Bruno Fardim Christo , Gabriel Akira Andrade Okawati , Daniel M. de Vasconcellos , Jorge Tadeu Fim Rosas , Marcela Almeida de Araujo , Durval Dourado-Neto , Rogério de S. Nóia-Júnior
{"title":"Agricultural sustainability index in Brazil","authors":"Bruno Fardim Christo , Gabriel Akira Andrade Okawati , Daniel M. de Vasconcellos , Jorge Tadeu Fim Rosas , Marcela Almeida de Araujo , Durval Dourado-Neto , Rogério de S. Nóia-Júnior","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agriculture faces the challenge of increasing food production while reducing environmental impacts like soil erosion and greenhouse gas emissions. This study introduces a comprehensive Agricultural Sustainability Index for Brazil, integrating economic, social, and environmental indicators. The quantitative index includes seven environmental indicators (e.g., Burned Area, Carbon Loss, Soil Erosion), five social indicators (e.g., Education, Gender Inequality, Land Distribution), and five economic indicators (e.g., Credit Access, Economic Income, Infrastructure). Results show that Agricultural Sustainability Index values range from 0.12 to 0.67, with a mean and median of 0.42. Since 1 represents the highest sustainability and 0 the lowest, half of Brazil's municipalities fall below 0.42, indicating room for improvement. Municipalities in the South and Southeast perform better, while those in the North and Northeast face economic constraints and lower scores. Environmental challenges are particularly significant in the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes. These findings emphasize the need for region-specific strategies and infrastructure improvements. Future research should refine the index and incorporate dynamic factors like climate change to enhance agricultural sustainability in Brazil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143680171","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}
Xihang Xu , J.J. O'Sullivan , S. Abolfathi , J. Keenahan , J.M. Pearson , M. Salauddin
{"title":"Advances in understanding the challenges and opportunities of hybrid sea defence approaches for coastal resilience","authors":"Xihang Xu , J.J. O'Sullivan , S. Abolfathi , J. Keenahan , J.M. Pearson , M. Salauddin","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101130","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101130","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The intensification of global climate change and rising sea levels continue to exacerbate risks of coastal erosion and flooding, presenting significant challenges for coastal regions' sustainable development and management. Climate change also adversely affects coastal ecosystems, which struggle to adapt to evolving environmental conditions. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on climate adaptation measures for coastal habitats, particularly implementing sustainable methods to mitigate coastal hazards and protect ecosystems. In this context, hybrid sea defence approaches, combining conventional and natural solutions, offer innovative and versatile strategies to enhance resilience and reduce the vulnerability of coastal areas. While previous studies have predominantly focussed on the ecological benefits of nature-based and hybrid-engineering solutions, there remains a scarcity of data and evidence regarding wave-structure interactions at these sea defences. This study comprehensively discusses the main functions, limitations and research methods of hybrid sea defences and technical and social barriers to effectively implementing these innovative approaches by systematically reviewing 95 papers and suggesting potential solutions and future research interests to overcome the problems of incorporating these approaches effectively. Hybrid sea defences offer greater robustness than nature-based solutions while performing more environmentally friendly than hard sea defences in many cases. However, the population of hybrid sea defences is questionable because of the lack of accurate and clearly quantitative evidence. This paper aims to provide coastal managers, engineers, researchers, and policymakers with a better understanding of the applications and performance of hybrid engineering in creating sustainable coastal cities in the face of climate change and extreme climatic events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143679700","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}
Mohammad Ridwan Lessy , Jonatan Lassa , Kerstin Katharina Zander
{"title":"Development of small island vulnerability index to achieve sustainable development goals: Insight from Ternate Volcanic Island, Indonesia","authors":"Mohammad Ridwan Lessy , Jonatan Lassa , Kerstin Katharina Zander","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Small islands encounter distinct challenges concerning climate vulnerability stemming from constrained resourcesand lack of access to information due to remoteness and isolation. Such characteristics shape the evaluation of vulnerabilities to make adaptive decisions in response to hazards. This investigation seeks to create a down-scaled climate vulnerability index specifically for small island communities, with Ternate Island as an example, to achieve sustainable development goals. A climate vulnerability assessment tool was developed using a multidimensional approach to gather information on the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of communities across 60 villages on Ternate Island. The index was compiled using official data, including local and central government statistical data. The index results indicate that 8 villages fall into the very low category, 11 villages are classified as low, 10 in the medium category, 15 as high, and 16 in the very high category. Factors such as the size of the hazard zone, availability of water resources, health and sanitation facilities, poverty, and the presence of financial institutions are intricately linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 11. SDGs indicators can also serve as predictors of climate vulnnerabilities. The findings offer crucial information for the government and all relevant parties to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies designed to tackle small islands' climate change challenges. Local governments should initiate their programs by focusing on villages that exhibit very high vulnerability scores.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697883","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}
Charlotte Christen , Michael Böcher , Petra Schneider
{"title":"The futures market for water rights trading in California: Analyzing the emergence of a controversial experiment","authors":"Charlotte Christen , Michael Böcher , Petra Schneider","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a qualitative case study of the world's first water futures contract in California, a market that enables hedgers and speculators to bet on water prices. It is attempted to explain which factors shaped the emergence of the unique market by applying the Political Process Inherent Dynamics Approach (PIDA), an analytical framework from the field of environmental policy analysis. In addition, the topics of heated debate that have surrounded the new market are summarized and contextualized. To obtain the relevant information, expert interviews, complemented by online sources, were subjected to a Qualitative Content Analysis. It is concluded that the launch of the contract is an extreme case of private business actors shaping water governance, made possible by a longstanding market philosophy in the US, that gives leeway for actors of financialization to create facts. In the political-administrative realm, a lack of accountability and will to interfere seems to prevail. However, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other actors have led efforts to abolish the market, criticizing water futures in ways that resonate with broader debates about privatization and food futures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101125"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734656","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":"Predicting water potability using a machine learning approach","authors":"El-Bacha Rachid , Salhi Abderrahim , Abderrafia Hafid , Rabi Souad","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101131","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101131","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to improve the prevention of risks associated with water quality, the precise and rapid assessment of this later is necessary. Nevertheless, conventional techniques often encounter difficulties due to the complexity and inconsistency of water quality data, resulting in time-consuming and arduous analyses. This research introduces a novel application of machine learning (ML) to predict water potability. In this context, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) models were trained, validated and tested using publicly available dataset that include records of water potability as a function of various physical and chemical parameters. Results indicated that random forest model outperformed the support vector machine model by achieving better results, with 70 % accuracy, 72 % precision, and 75 % receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC). These findings indicated that machine learning, specifically random forest, can be effective method for evaluating water potability, leading to enhanced water resource management and public health safety. Additionally, water treatment plants can utilize these machine learning algorithms for immediate data analysis. This enables the anticipation of contamination events before water reaches consumers. This model can play an important role in developing early alert systems by encouraging prevention measures rather than just reactive actions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101131"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619524","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}
John Anthony C. Jose , Timothy Scott C. Chu , Lanz Harvey M. Jacob , Lea Anne R. Rulloda , Alec Zandra Mae H. Ambrosio , Armyn C. Sy , Ryan Rhay P. Vicerra , Angelo Earvin Sy Choi , Elmer P. Dadios
{"title":"An automated small-scale aquaponics system design using a closed loop control","authors":"John Anthony C. Jose , Timothy Scott C. Chu , Lanz Harvey M. Jacob , Lea Anne R. Rulloda , Alec Zandra Mae H. Ambrosio , Armyn C. Sy , Ryan Rhay P. Vicerra , Angelo Earvin Sy Choi , Elmer P. Dadios","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101127","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101127","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents the design and implementation of an automated, small-scale aquaponics system tailored for compact urban spaces, such as condominiums. The system, measuring 43 cm by 60 cm by 80 cm, integrates advanced monitoring and control capabilities to regulate key environmental parameters and display real-time data. Motivated by the need to optimize food production in urban settings and minimize manual labor, the system uses an Arduino microcontroller to automate lighting, fish feeding, misting, and water circulation. Key parameters monitored include air and water temperature, humidity, pH levels, and water level, with data recorded for further analysis. The system employs specialized LED growth lights and a micro-SD card module for data storage, fostering optimal plant and fish growth. The primary research contribution lies in demonstrating a closed-loop control system that autonomously maintains ideal conditions, addressing the challenge of frequent manual intervention in aquaponics systems. Experimental results over a 5-day period show that the system maintains water temperature between 20 °C and 26 °C, humidity between 40 % and 100 %, and consistent pH levels within the desired range, ensuring a conducive environment for both plants and fish. Furthermore, the study demonstrated an expected production of 150<em>g</em> spinach within 4 weeks, and a tilapia reaching an average daily gain of 0 .67<em>g</em>. This study highlights the potential for broader adoption of such systems in urban farming, offering a sustainable solution to enhance food production in limited spaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619522","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}
Romaric C.M. Hekpazo , Metogbe B. Djihouessi , Béatrix.A. Tigo , Akilou A. Socohou , N.B. Nadia Azon , Génia Berny's M.Y. Zoumenou , Martin Pépin Aina
{"title":"Dynamics of the optical water quality parameters in the Lake Nokoué and Cotonou Channel complex (Benin)","authors":"Romaric C.M. Hekpazo , Metogbe B. Djihouessi , Béatrix.A. Tigo , Akilou A. Socohou , N.B. Nadia Azon , Génia Berny's M.Y. Zoumenou , Martin Pépin Aina","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101126","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of satellite imagery to develop models for detecting lake water quality requires a good knowledge of the optical parameters of the water. This study aims to characterise spatiotemporal variations in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and turbidity for future remote sensing applications. To achieve this, data from the Lake Nokoué Cotonou Channel (LNCC) lagoon complex in the Republic of Benin, which has an annual productivity 16 times higher than that of lakes in the West African sub-region, was used for the period from December 2019 to November 2022. The research approach is based on statistical analyses, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Pearson correlation, mixed regression, clustering analysis and analysis of the influence of seasonality on the variation of the various parameters. The results clearly show that Chl-a concentrations vary considerably (0 to 75.5 µg/L) depending on the hydrological regime. During periods of high water (HW), concentrations are high, while during periods of low water (LW), they are more moderate. Similarly, turbidity shows a fairly wide range of variation, from 0.8 to 326.02 NTU, with peaks during the HW period due to land-based nutrient inputs. Cluster analysis allowed us to divide the lake into four distinct zones, characterised by similar variations in the different parameters. The diversity in the outcomes obtained could prove to be of paramount importance in the context of ecosystem monitoring. Moreover, these results could serve as a foundational basis for the future development of water quality detection models using remote sensing, a field that remains under-explored within the LNCC complex.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101126"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643443","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}
Marius H. Yetein , Laurent G. Houessou , Toussaint O. Lougbégnon , Gaétan T. Gbodja , David F. Sèmèvo , Madjidou Oumorou
{"title":"Perceptions of ecosystem services provided by the landscapes of the coastal lagoon at the 1017 Ramsar site in Benin (West Africa)","authors":"Marius H. Yetein , Laurent G. Houessou , Toussaint O. Lougbégnon , Gaétan T. Gbodja , David F. Sèmèvo , Madjidou Oumorou","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101122","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101122","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal lagoon ecosystems offer essential goods and services vital for local livelihoods but face significant anthropogenic pressures. Understanding local communities’ perceptions is crucial for protecting and conserving these resources. To inform conservation efforts, this study assesses community perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) from various land use/land cover types in Benin's Coastal Lagoon Landscapes. A literature review and semi-structured interviews with key informants were conducted to develop a preliminary classification of ES. Then, using Dagnelie's binomial approximation law, 285 households were selected. Data on the perception of ES were collected through face-to-face interviews with one respondent (aged > 18) per household, using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the R package “ggplot2” and the relative importance index, ES diversity index, and logistic regression models. A total of 18 ES across four main categories were identified. All respondents (100 %) recognized the abundance of at least one provisioning ES, and most also identified at least one cultural ES (87.01 %), regulating ES (72.98 %), and supporting ES (66.31 %). Swamp forests/savannas/saltmarshes (16 ES), mangrove forests (15 ES), and agricultural lands (14 ES) were identified as the key sources of the perceived ES. The study found that age, gender, length of stay, and level of formal education significantly influenced ES perception. This study provides baseline data on ES to support decision-making aimed at enhancing ES provision and reducing natural ecosystem degradation. Strategic conservation planning should consider these practical insights to promote landscape multifunctionality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101122"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143679699","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}
Usa Humphries Wannasingha , Muhammad Waqas , Shakeel Ahmad , Angkool Wangwongchai , Porntip Dechpichai
{"title":"Quantification and prediction of the impact of ENSO on rainfed rice yields in Thailand","authors":"Usa Humphries Wannasingha , Muhammad Waqas , Shakeel Ahmad , Angkool Wangwongchai , Porntip Dechpichai","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101123","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101123","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate variability driven by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) significantly impacts rainfed rice yields in Thailand, a critical agricultural region heavily reliant on monsoon rainfall. This study quantifies and predicts the effects of ENSO-induced climate signals on rice yields using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. We employed a three-stage methodology, integrating Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) with Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) analysis to assess the relative contributions of ENSO indices and local climate variables, followed by the development of two AI models: ENSO<img>CropNet, a deep neural network (DNN), and an ensemble Random Forest-XGBoost (RF-XGBoost) model. The results revealed that ENSO indices, particularly NINO3 and NINO3.4, significantly reduced rice yields in several provinces, with temperature and rainfall variability playing critical roles. The ENSO<img>CropNet model demonstrated high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.89, MAE = 1.04, RMSE = 1.45), surpassing the RF-XGBoost model (R² = 0.82, MAE = 3.62, RMSE = 3.84). Feature importance analysis identified rainfall, minimum temperature, and ENSO indices as key predictors. The study found that ENSO-driven climate variability led to a 12 % decline in rice yields across northern provinces. The findings underscore the significant role of ENSO-induced climate variability in rainfed rice production, with AI models such as ENSO<img>CropNet offering highly accurate predictions. These results highlight the potential of AI techniques to enhance agricultural forecasting and resilience in climate-vulnerable regions like Thailand.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101123"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619523","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}
Rasaq O. Medupin , Kelvin O. Yoro , Kingsley Ukoba , Orevaoghene Eterigho-Ikelegbe , Tien-Chien Jen
{"title":"Role of regulatory frameworks in plastic waste value chain and management","authors":"Rasaq O. Medupin , Kelvin O. Yoro , Kingsley Ukoba , Orevaoghene Eterigho-Ikelegbe , Tien-Chien Jen","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study critically examines the impact of regulatory frameworks on the plastic waste value chain and its management, offering a comprehensive analysis of how different governmental policies shape the effectiveness of plastic waste processes from generation to recycling and disposal. This review explores the dynamics between regulatory approaches and their practical outcomes in plastic waste management via a systematic review of global legislation and case studies. This review further categorizes these frameworks into stringent, moderate, and lenient, correlating each category with corresponding outcomes in terms of plastic recycling rates, innovation in waste processing technologies, and sustainability practices. Furthermore, this review addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and how this influences corporate behavior and technology adoption in the plastic industry. Additionally, this work synthesizes key factors that determine the success of regulatory frameworks in fostering a circular economy by leveraging data and findings from multiple sources. Finally, the research efforts in this study provides policy recommendations for enhancing the regulatory environment to better manage plastic waste and encourage the transition towards more sustainable practices. The conclusions drawn from this review not only shed light on effective strategies and gaps in current regulatory practices, but also offer a roadmap for policymakers, industry leaders, and environmental advocates to collaboratively improve the management of plastic waste globally. This study aims to serve as a foundational reference for future research and policy development in the realm of sustainable plastic waste management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619521","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}