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A major challenge in sustainability science is identifying targets that maximize ecosystem benefits to humanity while minimizing the risk of crossing critical system thresholds. One critical threshold is the biomass at which populations become so depleted that their population growth rates become negative—depensation. Here, we evaluate how the value of monitoring information increases as a natural resource spends more time near the critical threshold. This benefit emerges because higher monitoring precision promotes higher yield and a greater capacity to recover from overharvest. We show that precautionary buffers that trigger increased monitoring precision as resource levels decline may offer a way to minimize monitoring costs and maximize profits. In a world of finite resources, improving our understanding of the trade-off between precision in estimates of population status and the costs of mismanagement will benefit stakeholders that shoulder the burden of these economic and social costs.

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have a power conversion efficiency that is now comparable with conventional silicon solar cells. For PSC applications to succeed in the market, long-term reliability under open-air conditions is essential. Recent experiments have shown that two-dimensional (2D) perovskites seem to exhibit good stability due to the presence of hydrophobic organic spacers, but 2D PSCs are incapable of generating and transporting a large amount of charge due to their extended optical bandgaps. Mixed dimensional perovskites with dimension lies between 2D and 3D recently became a promising candidate to sustain long-term stability and high performances concurrently to address this obstacle. The current research article presents the finding of simulation-based studies performed on novel device architecture consisting of ITO/Nb-Ti2O3/3D Perovskite/2D Perovskite/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au. Using optical simulation features of SCAPS, absorption of light is computed in the proposed device. The computational results show that the thickness of the 2D perovskite layer badly affects the solar cell parameters. A thin 2D perovskite behaves as a capped coating that avoids the deterioration of 3D perovskite in open-air environments. The effect of a multivalent defect in the 3D perovskite layer is mathematically modelled, and their impact on overall performance parameters are analyzed. The findings are compared to the same configuration results, except where the absorber layer’s multivalent defect has been substituted by a neutral defect of the same defect density of about (1011 cm−3). Results show that the multivalent defect leads to an underestimation of the efficiency by 4.2%.

Background: Climate change has been shown to be directly linked to multiple physiological sequelae and to impact health consequences. However, the impact of climate change on mental health globally, particularly among vulnerable populations, is less well understood. Objective: To explore the mental health impacts of climate change in vulnerable populations globally. Methods: We performed an integrative literature review to identify published articles that addressed the research question: What are the mental health impacts of climate change among vulnerable populations globally? The Vulnerable Populations Conceptual Model served as a theoretical model during the review process and data synthesis. Findings/Results: One hundred and four articles were selected for inclusion in this review after a comprehensive review of 1828 manuscripts. Articles were diverse in scope and populations addressed. Land-vulnerable persons (either due to occupation or geographic location), Indigenous persons, children, older adults, and climate migrants were among the vulnerable populations whose mental health was most impacted by climate change. The most prevalent mental health responses to climate change included solastalgia, suicidality, depression, anxiety/eco-anxiety, PTSD, substance use, insomnia, and behavioral disturbance. Conclusions: Mental health professionals including physicians, nurses, physician assistants and other healthcare providers have the opportunity to mitigate the mental health impacts of climate change among vulnerable populations through assessment, preventative education and care. An inclusive and trauma-informed response to climate-related disasters, use of validated measures of mental health, and a long-term therapeutic relationship that extends beyond the immediate consequences of climate change-related events are approaches to successful mental health care in a climate-changing world.

AbstractElevated carbon-dioxide concentration [eCO2] is a key climate change factor affecting plant growth and yield. Conventionally, crop modeling work has evaluated the effect of climatic parameters on crop growth, without considering CO2. It is conjectured that a novel multimodal ensemble approach may improve the accuracy of modelled responses to eCO2. To demonstrate the applicability of a multimodel ensemble of crop models to simulation of eCO2, APSIM, CropSyst, DSSAT, EPIC and STICS were calibrated to observed data for crop phenology, biomass and yield. Significant variability in simulated biomass production was shown among the models particularly at dryland sites (44%) compared to the irrigated site (22%). Increased yield was observed for all models with the highest average yield at dryland site by EPIC (49%) and lowest under irrigated conditions (17%) by APSIM and CropSyst. For the ensemble, maximum yield was 45% for the dryland site and a minimum 22% at the irrigated site. We concluded from our study that process-based crop models have variability in the simulation of crop response to [eCO2] with greater difference under water-stressed conditions. We recommend the use of ensembles to improve accuracy in modeled responses to [eCO2].

AbstractThe planetary boundary framework constitutes an opportunity for decision makers to define climate policy through the lens of adaptive governance. Here, we use the DICE model to analyze the set of adaptive climate policies that comply with the two planetary boundaries related to climate change: (1) staying below a CO2 concentration of 550 ppm until 2100 and (2) returning to 350 ppm in 2100. Our results enable decision makers to assess the following milestones: (1) a minimum of 33% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2055 in order to stay below 550 ppm by 2100 (this milestone goes up to 46% in the case of delayed policies); and (2) carbon neutrality and the effective implementation of innovative geoengineering technologies (10% negative emissions) before 2060 in order to return to 350 ppm in 2100, under the assumption of getting out of the baseline scenario without delay. Finally, we emphasize the need to use adaptive path-based approach instead of single point target for climate policy design.

El presente artículo surge de la necesidad de desvelar la influencia del desarrollo turístico en las dimensiones del desarrollo sostenible de la comunidad de Caibarién (Cuba). La información se obtuvo mediante revisión documental y entrevistas semi estructuradas. Los fundamentos teóricos y metodológicos que soportan el tratamiento de este trabajo se estructuran a partir de la producción científica relativa a los temas del desarrollo turístico y el turismo sostenible. Los principales resultados mostraron que la estrategia de desarrollo de Gaviota S.A en los Cayos de Villa Clara, influye indirectamente en la sostenibilidad de la comunidad de Caibarién, lo cual coincide con lo que plantea la literatura académica y presenta su pertinencia también para el caso de Cuba, cuya organización socioeconómica y política se distancia del paradigma neoliberal global. Si bien existen algunas pautas que muestran una tendencia hacia el desarrollo sostenible, aún se identifican aspectos negativos en el modelo de desarrollo turístico que habrán de ser considerados tanto en futuras investigaciones como en sus implicaciones prácticas en la industria turística de Cuba y de otras latitudes. This article arises from the need to reveal the influence of tourism development on the dimensions of sustainable development in the community of Caibarién, Cuba. The information was obtained through documentary review and semi-structured interviews. The theoretical and methodological foundations that support the treatment of the subject are structured from the scientific production related to the topics of tourism development and sustainable tourism. The main results showed that the development strategy of Gaviota SA in the Villa Clara Keys, indirectly influences the sustainability of the Caibarién community, which coincides with what is stated in the academic literature and is also relevant for the case of Cuba, whose socio-economic and political organization distances itself from the global neoliberal paradigm. Although there are elements that show a trend towards sustainable development, negative aspects were still identified as a consequence of the presence of tourism development that will have to be considered both in future research and in its practical implications in the tourism industry of the Island and of other latitudes.

The annual production of plastic waste worldwide has doubled in just two decades, with approximately 390 million tonnes of plastic waste now being generated. In this context, the construction industry must move towards the development of new, more sustainable materials made under circular economy criteria. In this work, a physico-mechanical characterisation of gypsum composites with the incorporation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) waste, replacing 2–4–6–8–10% by volume of the original raw material, has been conducted. The results show how the incorporation of these plastic wastes improves the water resistance of the gypsum material without additions, as well as producing a decrease in thermal conductivity and greater resistance to impact. On the other hand, it has been found that, as the percentage of recycled raw material added increases, the mechanical resistance to bending and compression decreases, leading to fracture due to a lack of cohesion between the matrix and the waste. Nevertheless, in all the cases studied, mechanical strengths higher than those established by the EN 13279-2 standard were obtained. Thus, the results confirm the viability of these secondary raw materials to be used in the development of new products for sustainable building, especially in the design of prefabricated panels for false ceilings.