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This new volume looks at the impact, assessment, and remediation of various environmental contaminants. It discusses the environmental changes that can occur due to arsenic, heavy metals, herbicides, fluorides, microplastics, chemical fertilizers contaminants; the remedial measures of these environmental contaminants; and how to analyze trace-level concentrations of contaminants.

Greening Our Economy for a Sustainable Future examines the green economy by balancing social needs, the environment, and the economy. It argues that different economic models must be developed to address the environment caused by economic expansion. The book not only looks at the opportunities of having a green economy, but also goes into areas such as greenwashing, social washing, sustainability, economics, and more. In addition, it addresses how one can improve well-being through a symbiotic relationship between economic growth and environmental stewardship. - Reviews literature and case studies that can be applied on a large-scale on measures to change the way of economic development to implement a green economy theory - Examines bottlenecks that occur when resource scarcity or poor quality makes investment more expensive - Highlights opportunities for innovation spurred by policies and framework conditions that allow for new ways of addressing environmental problems

Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) is now recognized as beneficial in terms of maintaining water flows and thermal comfort in urban areas. A framework of ecosystem services for urban settlements may be instrumental in bio-physical benefits as well as social and psychological benefits that will be assisting in adaptation and mitigating adverse effects of changing climate. Cities in developing countries, where the land cover is undergoing rapid transition, are characterized primarily by urban characteristics at the expense of natural ecosystems. The book aims to provide a state of the art of Urban Resilience and Sustainability linked to blue-green components of the urban environment. The challenges and opportunities in adopting the blue-greens as next generation infrastructure, particularly in the context of rampant urbanization and changing climate are also one of the focal areas of the book. The book also deals with multilevel community and stakeholders'participation in developing and managing Blue-Green Infrastructure in urban centres of developing countries. Currently, the focus of researches in urban ecosystem is moving towards exploring the role of blue-green components in ameliorating the negative consequences of urbanization and changing climate. This book bridges the knowledge gap between the existing understating of the role of blue and green infrastructure separately and in integration in city planning, particularly in mitigating and adapting to changing climate and environmental pollution.

This book describes the complex interplay between Earth's surface processes (erosion and sedimentation) and human interactions. Intensive as well as extensive research has been undertaken to infer modern sedimentation processes and to infer the mode of stratigraphic sequence building. However, the effort to understand the influence of sedimentation processes on society and the human impact on sedimentation is long overdue. This is a new upcoming multidisciplinary research field that is beyond the scope of leading traditional Earth and Environmental Science journals. To fill in the prodigious gap in the knowledge base, this book includes in-depth reviews and new data-based case studies from Asia, involving multidisciplinary research. It covers case studies of risk management of various hazards and risk management systems at regional, national, and local levels. The book proposes a comprehensive approach to reducing future risks by collaborating with various stakeholders and preparingfor the most effective responses towards complicated hazards, minimizing social damage. This publication will help researchers in the field of Environment and Earth surface processes, disaster risk reduction, and geoscientists to have a better idea of the current trend of research in the field and will provide updated synthesis on this important topic.

The eco-friendly remediation technologies for the degraded environment are indeed the “need of the hour”. Even though the regulatory mechanisms are in place to control the discharge of untreated contaminants into the natural environment, still, we could see a different picture; hence, remediation and restoration of the environment becomes an ardent requisite. The present-day fast pace of industrialization without proper disposal planning is impacting the water bodies adversely, generating the need for green management technologies. It is worth mentioning that these environment-friendly technologies are most cost-effective as well. The advancements in biotechnology have paved the way to mitigate the problem.The primary audience of this book are the students and researchers who are working in the field of toxicology and bioremediation of aquatic environments. We have primarily focused in this book on bioremediation of aquatic system toxicity, considering this as an environment-friendly system and having the least adverse effects. Hence this book aims to bring forward together on a single platform the latest research in aquatic resource management, which includes the discussions and discourses on the degradation and the effect and the remediation.This book includes a discussion on the different sources of contamination from industries or by the usage of commercial pesticides or even fertilizers. These contaminants, if discharged in their toxic form as effluent, cause harm to the aquatic systems and the subsoil and create the possibility of groundwater contamination. This book includes a discussion on the different routes of contamination and the food-chain transport possibilities of pesticide pollutants, which are very contemporary and required topics of research. It also includes relevant discussions on how to get rid of the toxicity.

This book sheds light on this global environmental issue and proposes solutions to reduce contamination through multi-disciplinary approaches. Water is considered a vital resource because it is necessary for all aspects of human and ecosystem survival. However, due to natural processes and anthropogenic activities, various pollutants have been added to the groundwater system. Among these, heavy metals are some of the most serious pollutants. Cd, a toxic heavy metal used in Ni-Cd batteries, the coloration of plastic and various discarded electronic products released into the water system causes serious health issues. The chronic exposure to Cd produces a wide variety of acute and chronic effects in humans.This edited book brings together a diverse group of researchers to address the challenges posed by global mass poisoning caused by cadmium contamination of water bodies. This book contains three sections. The first section describes the different sources and distribution of cadmium in water ecosystem. The second section explains the health risks linked to cadmium toxicity. The third section addresses sustainable cadmium toxicity mitigation strategies and the potential applications of recent biological technology in providing solutions.

For sustainable environmental management as a whole, the roles of phytoremediation and biofortification as two sides of the same coin must be highlighted. Phytoremediation is a process in which biological organisms are used to eliminate or nullify an environmental pollutant by a metabolic course of action. Biofortification, in contrast, is an agrarian process that enhances the micronutrient content of a food crop through plant breeding, genetic modification, use of enriched fertilizers, or management of agricultural practices. These two strategies, although targeting different objectives, both work on the same principle of the bio-extraction process that involves uptake, accretion, removal, and modification of micro- and macro-nutrient elements from the soil. This volume offers a comprehensive overview of phytoremediation and biofortification of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Cd, etc., and illustrates the emerging and innovative combination of these technologies.With chapters written by experts, the book highlights a wide range of topics and discusses the integration of advanced phytoremediation and biofortification approaches for sustainable ecological and health management. Topics include phytoremediation and biofortification strategies that use nanotechnology; algae, fungi, and other plants; CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering; and more for decontamination of water and soil and for fortifying plants against climate change, toxic chemicals, and other challenges.Key features: reviews and integrates the currently available information on phytoremediation and biofortification from molecular, biochemical, and physiological levels provides a direction towards implementation of programs and practices to enable the sustainable production of crops, resilient to climatic alterations This volume will be valuable for investigators who are working or have an interest in sustainable environmental management as well as for research students, teachers, scientists, and engineers, whether in academia, industry, or government, and those who have an interest in environmental remediation and micronutrient fields.

This contributed volume dives into the critical intersection of climate adaptation, vulnerability to hazards, and the imperative of decarbonization in fortifying global food and nutritional security. This comprehensive exploration aims to shed light on the challenges our food systems face in the wake of climate change, and the strategies required to ensure resilience and sustainability. In the face of escalating climate challenges, securing sustenance demands a comprehensive approach. Climate adaptation becomes paramount, as agricultural systems struggle with increased vulnerabilities to various hazards. From extreme weather events to shifting precipitation patterns, the agricultural landscape is under constant threat. The decarbonization imperative emerges as a critical strategy, addressing the dual goals of mitigating climate change and enhancing food and nutritional resilience. By reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to sustainable practices, we not only contribute to global climate goals but also fortify food systems against environmental shocks. This integrated approach acknowledges the intricate connections between climate, agriculture, and nutrition, emphasizing the urgency of concerted efforts to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for food production and consumption. This book includes in-depth case studies from different regions, showcasing the diverse impacts of climate change on food systems. This book will integrate insights from multiple disciplines such as environmental science, agriculture, policy studies, and community engagement, providing a more holistic understanding of the issues at hand. It will serve as a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners seeking in-depth knowledge on these interconnected topics.

This book delves into the specific subject area of life sciences, focusing on the remarkable world of millets and their multifaceted contributions. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to the diverse aspects of millets, addressing their biology, significance, functional potential, and applications. The content in this book is divided into two distinct sections, Section I contains the detailed introduction to the Millets, their biology, classification, applications, and various types (major, minor, and pseudo millets) and Section II contains their safety, extraction, industrial applications, and SDG goals. This book is not only an asset for professionals and experts but also a readable guide for Academicians and advanced students looking to engage with this ever-expanding subject area. The book is a boon for entrepreneurs in the area millets, as they will get the complete comprehensive information about all the different types of millets with their biology, functional potential and processing.

This book collects the selected papers of the XIV Congress of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment held in Chengdu, Sichuan, China from September 21st - 27th, 2023, with the theme of Engineering Geology for a Habitable Earth. The meeting proceedings analyses the dynamic role of engineering geology in our changing world. The congress is expected to enhance the inter-disciplinary research development of international engineering geology and the environment, and contribute to the advancement of major projects, ecological progress, and habitable earth with in-depth discussion in the area of engineering geology and global climate change, geological hazard assessment and prevention, geotechnical properties of rock and soil mass, engineering geology and the environmental issues concerning marine, transportation, urban and ecological environment protection, engineering geology and resilience engineering construction, intelligent engineering geology, and new theories, methods, and techniques in engineering geology.

The book spans across the research domains of mechanisation and automation, agrobusiness, food processing and value addition, climate smart agriculture, rural sanitation, agro biotechnology, and rural energy.

This book provides analyses of sanitation, health, population dynamics and demographic variables from different perspectives, including data science, statistics, modeling, economics and natural sciences, to inform sustainable decision making and policies related public health and hygiene and in mainly rural and impoverished areas. The structure is arranged into three broad sections: Part I, Population Dynamics, Environment and Society; Part II, Health, Livelihood and Policy Response; and Part III, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). The book makes recommendations for policymakers on designing and delivering social protection policies to deal with different aspects of water, health, sanitation, population, and hygiene, taking the needs of women and rural communities into special consideration. It also aims to educate students and early career researchers, to help them develop novel approaches for sustainability with environmentally sound practices.

Aquatic Contamination Authoritative resource presenting techniques and technologies to sustainably neutralize environmental contamination in aquatic plants, microorganisms, and more Two thirds of the Earth is covered with aquatic habitats that play a key role in stabilizing the global environment and providing a wide variety of services to increasing human needs. Nevertheless, anthropogenic activities are rapidly destroying the quality of both fresh and marine waters globally, due to excessive use of chemicals, fertilizers and pollution from suburban and industrial areas eventually making their way into the aquatic world. Aquatic Contamination: Tolerance and Bioremediation presents the broader spectrum of biological applicability of microbes with better understanding of cellular mechanisms for remediation of aquatic contaminants. The book also focuses on practices involved in molecular and genetic approaches, necessary to achieve targets of bioremediation and phytoremediation to solve global water contamination problems. Such approaches pave the way for the utilization of biological assets to design new, efficient, and environmentally sound remediation strategies by inculcating genomic techniques at cellular and molecular levels with model assessment. Aquatic Contamination provides a comprehensive background for readers interested in all perspectives of the contamination of aquatic environs. It covers various research aspects which are being carried out globally to understand simulation models in the assessment of xenobiotics, role of genomics, transgenic plants, and microbial enzymes for degradation and removal of toxic substances in aquatic environs. Key features include: Extensive coverage of interactions between plants, metals and microbes including the influence of biotic and abiotic factors Comprehensive discussion of the details of molecular mechanisms from assimilation to detoxification levels Exploration of the enzymatic approaches of potential plants acting as hyper-accumulators for contaminants in aquatic environs Details of sustainable tools such as transgenic plants for the manipulation of important functional microbial genes to achieve higher certainty of bioremediation Details of advances in tools and models like micro-arrays and simulation models for the complete assessment of xenobiotic compounds from cellular to degradation hierarchies Aquatic Contamination: Tolerance and Bioremediation will be substantially helpful to environmentalists, microbiologists, biotechnologists and scientists, providing essential information on various modern technologies for the remediation of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.

This volume explores the spatial side of sustainability using cases from India. It provides a variety of chapters from scholars from West Bengal and elsewhere in the country, highlighting spatial perspectives on environmental issues and offering insight on sustainable development in the subcontinent from a geographical perspective. A wide variety of topics are covered here, including but not limited to mitigation of and adaptation to climate issues, hydrogeomorphologic issues, environmental management, agricultural sustainability, ecosystem services, urban environmental management and tourism issues. The lessons learned here are transferable to other contexts, and the book is a resource for researchers, academics, practitioners, government organizations, NGOs and anyone else interested in the spatial side of sustainability.

This edited book covers various bioinoculants for sustainable crop production under the changing global climate. The book envisages a compilation of articles relevant to the current status of production and use of novel microbial inoculants for different crops and highlights their role in mitigating global climate challenges. These include nutrient deficiencies, salinity, drought, and emerging pathogens. In addition, success stories and commercialization aspects are also discussed. Growing environmental concerns related to climate change can potentially decrease the global yield capacity of agricultural systems. Agricultural productivity is severely affected by major biotic and abiotic factors. The phytomicrobiome plays a critical role in the survival of the holobiont, particularly for plants growing in extreme environments. The use of microbial-based agricultural inputs has a long history, beginning with a broad-scale rhizobial inoculation of legumes in the early twentieth century. Microbial inoculants are considered one of the best and most effective strategies for sustainable agriculture under climate change, and a viable solution to meet the twin challenges of global food security and environmental sustainability. It is therefore imperative to understand the current status and development in the area of bioinoculants from a global perspective. The chapter's focus would be on major agro-ecologies, covering all major crops across the globe, along with the commercialization status of different bioinoculants in different countries The book caters to the needs of the students, faculty, policymakers, and researchers working in the area of microbiology, biotechnology, environmental sciences, and botany.

This book provides a comprehensive summary of the recent advances in the biofortification of plants under climate change and how it affects food security globally. The need for mineral biofortification to eradicate or alleviate malnutrition through sustainable agriculture is also discussed. Biofortification of edible plants is considered the most appropriate approach to alleviate nutritional problems and nutrient deficiencies. In contrast, biofortification focuses on improving the nutritional content of the region's current agricultural biodiversity while preserving its habits and customs. Emphasis is also placed on recent advances and developments in omics, particularly metabolomics and related techniques, to unravel the potential alterations in plants caused by biofortification. The book brings together eminent scientists to present the latest developments in the field. This timely publication addresses practical scenarios of bio-fortified food production and climate change. The book focuses on the methods, techniques, and environmental changes used to enhance and improve agricultural products. This book is one of the first to provide information on the use of modern biotechnologies to modify crops for health benefits. It also examines the mechanisms of the plant responses to genetically induced biofortification, the production and responses of fortified plants under climate change, and their effects on food security. The book will be useful for students and researchers, especially crop scientists, environmental scientists, biotechnologists, botanists, and agronomists, to understand the techniques and mechanisms of biofortification, and responses of biofortified plants under climate change.

This book discusses many new and recent challenges of degradation in diverse ecosystems, as well as case studies of restoration.

This book provides relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in Operations Research (OR) and Management Science (MS) as applied to sustainability. Its goal is to identify and describe ways in which OR and MS have been applied to and influenced the development of sustainability. Many of the issues we face today stem from the interconnectivity of the economy, society, and the environment, and from how both the economy and society are affecting the environment. In response, there have been a range of local and global efforts to advance society without harming the natural environment. The book showcases how OR/MS can help to address these issues, specifically with regard to renewable energy, smart industry, smart cities, transportation, smart homes and devices, etc. This book is intended for professionals in the fields of energy, engineering, information science, mathematics and economics, and for researchers who wish to develop new skills in connection with sustainability, or whose work involves sustainability.

This book offers perspective on climate change impacts on developing nations from scholars within those nations, primarily focusing on agriculture. Throughout three parts containing a total of over twenty chapters from scholars in developing countries, it aims to offer guidelines for researchers, policymakers, and farmers themselves on how developing countries can achieve sustainable food security and continue development on a sustainable basis.Part I covers climate change concepts and issues for developing countries; Part II offers chapters dealing with social issues surrounding climate change and agriculture; Part III addresses practical policies that can be implemented to work toward achieving the goals described above. Agriculture is a key sector in developing countries in terms of economic growth and social well-being. Adapting and building resilience to climate change means increasing agricultural productivity and incomes and reducing greenhouse gases emissions. This volume represents an effort toward collecting knowledge on the technical, policy and investment measures to achieve sustainable agricultural growth in the sectors of grain, fruit, vegetable, fiber, feed, livestock, fisheries and forest under climate change in one place.

Abiotic stresses such as drought, high salt, cold, heat, UV radiation, heavy metal pollution, etc., are increasingly responsible for restricting plant growth and agricultural production and are becoming more alarming due to threats from global climate change. To combat these threats, this new 3-volume set provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that mediate biosynthesis, accumulation, and degradation of plant metabolites to improve crop production and enhance abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Volume 1: Secondary Metabolites in Environmental Stress Tolerance focuses exclusively on the diverse secondary metabolites that play a major role in the adaptation of plants to the environment and in overcoming stress conditions as well as their implications in enhancing tolerance mechanisms. The book presents information on the protective roles rendered by a wide array of antioxidative secondary metabolites and their regulation during diverse environmental stress. Volume 2: Trace Elements in Environmental Stress Tolerance throws light on the different inorganic trace elements, including metal nanoparticles, that help to deal with various environmental stresses. While these elements at high level create considerable phytotoxicity and halt metabolic and enzymatic activity, they also promote growth and development in limited quantity, so that they have significant potential in revamping plant morphology and physiology under stressed conditions. Hence, optimum concentration management of these elements can help to mitigate world hunger and contribute toward sustainable agriculture and food security under challenging environments. Volume 3: Sustainable Approaches for Enhancing Environmental Stress Tolerance focuses on agronomic and biochemical approaches as well as biotechnological and high-throughput technologies, including the prospects of genetic engineering, epigenetics and the latest CRISPR/Cas technology in generating stress-tolerant plants. The volume provides a clear roadmap for the implementation of techniques for improving abiotic stress tolerance in plants for better sustenance.

This book covers themes related to the geosphere, biosphere, sociosphere and ecosphere dealing with changing geographical, environmental and socio-economic realities to plan a sustainable future for the northeast region (NER) of India. The NER consists of eight states—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Sikkim—and they carry political, economic and social importance. The book integrates the past, present and future of geospheric attributes incorporating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to meet the demands for improving human wellbeing under diverse and challenging socio-economic, political and environmental conditions. The key SDGs, as in food and agriculture, health, education, water, energy and other overarching goals of the region, have yet to incorporate providing sustainable jobs and promoting equality and inclusive development, although there have been a few studies in that regard.The challenges to achieve SDGs in the NER are formidable compared to the rest of India. The NER has put a great deal of effort into achieving the SDGs, mainly in poverty (SDG-1), good health (SDG-3), education (SDG-4), gender (SDG-5), decent work (SDG-8) and reduced inequalities (SDG-10), similar to the rest of the country. However, the standard development indicators such as road length, access to health care, power consumption and other measures are far below the national average. A multi-pronged strategy has played a pivotal role in the region, but development strategy to attain the SDGs 2030 must be more inclusive in empowering people with maximising self-governance, considering the resources, needs and aspirations of the people.This book evaluates the performance of the SDGs and fills in the gaps. It includes case studies focusing on different SDGs using advanced cartographic, statistical and GIS techniques and methods. It also provides unique findings that serve as valuable resources for plannersand policy-makers so that a sustainable future in Northeast India can be achieved.

This book presents unique connectivity between waste management within the agenda 2030 of India. This book is the first publication presenting up-to-date work and knowledge about waste management and waste technologies to transfer waste to wealth in India. Besides, this book also presents the role of waste management and its contribution to achieving a sustainable development program in India, with vast implication worldwide. The main focuses of the book include waste and wealth and the associated technologies, recycling of solid waste, utilization of hazardous waste, use of nanoparticle in waste management, urban solid waste, generation of energy from organic waste, clean technologies, and use of waste in agriculture. The book is a unique source of information on the transformation of waste to wealth in India. This book is of interest to research communities in the field of waste management in India, and in similar socioeconomic countries, but also, due to the planetary implications, has global interest.

Smart Agrochemicals for Sustainable Agriculture proposes products that fulfill the need for chemicals that provide a sustainable delivery system for nutrients necessary to maximize the production of agricultural animals and plants while producing the smallest possible environmental footprint. This book addresses all aspects related to the production process, including chemical formulas, stability of formulations, and the application of the effect of its utilization. Over the past decade, biobased chemicals have received significant attention as candidate resource materials in fertilizers and agrochemicals production due to their renewability. Substitution of conventional raw materials with biobased requires a new approach towards the development of technology. On the other hand, the use of biobased chemicals, such as biostimulants, bioregulators and biofertilizers offers a new palette of products that are natural, thus their application does not pose an impact on the environment (residues) or cultivated plants. - Presents ideas for new products that provide appropriate nutrition while limiting environmental footprints - Includes a full range of the production process, from chemical formulas to establishing the stability of formulations, applications and effects - Offers a host of new products that are natural and whose applications do not negatively impact the environment nor cultivated plants

This book is part of a six-volume series on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience. The series aims to fill in gaps in theory and practice in the Sendai Framework, providing additional resources, methodologies, and communication strategies to enhance the plan for action and targets proposed by the Sendai Framework. The series will appeal to a broad range of researchers, academics, students, policy makers, and practitioners in engineering, environmental science and geography, geoscience, emergency management, finance, community adaptation, atmospheric science, and information technology.This volume focuses on the concepts of economic and development vulnerability, discussing the roles of physical, social, cultural, political, economic, technological, and development factors that contribute to disaster impacts and threat levels on vulnerable populations. This approach explores how the resilience of individuals and communities can be increased in the face offuture hazard threats, and how post-disaster efforts are planned for and implemented to manage risk reduction and the potential outcomes of hazard threats. Topics addressed in the boom include disaster recovery reform and resilience, recovery, and development programs, place-based reconstruction policies, resilient and sustainable disaster relief, and recovery programs, sustainable community development, and disaster recovery and post-hazard recovery strategies.

Advances in Microbe-assisted Phytoremediation of Polluted Sites provides a comprehensive overview of the use of phytoremediation to decontaminate polluted land through microbial enhanced phytoremediation, including the use of plants with respect to ecological and environmental science. The book discusses the potential of microbial-assisted phytoremediation of the contaminant, including heavy metals, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, etc., with case studies as examples. Key subjects covered include plant-microbe interaction in contaminated ecosystems, microbe-augmented phytoremediation for improved ecosystem services, and success stories on microbe-assisted phytoremediation of contaminated sites. With increasing demand for land-space for social, industrial and agricultural use, the theoretical millions of hectares of contaminated sites around the world are a resource sorely needed that currently cannot be utilized. Decontamination of this land using ecologically-sound methods is paramount not only to land use, but in the prevention of toxic substances deteriorating local ecosystems by reducing productivity and contaminating the food chain – which can eventually aggregate in food chains and pose the potential risk of non-curable diseases to humans such as cancer. - Provides novel information on the potential for microbial inoculants to be used in phytoremediation - Discusses principles and mechanisms of plant-microbe interaction for enhanced phytoremediation with improved soil health - Investigates phytoremediation solutions for a multitude of contaminants, including heavy metals, fly ash, petroleum, arsenic, TPH, mining effluents, fluoride, lead and other major pollutants

Biodegradability of Conventional Plastics: Opportunities, Challenges, and Misconceptions brings together innovative research on the biodegradability of conventional plastics, providing an extensive overview of approaches and strategies that may be implemented, while also highlighting other methods for alleviating the eventual environmental impact of plastics. The book begins by providing a lifecycle assessment of plastics, the environmental impact of plastic waste, and the factors that affect the biodegradability of plastics. The different categories and terminologies surrounding bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics are then defined and explained in detail, as are the issues surrounding bioplastics. Other sections discuss biodegradability, approaches for enhanced biodegradability of various major types of plastics, including polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), automotive plastics and composites, and agricultural plastic waste. The final part of the book focuses on further techniques and emerging areas, including the utilization of chemical additives, nanomaterials, the role of microbes in terms of microbial degradation and microbial attaching, revalorization of plastic waste through industrial biotechnology, and future opportunities and challenges. - Explains the fundamentals of plastic waste, lifecycle assessment and factors that influence the biodegradability of plastics - Provides novel techniques for improved biodegradability, exploring areas such as pre-treatment, chemical additives, nanomaterials and microbial degradation - Addresses current challenges and limitations in relation to bio-based and biodegradable plastics, microplastics and nanoplastics from bioplastics and plastic waste

Emerging Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture: Roles in Stress Tolerance presents current PGR discoveries and advances for agricultural applications, providing a comprehensive reference for those seeking to apply these tools for improved plant health and crop yield. As demand for agricultural crops and improved nutritional requirement continue to escalate in response to increasing population, plant researchers have focused on identifying scientific approaches to minimize the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture crops. Among the various applied approaches, the application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) have gained significant attention for their ability to enhance stress tolerance mechanisms. This book was developed to provide foundational and emerging information to advance the discovery of novel, cost-competitive, specific and effective PGRs for applications in agriculture. - Highlights the latest developments in stress signaling, cross-talk and PGR mechanisms as applied to agriculture and agronomy - Includes case studies and examples to provide real-world insights - Presents resources for future research and field application

Climate change is one of the major challenges of modern times. Its impacts are manifold and vary from sea level rise (especially relevant to those living in coastal areas), to the increased frequency of extreme events such as cyclones and storm surges, which not only poses problems to property and infrastructure, but also to human health. Climate change is also associated with damages to the physical and natural environment, as well as to biodiversity. According to the 5th Assessment Report produced by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), many geographical regions across the world are moderately or highly vulnerable to climate change, whose impacts may be further exacerbated by other human-induced pressures. The above state of affairs illustrates the need for a better and more holistic understanding of how climate change affects countries and regions on the one hand, but also on how the many problems itcauses may be managed on the other, vis-a-vis a better ability to adapt. There is also a perceived need to showcase successful examples of how to duly address and manage the many social, economic and political problems posed by climate change around the world, in order to replicate and even upscale the successful ones. It is against this background that the Handbook of Climate Change Management has been produced. It contains papers prepared by scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing climate change projects, and working with communities across all geographical regions. The Handbook focuses on'Research, Leadership, Transformation', meaning that it serves the purpose of showcasing the role these key areas play in respect of applied research, field projects and best practices to foster climate change adaptation worldwide.

This volume aims to develop a framework for disaster and climate risk resilient livelihood system in Bangladesh using a policy oriented approach. It highlights the possible impacts of climate change on groundwater based irrigation in the country. Climate change is one of biggest challenges to society. It can lead to serious impacts on production, life and environment on a global scale. Higher temperatures and sea level rise will cause flooding and water salinity problems which will bring about negative effects on agriculture and high risks to industry and socio-economic systems in the future. Climate change will lead to many changes in global development and security especially energy, water, food, society, job, diplomacy, culture, economy and trade. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines climate change as: “Any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.” Global climate change has emerged as a key issue in both political and economic arenas. It is an increasingly questioned phenomenon, and progressive national governments around the world have started taking action to respond to these environmental concerns.

This book explores how climate change and disaster risks threaten human security in Asia. Climate change and disaster risks have emerged as major human security challenges in the twenty-first century, and are an imminent “threat multiplier” with the potential to harm the vital core of human life and curtail people's freedom and ability to live with dignity. Climate change and disaster risks undermine the security of individuals, communities, nations, and the world, considering the increasing trend in the frequency and magnitude of hydro-meteorological disasters and the projections on their future adverse impacts. Despite recent advances in the literature, there is still a major gap in understanding the relationship and linkages between climate change, disaster risks, and human security, particularly as gleaned from the Asian experience. Asia is the world's most vulnerable region in terms of the quantity and magnitude of impacts from various forms of disaster. At the same time,it has developed a number of innovative responses to address those risks, offering a wealth of experience. Exploring and capitalizing on the Asian perspective, this book provides valuable resource material for students, academics, researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners working in these areas.

This book addresses a complex issue – water sustainability – that requires a combined approach to manage both water and energy. It highlights several technologies that have been introduced to study the water–energy linkage. It also discusses the need to develop effective laws for water management. In turn, the book assesses hybrid biological systems and demonstrates why they are better for the wastewater treatment process. Lastly, it reviews wastewater quality requirements, which have been the primary driver of industrial wastewater treatment programs in India. Gathering selected, high-quality research papers presented at the IconSWM 2018 conference, the book offers a valuable asset, not only for researchers and academics, but also for industrial practitioners and policymakers.

This book presents selected papers from the 7th International Conference on Water and Flood Management,with a special focus on Water Security under Climate Change, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in March 2019. The biennial conference is organized by Institute of Water and Flood Management of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. The recent decades have experienced more frequent natural calamities and it is believed that climate change is an important driving factor for such hazards. Each part of the hydrological cycle is affected by global climate change. Moreover, increasing population and economic activities are posing a bigger threat to water sources. To ensure sustainable livelihoods, safeguard ecosystem services, and enhance socio-economic development, water security needs to be investigated widely in a global and regional context.

This book presents selected papers from the 8th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Agriculture, Food and Environment (HAICTA 2017) which examine sustainable rural development in the context of environmental, economic, and the socio-cultural dimension. This book raises awareness of the importance of sustainable management in agriculture using examples of actual industry cases, sustainable management practices, new forms of rural cooperation and entrepreneurship.

Due to its vulnerability to a wide variety of climate change impacts, Bangladesh has become a laboratory for adaptation and resilience strategies in the developing world. The knowledge shared by experienced practitioners who have a deep understanding of the complex context of this country is an invaluable resource. The International Centre for Climate Change and Development has brought together a host of experts across multiple disciplines to provide a detailed look at Bangladesh's ongoing struggle to prepare for the inevitable threats that climate change poses. This volume presents public policy-oriented strategies across numerous sectors, including agriculture, freshwater management, forests, finance, human rights, health systems, flood control, infrastructure, solar energy, and more. Successes and shortcomings both provide useful lessons for other countries grappling with similar climate threats. This book offers the latest research findings for a wider audience. - Showcasing the wealth of experience with adaptation and resilience in Bangladesh - Drawing from expert practitioners across the numerous sectors affected by climate change - Highlighting key lessons for other Least Developed Countries.

This book explores various aspects of thermophilic and halophilic microbes from Eurasian ecosystems, which have proved to offer a unique reservoir of genetic diversity and biological source of extremophiles. It also covers the biotechnological uses of extremophiles, and their potential use in agricultural and industrial applications. The topics addressed include but are not limited to: diversity and microbial ecology, microbe-environment interactions, adaptation and evolution, element cycling and biotechnological applications of thermophiles and halophiles in Eurasian ecosystems. In order to review the progress made in biology and biotechnological applications of thermophiles and halophiles, the book combines review papers and results of original research from various specialists and authorities in the field. It includes several chapters describing the microbial diversity and ecology of geothermal springs distributed among the territory of various Eurasian countries, such as Armenia, Bulgaria, China, Georgia, India, Italy, Pakistan and Turkey. A dedicated chapter discusses selected aspects of thermophilic chemolithotrophic bacteria isolated from mining sites (sulfide ores); detailed descriptions of various thermophile microbes isolated from high-temperature environments and their biotechnological potential are also provided. Subsequent chapters describe the diversity and ecology of halophilic microbes harbored in saline and hypersaline lakes in Iran, Turkey and China; soil and plant microbiomes in saline arid lands of Uzbekistan; microbial diversity in Asian deserts; and the potential applications of thermophilic and halophilic microbes as exopolysaccharide (EPS) producers, focusing on the chemistry and applications of the EPS they produce. We hope that this book will prove valuable as an up-to-date overview of the current state of research on Eurasian extremophiles in general and thermophiles and halophiles in particular. Many questions remain unanswered, and we hope that it will stimulate further studies in this intriguing and promising field.

The aim of this book is to provide information to scientists and local government to help them better understand the particularities of the local climate. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges to society. It can lead to serious impacts on production, life and environment on a global scale. Higher temperatures and sea level rise will cause flooding and water salinity problems which bring about negative effects on agriculture and high risks to industry and socio-economic systems in the future. Climate change leads to many changes in global development and security, especially energy, water, food, society, job, diplomacy, culture, economy and trade. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines climate change as: “Any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.” Global climate change has emerged as a key issue in both political and economic arenas. It is an increasingly questioned phenomenon, and progressive national governments around the world have started taking action to respond to these environmental concerns.

Increase in world population, extreme weather conditions, decrease in fresh water supplies, and changes of dietary habits are major issues that affect global food security. We are expected to face the challenges of land use by 2050 because population will reach 9 billion while agricultural productivity losses are expected due to overuse of lands. How can we feed the next generations in a manner that respects our finite natural resources? Managing our resources in a sustainable way have only begun for selected crops. Much remains to be done to increase food yield. Cropping practices capable of sustainable production need to be elaborated, especially in fragile ecosystems. Typical applications will include the improvement and use of genetic resources; crop management and diversification; diffusion of improved varieties; development of cropping systems; sustainable cropping systems for areas prone to environmental degradation; use of agro-ecological data for crop production forecasting; and networks for regional coordination, and data exchange. The impetus behind this book is to bring attention to a cropping system that bears direct relevance to sustainable agriculture and food security. “Underutilized” crops are found in numerous agricultural ecosystems and often survive mainly in marginal areas. It is timely to review their status because, in recent decades, scientific and economic interests have emerged which focus on lesser-known cultivated species. Underutilized crops have a great potential to alleviate hunger directly, through increasing food production in challenging environments where major crops are severely limited.“Global Perspectives on Underutilized Crops” is therefore topical and highlights the unmet agricultural challenges that we face today. This book is an important resource for students and researchers of crop science and agricultural policy makers.

Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia: Potentials and Challenges provides both a local and global perspective on how to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Topics demonstrate the advancement of scientific research as it applies to early warning systems, including identifying risk and the strengthening of infrastructure for different types of hazards. Through different major disasters, it has become evident that there must be a balance between hard and soft technology and physical, process and social solutions. This book demonstrates how this has been successfully implemented in Asia, and how these applications can apply on a global basis. - Covers new research on the role of science in Disaster Risk Reduction and lessons learned when research has been applied - Utilizes case studies to outline the broader lessons learned - Focuses on the Sendai Framework, which was adopted in the Third UN World Conference in 2015