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Kim H, Lazurko A, Linney G, Maskell L, Díaz-General E, Březovská RJ, Keune H, Laspidou C, Malinen H, Oinonen S, Raymond J, Rounsevell M, Vaňo S, Venâncio MD, Viesca-Ramirez A, Wijesekera A, Wilson K, Ziliaskopoulos K, Harrison PA. Understanding the role of biodiversity in the climate, food, water, energy, transport and health nexus in Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171692. [PMID: 38485013 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems and the diverse benefits that nature provides to people, yet is being lost at an unprecedented rate. To halt or reverse biodiversity loss, it is critical to understand the complex interdependencies between biodiversity and key drivers and sectors to inform the development of holistic policies and actions. We conducted a literature review on the interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change, food, water, energy, transport and health ("the biodiversity nexus"). Evidence extracted from 194 peer-reviewed articles was analysed to assess how biodiversity is being influenced by and is influencing the other nexus elements. Out of the 354 interlinkages between biodiversity and the other nexus elements, 53 % were negative, 29 % were positive and 18 % contained both positive and negative influences. The majority of studies provide evidence of the negative influence of other nexus elements on biodiversity, highlighting the substantial damage being inflicted on nature from human activities. The main types of negative impacts were land or water use/change, land or water degradation, climate change, and direct species fatalities through collisions with infrastructure. Alternatively, evidence of biodiversity having a negative influence on the other nexus elements was limited to the effects of invasive alien species and vector-borne diseases. Furthermore, a range of studies provided evidence of how biodiversity and the other nexus elements can have positive influences on each other through practices that promote co-benefits. These included biodiversity-friendly management in relevant sectors, protection and restoration of ecosystems and species that provide essential ecosystem services, green and blue infrastructure including nature-based solutions, and sustainable and healthy diets that mitigate climate change. The review highlighted the complexity and context-dependency of interlinkages within the biodiversity nexus, but clearly demonstrates the importance of biodiversity in underpinning resilient ecosystems and human well-being in ensuring a sustainable future for people and the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- HyeJin Kim
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK.
| | - Anita Lazurko
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - George Linney
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Lindsay Maskell
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Elizabeth Díaz-General
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Romana Jungwirth Březovská
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Charles University, Faculty of Humanities, Pátkova 2137/5, 182 00 Praha 8 - Libeň, Czech Republic
| | - Hans Keune
- Chair Care and the Natural Living Environment, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Chrysi Laspidou
- Civil Engineering Department, University of Thessaly, Volos 38334, Greece; Sustainable Development Unit, ATHENA Research Center, Marousi 15125, Greece
| | - Henna Malinen
- Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Soile Oinonen
- Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joanna Raymond
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Mark Rounsevell
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; Institute for Geography & Geo-ecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany; School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Simeon Vaňo
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94974 Nitra, Slovakia
| | | | - Alejandrina Viesca-Ramirez
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ayesha Wijesekera
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Wilson
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos Ziliaskopoulos
- Civil Engineering Department, University of Thessaly, Volos 38334, Greece; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41500, Greece
| | - Paula A Harrison
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
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Becken S, Mackey B, Lee DS. Implications of preferential access to land and clean energy for sustainable aviation fuels. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 886:163883. [PMID: 37164072 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Aviation is highly dependent on liquid fossil fuel, and the production of 'sustainable aviation fuels' (SAF) is being proposed as a solution to removing the fossil carbon component, especially for long-haul flights. An analysis of 12 aviation roadmaps for net zero 2050 reveals heavy reliance on biogenic SAF in the medium-term and synthetic e-kerosene in the longer term. Realising these roadmaps could require 9 % of global renewable electricity and 30 % of sustainably available biomass in 2050, with significant energy 'losses'. The continued use of hydrocarbon fuel in the roadmaps generates 1.35 GtCO2 in 2050, of which 30 % are still from fossil fuel. The net carbon savings from the 70 % depend on the direct and indirect life cycle emissions of producing SAF. Additional effects that are omitted in most roadmaps relate to decadal time lags in re-sequestering biocarbon in the case of forest biomass and the impact of non-CO2 emissions. Both require greater scrutiny in fully understanding the climate impact of SAF substitution. The scaling up of SAF to not only maintain but grow global aviation is problematic as it competes for land needed for nature-based carbon removal, clean energy that could more effectively decarbonise other sectors, and captured CO2 to be stored permanently. As such, SAF production undermines global goals of limiting warming to 1.5°; a conflict that is neither recognised in the roadmaps nor in the public debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Becken
- Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia; School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.
| | - Brendan Mackey
- Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia.
| | - David S Lee
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, United Kingdom
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Batool K, Zhao ZY, Irfan M, Żywiołek J. Assessing the role of sustainable strategies in alleviating energy poverty: an environmental sustainability paradigm. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:67109-67130. [PMID: 37103699 PMCID: PMC10133920 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27076-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The rapid urbanization and industrialization of India have caused a demand-supply gap in the electrical sector, leading to higher electric bills. Lower-income households face the worst energy poverty in the country. Sustainable strategies like corporate social responsibility are the most effective way to combat the energy crisis. This study aims to assess the contribution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to energy poverty alleviation (EPA) by developing the role of mediating variables such as assessment of renewable energy resource (RER), feasibility of sustainable energy supply (SES), and sustainable energy development (SED). We used hybrid research methodology such as partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the collected data from professionals, economic experts, and directors in the country in 2022. The study proved that CSR directly affects energy poverty alleviation. Besides, the findings suggest RER, SES, and SED significantly lead the energy poverty alleviation. The findings of this study will divert the attention of policymakers, stakeholders, and economists toward the corporate social responsibility to mitigate the energy crisis in Indian context. A mediating role of a renewable energy resource (RER) as a value-added contribution to this study can be strengthened more in future research. Based on the results, the study illustrates that CSR acts as a catalyst to alleviate energy poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Batool
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Energy and Low Carbon Development, School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Energy and Low Carbon Development, School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- School of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China.
- Department of Business Administration, ILMA University, Karachi, 75190, Pakistan.
| | - Justyna Żywiołek
- Faculty of Management, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa, 42-200, Poland
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Agricultural Structures Management Based on Nonpoint Source Pollution Control in Typical Fuel Ethanol Raw Material Planting Area. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14137995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Increasing the promotion and application of biofuel ethanol has been a national strategy in China, which in turn has affected changes in the raw material planting structure. This study analyzed the effects of agricultural land-use changes on water quality in a typical maize fuel ethanol raw material planting area. The results revealed that an increase in cultivated land and construction land would also increase the load of TN (total nitrogen) and TP (total phosphorus), while an expansion in forest land would reduce the load. As for crop structures, maize might have a remarkable positive effect on TN and TP, while rice and soybean performed in no significant manner. Furthermore, scenarios under the carbon neutralization policy and water pollution control were carried out to forecast the nonpoint source pollutants based on the quantitative relations coefficients. It was proven that maize planting was not suitable for vigorous fuel ethanol development. Reducing maize area in the Hulan River Basin was beneficial to reducing nonpoint source pollution. However, the area of maize should not be less than 187 km2, otherwise, the food security of the population in the basin would be threatened. Under the change in fuel ethanol policy, this study could provide scientific support for local agriculture land-use management in realizing the carbon neutralization vision and set a good example for the development of the fuel ethanol industry in other maize planting countries.
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Abstract
As distribution grids are made to accommodate significant amounts of renewable energy resources, the power system evolves from a classical producer-consumer scheme to a new one that includes individual prosumers or energy communities. This article contributes to the exploration of the solution to the dilemma of whether to be a distributed prosumer or an energy community prosumer by comparing the profitability of these two business models. To achieve this goal, a high-resolution methodology is created for measuring economic performance via proposed indices under different development scenarios of renewable proliferation and various network configurations. The developed methodology considers today’s electricity billing and renewable support scheme net metering. The results indicate that, first, the energy community is a more profitable framework than the individual distributed prosumer: avoided costs for energy community are, on average, 20% higher than for the individual, resulting in a payback period of the energy community that is about two times shorter than for owners of rooftop installations. Such promising results should encourage ordinary consumers to be members of energy communities. Second, the energy losses in the power distribution system are slightly higher for the case of energy communities rather than individual prosumers, yet the difference is insignificant, about 0.2%. Third, regulatory barriers shall be removed to enable participation of Latvian prosumers and distribution system operators to the energy communities, as it will benefit all the stakeholders and facilitate economically efficient energy transition. The results of this study could be adopted by decision-makers, such as government agencies, companies, and solar and wind turbine owners.
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Experimental Performance Analysis of a Solar Desalination System Modified with Natural Dolomite Powder Integrated Latent Heat Thermal Storage Unit. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14052650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Solar desalination systems are effective and sustainable applications that are utilized to obtain potable water from saline or contaminated water. In this research, three solar desalination systems, including a conventional system, a phase change material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage unit (TESU), and a natural dolomite powder integrated PCM-based TESU, were structured and experimentally investigated. The developed solar desalination systems were analyzed simultaneously and the findings were discussed in detail. According to the empirically obtained outcomes, utilizing PCM-based TESUs and dolomite-powder-embedded PCM-based TESUs increased daily cumulative productivity by 10.15% and 17.70%, respectively, in comparison to the conventional distiller. Employing dolomite powder increased the energy and exergy efficiencies of the conventional distiller from 15.91% to 18.28% and from 1.26% to 1.78%, respectively. Moreover, environmental metrics such as global warming potential and the sustainability index of the developed solar desalination systems were analyzed within the scope of this work.
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