Sustainability Commons^™

Comparison Of Models For Predicting The Floor Failure Depths Of Coal Seams With Moderate Thicknesses And Above Under Fully Mechanized Mining, Xu Bin, Zhong Cen, Dong Shuning, Yin Shangxian, Wang Hao, Li Shuxia, Du Yongwei, Zhang Kebin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The failure depth of a coal seam floor represents a critical parameter for assessing the risk of floor water inrushes. With the widespread application of fully mechanized mining with a large mining height, existing empirical equations suffer from insufficient accuracy when used to calculate the mining-induced floor failure depths of coal seams with moderate thicknesses and above.Methods Based on the compressive strength of coal seam floors (i.e., hard, moderately hard, and weak floors), 107 sets of data samples of the measured floor failure depths of coal seams with moderate thicknesses and above under fully mechanized mining were classified. …

Post-Grouting Subsidence Of The Overburden In Goaves At Major Engineering Sites: Fiber Optic Monitoring And Deformation Mechanisms, Cao Xiaoyi, Liu Xiaoping, Liu Haoqi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The characteristics and mechanisms of residual deformations in goaves after engineering reinforcement (i.e., grouting filling) concern the design, construction, and long-term safety of major engineering projects. Furthermore, they are identified as the key to the efficient development of abandoned land in goaves within old mining areas. Therefore, it is necessary to explore methods and techniques for monitoring post-grouting subsidence of the entire strata in goaves. This will help acquire high-quality, long-term monitoring data on deformation in the field and reveal the mechanisms behind deformation associated with post-grouting subsidence in goaves.Methods This study investigated the Xiaohegou Bridge site (including …

Beyond The Survey: Performance Assessments For Higher-Order Sustainability Literacy In Higher Education, Gregory Vincent Massara, Courtney B. Ryan, Mary Ellen Mallia

Educational Policy & Leadership Other Graduate Student Scholarship

Purpose This study explores how a performance-based assessment measures students’ higher-order sustainability competencies in ways that multiple-choice or scaled-survey tools, common ways to assess sustainability literacy, may not.

Design/Methodology/Approach This exploratory case study created a performance task for a first-year honors writing and critical inquiry course. Students (n=9) analyzed a scenario across environmental, social, and economic domains. A rubric measured students’ abilities to address all three domains and articulate a feasible and balanced solution supported by credible evidence.

Findings Students demonstrated proficiency in defining the three sustainability domains but tended to struggle to balance them. Choosing scenarios in familiar local …

Combatting Desertification Scientifically: Where Feasible, Where Necessary, Bojie Fu, Yanxu Liu, Shuai Wang, Yijia Wang, Guipeng Cui, Yue Guo

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

China has made remarkable achievements in combating desertification, achieving “zero net growth” in land degradation. With the goal of scientifically improving the relationship between humans and nature in drylands, the continuous exploration of new concepts, methods, and pathways for scientific desertification control will contribute to advancing the harmony between humans and nature in China’s drylands. Based on the definitions of desertification, ecological restoration baselines, and the contributions of nature to humans, we clarified the scientific implications of “controlling desertification where it is feasible and necessary”. We discussed the shift in China’s desertification prevention and control direction from “humans advancing while …

The International Decade Of Sciences For Sustainable Development: Global Progress And China’S Actions, Lin Wang, Shaofeng Hu, Fan Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD, 2024–2033) was officially launched by the United Nations in 2024, with the aim of strengthening and demonstrating the central role of science in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This study systematically reviews the development of IDSSD, its governance structure, mechanisms for project solicitation and endorsement, as well as the thematic and regional distribution of endorsed initiatives. On this basis, it assesses China’s current participation and potential opportunities. During the first call for initiatives, IDSSD received 221 proposals from 52 countries, with 109 …

Construction Of Emerging Contaminants Risk Governance System, Cheng Li, Mingcheng Wang, Chunlei Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Emerging contaminants pose considerable risks to the ecological environment, human health, and social safety. The establishment of an emerging contaminants risk governance system constitutes a crucial component of the national ecological security strategy and the ecological civilization framework in the new era. When examined through the lens of the holistic view of national security and guided by the ecological civilization philosophy of the new era, China’s current efforts in managing emerging contaminants reveal several shortcomings—including a fragmented and incomplete risk management system, as well as preliminary stages in chemical environmental management policies and related technologies. Therefore, grounded in national conditions …

Synergistic Strategies For Regional ‘Zero-Waste City’ Construction, Xiaolong Liu, Zongguo Wen, Yanyan Tang, Xiangwan Du

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

“Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development” emphasizes deepening cross-administrative cooperation, and improving mechanisms for inter-regional planning coordination, industrial collaboration, and benefit sharing to promote regional linked development. While China’s “zero-waste city” initiative has achieved remarkable results, its long-term sustainability necessitates a shift towards coordinated regional synergy. This requires establishing enduring mechanisms for collaborative solid waste governance that transcend governmental, hierarchical, and departmental boundaries. The ultimate goal is to optimize the allocation of waste treatment resources between neighboring and even non-adjacent regions, foster a …

Speleoco: An Open, Low-Cost Arduino Co₂ Datalogger For Cave Microclimate Monitoring, Christos Pennos, Dimitrios Christaras

International Journal of Speleology

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) dynamics in caves are critical for karst processes, speleothem growth and dissolution, microclimate regulation, and caver safety. In cave atmospheres, CO₂ commonly derives from soil respiration, epikarst degassing, microbial activity, and, in tectonically active regions, deep-seated fault-related emissions. Fault-related CO₂ degassing may also track tectonic activity. However, continuous monitoring remains limited due to the cost and inflexibility of commercial instruments. Here we present an open-source, low-cost Arduino-based CO₂ datalogger designed for cave applications. The logger integrates a COZIR NDIR CO₂ sensor, a DS1337 real-time clock, microSD storage, and power-gating for extended deployment in humid environments. Firmware and …

Analysis Of Traditional Wisdom For Ecological Sustainability In Tanzania: A Case Study Of Metaphorical Source Domains In Pangwa Ritual Texts, Winne Stephen Mtega, Angelus Mnenuka

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Campaigns for ecological sustainability have gained a great currency in the contemporary academic discourse. Nonetheless, from time immemorial, Africans have pushed the ecological sustainability agenda through cultural taboos and regulated resource harvesting. Many African societies have embedded ecological consciousness in daily life expressions, and have intricately expressed it through literary and ritual texts. This study focuses on ecological awareness in the ritual texts of the Pangwa community. It analyses how environmental domains—such as land, seeds, and fruits—serve as the basis for metaphors in the Pangwa community to prove the use of wisdom to promote and sustain ecological practices (ecocriticism). The …

Digital Transformation And Esg Performance In China: The Mediating Role Of Green Innovation, Zhou Yanyu

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study explores the relationship between digital transformation and ESG performance in Chinese A-share listed companies, focusing on the mediating role of green innovation. From the view of resource-based theory, the digital transformation is found to the first enhances ESG performance and how green innovation serves as a key transmission mechanism. Using fixed-effects regression analysis based on 6,763 firm-year observations from 2015 to 2023. The empirical results indicate that digital transformation improves ESG performance by fostering green innovation, which in turn partially mediates this effect. These findings provide theoretical insights on how digital capabilities drive corporate sustainability and offer practical …

Peruvian Pinniped Teeth Trace Element Data-Tracking Ecosystem Variabilites Through Trace Element Record Found In Peruvian Pinniped Dentin, Dimitrios Giarikos, Amy Hirons, Ally E. Sheehan, Radleigh Santos

SECLER Data

The South American sea lion (Otaria byronia; SASL) and the Peruvian fur seal (Arctocephalus australis; PFS) are apex predators within the Humboldt Current ecosystem, where population dynamics respond to both natural variability and anthropogenic pressures, including El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events and coastal mining. This study quantified 18 trace elements (TEs) in canine dentin from both species collected at Punta San Juan, Peru using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to evaluate long-term environmental exposure. Because dentin is deposited incrementally, it preserves a chronological chemical archive reflecting ontogenetic shifts in diet and habitat use. Overall, TE concentrations were broadly similar …

Identifying Priorities To Guide Extension Water Quality Programming In Utah, Clare Entwistle, Sarah Erwin, Stephanie Vaughn

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension water quality faculty conducted a statewide water quality needs assessment to identify priority contaminants and resource gaps. The results found that elevated nutrient levels and sedimentation were the top concerns where additional resources would be beneficial. In addition, insufficient funding for improvements and low public engagement were identified as key challenges in addressing water quality issues. Results revealed current unmet needs with regional variation to inform Extension resource allocation and programming.

Automated Machine Learning For High-Resolution Daily And Hourly Methane Emission Mapping For Rice Paddies Over South Korea: Integrating Modis, Era5-Land, And Soil Data, Jiah Jang, Seung Hee Kim, Menas Kafatos, Jaeil Cho, Gayoung Yoo, Sujong Jeong, Yangwon Lee

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Agriculture is a major global source of methane (CH4), and accurate emission estimates are essential for refining national greenhouse gas inventories and supporting climate-resilient policies. This study develops a high-resolution estimation framework for CH4 emissions from Korean rice paddies by integrating multi-source datasets, including Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis Version 5 (ERA5)-Land meteorological variables, and Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) soil properties. Using CH4 flux observations from four global rice ecosystems (Italy, Japan, South Korea, and USA), we constructed parallel daily and hourly machine learning models using an automated machine …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Transformer-Driven Intelligent Prediction For The Time-Series Features Of Mine Pressure In Fully Mechanized Mining Face, Du Feng, Chen Bo, Wang Wenqiang, Pu Hai, Du Xueming, Li Guodong, Qiao Rui, Li Xinlei, Xu Jie, Cao Yu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Mine pressure prediction represents an important means for early warning and management of disasters in coal seam roofs, serving as the prerequisite and foundation for safe production in intelligent mines. However, the complex and variable conditions of fully mechanized mining face lead to significant variations in the distribution of support pressure data acquired using electro-hydraulic control systems, complicating mine pressure prediction. Methods This study developed a Transformer-based mine pressure prediction model. Specifically, missing mine pressure data were filled using linear interpolation, and the data structure of mine pressure was adjusted using a sliding window algorithm. Based on the time-series …

Mechanisms Behind Permeability Enhancement Of Coal Reservoirs Induced By Electro-Chemical Composite Energy Pulse Fracturing, Meng Bingbing, Cao Yunxing, Duan Hongfei, Zhang Xinsheng, Zhao Lijuan, Shi Bin, Yu Guofeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Electro-chemical composite energy pulse fracturing (ECCE-PF) technology (i.e., the electrical explosion of metal wires igniting energetic materials) can effectively change the pore structure of coal reservoirs and enhance coal seam permeability. Elucidating the mechanisms behind the influence of this technology on both the scales of modified coal pores/fractures and methane desorption pattern can provide a theoretical basis for the wide application of this technology to coal seam permeability enhancement. Methods This study investigated coal samples from the Zhangcun Coal Mine in the Lu’an coal mining area, Shanxi Province. Using a self-developed ECCE-PF experimental platform, an experimental study was conducted …

Development Potential Of The Ucg-Eg Industry In Guizhou Province, China, Wang Lingxia, Zhou Ze, Yi Tongsheng, Qin Yong, Yang Lei, Kong Weimin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods This study aims to promote the sustainable development of the underground coal gasification (UCG) industry and to extend the industrial chain of syngas development and utilization. To this end, this study analyzed the UCG-electricity generation (UCG-EG) potential of Guizhou Province based on the evaluation results of resources allowing UCG and the current status of energy and electric power structures of this province. A 3D analytical principle model for UCG-EG industry scenarios in Guizhou was constructed through scenario modelling. Using this model, the prospects of the UCG industry under low, medium, high, and ultra-high scenarios were quantitatively depicted. …

Advances In Research On Enrichment Of Major Metallic Elements Within Coals In Coal-Accumulating Basins Across Xinjiang, China, Ning Shuzheng, Wang Xiaoxia, Huang Shaoqing, Yan Xiaoyun, Xu Xiaotao, Zhang Jianqiang, Zhang Li, Hou Yuehua

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Xinjiang serves as an important coal production base in northwestern China. This region holds approximately 40% of China’s predicted coal reserves, with its coal resources primarily distributed in coal-accumulating basins such as Junggar, Yili, Tuha, and Santanghu.Methods Focusing on strategic metals (e.g., lithium, rare earth elements, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, and tantalum), hazardous metals (e.g., arsenic, mercury, and sodium), radioactive metals (e.g., uranium and thorium), and other heavy metals (e.g., iron and manganese), this study explored the enrichment mechanisms and metallogenic potential of these metallic elements in coals across representative coal-accumulating basins in Xinjiang.Advances The metallic element enrichment …

Factors Influencing Productivity And Production System Optimization For Deep Coalbed Methane In The Daning-Jixian Block, Ordos Basin, Zhao Haifeng, Jia Zhaojie, Chen Mengqi, Yang Ziyi, Wang Bin, Lin Hongliang, Yang Yanfeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Deep coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs are characterized by ultra-low porosity, ultra-low permeability, and super saturation, rendering it impractical to copy the productivity models of shallow coalbed methane and shale gas. Furthermore, the production performance of deep CBM varies significantly across different well sections. However, the impacts of different factors on the productivity of deep CBM remain poorly understood. This study conducted a numerical simulation analysis of the productivity of deep CBM in the Daning-Jixian block along the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin based on the geological characteristics of the block, aiming to explore the impacts of various key …

Research Progress And Prospects Of High-Salinity Mine Water Storage In Deep Strata, Xue Jiankun, Wang Shuangming, Zhang Pingsong, Wang Xiaodong, Zhou Zhenfang, Wang Tiantian, Zhang Quan, Xu Shi'ang, Wang Zhizhou

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background High-salinity mine water (HSMW) is widely distributed in mining areas in western China, while its discharge and treatment pose severe challenges to both the ecosystem and resource utilization. In recent years, HSMW storage in deep strata has gained widespread attention as an environmentally friendly and resource-saving approach for mine water treatment.Advances Focusing on the general characteristics of HSMW, this study systematically reviewed the key scientific issues and technical bottlenecks associated with HSMW storage in deep strata, highlighting its principles, technical classification, and engineering application. It comprehensively elucidated the applicability boundaries of this technology, involving the core links such …