Contrasting impacts of fertilization on topsoil and subsoil greenhouse gas fluxes in a thinned Chinese fir plantation.

Globally, forest soils are considered as important sources and sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, most studies on forest soil GHG fluxes are confined to the topsoils (above 20 cm soil depths), with only very limited information being available regarding these fluxes in the subsoils (below 20 cm soil depths), especially in managed forests. This limits deeper understanding of the relative contributions of different soil depths to GHG fluxes and global warming potential (GWP). Here, we used a concentration gradient-based method to comprehensively investigate the effects of thinning intensity (15% vs. 35%) and nutrient addition (no fertilizer vs. NPK fertilizers) on soil GHG fluxes from the 0-40 cm soil layers at 10 cm depth intervals in a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation. Results showed that forest soils were the sources of CO2 and N2O, but the sinks of CH4. Soil GHG fluxes decreased with increasing soil depth, with the 0-20 cm soil layers identified as the dominant producers of CO2 and N2O and consumers of CH4. Thinning intensity did not significantly affect soil GHG fluxes. However, fertilization significantly increased CO2 and N2O emissions and CH4 uptake at 0-20 cm soil layers, but decreased them at 20-40 cm soil layers. This is because fertilization alleviated microbial N limitation and decreased water filled pore space (WFPS) in topsoils, while it increased WFPS in subsoils, ultimately suggesting that soil WFPS and N availability (especially NH4+-N) were the predominant regulators of GHG fluxes along soil profiles. Generally, there were positive interactive effects of thinning and fertilization on soil GHG fluxes. Moreover, the 35% thinning intensity without fertilization had the lowest GWP among all treatments. Overall, our results suggest that fertilization may not only cause depth-dependent effects on GHG fluxes within soil profiles, but also impede efforts to mitigate climate change by promoting GHG emissions in managed forest plantations.

Effects of warming on rice production and metabolism process associated with greenhouse gas emissions.

Evaluating the impact of global warming on rice production and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is critical for ensuring food security and mitigating the consequences of climate change. Nonetheless, the impacts of warming on crop production, GHG emissions, and microbial mechanisms in the single-cropping rice systems remain unclear. Here, a two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of warming (increased by 2.7-3.0 °C on average) in the rice growing season on crop production and functional microorganisms associated with GHG emissions. Results showed that warming resulted in significant reduction (p < 0.01) in the aboveground biomass and grain yield as well as in grain weight, the number of spikelets per panicle, and the seed-setting rate. However, it caused a significant increase (p < 0.01) in the number of panicles by 15.6 % and 34.9 %, respectively. Furthermore, warming significantly increased (p < 0.01) seasonal methane (CH4) emissions but reduced nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, particularly in 2022.The relative abundance of genes associated with CH4 metabolism and nitrogen metabolism was increased by 40.7 % and 32.7 %, respectively, in response to warming. Moreover, warming had a positive impact on the abundance of genes related to CH4 production and oxidation processes but did not affect the denitrification processes associated with N2O production. These results showed that warming decreased rice yield and biomass in the single cropping rice system but increased CH4 emissions and global warming potential. Taken together, to address the increasing food demand of a growing population and mitigate the impacts of global warming, it is imperative to duce GHG emissions and enhance crop yields.

Driving an ecological transformation: unleashing multi-objective optimization for hydrogenated compressed natural gas in a decarbonization perspective.

Integrating hydrogen with CNG is crucial for carbon neutrality and environmental goals, as it enhances flame temperature, reduces emissions, and combats global warming. This study employs the CHEMKIN tool to examine combustion characteristics, including adiabatic flame temperature, mole fraction, normalization, and production rate, in H2-CNG mixtures under various atmospheric and operating conditions. Blending 50% hydrogen with CNG results in significant changes, including a temperature increase from 2322 to 2344 K when the hydrogen content is at 50%. The introduction of hydrogen causes a notable 30-35% reduction in CH4 mole fraction and a simultaneous 26.6% increase in C-normalized CH4 production. Free radicals play a role in affecting CO2 production, with the normalization of CO species increasing from 0.068 to 0.087. Through NSGA-II multi-objective optimization methods, the study identifies a 50% H2-50% CNG blend as the optimal choice for thermal and environmental performance. The study explores the energy and environmental impacts of incorporating hydrogen into CNG-air combustion, with a specific focus on the effects of 50% H2 blending with CNG. Hydrogen blending benefits from elevated adiabatic flame temperature and increased free radical formation, ultimately leading to emission reduction. These findings firmly establish H2-CNG mixtures as promising environmentally friendly alternatives with superior combustion characteristics. Their potential paves the way for significant progress towards achieving carbon neutrality and combating climate change through cleaner, more efficient fuel options.

Healthcare in the era of climate change and the need for environmental sustainability.

ABSTRACT: Climate change is an existential threat to humanity. While the healthcare sector must manage the health-related consequences of climate change, it is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for up to 4.6% of global emission, aggravating global warming. Within the hospital environment, the three largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions are the operating theatre, intensive care unit and gastrointestinal endoscopy. Knowledge of the health-related burden of climate change and the potential transformative health benefits of climate action is important to all health professionals, as they play crucial roles in effecting change. This article summarises the available literature on the impact of healthcare on climate change and efforts in mitigation, focusing on the intrinsic differences and similarities across the operating theatre complex, intensive care unit and gastrointestinal endoscopy unit. It also discusses strategies to reduce carbon footprint.

Could soil microplastic pollution exacerbate climate change? A meta-analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential.

Microplastics pollution and climate change are primarily investigated in isolation, despite their joint threat to the environment. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are emitted during: the production of plastic and rubber, the use and degradation of plastic, and after contamination of environment. This is the first meta-analysis to assess underlying causal relationships and the influence of likely mediators. We included 60 peer-reviewed empirical studies; estimating GHGs emissions effect size and global warming potential (GWP), according to key microplastics properties and soil conditions. We investigated interrelationships with microbe functional gene expression. Overall, microplastics contamination was associated with increased GHGs emissions, with the strongest effect (60%) on CH4 emissions. Polylactic-acid caused 32% higher CO2 emissions, but only 1% of total GWP. Phenol-formaldehyde had the greatest (175%) GWP via 182% increased N2O emissions. Only polystyrene resulted in reduced GWP by 50%, due to N2O mitigation. Polyethylene caused the maximum (60%) CH4 emissions. Shapes of microplastics differed in GWP: fiber had the greatest GWP (66%) whereas beads reduced GWP by 53%. Films substantially increased emissions of all GHGs: 14% CO2, 10% N2O and 60% CH4. Larger-sized microplastics had higher GWP (125%) due to their 9% CO2 and 63% N2O emissions. GWP rose sharply if soil microplastics content exceeded 0.5%. Higher CO2 emissions, ranging from 4% to 20%, arose from soil which was either fine, saturated or had high-carbon content. Higher N2O emissions, ranging from 10% to 95%, arose from soils that had either medium texture, saturated water content or low-carbon content. Both CO2 and N2O emissions were 43%-56% higher from soils with neutral pH. We conclude that microplastics contamination can cause raised GHGs emissions, posing a risk of exacerbating climate-change. We show clear links between GHGs emissions, microplastics properties, soil characteristics and soil microbe functional gene expression. Further research is needed regarding underlying mechanisms and processes.

Foraging habits of Northwest Atlantic hooded seals over the past 30 years: Future habitat suitability under global warming.

The Arctic is a global warming 'hot-spot' that is experiencing rapid increases in air and ocean temperatures and concomitant decreases in sea ice cover. These environmental changes are having major consequences on Arctic ecosystems. All Arctic endemic marine mammals are highly dependent on ice-associated ecosystems for at least part of their life cycle and thus are sensitive to the changes occurring in their habitats. Understanding the biological consequences of changes in these environments is essential for ecosystem management and conservation. However, our ability to study climate change impacts on Arctic marine mammals is generally limited by the lack of sufficiently long data time series. In this study, we took advantage of a unique dataset on hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) movements (and serum samples) that spans more than 30 years in the Northwest Atlantic to (i) investigate foraging (distribution and habitat use) and dietary (trophic level of prey and location) habits over the last three decades and (ii) predict future locations of suitable habitat given a projected global warming scenario. We found that, despite a change in isotopic signatures that might suggest prey changes over the 30-year period, hooded seals from the Northwest Atlantic appeared to target similar oceanographic characteristics throughout the study period. However, over decades, they have moved northward to find food. Somewhat surprisingly, foraging habits differed between seals breeding in the Gulf of St Lawrence vs those breeding at the "Front" (off Newfoundland). Seals from the Gulf favoured colder waters while Front seals favoured warmer waters. We predict that foraging habitats for hooded seals will continue to shift northwards and that Front seals are likely to have the greatest resilience. This study shows how hooded seals are responding to rapid environmental change and provides an indication of future trends for the species-information essential for effective ecosystem management and conservation.

Reducing the carbon footprint of operating rooms through education on the effects of inhalation anesthetics on global warming: A retrospective study.

Environmental concerns, especially global warming, have prompted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Healthcare systems, including anesthesia practices, contribute to these emissions. Inhalation anesthetics have a significant environmental impact, with desflurane being the most concerning because of its high global warming potential. This study aimed to educate anesthesiologists on the environmental impact of inhalation anesthetics and assess changes in awareness and practice patterns, specifically reducing desflurane use. This study included data from patients who underwent surgery under general anesthesia 1 month before and after education on the effects of inhalation anesthetics on global warming. The primary endpoint was a change in inhalational anesthetic use. Secondary endpoints included changes in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, driving equivalent, and medical costs. After the education, desflurane use decreased by 50%, whereas sevoflurane use increased by 50%. This shift resulted in a reduction in the overall amount of inhalational anesthetics used. The total CO2e and driving-equivalent values decreased significantly. The cost per anesthesia case decreased, albeit to a lesser extent than expected. Education on the environmental impact of inhalation anesthetics has successfully altered anesthesiologists' practice patterns, leading to reduced desflurane usage. This change has resulted in decreased CO2e emissions and has had a positive effect on mitigating global warming. However, further research is required to assess the long-term impact of such education and the variability in practice patterns across different institutions.

Greenhouse gas emission characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural waste composting process: A review.

China, being a major agricultural nation, employs aerobic composting as an efficient approach to handle agricultural solid waste. Nevertheless, the composting process is often accompanied by greenhouse gas emissions, which are known contributors to global warming. Therefore, it is urgent to control the formation and emission of greenhouse gases from composting. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms underlying the production of nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide during the composting process of agricultural wastes. Additionally, it proposes an overview of the variables that affect greenhouse gas emissions, including the types of agricultural wastes (straw, livestock manure), the specifications for compost (pile size, aeration). The key factors of greenhouse gas emissions during composting process like physicochemical parameters, additives, and specific composting techniques (reuse of mature compost products, ultra-high-temperature composting, and electric-field-assisted composting) are summarized. Finally, it suggests directions and perspectives for future research. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for achieving carbon neutrality and promoting environmentally-friendly composting practices.

The science of climate change and the effect of anaesthetic gas emissions.

The dedication of the international anaesthetic community to reducing the environmental impact of healthcare is important and to be celebrated. When this is underpinned by robust science, it has the potential to make a real difference. However, volatile anaesthetic agents have been widely promoted in the medical literature as damaging to the climate, leading to a drive to remove them from clinical practice. This is based on notional 'CO2 -equivalent' values created using the simple emission metric known as the global warming potential. Here, we assert that when proper consideration is given to the science of climate change, volatile anaesthetic gas emissions cannot be simply equated to real carbon dioxide emissions, and that their climate impact is vanishingly small. This paper gives anaesthetists a framework to make informed choices founded on climate science and calls for attention to be refocused on the urgent need to reduce the real carbon dioxide emissions associated with healthcare.

Responses of greenhouse gas emissions to aeration coupled with functional membrane during industrial-scale composting of dairy manure: Insights into bacterial community composition and function.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manure management processes deserve more attention. Using three industrial-scale experiments, this study comprehensively evaluated the effects of different aeration coupled with semi-permeable membrane-covered strategies on the structure and function of bacterial communities and their impact on GHG emissions during dairy manure aerobic composting. The succession of the bacterial communities tended to be consistent for similar aeration strategies. Ruminiclostridium and norank_f__MBA03 were significantly positively correlated with the methane emission rate, and forced aeration coupled with semi-permeable membrane-covered decreased GHG emissions by inhibiting these taxa. Metabolism was the most active function of the bacterial communities, and its relative abundance accounted for 75.69%-80.23%. The combined process also enhanced carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Therefore, forced aeration coupled with semi-permeable membrane-covered represented a novel strategy for reducing global warming potential by regulating the structure and function of the bacterial communities during aerobic composting of dairy manure.

Ending extreme poverty has a negligible impact on global greenhouse gas emissions.

Growing consumption is both necessary to end extreme poverty1and one of the main drivers of greenhouse gas emissions2, creating a potential tension between alleviating poverty and limiting global warming. Most poverty reduction has historically occurred because of economic growth3-6, which means that reducing poverty entails increasing not only the consumption of people living in poverty but also the consumption of people with a higher income. Here we estimate the emissions associated with the economic growth needed to alleviate extreme poverty using the international poverty line of US $2.15 per day (ref. 7). Even with historical energy- and carbon-intensity patterns, the global emissions increase associated with alleviating extreme poverty is modest, at 2.37 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year or 4.9% of 2019 global emissions. Lower inequality, higher energy efficiency and decarbonization of energy can ease this tension further: assuming the best historical performance, the emissions for poverty alleviation in 2050 will be reduced by 90%. More ambitious poverty lines require more economic growth in more countries, which leads to notably higher emissions. The challenge to align the development and climate objectives of the world is not in reconciling extreme poverty alleviation with climate objectives but in providing sustainable middle-income standards of living.

Climate change and fluid status in children: early education as one response to an emerging public health problem.

OBJECTIVE: As global warming intensifies, residents of temperate regions will also face heat waves in the near future. Food habits are one component in addressing the global challenge of climate change. However, water, the most important food for humans, has not been adequately addressed. DESIGN: For this commentary, on the one hand, publications on the increasing heat stress of children were consulted. On the other hand, publications on the special demands of children's temperature regulation in hot environments on fluid balance were analysed. SETTING: The situation of young children in care facilities on days with heat stress is presented as a scenario. In this way, the effects of climatic changes on fluid balance can be estimated and measures to reduce heat stress and stabilise the fluid balance of children can be developed. PARTICIPANTS: For this analysis, first, infants will be considered in order to identify their specific fluid needs. Second, the possibilities for caregivers to improve fluid intake and train appropriate drinking habits already in infancy will be highlighted. RESULTS: Climate change should be included in recommendations on hydration for children. The need to adapt drinking habits requires educational approaches to weather and water - starting in early childhood care. CONCLUSIONS: In the face of rapid climate change, countries must act now by protecting, preparing and prioritising the high-risk group of children. Particular focus should be placed on supporting adequate hydration.

Effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the life cycle of biomass energy production and conversion under different straw recycling modes.

With the gradual growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the agricultural cultivation cycle, GHG emissions specific to the production and conversion of biomass energy is becoming increasingly problematic. Current studies lack analysis of net GHG emissions generated during full life cycle of agricultural cultivation, straw use and bioenergy production. This study measures the global warming potential of biomass energy production and conversion processes under different agricultural cultivation cycle systems based on life cycle approach, accompanied by four straw treatment methods: fast pyrolysis, slow pyrolysis, flash pyrolysis and anaerobic fermentation. The demonstration of Heilongjiang Province showed that the net GHG emissions of rice and soybean over 52.39% and 101.57% higher than those of corn, respectively. The amount of standard coal saved by fast pyrolysis treatment, slow pyrolysis treatment and anaerobic fermentation treatment of straw was only 38.38%, 78.02% and 61.98% of that of flash pyrolysis treatment. The relationship between environmental pressure and economic growth was decoupled during 2011-2017 and coupled in 2017-2020. This study contributes to green production of biomass energy. The methodology in this paper can be used to account for and assess the carbon effect of the entire straw recycling chain in any region.

How does global warming contribute to disorders originating from an impaired epithelial barrier?

The epithelial barrier represents the point of contact between the host and the external environment. It is the first line of defense against external insults in the skin and in the gastrointestinal and upper and lower respiratory tracts. The steep increase in chronic disorders in recent decades, including allergies and autoimmune disorders, has prompted studies to investigate the immune mechanisms of their underlying pathogeneses, all of which point to a thought-provoking shared finding: disrupted epithelial barriers. Climate change with global warming has increased the frequency of unpredictable extreme weather events, such as wildfires, droughts, floods, and aberrant and longer pollination seasons, among many others. These increasingly frequent natural disasters can synergistically damage the epithelial barrier integrity in the presence of environmental pollution. A disrupted epithelial barrier induces proinflammatory activation of epithelial cells and alarmin production, namely, epithelitis. The "opened" epithelial barrier facilitates the entry of the external exposome into and underneath the epithelium, triggering an expulsion response driven by inflammatory cells in the area and chronic inflammation. These changes are associated with microbial dysbiosis with colonizing opportunistic pathogens and decreased commensals. These cellular and molecular events are key mechanisms in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic inflammatory disorders. This review summarizes the impact of global warming on epithelial barrier functions in the context of allergic diseases. Further studies in the impact of climate change on the dysfunction of the epithelial barriers are warranted to improve our understanding of epithelial barrier-related diseases and raise awareness of the environmental insults that pose a threat to our health.

NOx Emissions Control Area (NECA) scenario for ports in the North Adriatic Sea.

In response to global warming, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) set rules of 50% Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction by 2050, from 2008 levels. Signatory countries to the IMO's regulation require frequent assessment of the contribution of GHG emissions from shipping calling at their ports or trading in their territorial waters to ensure their compliance with the regulations. This demands a rapid and accurate method to assess shipping's contribution to GHG emissions. Current methodologies for estimating emissions from ships can be described on a scale between bottom-up and top-down methods. Top-down methods provide rapid estimates - primarily based on fuel sales reports - without considering individual vessel details. Therefore, they are less accurate and do not provide a breakdown of emissions by ship types or in specific regions. Bottom-up methodologies are detailed vessel-based estimates; however, they are data and time-demanding. The Ship Emissions Assessment method (SEA) (Topic et al., 2021) fills the gap between bottom-up and top-down methods by providing an innovative hybrid solution for rapid but accurate ship emission estimation. It uses publicly available, cost-effective data sets for emission estimates. The SEA method is capable of estimating ships' emissions in designated areas to understand regulations' effectiveness and provide emission quantification evidence. This research objective was to apply the SEA method to quantify CO2, SOX and NOX exhaust emissions from containerships for the three crucial containership ports: Trieste, Rijeka and Venice, in the North of the Adriatic Sea. The SEA methodology was applied to assess emissions and forecast efficiency in scenarios of different regulatory measures. A reduction in NOx emissions was estimated for the event of the implementation of NECA in all three ports. Results showed that 447.13 tonnes of NOx could be reduced each year in the North Adriatic Sea area around the ports of Rijeka, Trieste and Venice in the event that NECA regulations are stipulated.

Trifluoroiodomethane as a Precursor to High Global Warming Potential Climate Pollutants: Could the Transformation of Climatically Benign CF3I into Potent Greenhouse Gases Significantly Increase Refrigerant-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

The transition away from the production and consumption of high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) has prompted air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat pump equipment manufacturers to seek alternative refrigerants with lower direct climate impacts. Additional factors affecting alternative refrigerant choice include safety (i.e., flammability and toxicity), environmental, and thermodynamic constraints. At the same time, manufacturers are incentivized to seek refrigerants with higher energy efficiency, which saves on electricity costs and reduces indirect greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. The life cycle climate performance (LCCP) metric is commonly used to assess the combined direct and indirect climate impacts of refrigerant-use equipment. Here, we consider an additional impact on climate performance: the degradation of refrigerant in equipment, i.e., the direct climate impacts of high-GWP byproducts that can form as the result of adding trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) to refrigerant blends to reduce flammability. Such a production of high-GWP gases could change the acceptability of CF3I-containing refrigerants. Further, it highlights the need to understand refrigerant degradation within equipment in calculations of the environmental acceptability of new cooling technology.

Improved sustainability of solar panels by improving stability of amorphous silicon solar cells.

As the world grapples with global warming, it becomes imperative to carefully examine the sustainable energy technology choices. Solar is the fastest growing clean energy source but today it contributes little to the electricity generated, so future installations will dwarf the existing installed base. There is a factor of 2-4 decrease in the energy payback time from the dominant crystalline silicon technology to thin film technologies. Essential criteria like use of abundant materials and simple but mature production technology point to amorphous silicon (a-Si) technology. Here we delve into the primary issue impeding adoption of a-Si technology-the Staebler Wronski Effect (SWE), that generates metastable, light induced defects which reduce the performance of a-Si based solar cells. We demonstrate that a simple change leads to a significant reduction in SWE power loss and define a clear path to elimination of SWE, allowing the technology to be widely adopted.