PLOS Sustainability and Transformation最新文献

{"title":"Environmental education in the light of Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of the oppressed","authors":"H. Spínola","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000074","url":null,"abstract":"In 1968, Paulo Freire (1921–1997), a well-known and recognized philosopher and pedagogue, completed the writing of the book ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ [1]. The exile to which he was subjected by the Military Dictatorship in Brazil (1964–1985) lasted for 16 years (1964–1980) and can only be seen as a determining context for the evolution of his thought. Since Paulo Freire wrote the book ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ [2] the world has changed a lot. Human population more than double, energy consumption tripled, motor vehicles are now seven times bigger, carbon dioxide emissions quadrupled, and ecological footprint rose to be 75% bigger than the Planet itself [3–6]. As a corollary, climate change arose confronting humanity with a serious and global ecological crisis.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"2011 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114867485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methodological approach for the evaluation and mapping of the agronomic suitability of soils in tropical zones: Case study of the Bambouto volcanic massif (Western Cameroon) and the Bokito district (Central Cameroon)","authors":"Leumbe Olivier, M. Ouafo, P. Ndjigui, D. Bitom, Marie Paule Mfoumbeng","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000067","url":null,"abstract":"The main pillar of agriculture is the soil because it is both the support and the reservoir of essential nutrients for the plant. The food function it provides for humanity can only be fully fulfilled if it is balanced. Therefore, the development of sustainable agriculture in the world necessarily requires knowledge of the soil. The evaluation of agronomic suitability consists in determining its intrinsic capacity to sustain agricultural productivity over time. Many studies have been conducted in the domain of agricultural land assessment, but the applicability of the methods used in the tropical context requires adaptations that are not always obvious. The new methodological approach we propose for agronomic suitability assessment(AA) was designed and tested in Cameroon (Central Africa) in two pilot sites chosen in two different agro-ecological zones. The sites were the bimodal forest in Bokito which developed on yellow ferralitic soils, and the highland in the Bambouto volcanic massif which had a great pedological variability ranging from red ferralitic soils to andic ferralitic soils and andosols. The approach is inexpensive and based on the combination of four intrinsic soil parameters, namely acidity (pH), useful water reserve (RU), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and erodibility (K); according to the formula: AA = pH × RU × CEC × K. The unit of measurement is the « equivalent hour per mega joule per millimeter (eq.hr. MJ-1mm-1) ». The results showed that the agronomic suitability of the yellow ferralitic soils of Bokito varies from 0.00 to10.53 eq.hr. MJ-1mm-1. On the volcanic massif of Bambouto, the agronomic aptitude varies from 0.00 to 15.70 eq.hr. MJ-1mm-1 on the red ferralitic soils of the lower part of the massif, from 15.70 to 41.84 eq.hr. MJ-1mm-1 on andic ferralitic soils of the middle part of the massif and reaches 108.85 eq.hr. MJ-1mm-1 on the andosols of the summit part of the massif. This work could allow, on the one hand, a better allocation of agricultural land and thus participate in the development of second generation agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa; and on the other hand, contribute to determine more precisely the quality and quantity of fertilizer needed to maintain soil balance. Controlling the use of fertilizers will help to significantly reduce the quantities of chemical elements contained in agricultural products, limit water and soil pollution and thus better preserve human health.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"195 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116460071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of biotechnology in creating sustainable agriculture","authors":"Saurav Das, M. K. Ray, D. Panday, P. Mishra","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000069","url":null,"abstract":"This narrative review paper discusses the role of biotechnology in the development of sustainable agriculture. The paper begins by defining sustainability and highlights the importance of biotechnology in establishing sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is an approach that prioritizes meeting current food and fiber production needs while conserving and enhancing natural resources for future generations. To achieve agricultural sustainability, it is necessary to strike a balance between economic viability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. This can be difficult, especially in the face of biotic and abiotic stresses such as pests, diseases, climate change, soil degradation, and water depletion. The prevalence of pests and diseases that can significantly diminish crop yields and quality is one of the greatest obstacles to sustainable agriculture. Biotechnology can be used to create crops that are resistant to pests and diseases to address these issues. Soil nutrient deficiency is another obstacle to sustainable agriculture, as it can reduce crop yields and plant health. Biotechnology has the potential to play a significant role in developing more productive and nutritious crops. However, at the same time, it is essential to ensure that these technologies are developed in a responsible manner and that their benefits are distributed equitably across communities and regions.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"180 ","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133587638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tracking worldwide interest in sustainable development goals using culturomics","authors":"Ricardo A Correia, E. Di Minin","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000070","url":null,"abstract":"The lack of robust and timely data continues to be a limiting factor in the capacity to monitor progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Developing indicators based on big data has been proposed as a suitable approach to overcome this challenge but such developments have largely focused on earth observation data. Digital data representing aspects of human behaviour, such as information-seeking behaviour, hold great potential to monitor interest and engagement with sustainability topics. Using worldwide data from online searches carried out through Google’s search engine, we explore how interest in the seventeen SDGs has changed over time since the goals were first proposed and assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected these dynamics. Our results suggest a growing trend for searches related to the SDGs since they came into place in 2016. Interest was mostly directed at social and economic-related goals in the first years, but increasing interest in environmental goals has greatly increased in the last years. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in internet searches for the SDGS, but interest has recovered since then and continues to grow. Searches for the different SDGs are also more frequently connected following the pandemic, possibly indicating a growing awareness of the inter-related nature of sustainability goals. While further progress is needed to captivate broader engagement with the SDGs, our analysis suggests some progress has been achieved and highlights the potential of digital data to improve our understanding of public interest and engagement with sustainability topics. To materialize this potential, we outline specific areas where digital data can enhance capacity to monitor and shape sustainability progress.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129866441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How to achieve the net-zero target? Lessons learned from past transformations","authors":"Annina Guthauser, Marco Pütz, I. Seidl, R. Olschewski","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000068","url":null,"abstract":"Transformations–defined as deep, radical, non-linear, multi-dimensional, systemic processes of change–are required to avert serious threats to humanity and the environment. In this study, we have analysed past transformations in Switzerland in four environmental domains, with the aim to draw conclusions for current challenges, such as the net-zero transformation. Firstly, we have conceptualised and defined transformations. Secondly, we have applied and further developed two theoretical frameworks to (i) identify actual transformations in the four domains, and (ii) analyse crucial characteristics of these profound changes. Furthermore, we have examined relevant enabling and hindering factors for transformations. Our study is based on literature review and expert interviews, as well as triangulation workshops to align the collected information. We conclude that providing general blueprints for transformations is not possible due to the complexity and context-specific nature of these processes. However, for the net-zero transformation to be successful, we found that unprecedent efforts are needed with respect to pace, sectors involved, levels of initiative, mindset change in the broader population, and involvement of technology and research. Specifically, we recommend fast action to (i) implement a steering committee combined with citizens’ assemblies and cross-sectoral discussion platforms, (ii) encourage different actors to take initiatives at multiple levels, and (iii) enable a broad mindset change across different societal groups.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"40 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125680788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is it a new day for freshwater biodiversity? Reflections on outcomes of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework","authors":"S. Cooke, Ian Harrison, M. Thieme, S. J. Landsman, K. Birnie‐Gauvin, R. Raghavan, I. Creed, Gary Pritchard, A. Ricciardi, D. Hanna","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000065","url":null,"abstract":"Biological Diversity","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127657779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prospects and challenges of achieving sustainable urban green-spaces: A case study of urban greening in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Bangladesh","authors":"M. Shammi, F. Reza, Aristol Chandra Sarker, Abid Azad Sakib","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000061","url":null,"abstract":"Urban green spaces and urban forest covers are a significant component of urban planning which is critically ignored in Bangladesh. This study aims to identify the prospects and challenges of achieving sustainable urban green spaces in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Bangladesh which is a significant indicator of the sustainable development goal (SDG11). We have analyzed the historical land use and land cover change (LULC) from 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022 using Landsat 4–5 Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) images by ArcGIS 10.8 and Google Earth-pro software. The use of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) primarily indicates vegetation greenness as well as determining other land uses such as waterbody, settlements and barren land. The calculated kappa values varied from 80% to 86.7% for all the years and fit the current research. A strength-weakness-opportunity-threat (SWOT) analysis reviewed and analyzed existing sectoral policy and plans to identify challenges to achieve sustainable urban forestry. Fifteen key informant interviews (KII) from Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Department of Environment (DOE), Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD), and Department of Social Forestry Department (DSF) wing under BFD were taken to identify the status of urban forestry, its problems, opportunities, and threats. The responses were drawn using a Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. Of the total measurements of 194.2sq km (2022), normal vegetation cover has decreased significantly from 1992 to 2022 by approximately 65.9%, while urban areas increased by almost 95% simultaneously. From 1992 to 2022, areas of water bodies decreased by more than 32.4%. The vegetation coverage in DNCC is only 16.17%, inferior in meeting sustainable urban greening to fulfil the criteria of sustainable cities and communities. From the KII, it is found that despite some relevant forestry policy and plans, limited lands, institutional corruption, and weak governance are the major institutional drawbacks. In the DNCC, unplanned and rapid megacity expansion, roads and utility service expansion weak institutional policy, plan, and program implementation for urban green space protection are some of the driving forces of green cover loss. Introducing strategic environmental assessment of urban forestry policy, plans, and programs, removing inter-institutional conflicts, strategic sectoral plans, and programs for increased green spaces through the bioeconomy concept is required. In addition, increased participation from urban stakeholders is some of the significant responses identified for strategic urban green space and forest cover improvement in DNCC.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130753821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization and decision support models for deploying negative emissions technologies","authors":"M. V. Migo-Sumagang, K. Aviso, D. Foo, M. Short, P. N. S. B. Nair, Raymond R. Tan","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000059","url":null,"abstract":"Negative emissions technologies (NETs) will be needed to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. However, NETs can have wide-ranging effects on land and water availability, food production, and biodiversity. The deployment of NETs will also depend on regional and national circumstances, technology availability, and decarbonization strategies. Process integration (PI) can be the basis for decision support models for the selection, planning, and optimization of the large-scale implementation of NETs. This paper reviews the literature and maps the role of PI in NETs deployment. Techniques such as mathematical programming, pinch analysis (PA), process graphs (P-graphs), are powerful methods for planning NET systems under resource or footprint constraints. Other methods such as multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), marginal abatement cost curves, causality maps, and machine learning (ML) are also discussed. Current literature focuses mainly on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and afforestation/reforestation (AR), but other NETs need to be integrated into future models for large-scale decarbonization.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122141543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing risks and opportunities for tropical forests in the face of sustainable development","authors":"J. Carr, D. Spracklen, Daisy Brasington, I. V. Canosa, Luana Fagundes, Tainan Messina, S. Sallu","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000060","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding how countries’ future development pathways could affect forests can help to avoid negative impacts and instead promote positive ones. Exploring this topic requires knowledge of which areas of the development agenda are likely to show the greatest progress, and how these expected changes relate to the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation that are currently affecting forests, or which may emerge as result of development-related changes. Based on this information, researchers, stakeholders and decisionmakers can engage in discussions to inform further research and interventions. We present an assessment framework that draws upon a range of data types to identify specific components of the development agenda that are likely to be of greatest relevance to forest conservation at the national level. We then assess the potential magnitude and likelihood of imminent changes in these areas over the short- to medium-term. We use this framework to assess 48 tropical countries, providing insights into the areas of sustainable development that are most likely to provide risks, opportunities or enabling conditions for forest conservation across much of the tropics. Our findings suggest that, across much of the tropics, ongoing risks to forests associated with agriculture, transport infrastructure and urban infrastructure could worsen, and that new risks from energy infrastructure could emerge. Opportunities relating to poverty reduction, tourism, and industry, among others, will require care to ensure that associated progress results in positive rather than negative forest impacts. Enabling conditions associated with, inter alia, improved education, inclusive decision-making, and effective governance, still have much room for improvement, and the anticipated likelihood of imminent progress in these areas varies between countries and regions. We discuss the implications of our findings for policymakers and development agencies, and consider potential future applications of our assessment protocol.","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"136 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131207866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"On the social-ecological systems (SES) diagnostic approach of the commons: Sharing, cooperation, and maintenance","authors":"Yan Zhang","doi":"10.1371/journal.pstr.0000057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000057","url":null,"abstract":"The future of human civilisation is dependent upon linking the prosperity of people and the planet. This paper provides a balanced survey of relevant studies on the social-ecological systems (SES) integration, organised in the analytical structure of institutionalised governance process of enduring human cooperation on shared common resources and environment. It takes a critical look at the emerging SES literature on complexity and uncertainty that attempts to capture the dynamics of change over time and across scale. The final section looks into some of the major challenges ahead—application of various valuation methods without proper location of diverse values in the SES model, interdisciplinary gap to capture the SES interactions, and obstacles of practising SES in reality. It aims to contribute to the broader significance by identifying 2 interconnected research gaps: systematic understanding of interactions among the SES integration (diagnostic explanation), and the development of appropriate scalable and integrated strategies for solving complex problems under SES integration (policy intervention).","PeriodicalId":384293,"journal":{"name":"PLOS Sustainability and Transformation","volume":"290 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132847774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}