Search Results (7,734)

The integration of environmental sustainability (ES) into strategic planning (SP) has become more vital in the tourism and hospitality (T&H) sector, due to its significant reliance on natural resources and environmental quality. This study seeks to analyze how ES is systematically integrated into strategic planning processes, identify critical dimensions and challenges, and evaluate the degree of organizational awareness and strategic focus on sustainability. A systematic literature review was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering global studies published between 2024 and 2025, resulting in a final sample of 43 articles. A hybrid deductive–inductive methodology was employed to integrate the data. The findings indicate that ES integration is a complex and iterative process involving governance and leadership, strategic development, resource and environmental management, stakeholder involvement, performance assessment, and the application of analytical and technological instruments. The results also emphasize emergent aspects such as digital innovation and adaptive planning. Despite this advancement, implementation is inconsistent due to capacity limitations, fragmented governance, data deficiencies, and environmental–economic trade-offs. The study illustrates a distinct convergence between ES and SP, signifying a transition towards integrated, evidence-based, and adaptable strategic systems. The study enhances the literature by delivering a thorough synthesis of integration mechanisms and presents practical insights for promoting sustainable strategic planning in the T&H sector. Full article

Mesozooplankton were studied monthly (September 2023–August 2024, 12 months) at two coastal stations, at 35 and 90 m water depth, off Punta Blanca, SW Tenerife, Canary archipelago. Sample collection involved 250 and 500 μm bongo nets. This research focused on improving the description of plankton biodiversity and dynamics of the Canary archipelago (Macaronesia area), including its role in the transport of particulate carbon. A total of 156 taxa were identified. Copepoda dominated with 85 taxa, including 72 Calanoida species. They were numerically followed by Appendicularia, Chaetognatha, and Hydrozoa. Mesh sizes varied in collection efficiency, but with a similar pattern during the annual cycle: abundance peaks in early autumn (October–November) and late winter–spring (February–April). The 35 m depth station showed 57 to 3809 ind. m⁻³ (250 μm mesh size) and 10 to 1577 ind. m⁻³ (500 μm). The 90 m depth station showed 22 to 402 ind. m⁻³ (250 μm) and 11 to 170 ind. m⁻³ (500 μm). The present study enhances our understanding of Macaronesia’s mesozooplankton dynamics related to environmental variability, which is crucial for energy transfer assessments in pelagic food webs. It reports new species for the study area, Labidocera acutifrons (Dana, 1849–1852) and Undinula vulgaris (Dana, 1849–1852), highlighting the need for consistent zooplankton monitoring to properly inform conservation and sustainable management actions in the region. Full article

Extreme heat poses health risks during pregnancy, but little is known about how pregnant individuals seek weather information to engage in heat-health protective actions. This study examined associations between routine and event-driven weather information seeking and both routine physiological heat-health protective actions (i.e., limiting sun exposure, staying hydrated, and spending time in air conditioning) and higher-threshold adaptive behaviors (i.e., changing plans due to heat). A cross-sectional survey of 195 pregnant individuals in Bexar County, TX, USA, was conducted during the summer and fall of 2024. Descriptive and nonparametric analyses explored relationships across trimesters. Participants demonstrated high routine weather information seeking and greater weather information needs since becoming pregnant. Over half (51.3%) reported increased weather information seeking during excessive heat, with lower increases during the first trimester. During extreme heat, most respondents increased heat-health protective actions. Increased information needs during pregnancy were significantly related to heat-health protective actions. Routine weather checking showed weak or inverse relationships with changing plans, suggesting that routine weather awareness alone may not prompt changing plans. Trimester patterns indicated heightened information seeking and protective actions later in pregnancy. Findings highlight the importance of pregnancy-specific heat risk communication with trimester-specific guidance provided in clinical counseling, public health messaging, and meteorological communication. Full article

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) serve as biological sentinels because their foraging behavior links colony health to environmental conditions. Traditional hive inspections are invasive, observer-dependent, and often detect problems only after symptoms appear. This review synthesizes advances in precision beekeeping, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, exposomics, and artificial intelligence to propose the Honeybee-Based Early Warning System (H-BEWS), a unified framework that integrates digital sensors, molecular and chemical monitoring, and ecological data into a predictive early warning system for both colony and ecosystem health. By linking anomalies detected by hive sensors to targeted molecular and chemical analyses, H-BEWS enables proactive interventions and environmental surveillance, supporting a One Health perspective. Unlike previous reviews that focus on individual technologies, H-BEWS emphasizes multi-layered integration, predictive risk assessment, and ecosystem-level insights, providing a novel conceptual framework for early detection of colony stress and environmental hazards. The approach offers practical applications for beekeepers, researchers, and policymakers by converting real-time data into actionable insights and informing management decisions. Challenges include sensor standardization, data integration, AI validation, and equitable access for small-scale beekeepers. Future directions will focus on real-time sequencing, multimodal AI models, digital twin creation, and the development of global surveillance networks. H-BEWS demonstrates how an integrative, multi-layered approach can transform honeybee colonies into living biosensors, providing actionable insights for both apiculture management and ecosystem monitoring. Full article

Pollen constitutes the primary source of proteins, amino acids, lipids, sterols, vitamins, and minerals for honey bees. However, not all pollen types provide the same resources or have the same biological value. Its chemical composition changes according to botanical origin, geographic location, and environmental conditions. This variability can influence metabolism, the immune system, oxidative balance, and the ability to resist or tolerate infections. This article examines the available evidence on the relationship between pollen chemical quality and the dynamics of Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) infection in Apis mellifera. The analysis is approached from molecular, physiological, ecological, and seasonal perspectives. Current findings suggest that more diverse and higher-quality pollen diets are generally associated with greater colony survival and improved health status, although their effects on viral load are more heterogeneous and context-dependent. In some studies, pollen intake is linked to a reduction in DWV, whereas in others viral loads remain stable or even increase despite improvements in survival, physiological condition, or colony performance. These differences suggest that pollen may act not only by enhancing resistance to the virus but also by increasing tolerance to infection-associated damage. The potential role of pollen bioactive compounds, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids, is also discussed. Nevertheless, evidence of direct antiviral action of these compounds in bees remains limited, as many proposed mechanisms derive from other organisms. This synthesis provides an integrative perspective on pollen nutrition and its relevance for colony resilience against viral infections. Full article

The transition to electric bus (EB) fleets is a critical step towards sustainable urban transportation, offering substantial reductions in greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions relative to diesel buses. However, transit authorities face multifaceted challenges in this transition, including limited driving ranges of EBs, the need for widespread charging infrastructure, and potential strain on the electric grid, alongside opportunities such as governmental subsidies and increased fare revenues. This paper proposes a comprehensive multi-period mixed-integer programming model seeking to optimize long-term EB fleet transition plans in urban contexts while jointly accounting for all inherent financial, technical, and operational factors impacting such a transition. The model is operationalized using real data acquired from Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), encompassing 71 bus routes and a 25-year planning horizon to meet a 100% electrification target by 2050. A scenario-based analysis evaluates the robustness of the transition plans under variations in key operational parameters. The results illustrate that optimized long-term planning yields substantial cost savings and emissions reductions, where the incorporation of environmental and social externalities and revenue shifts causes profit maximization to emerge as a more appropriate objective. In addition, it turns out that adequate dwell time is crucial for cost containment and full fleet electrification feasibility. While RTA targets 100% electrification by 2050, the base case is deliberately relaxed to 90% as certain routes, notably double-decker lines, are incompatible with currently available EB configurations. Nevertheless, full electrification is restored under the minimum dwell scenario. Also, a policy of purchasing only EBs accelerates full fleet electrification by roughly a decade with only a marginal increase in total cost, unlike imposing strict interim electrification targets. The optimized transition plans provide actionable insights for transit authorities balancing economic efficiency with sustainability goals. Full article

As the Italian hop industry undergoes consolidation, assessing the environmental pressure of diverse cultivation and processing models is essential for sustainable growth. This study characterizes the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) of Italian hop production through a multi-case analysis of eight representative farms. A primary data collection tool was utilized to quantify resource inputs, including water management, nutritional strategies, and phytosanitary defense. Following a rigorous thermodynamic consistency screening of the field data to eliminate unrepresentative parameters, the life cycle inventory focused on two validated regional anchor cases. The findings reveal a high degree of management heterogeneity, with dry cone yields ranging from 400 to 1673 kg of dry matter per hectare. Two functional units were defined: 1 kg of fresh hop cones (FU1) to assess cultivation impacts, and 1 kg of processed products (FU2) at the brewery gate to evaluate the full supply chain. Integrating deterministic life cycle impact outputs with a probabilistic Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis, the results indicate that the environmental impact varies significantly across commercial formats: Cryogenic Powder (2.33 ± 0.34 mPt/kg) represents the most resource-intensive format, while Raw Bales and T90 Pellets from high-yield models exhibit scores as low as 1.36 and 1.55 mPt/kg, respectively. The study identifies the agricultural phase as the primary environmental hotspot, driven predominantly by water deprivation. To address these burdens, a Sustainable Italian Hop (SIH) integrated scenario was developed. By combining precision irrigation, thermal decarbonization via biomass valorization, and a direct-to-pellet processing flow, this model achieved a 70% total reduction in the environmental footprint score (0.465 ± 0.076 mPt/kg) and an 86% reduction in water use impacts. Finally, the socio-technical and financial barriers to implementing the SIH framework are qualitatively evaluated. These results provide actionable benchmarks for aligning the emerging Italian hop supply chain with European Union climate neutrality objectives. Full article

Marine algae are emerging as important biological resources for the discovery and development of bioactive compounds with applications across food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, aquaculture, environmental, and biotechnological systems. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on macroalgae and microalgae as sources of sulfated polysaccharides, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, proteins, peptides, vitamins, mycosporine-like amino acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between algal source, cultivation conditions, compound structure, extraction strategy, formulation, and biological activity. Key mechanisms of action are discussed, including antioxidant defense, modulation of inflammatory signaling, inhibition of metabolic enzymes, antimicrobial and antiviral activity, interactions with the gut microbiota, and regulation of cell-cycle-related pathways. Recent progress in biotechnological production, green extraction, purification, analytical characterization, bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and delivery systems is evaluated in the context of real product development. The review further highlights the use of algal bioactives in functional foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, aquafeeds, crop biostimulants, and environmental remediation. Current limitations, including biomass variability, compound instability, limited human validation, regulatory complexity, safety concerns, and scale-up costs, are also addressed. Overall, marine algae provide a sustainable and multifunctional platform for developing bioactive products when discovery, processing, validation, and commercialization are integrated. Full article

Populations of European bison (Bison bonasus), Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), and Eurasian moose (Alces alces) in Poland are currently experiencing significant growth. These species are subject to strict legal protection or specific regulatory frameworks. The purpose of the study is to analyze Polish legislation concerning the protection of selected species and to identify legislative actions that could ensure healthy, sustainable, and well-managed population levels in Poland. The study also explores carefully regulated forms of sustainable use, including the potential consumption of meat from these species. During this research, the methodology of analysis and scientific interpretation of legal acts was used. Case law and relevant socio-economic and environmental factors were also analyzed and highlighted. The results show that the law currently in force and its interpretation may pose challenges to achieving fully effective conservation outcomes. Wildlife protection requires effective, locally adapted population management. Proposals for legal changes that would support diversified and sustainable management approaches, while maintaining a high level of protection, ensuring environmental stability and sustainability, and ensuring the highest standards of public safety, are presented. De lege ferenda postulates indicate that it is essential to balance the legitimate interests of wildlife conservation, public health, and society. Full article

Background/Objective: Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals SDG 2 (child nutrition) depends upon SDG 6 (water insecurity) and SDG 13 (climate action) in multiple ways. However, the current climate–nutrition literature mostly considers water’s effects on nutrition through agriculture and food production. Here, we identify the climate’s impact on child nutrition through its effect on both household food and water security and on their interaction across varying environmental contexts. Methods: Using nationally representative data from India, we estimate the climate’s direct association with household water access (time spent fetching water), and both direct and indirect association with household food security (women’s dietary diversity), and child’s dietary diversity and nutrition (HAZ score). Data from 42,567 women and 39,667 children (6–23 months) are analyzed using linear regression and structural equation modeling. Results: A unit increase in rainfall is linked to an 18 percent decrease in time to water and an 8.3 percent increase in women’s dietary diversity score. A temperature increase is associated with an increase in time to water and decreased women’s dietary diversity. Time to water mediates the association of temperature and rainfall with women’s dietary diversity, child’s dietary diversity and child’s HAZ score. Households in regions of higher water availability are associated with increased dietary diversity, increased HAZ, and decreased time to water; however, the interaction between climate and regional water availability shows varying effects. Conclusions: Climate is associated with household food and water security, which together mediate its association with nutrition. These findings call for broadening the climate action framework to explicitly recognize the multidimensional linkages between SDG 6 and SDG 2. Full article

Decarbonization of existing buildings is obstructed by the performance gap between intended and operational energy consumption. Smart energy management and monitoring of existing buildings through digital twins pose significant attributes towards decarbonization efforts. However, there is limited research that transforms digital twins’ monitored performance into actionable retrofitting strategies. Hence, this research develops a framework that bridges the digital twin concept with standards-based IEQ analytics, guiding retrofit decision-making in existing buildings. The framework offers a low-code workflow that uses Autodesk Tandem to develop a digital twin integrating indoor environmental quality (IEQ) data, including thermal comfort and air quality. IEQ is monitored since inefficient management of its parameters often results in excessive HVAC demand, contributing to the performance gap. The framework structures IEQ parameter evaluations against benchmarks guided by ASHRAE to identify deviations indicative of operational inefficiencies in energy consumption. The digital twin model positions live IEQ tracking and analysis as diagnostic measures, leading to targeted fabric-oriented retrofit prioritization. The framework was tested on a case study in a hot arid climate, where its results indicate that the integration of digital twin-based IEQ analysis with building characteristics effectively identified the need for targeted envelope improvements, including high-performance glazing, external shading elements, and sound isolation, as key factors for eliminating overheating and high noise levels. Validating the proposed retrofits’ effectiveness, energy simulations examines the whole building to find an 11.52% annual reduction in energy use intensity from 145.61 kWh/m²·year to 128.84 kWh/m²·year through shading elements and low-E films for glazing. Full article

Decommissioned airfields are increasingly recognized as strategic sites for ecological regeneration, climate adaptation, and the creation of new public spaces. However, research on their transformation has predominantly focused on the environmental performance of Nature-based Solutions (NBS), often overlooking the role of inherited spatial morphology in structuring regeneration processes and outcomes. This paper proposes an AI-assisted, morphology-based proto-ontological framework for analyzing and designing post-airfield architecture. The framework was developed through the inductive and comparative analysis of a corpus of 32 urban post-airfield regeneration projects, from which recurrent inherited morphologies, transformation actions, spatial devices, and NBS were identified and structured into a relational sequence. The framework was then applied to two contrasting case studies: Maurice Rose Airfield Park (Frankfurt) and Xuhui Runway Park (Shanghai); these were selected for their different transformation logics. The results show that similar airfield morphologies can generate markedly different climatic, ecological, social, and memory-related outcomes depending on how they are transformed and linked to NBS. The study demonstrates that inherited airfield morphologies are not passive remnants but operative spatial structures, and that NBS should be understood as spatially embedded and form-generating design components. The proposed proto-ontology offers a transferable analytical model and a basis for future computational and generative design applications. Full article

Strawberry greenhouse cultivation is increasingly supported by sensing technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and decision-support infrastructure, but their horticultural value depends on whether heterogeneous measurements can be translated into biologically meaningful crop states and practical management decisions. This review synthesizes strawberry phenotyping, multimodal sensing, AI-based crop-state interpretation, and supervised agentic coordination as a phenotyping-to-action framework for greenhouse strawberry cultivation. The reviewed studies show substantial progress in measuring and interpreting vegetative, reproductive, fruit-quality, stress-related, and environmental crop states through imaging, spectral, environmental, root-zone, and modeling approaches. However, much of the literature still emphasizes measurement accuracy, model performance, or infrastructure capability, whereas fewer studies validate whether AI-derived outputs improve crop response, management decisions, workflow, resource use, or production outcomes. The review therefore distinguishes sensing technologies for data acquisition and measurement from AI-based methods for interpretation and prediction, and examines how crop-state information can be connected to practical greenhouse decision making. It also compares established decision technologies, including expert systems, model predictive control, digital twins, and closed-loop coordination, with supervised agentic coordination as bounded decision-support concepts rather than as evidence of unrestricted autonomous control. Future work should emphasize phenotype-to-action validation, domain-aware benchmarking, and supervised deployment studies that connect model outputs with decision rules, crop outcomes, operational constraints, and grower oversight. By grounding sensing technologies and AI-based interpretation methods in crop-response validation, strawberry greenhouse systems can progress toward supervised, crop-state-driven decision support. Full article

The need for aligned policy responses to coordinate among governmental agencies is challenged by the “administrative silos” prevalent in government bureaucracy. How do collaboration risks influence the abilities of cities to effectively coordinate their efforts to address complex issues such as economic development, climate mitigation, and climate related disaster adaptation? Although coordination problems in the face of administrative silos are widely acknowledged, systematic examination of what accounts for variation in the extent to which local governments are able to successfully coordinate their functions to address complex problems are conspicuously absent from the literature. This research applies functional institutional collective action (ICA) theory to fill this lacuna. Problem uncertainty, actor’s political incentives, and institutions were hypothesized to influence successful coordination. Pooled GLM Probits were estimated with data from 1124 U.S. cities. Uncertainty inherent in specific types of problems, the characteristics of affected actors, and local and regional institutions influenced whether successful coordination among municipal departments was achieved. We conclude by identifying implications for collective action theory and for organizing and standard setting for sustainability policy. Full article

Water scarcity in Peru is increasingly shaped by competing sectoral demands, particularly between large-scale mining and agriculture. Both sectors rely heavily on limited freshwater resources in arid coastal and Andean basins, generating complex trade-offs between economic productivity, environmental sustainability, and social equity. This review synthesizes and critically evaluates current knowledge on water footprint (WF) dynamics within mining–agriculture systems, integrating hydrosocial theory, water–energy–food nexus thinking, and sustainability transition frameworks. Mining activities in Peru are characterized by high blue and grey water footprints, associated with intensive extraction processes and contamination risks, while agriculture exhibits diverse water footprints depending on crop type, irrigation efficiency, and climatic conditions. The interaction of these sectors creates hydrosocial conflicts driven by unequal water allocation, environmental degradation, and institutional fragmentation. This paper identifies key drivers of conflict and evaluates emerging pathways for sustainability transitions, including technological innovation, nature-based solutions, and participatory governance mechanisms. An integrative conceptual framework derived from a thematic synthesis of the reviewed literature is proposed. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to reconcile economic development with water sustainability in resource-constrained environments. Full article