Human Health, Environmental Quality and Governance Quality: Novel Findings and Implications From Human Health Perspective

Microclimate Performance Analysis of Urban Vegetation: Evidence from Hot Humid Middle Eastern Cities

Urban heat islands (UHIs) pose a growing challenge in rapidly urbanizing areas, necessitating effective mitigation strategies to enhance environmental sustainability and human well-being. This study examined the role of vegetation in regulating urban microclimates, focusing on its ability to mitigate the effects of UHIs, promote thermal comfort, and enhance urban esthetics. The study drew on existing research that employed spatial analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to explore the relationship between vegetation metrics and reductions in surface temperature. Municipal initiatives in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, including tree-planting programs and street humanization projects, aimed to improve urban esthetics and pedestrian experiences. Although these efforts enhanced urban livability, they lacked a comprehensive ecological perspective, emphasizing the need for strategies that integrate thermal comfort, environmental resilience, and broader sustainability goals. The analysis demonstrated the societal and environmental benefits of tree-planting activities and linked urban vegetation plans to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results highlighted the importance of incorporating green infrastructure in urban development to mitigate the effects of UHIs, improve air quality, and enhance overall urban livability. This paper proposed a framework for sustainable urban design, offering practical insights for policymakers and urban planners working to create resilient, environmentally conscious communities in extreme climates.

Exploring drivers of environmental degradation in urban centres of developing countries: a case study

A serene and pollution-free environment is the desire of the United Nations through its Sustainable Development Goal 11. This research was designed to explore various human endeavours that drive pollution in urban environs in the developing countries with Iwo, Nigeria, as a case study. Out of the four hundred and fifty (450) respondents that were randomly selected, 410 copies of structured questionnaire were completed and returned for analysis. Descriptive and inferential analytical methods were adopted for the purpose data analysis. Of all the respondents, 69.5% were females, and 95.1% were between the ages of 18 and 65 years, while 85.3% of the respondents have a minimum of secondary education. The dataset was further subjected to KMO and Bartlett's Test, the results which showed that the data is factorable with 68% at confidence level of p ≤ 0.05. Factor analysis extracted 7 variables out of the 21 variables analysed. The identified and extracted variables explained 87.745% of the variance explained by the extracted factors and their respective explanation variance are as follows: (i) palm oil activities in urban centres (20.521%); (ii) food vending outlets (14.153%); (iii) individual households within cities (13.786%); (iv) activities in the slaughter slabs and houses (11.384%); (v) auto repair workshops (9.812%); (vi) unplanned refuse dumpsites (9.571%); and (vii) in-urban free-range keeping of animals (8.745%). This research should give further insights to stakeholders, especially the policy makers in urban planning on subduing the challenges of unabated urban degradation in developing nations if human comfort and sustainability will be enhanced and that SDG 11 will be a reality come 2030.

Physical environment research of the family ward for a healthy residential environment

Climate change and population aging are two of the most important global health challenges in this century. A 2020 study by the Environmental Protection Agency showed that average people, particularly older adults, spent 90% of their time at home. This is even more evident during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Home-based care models have become a new trend. The health and comfort of the living environment profoundly impacts the wellbeing of older adults. Therefore, research on the physical environment of the family wards has become an inevitable part of promoting the health of older adults; however, current research is still lacking. Based on the study and analysis of continuous monitoring data related to elements of the physical environment (thermal comfort, acoustic quality, lighting quality, and indoor air quality) of family wards, this paper explores the living behaviors of the participants in this environmental research (open or closed windows, air conditioning, artificial lighting, and television) on the indoor physical environment. (1) While referring to the requirements of international standards for an indoor aging-friendly physical environment, we also discuss and analyze the physical environment parameter values according to Chinese standards. (2) People's life behaviors have different degrees of influence on the elements of indoor physical environments. For example, opening doors and windows can alleviate the adverse effects of indoor environmental quality on the human body better than simply turning on the air conditioner. (3) Owing to the decline in physical function, older adults need special care. Studying the status quo of physical environmental elements and proposing suitable environmental improvement measures for aging are of great significance. (4) This research aims to address global warming and severe aging and to contribute to sustainable environmental development.

Spatial–Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Industrial Pollution Control Efficiency in China

The green transformation and development of industry form the foundation of sustainable development for a country’s society, economy, and environment. Industrial pollution control is one inevitable choice for all industries following the path of sustainable development. Improving industrial pollution control efficiency is also a natural requirement for reducing pollution emissions and achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Based on panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2012–2018, this research applies DEA window analysis to measure the efficiency of industrial pollution control inputs and outputs, and empirically evaluates those factors influencing such efficiency. The findings demonstrate that overall industrial pollution control efficiency in China exhibits a decreasing trend from 2012 to 2018, but there are clear differences among provinces. Industrial pollution control efficiencies in the east and central regions are consistent with the national average, while said efficiencies in the west and northeast regions fluctuate in waves, with the effect of influencing factors in different regions varying significantly. Lastly, based on the results of empirical analysis, this research puts forward the optimization path to further improve industrial pollution control efficiency in China, and to provide new suggestions for its advancement.