Sustainability

20 pages, 1700 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Conceptualization of an Indicator System for Assessing the Sustainability of the Bioeconomy

by Vincent Egenolf and Stefan Bringezu

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020443 - 16 Jan 2019

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 9139

The increased use of biogenic resources is linked to expectations of “green” economic growth, innovation spurts through biotechnology, development options for rural areas, and an increasingly regenerative resource base that is also climate-neutral. However, for several years the signs for unintentional and unwanted [...] Read more.

The increased use of biogenic resources is linked to expectations of “green” economic growth, innovation spurts through biotechnology, development options for rural areas, and an increasingly regenerative resource base that is also climate-neutral. However, for several years the signs for unintentional and unwanted side effects have been increasing. In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was published at the international level in order to address this problem and deliver a starting point for a comprehensive sustainability criteria evaluation catalogue. Impact indicators to quantify the environmental burden induced by national activities in foreign countries are especially lacking. In this article a comprehensive framework for the evaluation of the sustainability of the bioeconomy, considering key objectives and relevant criteria for environmental, economic, and social sustainability is developed. A special focus is set to the intersection area of the three pillars of sustainability, where the particularly important integrative key objectives and the indicators assigned to them (e.g., resource footprints) apply. This indicator set can be used as a basis for bio-economy monitoring, which uses and produces differently aggregated information on different levels of action, with a focus at the national level but also including global impacts of domestic production and consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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20 pages, 2615 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Rural Tourism in Georgia in Transition: Challenges for Regional Sustainability

by Lela Khartishvili, Andreas Muhar, Thomas Dax and Ioseb Khelashvili

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020410 - 15 Jan 2019

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 13197

Abstract

Tourism in rural regions of Georgia has a long tradition; however, many structures had been developed during Soviet times under the framework of a centrally planned economy and forced collectivism. Today, Rural Tourism is widely discussed by the national government and international cooperation [...] Read more.

Tourism in rural regions of Georgia has a long tradition; however, many structures had been developed during Soviet times under the framework of a centrally planned economy and forced collectivism. Today, Rural Tourism is widely discussed by the national government and international cooperation partners as a means for regional development and as an alternative source of employment in agricultural areas and mountain regions. The purpose of this study is to develop suggestions for the institutionalization of Rural Tourism in the country and to propose relevant actions. Research methods comprised a document analysis, qualitative interviews with various stakeholders, and focus group discussions. We analyzed recent tendencies and challenges of rural tourism development in Georgia with a focus on the concept of community-based tourism and integrated rural development. We also review the challenges of the current structure of tourism marketing on the national level with regard to Rural Tourism products. The key findings of the research include recommendations to create a central leading structure for rural tourism at the national level, which will work on strategic issues and general norms of Rural Tourism. At the same time, we propose the development of destination management organizations, which will integrate general provisions in regional legislation and marketing in close cooperation with local stakeholders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Sustainable Communities: Planning, Design and Implementation)

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13 pages, 246 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Copula-Based Approach for Accommodating the Underreporting Effect in Wildlife‒Vehicle Crash Analysis

by Yajie Zou, Xinzhi Zhong, Jinjun Tang, Xin Ye, Lingtao Wu, Muhammad Ijaz and Yinhai Wang

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020418 - 15 Jan 2019

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 3470

Abstract

Wildlife‒vehicle collision (WVC) data usually contain two types: the reported WVC data and carcass removal data. Previous studies often found a discrepancy between the number of reported WVC and carcass removal data, and the quality of both datasets is affected by underreporting. Underreporting [...] Read more.

Wildlife‒vehicle collision (WVC) data usually contain two types: the reported WVC data and carcass removal data. Previous studies often found a discrepancy between the number of reported WVC and carcass removal data, and the quality of both datasets is affected by underreporting. Underreporting means the number of WVCs is not fully recorded in the database; neglecting the underreporting in WVC data may result in biased parameter estimation results. In this study, a copula regression model linking wildlife‒vehicle collisions and the underreporting outcome was proposed to consider the underreporting in WVC data. The WVC data collected from 10 highways in Washington State were analyzed using the copula regression model and the Negative Binomial (NB) model. The main findings from this study are as follows: (1) the Gaussian copula model can provide different modeling results when compared with the conventional modeling approach; (2) the hotspot identification results indicate that the Gaussian copula-based Empirical Bayes (EB) method can more accurately identify hotspots than the NB-based EB method. Thus, the proposed copula model may be a better alternative to the conventional NB model for modeling underreported WVC data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

22 pages, 1995 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Circular Cities: Challenges to Implementing Looping Actions

by Joanna Williams

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020423 - 15 Jan 2019

Cited by 86 | Viewed by 10505

Abstract

Currently cities consume 60–80% of natural resources globally. They produce 50% of global waste and 75% of green-house gas emissions. The UN estimates that 66% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 while the global urban footprint will triple over [...] Read more.

Currently cities consume 60–80% of natural resources globally. They produce 50% of global waste and 75% of green-house gas emissions. The UN estimates that 66% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 while the global urban footprint will triple over the years to 2030. Thus cities, as a system of production and consumption, threaten the environmental sustainability of the globe. Looping actions—reuse, recycling and recovery of resources (materials, energy, water, land and infrastructure)—can help to address resource scarcity and wastage in cities. However, there are many challenges to implementation. Much of the literature explores the challenges to looping actions within resource sectors and for specific actions (i.e., challenges to adaptive reuse of buildings, recycling of material waste, energy recovery from sewage). It often does so without any clear reference to context. Nexus solutions are becoming a popular resource looping response to tackling wastage in cities. Some of the challenges to implementation have been explored, but influence of context has not been investigated. In this paper we explore the challenges facing the implementation of looping actions in cities. Using a mixed methods approach, we identify 58 challenges to looping actions across eight themes. We also establish the challenges to implementing a nexus solution. The research identifies five common implementation challenges. Addressing these challenges could enable looping actions across resource types in cities. The research also demonstrates how context affects the challenges to implementing looping actions and nexus solutions in cities. Nevertheless, the analysis suggests that there are some common levers for promoting looping actions and nexus solutions in cities, regardless of context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 772 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Contest-Based and Norm-Based Interventions: (How) Do They Differ in Attitudes, Norms, and Behaviors?

by Magnus Bergquist, Andreas Nilsson and Emma Ejelöv

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020425 - 15 Jan 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3573

Abstract

Setting up a contest is a popular means to promote pro-environmental behaviors. Yet, research on contest-based interventions is scarce while norm-based interventions have gained much attention. In two field experiments, we randomly assigned 79 apartments to either a contest-based or a norm-based electricity [...] Read more.

Setting up a contest is a popular means to promote pro-environmental behaviors. Yet, research on contest-based interventions is scarce while norm-based interventions have gained much attention. In two field experiments, we randomly assigned 79 apartments to either a contest-based or a norm-based electricity conservation intervention and measured kWh usage for 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Results from both studies showed that contest-based interventions promote intensive but short-lived electricity saving. In Study 1 apartments assigned to a norm-based intervention showed more stable electricity saving (low intensity and long-lasting). Study 2 did not replicate this finding, but supported that participants in the norm-based intervention also engaged in non-targeted behaviors. These results emphasize the importance of identifying how different intervention techniques may activate different goals, framing both how people think about and act upon targeted pro-environmental behaviors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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23 pages, 9947 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Method of Planning Green Infrastructure System with the Use of Landscape-Functional Units (Method LaFU) and its Implementation in the Wrocław Functional Area (Poland)

by Irena Niedźwiecka-Filipiak, Justyna Rubaszek, Jerzy Potyrała and Paweł Filipiak

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020394 - 14 Jan 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5690

Abstract

Green infrastructure (GI) is planned at various scales, including a regional one: city-regions. Strategic GI planning included in the city-regions spatial development policy can contribute to their sustainable development through, among others, providing a range of ecosystem services. In order to meet the [...] Read more.

Green infrastructure (GI) is planned at various scales, including a regional one: city-regions. Strategic GI planning included in the city-regions spatial development policy can contribute to their sustainable development through, among others, providing a range of ecosystem services. In order to meet the challenge of planning GI on a regional scale, the authors present the Method of Landscape-Functional Units (Method LaFU), which is used for the planning and evaluation of such systems. This method was tested in the Wrocław Functional Area (WFA), which is characterized by many negative processes, primarily uncontrolled development of built-up areas, fragmentation of landscape, and declining natural and semi-natural areas. The presented results show the effectiveness of the Method LaFU in GI planning and, above all, in its assessment, which makes it possible to identify problem areas that are at risk but still important for the functioning of the GI system. This allows for quick decision making by entities responsible for spatial planning in the region. The proposed method can also be used in other city-regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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13 pages, 790 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Vegetation Pattern and Spontaneous Succession on Remediation of Potential Toxic Metal-Polluted Soil in Mine Dumps

by Fuyao Chen, Yongjun Yang, Jiaxin Mi, Run Liu, Huping Hou and Shaoliang Zhang

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020397 - 14 Jan 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4694

Abstract

The ecological rehabilitation of potential toxic metal-contaminated soils in sites disturbed by mining has been a great challenge in recent decades. Phytoremediation is one of the most widely promoted renovation methods due to its environmental friendliness and low cost. However, there is a [...] Read more.

The ecological rehabilitation of potential toxic metal-contaminated soils in sites disturbed by mining has been a great challenge in recent decades. Phytoremediation is one of the most widely promoted renovation methods due to its environmental friendliness and low cost. However, there is a lack of in situ investigation on the influence of vegetation pattern and spontaneous succession on the rehabilitation of potential toxic metal-polluted soil. To clarify how the vegetation pattern in the early stage of restoration and the spontaneous succession influence the remediation of the soil, we investigated a metal mining dump in Sichuan, China, by field investigation and laboratory analysis. We determined the plant growth, soil fertility, and the capacity of potential toxic metals (PTMs) in metal mining soil under different initial vegetation patterns for different years to understand the role of vegetation pattern and spontaneous succession in PTM pollution phytoremediation projects. The results show that: (1) Phytoremediation with a simple initial vegetation pattern (RP rehabilitative plant pattern) which involves two rehabilitation plants, Agave sisalana and Neyraudia reynaudiana, achieves a PTM pollution index that is 9.28% lower than that obtained with the complex vegetation pattern (RP&LP rehabilitation plants mixed with local plants pattern), 21.86% lower in the soil fertility index, and 73.69% lower in the biodiversity index; (2) The phytoremediation with the 10-year RP&LP pattern was associated with a PTM pollution index that was 4.04% higher than that for the 17-year RP&LP pattern, a soil fertility index that was 4.48% lower, and a biodiversity index that was 12.49% lower. During the process of vegetation succession, if accumulator plants face inhibition of growth or retreat, the reclamation rate will decrease. The vegetation patterns influence the effect of phytoremediation. Spontaneous vegetation succession will cause the phytoremediation process to deviate from the intended target. Therefore, according to the goal of vegetation restoration, choosing a suitable vegetation pattern is the main premise to ensure the effect of phytoremediation. The indispensable manipulation of succession is significant during the succession series, and more attention should be paid to the rehabilitative plants to ensure the stable effect of reclamation. The results obtained in this study could provide a guideline for the in situ remediation of PTM-polluted soil in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Heavy Metals)

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12 pages, 2310 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Struvite Phosphorus Recovery from Aerobically Digested Municipal Wastewater

by John F. Hallas, Cheryl L. Mackowiak, Ann C. Wilkie and Willie G. Harris

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020376 - 13 Jan 2019

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6249

Abstract

Small, municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that use aerobic digestion treat approximately 40% of the discharged wastewater in the USA, and yet they are an overlooked source of recoverable P. There are no known reports of small, aerobic WWTPs recovering P through struvite [...] Read more.

Small, municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that use aerobic digestion treat approximately 40% of the discharged wastewater in the USA, and yet they are an overlooked source of recoverable P. There are no known reports of small, aerobic WWTPs recovering P through struvite (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) precipitation for repurposing as a mineral fertilizer, even though some large WWTPs with anaerobic digestion are. Four small WWTPs in north Florida, USA, with treatment capacities from 371 to 2650 m³ wastewater d⁻¹ and incoming P loads from 2 to 14 kg d⁻¹ were investigated for their potential to produce struvite from digester filtrates. A chemical equilibrium model was used to predict the feasibility of struvite production and the results compared with actual WWTP filtrate measurements. Filtrates from aerobic digesters were able to form struvite if solution pH was increased by ≤1 pH unit. Depending on the WWTP, P recovery in filtrates through struvite precipitation ranged from 27–57% by mass at pH 8.5, via NaOH additions or air sparging. Increasing filtrate Mg concentrations improved P recovery up to 97%. Based upon these results, small WWTPs using aerobic digestion will be able to lower their P waste output through recovery as struvite fertilizer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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16 pages, 5510 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Improvement of the K-Factor of USLE and Soil Erosion Estimation in Shihmen Reservoir Watershed

by Bor-Shiun Lin, Chun-Kai Chen, Kent Thomas, Chen-Kun Hsu and Hsing-Chuan Ho

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020355 - 11 Jan 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5560

Abstract

The estimation of soil erosion in Taiwan and many countries of the world is based on the widely used universal soil loss equation (USLE), which includes the factor of soil erodibility (K-factor). In Taiwan, K-factor values are referenced from past research compiled in [...] Read more.

The estimation of soil erosion in Taiwan and many countries of the world is based on the widely used universal soil loss equation (USLE), which includes the factor of soil erodibility (K-factor). In Taiwan, K-factor values are referenced from past research compiled in the Taiwan Soil and Water Conservation Manual, but there is limited data for the downstream area of the Shihmen reservoir watershed. The designated K-factor from the manual cannot be directly applied to large-scale regional levels and also cannot distinguish and clarify the difference of soil erosion between small field plots or subdivisions. In view of the above, this study establishes additional values of K-factor by utilizing the double rings infiltration test and measures of soil physical–chemical properties and increases the spatial resolution of K-factor map for Shihmen reservoir watershed. Furthermore, the established values of K-factors were validated with the designated value set at Fuxing Sanmin from the manual for verifying the correctness of estimates. It is found that the comparative results agree well with established estimates within an allowable error range. Thus, the K-factors established by this study update the previous K-factor system and can be spatially estimated for any area of interest within the Shihmen reservoir watershed and improving upon past limitations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion and the Sustainable Management of the Landscape)

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22 pages, 340 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characteristics of Transformational Adaptation in Climate-Land-Society Interactions

by Koko Warner, Zinta Zommers, Anita Wreford, Margot Hurlbert, David Viner, Jill Scantlan, Kenna Halsey, Kevin Halsey and Chet Tamang

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020356 - 11 Jan 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6487

Abstract

Countries across the world aspire towards climate resilient sustainable development. The interacting processes of climate change, land change, and unprecedented social and technological change pose significant obstacles to these aspirations. The pace, intensity, and scale of these sizeable risks and vulnerabilities affect the [...] Read more.

Countries across the world aspire towards climate resilient sustainable development. The interacting processes of climate change, land change, and unprecedented social and technological change pose significant obstacles to these aspirations. The pace, intensity, and scale of these sizeable risks and vulnerabilities affect the central issues in sustainable development: how and where people live and work, access to essential resources and ecosystem services needed to sustain people in given locations, and the social and economic means to improve human wellbeing in the face of disruptions. This paper addresses the question: What are the characteristics of transformational adaptation and development in the context of profound changes in land and climate? To explore this question, this paper contains four case studies: managing storm water runoff related to the conversion of rural land to urban land in Indonesia; using a basket of interventions to manage social impacts of flooding in Nepal; combining a national glacier protection law with water rights management in Argentina; and community-based relocation in response to permafrost thaw and coastal erosion in Alaska. These case studies contribute to understanding characteristics of adaptation which is commensurate to sizeable risks and vulnerabilities to society in changing climate and land systems. Transformational adaptation is often perceived as a major large-scale intervention. In practice, the case studies in this article reveal that transformational adaptation is more likely to involve a bundle of adaptation interventions that are aimed at flexibly adjusting to change rather than reinforcing the status quo in ways of doing things. As a global mosaic, transformational change at a grand scale will occur through an inestimable number of smaller steps to adjust the central elements of human systems proportionate to the changes in climate and land systems. Understanding the characteristics of transformational adaptation will be essential to design and implement adaptation that keeps society in step with reconfiguring climate and land systems as they depart from current states. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transforming Development and Disaster Risk)

20 pages, 2172 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Conciliate Agriculture with Landscape and Biodiversity Conservation: A Role-Playing Game to Explore Trade-Offs among Ecosystem Services through Social Learning

by Clémence Moreau, Cécile Barnaud and Raphaël Mathevet

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020310 - 9 Jan 2019

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7406

Abstract

A key challenge in the management of ecosystem services involves weighing up the trade-offs between these ecosystem services and who benefits from them. In mountainous zones, new trade-offs between ecosystem services emerge due to shifts in farming practices and their consequences on the [...] Read more.

A key challenge in the management of ecosystem services involves weighing up the trade-offs between these ecosystem services and who benefits from them. In mountainous zones, new trade-offs between ecosystem services emerge due to shifts in farming practices and their consequences on the landscapes (land abandonment and intensification), which is a source of debate and controversy between local stakeholders. To help stakeholders tackle the challenge of decision-making around trade-offs, this study tested the use of a role-playing game based on the concept of ecosystem services to facilitate the process through social learning. The game SECOLOZ was designed in cooperation with local stakeholders to explore the impacts of three farming practices (rock removal, ploughing of meadow, and pasturing) on trade-offs among ecosystem services. The game was played with various local stakeholders in the Mont Lozère, France. We found that this experience increased awareness of interdependencies, encouraged mutual understanding, improved the ability to deal with uncertainties, and fostered the exploration of innovative methods of governance. The outcomes confirm that the ecosystem service concept can be successfully used in a role-playing game process and that it significantly contributes to social learning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Landscape, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: New Challenges for Sustainable Development)

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20 pages, 4314 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Accounting for Regional Heterogeneity of Agricultural Sustainability in Spain

by Samir Mili and Javier Martínez-Vega

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020299 - 9 Jan 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4763

Abstract

Agriculture is increasingly facing major challenges such as climate change, scarcity of natural resources and changing societal demands. To tackle these challenges there is a pressing need to evolve towards more sustainable agricultural practices. As a result, sustainability stands among the most relevant [...] Read more.

Agriculture is increasingly facing major challenges such as climate change, scarcity of natural resources and changing societal demands. To tackle these challenges there is a pressing need to evolve towards more sustainable agricultural practices. As a result, sustainability stands among the most relevant topics in agricultural research worldwide, and Spain is no exception. Agricultural sustainability has been analysed in Spain mainly at a national and farm scale. This contribution aims at assessing agricultural sustainability in Spain at a provincial scale, allowing the scrutiny of regional variability induced by the existing differences in extension, relevance and policies of the agricultural activity at this level. The sustainability assessment performed is based on a selection of twenty-two indicators covering the three classical dimensions of sustainability—environmental, economic and social. The methodology implemented is based on normalising and aggregating selected indicators according to three composite indicators for the fifty Spanish provinces. Numerous statistical and cartographic sources are used. Cluster analysis establishes four different groups of provinces according to their performance in terms of agricultural sustainability. Higher economic sustainability in provincial agriculture seems to be mostly associated with more intensive use of agricultural labour and agricultural machinery and faster wealth growth. Social sustainability seems to be linked to greater diversification of economic activities and to quality productions under Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). Best environmental sustainability is achieved where extension of agricultural land is larger, less agricultural area is burned, and carbon stock and sequestration by agricultural ecosystems is better. It is expected that the results could improve the policy coherence and decision-making for more sustainable agricultural systems in Spanish regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Landscape, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: New Challenges for Sustainable Development)

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14 pages, 1190 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessment of Physicochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Waste Mushroom Substrate Biochar under Various Pyrolysis Temperatures and Times

by Rubab Sarfraz, Siwei Li, Wenhao Yang, Biqing Zhou and Shihe Xing

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010277 - 8 Jan 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5153

Abstract

The prime objective of biochar production is to contribute to nutrients recycling, reducing waste and converting useful bio-wastes into carbon rich products in the environment. The present study was intended to systematically evaluate the effect of pyrolysis conditions and characteristics of feedstock influencing [...] Read more.

The prime objective of biochar production is to contribute to nutrients recycling, reducing waste and converting useful bio-wastes into carbon rich products in the environment. The present study was intended to systematically evaluate the effect of pyrolysis conditions and characteristics of feedstock influencing the generation of biochar. The study revealed the nutritional importance of waste mushroom substrate (WMS) biochar which may elevate soil nutritional status and soil quality. The results showed that the yields and properties of WMS biochar depended principally on the applied temperature where pyrolysis at higher temperatures, that is, 600 °C and 700 °C produced biochar having high ash, P and K contents. Moreover, numerous useful macro and micro nutrients such as Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn were observed to positively correlate with the increase in temperature. The WMS biochar in our study is highly alkaline which can be used to rectify acidic soil pH. Overall our results suggest that WMS biochar being a rich source of nutrients can be the best remedy to maintain and further enhance the soil nutritional status. Thus by interpreting biochar feedstock characteristics and pyrolysis conditions, the regulation of tailored WMS biochar manufacturing and application in soil can be facilitated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Trends in Municipal Solid Waste Management)

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24 pages, 7999 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

GIS Analysis of Land-Use Change in Threatened Landscapes by Xylella fastidiosa

by Giuseppe Maggiore, Teodoro Semeraro, Roberta Aretano, Luigi De Bellis and Andrea Luvisi

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010253 - 7 Jan 2019

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4569

Abstract

Land-use/land-cover analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS) application can describe and quantify the transformation of the landscape, evaluating the effectiveness of municipal planning in driving urban expansion. This approach was applied in the municipality of Spongano (Salento, South Italy) in order to evaluate [...] Read more.

Land-use/land-cover analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS) application can describe and quantify the transformation of the landscape, evaluating the effectiveness of municipal planning in driving urban expansion. This approach was applied in the municipality of Spongano (Salento, South Italy) in order to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity and the transformations of the land use/land cover from 1988 to 2016. This approach was also used to examine the spread of Xylella fastidiosa, which is a plant pathogen of global importance that is reshaping the Salento landscape. The land-use maps are based on the CORINE Land Cover project classification, while the topological consistency was verified through field surveys. A change detection analysis was carried out using the land-use maps of 1988 and 2016. The most extensive land-use class is olive groves (34–36%), followed by non-irrigated arable lands and shrub and/or herbaceous vegetation associations. The main transition of land involved non-irrigated arable lands, which lost 76 ha and 23 ha to shrub and olive areas, respectively. Meanwhile, the artificial surfaces class doubled its extension, which involved mainly the transition from shrub and heterogeneous agricultural areas. However, the olive groves class is threatened by the dramatic phytosanitary condition of the area, indicating a compromised agroecosystem, which is causing a de facto transition into unproductive areas. The results highlight the inconsistency between what was planned by the urban plan in the past and how the landscape of Spongano has been changed over time. This evidence suggests that it is necessary to develop a plan based on learning by doing, in order to shape and adapt the processes of territorial transformation to the unpredictability of the ecologic, social, and economic systems, as well as ensure that these processes are always focused on environmental issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GISc Contributions to the Study and Understanding of Geographies of Change)

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21 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

What is Smart for the Future City? Mobilities and Automation

by Malene Freudendal-Pedersen, Sven Kesselring and Eriketti Servou

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010221 - 4 Jan 2019

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 8435

Abstract

Cities have changed their pulse, their pace, and reach, and the urban scale is an interconnected element of the global “network society” with new forms of social, cultural and economic life emerging. The increase in the amount and speed of mobilities has strong [...] Read more.

Cities have changed their pulse, their pace, and reach, and the urban scale is an interconnected element of the global “network society” with new forms of social, cultural and economic life emerging. The increase in the amount and speed of mobilities has strong impacts on ecological conditions, and, so far, no comprehensive sustainable solutions are in sight. This paper focuses on the discussion around smart cities, with a specific focus on automation and sustainability. Discourses on automated mobility in urban spaces are in a process of creation and different stakeholders contribute in shaping the urban space and its infrastructures for automated driving in the near or distant future. In many ways, it seems that the current storylines, to a high degree, reinforce and (re)produce the “system of automobility”. Automobility is still treated as the iconic and taken-for-granted form of modern mobility. It seems that most actors from industry, planning, and politics consider it as being sustained through smart and green mobility innovations and modifications. The paper discusses the implication of these techno-policy discourses and storylines for urban planning. It presents preliminary results from ongoing research on policy promotion strategies of automated driving in the region of Munich, Germany. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Mobility for Future Cities)

28 pages, 2657 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Analysis of CO₂ Emissions in China’s Manufacturing Industry Based on Extended Logarithmic Mean Division Index Decomposition

by Jian Liu, Qingshan Yang, Yu Zhang, Wen Sun and Yiming Xu

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010226 - 4 Jan 2019

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 8806

Abstract

China is the world’s largest emitter of CO₂. As the largest sector of China’s fossil energy consumption and carbon emissions, manufacturing plays an important role in achieving emission reduction targets in China. Using the extended logarithmic mean division index (LMDI) decomposition [...] Read more.

China is the world’s largest emitter of CO₂. As the largest sector of China’s fossil energy consumption and carbon emissions, manufacturing plays an important role in achieving emission reduction targets in China. Using the extended logarithmic mean division index (LMDI) decomposition model, this paper decomposed the factors that affect the CO₂ emissions of China’s manufacturing industry into eight effects. The results show the following: (1) China’s manufacturing CO₂ emissions increased from 1.91 billion tons in 1995 to 6.25 billion tons in 2015, with an average annual growth rate of 6%. Ferrous metal smelting and rolling were the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions, followed by chemical raw materials and products and then non-metallic minerals. (2) During the research period, the industrial activity effects were the most important factor leading to increased CO₂ emissions in manufacturing and energy intensity was the most important factor in promoting the reduction of CO₂ emissions from manufacturing. The investment intensity was the second most influential factor leading to the increase in China’s manufacturing CO₂ emissions after the industrial scale and this even exceeded the industrial activity effect in some time periods (2000–2005). R&D efficiency and R&D intensity were shown to have significant roles in reducing CO₂ emissions in China’s manufacturing industry. The input of R&D innovation factors is an effective way to achieve emission reductions in China’s manufacturing industry. (3) There were differences in the driving factors of CO₂ emissions in the manufacturing industry in different periods that were closely related to the international and domestic economic development environment and the relevant policies of the Chinese government regarding energy conservation and emission reduction. (4) Sub-sector research found that the factors that affect the reduction of CO₂ emissions in various industries appear to be differentiated. This paper has important policy significance to allow the Chinese government to implement effective energy-saving and emission reduction measures and to reduce CO₂ emissions from the manufacturing industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policy)

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12 pages, 3141 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Terraced Landscapes and Hydrogeological Risk. Effects of Land Abandonment in Cinque Terre (Italy) during Severe Rainfall Events

by Mauro Agnoletti, Alessandro Errico, Antonio Santoro, Andrea Dani and Federico Preti

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010235 - 4 Jan 2019

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 8235

Abstract

During 25 October 2011, an extremely intense rainfall event occurred in Eastern Liguria and Northern Tuscany. Severe damages were registered in the Monterosso and Vernazza basins, located in the famous area of Cinque Terre, which have been affected by hundreds of landslides, mud [...] Read more.

During 25 October 2011, an extremely intense rainfall event occurred in Eastern Liguria and Northern Tuscany. Severe damages were registered in the Monterosso and Vernazza basins, located in the famous area of Cinque Terre, which have been affected by hundreds of landslides, mud flows, and erosions. The main feature of the Cinque Terre landscape is the presence of terraced cultivations on steep slopes facing the sea. The area represents a remarkable cultural landscape, is a National Park, and is included in the World Heritage List of the UNESCO. This work aims to analyze the effect of abandoned terraced land on hydrogeological risks and in landslide prevention, by comparing what happened in Cinque Terre to other experiences presented in scientific literature. The cessation of maintenance of dry stone terraces due to the crisis of traditional agriculture was identified as the main cause of failure during the heavy rainfall event. However, we found some contrasting and, in some cases, unexpected results in the literature regarding the effects of the vegetation that develops on abandoned terraces. This paper compares different results in order to better understand what the future of terraced landscapes is and which are the best management strategies for such complex and fragile territories. In particular, where they represent a cultural heritage and a resource for the rural economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Landscape, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: New Challenges for Sustainable Development)

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17 pages, 2379 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Biofuel Production and Phosphorus Recovery through an Integrated Treatment of Agro-Industrial Waste

by Alessio Siciliano, Carlo Limonti, Sanjeet Mehariya, Antonio Molino and Vincenza Calabrò

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010052 - 21 Dec 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4686

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop an integrated treatment of agro-industrial waste for biofuel (biogas and syngas) production and for phosphorus recovery. In the first step, an anaerobic digestion (AD) process was carried out on two different mixtures of raw agro-industrial residues. Specifically, [...] Read more.

The present study aimed to develop an integrated treatment of agro-industrial waste for biofuel (biogas and syngas) production and for phosphorus recovery. In the first step, an anaerobic digestion (AD) process was carried out on two different mixtures of raw agro-industrial residues. Specifically, a mixture of asparagus and tomato wastes (mixture-1) and a mixture of potatoes and kiwifruit residues (mixture-2) were investigated. The results proved that the properties of mixtures notably affect the evolution of the digestion process. Indeed, despite the lower organic load, the maximum biogas yield, of about 0.44 L/gCOD_removed, was obtained for mixture-1. For mixture-2, the digestion process was hindered by the accumulation of acidity due to the lack of alkalinity in respect to the amount of volatile fatty acids. In the second step, the digestates from AD were utilized for syngas production using supercritical water gasification (SCWG) at 450 °C and 250 bar. Both the digestates were rapidly converted into syngas, which was mainly composed of H₂, CO₂, CH₄, and CO. The maximum values of global gasification efficiency, equal to 56.5 g/kgCOD, and gas yield, equal to 1.8 mol/kgTS, were detected for mixture-2. The last step of the integrated treatment aimed to recover the phosphorus content, in the form of MgKPO₄ˑ6H₂O, from the residual liquid fraction of SCWG. The experimental results proved that at pH = 10 and Mg/P = 1 it is possible to obtain almost complete phosphorus removal. Moreover, by using the scanning electronic microscopy, it was demonstrated that the produced precipitate was effectively composed of magnesium potassium phosphate crystals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biorefining of Biowaste)

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17 pages, 3448 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Regional Temporal and Spatial Trends in Drought and Flood Disasters in China and Assessment of Economic Losses in Recent Years

by Jieming Chou, Tian Xian, Wenjie Dong and Yuan Xu

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010055 - 21 Dec 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4810

Abstract

Understanding the temporal and spatial distribution in disasters plays an important role in disaster risk management. The present study aims to explore the long-term trends in drought and floods over China and estimate the economic losses they cause. A peak-over-threshold approach is used [...] Read more.

Understanding the temporal and spatial distribution in disasters plays an important role in disaster risk management. The present study aims to explore the long-term trends in drought and floods over China and estimate the economic losses they cause. A peak-over-threshold approach is used to identify flood peaks, and the relationship between the disasters and climate indices is investigated using Poisson regression. The major results are as follows: (1) the northeastern part of China was severely affected by drought disasters (average damaged area was 6.44 million hectares); (2) the northern part of East China and Central China upstream of the Yangtze River were severely affected by flood disasters (average damaged area was 3.97 million hectares); (3) in the Yangtze River Basin, there are increasing trends in terms of drought and extreme precipitation, especially upstream of the Yangtze River, accompanied by severe disaster losses; and (4) by combining the trends in drought and extreme precipitation days with the spatial distribution of damaged areas, the study indicates that the increasing trend in droughts has shifted gradually from north to south, and the increasing trend in extreme precipitation gradually has shifted from south to north. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policy)

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12 pages, 1086 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Robust Linear Programming and Its Application to Water and Environmental Decision-Making under Uncertainty

by Yang Zhou, Bo Yang, Jingcheng Han and Yuefei Huang

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010033 - 21 Dec 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 7667

Abstract

In this study, we introduce a robust linear programming approach for water and environmental decision-making under uncertainty. This approach is of significant practical utility to decision makers for obtaining reliable and robust management decisions that are “immune” to the uncertainty attributable to data [...] Read more.

In this study, we introduce a robust linear programming approach for water and environmental decision-making under uncertainty. This approach is of significant practical utility to decision makers for obtaining reliable and robust management decisions that are “immune” to the uncertainty attributable to data perturbations. The immunization guarantees that the chosen robust management plan will be implementable with no violation of the mandatory constraints of the problem being studied—i.e., natural resource supply constraint, environmental carrying capacity constraint, environmental pollution control constraint, etc.—and that the actual value of the objective will be no worse than the given estimation if the perturbations of data fall within the specified uncertainty set. A simplified example in regional water quality management is provided to help water and environmental practitioners to better understand how to implement robust linear programming from the perspective of application, as well as to illustrate the significance and necessity of implementing robust optimization techniques in real-world practices. Robust optimization is a growing research field that requires more interdisciplinary research efforts and engagements from water and environmental practitioners. Both may benefit from the advances of management science. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural Sustainable Environmental Management)

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22 pages, 2976 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Removal of ZnO Nanoparticles from Natural Waters by Coagulation-Flocculation Process: Influence of Surfactant Type on Aggregation, Dissolution and Colloidal Stability

by Rizwan Khan, Muhammad Ali Inam, Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal, Muhammad Shoaib, Du Ri Park, Kang Hoon Lee, Sookyo Shin, Sarfaraz Khan and Ick Tae Yeom

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010017 - 20 Dec 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7698

Abstract

The zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and surfactants that are widely used in commercial and industrial products lead to the likelihood of their co-occurrence in natural water, making it essential to investigate the effect of surfactants on the fate and mobility of ZnO [...] Read more.

The zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and surfactants that are widely used in commercial and industrial products lead to the likelihood of their co-occurrence in natural water, making it essential to investigate the effect of surfactants on the fate and mobility of ZnO NPs. The present study seeks to elucidate the effect of an anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO), on ZnO NPs adsorption, aggregation, dissolution, and removal by the coagulation process. The results indicate that the presence of SDS in ZnO NPs suspension significantly reduced the ζ-potential and hydrodynamic diameter (HDD), while the effect of NPEO was found not to be significant. The sorption of SDS and NPEO by ZnO NPs were fitted with Langmuir model, but the Freundlich isotherm was more suitable for SDS at pH 9.0. Moreover, the adsorption was strongly pH-dependent due to the formation of mono-bilayer patches onto the NPs. The SDS remarkably affect the dissolution and aggregation phenomena of ZnO NPs in natural waters as compared to NPEO. Finally, the coagulation results showed that the removal efficiency of ZnO, Zn²⁺ and the surfactant in synthetic and wastewaters at optimum ferric chloride (FC) dosage reached around 85–98% and 20–50%, respectively. Coagulation mechanism investigation demonstrated that the cooperation of charge neutralization and adsorptive micellar flocculation (AMF) might play an important role. In summary, this study may provide new insight into the environmental behavior of coexisting ZnO NPs and surfactants in water treatment processes, and it may facilitate their sustainable use in commercial products and processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems)

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12 pages, 232 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Role of Biosurfactants in the Continued Drive for Environmental Sustainability

by Ibukun O. Olasanmi and Ronald W. Thring

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4817; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124817 - 17 Dec 2018

Cited by 81 | Viewed by 5856

Abstract

Biosurfactants are microbial products that have been increasingly researched due to their many identified advantages, such as low toxicity and high activity at extreme temperatures, but more importantly, they are biodegradable and compatible with the environment. Biosurfactants are versatile products with vast applications [...] Read more.

Biosurfactants are microbial products that have been increasingly researched due to their many identified advantages, such as low toxicity and high activity at extreme temperatures, but more importantly, they are biodegradable and compatible with the environment. Biosurfactants are versatile products with vast applications in the clean-up of environmental pollutants through biodegradation and bioremediation. They also have applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and other industries. These advantages and wide range of applications have led to the continued interest in biosurfactants. In particular, there is a growing discussion around environmental sustainability and the important role that biosurfactants will increasingly play in the near future, for example, via the use of renewable by-products as substrates, waste reduction, and potential reuse of the treated waste. This has resulted in increased attention on these microbial products in industry. Research highlighting the potential of biosurfactants in environmental sustainability is required to drive efforts to make biosurfactants more viable for commercial and large-scale applications; making them available, cheaper and economically sustainable. The present review discusses the unique relationship between biosurfactants and environmental sustainability, especially the role that biosurfactants play in the clean-up of environmental pollutants and, therefore, increasing environmental protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

13 pages, 1990 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatial Analysis of Accidental Oil Spills Using Heterogeneous Data: A Case Study from the North-Eastern Ecuadorian Amazon

by Juan Durango-Cordero, Mehdi Saqalli, Christophe Laplanche, Marine Locquet and Arnaud Elger

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4719; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124719 - 11 Dec 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4724

Abstract

Accidental oil spills were assessed in the north-eastern Ecuadorian Amazon, a rich biodiversity and cultural heritage area. Institutional reports were used to estimate oil spill volumes over the period 2001–2011. However, we had to make with heterogeneous and incomplete data. After statistically discriminating [...] Read more.

Accidental oil spills were assessed in the north-eastern Ecuadorian Amazon, a rich biodiversity and cultural heritage area. Institutional reports were used to estimate oil spill volumes over the period 2001–2011. However, we had to make with heterogeneous and incomplete data. After statistically discriminating well- and poorly-documented oil blocks, some spill factors were derived from the former to spatially allocate oil spills where fragmentary data were available. Spatial prediction accuracy was assessed using similarity metrics in a cross-validation approach. Results showed 464 spill events (42.2/year), accounting for 10,000.2 t of crude oil, equivalent to annual discharges of 909.1 (±SD = 1219.5) t. Total spill volumes increased by 54.8% when spill factors were used to perform allocation to poorly-documented blocks. Resulting maps displayed pollution ‘hotspots’ in Dayuma and Joya de Los Sachas, with the highest inputs averaging 13.8 t km⁻² year⁻¹. The accuracy of spatial prediction ranged from 32 to 97%, depending on the metric and the weight given to double-zeros. Simulated situations showed that estimation accuracy depends on variabilities in incident occurrences and in spill volumes per incident. Our method is suitable for mapping hazards and risks in sensitive ecosystems, particularly in areas where incomplete data hinder this process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resource Damage Assessment for Oil Spills)

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20 pages, 11072 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessment of Land Cover Change and Its Impact on Changes in Soil Erosion Risk in Nepal

by Kabir Uddin, Mir Abdul Matin and Sajana Maharjan

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4715; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124715 - 11 Dec 2018

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 9438

Abstract

Land cover change is a critical driver for enhancing the soil erosion risk in Nepal. Loss of the topsoil has a direct and indirect effect on human life and livelihoods. The present study provides an assessment of the decadal land use and land [...] Read more.

Land cover change is a critical driver for enhancing the soil erosion risk in Nepal. Loss of the topsoil has a direct and indirect effect on human life and livelihoods. The present study provides an assessment of the decadal land use and land cover (LULC) change and consequent changes in the distribution of soil erosion risk for the years, 1990, 2000, and 2010, for the entire country of Nepal. The study attempted to understand how different land cover types change over the three decades and how it has changed the distribution of soil erosion risks in Nepal that would help in the development of soil conservation priority. The land cover maps were produced using geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) using Landsat images. Soil erosion patterns were assessed using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) with the land cover as the input. The study shows that the forest cover is the most dominant land cover in Nepal that comprises about 6,200,000 ha forest cover. The estimated annual erosion was 129.30 million tons in 1990 and 110.53 million tons in 2010. The assessment of soil erosion dynamics was presented at the national, provincial, and district level. District wise analysis revealed that Gulmi, Parbat, Syangja, and the Tanahu district require priority for soil conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion and the Sustainable Management of the Landscape)

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18 pages, 3097 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Nitrogen Recovery from Wastewater: Possibilities, Competition with Other Resources, and Adaptation Pathways

by Jan Peter Van der Hoek, Rogier Duijff and Otto Reinstra

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4605; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124605 - 5 Dec 2018

Cited by 94 | Viewed by 12649

Abstract

Due to increased food production, the demand for nitrogen and phosphorus as fertilizers grows. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are produced with the Haber–Bosch process through the industrial fixation of N₂ into ammonia. Through wastewater treatment, the nitrogen is finally released back to the atmosphere [...] Read more.

Due to increased food production, the demand for nitrogen and phosphorus as fertilizers grows. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are produced with the Haber–Bosch process through the industrial fixation of N₂ into ammonia. Through wastewater treatment, the nitrogen is finally released back to the atmosphere as N₂ gas. This nitrogen cycle is characterized by drawbacks. The energy requirement is high, and in the wastewater treatment, nitrogen is mainly converted to N₂ gas and lost to the atmosphere. In this study, technologies for nitrogen recovery from wastewater were selected based on four criteria: sustainability (energy use and N₂O emissions), the potential to recover nitrogen in an applicable form, the maturity of the technology, and the nitrogen concentration that can be handled by the technology. As in wastewater treatment, the focus is also on the recovery of other resources; the interactions of nitrogen recovery with biogas production, phosphorus recovery, and cellulose recovery were examined. The mutual interference of the several nitrogen recovery technologies was studied using adaptive policy making. The most promising mature technologies that can be incorporated into existing wastewater treatment plants include struvite precipitation, the treatment of digester reject water by air stripping, vacuum membrane filtration, hydrophobic membrane filtration, and treatment of air from thermal sludge drying, resulting respectively in 1.1%, 24%, 75%, 75%, and 2.1% nitrogen recovery for the specific case wastewater treatment plant Amsterdam-West. The effects on sustainability were limited. Higher nitrogen recovery (60%) could be realized by separate urine collection, but this requires a completely new infrastructure for wastewater collection and treatment. It was concluded that different technologies in parallel are required to reach sustainable solutions. Nitrogen recovery does not interfere with the recovery of the other resources. An adaptation pathways map is a good tool to take into account new developments, uncertainties, and different ambitions when choosing technologies for nitrogen recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems)

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13 pages, 2718 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Dry Anaerobic Digestion Technologies for Agricultural Straw and Acceptability in China

by Yanran Fu, Tao Luo, Zili Mei, Jiang Li, Kun Qiu and Yihong Ge

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4588; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124588 - 4 Dec 2018

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 7968

Abstract

Dry anaerobic digestion technology (DADT) is considered a highly feasible way to treat agricultural straw waste; however, most practical operations are always in low efficiency, due to the poor fluidity behavior and complex lignocellulosic structure of straw, which is not easily decomposed by [...] Read more.

Dry anaerobic digestion technology (DADT) is considered a highly feasible way to treat agricultural straw waste; however, most practical operations are always in low efficiency, due to the poor fluidity behavior and complex lignocellulosic structure of straw, which is not easily decomposed by anaerobic bacteria. Hence, it is necessary to further investigate the operation boundary, in order to increase biogas production efficiency for effective applications. In this paper, typical DADTs are reviewed and their suitability for application in China is analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of different anaerobic digestion processes are evaluated considering pretreatment, organic loading rate, anaerobic digestion temperature, and homogenization of the feedstock and inoculate. The suitability of the DADTs is evaluated considering the accessibility of straw resources and the convenience of biogas use. It is concluded that batch anaerobic digestion processes would be more suitable for the development of southern China due to the prevalence of small-scale agriculture, while continuous anaerobic digestion would be preferable in the north where large-scale agriculture is common. However, the DADTs discussed here need to broad application in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofuels–Bioenergy Waste to Value Added Feedstock)

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21 pages, 4150 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Forest Landscape Change and Preliminary Study on Its Driving Forces in Ślęża Landscape Park (Southwestern Poland) in 1883–2013

by Piotr Krajewski, Iga Solecka and Karol Mrozik

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4526; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124526 - 30 Nov 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4412

Abstract

Changes in forest landscapes have been connected with human activity for centuries and can be considered one of the main driving forces of change from a global perspective. The spatial distribution of forests changes along with the geopolitical situation, demographic changes, intensification of [...] Read more.

Changes in forest landscapes have been connected with human activity for centuries and can be considered one of the main driving forces of change from a global perspective. The spatial distribution of forests changes along with the geopolitical situation, demographic changes, intensification of agriculture, urbanization, or changes in land use policy. However, due to the limited availability of historical data, the driving forces of changes in forest landscapes are most often considered in relation to recent decades, without taking long-term analyses into account. The aim of this paper is to determine the level and types of landscape changes and make preliminary study on natural and socio-economic factors on changes in forest landscapes within the protected area, Ślęża Landscape Park, and its buffer zone using long-term analyses covering a period of 140 years (1883–2013). A comparison of historical and current maps and demographic data related to three consecutive periods of time as well as natural and location factors by using the ArcGIS software allows the selected driving forces of forest landscape transformations to be analyzed. We took into account natural factors such as the elevation, slope, and exposure of the hillside and socio-economic drivers like population changes, distances to centers of municipalities, main roads, and built-up areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Long-Term Perspective of Human Impact on Landscape for Environmental Change and Sustainability)

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26 pages, 7449 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services

by Gudrun Schwilch, Tatenda Lemann, Örjan Berglund, Carlo Camarotto, Artemi Cerdà, Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos, Silvia Kohnová, Dominika Krzeminska, Teodoro Marañón, René Rietra, Grzegorz Siebielec, Johann Thorsson, Mark Tibbett, Sandra Valente, Hedwig Van Delden, Jan Van den Akker, Simone Verzandvoort, Nicoleta Olimpia Vrînceanu, Christos Zoumides and Rudi Hessel

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4416; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124416 - 26 Nov 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8378

Abstract

Only a few studies have quantified and measured ecosystem services (ES) specifically related to soil. To address this gap, we have developed and applied a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services, based on measured or estimated soil property changes that were stimulated [...] Read more.

Only a few studies have quantified and measured ecosystem services (ES) specifically related to soil. To address this gap, we have developed and applied a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services, based on measured or estimated soil property changes that were stimulated by soil management measures (e.g., mulching, terracing, no-till). We applied the ES assessment methodology in 16 case study sites across Europe representing a high diversity of soil threats and land use systems. Various prevention and remediation measures were trialled, and the changes in manageable soil and other natural capital properties were measured and quantified. An Excel tool facilitated data collection, calculation of changes in ecosystem services, and visualization of measured short-term changes and estimated long-term changes at plot level and for the wider area. With this methodology, we were able to successfully collect and compare data on the impact of land management on 15 different ecosystem services from 26 different measures. Overall, the results are positive in terms of the impacts of the trialled measures on ecosystem services, with 18 out of 26 measures having no decrease in any service at the plot level. Although methodological challenges remain, the ES assessment was shown to be a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the trialled measures, and also served as an input to a stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services at local and sub-national levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Governance of Sustainable Soil Management)

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17 pages, 261 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Carbon Capture and Storage: A Review of Mineral Storage of CO₂ in Greece

by Kyriaki Kelektsoglou

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4400; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124400 - 24 Nov 2018

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 7384

Abstract

As the demand for the reduction of global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) increases, the need for anthropogenic CO₂ emission reductions becomes urgent. One promising technology to this end, is carbon capture and storage (CCS). This paper aims to provide [...] Read more.

As the demand for the reduction of global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) increases, the need for anthropogenic CO₂ emission reductions becomes urgent. One promising technology to this end, is carbon capture and storage (CCS). This paper aims to provide the current state-of-the-art of CO₂ capure, transport, and storage and focuses on mineral carbonation, a novel method for safe and permanent CO₂ sequestration which is based on the reaction of CO₂ with calcium or magnesium oxides or hydroxides to form stable carbonate materials. Current commercial scale projects of CCS around Europe are outlined, demonstrating that only three of them are in operation, and twenty-one of them are in pilot phase, including the only one case of mineral carbonation in Europe the case of CarbFix in Iceland. This paper considers the necessity of CO₂ sequestration in Greece as emissions of about 64.6 million tons of CO₂ annually, originate from the lignite fired power plants. A real case study concerning the mineral storage of CO₂ in Greece has been conducted, demonstrating the applicability of several geological forms around Greece for mineral carbonation. The study indicates that Mount Pindos ophiolite and Vourinos ophiolite complex could be a promising means of CO₂ sequestration with mineral carbonation. Further studies are needed in order to confirm this aspect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policy)

12 pages, 2763 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium Using Banana Pseudostem Biochar and Its Mechanism

by Shuang Xu, Weiguang Yu, Sen Liu, Congying Xu, Jihui Li and Yucang Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4250; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114250 - 17 Nov 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6354

Abstract

A low-cost biochar was prepared through slow pyrolysis of banana pseudostem biowaste at different temperatures, and characterized by surface area and porosity analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was shown that the biochar prepared [...] Read more.

A low-cost biochar was prepared through slow pyrolysis of banana pseudostem biowaste at different temperatures, and characterized by surface area and porosity analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was shown that the biochar prepared at low pyrolysis temperature was rich in oxygen-containing groups on the surface. Adsorption experiments revealed that the biochar prepared at 300 °C (BB300) was the best adsorbent for Cr(VI) with 125.44 mg/g maximum adsorption capacity at pH 2 and 25 °C. All the adsorption processes were well described by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, indicating a monolayer chemiadsorption. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that adsorption of Cr(VI) was mainly attributed to reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) followed by ion exchange and complexation with the biochar. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems)

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19 pages, 4256 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluating the Impacts of Integrated Pollution on Water Quality of the Trans-Boundary Neris (Viliya) River

by Marina Valentukevičienė, Lina Bagdžiūnaitė-Litvinaitienė, Viktoras Chadyšas and Andrius Litvinaitis

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4239; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114239 - 16 Nov 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3628

Abstract

The trans-boundary area between the Europe Union and other countries is highly susceptible to changes in water quality and variations in the potential pollution load that could influence its eco-systems significantly. The Neris (Viliya) River is one of the biggest surface water bodies [...] Read more.

The trans-boundary area between the Europe Union and other countries is highly susceptible to changes in water quality and variations in the potential pollution load that could influence its eco-systems significantly. The Neris (Viliya) River is one of the biggest surface water bodies in Lithuania and Belarus with an ecologically important area protected by international legislation. The study was aimed at evaluating the impacts of integrated pollution on water quality of the Neris River taking into account different storm-water flows and ecological scenarios. For this purpose, qualitative and quantitative statistical evaluation was set up and calculation was done; different integrated pollution loads of the catchment area were estimated. The evaluation considered a decrease in river discharge due to changes in the regional storm-water flow and technological development that should lead to the growing covered surface and a reduction in the untreated storm-water flows. The obtained results indicated that, in the case of storm-water treatment, the total nitrate and phosphate concentrations will decrease, while in the cases of changes in combined suspended solid, the concentration of nutrients will decrease. Thus, a trans-boundary storm-water treatment plant of the Viliya River is required as it should eliminate pollution accumulation and restore its acceptable environmental status. A coordinated international project for the entire catchment of the Neris (Viliya) River based on the specifications and requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (EU 2000) should be developed and implemented. Subsequently, ecological river-use policies should be established at the international level, which should offer considerable perspectives for the sustainable development of the area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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20 pages, 1574 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Endogenous or Exogenous? Examining Trans-Boundary Air Pollution by Using the Air Quality Index (AQI): A Case Study of 30 Provinces and Autonomous Regions in China

by Wenyang Huang, Huiwen Wang and Yigang Wei

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4220; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114220 - 15 Nov 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4686

Abstract

China is experiencing severe environmental degradation, particularly air pollution. To explore whether air pollutants are spatially correlated (i.e., trans-boundary effects) and to analyse the main contributing factors, this research investigates the annual concentration of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and 13 polluting sectors [...] Read more.

China is experiencing severe environmental degradation, particularly air pollution. To explore whether air pollutants are spatially correlated (i.e., trans-boundary effects) and to analyse the main contributing factors, this research investigates the annual concentration of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and 13 polluting sectors in 30 provinces and autonomous regions across China. Factor analysis, the linear regression model and the spatial auto-regression (SAR) model are employed to analyse the latest data in 2014. Several important findings are derived. Firstly, the global Moran’s I test reveals that the AQI of China shows a distinct positive spatial correlation. The local Moran’s I test shows that significant high–high AQI agglomeration regions are found around the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area and the regions of low–low AQI agglomeration all locate in south China, including Yunnan, Guangxi and Fujian. Secondly, the effectiveness of the SAR model is much better than that of the linear regression model, with a significantly improved R-squared value from 0.287 to 0.705. A given region’s AQI will rise by 0.793% if the AQI of its ambient region increases by 1%. Thirdly, car ownership, steel output, coke output, coal consumption, built-up area, diesel consumption and electric power output contribute most to air pollution according to AQI, whereas fuel oil consumption, caustic soda output and crude oil consumption are inconsiderably accountable in raising AQI. Fourthly, the air quality in Beijing and Tianjin is under great exogenous influence from nearby regions, such as Hebei’s air pollution, and cross-boundary and joint efforts must be committed by the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region in order to control air pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policy)

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18 pages, 2124 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Lighting Systems and Road Pavements in an Italian Twin-Tube Road Tunnel

by Giuseppe Cantisani, Paola Di Mascio and Laura Moretti

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4165; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114165 - 12 Nov 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 3725

Abstract

This work calculates and discusses the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of four scenarios composed of two types of road pavements and two types of lighting systems to be built in an Italian twin-tube road tunnel. A 20-year time horizon is adopted to assess [...] Read more.

This work calculates and discusses the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of four scenarios composed of two types of road pavements and two types of lighting systems to be built in an Italian twin-tube road tunnel. A 20-year time horizon is adopted to assess the burdens of construction and maintenance of both flexible and rigid pavements and high-pressure sodium (HPS) and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, traffic, and switching on of lamps. All considered scenarios are comparable with each other in terms of technical performances, but significantly differ regarding their environmental consequences. The geometrical and technical characteristics of the examined scenarios comply with current Italian standards for highways. In all the examined cases, LCA is carried out according to the European standard, EN 15804, and includes 19 impact categories (IC). The analysis demonstrates that the use of more reflecting surface pavement materials (i.e., concrete vs. asphalt) and more performing lighting systems (i.e., LED vs. HPS) can effectively mitigate the deleterious burdens related to road construction, maintenance, and use. For most of the examined ICs, the most environment-friendly scenario has LED lamps and concrete pavement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Lighting and Energy Saving)

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30 pages, 2299 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Creating a Novel Multi-Layered Integrative Climate Change Adaptation Planning Approach Using a Systematic Literature Review

by Mehdi Hafezi, Oz Sahin, Rodney A. Stewart and Brendan Mackey

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4100; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114100 - 8 Nov 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6576

Abstract

Climate change adaptation planning requires the integration of disciplines, stakeholders, different modelling approaches, treatment options, and scales of analysis. An integrated stepwise planning approach is a critical requirement for effective climate change adaptation in the context of small island developing states and coastal [...] Read more.

Climate change adaptation planning requires the integration of disciplines, stakeholders, different modelling approaches, treatment options, and scales of analysis. An integrated stepwise planning approach is a critical requirement for effective climate change adaptation in the context of small island developing states and coastal communities. To address this need, this paper reports on a systematic review of 116 research papers from an initial set of around 650 academic peer-reviewed papers. These papers were assessed and categorised based on their planning framework or the approach utilised, measured climate change impacts, employed methods and tools, and recommended adaptation strategies or options. This study identified three important dimensions of a fully integrated climate change adaptation planning process, namely, integration in assessment, integration in modelling, and integration in adaptive responses. Moreover, it resulted in the formulation of a novel multi-layered integrative climate change adaptation planning approach. Adopting this holistic and integrative approach is more likely to yield better climate change adaptation in planning outcomes over the long term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policy)

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12 pages, 3147 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluating the Self-Sensing Ability of Cement Mortars Manufactured with Graphene Nanoplatelets, Virgin or Recycled Carbon Fibers through Piezoresistivity Tests

by Alberto Belli, Alessandra Mobili, Tiziano Bellezze, Francesca Tittarelli and Paulo Cachim

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4013; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114013 - 2 Nov 2018

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 4108

Abstract

This paper presents the resistivity and piezoresistivity behavior of cement-based mortars manufactured with graphene nanoplatelet filler (GNP), virgin carbon fibers (VCF) and recycled carbon fibers (RCF). GNP was added at 4% of the cement weight, whereas two percentages of carbon fibers were chosen, [...] Read more.

This paper presents the resistivity and piezoresistivity behavior of cement-based mortars manufactured with graphene nanoplatelet filler (GNP), virgin carbon fibers (VCF) and recycled carbon fibers (RCF). GNP was added at 4% of the cement weight, whereas two percentages of carbon fibers were chosen, namely 0.05% and 0.2% of the total volume. The combined effect of both filler and fibers was also investigated. Mortars were studied in terms of their mechanical properties (under flexure and compression) and electrical resistivity. Mortars with the lowest electrical resistivity values were also subjected to cyclic uniaxial compression to evaluate the variations in electrical resistivity as a function of strain. The results obtained show that mortars have piezoresistive behavior only if they are subjected to a prior drying process. In addition, dry specimens exhibit a high piezoresistivity only when loaded with 0.2 vol.% of VCF and 0.4 wt.% of GNP plus 0.2 vol.% RCF, with a quite reversible relation between their fractional change in resistivity (FCR) and compressive strain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Buildings and Indoor Air Quality)

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12 pages, 1676 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

Effect of Growing Miscanthus x giganteus on Soil Microbial Communities in Post-Military Soil

by Diana Nebeská, Josef Trögl, Valentina Pidlisnyuk, Jan Popelka, Petra Veronesi Dáňová, Sergej Usťak and Roman Honzík

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4021; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114021 - 2 Nov 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3650

Abstract

Growing a second generation energetic plant Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) in former military sites appears to be a promising way to use such areas with synergic phytoremediation of contaminants (organic pollutants, potential toxic metals). Effect of Mxg growth on soil microbial [...] Read more.

Growing a second generation energetic plant Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) in former military sites appears to be a promising way to use such areas with synergic phytoremediation of contaminants (organic pollutants, potential toxic metals). Effect of Mxg growth on soil microbial communities during a two-year pot experiment with real post-military soil (Sliač, Slovakia) and the effect of potential toxic metal concentration was studied by analyses of microbial activities and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA). Year-on-year positive changes in microbial community structure and state were detected (higher ratios of G+/G− bacteria and fungal/bacterial PLFA, and a decrease of stress indicators trans/cis and cy/pre PLFA). Portion of gram-positive bacteria correlated negatively with potential toxic metal concentrations; however, the concentration of potential toxic metals was not identified as the main stress factor—the access to bioavailable nutrients was more important. Overall, Mxg growth generally exhibited a positive effect on soil microorganisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Management Practices Improving Biodiversity, Soil Parameters and Ecosystem Services of Sites Affected by Human Activities)

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17 pages, 980 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Role of Breadfruit in Biocultural Restoration and Sustainability in Hawai‘i

by Blaire J. Langston and Noa Kekuewa Lincoln

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3965; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113965 - 31 Oct 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7607

Abstract

The Hawaiian Islands today are faced with a complex mix of sustainability challenges regarding food systems. After European arrival, there was a change of dietary customs and decline in traditional Hawaiian agriculture along with the cultural mechanisms which sustained them. Recently, there has [...] Read more.

The Hawaiian Islands today are faced with a complex mix of sustainability challenges regarding food systems. After European arrival, there was a change of dietary customs and decline in traditional Hawaiian agriculture along with the cultural mechanisms which sustained them. Recently, there has been a resurgence for local food and culture alongside an enthusiasm for breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)—a Polynesian staple crop. To investigate the role of breadfruit and biocultural restoration in Hawai‘i, we conducted surveys and interviews with local breadfruit producers. Overall, we found that breadfruit has the potential to provide holistic, practical and appropriate solutions to key issues in Hawai‘i, including food security, environmental degradation and public health, while simultaneously lending to the revival of cultural norms and social relationships. As breadfruit cultivation expands rapidly in Hawai‘i, the opportunities for increased social and environmental benefits can be realized if appropriately encouraged. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocultural Restoration in Hawaiʻi)

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19 pages, 5058 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Impact of Late Holocene Flood Management on the Central Po Plain (Northern Italy)

by Filippo Brandolini and Mauro Cremaschi

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3968; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113968 - 31 Oct 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7240

Abstract

Fluvial environments have always played a crucial role in human history. The necessity of fertile land and fresh water for agriculture has led populations to settle in floodplains more frequently than in other environments. Floodplains are complex human–water systems in which the mutual [...] Read more.

Fluvial environments have always played a crucial role in human history. The necessity of fertile land and fresh water for agriculture has led populations to settle in floodplains more frequently than in other environments. Floodplains are complex human–water systems in which the mutual interaction between anthropogenic activities and environment affected the landscape development. In this paper, we analyzed the evolution of the Central Po Plain (Italy) during the Medieval period through a multi-proxy record of geomorphological, archaeological and historical data. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD) coincided with a progressive waterlogging of large floodplain areas. The results obtained by this research shed new light on the consequences that Post-Roman land and water management activities had on landscape evolution. In particular, the exploitation of fluvial sediments through flood management practices had the effect of reclaiming the swamps, but also altered the natural geomorphological development of the area. Even so, the Medieval human activities were more in equilibrium with the natural system than with the later Renaissance large-scale land reclamation works that profoundly modified the landscape turning the wetland environment into the arable land visible today. The analysis of fluvial palaeoenvironments and their relation with past human activities can provide valuable indications for planning more sustainable urbanized alluvial landscapes in future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Long-Term Perspective of Human Impact on Landscape for Environmental Change and Sustainability)

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30 pages, 5770 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Distant Interactions, Power, and Environmental Justice in Protected Area Governance: A Telecoupling Perspective

by Sébastien Boillat, Jean-David Gerber, Christoph Oberlack, Julie G. Zaehringer, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza and Stephan Rist

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3954; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113954 - 30 Oct 2018

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 8197

Abstract

Equity has become a major concern in efforts to conserve nature. However, in the Global South, inequitable social impacts of conservation usually prevail. We investigate barriers to equitable governance of four protected areas through an innovative approach linking the tri-dimensional framing of environmental [...] Read more.

Equity has become a major concern in efforts to conserve nature. However, in the Global South, inequitable social impacts of conservation usually prevail. We investigate barriers to equitable governance of four protected areas through an innovative approach linking the tri-dimensional framing of environmental justice with the notion of telecoupling. We conceptualize the creation, support, and implementation of protected areas as telecoupling processes that involve flows, actors, and action situations, and assess them based on a set of indicators of procedural justice, distributive justice, and recognition. We perform the analysis for parallel or competing telecoupling processes that affect the areas and we then investigate the scope and reach of resistance actions to attain more equitable outcomes. Identified barriers include dependence of the PAs on transnational financial flows, presence of competing extractive demands, negative narratives on local practices, wilderness and Malthusian framings, authoritarian rule, narrow development options, and socio-cultural discrimination. These combined barriers create multiple forms of exclusion. Resistance actions are likely to succeed when actors can mobilize alliances and resources across distance. We conclude that justice framings can make power relationships in telecouplings more visible, and that considering distant interactions can elucidate causes of (in)equity in conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Power, Emancipation and Justice in Natural Resource Governance—Towards “Critical and Transformative Sustainability Sciences”)

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19 pages, 1484 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Sustainable Management and Successful Application of Constructed Wetlands: A Critical Review

by Angela Gorgoglione and Vincenzo Torretta

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3910; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113910 - 27 Oct 2018

Cited by 96 | Viewed by 9963

Abstract

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are affordable and reliable green technologies for the treatment of various types of wastewater. Compared to conventional treatment systems, CWs offer an environmental-friendly approach, are low cost, have fewer operational and maintenance requirements, and have a high potential for being [...] Read more.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are affordable and reliable green technologies for the treatment of various types of wastewater. Compared to conventional treatment systems, CWs offer an environmental-friendly approach, are low cost, have fewer operational and maintenance requirements, and have a high potential for being applied in developing countries; particularly in small rural communities. However, the sustainable management and successful application of these systems remain a challenge. Therefore, after briefly giving basic information on wetlands and summarizing the classification and use of current CWs, this study aims to provide sustainable solutions for the performance and applications of CWs. To accomplish this objective, design and management parameters of CWs, including macrophyte species, media types, water level, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and hydraulic loading rate (HLR), are discussed. The current study collects and presents results of more than 120 case studies from around the world. This work provides a tool for researchers and decision-makers for using CWs to treat wastewater in a particular area. This study presents an aid for informed analysis, decision-making, and communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems)

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21 pages, 6183 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Model-Based Evaluation of Land Management Strategies with Regard to Multiple Ecosystem Services

by Nina Zarrineh, Karim C. Abbaspour, Ann Van Griensven, Bernard Jeangros and Annelie Holzkämper

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3844; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113844 - 23 Oct 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3911

Abstract

In agroecosystem management, conflicts between various services such as food provision and nutrient regulation are common. This study examined the trade-offs between selected ecosystem services such as food provision, water quantity and quality, erosion and climate regulations in an agricultural catchment in Western [...] Read more.

In agroecosystem management, conflicts between various services such as food provision and nutrient regulation are common. This study examined the trade-offs between selected ecosystem services such as food provision, water quantity and quality, erosion and climate regulations in an agricultural catchment in Western Switzerland. The aim was to explore the existing land use conflicts by a shift in land use and management strategy following two stakeholder-defined scenarios based on either land sparing or land sharing concepts. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to build an agro-hydrologic model of the region, which was calibrated and validated based on daily river discharge, monthly nitrate and annual crop yield, considering uncertainties associated with land management set up and model parameterization. The results show that land sparing scenario has the highest agricultural benefit, while also the highest nitrate concentration and GHG emissions. The land sharing scenario improves water quality and climate regulation services and reduces food provision. The management changes considered in the two land use scenarios did not seem to reduce the conflict but only led to a shift in trade-offs. Water quantity and erosion regulation remain unaffected by the two scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers on Sustainable Water Resources Management from the 2017 and 2018 International SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) Conference)

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18 pages, 4422 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Indoor Air Quality: A Bibliometric Study

by Mattia Pierpaoli and Maria Letizia Ruello

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113830 - 23 Oct 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 15071

Abstract

What are the actual trends in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and in which direction is academic interest moving? Much progress has been made in identifying and mitigating indoor pollutants, due to both prevention campaigns (e.g., smoking bans) and greater control of product emissions. [...] Read more.

What are the actual trends in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and in which direction is academic interest moving? Much progress has been made in identifying and mitigating indoor pollutants, due to both prevention campaigns (e.g., smoking bans) and greater control of product emissions. However, IAQ is still of interest and the future trends are unknown. In this study, a thorough bibliometric analysis was conducted on the scientific literature available on the Web of Science database with CiteSpace from 1990 until today. It was possible to identify past trends and current advances, both with the aim of introducing the IAQ topic to those encountering it for the first time and to examine the issues that are expected to be pertinent in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Buildings and Indoor Air Quality)

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30 pages, 2152 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Whose Agency Counts in Land Use Decision-Making in Myanmar? A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases in Tanintharyi Region

by Lara M. Lundsgaard-Hansen, Flurina Schneider, Julie G. Zaehringer, Christoph Oberlack, Win Myint and Peter Messerli

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3823; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103823 - 22 Oct 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6431

Abstract

Myanmar has experienced profound transformations of land use and land governance, often at the expense of smallholders. Empirical evidence on the agency of actors included and excluded in land use decision-making remains scarce. This study analyses who influences land use decision-making, how they [...] Read more.

Myanmar has experienced profound transformations of land use and land governance, often at the expense of smallholders. Empirical evidence on the agency of actors included and excluded in land use decision-making remains scarce. This study analyses who influences land use decision-making, how they do this, and under what circumstances smallholders are included. Comparing three land use trajectories in southern Myanmar, we analysed actors’ agency—conceived as the meanings and means behind (re)actions—in land use decision-making using data from focus groups and interviews. Results showed that uneven distribution of means can lead to unequal decision-making power, enabling actors with more means to exclude those with less means: smallholders. However, this only applies in the case of top-down interventions with mutually exclusive actor interests regarding use of the same land. Where interests are compatible or a mediator supports smallholders in negotiations, actors are likely to develop a collaboration despite unequal means, leading to smallholders’ inclusion in decision-making. Transformation of current land governance towards sustainable development could be promoted by providing mediators to actors with few means, ensuring equal access for all to formal land tenure, engaging with brokers in the land governance network, and improving access to knowledge and financial capital for actors with few means. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Power, Emancipation and Justice in Natural Resource Governance—Towards “Critical and Transformative Sustainability Sciences”)

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19 pages, 11431 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Thermal and Vibration Comfort Analysis of a Nearly Zero-Energy Building in Poland

by Małgorzata Fedorczak-Cisak, Marcin Furtak, Jolanta Gintowt, Alicja Kowalska-Koczwara, Filip Pachla, Krzysztof Stypuła and Tadeusz Tatara

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3774; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103774 - 18 Oct 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3836

Abstract

Placing emphasis exclusively on minimizing energy consumption in low-energy buildings can adversely impact thermal comfort and vibrational comfort. Vibrational comfort is extremely important in building design, especially within mining or seismically active territories, and due to car transportation in city centers. In this [...] Read more.

Placing emphasis exclusively on minimizing energy consumption in low-energy buildings can adversely impact thermal comfort and vibrational comfort. Vibrational comfort is extremely important in building design, especially within mining or seismically active territories, and due to car transportation in city centers. In this article, a new approach to designing passive buildings and nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) in Poland is proposed, which has a strong emphasis on the necessity of providing comfort of use in passive houses and NZEBs. Additionally, vibration comfort provisions in the design process are examined. The research gap that will be addressed by the research presented in this article is to extend the comfort conditions of passive buildings and NZEBs into the area of vibratory comfort. The second goal of the project is to determine the impact of solar control systems on the conditions of thermal comfort. The conclusions from the research will allow for the optimization of design assumptions for passive houses and NZEBs. The conclusions from the tests can serve as the basis for introducing appropriate construction law requirements in Poland. The results of the research, which are presented in the article, indicate that the technical requirements that are applicable in Poland ought to include requirements regarding the use of sun blinds in NZEBs and passive buildings (not only as recommendations). In particular, the use of apertures on the south side ought to be mandated. The article can also be the basis for introducing the requirements of vibration comfort to the PN–EN 15251:2012 “Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of energy performance of buildings addressing indoor air quality, thermal environment, lighting and acoustics” standard, which is the basis for designing the parameters of the internal environment for buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Buildings and Indoor Air Quality)

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14 pages, 2286 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Circular Economy Aspects Regarding LED Lighting Retrofit—from Case Studies to Vision

by Dorin Beu, Calin Ciugudeanu and Mircea Buzdugan

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3674; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103674 - 14 Oct 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5787

Abstract

The lighting industry is still a linear economy, despite the extensive use of light-emitting diode (LED) and the ban of incandescent/halogen lamps, claiming to be greener and more human centered. Light-emitting diode has changed radically the whole lighting industry with an increased luminaire [...] Read more.

The lighting industry is still a linear economy, despite the extensive use of light-emitting diode (LED) and the ban of incandescent/halogen lamps, claiming to be greener and more human centered. Light-emitting diode has changed radically the whole lighting industry with an increased luminaire efficacy more than four times higher compared with fluorescent lamps and their new opportunities for modern control systems. In the years to come, millions of fluorescent luminaires will become waste and will be replaced by LED luminaires. According to the Cost European Cooperation in Science & Technology Program the next step will be from sustainability to regenerative (enabling social and ecological systems to maintain a healthy state and to evolve) and to get there, circular economy is essential. In order to reduce even further the carbon footprint, the retrofit of existing luminaires and additional modern control systems should be the solution. Circular economy aspects for the lighting area were identified using the university adopted lighting retrofit solutions as case studies. For an LED retrofitted recessed luminaire 4 × T8 18 W studies showed a major installed power reduction, a good lighting distribution, but also revealed some problems: the retrofit luminaire has no certification, necessity of qualified personnel, high labor costs, etc. A major issue is the fact that luminaire design did not take into consideration circular economy aspects like the possibility of future retrofit solutions. It is important that from now on a different approach should be foreseen for the LED luminaire design. There is a section about vision, which plays an important role in preparing new luminaire generations with circular economy in mind. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Lighting and Energy Saving)

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9 pages, 245 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Monitoring Transboundary Water Cooperation in SDG 6.5.2: How a Critical Hydropolitics Approach Can Spot Inequitable Outcomes

by Hussam Hussein, Filippo Menga and Francesca Greco

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3640; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103640 - 11 Oct 2018

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 6974

Abstract

This article contributes to critical sustainability studies through an interrogation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their action towards improving access to water and sanitation. This is done through an analysis of ‘SDG 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all’, [...] Read more.

This article contributes to critical sustainability studies through an interrogation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their action towards improving access to water and sanitation. This is done through an analysis of ‘SDG 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all’, specifically focusing on Target 6.5: ‘By 2030, implement integrated water-resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate’, and its related Indicator 6.5.2, ‘Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation’. While on paper Target 6.5 might seem relatively unproblematic, this article shows that its implementation could have some unintended practical implications for countries sharing transboundary waters. This article fine-tunes SDG 6.5.2 by suggesting two additional qualitative steps to improve the indicator. These qualitative dimensions are deemed extremely important for two reasons: the first one is the need to unfold and tackle inequitable water agreements; the second reason is to assess, recognize, and promote the role of civil society, NGOs, and technical and informal cooperation as a positive path toward the actual achievement of formal cooperation. The two steps that we propose are deemed essential if the United Nations (UN) is going to include SDG 6.5.2 as a proactive tool in the achievement of “implementing integrated water-resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate”, as declared in the 2030 agenda. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

27 pages, 1376 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Equitable Allocation of Blue and Green Water Footprints Based on Land-Use Types: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt

by Gang Liu, Lu Shi and Kevin W. Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3556; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103556 - 4 Oct 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2834

Abstract

This paper develops a lexicographic optimization model to allocate agricultural and non-agricultural water footprints by using the land area as the influencing factor. An index known as the water-footprint-land density (WFLD) index is then put forward to assess the impact and equity of [...] Read more.

This paper develops a lexicographic optimization model to allocate agricultural and non-agricultural water footprints by using the land area as the influencing factor. An index known as the water-footprint-land density (WFLD) index is then put forward to assess the impact and equity of the resulting allocation scheme. Subsequently, the proposed model is applied to a case study allocating water resources for the 11 provinces and municipalities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). The objective is to achieve equitable spatial allocation of water resources from a water footprint perspective. Based on the statistical data in 2013, this approach starts with a proper accounting for water footprints in the 11 YREB provinces. We then determined an optimal allocation of water footprints by using the proposed lexicographic optimization approach from a land area angle. Lastly, we analyzed how different types of land uses contribute to allocation equity and we discuss policy changes to implement the optimal allocation schemes in the YREB. Analytical results show that: (1) the optimized agricultural and non-agricultural water footprints decrease from the current levels for each province across the YREB, but this decrease shows a heterogeneous pattern; (2) the WFLD of 11 YREB provinces all decline after optimization with the largest decline in Shanghai and the smallest decline in Sichuan; and (3) the impact of agricultural land on the allocation of agricultural water footprints is mainly reflected in the land use structure of three land types including arable land, forest land, and grassland. The different land use structures in the upstream, midstream, and downstream regions lead to the spatial heterogeneity of the optimized agricultural water footprints in the three YREB segments; (4) In addition to the non-agricultural land area, different regional industrial structures are the main reason for the spatial heterogeneity of the optimized non-agricultural water footprints. Our water-footprint-based optimal water resources allocation scheme helps alleviate the water resources shortage pressure and achieve coordinated and balanced development in the YREB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conflict Analysis and Sustainable Management of Water Resources)

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22 pages, 1825 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Tourism and Environmental Pollution: Evidence from the One Belt One Road Provinces of Western China

by Fayyaz Ahmad, Muhammad Umar Draz, Lijuan Su, Ilhan Ozturk and Abdul Rauf

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3520; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103520 - 30 Sep 2018

Cited by 125 | Viewed by 12526

Abstract

The rapid economic development of China and the industrial shift from its eastern to western provinces have resulted in significant negative impacts on the environment. Recently, tourism has emerged as an alternative for economic and environmental development, but it is a double-edged sword. [...] Read more.

The rapid economic development of China and the industrial shift from its eastern to western provinces have resulted in significant negative impacts on the environment. Recently, tourism has emerged as an alternative for economic and environmental development, but it is a double-edged sword. Without the required measures to protect environment, the opportunity cost of tourism is environmental degradation. The western part of China holds a significant advantage for the development of travel and tourism (T&T), due to One Belt One Road (OBOR), unique ancient culture and spectacular variety of natural scenic spots. This region is among the less explored and less developed, but important, parts of China. Taking this point into consideration, this paper aims to examine the impact of tourism on the environmental pollution of five provinces located in the heart of OBOR over the period of 1991–2016. To explore this link, we used the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) approach and Gregory-Hansen test for robustness check. We applied the Zivot-Andrews unit root test to deal with structural breaks in data. Our results confirm a negative impact of tourism on environment for Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, and Shanxi. However, tourism improves the environmental quality of Xinjiang. The negative impact of energy consumption and GDP growth is significant than tourism. Our findings suggest that the relationship varies for different provinces in the same region depending on the specific provincial features and government policies. Furthermore, tourism development has great potential to improve the economic and environmental sustainability in these provinces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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25 pages, 663 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Finland’s Dependence on Russian Energy—Mutually Beneficial Trade Relations or an Energy Security Threat?

by Jaakko J. Jääskeläinen, Sakari Höysniemi, Sanna Syri and Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3445; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103445 - 27 Sep 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 11255

Abstract

Studies on energy security in the context of relations between European Union (EU) and Russia tend to focus on cases, with an open conflict related to supply, such as “hard” energy weapons, or on only one fuel, often natural gas. However, there is [...] Read more.

Studies on energy security in the context of relations between European Union (EU) and Russia tend to focus on cases, with an open conflict related to supply, such as “hard” energy weapons, or on only one fuel, often natural gas. However, there is a need to understand the long-term impacts that energy relations have politically, economically and physically, and their linkages between resilience, sustainability and security. We analyse the Finnish-Russian energy relations as a case study, as they are characterised by a non-conflictual relationship. To assess this complex relationship, we apply the interdependence framework to analyse both the energy systems and energy strategies of Finland and Russia, and the energy security issues related to the notable import dependence on one supplier. Moreover, we analyse the plausible development of the energy trade between the countries in three different energy policy scenarios until 2040. The findings of the article shed light on how the trends in energy markets, climate change mitigation and broader societal and political trends could influence Russia’s energy trade relations with countries, such as Finland. Our analysis shows that Finland’s dependence on primary energy imports does not pose an acute energy security threat in terms of sheer supply, and the dependence is unlikely to worsen in the future. However, due to the difficulty in anticipating societal, political, and economic trends, there are possible developments that could affect Finland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Security, Sustainability and Resilience in Energy, Food and Water)

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21 pages, 6623 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

ʻĀina Momona, Honua Au Loli—Productive Lands, Changing World: Using the Hawaiian Footprint to Inform Biocultural Restoration and Future Sustainability in Hawai‘i

by Samuel M. Gon, Stephanie L. Tom and Ulalia Woodside

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3420; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103420 - 25 Sep 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 10885

Abstract

Pre-Western-contact Hawai‘i stands as a quintessential example of a large human population that practiced intensive agriculture, yet minimally affected native habitats that comprised the foundation of its vitality. An explicit geospatial footprint of human-transformed areas across the pre-contact Hawaiian archipelago comprised less than [...] Read more.

Pre-Western-contact Hawai‘i stands as a quintessential example of a large human population that practiced intensive agriculture, yet minimally affected native habitats that comprised the foundation of its vitality. An explicit geospatial footprint of human-transformed areas across the pre-contact Hawaiian archipelago comprised less than 15% of total land area, yet provided 100% of human needs, supporting a thriving Polynesian society. A post-contact history of disruption of traditional land use and its supplanting by Western land tenure and agriculture culminated in a landscape less than 250 years later in which over 50% of native habitats have been lost, while self-sufficiency has plummeted to 15% or less. Recapturing the ‘āina momona (productive lands) of ancient times through biocultural restoration can be accomplished through study of pre-contact agriculture, assessment of biological and ecological changes on Hawaiian social-ecological systems, and conscious planned efforts to increase self-sufficiency and reduce importation. Impediments include the current tourism-based economy, competition from habitat-modifying introduced species, a suite of agricultural pests severely limiting traditional agriculture, and climate changes rendering some pre-contact agricultural centers suboptimal. Modified methods will be required to counteract these limitations, enhance biosecurity, and diversify agriculture, without further degrading native habitats, and recapture a reciprocal Hawaiian human-nature relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocultural Restoration in Hawaiʻi)

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