China is the most important steel producer in the world,and its steel industry is one of themost carbon-intensive industries in China.Consequently,research on carbon emissions from the steel industry is crucial for Ch...China is the most important steel producer in the world,and its steel industry is one of themost carbon-intensive industries in China.Consequently,research on carbon emissions from the steel industry is crucial for China to achieve carbon neutrality and meet its sustainable global development goals.We constructed a carbon dioxide(CO_(2))emission model for China’s iron and steel industry froma life cycle perspective,conducted an empirical analysis based on data from2019,and calculated the CO_(2)emissions of the industry throughout its life cycle.Key emission reduction factors were identified using sensitivity analysis.The results demonstrated that the CO_(2)emission intensity of the steel industry was 2.33 ton CO_(2)/ton,and the production and manufacturing stages were the main sources of CO_(2)emissions,accounting for 89.84%of the total steel life-cycle emissions.Notably,fossil fuel combustion had the highest sensitivity to steel CO_(2)emissions,with a sensitivity coefficient of 0.68,reducing the amount of fossil fuel combustion by 20%and carbon emissions by 13.60%.The sensitivities of power structure optimization and scrap consumption were similar,while that of the transportation structure adjustment was the lowest,with a sensitivity coefficient of less than 0.1.Given the current strategic goals of peak carbon and carbon neutrality,it is in the best interest of the Chinese government to actively promote energy-saving and low-carbon technologies,increase the ratio of scrap steel to steelmaking,and build a new power system.展开更多
Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production.Plastic film mulc...Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production.Plastic film mulching is commonly used in the Loess Plateau region.Incorporating slow-release fertilizers as a replacement for urea within this practice can reduce nitrogen losses and enhance crop productivity.Combining these techniques represents a novel agricultural approach in semi-arid areas.However,the impact of this integration on soil carbon storage(SOCS),carbon footprint(CF),and economic benefits has received limited research attention.Therefore,we conducted an eight-year study(2015-2022)in the semi-arid northwestern region to quantify the effects of four treatments[urea supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-U),slow-release fertilizer supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-S),urea supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-U),and slow-release fertilizer supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-S)]on soil fertility,economic and environmental benefits.The results revealed that nitrogen fertilizer was the primary contributor to total GHG emissions(≥71.97%).Compared to other treatments,PM-S increased average grain yield by 12.01%-37.89%,water use efficiency by 9.19%-23.33%,nitrogen accumulation by 27.07%-66.19%,and net return by 6.21%-29.57%.Furthermore,PM-S decreased CF by 12.87%-44.31%and CF per net return by 14.25%-41.16%.After eight years,PM-S increased SOCS(0-40 cm)by 2.46%,while PM-U decreased it by 7.09%.These findings highlight the positive effects of PM-S on surface soil fertility,economic gains,and environmental benefits in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau,underscoring its potential for widespread adoption and application.展开更多
Life cycle assessments(LCAs)of early-stage technologies can provide valuable insights about key drivers of emissions and aid in prioritizing research into further emissions-reduction opportunities.Despite this potenti...Life cycle assessments(LCAs)of early-stage technologies can provide valuable insights about key drivers of emissions and aid in prioritizing research into further emissions-reduction opportunities.Despite this potential value,further development of LCA methods is required to handle the increased uncertainty,data gaps,and confidentially of early-stage data.This study presents a discussion of the life cycle carbon footprinting of technologies competing in the final round of the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition-a US$20 million competition for teams to demonstrate the conversion of CO_(2) into valuable products at the scale of a small industrial pilot using consistent deployment conditions,boundaries,and methodological assumptions.This competition allowed the exploration of how LCA can be used and further improved when assessing disparate and early-stage technologies.Carbon intensity estimates are presented for two conversion pathways:(i)CO_(2) mineralization and(ii)catalytic conversion(including thermochemical,electrochemical,photocatalytic and hybrid process)of CO_(2),aggregated across teams to highlight the range of emissions intensities demonstrated at the pilot for individual life cycle stages.A future scenario is also presented,demonstrating the incremental technology and deployment conditions that would enable a team to become carbon-avoiding relative to an incumbent process(i.e.reducing emissions relative to a reference pathway producing a comparable product).By considering the assessment process across a diverse set of teams,conversion pathways and products,the study presents generalized insights about opportunities and challenges facing carbon capture and-utilization technologies in their next phases of deployment from a life cycle perspective.展开更多
Using ligation-mediated PCR method to study the status of DNA-protein interaction at hypersensitive site 2 of locus control Region and βmaj promoter of MEL cell line before and after induction, MEL cell has been cult...Using ligation-mediated PCR method to study the status of DNA-protein interaction at hypersensitive site 2 of locus control Region and βmaj promoter of MEL cell line before and after induction, MEL cell has been cultured and induced to differentiation by Hemin and DMSO, then the live cells have been treated with dimethyl sulfate. Ligation mediated PCR has been carried out following the chemical cleavage. The results demonstrate that before and after induction, the status of DNA-protein interaction at both hypersensitive site 2 and βmaj promoter change significantly, indicating that distal regulatory elements (locus control region, hypersensitive sites) as well as proximal regulatory elements (promoter, enhancer) of β-globin gene cluster participate in the regulation of developmental specificity.展开更多
Accurate quantification of life-cycle greenhouse gas(GHG)footprints(GHG_(fp))for a crop cultivation system is urgently needed to address the conflict between food security and global warming mitigation.In this study,t...Accurate quantification of life-cycle greenhouse gas(GHG)footprints(GHG_(fp))for a crop cultivation system is urgently needed to address the conflict between food security and global warming mitigation.In this study,the hydrobiogeochemical model,CNMM-DNDC,was validated with in situ observations from maize-based cultivation systems at the sites of Yongji(YJ,China),Yanting(YT,China),and Madeya(MA,Kenya),subject to temperate,subtropical,and tropical climates,respectively,and updated to enable life-cycle GHG_(fp)estimation.The model validation provided satisfactory simulations on multiple soil variables,crop growth,and emissions of GHGs and reactive nitrogen gases.The locally conventional management practices resulted in GHG_(fp)values of 0.35(0.09–0.53 at the 95%confidence interval),0.21(0.01–0.73),0.46(0.27–0.60),and 0.54(0.21–0.77)kg CO_(2)e kg~(-1)d.m.(d.m.for dry matter in short)for maize–wheat rotation at YJ and YT,and for maize–maize and maize–Tephrosia rotations at MA,respectively.YT's smallest GHG_(fp)was attributed to its lower off-farm GHG emissions than YJ,though the soil organic carbon(SOC)storage and maize yield were slightly lower than those of YJ.MA's highest SOC loss and low yield in shifting cultivation for maize–Tephrosia rotation contributed to its highest GHG_(fp).Management practices of maize cultivation at these sites could be optimized by combination of synthetic and organic fertilizer(s)while incorporating 50%–100%crop residues.Further evaluation of the updated CNMM-DNDC is needed for different crops at site and regional scales to confirm its worldwide applicability in quantifying GHG_(fp)and optimizing management practices for achieving multiple sustainability goals.展开更多
About the Journal Journal of Salt Lake Research(J.Salt Lake Res.),officially founded in 1992,is administrated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published by China Science Publishing&Media Ltd.It is a peer-rev...About the Journal Journal of Salt Lake Research(J.Salt Lake Res.),officially founded in 1992,is administrated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published by China Science Publishing&Media Ltd.It is a peer-reviewed,cutting-edge and interdisciplinary journal affiliated with Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes,Chinese Academy of Sciences,communicating the progress at the forefront of global sustainability and environmental footprint based on salt lake research.展开更多
The 2025 International Standardization(Chilin)Forum was held in Nanjing city,East China’s Jiangsu province,on April 16 with the theme of“Towards carbon peak and carbon neutrality:international carbon footprint stand...The 2025 International Standardization(Chilin)Forum was held in Nanjing city,East China’s Jiangsu province,on April 16 with the theme of“Towards carbon peak and carbon neutrality:international carbon footprint standards driving green and low-carbon development”.展开更多
Erratumto:Journal of Earth Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-023-1946-6 The original version of this article unfortunately contained three mistakes.1.The presentation of Equation(4)was incorrect.The corrected one...Erratumto:Journal of Earth Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-023-1946-6 The original version of this article unfortunately contained three mistakes.1.The presentation of Equation(4)was incorrect.The corrected one is given below.展开更多
Effective preservation of Key Biodiversity Areas(KBAs)is crucial to address biodiversity loss.Human-induced disturbance in these vital sites can exacerbate species extinction and challenge the Kunming-Montreal Global ...Effective preservation of Key Biodiversity Areas(KBAs)is crucial to address biodiversity loss.Human-induced disturbance in these vital sites can exacerbate species extinction and challenge the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework(GBF).This study delves into the human disturbance and protection in terrestrial KBAs worldwide,focusing particularly on habitat fragmentation to devise tailored conservation strategies.Our results reveal widespread human disturbance across global KBAs,with an average Human Footprint Index of 12.3 and a disturbance rate of 62%.Only one-fifth of KBAs are fully safeguarded by protected areas,and a significant portion remains unprotected,with even many highly protected sites under severe disturbance.Globally,human activities have led to substantial implicit habitat fragmentation in KBAs,resulting in a 70%average decline in habitat size,with less than half of KBAs maintaining well-connected active habitats.These findings inform the classification of KBAs for priority conservation,with 80%requiring both intensity regulation and spatial planning of human activities.Higher levels of human disturbance do not necessarily lead to more severe fragmentation,underscoring the potential for relocating or planning human activities to mitigate fragmentation.This research serves as a foundational assessment of human impacts on KBAs,providing a basis for KBA management and global conservation efforts to meet GBF goals.展开更多
Tourism-oriented livelihoods represent a significant avenue for transforming traditional agricultural practices.Analyzing their environmental impacts offers a novel perspective for exploring the complex interplay amon...Tourism-oriented livelihoods represent a significant avenue for transforming traditional agricultural practices.Analyzing their environmental impacts offers a novel perspective for exploring the complex interplay among human production,consumption,and the ecological environment at a micro level.In this study,Shaanxi Province farmers were selected as field survey participants.Based on a quantitative assessment of farmers’ecological footprints within the study area,how their participation in rural tourism affected ecological footprints was analyzed using the propensity score matching model,and the heterogeneity of the impact and underlying mechanisms were further explored.Results indicate that the ecological footprint of farmers varies significantly across land-use types and consumption categories.Moreover,the spatial distribution of the ecological footprints exhibits a distinct“high at both ends and low in the middle”pattern.Participation in rural tourism significantly reduces the ecological footprint,particularly among farmers with higher levels of social trust or lower economic status.Further analysis shows that habitat quality and vegetation coverage are key ecological indicators that exert a significant positive moderating effect on the negative impact of rural tourism participation on farmers’ecological footprints.These findings highlight the importance of integrating ecological conservation with economic development.Accordingly,tailored policies,improved ecological service systems,and enhanced regional ecological quality are recommended to increase resource-use efficiency and promote a virtuous cycle between environmental sustainability and rural economic growth.展开更多
To make agricultural systems sustainable in terms of their greenness and efficiency,optimizing the tillage and fertilization practices is essential.To assess the effects of tilling and fertilization practices in wheat...To make agricultural systems sustainable in terms of their greenness and efficiency,optimizing the tillage and fertilization practices is essential.To assess the effects of tilling and fertilization practices in wheat-maize cropping systems,a three-year field experiment was designed to quantify the carbon footprint(CF)and energy efficiency of the cropping systems in the North China Plain.The study parameters included four tillage practices(no tillage(NT),conventional tillage(CT),rotary tillage(RT),and subsoiling rotary tillage(SRT))and two fertilizer regimes(inorganic fertilizer(IF)and hybrid fertilizer with organic and inorganic components(HF)).The results indicated that the most prominent energy inputs and greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions could be ascribed to the use of fertilizers and fuel consumption.Under the same fertilization regime,ranking the tillage patterns with respect to the value of the crop yield,profit,CF,energy use efficiency(EUE)or energy productivity(EP)for either wheat or maize always gave the same sequence of SRT>RT>CT>NT.For the same tillage,the energy consumption associated with HF was higher than IF,but its GHG emissions and CF were lower while the yield and profit were higher.In terms of overall performance,tilling is more beneficial than NT,and reduced tillage practices(RT and SRT)are more beneficial than CT.The fertilization regime with the best overall performance was HF.Combining SRT with HF has significant potential for reducing CF and increasing EUE,thereby improving sustainability.Adopting measures that promote these optimizations can help to overcome the challenges posed by a lack of food security,energy crises and ecological stress.展开更多
Global livestock production is a major driver of climate change.Lumping beef and pork together as red meat masks important differences in their carbon footprints,land uses,and social status.These two red meat choices ...Global livestock production is a major driver of climate change.Lumping beef and pork together as red meat masks important differences in their carbon footprints,land uses,and social status.These two red meat choices in Canada were compared by using a meta-model of the Unified Livestock Industry and Crop Emissions Estimation System(ULICEES).ULICEES calculated fossil CO_(2),N_(2)O and CH_(4) emissions for beef,dairy,pork,poultry,and sheep production in Canada,based on both the livestock and their supporting land base in 2001.The dynamic drivers of the meta-model were crop yields,breeding female populations,tillage practices,nitrogen fertilizer use,and the crop complex of each livestock industry.When the potential carbon sequestration in the land growing harvested perennial forage is credited to beef production,the CO_(2)e emissions offset does not reduce the carbon footprint of beef enough to match the lower carbon footprint of pork.Most of the land required to grow hay for beef would not be needed to feed a protein-equivalent pig population.In a hypothetical conversion of all beef production to pork production for 2021,4.5 Mha of land under perennial forage was freed and 10.0 MtCO_(2)e per year was mitigated when that area was re-cultivated for annual crops—a GHG mitigation equal to 12%of the GHG emissions budget of Canadian agriculture.Leaving that area under a perennial ground cover mitigated 19.8 MtCO_(2)e per year,the equivalent of 23%of the sector’s GHG emissions budget.展开更多
Natural resources,green energy,and sustainable development are closely linked with concepts that carry mutual goals to endorse social equity,economic prosperity,and ecological stability while curtailing the harmful in...Natural resources,green energy,and sustainable development are closely linked with concepts that carry mutual goals to endorse social equity,economic prosperity,and ecological stability while curtailing the harmful influence on the globe.However,the recognition of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG-7,SDG-13)is closely entangled with digital economy.In this pursuit,this study scrutinizes the effect of dig-italization,renewable energy,and natural resources on the ecological footprint in China from 1990Q1-2022Q4.The empirical analyses are carried out by employing the Quantile-on-Quantile regression,and cross-quantile and partial cross-quantile correlation approaches to inspect the tail dependence of model parameters.The empirical outcomes highlight how China’s environmental quality is influenced by exoge-nous variables,including digitalization index,renewable energy consumption,and natural resources.Digitalization has adverse impact on the ecological footprint in lower quantiles,while insignificant in higher quantiles.Moreover,a strong adverse association exists between ecological footprint and renew-able energy,which syndicate all the quantiles of renewable energy with linking over lower to middle quantiles and weak in higher quantiles of ecological footprint.Besides,the estimated analysis discloses nuanced dependencies across various quantiles.Similarly,it can be found that the strong negative effect of natural resources on ecological footprint in initial quantiles,moderate in middle quantiles,and less positive effect in higher quantiles.By explaining these dynamics,the current study offers valuable intu-itions designed at controlling China toward its dual-carbon target and encouraging the development of a sustainable digital and green economy and thereby,continuing towards achieving SDG-7,and SDG-13 objectives.展开更多
High-quality standards serve as the value scale for consensus on the conversion of green benefits.Taking carbon emissions in production cycle and carbon footprints in life cycle as examples,it is arduous work to signi...High-quality standards serve as the value scale for consensus on the conversion of green benefits.Taking carbon emissions in production cycle and carbon footprints in life cycle as examples,it is arduous work to significantly improve their comparability,credibility,and manageability.At present,there are over 1,400 ISO standards in the dual carbon field.In China,there are over 1,400 relevant national standards,over 3,000 sectoral standards,over 1,900 local standards,and over 800 association standards,forming a comprehensive supporting system.展开更多
Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure ...Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure of breeding steppe birds in Inner Mongolia, a biodiversity hotspot in Asia. We conducted standardized point-count surveys across a gradient from intact grasslands to urbanized areas, integrating species occurrence data, functional traits and the Human Footprint Index (HFI). Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), we assessed trait-environment interactions and shifts in species associations. Our results indicate that the HFI significantly affects bird communities. Habitat specialists, such as Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica), showed negative responses, whereas generalists like Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) thrived in disturbed areas. Trait-based analysis showed that species with larger body mass and specialized diets were negatively associated with HFI, whereas those linked to human-modified habitats exhibiting strong positive associations. In areas with high human footprint, co-occurrence networks grew more polarized: specialists faced intensified competition, while species with positive HFI responses formed stronger positive associations. CRF models indicated that human activities restructure species interactions, favoring generalists and simplifying community dynamics. These findings highlight the dual role of human impact in supporting some species while threatening specialists, potentially driving biotic homogenization. Our study emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that protect vulnerable species and manage those that thrive in human-altered environments. By linking traits and interactions to human impacts, this study provides a framework for identifying at-risk species and guiding conservation in the Anthropocene.展开更多
Xiaomi’s First Smart Home Appliance Factory Starts Operation in Wuhan Chinese tech firm Xiaomi launched its first smart home appliance factory in Wuhan,central China’s Hubei Province,on October 28,marking a major ex...Xiaomi’s First Smart Home Appliance Factory Starts Operation in Wuhan Chinese tech firm Xiaomi launched its first smart home appliance factory in Wuhan,central China’s Hubei Province,on October 28,marking a major expansion of the tech giant’s manufacturing footprint beyond smartphones and vehicles.展开更多
The application of different coatings on solar photovoltaic(PV)panels can be an efficient solution to increase performance and further mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases.This study uses the Life Cycle Assessmen...The application of different coatings on solar photovoltaic(PV)panels can be an efficient solution to increase performance and further mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases.This study uses the Life Cycle Assessment(LCA)methodology and the environmental payback concept to analyze the effects of the application of a nano-silica coating on a solar PV system installed in the Brazilian Northeast.Firstly,an uncoated reference 16.4 MW PV system is designed,and the detailed inventory is presented(PV panels,supporting structure,inverters,junction boxes,cables,transportation,maintenance and operation-including the replacement of equipment).The results of the LCA quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the PV system.Electricity production is estimated by technical and local climate data.Subsequently,the environmental payback time of the system is calculated,which is the time required for the PV system to offset the emissions associated with system manufacturing,operation,and disposal.This is the first Brazilian study to verify the effects of a self-cleaning coating on a solar PV system throughout its lifetime,compared to the uncoated(reference system).The original photovoltaic system emitted 22,534,773 kg CO_(2)-eq,with an environmental payback of 5 years and 1 day.When the self-cleaning coating is applied,the emissions are 21,511,317 kg CO_(2)-eq(almost 5%lower)with a payback of 4 years,1 month and 26 days.The application of self-cleaning coatings reduces the required area for installation(due to increased efficiency),and not only reduces emissions but is also aligned with global sustainability targets and contributes to the concept of sustainable and intelligent cities.展开更多
While algorithms have been created for land usage in urban settings,there have been few investigations into the extraction of urban footprint(UF).To address this research gap,the study employs several widely used imag...While algorithms have been created for land usage in urban settings,there have been few investigations into the extraction of urban footprint(UF).To address this research gap,the study employs several widely used image classification method classified into three categories to evaluate their segmentation capabilities for extracting UF across eight cities.The results indicate that pixel-based methods only excel in clear urban environments,and their overall accuracy is not consistently high.RF and SVM perform well but lack stability in object-based UF extraction,influenced by feature selection and classifier performance.Deep learning enhances feature extraction but requires powerful computing and faces challenges with complex urban layouts.SAM excels in medium-sized urban areas but falters in intricate layouts.Integrating traditional and deep learning methods optimizes UF extraction,balancing accuracy and processing efficiency.Future research should focus on adapting algorithms for diverse urban landscapes to enhance UF extraction accuracy and applicability.展开更多
Artificial intelligence(AI)is transforming the tourism industry and affecting on natural ecology,making it more environmentally friendly,efficient and personalized.In 2025,AI technologies are being actively implemente...Artificial intelligence(AI)is transforming the tourism industry and affecting on natural ecology,making it more environmentally friendly,efficient and personalized.In 2025,AI technologies are being actively implemented to reduce the carbon footprint,optimize resources,and improve the travel experience.Here are the key applications of AI in environmentally sustainable smart tourism:AI in smart tourism is not just a technological trend,but a necessity for the sustainable development of the industry.Paper analyses personalized and green travel experience and smart tourism.AI-based applications(Google ARCore)allow tourists to get information about attractions without paper booklets.Virtual tours reduce the need for physical travel by reducing the carbon footprint.Platforms offer routes with minimal impact on nature(for example,hiking trails instead of car tours).Tourists can offset their carbon footprint through AI tools by financing tree planting.The introduction of AI solutions allows combining economic benefits with environmental responsibility,creating a future where travel becomes safer for the planet.Paper confirms idea about sustainable tourism development in developing countries and focus on premium ecotourism.Instead of mass tourism,AI helps promote unique destinations(safaris,diving,ethnographic tours),which increases income with less environmental damage.Smart cities with AI-driven transport and energy-saving solutions make tourism more sustainable.展开更多
基金supported by Ningbo’s major scientific and technological breakthrough project“Research and Demonstration on the Technology of Collaborative Disposal of Secondary Ash in Typical Industrial Furnaces” (No.20212ZDYF020047)the central balance fund project“Research on Carbon Emission Accounting and Emission Reduction Potential Assessment for the Whole Life Cycle of Iron and Steel Industry” (No.2021-JY-07).
文摘China is the most important steel producer in the world,and its steel industry is one of themost carbon-intensive industries in China.Consequently,research on carbon emissions from the steel industry is crucial for China to achieve carbon neutrality and meet its sustainable global development goals.We constructed a carbon dioxide(CO_(2))emission model for China’s iron and steel industry froma life cycle perspective,conducted an empirical analysis based on data from2019,and calculated the CO_(2)emissions of the industry throughout its life cycle.Key emission reduction factors were identified using sensitivity analysis.The results demonstrated that the CO_(2)emission intensity of the steel industry was 2.33 ton CO_(2)/ton,and the production and manufacturing stages were the main sources of CO_(2)emissions,accounting for 89.84%of the total steel life-cycle emissions.Notably,fossil fuel combustion had the highest sensitivity to steel CO_(2)emissions,with a sensitivity coefficient of 0.68,reducing the amount of fossil fuel combustion by 20%and carbon emissions by 13.60%.The sensitivities of power structure optimization and scrap consumption were similar,while that of the transportation structure adjustment was the lowest,with a sensitivity coefficient of less than 0.1.Given the current strategic goals of peak carbon and carbon neutrality,it is in the best interest of the Chinese government to actively promote energy-saving and low-carbon technologies,increase the ratio of scrap steel to steelmaking,and build a new power system.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32071980)the Key Projects of Shaanxi Agricultural Collaborative Innovation and Extension Alliance(No.LMZD202201)+1 种基金the Key R&D Project in Shaanxi Province(No.2021LLRH-07)Shaanxi Natural Scientific Basic Research Program project(No.2022JQ-157).
文摘Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production.Plastic film mulching is commonly used in the Loess Plateau region.Incorporating slow-release fertilizers as a replacement for urea within this practice can reduce nitrogen losses and enhance crop productivity.Combining these techniques represents a novel agricultural approach in semi-arid areas.However,the impact of this integration on soil carbon storage(SOCS),carbon footprint(CF),and economic benefits has received limited research attention.Therefore,we conducted an eight-year study(2015-2022)in the semi-arid northwestern region to quantify the effects of four treatments[urea supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-U),slow-release fertilizer supplied without plastic film mulching(CK-S),urea supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-U),and slow-release fertilizer supplied with plastic film mulching(PM-S)]on soil fertility,economic and environmental benefits.The results revealed that nitrogen fertilizer was the primary contributor to total GHG emissions(≥71.97%).Compared to other treatments,PM-S increased average grain yield by 12.01%-37.89%,water use efficiency by 9.19%-23.33%,nitrogen accumulation by 27.07%-66.19%,and net return by 6.21%-29.57%.Furthermore,PM-S decreased CF by 12.87%-44.31%and CF per net return by 14.25%-41.16%.After eight years,PM-S increased SOCS(0-40 cm)by 2.46%,while PM-U decreased it by 7.09%.These findings highlight the positive effects of PM-S on surface soil fertility,economic gains,and environmental benefits in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau,underscoring its potential for widespread adoption and application.
基金Funding for the study was provided by the XPRIZE Foundation.
文摘Life cycle assessments(LCAs)of early-stage technologies can provide valuable insights about key drivers of emissions and aid in prioritizing research into further emissions-reduction opportunities.Despite this potential value,further development of LCA methods is required to handle the increased uncertainty,data gaps,and confidentially of early-stage data.This study presents a discussion of the life cycle carbon footprinting of technologies competing in the final round of the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition-a US$20 million competition for teams to demonstrate the conversion of CO_(2) into valuable products at the scale of a small industrial pilot using consistent deployment conditions,boundaries,and methodological assumptions.This competition allowed the exploration of how LCA can be used and further improved when assessing disparate and early-stage technologies.Carbon intensity estimates are presented for two conversion pathways:(i)CO_(2) mineralization and(ii)catalytic conversion(including thermochemical,electrochemical,photocatalytic and hybrid process)of CO_(2),aggregated across teams to highlight the range of emissions intensities demonstrated at the pilot for individual life cycle stages.A future scenario is also presented,demonstrating the incremental technology and deployment conditions that would enable a team to become carbon-avoiding relative to an incumbent process(i.e.reducing emissions relative to a reference pathway producing a comparable product).By considering the assessment process across a diverse set of teams,conversion pathways and products,the study presents generalized insights about opportunities and challenges facing carbon capture and-utilization technologies in their next phases of deployment from a life cycle perspective.
文摘Using ligation-mediated PCR method to study the status of DNA-protein interaction at hypersensitive site 2 of locus control Region and βmaj promoter of MEL cell line before and after induction, MEL cell has been cultured and induced to differentiation by Hemin and DMSO, then the live cells have been treated with dimethyl sulfate. Ligation mediated PCR has been carried out following the chemical cleavage. The results demonstrate that before and after induction, the status of DNA-protein interaction at both hypersensitive site 2 and βmaj promoter change significantly, indicating that distal regulatory elements (locus control region, hypersensitive sites) as well as proximal regulatory elements (promoter, enhancer) of β-globin gene cluster participate in the regulation of developmental specificity.
基金jointly supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFE0209200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U22A20562,42330607 and 41761144054)the National Large Scientific and Technological Infrastructure“Earth System Science Numerical Simulator Facility”(Earth-Lab)(https://cstr.cn/31134.02.EL)。
文摘Accurate quantification of life-cycle greenhouse gas(GHG)footprints(GHG_(fp))for a crop cultivation system is urgently needed to address the conflict between food security and global warming mitigation.In this study,the hydrobiogeochemical model,CNMM-DNDC,was validated with in situ observations from maize-based cultivation systems at the sites of Yongji(YJ,China),Yanting(YT,China),and Madeya(MA,Kenya),subject to temperate,subtropical,and tropical climates,respectively,and updated to enable life-cycle GHG_(fp)estimation.The model validation provided satisfactory simulations on multiple soil variables,crop growth,and emissions of GHGs and reactive nitrogen gases.The locally conventional management practices resulted in GHG_(fp)values of 0.35(0.09–0.53 at the 95%confidence interval),0.21(0.01–0.73),0.46(0.27–0.60),and 0.54(0.21–0.77)kg CO_(2)e kg~(-1)d.m.(d.m.for dry matter in short)for maize–wheat rotation at YJ and YT,and for maize–maize and maize–Tephrosia rotations at MA,respectively.YT's smallest GHG_(fp)was attributed to its lower off-farm GHG emissions than YJ,though the soil organic carbon(SOC)storage and maize yield were slightly lower than those of YJ.MA's highest SOC loss and low yield in shifting cultivation for maize–Tephrosia rotation contributed to its highest GHG_(fp).Management practices of maize cultivation at these sites could be optimized by combination of synthetic and organic fertilizer(s)while incorporating 50%–100%crop residues.Further evaluation of the updated CNMM-DNDC is needed for different crops at site and regional scales to confirm its worldwide applicability in quantifying GHG_(fp)and optimizing management practices for achieving multiple sustainability goals.
文摘About the Journal Journal of Salt Lake Research(J.Salt Lake Res.),officially founded in 1992,is administrated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published by China Science Publishing&Media Ltd.It is a peer-reviewed,cutting-edge and interdisciplinary journal affiliated with Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes,Chinese Academy of Sciences,communicating the progress at the forefront of global sustainability and environmental footprint based on salt lake research.
文摘The 2025 International Standardization(Chilin)Forum was held in Nanjing city,East China’s Jiangsu province,on April 16 with the theme of“Towards carbon peak and carbon neutrality:international carbon footprint standards driving green and low-carbon development”.
文摘Erratumto:Journal of Earth Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-023-1946-6 The original version of this article unfortunately contained three mistakes.1.The presentation of Equation(4)was incorrect.The corrected one is given below.
基金supported by the National Key Research and De-velopment Program(Grant No.2023YFE0122300)the Hunan Provin-cial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.2024JJ8351)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.S20230127).
文摘Effective preservation of Key Biodiversity Areas(KBAs)is crucial to address biodiversity loss.Human-induced disturbance in these vital sites can exacerbate species extinction and challenge the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework(GBF).This study delves into the human disturbance and protection in terrestrial KBAs worldwide,focusing particularly on habitat fragmentation to devise tailored conservation strategies.Our results reveal widespread human disturbance across global KBAs,with an average Human Footprint Index of 12.3 and a disturbance rate of 62%.Only one-fifth of KBAs are fully safeguarded by protected areas,and a significant portion remains unprotected,with even many highly protected sites under severe disturbance.Globally,human activities have led to substantial implicit habitat fragmentation in KBAs,resulting in a 70%average decline in habitat size,with less than half of KBAs maintaining well-connected active habitats.These findings inform the classification of KBAs for priority conservation,with 80%requiring both intensity regulation and spatial planning of human activities.Higher levels of human disturbance do not necessarily lead to more severe fragmentation,underscoring the potential for relocating or planning human activities to mitigate fragmentation.This research serves as a foundational assessment of human impacts on KBAs,providing a basis for KBA management and global conservation efforts to meet GBF goals.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant No.42171281,72442020]the Shaanxi Provincial Social Science Fund Project[Grant No.2024ES04]Shaanxi Province Postdoctoral Science Foundation[Grant No.2024BSHSDZZ013].
文摘Tourism-oriented livelihoods represent a significant avenue for transforming traditional agricultural practices.Analyzing their environmental impacts offers a novel perspective for exploring the complex interplay among human production,consumption,and the ecological environment at a micro level.In this study,Shaanxi Province farmers were selected as field survey participants.Based on a quantitative assessment of farmers’ecological footprints within the study area,how their participation in rural tourism affected ecological footprints was analyzed using the propensity score matching model,and the heterogeneity of the impact and underlying mechanisms were further explored.Results indicate that the ecological footprint of farmers varies significantly across land-use types and consumption categories.Moreover,the spatial distribution of the ecological footprints exhibits a distinct“high at both ends and low in the middle”pattern.Participation in rural tourism significantly reduces the ecological footprint,particularly among farmers with higher levels of social trust or lower economic status.Further analysis shows that habitat quality and vegetation coverage are key ecological indicators that exert a significant positive moderating effect on the negative impact of rural tourism participation on farmers’ecological footprints.These findings highlight the importance of integrating ecological conservation with economic development.Accordingly,tailored policies,improved ecological service systems,and enhanced regional ecological quality are recommended to increase resource-use efficiency and promote a virtuous cycle between environmental sustainability and rural economic growth.
基金supported by research grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province,China(ZR2020MC092)the Key Research and Development Project of Shandong Province,China(2019TSCYCX-33)the Key Research and Development Project of Shandong Province,China(LJNY202025).
文摘To make agricultural systems sustainable in terms of their greenness and efficiency,optimizing the tillage and fertilization practices is essential.To assess the effects of tilling and fertilization practices in wheat-maize cropping systems,a three-year field experiment was designed to quantify the carbon footprint(CF)and energy efficiency of the cropping systems in the North China Plain.The study parameters included four tillage practices(no tillage(NT),conventional tillage(CT),rotary tillage(RT),and subsoiling rotary tillage(SRT))and two fertilizer regimes(inorganic fertilizer(IF)and hybrid fertilizer with organic and inorganic components(HF)).The results indicated that the most prominent energy inputs and greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions could be ascribed to the use of fertilizers and fuel consumption.Under the same fertilization regime,ranking the tillage patterns with respect to the value of the crop yield,profit,CF,energy use efficiency(EUE)or energy productivity(EP)for either wheat or maize always gave the same sequence of SRT>RT>CT>NT.For the same tillage,the energy consumption associated with HF was higher than IF,but its GHG emissions and CF were lower while the yield and profit were higher.In terms of overall performance,tilling is more beneficial than NT,and reduced tillage practices(RT and SRT)are more beneficial than CT.The fertilization regime with the best overall performance was HF.Combining SRT with HF has significant potential for reducing CF and increasing EUE,thereby improving sustainability.Adopting measures that promote these optimizations can help to overcome the challenges posed by a lack of food security,energy crises and ecological stress.
文摘Global livestock production is a major driver of climate change.Lumping beef and pork together as red meat masks important differences in their carbon footprints,land uses,and social status.These two red meat choices in Canada were compared by using a meta-model of the Unified Livestock Industry and Crop Emissions Estimation System(ULICEES).ULICEES calculated fossil CO_(2),N_(2)O and CH_(4) emissions for beef,dairy,pork,poultry,and sheep production in Canada,based on both the livestock and their supporting land base in 2001.The dynamic drivers of the meta-model were crop yields,breeding female populations,tillage practices,nitrogen fertilizer use,and the crop complex of each livestock industry.When the potential carbon sequestration in the land growing harvested perennial forage is credited to beef production,the CO_(2)e emissions offset does not reduce the carbon footprint of beef enough to match the lower carbon footprint of pork.Most of the land required to grow hay for beef would not be needed to feed a protein-equivalent pig population.In a hypothetical conversion of all beef production to pork production for 2021,4.5 Mha of land under perennial forage was freed and 10.0 MtCO_(2)e per year was mitigated when that area was re-cultivated for annual crops—a GHG mitigation equal to 12%of the GHG emissions budget of Canadian agriculture.Leaving that area under a perennial ground cover mitigated 19.8 MtCO_(2)e per year,the equivalent of 23%of the sector’s GHG emissions budget.
文摘Natural resources,green energy,and sustainable development are closely linked with concepts that carry mutual goals to endorse social equity,economic prosperity,and ecological stability while curtailing the harmful influence on the globe.However,the recognition of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG-7,SDG-13)is closely entangled with digital economy.In this pursuit,this study scrutinizes the effect of dig-italization,renewable energy,and natural resources on the ecological footprint in China from 1990Q1-2022Q4.The empirical analyses are carried out by employing the Quantile-on-Quantile regression,and cross-quantile and partial cross-quantile correlation approaches to inspect the tail dependence of model parameters.The empirical outcomes highlight how China’s environmental quality is influenced by exoge-nous variables,including digitalization index,renewable energy consumption,and natural resources.Digitalization has adverse impact on the ecological footprint in lower quantiles,while insignificant in higher quantiles.Moreover,a strong adverse association exists between ecological footprint and renew-able energy,which syndicate all the quantiles of renewable energy with linking over lower to middle quantiles and weak in higher quantiles of ecological footprint.Besides,the estimated analysis discloses nuanced dependencies across various quantiles.Similarly,it can be found that the strong negative effect of natural resources on ecological footprint in initial quantiles,moderate in middle quantiles,and less positive effect in higher quantiles.By explaining these dynamics,the current study offers valuable intu-itions designed at controlling China toward its dual-carbon target and encouraging the development of a sustainable digital and green economy and thereby,continuing towards achieving SDG-7,and SDG-13 objectives.
文摘High-quality standards serve as the value scale for consensus on the conversion of green benefits.Taking carbon emissions in production cycle and carbon footprints in life cycle as examples,it is arduous work to significantly improve their comparability,credibility,and manageability.At present,there are over 1,400 ISO standards in the dual carbon field.In China,there are over 1,400 relevant national standards,over 3,000 sectoral standards,over 1,900 local standards,and over 800 association standards,forming a comprehensive supporting system.
基金funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2024M760408)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32201304)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2412024QD0212412022QD026).
文摘Grasslands are among the world's most threatened ecosystems, and steppe birds face increasing risks from human activities. This study investigates how human impacts affect the distribution and community structure of breeding steppe birds in Inner Mongolia, a biodiversity hotspot in Asia. We conducted standardized point-count surveys across a gradient from intact grasslands to urbanized areas, integrating species occurrence data, functional traits and the Human Footprint Index (HFI). Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), we assessed trait-environment interactions and shifts in species associations. Our results indicate that the HFI significantly affects bird communities. Habitat specialists, such as Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica), showed negative responses, whereas generalists like Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) thrived in disturbed areas. Trait-based analysis showed that species with larger body mass and specialized diets were negatively associated with HFI, whereas those linked to human-modified habitats exhibiting strong positive associations. In areas with high human footprint, co-occurrence networks grew more polarized: specialists faced intensified competition, while species with positive HFI responses formed stronger positive associations. CRF models indicated that human activities restructure species interactions, favoring generalists and simplifying community dynamics. These findings highlight the dual role of human impact in supporting some species while threatening specialists, potentially driving biotic homogenization. Our study emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that protect vulnerable species and manage those that thrive in human-altered environments. By linking traits and interactions to human impacts, this study provides a framework for identifying at-risk species and guiding conservation in the Anthropocene.
文摘Xiaomi’s First Smart Home Appliance Factory Starts Operation in Wuhan Chinese tech firm Xiaomi launched its first smart home appliance factory in Wuhan,central China’s Hubei Province,on October 28,marking a major expansion of the tech giant’s manufacturing footprint beyond smartphones and vehicles.
基金support of the Paraíba State Research Foundation(FAPESQ)(call No.09/2021)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development(CNPq Productivity Grants 309452/2021-0,308753/2021-6)+1 种基金Scientific Initiation Scholarships(PIBIC)within the Federal University of Paraíba(UFPB)Silvia Guillén Lambea thanks Grant RYC2021-034265-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by“European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR”。
文摘The application of different coatings on solar photovoltaic(PV)panels can be an efficient solution to increase performance and further mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases.This study uses the Life Cycle Assessment(LCA)methodology and the environmental payback concept to analyze the effects of the application of a nano-silica coating on a solar PV system installed in the Brazilian Northeast.Firstly,an uncoated reference 16.4 MW PV system is designed,and the detailed inventory is presented(PV panels,supporting structure,inverters,junction boxes,cables,transportation,maintenance and operation-including the replacement of equipment).The results of the LCA quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the PV system.Electricity production is estimated by technical and local climate data.Subsequently,the environmental payback time of the system is calculated,which is the time required for the PV system to offset the emissions associated with system manufacturing,operation,and disposal.This is the first Brazilian study to verify the effects of a self-cleaning coating on a solar PV system throughout its lifetime,compared to the uncoated(reference system).The original photovoltaic system emitted 22,534,773 kg CO_(2)-eq,with an environmental payback of 5 years and 1 day.When the self-cleaning coating is applied,the emissions are 21,511,317 kg CO_(2)-eq(almost 5%lower)with a payback of 4 years,1 month and 26 days.The application of self-cleaning coatings reduces the required area for installation(due to increased efficiency),and not only reduces emissions but is also aligned with global sustainability targets and contributes to the concept of sustainable and intelligent cities.
文摘While algorithms have been created for land usage in urban settings,there have been few investigations into the extraction of urban footprint(UF).To address this research gap,the study employs several widely used image classification method classified into three categories to evaluate their segmentation capabilities for extracting UF across eight cities.The results indicate that pixel-based methods only excel in clear urban environments,and their overall accuracy is not consistently high.RF and SVM perform well but lack stability in object-based UF extraction,influenced by feature selection and classifier performance.Deep learning enhances feature extraction but requires powerful computing and faces challenges with complex urban layouts.SAM excels in medium-sized urban areas but falters in intricate layouts.Integrating traditional and deep learning methods optimizes UF extraction,balancing accuracy and processing efficiency.Future research should focus on adapting algorithms for diverse urban landscapes to enhance UF extraction accuracy and applicability.
基金financed as part of the project“Development of a methodology for instrumental base formation for analysis and modeling of the spatial socio-economic development of systems based on internal reserves in the context of digitalization”(FSEG-2023-0008).
文摘Artificial intelligence(AI)is transforming the tourism industry and affecting on natural ecology,making it more environmentally friendly,efficient and personalized.In 2025,AI technologies are being actively implemented to reduce the carbon footprint,optimize resources,and improve the travel experience.Here are the key applications of AI in environmentally sustainable smart tourism:AI in smart tourism is not just a technological trend,but a necessity for the sustainable development of the industry.Paper analyses personalized and green travel experience and smart tourism.AI-based applications(Google ARCore)allow tourists to get information about attractions without paper booklets.Virtual tours reduce the need for physical travel by reducing the carbon footprint.Platforms offer routes with minimal impact on nature(for example,hiking trails instead of car tours).Tourists can offset their carbon footprint through AI tools by financing tree planting.The introduction of AI solutions allows combining economic benefits with environmental responsibility,creating a future where travel becomes safer for the planet.Paper confirms idea about sustainable tourism development in developing countries and focus on premium ecotourism.Instead of mass tourism,AI helps promote unique destinations(safaris,diving,ethnographic tours),which increases income with less environmental damage.Smart cities with AI-driven transport and energy-saving solutions make tourism more sustainable.
