We are pleased to announce that 56 papers in the field of Environmental and Earth Sciences have been selected as the 2025 Best Paper Award winners.

Clean Technologies:
Functional and Environmental Performances of Novel Electrolytic Membranes for PEM Fuel Cells: A Lab-Scale Case Study
Di Virgilio, M.; Basso Peressut, A.; Arosio, V.; Arrigoni, A.; Latorrata, S.; Dotelli, G.
Clean Technol. 2023, 5, 74-93. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5010005

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage in Saline Aquifers: Subsurface Policies, Development Plans, Well Control Strategies and Optimization Approaches—A Review
Ismail, I.; Gaganis, V.
Clean Technol. 2023, 5, 609-637. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5020031

Climate:
Viticultural Manipulation and New Technologies to Address Environmental Challenges Caused by Climate Change
Sun, Q.; Granco, G.; Groves, L.; Voong, J.; Van Zyl, S.
Climate 2023, 11, 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11040083

Assessment of Precipitation and Hydrological Droughts in South America through Statistically Downscaled CMIP6 Projections
Ferreira, G.W.d.S.; Reboita, M.S.; Ribeiro, J.G.M.; de Souza, C.A.
Climate 2023, 11, 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11080166 

Generation Z Worries, Suffers and Acts against Climate Crisis—The Potential of Sensing Children’s and Young People’s Eco-Anxiety: A Critical Analysis Based on an Integrative Review
Tsevreni, I.; Proutsos, N.; Tsevreni, M.; Tigkas, D.
Climate 2023, 11, 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11080171

Diversity:
Compilation, Revision, and Annotation of DNA Barcodes of Marine Invertebrate Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) Occurring in European Coastal Regions
Lavrador, A.S.; Fontes, J.T.; Vieira, P.E.; Costa, F.O.; Duarte, S.
Diversity 2023, 15, 174. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020174

Diversity and Regional Variation of Endosymbionts in the Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer)
Yang, Q.; Umina, P.A.; Wei, S.; Bass, C.; Yu, W.; Robinson, K.L.; Gill, A.; Zhan, D.; Ward, S.E.; van Rooyen, A.; et al.
Diversity 2023, 15, 206. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020206 

Phylogeny of Serpulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) Inferred from Morphology and DNA Sequences, with a New Classification
Kupriyanova, E.; ten Hove, H.A.; Rouse, G.W.
Diversity 2023, 15, 398. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030398

The Application of eDNA for Monitoring Aquatic Non-Indigenous Species: Practical and Policy Considerations
Fonseca, V.G.; Davison, P.I.; Creach, V.; Stone, D.; Bass, D.; Tidbury, H.J.
Diversity 2023, 15, 631. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050631 

Energies:
Assessing Fossil Fuels and Renewables’ Impact on Energy Poverty Conditions in Europe
Halkos, G.; Gkampoura, E.-C.
Energies 2023, 16, 560. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010560

Forecasting Energy Consumption of a Public Building Using Transformer and Support Vector Regression
Huang, J.; Kaewunruen, S. 
Energies 2023, 16, 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16020966

Review and Comparison of Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization in the Optimal Power Flow Problem
Papazoglou, G.; Biskas, P.
Energies 2023, 16, 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031152 

Energy Consumption of Electric Vehicles: Analysis of Selected Parameters Based on Created Database
Mądziel, M.; Campisi, T.
Energies 2023, 16, 1437. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031437

A Global Review of the Hydrogen Energy Eco-System
Noyan, O.F.; Hasan, M.M.; Pala, N.
Energies 2023, 16, 1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031484 

Electric Vehicle User Behavior: An Analysis of Charging Station Utilization in Canada
Jonas, T.; Daniels, N.; Macht, G.
Energies 2023, 16, 1592. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041592 

A Review of Hydroponics and Conventional Agriculture Based on Energy and Water Consumption, Environmental Impact, and Land Use
Pomoni, D.I.; Koukou, M.K.; Vrachopoulos, M.G.; Vasiliadis, L.
Energies 2023, 16, 1690. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041690

Evolution of CCUS Technologies Using LDA Topic Model and Derwent Patent Data
Huang, L.; Hou, Z.; Fang, Y.; Liu, J.; Shi, T.
Energies 2023, 16, 2556. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16062556

Energy Behaviors of Prosumers in Example of Polish Households
Gajdzik, B.; Jaciow, M.; Wolniak, R.; Wolny, R.; Grebski, W.W.
Energies 2023, 16, 3186. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16073186

Virtual Power Plant with Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Storage Systems for Sustainable Power Grid-Formation, Control Techniques and Demand Response
Liu, J.; Hu, H.; Yu, S.S.; Trinh, H.
Energies 2023, 16, 3705. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093705 

Predicting Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings Using Advanced Machine Learning Algorithms
Dinmohammadi, F.; Han, Y.; Shafiee, M.
Energies 2023, 16, 3748. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093748

Liquid Water Characteristics in the Compressed Gradient Porosity Gas Diffusion Layer of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method
Yan, S.; Yang, M.; Sun, C.; Xu, S.
Energies 2023, 16, 6010. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16166010

The Impact of the 2020–2022 Crises on EU Countries’ Independence from Energy Imports, Particularly from Russia
Rokicki, T.; Bórawski, P.; Szeberényi, A.
Energies 2023, 16, 6629. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16186629 

Environments:
Fate and Impacts of Microplastics in the Environment: Hydrosphere, Pedosphere, and Atmosphere
Haque, F.; Fan, C.
Environments 2023, 10, 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10050070 

Differential Sorption of Short-Chain versus Long-Chain Anionic Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances by Soils
Brusseau, M.L.
Environments 2023, 10, 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100175

Forests:
Physical and Mechanical Properties of High-Density Fiberboard Bonded with Bio-Based Adhesives
Gumowska, A.; Kowaluk, G.
Forests 2023, 14, 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010084

Biological Deterioration and Natural Durability of Wood in Europe
Martín, J.A.; López, R.
Forests 2023, 14, 283. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020283

Tree Species Classification in a Complex Brazilian Tropical Forest Using Hyperspectral and LiDAR Data
Pereira Martins-Neto, R.; Garcia Tommaselli, A.M.; Imai, N.N.; Honkavaara, E.; Miltiadou, M.; Saito Moriya, E.A.; David, H.C.
Forests 2023, 14, 945. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050945

Mechanical Properties of Wood: A Review
Arriaga, F.; Wang, X.; Íñiguez-González, G.; Llana, D.F.; Esteban, M.; Niemz, P.
Forests 2023, 14, 1202. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061202 

Geosciences:
Near-Surface 2D Imaging via FWI of DAS Data: An Examination on the Impacts of FWI Starting Model
Yust, M.B.S.; Cox, B.R.; Vantassel, J.P.; Hubbard, P.G.; Boehm, C.; Krischer, L.
Geosciences 2023, 13, 63. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13030063 

Improving the Estimation of the Occurrence Time of an Impending Major Earthquake Using the Entropy Change of Seismicity in Natural Time Analysis
Varotsos, P.A.; Sarlis, N.V.; Skordas, E.S.; Nagao, T.; Kamogawa, M.; Flores-Márquez, E.L.; Ramírez-Rojas, A.; Perez-Oregon, J.
Geosciences 2023, 13, 222. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13080222

Hydrology:
Probabilistic Approach to Tank Design in Rainwater Harvesting Systems”
by Luís Cea and Pierfranco Costabile Di Chiano, M.G.; Marchioni, M.; Raimondi, A.; Sanfilippo, U.; Becciu, G.
Hydrology 2023, 10, 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10030059

Spatiotemporal Variability in Total Dissolved Solids and Total Suspended Solids along the Colorado River
Adjovu, G.E.; Stephen, H.; Ahmad, S.
Hydrology 2023, 10, 125. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10060125 

Urban Flood Modelling under Extreme Rainfall Conditions for Building-Level Flood Exposure Analysis
Iliadis, C.; Galiatsatou, P.; Glenis, V.; Prinos, P.; Kilsby, C.
Hydrology 2023, 10, 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10080172

Land:
Remote Sensing and Invasive Plants in Coastal Ecosystems: What We Know So Far and Future Prospects
Villalobos Perna, P.; Di Febbraro, M.; Carranza, M.L.; Marzialetti, F.; Innangi, M.
Land 2023, 12, 341. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020341 

A Decision Support Tool for Green Infrastructure Planning in the Face of Rapid Urbanization
Brom, P.; Engemann, K.; Breed, C.; Pasgaard, M.; Onaolapo, T.; Svenning, J.-C.
Land 2023, 12, 415. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020415 

Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Green Spaces: Testing a Model in the City of Padova (Italy)
Semenzato, P.; Bortolini, L.
Land 2023, 12, 476. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020476

Land Use Planning and Green Environment Services: The Contribution of Trail Paths to Sustainable Development
Kyriakopoulos, G.L.
Land 2023, 12, 1041. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051041

Unraveling the European Agricultural Policy Sustainable Development Trajectory
Doukas, Y.E.; Salvati, L.; Vardopoulos, I.
Land 2023, 12, 1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091749 

How Can Plants Help Restore Degraded Tropical Soils?
Massoukou Pamba, R.; Poirier, V.; Nguema Ndoutoumou, P.; Epule, T.E.
Land 2023, 12, 2147. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12122147

Minerals:
Silicification of Wood: An Overview
Mustoe, G.E.
Minerals 2023, 13, 206. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13020206

Potential Future Alternative Resources for Rare Earth Elements: Opportunities and Challenges
Balaram, V.
Minerals 2023, 13, 425. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030425

Comparison of Quantitative X-ray Diffraction Mineral Analysis Methods
Xiao, J.; Song, Y.; Li, Y.
Minerals 2023, 13, 566. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040566

Remote Sensing:
G-Rep: Gaussian Representation for Arbitrary-Oriented Object Detection
Hou, L.; Lu, K.; Yang, X.; Li, Y.; Xue, J.
Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 757. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15030757

Surface ALbedo VALidation (SALVAL) Platform: Towards CEOS LPV Validation Stage 4—Application to Three Global Albedo Climate Data Records
Sánchez-Zapero, J.; Martínez-Sánchez, E.; Camacho, F.; Wang, Z.; Carrer, D.; Schaaf, C.; García-Haro, F.J.; Nickeson, J.; Cosh, M.
Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 1081. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15041081

Global Water Quality of Inland Waters with Harmonized Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 Using Cloud-Computed Machine Learning
Arias-Rodriguez, L.F.; Tüzün, U.F.; Duan, Z.; Huang, J.; Tuo, Y.; Disse, M.
Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 1390. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15051390 

Continuously Updated Digital Elevation Models (CUDEMs) to Support Coastal Inundation Modeling
Amante, C.J.; Love, M.; Carignan, K.; Sutherland, M.G.; MacFerrin, M.; Lim, E.
Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 1702. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15061702 

Seasonal Vegetation Trends for Europe over 30 Years from a Novel Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Time-Series—The TIMELINE NDVI Product
Eisfelder, C.; Asam, S.; Hirner, A.; Reiners, P.; Holzwarth, S.; Bachmann, M.; Gessner, U.; Dietz, A.; Huth, J.; Bachofer, F.; et al.
Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 3616. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15143616

Sustainability:
Adaptation after Extreme Flooding Events: Moving or Staying? The Case of the Ahr Valley in Germany
Truedinger, A.J.; Jamshed, A.; Sauter, H.; Birkmann, J.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 1407. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021407

Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health
Khangura, R.; Ferris, D.; Wagg, C.; Bowyer, J.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 2338. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032338

Quantification of the Cooling Effect and Cooling Distance of Urban Green Spaces Based on Their Vegetation Structure and Size as a Basis for Management Tools for Mitigating Urban Climate
Gallay, I.; Olah, B.; Murtinová, V.; Gallayová, Z.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 3705. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043705

Exploring the Impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on Sustainability Trends
Ordonez-Ponce, E.
Sustainability 2023, 15, 16647. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416647 

Urban Science:
Urbanization and Land Use Planning for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Case Study of Greece
Kalfas, D.; Kalogiannidis, S.; Chatzitheodoridis, F.; Toska, E.
Urban Sci. 2023, 7, 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci7020043

Water:
Application of Machine Learning in Water Resources Management: A Systematic Literature Review
Ghobadi, F.; Kang, D.
Water 2023, 15, 620. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040620 

Research Progress of High-Salinity Wastewater Treatment Technology
Guo, L.; Xie, Y.; Sun, W.; Xu, Y.; Sun, Y.
Water 2023, 15, 684. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040684

Impacts of Medicanes on Geomorphology and Infrastructure in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Case of Medicane Ianos and the Ionian Islands in Western Greece
Diakakis, M.; Mavroulis, S.; Filis, C.; Lozios, S.; Vassilakis, E.; Naoum, G.; Soukis, K.; Konsolaki, A.; Kotsi, E.; Theodorakatou, D.; et al.
Water 2023, 15, 1026. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061026

A Digital Twin Dam and Watershed Management Platform
Park, D.; You, H.
Water 2023, 15, 2106. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15112106