Aligned with global efforts for climate action, this study assesses progress of driving low carbon growth by integrating institutional quality into technological progress, sustainable finance and carbon intensity across 37 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries spanning period from 2000-2023. The study employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to construct a novel index for technological progress, sustainable finance and institutional quality. Additionally, it employed advanced econometric approach Panel-QARDL-PMG. Technological progress decrease carbon-intensity at all quantiles while sustainable finance raises carbon intensity at all quantiles. Direct effect of institutional quality increase carbon-intensity at lower but decrease at higher quantiles. Integrating institutional quality with technological progress enhanced innovation and decrease carbon intensity across all quantiles while with sustainable finance increases carbon intensity at lower quantiles but decreases at higher quantiles. Short-term results are insignificant. Renewable energy reduces carbon intensity across all quantiles. On the other hand, population density and urbanization increase carbon intensity at all quantiles. Policymakers must prioritize investments in new technologies, strengthen governance, and enforce robust policy frameworks. Proper planning for institutional governance to integrate in sustainable finance regulations, including mandatory carbon disclosures for financial projects are essential.
Historical records for the carnivorous sundew Drosera lunata Buch.-Ham. ex DC. in the Mindoro islands indicate its limited distribution within Mt. Halcon in the Philippines. However, the topographic and geographic history of the islands are suspected to be possible drivers for the range expansion of such globally cosmopolitan flora. Hence, this study was conducted to determine environmental covariates that influenced the currently known distribution range of this species. An ensemble species distribution model to map high-suitability localities is presented in this paper, yielding True Skill Statistic scores greater than 0.95. Following model generation, ground truthing was performed in Occidental Mindoro at Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park (MIBNP) and Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary (MCWS) through field surveys via opportunistic sampling and validation of existing and new species occurrence reports with locals. The discovery of novel occurrences of D. lunata suggests that ensemble modeling technique may be useful in minimizing the challenges associated with modeling locally limited but globally cosmopolitan plant species. Overall, this study updates the records of D. lunata on Mindoro and highlights additional areas where the species may occur, offering guidance for proactive conservation efforts by local policymakers.
Mangal ecosystems provide critical ecosystem services, including coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity support. However, anthropogenic activities and natural calamities have altered their extent in recent years, emphasizing the need for consistent monitoring to supplement management efforts. The following study addresses this gap in San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines, by mapping the spatiotemporal dynamics of mangal ecosystems in 2010, 2015, and 2023. Landsat imagery was collected and preprocessed in Google Earth Engine (GEE), followed by supervised classification using spectral bands and derived indices (NDVI, NDWI) to delineate and quantify three major land cover classes: mangals, water, and built-up areas. Mangrove restoration initiatives in recent years have shown promising results, with mangal cover increasing from 34.67 ha in 2010 to 35.91 ha in 2015, followed by a substantial rise to 55.03 ha in 2023. However, the analysis also demonstrates a marked increase in built-up areas from 30.97 ha in 2010 to 35.56 ha in 2023, underscoring the potential impact of land-use change on mangal ecosystems. A consistent decline in water areas from 143.68 ha in 2010 down to 118.72 ha in 2023 also raises concerns about the sustainability of areas surrounding mangal habitat. An average overall accuracy of 90% and an average Kappa coefficient of 0.85 reflect a robust classification and highlight the effectiveness of the applied methodologies in capturing land use and land cover dynamics. Results emphasize the utility of GEE for large-scale environmental monitoring while highlighting the need for targeted restoration efforts and data-driven policymaking to protect vulnerable mangal ecosystems in rapidly urbanizing regions.
To remedy environmental pollution caused by acid drainage from abandoned mine waste at mining sites, this aims to study the effectiveness of some carbonaceous amendments (marble, snail shell, and phosphate sludge), with and without manure, in immobilizing trace metal elements in mine tailings. Two-column scale leaching experiments were conducted. The first study experiment consisted of combining mine tailings with inorganic amendments (marble, snail shell, or phosphate sludge), in an eight-week experiment. In the second study parallel experiment, organic amendment (sheep manure) was mixed to each component of thefirst experiment. The immobilization effect of potential toxic elements was observed for 16 weeks. The mine tailings before leaching had concentrations of copper 1473. 82 mg kg copper, zinc 596.37 mg kg-1, and lead 414.62 mg kg(-1). Amendments to the tailings had a synergistic effect, resulting in a significant reduction in copper 420.39 mg kg-1 for tailings amended with snail shell and manure), zinc (127.06 mg kg(-1) for tailings amended with marble and manure) and lead (66.22 mg kg(-1) for tailings amended with snail shell and manure) in the leachate, immobilization in the substrates, and an increase in pHfrom 1.23 to 6.83. These results demonstrate the potential of chemical remediation approaches for the sustainable stabilization of acid mine waste.
This study examined the effect of the South Asia High Pressure (SAH) system and the Western Pacific Subtropical High Pressure (WPSH) system on surface meteorology and ozone (O3) pollution over Sichuan Basin in China during spring. Analyzing 2015-2020 O3 data (>100μg m-³ defines regional persistent pollution, ORPP) with matched meteorological data reveals: (1) Greater SAH Route Angle (SAH_RA) deviation prolongs ORPP duration; (2) Higher WPSH intensity (P index) suppresses O3 pollution; (3) Large ridge index (R index) fluctuations and SAH-WPSH index differences exacerbate pollution. SAH_RA/WPSH index differences correlate strongly with temperature, sunshine duration, and diurnal temperature range. Specifically, R index fluctuations increase average sunshine hours and daily temperature range while reducing humidity, creating O3-favorable conditions. Conversely, elevated P index raises surface pressure and modifies thermal structure, inhibiting pollution. The high-altitude circulation system regulates ground meteorological conditions (temperature/sunshine/humidity) through the synergistic effect of "path deviation - intensity variation - ridge line fluctuation", thereby controlling O3 pollution. This study provides key meteorological criteria for the precise prevention and control of air pollution in river basins.
As an archipelagic country, Indonesia faces challenges in developing sustainable coastal areas and communities. Most studies have focused on specific regions, limiting broader generalizations. This study focuses on coastal villages in Indonesian provinces. The objectives are to classify provinces according to the environmental, economic, and social pillars of sustainability; classify provinces based on overall sustainability; and examine the sustainability level of coastal villages using macroeconomic indicators. A data mining approach was applied using the Knime Analytics Platform. The findings revealed that environmental sustainability tends to be less prominent than economic and social aspects. Provincial classifications show varying levels of sustainability across regions. Coastal villages in high-sustainability provinces tend to have higher life expectancy, lower poverty rates, and higher Human Development Index scores than those in low-sustainability provinces. These high-sustainability provinces also demonstrated vigorous blue economy activities, particularly aquaculture and marine tourism. In contrast, low-sustainability provinces lag in these areas. The study suggests prioritizing the development of aquaculture and marine tourism in low-sustainability coastal provinces as a strategic approach to promote inclusive and sustainable blue economy growth. A novel aspect of this research lies in the application of national-scale data mining using k-means clustering to uncover spatial and social, economic, and environmental patterns across regions, demonstrating the potential of large-scale analytics for sustainability understanding in coastal areas.
In any community development intervention such as the Community-based Forest Management Program in the Philippines, sustainability is the ultimate goal, to sustain its target environmental, economic, and social/governance outcomes. With the body of knowledge produced on the assessment of program sustainability and its perceived contribution to the attainment of desired results, the sustainability performance of four peoples' organizations in Quezon Province with expiring Community-based Forest Management Agreement was assessed employing a causal-comparative research design. The study involved a survey of members, key informant interview of program implementers and beneficiaries, and focus group discussions. Data were subjected to descriptive, comparative, and thematic analyses. The peoples'organizations succeeded in improving the environmental and social/governance conditions of their respective program areas. However, the economic conditions have no progress or remain unchanged. Unstable funding, inadequate monitoring and evaluation, and insufficient political support hindered program implementation and sustainability, particularly the economic component of the program. The study recommends capacity building, partnership and collaboration with different stakeholders, building political alliances, implementation of sustainable livelihood projects, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation, aimed towards capacitation and empowerment, resource mobilization, access to social, technical, and financial services, and income generation.
High volume of wastewater presents a significant environmental challenge due to nitrogen and phosphorus loads and the presence of emerging contaminants that threaten aquatic ecosystems. Microalgae-based phycoremediation has gained attention as a sustainable alternative to conventional treatment, enabling efficient nutrient removal while generating biomass for value-added applications. This review critically assesses current trends in microalgae-mediated wastewater treatment, nutritional potential for aquafeed, and the overlooked contamination risks associated with wastewater-derived biomass. Thus, the review integrates removal performance, biomass utilization, and safety considerations. A bibliometric analysis of Scopus publications (2010–2025), (n= 167) using keywords (“wastewater” AND “treatment” AND “using” AND “microalgae” OR “bioremediation” OR “phycoremediation” AND “feed”), indicates strong research growth in phycoremediation and aquafeed applications. Nannochloropsis spp. achieve 99–99.2% nitrogen removal, while Chlorella spp. removed 70.1–82.0% phosphorus. These genera proved 15% fishmeal replacement and contained 40–71% protein, 38–96% carbohydrate digestibility, lipid fractions of 82–94.4% of total extractable fatty acids, and 127–244 μg per 100 g of vitamin B12. However, contamination risks including heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, remain insufficiently assessed. Future research should analyse residual pollutant loads, safety thresholds and evaluate toxicological impacts to ensure the safe use of wastewater-derived microalgae in aquafeed systems.
To assess biodiesels'sustainability and its role in the countrys' GHG reduction efforts, a cradle-to-grave carbon footprint of a 90 million liter per year (MLPY) coconut biodiesel refinery in the Philippines (CBP) was assessed using primary data, verified through material and energy balance simulations. The companys' 2019 inventory was used in the analysis to curtail the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the actual annual production. Key assumptions and limitations included no land-use change, the application of carbon neutrality, the economic allocation method, and the IPCC 2013 assessment method within the SimaPro v.9.0.0.49 database. The estimated carbon footprint of the coco-biodiesel is 0.79891 kg CO2e kg-1 or 0.70863 kg CO2e L-1. CBP coco-biodiesel offers a GHG reduction of about 77.89% compared to fossil diesel (L L-1 basis, cradle-to-grave), which satisfies the nationally determined unconditional GHG reduction contribution of the Philippines to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change set at 2.71%. Between the blends B3 and B4, it is projected to reduce diesel transport GHG emissions by 2.34-3.11%. Sensitivity analyses examined the outcome ofusing energy allocation and assessed various local production variables, such as, coconut farming practices, varying nut yields, sources of crude coconut oil for RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) refining, and the type of refining employed.
The Philippines faces dual challenges of a mounting energy crisis and an increasing volume of municipal solid waste (MSW). Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies have emerged as a potential solution to address these issues. One related initiative is the government-funded project on the establishment of a 25-kW WTE facility utilizing a direct combustion process for the treatment of MSW located at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) in Laguna, Philippines. To evaluate the technologys' potential as a sustainable and environmentally sound alternative for waste disposal in the country, the carbon footprint and energetics performance of the WTE system using life cycle assessment (LCA) approach were evaluated. The assessment was conducted using Aspen Plus (R) for process simulation and SimaPro (R) for LCA. The system boundary included the MSW transportation, sorting, and processing. The carbon footprint analysis was based on the functional unit-disposal of 1 kg of MSW, enabling comparative analysis with landfilling as the business-as-usual scenario. The modeled facility generated approximately 27 kW gross power for a feed rate of 50 kg h(-1) of combustible MSW, achieving a plant capacity factor of 84%. The total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the WTE system was 1.55 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO(2)e ) kg(-1) MSW, significantly lower than the 3.11 kg CO(2)e kg(-1) MSW associated with landfilling. This translates to a GHG reduction of approximately 1.56 kg CO(2)e kg(-1 )MSW, or about 50%. Accounting for avoided emissions due to electricity generation and by-products like precipitated calcium carbonate, the net carbon footprint of the WTE system could be reduced to-0.24 kg CO(2)e kg(-1) MSW. The carbon debt from facility fabrication and installation was calculated at1.40 x 10(5)kg CO(2)e , which could be offset in approximately 0.20 years based on the systems' carbon savings. The system achieved an operational power efficiency of 0.54 kWhr kg(-1) MSW, comparable to the typical range of 0.30-0.70 kWh kg(-1) MSW which was reported as the overall power generation rate in a WTE plant. These findings underscore the potential of the WTE system to contribute to sustainable solid waste management and energy generation in the Philippines. Future studies are recommended to explore commercial-scale feasibility to further strengthen the countrys' drive toward sustainability and energy independence.
Understanding the carbon and nitrogen balance in a swine body can contribute greatly in quantifying and assessing greenhouse gas emissions in swine production. In this study, the carbon balance and nitrogen balance in swine were assessed using literature data and different case scenarios in the Philippines. GHG emissions from 10 backyard farms and 12 commercial farms in the country were quantified and emission per pig class from their manure management system were estimated. The routes of carbon and nitrogen in the pigs' body were presented through material balance. For nitrogen flow in the swine system, the majority of the consumed nitrogen is retained in the pigs' body and the rest is excreted in the manure. Similarly, most carbon in the swine system is retained in its body, while the rest goes out of the system by exhalation and enteric fermentation, or is excreted in the manure. The study provides a new framework for assessing the global warming potential through carbon and nitrogen balances. The output of this study could serve as a basis developing strategies for reducing GHG emissions, improving resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable livestock management.
The different processes involved in producing wood products are both sources and sinks of carbon, with CO2e emitted from each operation. Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory allows the measurement of net GHG emissions produced along each step of the process. This study was done to determine the GHG emissions resulting from falcata veneer production, specifically the processes from harvesting to veneer processing (drying). Falcata is a fast-growing commercial timber of high significance in the Caraga region in the Philippines. Updated emission factors were used to calculate the CO2 e units. Major log transport contributed 49% of total emissions, resulting mainly from the use of trucks that is more than ten years old. The harvesting operation accounted for 21% of emissions while minor log transport involving carabaos, habalhabal (modified motorcycle) and small trucks (in various combinations) contributed to 18%. Veneer processing accounted for 12% of emissions because respondents used mostly air drying, hence, consumed less energy. Locating veneer mills close to existing plantations may reduce the GHG emissions significantly. Thus, the study sought to calculate the respective GHG emissions from harvesting, transport and veneer processing activities and determine the net GHG fluxes to and from the activities. These were accomplished through analysis of primary data gathered through direct observation and key informant interviews (KII). To describe the wood industry in the country in the context of climate mitigation, carbon stocks and emission rate from the wood production process using other tree species need to be quantified
The 21(st) century is characterized by a marked increase in public demand to consider the social aspects of forest management, most often as the clear trade-offs between timber production and environmental conservation. In this study, sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) was estimated forest stand growth. Moreover, five important forest functions, namely, timber production, soil conservation, water resource conservation, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation were quantitatively assessed, across each forest management unit. The results revealed that the inclusion of constraints related to carbon storage or soil conversation extended the cutting age and increased the area of forest with trees over 120 years of age. The optimized harvest schedules maintained timber production by the regeneration of high-productivity forests, while low-productivity forests on steep slopes were designated for public interest functions. The results proved that the tested approach can successfully take into account the multifunctional nature of forests; in other words, even though timber production decreased, the indicators of certain important public interest functions improved over the study period. This approach can be used to formulate schedules that take into account both national-and local-level regulations and enable forest managers to compare economic performance with environmental gains.
Bioremediation is considered a safe, effective, and economical solution to contain, reduce, or remove toxins from mined-out areas. However, community support and acceptability are found to be significant to the success of bioremediation projects. Thus, a survey interview of 150 respondents using pre-tested questionnaires were conducted in Barangays Cagdianan, Hayanggabon, Taganito, and Urbiztondo in Claver, Surigao del Norte, Philippines to determine the community’s awareness, perception, and acceptability of the bioremediation in the mined-out area for nickel. Only 55% of the respondents were aware of the project and their knowledge was primarily gained through the stakeholders’ forum during the survey period. The respondents had positive perceptions about bioremediation manifested by the widespread favorable responses on the value of trees; beliefs and expectations from the project; risks; environmental, community, and economic benefits; trust in the implementers; and participation albeit only 5% were involved in the project. Despite lack of awareness and non-involvement, the respondents were willing to accept (99%) the bioremediation initiative and to recommend (95%) this in other mined-out areas. This case demonstrates that awareness and participation is not of vital importance in the acceptability of a bioremediation project. Nonetheless, bioremediation and other environmental projects should be initiated with extensive information and education campaigns for well-informed and well-engaged communities to foster a sense of ownership and stewardship, thereby, more successful and sustainable projects.
The Design Expert 12 software was used to optimize the recovery of iron from naturally iron alum water by ion exchange using a fixed bed column of 225H resin (India). This method also showed the ability to recover aluminum, calcium, and magnesium from water. At first, the study found suitable values of parameters such as cation exchange resin bed height of 80 cm, pH 6.5, and flow rate of 30 L h-1 by examining each individual parameter based on the evaluation of iron removal efficiency in water. Then, the optimization process was carried out with an initial iron content (iron content in natural iron-alum water before passing through the column) of 8.25±0.18 mg L-1. The optimal conditions were found through Design Expert 12 software with the values of parameters such as 80 cm (height of ion exchange resin layer), 6.5 (pH value), and 30 L h-1 (flow rate through the column). This was consistent with the conditions found initially (investigating each individual parameter) with an output iron content in the water of 0.5 mg L-1. The actual tested output iron content was less than 0.5 mg L-1, with a treatment efficiency of about 94%. The output iron concentration was below 0.5 mg L-1 with a treatment efficiency of over 93% (the actual iron ion content after treatment was 0.25-0.35 mg L-1 compared to the result from the predicted model of 0.49 mg L-1). Besides the ability to remove iron, other ions such as aluminum, calcium, and magnesium after passing through the column also had a relatively high treatment efficiency of over 85%. This result proved the effectiveness of iron treatment in natural iron-alum water by cation exchange with different iron contents, as well as the relevance of the model in practice.
The recent eruptions of the Taal volcano in the Philippines have produced more andesitic rocks than prior historic eruptions. Increased rock acidity is associated with higher concentrations of radionuclides. Local food source filter feeders like the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea), feed on organic matter through filtration resulting in higher risks of taking in pollutants. The study aimed to assess the health risks through various metrics of radiologic health assessment via food ingestion. Three known harvesting sites were selected around the volcano island in the lake (S: Saluyan, C: Calawit, BM: Binintiang Munti). Two clam morphs: white morph (W) and purple morph (P) were analyzed for naturally occurring radioactive materials using High-purity Germanium gamma-ray spectrometer. Health assessments were analyzed using Committed Effective Dose (CED) and Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) equivalent for a person who consumes one heavy clam meal a week (17.86 g day-1). Overall, CEDs are valued far below the recommended 3×10−1 mSv yr-1, and LCRs are below the recommended 1×10−4 values. It can be concluded that regular consumption of Asian clams in Taal Lake carries no imminent risks in terms of radionuclide ingestion as long as no new more acidic eruption would follow.
Nature-based solutions to mitigate the effects of wastewater discharge on the environment, including efficient microorganisms, are gaining ground among technologies for this purpose. The effectiveness of the efficient microorganism product ME Agroambiental® (MEA®) in mitigating the impact of industrial wastewater discharges into Havana Bay was evaluated. In the first half of 2022, composite samples were taken at the discharge points of three industries (with one having two wastewater discharges) dedicated to food production during peak discharge hours, with control samples taken before the application of MEA® and follow-up samples collected one month post-application. The samples were analyzed for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand, total coliforms, and thermotolerant coliforms. The results indicated a significant reduction in pollutant loads, with BOD5 reductions ranging from 77% to 94.2% and COD reductions between 64% and 87.4% across the evaluated companies. The MEA® product demonstrated particular effectiveness in treating wastewater from kitchens, sewers, grease traps, and industrial processes, achieving up to 98.3% reduction in specific contaminants such as organic waste and fats. These findings suggest that MEA® is a viable solution for reducing pollution in Havana Bay.
Site suitability assessment is a crucial step in determining the environmental limits of sustainable dairy buffalo production. This study aimed to assess the suitability of sites for locating potential agricultural lands for smallholder dairy buffalo production in Magdalena, Laguna, Philippines. Physical, agrometeorological, animal health and environmental, and economic factors were selected and the weights of their contributions for site suitability were assessed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Subsequently, all the factors were integrated to generate the site suitability map using geographic information system (GIS). More than 79% (2,701 ha) of the total land area of Magdalena is highly suitable for dairy buffalo production. These areas are mainly influenced by proximity to roads, markets, and water sources, which are the highest-weighted suitability factors. About 0.6 ha (0.02%) of the municipality is considered moderately suitable because of the aggregated factors, including distance to market, distance to livestock and poultry farms, distance to built-up areas, and temperature-humidity index. Validation showed that all the 25 surveyed dairy buffalo farms are in highly suitable areas. GIS and AHP can be effectively used to enhance land-use efficiency and improve the management of dairy buffalo production..
This review synthesizes recent advances in hydrogeological assessment and groundwater flow modeling, emphasizing their role in sustainable water resource management. Drawing from studies published between 1992 and 2024, this analysis emphasized the progression from analytical models to numerical and hybrid approaches, including tools that are enhanced by geospatial data and artificial intelligence. Methods for recharge estimation, aquifer characterization, and model calibration are evaluated, along with the application of sensitivity and uncertainty analyses. The review also explores how modeling practices intersect with governance, particularly through integrated water resource frameworks and stakeholder participation. Persistent challenges include limited data availability, underutilized stakeholder engagement, and difficulties in translating model outputs into policy decisions. Recommendations for future research focus on improving model accessibility, integrating socio-environmental variables, and developing adaptive platforms that can support decision-making under uncertainty. By consolidating key developments, limitations, and opportunities, this review provides a critical reference for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working to improve the application and impact of groundwater modeling.
Although climate change is a global issue, its impacts vary between countries, regions, communities and sectors. Due to their limited capacity to adapt to the changing climate and access to other forms of production, agrarian communities in developing nations suffer the most. This study assessed the vulnerability of agriculture-based households in three Barangays situated within the Mambalot-Filantropia Watershed in Brooke’s Point, Palawan, Philippines. Through a comprehensive evaluation of socioeconomic and biophysical aspects, the study determined vulnerability levels and identified key influencing factors. A survey encompassing of 300 households and secondary data collection from relevant government sources formed the basis of the analysis. Analysis of the data following the Livelihood Vulnerability Index indicated moderate vulnerability across all three barangays, with Mambalot showing the highest LVI score (0.311), followed by Ipilan (0.276) and Maasin (0.260). Conversely, in the LVI-PCC assessment of which examines the interaction among exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, Ipilan showed the highest overall vulnerability (0.004), followed by Mambalot (-0.004) and Maasin (-0.008). Food vulnerability, social networks, and exposure to climate variability were identified as primary concerns, underscoring the need to prioritize climate change mitigation efforts in these areas. Study findings suggest the need for urgent interventions in such as crop and livelihood diversification, microfinance, community-government partnerships, and disaster risk reduction.
