Search Results (666)

Between 1970 and 2023, China’s yearly anthropogenic CO₂ emissions increased from 0.96 to 13.58 Pg. Yearly non-CO₂ greenhouse gases (GHGs) in China increased from 1133.7 Tg CO₂eq in 1970 to 3095.3 Tg CO₂eq in 2023. In terms of weight of the global warming potential over a horizon of 100 years, China’s anthropogenic non-CO₂ GHG emissions, approximately 56.8%, 13.5%, 10.1%, 10.4%, 5.2%, and 3.9% of which were from methane, nitrous oxide, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorinated compounds, and chlorofluorocarbons, respectively, were equal to 23.3% of its anthropogenic CO₂ emissions in 2023. Despite efforts for mitigation, China’s non-CO₂ emissions are projected to keep growing in the foreseeable future due to unreported emissions, continuous industrialization, and global warming. This result shows that merely controlling anthropogenic CO₂ emissions and achieving carbon neutrality are not enough; non-CO₂ GHG emissions also need to be curbed. Full article

Conventional cross-sectional analyses of biocapacity fail to capture the temporal dynamics and historical pathways that define a nation’s environmental profile, limiting our understanding of the drivers behind sustainability transitions. To address this gap, this study employs a novel methodological framework that combines Dynamic Time Warping with partitional clustering to analyze per capita biocapacity trajectories across 44 European countries from 1970 to 2022. This approach allows for the grouping of countries based on the shape and dynamics of their historical trends, rather than on static snapshots. Our analysis reveals four distinct and statistically significant clusters: (1) Low-Stable (e.g., Germany, the UK, and Italy; characterized by structural constraints and high import dependency), (2) Very High (Finland and Sweden; driven by vast productive forest ecosystems), (3) Medium-Growing (e.g., Austria, Czechia, and Romania; showing a positive trend linked to post-socialist land-use changes and EU integration), and (4) High-Volatile (e.g., Norway, Estonia, and Russia; featuring abundant yet variable resources tied to extractive economies). The findings demonstrate that institutional and historical factors—such as economic transition and policy integration can influence biocapacity trajectories as significantly as geographical endowments. This study provides a new, dynamic framework for comparative sustainability science and offers a robust basis for designing differentiated environmental policies tailored to each cluster’s unique socio-ecological context. Full article

The transformation of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) among minority populations undergoing cultural and linguistic assimilation over time is poorly understood. Arbëreshë communities in Greece, who have preserved Albanian-derived traditions for centuries, offer a unique opportunity to examine how folk plant knowledge adapts over time. This study examines the linguistic labels and culinary uses of wild greens among Arbëreshë (or Arvanites), an ethno-linguistic minority traditionally speaking Arbërisht or Arvanitika, the Tosk dialect of Albanian, who have resided in the Argolis and Corinthia regions of the Peloponnese for several centuries. In 2025, fieldwork was conducted in four rural Arbëreshë villages in the Argolis and Corinthia regions of Greece, combining semi-structured interviews with 24 elderly participants, participant observation, and the collection and identification of botanical specimens. The contemporary dataset was compared with historical ethnobotanical records from the 1970s to assess temporal changes in the use of wild vegetables and folk plant nomenclature. Our results reveal that current Arbëreshë ethnobotanical heritage has undergone profound Hellenisation, with 62% of folk plant names of Greek origin, 14% Albanian, and 24% hybrid, reflecting strong linguistic and cultural assimilation over the past half-century. The traditional boiled green mix (lakra in Arbëreshë, chorta in Greek) remains central to the local cuisine, which is rooted in foraged plants, although its culinary applications have diversified. In total, 37 taxa of wild vegetables across 37 genera and 14 families were documented in 2025, compared with 21 taxa across 21 genera in the filtered 1970 dataset. Core families, such as Asteraceae and Brassicaceae, remained dominant, while new families, like Malvaceae and Portulacaceae, appeared, possibly indicating both ecological and culinary changes. These findings raise questions about whether the Arbëreshë wild vegetable heritage was strongly influenced by the surrounding Greek majority or primarily acquired after migration, potentially facilitated by intermarriages and shared Orthodox Christian affiliation. Overall, our study highlights a largely Hellenised Arbëreshë biocultural heritage and underscores the urgent need for national and regional stakeholders to recognise and celebrate the remaining minority’s linguistic and ethnobotanical diversity. The transformation of local ethnobotanical knowledge over the past fifty years appears influenced by ecological availability, socio-cultural dynamics, and changing taste preferences. Full article

Global biodiversity decreased by 69% from 1970 to 2022, representing a key risk to economic activity. However, the link between nature, biodiversity and finance has received little attention within the field of sustainable finance. This paper attempts to fill this gap. Nature finance aims to avoid biodiversity loss and promote nature-positive activities, such as the conservation and protection of biodiversity through market-based solutions with the proper measurement of impact. Measuring biodiversity impact remains a challenge for most companies and banks, with a fragmented landscape of nature frameworks. We conduct a bibliometric analysis of the literature on biodiversity finance and analyze a unique market dataset of five global investment funds as well as all corporate bonds issued in Brazil, the country with the largest biodiversity assets. First, we find that the literature on nature finance is recent with a tipping point in 2020, with the three most common concepts being ecosystem services, nature-based solutions and circular economy. Second, we find that sovereigns and two corporate sectors (food production, pulp & paper) represent the vast majority of issuers that currently incorporate biodiversity considerations into funding structures, suggesting an opportunity to expand accountability for biodiversity impacts across a greater number of sectors. Third, we find a disconnect between science and finance. Out of a catalogue of 158 biodiversity metrics proposed by the IFC, just 33 have been used in bond issuances and 32 by fund managers, suggesting an opportunity for technical assistance for companies and to simplify catalogs to create a common language. Lack of consensus around metrics, complexity, and cost explain this gap. Fourth, we identify a distinction between liquid markets and illiquid markets in their application of biodiversity impact management and measurement. Illiquid markets, such as private equity, bilateral lending, voluntary carbon markets or investment funds can develop complex bespoke mechanisms to measure nature, leveraging detailed catalogues of metrics. Liquid markets, including bonds, exhibit a preference for simpler metrics such as preserved areas or forest cover. Full article

In his book The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross (1970), John Marco Allegro claimed that an obscure, 12th century CE fresco of the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Plaincourault Chapel in Mérigny, France, provided evidence of the persistence in Christian Europe of an underground sacred mushroom sect that had survived since New Testament times. At the heart of Allegro’s claim is the mushroom-like appearance of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the picture. Following up on Allegro’s claim, a small group of writers, led by Boston University’s Carl A. P. Ruck, spent decades seeking to validate Allegro’s theory by seeking out other examples of psychedelic mushrooms hidden in early Christian and Medieval art. The present article centers its discussion on the claims put forward by Allegro and his followers about the Plaincourault tree, but also about other images concerning which they have made similar claims. It concludes that the claims of Allegro and his followers concerning the Plaincourault tree fail due to their tendency to overpress similarities while ignoring differences. Full article

Residual oil (RO) in terrigenous reservoirs formed after waterflooding can exceed 60% of the original oil in place; approximately 70% is trapped at the macro-scale in barriers and lenses, whereas about 30% remains at the micro-scale as film and capillary-held oil. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge of RO formation mechanisms, localization methods and chemical recovery technologies. It analyzes laboratory, numerical and field studies published from 1970 to 2025. The physical and technological factors governing RO distribution are systematized, and the effects of heterogeneities of various types, imperfections in pressure-maintenance (waterflood) systems and contrasts in oil–water properties are demonstrated. Instrumental monitoring techniques—vertical seismic profiling (VSP), well logging (WL), hydrodynamic well testing (WT) and geochemical well testing (GWT)—are discussed alongside indirect analytical approaches such as retrospective production-data analysis and neural-network forecasting. Industrial experience from more than 30,000 selective permeability-reduction operations, which have yielded over 50 Mt of additional oil, is consolidated. The advantages of gel systems of different chemistries are evaluated, and the prospects of employing waste products from agro-industrial, metallurgical and petroleum sectors as reagents are considered. The findings indicate that integrating multi-level neural-network techniques with instrumental monitoring and adaptive selection of chemical formulations is crucial for maximizing RO recovery. Full article

A high-power narrow-linewidth fiber laser with single-mode beam quality is experimentally demonstrated. By employing a cascaded phase modulation strategy, the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold of the laser is effectively increased from 973 W to 1970 W. High-order modes are well suppressed during power scaling, benefiting from the significant bending loss of a low numerical aperture (NA) ytterbium-doped fiber. A maximum output power of 1970 W is achieved, with a linewidth of 3.2 GHz and a beam quality factor M² of 1.14. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest reported output power for narrow-linewidth fiber lasers (linewidth < 10 GHz) operating at wavelengths below 1040 nm. Full article

The woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus, is likely a Neotropical origin species that has spread globally. Introduced to France in 1969, it became a pest in southern European citrus groves, first reported in Italy in 1974. Integrated management using biological control agents is crucial due to the low efficacy of chemical controls. Nymphs produce waxy filaments and honeydew, limiting insecticide contact. Natural enemies, especially from Neotropics, have been documented. The parasitoids Amitus spiniferus and Cales noacki were released in France in 1970 and later observed in Liguria, Italy. In the Campania region, C. noacki was first found on Aleurotuba jelineki in 1984 and this finding preceded the first report of A. floccosus in the same area. Subsequently, C. noacki was also introduced in other regions where it showed better adaptation throughout the Italian territory, reaching high parasitization levels on the woolly whitefly nymphs. After many years since the last field investigations, surveys in 2024–2025 in organic citrus groves in central and southern Italy identified additional parasitoids. Besides C. noacki and A. spiniferus, Eretmocerus paulistus and Signiphora xanthographa were found for the first time in Italy. Both species were originally described from the Neotropical ecozone. The aphelinid finding represents its first documented establishment in Italy, while the signiphorid one represents a new record for the European fauna. E. paulistus is a primary parasitoid, while S. xanthographa is a hyperparasitoid that can limit the effectiveness of other parasitoids. The interaction of these parasitoids resulted in high parasitism rates for A. floccosus nymphs. Preserving the current complexity of parasitoids in integrated pest management (IPM) programs could effectively control the woolly whitefly in central and southern Italy. Full article

Dew is an important water source for natural organisms in arid and semi-arid areas, playing a crucial role in maintaining the stability and sustainability of desert ecosystems. Effectively estimating dew quantity and its long-term changes remains a challenge. Based on conventional meteorological observation data, this study used a Random Forest model to estimate the dew quantity in Nilka, the Southern slope of Boluohuoluo Mountain in middle Tianshan Mountains from June to October in 1970–2022 and analyzed its long-term variations using a statistical method. The results revealed that (1) monthly dewfall varied from 0.74 to 3.88 mm. The 53-year average of the total dew amount in October was significantly higher than in other months (2.81 mm), while the lowest was in August (2.02 mm). In addition, the total dew amount in June, July, and September were 2.27 mm, 2.19 mm, and 2.16 mm, respectively. (2) From 1970 to the beginning of the 21st century, there was a slight decrease in dew from June to October and in every month individually, followed by an increase for about 18 years, after which the dew amount decreased again. During 1970 to 2022, the dew amount exhibited a declining trend when considering the June–October period as a whole or for August and October individually. (3) The change in dew amount was primarily affected by the relative humidity. The findings have implications for assessing the effect of climate change on the dew formation, and could be conducive to further maintaining ecological stability and sustainability in dryland regions amidst global warming. Full article

Coastal areas are under intense pressure worldwide because diverse stakeholders rely on coastal resources, and the supply of land is highly limited. Coast-dependent economic activities like transportation and logistics infrastructure in the Jade Bay, Germany, have experienced extensive demand for land. The situation is more interesting because national parks encircle the seaport. Understanding the complex seaside–landside dynamics following the development of Jade Weser Port is crucial for promoting sustainability, as massive development exceeds existing spatial capacity. However, a comprehensive framework to assess land use conflicts when dealing with infrastructure development in sensitive coastal areas is often missing. We analyze the origin of land use developments and the planning process at different administrative levels by retracing land use changes from 1970 to 2015 using a time series of satellite images, analyzing planning documents, and examining realized activities. We look for an embedding of transport infrastructure development and its feedback on land use. As a consequence of land use conflicts, these land system dynamics create winners and losers across multidisciplinary aspects. Our findings reflect interdisciplinary aspects which discuss both societal changes and the constellation of inadequate planning approaches to address the complexity of coastal land use. The degree to which these activities cause land use conflicts depends on institutional settings, especially the consistency of ICZM and infrastructure planning. Full article

In response to the dust pollution issue during the harvesting operations of peanut pickup combines, this study involved conducting bench tests to explore the variation patterns of dust emission parameters and harvesting operation indicators under diverse working parameter conditions of the combine’s working components. A multi-factor mathematical model was established to predict both the dust emission rate of peanut pickup combines and the quality of harvesting operations. The model was utilized to identify the optimal combination of operation parameters for achieving high-quality and low-emission performance. The optimal parameter combination was determined as follows: a pod threshing roller speed of 313 r/min, a cleaning fan speed of 2535 r/min, a vine crushing roller speed of 1970 r/min, and a lifting fan speed of 1604 r/min. Under these conditions, the theoretical dust emission rate was calculated to be 10,603 mg/s, with a pod loss rate of 4.73% and a pod impurity rate of 5.21%. Compared to previous settings, the optimized operation parameters effectively reduced the combine’s dust emissions by 9.95%. Notably, the harvesting operation quality still complies with the industry standards for peanut harvesters. These research findings offer theoretical insights and robust technical support for minimizing dust pollution during the whole-feed harvesting of peanuts, contributing to more environmentally friendly and efficient peanut harvesting practices. Full article

This study quantified the Habitat Connectivity Index (DCI) of cascade dams in the mainstream of the Dongjiang River, revealing the non-linear relationship between dam passability (p) and connectivity restoration. Results showed that DCI increased slowly when p < 0.6 (with the magnitude of increase not exceeding 10.41), whereas an exponential response emerged when p > 0.8 (specifically, DCI rose by 16.53 as p increased from 0.8 to 0.9). Time-series analysis indicated that the number of dams increased from 3 to 16 between 1970 and 2020, which plunged the natural-state DCI (set at 100) to 9.01 (representing a 90.99% decrease); notably, 78.14% of the total connectivity loss occurred during the 2000–2010 period. Spatial heterogeneity analysis demonstrated that enhancing the passability of Jiantan Dam increased DCI by 4.68 (under the baseline condition of p = 0.8), whereas the same intervention on Sulei Dam only led to a 0.58 increase in DCI. This finding highlights the importance of key nodes for connectivity restoration and provides a scientific basis for prioritizing the enhancement of connectivity at such nodes in subsequent ecological governance. A 2024 fish community survey found that 84.2% of the recorded species were native (64 out of 76), while only 18.8% of the total individuals (617 individuals) were migratory; the dominant species were identified as generalist residents, including Oreochromis zillii, Cirrhinus molitorella, and Hemiculter leucisculus. This study identifies 0.8 as a critical threshold for connectivity restoration and provides a spatial decision-making framework for prioritizing the restoration of key dams. Full article

In Brazil, Trypanosoma vivax was identified between 1970 and 1984 in buffalo, cattle, and sheep in northern Brazil. In the 1990s, the disease was diagnosed in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso. Currently, the disease is considered in enzootic stability in both regions. From 2006 to 2018, outbreaks of the disease associated with the presence of horseflies (Tabanidae) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) or transmitted by needle and syringe reuse were diagnosed in sheep, goats, and cattle during the rainy season in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil, a region considered to have enzootic instability. Since 2013, numerous outbreaks have been diagnosed associated with oxytocin inoculation to induce milk letdown in dairy cows. Most outbreaks occur in cattle transported from areas of enzootic instability to areas of stability, or vice versa. Serological, parasitological, and molecular techniques have identified T. vivax in asymptomatic animals in all Brazilian regions. For disease prophylaxis, it is important not to reuse syringes and needles when administering medication and to avoid transporting animals during periods of insect abundance. It is also necessary to avoid the use of oxytocin or adopt safe injection practices, using disposable or disinfected needles and syringes only for cows with ineffective milk ejection. Full article

This study investigates long-term changes in thermal comfort across the Italian and Iberian Peninsulas from 1940 to 2024, using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) derived from ERA5-HEAT reanalysis. We apply a dual analytical framework combining structural break detection to identify regime shifts and Sen’s slope estimation with confidence intervals to quantify monotonic trends. Results reveal pronounced seasonal asymmetries. Summer exhibits abrupt regime shifts in both regions: in 1980 for Italy (slope shifting from −0.039 °C/year before 1980 to +0.06 °C/year after) and 1978 for Iberia (from −0.054 °C/year to +0.050 °C/year). Winter, by contrast, shows no structural breaks but a persistent, spatially uniform warming trend of ~0.030–0.033 °C/year across the 1940–2024 period, consistent with a gradual erosion of cold stress. Transitional seasons display more nuanced responses. Spring reveals detectable breakpoints in 1987 for Italy (shifting from −0.028 °C/year to +0.027 °C/year) and 1986 for Iberia (from −0.047 °C/year to +0.024 °C/year), indicating the early acceleration of warming. Autumn shows a breakpoint in 1970 for Italy, with trends intensifying from +0.011 °C/year before to +0.052 °C/year after, while Iberia exhibits no clear breakpoint but a consistent positive slope. These findings highlight spring as an early-warning season, where warming acceleration first emerges, and autumn as a consolidating phase that extends summer-like heat into later months. Overall, the results demonstrate that Mediterranean thermal regimes evolve through both abrupt and gradual processes, with summer defined by non-linear regime shifts, winter by steady accumulation of warming, and spring and autumn by transitional dynamics that bridge these extremes. The methodological integration of breakpoint detection with Sen’s slope estimation provides a transferable framework for detecting climate regime transitions in other vulnerable regions under accelerated global warming. Full article

The relationship between renewable (REN) and non-renewable (NREN) energy and economic growth plays a fundamental role in sustainable development. The number of studies on this relationship in countries with the highest REN consumption is limited. This study analyzes the effects of REN and NREN on economic growth between 1970 and 2023, focusing on the ten leading countries in REN consumption. These countries constitute an appropriate sample for analysis, not only due to their high REN capacity but also because they represent diverse levels of economic development. For this purpose, second-generation panel data methods were employed to investigate the long-run effects, taking into account cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity in the dataset. The CADF unit root test developed by Pesaran indicated that all variables are stationary at their first differences. The Westerlund panel cointegration test confirmed the existence of a long-run relationship among the variables. Long-run coefficients were estimated using the Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCE) approach developed by Pesaran and the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimators proposed by Bond & Eberhardt and Eberhardt & Teal. The results revealed that renewable energy consumption has a positive and significant effect on economic growth, while fossil fuel consumption continues to have a favorable effect on growth. However, the negative and significant effect of primary renewable energy production suggests that technological deficiencies and efficiency problems in current production structures may play a role. Overall, this study highlights the necessity of aligning energy policies with both environmental sustainability and economic growth objectives. Full article