Search Results (8,166)

Reliable geolocation of thermal hotspots, such as smoldering embers that can reignite after vegetation fire suppression, deep-seated peat fires, or underground coal seam fires, is critical to prevent fire resurgence, limit prolonged greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate environmental and health impacts. This study develops and tests an algorithm to estimate the GPS positions of thermal hotspots detected in infrared images acquired by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), designed to operate over flat and mountainous terrain. Its originality lies in a reformulated Bresenham traversal of the digital elevation model (DEM), combined with a lightweight, ray-tracing-inspired strategy that efficiently detects the intersection of the optical ray with the terrain by approximating the ray altitude at the cell level. UAV flight experiments in complex terrain were conducted, with thermal image acquisitions performed at 60 m and 120 m above ground level and simulated hotspots generated using controlled heat sources. The tests were carried out with two thermal cameras: a Zenmuse H20T mounted on a Matrice 300 UAV flown both with and without Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning, and a Matrice 30T UAV without RTK. The implementation supports both real-time and post-processed operation modes. The results demonstrated robust and reliable geolocation performance, with mean positional errors consistently below 4.2 m for all the terrain configurations tested. A successful real-time operation in the test confirmed the suitability of the algorithm for time-critical intervention scenarios. Since July 2024, the post-processed version of the method has been in operational use by the Corsica fire services. Full article

Remediating complex-contaminated soils demands the synergistic optimization of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and carbon emission reduction. Currently, ultra-high-temperature thermal desorption technology is mature in terms of principle and laboratory-scale performance; however, ongoing efforts are focusing on achieving stable, efficient, controllable, and cost-optimized operation in large-scale engineering applications. To address this gap, this study aimed to (1) verify the energy efficiency and economic benefits of removing over 98% of target pollutants at a 7.5 × 10⁴ m³ contaminated site and (2) elucidate the mechanisms underlying parallel scale–technology dual-factor cost reduction and energy–carbon–cost optimization, thereby accumulating case experience and data support for large-scale engineering deployment. To achieve these objectives, a “thermal stability–chemical oxidizability” classification criterion was developed to guide a parallel remediation strategy, integrating ex situ ultra-high-temperature thermal desorption (1000 °C) with persulfate-based chemical oxidation. This strategy was implemented at a 7.5 × 10⁴ m³ large-scale site, delivering robust performance: the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) removal efficiencies exceeded 99%, with a median removal rate of 98% for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It also provided a critical operational example of a large-scale engineering application, demonstrating a daily treatment capacity of 987 m³, a unit remediation cost of 800 CNY·m⁻³, and energy consumption of 820 kWh·m⁻³, outperforming established benchmarks reported in the literature. A net reduction of 2.9 kilotonnes of CO₂ equivalent (kt CO₂e) in greenhouse gas emissions was achieved, which could be further enhanced with an additional 8.8 kt CO₂e by integrating a hybrid renewable energy system (70% photovoltaic–molten salt thermal storage + 30% green power). In summary, this study establishes a “high-temperature–parallel oxidation–low-carbon energy” framework for the rapid remediation of large-scale multi-contaminant sites, proposes a feasible pathway toward developing a soil carbon credit mechanism, and fills a critical gap between laboratory-scale success and large-scale engineering applications of ultra-high-temperature remediation technologies. Full article

Distributed generation (DG) is one of the types of generation with great potential in the world and fits into the incentive schemes used worldwide. In addition, biogas as a fuel for DG presents itself as an interesting option, both from an economic and a sustainability point of view. Thus, this article addresses the modeling of the investment evaluation process in biogas-based DG projects in Brazil, using the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Decision Model and Notation (DMN) techniques, intending to define a standard model. Although the study is applied to the Brazilian scenario, the proposed investment evaluation model can be applied to any scenario as long as the specificities of each location or country analyzed are considered. The results show that the model supports decisions on new investments in the sector and highlights the process sequence and main decision points for quality analysis. In addition, the model highlights the need to know the regulations and incentives for DG using renewable energy sources (RES) in the country, shows the available technologies, the process for producing electricity using biogas, the times for collecting operational data, estimating revenues, and investment evaluation methodologies, and promotes the growth of knowledge about RES. Finally, this approach supports sustainable development by using renewable resources efficiently, reducing waste, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. It also helps investors and policymakers make decisions about low-carbon energy systems. Full article

The Icelandic Government’s climate action plan proposes climate-neutral beef production, reduced methane emissions, and improved fertilizer management. However, a life cycle assessment (LCA) of cattle production is lacking to determine the current status of its environmental impacts. This study conducts a cradle-to-farm gate LCA of interconnected dairy and beef cattle systems. The functional unit (FU) is “1 kg of edible cattle meat” for the meat and “1 kg of fat and protein corrected milk” (FPCM) for milk produced in Iceland in 2019. The multifunctionality between meat and milk from the dairy system is handled using mass, economic, and biophysical allocations, respectively. The environmental impacts were estimated using the ReCiPe 2016 v1.08 mid-point (H) impact assessment method. Furthermore, this study conducts an uncertainty and global sensitivity analysis to understand the possible range of environmental impacts and identifies key influential parameters in the dairy and beef cattle system. Animal production is a hotspot for global warming, while the feed (hay and concentrate) is a hotspot for other environmental categories. The allocation method choice highly influences the environmental impacts. This study underscores the need to harmonize data collection and access to centralized, reliable data sources to reduce uncertainty and meet climate action plan goals on both the national and global scale. Full article

Butanol is currently produced on an industrial scale, primarily from fossil-based raw materials. An alternative method involves gas fermentation. To improve the efficiency of microbial processes, one promising approach is electrofermentation, which involves the application of an electric current to stimulate microbial growth or modulate metabolic pathways. This study examined the production of biobutanol from gas fermentation supported by electrofermentation, as assessed through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The LCA was conducted for a biobutanol production technology developed within the framework of the BesTECH project, funded in the ERA-NET Bioenergy programme. Two environmental impact assessment methods were applied: ReCiPe 2016 and IPCC 2021 GWP 100 (with CO₂ absorption considered). The results of the LCA indicated that the most significant environmental impact is associated with greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion used to generate electricity (based on Austria’s energy mix). An additional environmental burden is related to the production of the fermentation medium. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the environmental performance of the process is strongly influenced by the source of electricity used in biobutanol production. Full article

This paper assesses whether national level digitalization is associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions intensity, and under which conditions the association holds, using an unbalanced panel for twenty-seven European countries from 2014 to 2022. Digitalization is measured through a principal component index constructed from enterprise information technology adoption and fixed broadband subscriptions per capita. The outcome is the logarithm of emissions per unit of gross domestic product. Identification is implemented with two-way fixed effects and Driscoll–Kraay standard errors to exploit within country variation, and dynamic bias and potential endogeneity are probed through parsimonious difference GMM designs. Robustness is assessed through alternative outcomes, country specific linear trends, clustered inference, and leave one out checks. Evidence for an unconditional reduction in emissions intensity associated with digitalization is not found. It is predicted that the relationship between digitalization and e-commerce will be positive and statistically significant, thus meaning that at the median and the upper quartile of e-commerce a one standard deviation increase in digitalization relates to increases in intensity of about 2.4% and 3.3%, respectively. More renewable energy shares come with lower intensity and mitigate the digitalization effect. The contribution here attempts to quantify such conditional associations within a multi-country setting and thereby infer design and energy contexts wherein environmental gains from digital expansion would most likely take place. Full article

This paper examines the sustainability of photovoltaic (PV) panel recycling through a case study in Greece. It traces the evolution of PVs and outlines the main construction characteristics, emphasizing that although PV systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they also generate substantial end-of-life (EoL) waste containing both valuable and potentially hazardous materials. The study estimates Greece’s annual PV waste generation and evaluates its environmental, social, and economic impacts. It focuses on advanced disassembly and recycling methods by PV types and calculates material-recovery rates. Using national installation data from 2009–2023, the analysis quantifies the potential mass of recoverable materials and assesses the sustainability of PV recycling in terms of environmental protection, public health, and economic feasibility. Results show high recovery rates: silicon (85%), aluminum (100%), silver (98–100%), glass (95%), copper (97%), and tin (32%). Although current recycling economics remain challenging, the environmental and health benefits are significant. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing the first detailed quantification of recoverable raw materials embedded in Greece’s PV stock and by highlighting the need for technological innovation and supportive policies to enable a circular and sustainable solar economy. Full article

Breastfeeding is a renewable biological system that simultaneously advances human, environmental, and societal health. Human milk provides unparalleled nutrition and immunological protection, improving infant survival, neurodevelopment, and long-term metabolic outcomes, while reducing maternal risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, and despite decades of evidence, only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed worldwide, and breastfeeding remains absent from most sustainability and One Health strategies. This narrative review synthesizes evidence demonstrating that breastfeeding functions as a low-carbon, zero-waste food system that avoids greenhouse gas emissions, land conversion, water consumption, and biodiversity loss linked to commercial milk formula production. At the societal level, breastfeeding reduces health-system costs, strengthens emergency resilience when supply chains fail, and generates long-term economic returns. By integrating evidence across human health, environmental impact and social determinants, this review positions breastfeeding as a strategic One Health intervention and a high-value investment for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Strengthening policy support—including protection against formula marketing, workplace accommodations, and expansion of baby-friendly systems—is essential to unlock breastfeeding’s potential for planetary and public health. Full article

Food waste is one of the planet’s most pressing challenges, directly linked to food security, resource depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and, more broadly, environmental concerns demanding immediate attention. This issue occurs throughout the entire food value chain; however, households are the primary source of waste. This research examines the key factors influencing household food waste behavior and investigates how these factors can contribute to the development of sustainable practices that minimize environmental impacts. Six research hypotheses were examined, focusing on consumers’ knowledge of environmental and food waste issues, their awareness of their community, their emotional responses to their actions, and their social and economic status. A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 870 individuals in a region of Greece, and the data were analyzed using factor and path analyses. The results showed that education and accurate information about environmental issues, as well as strategies for reducing waste and its impact on the environment and the economy, were strongly correlated with consumers’ food waste behaviors. The proposed model demonstrated moderate explanatory power (R² = 0.396) and excellent fit indices (χ² = 10.58, p < 0.001, NFI = 0.99, IFI = 0.995, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.06), highlighting the significance of the main predictors identified. Full article

Conventional nitrogen fertilization in a maize cropping system enhances the soil’s methane (CH₄) sink but exacerbates emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO). This study demonstrates that conventional nitrogen application (UN) increased CH₄ uptake by 154%, while elevating N₂O and NO emissions by 190% and 301%, respectively, compared to zero nitrogen plots (N0). Fertilization fundamentally reconfigured the regulatory mechanisms governing gas fluxes: under UN, fluxes were controlled by a complex interplay of nitrogen substrates, carbon availability, moisture, and temperature, whereas under N0, CH₄ uptake exhibited significantly enhanced temperature sensitivity (with Q₁₀ increasing from 1.06 to 7.54) and nitrogen oxide emissions became more dependent on native ammonium and extractable organic carbon. Crucially, nitrogen withdrawal reduced soil ammonium by 37.1% without altering non-nitrogen soil properties, including temperature, moisture, and labile carbon pools. Collectively, these findings are consistent with the concept of nitrogen saturation under conventional fertilization rates. Optimizing these rates presents a significant opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while improving nitrogen use efficiency, thereby aligning agricultural production with climate goals and public health objectives without destabilizing short-term soil function. Full article

Over the past few decades, the discovery of novel microbial processes, biochemical reactions, and previously uncharacterized microorganisms has significantly enhanced our understanding of nitrogen (N) cycling across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including engineered environments such as wastewater treatment systems. These scientific advancements are catalyzing a paradigm shift toward treatment strategies that are not only energy-efficient and cost-effective, but also environmentally sustainable, with the added benefit of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The current review highlights recent breakthroughs in microbial N cycling, with particular emphasis on their practical applications in wastewater treatment. Emerging processes, such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) mitigation, electro-anammox, ferric iron-dependent ammonium oxidation (Feammox), and complete ammonia oxidation (comammox), offer promising strategies for sustainable and low-energy N removal. Nevertheless, a significant challenge persists in translating these laboratory-scale innovations into full-scale, real-world applications, especially within decentralized treatment infrastructures. Bridging this gap is essential for realizing robust, low-carbon, and sustainable wastewater management systems in the decades to come. Full article

Pohlia cruda (Hedw.) Lindb. is a cryophilous moss species with a boreo-arctic montane distribution. As global temperatures continue to rise, high-mountain plant species are increasingly forced to migrate to higher elevations to remain within their ecological and physiological tolerance limits. In this study, we applied ensemble species-distribution modeling (SDM) to evaluate the future niche availability of P. cruda in Italy under two greenhouse gas-emission scenarios and two time periods (2050 and 2090). Projections under the intermediate emission scenario (SSP2-4.5) indicate a habitat loss ranging from −24.1% to −46.7%, whereas predictions under the very high emission of greenhouse gases (SSP5-8.5) suggest even greater losses, between −28.1% and −59.9%. These findings point to a substantial reduction, fragmentation, and potential disappearance of suitable habitats for P. cruda in the coming decades. This study represents a pioneering application of bryophyte-distribution modeling for the territory of Italy and provides a foundation for integrating such approaches into conservation decisions aimed at preserving biodiversity. Full article

Seeking solutions that expand the energy market with new possibilities is a natural approach in the context of greenhouse gas emissions and associated climate change. One renewable energy source is water, which, in addition to kinetic energy, can also serve as a source of heat. Having up-to-date hydrological data is crucial for assessing the scale and rate of water circulation in the environment, and subsequently its potential for economic use. This study reconstructs water temperature with the application of the hybrid air2water model for several dozens of rivers in the Odra basin (Central Europe) and, on this basis, estimates heat flux and subsequently its predictability across different temporal scales. The average annual heat flow of all the analyzed rivers was 3.36 × 10⁶ GJ and varied widely, from 0.09 to 51 × 10⁶ GJ, depending on the size of the river. On an annual scale, the heat flow corresponds to the distribution of seasonal changes in key variables (river discharge and water temperature) characteristic of rivers in the temperate zone. The lowest average heat flow was recorded in January (0.74 × 10⁶ GJ), and the highest in July (5.73 × 10⁶ GJ). Considering the obtained results and the spatial distribution of the river network in the analyzed area, it can be concluded that the energy transported by river systems may be regarded as a potential heat source. This is significant in the context of expanding opportunities for obtaining clean energy, which aligns with the current framework of the European Union’s policy aimed at achieving climate neutrality. Full article

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) are important greenhouse gases emitted by vehicles, yet their spatial pattern within urban road networks remains poorly characterized. This study conducts mobile measurements of CO₂ and CH₄ along the 1st Ring Road (mean speed of the monitoring vehicle: 22 km h⁻¹), 2nd Ring Road (22 km h⁻¹), and Ring Expressway (90 km h⁻¹) in Xi’an, China, to investigate their spatial distribution and influencing factors. Average CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations on the three ring roads exhibited a clear decline with increasing distance from the city center. Both CO₂ and CH₄ showed higher concentrations at lower vehicle speeds and at higher traffic volumes, but CH₄ hotspots differed spatially from CO₂ and exhibited weaker dependence on vehicle speed, indicating additional off-road CH₄ sources (e.g., natural gas leaks, nearby livestock farms). In a tunnel case study, CO₂, CH₄, and CO concentrations increased concurrently from entrance to exit, resulting in strong correlations between CH₄ and CO₂ (R² = 0.86) and between CO and CO₂ (R² = 0.66). This produced emission ratios (ΔCH₄/ΔCO₂ = 0.160 ppb ppm⁻¹; ΔCO/ΔCO₂ = 3.151 ppb ppm⁻¹), representative of incomplete combustion under congestion. Our results provide direct observational evidence linking urban traffic dynamics to greenhouse gas emissions and emphasize the need for congestion mitigation to reduce on-road climate-relevant emissions. Full article