Economic complexity and environmental sustainability in eastern European economies:Evidence from novel Fourier approach

Globally,economies have become complex and new technologies have transformed and facilitated the modernization of economies.In the previous literature,economic complexity approach has become one of the popular tools in the development and innovation studies of economic geography.Researchers have found that green technology and eco-innovation approaches should be used to decisively reduce the effects of carbon emissions on the environment.However,debates about the impact of economic complexity on environment remain unsettled since some emerging production technologies have far-reaching pollution effects.This study explored the impacts of economic complexity on environmental sustainability in Turkey using the novel Fourier-based approaches,namely:Fourier Augmented Dickey-Fuller(FADF)and Fourier Autoregressive-Distributed Lag(FARDL)models.The Fourier-based approaches indicated that all variables(economic complexity index(ECI),GDP,energy consumption,and CO_(2)emission(CO_(2)E))are cointegrated in the long run.Additionally,the FARDL model implied that(i)in the long run,the effect of ECI(as a proxy for economic complexity),GDP(as a proxy for economic growth),and energy consumption on CO_(2)E(as a proxy for environmental quality)are important;(ii)economic complexity decreases environmental degradation in Turkey;and(iii)economic growth and energy consumption negatively affect environmental quality.The results also showed that economic complexity could be used as a policy tool to tackle environmental degradation.The findings also revealed that the fossil fuelbased economy will continue to expand and undermine Turkey’s efforts to meet its net zero emission target by 2053.Therefore,policy-makers should take actions and establish diversified economic,environmental,and energy strategies.For policy insights,the Turkish governments can use the combination of tax exemptions and technical support systems to support knowledge creation and the diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies The governments can also impose strict environmental regulations on the knowledge development phases.

Examination of the poverty-environmental degradation nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa

The relationship between environmental degradation and poverty has increasingly become the focus of national strategic decision-making in recent years.However,despite several theoretical explorations on the nexus,a dearth of empirical literature on the poverty-environmental degradation nexus,specifically on Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA),still exists.In this study,we investigated the poverty-environmental degradation nexus in SSA.We hypothesized that poverty is both a cause and effect of environmental degradation,and this relationship is explained as a vicious cycle.Unlike previous studies,we employed several alternative indicators of environmental degradation to examine the poverty-environmental degradation nexus in this study.We used data from 41 countries of SSA between 1996 and 2019 and employed the generalized method of moments(GMM)approach.The findings suggest a cyclical relationship between poverty and environmental degradation in SSA,which confirms that an increase in poverty leads to an increase in environmental degradation,especially in deforestation and PM2.5 emissions.Similarly,the increase in environmental degradation positively affects poverty in SSA.We also confirmed that exogenous conditioning factors such as population growth rate,education,industrialization,and income inequality,institutional quality indicators such as governance effectiveness,control of corruption,freedom ad civil liberty,and democracy,and endogenous factors including fossil fuel energy use,fuelwood energy use,household health expenditure,infant mortality rate,and agriculture productivity influence the nexus between poverty and environmental degradation.The findings on the relationship between poverty and environmental degradation in SSA are a testimonial evidence that both poverty and environmental degradation are significant issues in SSA.Hence,poverty alleviation policies in SSA should not lead to PM2.5 emissions and deforestation,which may as well force people into a poverty-environmental degradation trap.Instead,poverty reduction policies should simultaneously achieve environmental conservation.

Water Environmental Degradation of the Source Area of the Yellow River on Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The issue on water environmental degradation in the source area of the Yellow River has been one of very serious ecological and socially economic problems. The temporal-spatial changes of water environment led to the decreasing of land capacity and river disconnecting. The status of water environmental degradation in this paper was analyzed based on the data and field investigation. The results indicated that the surface water area in the region has obviously decreased owing to the climate changes and human irrational use of water resources and the continuous lowering of the regional groundwater table and the steadily decreasing tendency of the flow rate in the source areas of the Yellow River.

Sustainable Environmental Management:A Case of Assessment of Land Degradation Using Space Technologies in Longido District,Arusha Tanzania

This study was conducted to assess land degradation in Longido District,Arusha,Tanzania using remote sensing techniques.Biophysical degradation indicators i.e.land use/land cover,land productivity level and soil erosion were used.Specifically,Landsat Satellite images of 1995 and 2015,together with soil data and digital elevation model were applied.Land cover maps of the study area over the study years were produced by supervised classification method.Soil erosion was assessed using RUSLE(Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation)model producing soil erosion map of Longido district,the inputs into the RUSLE model were rainfall,erosivity factor,soil erodibility factor,slope steepness and slope length factor,cover management factor and support practice factor.Biophysical land degradation map was produced by applying weighted overlay technique whereby soil erosion was given more weight followed by land use/land cover of 2015 and land productivity level of 2015.The findings show that about 38% of Longido district areas are highly vulnerable to land degradation which is above the international allowable level.It is being concluded that Longido District is at high risk of failure to sustain livelihood of and resilient for its communities,the earth in general,so it is timely for the district authorities to take steps towards mitigating further land degradation.It is being recommended that sustainable conservation and management strategies as well as policies must be affected by district authorities including farmers and pastoralists to improvise land degradation friendly cultivation and grazing methods.

Evaluation of Effluent Discharge from Steel Manufacturing Industries on the Proliferating Environmental Degradation in Nairobi Metropolitan in the Republic of Kenya

The overall objective of this study was to establish the effects of steel industrial effluent on Nairobi metropolitan water system and its impact to the society. The study sought to identify various types of wastes produced by factories, assess how the waste generated is managed and disposed, examine the effects of effluent discharge on Nairobi River and finally propose mitigation measures. The research adopted a qualitative design and employed a number of methods: direct observations, document reviews to content analysis of the past studies, which in the end generated invaluable data. The study revealed that there are four categories of waste generated: solid waste, liquid waste, footbath chemicals as well as thermal wastes. It was also found that waste management in place was not effective enough leading to water and soil pollution. Other causes of pollution were found out to emanate from gasses contamination to the air and chemicals used during steel processing. The findings will inform the community of the harmful effects of untreated water and how it impacts on their health and productivity. It will also help the stakeholders in the environmental conservation to articulate issues of policy and influence agenda setting in the national and sub-national levels.

Environmental impact of energy imports:Natural resources income and natural gas production profitability in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Countries

Environmental degradation is a pressing global concern,with the energy sector being one of the major contributors to this issue.The environmental impact of energy imports,particularly regarding natural resources income and natural gas production profitability,cannot be ignored.Countries must assess the environmental consequences of their energy choices and take steps to minimize their impact.By transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources,countries can ensure a better future for the environment and their economies.This study examines the impact of energy imports and natural resources income on environmental degradation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC)countries from 1990 to 2020,using revenue minus the production cost of natural gas and electricity production from renewable sources as moderating variables.Long-run estimates are derived using the Generalized Method of Moments and robust least squares.Our findings elucidate that importing energy from countries specializing in renewable energy can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.This diversification of energy sources decreases the overall carbon footprint and contributes to a cleaner environment.Natural gas production often involves infrastructure construction,such as drilling rigs and pipelines,which can disrupt natural habitats and wildlife corridors.This destruction of ecosystems can have long-term consequences on biodiversity and ecological balance.The environmental impact of energy imports,particularly related to natural resource income and natural gas production profitability,requires BRICS countries to take proactive measures.These nations can address the environmental challenges associated with their energy demands by implementing policies prioritizing sustainable resource management,carbon pricing,stringent regulation,and investment in research and development.By doing so,they can balance economic growth and environmental sustainability,ensuring a greener future for the BRICS countries.

Assessment of Plant Commnunity Structure in a Tropical Wetland Affected by Brick Making—The Case of Sironga Wetland, Kenya

Brick making is one of the major small-scale industries in Sironga which has been expanding due to the growing demand for urban expansion. Due to the increasing population pressure, brick-making is competing for the wetland resources. Sironga wetland is threatened with serious degradation and probable loss of plant diversity. Conversion of this wetland for economic uses such as brick making has resulted in its loss. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of brick making on plant diversity in Sironga wetland. Nyamira County, Kenya. A one metre by one metre quadrat frame was laid down and perpendicularly recorded the percent cover for each species found inside the quadrant plus the percentage area covered by the bare ground litter. From each transect lines “diagonally” detailed vegetation under study was then done. The plant species were recorded and classified into three life-forms;herbs, sedges and grasses. The study revealed that grasses had the highest diversity H = 1.144. Diversity for herbs was H = 0.987 and H = 0.899 for reeds respectively. The study concluded that brick-making activities affected the plant diversity in Sironga wetland. This may be attributed partly to the limited information and awareness campaigns to the surrounding communities on the values and benefits of wetland ecosystem services and the lack of alternative livelihood sources. The study recommends that alternative livelihoods are provided and awareness campaigns on the values and benefits of wetlands to the residents are done by the relevant agencies.

Zn-0.8Mn alloy for degradable structural applications:Hot compression behaviors,four dynamic recrystallization mechanisms,and better elevated-temperature strength

Environmentally degradable Zn-0.8Mn alloy is highly ductile,which lays the foundation for developing high-performance Zn-Mn-based alloys.However,not only constitutive equation of this alloy is unknown,but also its dynamic recrystallization(DRX)behavior is unclear,which makes optimization of hot pro-cessing parameters of this alloy almost dependent on trial-and-error.This work aims to tackle these prob-lems.The constitutive equation was deduced to be˙ε=1.38×10^(12)×[sinh(0.009σ)]^(8)exp(-135150/RT).A processing map of the alloy was obtained for the first time,which shows that it has excellent hot formability with narrow instability zones.At a final true strain of 0.8,the volume fraction of DRX grains increased from 37%to 79%with temperature increasing from 150℃to 350℃and strain rate decreas-ing from 10 s^(−1)to 10^(-3)s^(−1).Discontinuous DRX(DDRX),continuous DRX(CDRX),twinning-induced DRX(TDRX),and particle stimulated nucleation(PSN)were activated during hot compressions.DDRX was al-ways the main mechanism.TDRX was completely suppressed at 300℃and above.PSN arose from dis-persed MnZn 13 particles.Furthermore,Zn-0.8Mn alloy exhibited elevated-temperature strengths better than pure Zn and Zn-Al-based alloys.At 300℃and 0.1 s^(−1),its peak stress was 1.8 times of pure Zn,owing to MnZn 13 particles of 277±79 nm impeding the motion of grain boundaries and dislocations.

The valuation of China’s environmental degradation from 2004 to 2017

This paper aims to evaluate the cost of environmental degradation by adopting the conventional environmental economic methodology in China from 2004 to 2017 and summarize the change in both the causes and costs of China’s environmental degradation.Results from this study revealed the following:i.The environmental degradation cost in China increased from 511 billion yuan to 1,892 billion yuan from 2004 to 2017,and its share in the GDP decreased from 3.05% to 2.23%;ii.The environmental degradation cost growth rate was lower than the GDP growth rate.The environmental degradation cost growth rate decreased sharply,by dropping from 10% in 2014 to 2% in 2017.The environmental benefits of industrial transformation have emerged;iii.The provinces of Shandong,Hebei,Jiangsu,Henan,and Guangdong had the highest environmental degradation costs.The annual average growth rate of the environmental degradation costs in Jiangsu,Guangdong,and Zhejiang were lower than their growth rate of the GDP respectively;iv.Consideration of environmental degradation cost in decision-making could contribute to the high-quality development of China.

Atomic insight into the functionalization of cellulose nanofiber on durability of epoxy nanocomposites

Chemical functionalization is an effective approach to address interfacial deterioration caused by environmental exposure in cellulose nanofiber(CNF)-epoxy nanocomposites.However,how functionalization affects interfacial deterioration and durability of nanocomposites in erosive environment is still lacked.In this work,the global mechanical properties and local interfacial intermolecular behavior of pristine and functionalized CNF-reinforced nanocomposites are investigated through molecular dynamics simulations.The results show that functionalization can enhance the interfacial energy barrier and debonding stress by 43%and 57%,respectively.Functionalized CNF inhibits the slippage of epoxy chains,ensuring better interfacial adhesion and efficient stress transfer between fiber and matrix.Functional groups promote the formation of interfacial bridging and topological structures and weaken the hydrogen bonding ability of water molecules,leading to stronger intermolecular adsorption effect and better interfacial integrity.The epoxy molecular configuration evolution and intermolecular interactions,caused by the functionalization of CNF in the interfacial region,enhance the interfacial erosion resistance,contributing to the durability of the nanocomposites.This study reveals the in-depth interfacial deterioration mechanism of functionalized nanocomposites under erosive environment,inspiring a novel strategy for the design of durable CNF-reinforced nanocomposites.

Waste production in aquaculture:Sources,components and managements in different culture systems

The intensification of aquaculture has emerged as a viable alternative for increasing aquaculture production due to competition that arose from the use of natural resources,such as land and water,by other production and developmental sectors.However,intensification demands increased inputs,such as fish and feed per unit culture area and,therefore,increased waste generation from the aquaculture production systems.The impact of waste products from aquaculture has increased public concern and threatens the sustainability of aquaculture practices.The need for increasing the production of aquaculture products cannot be overemphasized and,therefore,there is a need to develop culture systems that will increase fish production with efficient waste management in order to limit environmental degradation resulting from aquaculture wastes and ensure its sustainability.This paper reviewed various aspects of waste production from aquaculture,their sources,components,and methods of management,in different culture systems,primarily discussing waste production from feed,chemicals,and pathogens.We aimed to establish the sources of wastes,their contents,and potential harms to both the fish culture and the environment.Suggestions for managing wastes in different culture systems were made to ensure an improved and sustainable aquaculture production.

Surfaced-modified TiO_(2) Nanofibers with Enhanced Photodegradation Under Visible Light

Asynchronized surface modification method based on coaxial electrospinning was developed to fabricate high-efficiency photodegradative nanofiber for water purification. TiO_(2) nanoparticles assembled uniformly on the surface of polycaprolactone(PCL) nanofibers to form composite nanofibers through one step process. The maximal content of Ti element was 25.6%(mass fraction) in the PCL/TiO_(2) composite nanofibrous membrane, which exhibited hydrophilicity and excellent photodegradation under visible light in water. The Rhodamine B dye degraded 96.17% in 120 min under visible light by the PCL/TiO_(2) composite membrane. The adsorption behavior fitted Langmuir model well and indicated chemical related adsorption. This PCL/TiO_(2) composite nanofibrous membrane has super degradation properties and displays great application potential to environmental protection.