Global Environmental Management Research Articles

Exploring the Influencing Factors of Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) Based on Random Forest and SHAP

As global climate change intensifies, Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) serves as a crucial indicator for measuring the carbon absorption and release of ecosystems, playing a vital role in understanding the carbon cycle and shaping climate policy. The Northwestern region of China, characterized as a typical inland arid and semi-arid area, is particularly sensitive to global changes. Understanding the environmental drivers of NEP in this region is critical for both regional ecological protection and global environmental management. This study utilized environmental data from five provinces in Northwestern China, applying the Random Forest (RF) model and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) method to analyze the primary environmental factors influencing NEP. The research integrated climatic data (including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and solar radiation), soil characteristics such as pH, organic carbon content, and soil texture, topographic attributes elevation and slope, and a Human Footprint. The RF model identified significant environmental factors impacting NEP, and SHAP values were used to explain the specific contributions of these factors. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis revealed interactions among environmental factors. The results indicate that solar radiation (Srad), precipitation, topsoil reference bulk density (T_REF_BULK), temperature, and the topsoil clay fraction (T_CLAY) significantly influence NEP. Notably, interactions between aspect and T_CLAY, aspect and T_REF_BULK, as well as the human footprint (HFP) and Srad, also show significant impacts on NEP. This study confirms that solar radiation, precipitation, soil characteristics, and human activities are the primary environmental drivers of NEP in the Northwest region of China, with solar radiation playing the most critical promotional role. The findings not only provide a scientific basis for the management of ecosystems in Northwestern China but also offer references for formulating global climate change mitigation strategies and estimating the global carbon budget. Future research should further explore the specific mechanisms and interactions of these drivers across different ecosystems to more comprehensively understand and predict the trends in NEP changes.

Enabling Green Innovation Quality through Green Finance Credit Allocation: Evidence from Chinese Firms

As one of the world’s largest economies and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, China plays a critical role in global environmental management. As China emphasizes new quality productive forces, understanding how green finance can enable green innovation quality (GIQ) is essential for projecting China’s influence in the sustainable development of the global ecological environment. This paper sets up a quasi-natural experiment using the Green Credit Policy (GCP) to examine the impact of green financial credit allocation on the enterprises’ GIQ. The findings demonstrate that the GCP has the potential to improve the GIQ of the green credit-restricted industries, compared to non-green credit-restricted ones. It is worth noting that as China speeds up its industrial digital transformation and productivity improvement, green financial credit allocation can elevate the digitization level and total factor productivity of green credit-restricted industries, leading to a higher GIQ by curbing corporate shadow banking. Further research shows that fintech and financial regulation can strengthen the positive influence of the GCP on GIQ. Moreover, regional intellectual property protection has a beneficial synergistic effect in combination with the policy.

Assessing Eco-Environmental Effects and Its Impacts Mechanisms in the Mountainous City: Insights from Ecological–Production–Living Spaces Using Machine Learning Models in Chongqing

In the face of accelerating land use changes, conflicts between land use patterns and the eco-environment are increasingly pronounced. By calculating the eco-environment quality index (EQI) adopting the ecological–production–living spaces (EPLS) framework, we evaluate the eco-environment quality of land use changes within Chongqing’s central urban area from 2000 to 2020. The study employs a random forest model to elucidate the mechanisms influencing the eco-environment quality. The findings reveal the following: (1) Living spaces have expanded by 361.53 km2, while production and the ecological spaces have been experiencing a significant reduction of 331.42 km2 and 30.11 km2 over two decades. (2) The eco-environment quality has steadily declined from 0.3665 in 2000 to 0.3501 in 2020, indicating a degradation in overall quality. There is notable spatial variation in eco-environment quality, typically displaying a “low center–high periphery” pattern. (3) Pesticide usage, grain production, and the added value of the primary industry are the primary factors affecting ecological quality. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for global urban planning and environmental management. Rapidly, land use change regions worldwide face similar conflicts between economic growth and ecological sustainability. This research underscores the need for integrated land use policies that balance development with environmental preservation. The methodologies and findings can inform international efforts to optimize land use patterns, improve ecological quality, and achieving sustainable development goals, offering adaptable strategies for policymakers and urban planners globally.

Political ecology of tourism: A bibliometric analysis

The tourism sector significantly impacts global environmental change and resource management. The social and economic aspects of tourism are also worthy of examination from the political ecology perspective. In this context, there is a growing need for academic studies examining tourism’s environmental, social, and economic components. This study is conducted to meet this need and provide an in-depth analysis of the works on political ecology in tourism. This research aims to assess scholarly investigations within the tourism domain employing a political ecology framework, utilizing bibliometric analysis as the methodological approach. Within this scope, publications in the literature have been quantitatively examined, and the studies’ prevalence, interactions, and developmental trends have been revealed. The WoS database identified 192 studies published between 1998 and 2023 on the subject. The analysis of leading journals, authors, countries, and keywords related to the topic indicates the following: There has been a noteworthy surge in the number of scholarly inquiries about political ecology within the scientific realm associated with tourism. In addition, the leading country on the subject is the United States. Finally, conservation and ecotourism become the main focal points of studies on political ecology. In summary, it is anticipated that this study will provide a substantial contribution to the existing literature in the domain of political ecology within the context of tourism, offering guidance for researchers in the design and execution of subsequent studies.

Investigate the Role of Environmental NGOs in Global Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance

This paper explores the role of environmental NGOs in global ecological sustainability and environmental management through an empirical approach. Multiple case studies of environmental NGOs have demonstrated positive benefits in promoting environmental regulations, popularizing environmental knowledge, and guiding ecological conservation and restoration. Environmental NGOs around the world, with their public participation and advocacy of environmental protection, not only play an important role in safeguarding biodiversity and preventing environmental damage but also provide opportunities for the public to participate in environmental management. On this issue, this paper also has an in-depth discussion on the problems existing in environmental NGOs in many fields such as environmental education, financing, and implementation consistency, and is willing to provide suggestions for the further improvement of global environmental management strategies, and then promote the better realization of global sustainable development goals.

The role of Geographic Information Systems in mitigating plastics pollution in the Global South—A spatial analysis of recycling facilities in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is at the forefront of environmental conservation in Central America, with its focus on sustainability and green practices. Building on this foundation, the country joins a cohort of middle-income developing countries that have set forth ambitious goals to eliminate plastic pollution and become plastics-free. Recycling remains one of the most effective ways of removing plastic waste from the environment. Although GIS has been utilized in environmental research, its use is still expanding in developing countries of the Global South. These countries are experiencing unprecedented adverse climate and ecological impacts while also pursuing fundamental socioeconomic growth. The application of more cost-effective and strategic technological solutions, as well as data-driven decision-making, could fast-track the achievement of their urgent environmental goals. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis, this study applies hot spot, location-allocation, and time-distance measures to examine Costa Rica's capacity to recycle plastic waste. Focusing specifically on availability and the public's access to recycling facilities, this article offers insights into the resource constraints and evolution of plastics governance in developing countries with environmentally-focused priorities. The findings of this study suggest that while Costa Rica is implementing progressive plastics regulatory policies, the ability to achieve plastics-free status is hampered by shortfalls in the number and distribution of recycling facilities and the public's access to recycling services. Expanding recycling infrastructure, including transportation, and adopting a less canton-centric waste administration system could contribute to resolving these challenges. This study contributes to discourses on global plastics governance and environmental change management in the Global South.

ISO 14001 Environmental Standard: Process Approach and Identification of Environmental Aspects and Impacts

Environmental management is the management of activities that may have an impact on the environment. It aims to limit polluting emissions and risks to the environment and to save natural resources. Often unsuspected and therefore without us always realizing it, all economic activities can have a considerable impact on the environment. Indeed, the manufacture of products requires the extraction of raw materials and the use of water and energy. Similarly, activities associated with the manufacturing process, such as maintenance, transportation; all have environmental impacts. The environmental management system is a progress tool that integrates the environmental dimension into an organization’s strategy, leading it to set objectives, achieve and maintain performance through effective management and promotes anticipation (the forecast). There is a multitude of guides allowing self-diagnosis by the organization and which make it possible to make an environmental assessment. ISO 14001 is the environmental management standard (EMS) created by the international organization for standardization. It defines the requirements of a global environmental management system for self-reporting or certification purposes. It is organized in 17 points modeled on quality management, well known for 34 years in the industry. The standard does not establish any absolute requirement for environmental performance, other than a commitment to environmental policy, to comply with legislation and the principle of continuous improvement. Pollution prevention through the identification of the various significant environmental aspects and impacts, which accounted for 70% of the requirements of ISO 14001, is the main environmental improvement point. In addition, since these environmental aspects and impacts can only be identified from the activities, products and services associated with them, this article represents a working method that allows expressing good environmental practices, present in the form of environmental performance indicators that inform in a concentrated and precise manner on the different activities with environmental relevance.

Preface

Preface

The impact of energy imports on green innovation in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war

This research paper examines the implications of energy imports on green innovation within the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. It utilizes panel data spanning EU countries from 1999 to 2022. Initially, the study explores the influence of natural gas and oil imports on the advancement of green innovation. Specifically, it reveals that the importation of natural gas facilitates progress in this area, whereas the importation of oil can impede such advancement. Following the Russia-Ukraine war, the role of gas imports in fostering green innovation within EU countries has grown, simultaneously exacerbating the adverse effects of oil imports on green innovation. Secondly, by employing a panel threshold model, the study identifies that higher energy prices make natural gas and oil imports unfavorable for the progress of green innovation in EU nations. Thirdly, an analysis of heterogeneity demonstrates that, as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, natural gas imports have a more significant detrimental effect on the development of green innovation in EU nations with a natural gas dependency ranging from 10% to 90%. In the case of oil imports, EU nations with a dependence on Russian oil exceeding 50% experience a more pronounced negative impact on the development of green innovation. Fourthly, a mechanistic study elucidates that natural gas imports indirectly stimulate green innovation through the mechanism of energy transition, while oil imports hinder the development of green innovation by exacerbating carbon emissions. The empirical findings of this paper carry substantial policy implications for EU nations, urging the acceleration of energy transition in response to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on green innovation. Moreover, these findings have broader implications for global environmental management and the collective endeavor to combat climate change.

Environmental Diplomacy in Transition: Contemporary Impediments and Policy Countermeasures

In todays interconnected world, environmental issues such as rising temperatures, water scarcity, and deforestation have taken center stage, demanding immediate and comprehensive responses. As a vital component of global governance, international environmental diplomacy is facing a transformative phase. The urgency of addressing climate change, underscored by its increasingly tangible impacts, necessitates the swift development and implementation of effective environmental policies on the international stage. Thus, a nuanced understanding of and active participation in international environmental diplomacy is paramount. This research delves into the contemporary impediments that have surfaced within international environmental diplomacy. These include the complex dynamics between developed and developing nations, the challenges of reconciling economic growth with environmental protection, and the evolving landscape of global environmental management. Moreover, the study examines the role of international agreements like the Paris Agreement in shaping the course of environmental diplomacy. Against this backdrop, the paper underscores the importance of seeking policy countermeasures to overcome these impediments. It emphasizes the need for diplomatic strategies that bridge the gap between developed and developing countries, ensuring equitable access to resources and technology transfer. Additionally, it highlights the significance of aligning economic growth with environmental sustainability, advocating for environmentally friendly technologies and practices. Moreover, the research explores the potential of innovative governance mechanisms to enhance global environmental management.

Biodegradable Polymers: A Novel Stride in Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

Global consumption and natural resistance to degradation have increased in the case of plastic and polymers. Their accumulation in the environment is of increasing concern. Currently available plastics are mostly produced from petrochemical products, but there is a growing demand for eco-friendly polymers. The use of bio-based polymers, which are produced from renewable resources, and biodegradable polymers, which are degraded in the environment, will lead to a more sustainable society and help us solve global environmental and waste management problems. Biodegradable materials are used in packaging, agriculture, medicine, and other areas. In recent years there has been an increase in interest in biodegradable polymers. The following review presents an overview of the different biodegradable polymers that are currently being used and their properties, as well as new developments in their synthesis and applications in drug delivery.

Reduced soil multifunctionality and microbial network complexity in degraded and revegetated alpine meadows

Understanding how microbial processes develop and change in alpine meadow soils is key to global initiatives toward environmental sustainability and local land management. Yet, how microbial interactions mediate soil multifunctionality in disturbed and managed alpine meadows remains understudied. Here, we investigated multiple community metrics, particularly microbial network properties and assembly processes, of soil bacterial and fungal communities and their links to certain soil functions along a degradation-restoration sequence of alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Meadow degradation caused significant declines in soil hydraulic conductivity (e.g., higher bulk density, reduced soil porosity and water content) and nitrogen availability, leading to lowered soil multifunctionality. Meadow degradation only caused weak changes in microbial abundance, alpha diversity, and community composition, but remarkably reduced bacterial network complexity, to a less extent for fungal network properties. Short-term artificial restoration with productive grass monocultures did not restore soil multifunctionality, in turn even destabilized bacterial network and favored pathogenic over mutualistic fungi. Soil fungi community are more stable than bacteria in disturbed alpine meadows, and they evolved with distinct assembly strategies (stochastic-dominant versus deterministic-driven processes, respectively). Further, microbial network complexity, positively and better predicts soil multifunctionality than alpha diversity. Our work shows how microbial interaction complexity may enhance soil multifunctionality in degraded alpine meadow ecosystems, noting that meadow restoration with low plant species diversity may failed in restoring multiple ecosystem functions. These findings would help predict the outcomes of global environmental changes and inform management strategies in regional grassland conservation and restoration.

Rational nature management: problems and prospects of Ukraine in the global system of nature restoration activities

The paper is devoted to studying the current state of nature management in Ukraine, considering the key factors that create problems in the global system of natural reproduction in Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to identify the key place, problems, and prospects of national nature management in Ukraine compared with other countries of the world and to determine the prospects for developing nature management in the post-war recovery period. For the research, general scientific methods of cognition were used, particularly methods of induction, deduction, analysis, synthesis, grouping, and systematization. The research results are based on the study of global environmental management ratings, including the environmental performance rating, the Happy Planet Index, the Global Green Economy Index, and the sustainable economic development assessment. The study of Ukraine's place among all countries in the world in terms of environmental management has highlighted a number of key problems, including deforestation, pollution, inefficient waste management, water use, etc. Furthermore, the report considers ways to improve natural resource management based on improving the natural resource management system and reducing corruption in all areas of natural resource management. The priority areas for the conservation and development of natural resources are the use of alternative, renewable energy sources, improvement of the processing industry, and introduction of modern standards and technologies for using natural resources. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of its use in the development of sustainable development strategies for the next periods.

Are lakes a public good or exclusive resource? Towards value-based management for aquatic invasive species

Invasive species are a prominent driver of global environmental change and management of biological invasions is a complex issue that requires attention to social and ecological contexts. Management efforts implemented without consideration of social dimensions have often been delayed or have failed due to community resistance. Despite this, much invasive species research has focused solely on the ecological dynamics of invasions. To advance our understanding of the social dimensions of efforts to confront invasive species, we analyze decision-making among stakeholders impacted by starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa), a freshwater alga and key emerging invader in lakes in the upper midwestern US that, to our knowledge, has not been explored in the human dimensions of invasive species literature. Through a content analysis of 46 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders associated with lakes invaded by N. obtusa in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, we assess stakeholders’ management preferences and the factors that shape both preferences and current practices. We examine current management strategies, perceptions of the importance of addressing starry stonewort, and stakeholder goals, as well as motivational and structural factors that shape and potentially limit decision-making. We highlight two “lake ethics” that emerge from our results where stakeholders see lakes as either a public good or an exclusive resource. We present a typology of these two distinct lake ethics and explore their implications for future efforts to manage N. obtusa, suggesting that managers should move towards value-based approaches that consider underlying community values tied to natural resources.

Knowledge Sharing to Reduce Toxin Exposure Risks from Harmful Algal Blooms: Global Networks and Political Barriers.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a significant global environmental management challenge, especially with respect to microalgae that produce dangerous natural toxins. Examples of HAB toxin diseases with major global health impact include: ciguatera poisoning, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), and neurotoxic (brevetoxin) shellfish poisoning (NSP). Such diseases affect communities globally and contribute to health inequalities within the United States and beyond. Sharing data and lessons learned about the factors determining bloom occurrence and associated exposure to contaminated seafood across locations can reduce public health risks. Knowledge sharing is particularly important as ongoing global environmental changes seem to alter the intensity, location, and timing of toxic HAB events, reducing the reliability of conventional guidance where toxin risks have been endemic and leading to emerging challenges in new settings. Political changes that disrupt membership in knowledge-sharing networks may impede efforts to share scientific expertise and best practices. In this commentary, we stress the importance of community and expert knowledge sharing for reducing HAB risks, both for vulnerable communities in the United States and globally. Considering the impacts of political changes, we note the indirect engagement sometimes required for continued participation in international coordination programs. As an example, we highlight how lessons learned from a Native-led toxin monitoring and testing program (the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research partnership) can inform programs in other settings. We also describe how international knowledge is mutually valuable for this program in Southeast Alaska.

China and the global politics of nature-based solutions

Since 2019, China has emerged as a leading proponent of nature-based solutions (NbS) to improve global environmental management. These solutions – from regrowing forests to restoring wetlands to regenerating agricultural soils to greening cities – can, at least in theory, simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect biodiversity, and enhance community wellbeing and resilience. For some advocates, nature-based solutions also entail a radical rethinking of how humans should be interacting with nature, requiring new responsibilities, rights, and governance mechanisms. This article explains how and why China has been promoting NbS in multilateral and domestic policy settings. By analyzing the content of English- and Chinese-language policy briefings, diplomatic remarks, and government documents from 2019 to mid-2021, it reveals that China’s NbS goals and actions differ significantly in domestic and international settings. Internationally, Chinese policymakers have been reframing the country’s pre-existing large-scale afforestation, green financing, disaster risk reduction, and ecotourism projects as NbS, broadly defined. In multilateral forums, meanwhile, Chinese diplomats and practitioners are promoting NbS as an umbrella term to enhance the legitimacy of domestic projects now labelled as NbS, project an image of climate action and global environmental leadership, and increase China’s discursive power within global environmental governance. China’s embrace of NbS, as this article reveals, has far-reaching consequences for the future of nature-based solutions within multilateral climate and biodiversity governance, with the potential to turn NbS into a diplomatic and rhetorical tool to portray conventional approaches to environmental management as innovative, nature-positive solutions.

Identifying the scale-controlling factors of soil organic carbon in the cropland of Jilin Province, China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest and most important terrestrial carbon pool, and it can influence global environmental management and food security. However, the spatial variability of SOC in cultivated areas and the relative controlling factors that drive the variations across different spatial scales are still not clear. On the basis of 2745 soil samples collected during 2006–2011, the spatial variability of SOC was first obtained from all of Jilin Province. Then, five categories of predictors, including climate, topography, soil, vegetation, and management practice, were selected to establish the environmental datasets at seven target scales (500 m, 1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km, 10 km, 25 km, and 50 km). Last, a machine learning method (random forest) was used to analyze the scale behaviors of these predictors on SOC variations. The results showed that the SOC content in Jilin Province had a moderate spatial dependence. Across all seven scales, elevation, precipitation, and temperature-related variables always had an important impact on SOC variation. Topography-related predictors had higher importance (relative importance (RI): 30.76%–44.20%) at the 1 km to 50 km scale, especially in the eastern humid mountainous ecoregion, while management practices had the largest importance (RI: 19%–29.20%) at the 500 m to 2.5 km scale in the central semihumid plain ecoregion. For the western semiarid plain, precipitation had higher importance (RI: 18.88%–23.68%) across all seven scales. Understanding the scale behaviors of environmental factors on SOC variations will be useful for improving soil health, food security and global environmental management.

A Sharper Look at the World’s Rivers and Catchments

Digital hydrographic maps have transformed global environmental studies and resource management. A major database update will provide even clearer and more complete views of Earth’s waterways.

Awareness, Attitude and Behavioural Intention of Medium and Large Scale Poultry Producers to Poultry Waste Management Practices in Lagos State: A Principal Component Analysis

The study analyzed awareness, attitude and behavioural intentions of medium and large scale poultry producers to poultry waste management practices in Lagos State with reference to problems of poor on-farm harness of excessive poultry waste, retrogression/unmet global environmental and economic waste management standards, exorbitant waste management charges imposed by LAWMA. Purposive and simple random sampling (using the lottery draw approach) was used in the selection of sixty (60) medium scale poultry farmers and forty (40) large scale poultry farmers, making a grand total of one hundred (100) medium and large scale poultry farmers interviewed in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the selected medium and large scale poultry farmers with the aid of a list provided by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos chapter. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to analyse the data. In the principal component analysis for medium scale poultry farmers, the key component named was that LAWMA should offer special service for isolated dead bird collection (V75); and for large scale poultry farmers, the key component was that the disposal of poultry waste in an environmentally friendly way is LAWMA’s duty (V76). The study recommended that the government makes provisions to offer awareness campaigns in order to improve environmental knowledge and encourage environmental enthusiasm amongst society.

Key Points of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for Wastewater, Organic Pollutants and Pharmaceutical Waste Treatment: A Mini Review

Advanced oxidation procedures (AOPs) refer to a variety of technical procedures that produce OH radicals to sufficiently oxidize wastewater, organic pollutant streams, and toxic effluents from industrial, hospital, pharmaceutical and municipal wastes. Through the implementation of such procedures, the (post) treatment of such waste effluents leads to products that are more susceptible to bioremediation, are less toxic and possess less pollutant load. The basic mechanism produces free OH radicals and other reactive species such as superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, etc. A basic classification of AOPs is presented in this short review, analyzing the processes of UV/H2O2, Fenton and photo-Fenton, ozone-based (O3) processes, photocatalysis and sonolysis from chemical and equipment points of view to clarify the nature of the reactive species in each AOP and their advantages. Finally, combined AOP implementations are favored through the literature as an efficient solution in addressing the issue of global environmental waste management.