Search Results (56)

The escalating climate crisis and global disruptions have prompted a critical re-evaluation of operations management within manufacturing and supply systems. This conceptual article addresses the theoretical and strategic gap in aligning resilience and sustainability by proposing an Integrated Sustainable Operational Strategy (ISOS) framework. Drawing on systems theory, circular economy principles, and sustainability science, the framework synthesizes multiple operational domains—circularity, localization, digital adaptation, and workforce flexibility—across macro (policy), meso (organizational), and micro (process) levels. This study constructs a conceptual model that explains the interdependencies and trade-offs among strategic operational responses in the Anthropocene era. Supported by multi-level logic and a synthesis of domain constructs, the model provides a foundation for empirical investigation and strategic planning. Key propositions for future research are developed, focusing on causal relationships and boundary conditions. The novelty of ISOS lies in its simultaneous integration of three strategic pillars—circularity, localization, and digital resilience—within a unified, multi-scalar architecture that bridges fragmented operational theories. The article advances theory by redefining operational excellence through regenerative logic and adaptive capacity, responding directly to SDG 9 (industry innovation), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (climate action). This integrative framework offers both theoretical insight and practical guidance for transforming operations into catalysts of sustainable transition. Full article

The article addresses the question of the relative importance of human population size and growth in relation to the environmental problems of planetary heating and biodiversity loss in the current, Anthropocene era. To what extent could policies to encourage lower fertility be justified, while observing that this subject is an inherently contested one. It is proposed that a helpful distinction can be made between specific threats to habitats and biodiversity, as opposed to those related to global energy use and warming. Pressures of over-population can be important in relation to the former. But with regard to the latter—rising per capita energy usage—reduced fertility has historically been positively, not negatively correlated. A case can be made that the high-fertility nations of sub-Saharan Africa could benefit from culturally respectful fertility reduction policies. However, where planetary heating is concerned, it is the hydrocarbon-based, per capita energy-consumption patterns of already low-fertility populations on the other five inhabited continents that is rather more critical. While it will be helpful to stabilise global human population, this cannot be viewed as a solution to the climate crisis problem of this century. That requires relentless focus on reducing hydrocarbon use and confronting the rising inequality since c.1980 that has been exacerbating competitive materialist consumerism. This involves the ideological negotiation of values to promote a culture change that understands and politically embraces a new economics of both human and planetary balance, equity, and distribution. Students of populations can contribute by re-assessing what can be the appropriate demographic units and measures for policies engaging with the challenges of the Anthropocene. Full article

The report examines food availability and demand in the Anthropocene era, exploring the connections between global population growth and carrying capacity through an extended version of Cohen’s Condorcet concept. It recalls the super-Malthus and Verhulst-type scalings, matched with the recently introduced analytic relative growth rate. It focuses particularly on the ongoing Fifth Industrial Revolution (IR) and its interaction with the concept of a sustainable civilization. In this context, the significance of innovative food preservation technologies that can yield high-quality foods with health-promoting features, while simultaneously increasing food quantities and reducing adverse environmental impacts, is discussed. To achieve this, high-pressure preservation and processing (HPP) can play a dominant role. High-pressure ‘cold pasteurization’, related to room-temperature processing, has already achieved a global scale. Its superior features are notable and are fairly correlated with social expectations of a sustainable society and the technological tasks of the Fifth Industrial Revolution. The discussion is based on the authors’ experiences in HPP-related research and applications. The next breakthrough could be HPP-related sterilization. The innovative HPP path, supported by the colossal barocaloric effect, is presented. The mass implementation of pressure-related sterilization could lead to milestone societal, pro-health, environmental, and economic benefits. Full article

The widespread practice of deliberate human displacement for biodiversity conservation remains a contentious issue in the Anthropocene era. This study explores the ecological impacts of conservation-led resettlement (ER) in Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), a biodiverse region under significant conservation and development pressures. Although ER aims to enhance ecological integrity, the role of displacement in conservation has been understudied. Using case studies from the TAL, we examined ecological indicators in vacated settlement areas within parks and newly resettled sites outside protected zones. Data were collected through a review of secondary literature, 240 household interviews, 5 focus group discussions, 25 key informant interviews, and multiple field visits across resettlement sites. Between 1973 and 2019, TAL gained 922.52 sq. km of core protected areas (displacing over 4800 households) and dispossessed communities from 2120.12 sq. km of buffer zones, significantly expanding protected areas and upgrading conservation standards from IUCN category IV to II. This contributed to the recovery of key species such as tigers, rhinos, and elephants. However, resettlements, often located along critical biological corridors and buffer zones, led to habitat fragmentation, endangering the gene pool flow and creating isolated habitats. Results show that, in general, most ecosystem and environmental variables were perceived significantly different (p < 0.05) among resettled communities in the study area. The cultural and land-based attachments of displaced communities were overlooked. These findings highlight the risks of short-term resettlement planning, which can exacerbate pressures on critical corridors, escalate human–wildlife conflicts, and provide a clear indication of the trade-off between conservation benefits and social costs. Full article

Before the Anthropocene, Bedouin communities in Southern Israel were based on a clan structure—a kin-based social network; clans were culturally and socially homogenous communities with a strong authority structure. Work consisted of subsistence activities necessary for physical survival. Group-based authority and cooperative problem solving were adaptive in this ecology. Throughout the Anthropocene, the Bedouin of Southern Israel have had to adapt to diverse urban environments, expanded educational opportunity, and exposure to media emanating from different cultures. Our study explored the implications of these ecological shifts for epistemic thinking by comparing three generations of 60 Bedouin families: adolescent girls, their mothers, and their grandmothers (N = 180). Families were evenly divided among three residence types differing in degree of urbanization and degree of population homogeneity: unrecognized Bedouin villages consisting of single clans; recognized Bedouin villages, towns, or cities, consisting of multiple clans; and ethnically diverse cities. Results: Across the generations, media exposure and formally educated parents have weakened the epistemic authority of family elders, in turn weakening clan identity. Ethnically diverse cities have weakened extended family identity. At the same time, personal knowledge and professional expertise have gained new cultural importance. These changes in epistemology and identity are adaptive in the ecological environments that have multiplied in the Anthropocene era. Local identity was strongest both in diverse cities, with their many attractions, and in unrecognized villages, where the population continues to occupy ancestral lands. Full article

The climate crisis is now a defining challenge of the Anthropocene era, underscoring humanity’s profound impact on Earth’s ecosystems and the ethical responsibilities that accompany this influence. This paper explores how religious and philosophical frameworks can provide transformative approaches to the climate crisis, particularly through the lens of intergenerational ethics. Ecofeminism critiques humanity’s exploitative relationship with nature, advocating for an ethos of respect and intrinsic appreciation—a perspective that has evolved into fourth wave feminism, embracing digital activism and intersectionality. Similarly, Pope Francis’ ecotheology calls for a “conversion of heart” that redefines humanity’s relationship with the environment, urging us to view nature not as a mere resource for exploitation but as a fraternal partner deserving of care and respect. Hans-Georg Gadamer’s “hermeneutics of appreciation” further complements this perspective by demonstrating how language and dialogue shape our attitudes and behaviors toward nature. Moreover, contemporary ecofeminist voices have exemplified how historical insights are extended through modern, intergenerational climate justice initiatives. By integrating ecofeminism, Gadamerian hermeneutics, and Pope Francis’ ecotheology, this paper proposes a comprehensive framework for addressing the ethical, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions of the climate crisis. It emphasizes the need for a fraternal and inclusive relationship with nature, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action. This interdisciplinary approach contributes to the scholarly discourse on religion, spirituality, and sustainability, offering novel insights for meaningful ecological change in a rapidly evolving global context. Full article

In the Anthropocene era, climate change highlights the need to abandon the centralized energy generation model using large installations located far from consumption centers, and to move towards an urban energy transition based on decentralized self-consumption models—both individual and collective—and local energy communities. These approaches reduce emissions and external dependency, strengthening resilience, urban sustainability, and promoting energy justice and citizen participation. This work aims to develop a model for integrating photovoltaic solar systems in urban centers of high heritage value, combining the protection of cultural legacy with climate change adaptation strategies. A methodology is designed to integrate solar energy into urban areas while respecting cultural heritage in the most reasonable way possible. The proposed methodology consists of carrying out a characterization of the municipalities under study, considering legal, demographic, energy, and heritage aspects. Next, a territorial zoning is proposed that differentiates between protected and unprotected areas in each municipality. Visibility maps are developed to assess the impact of the installations by sector from the main visual consumption points, facilitating differentiated decisions to protect the most sensitive environments. In addition, specific measures are proposed, such as locating the installations in non-visible areas and using materials and techniques adapted to the construction typology, to preserve areas of higher cultural value and to implement energy communities and collective self-consumption outside culturally protected zones. This methodology is applied to two urban areas in the province of Jaén (South of Andalusia): Alcalá la Real and Cazorla, which, due to their different characteristics, demonstrate its versatility and adaptability. It is concluded that the transition toward decentralized models is an effective way to adapt cities to climate change, reinforcing social cohesion, contributing to the fight against energy vulnerability, and protecting historical heritage. Full article

The environmental justice (EJ) movement has evolved over five decades, encapsulating diverse theories, principles, frameworks, and practices. Despite considerable advancements in this field, the nuances of EJ in the Anthropocene era, along with its monitoring and evaluation, remain ambiguous. This paper endeavors to bridge this gap by amalgamating more than 200 review and empirical articles and theoretical literature to delve into a comprehensive exploration of the EJ discourse to date, utilizing the Planetary Justice Research Framework (PJRF). First, we build on the existing knowledge by using three dimensions of EJ from the PJRF, acknowledging historical legacies, and explaining them with practical examples. Second, we create a comprehensive framework to evaluate (in)justice in real-world applications, highlighting the contextual relationships (intra-, inter-, and transdisciplinary) and the role of spatial, temporal, and contextual factors. Finally, we explore the complex connections between living beings and non-living components, showing how (un)just actions impact the balance within and between planetary systems. Consequently, the newly devised monitoring framework highlights potential instances where questions of (in)justice may arise in practical settings, thereby guiding the formulation of measuring indicators and procedural methodologies. Full article

In the Anthropocene era, lake ecosystems are increasingly subjected to significant human-induced pressures, leading to declines in both biodiversity and habitat quality. However, restoration initiatives offer promising avenues for enhancing the resilience of freshwater environments. This research investigated a range of established and novel methods aimed at promoting the growth of the macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis in the littoral zone of Lake Como, a southern alpine lake in Italy. To conduct this study, samples of Vallisneria spiralis were collected and placed in tanks containing four different types of 3D-printed biodegradable substrates. The optimal conditions for the growth of this species were identified as follows: a temperature range of 25 to 27 °C, the continuous operation of a circulation pump equipped with a filter, the presence of a fertile substrate, and light cycles comprising 6 h of peak illumination followed by 6 h of darkness. Remarkably, the plants exhibited a growth rate of 4 mm per day, increasing from an initial count of 12 specimens to 400 within four months, with a total of over 700 plants by the end of the study. Among the substrates tested, the patch substrate was found to be the most effective. After their introduction into the natural environment, the survival rate of plants established on stable substrates in contact with the lakebed reached an impressive 85.7%. This research represents a pioneering step in demonstrating that Vallisneria spiralis may serve as a viable option for restoration projects in coastal lake habitats, particularly when employing biodegradable substrates. Full article

By the end of the nineteenth century, the view of labour as control of the environment for human benefit was being re-evaluated. In the United States, the conservation movement of the Progressive era (1890–1920) brought new attention to the problem of the ‘wise use’ of resources. Progressive social movements also developed a concern with holistic health and social conditions in rapidly industrialising cities. This paper argues that the formation of the new allied health science of occupational therapy in the early 20th century can be understood as a response to the health and conservation implications of changing relations between labour and resources. An analysis of published sources on the aims of occupational therapy in the Progressive era concluded that the early stage of the profession was structured by dominant Western narratives about humans and nature. Those narratives included the trope of redemption or transformation through labour and the importance of conservation as a response to the squandering of resources, both natural and human. I argue that the early development of occupational therapy was significantly influenced by environmentalist discourse as a therapeutic response to industrialisation and emerging Anthropocene awareness. Full article

The long-term record of ecological, limnological and climatological parameters that were documented in the Kinneret drainage basin was statistically evaluated. The dependent relations between environmental parameters and a change in climate conditions open a consequence dispute between three optional definitions: long-term instability, climate change impact and ecosystem resiliency. The Kinneret drainage basin during the Anthropocene era is marked by intensive anthropogenic involvement: Increase in population size, drainage of the wetlands and old lake Hula, agricultural development, enhancement of lake Kinneret utilization for water supply, hydrological management, fishery and recreation. Therefore, the impact of a combination of natural and anthropogenic environmental factors confounded each other, and the uniqueness of climate change is unclear. Full article

Human existence and progress hinge on sustainability and resilience, especially in the Anthropocene Era, where the diversity of nature plays a critical role. Central to this endeavor is the realm of geoethics, which not only reshapes the role of geosciences but also fosters the development of ethical behavior and practices in our interaction with the Earth. This paper presents a conceptual framework that integrates the seemingly disparate domains of geoethics, geoenvironmental education, and the sense of place. By conducting a systematic review using the keywords “Geoethics AND Education” and “Geoethics AND place” across global databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and JSTOR, up to October 2023, we seek to uncover evidence illuminating the potential connections between these concepts. Out of n = 98 records identified, n = 22 met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in our review. Our findings reveal a growing scientific interest in the spectrum of geoethics over the last decade, with diverse perspectives related to concerns about geoeducation. We propose that future research should focus on expanding the scope of geoethics across various disciplines, emphasizing the importance of human ethos, socio-eco responsibility, and ethical considerations in geological heritage and geoconservation management. Geoenvironmental education emerges as a crucial avenue for advancing geoethics, while the multifaceted outcome of the sense of place offers a promising pathway for standardizing and correlating these fields effectively. Full article

In this paper, I reflect on human imagination, the intention of technology, and the future of humanity in the era of the Anthropocene. I begin by presenting the environmental crisis and declare a need to protect and safeguard nature. In the first part, I offer an explanation of a dream of an airliner and link it to the Bachelardian theory of aerial imagination and oneiric flight. I show how, today, technology has entered our lives profoundly and how it has become closely intertwined with us human beings. Based on this, the second part is dedicated to Martin Heidegger and his question concerning technology. By analyzing Heidegger’s seminal essay on technology, I argue for an alternative possibility of thinking about human artefacts (such as various tools or even an airliner) beyond them being merely a standing-reserve and thus rather as a mode of unconcealement. The third and last part of this essay is dedicated to Ilia Delio’s Teilhardian cosmic vision of the future of technological progress. Technology, for Delio, is a part of this cosmic narrative and human beings represent the thinking portion of the universe. I conclude with a thought on a new elemental consciousness and imagination, in which nature, its life force, and the most advanced technology, including AI, would become a part of a new panentheistic whole. Full article

Freya the Walrus, who often climbed onto docked boats to sunbathe and frolic, was euthanized by the Norwegian Department of Fisheries in the Oslo fjord in August 2022, sparking international outrage and media attention. Since walruses are social animals, and since the Anthropocene era of climate change has displaced animals from their Arctic homes, forcing them to migrate, we can expect more human–animal interactions at such places as marinas, where Freya met her end. This paper asks and attempts to answer how we can make such interactions just going forward? In cases such as Freya’s, we need to reconcile three competing interests: the animal’s interest in living a flourishing life as best they can in a changing climate; the public’s interest in a safe and fulfilling wildlife encounter with an animal they have come to know intimately enough to name and follow devotedly on social media; and interests in maintaining private property. Examining these interests through the philosophical lenses of co-sovereignty, capability, and individuality, however, will yield more just results for animals in similar situations of conflict and co-existence with humans in urban spaces. We argue that, going forward, state resources should be expended to safeguard the public from marina access if safety is a genuine concern, while private money should be spent by marinas to enact safe animal removal with a no-kill policy. Full article

The tree-ring fire scar stands as a pivotal proxy for reconstructing historical wildfire occurrences, providing invaluable context for comprehending contemporary wildfire activities during the Anthropocene era. Precise identification of fire scars often necessitates sampling complete tree disks. Yet, stringent forest resource protection policies limit such collection in certain regions, thus curtailing the application of tree-ring-based fire reconstruction. While current methods based on tree-ring cores can ascertain the age range of fire events, pinpointing the exact year remains challenging. In this study, we propose a novel approach for detecting fire occurrence years by recognizing abrupt shifts in the tree-ring geometric center (TRGC). This method entails extracting a minimum of three tree-ring cores from the uninjured side of the tree and in proximity to the fire scar. We validated this method’s efficacy using samples from Transbaikal of Russia, in northeastern Asia, where fire years have already been documented. Our results show that this method accurately identified the fire year in nine fire scars with a 67 percent probability of exact agreement with the actual fire year. It is noteworthy that this method particularly excels in cases of trees with a single fire scar. We recommend employing the traditional method of collecting tree-ring cores near the fire scar to establish the age range of the fire scar. Subsequently, within this determined range, we suggest detecting the shifts in the TRGC to accurately pinpoint the exact year of the fire scar. Full article