Gerry A. Quinn, Gerry A. Quinn, Ronan Connolly
et al.
During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023), governments around the world implemented an unprecedented array of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. From early 2021, these were accompanied by major population-wide COVID-19 vaccination programmes–often using novel mRNA/DNA technology, although some countries used traditional vaccines. Both the NPIs and the vaccine programmes were apparently justified by highly concerning model projections of how the pandemic could progress in their absence. Efforts to reduce the spread of misinformation during the pandemic meant that differing scientific opinions on each of these aspects inevitably received unequal weighting. In this perspective review, based on an international multi-disciplinary collaboration, we identify major problems with many aspects of these COVID-19 policies as they were implemented. We show how this resulted in adverse impacts for public health, society, and scientific progress. Therefore, we propose seven recommendations to reduce such adverse consequences in the future.
This study investigates the relationship between urban fire outbreaks and biodiversity in a tropical urban environment, using an index that assesses urban suitability for biodiversity. Analyzing 9,877 fire records from 2011 to 2020, we found that the highest frequency of fire outbreaks occurred in areas with intermediate suitability levels, typically peri-urban vegetated zones with limited law enforcement. In contrast, areas with the lowest biodiversity suitability exhibited the fewest incidents, likely due to stricter regulations and alternative land uses. Notably, regions with high biodiversity suitability showed double the frequency of fire occurrences compared to areas with lower suitability, suggesting significant human disturbances within preserved vegetation patches. Our findings indicate that urbanization correlates with increased fire risks, emphasizing the need for effective fire management strategies. Furthermore, this research highlights the critical need for public policies aimed at raising awareness of the ecological and health impacts of urban fire outbreaks. By linking fire outbreaks to urban biodiversity, this study underscores the importance of integrating environmental considerations into urban planning and management to mitigate adverse effects on both ecosystems and human populations.
Deforestation in Indonesia is a serious issue that has broad impacts on both environmental and legal aspects. One of the main contributing factors is the conversion of forest areas into plantation land without official permits. This act is regulated under Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction and Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning the Job Creation Law. One notable case reflecting this issue is the Timbul Hasibuan case in Nagari Air Bangis, West Pasaman Regency, decided through the Padang District Court Decision Number 789/Pid.B/LH/2023/PN.Pdg, in which the defendant was found guilty of conducting plantation activities within a forest area without a business permit. This study aims to identify the legal considerations of the judges in rendering their decision and to analyze the evidentiary process applied in the case. The research employs a normative juridical method with a descriptive-analytical approach, using both case and statute approaches. Secondary data were used and processed through a legal data editing technique. The results indicate that the panel of judges based their decision on juridical considerations, including the indictment, witness testimonies, evidence, and criminal law provisions, as well as non-juridical considerations such as the defendant’s background and personal condition. However, it was found that relevant facts, such as the defendant’s tax payments and the selective enforcement of law by authorities were not fully considered. Moreover, the ultimum remedium principle in forestry criminal law after the enactment of the Job Creation Law has not been optimally implemented. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need for a more selective, objective, proportional, and equitable enforcement of forestry criminal law to ensure justice for communities living around forest areas.
<p>Gas species are widely used as natural or artificial tracers to study fluid dynamics in environmental and geological systems. The recently developed gas equilibrium membrane inlet mass spectrometry (GE-MIMS) method is most useful for accurate and autonomous on-site quantification of dissolved gases in aquatic systems. GE-MIMS works by pumping water through a gas equilibrator module containing a gas headspace, which is separated from the water by a gas-permeable membrane. The partial pressures of the gas species in the headspace equilibrate with the gas concentrations in the water according to Henry's Law and are quantified with a mass spectrometer optimized for low gas consumption (miniRUEDI or similar). However, the fragile membrane structures of the commonly used equilibrator modules break down at water pressures <span class="inline-formula">≳3</span> <span class="inline-formula">bar</span>. These modules are therefore not suitable for use in deep geological systems or other environments with high water pressures. To this end, the SysMoG® MD membrane module (Solexperts AG, Switzerland; “SOMM”) was developed to withstand water pressures of up to 100 <span class="inline-formula">bar</span>. Compared to the conventionally used GE-MIMS equilibrator modules, the mechanically robust construction of the SOMM module entails slow and potentially incomplete gas–water equilibration. We tested the gas equilibration efficiency of the SOMM and developed an adapted protocol that allows correct operation of the SOMM for GE-MIMS analysis at high water pressures. This adapted SOMM GE-MIMS technique exhibits a very low gas consumption from the SOMM to maintain the gas–water equilibrium according to Henry's Law and provides the same analytical accuracy and precision as the conventional GE-MIMS technique. The analytical potential of the adapted SOMM GE-MIMS technique was demonstrated in a high-pressure fluid migration experiment in an underground rock laboratory. The new technique overcomes the pressure limitations of conventional gas equilibrators and thereby opens new opportunities for efficient and autonomous on-site quantification of dissolved gases in high-pressure environments, such as in research and monitoring of underground storage of <span class="inline-formula">CO<sub>2</sub></span> and waste deposits or in the exploration of natural resources.</p>
Abstract Land use/cover change is the second major contributor to carbon emissions, following energy emissions. Studying provincial land-use carbon emissions is crucial for achieving the “double carbon” goal. This study selects 16 prefecture-level cities in Shandong Province as the research object. It analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of carbon emissions in Shandong Province based on land-use data and energy consumption. In terms of net carbon emissions, this study utilizes the standard deviation ellipse and kernel density estimation to analyze net carbon emissions change from the municipal and regional perspectives. In terms of carbon ecological carrying capacity, not only the carbon ecological carrying capacity of forest and grassland was considered, but also the carbon ecological carrying capacity of crops in Shandong Province, which is a large grain province. Using the geographic detector to explore the drivers. Research findings indicate that carbon sources and sinks show a clear spatial and temporal distribution pattern, with the center of gravity of net carbon emissions extending to the northeast. Areas with high carbon ecological carrying capacity have high forest coverage, grassland coverage, and crop yields. Regarding driving factors, the urbanization rate, economic aggregate, and technological progress demonstrate significant explanatory power through single and interaction tests, suggesting that these factors are critical drivers of land-use carbon emissions within Shandong Province. Based on the spatiotemporal pattern analysis of land-use carbon emissions in Shandong Province, each city's growth rate and spatial distribution characteristics can be clarified, providing a scientific basis for the local government to formulate regional and differentiated emission-reduction policies. In addition, by exploring the driving factors of land-use carbon emissions in Shandong Province, the influence level of factors on carbon emissions can be revealed to provide references for formulating regional sustainable development strategies.
Abstract Background Plastic is generating global pollution and the replacement such as bioplastic has been developed to mitigate the pollution. To this end, the fate, transformation and pathway of bioplastics need more research. For example, the fragmentation of bioplastic can release small debris that can be categorised as microplastics, which is tested herein by taking an example of a compostable plastic that is used as a bin bag on our kitchen table to collect the food residues. Results First, we employ matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) to identify the main components of the bioplastic bag as polymer and starch. Next, we use Raman imaging to monitor the stability under laser illumination, in an oven at ~ 60 °C for ~ 2 weeks, or in the presence of tap water for half a year. Basically, the compostable plastic is stable under these conditions. Thirdly, however, once used as table-bin bag with involvement of food residues, within ~ 1 week, the bioplastic bag is broken and biodegraded to release debris. The derivate surface groups are effectively monitored and directly visualised via Raman imaging, and cross-checked with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The yielded small molecule such as formic acid is also identified, along with the released debris of microplastics, with the help of on-site extraction of the fragmented sample and imaging analysis algorithm of the hyper spectrum. Conclusions After one week, the bag in the waste bin fragments, releasing a significant amount of debris. This could pose a functional issue if users intend to use the bag for at least a week, and could become a potential environmental problem if the waste is dispersed uncontrollably. In general, further research is needed to potentially distinguish the persistent conventional microplastics from the bioplastic fragments, to effectively mitigate the plastic pollution. Graphical Abstract
Karuna Anna Sajeevan, Kirsten Sinclair Rosselot, Renu Vyas
The importance of toxicity and toxicology values lies in their role in assessing the potential harmful effects of substances on the environment and living organisms, including humans. Toxicity awareness enables scientists, regulators, and healthcare professionals to make well-informed decisions regarding pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cosmetics, and consumer products, thereby safeguarding public health and the environment. To identify compound toxicities, diverse evaluation approaches have been developed, including computational methods that offer cost-effective, humane solutions. However, the development of computational methods faces challenges due to the limited availability of high-quality data on experimental properties and environmental fate that are needed to estimate toxicological properties. Missing chemical identifiers, incorrect identifiers, duplicated entries, conflicting experimental property values from various sources, and mislabeling of estimated data as experimental data by the source datasets are severe issues faced by researchers. Unfortunately, there are no standards for performance with respect to the quality of their entries, and the only metrics by which chemical property mega databases are compared is the number of entries they hold and the number of data sources they include. Here, we illustrate a means of assessing the quality of the experimental property data collected in ViridisChem's Chemical Database (www.viridischem.com) as well as the performance of predictive models it uses to fill data gaps. Randomly selected experimental property data records for Henry's Law and boiling point had a 100 % and 93 % pass rate during quality assurance, respectively. Linear regression of predicted property values and experimental values for melting point, boiling point, flash point, bioconcentration factor, soil adsorption coefficient, thermal conductivity, and surface tension resulted in R2 values ranges from 0.91 to 0.995, while lower R2 values are observed for octanol-water partition coefficient, water solubility and vapor pressure.
In this study, energy and exergy analyses of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for waste heat recovery from a passenger car engine cooling water are performed numerically. Sixteen different organic working fluids were selected according to their high-performance indicators recommended in the literature, their physical and chemical properties, and their environmental impact. Appropriate matching conditions between the low-temperature Rankine cycle with the engine cooling system and the properties of the working fluid were established. Thermodynamic models based on the first and second thermodynamic laws are developed. The ORC's cycle thermal efficiency, exergy destruction, and second law efficiency are assessed to choose the most suitable working fluid. The analyses investigate how the thermo-physical characteristics of the working fluid affect the performance metrics.Results show that ORC operating with R245fa and R123 as working fluids have the highest thermal efficiencies (7.76% and 7.49 % respectively), and low exergy destructions (1.538 kW and 1.586 kW respectively) in addition to moderately low mass flow rate necessity. The passenger car engine with ORC operated by R245fa as a working fluid shows an average value of 9.7 % fuel saving over the studied engine speeds and loads range.
Reducing carbon emissions is an urgent need in the field of marine power. Gas turbines are of great importance in the marine industry. The use of clean or industrial-associated fuels can increase the fuel adaptability of designed, manufactured, or in-service gas turbines to realize the goal of expanding fuel sources, reducing fuel waste, lowering energy demand, and remitting environmental pressure. By changing from fossil fuel to alternative energy, the change in the physical properties of the combustion products will lead to changes in the working medium of the turbines, which result in a profound effect on the performance. In this study, based on the actual law of working medium property change, the evolution mechanism of turbine characteristics is lucubrated in depth, focusing on the key parameters of the influence of working medium properties on turbine characteristics under alternative fuel conditions, and a correction method is proposed to predict the evolution law of the turbine characteristics as working medium varies.
Purpose: Good governance is crucial in establishing and managing geoparks and is a requirement by UNESCO if global status is to be achieved. Australia has three levels of government, government agencies and not for profit organisations that can assist in the reintroduction of geoparks to Australia. This paper examines a range of governance models used by UNESCO Global Geoparks. Design/methodology/approach: This paper explores mechanisms that could be applied in the reintroduction of geoparks into Australia and considers how future geoparks might be managed. The suggested model is based on a review of existing UNESCO Global Geopark governance and their management structures. Findings: This paper reviews the opportunities for engaging with Australian organisational stakeholders to support geoparks and proposes a model that would be suitable for adoption in Australia. Originality/value: This paper examines a range of governance models applied to geopark development. It reviews the opportunities for engaging with Australian organisational stakeholders to support geoparks and proposes a model that would be suitable for adoption in Australia. Such an account has not previously been undertaken nor a satisfactory model proposed for the Australian situation. This is the first time that a comprehensive model for geopark governance has been proposed for Australia.
Obecnie obserwuje się praktykę zwiększania szczegółowości i objętości kart informacyjnych przedsięwzięcia, w literaturze przedmiotu brak jednak rozważań na temat tego, co taki dokument powinien zawierać. W artykule przeanalizowano, jakie dane powinny się znaleźć w karcie informacyjnej. Zwrócono też uwagę na żądania dotyczące podania informacji, których nie przewiduje ustawa, wysuwane niekiedy przez organy administracji.
Environmental law, Regulation of industry, trade, and commerce. Occupational law
Elżbieta Zębek, Małgorzata Augustyniak, Marcin Kowalczyk
Objectives
This paper aims to present the relations between legal, economic, technological instruments and the factors affecting the dominating standard of social awareness which affects ethical choices in the scope of environmental protection.
Material and methods
The article uses the method of analysis and criticism of the literature as well as dogmatic and legal.
Results
Effective environmental protection demands an interdisciplinary approach. It should rest on the foundation of legal regulations setting out rules for the use and protection of natural resources with the principle of sustainable development. People need these resources for survival but they contribute to their degradation. To secure the basic rights of people, the environment and economic growth, effective environmental protection is a must.
Conclusions
This analysis served to develop a model that integrates these elements for the purpose of effective environmental protection. In a nutshell, effective environmental protection cannot be attained through legal instruments alone; they must be coordinated – the use of the best available techniques – with adequate economic tools and ethical standing of the society.
Pham Minh Tuyen, Bui Nguyen Khanh, Puzirevsky Roman
After 30 years of economic reforms since the launch of Đổi Mới in 1986, Vietnam has recorded significant and historic achievements. From a poor, war-ravaged, centrally planned economy, which was closed off from much of the outside world, Vietnam has become a middle-income country with a dynamic market economy that is deeply integrated into the global economy. But growth has to a large extent come at the cost of the environment. Vietnam’s greenhouse gas emissions have grown the fastest in the region, while the environmental quality of its air, land, and water has deteriorated considerably. Water and air pollution have reached serious levels, especially near Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, posing major health risks. As the most important environmental management tool, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is recognized by Vietnamese Government and international organizations in the management of the impacts of future development on the country’s natural resource base. EIA is the important Chapter of Law on environmental protection 2014 of Vietnam (which was passed by the 13 National Assembly at the 7th session on June 23, 2014). This article argue that while significant improvements have been achieved in the EIA legal framework, the challenges remains between the EIA regulations and practice. This article contend that the current EIA legal framework is poor and facing with challenges and that future developments of the EIA regulations in Vietnam should focus not only on legislative documents but also on improving capacity of EIA practitioners with strictly sanctions.
The theoretical land relations reforming principles were reviewed.Land relations in agriculture transformation process was studied. The land use features were detected and agricultural land use efficiency analysis was conducted.Ukraine land market formation research problems results have been shown. It was established that private land ownership institution ambiguous attitude, rent relations deformation, lack of the property rights ensure mechanism inhibit the land market development. Sociological research of Ukrainian Polesie region to determine the prerequisites for agricultural land marketformation preconditions has been conducted. 787 respondents from Zhytomyr, Rivne and Volyn regions were interviewed. Land shares owners age structure, their distribution by education level, their employment, land shares owners and agricultural enterprises executives to the agricultural land sale moratorium cancellation attitudes, land purchase financial resources, directions of Ukrainian Polissya region land shares use, shares owners land issues level of awareness have been determined during the research. Was substantiated that agricultural land market turnover includes not only land sale moratorium cancellation but also the adoption of the legislative framework and the appropriate infrastructure development, one of the key elements of which is land relations regulation specialized state agency – State Land Bank.
Transformations which take place now in the the economy of Ukraine, and in particular in agriculture considerably exacerbated organizational and legal problems and organizational and territorial forms of local agricultural enterprises, protection of land ownership rights. Transformation of land relations violated the the traditional forms of organization of agricultural production, reduced the efficiency of capital investmenst in improvement of using and protection of land.
Therefore, to improve the efficiency of agricultural land use in conditions of formation of market economy, general urgent of time is an in-depth analysis of the types and forms of land use which have found their consolidation at the legislative level.
Land management is carried out throughout the country. It enveloped lands irrespective of unequivocal purpose, ownership and the character of using. But goals and objectives of land management, it’s content may be different. An important feature of land management are and it’s types. The current Land Code of Ukraineas the the Law of Ukraine "On Land Management" don’t contain legislative provisions on division of land management for certain types. Meanwhile, it should be noted, that normative and legal acts on land management of the Soviet period (Fundamentals of land legislation of the USSR and the United Republics 1968). Land codes 1978., 1990, 1992 there are two separate types of it - intereconomic (Modern terminology of A.M. Tretyak - territorial) and internaleconomic. Modern practice of the actions in the field of land management as evidenced by about the existence of another and a third type of land management – separational. Each of them is characterized by a specific purpose, carried out at different levels. It would therefore be appropriate, hat separate species of land management und their consolidation and in legislation level.
Given that the process of implementation of land management for the object of land relations and cadastral accounting taken land plot, made sharing of agricultural land, where the owners of land shares allocated of land ownership, land use system, especially agricultural enterprises, significantly changed. All this has caused the emergence of a new type of territorial land management, which is aimed, especially in agriculture and environmental protection, on the organization of land use of legal entities and citizens, on the basis of combining of land plots, that being at different property rights. Therefore, should provide as a type of land management territorial planning of land ownership, land use, whose task is the formation of their territory, as is the case in developed foreign countries.
Concerning intraeconomic land management, that under current conditions it’s explanation is somewhat different in new approaches to the regulation of land relations and the introduction of land use administration.
Introduction of notion of land management forms will help to improve the structure and content of land management documents, and therefore the quality of tools of improvement of land-use planning at different hierarchical levels.
Medeiros Narjara, Machado Lays, da Silva Lisboa Rodrigo
The concern about health and environmental aspects are increasingly present in our society. In 1976 José Lutzemberger publishes the first Brazilian ecological manifesto. In 2003 the Law 10.831 is approved, which conceptualizes and defines organic agriculture. In 1982, the first Biodynamic Agriculture meeting in Brazil happens, where the construction of the basis for the implementation of biodynamic in Brazilian agriculture started. In 1995 the Brazilian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture is created. The search for organic products – that doesn't use artificial mineral and chemical fertilizers and exploits fertility as a way of fighting diseases and pests – and biodynamic products in the agricultural production unit is understood as a kind of organism also take place in the wine industry. But knowing which producers are involved in this type of activity is still a difficult task for the community, especially due to the informality of some agents. Thus, this paper proposes to identify organic and biodynamic wine producers in southern Brazil; as well as the tools and policies which have encouraged farmers to adopt these practices. Finally, understanding the main obstacles producers find dealing with certifications mechanisms. This region was chosen for being the largest grape and wine producing in the country.
Bangladesh, with a forest cover estimated at 17.08% of all land surface area, has experienced massive degradation of its natural resources and a considerable change in its land cover. While deforestation in Bangladesh is obviously a complex issue, one important aspect emerges from previous research findings in explaining deforestation: industrialization. This study focuses on the causes of deforestation in Bangladesh, particularly in tropical moist deciduous Sal forests, using multi levels factor analysis framework. Data were collected through questionnaire surveys, formal and informal discussions with local people, expert interviews and literature reviews. The main findings of deforestation framework show that illegal logging and forest land conversion were the ultimate causes of Sal forests deforestation in Bangladesh. Illegal logging is a complex phenomenon and is being patronized by a local syndicate, functioning from behind the scenes. On the other hand, land conversion into different commercial activities has direct influence on national policy and the predisposing conditions of this country. Therefore, the immediate task of the nation would be to stop illegal logging and land conversion of Sal forests. This can be done by involving all relevant stakeholders in the form of effective forest policy formulation and execution of strict environmental protection law.