Search Results (1,857)

This study examines the interrelated challenges of climate change and energy poverty across two distinct industrial regions: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén in Hungary and Zarqa in Jordan. Both areas face unemployment and low-income levels, as well as environmental legacies of industrial activity; however, they differ significantly in their energy policies and infrastructure development. Using 2025 survey data, we develop indices of energy poverty, financial poverty, and climate perceptions, aligned with OECD guidelines. Regression analysis indicates that the model accounts for approximately 40% of the variance in energy poverty. Notably, heightened perceptions of climate change are associated with increased reports of energy hardship, suggesting that economically deprived households possess greater climate risk awareness. Resilience capacities, including adaptive skills, income stability, and community support, are found to substantially mitigate energy poverty. Income and employment status also play protective roles, underscoring the importance of economic resources. The impact of financial poverty varies markedly, being negligible in Hungary but severe in Jordan due to structural and infrastructural constraints. Our findings underscore the need for tailored, inclusive policy interventions that emphasize energy efficiency and retrofitting in Hungary and promote financial support and the adoption of renewable energy in Jordan. Integrating principles of energy justice into climate resilience strategies is crucial for promoting equitable and sustainable energy transitions, mitigating local vulnerabilities, and enhancing overall household resilience. Full article

Urban forests are highly valued for the multiple benefits they provide to city dwellers. The strategic provision of ecosystem services by these forests is threatened by climate change, warming conditions being responsible for heat waves and chronic droughts that inflict stress and mortality on trees. A three-year study (2011–2013) conducted at Parco Nord Milano (PNM) (Milano, Italy) assessed the impact of thinning interventions on the dynamics of fungal pathogens in declining forest plots. Symptomatic trees of the genera Alnus, Acer, Fraxinus, Platanus, Quercus and Ulmus, exhibited in thinned subplot pronounced decline/dieback, exhibiting symptoms like microphyllia, leaf yellowing, leaf shedding, sunken cankers, shoot wilting and branch dieback. Comparative analyses between the thinned and unthinned subplots revealed a significantly higher incidence of pathogens in the thinned one. Five species of Botryosphaeriaceae, namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia corticola, Diplodia seriata, Dothiorella omnivora and Neofusicoccum parvum, were consistently isolated from tissues of declining hosts. There is evidence that thinning altered plot-level microclimate conditions and microbial equilibrium, favoring the proliferation of latent, pathogenic Botryosphaeriaceae. In fact, during the study period, the presence of N. parvum increased tenfold and that of B. dothidea fivefold in thinned subplot. Conversely, in unthinned subplot, the same pathogenic taxa maintained stable proportions. These results demonstrate that thinning altered ecological balances increasing tree susceptibility to harmful, cosmopolitan botryosphaeriaceous fungi. Our findings challenge assumptions about thinning as a universally beneficial practice, emphasizing the need for silvicultural strategies that take into account host and pathogen ecology and the microclimatic resilience of forest stands. This study emphasizes the importance of adaptive management in urban forestry to mitigate the unintended ecological consequences of climate change. Full article

This study adopts a biochemical approach to sequester CO₂ while producing biomass rich in protein and lipids, using an adapted strain of Chlorella vulgaris (ALE-Cv), which had previously evolved to tolerate a gas mixture containing 10% CO₂ and 90% air. The research studied the operating parameters of the batch photobioreactor for ALE-Cv to evaluate the effects of inoculum size, photoperiod, light intensity, pH of culture, and CO₂ supply rate on biomass productivity and CO₂ bio-fixation rate. The optimal conditions were identified as 16:8 h light–dark cycles, 5000 lux, pH 7, 20 mL of 10 g/L inoculum, and 0.6 VVM; the system achieved a maximum total biomass production of 7.03 ± 0.21 g/L with a specific growth rate of 0.712 day⁻¹, corresponding to a CO₂ bio-fixation of 13.4 ± 0.45 g/L in batch cultivation. While the pre-adapted strain of Chlorella vulgaris under the same operating conditions, except for the gas supply, which was air, achieved a maximum total biomass production of 0.52 ± 0.008 g/L, and the total CO₂ bio-fixation was 1.036 ± 0.021 g/L during 7-day cultivation. A novel semi-continuous harvesting process, with and without nutrient addition, was also investigated to maximise biomass yield and enable water recycling for culture media. The maximum biomass production in semi-continuous harvesting process with and without nutrition added was 5.29 ± 0.09 and 9.91 ± 0.11 g/L, while the total corresponding CO₂ bio-fixation was 9.70 ± 0.13 and 18.16 ± 0.11 g/L, respectively, during 15-day cultivation. The findings provide critical insights into enhancing CO₂ bio-fixation through adaptive evolution of ALE-Cv and offer optimal operational parameters for future large-scale microalgae cultivation. This research also links microalgae-based CO₂ sequestration to green technologies and the bioeconomy, highlighting its potential contribution to climate change mitigation while supporting environmental sustainability, food security, and ecosystem resilience. Full article

Global change represents one of the most pressing threats to ecosystems, profoundly influencing habitats and redefining management and conservation priorities. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation regimes, invasive species and the increasing frequency of extreme events, such as prolonged droughts and wildfires, are modifying the composition, structure, and resilience of forests. Often, these changes result in habitat fragmentation, which isolates populations and diminishes their ability to adapt. This situation calls for an urgent reassessment of traditional protected area management practices. In response to climate change, it is essential to prioritize conservation strategies that focus on adaptation and maintaining biodiversity, while combating the spread of invasive species. For this reason, this study aims to analyze the impact of global changes on forest vegetation within protected areas, using Aspromonte National Park, a highly biodiverse region, as a case study. It evaluates the transformations in habitat cover and fragmentation over twenty years by comparing the 2001 vegetation map of Aspromonte National Park with the Map of Nature of the Calabria region, to quantify spatial and temporal habitat variations using QGIS 3.42.3 software. Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) and FRAGSTATS v4.2 were employed to evaluate habitat fragmentation. The results indicate that most forest habitats have experienced a slight increase in area over the past 20 years. However, the area occupied by Pinus nigra subsp. laricio forests (Habitat 42.65) has decreased significantly, most likely due to repeated fires in previous years. In conclusion, this study establishes a scientific foundation for guiding conservation policies in the protected area and promoting the resilience of native plant communities against global change. This is essential for ensuring their survival for future generations while mitigating both habitat fragmentation and the introduction and spread of non-native species. Full article

Climate change significantly challenges efforts to maintain and improve crop production worldwide. Diversified crop rotations have emerged as a promising way to adapt cropping systems and bolster food security under changing climate conditions; however, robust empirical evidence remains limited. This study evaluates the long-term performance of diversified crop rotations under future climate scenarios in the North China Plain via an 80-year scenario analysis (2020–2100) spanning three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs:126, 370, 585). The calibrated and validated SWAP (Soil–Water–Atmosphere–Plant)–WOFOST (WOrld FOod STudies) model simulated water consumption and yield. Sustainability indices were employed to assess the cereal yield stability and compensation effect to yield loss caused by climate change. The study compares the conventional winter wheat–summer maize rotation (WM) with two legume-based rotations: soybean–WM (S–WM) and peanut–WM (P–WM). The results indicate that, under all three climate scenarios, the two legume-based rotations reduced annual water consumption by 7–9%, maintained system economic equivalent yields with one crop less, and improved water productivity by up to 10%. Future climate change decreased cereal yields by 9–26% across all rotations compared to historical baselines. However, the two legume-based rotations showed a significant residual effect, increasing subsequent cereal yields by 9–14% over the conventional WM under all scenarios. Consequently, the legume-based rotations provided a 25–51% yield compensation. Additionally, these rotations improved the sustainable yield index and system resilience and reduced cereal yield variance under future climate scenarios compared to the more vulnerable WM. This study demonstrates that diversified crop rotations are a viable strategy to mitigate negative climate impacts. The study provides critical insights for policy-makers, supporting crop-rotation diversification as a core component of risk-reduction strategies to mitigate future climate change impacts. Full article

From adaptation to building effective resilience to climate change is critical for transforming West and Central Africa (WCA) agricultural system. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach initiated by leading international organizations to ensure food security, increased adaptation to climate change and mitigation. Its application spans from innovative policies, practices, technologies, innovations and financing. However, CSA initiatives lack scientific-based assessment prior to implementation to ensure their effectiveness. To fill this gap, future interventions should not only be assessed using rigorous methodology but should also be built on lessons learned from previous initiatives. Although there are a lot of climate related agricultural initiatives in WCA, most of them have not been analyzed through a CSA lens and criteria to capitalize on their experiences to improve future interventions. In this study we mapped previous climate-related initiatives in WCA, highlighted their gaps and lessons learned to accelerate the implementation of CSA in the region. The study covered 20 countries in WCA: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. CSA initiatives were reviewed using a three-steps methodology: (i) national data collection, (ii) regional validation of the national database, (iii) data analysis including spatial mapping. Data was collected from the websites of international, regional and national organizations working in the field of agricultural development in the region. Each initiative was analyzed using a multicriteria analysis based on CSA principles. A total of 1629 CSA related initiatives were identified in WCA. Over 75% of them were in the form of projects/programs with more of a focus on the first CSA pillar (productivity and food security), followed by adaptation. The mitigation pillar is less covered by the initiatives. Animal production, fisheries, access to markets, and energy are poorly included. More than half of these initiatives have already been completed, calling for more new initiatives in the region. Women benefit very little from the implementation of the identified CSA initiatives, despite the substantial role they play in agriculture. CSA initiatives mainly received funding from technical and financial partners and development partners (45%), banks (22%), and international climate financing mechanisms (20%). Most of them were implemented by government institutions (48%) and development partners (23%). In total, more than 600 billion EUR have been disbursed to implement 83 of the 1629 initiatives identified. These initiatives contributed to reclaiming and/or rehabilitating almost 2 million ha of agricultural land in all countries between 2015 and 2025. Future initiatives should ensure the consideration of the three CSA pillars right from their formulation to the implementation. These initiatives should consider investing in mixed production systems like crop-animal-fisheries. Activities should be built around CSA innovation platforms to encourage networking among actors for more sustainability. Full article

Climate change intensifies natural disasters, requiring enhanced understanding of urban resilience mechanisms. While green infrastructure’s disaster mitigation role has been established through engineering studies, empirical evidence linking green infrastructure quality to post-disaster economic adaptation remains limited. This study examines whether community-level green infrastructure quality correlates with post-disaster economic adaptation following Hurricane Laura’s August 2020 landfall. [Methods] Using a natural experiment design, we analyzed 247 Census Block Groups in two coastal Texas communities (Galveston and Port Arthur) experiencing differential disaster severity. We employed ordinary least squares regression with SafeGraph foot traffic data to measure economic recovery and satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to measure green infrastructure quality. Results demonstrate that green infrastructure quality significantly correlates with post-disaster adaptation (β = 1.27, p < 0.001), independent of socioeconomic characteristics. The NDVI–severity interaction proved non-significant, indicating consistent associations across impact contexts. These findings suggest that green infrastructure supports resilience universally rather than only in moderate-risk areas. From an environmental justice perspective, equitable distribution may reduce disaster-related inequalities, supporting “bouncing forward” adaptation trajectories. Full article

Grassland degradation, exacerbated by climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, poses a substantial barrier to ecological restoration, largely due to the invasion of toxic weeds. In the degraded grasslands of the Ili River Valley, Xinjiang, Sophora alopecuroides has emerged as the dominant toxic species; yet, its expansion mechanisms and sensitivity to management interventions remain poorly understood. This study utilized a three-year (2023–2025) field experiment to evaluate the impacts of nitrogen addition (N), mowing (M), and their combination (NM) on the stoichiometric characteristics and homeostasis of the plant–soil system. The results demonstrated that while M suppressed aboveground biomass, it facilitated the accumulation of root carbon (RC) and phosphorus (RP). Nitrogen enrichment significantly lowered soil C:N and C:P ratios, thereby alleviating phosphorus limitation. Crucially, the NM treatment effectively counteracted N-induced weed proliferation and mitigated M-induced biomass reductions. Analysis of stoichiometric homeostasis revealed that NM optimized plant adaptive strategies, maintaining strict homeostasis for RC and RP (H > 4) while preserving the sensitivity of the root N:P ratio of S. alopecuroides (RN:P). Structural equation modeling further indicated that soil C:P and N:P indirectly regulated total biomass by modulating the root C:P ratio of S. alopecuroides (RC:P). Consequently, stoichiometric coupling within the plant–soil system is essential for maintaining ecosystem functions. Integrated management (NM) optimizes soil nutrient balance and harnesses compensatory growth to suppress weed expansion, providing a robust scientific framework for the restoration of S. alopecuroides-invaded grasslands. Full article

In the face of accelerating climate change and urbanization, sustainable mobility infrastructure plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This article assesses the Sunglider concept—an elevated, solar-powered transport system—through the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Compass, which emphasizes sustainability, inclusion, and esthetic value. Designed by architect Peter Kuczia and collaborators, Sunglider combines photovoltaic energy generation with modular, parametrically designed wooden pylons to form a lightweight, climate-positive mobility solution. The study evaluates the system’s technological feasibility, environmental performance, and urban integration potential, drawing on existing design documentation and simulation-based estimates. While Sunglider demonstrates strong alignment with NEB principles, including zero-emission operation and material circularity, its implementation is challenged by high initial investment, political and planning complexities, and integration into dense urban environments. Mitigation strategies—such as adaptive routing, visual screening, and universal station access—are proposed to address concerns around privacy, esthetics, and accessibility. The article positions Sunglider as a scalable and replicable model for mid-sized European cities, capable of advancing inclusive, carbon-neutral mobility while enhancing the urban experience. It concludes with policy and research recommendations, highlighting the importance of embedding infrastructure innovation within broader ecological and cultural transitions. Full article

Smallholder agricultural systems in tropical and subtropical regions are threatened by climate change. This systematic review of 218 peer-reviewed studies (2000–2024) synthesizes evidence on agroforestry’s role as a climate-smart economic strategy across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Using a PRISMA-guided approach, we evaluated carbon sequestration pathways, biophysical adaptation benefits, and socioeconomic outcomes. Findings indicate that agroforestry systems can sequester 0.5–5 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in biomass and soils. The results show that agroforestry has the potential to improve above- and below-ground carbon stocks, moderate microclimates, decrease erosion and improve functional biodiversity. The results, however, differ greatly depending on the type of system, ecology and practice. The socioeconomic advantages can be diversification of income and stability of the yield, and adoption is limited due to barriers related to the economy, lack of security in tenure, information asymmetry, and insufficient policy encouragement. We find that agroforestry is a multifunctional and climate resistant land-use approach, but the potential that agroforestry has cannot be fulfilled without context-specific policies, better extension services and inclusive carbon financing schemes. Full article

Climate variability necessitates the optimization of sowing dates for vegetable crops to stabilize yields and mitigate abiotic stress risks. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sowing dates on the productivity of daikon radish (Raphanus sativus L. convar. acanthiformis Sazon.) cultivars Gulliver and Minowase under medium-podzolic, light loamy soil conditions with a pH (pHKCl) of 6.74 during the period 2022–2024. Field experiments were conducted across four sowing dates (ranging from July to early August), accounting for the hydrothermal conditions of the growing season. Effective air temperatures ranged from 428 to 950 °C, with precipitation levels between 36.9 and 252.3 mm. It was established that the sowing date significantly influenced daikon yield (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was identified between yield and precipitation (r = 0.76–0.84; p < 0.05), whereas the correlation between yield and the sum of effective temperatures was weak to moderate and predominantly negative (r = −0.62 to −0.10). The highest yields were achieved with sowing in the third ten-day period of July: 54.6 t ha⁻¹ for the Gulliver cultivar and 58.9 t ha⁻¹ for the Minowase cultivar. The Minowase cultivar consistently outperformed Gulliver in terms of yield and exhibited higher ecological plasticity under fluctuating hydrothermal conditions. These findings confirm the feasibility of optimizing sowing dates as an effective adaptive tool for enhancing the stability of daikon production amidst climate change. Full article

Background: Health care work contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Primary health care is community-based and focused on wellness and disease prevention. Within primary health care, pharmacists are most frequently the stewards of medicines, supplies, and other tangible products that contribute to carbon footprints. Pharmacists are in a unique position to help adapt to and mitigate climate change-related issues. Objective: To examine pharmacists’ perspectives on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in primary health care delivery in interprofessional settings. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with primary care pharmacists were undertaken. Constant-comparative data analysis was used to code and categorize findings. The COREQ system was applied to ensure rigor and quality of research. Results: A total of 21 primary care pharmacists participated in this research. Several core themes emerged as follows: (a) universal agreement that climate change is real and primary health care needs to evolve rapidly to address it; (b) recognition that primary health care is time-pressured and resource constrained so successful solutions need to be pragmatic and work within realities of practice; (c) identification of actionable priorities with high potential for mitigation impact; and (d) mobilization of a coalition to develop system-wide initiatives that could be implemented in primary health care. Conclusions: Collaborative approaches and those that focus on the implementation of regulatory requirements were identified as being most productive in this setting. Full article

This study provides a quantitative assessment of the combined effects of progressive urbanization and changes in precipitation patterns (PPs) on the urban water cycle. The primary objective was to evaluate historical (1940–2024) and projected (to 2060) changes in total annual surface runoff (TSR) and retention capacity (RC) in the highly urbanized catchment of the Dłubnia River in Cracow, Poland. Simulations were performed using the EPA SWMM hydrodynamic model, supported by digitized historical land-use maps and long-term meteorological records. The results demonstrate that the dominant driver of the observed 6.4-fold increase in TSR and 6.8-fold loss of retention capacity (LRC) over the study period was the progressive increase in impervious surfaces. Although inter-annual variability in the amount and structure of annual precipitation (AP) strongly correlates with annual TSR (r = 0.97), its contribution to the long-term upward trend in TSR is marginal (r = 0.19). Land use and land cover change (LULC) exhibits an extremely strong correlation with the long-term TSR trend (r = 0.998). The study also highlights the high effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NbSs), particularly bioretention cells (BCs)/rain gardens, in mitigating the adverse hydrological effects of excessive surface sealing. Implementation of BCs covering just 3–4% of the total drained roof and road area is sufficient to fully offset the projected combined negative impacts of further urbanization and climate change (CC) in scope Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) projections on catchment retention capacity by 2060. These findings position strategically targeted, relatively small-scale bioretention as one of the most effective and feasible urban adaptation measures in mature, densely developed cities. Full article

Flooding is a recurrent problem in many Brazilian cities, resulting in significant losses that affect health, assets, finance, and the environment. The uncertainty regarding extreme rainfall events due to climate change makes this challenge even more severe, compounded by inadequate urban planning and the occupation of risk areas, particularly for the municipality of Catu, in the state of Bahia, which also suffers from recurrent floods. Critical hotspots include the Santa Rita neighborhood and its surroundings, the main supply center, and the city center—the municipality’s commercial hub. The focus of this research is the unprecedented quantification of the socioeconomic impact of these floods on the low-income population and the region’s informal sector (street vendors). This research focused on analyzing and modeling the destructive potential of intense rainfall in the Santa Rita region (Supply Center) of Catu, Bahia, and its effects on the local economy across different recurrence intervals. A hydrological simulation software suite based on computational and geoprocessing technologies—specifically HEC-RAS 6.4, HEC-HMS 4.11, and QGIS— 3.16 was utilized. Two-dimensional (2D) modeling was applied to assess the flood-prone areas. For the socioeconomic impact assessment, a loss procedure based on linear regression was developed, which correlated the different return periods of extreme events with the potential losses. This methodology, which utilizes validated, indirect data, establishes a replicable framework adaptable to other regions facing similar socioeconomic and drainage challenges. The results revealed that the area becomes impassable during flood events, preventing commercial activities and causing significant economic losses, particularly for local market vendors. The total financial damage for the 100-year extreme event is approximately US $30,000, with the loss model achieving an R² of 0.98. The research concludes that urgent measures are necessary to mitigate flood impacts, particularly as climate change reduces the return period of extreme events. The implementation of adequate infrastructure, informed by the presented risk modeling, and public awareness are essential for reducing vulnerability. Full article

Methane emissions from rice paddies account for over 11% of global atmospheric CH₄, making water management practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) critical for climate change mitigation. Remote sensing offers an objective approach to monitoring AWD implementation and improving greenhouse gas estimation accuracy. This study investigates the backscattering mechanisms of L-band SAR for inundation/non-inundation classification in paddy fields using full-polarimetric ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 data. Field surveys and satellite observations were conducted in Ryugasaki (Ibaraki) and Sekikawa (Niigata), Japan, collecting 1360 ground samples during the 2024 growing season. Freeman–Durden decomposition was applied, and relationships with plant height and water level were analyzed. The results indicate that plant height strongly influences backscatter, with backscattering contributions from the surface decreasing beyond 70 cm, reducing classification accuracy. Random forest models can classify inundated and non-inundated fields with up to 88% accuracy when plant height is below 70 cm. However, when using this method, it is necessary to know the plant height. Volume scattering proved robust to incidence angle and observation direction, suggesting its potential for phenological monitoring. These findings highlight the effectiveness of L-band SAR for water management monitoring and the need for integrating crop height estimation and regional adaptation to enhance classification performance. Full article