Global Transitions最新文献

{"title":"Environmental science, policy, and industry nexus: Integrating Frameworks for better transport sustainability","authors":"Nahed Bahman ,&nbsp;Naser Naser ,&nbsp;Ezzat Khan ,&nbsp;Tariq Mahmood","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transport sector is one of the primary contributors to climate change since greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have grown by about 80 % from 1990 to 2019. Energy use by this sector has increased over the years, now accounting for up to one-fifth of global energy use. This research, based on the necessity to improve sustainability in the transport sector in terms of increasing environmental impacts, and limitations in frameworks developed, seeks to integrate better and more effective assessments with mitigation measures. Despite the advances made in environmental sustainability, both scientists and policymakers recognize significant gaps in existing methods for measuring and reducing transport emissions. This study presents an integrated framework combining elements of Integrated Environmental Assessment (IEA) with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, thus enhancing policy effectiveness in the sector. The study relies on sound data from LCAs in guiding the formulation of Policy Instruments and Policy Mixes. The methodology involves statistical analysis of surveys and LCA data within a policy context, focusing on sustainability assessment of transport systems. Important findings in key results show that embedding LCA into policy frameworks effectively helps minimize impacts on the environment and enhances sustainability within transport systems. Such important implications have been seen as valuable to policymakers and industries by proposing integration of LCA into environmental policies as a way of minimizing further burdens on the environment in addition to propelling climate change mitigation efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 29-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143130066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of carbon peaking targets in urban green economic transition: Insights from U.S. city-level climate action plans","authors":"Nihal Ahmed ,&nbsp;Nisar Ahmed Khan ,&nbsp;Józef Ober","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.glt.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon peak targets play a crucial role in the global effort to mitigate climate change, with profound implications for green and sustainable economic growth. This research explores the dynamics between carbon peak target policies and urban low-carbon development using a novel delegation-agency framework between central and local governments. Analyzing data from U.S. climate action plans spanning 2010–2020, we employ an advanced difference-in-differences approach to elucidate the causal impact of carbon peak targets on low-carbon transitions. Our findings demonstrate a significant positive correlation between the adoption of these targets and accelerated low-carbon development, with effects modulated by local economic structures, resource availability, and governance transitions. The robustness of these results is rigorously validated through a comprehensive series of tests, including placebo experiments, policy interference controls, and heterogeneity bias assessments. Further investigation reveals that carbon peak targets primarily function through two key mechanisms: stimulating eco-innovation and catalyzing green infrastructure investments. Notably, our analysis uncovers an inverse relationship between target timeline stringency and low-carbon transition effectiveness. This study advances the field by offering a unified theoretical framework for analyzing local government constraints and carbon peak targets, conducting granular city-level analyses, and exploring the nuanced impacts of policy design features. Our findings suggest several policy prescriptions, including recalibrating municipal performance metrics, advocating for flexible target frameworks, and fostering synergies between environmental policies and innovation ecosystems. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to optimize climate strategies and accelerate the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 69-80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143130068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU","authors":"Aura Girlovan,&nbsp;Cristiana Tudor,&nbsp;Gabriel Robert Saiu,&nbsp;Daniel Dumitru Guse","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the determinants of environmental sustainability by analyzing the impact of various economic, fiscal, and energy-related variables on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy intensity (EI) across 27 European Union member states from 2005 to 2022. Using dynamic panel data analysis through the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator, we explore how key factors such as GDP per capita growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), portfolio investments (PI), trade openness (TO), and stock market performance (SMP) influence environmental outcomes. Additionally, the analysis examines the role of fiscal policies, represented by government deficit/surplus (GDT), and energy-related factors, such as renewable energy consumption (REC) and research and development expenditure (ERD), in shaping sustainability. The findings reveal that while GDP growth correlates positively with increased GHG emissions, it negatively impacts energy intensity, suggesting that economic expansion may drive emissions upward while concurrently promoting greater energy efficiency. Trade openness significantly mitigates GHG emissions, indicating that enhanced international trade facilitates access to cleaner technologies. The effects of FDI and PI present a more ambivalent picture, often associated with elevated GHG emissions in the absence of stringent regulatory frameworks. Notably, renewable energy adoption emerges as a critical driver of sustainability, effectively mitigating the environmental impacts of globalization. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between economic globalization and environmental sustainability, offering actionable policy recommendations to align economic growth with the EU's long-term environmental objectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 41-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143130070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerson's framework on the output of public-private partnership on hemodialysis services in Indonesia regional hospitals","authors":"Masyitoh Basabih ,&nbsp;Eko Prasojo ,&nbsp;Amy Yayuk Sri Rahayu","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2025.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.glt.2025.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have become the dominant solution adopted by regional hospitals in Indonesia for providing hemodialysis equipment. Analyzing the implementation of PPPs requires using a collaborative governance framework to provide a comprehensive analysis and depict the relationships between variables. This study aims to determine the influence of system context, drivers, and collaborative processes on the outcomes of PPP hemodialysis services in regional hospital in Indonesia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study employs a quantitative approach with primary data obtained through a survey. The research sample consists of 75 regional hospitals represented by 111 respondents. Analysis was conducted using the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The system context indirectly influences the process through mediation by the driver variable at 0.451, where the driver significantly affects the collaborative process at 0.534, and the collaborative process significantly influences the outcome at 0.773. The policy dimension makes the largest contribution to the systemic context, as does the consequential incentive dimension to the drivers. In the process variable, the capacity for joint action is the dimension with the greatest contribution.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The outcomes of implementing PPP in hemodialysis services at regional hospital are influenced by system context, drivers, and collaborative processes both directly and indirectly. Policy barriers, human resources, and corrupt practices also affect the process and outcomes of hemodialysis PPP, which are perceived not to be in line with good governance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 56-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143130069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in household case-contact study: Biological sample analysis from India","authors":"Aswathy Sreedevi ,&nbsp;Ahmad Mohammad ,&nbsp;Mini Satheesh ,&nbsp;Anuja Ushakumari ,&nbsp;Anil Kumar ,&nbsp;Raveendran Geetha ,&nbsp;Saritha Narayankutty ,&nbsp;Neethu Valsala Mohan ,&nbsp;Ajay Aparna ,&nbsp;Neeraj Mohandas ,&nbsp;Brilly Rose ,&nbsp;Gopakumar Soumya ,&nbsp;Sachin David ,&nbsp;Vishnu Menon ,&nbsp;Jaideep C Menon","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>This study aimed to determine RNA positivity in nasopharyngeal samples, urine and stool, period to seropositivity, viral clearance and associated factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cohort study was conducted multicentrically in Kerala, India, among 147 SARS-CoV-2 patients and 347 household contacts. Serial nasopharyngeal swabs, feces, urine, and serum samples were collected on days 1, 7, 14, and 28. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with RNA positivity, viral clearance and seropositivity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the index cases, median duration for respiratory samples to test negative was 10.5, 7 days in &lt;18 and &gt; 18 years respectively. The median period of RNA detection in feces was longer at 14 days (IQR 7, 28). The independent determinants of RT-PCR negativity of nasopharyngeal samples at &gt;7 days was fever a OR 3.3 (95 % CI 1.1, 10.5). In the multivariable analysis for antibody response, those with less than or equal to 12 years of schooling had five times higher risk of being seronegative [aOR 5.2 (95 % CI 1.6, 16.7)]. Shedding of the virus in stool was more common among those aged &lt;40 years (a OR 2.8, 95 % CI 1.2, 6.4) and among those who had fever (a OR 3.4, 95 % CI 1.1, 10.8). Among the contacts the seropositivity was determined by being illiterate 1.8 (95 % CI 1.1, 3.2), and reporting any symptom from day 1–14 aOR 3.2 (95 % CI 1.9, 5.2).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The shorter duration of RNA positivity in respiratory samples and viral shedding in stool has implications for managing infection control and monitoring in diverse populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 21-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143130067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interplay between poverty, poverty eradication and sustainable development: A semi-systematic literature review","authors":"Affandi ,&nbsp;Yunastiti Purwaningsih ,&nbsp;Lukman Hakim ,&nbsp;Tri Mulyaningsih","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purposes</h3><div>This research aims to identify the most appropriate analytical tools for future poverty and sustainable development analysis, whether quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. It also aims to determine the factors influencing poverty, which can be categorized into several groups.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study used Semi-Literature Review (SLR) to review articles published in online scientific databases from Google Scholar and Sciendirect.com from 2008 to 2024. It selected 149 papers that passed the identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion process. The selected articles were discussed using two approaches: quantitative with the help of the VOSviewer application and qualitative analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The analytic tools recommended for further research are qualitative methods, mainly in-depth interviews with focus group discussions with relevant parties; quantitative methods, including multilevel logistic analysis models and spatial analysis; and a mixed methods approach using a grounded theory approach. The causes of poverty are not only related to the economy or income. The findings show that a multidimensional approach to poverty is essential to address it and promote sustainable development effectively. Seven dimensions affect poverty.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>To assess poverty alleviation and achieve sustainable development, a holistic, multidimensional approach combines capabilities, institutions, and sustainability. Some multidimensional factors that need to be studied to see their influence on poverty and sustainable development are energy accessibility, the type of human capital needed, care among fellow social beings, the role of government in providing infrastructure for the community, and the role of financial institutions in empowering low-income communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142742938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Longitudinal associations between living alone, childlessness and mental health and mortality in ageing adults in Thailand","authors":"Supa Pengpid ,&nbsp;Karl Peltzer ,&nbsp;Dararatt Anantanasuwong ,&nbsp;Wasin Kaewchankha","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.06.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2024.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal relationships between living alone, being childless, and six mental health indicators and mortality in older adults in Thailand between 2015 and 2020.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We examined prospective cohort data from the Health, Aging and Retirement in Thailand (HART) study, which included participants 45 years of age and older (N = 2863) from three successive waves in 2015, 2017, and 2020. Mental health indicators were assessed by self-report. We used Generalized Estimating Equations analysis (GEE) to evaluate the longitudinal relationships between measures of living alone, childlessness and six mental health indicators and mortality.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The proportion of living alone was 6.3 % and childlessness 9.9 % in 2015, while living alone only was 3.9 %, childlessness only 7.5 % and both living alone and childlessness 2.4 % in 2015. In the adjusted model, living alone only was among men positively associated with depressive symptoms, loneliness, poor quality of life and mortality, and among women only positively associated with poor quality of life. Childlessness only was among women positively associated with depressive symptoms, insomnia symptoms, loneliness, poor quality of life, poor self-rated mental health, and mortality, and among men with depressive symptoms, loneliness, poor quality of life and poor self-rated mental health. Both living alone and childlessness was among men associated with four mental health indicators (depressive symptoms, insomnia symptoms, loneliness, and poor quality of life), and among women two mental health indicators (loneliness and poor quality of life), all with higher odds ratios than in living alone only and childlessness only.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Living alone only, childlessness only and/or both living alone and childlessness were associated with several poor mental health indicators and/or mortality. Enhanced screening and management of living alone and being childless may improve mental health in Thailand.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 145-151"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589791824000082/pdfft?md5=88e32601337a7427a55a5ced090951d9&pid=1-s2.0-S2589791824000082-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141323022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health for all: Primary care facility localization in Lesotho using qualitative research and GIS","authors":"Mariam A. Mostafa ,&nbsp;Joy Oluwaseun Ogunmuyiwa ,&nbsp;Kathryne Appleby Tenney ,&nbsp;Sai Lone Tip ,&nbsp;CarlosO. Zegarra Zamalloa ,&nbsp;Jeffery C. Blossom ,&nbsp;Tlebere Mpo","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.05.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2024.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Lesotho has made significant strides towards universal health coverage and yet a significant proportion of the population has difficulty accessing health care services due to mountainous terrain and long travel times to nearest health facility. There have been previous studies that utilized Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to assess access to healthcare and to identify optimal locations for placement of new health facilities, though never in Lesotho.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The authors employed a mixed-methods design. Qualitative research consisting of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions was used to gain a deep understanding of the problem with access to healthcare and to allow for the perspectives of the people of Lesotho to guide decision-making about placement of new healthcare facilities. GIS analysis was done using ArcGIS Pro v. 2.3 software and modern satellite imagery to map current access to healthcare facilities and create site recommendations for new healthcare facilities.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Qualitative research revealed that walking was the primary mode of transport to healthcare facilities and that distance was the crucial barrier in limiting access to care. Decentralization in decision-making was identified as an important element in health policy decisions and study participants recommended placing health facilities centrally in large villages. GIS analysis identified that 77.7 % of the population was currently within 3-h walking distance to nearest health facility and that the addition of fifty new healthcare facilities would increase that proportion to 90.0 %.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study mapped current access to care in Lesotho in rural and urban areas. It also provided an objective strategy for identifying the location of new healthcare facilities while incorporating the voices of the people of Lesotho in the process. The findings can be used to assist policymakers, and the methodology can be employed in the allocation of other public-service facilities in different countries or regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 123-135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589791824000069/pdfft?md5=bffbf6d9e77522fa78734b32b26ca207&pid=1-s2.0-S2589791824000069-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141290852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution matters: Long-term quantification of the Sustainable Development Goals with household detail for different socio-economic pathways","authors":"Rienne Wilts,&nbsp;Wolfgang Britz","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.06.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2024.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Knowledge about upcoming sustainability challenges is crucial to tackle them by political incentives, not at least to reach the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs are multi-dimensional and require detail beyond an aggregate household approach to assess income inequality and other differences across households in transformative processes. Incorporating these aspects, we develop an SDG indicator framework for dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Models with a total of 68 endogenous indicators related to 15 SDGs. This enables a more differentiated assessment of the SDGs in forward looking analysis compared to existing approaches, by considering additional SDG indicators and household level detail based on micro-simulation. We apply the indicator framework in a global analysis of 3 Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) until 2050 with a focus on selected low- and lower-middle income countries from different continents. The analysis finds sustainability gaps by 2030 and 2050 for all focus countries, especially in the environmental domain. In none of the analyzed SSPs, all indicators develop in the desired direction, underlining trade-off among and within SDGs, but also across the SSPs. Based on household detail, we find increasing inequality over time for several indicators regardless of developments at average aggregate household level, pointing at the need for targeted redistribution and compensation policies. These results highlight the importance of including distributional aspects and disaggregated data in policy and socioeconomic development studies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 173-186"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589791824000112/pdfft?md5=cb4893678bc80104f0374a176a8c0c21&pid=1-s2.0-S2589791824000112-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141541037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The COVID-19 lockdown induced changes of SO2 pollution in its Human-made global hotspots","authors":"Amritha S ,&nbsp;Patel VK ,&nbsp;Kuttippurath J ,&nbsp;Varikoden Hamza","doi":"10.1016/j.glt.2024.06.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2024.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is a hazardous air pollutant, which is mostly emitted from burning of fossil fuels, and has an adverse impact on the human health and ecosystem functioning. The COVID-19 natural anthropause (lockdown) provides a great opportunity to understand the changes in SO₂ pollution across the globe, as there was a temporary standstill for most human activities. Therefore, we analyse the changes in global SO₂ pollution during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown and identify its hotspots driven by human activities using satellite measurements, reanalysis data and emission inventory. We observe a decline in SO₂ pollution of about 2.21 % in its global average, −21.05 % in Indo-Gangatic Plain, −16 % in East China, −7.67 % in East United States of America, −3.99 % in Western Europe and −3.85 % in Middle East owing to the halt in human activities such as industrial and transport operations, as found from the emissions inventory. There are point and aerial hotspots of SO₂ pollution across the globe (e.g. cities or industrial units), which also show a decrease (20–30 %) in SO₂ pollution during the anthropause. Fossil fuel burning in thermal power plants is a major source of SO₂ pollution, and it has declined notably (1–12 %) during the lockdown in the major coal consuming countries such as the United States, China, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. Therefore, lockdown provides a clear understanding of global human-driven hotspots of SO₂ pollution and their changes, which would help us to make better and effective air pollution mitigation strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":33615,"journal":{"name":"Global Transitions","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 152-163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589791824000100/pdfft?md5=dfe5f245a54accc6cd970ea6767adce2&pid=1-s2.0-S2589791824000100-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141485059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}