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This study delves into the intricate relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and crucial variables in Europe and Central Asia from 1990-2021. By examining the impact of renewable energy, industry value added, foreign direct investment (FDI), gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and population density on CO2 emissions using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method, the study uncovers intriguing findings. The study reveals a significant negative correlation between linear per capita income and CO2 emissions in both the short and long run. Moreover, it confirms the inverted N-shaped environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) relationship between the variables. The study further highlights the unfavorable impact of renewable energy and industry value added on CO2 emissions, pointing to the fact that their growth increases CO2 emissions. On the other hand, population density is found to be a vital factor in reducing CO2 emissions. FDI is identified to have a negative and insignificant impact on CO2 emissions, suggesting that it may not be an effective tool for reducing carbon emissions in the region. The insights from this study have significant implications for policymakers in the region to design and implement effective strategies to reduce CO2 emissions.

This paper investigated the impact of velocity variation in wide streets. The building AR (Aspect Ratio) (Street-canyon-width-to-building-height i.e. W/H) has been calculated by varying the width of street canyon. The k-? turbulence model was applied to ideal street canyons of aspect ratio 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 while the wind speed was varied from 0.5 to 4.0 m/s. The street canyon aspect ratio 1.0 was obtained by increasing the width of the street two times (i.e. W=1) as much as for AR0.5 (i.e. W=0.5). However, different results obtained from AR1 were compared with AR0.5 to analyze the impact of wide streets. Results show that the temperatures reduce with an increase in ambient wind speed. However, the impact of ambient wind speed was comparatively higher in narrow street canyons since temperature reduced by over 1.4 K with an increase of 3.5 m/s in ambient wind speed. On the other hand, in the case of AR1.0 the area weighted average temperature reduced by 1.3 K with an increase of 3.5 m/s in ambient wind speed. It is found that removing heat from narrower street canyons is comparatively difficult. Results show that the temperatures within the target street canyon of AR0.5 with ambient wind speed of 0.5 m/s were around 0.71 K higher than that in AR1.

Research is necessary because environmental law is so intricate on several levels of complexity including legal, scientifical, socio-political, geographical and economical. Environmental jurists, judges, lawyers, legislatures, executives, environmentalists and experts need a rational, intellectual approach and research to understand and highlight these complexities with sustainable solutions. Environmentalists come forward to explain the complex ecological and socio-political nature of environmental problems and the interrelationships between such problems and different aspects of relevant legal systems, including different attempts to regulate these problems through law. The discourse requires redefining the multiple contexts in which environmental laws operates and the perspectives that can be validly brought to bear in the understanding of the subject, as well as the engagement of all participants in effective compliance with the environmental laws of Pakistan. The experts come to provide insight to provoke thinking about environmental laws by exposing the themes, issues, and novel legal problems of the subject, providing good quality research material that illustrates the complexity of environmental problems and the laws that applies to them, and also provide an analytical framework for the understanding of that complexity and compliance of environmental laws of Pakistan.

With the emergence of smart grid (SG), the residents have the opportunity to integrate renewable energy sources (RESs) and take part in demand side management (DSM). In this regard, we design energy management control unit (EMCU) based on genetic algorithm (GA), binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO), and wind driven optimization (WDO) to schedule appliances in presence of objective function, constraints, control parameters, and comparatively evaluate the performance. For energy pricing, real time pricing (RTP) plus inclined block rate (IBR) is used. RESs integration to SG is a challenge due stochastic nature of RE. In this paper, two techniques are addressed to handle the stochastic nature of RE. First one is energy storage system (ESS) which smooths out variation in RE generation. Second one is the trading/cooperation of excess generation to neighboring consumers. The simulation results show that WDO perform more efficiently than unscheduled in terms of reduction in: electricity cost, the tradeoff between electricity cost and waiting time, and peak to average ratio (PAR). Moreover, incorporation of RESs into SG design increase the revenue and reduce carbon emission.

Ever increasing population and urbanization are the major threat to food security. Therefore, it is inevitable to use the scarce resources in an efficient manner. Further the application of different fertilizers prior considering the actual prevailing fertility status of soil and the nutrients requirements of upcoming crops may result permanent soil health issues. In order to meet the food needs of the nation we shall have to enhance the yield per unit area. Hence, a survey was conducted for the evaluation of the fertility status of Dera Ghazi Khan for the execution of recommendations regarding balanced use of fertilizers. Previous five years soil analysis data of 45 villages of Dera Ghazi Khan exhibited the average pH of 8.12, Electrical conductivity of 4.23 dSm-1, about 99.3% soils were low in organic matter (<0.86%), and 07% soil have medium range of Organic matter (0.867 to 1.29), 81.5, 15.5% and 3% soils were found in poor, medium and adequate quantity with respect to available phosphorus. About 36.9%, 28.1% and 35% soils were found in poor, medium and adequate range of available potassium. The results indicated that the majority of the soil of Dera Ghazi Khan District was found to be normal and is good for the growth of different crops.

This research study highlights two different existing and modified landslide risk algorithms for the development of landslide susceptibility models. The modified algorithm based landslide risk susceptibility model has highlighted such slope failures which possess the rate of very high velocity of the triggering at the local scale. The case study of this research is Balakot, one of the ruined city by the terrible earthquake induced landslide fissuring there in 2005. One of the previous landslide risk algorithm, developed by Varnes in 1984, was selected was modified by introducing additional parameters and criteria along with the modified landslide risk algorithm. The both algorithms entitled as mathematical models were incorporated in GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and were tested, compared and validated by the previous landslide occurred data, called as landslide inventory data. The statistical tests were applied to quantify various predicted regions in accordance of the verification of the predicted models. This comparison portrayed the significant difference in both models due to the notable difference due to significant control event parameters. It is assured that this research will help the decision makers by applying the modified algorithm based landslide susceptibility models in the field to avoid the landslide hazards for the future.

A set of indicators for sustainable development were identified to be employed in developing countries. The selected indicators provided a good understanding of social and engineering outputs of a water resources project. Results of the study revealed that there are significant positive impacts of dam construction but they were not same as the targeted objectives envisaged in the feasibility report of the project. It means that after construction of the dam and irrigation system, development didn?t match with the targeted goals of the project. This study argues the world-wide controversy against construction of dam in arid zone which is ill-founded and based on a few short term, mitigable negative impacts, ignoring many positive long term inputs alleviating chronic poverty in arid regions. The study meticulously looks into the pre dam bio-physical and socio-economic conditions in one of the arid region of Iran under the area commanded by Minab dam. This dam was constructed in Hormozgan province of Iran in 1983 and its irrigation system was completed in 1986 which was followed by progressive expansion of irrigated agriculture which almost doubled in year 2006. Literacy rate has increased from 41% (pre-project) to 74% in 2006. Similarly, significant improvements were observed in health care, sanitation, education, and other disciplines.

Abstract Pollinators are declining globally, with climate change implicated as an important driver. Climate change can induce phenological shifts and reduce floral resources for pollinators, but little is known about its effects on floral attractiveness and how this might cascade to affect pollinators, pollination functions and plant fitness. We used an in situ long‐term drought experiment to investigate multiple impacts of reduced precipitation in a natural Mediterranean shrubland, a habitat where climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and intensity of droughts. Focusing on three insect‐pollinated plant species that provide abundant rewards and support a diversity of pollinators (Cistus albidus, Salvia rosmarinus and Thymus vulgaris), we investigated the effects of drought on a suite of floral traits including nectar production and floral scent. We also measured the impact of reduced rainfall on pollinator visits, fruit set and germination in S. rosmarinus and C. albidus. Drought altered floral emissions of all three plant species qualitatively, and reduced nectar production in T. vulgaris only. Apis mellifera and Bombus gr. terrestris visited more flowers in control plots than drought plots, while small wild bees visited more flowers in drought plots than control plots. Pollinator species richness did not differ significantly between treatments. Fruit set and seed set in S. rosmarinus and C. albidus did not differ significantly between control and drought plots, but seeds from drought plots had slower germination for S. rosmarinus and marginally lower germination success in C. albidus. Synthesis. Overall, we found limited but consistent impacts of a moderate experimental drought on floral phenotype, plant reproduction and pollinator visits. Increased aridity under climate change is predicted to be stronger than the level assessed in the present study. Drought impacts will likely be stronger and this could profoundly affect the structure and functioning of plant–pollinator networks in Mediterranean ecosystems.

A study was planned to investigate the effects of different doses of ethanol on body organs of Japanese quails. A total of 120 quails were randomly divided into five groups, A, B, C, D and E. Quails of groups A, B, C and D were given ethanol at concentrations of 2, 4, 8 and 16%, respectively in drinking water for four weeks, while birds of group E served as untreated control. The results at the end of 4th week revealed a significant effect on relative weight of heart, kidney and lungs in most treated groups. The increase in heart and lung weight was significant (P<0.05) in quail given 4% and higher ethanol, of kidney given 2 to 8% ethanol, while statistically no effect was observed on relative weight of liver. The relative weight of the proventriculus and the intestine at 4th week also showed statistically no difference compared to control group. However, the weight of the gizzard at 4th week increased significantly (P0.05) in groups given 8 to 16% ethanol and the increase was 42% in these groups compared with control group. The lymphoid organs at the end of 4th week revealed significant difference in weight of the bursa of Fabricius in quails given 16% ethanol and of the thymus in quails given 4 to 16% ethanol. Statistically, no difference was observed in spleen weight of treated groups compared to control group. The gross and light microscopic examination failed to reveal significant changes in these organs with routine methods of examination. Ethanol showed a significant effect on feed conversion ratio which was poor in ethanol treated groups; at the end of 4th week, it varied from 232 to 442% in groups given 8 and 16% ethanol, respectively. These data suggest that ethanol has significant effects on relative weight of heart, kidney, lungs, thymus, and on feed conversion ratio in the Japanese quails.