Sustainability

17 pages, 3183 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

An Analysis of the Tourist Mobility in the Island of Lanzarote: Car Rental Versus More Sustainable Transportation Alternatives

by José María Martín Martín, Jose Manuel Guaita Martínez, Valentín Molina Moreno and Antonio Sartal Rodríguez

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030739 - 31 Jan 2019

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 7819

Abstract

Studies have shown that certain modes of tourist development jeopardize the environment, as in the case of mass tourism, especially in areas that require special protection. The goal of this study is to apply a proposal for studying sustainability of tourist mobility to [...] Read more.

Studies have shown that certain modes of tourist development jeopardize the environment, as in the case of mass tourism, especially in areas that require special protection. The goal of this study is to apply a proposal for studying sustainability of tourist mobility to a protected space, the island of Lanzarote, which has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. This paper seeks to figure out the mobility patterns of tourists, the criterion used to select a mode of transportation, the attitude of tourists towards the sustainability of transport, and its environmental implications by analyzing secondary sources and interviewing tourists. The results show that the tourism model of the island is based on scattered natural resources that tourists want to enjoy in a tailor-made visit, which makes it hard to give up individual transportation. The only environmentally sustainable alternative is opting for electric vehicles with charging stations in the aforementioned tourist spots. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Islands and Tourism Industry: The Path for a Sustainable Development)

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15 pages, 2152 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Farmers’ Market Actors, Dynamics, and Attributes: A Bibliometric Study

by Katia A. Figueroa-Rodríguez, María del Carmen Álvarez-Ávila, Fabiola Hernández Castillo, Rita Schwentesius Rindermann and Benjamín Figueroa-Sandoval

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030745 - 31 Jan 2019

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 6479

Abstract

Farmers’ markets aim to bring producers and consumers together under direct marketing schemes, also known as alternative food networks, for local and sustainable production and consumption of food. A number of studies concerning this subject have been published, however, as yet no updated [...] Read more.

Farmers’ markets aim to bring producers and consumers together under direct marketing schemes, also known as alternative food networks, for local and sustainable production and consumption of food. A number of studies concerning this subject have been published, however, as yet no updated reviews exist that might allow us to understand the trends in research on farmers’ markets. The objective of this study was to examine the farmers’ market literature using bibliometric tools. A total of 438 peer-reviewed publications, indexed in the abstract and citation meta-database Scopus (Elsevier®), for the period of 1979 to September 24, 2018, were considered. In the second phase, publications in the area of medicine were excluded, resulting in 295 publications being analyzed for the same period. The results showed that these publications focused on three main areas: markets, health programs, and food safety. Upon exclusion of the medical publications, the remaining works focused on farmers’ market actors, dynamics, and attributes: vendors (producers and others), consumers, the community, and supporting actors and institutions (government, NGOs, individuals). Therefore, it is concluded that there is no single type of farmers’ market, nor of farmers’ market vendors or consumers. This makes the reproduction of such spaces difficult, especially when the goals are to benefit local production systems or the nutrition of the local community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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20 pages, 2481 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Social Capital and Adoption of Alternative Conservation Agricultural Practices in South-Western Nigeria

by Seyi Olalekan Olawuyi and Abbyssinia Mushunje

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030716 - 30 Jan 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5915

Abstract

The major concern of most African countries, including Nigeria, in recent times is how to increase food production because of food insecurity issues, which by extension, is a major contributing factor to the prevalence of poverty. Therefore, adoption of conservation agricultural practices is [...] Read more.

The major concern of most African countries, including Nigeria, in recent times is how to increase food production because of food insecurity issues, which by extension, is a major contributing factor to the prevalence of poverty. Therefore, adoption of conservation agricultural practices is regarded as a pathway to drive the achievement of food and nutrition security, as well as the needed optimal performance in the agri-food sector. Reportedly, scaling up of the limited adoption of these practices could be facilitated through kinship ties, peer influence, and social networks that govern mutual interactions among individuals; therefore, this motivated the study. Using cross-sectional data obtained from 350 sample units selected from South-Western Nigeria through a multistage sampling technique, this study applied descriptive statistical tools and cross-tabulation techniques to profile the sampled subjects while count outcome models were used to investigate the factors driving counts of conservative agriculture (CA) adoption. Similarly, a marginal treatment effects (MTEs) model (parametric approach) using local IV estimator was applied to examine the effects of CA adoption on the outcome (log of farmers’ farm income). Additionally, appropriate measures of fit tests statistics were used to test the reliabilities of the fitted models. Findings revealed that farmers’ years of farming experience (p < 0.1), frequency of extension visits (p < 0.05), and social capital viz-a-viz density of social group memberships (p < 0.05) significantly determined the count of CA practices adopted with varying degrees by smallholder farmers. Although, social capital expressed in terms of membership of occupational group and diversity of social group members also had a positive influence on the count of CA practices adopted but not significant owing largely to the “information gaps” about agricultural technologies in the study area. However, the statistical tests of the MTEs indicated that the treatment effects differed significantly across the covariates and it also varied significantly with unobserved heterogeneity. The policy relevant treatment effect estimates also revealed that different policy scenarios could increase or decrease CA adoption, depending on which individuals it induces to attract the expected spread and exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Global Food Systems : Conceptual and Policy Analysis of Agriculture, Food and Environment Linkages)

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20 pages, 1535 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Government and Intermediary Business Engagement for Controlling Electronic Waste in Indonesia: A Sustainable Reverse Logistics Theory through Customer Value Chain Analysis

by Hesti Maheswari, Gatot Yudoko and Akbar Adhiutama

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030732 - 30 Jan 2019

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7287

Abstract

Environmental pollution caused by the improper processing of electronic waste, especially from mobile phones, has increased drastically. Governments in developing countries, including Indonesia, have not been ready to face this problem. Informal groups are reacting very fast, growing and spreading evenly in many [...] Read more.

Environmental pollution caused by the improper processing of electronic waste, especially from mobile phones, has increased drastically. Governments in developing countries, including Indonesia, have not been ready to face this problem. Informal groups are reacting very fast, growing and spreading evenly in many places to profit through reverse logistics activities. They dominate the markets of used electronic products. Today, eradicating these groups is impossible due to poverty, low education, and unemployment problems. Competing with them is also useless. Therefore, this research aims to find an engagement model between government and intermediary businesses, both formal and informal, for a sustainable purpose. Before determining the model, we must understand the intermediary businesses’ expectations. Therefore, we interviewed eight respondents that represent each business group and used customer value chain analysis to map them. We found forty-one expectations. Seven are the most common but are difficult to realize since they contradict government regulations. To cope with the urgency of the current situation, we concluded that the government should engage directly with the needs of these businesses, and we recommend three models of engagement i.e., empowerment, collaboration, and involvement. Full article

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

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26 pages, 5948 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Developing Active Canopy Sensor-Based Precision Nitrogen Management Strategies for Maize in Northeast China

by Xinbing Wang, Yuxin Miao, Rui Dong, Zhichao Chen, Yanjie Guan, Xuezhi Yue, Zheng Fang and David J. Mulla

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030706 - 29 Jan 2019

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4270

Abstract

Precision nitrogen (N) management (PNM) strategies are urgently needed for the sustainability of rain-fed maize (Zea mays L.) production in Northeast China. The objective of this study was to develop an active canopy sensor (ACS)-based PNM strategy for rain-fed maize through improving [...] Read more.

Precision nitrogen (N) management (PNM) strategies are urgently needed for the sustainability of rain-fed maize (Zea mays L.) production in Northeast China. The objective of this study was to develop an active canopy sensor (ACS)-based PNM strategy for rain-fed maize through improving in-season prediction of yield potential (YP₀), response index to side-dress N based on harvested yield (RI_Harvest), and side-dress N agronomic efficiency (AE_NS). Field experiments involving six N rate treatments and three planting densities were conducted in three growing seasons (2015–2017) in two different soil types. A hand-held GreenSeeker sensor was used at V8-9 growth stage to collect normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and ratio vegetation index (RVI). The results indicated that NDVI or RVI combined with relative plant height (NDVI*RH or RVI*RH) were more strongly related to YP₀ (R² = 0.44–0.78) than only using NDVI or RVI (R² = 0.26–0.68). The improved N fertilizer optimization algorithm (INFOA) using in-season predicted AE_NS optimized N rates better than the N fertilizer optimization algorithm (NFOA) using average constant AE_NS. The INFOA-based PNM strategies could increase marginal returns by 212 $ ha⁻¹ and 70 $ ha⁻¹, reduce N surplus by 65% and 62%, and improve N use efficiency (NUE) by 4%–40% and 11%–65% compared with farmer’s typical N management in the black and aeolian sandy soils, respectively. It is concluded that the ACS-based PNM strategies have the potential to significantly improve profitability and sustainability of maize production in Northeast China. More studies are needed to further improve N management strategies using more advanced sensing technologies and incorporating weather and soil information. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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26 pages, 5986 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Energy Management and Optimization of a PV/Diesel/Battery Hybrid Energy System Using a Combined Dispatch Strategy

by Ali Saleh Aziz, Mohammad Faridun Naim Tajuddin, Mohd Rafi Adzman, Makbul A. M. Ramli and Saad Mekhilef

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030683 - 28 Jan 2019

Cited by 214 | Viewed by 10969

Abstract

In recent years, the concept of hybrid energy systems (HESs) is drawing more attention for electrification of isolated or energy-deficient areas. When optimally designed, HESs prove to be more reliable and economical than single energy source systems. This study examines the feasibility of [...] Read more.

In recent years, the concept of hybrid energy systems (HESs) is drawing more attention for electrification of isolated or energy-deficient areas. When optimally designed, HESs prove to be more reliable and economical than single energy source systems. This study examines the feasibility of a combined dispatch (CD) control strategy for a photovoltaic (PV)/diesel/battery HES by combining the load following (LF) strategy and cycle charging (CC) strategy. HOMER software is used as a tool for optimization analysis by investigating the techno-economic and environmental performance of the proposed system under the LF strategy, CC strategy, and combined dispatch CD strategy. The simulation results reveal that the CD strategy has a net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (COE) values of $110,191 and $0.21/kWh, which are 20.6% and 4.8% lower than those of systems utilizing the LF and CC strategies, respectively. From an environmental point of view, the CD strategy also offers the best performance, with CO₂ emissions of 27,678 kg/year. Moreover, the results show that variations in critical parameters, such as battery minimum state of charge, time step, solar radiation, diesel price, and load growth, exert considerable effects on the performance of the proposed system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Energy Management for Smart Grids)

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29 pages, 2853 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Green Premium Evidence from Climatic Areas: A Case in Southern Europe, Alicante (Spain)

by Paloma Taltavull de La Paz, V. Raul Perez-Sanchez, Raul-Tomas Mora-Garcia and Juan-Carlos Perez-Sanchez

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030686 - 28 Jan 2019

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5390

Abstract

The existence of a green premium in house (asking) prices in Alicante province, Spain, are analyzed using circa 9000 property observations. In developing the sample, information from energy efficiency certificates was matched with two other databases. The model tests for green premium by [...] Read more.

The existence of a green premium in house (asking) prices in Alicante province, Spain, are analyzed using circa 9000 property observations. In developing the sample, information from energy efficiency certificates was matched with two other databases. The model tests for green premium by climatic zones using pool Ordinary Least Squares (pool-OLS) and Instrumental Variables (IV) hedonic models, adds new knowledge concerning the existence of green premiums from Southern Europe, explores differences in their estimation by climatic zone, debates the nature of the estimated green parameters, and explains the role of endogeneity in hedonic green premium models. The empirical evidence assesses the sensitivity of asking price to either energy consumption (KWh) or carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂) with an apparent premium of 3%, and captures an association with efficiency rating from G to F of 1.8% and from F to E of 1.1%. Significantly, the results relating to price responses show a distinct variation between the coast and the cooler climatic zone of the interior. The paper shows that energy efficiency incentive policies should discriminate by climatic areas, and provides a price reference by which to assess the amount of incentives needed to achieve European Union (EU) objectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges in Real Estate Markets and Urban Property Developments)

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21 pages, 6491 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Developing Harvest Strategies to Achieve Ecological, Economic and Social Sustainability in Multi-Sector Fisheries

by Sean Pascoe, Toni Cannard, Natalie A. Dowling, Catherine M. Dichmont, Sian Breen, Tom Roberts, Rachel J. Pears and George M. Leigh

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030644 - 26 Jan 2019

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5971

Abstract

Ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) provides a framework to achieve ecological, economic and social sustainability in fisheries. However, developing harvest strategies to achieve these multiple objectives is complex. This is even more so in multi-sector multi-species fisheries. In our study, we develop such [...] Read more.

Ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) provides a framework to achieve ecological, economic and social sustainability in fisheries. However, developing harvest strategies to achieve these multiple objectives is complex. This is even more so in multi-sector multi-species fisheries. In our study, we develop such harvest strategies for the multi-species Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFFF) operating in the waters of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The fishery includes recreational, charter and commercial sectors, and is a provider of regional employment and supplier of seafood to both local and export markets. We convened a series of stakeholder workshops and conducted surveys to identify stakeholder objectives and priorities, as well as potential harvest strategy frameworks for the fishery. These potential harvest strategies were assessed against the objectives using a further qualitative impact survey. The analysis identified which frameworks were preferred by different stakeholder groups and why, taking into account the different objective priorities and tradeoffs in outcomes. The new feature of the work was to qualitatively determine which harvest strategies are perceived to best address triple bottom line objectives. The approach is therefore potentially applicable in other complex fisheries developing harvest strategies which, by design, strive to achieve ecological, economic and social sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seafood Sustainability - Series I)

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10 pages, 1427 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Cultural Ecosystem Services Provided by Urban Green Change along an Urban-Periurban Gradient

by Maraja Riechers, Micha Strack, Jan Barkmann and Teja Tscharntke

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030645 - 26 Jan 2019

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 7927

Abstract

Urbanization by densification is globally increasing and endangers maintenance of urban green and associated social-ecological systems. Cultural ecosystem services play a crucial role in human well-being, especially in urban areas. We analyzed perceived importance of cultural ecosystem services provided by green space in [...] Read more.

Urbanization by densification is globally increasing and endangers maintenance of urban green and associated social-ecological systems. Cultural ecosystem services play a crucial role in human well-being, especially in urban areas. We analyzed perceived importance of cultural ecosystem services provided by green space in Berlin along an urban-periurban gradient. Based on extensive pretests, we designed a standardized questionnaire and conducted 558 face-to-face interviews. B using multiple regressions and principal component analysis, we show that perceived importance of cultural ecosystem services and patterns of urban green use are affected by an urbanization gradient and associated changes in population density. Important cultural ecosystem services decreases in urban core areas with higher population density, whereas people in periurban areas with more available green spaces exhibit a greater valuation of nature. In contrast, social relations and cultural diversity had the highest importance in the urban core, while cultural heritage, education, natural awareness, recreation, and aesthetical appreciation were higher valued in the less populated periurban areas, suggesting two bundles of cultural ecosystem services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of the Ecosystem Service Concept in Social–Ecological Systems—from Theory to Practice)

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18 pages, 1211 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Economic Assessment of Autonomous Electric Microtransit Vehicles

by Aybike Ongel, Erik Loewer, Felix Roemer, Ganesh Sethuraman, Fengqi Chang and Markus Lienkamp

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030648 - 26 Jan 2019

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 11169

Abstract

There is rapidly growing interest in autonomous electric vehicles due to their potential in improving safety, accessibility, and environmental outcomes. However, their market penetration rate is dependent on costs. Use of autonomous electric vehicles for shared-use mobility may improve their cost competitiveness. So [...] Read more.

There is rapidly growing interest in autonomous electric vehicles due to their potential in improving safety, accessibility, and environmental outcomes. However, their market penetration rate is dependent on costs. Use of autonomous electric vehicles for shared-use mobility may improve their cost competitiveness. So far, most of the research has focused on the cost impact of autonomy on taxis and ridesourcing services. Singapore is planning for island-wide deployment of autonomous vehicles for both scheduled and on-demand services as part of their transit system in the year 2030. TUMCREATE developed an autonomous electric vehicle concept, a microtransit vehicle with 30-passenger capacity, which can complement the existing bus transit system. This study aims to determine the cost of autonomous electric microtransit vehicles and compare them to those of buses. A total cost of ownership (TCO) approach was used to compare the lifecycle costs. It was shown that although the acquisition costs of autonomous electric vehicles are higher than those of their conventional counterparts, they can reduce the TCO per passenger-km up to 75% and 60% compared to their conventional counterparts and buses, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Policy)

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17 pages, 1411 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Biochemical Hydrogen Potential Tests Using Different Inocula

by Isabella Pecorini, Francesco Baldi and Renato Iannelli

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030622 - 24 Jan 2019

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5876

Abstract

Four inocula collected from different operating facilities were tested in their hydrogenic performances by means of two biochemical hydrogen potential test set-ups using sucrose and food waste as substrates, with the aim of evaluating the influence of inoculum media in batch fermentative assays. [...] Read more.

Four inocula collected from different operating facilities were tested in their hydrogenic performances by means of two biochemical hydrogen potential test set-ups using sucrose and food waste as substrates, with the aim of evaluating the influence of inoculum media in batch fermentative assays. The selected inocula were: activated sludge collected from the aerobic unit of a municipal wastewater treatment plant, digested sludge from an anaerobic reactor treating organic waste and cattle manure, digested sludge from an anaerobic reactor treating agroindustrial residues, and digested sludge from an anaerobic reactor of a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Test results, in terms of specific hydrogen production, hydrogen conversion efficiency, and volatile solids removal efficiency, were significantly dependent on the type of inoculum. Statistical analysis showed different results, indicating that findings were due to the different inocula used in the tests. In particular, assays performed with activated sludge showed the highest performances for both substrates and both experimental set-ups. Full article

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

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17 pages, 6886 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Temporal Variation of the Wave Energy Flux in Hotspot Areas of the Black Sea

by Adem Akpınar, Halid Jafali and Eugen Rusu

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030562 - 22 Jan 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3437

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the temporal variation of wave energy flux in the hotspot areas of the Black Sea. For this purpose, a 31-year long-term wave dataset produced by using a three-layered nested modelling system was used. Temporal variations of wave energy [...] Read more.

This paper aims to examine the temporal variation of wave energy flux in the hotspot areas of the Black Sea. For this purpose, a 31-year long-term wave dataset produced by using a three-layered nested modelling system was used. Temporal variations of wave energy were determined at hourly, monthly, seasonal, and yearly basis at seventeen stations. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the stations have very low fluctuations in mean wave power during the day. Mean wave power in the summer months shows a low difference between the stations, but in the winter months, there is a higher difference in wave power between the stations. This difference is more at the stations in the southwestern part of the Black Sea and much lower in the eastern Black Sea stations around Sinop, being in the middle of the southern coast of the Black Sea. In addition, it is concluded that mean wave energy flux presents a decreasing trend at all stations, but maximum wave power offers an increasing trend at most of the stations. Full article

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

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24 pages, 820 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Estimating the Public’s Preferences for Sustainable Aquaculture: A Country Comparison

by Suzanne van Osch, Stephen Hynes, Shirra Freeman and Tim O’Higgins

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 569; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030569 - 22 Jan 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4836

Abstract

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is an alternative to the monoculture of fin fish species, in which several species are combined in the production process. This can have environmental advantages such as a lower environmental impact through nutrient cycling and natural filters; and can [...] Read more.

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is an alternative to the monoculture of fin fish species, in which several species are combined in the production process. This can have environmental advantages such as a lower environmental impact through nutrient cycling and natural filters; and can have economic advantages consisting of increased efficiency, product diversification and potential price premiums. In this paper, a choice experiment (CE) was conducted through an online survey in Ireland, the UK, Italy, Israel and Norway, to assess how the public makes decisions on what type of salmon or sea bream to buy based on the attributes of the product. Analysis assessed the Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) for more sustainable produced seafood using a Latent Class multinomial logit modelling approach. In the experiment, an ecolabel was used to distinguish between regularly produced (monoculture) products and sustainably produced (IMTA) products. The general public in each country showed a positive attitude towards the development of such an ecolabel and towards the payment of a price premium for the more sustainably produced salmon or sea bream. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seafood Sustainability - Series I)

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15 pages, 2608 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Valuing Environmental Amenities in Peri-Urban Areas: Evidence from Poland

by Marta Sylla, Tadeusz Lasota and Szymon Szewrański

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030570 - 22 Jan 2019

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5199

Abstract

Ecosystems provide services that contribute to the well-being of people living within a city’s borders and on the urban–rural fringe. While benefits from green areas in urban settings are well investigated, peri-urban areas are significantly less addressed by researchers than cities. This study [...] Read more.

Ecosystems provide services that contribute to the well-being of people living within a city’s borders and on the urban–rural fringe. While benefits from green areas in urban settings are well investigated, peri-urban areas are significantly less addressed by researchers than cities. This study aims to evaluate the importance of environmental amenities in peri-urban areas using the hedonic pricing method to assess people’s willingness to pay for environmental goods and services. A local regression model (geographically weighted regression) and two global regression models (generalized spatial two-stage least squares and ordinary least square) are used to identify the spatial patterns and level of influence of protected areas, forests, rivers, trees, and landscape diversity. This paper includes the Central European case study example of a peri-urban area of the city of Wroclaw, Poland. The results from the three models show that out of all of the environmental amenities included in this study, proximity to protected areas—such as Natura 2000 sites and landscape parks—and the diversity of land-use patches within the 500-m radius around the sites exert the strongest influence on plot prices. The overall impact of environmental amenities on vacant plot prices in peri-urban areas is low or, as in the case of river and streams, not significant. The results of the analysis reveal the preferences of the new peri-urban inhabitants concerning green spaces that have an effect on the real estate market in Poland. Full article

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

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14 pages, 620 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Does Fertilizer Education Program Increase the Technical Efficiency of Chemical Fertilizer Use? Evidence from Wheat Production in China

by Pingping Wang, Wendong Zhang, Minghao Li and Yijun Han

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020543 - 21 Jan 2019

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6470

Abstract

Farmers in China and many other developing countries suffer from low technical efficiency of chemical fertilizer use, which leads to excessive nutrient runoff and other environmental problems. A major cause of the low efficiency is lack of science-based information and recommendations for nutrient [...] Read more.

Farmers in China and many other developing countries suffer from low technical efficiency of chemical fertilizer use, which leads to excessive nutrient runoff and other environmental problems. A major cause of the low efficiency is lack of science-based information and recommendations for nutrient application. In response, the Chinese government launched an ambitious nationwide program called the “Soil Testing and Fertilizer Recommendation Project” (STFRP) in 2005 to increase the efficiency of chemical fertilizer use. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of this program. Using data from a nationally representative household survey, and using wheat as an example, this paper first quantifies the technical efficiency of chemical fertilizer use (TEFU) by conducting stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), then evaluates the impact of STFRP on the TEFU using a generalized difference-in-difference approach. We found that STFRP, on average, increased TEFU in wheat production by about 4%, which was robust across various robustness checks. The lessons learned from STFRP will be valuable for China’s future outreach efforts, as well as for other countries considering similar nutrient management policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Environmental and Sustainability Policy: Assessing the Past and charting a Course for the Future)

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12 pages, 454 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Framework for the Integration of Nature-Based Solutions into Environmental Risk Management Strategies

by Cristian Accastello, Simone Blanc and Filippo Brun

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020489 - 18 Jan 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7740

Abstract

Mountainous areas are expected to face increasing societal pressure due to mass tourism and the rising intensity and frequency of natural hazards triggered by climate change. Therefore, the development of proper strategies for the management of environmental risks will be crucial to ensure [...] Read more.

Mountainous areas are expected to face increasing societal pressure due to mass tourism and the rising intensity and frequency of natural hazards triggered by climate change. Therefore, the development of proper strategies for the management of environmental risks will be crucial to ensure their liveability. Against this backdrop, concepts such as territorial resilience and Social–Ecological Systems (SES) can support the prioritisation of protective efforts. This paper presents a conceptual framework to be applied to areas subject to natural hazards. Its aim is to support the integration of different measures, with a special focus on protection forests and other Nature-based Solutions, into current risk management strategies. The framework considers (i) the definition of SES boundaries; (ii) the identification of the main goals to be achieved; (iii) the quantification of the supply and demand of the ecosystem protection service; and (iv) the development of risk management strategies able to include the management of protection forests among the adopted solutions. This framework is intended as a tool to be adopted by local and regional decision-makers as a tool to identify the areas at risk, to recognise the potential role of protection forests, and to operationalise the concept of resilience through the deployment of “grey-green” strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of the Ecosystem Service Concept in Social–Ecological Systems—from Theory to Practice)

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25 pages, 4247 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Land Use Change Trends and Their Driving Forces in the Kilombero Valley Floodplain, Southeastern Tanzania

by Nangware Kajia Msofe, Lianxi Sheng and James Lyimo

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020505 - 18 Jan 2019

Cited by 128 | Viewed by 10733

Abstract

Land use change (LUC) driven by human activities and natural factors has resulted in the global loss of native biodiversity and the alteration of ecological processes and services across different ecosystems. It is thus necessary to analyze the trends and driving factors that [...] Read more.

Land use change (LUC) driven by human activities and natural factors has resulted in the global loss of native biodiversity and the alteration of ecological processes and services across different ecosystems. It is thus necessary to analyze the trends and driving factors that influence land use changes. In this study, moderate resolution Landsat images were freely downloaded from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) archives, analyzed using the random forest (RF) algorithm and mapped in ArcGIS 10.2 software to examine the LUC trends from 1990 to 2016 in the Kilombero valley floodplain (KVFP), Tanzania. Participatory rural appraisals (PRA) and household questionnaire surveys were used to assess the potential drivers of LUC. The results show that, from 1990 to 2016, the agricultural land and grassland increased by 11.3% and 13.3%, respectively, while the floodplain wetland area decreased from 4.6% in 1990 to 0.9% in 2016. Based on a questionnaire survey, the intensification of human activities was identified as the proximate driver while population growth, a growing market demand and price incentives for agricultural and forest products coupled with improved infrastructure and biophysical factors such as soil properties, climate variability and terrain characteristics were identified as the underlying drivers of LUC. However, there is interplay among these factors acting simultaneously as well as differently that influence land use changes. Based on these findings, future sustainable land management strategies should include the introduction of the alternative environmentally friendly sources of livelihood, such as beekeeping, the promotion of community participation and education on the importance of sustainable wetland management. Full article

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

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15 pages, 1490 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Short-Term Wind Power Prediction Based on Improved Chicken Algorithm Optimization Support Vector Machine

by Chao Fu, Guo-Quan Li, Kuo-Ping Lin and Hui-Juan Zhang

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020512 - 18 Jan 2019

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 4536

Abstract

Renewable energy technologies are essential contributors to sustainable energy including renewable energy sources. Wind energy is one of the important renewable energy resources. Therefore, efficient and consistent utilization of wind energy has been an important issue. The wind speed has the characteristics of [...] Read more.

Renewable energy technologies are essential contributors to sustainable energy including renewable energy sources. Wind energy is one of the important renewable energy resources. Therefore, efficient and consistent utilization of wind energy has been an important issue. The wind speed has the characteristics of intermittence and instability. If the wind power is directly connected to the grid, it will impact the voltage and frequency of the power system. Short-term wind power prediction can reduce the impact of wind power on the power grid and the stability of power system operation is guaranteed. In this study, the improved chicken swarm algorithm optimization support vector machine (ICSO-SVM) model is proposed to predict the wind power. The traditional chicken swarm optimization algorithm (CSO) easily falls into a local optimum when solving high-dimensional problems due to its own characteristics. So the CSO algorithm is improved and the ICSO algorithm is developed. In order to verify the validity of the ICSO-SVM model, the following work has been done. (1) The particle swarm optimization (PSO), ICSO, CSO and differential evolution algorithm (DE) are tested respectively by four standard testing functions, and the results are compared. (2) The ICSO-SVM and CSO-SVM models are tested respectively by two sets of wind power data. This study draws the following conclusions: (1) the PSO, CSO, DE and ICSO algorithms are tested by the four standard test functions and the test data are analyzed. By comparing it with the other three optimization algorithms, the ICSO algorithm has the best convergence effect. (2) The number of training samples has an obvious impact on the prediction results. The average relative error percentage and root mean square error (RMSE) values of the ICSO model are smaller than those of CSO-SVM model. Therefore, the ICSO-SVM model can efficiently provide credible short-term predictions for wind power forecasting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corporate Sustainable Resource Management in Artificial Intelligent Era)

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16 pages, 10482 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatial Heterogeneity in the Determinants of Urban Form: An Analysis of Chinese Cities with a GWR Approach

by Shijie Li, Chunshan Zhou, Shaojian Wang, Shuang Gao and Zhitao Liu

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020479 - 17 Jan 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6930

Abstract

It is of great significance to investigate the determinants of urban form for shaping sustainable urban form. Previous studies generally assumed the determinants of urban form did not vary across spatial units, without taking spatial heterogeneity into account. In order to advance the [...] Read more.

It is of great significance to investigate the determinants of urban form for shaping sustainable urban form. Previous studies generally assumed the determinants of urban form did not vary across spatial units, without taking spatial heterogeneity into account. In order to advance the theoretical understanding of the determinants of urban form, this study attempted to examine the spatial heterogeneity in the determinants of urban form for 289 Chinese prefecture-level cities using a geographically weighted regression (GWR) method. The results revealed the spatially varying relationship between urban form and its underlying factors. Population growth was found to promote urban expansion in most Chinese cities, and decrease urban compactness in part of the Chinese cities. Cities with larger administrative areas were more likely to have dispersed urban form. Industrialization was demonstrated to have no impact on urban expansion in cities located in the eastern coastal region of China, which constitutes the country’s most developed regions. Local financial revenue was found to accelerate urban expansion and increase urban shape irregularity in many Chines cities. It was found that fixed investment exerted a bidirectional impact on urban expansion. In addition, urban road networks and public transit were also identified as the determinants of urban form for some cities, which supported the complex urban systems (CUS) theory. The policy implications emerging from this study lies in shaping sustainable urban form for China’s decision makers and urban planners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Land Use Form in China)

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18 pages, 2521 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Implementation of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in Cities Could Have Neutral Effects on the Total Travel Time Costs: Modeling and Analysis for a Circular City

by Marcos Medina-Tapia and Francesc Robusté

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020482 - 17 Jan 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7109

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles promise to revolutionize the automobile market, although their implementation could take several decades in which both types of cars will coexist on the streets. We formulate a model for a circular city based on continuous approximations, considering demand surfaces over the [...] Read more.

Autonomous vehicles promise to revolutionize the automobile market, although their implementation could take several decades in which both types of cars will coexist on the streets. We formulate a model for a circular city based on continuous approximations, considering demand surfaces over the city. Numerical results from our model predict direct and indirect effects of connected and autonomous vehicles. Direct effects will be positive for our cities: (a) less street supply is needed to accommodate the traffic; (b) congestion levels decrease: travel costs may decrease by 30%. Some indirect effects will counterbalance these positive effects: (c) a decrease of 20% in the value of travel time can reduce the total cost by a third; (d) induced demand could be as high as 50%, bringing equivalent total costs in the future scenario; (e) the vehicle-kilometers traveled could also affect the future scenario; and (f) increases in city size and urban sprawl. As a conclusion, the implementation of autonomous vehicles could be neutral for the cities regarding travel time costs. City planning agencies still have to promote complementary modes such as active mobility (walking and bicycle), transit (public transportation), and shared mobility (shared autonomous vehicles and mobility as a service). Full article

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

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18 pages, 784 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Case of ‘Muddling Through’? The Politics of Renewing Glyphosate Authorization in the European Union

by Jale Tosun, Herman Lelieveldt and Trevelyan S. Wing

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020440 - 16 Jan 2019

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7526

Abstract

Between 2012 and 2017, the European Commission struggled to achieve the renewal of glyphosate, an active ingredient of some broad-spectrum herbicides. As indicated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the chemical kills or suppresses all plant types; when applied at lower [...] Read more.

Between 2012 and 2017, the European Commission struggled to achieve the renewal of glyphosate, an active ingredient of some broad-spectrum herbicides. As indicated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the chemical kills or suppresses all plant types; when applied at lower rates, it is a plant-growth regulator and desiccant. Glyphosate is used worldwide for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes. Once uncontroversial, new scientific evidence concerning the potential hazards of the substance has sparked a considerable debate in public and political spheres. In light of this sustained controversy, it came as a surprise when a qualified majority of European Union member states voted in favor of the Commission’s proposal to renew the approval of glyphosate for another five years. How was this outcome reached after many ‘no opinion’ votes? How are the member states dealing with the authorization’s renewal? Relying on document analyses and process tracing, we show in this study that the aforementioned renewal was attained due to a change in position on the part of German delegates, who voted in favor of the proposal instead of abstaining. By examining how the member states are addressing the renewal of the authorization, we found that both the countries that opposed renewal and those that supported it are now taking steps to reduce the use—or preparing the phaseout—of glyphosate. Due to domestic political considerations, however, the realization of these steps has so far proven to be difficult. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical issues on Agri-food System Management: Addressing Complexity in Present and Future Challenges)

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12 pages, 952 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comprehensive Land Carrying Capacities of the Cities in the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone and their Spatio-Temporal Variations

by Guangming Cui, Xuliang Zhang, Zhaohui Zhang, Yinghui Cao and Xiujun Liu

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020439 - 16 Jan 2019

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4402

Abstract

The comprehensive land carrying capacities of seven cities in the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone between 2007–2014 were assessed using a multi-criterion comprehensive evaluation approach and an index of 27 indicators, and cluster analysis was conducted to identify the spatial-temporal variations of the [...] Read more.

The comprehensive land carrying capacities of seven cities in the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone between 2007–2014 were assessed using a multi-criterion comprehensive evaluation approach and an index of 27 indicators, and cluster analysis was conducted to identify the spatial-temporal variations of the cities’ comprehensive land carrying capacities. The results showed that the carrying capacity of the water and soil resources of the cities had declined except Dongying City; in contrast, the carrying capacities of the eco-environment, the social resources and the economy and technology of the seven cities had all arisen. The carrying capacities of social resources of Dongying and Weihai were markedly higher than the other five cities. The carrying capacities of economy and technology of Qingdao and Dongying were high, the capacities of Weihai and Yantai were moderate, and the capacities of Weifang, Rizhao, and Binzhou were low. In general, the comprehensive land carrying capacities of the eastern cities were higher than those of the western cities, which was similar to the spatial pattern of the economy development of those cities. In addition, positive correlations were identified between the comprehensive land carrying capacity and the per capita land for construction, areal proportion of wetland to total land, percentage of green space to build up area, per capita public green space, comprehensive utilization rate of industrial solid waste residues, urbanization rate, area of per capita urban road, per capita GDP, economy density, fixed-assets investment per area, etc. However negative correlations were discovered between the comprehensive land carrying capacity and the discharge of industrial waste water per 10,000 Yuan RMB GDP, as well as the proportion of added value of the primary industry to total GDP. Finally, we discussed measures to improve the comprehensive land carrying capacities of the cities, such as elevating the intensive land utilization and economic development, decreasing the proportion of added value of the primary industry to total GDP, promoting energy saving and emission reduction, etc. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Soils and Water: the Role of Environmental Land Use Conflicts)

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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 62 | Viewed by 10668

Abstract

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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13 pages, 850 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Using Pareto Optimization to Support Supply Chain Network Design within Environmental Footprint Impact Assessment

by Tsai Chi Kuo and Yile Lee

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020452 - 16 Jan 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4939

Abstract

A product environmental footprint is a multi-criteria measure for environmental sustainability. Most of these environmental criteria are either synergies (non-trade-offs) or compromises (trade-offs) within environmental metrics. This forms a multi-objective problem of supply chain network design. The product environmental footprint is an aid [...] Read more.

A product environmental footprint is a multi-criteria measure for environmental sustainability. Most of these environmental criteria are either synergies (non-trade-offs) or compromises (trade-offs) within environmental metrics. This forms a multi-objective problem of supply chain network design. The product environmental footprint is an aid or tool that enterprises may use to measure and improve the life cycle environmental performance of their products. In this research, a multi-criteria method, Pareto optimization, is used to design a supply chain network based on the results of a product environmental footprint. In Pareto optimization, two objectives are formulated: Environmental impact and cost. Using the results of this research, designers will be able to choose a material with a lower environmental impact and supply chain managers will be able to select suppliers with lower environmental impacts. A case study of industry practice is also analyzed. It shows an environmental footprint is useful for the supply chain design network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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15 pages, 379 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Defining and Quantifying National-Level Targets, Indicators and Benchmarks for Management of Natural Resources to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

by Chris Dickens, Vladimir Smakhtin, Matthew McCartney, Gordon O’Brien and Lula Dahir

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020462 - 16 Jan 2019

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 8952

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are high on the agenda for most countries of the world. In its publication of the SDGs, the UN has provided the goals and target descriptions that, if implemented at a country [...] Read more.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are high on the agenda for most countries of the world. In its publication of the SDGs, the UN has provided the goals and target descriptions that, if implemented at a country level, would lead towards a sustainable future. The IAEG (InterAgency Expert Group of the SDGs) was tasked with disseminating indicators and methods to countries that can be used to gather data describing the global progress towards sustainability. However, 2030 Agenda leaves it to countries to adopt the targets with each government setting its own national targets guided by the global level of ambition but taking into account national circumstances. At present, guidance on how to go about this is scant but it is clear that the responsibility is with countries to implement and that it is actions at a country level that will determine the success of the SDGs. Reporting on SDGs by country takes on two forms: i) global reporting using prescribed indicator methods and data; ii) National Voluntary Reviews where a country reports on its own progress in more detail but is also able to present data that are more appropriate for the country. For the latter, countries need to be able to adapt the global indicators to fit national priorities and context, thus the global description of an indicator could be reduced to describe only what is relevant to the country. Countries may also, for the National Voluntary Review, use indicators that are unique to the country but nevertheless contribute to measurement of progress towards the global SDG target. Importantly, for those indicators that relate to the security of natural resources security (e.g., water) indicators, there are no prescribed numerical targets/standards or benchmarks. Rather countries will need to set their own benchmarks or standards against which performance can be evaluated. This paper presents a procedure that would enable a country to describe national targets with associated benchmarks that are appropriate for the country. The procedure builds on precedent set in other countries but in particular on a procedure developed for the setting of Resource Quality Objectives in South Africa. The procedure focusses on those SDG targets that are natural resource-security focused, for example, extent of water-related ecosystems (6.6), desertification (15.3) and so forth, because the selection of indicator methods and benchmarks is based on the location of natural resources, their use and present state and how they fit into national strategies. 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 58 | Viewed by 15180

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 38 | Viewed by 4093

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 109 | Viewed by 12426

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 17 | Viewed by 4321

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 30 | Viewed by 6494

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 21 | Viewed by 5510

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 51 | Viewed by 7442

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 31 | Viewed by 6664

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 29 | Viewed by 8004

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, 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 37 | Viewed by 5992

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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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 41 | Viewed by 8522

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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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 32 | Viewed by 6133

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 30 | Viewed by 5365

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 62 | Viewed by 10041

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 77 | Viewed by 11416

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 92 | Viewed by 10023

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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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 34 | Viewed by 9199

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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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 30 | Viewed by 5389

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 33 | Viewed by 5836

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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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 28 | Viewed by 9208

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 96 | Viewed by 7196

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)

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 81 | Viewed by 10861

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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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 24 | Viewed by 5673

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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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 112 | Viewed by 15069

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 49 | Viewed by 9986

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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