In this study, the authors analyse local surface urban heat island during 2003–2018 using satellite observations over 536 cities worldwide. Spatiotemporal patterns and mechanisms of the surface urban heat island are tightly linked with climate-vegetation conditions.
In this study, the authors examine how background climatic condition and urban morphology can influence urban heat island effects.
This study estimates heat- and cold-related excess deaths over 60 years in China, showing that Heat-related mortality has increased sharply during the last two decades and social-economic development contributes to adaptability.
This is the first large-scale empirical study examining the impact of sea-level rise induced by climate change on mental health outcomes among coastal communities.
This text ties into SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). It focuses on the development of biodegradable electronics using naturally derived conducting materials, which can help reduce electronic waste and promote sustainable production practices.
This article presents an exploratory global ‘Decarbonization Divergence’ sustainability scenario. This scenario depicts an economy that decarbonizes through technological development despite further growth, while households do not contribute to such decarbonization efforts through lifestyle change, leading to divergent developments between the economy and households.
Mulwafua and Kamchedzera 2024 found that Malawi's soil laws lack strong priorities for Avoid, Reduce, and Reverse strategies regarding land degradation neutrality, contrasting with Uganda and Germany which incorporate these strategies in their soil-dedicated legal frameworks. By using Roscoe Pound's theory of social engineering, the authors suggest that Malawi's human-centred approach to soil conservation neglects eco-centric and deep ecology perspectives.
Artificial grassland restoration can be an effective method when applied to severely degraded grassland in alpine areas, however, their effects on slope runoff and sediment yield are still unclear. Qian et al., 2024 studied the effects of artificial restoration and degradation on the runoff sediment process in three areas and found that artificial grassland can significantly reduce runoff and sediment yield compared to alpine meadows and severely degraded alpine meadows. The study underscores the importance of plant and soil characteristics in erosion processes, highlighting the effectiveness of artificial grassland in mitigating soil erosion through improved soil conditions and enhanced vegetation coverage, with implications for restoration efforts in alpine regions.
Ginzky 2024 discusses the ongoing legislative process in Germany to amend the soil protection act, addressing climate change, biodiversity maintenance, and other challenges, with the support of the current government. The paper outlines the societal importance of soils, challenges, current legislation shortfalls, proposed regulatory approaches including ongoing EU deliberations, and strategies for gaining political support considering ecological and social services, as well as competing interests.
Grazing pressure in savannah rangelands increases the possibility of desertification and woody plant encroachment under different land management. As such, early warning shift indicators of degraded rangelands are required. Zimmer et al., 2024 conducted a study on the arid savanna rangelands on Arenosols in Namibia and focussed on soil organic carbon (SOC) and carbon isotopes (δ13C) as indicators. Results show lower SOC stocks on communal rangelands compared to freehold farms, with correlations between SOC stocks and vegetation cover types. The findings emphasize the importance of considering soil properties such as SOC in land management practices to assess and mitigate soil degradation risks in savanna ecosystems
