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Canadian Association of Radiologists Statement on Environmental Sustainability in Medical Imaging.

Immediate and strategic action is needed to improve environmental sustainability and reduce the detrimental effects of climate change. Climate change is already adversely affecting the health of Canadians related to worsening air pollution and wildfire smoke, increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and expansion of vector-borne and infectious illnesses. On one hand, radiology contributes to the climate crisis by generating greenhouse gas emissions and waste during the production, manufacture, transportation, and use of medical imaging equipment and supplies. On the other hand, radiology departments are also susceptible to equipment and infrastructure damage from flooding, extreme temperatures, and power failures, as well as workforce shortages due to injury and illness, potentially disrupting radiology services and increasing costs. The Canadian Association of Radiologists' (CAR) advocacy for environmentally sustainable radiology in Canada encompasses both minimizing the detrimental effects that delivery of radiology services has on the environment and optimizing the resilience of radiology departments to increasing health needs and changing patterns of disease on imaging related to climate change. This statement provides specific recommendations and pathways to help guide radiologists, medical imaging leadership teams, industry partners, governments, and other key stakeholders to transition to environmentally sustainable, net-zero, and climate-resilient radiology organizations. Specific consideration is given to unique aspects of medical imaging in Canada. Finally, environmentally sustainable radiology programs, policies, and achievements in Canada are highlighted.

Fertilizer use and agricultural practices in the paradox of maize crop production and environmental sustainability

The enduring existence of pollution presents a substantial danger to human health, natural systems, and social welfare. Human activities mostly generate greenhouse gas emissions, namely carbon dioxide, which negatively impacts the environment. This study used annual datasets to examine the association between maize crop production, maize yield, fertilizer consumption, agricultural land use, and environmental quality in China. In order to identify the positive and negative shocks with the assessment of short- and long-run dynamics, the study used an asymmetric Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) approach. A Robust Least Squares method was also used to locate the parameters nexus in order to assess the series' robustness. Results from the long-run interaction indicate that the maize crop production and agricultural land use has a positive impact on CO2 emissions with probability values of (0.000), (0.000), and (0.001), (0.780), respectively, via both positive and negative interruptions. Additionally, maize yield exposed a detrimental effect on environmental quality. Results of the robust least squares analysis showed that maize crop production, fertilizer consumption, and agricultural land use had a positive influence on environmental quality, with probability values of (0.000), (0.004), and (0.949), respectively. However, there is an unfavourable relationship between variable maize yields and CO2 emissions. China should play a significant role in seeking to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and adopt the beneficial policies necessary to ensure the environment's long-term sustainability, since these emissions are now a rising issue around the world.

Impacts environnementaux du numérique et de l’intelligence artificielle, à l’heure de la pathologie digitale

While digitization and artificial intelligence represent the future of our specialty, future is also constrained by global warming and overstepping of planetary limits, threatening human health and the functioning of the healthcare system. The report by the Délégation Ministérielle du Numérique en Santé and the French government's ecological planning of the healthcare system confirm the need to control the environmental impact of digital technology.Indeed, despite the promises of dematerialization, digital technology is a very material industry, generating greenhouse gas emissions, problematic consumption of water and mineral resources, and social impacts. The digital sector is impacting at every stage: i) manufacture of equipment; ii) use; and iii) end-of-life of equipment, which, when recycled, can only be recycled to a very limited extent.This is a fast-growing sector, and the digitization of our specialty is part of its acceleration and its impact.Understanding the consequences of digitalization and artificial intelligence, and phenomena such as the rebound effect, is an essential prerequisite for the implementation of a sober, responsible, and sustainable digital pathology.The aim of this update is to help pathologists better understand the environmental impact of digital technology.As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to combine technological advances with an awareness of their impact, within a systemic vision of human health.

Maximizing renewable energy and storage integration in university campuses

The worldwide demand increase and climate change constraints are leading to integration and maximization of renewable energy sources (RESs) share in the energy production. This represents a key aspect to reduce the pollutant emissions and facilitate the transition to a cleaner future. Many agreements and incentives were discussed and imposed in order to limit the fossil fuel use and thus reducing the pollutant emissions to limit global warming. With this considerations, the renewable energy sources are installed with continuous share increase. To support this implementation and used simultaneously with providing a power reserve for these intermittent power sources, energy storage systems are becoming more and more used and necessary. Simultaneously with these changes, hydrogen is becoming more and more used, being a means by which electricity can be produced without generating greenhouse gas emissions (GGE). A power supply system with multiple sources is presented and its operation is analysed, the system contains photovoltaic panels, wind system, fuel cell, hydrogen generator, electricity and hydrogen storage system to supply the consumption of a student dormitory from a university campus in Romania with prosumer possibilities.

Creative Upcycling Projects in Support of the Green Deal for Europe

Abstract The circular economy plays an important role in delivering on the commitment set out in the Green Deal for Europe. One of its key priorities is plastics - an important material that is ubiquitous in the economy and everyday life due to its functions. The production, use, and consumption of plastics have a negative impact on the environment, generating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the supply of non-renewable raw materials. The change towards a circular economy, which is intended to preserve the value of products and materials for as long as possible, is to be supported by a hierarchy of waste management methods. The priority is waste prevention, while reuse and recycling are other appropriate ways. The paper presents how the Liberec Region is managing to meet the commitments of the Green Deal for Europe. Every individual can contribute to the implementation by changing their thinking and creative approach. An example is the upcycling of a plastic bottle, where the bottle is not perceived as waste but as a material for creating a new product with a higher use value.

Comparative Effects of Site-specific and Blanket Fertilizer Application on Soil Physicochemical properties and Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield at Mikalango in Chikwawa District, Southern Malawi

Malawi's economy predominantly relies on agriculture. However, continuous soil degradation threatens crop production, food security, and nutrition. The use of fertilizers in soil fertility amendment has not been as effective due to blanket application, which does not adequately address Malawi's diverse soil nutrient deficiencies. This can also lead to over-fertilization, which can generate greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. The experiment, set up in a randomized complete block design, compared site-specific and blanket fertilizer applications having 5 treatments and 5 replications, where a single maize seed variety was planted uniformly. Data was collected from the site's soil physicochemical properties, maize growth, and yield components and analyzed using JMP SAS software version 14.0.0. Results indicated that site-specific fertilizer application significantly differed from blanket fertilizer application at a 5% level of significance. Phosphorus (0.31 ppm), Sulphur (24.2 ppm), and Zinc (1.92 ppm) were significantly higher due to site-specific fertilizer application. Similarly, plant biomass (3.41 t/ha) and grain yield (7.03 t/ha) were also significantly higher due to site-specific fertilizer application. Hence, the study concluded that site-specific soil fertility management is ideal for efficient nutrient replenishment and attaining optimum yields while mitigating climate change in maize farming systems

Embodied Energy Coefficient Quantification and Implementation for an Energy-Conservative House in Thailand

Embodied Energy Coefficient Quantification and Implementation for an Energy-Conservative House in Thailand

Land-Water-GHG-Food Nexus performance and physical-socio-economic-policy factors influencing rice cultivation in Central Thailand

Agriculture activity contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through its utilization of land, water, and energy for food production. Hence, the interactions between land, water, and GHG emissions in agricultural production need to be comprehensively studied. The study aimed to assess the Land-Water-GHG-Food Nexus Index (LWGFNI) of rice cultivation across various land suitability classes in Central Thailand and determining the physical, socio-economic, and policy factors that can influence farmers' decisions to choose for cultivating rice instead of shifting to other crops. The results indicated that the highest LWGFNI score was 0.69 for the rice grown in the moderate suitability land class which revealed a lower use of land and water resources as well as GHG emissions compared to other levels of land suitability. The LWGFNI scores of major rice cultivation were greater compared to the second rice in all four-land suitability. The use of fertilizers had a crucial role in enhancing productivity levels and was a significant factor in the generation of GHG emissions. Hence, improving effective production should consider the appropriate use of fertilizer. The physical, socio-economic, and policy-related aspects that significantly influenced farmers' decisions on cultivation of rice included topography, water resources, inherited professions, price guarantee, and knowledge/training factors. The methodology used and results obtained can help policy makers to plan the use of water and land resources efficiently and appropriately with local resources based on land suitability class. The assessment results revealed the GHG hotspots and the strategies to mitigate GHG emissions associated with rice cultivation.

From sustainable macro debris chemical recycling to microplastic reclamation: Overview, research challenges, and outlook

The current surge in plastic waste generation from human activities has led to environmental hazards associated with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), from mismanaged polymeric waste and its derived free plastic debris. Chemical recycling enables the effective end-of-life (EoL) of plastic wastes and debris by transforming them into value-added chemicals, reducing their offsite manufacturing's environmental and social risks related to SDG 13 (Climate Action) while mitigating plastic pollution associated with SDG 6, SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Herein, this work examines the recent research progress, technological advancements, and policy implications on the chemical recycling of plastic waste and derived debris from macro to micro levels and implications for achieving SDGs. We identify three primary research challenges related to plastic pollution mitigation: 1. Understanding the extent of plastic pollution and consequences by sources originating from human activities; 2. Exploring the sustainable material life cycle of plastics with minimum waste generation, free debris exposure and pollution related to SDGs 14 and 15, and carbon emissions aligned with SDG 13; 3. Indicating the necessary local and global efforts to deploy plastic production, use, and waste management as per sustainable plastic life cycle concepts associated with SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption). Future perspective directions lie in mitigating plastic pollution on both the sources identified by plastic waste and derived debris generation from individual human activity and the sinks associated with free debris exposure to natural environments. Reducing plastic use, waste reuse, repurposing, and recycling can fully mitigate these negative externalities but also generate greenhouse gas emissions, which requires decarbonization under climate commitments.

Evaluation of the Viability of 3D Printing in Recycling Polymers.

The increased use of plastics in industrial and agricultural applications has led to high levels of pollution worldwide and is a significant challenge. To address this plastic pollution, conventional methods such as landfills and incineration are used, leading to further challenges such as the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, increasing interest has been directed to identifying alternative methods to dispose of plastic waste from agriculture. The novelty of the current research arose from the lack of critical reviews on how 3-Dimensional (3D) printing was adopted for recycling plastics, its application in the production of agricultural plastics, and its specific benefits, disadvantages, and limitations in recycling plastics. The review paper offers novel insights regarding the application of 3D printing methods including Fused Particle Fabrication (FPF), Hot Melt Extrusion (HME), and Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) to make filaments from plastics. However, the methods were adopted in local recycling setups where only small quantities of the raw materials were considered. Data was collected using a systematic review involving 39 studies. Findings showed that the application of the 3D printing methods led to the generation of agricultural plastics such as Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which were found to have properties comparable to those of virgin plastic, suggesting the viability of 3D printing in managing plastic pollution. However, limitations were also associated with the 3D printing methods; 3D-printed plastics deteriorated rapidly under Ultraviolet (UV) light and are non-biodegradable, posing further risks of plastic pollution. However, UV stabilization helps reduce plastic deterioration, thus increasing longevity and reducing disposal. Future directions emphasize identifying methods to reduce the deterioration of 3D-printed agricultural plastics and increasing their longevity in addition to UV stability.

Achieving adequate nutrition in a malnourished world: the role of sustainable diets and animal source foods

Malnutrition affects over half the world’s population, manifesting in myriad forms. Nearly 1 in 4 children never reach their full growth potential, while 1 in 2 lack key micronutrients essential for health and development.1 Furthermore, 1 in 3 women suffer from anemia, and 2 in 3 do not get enough vital micronutrients. At the same time, over 2 in 5 adults are overweight or obese, and 1 in 5 live with high blood pressure. These various forms of malnutrition lead to physical and cognitive impairments, increased susceptibility to infections and chronic diseases, and reduced quality and length of life. They also impose immense economic, social, and health burdens. In addition to harming human health, our food system damages the planet, generating greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change and depleting freshwater reserves. It also causes deforestation and habitat destruction which drive species to extinction. These grave harms to both human and environmental wellbeing demand urgent action. Transforming our food systems is imperative to promote nutritious diets that deliver adequate nutrition and protect against noncommunicable diseases, while simultaneously protecting our planet, its biodiversity, and natural resources. As a response, many call for drastically limiting consumption of animal source foods like meat, eggs, and dairy. They argue that these foods jeopardize both human health and environmental sustainability. However, is it possible to meet the nutritional needs of the global population with few animal source foods? What are the full impacts, both positive and negative, of animal source foods on human health and the environment? In this presentation, I will review the latest scientific evidence surrounding these questions. I will examine whether mindfully produced and consumed animal source foods can be part of the solution. Join me to explore these critical issues concerning sustainable nutrition and the role of animal source foods in our food system transformation.

Planetary Health and Radiology: Why We Should Care and What We Can Do.

Climate change adversely affects the well-being of humans and the entire planet. A planetary health framework recognizes that sustaining a healthy planet is essential to achieving individual, community, and global health. Radiology contributes to the climate crisis by generating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the production and use of medical imaging equipment and supplies. To promote planetary health, strategies that mitigate and adapt to climate change in radiology are needed. Mitigation strategies to reduce GHG emissions include switching to renewable energy sources, refurbishing rather than replacing imaging scanners, and powering down unused scanners. Radiology departments must also build resiliency to the now unavoidable impacts of the climate crisis. Adaptation strategies include education, upgrading building infrastructure, and developing departmental sustainability dashboards to track progress in achieving sustainability goals. Shifting practices to catalyze these necessary changes in radiology requires a coordinated approach. This includes partnering with key stakeholders, providing effective communication, and prioritizing high-impact interventions. This article reviews the intersection of planetary health and radiology. Its goals are to emphasize why we should care about sustainability, showcase actions we can take to mitigate our impact, and prepare us to adapt to the effects of climate change. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the article by Ibrahim et al in this issue. See also the article by Lenkinski and Rofsky in this issue.

Household food waste in Surakarta City, Indonesia: Quantity, global warming potential (GWP), and management

Households represent one of the main contributors to food waste in urban areas. Surakarta is one of the cities in Indonesia where a significant portion of household food waste is disposed of in landfill sites. The piles of food waste can become an environmental issue if left unmanaged, as they generate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The aim of this research is to determine the quantity, emission estimations, and management of household food waste in Surakarta City. A total of 151 household samples had their food waste collected over a period of 7 days. The method for measuring the quantity of food waste involved direct measurements using a scale, calculating food waste emissions using the GWP formula, and collecting management data through a questionnaire. The research results indicate that, on average, households dispose of 0.499 kg/week of food waste and estimate food waste emissions to be 0.789 kg CO2e/week. In addition to being discarded, some food waste is managed as animal feed and fertilizer. Implementing proper and sustainable management can lead to a reduction in the quantity of food waste sent to landfills.

Tackling climate change at the city level: insights from Lighthouse Cities' climate mitigation efforts.

The link between lifestyles and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions has prioritized climate mitigation strategies of cities worldwide. As cities have increasingly generated GHG emissions by their industrial and transportation activities, their role in climate mitigation has gained prominence. Cities' climate mitigation policies to reduce the GHG intensity of their residents' daily lives are one of their significant efforts to tackle climate change. Lighthouse Cities (LCs), in particular, have emerged as remarkable actors in promoting lifestyle changes for their residents. This study examines climate mitigation strategies of LCs of Climate CAMPAIGNers project, including Baku, Vilnius, Lahti, Izmir, Trujillo, Athens, Linz, Milan, Cape Town, Dublin, and Skopelos, addressing lifestyle changes by conducting an expert survey in 11 LCs involving 89 respondents. The findings of the expert survey are comparatively analyzed across 11 LCs. The results show that experts form Lighthouse Cities identify increasing awareness and information provision as a significant component of climate mitigation policies. Concerning lifestyle changes, strategies toward energy efficiency and sustainable mobility are highlighted as the primary areas to be prioritized. This study enhances the understanding of cities' capacity to reduce their residents' GHG emissions. The findings can be utilized to identify and tailor policies for supporting the Lighthouse Cities in their climate change mitigation efforts and provide pointers for selecting the lifestyle changes that can be promoted and prioritized in Lighthouse Cities.

Emissions Sufficientarianism

AbstractThis paper defends strong emissions sufficientarianism as an approach to assigning moral rights to generate greenhouse gas emissions. Strong emissions sufficientarianism holds that only subsistence emitting is morally permissible. This paper argues that, since it is uncertain how many subsistence emissions there will be, the present generation owes it to future generations to refrain from generating non-subsistence emissions, not to risk imposing on them a tragic choice between sacrificing themselves and contributing to very dangerous climate change. The paper also addresses the charge that emissions sufficientarianism, in general, is too permissive since it entails a right to contribute to very dangerous climate change. The overall message is that, given the moral urgency posed by climate change, there is little room for distributive principles besides emissions sufficientarianism. This casts doubt on the appropriateness of relying on carbon budgets in assigning rights to emit.

Reuse and Reprocessing of Endoscopic Instruments: Con

Reprocessing of endoscopic equipment generates greenhouse gas emissions, releases toxic substances into the environment, and consumes large quantities of water. The use of alternative materials, such as single-use devices with a low carbon footprint and recycled materials, and reprocessing without the use of water and toxic products represent sustainable solutions.

The green-MKS system: A baseline environmental macro-dynamic model

This paper extends the Marx-Keynes-Schumpeter model in Flaschel (2015) to study the social dimension of climate change. Agents are divided between those supporting and those opposing taxing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. The composition of the population varies according to a continuous-time version of the discrete-choice approach. Conditional to the level of interaction between players, society chooses the respective carbon tax rate. Higher taxes reduce capital accumulation but support the development of energy-saving production techniques. Output growth and employment rates will be higher or lower depending on which effect prevails. Economic activity generates GHG emissions and determines the employment rate, which, in turn, endogenously feedback on environmental sentiments. Lower emissions reinforce sustainable attitudes, while falling employment increases households’ concerns with more “urgent” needs, decreasing support for taxation. Hence, the model is compatible with a positive relationship between environmental attitudes and energy efficiency but not a clear association with output. A sufficiently strong response of attitudes to emissions combined with a “sentiments-autonomous” carbon tax may lead to the disappearance of the equilibrium in which most agents oppose regulation, controlling for multi-stability. Our 3-dimensional system admits endogenous persistent and bounded fluctuations, where the interaction between green attitudes and the macro-economy appears as a novel source of growth-cycle dynamics.

WASTE-TO-HYDROGEN: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UK SCENARIO

Hydrogen is widely recognised to play a key role to decarbonise various industries, as well as transportation, heating and power sectors, for it does not generate greenhouse gas emissions at the point of use. Understanding the technologies that can generate low carbon hydrogen is essential in planning the development of future gas networks and more sustainable manufacturing processes. One promising approach is hydrogen production by gasification of waste, referred to as biohydrogen. This paper summarises work undertaken to design a commercial Waste-to-Hydrogen (WtH2) plant, which includes an assessment of current development stage of technologies, the identification of an appropriate scale for the plants, and development of specifications for process design and output streams. The overall production levels of biohydrogen is observed to be limited by the availability of sustainable feedstocks; however, the results of negative CO2 emissions achieved via biohydrogen production shows that its overall potential to reduce GHG emissions is significantly better, as compared to other form or low carbon hydrogen. In particular, biohydrogen application is capable of generating negative emissions that are required to offset GHGs from other sectors in the future. In combination, low carbon hydrogen production can make a very important contribution to achieving net zero commitment in UK.

ESTIMATION OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM DOMESTIC WASTEWATER IN CAU RIVER BASIN BY 2030

The Cau River basin has recently raised significant concerns about associated pollution issues and their critical role in socio-economic development. This study aims at assessing and forecasting the impacts of domestic wastewater on the generation of greenhouse gas emissions in Cau River basin in 2030. The main methods have been applied in this study including data collection and analysis, synthesization and inheritance method of research documents. Moreover, the study has calculated the amount of greenhouse gases from wastewater in the Cau River basin basin from the use of septic toilets, other toilets and centralized wastewater treatment plant based upon the guidance of the IPCC (2006). The results show that the CH4 gas is mainly generated from the anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater with total CH4 emissions for the scenario up to 2030 at 234,337.91 Gg CH4/year (accounting for 95.3%) of the total amount (corresponding to 245,818.59 Gg CH4/total kg of BOD) emitted when applying treatment measures.

The True Costs and Benefits of Miscanthus Cultivation

Agroecosystems provide numerous ecosystem services (ESs) such as provisioning, regulating, habitat and cultural services. At the same time, the management of these agroecosystems can cause various negative impacts on the environment such as the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. However, the way humans manage agroecosystems often focuses only on the production of agricultural goods, which yield monetary benefits in the short term but do not include the positive and negative external effects on ESs. In order to enable a holistic assessment of the economic and environmental costs and benefits, the current study combines the production costs, the monetary value of the ESs provided and the monetization of the environmental impacts caused by the management of agroecosystems using the perennial crop miscanthus as an example. Depending on the scenario assessed, the cultivation of miscanthus leads to a net benefit of 140 to 3051 EUR ha−1 yr−1. The monetary value of the ESs provided by the miscanthus cultivation thereby considerably outweighs the internal and external costs. The approach applied allows for a holistic assessment of the benefits and costs of agroecosystems and thus enables management decisions that are not only based on the biomass yield but include the various interactions with the environment.