Mediterranean cities are increasingly affected by climate change, energy inequality and environmental pollution. Rising temperatures, the effects of the urban heat island (UHI) and growing energy demand exacerbate socio-economic inequalities and energy poverty. To address these challenges, integrated strategies are needed, that combine effective energy system management with robust urban planning adapted to local climatic conditions. This manuscript aims to present the pilot actions implemented in the EnerCmed Project, an EU-funded project that aims to promote the sustainability in port cities by taking action in urban areas near the port, with the aim of enhancing and supporting their development. The project adopt a combined approach in which a renewable energy community (REC) or a self-consumption scheme (SCS) will be implemented through the installation of renewable energy production using Photovoltaic plant (PV) systems, to collectively generate, manage and share the energy produced from renewable sources. The key paradigm of the project consists in the development of the REC/SCS coupled with a nature-based solution (NBS) tailored to the area concerned, that increase the social acceptability and reduce UHI. This approach is oriented towards the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels, acting as a catalyst for a society in which energy autonomy and socio-economic well-being become central, thanks to actions that mitigate energy poverty and support social inclusion. This manuscript highlights the preliminary results of the EnerCmed project, demonstrating how the simultaneous implementation of REC/SCS and NBS contributes to improving energy efficiency, climate adaptation, economic and social inclusion in line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal.

The carbon tax, one of Indonesia’s climate change mitigation instruments for achieving the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target, has been continuously delayed since 2022. A carbon tax is applied to carbon-based products, particularly those derived from the oil and gas sector. The oil and gas sector aims to achieve a targeted production increase of 1 million barrels of oil and 12 Billion Cubic Feet (BCF) of gas by 2030, as mandated by the Indonesian government. However, the rise of the production target may lead to a rise in carbon emissions, contradicting the country's emission reduction commitments. This study aims to explore the perspectives of the government and the oil and gas industry regarding the urgency and readiness of carbon tax implementation in Indonesia’s oil and gas sector, as well as assessing alternative policies for emission reduction. Using a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain primary data. The result indicates the urgency of implementing a carbon tax in Indonesia’s oil and gas sector to reduce carbon emissions, support energy transition, and achieve Net Zero Emission (NZE), but it is outweighed by both government and industry unreadiness. The Regulatory Framework aspect primarily influences the government's unreadiness, as the absence of a carbon tax roadmap as a technical implementation guideline, combined with ongoing fuel subsidies, contributes to policy incoherence. On the other hand, the Production Sharing Contract (PSC), as the Regulatory Framework of the oil and gas sector, has the potential to be amended once the carbon tax is implemented. The findings provide an overview of the government’s considerations contributing to the years-long delay in implementation and enrich the government's viewpoint on developing a carbon tax policy, considering the industry's perspective and readiness factors.

Grobogan Regency, Central Java, is characterized by karst landscapes, particularly in the Sukolilo Karst Landscape Area (Kawasan Bentang Alam Karst—KBAK Sukolilo), which plays a crucial role in regional water availability. Although the northern and western parts of the regency have the potential to store groundwater due to karstification, the southern regions often face water scarcity and prolonged droughts. This study aims to (1) identify the spatial distribution of springs in KBAK Sukolilo, and (2) analyze water availability across the karst area. A quantitative research approach was employed, focusing on 43 springs distributed across six subdistricts: Klambu, Brati, Grobogan, Tawangharjo, Wirosari, and Ngaringan. Data collection involved field observations, interviews, and documentation, while spatial and environmental analyses were conducted using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The findings reveal an uneven and dynamic distribution of springs, with some springs recorded in 2018 no longer active or traceable in 2024 due to land cover changes and diminished discharge. Based on study, it was seen that the water demand in three sub-districts exceeded the water availability. Water balance analysis indicates that Brati, Grobogan, and Ngaringan are categorized as water-deficit areas, whereas Klambu, Tawangharjo, and Wirosari experience a water surplus. These results highlight the urgent need for integrated water resource management in karst environments, particularly in addressing regional disparities in water availability.

Heavy metal contamination is a serious issue that poses a significant threat to soil environments and human health worldwide. The rapid population growth in developing countries, together with challenging economic conditions, has led to uncontrolled urbanization. These activities have become major sources of environmental pollution, affecting soil, water, and air quality. The objective of this study was to analyze the concentration of heavy metals in the soil of Setif City. To achieve this objective, 16 soil samples were collected using a regular 3 $\times$ 3 km grid across the region. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to analyze these samples, and their pH , organic matter (OM), and limestone (CaCO$_3$) levels were also determined to assess their physical and chemical properties. Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), and Cadmium (Cd) were selected as representative heavy metals for the study. The sixteen diffractograms obtained from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the presence of calcite and quartz, along with elements such as Cd, Zn, Cu, and Ni . The results indicate that the soils in Setif City are alkaline, with pH values ranging from 8.00 to 8.47. The average concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd were 407.06, 55.85, 32.21, and 0.16 mg kg$^{-1}$, respectively, in the sixteen soil samples collected from Setif City. When compared with international standards (e.g., AFNOR NF X31-101 and CEPA), Zn concentrations in several samples exceeded acceptable thresholds, indicating moderate to high levels of contamination in specific zones. This finding is supported by the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and contamination factor (Cf), both of which identified Zn as the main pollutant of concern. Contrary to the initial assumption of no contamination, the study reveals that localized Zn accumulation may pose potential environmental risks, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and site-specific remediation strategies

Microplastics are widely present in aquatic environments and, due to their high hydrophobicity, can carry organic pollutants while affecting their accumulation and toxicity in organisms at different trophic levels. The ingestion of microplastics by organisms can be divided into direct and indirect ingestion. Direct ingestion refers to organisms directly consuming microplastics present in the environmental medium, while indirect ingestion can be understood as microplastics being ingested by organisms along the transfer of trophic levels. This study aimed to determine the distribution of microplastics in the surface water of the Yangtze River Estuary and the accumulation characteristics of microplastics in organisms at different trophic levels. In 2021, the study selected typical sampling stations in the Yangtze River Estuary and its adjacent waters for observation, analyzing the concentration and characteristics of microplastics in surface water and samples from nine different trophic level organisms (two types of gastropods and seven types of fish). The abundance of microplastics in the surface water samples collected from the Yangtze River Estuary was 661.2 ± 220.5 items/m$^3$. The average abundance of microplastics in the gills of organisms was 1.1 ± 0.4 items/g w.w., and in the gastrointestinal tract, it was 0.3 ± 0.1 items/g w.w. Based on the calculation of the bioconcentration factor of microplastics, we found that the bioconcentration factor of higher trophic level organisms (fish) (2.6 ± 0.5 m$^3$/kg w.w.) was significantly greater than that of gastropod organisms (0.87 ± 0.4 m$^3$/kg w.w.). In terms of feeding types, the bioconcentration factor of carnivorous fish organisms was significantly greater than that of omnivorous fish. This paper determined the trophic level of organisms through stable nitrogen isotopes ($\delta^{15}$N), and the biomagnification factor of microplastics was calculated to be 4.2 based on the linear regression equation of microplastic concentration and organism trophic level. Therefore, microplastic concentrations can be transferred along different trophic levels in the food chain, and the accumulation level of microplastics in organisms significantly increases with the rise of trophic levels, indicating the potential for biomagnification of microplastics in gastropods and fish organisms.

The shift to a green economy presents substantial barriers to sustainable economic growth. A key component of promoting a sustainable and green growth trajectory is educating the public about environmental sustainability, climate change, and the green economy. The main aim of this study is to evaluate students' understanding of green economy, and environmental concerns while highlighting the contribution of education to the green transition. The study was carried out in Kosovo using a quantitative method approach in a sample from 425 students including undergraduate, master and PhD. The analysis examined in this study are Multiple Regression Analysis, Pearson Correlations, Cronbach's Alpha, Inter item correlations, and descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS program Multiple Regression results showed that students' intention to continue their education in the green economy was significantly predicted by factors like comprehension of environmental policies, confidence in comprehending global economic challenges, and belief in the significance of government policies for the green transition. Significantly, students' willingness to participate in green economy studies was inversely connected with their comprehension of the role of law in environmental issues, indicating a possible discrepancy between perceived readiness and actual participation. The findings indicate that students possess a limited understanding of the green economy and environmental concerns in Kosovo; however, they are quite enthusiastic about expanding their knowledge, particularly via bachelor’s and master’s programs focused on these topics. Considering these results, the research proposes that to enhance awareness and preparedness for the green transition, new educational programs and vocational training efforts should be established alongside targeted conferences. These initiatives are crucial for providing professionals and students with the resources necessary for a sustainable future. Proper education can have a fundamental impact on environmental protection and sustainable economic development thus policymakers and universities must collaborate to create applicable study programs and curricula that promote a stronger focus on green and sustainable education.

Local wisdom-based ecopedagogy learning approach plays a strategic role in growing critical consciousness and environmental care behavior among students. This research aims to explore the effect of local wisdom-based ecopedagogy learning approach on students’ critical consciousness and environmental care behavior in the context of Sociology learning in Senior High School Sequential mixed method approach is used by collecting quantitative data through online questionnaire distributed to 644 students coming from many provinces in Indonesia and qualitative data through in-depth interview with Sociology teachers. The result of research shows a positive significant correlation between students’ critical consciousness and environmental care behavior (b = 0.869, p $<$ 0.05), where 61.3% of behavior variability is explained by the students’ critical consciousness level (R$^2$ = 0.613). Qualitative data supports the quantitative finding indicating that teachers applied some learning strategies: environmental project, case study, activity out of classroom, and interactive discussion to give meaningful experience encouraging the students to think critically and to take real action to care for the environmental problem. This research also identifies the challenges faced by teachers in the implementation of local wisdom-based ecopedagogy learning approach including limited module as learning reference, limited practical training for the teachers, and limited time because the curriculum is not flexible. This study contributes theoretically to expanding the literature about ecopedagogy and likewise offers practical recommendation to improve the facilitation of training for teachers and the development of local value-based teaching module for Sociology subject.