Greenhouse Gas Emission Rates Research Articles

Drivers for and barriers to circular economy transition in the textile industry: A developing economy perspective

AbstractIncreasingly, pressing sustainability issues including the rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rates, climate change‐related vulnerabilities, and natural resource depletion have propelled companies to transition from a linear economy to a circular economy (CE). While circular business models are gaining currency in the manufacturing sector, empirical research on CE transition in the continuous process industry in developing economies is scarce. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to investigate the drivers and barriers of CE adoption in the textile industry of Pakistan. To this end, we utilized a qualitative methodology, and a total of 22 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with consultants and senior corporate managers working in the textile sector. Building on the natural resource‐based view (NRBV) and institutional theory, the findings revealed various internal drivers (resource efficiency‐related, organization‐related, and research and innovation‐related factors) and external drivers (market, regulatory, and societal factors) for CE transition. Additionally, the findings demonstrated internal barriers including behavioral, technical, and economic issues, and external issues such as customer and brand‐related barriers, regulatory and policy‐related barriers, as well as supply chain‐related barriers hindering the adoption of CE. We argue that it is one of the early studies to utilize the NRBV and institutional theory to examine the drivers and barriers and provide novel insights into the CE transition in the textile process industry in a developing economy. The findings can assist academics, consultants, practitioners, and policymakers to understand and promote CE as a sustainable strategy in the textile process industry.

Microplastics enhanced the allelopathy of pyrogallol on toxic Microcystis with additional risks: Microcystins release and greenhouse gases emissions

Cyanobacteria blooms (CBs) caused by eutrophication pose a global concern, especially Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa), which could release harmful microcystins (MCs). The impact of microplastics (MPs) on allelopathy in freshwater environments is not well understood. This study examined the joint effect of adding polystyrene (PS-MPs) as representative MPs and two concentrations (2 and 8 mg/L) of pyrogallol (PYR) on the allelopathy of M. aeruginosa. The results showed that the addition of PS-MPs intensified the inhibitory effect of 8 mg/L PYR on the growth and photosynthesis of M. aeruginosa. After a 7-day incubation period, the cell density decreased to 69.7 %, and the chl-a content decreased to 48 % compared to the condition without PS-MPs (p < 0.05). Although the growth and photosynthesis of toxic Microcystis decreased with the addition of PS-MPs, the addition of PS-MPs significantly resulted in a 3.49-fold increase in intracellular MCs and a 1.10-fold increase in extracellular MCs (p < 0.05). Additionally, the emission rates of greenhouse gases (GHGs) (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane) increased by 2.66, 2.23 and 2.17-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, transcriptomic analysis showed that the addition of PS-MPs led to the dysregulation of gene expression related to DNA synthesis, membrane function, enzyme activity, stimulus detection, MCs release and GHGs emissions in M. aeruginosa. PYR and PS-MPs triggered ROS-induced membrane damage and disrupted photosynthesis in algae, leading to increased MCs and GHG emissions. PS-MPs accumulation exacerbated this issue by impeding light absorption and membrane function, further heightening the release of MCs and GHGs emissions. Therefore, PS-MPs exhibited a synergistic effect with PYR in inhibiting the growth and photosynthesis of M. aeruginosa, resulting in additional risks such as MCs release and GHGs emissions. These results provide valuable insights for the ecological risk assessment and control of algae bloom in freshwater ecosystems.

Energy Balance and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Production in Türkiye

The objective of this study was to determine the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with sesame production. Energy use efficiency indicators and greenhouse gas emission rates were calculated for the 2022-2023 production season. The energy input and output for sesame production were found to be 12079.15 MJ ha-1 and 30052.44 MJ ha-1, respectively. The study found an energy use efficiency of 2.49, with a specific energy of 12.20 MJ kg-1, an energy productivity of 0.08 kg MJ-1, and a net energy value of 17973.29 MJ ha-1. The direct and indirect energy inputs were calculated to be 4584.41 MJ ha-1 (37.95%) and 7494.74 MJ ha-1 (62.05%), while the renewable and non-renewable energy inputs were calculated to be 469.12 MJ ha-1 (3.88%) and 11610.03 MJ ha-1 (98.65%), respectively. The calculation shows that the total greenhouse gas emissions are 380.52 kgCO2-eq ha-1 and the greenhouse gas emission rate is 0.38 kgCO2-eq ha-1. Sesame production is highly profitable for the 2022-2023 production season in terms of energy use efficiency.

Effects of Rodent Isolation on Plant Community Structure and Greenhouse Gas Emission in the Alpine Grassland of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

As one of the dominant species of the alpine grassland on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, the activities (e.g., gnawing, burrowing, and grass storage) of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) directly alter the plant community structure of the grassland ecosystem and affect livestock production and greenhouse gas emission. In order to investigate the effects of rodent isolation (RI) on plant community structure and greenhouse gas emission in the alpine grassland of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, we established plots of rodent isolation and rodent activity (i.e., the control sample (CK)) in the 14th village, Seni District, Nagqu City in May 2018. From July 2019 to September, the numbers, sizes, and total damaged area of effective holes; the height, coverage, and aboveground plant biomass; and the methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions of the alpine grassland were monitored by the quadrat survey method and static closed-chamber method. The results show that the invasion and tunneling of Ochotona curzoniae resulted in the destruction of alpine grassland measuring 0.064 m2 per square meter, while the rodent isolation plots showed that 97.9% of the alpine grassland remained unaltered; such unaffected land implies that the economic income of herdsmen could increase by 140 CNY hm−2. The rodent isolation plots also show that the height and proportion of grasses and sedges in the alpine grassland increased, while the proportion of poisonous weeds decreased. Moreover, the rodent isolation plots also showed a significantly increased coverage of aboveground biomass (p &lt; 0.05), although species richness showed no significant effect based on the Shannon–Weiner, Simpson, and Pielou indices (p &gt; 0.05). The soil uptake of CH4 and N2O was 204.99 ± 50.23 μg m−2 h−1 and 4.48 ± 1.02 μg m−2 h−1 in the rodent isolation plots, significantly higher by 465.75% and 3001.4% relative to the rodent activity plots, respectively (p &lt; 0.05). Therefore, the establishment of rodent isolation areas can effectively alleviate the degree of damage to alpine grasslands in the short run and slow down the greenhouse gas emission rate to some extent. However, excessive rodent control may also have negative effects on grassland ecosystems, so more attention should be paid in future studies to determining the disturbance threshold of plateau pika in this area. These results provide theoretical guidance for rodent control, grassland protection, and ecological environment management on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

Soil respiration induces co-emission of greenhouse gases and methylated selenium from cold-region Mollisols: Significance for selenium deficiency

Mollisols rich in natural organic matter are a significant sink of carbon (C) and selenium (Se). Climate warming and agricultural expansion to the cold Mollisol regions may enhance soil respiration and biogeochemical cycles, posing a growing risk of soil C and Se loss. Through field-mimicking incubation experiments with uncultivated and cultivated soils from the Mollisol regions of northeastern China, this research shows that soil respiration remained significant even during cold seasons and caused co-emission of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) and methylated Se. Such stimulus effects were generally stronger in the cultivated soils, with maximum emission rates of 7.45 g/m2/d C and 1.42 μg/m2/d Se. For all soil types, the greatest co-emission of CO2 and dimethyl selenide occurred at 25 % soil moisture, whereas measurable CH4 emission was observed at 40 % soil moisture with higher percentages of dimethyl diselenide volatilization. Molecular characterization with three-dimensional fluorescence and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry suggests that CO2 emission is sensitive to the availability of microbial protein-like substances and free energy from organic carbon biodegradation under variable moisture conditions. Predominant Se binding to biodegradable organic matter resulted in high dependence of Se volatilization on rates of greenhouse gas emissions. These findings together highlight the importance of dynamic organic carbon quality for soil respiration and consequent Mollisol Se loss risk, with implications for science-based management of C and Se resources in agricultural lands to combat with Se deficiency.

Effects of the U.S. inflation reduction act on SMR economics

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provides a wide array of tax credits and other incentives for low-carbon energy. The technology-neutral clean generation production tax credit (PTC) (Section 45Y of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code) and the technology-neutral investment tax credit (ITC) (Section 48E) lower the net cost of new electricity generation projects with zero or negative greenhouse gas emission rates. We evaluate the impact of the IRA legislation—specifically the PTC and ITC—on the cost-competitiveness of small modular reactors (SMRs). We use the Argonne Low-carbon Energy Analysis Framework (A-LEAF) model to calculate the capacity factor of an SMR with a range of hypothetical variable operating and maintenance (O&amp;amp;M) costs in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) electricity market. We selected ERCOT for market modeling because of its competitive structure, available data, and extensive use in prior literature. We use a discounted cash flow model to calculate the SMR’s net present value based on the market prices and capacity factors from A-LEAF, hypothetical ranges of capital and variable O&amp;amp;M costs, and other input parameters, with or without the IRA tax credits. We determine the SMR owner’s optimal choice of PTC or ITC for the hypothetical ranges of capital and variable O&amp;amp;M costs. We also evaluate potential shifts in the SMR owner’s optimal choice of PTC or ITC based on historical patterns of nuclear capital cost overruns in the United States. We also assess the sensitivity of our results to longer PTC period and electricity prices from the New England market, which tend to be higher than electricity prices in ERCOT. We find that even with the IRA tax credits, only SMRs with low capital and variable O&amp;amp;M costs would be economically feasible in the low-price ERCOT market scenario modeled. A longer PTC period and higher-price market such as New England, however, would significantly expand the economic feasibility of SMRs in the United States.

Effects of mimicking manure removal strategies on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions in sow pen scale models

With growing concerns about air pollution and global warming effects, the emissions of NH3 and greenhouse gases (GHGs) have become significant issues in the pig production industry. In order to discover whether optimizing manure removal strategies could alter the manure decomposition process and benefit the reduction of gas emissions, a scale model approach was used to quantify the gas emissions under controlled conditions. This study compared the gas emission reduction potential of two classic manure removal systems (scraper and pull-plug system) in three manure removal strategies: scraper-I (retaining manure for 24 h), scraper-II (retaining manure for 8 and 16 h) and pull-plug (retaining manure for 44 days). Fresh urine and faeces collected from a gestation sow house were applied to the scale models and then removed through the manure removal systems. The concentrations of gases (NH3, CH4, CO2, and N2O) within the scale model and removed slurry samples were collected and analysed (pH, electric conductivity, dry matter, total nitrogen, total ammonium nitrogen and total carbon). The results showed that emissions of CH4, CO2, and N2O from scraper-I were on average 54%, 56% and 25% lower than those from scraper-II, and 71%, 67% and 6% lower than those from pull-plug treatment, respectively. The GHGs emission rates (as CO2-equivalents) of scraper-I and scraper-II were 52% and 26.3% lower than that of pull-plug treatment respectively (P < 0.01). The emissions of NH3 displayed a temporary peak during each application of urine and removal of manure. In pull-plug treatment, the concentrations of NH3, CH4, and CO2 exponentially increased between Day 39 and Day 41. The nitrogen content, both total nitrogen and total ammonium nitrogen, within the slurry under the scraper system exhibited lower values compared to those from the pull-plug system. Conversely, the total carbon content was higher in the former system. Caution is warranted in extrapolating results to full-scale pig housing, given study limitations (e.g. small scale, mimicked scraper activity, no animals, etc.). Nevertheless, the conclusions and findings of this study provide fundamental data for understanding gas emissions from pig house manure management. This insight can guide the design and daily operations of low-emission manure removal systems in gestation sow houses.

A Review of Passive Solar Heating and Cooling Technologies Based on Bioclimatic and Vernacular Architecture

The increase in global average temperature, mainly due to the high rate of greenhouse gas emissions, has triggered severe global warming and climate change. In Europe, the building sector accounts for a significant portion of emissions and energy consumption, prompting attention on nearly-zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) and zero-carbon buildings, as they play a pivotal role in reaching the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. Passive systems offer a promising solution, optimizing energy usage by better adapting buildings to their local climates. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of passive heating and cooling techniques, exploring their contributions to contemporary architecture and showcasing their features and adaptability across different climates. Furthermore, the link between traditional and bioclimatic architecture is assessed. Recent years have witnessed a surge in publications on bioclimatic solar passive strategies, reflecting an intensified debate on climate change. Europe leads research in this area, aligned with initiatives like the Green Deal and Fit for 55. While dynamic simulation software is widely utilized for energy efficiency analysis, there remains limited integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and life cycle analysis (LCA) tools, which could enhance holistic assessments.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: STUDY OF ENERGY DEMAND AND IMPACT ON INFRASTRUCTURE DUE TO THE INSERTION OF ELECTRIC BUSES IN THE CITY OF SÃO PAULO

Buses have become essential for passenger transport, both within major cities and between cities. In 2020 March 12,815 buses were responsible for transporting 8.7 million people every day on 1,336 lines throughout the city of São Paulo. Means of transport, however, account for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions and the most growth-prospective modal. To this end, technologies such as electric vehicles are presented in order to comply with new legislation. To assess the real impact of the increase in the number of electric vehicles, it is necessary to evaluate the energy demand to be considered and the possible restructuring of the electricity grid. The quantification of the total bus demand for operation in the city of São Paulo was carried out in four distinct scenarios of electrification planning of the bus fleet resulting in the projection of increased electrical demand, reduction of CO2 emissions and the survey of the main bus garages in order to map the points of possible increase in electrical demand, which, in its worst case scenario, showed an increase of 0.39% compared to electricity generated by the State of São Paulo. The gradual replacement of current vehicles powered by combustion engines by electrified vehicles should contribute to sustainable development by reducing greenhouse gas emission rates in large urban centres.

Global energy trends in the context of climate and environmental transformations

The article is devoted to the study of issues of energy policy formation in nine changing climatic and environmental vectors. A retrospective analysis of the impact of the climate agenda on the energy intensity of global GDP and greenhouse gas emissions was carried out. The authors present a “time line” from 1972-2022, demonstrating the connection between the adoption of a number of key international documents aimed at achieving global environmental and climate goals, and the dynamics of growth rates in the energy intensity of global GDP and greenhouse gas emissions. According to data from 2010-2022, it is shown that the policy of replacing traditional fossil hydrocarbon fuel and energy resources with renewable energy sources in the global energy balance helps to overcome environmental and climate problems, positive results have been identified, in particular, a steady trend of transformation of development scenarios of the global energy system through the introduction of low-carbon and carbon-free technologies, primarily hydropower, solar photovoltaic energy, and wind energy. An inversely proportional relationship is observed, demonstrating several trends: a decrease in the capital intensity of renewable energy sources, a decrease in the costs of the process of their implementation and operation. The results of the study allow us to state the consistency of processes in relation to changes in the dynamics of global GDP and greenhouse gas emissions, while in recent years the growth rate of greenhouse gas emissions at the global level is lower compared to the growth rate of GDP, which proves the effectiveness of the measures being implemented. The materials presented in the article can be used to develop theoretical models and applied measures to implement scenarios for decarbonization of economic systems, increasing their environmental sustainability and mitigating climate change.

Rethinking administrative documents’ validity to cutoff greenhouse gas emissions by million tons

Climate change is a multi-hazard challenge for life on earth in all its aspects. Wildfires, pollution, drought and heatwaves are just a few examples of exacerbated environmental crises propelled by climate change effects. To mitigate such effects, urgent actions are required to cutoff greenhouse gas emissions by all the means across all the sectors. Every additional kilogram of greenhouse gases produced unnecessarily should be avoided. One source of greenhouse gas emissions that may not be top of mind for the public and policymakers - and which can be taken into account in preventive environmental policies- is the industry of administrative and identification documents (papers) with short validity dates that involves intensive production (mass printing) and frequent renewals (mass reprinting) while the carbon footprint is too high. The validity of, for example, identity cards, passports, banking cards, driving licenses, etc., is often short ranging from ~ 3 to 10 years, depending on each type of document and issuing country. Short validity dates, however, should raise critical questions regarding the environmental sustainability, societal and carbon impact, and depletion of natural resources used in their production and frequent renewals. Identification documents are not food products that spoil over time or medications that lose their functional activities, so their validity should be unlimited by time in order to avoid the high environmental costs of mass printing/reprinting and high rates of greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production. The production of plasticized ID-type cards can emit up to 100 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per card. Manufacturing one administrative document per person and renewing it five times could produce up to 4 million tons of carbon dioxide globally. If individuals have five administrative documents that need renewing five times, which is often the case, gas emissions would be five times higher, or approximately 20 million tons of CO2 equivalent. To save such important amounts of gas emissions, a modernization and flexibilization of administrative documents industry is required toward removing validity by date. This simple change could save substantial amounts of energy and natural resources, such as trees and water, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by million tons, especially in the pressing context of climate change. It should be time to initiate a paradigm shift in the administrative document industry. Eliminating validity periods is a straightforward yet effective solution that would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable environmental practices.

Net greenhouse gas balance in U.S. croplands: How can soils be part of the climate solution?

Agricultural soils play a dual role in regulating the Earth's climate by releasing or sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in soil organic carbon (SOC) and emitting non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as nitrous oxide (N2 O) and methane (CH4 ). To understand how agricultural soils can play a role in climate solutions requires a comprehensive assessment of net soil GHG balance (i.e., sum of SOC-sequestered CO2 and non-CO2 GHG emissions) and the underlying controls. Herein, we used a model-data integration approach to understand and quantify how natural and anthropogenic factors have affected the magnitude and spatiotemporal variations of the net soil GHG balance in U.S. croplands during 1960-2018. Specifically, we used the dynamic land ecosystem model for regional simulations and used field observations of SOC sequestration rates and N2 O and CH4 emissions to calibrate, validate, and corroborate model simulations. Results show that U.S. agricultural soils sequestered Tg CO2 -C year-1 in SOC (at a depth of 3.5 m) during 1960-2018 and emitted Tg N2 O-N year-1 and Tg CH4 -C year-1 , respectively. Based on the GWP100 metric (global warming potential on a 100-year time horizon), the estimated national net GHG emission rate from agricultural soils was Tg CO2 -eq year-1 , with the largest contribution from N2 O emissions. The sequestered SOC offset ~28% of the climate-warming effects resulting from non-CO2 GHG emissions, and this offsetting effect increased over time. Increased nitrogen fertilizer use was the dominant factor contributing to the increase in net GHG emissions during 1960-2018, explaining ~47% of total changes. In contrast, reduced cropland area, the adoption of agricultural conservation practices (e.g., reduced tillage), and rising atmospheric CO2 levels attenuated net GHG emissions from U.S. croplands. Improving management practices to mitigate N2 O emissions represents the biggest opportunity for achieving net-zero emissions in U.S. croplands. Our study highlights the importance of concurrently quantifying SOC-sequestered CO2 and non-CO2 GHG emissions for developing effective agricultural climate change mitigation measures.

Urbanization, Energy Consumption and Environmental Quality in Asian Countries

The rate of urbanization has enhanced around the globe. By moving the production from less to more energy-intensive sources, increasing the rate of urbanization leads to more energy consumption. The major threat to the environment of the world is the increasing rate of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The main purpose of this study is to elaborate on the relationship between urbanization, energy consumption, and CO2 emission in Asian countries. In this study, CO2 is used as a dependent variable while urban population, population density, renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, GDP per capita growth, the square of GDP per capita growth, and trade are used as the independent variables. We have obtained data from 1980 to 2020 from 32 Asian countries. Data have been taken from the sources of the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and World Development Indicators (WDI). We have used the panel ARDL technique for the long-run and short-run estimation of variables. The findings of this study reveal that non-renewable energy has a positive but insignificant whereas per capita GDP growth, urban population, population density, and trade have a positive effect; and per capita square of GDP growth and renewable energy consumption has a negative and significant effect on CO2 emission. The findings of Granger causality show that there is uni-variate causality running from non-renewable energy consumption towards CO2 emission and from urban population to renewable energy. There is bi-variate causality running from renewable energy to CO2, non-renewable to renewable energy consumption, and from urban population to non-renewable energy consumption. There is no causality exists between the urban population and CO2 emission. This study suggests that the Government may adopt more energy conservation policies to reduce CO2 emissions. The government may suggest using the public transportation system rather than the private transportation system to mitigate CO2 emissions.

An Agrigenomics Trifecta: Greenhouse Gas Drawdown, Food Security, and New Drugs.

An abundance of data, including decades of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rates, atmospheric concentrations, and global average temperatures, is sufficient to allow a strictly empirical evaluation of the U.S. plan for controlling GHGs. This article presents an analysis, based solely on such data, that shows that the difference between atmospheric GHG levels that will be reached if current trends continue, and levels that would be achieved if the goals of the plan are met-even with worldwide implementation-is inconsequential. Further, the expected globally averaged temperature differences are well within measurement error. The results lend additional support to the argument that any mitigation strategy must include drawdown of atmospheric GHGs. Equally important, a particular drawdown strategy, agrigenomics, offers the opportunity for a revolutionary trifecta: climate change mitigation, food security, and medical advances.

Wind Data Assessment for Wind Power Production with a View to Reducing the Rate of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the City of Abéché, Chad

Wind Data Assessment for Wind Power Production with a View to Reducing the Rate of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the City of Abéché, Chad

Investigating greenhouse gas dispersions and energy consumptive in tea cultivation

Abstract: The study aimed to uncloak use efficiency of energy and greenhouse gas dispersions in tea cultivation. The study was performed in Rize Province of Türkiye in 2021. In the study, the energy input-output, specific energy, net energy, energy productivity, energy efficiency, types of energy input; greenhouse gas emission, and greenhouse gas emission rates were calculated. A proportional sample survey was used to assess the number of enterprises to be studied for survey and data studies, and face-to-face interviews were held in 2021 with 103 enterprises that could be reached. In the study, energy input was 25686.59 MJha-1, output of energy as 10633.04 MJha-1, efficiency of energy as 0.41, specific energy as 1.93 MJkg-1, productivity of energy as 0.52 kgMJ-1, net energy as -15053.55 MJha-1. 48.72% of all the inputs used in production consisted of human labor energy by 12513.35 MJha-1, 34.40% consisted of the energy of chemical fertilizers by 8835.67 MJha-1, 10.02% consisted of diesel fuel by 2573.37 MJha-1, 4.41% consisted of electricity by 1134 MJha-1, 2.22% consisted of machinery by 570.40 MJha-1 and 0.23% consisted of transportation by 59.81 MJha-1. 63.15% (16220 MJha-1) of the inputs consisted of direct 36.85% (9465.88 MJha-1) and consisted of indirect energy, 48.72% (12513.35 MJha-1) consisted of renewable energy and 51.28% (13173.24 MJha-1) consisted of non-renewable energy. Total greenhouse gas dispersion and greenhouse gas dispersion ratio have been respectively calculated as 551.82 kgCO2-eqha-1 and 0.04 kgCO2-eqkg-1.&#x0D; Keywords: Energy consumption; GHG dispersion; GHG ratio; Tea; Türkiye

CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from dredged material exposed to drying and zeolite addition under field and laboratory conditions

Dredging, the removal of sediment from water courses, is generally conducted to maintain their navigability and to improve water quality. Recent studies indicate that dredging can significantly reduce aquatic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These studies, however, do not consider the potential emission from the dredged material (sludge) in the depot. In addition, it is unknown if and how GHG emissions from sludge depots can be reduced. Here we present spatiotemporal variations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes, as well as environmental variables from a sludge depot located in the Netherlands. Measurements were conducted monthly from the time the depot was filled until the sludge was dry and the depot was abolished. We also experimentally assessed the GHG mitigation potential of 1) keeping the sludge permanently inundated, and 2) the addition of different amounts of zeolite to increase sludge nitrogen binding capacity to reduce N2O emissions. In the depot and in the laboratory, a decrease in moisture content coincided with increased CO2 and N2O emissions while CH4 emissions decreased. We observed that permanent inundation reduced emissions (∼4 times less CO2-eq than in drying sludge). Adding zeolite lowered N2O fluxes from permanently inundated sludge but did not reduce total GHG emissions. During the depot's operational period, average CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes were 5078, 27, and 5 mg m−2 d−1, respectively. GHG emissions from drying sludge occurred mainly in the form of CO2 (73% of the total CO2-eq emissions), with average GHG emission rates comparable to those reported for ditches and ponds. We estimate that approximately 14 tons of CO2-eq were emitted from the 0.011 km2 depot, which contained ∼20,000 m3 of sludge, during its entire operational period, and we argue that more studies are needed, considering different sludge origins, to expand our understanding of sludge depots.

Carbon and Energy Life Cycle Analysis of Wind Energy Industry in Libya

By analyzing a wide range of energy, economic, and environmental variables for a variety of attractive locations in Libya, the study established the fundamentals of localizing the wind energy business in Libya. The estimate of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission factor resulting from the conversion of wind energy into electric energy also includes the quantity of GHG emissions from cement manufacturing and transportation, as well as manufacturing (for various wind turbine manufacturers), sea transportation of wind energy equipment from the site of manufacture to the port of Tripoli, land transportation to the location of the wind energy farm, and calculating the energy and emissions used for recycling recyclable materials and for transportation. Hourly climate data over a 25-year period (1995-2020) were gathered from the SolarGis climate information portal. For many viable wind energy production locations in Libya, the System Advisor Model (SAM) software was used to calculate the productivity of wind farms with a 100 MW capacity. The study's findings showed that the Gamesa turbine, whose capital cost was around (146,916,400 dollars), had the best economic and environmental indices. The GHG emission rates for all the cities that were targeted ranged from 24-63g GHG/kWh. The time needed for carbon to recover ranged from 5.5 to 14.5 months. The expected energy payback time was 14 to 22 months. An LCOE's production costs ranged from 4.8 to 11.1 cents per kWh.

Strategies to Prevent and Delay Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: A Pathway to Sustainability and Green Nephrology

Chronic kidney disease prevalence is increasing worldwide and is responsible for important morbidity, mortality and poor quality of life. Progression to end stage renal disease leads to major sustainability burden with high consumption of human and material resources. Hemodialysis particularly is associated with high rates of water consumption, waste production and greenhouse gas emissions. The nephrology community is gaining environmental awareness and several international societies are creating specific groups focusing on green nephrology. The first concerns are centered in the impact of hemodialysis, but it is unanimous that chronic kidney disease prevention and delayed progression are the most important measures to sustainability. New drug classes such as SGLT-2 inhibitors, selective mineralocorticoid receptors antagonists and GLP-1 analogues are revolutionizing the treatment of proteinuric and non-proteinuric chronic kidney disease. Large randomized clinical trials have proved strong and sustained benefits in renal and cardiovascular outcomes, and these drugs are now first and second-line therapy for the treatment of diabetic and non-diabetic kidney disease. In this mini-review article we explore the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, its environmental impact and resume the major strategies to prevent and delay its progression, including recent evidence on pharmacotherapy. Implementing prevention strategies and adopting environmentally-friendly practices, is the key to a better patient care and a greener nephrology.

Health care provider and hospital decision-maker perceptions and beliefs on global environmental sustainability in the operating room.

e18832 Background: Human health is intrinsically linked to the environment’s health; therefore, it is essential for the surgical oncology community, healthcare providers (HCPs) and hospital leadership alike, to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices, while continuing to provide high quality care. Hospital operating rooms (ORs) have a serious environmental impact due to a high rate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, medical waste generation, and energy consumption. An evidence-based understanding of the environmental impact of ORs, as well as sustainability initiatives undertaken to decrease this impact, are crucial for generating and implementing appropriate policies and guidelines. This systematic literature review (SLR) aimed to determine the perceptions and beliefs of HCPs and decision-makers related to environmental sustainability in OR settings globally. Methods: An SLR was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Embase and PubMed searches were conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 2011 and November 2022. Results: The analysis incorporated thirty-four studies focused on the perceptions and beliefs of OR HCPs and decision-makers on sustainability initiatives. The majority of HCPs across all studies indicated a willingness to engage in these sustainability initiatives such as recycling, while noting frequent barriers that prevent participation, such as lack of awareness and education, hospital funding, facilities to carry out recycling processes, and guidance at the hospital level. One study noted that robotic and laparoscopic procedures, when compared to open procedures, generate greater quantities of waste and GHG emissions. In a survey of 400 anesthesiologists, the lack of support from the hospital and inadequate education were identified as the main barriers to OR recycling by more than 60% of respondents. Common sustainability initiatives suggested by HCPs included creating a sustainability steering committee, reducing overall OR waste via recycling and waste segregation, education and training dedicated to environmental sustainability and enforcement of rules and mandates for sustainability initiatives. Conclusions: HCPs are aware of potential opportunities to make ORs more environmentally sustainable and HCPs are willing, but not necessarily able, to participate in these efforts. Existing literature shows that HCPs have suggestions for how to minimize the environmental impact of the OR. Oncologists interested in adopting more sustainable practices can use this research as a guide for key themes and barriers to acknowledge when designing and implementing their own initiatives. More research is needed on the implementation and impact of sustainability initiatives on the environment.