Environmental Sustainable Development Research Articles

The Association of Drought with Different Precipitation Grades in the Inner Mongolia Region of Northern China

Drought has become an important factor affecting the environment and socio-economic sustainable development in northern China due to climate change. This study utilized the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) as a drought metric to investigate the correlation between drought characteristics and different grades of precipitation and rain days. The analysis was based on a long-term time series of precipitation data obtained from 116 meteorological stations located in Inner Mongolia, spanning 1960 to 2019. To achieve the objectives of the current research, the daily precipitation was categorized into four grades based on the “24-h Precipitation Classification Standard”, and the frequency of rain days for each grade was determined. Subsequently, the SPI was calculated for 1 and 12 months, enabling the identification of drought events. The results revealed pronounced spatiotemporal regional variations and complexities in the dry–wet climatic patterns of Inner Mongolia, with significant decreases in precipitation emerging as the primary driver of drought occurrences. Approximately 6% of the entire study period experienced short-term drought, while long-term drought periods ranged from 23% to 38%. Regarding multi-year trends, precipitation exhibited a weak increasing trend, while rain days exhibited a weak decreasing trend. Drought exhibited an alleviating trend, with 92% of stations displaying coefficients > 0 for SPI_Month and over 62% of stations displaying coefficients > 0 for SPI_Year. At the monthly scale, drought was most correlated with light rainfall trends and least correlated with moderate rainfall trends. At the annual scale, drought was relatively highly correlated with moderate and heavy rainfall distributions but poorly correlated with light rainfall. The results suggested that achieving the precise monitoring and mitigation of drought disasters in Inner Mongolia in the future will require a combined analysis of indicators, including agricultural drought, hydrological drought, and socio-economic drought. Such an approach will enable a comprehensive analysis of drought characteristics under different underlying surface conditions in Inner Mongolia.

OPTIMISATION OF STRATEGIES FOR WORKING WITH COUNTERPARTIES AND RISK MANAGEMENT AT UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE ENTERPRISES

The objective of this paper is to examine and enhance strategies for managing relationships with counterparties and mitigating risks in utility infrastructure enterprises. The paper seeks to analyse contemporary approaches and challenges faced by these enterprises, offering recommendations for improving their strategies in counterparty interactions and risk management. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance operational stability, competitiveness, and sustainable development in a dynamic business environment. Methodology. The research presents a critical review and analysis of the existing risk management and counterparty strategies employed by utility infrastructure enterprises. The methodology comprises an examination of current practices, the identification of key problems, and an evaluation of modern approaches, including digital transformation, process automation, and innovative management methods. By synthesising existing research and case studies, the paper identifies the strengths and weaknesses of various strategies and recommends improvements. Results. The analysis identified several key challenges faced by utilities in managing counterparties and risks, including inadequate risk management systems, outdated business processes and poor communication. Process automation, digital transformation and improved stakeholder integration are identified in the document as critical factors for optimising operations. It also emphasises the importance of careful selection of counterparties, performance monitoring and staff development to mitigate risks and foster better partnerships. Practical implications. The recommendations set forth in the paper provide actionable strategies for utility infrastructure enterprises to optimise their management of counterparties and risks. The implementation of these strategies, including the utilisation of digital tools, enhanced internal communication and a focus on staff development, can facilitate improvements in efficiency, risk management and long-term sustainability for utility companies. These recommendations are particularly beneficial for those in managerial or decision-making roles who are seeking to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving business environment. Value / Originality. This paper makes a significant contribution to the field by offering a comprehensive analysis of the strategies available for optimising counterparty relations and risk management in the utility sector. The value of this approach lies in its integration of modern technological solutions with traditional risk management practices. By offering practical, research-based recommendations, the paper addresses current gaps in the literature and provides new insights into how utility enterprises can better manage both internal and external challenges.

Matching Is Best: Enhancing Effects of Future Orientation and Construal Level on Green Consumption

The 2024 Report on the Work of the Chinese Government promotes trade in consumer goods and green consumption. Therefore, better understanding is needed of consumer attitudes and behaviors toward environmental protection and sustainable development. The relationships among future orientation, construal level, and green consumption were explored using a delayed-effect design to conduct two surveys at one-month intervals with 160 participants (100 women and 60 men). The results showed that (1) future orientation positively predicted green consumption intention and green consumption behavior, and (2) the construal level significantly moderated the influence of future orientation on green consumption. Specifically, a high construal level and high future orientation predicted the greatest green consumption intention, green consumption behavior, and green consumption decisions, while at a high construal level, future orientation positively predicted green consumption intention and behavior, with a greater tendency to purchase environmentally friendly rather than hedonic products. At a low construal level, future orientation had no significant effect on green consumption intention, behavior, and intention to purchase environmentally friendly products. This study is important for promoting public awareness of the importance of green consumption and encouraging green consumption behaviors to achieve the goals of sustainable development and protect the environment and social well-being.

Climate responsive innovations at Karachi steel

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: to identify and analyze the importance of operations management in a situation demanding minimizing environmental impact and maintaining operational momentum; access the risks faced during project executions and apply project management concepts to facilitate Karachi Steel in implementing indigenous technological solutions; and evaluate the importance of adaptability, continuous improvement and innovation in creating sustainable solutions to address complex challenges. Case overview/synopsis Javaid Iqbal, CEO of Karachi Steel, was the case’s protagonist. With capacity expansion, Javaid relocated the steel facility from Rawalpindi to Islamabad, Pakistan. The company encountered several difficulties because of the air emissions’ inconvenience to nearby residents and the strict environmental regulations. To push the emissions into the air, the company first installed a locally fabricated chimney. Later, they hired a foreign Pakistani engineering firm to install air filters, but the project proved unsuccessful. To control emissions, the company developed a Wet Particulate Control (WPC) system based on a water-sprinkling mechanism. The endeavor was successful, but it resulted in water pollution. As a result, Karachi Steel signed a contract with a local engineering company that invented and effectively installed an air filtration system. Karachi Steel not only devised solutions for their predicaments but also made significant contributions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the emissions reporting and monitoring mechanism continued to cause inconvenience for regulators. In addition, the filtration facility encountered a blocked duct conveying zinc sulfate from smoke, resulting in the periodic suspension of operations. As Karachi Steel seek long-term solutions to current challenges, it is critical to examine the relationship between internal circumstances and external forces and stimulate a holistic approach to resolving issues within the realms of operations management and project management. Complexity academic level The case study is suitable for students pursuing their undergraduate degree programs in business studies or management sciences. This case can be taught in specific subjects in the domain of management sciences, including project management and operations management. Furthermore, undergraduate students pursuing degrees in environmental sciences, specializing in environmental impact assessment and sustainable development, can also learn from this case study. These subjects have the potential to provide students with a detailed understanding of the dynamic relationship between environmental problems caused by business activities, and how to address these challenges using principles of project management and operations management. There is no pre-requisite for this case study, and the level of difficulty is moderate. The recommended teaching pedagogy for this multidisciplinary case study includes role-playing exercises, simulations to replicate real-world situations and the Socratic method, which encourages critical thinking. Supplementary material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 7: Management Science.

Alleviating Continuous Cropping Obstacles in Celery Using Engineered Biochar: Insights into Chemical and Microbiological Aspects

In the pursuit of environmental sustainability and food security, biochar has emerged as a promising soil conditioner to mitigate continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs). This study explored the use of engineered biochar (WP400) with high adsorption capacity for phenolic acids in celery cultivation. Using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS) for both target and suspect analyses, along with Biolog EcoPlate™ to track the functional diversity of soil bacteria, the study examined chemical and microbiological interactions at varying WP400 application rates. WP400 enhanced celery growth, reduced disease severity, and adsorbed p-coumaric acid (COU), a potential autotoxin. Additionally, other potential allelochemicals, predominantly fatty acid-related, were identified, suggesting a broader role for fatty acids in allelopathy. WP400 also influenced soil bacterial carbon utilization and altered microbial communities. However, higher WP400 doses (0.8% w/w) may not be beneficial for celery growth and reduced bacterial metabolic potential, indicating limitations to its effectiveness. Proper application of WP400 provides a sustainable solution for alleviating continuous cropping issues, promoting both environmental sustainability and agricultural development.

Seawater Desalination System Driven by Sustainable Energy: A Comprehensive Review

Seawater desalination is one of the most widely used technologies for freshwater production; however, its high energy consumption remains a pressing global challenge. Both the development and utilization of sustainable energy sources are anticipated to mitigate the energy shortages associated with seawater desalination while also effectively addressing the environmental issues linked to fossil fuel usage. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the classification and evolution of traditional desalination technologies, emphasizing the advancements, progress, and challenges associated with integrating various sustainable energy sources into the desalination process. Then, the cost, efficiency, and energy consumption of desalination systems driven by sustainable energy are discussed, and it is found that even the most widely used reverse osmosis (RO) technology driven by fossil fuels has CO2 emissions of 0.3–1.7 kgCO2/m3 and the lowest cost of desalinated water as high as 0.01 USD/m3, suggesting the necessity and urgency of applying sustainable energy. A comparison of different seawater desalination systems driven by different sustainable energy sources is also carried out. The results reveal that although the seawater desalination system driven by sustainable energy has a lower efficiency and a higher cost than the traditional system, it has more potential from the perspective of environmental protection and sustainable development. Furthermore, the efficiency and cost of desalination technology driven by a single sustainable energy source is lower than that driven by multi-sustainable energy sources, while the efficiency of desalination systems driven by multi-sustainable energy is lower than that driven by hybrid energy, and its cost is higher than that of desalination systems driven by hybrid energy. Considering factors such as cost, efficiency, consumption, economic scale, and environmental impact, the integration of various seawater desalination technologies and various energy sources is still the most effective strategy to solve water shortage, the energy crisis, and environmental pollution at present and in the future.

A 35-Year Analysis of Vegetation Cover in Rare-Earth Mining Areas Using Landsat Data

Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) plays a significant role in assessing ecological quality and protection, as well as soil and water conservation. As a typical rare-earth resource county in China, Dingnan County has experienced rapid development due to rare-earth mining, resulting in significant alterations to vegetation cover. To elucidate the spatio-temporal changes in vegetation within Dingnan County over the past 35 years and the effects of natural and human factors on these changes, the spatial and temporal variations in FVC were analyzed using Landsat-TM/OLI multispectral images taken in 1988, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2013, 2017, and 2023. The findings indicate that (1) vegetation coverage in Dingnan County decreased from 1988 to 2002, followed by a gradual increase; (2) high vegetation cover is predominantly found in forested areas that maintain their natural state, while the central town and mining areas exhibit generally low coverage; (3) there are regional differences in the relationship between vegetation cover and environmental factors in Dingnan County. This research facilitates the alignment of ion-type rare-earth mining with ecological protection, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the mining area and providing scientific guidance for local governments to formulate more effective management and protection strategies for the mining ecosystem. Additionally, this research offers a scientific foundation for mining areas globally to develop sustainable policies and informed decision-making regarding environmental protection and sustainable development.

Impact of Environmental Regulation and Sustainable Development on Economic Growth

Access to stable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly power has the potential to raise a country's human development index (HDI). However, there are unforeseen effects to economic growth, such as environmental damage caused by overconsumption of energy. Major changes to the world's ecology have resulted from the growing reliance on non-renewable energy sources. This research delves into the interplay between various energy sources, GDP growth, environmental legislation, sustainable development, and the HDI. The time series data used in this research spans the years 2000–2020. The degree of correlation between two variables may be determined using the Granger causality test. The correlations among the variables, both long-term and short-term, may be determined using the Course Mistake Alteration model. In order to meet the growing need for energy, policymakers should support and promote these renewable liveliness bases as a feasible alternative to traditional energy sources, taking into account the expected results. To reach the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2030 set by South Asian countries, current environmental laws need to be tightened.

Green Finance Mechanisms for Sustainable Development: Evidence from Panel Data

The nexus between environmental degradation, green finance, and sustainable development has been analyzed in a number of studies. Despite attempts by different studies to fill the gap in the existing literature, they have all failed to do so. This study further extends the existing literature by applying robust techniques such as the system-GMM method and applying various proxies to measure green finance, which other studies have failed to examine. For this purpose, we employ panel data for the period of 1985–2021. Our findings support our hypothesis: while green funding tends to have a positive effect on sustainable development, environmental degradation has exactly the opposite effect. These findings are supported by a wide range of statistical methods, including the system-GMM technique. Our work underlines the major contribution bound to be made by green resources toward legislative frameworks in an attempt to aid the effort of reducing the negative impact of environmental degradation and building a sustainable development path.

A Quantified Methodology for Evaluating Engineering Sustainability: Ecological Footprint Measurement Modeling

With the gradual increase in public awareness of ecological environmental protection, how to manage the increasingly tight supply of natural ecological energy and resources and the more evident greenhouse effect, how to properly treat and deal with the relationship between people, engineering and the ecological environment during the construction phase of engineering projects as well as how to evaluate the degree of environmental friendliness and sustainable development ability of engineering projects will become an urgent issue. Stakeholders in engineering projects must seriously consider these vital issues. Existing studies on the evaluation of engineering–ecology sustainable development capacity mainly focus on the regional and industry levels, with less research focusing on the sustainability of individual engineering projects; furthermore, they are primarily concentrated on the qualitative evaluation perspective. In order to refine these shortcomings, based on the viewpoint of the ecosystem of construction projects, this paper integrates the concept of whole life cycle with the ecological footprint measurement model and defines the notion of the ecological footprint of the whole life cycle of construction projects. Subsequently taking the above concept as the foundation and making the ecological footprint of various activities throughout the life cycle of a construction project a specific study object, the research establishes the ecological footprint measurement model of the whole life cycle of the project, and comprehensively evaluates the impacts on the surrounding environment, which include the consumption of energy resources, CO2 and the absorption of solid wastes across the whole life cycle of the project. We then measure the sustainable development ability of engineering projects by comparing the ecological footprint with the ecological carrying capacity of a certain surrounding region. Finally, the practicability and reliability of the model is verified through the example’s application. Thus, the results of the study have significant theoretical and practical implications: (1) the introduction of the ecological footprint addresses the gap about the quantitative evaluation of the sustainability of individual engineering projects from a micro perspective; (2) it compensates for the shortcomings of other evaluation methods that only evaluate a single element, such as only CO2, resources, energy or solid waste and so on; and (3) stakeholders can use the measured model to quantitatively assess the sustainability of new projects or urban renewal projects, providing strong support for project feasibility studies and project-establishment.

Effect of sintering temperature on the properties of ceramic binders synthesized from coal gangue-based geopolymer

ABSTRACT As a by-product of the coal industry, the effective use of coal gangue presents significant implications for environmental protection and sustainable development upon effective utilization. Given the rich content of silicon and aluminum in coal gangue, this study converts it into a precursor for ceramic binders used in grinding wheels through the geopolymerization reaction process. Ceramic binders of the SiO2-B2O3-Al2O3-RO-R2O system were prepared at sintering temperatures ranging from 590 to 740°C, and the performance of each sample was tested. The research found that the flexural strength of the ceramic binder reached a peak of 31 MPa when sintered at 690°C. Additionally, the hardness was observed to be the highest at a sintering temperature of 640°C, reaching 211.8 hV. It was observed that as the sintering temperature rose, wettability tended to decrease. Using techniques including XRD, SEM, and EDS, the effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure and phase transformation of the material was analyzed, and these changes determined the properties of the material. This study not only confirmed the potential value of coal gangue in the abrasive tools industry but also opened up new strategies and technical solutions for the field of solid waste resource utilization.

Romantic Concerns About Toxicity and Public Health: Literary Exploration of Contaminated Environment and the Significance of Literature in Historical Toxicology

Poems of William Blake, William Wordsworth, S. T. Coleridge, Lord Byron, P. B. Shelley, and their contemporaries are freighted with allusions to the contaminated environment during the industrial revolution and post Tambora eruption (1815), reflective of socio-environmental realities of the Romantic period and their concerns about public health. This paper endeavors to examine Romantic poetry and assess early 19th-century toxic English landscapes to comprehend how environmental contamination was culturally perceived during this period. The study follows a critical convergence design between historical toxicology and Romantic literature for the synthesis of scientific analysis to reveal the thematic preoccupations of Romantic writing. Findings of the study demonstrate substantial references to the impact of direct release of industrial toxins into atmosphere and Tambora eruption’s toxic fallout. Literary engagements such as these foreground profound socio-ecological ramifications of toxic pollutants and offer richer insights for modern environmental policy-making and sustainable development. The study also follows an interdisciplinary approach to serve as a resource for the integrative analysis presented here and benefit the future research from its insights in filling out the understanding of how early 19th-century poets approached industrial and volcanic pollution.

Innovative Perspectives on Ecological Assessment in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Inner Mongolia: An Integrated Evaluation and Forecast of Landscape and Ecological Risks and Drivers

The agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia, one of China’s most ecologically vulnerable regions, requires careful evaluation and prediction of landscape ecological risks to improve its environment and support sustainable development. Our study built a model to assess the landscape ecological risks from 1990 to 2020 using land use data from Google Earth Engine. We examined the changes in landscape ecological risks and their driving factors through spatial autocorrelation analysis and geographic detectors. Future ecological risks from 2025 to 2040 were predicted using the multi-criteria evaluation-cellular automata-Markov model. Results revealed a declining trend in both disturbance and loss intensity across land use types, with the overall ecological risk index also decreasing. Higher risk areas were concentrated in the east and southwest, while lower risks were observed in the north and center. Temperature and precipitation are key natural factors, while the impact of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a human factor, on ecological risk is increasing and surpassed natural influences in 2015 and 2020. In the future, the highest risk areas will remain in the southwest and northeast. This study provides detailed evidence and guidance for ecological safety and sustainable development in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 13 No. 2

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (EMSD) would like to thank the following reviewers for reviewing manuscripts from May 1, 2024, to November 1, 2024. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Many authors, regardless of whether EMSD publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Macrothink Institute appreciates the following reviewers’ rigorous and conscientious efforts for this journal. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review during this period. Dilek Kaya-Akyüzlü, Ankara University, TurkeyElham Mohamed, National Research Centre, EgyptFarahdilah Ghazali, University of Malaysia Terengganu, MalaysiaFarhaoui Mohamed, National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, MoroccoGandhi Escajadillo Toledo, Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, PeruGiacomo Chiesa, Politecnico di Torino, ItalyHengky Halim, Universiti Utara Malaysia, MalaysiaManuel Mendoza-Carranza, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), MexicoMohammad Aghababaei, Washington State University, USAMona M. Amin Abdel-Fatah, National Research Center in Egypt, EgyptOylum Gokkurt Baki, Sinop University, TurkeyXiu Wu, Texas State University, USA

Environmental Taxation and Sustainable Environmental Protection - Reality or Myth? An Integrative Review

The increase in environmental pollution has different origins, and in each of them we can observe the actions and activities of human beings, whether natural or legal persons. In response to this, the legal figure of the environmental tax has been applied as a strategy and means of income to prevent, compensate for environmental damage and improve ecological quality, constituting a route to improve sustainable environmental protection. In this sense, this article examines, based on the scientific literature, the relationship between environmental taxation and sustainable development. The research topics are varied in terms of methodologies and theoretical perspectives, and the relationship between environmental taxes and their objectives remains controversial. The main findings of the review highlighted the importance and purpose of taxes; the difference between types of taxes; the justification for tax collection; and the orientation of the resources raised towards improving environmental protection and sustainable environment, which allows us to conclude on the need to reflect on the implementation of viable environmental policies aimed at ensuring social justice. In this sense, policy makers must have the appropriate profile that demonstrates expertise since sustainable development encompasses the protection of the environment by reducing pollution with educational and awareness-raising policies. Received: 11 July 2024 / Accepted: 30 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Integrating Multisource Data and Machine Learning for Supraglacial Lake Detection: Implications for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Goals in High Mountainous Regions

The accurate detection and monitoring of supraglacial lakes in high mountainous regions are crucial for understanding their dynamic nature and implications for environmental management and sustainable development goals. In this study, we propose a novel approach that integrates multisource data and machine learning techniques for supra-glacial lake detection in the Passu Batura glacier of the Hunza Basin, Pakistan. We extract pertinent features or parameters by leveraging multisource datasets such as radar backscatter intensity VH and VV parameters from Sentinel-1 Ground Range Detected (GRD) data, near-infrared (NIR), NDWI_green, NDWI_blue parameters from Sentinel-2 Multi-spectral Instrument(MSI) data, and surface slope, aspect, and elevation parameters from topographic data. The entire dataset is partitioned into training and testing sets, with machine learning models including the artificial neural network (ANN), the support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and K-nearest neighbour (KNN) trained on the training data (70%). Accuracy assessment employs testing data and involves the evaluation of metrics such as ROC curves and confusion matrices. The best-performing model, ANN, is validated against manually digitized lake polygons derived from Sentinel-2 and Google Earth Pro imagery. Furthermore, the digitized lake polygons are used to analyze glacial lake dynamics from 2016 to 2022. Key findings of this research presented that the NDWI_green, Sigma0_VH, and elevation are the most significant predictors in detecting supra-glacial lakes. Among the various trained and evaluated models, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) achieved the highest performance (accuracy: 95%, AUC: 0.99) and accurately mapped supra-glacial lakes regardless of their small size. The findings have significant implications for understanding glacial lake behavior in the context of climate change and informing future research and monitoring efforts.

Navigating the EU Ship Recycling Market: Economic and Environmental Perspectives

Ship recycling refers to the process of dismantling ships to extract and recover materials and it is typically seen as the best method to dispose of a ship when its service life is coming to an end. Exploring the European Union's aspiration to enhance competitiveness and boost ship recycling near its shipyards, this study delves into the European ship recycling market's environmental, economic, and regulatory facets. It focuses on factors influencing recycling activities in the EU, set against global market trends and stringent regulations. Employing a multiple linear regression model, the study analyzes variables like shipyard capacity, Light Displacement Tonnage (LDT) price, ship age, shipbuilding rates, maritime trade volumes, and material circularity, drawing data from 2016 to 2022 from various open-source databases. The research uncovers correlations between shipyard capacity and demolition rates, and the impact of LDT prices on demolitions. The study also notes the interplay between shipbuilding activities and demolition rates. This paper contributes crucial insights to the European ship recycling market, aiding sustainable development in a changing operational environment.

Energy consumption, technological innovation, and economic growth in BRICS: A GMM panel VAR framework analysis

The growing interdependence between environmental resources, financial development, technological advancements, and energy consumption poses significant challenges for sustainable growth in emerging economies. This study investigates these dynamics in the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) from 1990 to 2023 using the GMM panel VAR framework, with the aim of understanding how these factors interact and shape economic outcomes. The analysis shows that environmental rents positively impact financial growth, countering the traditional "resource curse" belief. Technological innovation is negatively linked to both economic growth and environmental sustainability, while energy consumption is positively correlated with economic growth and exhibits a weak correlation with the environment. Furthermore, primary energy consumption is strongly connected to resource utilization and financial growth, although technological advancements negatively affect this relationship. Causality tests reveal mutual influences between energy consumption and technological innovation, alongside unidirectional effects of natural resources on financial and technological growth. Policy implications underscore the need for BRICS nations to balance resource management and technological progress to foster sustainable economic and environmental development.

Utilizing cationic vacancies to enhance nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxides for efficient electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction

Electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is a promising approach for urea-rich wastewater splitting, which benefits for reducing energy consumption in hydrogen production accompanying environmental protection and sustainable energy development. To address the limitations posed by the self-oxidation of nickel-based catalysts on the activity of UOR, we here developed a NiCo LDH nanosheet catalyst with abundant Ni vacancies to initiate the UOR process prior to nickel oxidation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and In-situ spectroscopic characterizations confirm that the UOR process primarily occurs on the surface of the catalyst, rather than being driven by nickel oxidation products. The favorable electronic structure modulation induced by Ni vacancies makes the catalyst more energetically favorable for the UOR compared to nickel self-oxidation. The catalyst exhibits excellent UOR activity, only requiring 1.27 V vs. RHE at 10 mA cm−2 and 1.34 V vs. RHE at 100 mA cm−2, with no significant decay observed after over 120 h of operation. Furthermore, it can function as a bifunctional catalyst, requiring only 1.66 V to achieve 100 mA cm−2 for the UOR||HER system. This study expands the pathway for the application of cationic vacancies in UOR.

ROLE OF COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION IN EKITI STATE

This seminar paper examines the role of Community-Based Conservation (CBC) in promoting environmental sustainability and community development in Ekiti State, Nigeria. CBC is a framework that prioritizes local community involvement in managing natural resources, combining environmental conservation with socio-economic development. The study reviews relevant literature to demonstrate how CBC utilizes Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices to tackle significant environmental issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution. This paper analyses case studies of successful Community-Based Conservation (CBC) initiatives from regions like Cross River and Ondo States, demonstrating how CBC enhances biodiversity protection and supports livelihoods through sustainable practices, including agroforestry and ecotourism. Social-ecological systems (SES) theory offers a framework that highlights the interdependence of human societies and ecosystems. The theory supports adaptive governance, emphasizing community involvement in decision-making for resource management, thereby enhancing resilience in social and ecological systems. The paper also analyses the involvement of government agencies, NGOs, and local authorities in offering institutional support for community-based conservation (CBC) via policies that acknowledge land tenure and resource rights. The findings indicate that CBC plays a significant role in meeting global conservation objectives, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land), while also providing avenues for poverty alleviation. The study concludes with recommendations to enhance legal frameworks, develop community capacity via education, and promote collaborative governance to tackle issues associated with resource depletion and climate change.