Search Results (71)

Microorganisms are transforming the way we address sustainability across agriculture, food production, waste remediation, bioenergy, and industrial bioprocessing, offering novel solutions for the food systems of tomorrow. This systematic review examines literature from the last twenty years in order to identify key advances, challenges, and future directions in harnessing microbial systems for sustainable applications, especially those underpinning a resilient future food system. The selected documents allowed a mapping of the most important trends: innovations based on metabolic engineering and omics, the use of integrated biorefineries, and digital monitoring platforms are emerging as catalysts for the transition, while high scaling costs, regulatory challenges, and low public acceptance continue to limit large-scale implementation. The analysis highlights both the major advantages (reducing ecological impact, valorizing waste, diversifying food sources) and the current limits of these technologies, proposing a multi-stakeholder roadmap to accelerate the transition to a circular bioeconomy and a low-carbon and climate-resilient food system. Full article

With the increasing attention to China’s ecological environment protection and the prominence of lake water environment problems, the impact of soil erosion on lake ecosystems has become an important research topic for regional sustainable development. Based on the CiteSpace bibliometric method, this study systematically analyzed 225 research articles on the impact of soil erosion on the water environment of lakes in China in the core collection of Web of Science from 1998 to 2025, aiming to reveal the research hotspots, evolution trends and regional differences in this field. The results show that China occupies a dominant position in this field (209 papers), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the core research institution (93 papers). The research hotspots show obvious policy-driven characteristics, which are divided into slow start periods (1998–2007), accelerated growth periods (2008–2015), explosive growth periods (2016–2020) and stable development periods (2021–2025). A keyword cluster analysis identified nine main research directions, including sedimentation effect (#0 cluster), soil loss (#2 cluster) and nitrogen and phosphorus migration (#11 cluster) in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. The study found that the synergistic effects of climate change and human activities (such as land use change) are becoming a new research paradigm, and the Yangtze River Basin, the Loess Plateau and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau constitute the three core research areas (accounting for 72.3% of the total literature). Future research should focus on a multi-scale coupling mechanism, a climate resilience assessment and an ecological engineering effectiveness verification to support the precise implementation of lake protection policies in China. This study provides a scientific basis for the comprehensive management of the soil erosion–lake water environment system, and also contributes a Chinese perspective to the sustainable development goals (SDG6 and SDG15) of similar regions in the world. Full article

The Mediterranean region, identified by scientists as a ‘climate hot spot’, is experiencing warmer and drier conditions, along with an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. One such extreme phenomena is droughts. The recent wildfires in this region are a concerning consequence of this phenomenon, causing severe environmental damage and transforming natural landscapes. However, droughts involve a two-way interaction: On the one hand, climate change and various human activities, such as urbanization and deforestation, influence the development and severity of droughts. On the other hand, droughts have a significant impact on various sectors, including ecology, agriculture, and the local economy. This study investigates drought dynamics in four Mediterranean countries, Greece, France, Italy, and Spain, each of which has experienced severe wildfire events in recent years. Using satellite-based Earth observation data, we monitored drought conditions across these regions over a five-year period that includes the dates of major wildfires. To support this analysis, we derived and assessed key indices: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Drought Index (NDDI). High-resolution satellite imagery processed within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform enabled the spatial and temporal analysis of these indicators. Our findings reveal that, in all four study areas, peak drought conditions, as reflected in elevated NDDI values, were observed in the months leading up to wildfire outbreaks. This pattern underscores the potential of satellite-derived indices for identifying regional drought patterns and providing early signals of heightened fire risk. The application of GEE offered significant advantages, as it allows efficient handling of long-term and large-scale datasets and facilitates comprehensive spatial analysis. Our methodological framework contributes to a deeper understanding of regional drought variability and its links to extreme events; thus, it could be a valuable tool for supporting the development of adaptive management strategies. Ultimately, such approaches are vital for enhancing resilience, guiding water resource planning, and implementing early warning systems in fire-prone Mediterranean landscapes. Full article

In the context of global climate change and the deepening of ecological civilization construction, forestry, as an ecological security barrier and green economic engine, faces many challenges to the enhancement of its ecological total factor productivity in the traditional development model. As a new type of production factor, the data factor provides a new path to crack the bottleneck of forestry eco-efficiency improvement. Based on China’s provincial annual panel data from 2014 to 2022, this study systematically examines the impact and mechanism of data factors on forestry ecological total factor productivity by using the SBM-GML model and dual machine learning model. It was found that data factors have a significant contribution to forestry ecological total factor productivity, a conclusion that passes a series of robustness tests and endogeneity tests. The analysis of the mechanism shows that the data factor enhances the total factor productivity of forestry ecology mainly through three paths: promoting the progress of forestry technology and promoting the rationalization and advanced structure of the forestry industry. Further analysis showed that the promotional effect of data elements is more obvious in regions with a high level of green finance development, high intensity of environmental regulation, and strong financial autonomy. It is recommended to systematically promote the in-depth application of data elements in forestry, build a data element-driven innovation system for the whole chain of forestry, and implement regionally differentiated data element-enabling strategies. Full article

The widespread implementation of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems for organic waste treatment is increasingly challenged by emerging contaminants, including microplastics (MPs), antibiotics, and heavy metals (HMs), which exhibit environmental persistence and pose risks to ecological and human health. This review critically examines the sources, transformation pathways, and advanced mitigation strategies for these contaminants within AD systems. MPs, primarily derived from fragmented plastics and personal care products, accumulate in digestates and act as vectors for adsorbing toxic additives and pathogens. Antibiotics, introduced via livestock manure and wastewater, exert selective pressures that propagate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) while disrupting methanogenic consortia. HMs, originating from industrial and agricultural activities, impair microbial activity through bioaccumulation and enzymatic interference, with their bioavailability modulated by speciation shifts during digestion. To combat these challenges, promising mitigation approaches include the following: (1) bioaugmentation with specialized microbial consortia to enhance contaminant degradation and stabilize HMs; (2) thermal hydrolysis pretreatment to break down MPs and antibiotic residues; (3) chemical passivation using biochar or sulfides to immobilize HMs. Co-digestion practices inadvertently concentrate these contaminants, with MPs and HMs predominantly partitioning into solid phases, while antibiotics persist in both liquid and solid fractions. These findings highlight the urgency of optimizing mitigation strategies to minimize contaminant mobility and toxicity. However, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding the long-term impacts of biodegradable MPs, antibiotic transformation byproducts, and standardized regulatory thresholds for contaminant residues in digestate. This synthesis underscores the necessity for integrated engineering solutions and policy frameworks to ensure the safe resource recovery from AD systems, balancing energy production with environmental sustainability. Full article

Natural gas stands out as a promising alternative fuel, and utilizing late intake valve close (LIVC) can further enhance its potential by improving internal combustion engine performance. The present study investigated the effect of LIVC on the performance of a Nissan Qashqai J10 four-cylinder internal combustion ignition engine (ICE) operating on gasoline (G) and natural gas (NG), with a focus on both energy and ecological aspects at stoichiometric points. Experimental tests were performed under the usual engine operating conditions, with engine speeds of 2000 and 3000 rpm and brake mean effective pressures (BMEPs) of 0.31, 0.55, and 0.79 MPa, while the intake valve closing moment was delayed at 24°, 31°, 38°, 45°, 52°, and 59° after bottom dead center (aBDC). The software AVL BOOST™ (version R2021.2) and its utility BURN were used to calculate the rate of heat release (ROHR), mass fraction burned (MFB), in-cylinder temperature, and the rate of temperature rise. The substitution of natural gas for gasoline substantially decreases CO₂ and NO_x emissions while enhancing the engine’s energy efficiency. Implementing a LIVC strategy can further boost brake thermal efficiency and reduce CO₂, though it negatively impacts CO, HC, and NO_x emissions. Optimal performance necessitates balancing efficiency improvements and CO₂ reduction against the control of other pollutants, potentially through combining LIVC with alternative engine control methodologies. Full article

Over the years, artificial reefs with diverse forms and functions have become increasingly important in maritime engineering and ecosystem restoration plans, with socio-economic and ecological impacts on marine ecosystems. However, due to the increasing complexity of designs and durability requirements, the current structural design approaches lack adequate documentation and standardization. This work addresses this challenge by detailing an engineering-driven approach for the structural design of artificial reef structures made of reinforced concrete or composite steel and concrete. This study establishes the premises for the structural design, followed by the quantification of actions based on standards and recommendations for marine structures. Hydrodynamic and numerical models were utilized to assess the effects of these actions on the structure. A cross-section organic design was then implemented, followed by a parametric study exploring various structural and material combinations for optimization. This study validates the developed design methodology combining hydrodynamic actions and strength analysis for complex modular artificial reef structures of 3 to 15 m size, specifically tailored for open waters. The results confirm the applicability and reliability of the developed design methodology, demonstrating its potential for guiding future numerical and experimental studies on modular artificial reef structures in open waters. Full article

Extreme weather events from climate change challenge infrastructure stability. While water-related engineering enhances disaster resilience, it also impacts ecosystems. Taiwan has implemented Ecological Check and Identification (ECI) since 2003, yet challenges remain in standards, resource allocation, and effectiveness. This study analyzes 35 coastal engineering cases and participated in two engineering projects from five key perspectives. The results show that there are regional differences in the types of projects implemented for ECI. Landscape engineering was the main type in northern Taiwan (31%), water resource engineering was the main type in southern Taiwan (43%), and no cases were found in eastern Taiwan. Most inspections occur in the proposal (24%), planning (22%), and design (22%) stages, with limited post-construction monitoring (14%). Furthermore, ecological assessments were lacking in 49% of cases, and aquatic ecosystems were underrepresented. Inconsistent inspection formats and low species documentation (57% of cases) reduce data comparability and conservation effectiveness. To address these gaps, some recommendations were made, including standardizing inspections, integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting low-carbon approaches, strengthening public participation, and establishing long-term monitoring. The findings provide policy insights to enhance ECI, supporting sustainable coastal engineering while balancing infrastructure benefits and environmental conservation. Full article

Ecologically sustainable economic development is increasingly recognized as essential to global efforts to improve and protect environmental and socio-economic conditions. The transportation sector is also important regarding the movement of human beings and goods. Fossil fuels are primarily used in transport vehicles and emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Hence, innovative investments in the transportation system and the use of renewable energy play a key role in overcoming this lingering problem. This study utilizes nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) methods to uncover key drivers influencing innovative investments in the transportation sector and the impact of renewable energy use on environmental sustainability in France between 1995 and 2020. The results indicate that renewable energy use and transport infrastructure innovations positively and negatively impact environmental sustainability. Both variables have different influences on the dependent variable depending on the economic shock period. Based on the outcomes, this study offers the following significant policy insights: (i) France could invest in innovations in renewable energy sourcing and incentivize switching from combustion engine-based transport systems. (ii) France should commit to the Europe 2020 strategy for green growth to ensure resource efficiency and promote environmental sustainability, which requires a coordinated effort to invest in smart transport systems that leverage technologies like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics. (iii) Given that two-thirds of France’s electricity is produced from nuclear sources, the government needs to implement policies in the renewable energy sector to reduce over-reliance on nuclear energy sourcing. Full article

Leaky dams have become essential nature-based solutions for flood management, providing sustainable alternatives to traditional engineered flood control methods. This review delves into the mechanisms by which leaky dams operate, including the regulation of water flow through velocity reduction and distribution across floodplains, effective sediment trapping and soil quality enhancement, and the facilitation of groundwater recharge and water table stabilization. These structures not only mitigate peak flood flows and reduce erosion but also contribute to enhanced biodiversity by creating diverse aquatic habitats and maintaining ecological connectivity. The effectiveness of leaky dams is assessed through various performance metrics, demonstrating significant reductions in peak flows, improved sediment management, and increased groundwater levels, which collectively enhance ecosystem resilience and water quality. However, the implementation of leaky dams presents several technical challenges, such as design complexity, hydrological variability, maintenance requirements, and socio-economic factors like land use conflicts and economic viability. Additionally, while leaky dams offer numerous environmental benefits, potential negative impacts include habitat disruption, sediment accumulation, and alterations in water quality, which necessitate careful planning and adaptive management strategies. Emerging trends in leaky dam development focus on the integration of smart technologies, such as real-time monitoring systems and artificial intelligence, to optimize performance and resilience against climate-induced extreme weather events. Advances in modeling and monitoring technologies are facilitating the effective design and implementation of leaky dam networks, promoting their incorporation into comprehensive watershed management frameworks. This review highlights the significant potential of leaky dams as integral components of sustainable flood management systems, advocating for their broader adoption alongside conventional engineering solutions to achieve resilient and ecologically balanced water management. Full article

The Mongolian Plateau, a critical area for global climate change response, faces increasing vulnerability from climate change and human activities impacting its arid ecosystems. This study integrates GeoDetector and machine learning to predict vegetation Carbon Use Efficiency (CUE) dynamics. It utilizes multi-source remote sensing data (MODIS, ERA5-Land) from 2000 to 2020 and incorporates four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) from CMIP6. The results indicate the following: (1) significant spatial variation exists, with high-value CUE areas (≥0.7) in the northwest due to favorable climatic conditions, while low-value areas (<0.6) in the east are affected by decreasing precipitation and overgrazing; (2) CUE increased at an annual rate of 1.03%, with a 43% acceleration after the 2005 climate shift, highlighting the synergistic effects of ecological engineering; (3) our findings reveal that the interaction of evapotranspiration and temperature dominates CUE spatial differentiation, with the random forest model accurately predicting CUE dynamics (root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.0819); (4) scenario simulations show the SSP3-7.0 pathway will peak CUE at 0.6103 by 2050, while the SSP5-8.5 scenario will significantly reduce spatial heterogeneity. The study recommends enhancing water–heat regulation in the northwest and implementing vegetation restoration strategies in the east, alongside establishing a CUE warning system. This research offers valuable insights for improving carbon sequestration and climate resilience in arid ecosystems, with significant implications for carbon management under high-emission scenarios. Full article

Geotechnical engineering projects carried out within the framework of the low-emission economy and the circular economy are the subject of many publications. Some of these studies present the use of various waste materials, as soil additives, for improving geomechanical behavior/properties. Many of these materials are eagerly used in geoengineering applications, primarily to strengthen weak subsoil or as a base layer in road construction. Information on individual applications and types of these materials is scattered. For this reason, this article briefly discusses most of the major waste materials used for achieving weak-soil improvement in geoengineering applications, and highlights pertinent bibliographic sources where relevant details can be found. The presented list includes waste from mines, thermal processes, end-of-life car tires, chemical processes (artificial/synthetic fibers), and from construction, renovation and demolition works of existing buildings and road infrastructure. The presentation of various applications is supplemented with three dynamically developing innovative technologies based on nanomaterials, microorganisms (MICP, EICP) and lignosulfonate. In addition to the positive impact of using waste (or technologies) instead of natural and raw materials, the paper encourages the reader to ponder whether the waste used really meets the criteria for ecological solutions and what is the economic feasibility of the proposed implementations. Full article

The tourism economy is inseparably linked to the ecological environment, serving as a “green engine” in the promotion of the low-carbon transition of cities and the realization of high-quality economic development. Taking the implementation of a low-carbon city pilot (LCCP) policy as a quasinatural experiment, we assess the impact of a low-carbon transition on the urban tourism economy using a time-varying difference-in-differences identification strategy based on the panel data of 279 Chinese cities covering the period from 2007 to 2019. The results indicate that LCCPs have a favorable effect on the development of the tourism economy. Compared to non-pilot cities, the implementation of LCCPs has led to an average increase of approximately CNY 1918 in tourism receipts per inhabitant in pilot cities. The mechanism analysis reveals that the implementation of LCCPs promotes the tourism economy by energizing the tourism market and accumulating ecological wealth. Specifically, LCCPs have not only optimized the supply of tourism products and related services but have also improved the competitiveness of regional tourism by energizing the tourism market. Meanwhile, LCCPs have improved the ecological environment and enriched natural resources through the accumulation of urban ecological wealth, thereby enhancing urban tourism attractiveness and environmental carrying capacity. The heterogeneity results show that the impact of LCCPs on the tourism economy varies significantly by tourism resource endowment, border-crossing status, and ecological landscape division. Our findings provide empirical evidence that can be used to promote the tourism economy in other countries and facilitate the industrial transformation during the process of a low-carbon transition. Full article

The KREIS-Haus, an inhabited living lab in Switzerland, serves as a demonstrator of the implementation of sustainable and circular building practices. Addressing the environmental impacts associated with construction, operation, and deconstruction, this study presents an innovative systematic design concept that synthesizes principles of the circular economy, Cradle-to-Cradle design, and ecological engineering. The design process was applied to the KREIS-Haus as a lighthouse project, combining theoretical frameworks with real-word application to derive actionable insights. The novelty of the KREIS-Haus lies in the holistic integration of circular and sustainable concepts within a compact footprint, realized in a real-life, publicly accessible living lab. Its design maximizes resource efficiency by incorporating locally sourced materials, modular construction techniques, and flexible interior features, which allow for easy disassembly and reuse. At the heart of its circular design is the multifunctional conservatory, which provides heat and sound insulation, generates solar power, and expands the living space. Additionally, it supports plant cultivation and enables the reuse of treated wastewater and nutrients, as part of the off-grid water and nutrient management system to reduce reliance on external resources. The principles of solar architecture further minimize the building’s energy demands. Key insights from the design and construction process highlight the challenges of navigating conflicting goals, the importance of partner alignment, and considerations for scaling these concepts to larger developments. While technical challenges may arise, addressing systemic barriers will be essential for advancing sustainable and circular building practices on a broader scale. Full article

As a vital conservation area for water sources in the Yellow River Basin, understanding the spatial-temporal dynamics of vegetation coverage is crucial, along with the factors that affect it, to ensure ecological preservation and sustainable development of the Yellow River Source Region (YRSR). In this paper, we utilized Landsat surface reflectance data from 2000 to 2020 using de-clouding and masking methods implementing the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform. We investigated spatial-temporal changes in vegetation coverage by combining the maximum value composite (MVC), the dimidiate pixel model (DPM), the Theil–Sen median slope, and the Mann–Kendall test. The influencing factors on vegetation coverage were quantitatively analyzed using a geographic detector, and future tendencies in vegetation coverage were predicted utilizing the Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) model. The outcomes suggested the following: (1) On the temporal scale, vegetation coverage exhibited a general upward trend between 2000 and 2020, with the YRSR showing a yearly growth rate of 0.23% (p < 0.001). In comparison to 2000, the area designated as having extremely high vegetation coverage increased by 19.3% in 2020. (2) Spatially, the central and southeast regions have higher values of vegetation coverage, whereas the northwest has lower values. In the study area, 75.5% of the region demonstrated a significant improvement trend, primarily in Xinghai County, Zeku County, and Dari County in the south and the northern portion of the YRSR; conversely, a notable tendency of degradation was identified in 11.8% of the area, mostly in the southeastern areas of Qumalai County, Chenduo County, Shiqu County, and scattered areas in the southeastern region. (3) With an explanatory power of exceeding 45%, the three influencing factors that had the biggest effects on vegetation coverage were mean annual temperature, elevation, and mean annual precipitation. Mean annual precipitation has been shown to have a major impact on vegetation covering; the interconnections involving these factors have increased the explanatory power of vegetation coverage’s regional distribution. (4) Predictions for 2030 show that the vegetation coverage is trending upward in the YRSR, with a notable recovery trend in the northwestern region. This study supplies a theoretical foundation to formulate strategies to promote sustainable development and ecological environmental preservation in the YRSR. Full article