The Paris Agreement ushered in an era of climate governance underpinned by a polycentric theory of change, emphasizing experimentation, collaboration, and innovation while downplaying political contestation, power asymmetries, and the need for regulatory action by the state. This article explores the roles the state plays in polycentric climate governance, focusing on the tension between the regulatory state, where authorities set, monitor, and enforce rules, and the orchestrating state, which facilitates collaboration with nonstate actors to induce behavioral change. Using decarbonization in Sweden as an illustrative case study, the article synthesizes the results of two research projects evaluating the promises and limits of polycentric climate governance. The results problematize the view that Sweden is a forerunner in climate governance, suggesting that while the Swedish government has mobilized support from important industries and cities in favor of decarbonization, that support may be insufficient to achieve necessary societal transformation for deep decarbonization. Finally, the study reflects on the conditions necessary for polycentric governance to effectively decarbonize society, highlighting the pivotal role of the regulatory state.

Two microbial pathways are responsible for most of the methane produced during anaerobic digestion: acetoclastic methanogenesis (AM) and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis (HM) coupled with syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO). Identifying the dominant methanogenic pathway active in a system provides the information necessary to manage and optimize productivity, stability, process control, and gas quality in biogas reactors. In this study, a modified method is proposed to estimate methanogenic pathways in different biogas systems via short-term parallel incubations with methyl-labeled acetate (2-13C-acetate). Cavity ring-down spectroscopy was applied to measure the δ13C–CH4 and δ13C–CO2 isotopic signatures of produced biogas. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that longer incubation times led to significant variations in δ13C–CH4 and δ13C–CO2 and consequently interfered with the calculated fraction of CH4 produced from HM (fHM). This variability is likely caused by the dilution of 13CH4 and 13CO2 as 2-13C-acetate is consumed, along with potential changes in organic matter quality and quantity, microbial community composition, and environmental factors such as pH, volatile fatty acid content, and ammonia levels, during longer incubations. We applied this new approach to sludge from six full-scale reactors (three mesophilic and three thermophilic) and validated its potential with consistent estimates of fHM with minimal variation. Mesophilic reactors exhibited AM dominance, while HM was the dominant pathway in thermophilic reactors, aligning with reports in the literature.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a unique class of chemicals synthesized to aid in industrial processes, fire-fighting products, and to benefit consumer products such as clothing, cosmetics, textiles, carpets, and coatings. The widespread use of PFAS and their strong carbon-fluorine bonds has led to their ubiquitous presence throughout the world. Airborne transport of PFAS throughout the atmosphere has also contributed to environmental pollution. Due to the potential environmental and human exposure concerns of some PFAS, research has extensively focused on water, soil, and organismal detection, but the presence of PFAS in the air has become an area of growing concern. Methods to measure polar PFAS in various matrices have been established, while the investigation of polar and nonpolar PFAS in air is still in its early development. This literature review aims to present the last two decades of research characterizing PFAS in outdoor and indoor air, focusing on active and passive air sampling and analytical methods. The PFAS classes targeted and detected in air samples include fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanols (FASEs), perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), and perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs). Although the manufacturing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) has been largely phased out, these two PFAS are still often detected in air samples. Additionally, recent estimates indicate that there are thousands of PFAS that are likely present in the air that are not currently monitored in air methods. Advances in air sampling methods are needed to fully characterize the atmospheric transport of PFAS.

Tillgång till vädervarningar med information om förväntade konsekvenser av vädret är nödvändigt för god krisberedskap hos myndigheter, kommuner, näringsliv och privatpersoner. Vidareutveckling av varningssystem som fokuserar på förväntade störningar (konsekvensbaserade varningssystem) är därför en viktig komponent i samhällets hantering av klimatförändringar. Forskningsprojektet AI för klimatanpassning (AI4CA) har analyserat möjligheter och hinder med att inkludera AI-baserad text- och bildanalys som stöd till SMHI:s konsekvensbaserade vädervarningssystem och på sikt även stödja långsiktig klimatanpassning. 

Kunskap är ett svårfångat begrepp, som har sysselsatt mänskligheten i flera tusen år. Även om det är svårt att avgränsa och definiera är det centralt för att beskriva skola och utbildning. I grund- och gymnasieskolans uppdrag ingår exempelvis kunskapskrav, som eleverna kan uppnå på olika nivåer, och ett av lärarens uppdrag handlar om att mäta i vilken utsträckning detta åstadkoms. För att elever ska kunna röra sig mot utbildningens målsättningar behövs miljöer, platser för lärandet, som frambringar ändamålsenliga lärandeprocesser. Det här kapitlet argumenterar i korthet för att detta innebär och kräver lärande i och utanför skolan utifrån förståelse för kunskapsbegreppets hantering i utbildningens uppdrag. Att ta kunskapsbegreppet på allvar handlar om att lärandet i skolan behöver organiseras så att aktiviteter i klassrum får en förbindelse till natur och samhälle i bred mening. Förbindelserna är väsentliga, men hur kan de åstadkommas?

Anaerobic digestion has been widely applied for waste treatment, renewable energy generation , biofertilizer production. The biogas potential in Brazil is sizable, but the state of Rio de Janeiro is largely dependent on fossil fuels , there is a lack of biogas potential assessments in the state. Thus, this study evaluated biomethane, electricity and biofertilizer potentials in the region. Three different scenarios of biomass supply were considered for four major biowaste streams: sewage sludge; cattle manure; sugarcane processing waste; and food waste. Biomethane generation from the assessed sources could reach 0.6-1.3 billion Nm(3) year(-1), corresponding to 1,768-3,961 GWh year(-1) of electricity , 1.6-3.3 million Mg year- 1 of biofertilizer. Cattle manure was responsible for 73-84% of the projected biomethane production, presenting an opportunity to reduce the sig-nificant emissions from livestock farming. The estimated biofertilizer production could meet the demands of the state , the produced electricity could offset up to 10% of the demand. The gas grid could facilitate the dis-tribution of upgraded biomethane, and 10-22% of the natural gas demand could be met. The findings of this work highlight the high potential for biogas generation in Rio de Janeiro, which is up to seven times larger than the current production.

The world should redouble its efforts on the SDGs, not abandon them. Here's how to progress the United Nations' agenda towards 2050.

Organic wastes can be converted to value-added products using biotransformation technologies since waste disposal and the depletion of fossil fuels are major concerns. There has been a great deal of environmental pollution caused by the extraction of palm oil, which produces a large number of by-products, along with the industry’s development and economic progress. It is important to address the issue of palm oil mill effluent (POME) in order to reduce its negative environmental effects. By regenerating energy from renewable sources, such as organic residues, anaerobic digestion (AD) is considered one of the most effective technologies for organic waste treatment. Since biomass is converted to energy through inputs and outputs, questions have been raised regarding the sustainability of bioenergy pathways. Defining sustainable disposal alternatives for organic residues can be achieved by evaluating the environmental benefits associated with biogas utilization, and digestate treatment.

Biohythane has been gaining a lot of attention lately, due to its gaseous composition of biohydrogen and biomethane. In this way, biogas production from POME can be evaluated and ensured to be sustainable through a holistic and comprehensive environmental tool, such as a life cycle assessment (LCA). By providing environmentally relevant information, LCA and carbon footprint analysis proves to be an appropriate tool for supporting future investment decisions in sustainable bioenergy production.

This study aims to conduct a life-cycle assessment (LCA) on the efficiency of biohydrogen production from palm oil mill effluent (POME) in laboratory-scale up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed-film (UASFF) and continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). LCA is a tool used to determine the environmental performances of products, processes, or services, through their production, distribution, usage, maintenance, and disposal stage. It is a systematic set of procedures developed to compile, examine, and evaluate the material and energy balance of the system by converting those inputs and outputs to associate with the potential environmental impact that is directly attributable to the operation of a product or service system throughout its entire life cycle. SimaPro software (version 9) was chosen to carry out the LCA of biohydrogen production under the ISO 14040 Standard. The life cycle inventory (LCI) data from Ecoinvent database (version 3.6) libraries were used. The study covered the analysis of the cradle-to-gate system boundary, which contains the raw material and energy acquisition. The assessment was done based on the functional unit of 1 kg biohydrogen production. The POME input to the system is considered a waste product that carries zero environmental loads. The potential of the avoided burden of POME utilization was also not considered in the system boundary. The system boundaries of the biohydrogen production include the inputs: POME, electricity usage (pumps, water bath and stirrer), molasses as fermentation stimulant, and output: emission of biogas (H2, and CO2), and effluent described within the boundary. The density and specific heat of POME used for the analysis are 1007.7 kg/m3 and 4374.89 j/kg. The density of molasses, hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases are 1124.6 kg/m3, 0.08988 kg/m3 and 1.87 kg/m3. The energy conversion factors of 1kWh equal to 3.6 MJ. The inventory analysis was conducted by collecting and calculating the input-output data, which consist of energy flows and material used as defined in the system boundary. The inventory data were collected for the CSTR reactor and the UASFF reactor with both on 24h HRT. The amount of energy usage for both reactors are collected using power meters installed. For CSTR, the electricity consumption for water bath, stirrer and pumps were measured, while, for UASFF, the electricity usage was measured for water bath and pump. The water bath and pump(s) in the UASFF reactor consumed higher amounts of energy compared to the CSTR reactor due to the operating volume of POME in UASFF on average (1.9L) being higher than CSTR (4.2L). The impact assessment results show that in the 24h HRT system, CSTR performed slightly (7%) better than UASFF in terms of carbon footprint (kg CO2e) and energy consumption (MJ) per kilograms of biohydrogen produced. It is also noticed that the water bath was the main contributor to carbon footprint and energy consumption in both reactors with CSTR at an average of 61% and UASFF at 66%. While the pump and stirrer (CSTR only) come second and third. The usage of molasses produced a negative values of carbon footprint due to its carbon sequestration capabilities during its life cycle. The biohydrogen production from CSTR reactor showed a better performance than UASFF reactor in term of carbon footprint and energy consumption. 

Biohydrogen production from palm oil mill effluent (POME) through dark fermentation process was evaluated in a two different lab scale reactor configuration namely up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket fixed-film reactor (UASFF) and a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The effect of different organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on hydrogen yield and volumetric hydrogen production rate (VHPR) was investigated. The data on the UASFF reactor is based on the start-up study published research data by the authors undertaken from 2021. In that study, UASFF reactor operated at large OLRs of 5-80 g COD/L.d and HRTs of 6-24h, and CSTR reactor at OLRs of 15-100 g COD/L.d and HRTs of 6-24h. The UASFF achieved a VHPR of 1.9-4.8 ± 0.1 L H2/L-d and COD removal of 35% while the CSTR had a VHPR of  1.8-4.5 ± 0.1 L H2/L-d and COD removal of 30%. The results indicated the change of bacterial community diversity over the operation in the UASFF reactor, in which Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Lactobacillus species contributed to hydrogen fermentation. While the CSTR resulted in higher population of Clostridium sensu stricto 12 but also includes Lactobacillus sp. that mainly contribute to hydrogen production. Both Clostridium sensu stricto 1 (C. acetobutyricum) and Clostridium sensu stricto 12 (C. tyrobutyricum) are known to be producers of hydrogen as a byproduct of both respective metabolic pathways that converts carbon sources into acetic and butyric acid. Previous research has also shown that depending on the operating conditions and parameters of the fermentation process, Clostridium sensu stricto 12 can be converted into Clostridium sensu stricto 1. The similar performance of the UASFF and the CSTR can be explained by the similarity in the microbial community composition, which shows high prevalence of hydrogen-producing bacteria, Clostridium sensu stricto 1 in the UASFF and Clostridium sensu stricto 12 in the CSTR. The difference in COD removal could be due to the method operation between the two reactors, as mixing capabilities of UASFF (through up-flow velocity and recirculation rate from a settling tank to the main UASB reactor) is well-established and known to be efficient as compared to CSTR. However, CSTR can be easily modified to optimize mixing capabilities with changes in tank size, stirrer type, and also stirring speed, not to mention maintenance for CSTR is relatively simple and does not involve complex techniques. 

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are highly persistent anthropogenic pollutants that have been detected in the global oceans. Our previous laboratory studies demonstrated that PFAAs in seawater are remobilized to the air in sea spray aerosols (SSAs). Here, we conducted field experiments along a north-south transect of the Atlantic Ocean to study the enrichment of PFAAs in SSA. We show that in some cases PFAAs were enriched >100,000 times in the SSA relative to seawater concentrations. On the basis of the results of the field experiments, we estimate that the secondary emission of certain PFAAs from the global oceans via SSA emission is comparable to or greater than estimates for the other known global sources of PFAAs to the atmosphere from manufacturing emissions and precursor degradation.

Purpose- This paper analyses Rwandan farmers’ perceptions of historical drivers of landscape vulnerability (past), current livelihood assets (present) and, existing or potential capacities (future) to increase resilience to drought. The specific focus is on linking experiences from the past and present with ideas for a drought-resilient future. It explores how farmers' perceptions of past droughts and future visioning can contribute to rural development policy and multi-level collaborations. 

Design/methodology/approach- The study was conducted in Bugesera, a drought-prone district in south-eastern Rwanda. Empirical data was collected through participatory observation, semi- structured interviews and focus groups. The analytical points of departure are based on sustainable landscapes and livelihood approaches, combining spatial and temporal perspectives on challenges and opportunities identified by farmers’ communities in addressing droughts. 

Findings- All respondents had a high awareness of the impacts of droughts. Perceived drivers of landscape change include historical climate events, such as droughts and floods, immigration and agricultural expansion which have led to demographic pressure on land, deforestation, and infringement on natural resources. Factors enhancing resilience capacities include access to diversified sources of livelihood, knowledge of appropriate irrigation techniques, and availability of safety nets and credits. Furthermore, farmers identified collaborative opportunities as important for resilience capacity, including peer learning, and sharing best practices through knowledge exchange and on-field training. In addition, farmers brought up the need for innovative institutions that can facilitate access to markets and enable collaboration between different agricultural sectors. 

Originality/value – This study analyses farmers’ perceptions of resilience capacities to droughts through a spatiotemporal lens of past droughts, present capital and future challenges by linking scales, knowledge and human-environment nexus. This paper contributes to the knowledge of climate adaptation in Rwanda and to discussions about smallholder farming in the literature on climate change adaptation. 

The CO( 2)flux (FCO2) from lakes to the atmosphere is a large component of the global carbon cycle anddepends on the air-water CO2concentration gradient (Delta CO2) and the gas transfer velocity (k). Both Delta CO2 and k can vary on multiple timescales and understanding their contributions toFCO(2)is important for explaining var-iability influxes and developing optimal sampling designs. We measuredFCO2 and Delta CO(2 )and derivedkforone full ice-free period in 18 lakes usingfloating chambers and estimated the contributions of Delta CO2 and k to FCO2 variability. Generally, kcontributed more than Delta CO2to short-term (1-9d) FCO2 variability. With in creased temporal period, the contribution of k to FCO2 variability decreased, and in some lakes resulted in Delta CO2 contrib-uting more thank to FCO2 variability over the full ice-free period. Increased contribution of Delta CO2 to FCO2 vari-ability over time occurred across all lakes but was most apparent in large-volume southern-boreal lakes and indeeper (>2m) parts of lakes, whereaskwas linked to FCO(2 )variability in shallow waters. Accordingly, knowing the variability of bothk and Delta CO(2 )over time and space is needed for accurate modeling of F CO2 from these vari-ables. We conclude that priority in FCO(2 )assessments should be given to direct measurements of FCO2 at multiplesites when possible, or otherwise from spatially distributed measurements of Delta CO(2 )combined with k- models that incorporate spatial variability of lake thermal structure and meteorology.

Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate (TBC), recognized as an endocrine disruptor, can cause inflammatory injury to the lung tissue of mice. To investigate the specific respiratory effects of TBC, male C57BL/6J mice were administered a daily dose of 20 mg/kg of TBC over 14 days. Postexposure, these mice developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-like symptoms characterized by inflammatory lung damage and functional impairment. In light of the antiestrogenic properties of TBC, we administrated estradiol (E2) to investigate its potential protective role against TBC-induced damage and found that the coexposure of E2 notably mitigated the COPD-like phenotypes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TBC exposure reduced estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) expression and increased nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappa B) expression, while E2 treatment rebalanced the expression levels of ER alpha and NF-kappa B to their normative states. Our findings indicate that TBC, as an antiestrogenic agent, may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD through an ER alpha-mediated inflammatory pathway, but that E2 treatment could reverse the impairment, providing a potentially promising remedial treatment. Given the lung status as a primary target of air pollution, the presence of antiestrogenic compounds like TBC in atmospheric particulates presents a significant concern, with the potential to exacerbate respiratory conditions such as COPD and pneumonia.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is one of the most complex, dynamic and abundant sources of organic carbon, but its chemical reactivity remains uncertain 1-3 . Greater insights into DOM structural features could facilitate understanding its synthesis, turnover and processing in the global carbon cycle 4,5 . Here we use complementary multiplicity-edited 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra to quantify key substructures assembling the carbon skeletons of DOM from four main Amazon rivers and two mid-size Swedish boreal lakes. We find that one type of reaction mechanism, oxidative dearomatization (ODA), widely used in organic synthetic chemistry to create natural product scaffolds 6-10 , is probably a key driver for generating structural diversity during processing of DOM that are rich in suitable polyphenolic precursor molecules. Our data suggest a high abundance of tetrahedral quaternary carbons bound to one oxygen and three carbon atoms (OCqC3 units). These units are rare in common biomolecules but could be readily produced by ODA of lignin-derived and tannin-derived polyphenols. Tautomerization of (poly)phenols by ODA creates non-planar cyclohexadienones, which are subject to immediate and parallel cycloadditions. This combination leads to a proliferation of structural diversity of DOM compounds from early stages of DOM processing, with an increase in oxygenated aliphatic structures. Overall, we propose that ODA is a key reaction mechanism for complexity acceleration in the processing of DOM molecules, creation of new oxygenated aliphatic molecules and that it could be prevalent in nature. Using complementary multiplicity-edited 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, oxidative dearomatization is shown to be a key driver for generating structural diversity during processing of dissolved organic matter and the data also suggest high abundance of OCqC3 units.

Urban mobility challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic crisis have gained added attention, with a focus on inclusivity of vulnerable citizens, safety and affordability. The EU-funded ELABORATOR project started in June 2023, aiming to deliver co-designed interventions in the urban fabric of 12 European cities. This paper introduces the project, focusing on the co-designed procedure of evaluation methodology comprising the evaluation plan and providing unified metrics suitable for knowledge transfer with outputs to measure and assess the impact of the co-designed city interventions.

Promising method for disposal the pine wood waste through extrusion pelleting using sulphate soap as a natural binder is considered in the article. Prior to pelleting, the wood waste requires drying to a water content of no more than 10%. Analysis of pine wood waste drying in filtration mode yielded optimal parameters: A 20 mm layer thickness, temperature of 135 °C, and drying time of 3,900 s. The optimal content of sulphate soap binder was determined to be about 20%, resulting in reduced coke residue, increased volatile components, higher calorific value, and enhanced static strength. This binder facilitates formation of pellets at lower pressures, increases calorific value, and acts as a lubricant, reducing friction and associated energy costs. 

The nutrient type and amount contributed from vermicompost varies depending on thesource material, earthworm type used, agro-ecology and farmers’ management. These call forcrop, soil and site specific study. This study, therefore, aimed at determining: (i) the optimalvermicompost application rate/s for wheat and maize production; and (ii) the role ofvermicompost on soil fertility improvements. Field experiments in three agro-climatic zones(highland, midland and lowlands) were established on wheat and maize crops following arandomized complete block design. The treatments were vermicompost (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and10 t ha−1), conventional compost (10 t ha−1), and recommended rates of Nitrogen and Phosphorus(NP = 100 kg DAP and 50 kg Urea) fertilizers. Our results revealed that the studied soil chemicalproperties, primarily, organic carbon (OC %), N (%) and available P (mg kg−1) increased withincreasing vermicompost rate. The 10 t ha−1 vermicompost treated plots had 157-210%,64-81% and 100-242% higher soil total nitrogen content as compared to the control, 10 t ha−1conventional compost and NP fertilizer treatments, respectively. Application of 10 t ha−1vermicompost also resulted in a 1.5-fold and 43-63% grain yield increment of both testedcrops compared to the control and NP treated plots, respectively. However, the highest netbenefit was obtained from 5 t ha−1 vermicompost for maize (86% increase) and 10 t ha−1 ofvermicompost for wheat (152% increase compared to the control). In conclusion, vermicompostat 5 t ha−1 for maize and 10 t ha−1 for wheat can be recommended to sustainably managefarm productivity.

We present a method to monitor methane at atmospheric concentrations with errors inthe order of tens of parts per billion. We use machine learning techniques and periodic calibrationswith reference equipment to quantify methane from the readings of an electronic nose. The resultsobtained demonstrate versatile and robust solution that outputs adequate concentrations in a varietyof different cases studied, including indoor and outdoor environments with emissions arising fromnatural or anthropogenic sources. Our strategy opens the path to a wide-spread use of low-costsensor system networks for greenhouse gas monitoring.

The ELABORATOR project aims to support cities across Europe in their transition to climate neutrality by promoting the implementation of mobility interventions towards inclusive, sustainable, safe and affordable mobility. The project aims to provide tools and methods to support a truly collaborative and participatory approach in achieving inclusive transport infrastructure development in 12 cities in Europe. The deliverable of T2.3, the ELABORATOR Co-creation playbook provides practical guidelines to engage groups of stakeholders and citizens in the development of qualitative data collection methods, comprising community-based and citizensscience research to ensure that the final methods and tools have legitimacy for all the parties involved in new and innovative urban interventions’ design and deployment. The playbook provides a solid foundation for the cities to work with co-creation methodologies to support the involvement of stakeholders and citizens, especially focusing on the inclusion of VRUs in co-creation processes. Hopefully these guidelines will also prove fruitful for other cities working with collaborative methods. 

Reducing emissions of the key greenhouse gas methane (CH4) is increasingly highlighted as being important to mitigate climate change. Effective emission reductions require cost-effective ways to measure CH4 to detect sources and verify that mitigation efforts work. We present here a novel approach to measure methane at atmospheric concentrations by means of a low-cost electronic nose strategy where the readings of a few sensors are combined, leading to errors down to 33 ppb and coefficients of determination, R-2, up to 0.91 for in situ measurements. Data from methane, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure sensors were used in customized machine learning models to account for environmental cross-effects and quantify methane in the ppm-ppb range both in indoor and outdoor conditions. The electronic nose strategy was confirmed to be versatile with improved accuracy when more reference data were supplied to the quantification model. Our results pave the way toward the use of networks of low-cost sensor systems for the monitoring of greenhouse gases.

Enhanced wastewater treatment plays a pivotal role in preserving ecological equilibrium and ensuring human well-being. Traditional wastewater treatment methods face challenges in effectively removing emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics. This has led to the exploration of alternative materials for wastewater treatment, and one such class of materials that has gained significant attention is bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX). This article aims to provide an overview of the emerging opportunities of BiOX in wastewater treatment. BiOX materials possess unique properties, including excellent photocatalytic activity, chemical stability, and low toxicity, making them promising candidates for various wastewater treatment applications. The paper emphasizes recent advancements in the synthesis and characterization of diverse BiOX nanostructures, including BiOCl, BiOBr, and BiOI and their performance in removing organic pollutants, heavy metals, and microorganisms from wastewater. The review also discusses the mechanisms underlying the photocatalytic activity of BiOX, including the generation of reactive oxygen species and the role of different crystal facets. Moreover, it explores strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic performance of BiOX through modifications such as doping, heterostructure formation, and co-catalyst loading. Furthermore, this paper addresses the challenges and limitations associated with BiOX-based wastewater treatment, including material stability, reusability, and cost-effectiveness. It also identifies future research directions and potential applications of BiOX in emerging fields such as wastewater treatment in resource-limited settings and the removal of emerging contaminants. In conclusion, BiOX materials present promising opportunities for advanced wastewater treatment due to their exceptional photocatalytic properties. However, further research is needed to overcome the current challenges and optimize the performance of BiOX-based systems for practical applications in real-world wastewater treatment scenarios.

The process by which perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) become enriched on sea spray aerosol (SSA) is complex and likely influenced by several factors. In this study, we utilized a plunging water jet in a controlled laboratory setup to generate SSA. We investigated the enrichment process of PFAAs on nascent SSA by systematically varying three key parameters: 1) total organic carbon (TOC), 2) water jet flow rate, and 3) inorganic ion composition. The results showed a significant enhancement in enrichment when organic matter was introduced into artificial seawater. However, this enhancement did not exhibit a consistent trend when increasing the TOC from 1 to 2 mg L-1. The enrichment was increased at higher water jet flow rates (3.2 L min(-1)) compared to lower flow rates (1.6 and 2.4 L min(-1)), and the effect was particularly pronounced for submicrometer SSA particles. There was minimal difference in the enrichment of PFAAs when SSA was generated using sodium chloride solution instead of artificial seawater at the same salinity. Overall, these findings shed light on the complex process of PFAA enrichment on SSA and improved our understanding of the uncertainties associated with varying dissolved organic matter, water jet flow rate, and inorganic ion composition.

Soil management is a strategy for improving soil suffering from problems such as low pH, nutrient deficiency, and erosion. The study evaluated the effects of human urine (HU), biogas slurry (BS), standard compost (StC), animal manure (AM), and synthetic fertilizer (SF) in comparison with no soil fertility management (NFM) on soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil moisture content, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in the Karagwe district, a Northwestern Tanzania. Four household farms representing each soil amendment type were selected for soil sampling. A total of 192 soil samples were collected and air-dried. After laboratory analysis, BS-enriched soil had the highest pH (6.558), CEC (23.945 cmol+/kg), SOC (5.573%), soil moisture (5.573%), N (0.497%), P (247.130 mg/kg), K (3.036 cmol+/kg), Ca (18.983 cmol+/kg), Mg (4.076 cmol+/kg), Na (2.960 cmol+/kg), and Cu (12.548 mg/kg). Similar soil properties were lower in NFM than in the other soils. The soil properties on the chosen farms did not differ significantly depending on the sampling zone for each organic fertilizer. Therefore, the result indicates that all evaluated organic fertilizers improved soil health compared to NFM, but BS and HU fertilizers led to relatively better soil health improvements than StC, AM, and SF.

The gigantic volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal likely needed to comply with the Paris Agreement beg the question of who should pay for the negative emissions. Incentivizing negative emissions is difficult, as it entails reversing the fiscal attractiveness associated with carbon taxes and emissions trading in favour of the more unattractive need to pay for removals. The inherent difficulty of funding global public goods associated with large private costs will make it hard for future governments to share this burden among themselves. We propose that this problem can be solved by a CO2 emitter liability operationalized through Atmospheric CO2 Removal Deposits (ACORDs). Anyone that emits fossil CO2 to the atmosphere would be obliged to finance the removal of at least as much CO2 from the atmosphere. Linking the liability to ACORDs acknowledges that a major part of the negative emissions needs to be made in the future. The emitters' financial deposits, including earnings, can be redeemed upon certified proof of removal. The ACORDs system would comply with the widely accepted principle of producer liability, i.e., that companies are responsible for the damage caused by their products. The system would also provide additional incentives to reduce emissions and an innovative funding source for coming generations to accomplish negative emissions. Furthermore, inequity and historical emissions can be addressed by gradually increasing overcompensation. The paper also includes a critical assessment of the basis of negative emissions, i.e., the need, the technologies and their potentials, the costs, and the required retention time.

The City of Stockholm aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 by compensating for residual emissions using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). Relying heavily on negative emissions to reach the target, the city's strategy presents an interesting case of net-zero climate policymaking. Based on the analysis of interviews, City Council debates, and policy documents, the Stockholm case underscores the importance of understanding municipal climate policy in a multi-level policy setting, where the ability to govern emissions varies heavily between sectors depending on politics and policy at other levels of governance. Both waste incineration and road transport are perceived to include hard-to-abate emissions in 2030, partly due to governance linkages involving regional, national, and EU-level governing bodies. The energy utility, Stockholm Exergi, plans to implement BECCS, with funding from the EU and other public and private sources, at a heat and power plant. The unique opportunity to use BECCS as part of the city's net-zero target has made it possible to advance the net-zero goal from 2040 to 2030. However, there are risks that relying on BECCS may muffle public debate on what constitutes residual emissions in the city, subsequently leading to smaller municipal investments in emission reductions. Additionally, there are risks that the schedule for implementing BECCS is overly optimistic, meaning goal fulfilment may be threatened. However, this risk is not isolated to BECCS; similar risks are associated with combining fossil fuels with CCS. We recommend that the city critically examines the residual emissions, considers separate targets instead of a net-zero goal, and conducts risk assessments of key mitigation technologies to maintain its status as climate policy forerunner.

This study investigates the potential relevance, usefulness, and usability of climate change projections for Swedish agricultural planning and management. Although research indicates the importance of specific users acting as knowledge brokers for climate information, there are knowledge gaps concerning agricultural extension officers’ use of climate information. Through a survey and stakeholder workshops, perspectives of Swedish agricultural extension officers on climate change projections were collected. The results provide insights into “what” information in climate change projections that is relevant and “how” climate information may be presented and used. Based on the analysis of the workshop dialogues, four themes outlining the “what” and “how” were identified: (i) a need for additional climate indicators for Swedish agriculture, (ii) the criticalness of temporal precision, (iii) trade-offs between providing precision and an overview, and (iv) a relevance – usability contradiction. These results inform the basis for ongoing research and practical applications focused on agriculturally tailored climate information, as well as the broader development of climate service methodology. The study reveals a latent demand for climate change projections among respondents, indicating a perceived relevance of information on future climates, but limited current use and usability among agricultural extension officers. The requisite for tailored climate indicators is clear – in this case, for Swedish agricultural planning and management – but critical usability challenges need to be addressed to move from providing relevant information to achieving actual usage that can enhance the climate resilience in Swedish agriculture.

From charting out climate change mitigation pathways to estimating price risks associated with the social cost of carbon, as environmentally concerned citizens of the twenty-first century, we live in a culture of foresight. Because of a growing integration of an ever-wider sample space of possible climate futures into the present, historical experience has become seemingly irrelevant for effectively predicting where our climate transitions are headed, in effect restricting our sense of futurity to its performativity in the present. What has been surprisingly absent as a theoretical and methodological approach among sociologists, however, are treatments of the performativity of the future as the expression of a historical praxis for prognosis, with its own mode of disclosure. By interrogating the temporal structure of anticipation that characterizes computer-based simulations of emissions scenarios, the paper illustrates how this praxis discloses the future in accordance with the grammatical tense of the future perfect. It then argues that this relationship between past and future is the cultural product of a historically particular set of prognostic techniques and technologies, namely, model-based scenario analysis. Against this background, the paper seeks to contribute to the rehabilitation of the relevance of historical experience by historicizing the social ontological status of the future that theories of performativity take as their starting point.

Methane is an important greenhouse gas1, but the role of trees in the methane budget remains uncertain2. Although it has been shown that wetland and some upland trees can emit soil-derived methane at the stem base3,4, it has also been suggested that upland trees can serve as a net sink for atmospheric methane5,6. Here we examine in situ woody surface methane exchange of upland tropical, temperate and boreal forest trees. We find that methane uptake on woody surfaces, in particular at and above about 2 m above the forest floor, can dominate the net ecosystem contribution of trees, resulting in a net tree methane sink. Stable carbon isotope measurement of methane in woody surface chamber air and process-level investigations on extracted wood cores are consistent with methanotrophy, suggesting a microbially mediated drawdown of methane on and in tree woody surfaces and tissues. By applying terrestrial laser scanning-derived allometry to quantify global forest tree woody surface area, a preliminary first estimate suggests that trees may contribute 24.6-49.9 Tg of atmospheric methane uptake globally. Our findings indicate that the climate benefits of tropical and temperate forest protection and reforestation may be greater than previously assumed. Studies of in situ woody surface methane exchange in upland tropical, temperate and boreal forest trees find that methane uptake can result in a net tree methane sink that is globally significant and demonstrates an additional climate benefit provided by trees.

Sveriges långsiktiga nationella klimatmål är ett av världens mest ambitiösa. Sverige ska nå noll nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser till år 2045. Det ska ske genom att minska utsläppen med minst 85 procent jämfört med 1990. Kvarvarande utsläpp ska kompenseras genom så kallade kompletterande åtgärder, både inhemska åtgärder och internationella klimatsinaster.

På senare tid har regeringens intresse för internationella klimatinsatser ökat. En delförklaring kan vara att Sveriges ekonomi präglas av en mycket låg koldioxidintensitet. Sverige har en av världens mest klimateffektiva ekonomier, i paritet med Schweiz och Danmark (Gütschow och Pflüger, 2022). Den låga koldioxidintensiteten innebär att marginalkostnaden för klimatåtgärder inom Sveriges territorium i många fall är hög i jämförelse med andra länder. En annan förklaring bakom det svenska intresset för internationella klimatinsatser är Sveriges historiskt stora engagemang i internationell politik. Relativt storleken på Sveriges ekonomi har Sverige en lång historia av att vara världsledande inom klimatrelaterat bistånd och klimatfinansiering. En del av detta engagemang tar sig uttryck genom svenska statens satsningar på internationella klimatinsatser inom ramkonventionen om klimatförändringar. Satsningen består dels av klimatrelaterat bistånd, bilateralt liksom genom stora bidrag till multilaterala fonder som den globala miljöfonden, gröna klimatfonden och anpassningsfonden, dels av Energimyndighetens program för internationella klimatinsatser.

Parisavtalets Artikel 6 reglerar hur stater kan samarbeta internationellt. Skärningspunkten mellan FN:s reglering av samarbeten under Artikel 6, Sveriges ambitioner inom kompletterande åtgärder för att uppfylla nationella klimatmål och EU:s begräsningar av det svenska handlingsutrymmet är komplex. Denna rapport syftar till att skapa underlag för att förstå om den svenska satsningen på Artikel 6 bidrar till möjligheten att nå de svenska klimatmålen. Rapporten försöker reda ut:

1. I hur stor utsträckning kan Sverige använda Artikel 6 som kompletterande åtgärd för att nå Sveriges nationella klimatmål givet de begräsningar som ges av EU:s klimatpolitiska rättsakter?
2. Hur påverkas utrymmet att använda Artikel 6 för att uppnå Sveriges nationella klimatmål av möjligheterna att använda andra kompletterande åtgärder för att uppfylla svenska åtaganden gentemot EU?

High ammonia concentrations in anaerobic degradation systems cause volatile fatty acid accumulation and reduced methane yield, which often derive from restricted activity of syntrophic acid-oxidising bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Inclusion of additives that facilitate the electron transfer or increase cell proximity of syntrophic species by flocculation can be a suitable strategy to counteract these problems, but its actual impact on syntrophic interactions has yet to be determined. In this study, microbial cultivation and molecular and microscopic analysis were performed to evaluate the impact of conductive (graphene, iron oxide) and non-conductive (zeolite) additives on the degradation rate of acetate and propionate to methane by highly enriched ammonia-tolerant syntrophic cultures derived from a biogas process. All additives had a low impact on the lag phase but resulted in a higher rate of acetate (except graphene) and propionate degradation. The syntrophic bacteria 'Candidatus Syntrophopropionicum ammoniitolerans', Syntrophaceticus schinkii and a novel hydrogenotrophic methanogen were found in higher relative abundance and higher gene copy numbers in flocculating communities than in planktonic communities in the cultures, indicating benefits to syntrophs of living in close proximity to their cooperating partner. Microscopy and element analysis showed precipitation of phosphates and biofilm formation in all batches except on the graphene batches, possibly enhancing the rate of acetate and propionate degradation. Overall, the concordance of responses observed in both acetate- and propionate-fed cultures highlight the suitability of the addition of iron oxide or zeolites to enhance acid conversion to methane in high-ammonia biogas processes.

Using a single sensor as a virtual electronic nose, we demonstrate the possibility of obtaininggood results with underperforming sensors that, at first glance, would be discarded. For this aim, wecharacterized chemical gas sensors with low repeatability and random drift towards both dangerousand innocuous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under different levels of relative humidity. Ourresults show classification accuracies higher than 90% when differentiating harmful from harmlessVOCs and coefficients of determination, R2, higher than 80% when determining their concentrationin the parts per billion to parts per million range.

In this chapter, I will argue that scientific climate mitigation scenarios and pathways help create visions of the future, and that scenarios of a certain centrality or political and scientific le-gitimacy end up influencing the kinds of future developments deemed to be desirable or achiev-able. The argument will be supported by an overview of relevant research and is illustrated by an empirical study I conducted a couple of years ago with colleagues at Linköping University (Hansson et al., 2021). I will illustrate and discuss the construction of visions in the context of the IPCC reports. Engaging STS concepts, I reveal aspects of how relevant science is estab-lished. A point of departure, which I share with many STS scholars, is that scientific knowledge is negotiated and influenced by social processes and often co-constructed with politics (van Beek et al., 2022; Schenuit, 2023). I want to stress that such a point of departure does not mean that the ambition is to discredit the scientific validity of the IPCC. On the contrary, it is unavoid-able that science is situated in a cultural and political context. The boundaries between what is and is not considered scientific knowledge are blurry. It must be negotiated, especially when the scientific object is complex, in our case future development of the global climate in interaction with global society. Those interactions are inherently characterized by deep uncertainties and unpredictable social dynamics. Nevertheless, scientific communities have been tasked with the herculean mission to compile and analyze current understandings of climate change. Further-more, they are called upon to convey structured and transparent scenarios or pathways on how various futures may unfold. The main tools for that are integrated assessment models (IAMs) (IPCC, 2018). Therefore, my ambition is that STS-informed analyses can help society to open up and also improve scientific efforts to understand the future.

How can the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) be made more effective? This paper argues that in order to make the UNFCCC fit for purpose, there is a need to identify the specific institutional reforms that can create ripple effects to accelerate climate action across governance levels and relevant organisations. Longstanding calls to reform the UNFCCC have targeted inefficient procedures with the intent to promote effective outcomes and - after entry into force of the Paris Agreement - to transform the UNFCCC towards holding more implementation-focused deliberations. Despite such calls, UNFCCC reform has been modest, at best. Central to the failure of reform proposals are vested interests with conflicts of interest that seek to obstruct climate action. Without addressing these elephants in the room, reform proposals will make modest contributions to overcoming key challenges. It is due time to start retargeting institutional reform from addressing procedural inefficiencies at the UNFCCC towards addressing vested interests. We propose a new research agenda to understand ways to undermine incumbent actors seeking to preserve business as usual and support new entrants that facilitate climate action through green spiralling. A reform process addressing vested interests could improve both procedural efficiency and implementation.

Open storages of organic material represent potentially large sources of the greenhouse gas methane (CH4), an emissions source that will likely become more common as a part of societal efforts toward sustainability. Hence, monitoring and minimizing CH4 emissions from such facilities are key, but effective assessment of emissions without disturbing the flux is challenging. We demonstrate the capacity of using a novel high-resolution hyperspectral camera to perform sensitive CH4 flux assessments at such facilities, using as a test case a biofertilizer storage tank for residual material from a biogas plant. The camera and simultaneous conventional flux chamber measurements showed emissions of 6.0 +/- 1.3 and 13 +/- 5.7 kg of CH4 h-1, respectively. The camera measurements covered the whole tank surface of 1104 m2, and the chamber results were extrapolated from measurements over 5 m2. This corresponds to 0.7-1.4% of the total CH4 production at the biogas plant (1330 N m3 h-1 corresponding to 950 kg h(-1)). The camera could assess the entire tank emission in minutes without disturbing normal operations at the plant and revealed additional unknown emissions from the inlet to the tank (17 g of CH4 h(-1)) and during the loading of the biofertilizer into trucks (3.1 kg of CH4 h(-1) during loading events). This study illustrates the importance of adequate measurement capacity to map methane fluxes and to verify that methane emission mitigation efforts are effective. Given the high methane emissions observed, it is important to reduce methane emissions from open storage of organic material, for example by improved digestion in the biogas reactor, precooling of sludge before storage, or building gastight storage tanks with sealed covers. We conclude that hyperspectral, ground-based remote sensing is a promising approach for greenhouse gas monitoring and mitigation.

Sustainability researchers are writing much about levers for transformations towards sustainability but too little about the most powerful means available for obstructing and activating them: mass-reaching media systems. How media systems are structured and governed form a profoundly important meta-level layer of decision-making that ought to be central in the study of environmental politics and in environmental policymaking. A politics- and media-focused account of the rise of Jair Bolsonaro to the presidency of Brazil illustrates the essential role of media systems and the need for new principles, structures, and policies for their governance if the interlinked goals of democracy, equity, and environmental protection are to be achieved. The pervasive inattention to this in environmental research reinforces hegemonic forces and needs to be widely discussed, understood, and overcome to achieve much needed just transformations towards sustainability.

Streams are important sources of methane (CH4) to the atmosphere but magnitudes and regulation of stream CH4 fluxes remain uncertain. Stream CH4 can come from groundwater and/or produced in anoxic sediments. A fraction can be microbially oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO2) when passing redox gradients in soil, sediment, or water, while the fraction escaping oxidation is emitted to the atmosphere. The relative importance of the CH4 sources (groundwater inputs vs. sediment production) and the fraction oxidized is typically unknown, yet key for the regulation and magnitude of stream emissions. In this study, we followed the transport of CH4 from below-stream soils to the stream water surface and to the atmosphere using a combination of CH4 concentration and stable carbon isotope gradient measurements, high resolution stream flux and discharge assessments, and inverse mass-balance modeling. Sampling was done in multiple locations in the stream network of two independent catchments in Sweden to consider spatial variability. We show that the surface water, sub-surface, and groundwater CH4 concentration, CH4 oxidation, and emission were highly variable in space. Our results indicate that the variability could be related to stream morphology and soil characteristics. Of the total CH4 input into the streams, roughly half of it was estimated to come from groundwater CH4 in both catchments (39% and 57%; the rest from sediment production), and most of the CH4 was oxidized (97%-99%) before emission to the atmosphere. Our results indicate that CH4 oxidation is a major sink for CH4 in the studied streams. Streams emit a large amount of the greenhouse gas methane to the atmosphere. Sources of this methane can be groundwater and/or production in stream sediments. A part of the methane can be oxidized by microbes into carbon dioxide and the rest can evade to the atmosphere as methane. The relative magnitudes of the sources, oxidation, and emission are usually unknown but important for understanding the regulation of stream methane emissions. In this study in two stream networks of Sweden, inverse mass-balance modeling was done using multiple measurements and we show that the sources of methane, its oxidation and emission were highly variable in space. About half of the methane in the streams was contributed by groundwater and the rest was estimated to be produced in the sediments. Most of the methane was oxidized in the streams and only a small fraction escaped to the atmosphere. Large spatial variability in CH4 concentration, net inputs, oxidation and emission was observed Roughly half of the CH4 inputs in the streams were contributed by groundwater and the rest by sediment production Most of the total potential stream CH4 input was oxidized before reaching the atmosphere

Proper pretreatment of organic residues prior to anaerobic digestion (AD) can maximize global biogas production from varying sources without increasing the amount of digestate, contributing to global decarbonization goals. However, the efficiency of pretreatments applied on varying organic streams is poorly assessed. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis on AD studies to evaluate the efficiencies of pretreatments with respect to biogas production measured as methane yield. Based on 1374 observations our analysis shows that pretreatment efficiency is dependent on substrate chemical dominance. Grouping substrates by chemical composition e.g., lignocellulosic-, protein- and lipid-rich dominance helps to highlight the appropriate choice of pretreatment that supports maximum substrate degradation and more efficient conversion to biogas. Methane yield can undergo an impactful increase compared to untreated controls if proper pretreatment of substrates of a given chemical dominance is applied. Non-significant or even adverse effects on AD are, however, observed when the substrate chemical dominance is disregarded.

Society is largely moving into electric mobility to achieve net -zero emissions, with the choice of electrification as the sole viable option for decarbonizing personal road transport. While this perspective has some merits, it overlooks the potential of biomethane produced through anaerobic digestion (AD) as a carbon -negative solution. Biomethane from AD offers not only carbon -neutrality but the possibility of being carbon -negative, with estimates suggesting it could provide 10 % of the world 's primary energy consumption by 2050. AD provides socio-environmental advantages, including improved quality of life and employment opportunities, a particularly relevant topic in developing countries. The technology is mature, cost-effective, and applicable across various sectors and therefore it is imperative that it is considered as an alternative or complementation to electrification of road transport.

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of moderate thermal treatment (70 ^◦C for one hour) of digestate in combination with post-digestion targeting residual biomethane potentials from three full-scale biogas plants digesting food waste (FW), agricultural waste (AW) and a mixture of AW and manure (AWM). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), biomethane production, and digestate quality were investigated. For the study six laboratory-scale continuously stirred tank biogas reactors working as post-digesters, with thermally-treated and non-treated digestate were used. DOC for thermally-treated digestates increased significantly (t-test, p < 0.05); FW-digestate (110–200 %), AW-digestate (24–92 %) and for AWM-digestate (4–73 %). Indexes for corresponding DOC quality showed lower apparent organic molecular weights and decreased aromaticity (with the exception of FW-digestate). Thermal treatment of digestate improved the biomethane production during post-digestion by 21–22 % (FW-digestate) and 9 % (AW-digestate). For AMW-digestate no clear positive effect was observed, most likely due to biogas plant operational process disturbances. 

Improved characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in source waters used for drinking water treatment is necessary to optimize treatment processes and obtain high drinking water quality. In this study, seasonal differences in freshwater DOM composition and associated treatment-induced changes, were investigated at four drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in Sweden, during all seasons and a full-year. The objective was to understand how effectively DWTPs can adapt to seasonal changes and compare how optical and mass spectrometry methods detected these changes. In addition to bulk DOM analysis, this work focused on excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence including parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis, and molecular level non-target analysis by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). Overall, seasonal variability of raw water DOM composition was small and explained primarily by changes in the contributions of DOM with aromatic and phenolic moieties, which were more prevalent during spring in two surface water sources as indicated by absorbance measurements at 254 nm, computed specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) and phenol concentrations. These changes could be balanced by coagulation, resulting in seasonally stable DOM characteristics of treated water. While EEM fluorescence and PARAFAC modelling effectively revealed DOM fingerprints of the different water sources, FT-ICR MS provided new insights into treatment selectivity on DOM composition at the molecular level. Future DOM monitoring of surface waters should target more specific seasonal DOM changes, such as features with a known impact on certain treatment processes or target certain events, like algal or cyanobacterial blooms. Improved characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in source waters used for drinking water treatment is necessary to optimize treatment processes and obtain high drinking water quality.

In this article, we study how Sweden’s transition to a fossil free society is interpreted and experienced by communities whose livelihoods and cultural identities are entangled with carbon-intensive industries. The study draws upon interviews with citizen groups in the coastal city of Lysekil, located next to Scandinavia’s largest oil refinery. Our analysis speaks to a growing scholarly literature on just transitions where we argue that a better understanding of place attachment as an active and operating force in local transition processes, can provide important information for just transition policy design. Based on our research on place attachment in Lysekil, we suggest that inclusivity in just transitions, implies acknowledging and addressing more than material aspects of loss, involving loss of direction, loss of identities and loss of imagined futures. Moreover, we argue that the vision of an inclusive transition requires a more nuanced approach to the concept of “community” which recognises different stories, voices, and perspectives and challenges taken for granted assumptions about local people's priorities in debates on just transitions. Finally, based on our experiences from Lysekil we contend that inclusivity requires communicative spaces where citizens can meet to listen, speak, and discuss future pathways towards a fossil free society. The visions of just and inclusive transitions, we argue, can only be realised if driven by a place-based dialogue on future pathways and if agendas for a fossil free transformation are locally anchored.

Biogas production via anaerobic digestion is an established and robust technology that produces energy and recycles nutrients. Several biotechnological attempts have been applied to this process to increase biogas production, including adding nanoparticles, but several discrepancies have been reported. To elucidate the contradictory results, we performed a literature review followed by a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of adding natural nanoparticles to biogas sludge. Our results showed that adding nanoparticles can increase biogas production by up to two orders of magnitude. Considering that, we attribute these results to variability in the nanoparticles applied, leading to less reliable, consistent, and even contradictory results. We observed that the magnetite nanoparticles are the most tested ones with the most promising positive effects. In addition, we observed that concentrations of nanoparticles higher than 100 mg/L can have adverse effects, with an overall decrease in biogas production. The findings in this study highlight the need for a proper characterization of the nanomaterials type and concentration applied to the process to understand the interactions and effects on the microbial communities and dynamics that lead to an overall increase or decrease in biogas yield.

The teleconnection between the Asian monsoon system and North Atlantic forcing is an enduring prospect of the Earth's climate. During the Holocene interstadial, the Indian summer monsoon showed asynchronous weakening links to ice rafting events documented in the North Atlantic region. However, the sensitivity of the Indian Winter Monsoon in response to North Atlantic cold spells is unclear due to a lack of compelling evidence. This study aims to extract the deglacial Indian Winter Monsoon signals using lithogenic tracers in coastal sediments and explore its association with the North Atlantic cooling episodes. A 5.1 m sediment core was retrieved from Pottuvil Lagoon in the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka, and the concentrations of K, Rb, Mg, Al, and Ti in 101 sub-sections were analysed using ICP-MS. The core- chronology was established by Bacon 2.2 age-depth modelling based on calibrated AMS 14C dates. The monsoon signal was reconstructed using element proxies and compared with the drift ice indices from the North Atlantic deep-sea sediments. Results revealed distinct phases of intense monsoon activity at 2553-2984 years BP, 3899-5021 years BP, and 5244-5507 years BP intervals with intermittent weak phases during 2253-2553, 2984-3899, and 5021-5244 years BP. The episodes of the intensified Indian Winter Monsoon coincided with Bond Events 2, 3, and 4, showing a strong coherence with the North Atlantic's deglacial climate. Thus, on a millennial scale, North-Atlantic cooling has triggered intense winter monsoon conditions over the tropical Indian Ocean region from the mid to late Holocene. In comparison with regional monsoon archives, the Pottuvil winter monsoon record exhibits an anti-phase association with the Indian Summer Monsoon during Holocene ice-rafted debris events. The geochemical approach executed in this study could provide new insight into the millennial-scale pacing of the winter counterpart of the Indian monsoon links to climate extremes of high northern latitudes.