Abstract books of the International Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development
The Abstract Books of the International Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development (ESDCONF) present carefully peer-reviewed research presented at the annual Environment and Sustainable Development conference organized by Proud Pen. This collection captures original work across the field of Environment and Sustainable Development, spanning theoretical frameworks to applied studies. Each volume serves as a reference for ongoing research and study in the discipline.
Malaysia’s EV Landscape: Where Are We Now?A critical look at current policies, progress, and gaps in the national EV ecosystem
As Malaysia positions itself at the forefront of the global green transition, the adoption of Electric Vehicle (EV) has become a cornerstone of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions and foster sustainable growth. Policies such as the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2020, the National Energy Policy 2022-2040 (NEP) and the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021-2023 (LCMB), underpin the nation’s commitment to decarbonisation and its ambition to become a regional leader in energy-efficient vehicles. Malaysia is well positioned to capitalize on the EV mobility wave as it is a mature semiconductor manufacturing hub and a home-grown car industry. Malaysia as a major Oil and Gas Producer has cheap fuel for its population which is a dampener for EV adoption. However, the move to remove diesel subsidies will give EVs a boost. EV adoption is popular in places which has a density of charging stations and good post-sale maintenance support. This paper as such uses secondary data to uncover four policy elements related to enhance EV adoption in Malaysia. Those are : 1) Purchase Incentives and Fiscal Measures - Tax exemptions and reductions; Road tax exemptions; Individual Income Tax Relief; Incentives for Local Manufacturing ; 2) Development of Charging Infrastructure - Public Charging Network Expansion; Private charging Infrastructure; Standardization and Interoperability; 3) Support for the EV Industry and Supply Chain - Investment in Local Manufacturing; Technology Transfer and R & D; Skilled Workforce Development; and 4) Addressing Consumer Concerns - Public Awareness Campaigns; Addressing Range Anxiety; Making EVs Affordable. These policy elements need to be addressed in order to enable EVs to account for 15% of the total industry volume (TIV) by 2030 and 80% by 2050, in alignment with the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint (LCMB) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
Copyright (c) 2025 Thirunaukarasu Subramaniam, Marini Nurbanum Mohamad, Kogila Balakrishnan, Hamid Moradlou, Zakiah Syamra' binti Suhaimi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Variations in the Conservation Effectiveness of National Nature Reserves across China from the Perspective of Ecosystem Services
The establishment of nature reserves (NRs) played a vital role in the protection of specific species and ecosystem services (ESs). Most previous studies have examined the effectiveness of protection from the perspective of ESs in a single type of nature reserve. In contrast, few studies have evaluated the protective efficacy of NRs at a national scale and compared the differences in performance among different types of NRs. Therefore, it remains unclear whether all types of NRs are effective in conserving ESs and how their protective effectiveness varies. In this study, we estimated and compared the variations in ESs by measuring ecosystem service values (ESV) across 411 national NRs in China, both considering nine typical types of NRs and their functional zones: core, buffer, and experimental zones. The results showed that: The ESV of NRs followed a non-linear trend, initially decreasing and subsequently increasing. Notably, the ESV per unit displayed a distinct spatial gradient, with higher values decreasing first and then increasing. The ESV per unit presented a spatial pattern with high values in the east and lower values in the west. Compared with forest ecosystem NRs, ocean coastal, inland wetland, and wildlife NRs demonstrated superior efficacy in safeguarding ESs. Furthermore, the decline in ESV within the core, buffer, and experimental zones of NRs has been notably mitigated, with a marked improvement observed after 2010. Our findings also highlight a strong synergistic relationship among different ecosystem services within these NRs. By quantifying the protective effectiveness of various NRs, this study provides a scientific basis for optimizing future formulations targeted at protection and the sustainable management of ecosystem services in China's NRs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Xiaowei Yao, Jie Zen, Jianhua Wu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Drivers of Environmental Effectiveness: Gap Between Organisational and Expert Perspectives
This manuscript investigates the perceived impact of factors in four categories (economic, legal, social, and organisational) on the environmental effectiveness of organisations. The paper compares the views of academic experts with the views of business practitioners (representatives of organisations). The findings reveal a gap between theory and practice. Academic experts tend to adopt a more critical, systemic perspective, identifying significant barriers to environmental performance. In contrast, organisational representatives, rooted in operational realities, evaluate these same factors as generally supportive or neutral. The largest discrepancies appear in the legal and social categories. While businesses perceive regulatory frameworks and societal expectations as strong enablers (stimulating factors), experts highlight weak enforcement, fragmented legislation, and limited public pressure as major inhibitors. In the economic category, businesses emphasise investor demands and cost drivers, whereas experts stress the lack of systemic incentives and awareness of long-term financial benefits. Interestingly, both groups agree on the positive influence of internal organisational capabilities, stakeholder engagement and leadership. These contrasting perceptions were summarised across all four categories, revealing that experts more frequently highlight barriers and systemic deficiencies, whereas businesses tend to focus on existing strengths and enabling conditions. This disconnect may reflect a deeper dual cognitive trap. Organisations may fall into a “knowledge trap,” overestimating their environmental performance due to limited awareness of broader requirements or risks. Meanwhile, experts may fall into a “practicality trap,” overemphasising structural imperfections while underestimating the adaptive learning that comes from implementation. This tension between “thinkers” and “doers” highlights the need for better integration between academia and industry and the need for knowledge transfer in both directions.
stimulators and inhibitors of environmental effectiveness
Copyright (c) 2025 Beata Paliwoda, Alina Matuszak-Flejszman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tourist Perception of Thermal Comfort: Foundations for Index Development and Application in Protected Areas
Weather conditions are a crucial factor in tourists’ perception and experience of a destination, with thermal comfort playing a direct role in visitor satisfaction and behavior. This paper presents a structured literature review focused on the development and application of climate indices in tourism geography, with particular emphasis on their methodological foundations and the integration of tourists’ subjective thermal perception. Over the past century, numerous indices have been developed to quantify climatic suitability for tourism, most notably the Tourism Climate Index (TCI) by Mieczkowski (1985). Despite its pioneering role, TCI and similar indices have faced criticism for their generic structure and limited sensitivity to real-world conditions. More recent models, like the Holiday Climate Index, aim to address these limitations by incorporating bioclimatic parameters and subjective human responses. The review highlights the need for improved methodological approaches that integrate tourists’ real-time thermal perception through surveys and empirical field data. Such approaches are crucial for refining climate indices and supporting sustainable tourism planning, especially in the context of increasing climate variability. Future research will apply these methodological guidelines in three protected areas in Croatia - Plitvice Lakes National Park, Kopački Rit Nature Park, and the Vis Archipelago Geopark - within the framework of the scientific project PACT-VIRA, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Leona Matotek, Izidora Marković Vukadin, Hrvoje Carić (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainability (RWHS) of Recharging the Aquifer and its Effect on Groundwater Chemistry of Wadi Al-Shoar Basin/ E. of Mosul City \ N. of Iraq
The Wadi Al-Shoar basin, northeast of Mosul, is a medium-sized basin and part of the Nineveh Plain. There are approximately 15 villages geographically distributed throughout the basin, in addition to the Hamdaniya district. Most of the villagers in the basin are interested in raising livestock and growing wheat, barley, and some vegetables, which they depend on. They depend on groundwater wells and rainfall during the period (October - April) of the year, which flows in the valleys that form the basin and drains into the Tigris River. The sources of the basin begin at Mount Ain al-Safra and Mount Bashiqa in the northeast of the basin. The Wadi al-Shoar basin is characterized by a gradual slope from the northeast to the southwest, where the Wadi al-Shoar basin flows into the Tigris River. This prompts us to consider implementing the idea of rainwater harvesting in the wadi Al-Shoar basin, in order to benefit from it for many purposes and not waste a single drop of rainwater falling on the basin. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. It is a process used for collecting and storing rainwater for later use. It is an ancient technique that has gained popularity in recent years due to its environmental and economic benefits. Rainwater harvesting can be implemented on both small and large scales, by using different types of storage structures such as weirs or small dams primarily for humans, irrigation and livestock. More over the stored rainwater behind the weirs or small dams recharge the aquifer in the study area. Rainwater harvesting is a double agents process, firstly store water behind the weirs for different uses and secondly is recharging groundwater which in turn works to reduce the concentration of negative anions such as sulfates (SO₄) and bicarbonates (HCO₃) due to the Fatha geological formation, and positive ions such as calcium (Ca), sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg), since rainwater is considered soft and clean water. Groundwater samples obtained from (12) wells distributed inside the basin. These samples were analyzed for physical properties such as TDS, pH and Ec and their cations such as Ca, Na, Mg and K and anions such as HCO₃, SO₄, Cl, NO₃ and F. The results analysis for the first period showed that the amount of Ca present in the groundwater samples ranges from (87 – 123) mg/l, Na values were in the range of (114 - 146) mg/l, Mg concentration vary from (98 – 152) mg/l and K ranges from (1.2 - 3.4) mg/l. While values for anions concentration such as HCO₃ range (187- 267) mg/l , SO₄ values range ( 220-550) mg/l, Cl values range (58-94) mg/l, NO₃ values range ( 32-43) mg/l and F values range (0.3-1.2) mg/l. While the results analysis of second period differ slightly from the first period, which showed that the amount of Ca present in the groundwater samples ranges from (74 – 89) mg/l, Na values were in the range of (95 - 122)mg/l, Mg concentration vary from (102 – 142)mg/l and K ranges from (1.3 - 2.8)mg/l. While values for anions concentration such as HCO₃ range (166- 236)mg/l , SO₄ values range ( 220-440) mg/l, Cl values range (46-86) mg/l, NO₃ values range ( 24-32) mg/l and F values range (0.28-1.14) mg/l Conservation and preservation of water resources is urgently required to be done. Water management has always been practiced in our communities since ancient times, but today this has to be done on priority basis. Rainwater harvesting can also lessen the environmental impact of urbanization on storm water drainage systems and receiving water bodies.
harvesting and conservation of rainwater
Copyright (c) 2025 Taha Hussein Al-Salim, Saba Khair Aldeen Altaee (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Decentralized Cooperation as a Tool for Rethinking Sustainable Development and the Triple global Environmental Crisis
The social sciences have contributed to rethinking the question of Development after the Second World War and the creation of the United Nations, but especially after the wars of national liberation and Decolonization of the former colonies. The credit for this questioning of the developmental approaches of the post-independence decades is given to researchers in anthropology and sociology such as Pierre Bouvier (1997) or Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan (1996). The intersection of anthropological and sociological disciplines is part of the socio-anthropological project, in which contemporary social facts are now analysed through the prism of interdisciplinarity. The distance previously marked between ethnologists and the "Others" was deconstructed, revisited and recomposed where "the other" and "the same" intersect. It is through a detailed knowledge of this "Other" that the ethnologist rediscovers his "Self". What had being called Otherness and the identical are one-dimensional, and the area of public action within which this one-dimensionality is manifesting is "Decentralized Cooperation". Decentralized cooperation allows us to move away from the developmental paradigm of developed people or countries on one side, and developed people or countries on the other side. This approach to social change results from the desire of external actors to implement development projects for the benefit of internal actors in an interventionist and humanitarian perspective, without always taking into account local singularities and dynamics. On the other hand, the current sustainable development issue is inseparable from the phenomenon of globalization or "glocalization" (Schuerkens, 2015), one might say. This is even truer when we talk about societal issues that concern all countries in the world, such as the triple planetary environmental crisis including “pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity". In France, the international cooperation actions of local authorities and networks of international solidarity actors make it possible to respond concretely to environmental issues and, more generally, to sustainability. The objective of this presentation is to present concrete case studies in the French context where the Diplomacy of cities, departments and regions makes it possible to respond to environmental issues, in addition to State Diplomacy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Clotilde Ekoka Dikanda (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Human Health Risk Assessment and Geospatial Analysis for Safe Restoration of Polluted Sites
Soil contamination caused by industrialization and urbanization affects human health and acts of slowing down Soil Strategy set at the EU Level. The role of human health risk assessment (HHRA) from contaminated land is described in the current paper. Currently, Romania lacks a comprehensive HHRA tool for pollution control and land management. Thus, POLITEHNICA Bucharest developed a tool with an integrated geospatial analysis, HHRA and quality interpretation to determine the scale of risks posed by contaminated sites in supporting remediation and future land reuse. The current assessment investigated an old deposit of petroleum products located in Southern Romania. The HHRA considered 16 sampling locations and soil analysis. The contaminants used in the assessment were metals (nickel and lead) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene), following an industrial scenario. Three on-site worker exposure routes were investigated: dermal contact, inhalation and ingestion of groundwater (volatilization and leaching models according to ASTM standard). The tool results indicated the cumulative carcinogenic risk (CR) exceeded 10-5 benchmark for all sampling locations and non-cancer target risk (HI) has exceeded 1 in one sampling location. The highest CR is driven by Ni (1.29E-3) considering the ingestion route and lowest CR is given by ethylbenzene (9.94E-12) via inhalation. As for HI, benzene has the highest value (1.53E+00) under the groundwater ingestion route. While, geospatial analysis allowed visualization of key hotspots. HHRA may be similar or higher for residential (children and adults) off-site exposure, investigations are needed for pollution control and future land development plans.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rusalina Lupu, Diana-Mariana Cocârță (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Climate Induce Migration: The Struggle of Climate Migrants in Dhaka, Bangladesh
The presentation critically examines the intersection of climate-induced migration, urban housing, and health in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The effect of environmental stressors including flooding, salinity intrusion, and riverbank erosion driving migration to Dhaka is explored. Push–pull migration theory, predictive modelling and retrospective accounts from multilateral organisations are evaluated to assess these drivers and how they are framed, often as adaptation failure or resilience strategy. Next, how national climate plans from 2005 to 2023 have addressed the housing needs of climate migrants in Dhaka over time is reviewed. A temporal-comparative analysis traces shifts in recognition of migration, evolution of housing policy from infrastructure provision to rights-based approaches, and emerging climate finance mechanisms. Lastly, institutional responses to health risks in Dhaka’s informal settlements, comparing topdown programmes by intergovernmental agencies with bottom-up NGO-led initiatives, with attention to sanitation, gender equity, and community participation were evaluated. Thematic coding methodologies interrogated how policies and interventions frame migration, recognise vulnerable groups, and negotiate informality. The findings highlight persistent gaps between institutional narratives and lived realities, underscoring the need for integrated, rights-based urban adaptation strategies that address both housing and health for climate migrants.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ben Jupp (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Starlink, Satelittes And South African Emf Law: A Review Of Regulatory Adequacy And Ethical Concerns
This paper critically evaluates South Africa’s legislative framework governing communications technology, with a specific focus on regulatory standards for electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. EMFs, frequently emitted by technologies such as satellites, cell towers, and radio transmission systems, present increasing environmental and public health concerns. The study analyses the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Act and the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005, both of which incorporate international standards from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). By benchmarking South African law against these global norms, the paper identifies notable regulatory gaps, particularly in the recognition and control of non-ionising radiation, potential microwave weaponization, and associated neuro-ethical risks. The analysis is anchored on two guiding questions: (1) whether South African law sufficiently regulates EMF emissions in both civilian and military contexts, and (2) whether existing exposure limits are substantively aligned with evolving international health recommendations. Utilising the deployment of Starlink’s satellite technology as a contextual case study, the paper lays the foundation for a broader critique of the adequacy and responsiveness of current legal instruments in safeguarding environmental health in the digital age.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lesego Masisi, Masego Mokgoko (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Updating the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): Enhancing andImplementing a Better, Realistic and Equitable Climate Ambition Using the EuropeanUnion’s Experience
The research paper aims to identify best practices and innovative policies of the European Union on climate change mitigation that will serve as models in institutionalizing and replicating these in the Philippines to ensure that climate change remains at the forefront of the Philippine government’s national agenda. Despite being a relatively minor contributor to global emissions, the economic toll of climate change on the Philippines is substantial. In 2021, the Philippines submitted its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Under the business-as-usual scenario, the Philippines has committed to a projected greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and avoidance of 75% for 2020 to 2030. The commitment reflects both unconditional and conditional targets of 2.71% and 72.29%, respectively, for agriculture; waste; industries and industrial processes; transportation; and energy sectors. As a negotiating tool to access means of implementation and support (MOIs) – climate finance, capacity building, and technology development and transfer – the NDC of the Philippines is considered an investment strategy to further strengthen international cooperation in delivering climate finance and accelerating climate investments to achieve global and national climate action goals.
Copyright (c) 2025 Carlos Manuel Borja Jr (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Climate-Related Extreme Events and Mortality Rates in Mexico
Climate projections in Mexico predict an increase between 1.4 and 2.5 oC. A consequence of this is a greater number of extreme events and their intensity. In Mexico, the economic costs generated by these events is significant (0.3% of GPD annually). Another impact is on human health. In this work we study the relationship between extreme events and their impact in mortality rates of diverse causes of death. We use a database of extreme events from the National Center for Disaster Prevention and mortality rates from the Health Secretariat. With these data we formulate a panel model for 2018 to 2022 for all municipalities in Mexico. We find that an extreme event increases in 15% the number of deaths of selected causes. Analyzing specific causes, we find an increase of 50% in mortality from mental illnesses, 70% in mortality by accidents, an 100% in respiratory and viral diseases. These results have relevant policy implications, specifically in highlighting the importance of disaster prevention by reducing the fiscal burden of these kinds of events in terms of health.
Copyright (c) 2025 José Lara-Pulido, María Zorrilla, Juan Manuel Torres Rojo (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bio-Inspired Adaptive Facade Using Smart Materials
Currently the energy performance of many existing buildings in Egypt is hindered by poorly insulated and inadequately sealed facades, which allow excessive heat gain and loss. This inefficiency significantly increases the dependence on active cooling systems, resulting in high energy consumption. Addressing these shortcomings, this research proposes a passive, climate-responsive facade system that enhances thermal performance while reducing energy demand. Biomimetic architecture offers innovative strategies for sustainable design by emulating nature’s adaptation mechanisms. This study introduces a bio-inspired adaptive facade modeled after the temperature-sensitive petal behavior of the mangrove flower. The mangrove flower exhibits adaptive petal behavior in response to temperature—a trait abstracted and translated into architecture using bimetal smart material. Composed of two bonded layers with differing thermal expansion coefficients, bimetal bends predictably with temperature changes, eliminating the need for mechanical or electrical inputs. Creased bimetal sheets were designed to mimic the flower’s responsive movements— expanding in high temperatures to provide shading and folding in lower temperatures to permit solar gain. Prototypes and tests demonstrated the biomodules’ potential as energy-free, self-regulating shading devices suitable for building facades. Dynamic thermal simulations using Rhino/Grasshopper and Ladybug tools compared the baseline curtain-wall facade with the proposed adaptive skin. The biomimetic system resulted in indoor peak temperature reductions of up to 3.8°C and cut cooling energy demand by approximately 30%, while enhancing overall thermal comfort. These results validate the integration of biomimetic principles and smart materials as a viable solution for improving facade performance in hot-arid climates such as Egypt. Additionally, the Thermal Comfort Percentage (TCP) improved significantly from 0% to 60%, and cooling energy savings reached up to 0.8 kWh, further demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in optimizing energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yasmin Moussa, Ahmed Faggal, Ashraf Nessim, Rasha Abdelateef (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Towards Educational Decarbonization: A Comparative Analysis from Global Metropolitan Regions for the Greater Bay Area
Carbon neutrality in the education sector is a growing concern within climate governance frameworks worldwide. In less developed countries such as China, the role of the education sector in decarbonization is often underestimated compared to traditionally high-emission industries. As a region aspiring to become a model for green and smart development, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has introduced various policies promoting low-carbon schools. Meanwhile, significant barriers—such as the system inconsistency, lack of tailored carbon accounting tools for K-12 institutions, limited engagement and low financial resources allocation—have structurally constrained implementation. Through a comparative analysis of policies, tools, and arrangements, this study investigates how global metropolitan regions in developed countries—specifically the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater London—have approached carbon accounting and climate action in the education sectors, and accordingly provide insights for the GBA’s unique cross-jurisdictional context. Preliminary findings suggest that institutionalized and accredited support mechanisms (e.g., standardized emissions reporting protocols, curriculum integration, and public-private partnerships) play a critical role in fostering decarbonisation at the school level. Furthermore, efficient data systems and regional networks among schools have enabled collective learning and continuous advancements in cities like London and San Francisco. The value of these cases have been underappreciated in developing a regionally adaptable, campus-friendly carbon accounting tool, as well as building a collaborative governance model that bridges the gap among different stakeholders, such as local education bureaus, environmental agencies, and community groups, in the GBA. This paper advances efforts towards urban sustainability by recognizing education not only as a carbon emitter but also as a key platform for fostering climate awareness and sustainable practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 Minxing Guo (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Comparative Analysis of LEED Certification Trends in Western and Eastern Europe: An Overview of Adoption and Growth (2006–2024)
Buildings have a crucial role since they consume around 30% to 40% of the total energy resources. Green building certification is one of the solutions to limit the energy use in buildings. Sustainable certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are essential for European carbon neutrality and advance sustainability practices. In addition, LEED is seen to indicate a consideration for sustainability aspects in construction and how healthy, efficient buildings are. the purpose of This research is to investigates the evolution of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in both Western and Eastern Europe between 2006 and 2024. The study seeks to explore and understand the temporal LEED evolution patterns, certification level distributions, and sectoral variations. The Findings from the analysis of 3587 LEED certified project indicate differences between western Europe that leads in certifications with 81.1% of all LEED certifications in the region (2,908 out of 3,587 projects) due to advanced regulations and commitments, while Eastern Europe has only 18.9% (679 projects) but it demonstrated rapid growth, caused by EU policies and economic evolution. The findings offer valuable thoughts using a regional comparability approach focusing in green LEED certified projects disparities and diagnose the problems that Disable the EU for being a sustainable continent.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ismail Nime (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sustainability Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Fines Stabilization Using Biopolymers: CO₂ Emissions, Financial Evaluation, ESG, and SDG Alignment
The management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has become a pressing global challenge, with Municipal Solid Waste Fines (MSWF)—the fine fraction of processed MSW—emerging as a potential resource for geotechnical applications when appropriately stabilized. This study conducts a comprehensive sustainability analysis of three MSWF stabilization methods: biobased stabilizers Xanthan Gum (XG) and Agar Gum (AG), and traditional lime. The analysis evaluates carbon footprints, economic viability, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) impacts, and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15. Results reveal that AG is carbon-negative, producing -2.53 kg CO₂e per ton of MSWF, while XG emits 17.76 kg CO₂e/ton, and lime emits a substantial 102 kg CO₂e/ton. Financially, lime and XG are cost-competitive at approximately ₹516/ton, whereas AG, at ₹2073.5/ton, offers long-term economic benefits through carbon credits, particularly in high-value carbon markets. ESG analyses highlight the superior environmental and social performance of bio-based stabilizers, with AG excelling due to its carbon sequestration potential and minimal ecological disruption. Both sustainability approaches—reusing MSWF and adopting biopolymers—align strongly with SDGs, promoting sustainable infrastructure, urban development, responsible consumption, climate action, and biodiversity protection. This study underscores the potential of bio-based stabilizers to transform waste management and geotechnical engineering, offering a pathway toward resilient and environmentally responsible construction practices. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, engineers, and sustainability practitioners aiming to integrate circular economy principles into infrastructure development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Arun Prasad , Abhay Kumar Verma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Enhancing Recycling Efficiency for Beverage Cartons
Paper-based multi-layer packaging (MLP) such as beverage cartons is increasingly regarded as a sustainable alternative to plastic due to the biodegradability of cellulose fibres. However, despite global consumption exceeding 250 billion beverage cartons in 2023 - requiring approximately 5 million tonnes of slow-growing softwood - only 20-30% of these fibres are successfully recycled. The primary challenge lies in the polyethylene (PE) barrier layers, which impede water penetration, extending disintegration times from 2-4 minutes (plain paper) to 20-40 minutes. This prolonged processing increases energy consumption and leads to fibre contamination by residual plastics, reducing pulp quality. This study simulates industrial hydropulping conditions, examining the delamination and disintegration mechanisms of MLP under turbulent flow. Cavitation was shown to weaken interfacial bonds between PE and paper, accelerating separation. Additionally, we investigated the influence of propeller design and vessel geometry on flow characteristics, highlighting their critical role in optimising hydropulping efficiency. Given that MLP recycling remains significantly slower than conventional paper recycling, these insights offer a pathway to improving fibre recovery rates, reducing energy demands, and enhancing the overall sustainability of beverage carton recycling.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anya Parmar, Wei Fan, Tianhao Xiong, Zeliana Paspati, Idris Mohammed, Eskil Andreasson (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessment of Human Rights Risks in the Construction Project: A Case of SGR Project
Although the investment in construction projects such as Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) offers numerous benefits, it also poses social, environmental, and human rights risks. As Tanzania is committed to protecting human rights associated with project implementation, the question of how the implementation of the SGR project promotes and ensures the protection of human rights remains a matter of concern. This paper assessed human rights risks/issues that may cause or result from the SGR implementation. Through Key Informant Interviews, field observations and desktop studies, the contractor policies and actions have been assessed to identify how its operations avoid human rights risks where possible, and if unavoidable, how the risks are minimized and mitigated, and where residual impacts remain, how remedies are provided. It was found that the human rights risks range from lower to high-level risks which can adequately be mitigated. The findings have been presented in the form of a human rights heat map. The major human rights risks are those related to land acquisition and resettlement. These include property rights, livelihood rights, right to an adequate standard of living, right to food security, women’s rights, rights of vulnerable groups, right to life, health rights, child rights, and right to education to mention but a few. It is recommended that the contractor need to prepare a human rights implementation plan to mitigate and monitor human rights risks to ensure the sustainability of the SGR project.
Copyright (c) 2024 Emanoel Richard Alfred (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Conception and Evaluation of Irrigation System Based on Internet of Things
This study investigates the precision and efficacy of irrigation water distribution equipped with Raspberry Pi technology compared to manual irrigation water distribution. For that 5 scenarios (A,B,C,D,E) were investigated and analyzed respectively. Scenarios A was the irrigation water distributed manually, and B,C,D,E were those managed with raspberry Pi4. The analysis focused on various aspects including performance, minimal deviation, monitoring and the system water distribution capability. The results showed low standard deviations in most groups, pinpointing Group B with a minimum of 1.84; indicating a high degree of consistency in the quantity of water supplied. Group E stands out with the highest maximum standard deviation of 18.34, an indication of higher variability in the water distributed. This standard deviation is obtained in this scenario because of the way the irrigation is planned as an alternance of 90% and 110% of Group Applied water. The maximum difference percentage between targeted values (traditional manual irrigation methods) and means of obtained from Raspberry Pi4 values is generally low (e.g., 2.60% in Group A). This indicates that the irrigation system closely aligns with the targeted values, signifying good accuracy. Additionally, time series analysis highlights the system's ability to maintain uniform water distribution over time. The system's optimization for maintaining consistent water levels contributes to uniform plant or crop growth, emphasizing the potential of IoT-based precision agriculture. These findings underscore the benefits of using Raspberry Pi technology in modern irrigation systems and its potential to revolutionize agricultural practices.
Copyright (c) 2024 Abdoul Chakouri Adenigni a F Salam, Dr Kadir Ersin Temizel (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Environmental Sustainability and Solid Waste Management: Insights from GilgitBaltistan, Pakistan
Solid waste management (SWM) is a crucial responsibility of city administrations and serves as an effective indicator of good governance globally. Effective SWM reduces health and environmental risks, conserves resources, and enhances urban livability. However, unsustainable SWM practices, intensified by rapid urbanization and financial and institutional constraints, adversely affect public health and environmental sustainability. This review article examines the human and environmental health impacts of SWM practices in the major cities of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region that was once a naturally livable place. Utilizing a desktop research methodology, the study conducts an in-depth analysis of secondary data and literature, including official documents from government ministries and published articles. The study finds that typical SWM practices involve mixing household and commercial waste with hazardous materials during storage and handling. Waste is usually stored in outdated or poorly maintained facilities, such as storage containers, while the transportation system is often inadequate and informal, lacking a proper framework. Predominant disposal methods include uncontrolled dumping, open-air incineration, and landfilling. These practices lead to air and water pollution, land degradation, methane emissions, and hazardous leachate, all of which contribute to climate change, a significant challenge today. These negative impacts impose substantial environmental and public health costs, particularly affecting marginalized social groups. The paper concludes by offering recommendations to reduce the public and environmental health risks linked to the current SWM practices in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dr. Nasir Hussain, Dr. Shaista Nasir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Influence of salinization and water intermittency on morphological and biological characteristics of the genus Luciobarbus Heckel, 1842: comparative approaches
Context/Purpose: Climate change presents a significant challenge in Morocco, particularly in relation to its impact on freshwater ecosystems. The country's arid zones, characterized by limited rainfall and high evaporation, are experiencing increasing salinity levels, while once flourishing wetlands are facing a range of altering factors. Methods: This unique duality provides an opportunity to explore the effects of high salinity on freshwater fish, specifically focusing on species of the Luciobarbus genus found in two contrasting watersheds - Draa and Zat. By comparing various biological and morphological characteristics, this research aims to understand the impact of salinity and intermittency on these fish. Results: Investigation findings reveal significant differences among the studied populations. Fish in the Haut-Draa basin, characterized by lower salinity and permanent water presence, showcased a higher gonadosomatic index, suggesting more active sexual activity at 13%. Conversely, fish in the Middle Draa basin, with intermittent and higher salinity conditions, exhibited a much lower index of 4%, implying a slower rate of sexual activity. Additionally, the weight-length relationship varied across basins, with the Middle Draa basin recording the lowest scaled mass index of 11 g, while the Zat basin exhibited the highest at 14 g. The morphological analysis also displayed notable distinctions in fish from the Middle Draa basin, with shorter total and standard lengths compared to counterparts from the Haut-Draa and Zat basins. Interpretation: The results suggest that high salinity and intermittence impact the reproductive activity, weight-length relationships, and morphological characteristics of Luciobarbus species. The differences observed between the basins underscore the influence of environmental stressors on freshwater fish populations. Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by high salinity in different regions, providing a foundation for the development of effective conservation and adaptation strategies. By mitigating the impacts of climate change on freshwater ecosystems and the organisms’ dependent on them, it is possible to safeguard these valuable resources for the future.
Copyright (c) 2024 Abdelilah Ahnich, Fayçal Aitboumallassa, Souhaib Hanfouri, Mohammed Znari, Hanane khalki, Mohamed Naimi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
African Humanism: The Paradigm For Indigenous Environmental Ethics And Practice
There is this connection, this web of relations and perhaps interdependence between man and his natural environment. However, in most cases, man has dominated and continue to exert efforts aimed at dominating, manipulating and conquering his environment for his ends. This has created the problem of environmental degradation and global warming. The study offers African humanistic ontology as a paradigm for sustainable environmental ethics. Using the method of criticism, it evaluates Western anthropocentrism which seeks to establish the lordship of man over nature, thereby dominating and conquering the natural environment, perhaps to his own peril; the method of conceptual analysis is used in elucidating relevant terms and concepts. This study argues that the explanatory factors of Africa’s environmental challenges could be seen in the abandonment of her ontological worldview (of life forces harmoniously coexisting with one another) in preference for Western ideologies which seek to subdue nature. It therefore maintains that a return to the original indigenous African humanism, which establishes a web of connection between man and nature, is necessary for solving her ecological problems.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ikechukwu Alamezie (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The effect of urban wastewater treated by trickling filter on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) growth
The irrigation with treated wastewater (TWW) can be a promising solution to mitigate the dependence on fresh water in agriculture. For this purpose and after physicochemical analysis of TWW (T°, pH, electrical conductivity, TSS, BOD5, COD, PO43-, TKN, Cl-, etc.), their effect on the agro-physiological parameters of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was assessed. Indeed, a pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions for eight weeks using different ratios of TWW against natural water (NW) as control. Results showed that TWW was classified as non-biodegradable (BOD5/COD < 0.3). For chickpea responses, result proved that the 75% TWW showed the best effects on chickpea growth, in terms of plant height, leaf area, shoot fresh and dry weight, with an improvement of 18.5%, 62.3%, 13.0% and 25.6% respectively than control plants. Moreover, an appearance of flowers and pods was observed by this dilution (75%) with an increase in chlorophyll content by 8.2% and 41.3% than chickpea under NW and 100% TWW, respectively. In contrast, no remarkable difference was stated between plants growth irrigated with NW and those irrigated with 100% TWW, the last one is the only one that does not result in any flowering than all other treatment. For water status, the relative water content was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in chickpea irrigated with 100% TWW than other treatment and control plants. In conclusion, the random use of this TWW in raw form present a risk for chickpea plants. However, TWW diluted at 75% can be recommended for irrigation purpose.
Copyright (c) 2024 Radouane Soujoud, Aziz Oubenali, Youssef Khachtib, Tawfik El Moussaoui, Malika Ourribane (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EU Indo-Pacific Strategy: EU’s Distinctive Values and Prospects for Sustainable Development Cooperation between EU and ASEAN
The Indo-Pacific is a relatively new and multifaceted concept in the study of contemporary global issues. However, the world’s focus is shifting towards this region. This context has compelled many countries to have a clearer presence in the area through commitments, visions, and Indo-Pacific strategies such as the USA, Japan, Canada, the UK, France, South Korea, ASEAN, and others. On September 16, 2021, the EU announced its Indo-Pacific strategy. The strategy reflects a shift in perception towards the region and the spread of EU values and “assets” in addressing global challenges such as the environment and climate change. Through a comparative perspective, the research will highlight the differences in the values the EU aims to shape in the region, such as promoting peace, openness, and avoiding political conflict to address emerging challenges. Additionally, with ASEAN’s central role in the area, the research will analyze the opportunities and prospects for sustainable development cooperation between the EU and ASEAN, where the outcomes of such collaboration will significantly contribute to the success of the EU in implementing its Indo-Pacific strategy.
Copyright (c) 2024 Thi Nga Nguyen (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Security Movements in Ghana’s Extractive Spaces: Dispossession, Community-Level Grievance and Implications for Sustainable Development
Poor governance of natural resources has long been acknowledged as a risk to human development and sustainable peace in primary commodity-producing countries across the Global South. There is evidence that natural resource extraction has played a significant role in maintaining structures of inequity and violence in developing societies. This is largely incompatible with social justice due to its disastrous socio-economic and environmental consequences. Given the fact that grievance, conflict, and forms of security movements increasingly characterize the African extractive sector, this paper seeks to explore community-level grievance and the associated security movements in the extractive spaces in Ghana drawing upon primary fieldwork data collected in the small-scale mining sector. The paper aims to critically examine the new forms of security movements as a form of natural resource governance in Ghana’s mining industry that contribute to community-level grievance and dispossession. The paper aims to answer the following questions: How do the government’s security policies contribute to community-level grievance and dispossession? How is security conceptualized or understood in Ghana’s mineral extraction? Whose security is often being prioritized and what are the implications for sustainable development or people’s wellbeing? Guided by these questions, the paper aims to conceptualize “new form security movements” in the extractive sector, its overall intersections with community-level grievance/conflicts as well as its implications for long-term community development. The paper’s overall objective is to underscore how marginalization, conflict, violence, and general insecurity issues in the extractive industry undermine development and the notion of ‘sustainable extractivism’.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nathan Andrews, Phil Faanu, Augustine Gyan , Sulemana A. Saaka (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Study on Householder-Based Management of Energy Usage Data
It is an important issue to solve sustainable environmental problems by increasing energy efficiency. A way to increase energy efficiency is possible by analyzing energy usage data and performing energy consulting. To this end, energy usage data must be managed mainly by householders, and data must be continuously accumulated for each household. However, energy usage data generated by householders has traditionally been collected for billing purposes and managed based on the residence. It is difficult to maintain the continuity of energy usage data when the householder moves out due to the residence-oriented energy usage data management. Therefore, energy usage data should be managed on the basis of the householder, not the residence. The purpose of this study is to present a householder-based energy usage data management plan. To this end, we propose a plan to realize a householder-based energy usage data management method through the process of householder authentication, identity authentication, and personal information consent. As a result of this study, it is possible to secure continuity of energy usage data, and it is expected that efficient energy management will be possible based on this study.
Copyright (c) 2024 Wooje Kim, Eunji Lee, Juseung Lee (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Dust Storm Prediction using AI and Machine Learning. A Literature Review
Dust storms have garnered increased research interest in recent years as they can significantly influence human health, climate, air quality and socioeconomic factors. This literature review investigates the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in predicting dust storms in order to identify the most effective methodologies. This literature review studies three main methodologies used in dust storm predictions: 1. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) 2. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), and 3. combinations of various ML algorithms, among them, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Classification Tree Analysis (CTA), Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS), Random Forest (RF), Stochastic Gradient Boosting (SGB), and Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE). ANN techniques appear to have very high accuracy in predicting patterns with complex geographical variables. MaxEnt is useful in presence only scenarios and Random Forest (RF) emerges as robust algorithm for handling large and complex phenomena.
Copyright (c) 2024 Soheil Bouzari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0