Search Results (1,288)

Risk perception has long been treated as a key driver of public climate attitudes and climate-friendly behaviors. Although prior studies have reported relatively modest levels of perceived personal climate threat among the Chinese public, they have also found strong recognition of anthropogenic climate change and solid support for climate policies. However, it remains unclear whether the relatively modest perceived threat to personal climate among Chinese respondents is associated with a lower willingness to engage in climate-friendly behaviors. To address this question, this study extended the multi-level risk and benefit framework to investigate how personal, societal, and national risk and benefit perceptions, and their associations with climate attitudes and behavioral willingness, were perceived via a national survey of Chinese respondents (N = 1500). Empirical analyses, however, show that personal and societal appraisals are not clearly distinguishable, whereas national-level appraisals form a distinct dimension. Regression results further indicate a systematic divergence in predictive patterns across appraisal domains. National-level appraisals are more strongly associated with climate attitudes, whereas proximate appraisals, particularly perceived personal benefits, are more closely related to behavioral willingness. While explaining the apparent paradox of relatively low perceived personal climate risk but comparatively strong climate attitudes in China, these findings extend research on the attitude–behavior gap by suggesting that national-level and proximate appraisals may play different roles in relation to climate-related attitudes and behavioral intentions in contexts characterized by strong state involvement in climate governance. Full article

Rapid population ageing in China urgently demands improved attention to elderly friendly community green space design. Despite national efforts toward community renovation and urban regeneration, existing projects often overlook the systematic optimisation of green spaces explicitly tailored to elderly residents, leading to environments that inadequately support their physical, psychological, and social needs. Given that home-based care remains the predominant preference for elderly populations in China, creating optimised community green spaces is essential to facilitate healthy ageing-in-place effectively. This study systematically investigates the discrepancies between elders’ observed usage patterns and their stated landscape design preferences in two residential communities in Suzhou, China. By integrating year-round observational data with subjective interviews, the research identifies critical mismatches between elderly individuals’ actual behaviours and expressed preferences, highlighting significant deficiencies in current landscape designs. Comparative analyses reveal that prioritising microclimate comfort, accessible pathways, and targeted seating arrangements significantly enhances elderly usage frequency and satisfaction. Ultimately, this study provides practical, policy-aligned recommendations for designing climate-adaptive, elderly centric community green spaces, effectively contributing to sustainable urban renewal and the Healthy China 2030 initiative. Full article

Aquatic ecosystems are under severe stress from a diverse combination of contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics, driven by rapid industrialization, intensive agriculture, and urbanization. Globally, 80% of wastewater remains untreated, and conventional systems often fail to address emerging contaminants. Consequently, toxic heavy metals like lead and mercury can persist in water sources for decades. In response, phytoremediation has emerged as a scalable, eco-friendly, nature-based alternative. Among phytoremediation agents, duckweeds are increasingly recognized for their rapid growth, simple morphology, and continuous water-column contact. This review outlines the landscape of duckweed-based remediation, detailing molecular detoxification pathways and the synergistic role of associated microbiomes in enhancing environmental cleanup. Evidence indicates that contaminant removal is often supported by plant-microbe interactions. Despite extensive laboratory validation, field-scale implementation remains constrained by environmental complexity, pollutant mixtures, and variable climatic conditions. Furthermore, while duckweed systems hold promise within circular bioeconomy frameworks, converting wastewater into nutrient-rich biomass, contaminant accumulation in plant tissues raises concerns about biomass utilization and contaminant carryover. Addressing these challenges requires an integrative approach that links molecular detoxification, ecological interactions, and engineered system design to realize the full potential of duckweeds for sustainable aquatic pollution management. Full article

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDSs) represent a contemporary and eco-friendly method for managing surface water, with the goal of reducing flooding impacts while preserving the environment and enhancing water quality and biodiversity. In Bari, recurrent flooding stemming from water stagnation, extreme weather, and urban development poses challenges to sustainable growth. This study applies the ‘Sponge city’ concept to address these issues through an evaluation of current urban permeability and the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) to reduce runoff and manage underground flows. By assessing the climatic conditions and hydrological factors contributing to urban stagnation, this project seeks to create a resilient urban environment capable of adapting to climate change and effectively mitigating both significant and minor rainfall events. It aims to reduce runoff, while also promoting groundwater recharge and alleviating saline contamination effects in coastal areas, ultimately enhancing the safety and livability of urban landscapes. Full article

Global agricultural production faces unprecedented challenges due to climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and increasing population pressure, while there is a growing demand for sustainable and eco-conscious food production systems. Traditional methods of crop protection like the use of synthetic chemical pesticides are becoming less effective due to the high resistance development in major insect pests. Moreover, their overuse has raised numerous environmental concerns. In this context, RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pesticides, with a more sustainable way of managing pests. This review systematically identifies promising RNAi target gene families for insect pest control, particularly key developmental genes. The selected genes were chosen based on demonstrated RNAi efficacy in at least three different insect species, emphasizing their broad applicability and potential impact. It also discusses the translation of RNAi technologies from laboratory research to field applications. It underscores the importance of moving beyond functional gene characterization to improving the efficiency and scalability of RNAi in real-world agricultural systems. This review systematically lists RNAi target genes and delivery methods in insect pests, identifies research gaps, and supports the development of RNAi-based biopesticides. Full article

As global trends continue to embrace environmentally friendly, plant-based diets, food systems that are nutrient-dense, climate-resilient, and economically viable in addressing protein–energy malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity have increased. Although cereal–legume combinations are widely recognised to be highly nutritious, most studies have focused primarily on enhancing compositional efficiency and have overlooked their interactions with the food matrix and the processing-mediated transformations they undergo. This review combines recent findings examining cereal–legume food matrices as functional systems, with particular emphasis on nutritional complementarity, bioactive interactions, processing-induced modifications, and sensory acceptability. Studies indicate that cereals and legumes provide complementary amino acid profiles, dietary fibre, essential micronutrients, and phytochemicals within these composite matrices that influence digestibility, bioavailability, antioxidant activity, and glycaemic response. Processing methods, including fermentation, germination, roasting, and extrusion, modulate these interactions by releasing bound phenolics, reducing antinutritional factors, and altering starch–protein–phenolic complexes, thereby affecting health functionality and sensory quality. However, inadequately optimised processing can affect nutrient retention and consumer acceptability. Overall, this review emphasises the relevance of integrating food matrix science and processing optimisation for the production of functional, acceptable, and sustainable cereal–legume foods that promote product innovation, public health improvement, and the utilisation of underutilised crops for sustainable food systems. Full article

Arthropod natural enemies—encompassing predators and parasitoids—form the backbone of sustainable agriculture, delivering irreplaceable ecosystem services via biological pest suppression. Driven by global demand for eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides, research in this domain has grown sharply over the past decade. Here, we report a systematic bibliometric analysis of 6515 Web of Science Core Collection papers focused on arthropod natural enemies in biological control (2016–2025), with the goal of charting the field’s intellectual structure. Performance metrics confirmed an initial rapid increase from 2016 to 2019 followed by a plateau and a slight rise in 2025, with the US, China, and Brazil dominating output. Keyword co-occurrence networks pinpointed core themes, including conservation biological control, predatory mites, and integrated pest management (IPM). Temporal trends further revealed a pivot toward applied work on invasive pest systems. Co-citation analysis uncovered six foundational research clusters, while bibliographic coupling of 2021–2025 papers uncovered five active emerging subfields: landscape ecology and habitat manipulation, tri-trophic interaction mechanisms, high-impact invasive pest biocontrol, non-target risk assessment for introduced agents, and fall armyworm integrated management. We synthesize cross-cutting implications and outline future priorities—including AI-enabled rearing systems, functional biodiversity boosting, climate adaptation, and multifunctional landscape tuning. By consolidating historical progress and forward-looking directions, this framework empowers researchers, extension practitioners, and policymakers to scale sustainable pest management worldwide. Full article

This study aimed to establish an assessment system for rural water-cycle soundness across standard watersheds in Korea and to determine priorities for project implementation. As climate change, water-quality deterioration, and population aging in rural areas intensify, the need for an integrated approach to rural water management has become increasingly important. The study was structured into five sectors: water use, water safety, water environment, carbon neutrality, and water-friendly amenity. Sector-specific indicators were selected, and normality assessment, standardization, and factor analysis were conducted to verify indicator suitability. Weights were estimated using principal component analysis (PCA) to enhance the objectivity of the evaluation. A total of 825 standard watersheds were assessed, and sectoral indices were integrated to derive a rural water-cycle soundness index, which was subsequently classified into five grades. Based on the overall grades and sector-specific results, the priority of each standard watershed for implementing rural water-cycle projects was determined. The proposed framework provides a scientific basis for identifying vulnerable rural areas from a water-cycle perspective and supports policy responses. It may also contribute to future rural water management policies and disaster response strategies. Full article

In the digital economy era, computing power, as a novel factor of production, serves as a vital engine for driving high-quality economic development. Building upon China’s traditional 42-sector input–output table, this paper incorporates computing power networks as a new sector to construct a 43-sector dynamic input–output (IO) model. Based on this framework, a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) analysis framework is constructed to systematically reveal the dynamic transmission mechanism of computing power within industrial linkages and capital accumulation. From an energy perspective, energy consumption is implicitly captured through carbon emissions and energy structure, which together reflect the scale, efficiency, and composition of energy use in computing power networks. The findings show that the optimal computing power allocation follows a temporal evolution pattern from the service sector to the manufacturing sector, with ICT manufacturing’s computing power quota reaching 31% by 2030. An investment inflection point occurs in 2026, aligning with the digital infrastructure cycle of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan. The “Eastern Data, Western Computing” strategy reduces unit carbon emissions from computing power by 41%. Policy simulations demonstrate that R&D tax credits generate a 2.9-fold multiplier effect through industrial linkages, boosting GDP by 2.3%. The integrated IO-DSGE framework developed in this study provides a quantitative tool for the full-cycle management of “construction–application–regulation” in computing power networks. It holds significant theoretical value and practical implications for enhancing resource allocation efficiency and promoting green, climate-friendly development. Full article

Global salinization affects approximately one billion hectares of land in more than 100 countries, posing a severe threat to food security and ecosystem sustainability. Microbial remediation using plant growth-promoting microorganisms offers an eco-friendly alternative to physicochemical methods. However, bridging the gap between laboratory cultivation of single strains and field-scale application of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) remains difficult, owing to inconsistent efficacy and a lack of unified design frameworks. This review examines the evolution from single strains to rationally designed SynComs for saline soil remediation. A ‘structure–function–mechanism’ framework is proposed, integrating five core microbial modules, namely ion regulation and osmotic stabilization, ethylene and phytohormone modulation, antioxidant activation, nutrient cycle activation, and systemic resistance induction. The review elucidates key determinants of synthetic community success, including functional complementarity, strain compatibility, and host–environment matching, while revealing a marked quantitative gap between controlled experiments and field performance. Key bottlenecks are identified, including the lack of high-throughput compatibility screening, poorly quantified long-term ecological risks, and the absence of standardized application guidelines across agro-ecological zones. Finally, emerging avenues are discussed, such as microbial–microalgal symbiosis and AI-assisted design, outlining a roadmap for next-generation smart microbial products integrated into climate-resilient farming systems. Full article

This study evaluates the performance of natural plant-derived coagulants as sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical coagulants in water treatment. Surface water samples were collected from the Meda Ela stream in Karadiyana, Sri Lanka, which is an urban water body impacted by leachate from the Karadiyana dumpsite, industrial discharges, and urban runoff. Grab samples were analyzed for key water quality parameters, including pH, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), settleable solids, total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Several parameters exceeded permissible standards established by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of Sri Lanka, including turbidity (35 NTU; limit: 20 NTU), COD (80 mg/L; limit: 15 mg/L), TDS (1000 mg/L; limit: 500 mg/L), and TSS (100 mg/L; limit: 40 mg/L), indicating significant pollution levels. Jar test experiments were conducted to compare the coagulation efficiency of cowpea seeds (75.8%), fenugreek seeds (69.2%), papaya seeds (72.5%), okra pods (84.6%), and Moringa oleifera (drumstick) leaves (87%) with conventional alum (94.2%) at an optimum dosage of 12 mL/L. Among the tested plant-derived coagulants, Moringa oleifera leaves demonstrated the highest turbidity removal efficiency, reducing residual turbidity to 4.54 NTU. A low-cost integrated treatment system incorporating coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration using sawdust and cotton wool was developed, achieving average removal efficiencies of 90.13% for turbidity, 88.57% for COD, 83.46% for TDS, and 74.83% for TSS, with all effluent parameters maintained within CEA permissible limits. The results confirm that locally available plant-derived coagulants, particularly Moringa oleifera leaves, offer an effective, environmentally friendly, and economically viable approach for sustainable water treatment, highlighting the potential of nature-based solutions in strengthening climate-resilient water management strategies. Full article

Seed priming is recognized as an environmentally friendly technique to enhance the physiological and biochemical performance of crops. However, its effectiveness varies depending on factors such as crop type, priming agents and climatic conditions. Based on this hypothesis, this comparative, climate- and soil-dependent meta-synthesis study therefore aimed to evaluate how these factors shape plant responses in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.), while providing insights into sustainable strategies for improving crop performance, food security, and progress toward sustainable development goals. A cross-study synthesis of 31 peer-reviewed articles from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar evaluated the influence of these factors on key physiological traits, chlorophyll content (CC) and net photosynthesis rate (Pn), and biochemical traits, proline (Pro), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity. The findings indicated greater priming-induced enhancements in common bean than soybean for most traits: chlorophyll content (36.6% in common bean and 25.6% in soybean), net photosynthesis rate (33.2% in common bean and 19.8% in soybean), proline content (45.2% in common bean and 40.9% in soybean), and SOD activity (37.1% in common bean and 30.5% in soybean). Soybean only showed superior enhancement in CAT activity (40.1% in soybean and 19.5% in common bean). The climatic conditions impacted the outcomes, with physiological traits (CC and Pn) responding more prominently under semi-arid and arid climates, and biochemical traits (Pro, CAT and SOD) showing higher responsiveness in continental and Mediterranean climates. Significant (p < 0.05) correlations were found between CAT activity and priming agents (r = 0.54); SOD and crop type (r = 0.52); and Pn and crop type (0.90). Multivariate analysis revealed that soybean was positively associated with silt, clay, pH, tropical climate and CAT activity, while common bean was linked to nitrogen, arid conditions, SOD activity and proline. These differences could be due to the molecular and genetic variations in the two crops. Unlike previous reviews, this study provides the first quantitative synthesis integrating crop type, priming agents, and climatic variables, aiming to evaluate how these factors influence the responses of two major legume crops to seed priming. Overall, the findings highlight the need for crop- and environment-specific priming protocols to optimize the benefits of seed priming as a cost-effective approach to enhance crop performance and productivity. Full article

Elderly individuals in rural China are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events and temperature fluctuations due to inadequate infrastructure in the built environment and constrained economic conditions, thereby increasing their health risks. Outdoor spaces represent one of the primary daily activity settings for rural older adults. However, existing research rarely links spatiotemporal patterns of outdoor activities to evidence-based thermal environment optimization, leaving a critical knowledge gap for age-friendly and sustainable rural design. This study focuses on the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns of daily outdoor activities among elderly people aged 60 years and above in rural Xi’an, as well as the optimization of spatial variations in thermal environments. Using on-site interviews, thermal environment measurements, thermal comfort questionnaires, continuous thermal environment monitoring, and machine learning based on random forest, this study drew the following conclusions: (1) outdoor activities in winter were concentrated between 9:00–11:00 and 13:00–17:00, while in summer, they shifted to the morning and evening periods, namely 6:00–9:00 and 17:00–21:00. (2) Models for outdoor clothing adjustment, thermal sensation, and thermal acceptability among elderly residents were established. The calculated neutral temperature was 10.19 °C, with a 90% outdoor thermal acceptability range of 9.6–27.2 °C and an 80% outdoor thermal acceptability range of 6.2–30.6 °C. These findings differ from those documented in regions with distinct climate zones and geographical settings. This discrepancy stems from regional climatic features, lifestyle variations between urban and rural older adults, and differences in the thermal environment quality of elderly-oriented outdoor activity spaces. (3) In winter, the acceptable period of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at south-facing entrances (10:30–16:30) was significantly longer than that in the courtyard (13:30–14:00). In summer, the comfortable period in the courtyard (before 10:00 and after 20:00) was longer than that at north-facing entrances (before 09:00). A random forest model for thermal sensation was established, and the relative importance of each parameter influencing thermal sensation was analyzed. On this basis, priority improvement pathways and strategies for the thermal environment, as well as suggestions for the subjective adaptive behaviors of elderly residents, were proposed. The research results of this study can provide technical solutions for age-friendly thermal environment design in rural areas, thereby safeguarding the comfort, health, and social well-being of the elderly population in rural areas. Full article

With the steady progress of the global energy transition and the pursuit of “dual carbon” goals, Offshore Carbon Sequestration (OCS) has emerged as a pivotal strategic pathway within Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiatives aimed at mitigating climate warming. Nevertheless, the drilling of OCS injection wells faces severe challenges, including narrow geological pressure windows, high risks of shallow geohazards, stringent environmental protection standards, and prohibitive construction costs. Riserless Mud Recovery (RMR) technology, as a novel and eco-friendly deepwater drilling technique, provides innovative technical support for OCS by establishing a closed-loop seafloor circulation system that achieves dual-gradient pressure control and “near-zero discharge” of drilling fluids. This paper systematically reviews the development history and technical principles of RMR. By integrating the specific requirements of OCS injection well drilling—such as wellbore integrity, environmental protection, and shallow hazard mitigation—the study provides an in-depth analysis of the application potential of RMR in drilling CO₂ injection wells within shallow formations. Furthermore, it demonstrates the engineering feasibility of RMR across technical, environmental, and economic dimensions. Building on this analysis, the paper discusses current technical challenges regarding key equipment research and development, adaptability to complex operating conditions, enhancement of intelligent control systems, and the establishment of technical standards. It also outlines the prospects for the integrated development of RMR with emerging fields, including hydrate-based carbon sequestration, intelligent drilling and completion, and carbon sequestration in far-reaching deep-sea areas. The research indicates that RMR technology can effectively resolve the dual constraints of cost control and environmental protection in OCS drilling. With breakthroughs in critical hardware, such as high-displacement subsea lift pumps, and the deepening of cross-disciplinary integration, RMR is poised to become an essential technical pillar in the field of offshore carbon sequestration. Full article

Decarbonizing aviation requires innovative propulsion technologies and thermodynamic systems that enable efficient, sustainable energy conversion. The Institute of Thermodynamics at Leibniz University Hannover is engaged in several interdisciplinary research projects focusing on advanced, low-emission aircraft propulsion solutions. Two major areas of research are presented: high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for hybrid aircraft propulsion and thermal management systems for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell propulsion, including additively manufactured heat exchangers for aviation applications. These research activities contribute to the technological foundation of more climate-friendly aviation. Concepts are investigated through numerical simulations, experiments, and system-level analyses to develop future propulsion solutions. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Institute of Thermodynamics’ ongoing research and the synergies between its various fields. It offers insights into the challenges and opportunities of more sustainable aviation technologies. Full article