Search Results (663)

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as important strategies for advancing agricultural sustainability and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Much research has highlighted the biophysical potential of NbS; however, the literature remains fragmented regarding their socio-economic and governance implications. This study synthesizes existing research, identifies major knowledge structures, and develops a forward-looking research agenda. We analyzed 1198 academic articles using Structural Topic Modeling (STM) to identify ten latent topics. These topics were subsequently mapped onto the adapted Agro-Ecotopia model based on two dimensions: Ecosystem State & Control and Governance Logic & Goal Alignment. This approach established an Agro-NbS analytical framework and identified four exploratory scenarios: Green Regulation, Engineered Ecotopia, Vulnerable Wilderness, and Grassroots Resilience. These scenarios characterize diverse pathways of agricultural NbS development, highlighting potential spatial trade-offs and emerging system vulnerabilities associated with social equity. Furthermore, this study extends traditional biophysical assessments by emphasizing the importance of polycentric governance and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in addressing complex climate challenges. The findings contribute to the understanding of agricultural Socio-Ecological Systems (SESs) and provide insights for policymakers seeking to promote a more equitable transition toward sustainable agriculture. Full article

The growing demand for sustainable protein sources is driving the development of marine by-product utilization. Mussel byssus, which is currently discarded during mussel processing, could be used to produce collagen-derived biomaterials. This study tested the hypothesis that ultrasound-assisted extraction could improve collagen recovery by comparing its efficiency with that of conventional pepsin-assisted extraction. The latter is time-consuming and inefficient. While conventional pepsin-assisted extraction achieved a higher collagen-derived material recovery yield (10.7%) than ultrasound-assisted extraction (5.1%), ultrasound reduced the extraction time from 72 h to just two hours. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that the characteristic amide bands were preserved in the collagen-derived material extracted using both methods. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed thermal transitions at 59 °C for pepsin-assisted extracts and 57 °C for ultrasound-assisted extracts, indicating comparable thermal stability. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed predominantly low-molecular-weight protein fragments (<20 kDa), suggesting the presence of collagen-derived peptides rather than intact native collagen. Overall, ultrasound-assisted extraction preserved the structural and thermal characteristics of the extracted material while drastically reducing processing time. This highlights its potential as a rapid, environmentally friendly and sustainable technology for the valorization of mussel byssus within a circular bioeconomy. Full article

The transition from simple herbivory to specialised gall induction in Cynipidae marks an evolutionary peak in insect–plant interactions. This structural and ultrastructural study suggests that the gall wasp larva has evolved from a passive consumer into a biological architect, utilising a highly specialised body plan. The structure of the large midgut, the midgut epithelium reinforced by septate junctions, and the cuboidal cells of the hindgut allow for the possibility that the larva of Andricus quercustozae may control itself independently from its host, working as an active producer rather than just recycling materials. The foregut constitutes approximately 10% of the alimentary canal length, while the large blind midgut occupies 80%. The remaining 10% consists of a specialised hindgut tube, which is anteriorly closed and contains a reinforced, cuticularised external anal pore. This posterior structure, together with a dense aggregation of urocytes and oenocytes in the anal region, presumed systemic homeostasis and the symmetrical distribution of hormonal signals. These anatomical hallmarks provide a structural baseline to hypothesize that biosynthesis may represent a key mechanism for phytohormone acquisition, while suggesting that this closed-circuit anatomy could potentially be a contributing factor influencing the spherical morphogenesis of the gall. Full article

Colombia condenses a paradox common across Latin America’s extractive economies: one of the region’s cleanest electricity matrices—close to 60% of installed capacity is hydropower—coexists with large-scale coal and oil exports, while renewable potential concentrates in ethnic and peasant territories that remain energy-poor. Although the country has enacted an ambitious just-transition framework, conflicts persist. This study asks which epistemological and ontological factors constrain or enable that transition. Using an interpretive-critical qualitative design, it triangulates four evidentiary pillars: critical discourse analysis of policy instruments, a structured critical review of the academic and policy literature, six megaproject case studies, and ten participatory workshops with 259 territorial actors across nine departments. Six recurrent, cross-case findings emerge: epistemological asymmetry, ontological irreducibility of territory, participation reduced to procedure, fragmented governance, the Caribbean territorial paradox (La Guajira combines the country’s highest renewable potential with its lowest electricity coverage), and unresolved fiscal dependence on hydrocarbons. The study’s novelty is Territorial Energy Sustainability (SET), a six-condition framework that articulates sustainability-transitions theory with Latin American critical thought and operationalizes it into five levels of policy intervention, offering a transferable framework for energy-exporting countries of the Global South pursuing transitions that transform rather than reproduce inequality. Full article

Hydrogen has attracted growing interest across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in recent years, driven by net-zero commitments and national decarbonisation strategies. This study explores the evolving role of hydrogen in the ASEAN energy landscape and its potential to support a just and inclusive transition towards sustainable energy systems. Employing an exploratory research approach, this study integrates two complementary transition management frameworks—Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and Strategic Niche Management (SNM)—to analyse the dynamics of energy transitions across niche, regime, and landscape levels. The integration of these frameworks supports our understanding of how transitions unfold within complex socio-technical systems. The analysis draws on government documents, the academic literature, and the grey literature on evolving hydrogen development projects across ASEAN. The findings indicate that climate commitments and global hydrogen narratives are placing increasing pressure on fossil-fuel-dominated energy regimes across ASEAN. While hydrogen development remains uneven across the region, several countries have made measurable progress through policy development, pilot projects, and international partnerships. This research contributes to the literature by combining MLP and SNM to provide a multi-level understanding of hydrogen transitions in ASEAN and highlights the importance of nurturing niche innovations to enable long-term systemic transformation. Full article

Consumer electronics are important for global energy use, material extraction, and toxic exposures. Within consumer behavior, End-of-Current-Use (EoCU) decisions (e.g., to resell, donate, recycle, or throw away) particularly are a planetary health concern, not just a waste management problem. The goal of this work is to inform interventions that nudge users toward more sustainable and data-secure choices. We surveyed 4000 U.S. users on their attitudes, knowledge, and planned EoCU choices, and constructed a Random Forest model to simulate planned behavior as a function of reported knowledge and attitudes. The key result is identification of behavioral “tipping points”, i.e., incremental shifts in knowledge or attitude that produce large changes in sustainable behavior. For example, moving the level of agreement relating to “reselling is worthwhile” from “Neutral” to “Agree” increases the probability of resale by 26%, with stronger agreement yielding minimal further gains, suggesting relatively small changes in perception may thus produce large behavioral changes. The model also identifies trade-offs, with increases in agreeing that resale is worthwhile leading to to decreases in giving away (−14%) and recycling (−10%). Economic considerations drive reselling decisions, while environmental concerns drive recycling. Identifying these critical thresholds enables efficient intervention design, as modest attitude changes at transition points may prove more effective than maximizing positive attitudes. These finding challenge assumptions of linearity of behavioral responses, informing circular economy and other policies. They also relate to managing planetary health issues raised by EoCU electronics, such as human and ecological well being, digital equity, and environmental justice. The framework is broadly applicable to identifying behavioral tipping points in other domains, e.g., healthcare, energy efficiency, and data security. Full article

This study examines the extent to which energy justice principles are incorporated into local climate governance across six Turkish coastal metropolitan municipalities: Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, Izmir, Antalya, and Trabzon. Using a mixed-methods design that combines qualitative policy analysis with a purpose-built Energy Justice Index (EJI), the study evaluates distributive, procedural, and recognition justice provisions within Climate Action Plans (CAPs) and Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). The findings indicate that local climate planning in Türkiye remains predominantly focused on technical and emissions-oriented objectives, offering comparatively limited attention to democratic participation and the needs of vulnerable populations. Quantitatively, the municipalities exhibit a low mean EJI score of 30.2 out of 100 and a mean Technocracy Gap of 15.7 points, alongside a universal absence of monitoring mechanisms for vulnerable groups (R3 = 0 across all cases). Procedural justice emerged as the weakest dimension, while recognition justice was frequently limited to identifying vulnerable groups without corresponding monitoring. The study contributes to energy justice scholarship by developing a municipal-level assessment framework and introducing the Technocracy Gap as an exploratory indicator of the balance between technical climate ambition and justice-oriented governance provisions. It further proposes a rights-based governance approach for more just local climate planning. Full article

This study poses the following research question: Where and how can low- to medium-enthalpy geothermal resources in Northern México be harnessed to promote a territorially anchored, socially inclusive energy transition? Hence, the potential contribution of geothermal direct uses to sustainable local development in Sonora—one of México’s largest and most economically diverse states—is examined in this article. In Sonora, a semi-arid region with dispersed populations and underutilized geothermal resources, the research integrates spatial analysis and socio-territorial indicators to identify areas where geothermal direct uses can deliver inclusive development benefits. Thermal data of 88 thermal springs and 36 wellbores were examined, in which in situ temperatures and geothermal gradients were found from 30 to 80 °C and 20–200 °C/km, respectively. This resulted in a catalog of 28 direct uses based on the energy needs and demands of the population near the sites. Then, a composite methodological framework was developed that combined the Geothermal Suitability Index (GSI), the Socio-Productive Energy Demand Index (SPEDI), and the Territorial Vulnerability Index (TVI). These indices and the catalog were overlaid to detect municipalities where high geothermal potential, energy needs, and social vulnerability intersect. Results show that sites such as Bacadehuachi, Cajeme, and Fronteras offer high-priority opportunities for agri-food processing, aquaculture, and heating/cooling applications. The findings contribute to broader debates on rural energy access, energy justice, and decentralized planning, providing evidence-based guidance for policy design that aligns renewable energy deployment with regional equity and resilience goals. Full article

In 2006, I argued that household energy research was dominated by survey-based, economic and technical analyses, while too often failing to combine measured energy use with qualitative accounts of how people use energy in their homes. Two decades later, in this Perspective, I revisit this argument and ask whether the gap between theory, method, and real-world residential energy use has been resolved. Drawing on both my own work over the last 20 years and recent comprehensive analyses of the literature in the field, I argue that residential energy research has expanded in scale, scope and technical capacity, with stronger metering, modelling and monitoring tools. However, much of the evidence base remains weighted towards short-term quantitative and technical evaluations, while research on routines, comfort, trust, social relations, housing conditions and aesthetics is still less consistently integrated. I conclude that integrated mixed-method designs are needed. These designs can build on the strengths of meters, models and monitoring by connecting them with how energy is used, managed and shifted in homes, so that residential energy research can better support energy transitions that are both effective and just in the face of climate change. Full article

This study investigates the asymmetric and heterogeneous effects of renewable energy, non-renewable energy, capital stock, labour, and trade openness on CO₂ emissions in BRICS countries over the period 1991–2022. The study applies a panel nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (PNARDL) model to capture short- and long-run asymmetries, complemented by a panel quantile nonlinear ARDL (QNARDL) to assess distributional heterogeneity. Robustness is ensured using Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Robust Least Squares (RLS) estimators. The study is grounded in the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and Just Energy Transition Theory. The results reveal a stable long-run cointegrating relationship among the variables, with a significant error correction mechanism confirming convergence toward equilibrium. Renewable energy consumption consistently reduces CO₂ emissions in both the short and long run, while non-renewable energy significantly increases emissions, exhibiting strong asymmetric effects. Capital stock shows mixed dynamics, increasing emissions in the short run but reducing them in the long run when directed toward productive and efficient investments. Labour is found to reduce emissions in the long run, highlighting the role of human capital in supporting cleaner production. Trade openness generally increases emissions, reflecting energy-intensive trade structures. Quantile results confirm heterogeneity, with stronger renewable energy effects at higher emission levels and greater environmental gains from reducing fossil fuel dependence than from increasing it. The FMOLS and RLS estimations confirm robustness, reinforcing the negative relationship between renewable energy and emissions and the positive impact of non-renewable energy. The study recommends accelerated renewable energy deployment, fossil fuel phase-down strategies, and targeted green capital investment. It further emphasizes grid modernization and energy storage systems to enhance renewable integration, alongside labour reskilling and green trade policies. These coordinated strategies are essential for achieving sustainable decarbonization in BRICS economies. Full article

Implementing technological change in rural or culturally distinct settings requires moving beyond the modernization bias that treats Western technical solutions as universally applicable. This article develops a process-based reflection on culturally grounded co-design for sustainable technology, drawing on social design, just transition principles, and appropriate technology. Rather than evaluating final project outcomes, the article examines how technology and social organization can be approached as context-specific practices that must be negotiated, adapted, and maintained with local actors. The discussion is informed by the O-Waste Project in The Gambia, which is used as an illustrative case to examine the role of local councils, women’s organizations, market committees, and implementing partners in shaping technological adoption. By emphasizing vernacular knowledge, locally maintainable systems, and participatory decision-making, the article argues that sustainable innovation depends on technical performance as well as cultural legitimacy, institutional trust, and procedural justice. The analysis suggests that development in diverse cultural contexts requires a careful balance between external technical expertise and community appropriation. The O-Waste case therefore offers process-based insights into how sustainable technologies can be introduced without reducing local communities to passive recipients of modernization. Full article

European sustainability transitions are increasingly defined by the convergence of blue, green, and circular economy agendas. Traditionally analysed and governed in isolation, these domains generate important interdependencies, trade-offs, and coordination challenges that remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on the multi-level perspective (MLP) and recent advances in multi-system dynamics, this article introduces the Resource Infrastructure Economy (RIE) as a novel integrative framework. The RIE differs from existing multi-system frameworks by explicitly integrating marine governance as a full socio-technical regime, theorising regulatory-driven regime coupling as a distinct transition pathway, and foregrounding the constitutive role of shared physical and digital infrastructures in shaping value creation, path dependencies, and distributional outcomes. The RIE conceptualises contemporary European transitions as processes of deep regime coupling and infrastructural integration, whereby energy, marine, and material regimes become tightly coordinated through shared physical and digital infrastructures and assertive regulatory steering. Through a systematic integrative literature review (58 core publications selected from over 450 records following PRISMA guidelines, analysed using abductive thematic analysis with MAXQDA 26 software) and comparative analysis of six countries—Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway—the study reveals persistent structural gaps between the three agendas alongside emerging patterns of pairwise and triadic regime coupling. While Northern and Central European frontrunners demonstrate more advanced infrastructural coordination, Southern peripheral regions face greater difficulties in governance integration and just transition outcomes. The RIE framework advances sustainability transitions theory in three ways: (1) systematically integrating blue economy scholarship into multi-system analysis; (2) theorising regulatory-driven regime coupling as a distinct transition pathway; and (3) foregrounding the constitutive role of physical and digital infrastructures and environmental data systems in shaping value creation, path dependencies, and distributional outcomes. By reframing European sustainability transitions through the lens of the Resource Infrastructure Economy, this article provides a new conceptual lens to understand uneven transition geographies and offers actionable insights for more integrated and just policy coordination across the European Green Deal. Full article

The expansion of the European Union Emissions Trading System to road transport and buildings (ETS2) raises significant concerns regarding the distributive social impacts of carbon pricing on vulnerable households, particularly in regions characterized by high car dependency, limited public transport accessibility, and pronounced territorial inequalities. This paper aims to develop an integrated conceptual framework for analyzing transport poverty in the context of ETS2 and the just climate transition. The study adopts a conceptual–analytical approach based on a structured literature review of peer-reviewed publications and EU policy documents, combined with a qualitative policy analysis focused on Bulgaria as a critical case. The paper identifies six interacting analytical dimensions of transport poverty—economic vulnerability, spatial vulnerability, mobility dependency, infrastructure vulnerability, climate-policy exposure, and social vulnerability—and maps the causal pathways through which carbon pricing mechanisms may intensify mobility deprivation, particularly among low-income, rural, and forced-car-ownership households. The analysis demonstrates that ETS2 may exacerbate existing socio-spatial inequalities unless accompanied by well-designed compensatory, accessibility-oriented, and territorially sensitive policy measures. The Bulgarian case illustrates the specific structural risk factors prevalent in Central and Eastern European countries. The paper contributes to the emerging academic literature on transport poverty by positioning it as a critical dimension of the just climate transition and by providing a conceptual foundation for future empirical research within the ACTETS2 project framework. Full article

As a key market-based instrument for low-carbon transition, China’s national carbon emission trading market facilitates emission abatement and reshapes labor allocation in regulated firms. Based on the task-based framework, a task embedding hypothesis is proposed. Restricted by organizational adjustment costs, firms tend to integrate green compliance tasks into existing roles instead of massively establishing specialized green positions. Using 13 million job postings and matched financial data of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2016 to 2024, this study regards the launch of the national carbon market as a quasi-natural experiment and adopts a difference-in-differences (DID) approach. The results indicate that the carbon market raises the green job share of regulated enterprises by 4.7 percentage points. Such growth is not driven by newly built environmental departments. Management compliance posts decrease markedly, technical posts remain stable, while task-embedding positions combining traditional and green tasks dominate the growth effect. Heterogeneously, private enterprises and eastern China dominate the transformation, while state-owned enterprises lag behind and central and western regions witness a green job share decline. This study enriches task-based theory application in environmental regulation and provides empirical implications for sustainable green talent development and just transition policy design. Full article

Urban rail transit (URT) has developed rapidly in parallel with the rapid development of the Chinese economy. Some cities suffer from under-investment leading to traffic congestion and environmental pollution, while others suffer from over-investment, leading to operating losses. This paper constructs a three-part evaluation index system consisting of input, intermediate variables, and output, and uses a two-stage super slacks-based measure (super-SBM) model to analyze the development efficiency of URT. The development of URT is divided into two sub-processes of investment and operation, and the investment efficiency and operation efficiency are calculated separately. In addition, a coupling coordination model is used to assess the degree of coupling coordination between the two stages. The results show that the cities with the best overall performance were those with fast-growing economies, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. By contrast, the entire development process of URT in cities such as Zhuhai and Jinan were ineffective. The problems were more severe in cities where URT was just starting. The degree of coupling and coordination between the two phases of URT investment and operation varied significantly among cities and, in general, could be substantially improved. These findings provide important references for future policy design and implementation of URT, which will help alleviate urban traffic congestion and promote sustainable urban development. Full article