Search Results (55)

Heat waves affect the health and quality of life of older adults, particularly in urban environments. However, there is limited understanding of how extreme temperatures influence their mobility. This research aims to understand the pedestrian mobility patterns of older adults during heat waves in Madrid, analyzing environmental and sociodemographic factors that condition such mobility. Geospatial data from the mobile phones of individuals aged 65 and older were analyzed, along with information on population, housing, urban density, green areas, and facilities during July 2022. Multiple linear regression models and Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation were applied. The results indicate that pedestrian mobility among older adults decreased by 7.3% during the hottest hours, with more pronounced reductions in disadvantaged districts and areas with limited access to urban services. The availability of climate shelters and health centers positively influenced mobility, while areas with a lower coverage of urban services experienced greater declines. At the district level, inequalities in the availability of urban infrastructure may exacerbate the vulnerability of older adults to extreme heat. The findings underscore the need for urban policies that promote equity in access to infrastructure and services that mitigate the effects of extreme heat, especially in disadvantaged areas. Full article

Forest ecosystems represent a natural repository of biodiversity, bioenergy, food, timber, water, medicine, wildlife shelter, and pollution control. In many countries, forests offer great potential to provide biogenic resources that could be utilized for large-scale biotechnological synthesis and products. The evolving nanotechnology could be an excellent platform for the transformation of forest products into value-added nanoparticles (NPs). It also serves as a tool for commercial production, placing the forest at the heart of conservation and sustainable management strategies. NPs are groups of atoms with a size ranging from 1 to 100 nm. This review analyzes the scholarly articles published over the last 25 years on the forest and woody plant-based green synthesis of NPs, highlighting the plant parts and applications discussed. The biosynthesis of nanomaterials from plant extracts provides inexpensiveness, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and environmental nontoxicity to the resultant NPs. The leaf is the most critical organ in woody plants, and it is widely used in NP biosynthesis, perhaps due to its central functions of bioactive metabolite production and storage. Most biosynthesized NPs from tree species have been used and tested for medical applications. For sustainable advancements in forest-based nanotechnology, broader species coverage, expanded applications, and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential. Full article

Residential green space (RGS), as a frequently visited green space by residents, is the main space for daily activities and interactions, and its quality directly affects residents’ physical and mental health. Although many studies have revealed the impact of green space characteristics on health, research on the relationship between its environmental elements and health is still insufficient. This study selected five types of residential area in the central urban area of Beijing for investigation, collecting people’s green space perception, usage, and self-rated health information, and, using stepwise regression analysis, exploring the impact of RGS environmental factors on residents’ self-rated health under different vegetation cover rates. The results suggest the following: (1) Residents’ perception and usage of RGS characteristics are closely related to their self-rated health status, but the impact of environmental factors varies depending on vegetation coverage. (2) Maximizing natural features and cultural symbols is crucial for residential areas with high greenery. In residential areas with moderate vegetation, priority should be given to enhancing path elements, maintenance and shelter. For residential areas with low greenery cover, efforts should focus on strengthening fitness facilities and improving shelter to promote people’s health. (3) The impact of activity duration on usage behavior is most significant. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the significance of RGS quality in urban residential areas. They also provide a reference for the optimization and management of the living environment and support the sustainable development of community environments. Full article

Cities are facing the combined effects of multiple challenges, e.g., climate change, biodiversity, pollution, and lacking resources. Synergic innovative solutions are required to simultaneously address them while also considering their social impacts. In this context, the TALEA—Green Cells Leading the Green Transition project, funded by the European Urban Initiative, called Greening Cities (EUI02-064)—aims to tackle urban climate challenges in Bologna (Italy) by mitigating Urban Heat Islands (UHI) and Urban Heat Waves (UHW) through an innovative, nature-based, and data-driven approach. TALEA introduces the TALEA Green Cells (TGCs) concept, modular spatial units that integrate nature-based solutions, creative technological innovation, real-time environmental monitoring, and citizen-science-driven data collection within a broader green infrastructure strategy (Bologna Verde project). TGCs bridge the physical and digital dimensions of urban planning: at the macroscale, they contribute to restoring a continuous urban green corridor; at the microscale, they regenerate underused urban spaces, transforming them into climate shelters and hubs for community engagement. A key feature of TALEA is its digital innovation ecosystem, which integrates data from different sources, including remote sensing, sensors, and citizen-generated inputs, within the Systemic Urban Observation Atlas, the Smart Innovation Package and the Digital Twin that the city of Bologna is developing. These tools enable data-driven decision-making, supporting both urban planners and local communities in designing resilient, adaptive, and inclusive urban environments. The scalability and transferability potential of this integrated approach is tested through its real implementation in three Bologna urban pilots. Full article

The growing need for effective and sustainable solutions in humanitarian construction has prompted scholars and practitioners to explore technical approaches that address the challenges of natural disasters, health emergencies, armed conflicts and migratory flows. These solutions often encompass temporary shelters, durable shelters and multifunctional buildings designed to balance rapid deployment, cultural sensitivity and environmental sustainability. However, the assessment of sustainability in humanitarian construction remains insufficiently defined due to the complexities of crises, the variability of local materials and the impact of local climatic conditions. This study aims to bridge this gap by integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) and simulation tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 to study sustainable strategies for humanitarian housing. Using case studies aligned with IFRC, UNHCR and CRL (Red Cross of Luxembourg) family shelter standards, the research assessed a Climate and Local Skill-Centered Design (CLCD) by examining the performance of key design elements, including wall material emissivity and reflectance, natural lighting, and energy efficiency within the context of indoor thermal comfort. Simulation results revealed that wall finishing material reflectance significantly influences average daylight factors (D), with variations of 2% to 5% linked to lower reflectance values and changes in the window-to-floor ratio (WFR). Conversely, thermal comfort metrics indicated minimal variations in heat discomfort hours, maintaining indoor temperatures between 19 °C and 25 °C, consistent with ASHRAE Standard 55 thermal comfort criteria. This paper underscores the importance of integrating advanced IT tools and green local techniques and materials to optimize humanitarian housing for health, comfort and environmental performance, offering actionable insights for future humanitarian sustainable designs. Full article

Exploring the dynamic synergistic effect and driving mechanism of green technology innovation (GTI) and tourism green development (TGD) is of great significance for reducing the environmental footprint of tourism, enhancing the capacity of sustainable development, and promoting the practical application of green technology and industrial upgrading. This study takes 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region of China as research objects, and the time span of the study is from 2007 to 2023. The dynamic synergistic effects and driving mechanisms of GTI and tourism green development (TGD) are revealed by comprehensively adopting the coupled coordination model and panel quantile regression model. The results of this study show that (1) the average value of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) shows a small upward trend, with regional differences for Shanghai > Zhejiang > Jiangsu > Anhui. (2) High coupling coordination degree (CCD) areas are spatially concentrated in provincial capital cities, with prominent spatiotemporal heterogeneity characteristics and spatial correlation. (3) Industrial structure, human capital, and tourism resource endowment have a significant contribution to the coupling coordination degree, while informationization level and transport facilities show heterogeneous influence effects in different sub-location contexts. The level of openness and environmental regulation did not show the ‘pollution shelter’ effect, confirming ‘Porter’s hypothesis’ to some extent. (4) This study not only provides new evidence for the synergistic effect of green technological innovation and the green development of tourism, but it also provides an important reference for green technological innovation to empower the high-quality development of tourism. Full article

Callitriche species are capable of purifying water, promoting wetland restoration, and providing natural shelters. Moreover, they can be utilized as horticultural plants for landscape greening. However, due to the threats of climate change and environmental degradation, some species within this genus have been listed as endangered. This study utilizes chloroplast genome analysis to provide molecular evidence for the classification and conservation of these species. We conducted a comprehensive sequencing and characterization of the complete chloroplast genomes of four species within the genus Callitriche: C. cophocarpa, C. hermaphroditica, C. palustris, and C. stagnalis. The genome sizes ranged from 150,042 to 150,879 bp, with a GC content of 37.5–37.8% and between 131 and 132 genes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed several highly variable intergenic regions (e.g., rps16–psbK, trnS-GCU–trnG-UCC, ccsA–ndhD, ndhF–rpl32, and trnN-UGG) and the ycf1 gene, highlighting their potential as phylogenetic markers. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of Callitriche and supported C. hermaphroditica as an early-diverging lineage within the genus. Notably, the phylogeny also resolved Hemiphragma and Veronicastrum as sister taxa, contributing insights into evolutionary relationships within Plantaginaceae. This study provides comprehensive chloroplast genomic data for Callitriche, offering valuable molecular markers for phylogenetic research, taxonomic clarification, and conservation of this ecologically significant genus. Full article

In this article we present three instruments: (1) a social vulnerability to extreme heat index to identify the areas of a city (and populations thereof) more vulnerable to extreme heat due to climate change (heat islands); (2) a new overall fragility index that incorporates social vulnerability to extreme heat as well as socioeconomic indicators; and (3) a climate shelter index (CSI) to identify areas within a city that can provide relief from extreme heat based on green and blue solutions. We elaborated these three indexes to measure social vulnerability to extreme heat in the municipality of Bologna, which serves as this article’s case study. By analyzing the connections between social vulnerability to extreme heat and several socio-demographic variables in Bologna, we found that a decrease in income is significantly correlated with an increase in social vulnerability to extreme heat in urban contexts. A comparison between our new overall fragility index and the existing index adopted by the municipality of Bologna (Indice di fragilità, Comune di Bologna) showed that about 75% of the statistical areas observed are worse off when social vulnerability to extreme heat is also considered. Considering social vulnerability to extreme heat shows vulnerabilities in a city (here: Bologna) that the pre-existing index did not consider. These findings and our new indexes can support the Bologna administration (and other local administrations) in addressing the consequences of climate change for their most vulnerable residents. Full article

Specialized botanical gardens such as a rose garden, or rosarium, play a significant role due to their multifunctional nature surpassing simple gene bank assembly. Thus, this study conducted a detailed analysis of a rose garden through field and desk research, SWOT analysis, and ecosystem services assessment, aiming to determine the major strengths and opportunities, as well as weaknesses and threats that can promote or constrain the establishment of the first national rosarium in Serbia. After the analysis, the need for complete green area reconstruction arose to achieve both attractiveness and usefulness. Featuring old varieties, wild species, and companies’ own specific rose collections, the proposed garden has the potential to contribute major ecosystem services reflected in environmental, societal, and economic purposes. Owing to the uniqueness of the breeding program and collections created in the past decade, specific thematic parts—open field or greenhouse classroom, ‘roses under the glass bell’, abundant river flow, pollinators’ shelter, taste garden, and scent garden—are envisaged in the future exemplary rosarium that would not be only a classroom but a showroom for interested nurseries, small-scale functional food producers, flower shops, or amateur gardeners that would become aware of new cultivars and expand their marketing and utilization. Full article

The acceleration of urbanization intensifies the urban heat island, outdoor activities (especially the road travel) are seriously affected by the overheating environment, and the comfort and safety of the bus shelter as an accessory facility of road travel are crucial to the passenger’s experience. This study investigated the basic information (e.g., distribution, orientation) of 373 bus shelters in Guangzhou and extracted the typical style by classifying the characteristics of these bus shelters. Additionally, we also measured the thermal environment of some bus shelters in summer and investigated the cooling behavior of passengers in such an environment. The results show that the typical style of bus shelters in the core area of Guangzhou is north–south orientation, with only one station board at the end of the bus, two backboards, two roofs (opaque green), and the underlying surface is made of red permeable brick. The air temperature and relative humidity under different bus shelters, tree shading areas, and open space in summer are 34–37 °C and 49–56%, respectively. For the bus shelters with heavy traffic loads, the air temperature is basically above 35.5 °C, and the thermal environment is not comfortable. During the hot summer, when there is no bus shelter or trees to shade the sun, the waiting people adjust their position with the sun’s height, azimuth angles, and direct solar radiation intensity to reduce the received radiation as much as possible, which brings great inconvenience to them. When only bus shelters provide shade, people tend to gather in the shaded space, and cooling measures such as umbrellas, hats, and small fans are still needed to alleviate thermal discomfort. However, the aforementioned various spontaneous cooling behaviors still cannot effectively alleviate overheating, and it is very important to increase auxiliary cooling facilities in bus shelters. Full article

Climate change and increasing extreme temperatures present unique challenges to persons experiencing homelessness (PEH), including heightened physical and psychological harm. While green and urban infrastructure has emerged as one possible mitigation strategy, homeless populations are rarely included in municipal disaster planning or infrastructure research. This study used in-depth interviews with PEH (N = 42) during the summers of 2022 and 2023. Questions were designed around phenomenological methods to explore the individuals’ firsthand descriptions of the lived experience of coping during extreme temperatures within a mid-size city in the Southeastern United States. Our findings highlight how social exclusion within the built environment reduces PEH’s adaptive capacity and increases the physical and psychological risks of extreme temperatures, namely through limiting and policing scarce resources and restricting the mobility of PEH. In contrast, public transit provided relief from extreme temperatures. Implications from our findings include the need for attention on inclusive green urban infrastructure, including increased placement and access to shade, public water, mixed-use daytime sheltering models, and the installation of lockers to increase capacity to maintain supplies and gear necessary for enduring extreme temperatures. Findings also highlight the challenges of designing inclusive green infrastructure and the importance of de-stigmatizing homelessness and building more housing and income support to increase adaptive capacity for an entire community in the context of a rapidly warming climate. Full article

Green urban squares are essential in densely built neighborhoods and enhance their quality of life. Investment in the greening of urban areas will have a beneficial impact, particularly regarding human thermal comfort. Smaller than parks, squares can be easily spread over the cities and should be part of any neighborhood. While the cooling effect of green squares during hot summer days is increasingly well established, microclimatic assessments during all seasons are still missing. This study aimed to determine whether it is possible to identify an optimal greenery design that maximizes human thermal comfort, as indexed by physiological equivalent temperature (PET), in temperate climates across all seasons. This study employed a “research by design” methodology, utilizing the micrometeorological simulation model ENVI-met to analyze the impact of greenery on PET improvement across different seasons. The objective was to identify the most effective combination of greenery for PET improvement. To achieve these objectives, two urban squares in Munich, Germany were selected. This selection was based on the assumption that typical greening practices, exemplified by the presence of trees, shrubs, and grass, would significantly impact urban squares and their microclimatic effects on human thermal comfort. The small square with a grass surface underneath trees, Alpenplatz, is highly influenced by the surrounding buildings, affecting the sky view factor (SVF), a crucial aspect of the urban environment. Marstallplatz, an open, large square that is not highly affected by urban morphology, was analyzed through simulation scenarios combining grass, shrubs, and trees. The results demonstrate that hot summer days are of primary concern for climate-sensitive urban square design in order to avoid health risks and thus need to be prioritized without compromising comfort for cold days. To attend to both needs, increasing the number of deciduous trees for shading during the day and the amount of grass to enhance air cooling at night are particularly effective. Nevertheless, microclimate design for the spring and autumn periods must also be considered, with the provision of adaptable opportunities for sheltered and sun-exposed spaces. Full article

Small (<1 km²) saline wetlands scattered across the landscape often go unnoticed or are threatened by urbanization or other interventions, despite their role as biodiversity shelters. This study is needed to show methods for monitoring this specific kind of wetland, and to guide the selection of analytical techniques. We provide data and comparisons for salient soil traits of two quasi-pristine gypsiferous and saline wetlands named Farrachuela (FA) and Agustín (AG). The soil characteristics presented in this article are a more sensitive indicator of their ecological status than some of the most used indicators, such as birds and plants. We found significant differences between the two saladas in percent water saturation, equivalent calcium carbonate, gypsum content, and soil salinity expressed as electrical conductivity both of 1:5 soil-to-water ratio and of saturation extracts. The differences were also significant in the concentrations of Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and Cl⁻, while they were non-significant for Ca²⁺, HCO₃²⁻, and SO₄²⁻. The mean contents of the six ions were lower in FA than in AG. Both pH and sodium adsorption ratios were significantly different between the two wetlands. The data are mainly examined and plotted by displaying their non-parametric statistics, a synoptic approach that will allow us to monitor the evolution of the wetlands against both traditional agricultural pressures and emerging green energy infrastructures. Last but not least, we discuss the shortcomings of some standard laboratory methods when applied to gypsum-rich soils. Full article

The presence of green roofs in urban areas provides various ecosystem services that help mitigate climate change. They play an essential role in sustainable drainage systems, contribute to air quality and carbon sequestration, mitigate urban heat island, support biodiversity, and create green spaces supporting public well-being. Bus stops provide good opportunities for installing green roofs. Various cities worldwide have started installing green roofs on bus shelters, but often without thoroughly comparing expenses and the resulting benefits. This study quantifies the social and environmental benefits of installing green roofs on bus shelters in the City of Edinburgh. An assessment of the benefits and their monetary values was conducted using the B£ST analysis tool combined with manual calculations, which is easily transferable to other cities worldwide. It was compared to the current situation with no green roofs installed at bus stops. Installation of green roofs on all bus shelters in the City of Edinburgh may result in £12.9 million–£87.2 million in total benefit present value. The total cost was projected to be £15,994,000. By green roof installation, the City of Edinburgh can be closer to being carbon-neutral by 2030, a sustainable city as part of the City Plan 2030 and City Vision 2050. Full article

Land–atmosphere interactions are influenced by the earth’s complex underlying subsurface, which in turn indirectly affects atmospheric motion and climate change. Human activities are increasingly exerting an influence on desert ecosystems, and artificial green land with clear functional orientation has been established in many desert areas. Consequently, the previously dominant, shifting, sand-covered, underlying surface in these desert regions is gradually transforming. This transformation has significant implications for the characteristics of land–atmosphere interactions, causing them to deviate from their original state. At present, existing studies still have not presented a systematic understanding of this change and have ignored the impact of human activities on land–atmosphere interactions in artificial green land. To address these research gaps, this study specifically targets artificial green land in the Tazhong region of Taklamakan Desert. We carried out observation experiments on land–atmosphere interactions in three different functional units from outside to inside: natural shifting sands, the shelter forest, and the living area. We also analyzed the differences and attribution of land–atmosphere interactions characteristics of different functional units. Compared with the natural shifting sands, the daily average maximum values of wind speed in the shelter forest decreased by 78%, and the daily average maximum air temperature and soil (0 cm) temperature decreased by 2.6 °C and 7 °C, respectively. Additionally, the soil moisture level was significantly increased throughout the green land due to the shelter forest. The surface albedo experienced a decrease, with an annual average of 0.21. Furthermore, the aerodynamic roughness and bulk transport coefficient increased by two orders of magnitude. The daily average maximum values of sensible heat flux and soil heat flux (G₀₅) decreased by 18.7% and 75%, respectively, and the daily average maximum value of latent heat flux increased by 70.3%. This effectively improved the microclimate environment of the green land. The living area was greatly reduced by the shelter forest coverage and influenced by the buildings. Consequently, the environmental improvement was not as large as it was inside the shelter forest. However, it still provided a good shelter for production and living in the desert area. Throughout the year, a total of 4.60 × 10⁵ t water was consumed through evapotranspiration in the artificial green land. The findings of this study have the potential to enhance our comprehension of land–atmosphere interactions in desert regions, thereby offering valuable insights for the establishment and effective management of artificial desert green lands. Full article