An extensive assessment of ambient air quality near a medical waste incineration (MWI) facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, was conducted, focusing on the gas-particle phase partitioning and the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs). It was found that highly chlorinated congeners, specifically hexa- to octa-chlorinated, predominate in the particulate phase, while tetra- and penta-chlorinated isomers were predominantly observed in the gas phase. The concentrations of ΣPCDD/Fs in ambient air ranged from 8.3 to 108.36 fg WHO2005-TEQ/m³, ΣPCBs from 4.43 to 6.06 fg WHO2005-TEQ/m³, and ΣPCDD/Fs in soil from 59.17 to 106.05 pg WHO-TEQ/g. Seasonal variations were marked, with peak concentrations typically occurring in winter and the lowest in summer. Globally, despite a decreasing trend, the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in South Africa remain higher than those reported in other regions. The study further revealed that the daily inhalation intakes of PCDD/F emissions by the local population exceeded the recommended tolerable daily intake levels, underscoring the need for a comprehensive risk assessment that considers all exposure pathways to fully evaluate potential health risks for residents living near the incineration facility.
The sustainable development of peatland ecosystems is imperative due to their susceptibility to climate change. This study evaluates the sustainability of regency development in the peatland areas of Riau Province, Indonesia, utilizing the rapid appraisal technique combined with the Rapfish multidimensional scaling (MDS) algorithm. Critical attributes influencing sustainability were identified, including the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, unemployment rates, GRDP growth rates, investment levels, poverty rates, population growth, deforestation rates, waste management practices, environmental conservation efforts, community involvement, local wisdom, occurrence of peat fires, and groundwater level stations. The findings indicate that the sustainability status of regencies in peatland areas predominantly falls between less and moderately sustainable. Consequently, an urgent need exists to accelerate the implementation of new development paradigms, such as green and low-carbon development strategies, to achieve sustainable development goals in peatland regions effectively. Enhanced policies and practices are required to address the identified sustainability dimensions, fostering resilience and promoting long-term ecological balance.
This paper assesses green energy technology with respect to its profound impacts, particularly photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity, wind installed capacity and hydrogen fuel cells installed capacity on sustainable development as well as mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the study examines recent technological improvements and empirical facts that indicate how renewable sources of energy facilitates decrease in carbon emission and further supports global sustainability goals. As a result, major findings show significant declines in CO₂ releases after extensive PV, wind and hydrogen fuel cell technologies have been deployed. The examples from China, EU countries, USA, India and Japan demonstrate these accomplishments. Cumulative CO₂ emissions from 2015 to 2023 for China were 102.0 Gt; while the United States had 43.0 Gt; EU - 25.4 Gt; India – 21.7 Gt; Japan –10.0 Gt, respectively.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) presents distinct challenges across different income economies, necessitating a comprehensive analysis to identify critical factors influencing progress. This study systematically examines obstacles to SDG attainment across various income groups by analyzing data from 215 nations spanning 2012 to 2021. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to uncover patterns within the factors, while fuzzy graph modeling elucidated their dynamic influences. The analysis focused on nine key variables: poverty, unemployment, youth literacy, adult literacy, health (undernourishment), food security, access to electricity, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and other greenhouse gas emissions. Findings indicate that CO2 emissions serve as the primary barrier to achieving SDG 13 (climate action) in high-income nations. Conversely, poverty and undernourishment emerge as significant challenges impeding progress in upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income, and low-income groups. The study provides a novel, integrated view of the multifaceted impacts and interactions between socio-economic and environmental factors in addressing SDG challenges. The results offer valuable insights for policymakers, highlighting the need for differentiated strategies tailored to income-specific contexts. It is recommended that governments in high-income countries extend financial support to lower-income groups to alleviate poverty and improve food security, while fostering collaboration in climate mitigation and adaptation to promote balanced and sustainable global development.
This bibliometric analysis offers an in-depth examination of the research trajectory concerning carbon capture and storage (CCS), as documented in Scopus-indexed publications from 1998 to 2024. A marked increase in scholarly output has been observed, reflecting the growing academic and practical interest in CCS technologies as critical tools for mitigating climate change. The analysis identifies significant growth periods following key global climate agreements and technological advancements, underscoring the academic community’s engagement in developing and implementing solutions to reduce emissions. Additionally, periodic fluctuations in publication trends have been detected, which may indicate shifts in funding priorities, research focus, and the advent of competing technologies. The notable peak in 2024 suggests that CCS research has potentially reached a pivotal stage of maturity or has been revitalized in response to recent environmental policies or global events. This analysis emphasizes the need for future research to delve deeper into the evolution of CCS technologies, their integration with renewable energy strategies, and the role of policy and economic factors in shaping the CCS research landscape. Such inquiries are deemed essential for guiding global CCS research and policymaking toward effective and sustainable climate action.
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