Environmental Sustainability Research Articles

The effect of laboratory diet and feeding on growth parameters in juvenile zebrafish

Despite being one of the most used laboratory species in biomedical, behavioral and physiological research, the nutritional requirements of zebrafish (Danio rerio) are poorly understood, and no standardized laboratory diet exists. Diet and feeding regimen can substantially impact the welfare of the fish and, in turn, experimental reproducibility. Consequently, the establishment of a standardized diet and feeding protocol for laboratory zebrafish is imperative to enhance animal welfare, guarantee research reproducibility and advance the economic and environmental sustainability of laboratory dietary practices. Here the aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the parameters that need to be standardized in future nutritional studies to facilitate future meta-analyses for confirmation of an optimal juvenile diet for growth. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus to identify relevant studies published up to August 2023, and the studies were selected on the basis of the predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. The databases yielded a total of 1,065 articles, of which 14 were included in this review. We conducted data extraction and risk-of-bias analysis in the included studies. Statistical comparisons for specific growth rate, weight gain (%) and length gain (%) parameters were performed to determine the optimal feed for enhanced juvenile growth. We identified significant heterogeneity and caveats to our findings owing to a lack of standardization of experimental conditions in nutritional studies. Our findings highlight an urgent need for research on zebrafish nutrition. Therefore, the standardized parameters we have reported here represent a critical starting point for studies.

Effects of The Cistern Program on Environmental Recovery and Desertification Mitigation in The Semi-Arid Region of Paraíba

Objective: This study aims to analyze the impact of the Cistern Program on mitigating desertification and promoting environmental recovery in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, focusing on the municipalities of Esperança, Lagoa Seca, and São Sebastião de Lagoa de Roça. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on studies addressing the effects of climate change and water scarcity in Brazil’s semi-arid region. Theories of public water policies and strategies for living with the semi-arid climate were also examined, with a focus on the role of cisterns in ensuring water security. Method: This descriptive study employs geotechnologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to develop desertification maps and track the distribution of cisterns. Data from the Trends.Earth plugin and images from MapBiomas were used to analyze soil degradation between 2004 and 2020. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that the Cistern Program significantly contributed to reducing soil degradation and increasing vegetation cover. Continuous access to water enabled the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and enhanced environmental resilience in the studied areas. Research Implications: This study contributes to the formulation of public policies that promote water security and sustainable development, reinforcing the importance of social technologies for living in the semi-arid region. Originality/Value: The study provides a novel analysis of the effectiveness of the Cistern Program in combating desertification in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, highlighting its relevance for environmental sustainability policies.

Erratum: An Examination of the Use of the Framework of Social Marketing to Achieve Environmental Sustainability in International Agricultural and Extension Education

Erratum: An Examination of the Use of the Framework of Social Marketing to Achieve Environmental Sustainability in International Agricultural and Extension Education

Sustainability assessment of additive manufacturing end-of-life material management

Additive manufacturing (AM) methods enable complex, customized, and on-demand production of many products from different material types across various industries. The growing demand for flexible and more sustainable manufacturing solutions places AM in the mix of processes considered for non-commodities. However, AM processes also present unintentional environmental releases in end-of-life (EoL) material management, compromising overall sustainability. Data availability to assess the sustainability of individual EoL material management from individual AM processes is limited. Even so, EoL materials generated across AM practices frequently overlap, supporting high-level assessment as an alternative approach. Therefore, a holistic AM EoL material management sustainability analysis was completed using a customized list of efficiency, environmental, energy, and economic indicators from the Gauging Reaction Effectiveness for the Environmental Sustainability of Chemistries with a multi-Objective Process Evaluator (GREENSCOPE) methodology. Subsequently, this assessment identified low material recycling rates and high energy costs in some EoL material management processes, such as incineration and recovery. Subsequently, a trade-off analysis was performed to determine process modification opportunities, including implementing recycling to reduce the amount of hazardous waste at the expense of additional energy and cost investment. The AM EoL-specific sustainability analysis serves as a resource to offer insights and empower policymakers and stakeholders to enhance pollution prevention strategies and optimize the existing EoL material management processes.

Life After Death: Re‐Purposing End‐of‐Life Supercapacitors for Electrochemical Water Desalination

AbstractThis study explores the potential of re‐purposing end‐of‐life commercial supercapacitors as electrochemical desalination cells, aligning with circular economy principles. A commercial 500‐Farad supercapacitor was disassembled, and its carbon electrodes underwent various degrees of modification. The most straightforward modification involved NaOH‐etching of the aluminum current collector to produce free‐standing carbon films. More advanced modifications included CO2 activation and binder‐added wet processing of the electrodes. When evaluated as electrodes for electrochemical desalination via capacitive deionization of low‐salinity (20 mM) NaCl solutions, the minimally modified NaOH‐etched carbon electrodes achieved an average desalination capacity of 5.8 mg g−1 and a charge efficiency of 80 %. In contrast, the CO2‐activated, wet‐processed electrodes demonstrated an improved desalination capacity of 7.9 mg g−1 and a charge efficiency above 90 % with stable performance over 20 cycles. These findings highlight the feasibility and effectiveness of recycling supercapacitors for sustainable water desalination applications, offering a promising avenue for resource recovery and re‐purposing in pursuing environmental sustainability.

Urbanization in a Globalized World: Reviewing Environmental Sustainability in Developing Countries

Climate change remains a critical issue worldwide, and balancing economic growth with sustainable development is of paramount importance. Our study explores the complex relationship between globalization, environmental sustainability, and urbanization in selected developing countries. By utilizing a simple panel regression technique and data from 40 developing countries from 1994 to 2018, the study examines how these factors influence environmental stability. We find that with a strong focus on environmental sustainability, economic growth can be enhanced. Additionally, we find that globalization, along with GDP per capita and access to electricity, significantly impacts environmental sustainability. Conversely, the effect of urbanization on environmental stability appears to be minimal.

Balancing the right to food and environmental sustainability: A call for holistic transformation

This paper conducts an in-depth examination of the intricate nexus between the right to food and ecosystem conservation, recognizing the fundamental importance of addressing these interlinked issues for sustainable global development. Anchored in international and national legal frameworks, the right to food is explored not only as a moral imperative but as a binding human rights obligation. The analysis spans a broad spectrum, encompassing the impact of human activities such as population growth, climate change, and intensive agricultural practices on natural resources, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. The literature review highlights the far-reaching repercussions of food access constraints on marginalized populations, emphasizing the profound relationship between food and the environment. The study underscores the critical role of biodiversity, soil health, and climate change in shaping food security challenges, with a particular focus on the consequences of industrial agriculture. The examination of agroecology emerges as a central theme, offering a holistic approach that integrates ecological, health, social, and economic considerations into agricultural and food systems. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of published studies in the specified domains, providing a robust foundation for unraveling the complex dynamics and interdependencies between the right to food, ecosystem conservation, and the broader context of climate change and human activities. The paper puts forth a series of recommendations, emphasizing the need for policies that integrate human rights into agricultural actions, enhanced inclusivity for smallholder farmers, widespread adoption of agroecology, and educational campaigns to raise awareness. Agroecology is positioned as a key solution, not only for its contributions to climate resilience but also for its positive impact on soil health, biodiversity conservation, and long-term environmental sustainability. The paper advocates for a paradigm shift in global agricultural strategies, emphasizing integrated, sustainable approaches that prioritize inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of present and future generations. The recommendations serve as a blueprint for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to collaboratively work towards a future where food security coexists harmoniously with ecosystem conservation, ensuring a sustainable and equitable world for all. Key words: Right, Food, Ecosystem, Conservation, Sustainable, Climate, Biodiversity, Agroecology, Agriculture, Policy

The Urgency of Green Banking Regulations in Indonesia in the Implementation of Sustainable Development

This research highlights significant gaps in Indonesia's green banking regulations, particularly the lack of stringent sanctions and clear enforcement frameworks for sustainable finance principles. While the Financial Services Authority Regulation No. 51/POJK.03/2017 addresses environmental sustainability, it fails to impose effective penalties on banks that contribute to environmental degradation. As a result, green banking in Indonesia remains largely a voluntary initiative due to insufficient regulatory measures. This research employs a normative legal research design, utilizing both conceptual and statutory approaches. It advocates for the implementation of stricter penalties and enhanced oversight to ensure compliance with sustainability standards among financial institutions, thereby facilitating the transition to a green economy. Furthermore, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscore the importance of indicators related to economic, social, and environmental sustainability, which green banking can help achieve. The proposed revised regulatory framework should include stringent sanctions for violations by both banks and customers, ensuring that financial institutions actively contribute to environmental protection.

Revolutionizing Textile Manufacturing: Sustainable and Profitable Production by Integrating Industry 4.0, Activity-Based Costing, and the Theory of Constraints

The textile industry, a cornerstone of daily life and a highly globalized sector, faces significant environmental challenges due to its high water and energy consumption and extensive chemical usage. This study proposes a comprehensive green production planning and control model integrating Industry 4.0 concepts, activity-based costing (ABC), and the theory of constraints (TOC). The model utilizes mathematical programming to optimize product mix, maximize profitability, and minimize environmental impact. It leverages real-time sensing technologies and ERP systems to facilitate waste recovery, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve energy savings. Various carbon emission cost models, including continuous and discontinuous tax functions, are explored to balance corporate profitability with environmental sustainability. The findings demonstrate the model’s potential in optimizing resource utilization, reducing the environmental footprint, and enhancing profitability.

Environmental impacts and nitrogen-carbon-energy nexus of vegetable production in subtropical plateau lake basins

Vegetables are important economic crops globally, and their production has approximately doubled over the past 20 years. Globally, vegetables account for 13% of the harvested area but consume 25% of the fertilizer, leading to serious environmental impacts. However, the quantitative evaluation of vegetable production systems in subtropical plateau lake basins and the establishment of optimal management practices to further reduce environmental risks are still lacking. Using the life cycle assessment method, this study quantified the global warming, eutrophication, acidification, and energy depletion potential of vegetable production in a subtropical plateau lake basin in China based on data from 183 farmer surveys. Our results indicated that vegetable production in the study area, the Erhai Lake Basin, was high but came at a high environmental cost, mainly due to low fertilizer efficiency and high nutrient loss. Root vegetables have relatively high environmental costs due to the significant environmental impacts of fertilizer production, transportation, and application. A comprehensive analysis showed that the vegetable production in this region exhibited low economic and net ecosystem economic benefits, with ranges of 7.88–8.91 × 103 and 7.35–8.69 × 103 $ ha−1, respectively. Scenario analysis showed that adopting strategies that comprehensively consider soil, crop, and nutrient conditions for vegetable production can reduce environmental costs (with reductions in global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), and energy depletion potential (EDP) by 10.6–28.2%, 65.1–73.5%, 64.5–71.9%, 47.8–70.4%, respectively) compared with the current practices of farmers. This study highlighted the importance of optimizing nutrient management in vegetable production based on farmers’ practices, which can achieve more yield with less environmental impacts and thereby avoid the “trade-off” effect between productivity and environmental sustainability.

The impact of weather patterns on inter-annual crop yield variability

Inter-annual variations in crop production have significant implications for global food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. Existing crop yield prediction models primarily using meteorological variables may not adequately encapsulate the full breadth of weather influences on crop development processes, such as compound or extreme events. Incorporating weather patterns into crop models could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental conditions affecting growth, enabling more accurate and earlier yield predictions.Our study examines 30 distinct UK Met Office weather patterns (MO30) based on mean sea level pressure. We investigate their association with weather conditions that limit winter wheat yield in the UK (1990–2020). Blocked, negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) patterns create the highest risk of temperatures that are below optimal for crop yield. However, the connection between weather patterns and yield is complex, with differing effects at a regional scale and even at which point in the growth cycle they appear. It was found that anticyclonic weather patterns during sowing, emergence, vernalisation, anthesis, and grain filling exhibit a relationship with good crop yields with a Spearman correlation coefficient of up to 0.55 for a single weather pattern (WP3 during vernalisation in South East England), whilst cyclonic patterns can help during the terminal spikelet phenological phase. The strongest positive correlations were during sowing, emergence, and vernalisation, whilst the largest negatives were observed in anthesis and grain filling.The potential of combining weather patterns with existing crop simulation models to produce earlier and more accurate yield predictions is shown. This would enable effective crop management and climate mitigation strategies, critical to strengthening food security. Projected changes in weather pattern occurrences in the late 21st century will likely reduce crop yields. This is due to increased cyclonic weather patterns, which bring warmer, wetter conditions during the wheat's vernalisation stage, followed by warmer, drier conditions during the anthesis and grain-filling phases.

PDS-UAV: A Deep Learning-Based Pothole Detection System Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images

Smart cities utilize advanced technologies to enhance quality of life by improving urban services, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. Effective pothole detection and repair strategies are essential for improving quality of life as they directly impact the comfort and safety of road users. In addition to causing serious harm to residents’ lives, potholes can also cause costly vehicle damage. In this study, a pothole detection system utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles, called PDS-UAV, is developed. The system aids in automatically detecting potholes using deep learning techniques and managing their status and repairs. In addition, it allows road users to view an overlay of the detected potholes on the maps based on their selected route, enabling them to avoid the potholes and increase their safety on the roads. Two data collection methods were used, an interview and a questionnaire, to gather data from the target system users. Based on the data analysis, the system’s requirements, design, and implementation were completed. For the pothole detection, a deep learning model using YOLOv8 was developed, which achieved an overall performance of 95%, 98%, and 92% for F1 score, precision, and recall, respectively. Different types of testing has been performed on the target users to ensure the system’s validity, effectiveness, and ease of use, including unit testing, integration testing, and usability testing. As a future work, more features will be added to the system in addition to improving the deep learning model accuracy.

Analyzing the Impact of Vision 2030’s Economic Reforms on Saudi Arabia’s Consumer Price Index

This study examines the relationship between CO2 emissions, labor force participation, foreign direct investment (FDI), and trade openness on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Saudi Arabia, within the context of Vision 2030’s economic reforms. Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy, reduce oil dependency, and promote sustainable growth, making it crucial to understand the factors influencing inflation and economic stability. Using annual data from 2001 to 2022 and the nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) bounds testing approach, the study analyzes both short- and long-term effects. The findings reveal that higher CO2 emissions have a deflationary effect, reducing the CPI in both the short and long term, while FDI shows an inflationary impact with a delayed effect. Labor force expansion contributes to lowering the CPI, reflecting its deflationary pressure, especially over the long term. Trade openness is also examined for its dual effects on CPI, In the short run, both positive and negative trade openness reduce consumer prices, while in the long run, positive trade openness increases inflation, and negative trade openness lowers prices. This shows the differing inflationary impacts of trade openness over time. These findings contribute to the policy discourse on balancing economic growth, environmental sustainability, and inflation management, offering strategic insights for policymakers in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.

Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation: Literature Review and Proposal for a Sustainable Model

This article investigates the growing integration between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), proposing an innovative model aimed at optimizing the operational efficiency of organizations balancing the social and environmental impacts arising from the use of these technologies. The research identifies a significant gap in the literature through a systematic review, revealing the need for greater attention to the social and environmental impacts of the implementation of AI and RPA. Employing an approach based on the PICO methodology (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), this study justifies the formulation of hypotheses and the choice of methodology, ensuring scientific rigor. The proposed model considers ethical issues such as privacy and cybersecurity and explores the challenges associated with the adoption of these innovations. The discussion includes the readiness of organizations to integrate these technologies, highlighting technical and cultural limitations that may influence the model’s effectiveness. The theoretical results suggest that careful implementation can optimize resource utilization, promoting a balance between operational efficiency and social and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, the article presents an analysis of the positive impacts, such as improved efficiency, and negative impacts, such as the fear of job displacement associated with the integration of AI and RPA, reinforcing the need for responsible adoption that fosters social and environmental sustainability in the digital age.

Carbon Budgeting of a Long-term Rice-rice Cropping Sequence in the Typic ustipsamments of Kerala, India

A judicious management practice to improve the soil's organic carbon level and soil fertility is essential for agricultural and environmental sustainability. The present study was undertaken to assess the long-term effect of various management practices on soil carbon dynamics and agricultural sustainability by computation of indices like carbon pool index (CPI), carbon lability index (CLI), carbon management index (CMI), critical carbon input and carbon budgeting. CMI has been used as a more sensitive indicator to evaluate capacity of a management practice to promote soil quality. Sensitivity index was used to determine the degree of changes in each carbon fraction due to management practices. The study was carried out in a permanent manurial trial plot started in 1964 under a long term rice-rice cropping sequence in Kerala. Based on the results obtained, integrated application of NPK fertilizers along with FYM showed significantly higher carbon indices, increased soil carbon fractions, and carbon sequestration compared to other management practices. The study revealed that applying organics coupled with inorganic fertilizers will manage the SOC level and result in enhanced soil fertility, productivity, and agricultural sustainability.

Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development: Cumulative Environmental Exposures and All-Cause Mortality in Colorado Counties

(1) Background: Colorado’s (CO) Environmental Justice mapping tool, CO EnviroScreen, quantifies environmental injustices through “EnviroScreen Scores”, highlighting areas likely affected by environmental health disparities. Identifying the specific scores most strongly associated with mortality could help prioritize interventions and allocate resources to address these issues. This study contributes to sustainable development goals by examining the relationship between environmental justice indicators and population health outcomes. By utilizing the CO EnviroScreen tool, we assess how cumulative environmental exposures and vulnerabilities impact mortality rates, providing insights for sustainable planning and public health policies. (2) Methods: We assessed the cross-sectional association between county-level all-cause mortality rates in CO, using 2019 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and three county-level component scores obtained from CO EnviroScreen: sensitive populations (i.e., health-related outcomes), environmental exposures (e.g., from air, water, noise), and climate vulnerability (i.e., risk of drought, flood, extreme heat, wildfire). A quasi-Poisson generalized linear model was utilized, incorporating covariates (county-level metrics for insufficient sleep, alcohol overconsumption, physical inactivity, and smoking) to explore associations adjusted for behavioral risk factors (n = 64 counties). (3) Results: The analysis revealed that a 10% increase in the “Environmental Exposures” component score was associated with a 3% higher all-cause mortality rate (95% CI: 1.00, 1.05), highlighting the importance of addressing environmental determinants for sustainable community health. No significant associations were observed for the “Sensitive Populations” or “Climate Vulnerability” component scores. (4) Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence of an association between the CO EnviroScreen score, particularly the environmental exposure component, and all-cause mortality rates at the county level in Colorado in 2019. The findings suggest that cumulative environmental exposures may contribute to geographic disparities in mortality risk, even after adjusting for key behavioral risk factors. These results underscore the importance of integrating environmental justice considerations into sustainable development strategies to promote equitable health outcomes and resilient communities. While our study demonstrates the utility of CO EnviroScreen in identifying areas at risk due to environmental factors, it does not establish a direct link to broader environmental justice outcomes. Further research is needed to explore specific environmental exposures and their direct impacts on health disparities to provide a more complete picture of environmental justice in Colorado.

Do enhanced school zone policies improve pedestrians' safety? A deep learning-based case study of Osan City, South Korea

This study investigates the effectiveness of strengthened penalty policies in South Korean school zones by analyzing the changes in road users' behaviors, focusing on pedestrian-vehicle interactions. This study employed three surrogate safety measurements: vehicle speed, Pedestrian Safety Margins (PSM), and Predicted Collision Risk (PCR) level. The comprehensive analysis covers a spectrum of behaviors, from simple to complex, assessing the policy's impact in urban environments. The findings reveal several important insights. First, the policy enforcement resulted in a positive impact on vehicle speeds, with average speeds aligning with posted speed limits. Second, an increase was observed in yielding behaviors, particularly in school zones. However, much of this behavior appeared to be cosmetic, emphasizing the need for more safety-oriented yielding practices. Finally, the policy enforcement had a mixed impact on PCR levels, with a reduction in danger levels in school zones, yet an unexpected increase in danger levels in non-school zones. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of strengthened penalty policies in school zones, particularly the development of a safe and sustainable urban environment.

Retraction Note: Adopting environmental sustainability: the financial consequences of clean energy and technology acceptance in the energy transition

Retraction Note: Adopting environmental sustainability: the financial consequences of clean energy and technology acceptance in the energy transition

Exploring Trends in Transportation Management: A Review of Scientific Papers on Dimension AI Database from 2020-2024

This qualitative study explores contemporary trends and advancements in sustainable transportation management practices, focusing on articles published between 2020 and 2024 and sourced from sustainability journals. A comprehensive search strategy using the Dimension AI database with the keywords "Transportation" and "Management". Articles were first screened by their title, abstract, and keywords, from which 63 manuscripts were chosen for thematic analysis. The key findings were the importance of sustainable traffic management systems, including congestion measures, infrastructure resilience, and environmental impact assessment. Another strand that emerged was data-driven approaches for smart city traffic management, which included novel techniques for effective decision-making. The study has especially highlighted the requirements of strategies that would set up the innovation in modeling techniques and resilience frameworks for transportation management. This study offers significant insight into modern trends in sustainable transportation management, which should be of immense value to policymakers, urban planners, and transportation professionals in seeking ways to overcome the problems associated with modern urban mobility while ensuring environmental sustainability.

In silico screening of dyes for enhanced silk coloring using the feeding approach

Reducing redundant dyes in the production of colored silk is essential for environmental sustainability. This study aims to innovate silk dyeing processes by employing molecular docking techniques to screen a library of dyes with specific physical properties. For the first time, we identified Acid Blue 25 (Chemical Identifier, CID 22916) and Metanil Yellow (CID 11490) as cost-effective blue and yellow dyes, respectively, that enable the production of intrinsically colored silk by feeding dye-modified mulberry leaves to silkworms. Both dyes demonstrated high selective binding to silk fibroin and retained excellent color performance after degumming. Secondary structural analysis revealed that Acid Blue 25 enhanced mechanical properties by increasing β-sheet content, whereas Metanil Yellow did not. Furthermore, fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that Acid Blue 25 and Metanil Yellow effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of silk fibroin primarily through static quenching, with Acid Blue 25 exhibiting a higher binding constant and more negative binding free energy. Classic molecular dynamic (cMD) simulations revealed that the extensive interaction network of Acid Blue 25, compared to Metanil Yellow, creates a thermodynamically favorable environment for dye-complex binding and stability. Overall, the combined application of virtual screening and the feeding method supports a highly cost-effective and environmentally friendly silk dyeing strategy, with the potential for scaling up in industrial applications.