Sustainable Management System Research Articles

Designing a sustainable municipal solid waste management system over multiple periods using extended exergy accounting method – a case study of Shanghai

Waste-to-energy technologies can significantly alter urban metabolism and sustainability. This article proposes a multicriteria analysis framework based on the extended exergy accounting method to assess and plan a sustainable municipal solid waste management system from urban metabolism perspective. This framework includes three components. Firstly, an accounting model that integrates material, energy, social, economic, and environmental criteria was developed to identify the contribution of municipal solid waste management system to urban sustainability and to decide whether it is sustainable. Then, a multiperiod municipal solid waste management system planning model was developed to provide the optimal strategy for waste-to-energy facilities deployment and municipal solid waste allocation for different periods. Finally, multidimensional indicators were proposed for a sustainability comparative analysis in overdeployment, pressure on urban ecosystem and urban resource conversion efficiency. The proposed method was applied to the case study of household solid waste management in Shanghai and two scenarios were considered. Our comparison showed that the hybrid scenario (in which various waste recycling technologies were applied together) theoretically performs significantly more sustainable than the incineration scenario in terms of material investment, emissions, economic performance, resource depletion, and recovery. Sensitivity analysis of three parameters—the maximum deployment number of each unit waste-to-energy facility ([Formula: see text]), the minimum utilization rate ([Formula: see text]), and the capacity budget ([Formula: see text])—were carried out. The proposed hybrid method was found to be sensitive to [Formula: see text], but less sensitive to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Lessons learnt can be used to plan similar waste-to-energy strategies in other countries.

Innovative Machine Learning Applications in Non-Revenue Water Management: Challenges and Future Solution

The escalating global concerns surrounding Non-Revenue Water (NRW) necessitate a paradigm shift in water management strategies, and innovative machine learning (ML) applications emerge as a transformative solution. This paper investigates the intersection of ML and NRW management, recognizing the pressing need to curb water losses due to leaks, theft, and inaccuracies. As water utilities grapple with the economic and environmental repercussions of NRW, this paper explores the potential of ML algorithms, such as predictive analytics to revolutionize traditional approaches. The discussion encompasses the intricate landscape of challenges, including data quality issues, model interpretability, and the inherent complexity of implementation. Recognizing the multidisciplinary nature of these challenges, the journal emphasizes the collaborative efforts required to harmonize technological innovation with practical implementation. As the world confronts the imperative to optimize water resources, this paper posits that innovative ML applications present a pivotal opportunity to not only enhance the accuracy and efficiency of NRW management but also to foster a more sustainable and resilient water infrastructure. Through a comprehensive grasp of challenges and a proactive pursuit of remedies, stakeholders can establish sustainable, resilient, and equitable water management systems. This paper acts as a valuable reference, providing a detailed discussion encompassing Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and specific states within Malaysia, with a specific focus on non-revenue water (NRW) systems.

Comprehensive characterization of unscientifically disposed municipal solid waste (MSW) in Kashmir Region, India.

Unscientific dumping of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a common practice in Kashmir. To have an environmentally friendly and sustainable waste management system, MSW was collected from nine study locations of this region. They were air-dried, then oven-dried at 105°C for 24h, segregated, and characterized for various components. The overall average organic waste was > 55%, plastic waste about 17%, inert material about 10%, paper 9%, and cloth waste 7%. The calorific value of paper and plastic wastes exhibited was 4910kcal/kg, while organic waste had a calorific value of 1980kcal/kg. The proximate analysis showed that the moisture content ranged from 16 to 29%, volatile matter ranged from 49 to 72%, ash content ranged from 0.03 to 5%, and fixed carbon ranged from 5 to 20%. In S7, the volatile matter content recorded the lowest value at 49.15%, while in S5, the volatile matter content was notably higher at 71.84%, indicating easier ignition. Further, elemental analysis revealed that the major elements in MSW were carbon and oxygen, 53% and 37%, respectively, with small traces of heavy metals with an average of 0.02% cadmium (Cd) and 0.006% lead (Pb). Moreover, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrographs provided confirmation that the majority of components in the MSW exhibited either partial or complete degradation, resulting in a rough surface texture. In addition, the presence of silica and other silicate groups was also detected. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed that the main functional groups were alcohol. In the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, all the major mineral phases were detected between 20 and 30° 2θ, except for the peaks at 50-60° 2θ in S3 and S9 where catalysts such as zeolite Y and zeolite X were detected. Overall, the MSW had low moisture content but higher calorific value, making it a viable feedstock.

A multiphase, multicentre development and validation of two maturity tools assessing the implementation of the FlaQuM co-creation roadmap.

As part of the new Flanders Quality Model (FlaQuM) towards sustainable quality management systems, a co-creation roadmap with 6 primary drivers and 19 building blocks that guides healthcare organizations has been developed. Currently, no assessment tool is available to monitor hospitals' quality management systems implementation according to this co-creation roadmap. Therefore, we aimed to measure the maturity of the implementation of the FlaQuM co-creation roadmap in hospitals. A three-phase approach in co-design with 19 hospitals started with defining the scope, followed by establishing content validity through a literature review, involvement of content experts (n = 47), 20 focus groups with content experts (n = 79), and a Delphi round with healthcare quality managers (n = 19) to test the content validity index. Construct validity was assessed by confirmatory factor analyses and convergent validity by Spearman's ρ correlation coefficients. Based on 17 included existing maturity instruments and subcomponents of content experts, two maturity tools were developed according to the implementation of the FlaQuM co-creation roadmap: (i) a maturity matrix with 52 subcomponents and (ii) a co-creation scan with 19 statements. The overall scale-content validity index varied between 93.3% and 90.0% in terms of relevance and clarity, respectively. In a sample of 119 healthcare professionals, factor analyses revealed a six-factor structure and 16 (84.2%) of the 19 hypothesis for testing convergent validity between both maturity tools were statistically significant. Measuring the implementation of the FlaQuM co-creation roadmap and monitoring its maturity over time should be feasible by using these comprehensive maturity tools in hospitals. Results of both tools should be able to describe the current state of hospitals' implementation of the co-creation roadmap as basis for strategic improvement plans and next steps.

Assessing Recharge Sources and Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Groundwater: A Hydrogeological and Multi-Isotopic Approach

One of the crucial challenges of our time is climate change. The consequences of rising sea levels and drought greatly impact water resources, potentially worsening seawater intrusion. Characterizing coastal aquifers is an essential step in devising strategies to address these phenomena. Seawater intrusion poses a critical socio-economic and environmental issue in the coastal plain of Muravera, southeastern Sardinia (Italy). This coastal plain is an important agricultural area in Sardinia, and the health of the crops is compromised by the increasing salinization of shallow groundwater. To enhance our understanding of the hydrogeological conceptual model, which is essential for a sustainable resource management system, hydrogeological investigations were conducted and complemented by the chemical and multi-isotopic analyses of groundwater. The main objectives of this study were to identify groundwater recharge areas, understand salinization mechanisms and trace the evolution of water chemistry. Within this framework, a monthly survey monitoring piezometric level and electrical conductivity was carried out for one year. This survey was integrated with chemical and isotope analyses, including δ18OH2O and δ2HH2O, δ11B, δ18OSO4, δ34SSO4, and 87Sr/86Sr. Hydrochemistry analysis results revealed the occurrence of seawater–freshwater mixing, extending up to 4 km inland. H2O isotope analysis confirmed the mixing processes and indicated the meteoric origin of recharge waters for both shallow and semi-confined aquifers. The strontium isotopes ratio facilitated the identification of four main groundwater flow paths, confirmed by the SIAR model. The results of this combined hydrogeological–geochemical–isotopic survey provide essential elements for the future implementation of an integrated and sustainable management system. These findings enable interventions to slow the process of seawater intrusion and meet the economic needs for the development of local communities.

A human-centric decision-support system for smart and sustainable tourism management in urban settings

ABSTRACT This paper presents a human-centric decision-support system for planning a sustainable daily sightseeing tour in cities with diverse cultural and historical attractions. The system, personalised and with a particular emphasis on sustainability, is developed through a participatory design approach based on a survey targeted at tourists and evaluations from two focus groups involving stakeholders in the tourist industry. The tour is determined using an optimisation model that tackles the Green Tourist Trip Design Problem, considering user preferences such as budget, time availability, transportation modes, and the inclusion of dining options within a specified time window. The objective is to maximise a trip score while minimising CO2 emissions. The proposed model is tested in an urban setting, encompassing 58 Points of Interest (POIs) in the city of Reggio Calabria, Italy. The Analytical Hierarchy Process is employed as a multi-criteria decision-making method to assign scores to each POI. Additionally, a mobile application is developed to implement the optimisation model, providing a user-friendly interface for tourists to set parameters. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach, underlying the importance of a continuous improvement in developing systems with a great collaboration between smart technologies, sustainability, and participatory design.

Integration of Decentralized Graph-Based Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning with Digital Twin for Traffic Signal Optimization

Machine learning (ML) methods, particularly Reinforcement Learning (RL), have gained widespread attention for optimizing traffic signal control in intelligent transportation systems. However, existing ML approaches often exhibit limitations in scalability and adaptability, particularly within large traffic networks. This paper introduces an innovative solution by integrating decentralized graph-based multi-agent reinforcement learning (DGMARL) with a Digital Twin to enhance traffic signal optimization, targeting the reduction of traffic congestion and network-wide fuel consumption associated with vehicle stops and stop delays. In this approach, DGMARL agents are employed to learn traffic state patterns and make informed decisions regarding traffic signal control. The integration with a Digital Twin module further facilitates this process by simulating and replicating the real-time asymmetric traffic behaviors of a complex traffic network. The evaluation of this proposed methodology utilized PTV-Vissim, a traffic simulation software, which also serves as the simulation engine for the Digital Twin. The study focused on the Martin Luther King (MLK) Smart Corridor in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, by considering symmetric and asymmetric road layouts and traffic conditions. Comparative analysis against an actuated signal control baseline approach revealed significant improvements. Experiment results demonstrate a remarkable 55.38% reduction in Eco_PI, a developed performance measure capturing the cumulative impact of stops and penalized stop delays on fuel consumption, over a 24 h scenario. In a PM-peak-hour scenario, the average reduction in Eco_PI reached 38.94%, indicating the substantial improvement achieved in optimizing traffic flow and reducing fuel consumption during high-demand periods. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the integrated DGMARL and Digital Twin approach in optimizing traffic signals, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient traffic management system.

Automatic gate controlling system for sustainable agriculture water management in Sri Lanka: A review

This research introduces an automatic gate-controlling system explicitly tailored for sustainable paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka. Paddy fields, critical to the nation's food security, often face water management and resource efficiency challenges. Given the pressing concerns of water scarcity and the need for efficient resource utilization in Sri Lanka's agricultural landscape, the automatic gate-controlling system emerges as a cutting-edge solution. This research explores the transformative potential of this technology in revolutionizing traditional irrigation practices. It provides a detailed examination of the system's components and functionalities, emphasizing the integration of smart sensors to gather real-time data on soil moisture levels, weather conditions, and crop water requirements. This data is then processed through advanced analytics, facilitating informed decision-making for the automated control of irrigation gates. These data inputs are then processed by an intelligent control system that automates the operation of water gates. By precisely regulating water flow, the system minimizes water wastage and mitigates over-irrigation risks, contributing to sustainable paddy cultivation practices. The automated nature of the system reduces the dependency on manual labor, providing farmers with an efficient and reliable tool for water management. By adopting this technology, the study envisions increased yields in paddy cultivation while promoting responsible use of water resources. This research marks a significant stride towards sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka, particularly in the crucial paddy cultivation sector.

A novel parallel heuristic method to design a sustainable medical waste management system

Efficient management of waste generated in healthcare systems is crucial to minimize its environmental impact and ensure public health. Sustainable medical waste management (MWM) systems require careful network design, which can be achieved through efficient optimization techniques. This work develops a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) to formulate the problem, a two-step MILP (TSMILP) to generate quality lower bounds, and a novel parallel heuristic algorithm to configure a sustainable waste management system including waste generation centers (WGCs), waste treatment centers (WTCs), waste recycling centers (WRCs), waste disposal centers (WDCs) and waste incineration centers (WICs). Such a hybrid methodology has not been yet offered in the literature wherein the aim is to address strategic (establishment of facilities), tactical (employment of transportation system), and operational decisions (transportation planning) optimally in large networks. As reflected in the literature, there is a huge gap in efficiency and application of combinatorial optimization, and parallel computing in sustainable MWM systems, where the suggested MILPs' solvers are not technically capable of discovering quality solutions in reasonable runtimes on large-sized instances. Thus, we suggest a novel heuristic equipped with parallel computing to share the complexity of the problem, with all the CPU cores to shorten runtime. Comparing the results generated by the parallel heuristic with those of the sequential heuristic, the MILP, and the TSMILP on three sets of benchmark instances using Nemenyi's post-hoc procedure for Friedman's test, it is inferred that the parallel heuristic is so effective in coping with the problem, and produces high-quality solutions, especially on the large-sized set. Finally, sensitivity analysis is adopted to analyze the effects of parameters on the objective values and provide useful managerial insights.

Assessing the effects of microwave heat disturbance on soil microbial communities in Australian agricultural environments: A microcosm study

Weeds reduce agricultural productivity by competing for resources intended for crops. Recently, the deactivation of weed seedbanks by microwave (MW) radiation has been developed as a chemical-free weed management practice. It is unknown, if these extreme heat disturbances permanently alter the soil microbiome of different farming systems. We performed a microcosm experiment to quantify the immediate and short-term effect of MW heating on the soil microbiome. We exposed three different soil types (representing dryland, temperate and irrigated farming systems) to MW heating, and monitored the fungal and bacterial communities over a month of recovery. Bacterial and fungal community composition were strongly dependent on the soil of origin. Following MW heating, bacterial and fungal richness decreased in all soils and did not recover during the period studied (four weeks). Notably, in all soils, bacterial communities became more dissimilar to each other following disturbance, but in fungi, this depended on the soil of origin. These results highlight the importance of considering the resistance and recovery of the resident soil microbiota in developing long-term sustainable MW-based weed management system.

Examining the Interplay between CEPSA’s ESG Performance and Financial Performance: An Overview of the Energy Sector Transformation

This study delves into the financial performance of the Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A.U. (CEPSA) within the context of the ongoing ESG transformation in the Energy Sector. The primary aim of this research is to understand the critical dimensions essential for evaluating energy companies’ ESG performances. The research assesses the changes in CEPSA’s financial indicators over the last five years (2018–2022). The report uses DuPont analysis to evaluate CEPSA’s environmental and social responsibility performances. The study examines several financial performance metrics, including return on net assets, profitability, and corporate financing structure changes. The methodology of this study comprehensively assesses CEPSA’s sustainable development trajectory and ESG management system. The analysis reveals that CEPSA has consistently improved its sustainable development capabilities over the last five years by establishing a comprehensive ESG management system. While return on net assets and profitability indicators have shown positive trends, the financing structure has changed significantly. Notably, the proportion of debt financing has increased substantially, and there is a slight decline in the net profit margin. The formal transformation in 2020 further influenced increases in liabilities and fixed assets for CEPSA. The study focuses on CEPSA’s sustained improvements in ESG management and the associated shifts in financial metrics, adding originality to the study and offering a nuanced perspective on the evolving landscape of sustainable practices. The study reveals the financial implications of ESG transformation in the energy sector and offers valuable insights for stakeholders. Moreover, this research contributes to the existing literature by employing the DuPont analysis system to explore the intricate relationship between ESG performance and financial indicators in the energy sector.

Strategies for Transitioning to Sustainable E-Waste Management Systems Globally, Regionally and Nationally

The quantity of electronic waste generated globally is rising rapidly as a result of advanced technology, over reliance, and the use of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) beyond comprehension. The rapid technological advancements has resulted in a reduced lifespan of EEE resulting in enormous amounts of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It is well recognized that EEE contains complex metallic and non-metallic components that, if improperly managed, can seriously disrupt the environment and endanger the survival of life. The majority of industrialized nations possess advanced methods for managing e-waste, well-defined system boundaries, technological expertise, strict legislation, appropriate recycling facilities, and trade with emerging and impoverished countries. However, because of a number of issues and a dearth of pertinent policies, the situation in emerging nations is different. WEEE are handled in developing nations by using a variety of low-end methods, including product reuse, traditional landfill disposal, open burning, and rudimentary "backyard" recycling. The bulk of developing and less developed countries lack the necessary legislation, gaps in policy formulation, socioeconomic and cultural hurdles, technology, and treatment facilities. The main issues affecting Guyana's management include absence of legislation, safe options for treatment and disposal, and inadequate inventory of data. The strategic interventions that are essential for sustainable e-waste management include urban mining, embracing the concept of a circular economy, fortifying existing laws and regulations, investing in adequate facilities for handling all waste streams and coordination and cooperation among all of the key stakeholders.

Solid waste management practices and challenges in Besisahar municipality, Nepal.

This study is a comprehensive assessment of the waste management system in Besisahar municipality. Information and some data have been collected from the municipality of Besisahar, followed by interviews with municipal officials responsible for waste management, stakeholders, waste workers, and residents. A total of 230 households, 20 schools, 10 government and private offices, 10 financial institutions, 60 commercial hotels, restaurants, and shops, and 20 medical shops and healthcare institutions, were selected in this study by random sampling. An extensive field study was conducted within all municipal wards and at dump sites. The results indicated that 42.14% of solid waste was collected through door-to-door collection services, 5.87% was mismanaged in open public places, 11.21% was used as compost manure, and the rest was discarded on riverbanks, dug up, and burned. A large component of the characterization of household waste consisted of organic waste (68.03%), followed by paper/paper products (8.13%), agricultural waste (5.5%), plastic (5.21%), construction (3.81%), textile (2.72%), metals (0.54%), glass (1.01%), rubber (0.10%), electronic (0.05%), pharmaceutical (0.1%) and others (4.78%) in the Besishahar municipality. Solid waste generation was found to be at 197.604 g/capita/day, as revealed by cluster sampling in 230 households. Around 4.285 tons-solid waste/day were generated in urban areas, while 16.13 tons-solid waste/day was estimated for the whole municipality. An important correlation between the parameters of solid waste was found by statistical analysis. Currently, solid waste is dumped on riverbanks, open fields, and springs, creating environmental and health hazards. The findings of this study will be useful to Besisahar municipality and its stakeholders in forming policies that facilitate waste management practices in this region and promote sustainable waste management systems.

Integrated design of a sustainable waste management system with co-modal transportation network: A robust bi-level decision support system

Efficient waste management practices play a critical role in addressing the acute challenges of environmental protection, public health and resource conservation. A well-designed system guarantees that waste is efficiently collected, treated and disposed while minimizing negative impacts on ecosystems and human well-being. This work presents a robust bi-level decision support system to establish a sustainable waste management system using a co-modal transportation network to treat municipal solid waste timely and efficiently. Consequently, two integrated multi-objective mathematical models are developed to formulate the problem. Configuring the municipal solid waste network in the first level of the suggested decision support system, the transportation network is designed in the second level taking into account non-identical modes. The objectives are to minimize total cost and total emission in both levels, while maximization of total job creation is also addressed in the first level. Robust optimization method and weighted goal programming method are then utilized to accommodate the developed decision support system against uncertainty and multi-objectiveness, respectively. To validate the efficiency of these methods, they are assessed against possibilistic linear programming technique and Lp-metric approach with the help of simple additive weighting (SAW) method, respectively. Eventually, several numerical examples are generated based on the benchmarks given in the literature, which are then tackled using CPLEX solve to appraise the applicability and complexity of the developed methodology. The findings reveal the efficacy of the decision support system in terms of finding solutions in less than 448 s on average. Finally, sensitivity analyses are performed to draw out useful practical implications and decision aids.

Physicochemical Properties and Microbiome of Vineyard Soils from DOP Ribeiro (NW Spain) Are Influenced by Agricultural Management.

Agricultural management influences the soil ecosystem by affecting its physicochemical properties, residues of pesticides and microbiome. As vineyards grow crops with the highest incidence of pesticides, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of conventional and sustainable management systems of vineyards from DOP Ribeiro on the soil's condition. Samples from soils under three different management systems were collected, and the main soil physicochemical properties were evaluated. A selection of 50 pesticides were investigated by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The bacterial and fungal microbiomes were characterized through amplicon sequencing. The results show that organic agriculture positively influences soil pH and the concentration of some nutrients compared to conventional management. Our microbiome analysis demonstrated that transitioning from conventional to organic management significantly improves several BeCrop® indexes related to key microbial metabolism and soil bio-sustainability. Such a transition does not affect soil alpha diversity, but leads to a higher interconnected microbial network structure. Moreover, differential core genera and species for each management system are observed. In addition, the correlation of the microbiome with geographical distance is evidence of the existence of different microbial terroirs within DOP Ribeiro. Indeed, sustainable management leads to higher nutrient availability and enhances soil health in the short term, while lowering pesticide usage.

Integrating sustainability with corporate governance: a framework to implement the corporate sustainability reporting directive through a balanced scorecard

PurposeThe growing importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, as well as related performance planning, measuring and reporting, has spurred interest in linking corporate sustainability and performance management systems (PMSs). In this context, the aim of this paper is to provide companies with a framework for implementing the requirements of the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD) through a sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC). The framework will further the integration of sustainability with corporate governance.Design/methodology/approachThe framework was grounded in the relevant literature and the CSRD requirements.FindingsThis paper provides companies with a novel framework for implementing the requirements of the CSRD through a SBSC. The framework specifies four key steps (i.e. identifying material themes, initial assessment, strategic formulation and action, and sustainability reporting) to integrate sustainability with corporate governance.Practical implicationsThe framework supports managers’ decision-making processes in linking sustainability with strategy and providing a basis for integrating sustainability with corporate governance in organizations. The paper provides a way to practically address the CSRD requirements.Originality/valueThis is the first study integrating the emerging CSRD requirements with corporate governance. The paper advances discussion and debate by management scholars on how a SBSC can be practically implemented, providing details on how this may be achieved.

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ СИСТЕМЫ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ УСТОЙЧИВЫМ РАЗВИТИЕМ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ РОССИИ И КИТАЯ)

The aim of the paper is to develop methodological approaches to the formation of a multi-level system of public administration for sustainable development on the example of Russia and China. The proposed approaches include: general characteristics of the sustainable development management system (subject, object, forms, principles, methods, result), formalization of project selection, principles for identifying project relationships, tools for prioritizing projects, a model for monitoring program performance. Multilevel implies integration not only at the national, mezzo and micro levels, but also at the supranational level - the participation of the United Nations and other international organizations, the implementation of joint projects, primarily with friendly countries. Developed on the example of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 13 “Taking urgent measures to combat climate change and its consequences”, the network management model allows formalizing the choice of projects constituting the program, principles and approaches to identifying the interconnection of projects, tools for prioritizing projects, and can be extrapolated to other SDGs with high network ranks (the degree of mutual influence on other SDGs). To assess the quality of public administration for sustainable development, the following indicators are proposed: the complexity of national programs and the quality of goal setting, adaptability and flexibility of state institutions in implementing sustainable development goals; business involvement in the transition to sustainable development; efficiency and effectiveness of the management system; compliance of legislation and law enforcement with sustainable development objectives; the level of achievement of planned results by the managed system; the degree of publicity when assessment of sustainable projects. Such a set of indicators makes it possible to integrate the assessment of the managed and the management system, to highlight the role of the management system in the results achieved by the managed system.

Sustainable Grassland-Management Systems and Their Effects on the Physicochemical Properties of Soil.

Grassland covers approximately 17.4% of Europe's land area, stores about 20% of the world's soil carbon and has the potential to sequester carbon. With the help of sustainable management systems, grasslands could reduce greenhouse gases and act as a terrestrial sink for atmospheric CO2. In this study, we will investigate the effect of grassland management (cutting, grazing, and a combination of the two) and soil depth (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 cm) on the physical (volumetric water content-VWC, bulk density-BD, porosity-POR, mass consisting of coarse fragments-FC) and chemical properties of soil (organic carbon-SOC, inorganic carbon-SIC, total carbon-STC, total nitrogen-STN, organic matter-SOM, C/N ratio, pH) in Central European lowlands. The management system affected BD, SOC and STN and tended to affect VWC and STC in the first soil depth only. Grazing and the combined system stored greater amounts of STN, SOC and STC and had higher BDs at the surface (0-10 cm) compared to the cutting system. Most soil properties were influenced by soil depth, with C/N ratio and BD increasing and SOC, STC, STN, SOM, VWC and POR decreasing with depth. Our study highlights an opportunity for grassland users to improve soil quality, reduce fossil fuel usage and improve animal welfare through their management systems and argues that systems such as grazing and the combined system should be promoted to mitigate climate change.

A fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach to assess the risks associated with municipal waste management: Implications for sustainability

The rapid growth of industry, urban areas, and populations has substantially increased waste production worldwide. The inadequacy of robust waste management systems and limited resources poses significant challenges for many emerging economies, including Bangladesh, resulting in environmental contamination. Despite numerous academic studies on sustainable waste management, there is a noticeable gap in the literature concerning identifying, evaluating, and modeling critical risks associated with adopting sustainable municipal waste management systems, particularly in emerging economies like Bangladesh. This study, therefore, aims to fill this gap by identifying, categorizing, and assessing the crucial risks in implementing sustainable municipal waste management systems. Through an extensive review of existing literature and validation with expert feedback, this study employs a fuzzy synthetic evaluation method-based framework to prioritize the identified risks. The study calculates the probability of occurrence and degree of impact values to provide decision-makers with insights into the severity of different risk categories, aiding in case-by-case attention. Scores assigned on a 1 to 5 scale range from 2.59 to 4.14 for the various risk categories. Notably, “Industrial challenges related” and “Community and infrastructure requirements related” emerge as the most significant risk categories among those analyzed. This study contributes to the existing literature by employing fuzzy synthetic evaluation, a methodology rarely used to determine critical risks in municipal waste management. Furthermore, it is poised to offer valuable insights to industrialists and waste management authorities, empowering them to develop responsive strategies and contribute to the sustainable development of cities and urban communities.

Agriculture and Climate Change: A Socio-Economic Dynamics of Climate-Smart Practices in Oubritenga Province, Burkina Faso

The issue of farmers' resilience to climate and natural resource degradation remains a major concern in Sahelian countries, including Burkina Faso. The aim of this study is to analyze the dynamics of farming practices in the province of Oubritenga in Burkina Faso, highlighting similarities and differences in climate-smart practices. To do this, a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) was used, combining surveys, individual interviews and focus groups. The results indicate that these practices were disseminated and adopted in Oubritenga province well before the 1980s, and that they have evolved in terms of adoption rates and improvements in recent years through research. The practices mentioned include sustainable land management (SLM), water and soil conservation practices/soil defense and restoration (WSC/SDR). Rural households are responding by adopting and reinforcing climate-smart farming practices that are considered more sustainable in the face of climate shock, soil degradation and greenhouse gas mitigation. It should be noted that other agricultural practices and techniques have been disseminated and adopted over time, in connection with mechanization and the promotion of technical production itineraries. This is a body of endogenous knowledge that coexists with technical production itineraries aimed at respecting the balance between nature and the well-being of living beings by integrating a sustainable land and environmental management system.