Environmental Issues Research Articles

Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregate with EPS Beads

The rising for natural aggregates in construction has caused resource exhaustion and environmental issues, prompting the search for sustainable options. This research explores the substitution of coarse aggregates with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) beads in concrete, with the goal of tackling issues related to aggregate shortages and the management of EPS waste. EPS beads, recognized for their light weight, thermal insulation capabilities, and moisture resistance, provide possible advantages for the creation of lightweight and environmentally friendly concrete. The study assesses how different volumes of EPS beads as a replacement impact the physical and mechanical characteristics of concrete, such as density, workability, compressive strength, and durability. Experimental findings indicate that raising the EPS bead content decreases the self-weight of concrete and improves thermal insulation, although it negatively affects compressive strength. An optimal replacement ratio achieves a balance between structural performance and sustainability, rendering EPS-concrete appropriate for non-load-bearing structures, lightweight construction, and thermal insulation uses. The Compressive strength of 5%, 10% EPS based concretes compared to control concrete.This research shows the viability of utilizing EPS beads as a partial substitute for coarse aggregates, promoting sustainable construction methods and lessening environmental effects. The results offer important perspectives on the mix design and real-world uses of EPS-concrete, promoting its use as an eco-friendly option in the construction sector. KEYWORDS: Exhaustion, workability, expanded polystyrene, durability, thermal insulation.

Qualitative modeling of factors affecting auditor’s judgment and decision-making

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a qualitative model in the field of factors affecting auditors’ judgment and decision-making. The current research follows a descriptive survey method. Design/methodology/approach A survey method was used to conduct this research, with a questionnaire as the primary tool. The statistical population consists of auditors with extensive knowledge and opinions on the research problem and its theoretical foundations. A sample of eight auditors was selected using the snowball sampling method. Findings The research results indicated that factors influencing auditors’ judgment and decision-making include reviewing audit reports from past periods, the knowledge and expertise of audit partners, input from the audit team, understanding social, cultural, political and economic environmental issues, auditor independence, technical and specialized skills of auditors, increasing experience, knowledge of business owners’ activities, rising audit fees and inhibiting forces in auditors’ judgment and decision-making. These inhibiting forces include lack of client knowledge, emotions, mental states, ethical considerations, business unit ownership structure, complexity of reviewed unit activities, state-owned business unit ownership, lack of understanding of employer activities and lack of expertise in the employer’s industry. Practical implications The model presented in this research aids in enhancing and refining the judgment and decision-making of independent auditors, resulting in more favorable financial reports for report users. Additionally, the theory developed through this research method can lead to the formulation of hypotheses that future researchers can test. Originality/value Auditor judgment is a vital aspect of independent audits, emphasized in auditing standards and professional codes of conduct.

A short review of the sustainable utilization of coal gangue in environmental applications.

The production of coal gangue, a by-product of coal mining and washing, is rapidly increasing due to growing energy consumption. As the accumulated coal gangue has not been appropriately utilized, this has resulted in a squander of resources, waste disposal problems, and environmental pollution issues. However, coal gangue, a form of solid waste, exhibits various potential applications in the field of recycling. Currently, the processing capacity and utilization rate of coal gangue are insufficient to meet the demands of global low-carbon environmental protection. As such, this paper provides a detailed overview of the physical and chemical properties of coal gangue and its resource utilization methods in the environmental field, particularly in soil remediation, soil reclamation, the preparation of adsorbents for heavy metals, dyes, and CO2, and as catalysts for organic degradation and catalytic cracking. This review highlights the significance of coal gangue classification according to its properties for the comprehensive utilization of gangue. Additionally, we briefly introduce and discuss suggestions for future directions of research and development in this area. Nevertheless, with regard to the environmental impact of secondary pollution and the efficiency of coal gangue utilization, there remain numerous obstacles that hinder future research. This review is expected to provide significant insights into the development of coal gangue utilization strategies, potentially facilitating the efficient and practical large-scale management of solid waste.

Is the Relationship between FDI and Environmental Degradation Nonlinear? Evidence from Tunisia and Morocco

This study attempts to examine the effect of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on environmental degradation in Tunisia and Morocco for the period 1980- 2022. The study uses the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) techniques to explore a possible non-linear relationship between FDI and environmental quality. The results of our empirical study show that FDI inflows increase environmental degradation in the long run in both of Tunisia and Morocco. This confirms the pollution heaven hypothesis. In addition, we find a non-linear relationship between FDI and environmental degradation and follows an inverted U-shape for the cases of Tunisia and Morocco. The causality results showed that there is an uni- directional causality runing from FDI to environmental degradation for the cases of Tunisia and Morocco. In terms of potential directions for the cases of Tunisia and Morocco. Future research, we strongly advise looking into government incentives and public policies related to environmental issues.

Church partnerships: A holistic approach to addressing social issues in South Africa

For South African communities to achieve substantive progress, the establishment of strategic partnerships is essential for effectively addressing their complex social challenges. Churches, given their profound community presence and moral authority, are urged to join forces with other societal sectors, particularly government and business, to promote comprehensive community development. This article examines the potential for church partnerships with these sectors, investigating how such alliances can foster sustainable and holistic transformation. Central questions driving this inquiry include: What distinct contributions do churches bring to community development partnerships? and how can these partnerships efficiently combine their resources to tackle social, economic, and environmental issues? By assessing the role of the church alongside governmental frameworks and business resources, this study underscores the importance of an integrated approach to development. The church’s involvement not only provides essential support to vulnerable groups but also contributes strategically to the long-term empowerment of communities. This article ultimately underscores the need for combined engagement, demonstrating how a unified approach can amplify the collective impact on social well-being and resilience within South Africa. By highlighting the theological and organisational identities of churches, alongside the distinct capital and power each entity holds, the article seeks to identify common grounds for cooperation, with a particular focus on the church’s capacity to exert positive, morally guided influence within these partnerships.Contribution: The article highlights the significance of a holistic approach that utilises the strengths of churches, businesses and the government to boost social development in South Africa, thereby contributing to community development pathways.

Basic sanitation evaluation model using Fuzzy Inference System

The debate on water supply and waste management is an economic and environmental issue that has been discussed since the earliest cities. Initially, sewage was dumped into rivers without treatment, but with scientific advances, new solutions have emerged. In Brazil, Law No. 11,445/2007 regulates basic sanitation, which includes water supply, sewage, solid waste management, and urban drainage. Investments in this area are essential for public health and sustainable development, but there are still many people without access to these services, which aggravates health problems and environmental degradation, according to UNICEF (2020). Technologies such as artificial intelligence and fuzzy inference systems have been applied to optimize the management of these services. This study developed a fuzzy inference model to assess the quality of basic sanitation services. The model analyzed indicators such as water supply, sewage, and waste management, using the fuzzy methodology to address uncertainties and generate more accurate diagnoses. The process included fuzzification of inputs, application of inference rules, and defuzzification to transform the results into interpretable data. The results demonstrated that fuzzy logic is effective in identifying critical points in sanitation, offering solutions to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The model is adaptable to different regional contexts, facilitating its application in other locations. With this tool, it was possible to direct corrective actions, contributing to the improvement of services and the universalization of sanitation. This supports the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to ensure universal and sustainable access to water and sanitation.

Mieszkanie treningowe jako forma aktywizacjispołeczno-zawodowej ucznia Specjalnego Ośrodka Szkolno-Wychowawczego w Siedlcach. Studium przypadku

The training apartment in Siedlce plays a crucial role in the socio-professional support process for students with challenging behaviors. Participants in the program, who struggle with emotional and social issues, have the opportunity to develop independent living skills. An example is a student who initially exhibited aggressive and oppositional behaviors, hindering his functioning at school and in peer relationships. Through regular vocational practices and daily activities in the training apartment, he gradually acquired the competencies necessary for independent everyday life. The program emphasized an individual therapeutic approach that considered the needs and capabilities of the student. These activities supported the development of social skills, improved self-esteem, and motivation for learning. Emotional support was a key element, allowing the student to better cope with stress and emotions. Over time, with the help of specialists, he began to form more positive relationships with others, and his behavior significantly improved. Simultaneously, collaboration with the family was crucial, contributing to a better understanding of the student's needs and issues in the home environment. Parents were engaged in the therapeutic process, which positively impacted family relationships. The training apartment became a safe space for the student to function and learn from his mistakes. The program contributed to increasing the participant's autonomy and decision-making abilities. As a result, he gained more confidence and belief in his capabilities. The training apartment not only prepared the student for future independence but also for better integration into society. Gradually, he engaged in various social activities, supporting his interpersonal development. In summary, the project at the Special Educational Center in Siedlce demonstrates the importance of an individualized approach and understanding the specific needs of students with challenging behaviors. Its effects are visible not only in changes in participants' attitudes but also in the improvement of their relationships with their surroundings. The training apartment is thus an effective tool supporting the socio-professional development of youth with problems.

Impact of Sand Mining on Bathymetry of the Meghna River

This study aims to evaluate the morphological changes of the lower Meghna River in Bhola district due to reckless sand mining from riverbeds. It has been done based on primary data collected from the field and secondary data, such as river bathymetry of 2006, 2012, and 2022 from BIWTA and Landsat Imageries of 2006, 2016, and 2023 from USGS Earth Explorer. The study demonstrates that extensive sand mining activities in the lower Meghna River significantly affect river bathymetry and accelerate riverbank erosion. Lower Meghna River experiences a higher erosion rate due to prolonged and intensive sand mining. The erosion rate increased significantly between 2020 and 2021, with the riverbed eroding at an accelerating rate, highlighting a critical situation in the region. However, FGD and case studies from the field show that the impact of sand mining is not only confined to river morphology change but many more ecological, socio-political, economic, environmental, and governance issues are also linked with sand mining activities. The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 13(1), 2024, P 21-28

WTO Legality Analysis of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and China's Response

Now that the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has entered into force and is entering a transition period, its compliance with WTO trade rules has been controversial. CBAM's differential treatment of goods from different origins based on their carbon content violates the GATT principle of non-discrimination and may result in WTO members being denied fair, just and equal treatment in international trade. CBAM is a tax on the carbon emissions of some specific imported goods, requiring high-carbon products imported into or exported from the EU to pay the corresponding amount of tax or refund the corresponding carbon emission quotas, thus affecting China's export trade. This study mainly utilizes literature research method and comparative research method. At the international level, analyze whether CBAM can meet the WTO legal requirements to construct international carbon tariff rules separately from the existing WTO rules, affecting the global environment and climate change issues. At the domestic level, the impact of CBAM on China's foreign trade is explored. China should adhere to multilateralism, strengthen international cooperation, continuously develop low-carbon technologies and improve the carbon trading market to cope with the impacts of CBAM. Thus, to the effect of safeguarding international interests and contributing to global development.

The Paths and Enlightenment for Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Chinas Megacities

The climate change problem has gradually become the focus of peoples attention. Climate change will lead to severe environmental issues, such as global warming and sea level rise. As a responsible country, China positively undertakes the responsibility to face current climate issues and comes up with feasible ideas to solve them. Consequently, China announces realizing carbon peak by 2030 and realizing carbon neutrality by 2060. Based on the rapid urbanization process, the emissions of cities are large, particularly in megacities. According to the research, construction, transportation, and energy fields contribute to higher carbon emissions in megacities. This paper employs a method of literature review and case study to analyze the path towards achieving carbon neutrality in China before 2060. Up to now, Chinas megacities have explored different paths to realize carbon emissions reduction in previous fields. Meanwhile, there are some experiences utilized by foreign megacities that are worth learning. In the future, Chinas megacities will find unique paths to realize carbon neutrality, such as regionally coordinated development.

Integrating Scenario Analysis and Participatory Modeling to Generate Plausible Future Narratives for Water Resources: A Case Study in the Middle Rio Grande River Basin

In addressing complex water management issues, participatory modeling (PM) and scenario analysis (SA) have emerged as pivotal tools for fostering stakeholder engagement, social learning, and collaborative decision-making. This study explores the efficacy of integrating PM and SA within a series of online workshops focused on the Middle Rio Grande River Basin. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, workshop transcripts, and participant outputs from workshop activities. Through these workshops, participants from diverse backgrounds engaged in collaborative scenario-building exercises, interactive discussions, and hands-on simulations using the SWIM 2.0 model, fostering shared learning and deeper insights into regional water challenges. Our findings highlight the importance of group-level activities in enhancing participants’ understanding, engagement, and trust in modeling tools, which can lead to more informed decision-making processes. The workshops demonstrated significant improvements in SA completion and a deeper connection between participants and policy discussions. However, challenges remain in bridging the gap between SA and active decision-making, particularly in contexts where participants do not perceive themselves as decision-makers. This study underscores the potential of participatory approaches to address complex environmental issues, while also identifying areas for further refinement to enhance stakeholder empowerment and tool usability in collaborative settings.

Assessing Operational Efficiency of Bubble Plumes for Water Circulation Enhancement

Bubble plumes are essential for promoting mass transfer, flow, and mixing in water bodies by generating vertical circulation via buoyancy forces. They are widely used in various applications, such as restoring water environments and improving the conditions at the bottom of lakes and reservoirs. For example, thermal stratification in lakes can lead to environmental issues such as the depletion of dissolved oxygen. To address this problem, bubble plume systems have been used to destratify lakes and reservoirs. However, few studies have been performed on the effectiveness of bubble plumes. In this study, the impact of a bubble plume in a dam reservoir was assessed using a numerical model based on high-resolution field measurements. Vertical profiles were obtained before and after the operation of the density-current generator to capture seasonal changes in the water characteristics. These measurements indicated the alteration of the vertical structure and mixing within the water column due to the bubble plume while stable temperatures were maintained at specific depths across seasons. Numerical simulations using large eddy simulations were conducted to analyze the dynamics and mixing efficiency of the bubble plume. The findings of this study provide valuable data for optimizing the design and operational strategies of bubble plume systems in lakes and reservoirs, which can increase the water mixing efficiency and support environmental management.

Millennials’ intentions to buy plant-based meat alternatives: insights for quick-service restaurants.

Rapid population growth, shifting consumption patterns, and environmental stresses are challenging food security, raising concerns about the global food system's ability to sustainably feed the projected 9.3 billion people by 2050. Additionally, the increasing demand for Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs) (also known as ‘fast-food chains’) intensifies environmental concerns. Their large-scale food production and factory farming practices contribute significantly to environmental degradation and animal welfare issues. In response to growing consumer awareness of environmental issues, QSRs have begun incorporating plant-based meat alternatives into their menus to align with sustainability objectives and appeal to eco-conscious consumers, particularly millennials. However, these alternatives face acceptance challenges due to perceptions of being highly processed and potentially containing genetically modified organisms. It is therefore essential to have a better understanding of the market’s purchasing intention to effectively market plant-based meat alternatives and advance QSRs’ sustainable practices.

Community-Engaged Research Projects in School Settings: Science Teachers’ Practices and Reflections

Community-engaged research (CER) is a justice-oriented research paradigm that emphasizes equitable and reciprocal knowledge co-production with community members and organizations, sharing power, benefits, contributions, and responsibilities among all participants. This study explores nine teachers’ cases of facilitating CER projects in their respective school settings, aimed to support students’ critical consciousness and action for environmental issues and injustices. This study contributes to educational research by adapting an existing framework for CER for environmental justice that can guide K-12 teaching and research on it. By analyzing data from teacher community meetings and individual interviews in the CER framework, this study articulates classroom practices that addressed the Distribution, Procedure, Recognition, and Transformation dimensions of CER, as well as the positive impacts and challenges of these implementations. The findings report teacher practices categorized by the CER dimensions they addressed (the what of the practices) and the instructional strategies they employed (the how of the practices). The findings also compare the frequency of these practices as an indicator of variation in teacher practices and illustrate this variation through three teachers’ CER cases. The findings also document the positive outcomes of CER in student empowerment, as well as the challenges related to time, resources, assessment, and stakeholder skepticism, underscoring the need for systemic support to enhance CER in school settings. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings and ways to address the identified challenges through future research and institutional efforts.

The Impact of Collaborative Governance on Cross-Regional Air Pollution Management: Evidence from China

Air pollution is a global environmental issue with significant cross-regional characteristics, requiring multi-regional collaboration and coordination for sustainable management outcomes. This study begins by defining the concept of cross-regional air pollution collaborative governance performance and constructing a multi-level analytical framework to comprehensively evaluate the relationship between governance inputs and outputs across regions. By employing the Super Efficiency SBM-ML Index and Tobit model, the study measures and compares the collaborative governance performance in the Yangtze River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions from 2016 to 2022. The results indicate that the Yangtze River Delta significantly outperforms the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with particularly strong collaboration observed between Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, while collaboration between Tianjin and Hebei remains relatively weak. The study further reveals that economic development levels and regional coordination capabilities have a significant positive impact on enhancing cross-regional governance performance. The superior performance of the Yangtze River Delta is closely linked to its advanced regional economy and early collaborative governance practices, while the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region faces challenges stemming from economic and technological imbalances among its cities. This study provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, including optimizing resource allocation, strengthening inter-regional policy collaboration, and promoting innovation in governance models to improve the overall efficiency of air pollution management and achieve sustainable air quality improvement.

Social representations of therapist self-care and well-being: a thematic analysis of peak body media

ABSTRACT Objective Therapist self-care supports their well-being and ability to support clients, making a culture of self-care driven by peak bodies of paramount importance. Limited research has examined how the issue of therapist self-care and well-being is depicted within these peak bodies. This study explored representations of therapist well-being and self-care in media articles from professional peak bodies to better understand how the issue is discussed. Method Drawing on Social Representation Theory, 53 media articles were selected from the websites of six peak bodies – the organisations providing professional guidance and advocacy for therapists – representing therapists (counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychologists) across Australia and Aotearoa, New Zealand, and were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were generated. Therapists in Exceptional Circumstances reflected well-being within broader systemic and environmental issues. Adversity as Commonplace revealed the prevalence of burnout depiction with overwhelming job demands. Client and Therapist Mutually Impacted highlighted the moral distress experienced by therapists reducing client contact as a form of self-care. Conclusions The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the therapy professions shows the need for positive representations of therapist well-being within peak body media. Open dialogues should address therapists’ moral distress while managing self-care, and peak bodies must take a more active role in promoting a culture of self-care.

ESG Tendencies From News Investigated by AI Trained by Human Intelligence

ABSTRACTWe create a large language model with high accuracy to investigate the relatedness between 12 environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics and more than 2 million news reports. The text match pre‐trained transformer (TMPT) with 138,843,049 parameters is built to probe whether and how much a news record is connected to a specific topic of interest. The TMPT, based on the transformer structure and a pre‐trained model, is an artificial intelligence model trained by more than 200,000 academic papers. The cross‐validation result reveals that the TMPT's accuracy is 85.73%, which is excellent in zero‐shot learning tasks. In addition, combined with sentiment analysis, our research monitors news attitudes and tones toward specific ESG topics daily from September 2021 to September 2023. The results indicate that the media is increasing discussion on social topics, while the news regarding environmental issues is reduced. Moreover, toward almost all topics, the attitudes are gradually becoming positive. Our research highlights the temporal shifts in public perception regarding 12 key ESG issues:ESG has been incrementally accepted by the public. These insights are invaluable for policymakers, corporate leaders, and communities as they navigate sustainable decision‐making.

The Methods and Practices of the Anglican Church of Uganda for Environmental Promotion and Protection

The study focuses on the methods and practices of the Anglican Church of Uganda for environmental promotion and protection. This research uses a qualitative approach with a literature study method. Primary sources enabled the study to generate firsthand information known as primary data. During the collection of data, the researcher used interviews, focus group discussions, and observation methods. Secondary data was collected through a major document review and analysis. From documents, the study generated secondary information that gave a broader perspective of the research questions and concepts for this study which was also cost-friendly. The results from the respondents confirmed that Christians are enabled to take their obligation seriously to promote and protect the environment. It was shown from the data obtained from the respondents that some of the Christians are regularly educated about environmental promotion and protection. The findings from the respondents suggested that the Anglican Theological Institutions of learning include environmental issues in their curricula. It was revealed by the respondents that a full week of reflection on stewardship of the environment annually was designated by the Anglican Christians of Uganda.

INTEGRATING GREEN EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF INDIA'S EDUCATIONAL APPROACH

This study delves into the integration of Green Education in India’s academic framework as a crucial mechanism for driving sustainable development. In the face of rapid industrialization and urban growth, environmental education is pivotal for fostering environmental awareness and cultivating sustainable practices among the youth. The research closely examines the implementation of initiatives like the National Green Corps and the Green Schools Programme, which aim to instil environmental consciousness and responsibility within the education system. Despite the promise of these initiatives, considerable challenges persist, including limited resources, insufficient curriculum alignment and inadequate teacher training, which collectively restrict the impact of green education efforts. To address these challenges, the study advocates for a comprehensive approach that includes reinforced policy support, creative teaching methodologies, strategic public-private partnerships and active community engagement. By fortifying these areas, India can better equip its younger generation to understand and tackle environmental issues, nurturing a sustainability-oriented mindset that is essential for the nation's long-term ecological health. This study aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4, underscoring the importance of inclusive, equitable and quality education for sustainable development. Through the enhancement of green education, India can prepare its students to contribute meaningfully to environmental resilience, creating a future where sustainable practices are ingrained across all levels of society.

Assessment of type and quantities of food and beverage plastic packaging: A case study.

Plastic pollution has been identified as one of the most pressing environmental issues of the 21st century, driven by excessive consumption and inadequate plastic waste management. This issue is particularly reflected in short lifespan of plastic products, particularly plastic packaging within the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Urgent and relevant policy actions are needed to promote plastic circularity and improve waste management practices. Developing countries such as Montenegro face significant challenges in managing plastic waste flows due to legal, institutional and infrastructural gaps. This research addresses these challenges by employing material flow analysis (MFA) and advanced techniques like artificial neural networks to estimate the quantities and types of plastic packaging used in the F&B sector in Montenegro. The findings reveal that over 21,300 tonnes of F&B plastic packaging were placed on the market in Montenegro in 2018. Approximately 11% of this amount ends up directly littered in the environment or dumpsites, whereas the remaining 89% is predominantly collected and deposited in controlled landfills. Detailed MFA models were developed separately for the eight most common polymer types used in the F&B sector, along with specific models for plastic bags and polyethene terephthalate bottles to explore closed-loop recycling systems. It was found that only a small fraction of all analysed types of plastic packaging placed on the market can be effectively treated and recycled. This research contributes to the understanding of plastic waste management in Montenegro and facilitates the formulation of effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution in the F&B industry.