• Energy Research

Mosquito-borne diseases are a known tropical phenomenon. This review was conducted to assess the mecha-nisms through which climate change impacts mosquito-borne diseases in temperate regions. Articles were searched from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Identification criteria were scope (climate change and mosquito-borne diseases), region (temperate), article type (peer-reviewed), publication language (English), and publication years (since 2015). The WWH (who, what, how) framework was applied to develop the research question and thematic analyses identified the mechanisms through which climate change affects mosquito-borne diseases. While temperature ranges for disease transmission vary per mosquito species, all are viable for temperate regions, particularly given projected temperature increases. Zika, chikungunya, and dengue transmission occurs between 18-34 °C (peak at 26-29 °C). West Nile virus establishment occurs at monthly average temperatures between 14-34.3 °C (peak at 23.7-25 °C). Malaria establishment occurs when the consecutive average daily temperatures are above 16 °C until the sum is above 210 °C. The identified mechanisms through which climate change affects the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases in temperate regions include: changes in the development of vectors and pathogens; changes in mosquito habitats; extended transmission seasons; changes in geographic spread; changes in abundance and behaviors of hosts; reduced abundance of mosquito predators; interruptions to control operations; and influence on other non-climate factors. Process and stochastic approaches as well as dynamic and spatial models exist to predict mosquito population dynamics, disease transmission, and climate favorability. Future projections based on the observed relations between climate factors and mosquito-borne diseases suggest that mosquito-borne disease expansion is likely to occur in temperate regions due to climate change. While West Nile virus is already established in some temperate regions, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and malaria are also likely to become established over time. Moving forward, more research is required to model future risks by incorporating climate, environmental, sociodemographic, and mosquito-related factors under changing climates.

ABSTRACT Risk of waterborne diseases (WBDs) persists in temperate regions. The extent of influence of climate-related factors on the risk of specific WBDs in a changing climate and the projections of future climate scenarios on WBDs in temperate regions are unclear. A systematic review was conducted to identify specific waterborne pathogens and diseases prevalent in temperate region literature and transmission cycle associations with a changing climate. Projections of WBD risk based on future climate scenarios and models used to assess future disease risk were identified. Seventy-five peer-reviewed full-text articles for temperate regions published in the English language were included in this review after a search of Scopus and Web of Science databases from 2010 to 2023. Using thematic analysis, climate-related drivers impacting WBD risk were identified. Risk of WBDs was influenced mostly by weather (rainfall: 22% and heavy rainfall: 19%) across the majority of temperate regions and hydrological (streamflow: 50%) factors in Europe. Future climate scenarios suggest that WBD risk is likely to increase in temperate regions. Given the need to understand changes and potential feedback across fate, transport and exposure pathways, more studies should combine data-driven and process-based models to better assess future risks using model simulations.

The interrelation between climate change, biomass production, and rural poverty is an area of growing concern, as these factors are intricately linked and often exacerbate one another. The objective of this critical review is to investigate existing knowledge, identify research gaps, and explore how climate-induced disruptions affect biomass production, exacerbate rural poverty, and increase vulnerability. High-quality peer-review publications were sourced via Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to include the most relevant papers in line with the objective. A bibliometric analysis yielded three key concepts: (i) biofuel innovations and sustainable development, (ii) climate dynamics and biomass environmental impact, and (iii) rural poverty and energy challenges. The review delves into the complex interplay of factors influencing biomass production, climate change, and rural/remote poverty. Climate change intensifies the challenges rural communities face, enhancing their vulnerability to poverty. For these communities, biomass production not only offers a sustainable energy alternative but also a pathway to economic upliftment. Addressing climate change through sustainable biomass production emerges as a vital strategy, providing a dual solution by mitigating environmental degradation and offering a robust framework for poverty alleviation in rural areas. The review emphasizes the urgent need to integrate climate action, sustainable energy production, and rural economic development.