Our future in the Anthropocene biosphere

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed an interconnected and tightly coupled globalized world in rapid change. This article sets the scientific stage for understanding and responding to such change for global sustainability and resilient societies. We provide a systemic overview of the current situation where people and nature are dynamically intertwined and embedded in the biosphere, placing shocks and extreme events as part of this dynamic; humanity has become the major force in shaping the future of the Earth system as a whole; and the scale and pace of the human dimension have caused climate change, rapid loss of biodiversity, growing inequalities, and loss of resilience to deal with uncertainty and surprise. Taken together, human actions are challenging the biosphere foundation for a prosperous development of civilizations. The Anthropocene reality—of rising system-wide turbulence—calls for transformative change towards sustainable futures. Emerging technologies, social innovations, broader shifts in cultural repertoires, as well as a diverse portfolio of active stewardship of human actions in support of a resilient biosphere are highlighted as essential parts of such transformations.     

Beyond ‘trees are good’: Disservices,management costs,and tradeoffs in urban forestry

The provision of ecosystem services is a prominent rationale for urban greening, and there is a prevailing mantra that ‘trees are good’. However, understanding how urban trees contribute to sustainability must also consider disservices. In this perspective article, we discuss recent research on ecosystem disservices of urban trees, including infrastructure conflicts, health and safety impacts, aesthetic issues, and environmentally detrimental consequences, as well as management costs related to ecological disturbances and risk management. We also discuss tradeoffs regarding species selection and local conservation concerns, as well as the central role of human perception in the interpretation of ecosystem services and disservices, particularly the uncritical assertion that ‘everybody loves trees’. Urban forestry decision-making that fails to account for disservices can have unintended negative consequences for communities. Further research is needed regarding life cycle assessments, stakeholder decision-making, return-on-investment, and framings of services and disservices in urban forestry.     

Innovative aspects of environmental chemistry and technology regarding air,water, and soil pollution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Transcriptome analysis of Plantago major as a phytoremediator to identify some genes related to cypermethrin detoxification

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cypermethrin (CYP) is a toxic manmade chemical compound belonging to pyrethroid insecticides contaminating the environment. Plantago major (PM) has...     

Assessing the perceived impact of exploration and production of hydrocarbons on households perspective of environmental regulation in Ghana

This paper seeks to critically study the perceived impacts of the exploration of hydrocarbons in selected coastal communities in the Western region, the oil and gas industry benefits to local communities, and to determine whether hydrocarbon development is a means for sustainable development. The study uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches using a questionnaire survey, key informant interview, and focus group discussion tools to understand the impact of oil and gas exploration and production in selected affected communities along the coast of Ghana. The activities of oil production and exploration impact negatively on communities; it also leads to a sharp increase in food prices thereby increasing their costs of living. The activity has also caused a decline in fish catch levels which happens to be the main economic activity as a result of exclusion zones created by oil companies which limited the extent fishermen can go fishing. In terms of infrastructure, the three communities are lacking, 77% of respondents from Princess Town hold the view that there is no motorable road linking their community in the next town and 60% from Aketakyi also hold the same view. Infrastructure such as roads, schools, water provision, and clinics are woefully provided in these communities.

     

Fungal biodegradation and removal of cyanobacteria and microcystins: potential applications and research needs

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCB) have severe impacts on marine and freshwater systems worldwide. They cause oxygen depletion and produce potent...     

Insight into selected emerging micropollutant interactions with wastewater colloidal organic carbon: implications for water treatment and analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study reports how adding a membrane filter (0.45-μm cellulose nitrate filter) between a glass fibre filter and the solid phase extraction...     

The COVID-19 pandemic: prediction study based on machine learning models

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - COVID-19 was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It is one of the worst pandemics in human history. Recent studies reported that...     

Investigation of performance enhancement of solar still incorporated with Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage material

In this research work, the conventional single slope still (CSS) with egg shells of breed Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage (SHS) material are studied experimentally to enhance the yield. In this experimental investigation, the proposed single slope still (PSS) with SHS material was made in comparison with the CSS to evaluate the productivity of fresh water under the same ambient conditions. Comparatively, this PSS has higher thermal conductivity than the CSS. The yield obtained from the PSS is 2.46 L/m², while the yield from the CSS is 2.07 L/m². The average rate at which the rise of output fresh water obtained from the PSS is 18% more than the fresh water output obtained from the CSS. The daily energy efficiency of the PSS is 26.07%, and for the CSS, it is only 22.25%. The daily exergy efficiency of the PSS is 2.36%, and for the CSS, it is only 1.67%. Since using the egg shell will employ as organic waste management and modification in this still is economical, less initial, and maintenance cost.