Search Results (120)

This paper is aimed at landscape managers and designers. It looks at 123 real-world coastal landscape projects and organizes them into clear design categories, i.e., wetland restoration, hybrid infrastructure, or urban green spaces. We looked at how these projects were framed (whether they focused on climate adaptation, flood protection, or other goals) and how they tracked performance. We are hoping to bring some clarity to a very scattered field, helping us to see patterns in what is actually being carried out in terms of landscape interventions and increasing sea levels. We are hoping to provide a practical reference for making better, more climate-responsive design decisions. Coastal cities face escalating climate-driven threats from increasing sea levels and storm surges to urban heat islands. These threats are driving increased interest in nature-based solutions (NbSs) as green adaptive alternatives to traditional gray infrastructure. Despite an abundance of individual case studies, there have been few systematic syntheses aimed at landscape designers and managers linking design typologies, project framing, and performance outcomes. This study addresses this gap through a meta-synthesis of 123 implemented coastal landscape interventions aimed directly at landscape-oriented research and professions. Flood risk reduction was the dominant framing strategy (30.9%), followed by climate resilience (24.4%). Critical evidence gaps emerged—only 1.6% employed integrated monitoring approaches, 30.1% provided ambiguous performance documentation, and mean monitoring quality scored 0.89 out of 5.0. While 95.9% of the projects acknowledged SLR as a driver, only 4.1% explicitly integrated climate projections into design parameters. Community monitoring approaches demonstrated significantly higher ecosystem service integration, particularly cultural services (36.4% vs. 6.9%, $p<0.001$), and enhanced monitoring quality (mean score 1.64 vs. 0.76, $p<0.001$). Implementation barriers spanned technical constraints, institutional fragmentation, and data limitations, each affecting 20.3% of projects. Geographic analysis revealed evidence generation inequities, with systematic underrepresentation of high-risk regions (Africa: 4.1%; Latin America: 2.4%) versus concentration in well-resourced areas (North America: 27.6%; Europe: 17.1%). Full article

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

Energy poverty, resulting from poor energy efficiency and economic and social barriers to accessing appropriate, modern, and sustainable energy services, remains a critical issue in Jordan, a country facing growing climate pressures, particularly given its history of rapid urbanization. This study examines energy poverty through a multidimensional lens, considering its spatial and socio-demographic variations across Jordan. Drawing on data from 19,475 households, we apply a novel energy poverty index and binary logistic regression to analyze key determinants of energy poverty and discuss their intersection with climate vulnerability. The energy poverty index (EPI) is structured around four pillars: housing, fuel, cooling, and wealth. The results show that 51% of households in Jordan are affected by energy poverty. Contributing factors include geographic location, gender, age, education level, dwelling type, ownership of cooling appliances, and financial stability. The results indicate that energy poverty is both a socio-economic and infrastructural issue, with the highest concentrations in the northern and southern regions of the country, areas also vulnerable to climate risks such as drought and extreme heat. Our findings emphasize the need for integrated policy approaches that simultaneously address income inequality, infrastructure deficits, and environmental stressors. Targeted strategies are needed to align social and climate policies for effective energy poverty mitigation and climate resilience planning in Jordan. Full article

Temperature dependencies of the density, heat capacity at constant pressure, and isobaric thermal expansion coefficient are investigated for two liquid metal nuclear reactor coolants: pure sodium and sodium–potassium eutectic alloy (31.9 at. %Na). The variational method of the thermodynamic perturbation theory is used for the calculations. The calculations were carried out in temperature ranges of 373–1673 K for Na and 273–1573 K for 0.319Na-0.681K. The accuracy of two local pseudopotentials and three exchange–correlation functions is estimated. It is shown that two combinations between the pseudopotential and exchange–correlation function can be recommended for predicting the properties at high temperatures for which experimental information is absent. Full article

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

Urban heat stress is becoming increasingly urgent, yet it remains understudied within the broader intersection of climate change and spatial justice. While urban climate scholarship has largely focused on climatic impacts such as flooding, rising sea levels, and prolonged droughts, the socio-spatial lens of urban heat in marginalised and low-income urban communities has received limited attention. This article, grounded in a systematic review of the global literature, foregrounds the mechanisms through which heat functions as a site of socio-environmental injustice. We argue that fragmented urban morphologies, entrenched spatial inequalities, and uneven adaptation strategies collectively produce and sustain heat vulnerability. The article identifies three interrelated conceptual framings that elucidate the production and persistence of heat inequity: transitional injustice, green climate gentrification, and intersectional adaptation praxis. These lenses reveal how heat risk is differentially distributed, governed, and experienced with broader discourses of urban marginalisation, environmental dispossession, and epistemic exclusion. We contend that advancing climate justice in the context of urban heat requires moving beyond technocratic and elite-oriented adaptation, toward multi-scalar planning paradigms that recognise embodied vulnerability, structural inequality, and the socio-political ecologies of thermal exposure. By theorising urban heat through the lens of climate justice, this article contributes to a more expansive and critical understanding of urban climate risk, one that situates heat inequity within the broader structures of power, governance, and spatial exclusion shaping contemporary urban environments. Full article

Since the early years of the 21st century, there has been a clear critique of the diotic way of farming in the international scientific arena, emphasizing that the existing models of economic development are exacerbating social inequalities and overexploiting natural resources. At the same time, the literature promotes the implementation of a new way of farming that takes into account environmental, social, and economic concerns. We have brought together new methods and ways of farming in these areas into one broad concept, called the conclusion of sustainable development. Within this concept, particular emphasis has been placed on sustainable energy development, the intensive development of technologies based on renewable energy sources, and the advancement of end-user awareness of modern technologies. The aim of this paper was to identify the factors that determine the ecological attitude of users of single-family houses in Poland when making strategic energy decisions related to the choice of heating devices in a household. To solve this research problem, the authors conducted a nationwide survey on a representative sample of single-family house users. In turn, the results were analyzed using log-linear analysis. The results showed that the determinants of the ecological nature of such energy decisions are primarily the age of the house users and their level of education. It was found that younger people are significantly more likely to think about ecology when making decisions related to how a building is heated than older people. In addition, people with a higher level of education are more likely to think about ecology when making such decisions than those with a lower level of education. Findings showed that the gender of the occupant of a single-family house, as well as the size of the town in which the building is located, have no significant impact on the ecological nature of decisions related to the choice of the method of obtaining energy for home heating. It was also shown that territorial variation, i.e., the region of the country, had no effect on this issue. The identification of socio-demographic determinants of the ecological nature of decisions related to the choice of heating devices in single-family houses in Poland fills the research gap and thus contributes to the literature in this area. Full article

Energy poverty, defined as a households’ limited ability to secure affordable energy, has become a key issue in the energy transition debate due to its impact on well-being, health risks, and social inequality. We investigate its health impacts using two-way fixed effects and high-dimensional fixed effects models, two-stage least squares, and quantify additional medical costs during extreme cold events with grouped fitting regression. We assess the effect of China’s Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Program using the Difference-in-Differences-in-Differences technique. Our results show that energy poverty significantly worsens household health deprivation, extreme cold events further increase medical costs in southern regions, while northern energy-poor families reduce healthcare spending to cover heating costs, and the Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Program significantly reduces both the medical burden and catastrophic medical expenditure among energy-poor households. These findings underscore the need for energy transition policies that combine targeted subsidies, health support during cold seasons, and wider deployment of modern heating technologies to protect vulnerable families and ensure a fair, resilient energy transition. Full article

Urban parks are essential for enhancing public health and environmental sustainability, as they reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and provide spaces for physical activity. Inequalities in park allocation, however, lead to access discrepancies, disproportionately impacting populations already struggling socially. The spatial disparity between park supply and demand in Busan, South Korea, is examined in this study through a quantitative approach incorporating socio-economic indicators and GIS(Geographic Information System)-based analysis. First, we divided Busan into 100 m × 100 m grid cells and applied a modified Huff model, setting a kind of distance-decay exponent β, to estimate park supply against baseline demand (the planning standard of 6 m² per person), and overlaid a composite need index of six socio-economic indicators to pinpoint underserved areas. Our first stage grid-based arithmetic analysis revealed that 100 of Busan’s 205 communities are undersupplied. Given a composite need index of six socio-economic indicators, sixty-two cells remained imbalanced, and we finally identified the ten communities with the highest need for targeted park provision. The findings indicate that Busan’s park planning policies, aimed at enhancing per capita green space, do not adequately address localized disparities. Accordingly, as opposed to a uniform expansion plan, this study stresses the importance of prioritizing park provision according to community-specific needs. These results suggest that policymakers could enhance public health outcomes and advance social equity by considering socio-economic vulnerabilities when planning cities. Specifically, this research highlights the significance of including environmental justice in urban sustainability frameworks and gives actionable ideas for fair park allocation. Full article

As climate change intensifies, urban populations face growing threats from frequent and severe heatwaves, underscoring the urgent need for advanced risk assessment frameworks to inform adaptation strategies. This systematic review synthesizes methodological innovations in urban heatwave risk assessment (2007–2024), analyzing 259 studies through bibliometric analysis (CiteSpace 6.4.R1) and multi-criteria evaluation. We propose the hazard–exposure–vulnerability–adaptability (HEVA) framework, an extension of Crichton’s risk triangle that integrates dynamic adaptability metrics and supports high-resolution spatial analysis for urban heatwave risk assessment. Our systematic review reveals three key methodological gaps: (1) Inconsistent indicator selection across studies; (2) limited analysis of microclimatic variations; (3) sparse integration of IoT- or satellite-based monitoring. The study offers practical solutions for enhancing assessment accuracy, including refined weighting methodologies and high-resolution spatial analysis techniques. We conclude by proposing a research agenda that prioritizes interdisciplinary approaches—bridging urban planning, climate science, and public health—while advocating for policy tools that address spatial inequities in heat risk exposure. These insights advance the development of more precise, actionable assessment systems to support climate-resilient urban development. Full article

The present work investigates the spatial evolution characteristics of solutions to the Moore–Gibson–Thompson heat equation within a three-dimensional cylindrical geometry. By constructing an integral-differential inequality framework, we establish rigorous estimates demonstrating the exponential spatial decay of the solution as the axial distance from the inlet boundary increases without bound. This finding aligns with a generalized interpretation of the Saint-Venant principle, demonstrating its applicability under the present asymptotic conditions. The integral-differential inequality method proposed in this paper can also be used for the study of the Saint-Venant principle for other equations. Full article

Global climate change, combined with socio-economic issues such as conflicts, inflation, energy crises, and inequality, is reshaping urban governance. Cities, which host most of the global population, are highly exposed to climate-related risks, especially those associated with the degradation of ecosystem services. These risks are manifested, among other factors, as the alteration and degradation of the habitat quality, heightened hydraulic vulnerability, and intensified urban heat islands phenomena. Addressing these challenges requires innovative planning tools to integrate ecosystem-based strategies to enhance urban resilience and support sustainable transformation processes. This paper attempts to do this by introducing ecosystem zoning, an experimental tool designed to integrate ecosystem services into urban planning and its regulatory framework. Applied to the city of Torino, this approach offers a biophysical classification of municipal territory through a mapping of habitat quality, cooling capacity, carbon sequestration, and stormwater retention. The resulting classification provides an overview of the different ecosystem characterizations of the urban fabric and informs site-specific interventions to maintain or enhance ecosystem services and guide urban regeneration processes. By embedding ecosystem services into planning regulations, the project supports sustainable urban development while mitigating climate impacts. The proposed tool contributes to the broader discourse on creating resilient, ecologically sustainable cities and demonstrates the potential of integrating scientific research into urban decision-making processes. Full article

This study enhances our understanding of urban park accessibility and social equity through a novel methodological framework in Chengdu, China. By improving the three-step floating catchment area (3SFCA) method with space syntax metrics and multi-modal transportation analysis, we identify spatial disparities in green space access. Our methodology, validated with Baidu heat map data, demonstrates improved accuracy in estimating population demand patterns. Key findings include: (1) The enhanced 3SFCA method outperforms traditional approaches in predicting park accessibility, providing reliable evidence for urban planning; (2) significant accessibility disparities exist across transportation modes, particularly affecting non-motorized transport users; (3) newly developed areas show greater park access inequities than established neighborhoods; (4) important mismatches exist between park accessibility and vulnerable population distributions. This research provides targeted recommendations for reducing spatial inequities and improving green space access for all residents, particularly benefiting children and elderly populations in rapidly urbanizing contexts. Full article

We investigate the thermodynamic compatibility of weakly nonlocal materials with constitutive equations depending on the third spatial gradient of the deformation and the heat flux ruled by an independent balance law. In such materials, the molecules experience long-range interactions. Examples of biological systems undergoing nonlocal interactions are given. Under the hypothesis of weak nonlocality (constitutive equations depending on the gradients of the unknown fields), we exploit the second law of thermodynamics by considering the spatial differential consequences (gradients) of the balance laws as additional equations to be substituted into the entropy inequality, up to the order of the gradients entering the state space. As a consequence of such a procedure, we obtain generalized constitutive laws for the stress tensor and the specific entropy, as well as new forms of the balance equations. Such equations are, in general, parabolic, although hyperbolic situations are also possible. For small deformations of homogeneous and isotropic bodies, under the validity of a generalized Maxwell–Cattaneo equation for the heat flux, which depends on the deformation too, we study the propagation of small-amplitude thermomechanical waves, proving that mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical waves are possible. Full article

This study examines the emerging challenge of how income inequality affects household energy consumption within the European Union amidst the ongoing energy crisis. Using the Gini index and the gender pay gap as indicators of income inequality, the analysis covers the period 2000–2023 across EU member states. Dynamic panel data models reveal that the Gini index negatively impacted final energy consumption per capita as well as energy consumption specifically from gas oil and diesel, while the gender pay gap is associated with less energy consumption in the realms of natural gas and ambient heating. Causality is further explored through recent methodology developed for panel data and Bayesian networks, and the results confirm the causality between energy consumption and income inequality. To address the complex relationship between income inequality and energy consumption, policymakers should implement integrated strategies promoting energy efficiency, clean energy transitions, gender equality, and social safety nets, particularly in light of the energy crisis exacerbated by the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Full article