisive confirming the presence of REE in the mineralogical composition of the composite sample collected.

REVIEW ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS OF SUNDARBAN FOREST: HIGHLIGHTS ON CAUSES AND IMPACTS

Sundarban, the world biggest mangrove forest, was announced as a World Heritage in 1997 and Ramsar Site in 2007. It's 62% lies in Bangladesh (Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Pirojpur, and Barguna Regions) and 38% in India, which become a vanguard for coastal communities. This ecosystem's floral and faunal structure incorporates 334 floral, 300 birds, 120 fish, 35 reptiles, and 32 mammals species. It contributes 41% of the total forest income of Bangladesh. This paper is intended to recognize the significant reasons for biodiversity calamity and its related effects on lives and degradation of the environment. A total of 105 published articles and reports were identified by searching four keywords: degradation, biodiversity, Sundarban, and Bangladesh. By considering the scope, 28 articles and 17 reports were incorporated to satisfy the objectives. The study revealed that the prominent causes of biodiversity loss of Sundarban might be due to intensified shrimp cultivation, increased dependency on forest and illicit felling, changing land use pattern, oil spillage, and pollution, forest fire, improper management practices, plant diseases, tourism activities, upstream withdrawal of river water, salinity intrusion, climate change, and some natural causes. The impacts were the loss of diversity of floral and faunal species subjected to regionally extinct, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, and least concern condition. Occupational change and deterioration of the quality of life of surrounding communities are identified as impacts. Finally, the study recommended the formulation of a special mangrove forest policy and proper management practices of Sundarban with several environmental protection strategies that should be adopted to conserve this unique ecosystem.

Commoning of territorial heritage and tools of participated sustainability for the production and enhancement of agro-environmental public goods

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the commoning heritage processes find application for the production of agro-environmental public goods in contexts of high socio-economic marginality and environmental vulnerability, characterized by abandonment and from the consumption of agricultural land for food use. The purpose is to understand how these processes are able to influence, at local level, the governance processes for the implementation of environmental protection strategies. The survey made it possible to verify how the commoning processes aimed at the production of agro-environmental goods generate territorial resilience, understood as a community competence able to structure specific forms of social learning based on priorities identified and defined by the communities. The followed theoretical framework and the methodological approach have allowed on the one hand to draw up a taxonomy of the different territorial dynamics and on the other to identify a mixed indicator system, applicable and replicable also in other contexts, able to describe its dimensions analytically. The assessment of the cognitive elements related to the territorial fabric carried out through the proposed approach has allowed to demonstrate how the knowledge of the territorial capital contributes to the activation of forms of collective intelligence necessary for decision-making processes.

Mode Choice Change under Environmental Constraints in the Combined Modal Split and Traffic Assignment Model

With the increasing level of air pollution and fine dust, many countries are trying to prevent further environmental damage, with various government legislations, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. In the transportation field, a variety of environmental protection schemes are also being considered (e.g., banning old diesel vehicles, alternate no-driving systems, electric car subsidies, and environmental cost charging by tax). Imposing environmental constraints is a good approach to reflect various environmental protections. The objective of this research was to analyze the mode-choice and route-choice changes based on imposing environmental constraints. For the objective, a combined modal split and traffic assignment (CMA) model with an environmental constraint model was developed. For the environmental constraint, carbon monoxide (CO) was adopted, because most of the CO emissions in the air are emitted by motorized vehicles. After a detailed description of the model, the validity and some properties of the model and algorithm are demonstrated with two numerical examples (e.g., a small and a real network in the city of Winnipeg, Canada). From the numerical results, we can observe that imposing the small restriction (or strict) value has more efficiency in mode change and reducing network emission.

The influence of board characteristics on environmental performance: evidence from East Asian manufacturing industries

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the influence of board characteristics on environmental performance in manufacturing firms of the emerging East Asian markets. The authors adopt a triple perspective of environmental performance that focusses on three major environmental areas including resource reduction, emission reduction and product innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors consider three main board characteristics, namely, board size, board independence and board leadership structure, and investigate their impacts on a multidimensional construct of environmental performance. Specifically, both linear and quadratic functions are applied to address a possibility of the non-linear relationship between board size and environmental performance. The authors use fixed-effects estimations on a sample of manufacturing firms in the emerging East Asian countries between 2011 and 2016.FindingsThe study explores an inverse U-shaped relationship between board size and environmental performance. The authors also reveal that manufacturing firms are more likely to have better environmental performance when the proportion of independent directors on board increases. However, the separation of CEO and board chair roles has no impact on environmental performance.Practical implicationsThe findings have important implications by identifying the role of a board of directors in implementing environmental protection strategies and by providing a foundation for corporate efforts to enhance sustainable development.Originality/valueThe study provides complete understanding of environmental performance as a multidimensional construct and sheds light on the influence of board characteristics, especially the inverse U-shaped influence of board size, on environmental performance in the East Asian manufacturing industries.

Comparison between Demand and Supply of Some Ecosystem Services in National Parks: A Spatial Analysis Conducted Using Italian Case Studies

In recent decades, modeling approaches of ecosystem services (ES) have been used extensively at the international level, providing useful tools during the decision-making process by integrating both physical and economic information, thus improving its management. The relationship between supply and demand may impact social welfare: for example, a deficit in ES could negatively influence demand (either potential or effective). For this reason, the relational study between supply and demand is necessary for the sustainable management of natural resources; particularly since the demand for some ES must be fulfilled not only on a local scale but also globally (as in the case of regulatory ES). This paper proposes an ES analysis framework that links the flow of services (supply) generated by the interaction between natural, human and social capital with consumption (demand) connected to potential beneficiaries. Specifically, we analyze three ES: Forage production, regulation of local climate (PM10), and carbon sequestration in three national parks (Aspromonte National Park, Circeo National Park, and Appennino Tosco Emiliano National Park). The use of synthetic (biophysical) indicators, on a spatial basis, made it possible to quantify the supply and demand of specific catchments with the aim of accounting for the surplus/deficit through the calculation of the ES supply and demand ratio (ESDR). In fact, sustainable land management requires a balance between supply and demand in relation to the different needs of the stakeholders and local community. The relationship between supply and demand of ES can help identify resource use trade-offs, thus rendering the achievement of management and protection objectives more efficient. Lastly, through the use of monetary coefficients, it was possible to calculate the benefits of increasing the awareness of public decision-makers of ES’s value and the importance of implementing integrated strategies for environmental protection and enhancement.

Controlled aggregation of methylene blue in silica–methylene blue nanocomposite for enhanced 1O2 generation

Organic photosensitizers can facilitate photochemical singlet-oxygen (1O2) production, providing a promising strategy for photocatalysis, photodynamic therapy, and environmental protection. Unfortunately, most organic photosensitizers tend to self-aggregate because of their hydrophobicity and conjugated π–π electronic structure, leading to the inactivation of their photosensitizing capabilities. Thus, the controlled aggregation of organic photosensitizers is critical for photosensitizer’s applications. We report a nanocomposite of porous silica nanoaggregates and the organic photosensitizer methylene blue (P-SiOx NAs/MB) that allows the aggregation control of methylene blue (MB). This nanocomposite-photosensitizer consists of highly dispersed MB in P-SiOx NAs and enhances 1O2 production under light irradiation without the inactivation of the photosensitizing ability of MB. The enhanced 1O2 generation rate of P-SiOx NAs/MB is 1.36 times larger than that of free MB. This behavior is contrasted with the inactivation of the photosensitizing ability of MB-encapsulated organo-silica nanoparticles, due to MB self-aggregation within the particles. This study provides a strategy for creating an efficient photosensitizer via suppression of MB self-aggregation to enhance the generation of 1O2.

Biochar Promotes Nitrogen Transformation and Tomato Yield by Regulating Nitrogen-Related Microorganisms in Tomato Cultivation Soil

Nitrogen (N) transformation in soil directly determines the effectiveness of N for plant growth. Biochar has received evermore attention because of its significant ability to improve soil. However, the effects of biochar on N-related microorganisms (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in tomato cultivation soil, N transformation, utilisation of water and N fertiliser, and tomato yield remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the responses of N-related microorganisms to biochar and N fertilisation in soil, along with the implications of biochar for altering N transformation, N uptake by tomatoes, and utilisation of water and N fertiliser. A two-year greenhouse experiment containing six biochar levels under drip irrigation (0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 t ha−1) and two N fertiliser application rates (190 and 250 kg ha−1) was conducted in the northwest of China. The results showed that adding biochar significantly promoted urease activity, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and the number of amoA-type nitrifiers in the soil. The MBC:N ratio and the number of nirS-type denitrifiers were significantly inhibited when the added amount of biochar was greater than or equal to 30 t ha−1. Moreover, biochar can increase the water content in the soil and can reduce the N lost to leaching. The inorganic N (NO3− and NH4+) in the soil could be better maintained in the rootzone and better absorbed by tomato plants when adding 30, 50, and 70 t ha−1 of biochar. The amount of N fertiliser could be reduced by 24% without a significant loss of tomato yield when the amount of biochar added was over 30 t ha−1. It was indicated that the yield of tomatoes and the net profits were quadratically related to the application rate of biochar. In the test area, 53 t ha−1 of biochar with 190 kg ha−1 of N and 44.6 t ha−1 of biochar with 190 kg ha−1 of N were calculated to be the best amounts from the perspectives of tomato yield and net profit, respectively. Thus, biochar promotes N transformation by regulating N-related microorganisms; hence, it increases the inorganic N in the roots of the plants, reduces N lost to leaching, and significantly promotes the N absorption of tomatoes. The results in this research are of great significance for the development of management strategies for tomato maintenance, environmental protection, and resource conservation.

Research and Discussion on Specialty Construction of Experimental Technology for New Energy Vehicles

The reform of the mechanism and performance of the internal combustion engine in the traditional automobile industry has always been the main goal in the environmental protection strategy. In recent years, people have proposed experimental technologies for new energy vehicles[1]. Facts have proved that new energy vehicles have great advantages in energy consumption and environmental pollution prevention. Because of this factor, the space for new energy vehicles to play in the automotive industry is constantly growing. Some emerging automobile-related companies are also working hard to find research and development methods for new energy vehicles. This phenomenon has also led to a sharp increase in the demand for talents after the launch of new energy vehicles. Therefore, the current obsolete automobile research and development profession must undergo transformational development to be able to adapt to the needs of society. The construction of the new energy vehicle test technology specialty is imminent.

Treatment of petroleum refinery effluents and wastewater in Iraq: A mini review

In the analysis undertaken, we review waste from the crude oil and fuel refining. In addition to petrochemical intermediate products industry in Iraq in petroleum refinery effluents (PRE). The study shows the significant detrimental impacts of the Iraqi refinery effluent pollution. The research illustrated the handling of wastewater in refineries. This study shows that the emissions from Iraqi refineries comes out to the farthest extent. We were often based on environmental toxins such as Couscous Pollutants, Liquid Pollutants and Strong Pollutants in the Southern Refineries. In addition, we follow the forms in which refining waste in Iraq is treated. To date, oil refineries have struggled to meet their commitments effectively while atmospheric regulation in their fields continues to be neglected and environmental protection schemes that contribute to oil pollution mitigations are less regarded. The government, on the other hand, has shown no commitment to enact its minimum environmental legislation. As a consequence, it is clear that the area’s oil and refineries, particularly refineries, have important repercussions for livelihoods and agriculture.

Research on the Whole Life Cycle Management of Environmental Protection and Energy Saving for New Green Buildings

China’s construction industry accounts for a large proportion of energy consumption and has become one of the burdens of environmental protection. How to achieve environmental protection and energy conservation in the construction industry is also an important issue in the current construction industry. Green buildings have become an important measure for environmental protection and energy conservation in the construction industry. The main problems of the current development of buildings, based on the perspective of the whole life cycle, analyze the application analysis of the environmental protection and energy saving of green buildings in all stages of the whole life cycle, and propose the whole life cycle management application strategy for environmental protection and energy saving of green buildings to promote the environmental protection of new green buildings Energy-saving development.

Research on the coordination between tourism economic development and environmental protection in "Internet celebrity city "-- Based on short video platform

As the network environment is increasingly optimized and mobile intelligent devices are widely promoted, short video, as a new way of social contact, has shown "blowout" development. A number of cities and scenic spots have also become popular on the Internet, attracting a large numbers of tourists. Taking Internet celebrity short video as the research object, this paper discusses the role of Internet celebrity short video on the tourism economic development of " Internet celebrity city", and analyzes the environmental problems existing in " Internet celebrity city". On this basis, the corresponding environmental protection strategies are put forward to provide reference for the " Internet celebrity" city how to maintain the coordinated development of tourism economy and environmental protection.