Source Of Environmental Degradation Research Articles

Stylistic/Textual Analysis of Narrative Techniques in Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s a Grain of Wheat

In A Grain of Wheat, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o demonstrates his mastery of language for both narration and description. In the plot, while telling the story, he provides a vivid description of the social and natural settings in which the action is taking place. He adopts the use of omniscient narrator technique as an objective technique that makes it possible to probe the innermost depths of the characters and determine their psychological and emotional states, especially in the protest against the whiteman’s domination of the land. Occasionally, he attempts to illustrate the ongoing action with a corresponding visual symbolism or external imagery starting from the title of the novel – A Grain of Wheat and the character – Kihika respectively. This paper examines stylistic/textual analysis of narrative techniques of Ngugi’s style of narrative in A Grain of Wheat. The purpose of this study is to analyse the colonial influences on the Kenyan environment using the post-colonial theory and employing the qualitative method to gather data as regards the use of narrative techniques in the novel. The findings are that the source of environmental degradation and marginalisation of the natives in the novel warranted the use of narrative techniques, especially symbolism and visual imagery as indicated and perfected by the author in A Grain of Wheat. His use of flashback techniques is to give the reader insight into the life and activities in Kenya. Therefore, this paper recommends the use of narrative techniques by authors as part of the thematic expressions of their works.

Market size asymmetry and strategic environmental policy in a Cournot model

The achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to the environment requires identifying new sources of environmental degradation. This paper analyzes how market size asymmetry affects government decisions on environmental policy in the context of bilateral international trade and imperfect competition. We model an international duopoly with market size asymmetry and product heterogeneity. Each firm produces two different products, one for the domestic and one for the foreign markets, where the firms' production generates local emissions. When planning policies, the government in each country must choose between two options: an emission tax or a production subsidy. The findings of our paper underline the crucial role of market size asymmetry in determining the non-cooperative equilibrium policy in a setting where both firms and governments act strategically. We find that an increase in market size asymmetry between countries encourages governments to shift from emission taxes to production subsidies. Therefore, the environmental policy must consider these aspects to achieve greater effectiveness of regulation in favor of the environment. Actions to mitigate increased pollution should regulate production subsidies and improve the practices of governments and companies.

RETRACTED: Is the interaction of commercial regulation with foreign direct investment a source of Heaven or EKC hypothesis? An empirical investigation of the BRICS region

It is generally agreed that the quality of institutions, the amount of energy consumed, and foreign direct investment are among the essential factors in sustainable development. On the other hand, these aspects are just as critical as the others when determining what causes environmental deterioration and how the climate changes globally. This research used the dataset of the BRICS countries, which are classified as emerging nations, intending to determine the nature of the relationship between foreign direct investment and institutional quality in terms of an interaction term, in addition to other independent variables and environmental quality. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not a Pollution Heaven or Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) exists in the BRICS countries. To accomplish this objective, the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) technique of econometrics was utilized to estimate a 21-year dataset between 2000 and 2020. The Pollution Heaven theory was shown to be true after empirical research was conducted on the BRICS economies. In these economies, this finding verified the expansion of foreign direct investment and the proliferation of business rules were sources of environmental degradation. In addition, no evidence was discovered to support the presence of the EKC theory in any of the BRICS countries or areas. Based on these empirical outcomes, this research suggested that the introduction of appropriate commercial laws is required to translate the benefits of foreign direct investment into environmentally sustainable development.

Foreign Aid and Tourism Induced Electricity Consumption in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of foreign aid and tourism in inducing electricity consumption in a tourism and a foreign aid dependent Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for the period 1977-2017. Applying the Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) approach to cointegration, we found that both foreign aid and tourism positively and significantly induce electricity consumption. Our results are robust to the Canonical Cointegrating Regression (CCR), the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and the dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) long-run tests. We also found bidirectional causality between foreign aid and electricity consumption while unidirectional causality from tourism to electricity consumption. Both foreign aid and tourism induce electricity consumption indicating that they are both important sources of the growth of electricity consumption. However, since energy consumption is the main source of environmental degradation, the TRNC should develop an energy strategy that promotes environmental sustainability.

Comparison of the Health Cost of Organic and Conventional Vegetable Cultivation in Getasan Sub-district, Semarang, Indonesia

Environmental damage will disrupt the ecosystem to support life. Unsustainable agriculture can be a source of environmental degradation. Conventional agriculture may have an effect on the environment, thus the participation of various parties in sustainable agriculture is needed. Organic agriculture is developed as an environmentally friendly agricultural cultivation with many benefits. Compared to the attention on occupational health, safety and environmental problems, economic motives receive less attention. This study aims to calculate the costs arising from the health impacts of vegetable cultivation. There were 314 respondents interviewed in this study. There were significant differences in the sickness complaints felt by respondents; organic farmer groups have the potential to incur health costs of Rp. 30,333.33, while the conventional group is higher, with a cost of Rp. 103.303.57 (US$ 7.38). Organic farming has a better impact because it uses natural ingredients and is not bad for health. The potential losses arising from health cases also show a high and significant number (p <0.001).

Environmental Impact of the Shadow Economy, Globalisation, Trade and Market Size: Evidence Using Linear and Non-Linear Methods

The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to the environment requires identifying new sources of environmental degradation. In this research, we examine the impact of the underground economy on polluting gas emissions. This relationship was estimated, including the role of globalization, trade, and market size. Using annual data from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, we found that, in the short term, the underground economy had a negative effect on global environmental pollution and a long-term negative impact. In the long term, the cointegration results indicate a long-term relationship between the series included in the investigation. The existence of a long-term relationship between the variables implies that as the underground economy increases, the emissions of polluting gases also change. In the long term, policymakers can use the black economy as an instrument to influence environmental pollution. Likewise, we found a threshold effect in the index of globalization, trade, and market size. The existence of a threshold effect implies that from a threshold, the impact of globalization, trade, and the size of the market on polluting emissions is more significant. Therefore, the environmental policy must consider these aspects to achieve greater effectiveness of regulation in favor of the environment. The results were stable, including the dependence of the cross-sections and the heterogeneity in the slope of the panel. Actions to mitigate polluting gas emissions should regulate informal and clandestine activities and take advantage of globalization and trade to improve the practices of companies and individuals.

Economic growth, fiscal imbalance, and environmental sustainability: What is desirable and undesirable for developing economies?

Developing economies are suffering to fulfill the sustainable environment's commitments in fiscal imbalance. This study attempted to highlight the core issue of fiscal imbalance in developing economies and its impact on a sustainable environment. For this purpose, the study utilized generalized least squares (GLS) and quantile autoregressive distributive lag (QARDL) on a 19-year dataset (2000-2018) of the South Asian region. The results of GLS indicate that fiscal imbalance contributing positively to South Asia's environmental degradation process. Here, energy consumption (due to dirty sources of energy) and energy intensity (due to inefficient energy conversion technology) are also sources of environmental degradation in this region. The results of QARDL confirm that economic and political fluctuations can be the long-run source of fiscal imbalance in this region, which ultimately slows down the process of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory and contributes positively to environmental degradation. Based on the empirical analysis, this study provides a comprehensive set of policy guidance for developing and developed economies for the smooth transition of sustainable environmental conditions in South Asia.

Urbanization and the Consumption of Fossil Energy Sources in the Emerging Southeast Asian Countries

Fossil energy consumption is considered a source of environmental degradation. While the demand for fossil energy increases during the process of urbanization, different nations rely upon different sources of fossil energy. As such, a one-size-fits-all approach in reducing the consumption of fossil fuels to improve the quality of the environment is neither logical, nor practical. This study investigates the short-term and long-term effects of urbanization in relation to fossil energy consumption from coal, gas and oil. The auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) is employed on the sample of five emerging ASEAN nations in the 1985–2018 period. The findings reveal that that urbanization in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand appears to be associated with an increase in coal consumption in the short run. In Vietnam, gas consumption will increase with urbanization. However, in the long run, urbanization in Thailand and Vietnam is linked to an increase in oil consumption. Urbanization in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines leads to the reduction of coal consumption in the long run. Policy implications have emerged based on the findings of this study.

Digitalization and the greening of supply chains

PurposeThis study provides a reflective overview on the role of traditional and emergent digitalization and information technologies for leveraging environmental supply chain sustainability – while reflecting on potential trade-offs and conflicts of digitalization and greening.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use relevant literature and literature from Industrial Management and Data Systems (IMDS) research published in this journal over the past 50 years. They also use their knowledge and over 30 years of research experience in the field to provide professional scholarly reflections and perspective.FindingsThe authors provide a focused and succinct evaluation for research directions. A pressures, practices and performance framework sets the stage for pertinent research questions and theoretical needs to investigate the nexus of digitalization and green supply chain management. The authors provide two frameworks with exemplary practices and research for traditional and emergent digitalization and information technology. Their reflection concludes with a summary and steps forward.Social implicationsThe authors show how research and practice can be used to affect supply chain greening with digitalization and information technology. They observe that care should be taken given that these technologies can paradoxically simultaneously offer solutions to environmental degradation and potentially be a source of environmental degradation across the supply chain.Originality/valueThis work provides a summary and unique perspective that links traditional and emergent digitalization technology to green and environmental sustainability work. The area has not seen a clear summary and path forward and shows how IMDS literature has contributed to the field for decades.

The role of fixed capital formation, renewable and non-renewable energy in economic growth and carbon emission: a case study of Belt and Road Initiative project.

Economic integration in the form of Belt and Road Initiative project opens many opportunities and hazards, especially of the participating nations' environment. The current study attempted to empirically test the economic and energy usage (renewable and non-renewable) impact on some selected countries of belt and road projects. For this purpose, the panel data set of twenty-four emerging economies of belt and road projects was selected from 1995 to 2014. The autoregressive distributed lags technique of econometric applied to determine the effect of renewable and non-renewable energy, GDP and GDP2 for EKC, and gross fixed capital formation on carbon emission in the selected countries of Belt and Road Initiative project. The outcomes of this study confirm the existence of EKC in these underlined countries. Here, fossil fuel-based energy consumption is a source of environmental degradation, while renewable and clean energy usage can help sustain environmental conditions without affecting economic growth progress. Capital fixed formation in these economies can enhance economic growth and help to sustainable environmental conditions in the belt and road countries. Thus, based on these empirical outcomes, this study suggests economic and financial assistance in green renewable energy sources and clean technological innovation to enhance economic benefits of Belt and Road Initiative project without compromising the environmental conditions of the region.

Environmental sustainability of an ecosystem by biotemplated nano Titania

Environmental sustainability apart from spoken at different levels need to investigate the management of industrial activities in terms of eco friendliness. It is well known that an effluent from various industries becomes a major source of environmental degradation in particular water pollution. Thus water analysis report turns to be more significant, to determine the quality and standard of life maintained in a typical ecosystem. This study includes the analysis of physico-chemical factors of raw as well as treated water samples from Korattur Lake employing nano sized adsorbents like titania with tuned structural and morphological properties through organic plant extract. The XRD analysis, BET analysis, DRS-UV analysis, SEM and TEM analysis have been carried out and reported. The usual indicators of contamination level at a given source namely Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chloride, Nitrate and Phosphate contents etc. were used to ascertain the efficiency of contaminants removal using tea leaf extract mediated nano titania. The reliability factor of the treatment process was found to be less than 1, revealed the effectiveness and reliability of nano material.

Status of Mangrove Ecosystems in Selected Coastal Municipalities in Zambales, Philippines

Eleven (11) species of true mangroves species were observed in selected study sites of Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc and Palauig, Zambales. All the mangrove species belong to Division Tracheophyta and Class Magnoliopsida except for Nypa fruticans which is under Class Liliopsida. The mangrove species are under 8 orders, 9 families and 10 genera. Results revealed that Rhizophora mucronata dominated all study sites. The mangrove ecosystems of the four selected municipalities in Zambales exhibited very low diversity. All the species of mangrove observed were evaluated as Least Concerned (LC) species except for Aegiceras floridum which is in the Near Threatened (NT) category. All the mangroves observed in selected study sites in Zambales were in decreasing population trend except for Nypa fruticans. The condition of the mangrove ecosystems in Palauig is excellent due to the excellent crown cover and regeneration of the mangrove trees and undisturbed condition of the mangrove trees. Furthermore, the mangroves conditions in the municipalities of Sta. Cruz and Masinloc are good while in Candelaria is with fair condition. The sources of environmental degradation that could affect the mangrove ecosystems are sedimentation/siltation, quarrying, dynamite fishing, mine tailings, soil erosion, environmental aesthetic degradation, eutrophication, oil spill, mine drainage pollution, solid wastes and tourism. Keywords : Mangrove ecosystems, Conservation Status, Diversity Index, Importance Value Index, environmental degradation

Урбоэкологическая концепция пространственного развития России: возможности реализации

The article considers several relevant questions: will the period of population concentration in large cities and metropolises, which are the main resource - energy consumers and sources of environmental degradation, eventually come to end? What should the new cities be like and what should be done with the old ones which were built on the basis of the consumption growth ideology and unregulated spatial expansion? Is there any way for existing cities to evolve into new forms? The urban ecology concept is presented in regard to Russia, and its implementation perspectives under the current crisis conditions are discussed.

Biotemplate Assisted Nano Titania and Its Environmental Performance

Environmental sustainability apart from spoken at different levels needs to investigate the management of industrial activities in terms of eco-friendliness. It is well known that effluents from various industries become a major source of environmental degradation in particular water pollution. Thus water analysis report turns to be more significant, to determine the quality and standard of life maintained in a typical ecosystem. This study includes the analysis of physico-chemical factors of raw as well as treated water samples from Korattur Lake employing nano sized adsorbents like titania with tuned structural and morphological properties through organic plant extract. The XRD analysis, BET analysis, DRS-UV analysis, SEM and TEM analysis have been carried out and reported. The marked influence of leaf extract as a template is reflected in reduced crystallite size (12.4 nm) with maximum surface area 105 m2/g along with bathochromic shift of absorption edge. The usual indicators of contamination level at a given source namely Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD-85%), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD-94.5%), Dissolved Oxygen (88%), Total Suspended Solids (TSS-75.6%), Electrical Conductivity (74.5%), Chloride (89%), Nitrate and Phosphate contents etc. were used to ascertain the efficiency of contaminants removal using tea leaf extract mediated nano titania. The reliability factor of the treatment process was found to be less than 1, revealed the effectiveness and reliability of nano material.

Spatiotemporal effects of wastewater ponds from a geoenvironmental perspective in the Kharga region, Egypt

One of the major geoenvironmental problems in the Kharga region arises from the haphazard exploitation of groundwater resources and sewage dumping, which have resulted in wastewater accumulation in the form of ponds. The impact of the spatial expansion of wastewater ponds in Kharga and the surrounding area has been so pervasive that ponds have become a source of environmental degradation. These ponds are distributed throughout the area, but the major lakes are located in the eastern and southeastern provinces. The water levels of these ponds are rising at a remarkable rate, especially in the winter, when there is no evaporation and rainfall can lead to overflows that flow towards cities, villages and farmlands. As a result of untreated sewage inflows, all the low surrounding spaces are at high risk of being influenced by these ponds. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the spatiotemporal threats posed by wastewater ponds and develop a conceptual model to estimate the geoenvironmental impacts on the surrounding areas. GIS and remote sensing were used to process all available geological, topographical, hydrogeological, hydrological, land use and environmental data. The pond expansion trend was estimated from Landsat time series from 1984 to 2018, and the results indicated that the wastewater bodies continuously increased and the land cover percentage decreased. The encroachment of wastewater ponds has resulted in extensive land cover disturbances in recent years, and land use change has affected nearly 2.5% of the region. The complexity of the problems associated with wastewater ponds in the Kharga district requires a comprehensive management plan that is effective in not only maintaining the stability of the ponds but also in improving the sociocultural and economic conditions around the ponds. Specifically, the wastewater drainage and accumulation system should be managed according to the surrounding functional context.

Fossil fuels, foreign direct investment, and economic growth have triggered CO2 emissions in emerging Asian economies: Some empirical evidence

The present study examines the long-run and short-run impacts of fossil fuels consumption, foreign direct investment and economic growth on carbon emissions in fifteen developing Asian countries. Our empirical evidence analyses panel data for the period from 1990 to 2013, and it applies an Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) model. Our results show that in these developing economies, the efforts to foster economic growth are contributing to the generation of CO2 emissions, and that fossil fuels consumption is contributing to carbon emissions and to the deterioration of the environment at the regional level. Moreover, the empirical results spotlight that foreign direct investment is a source of environmental degradation that increases carbon emissions at the domestic level, confirming the Pollution Haven hypothesis. Furthermore, our data confirms the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in these developing Asian countries. Finally, our study suggests that reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and fostering an environmentally friendly economic growth strategy in these developing countries will prove helpful for the well-being of this part of the developing world.

Land Use Growth Simulation and Optimization for Achieving a Sustainable Urban Form

Urban areas have been perceived as the source of environmental problems. To avoid improper land use allocation, negative sprawl effects, and other sources of environmental degradation, city planners need tools for simulating and optimizing their proposed plans. This study proposed a “what-if” analysis model that could help the planners in assessing and simulating their urban plans in Bekasi City, Indonesia. As part of Jakarta Metropolitan Area which exhibited a “post-suburbanization” phenomenon, this city faces many problems because of its high urban growth. Since the urban area has higher land use density than the rural area, especially on built-up class, it needs more consideration when allocating this kind of land use. Because each type of built-up class influences another type, it is difficult to allocate manually. Therefore, this study proposed a land-use optimization application to help planners finding the appropriate land use. This study showed that a model with simulation and optimization can be used to handle urban growth.

Impact of mining on macroinvertebrate species richness in mountain streams

Mining is a major source of environmental degradation in mountains. To assess the negative impact of mining on aquatic ecosystems, the bottom communities of a small mountain Breksа river (South-Western Altai), which receives drainage water from the mining enterprises, were investigated. Macroinvertebrate samples were taken monthly from April to October 2005-2010 at the background site and the impact zone of Breksa river. A significant decrease in macroinvertebrate species richness was found in the impact zone as compared to the background site. Each sample upstream from the impact zone contained 18±1.5 macroinvertebrate species, while downstream – only 6.5±0.6 species. The species richness correlated negatively with the content of suspended substances in water (r=-0.32) and the concentration of heavy metals (r=-0.69). Changes in the composition of the most frequent species caused by pollution are revealed. The most sensitive and resistant to pollution macroinvertebrates are presented. The most sensitive to pollution are mayflies Epeorus pellucidus, Neoleptophlebia chocolatа, caddisflies Hydropsyche newae, Brachycentrus americanus, Dicosmoecus palatus, Glossosoma altaicum, and crustaceans Gammarus korbuensis. The most resistant are chironomids larvae. The data obtained prove the necessity of regional modifications of widespread European methods of water quality bioindication.

Use of performance indicators to assess the solid waste management of health services.

Modern society faces serious challenges, among them, the complexity of environmental problems. Thus, there are several possible sources of environmental degradation, however, the waste produced by health services have an important peculiarity due to its toxic or pathogenic characteristics, since when managed improperly provide also health risk public. The involvement of solid waste from healthcare services environmental impact integrates matters a little more complex, because in addition to environmental health, they also interfere with the healthiness of environments that generate, with the consequences of nosocomial infections, occupational health and public. Thus, the management has become an urgent need, especially when we see no use of performance indicators management in healthcare environments in the city of São Mateus, ES. For this, we used the Analytic Hierarchy Process Method to prioritize such indicators as the potential improvement in health services waste management process - WHS and thus environmental analysis was performed with the use of a template for SWOT analysis. The results showed that the performance indicator training strategies developed with employees has the greatest potential to assist in improvements in WHS (Health Services Waste) management process followed indicator knowledge of the regulations associated with procedures performed by employees and importance of biosafety regulations.

Environmental Degradation and the Compromise of Transportation Networks in the Niger Delta.

The action of man in the process of producing material goods for his subsistence has caused serious alteration in the biodiversity as deleterious or hazardous substances are released into the environment. Man and his products move from one spot to the other by network of mobility which is described as transportation network. There are varied means of mobility, some faster than others and each is powered by oil and oil related products. Crude oil is found in large scale in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria; and the processes of production, transportation and utilisation have been compromised and there are observable avoidable accidents and sufferings; these are accounted for by way of hike in the cost of the powering agents, scarcity, pirates, conflicts and even militancy. With proper and quality education; and conscientising of people on the security of the environment and the means of movement, the officials whose duty it is to maintain standards will perform efficiently and effectively and the people on the other hand will cease to be channels through which the environment will be degraded. This is done by examining the role of the institutions that are charged with regulating transportation in the region; the causes and sources of environmental degradation are investigated. The Niger Delta environment is reviewed briefly so that the readers will understand the link between the environment, production process and the movement of finished goods, services and humans; and why the three elements should be handled carefully.