Sustainability Commons^™

Tropical Hydrology And Critical Infrastructure In The Caribbean: The Impact Of The Prwreri, Walter F. Silva

Sustainability Seminar Series

The Caribbean region is prone to natural hazards including hurricanes, floods, landslides and droughts. These natural phenomena carries impacts in the society, the infrastructure and the economy of this region. Puerto Rico was impacted by two major destructive hurricanes in 2017 (Hurricane Maria) and in 2022 (Hurricane Fiona). The consequences are still seen, and recovery is undergoing Rural communities struggle to maintain essential services operating 24/7; however, there is much to be done to have robust and resilient communities in Puerto Rico. Efforts to increase resilience and reduce risk are performed by several groups, including a collaborative project between Montclair …

Modern Governance System For Global Sustainable Development Goals, Bojie Fu, Jinghai Li, Junze Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as a key global framework for addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges, have drawn widespread attention due to the slow progress in their implementation. Despite the international community’s high regard for the SDGs, current research predominantly focuses on the assessment of progress and the analysis of interlinkages among the goals, with insufficient discussion on how to improve governance systems aimed at achieving the SDGs. Based on the system classification framework of SDGs, which includes “essential needs”, “objectives,” and “governance” categories, this study develops a governance system for the comprehensive realization of the SDGs. It analyzes …

Ecological View And Practice Of Chinese Path To Modernization, Yue Shi, Jiangling Zhu, Jingyun Fang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Chinese path to modernization is characterized by emphasizing the harmony between humanity and nature. It upholds the principles of respecting, obeying, and protecting nature to achieve a coordinated integration of economic development and ecological conservation. This ecological view stems from China’s modernization practices, aligns with universal principles of modernization, and roots in features that are unique to China. It stresses a correct understanding of the human–nature relationship, the importance of systematic ecological planning and the central role of ecosystems in ecological conservation, and the necessity of following the laws of nature. Drawing on the experiences and lessons from Western …

Upholding “Triple Real” Vision For Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions To Advance Global Climate Governance, Nianzhi Jiao, Chuanlun Zhang, Tingwei Luo, Jihua Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Addressing climate change is a formidable challenge for humanity, and achieving the temperature control goals of the Paris Agreement cannot rely solely on greenhouse gas emission reductions—negative emissions are an inevitable solution. The ocean, as the planet’s largest active carbon reservoir, holds immense potential for negative emissions, yet there is no internationally recognized pathway to realize it. The UNESCO-IOC international program of Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (ONCE) builds on the original theory of the microbial carbon pump (MCP) and integrates known ocean carbon sequestration mechanisms BCMS (standing for biological carbon pump, carbonate counter pump, MCP, solubility carbon pump) to propose …

International Game And Strategic Analysis Of China’S Methane Emission Control, Zixu Su, Xinhe Bao

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Against the backdrop of methane emission control becoming a hot spot in global climate governance, China, as a major methane emitter, has committed to announcing its 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions covering all greenhouse gases before COP30, drawing significant attention from the world. In order to systematically analyze the international dynamics and China’s response strategies in methane emission control, this article explains the necessity and urgency of methane mitigation based on the current situation of global methane emission, and also clarifies essential meaning of international game to reveal China’s challenge and opportunity amid the backlash against globalization. Besides, it sorts out …

Carbon Emission Estimation For Computing Infrastructure: Methods, Progress, And Prospects, Xiaohong Chen, Liaoying Cao, Yangjie Wang, Zhuqian He, Wenzhi Cao

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As a foundational pillar of an increasingly digital and intelligent society, computing infrastructure embodies a dual nature—marked by high energy consumption and potential for emission reduction simultaneously. This duality positions it as a critical domain requiring balance under China’s dual-carbon goals. Nevertheless, there remains no clear consensus on methods for estimating its carbon emissions. Its ambiguity stems from differences in the applicability of assessment methods across various lifecycle stages, as well as a fragmented understanding of its intrinsic emissions and enabling effects on carbon mitigation. This study systematically reviews estimation methodologies from both broad and narrow perspectives, highlighting the heterogeneity …

Inter-Provincial Spatial Coupling Of Paddy Fields In China Has Accelerated The Water Consumption, Wenguang Chen, Wencai Zhang, Ming Lei, Ruqian Zhang, Zhenting Zhao, Enyi Xie, Jing Zhao, Xiangbin Kong

I-GUIDE Forum

Rice trade has played a significant role in ensuring global rice consumption security. However, the spatial coupling of paddy fields based on rice trade can also transfer ecological environmental effects and threaten the sustainability of local systems. As the largest rice producer and consumer in the world, as well as one of the countries with the lowest per capita water resources, studying the inter-provincial rice flow in China and its water resource utilization efficiency is of great significance for ensuring national rice security and water resource security. Research has found that, China's rice consumption decreased by 11.97 Mt from 2000 …

Sustainable Cities; A Case Study Analysis Of Chesapeake, Va, Blaizen B. Bloom

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper is a case study analysis of the City of Chesapeake, VA. Its purpose is to examine the influence between the City's actions and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, an analysis of future climate change impacts on the City of Chesapeake and the Chesapeake Bay in building an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable City.

Anthropogenic Impacts On Aquatic Organisms, Alexis Khursigara

Sustainability Seminar Series

Aquatic environments are often dynamic, experiencing shifts in a multitude of anthropogenic stressors related to climate change and contaminant loads. Aquatic organisms, such as fish and invertebrates, must cope with these changes that can be rapid or gradual, acute or chronic, and often co-occurring. Understanding how well aquatic organisms tolerate these shifts is imperative for management practices. In this presentation, Dr. Khursigara will discuss how different anthropogenic stressors alter the physiology and behavior of multiple fish and aquatic invertebrate species.

Sustainable Aquaculture And Youth Membership, Stephen Hughes

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Steven Hughes of Cheyney University discusses Sustainable Aquaculture and Youth Mentorship

"The Words We Do Not Yet Have." A Creative Inquiry Into Human-Plant Relationships, Maliheh Ghajargar

Art Faculty Articles and Research

Climate change, loss of plant biodiversity, and ocean pollution signal the drastic changes in our ecology that call us to attend to the needs of more than human forms of life on Earth. Sustainable design and HCI research are responding to this call by offering methods and approaches to design more sustainable products and systems and recently, more than human design is building momentum. This agenda seeks to reform traditional design processes by decentering the creative agency of the dominant socio-economical group of humans and foregrounding those of diverse Others. In this paper, I focus on plants as a nonhuman …

Operation And Management Of A Modern Park And Recreation System, Christopher Sullivan

Sustainability Seminar Series

The talk will focus on the various operational divisions which comprise most park and recreation agencies and how they work together to provide a modern park and recreation system to visitors, along with the common management challenges which face park and recreation agencies. On average, the Passaic County Department of Parks and Recreation employs 75 permanent employees and 113 seasonal. The department provides various recreation and environmental education activities throughout the year for all age levels, including a comprehensive K-5 elementary school based environmental education program which educates approximately 1,200 children per year and is available to all public and …

Voter Registration, Education, And The Connection To Sustainability, Office Of Sustainability, Shay Gillespie, Abigail Thomas

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Shay Gillespie, Associate Director, Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact, and Abigail Thomas, Sustainability Peer Educator, discuss voter registration, education, and its connections to sustainability. Included are also two PowerPoint presentations with supplementary data.

Proceedings Of Wmu Maritime Week 2024 Beyond Horizons : Maritime Sustainability, World Maritime University, Korea Maritime Institute, Korea Research Institute Of Ships And Ocean Engineering

WMU Maritime Week 2024 Beyond Horizons: Maritime Sustainability

This proceedings is the output of the WMU Maritime Week 2024 Conference, which was held from August 27 to 30, 2024, at WMU in Malmö. As the first conference of WMU Maritime Week, it focused on themes such as the IMO World Maritime Day theme 2024: 'Navigating the Future: Safety First!', Maritime Sustainability, Digitalization, Decarbonization, Maritime Business and Logistics, and Capacity Development. A total of 42 experts in these fields presented across 8 sessions. This proceeding provides a summary of the presentations from all the speakers.

Using Catholic Social Thought And The Normativity Of The Future In Responding To The Super Wicked Problem Of Climate Change, Stephanie Ann Yu Puen

Theology Department Faculty Publications

The climate crisis has been dubbed a “super wicked problem”—one where there is a sense of urgency, complicity in the problem by those who wish to solve it, and difficulty in sacrificing the short term for the long term. To respond to the difficulty of long-term thinking in addressing super wicked problems as part of SDG 13 (Climate Action), there is a need to pay attention to the narratives, norms, and values at work, and how we employ these categories in climate action. This paper discusses how Catholic social thought and the concept of the normativity of the future can …

Red Fox, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information on the red fox in Western Australia (WA).

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a native of the northern hemisphere where it occurs throughout most of Europe, Asia, North America, and the northern coast of Africa. The red fox was first introduced to Australia (Victoria) from Britain as early as 1845 for hunting with foxhounds. Having become successfully established in Victoria by about 1870, it colonised most of mainland Australia over the next 70 years. Foxes are not found in the most northern regions of Australia, including northwest Kimberley.

In WA, the fox is a declared …

Assessing Millennial, Centennial, And Decadal Sea-Level Changes In China: Is It Unprecedented Now?, Yucheng Lin

Sustainability Seminar Series

The coastline of China, home to over 300 million residents, is among the most densely populated regions in the world. Understanding the mechanisms driving sea-level evolution from the geological past to the modern era is essential for evaluating sea-level variability, quantifying the potential human impact on sea-level changes, and informing future coastal infrastructure planning. In this talk, I will discuss the use of geological records to reconstruct the drivers of past sea-level changes. These reconstructions will be compared with modern instrumental records to determine whether recent sea-level changes fall within the bounds of natural variability or are indeed unprecedented.

Satellite Observations Indicate That Chia Uses Less Water Than Other Crops In Warm Climates, Brian Kirsch, Joshua B. Fisher, Thomas Piechota, Mohammad Hassani, Diego C. Suardiaz, Radhika Puri, Joseph Cahill, Hagop S. Atamian

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Many parts of the world face severe and prolonged drought conditions, stressing the sustainability of water resources and agriculture. Transitioning to water-efficient crops is one strategy that can help adapt to water scarcity. An emerging drought-tolerant crop of interest is chia (Salvia hispanica). Yet, no study has compared its large-scale water use dynamics to those of widely established crops across the globe. Here, we use satellite data over multiple years to assess the water use efficiency of chia, alfalfa, corn, and soybean globally. Results show that chia consumed 13-38% less water than alfalfa, corn, and soy and assimilated …

Impacts Of Climate Change In The United States, Nathan T. Thompson

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Climate change, a shift in long-term climate patterns primarily driven by anthropogenic factors, poses a super wicked problem impacting every sector and region globally, including the United States. This paper explores the scientific basis of climate change, its contributing factors, and the myriad consequences on terrestrial and aquatic systems, as well as mental health. Notably, the emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels and agricultural activities is the primary cause, exacerbated by ideological division and psychological distance. The U.S. has seen some progress with a 7% decrease in emissions over the past 30 years and a growing shift toward renewable …

Environmental Justice And Social Work: A Study Across Practice Settings In Three U.S. States, Lisa Reyes Mason, Sierra Roach Coye, Smitha Rao, Amy Krings, Julia Santucci

Graduate School of Social Work: Faculty Scholarship

Environmental justice is essential for improved quality of life and sustainable wellbeing. This study examines how environmental issues and related injustices are surfacing in U.S. social work practice and social work readiness to respond, and what resources social workers are most interested in. Data are from an online survey of U.S. social workers (N = 337) in Colorado, Ohio, and Tennessee. Participants answered questions about their social work background, current job, environmental issues in practice, resources, and demographics. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. For nine issues, at least 30% of participants reported these as surfacing sometimes or often, with …

Policies And Programs For Water-Wise Residential Landscaping In Utah, Charlotte Clark, Kendall Becker, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Water-wise landscaping is the practice of using plants in a landscape that are adapted to local conditions and only need small amounts of water. Converting yards to water-wise landscaping conserves water and is a climate adaptation action residents can take to benefit Utah as temperatures rise and drought becomes more common. Many policies and programs in Utah help residents use water conscientiously and make changes. This fact sheet provides information regarding current and future water-wise landscaping policies and programs in Utah.

Geological Support Technology Framework System For Mining Induced Hazards And Damage Reduction Mining Of Geological Conditions In Western Mining Area, Wang Shuangming, Sun Qiang, Geng Jishi, Yuan Shihao, Gu Chao, Yang Duoxing, Niu Chao, Lu Tuo, Guo Chen, Zhang Huanlan, Huang Haiyu, Shi Qingmin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Coals, as the main energy in China for the long term, secure the basic needs for energy development in China. However, large-scale, intense coal mining damages the geologic environment of coal mining areas, as well as inducing hazards such as water inrushes and rock bursts. Methods To overcome the challenges in geological security through the prediction and early warning of damage to geologic environments and damage-reducing mining faced by safe, efficient coal mining, this study, based on the interdisciplinary characteristics of the geological security, highlighted the hazard control mechanisms and mining-inducing hazard patterns of geological conditions, underscored the whole-space-time …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Pillar Wall Angles Of Karst Collapse Pillars In The Xishan Coalfield: Characteristics And Implications, Zhao Jingui, Wang Jiangwei, Yang Gaofeng, Guo Mintai

Coal Geology & Exploration

Significance As coal mining expands into deep parts, karst collapse pillars have become one of the most concealed disaster-causing geological factors in coal mining from mines in North China. The pillar wall angle of a collapse pillar serves as an important index used to describe the morphology of the collapse pillar. Methods and Results With 265 karst collapse pillars cut by the fully mechanized mining of the upper and lower coal seams in the Xishan coalfield as the data source, this study extracted the geological information contained in the pillar wall angles of karst collapse pillars in the Xishan coalfield …

R&D And Application Of An Experimental System For Coal Permeability Enhancement Through Resonance Under The Excitation Of Low-Frequency Vibration, Wen Zhihui, Guo Shuqian, Wei Jianping, Zhang Tiegang, Wang Jianwei, Zhang Libo, Ren Yongjie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective As an emerging green, efficient method for enhancing coal permeability, coal resonance under the excitation of vibration waves works by stimulating the development of pores and fractures in coals using the stress waves generated by low-frequency vibration. To investigate the impacts of excitation frequency, stress field, and resonance effect on permeability enhancement, as well as exploring the mechanisms behind coal permeability enhancement using the method, this study independently designed and developed an experimental system. Methods The system, consisting of a mainframe control unit, a coal-sample clamping unit, a vibrational excitation unit, and a coal vibration parameter monitoring unit, allows …

A Tin-Gtp Algorithm-Based Technique For 3d Geological Modeling Of Coal Mines, Wang Xiaohui, Liu Zaibin, Zhang Dongliang, Ma Liang, Chen Baohui, Lei Xiaorong, Bai Baojun, Yan Junsheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background A 3D geological model of a coal mine serves as an essential prerequisite to guiding the safe and efficient production of coal mines, holding great significance for precise coal mining and geological guarantee. Especially in complex geologic conditions, the failure of geological models to accurately describe the relationship between structures and strata will affect the mining area planning, mining processes, and production efficiency during the production of coal mines. Methods With the Qipanjing Coal Mine in the Zhuozishan Coalfield, Inner Mongolia, as an example, this study investigated the technology for high-accuracy 3D geological modeling of coal mines based on …

Accumulation Mechanisms And Resource Potential Of Helium In Coal Measures: A Case Study Of The Eastern Margin Of The Ordos Basin, Liu Xiangbai, Tao Shizhen, Yang Xiuchun, Zhao Qun, Chen Yanyan, Liu Ziyang, Pei Xiangbing, Wang Longfei, Yi Wei, Feng Jianqiu, Zhang Tan, Gao Jianrong, Tao Xiaowan, Liu Zhuangxiaoxue, Li Chaozheng, Yang Yiqing, Chen Yue

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Helium, with advantages such as stable chemical properties and high thermal conductivity, has been extensively applied in high-tech sectors like national defense, military, aviation, and aerospace, playing an irreplaceable role. Presently, helium in China is primarily imported from other countries, manifesting a high degree of dependence on foreign trade, suggesting a prominent issue concerning helium resource security. Previous studies on helium principally focus on conventional natural gas, rendering helium in coal measures relatively under-studied. Objective and Methods To determine the distribution and potential of helium resources in coal measures, this study analyzed the coal-measure gas sampled from the eastern …

Coal Permeability Enhancement Via Cyclic Percussion Using Low-Temperature Liquid Co2 And High-Temperature Water Vapor And Simulations Of Resultant Gas Drainage Performance, Qin Lei, Wang Ping, School Of Civil And Resource Engineering, University Of Science And Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China Shugang, Wang Hui, Liu Pengfei, Li Jiawei, Lin Haifei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In the application of the coal seam permeability enhancement technique based on liquid CO₂, pore water in coal seams freezes due to low temperatures, blocking pathways for gas migration. Hence, this study developed a technique for coal permeability enhancement through cyclic percussion using low-temperature liquid CO₂ and high-temperature water vapor (also referred to as the cyclic cold and hot percussion). Methods This study delved into the permeability evolutionary patterns of coals under cyclic cold and hot percussion using a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, an automatic coal permeability tester, a contact angle tester, and 3D …

Deep Beam Theory-Based Mechanical Analysis Of Water-Resisting Key Strata Of Coal Seam Floors In A Deep Mining Environment, Wang Bingwen, Zha Wenhua, Lu Haifeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective An increase in the mining depth of mines poses a more serious threat from highly confined karst water, resulting in water hazards like water inflow and inrushes on the mining faces of coal seams. The key content used to address this issue is to analyze the water pressure resistance of the water-resisting key stratum of the coal seam floor in a deep mining environment. Methods This study simplified a water-resisting key stratum into a rock beam model and then dealt with this model using the deep beam theory in the prediction of water inrushes in deep mining. Specifically, by …

Fracture Mechanical Criteria And Simulation Of Floors With Y-Shaped Branches Of Major Faults In Coal Mines, Li Ang, Sun Jingxin, Zhang Wenzhong, Zhang Zhuang, Yang Yuxuan, Wang Weidong, Lyu Wei, Fan Liuyi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Despite wide distribution, the branches of major faults (also referred to as the fault branches) tend to be overlooked. However, they represent one of the primary causes of water inrush. Methods Under the engineering geological background of the Liuzhuang coal mine in Anhui Province, this study established a fracture mechanical disaster model for fault branches under the impacts of both seepage and stress based on the criteria for compression-shear fracture of rock masses considering the Mohr-Coulomb criterion. Using this model, this study obtained the critical water pressure and the minimum safe distance between the fault branch and the floor's …