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Biogas plays a significant part in replacing solid biomass and fossil fuels for cooking. However, the implementation of appropriate policies to promote the development of biogas plants is hindered by a lack of adequate assessment of the biogas potential in Nepal. Thus, we estimate the potential of biogas production at the district level of Nepal from available waste biomass, including livestock manure, agricultural residues, and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Our estimates show the theoretical potential of biogas production from livestock manure of 1890 million m3 year−1, agricultural residues of 2290 million m3 year−1, and OFMSW of 234 million m3 year−1. The total biogas production is 4412 million m3 year−1, equivalent to 153 million liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders yearly. Using this biogas potential to replace LPG and solid biomass for cooking could result in avoided CO2, CO, and PM2.5 emissions of 6.3 million tons year−1, 0.4 million tons year−1, and 0.04 million tons year−1, respectively. Our findings suggest that the Terai districts of Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, and Banke, as well as the Hilly districts of Kavrepalanchok, Dhading, and Nuwakot, have a significant amount of biogas‐producing potential. Utilising this potential could also contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals and a clean cooking energy transition in Nepal. For this, governments need careful planning, designing, policy support, and facilitation on bio‐resource management and utilisation at the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The livestock sector represents major challenges to safeguarding environmental integrity. This study comprehensively analyzes ten environmental footprints of the livestock sector from 1995 to 2022, with projections until 2030, and juxtaposes them with the planetary boundaries. We quantify greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, particulate matter formation, and biochemical flows associated with the livestock sector. Our findings indicate that the livestock sector alone poses a significant challenge to planetary boundaries and has the potential to threaten several of these boundaries by 2030. Scenario modeling shows that a "one-size-fits-all" strategy for all countries can be suboptimal. Conversely, a region-specific strategy that requires developed regions to align meat consumption with the Eat-Lancet diet while developing regions focus on improvement of production efficiency is optimal for reducing livestock's global environmental footprints. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy measures and regional strategies to effectively mitigate the environmental impacts of the livestock sector and ensure sustainable practices. • We comprehensively analyze up to ten environmental impacts of the livestock sector from 1995 to 2030. • The livestock sector alone is dangerously transgressing several of the planetary boundaries. • "One-size-fits-all" strategy of global diet change for all populations is suboptimal. • A region-specific strategy is optimal for reducing livestock's environmental footprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therefore, the next few years are crucial to accelerate SDG progress and adopt a post-2030 Agenda or a follow-up of SDGs. The 2030 Agenda comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets to be achieved by 2030, balancing the three sustainability dimensions - social, economic, and environmental. Countries are not on track to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [[1]] that calls for transformative changes to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. [Extracted from the article]

Urban agriculture, including peri-urban farming, can nourish around one billion city dwellers and provide multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits. However, these benefits depend on various factors and are debated. Therefore, we used machine learning to semi-automate a systematic review of the existing literature on urban agriculture. It started with around 76,000 records for initial screening based on a broad keyword search strategy. We applied the topic modeling approach to systematically understand various aspects of urban agriculture based on the full text of around 1,450 relevant publications. Urban agriculture literature covers 14 topics, clustered into 11 themes related to urban agriculture forms, their multi-functionalities, and their underlying challenges. These forms are small-scale ground-based and building-integrated systems. The multi-functionalities include food, livelihoods, health benefits, social space, green infrastructure, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Therefore, promoting urban agriculture requires accounting for its multi-functionalities, besides food provisioning, and encouraging efficient and sustainable practices. • We identify 14 topics on urban agriculture, which vary spatially and temporally. • Urban agriculture provides socioeconomic and environmental benefits, besides food. • Urban agriculture faces challenges of inefficient practices and health risks. • Sustainable practices can reduce health risks and input needs for urban agriculture. • Promoting urban agriculture requires accounting for its multi-functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]