Sustainability in Environment
type: channel
description: Sustainability in Environment (SE) is an international, Refereed, double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Scholink. In order to give all researchers equal opportunity to share their ideas, SE adopts double-blind peer-review. Sustainability in Environment focuses on scholarly research and practical experience of a wide range of research areas within the general field of environment which covers, but is not limited to the following areas: Recycling Climate Change Biological Research New-Style Energy Energy Conversion Waste Disposal Strategies Environmental Technologies Processes Linking Environments Urban Planning and Development Environmental Economics and Policy Ecology and Sustainable Development Behaviors that Support or Thwart Human Well-Being Evaluation and Management of Environmental Risk and Safety ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We welcome scholars and researchers engaged in the related fields to submit their manuscripts to SE. Both of online submission and E-mail submission (se@scholink.org) are acceptable. Index/List/Archive CNKI Scholar CrossRef WANFANGDATA LinkedIn Electronic Journals Library OALib ResearchGate Research Bib Refseek academic search engine Yahoo Academia.edu Library and Archives Canada Lockss PKP Open Archives Harvester Google Scholar Canadiana Standard Periodical Directory Academic Journal Articles AMICUS Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE) CrossCheck Cosmos Impact Factor Directory of Research Journals Indexing (DRJI) Electronic Journals Library (EZB) Global Impact Factor (GIF) Journalseek JournalTOCs NewJour Scientific Indexing Service (SIS) Universal Impact Factor Open J-Gate Base Search Worldcat ISSN PORTAL Open access: Sustainability in Environment is available online to the reader "without financial, legal, or technical barriers other than those inseparable from gaining access to the internet itself". Peer review: Sustainability in Environment takes peer review po…
publisher: SCHOLINK INC.
language: en-US
publication name: Sustainability in Environment
issn: 2470-637X
copyright: Authors who publish with this journal must agree to the following terms: Copyrights for articles published in our are retained by the authors. Authors should promise that their works are entirely original, and all the references in their works should be appropriately cited or quoted. The works have not been published previously. The behavior of submitting the same work to other journals is unacceptable. The journal editor has the right to edit the format of works.
items: Geochemical Characteristics of Trace Elements in the Early Cambrian Zhuzhusi Formation, Qujing Region, Yunnan Province, and Their Implications for Sedimentary Environment
items: Operational Performance Analysis of Renewable Energy Integration in Nigeria’s Power Sector
items: Research on Monitoring Plan for Xiaolangdi Reservoir Based on Nonlinear Programming
items: Research Progress in Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration Function and Implications for Karst Desertification Governance
items: Analysis of the Evolution of Landscape Pattern of Land Use：Taking Shibing Karst and Libo-Huanjiang Karst as an Example
items: Grassland Animal Husbandry Ecological Efficiency in Karst Rocky Desertification Areas: Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Differential Drivers
items: Refined Risk Assessment of Geological Hazards in World Natural Heritage Sites: An Empirical Analysis of the Libo-Huanjiang Karst World Natural Heritage Site
items: Study on Ecosystem Regulating Services in Karst World Heritage Based on Partial Correlation Analysis
items: Water Conservation Mechanism and the Function Improvement of the Ecosystem in Karst Desertification Control
items: Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Driving Factors of Drought in the Pearl River Basin Based on Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index
items: The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Environmental Pollution in Gulf Countries: Evidence from Panel Data (2004-2023)
items: Impact of Microplastics on Sulfate Formation via Different Oxidation Pathways

Geochemical Characteristics of Trace Elements in the Early Cambrian Zhuzhusi Formation, Qujing Region, Yunnan Province, and Their Implications for Sedimentary Environment
type: item
description: This study investigates the climate, water salinity, and redox conditions during the deposition of the Early Cambrian Zhuzhushi Formation in Qujing, Yunnan Province, China. Utilizing elemental geochemical methods, we reconstruct the paleoenvironment of the Early Cambrian Zhuzhushi Formation in the Qujing area. Results indicate: Li content ranged from 1.5 to 56.3 μg/g, with Sr/Ba ratios between 0.09 and 0.56, indicating a predominantly freshwater environment during the Zhuzhushi Formation's deposition in the study area. V/(V+Ni) values ranged from 0.66 to 0.91 (mean 0.79), U/Th ratios from 0.75 to 15.45 (mean 4.33), and δU values from 1.38 to 1.96 (mean 1.73), collectively indicating a predominantly anoxic-reductive environment during the Zhuzhushi Formation deposition; Paleoclimate indices C ranged from 1.09 to 4.48, and Sr/Cu ratios from 1.16 to 9.30, indicating a predominantly warm and humid climate during the Chuzhusi Formation deposition. Babio values ranged from 200 to 1309.98, and P/Ti ratios from 1.59 to 62.5, suggesting high productivity levels throughout the Chuzhusi Formation deposition period. The concentrations of Ba, Ni, Co, Mn/Fe (average 0.005), and Rb/Zr (average 2.27) indicate shallow water depth during the Zhuzhushi Formation deposition. Sr content indicates an average paleowater temperature of 30.38°C, suggesting a warm water environment.
creator: Jing Jin
creator: Enlin Yang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Jing Jin, Enlin Yang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-11
publication date: 2026-03-11
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 1
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p1

Operational Performance Analysis of Renewable Energy Integration in Nigeria’s Power Sector
type: item
description: Given the increasing demand for electricity and the underperformance of the Nigerian power sector, this study examines the apparent situation of renewable energy integration in Nigeria’s power sector by analyzing the renewable energy generated over time, and the operational performance of the generated energy within the power system. Using both longitudinal and ex post facto research designs, secondary data obtained from both the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the International Renewable Energy Agency database were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data, while time-series forecasting based on an exponential smoothing method was applied to forecast future trends, and an independent sample t-test was applied to compare the performance metrics between renewable energy and gas generation in the power system. The findings indicate that Nigeria’s renewable energy, particularly hydro energy, remains dominant, but its electricity distribution is significantly below the installed capacity owing to infrastructure limitations and transmission constraints. In addition, off-grid solar photovoltaics are rapidly expanding. In general, the study indicates that the underperformance of renewable energy integrated into the power system is mainly operational and not resource-based and that there is a need for policy focus to shift from capacity expansion to system flexibility and grid reinforcement to achieve a reliable and sustainable electricity supply.
creator: YongSheng Zhang
creator: Okafor Nkechinyere Possible
creator: Letícia Filomena Padi
creator: Okafor Progress Okafor
creator: Gertrude Selase Gosu
creator: Acorlor Garnet Emefa
creator: Joshua Kojo Bonzo
creator: Carlos Nehemias Maposse
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 YongSheng Zhang, Possible Nkechinyere Okafor, Letícia Filomena Padi, Kenechi Progress Okafor, Gertrude Selase Gosu, Emefa Garnet Acorlor, Bonzo Kojo Joshua, Carlos Nehemias Maposse http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-12
publication date: 2026-03-12
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 16
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p16

Research on Monitoring Plan for Xiaolangdi Reservoir Based on Nonlinear Programming
type: item
description: The water and sediment flux of the Yellow River fluctuates under the influence of various natural and human factors, significantly impacting ecological management and water resources in the Yellow River basin.This study investigates the patterns of sediment-water flux variation in the Yellow River and evaluates the practical effectiveness of the “water diversion and sediment regulation” project. Utilizing multiple linear regression models, seasonal ARIMA models, and grey prediction models, it comprehensively employs Excel, Matlab, and SPSS to analyze the relationship between sediment concentration and time, water level, and flow rate. The research summarizes the patterns of sediment-water flux variation and assesses the actual outcomes of the “water diversion and sediment regulation” initiative to enhance Yellow River basin management and address practical challenges. Addressing the first issue, Excel was first used to clean the water-sediment monitoring data from a specific hydrological station on the Yellow River between 2016 and 2021 (Appendix 1), removing invalid data lacking sediment concentration values. Subsequently, Matlab was employed to plot scatter diagrams of sediment concentration versus time, water level, and flow rate. These plots indicated a preliminary linear relationship between sediment concentration and water level/flow rate, suggesting the applicability of a multiple linear regression model.SPSS was employed to solve the multiple linear regression model, yielding regression coefficients of 0.568 for water level and 0.002 for flow rate, confirming the linear relationship between independent and dependent variables. A multiple linear regression model was then re-established to estimate sediment concentration in the Yellow River over the past six years. Excel was used to calculate annual total water flow and annual total sediment discharge. For Problem 2, the water-sediment flux research methodology was first defined, dividing water-sediment flux i…
creator: Yinan Li
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Yinan Li http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-23
publication date: 2026-03-23
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 33
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p33

Research Progress in Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration Function and Implications for Karst Desertification Governance
type: item
description: Carbon sequestration is a core ecosystem service for mitigating global warming, yet it is highly vulnerable to degradation in karst desertification areas due to geological and anthropogenic factors. By using bibliometric tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 2247 relevant publications retrieved from the Web of Science database up to 2024, clarifying the global research pattern, research hotspots and three major developmental stages in this field. This study elaborated on the carbon sequestration mechanisms and influencing factors of forest, grassland and soil ecosystems, and meanwhile pointed out the existing research deficiencies such as insufficient exploration of vegetation carbon sequestration potential and inconsistent understanding of soil organic carbon stability. Aiming at the governance of karst desertification, targeted strategies were proposed, including revising remote sensing data combined with field investigations, constructing region-specific assessment systems, and exploring soil carbon fixation pathways at multiple scales, which provides scientific support for carbon sink enhancement, carbon sequestration and ecological restoration in ecologically fragile areas.
creator: Shenhui Yu
creator: Kangning Xiong
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Shenhui Yu, Kangning Xiong http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-23
publication date: 2026-03-23
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 53
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p53

Analysis of the Evolution of Landscape Pattern of Land Use：Taking Shibing Karst and Libo-Huanjiang Karst as an Example
type: item
description: This study takes the Shibing Karst and Libo-Huanjiang Karst as research objects, based on land use data from 2000 to 2020, combined with landscape pattern index, land use dynamic attitude, and transfer matrix method, to analyze the transformation characteristics and spatiotemporal evolution patterns of landscape patterns in these two karst regions. The results show that forest land and farmland are the dominant landscape types in the two study areas. Spatially, the high-value areas of aggregation and connectivity indices in the Shibing Karst are concentrated in the central region, while the high-value areas of diversity and shape complexity indices are located in the northern and southeastern regions. In the Libo-Huanjiang Karst, the high-value areas of aggregation and connectivity indices are distributed in the eastern region, and the low-value areas are located in the central region, which gradually shifted to the central region after 2010. The high-value areas of diversity indices are concentrated in the central, western, and northern regions. This study reveals the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of landscape patterns in typical karst World Heritage sites in southern China from 2000 to 2020, providing a scientific basis for optimizing the landscape patterns of karst World Heritage.
creator: Qian Zhai
creator: Kangning Xiong
creator: Jiacheng Lan
creator: Yating Mu
creator: Qingqing Xie
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Qian Zhai, Kangning Xiong, Jiacheng Lan, Yating Mu, Qingqing Xie http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-03
publication date: 2026-03-03
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 76
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p76

Grassland Animal Husbandry Ecological Efficiency in Karst Rocky Desertification Areas: Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Differential Drivers
type: item
description: Maintaining and improving the health of grassland ecosystems is the key to promoting the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry. This study selected three representative karst regions exhibiting varying degrees of rock desertification. EE of grassland animal husbandry in these three areas was calculated using the Super-SBM model. The spatio-temporal variation characteristics were analyzed by kernel density estimation, and the influencing factors were explored by the geographical detector. We found that: (1) The spatial heterogeneity of EE in grassland livestock farming within rock desertification areas is pronounced, diminishing with increasing desertification severity: Areas with potential-light KDC show the highest average efficiency (1.01), while those with medium-severe KDC have the lowest (0.51). (2) Villages with relatively high or high EE are scattered across the three study areas. (3) In areas with potential-light and light-medium KDC, human factors have a clear impact on EE, while in medium-severe KDC affected areas, natural factors play a more significant role. The findings of this study serve as a reference for decision-making regarding the restoration and security of grassland ecosystems in ecologically vulnerable regions worldwide.
creator: Baoshan Zhang
creator: Kangning Xiong
creator: Shuai Xiang
creator: Yongyao Li
creator: Rong Li
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Baoshan Zhang, Kangning Xiong, Shuai Xiang, Yongyao Li, Rong Li http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-23
publication date: 2026-03-23
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 90
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p90

Refined Risk Assessment of Geological Hazards in World Natural Heritage Sites: An Empirical Analysis of the Libo-Huanjiang Karst World Natural Heritage Site
type: item
description: Refined risk assessment of geological hazards is vital for disaster prevention and loss reduction. World Natural Heritage Sites are Earth’s most precious natural assets, yet research on refined geological hazard risk assessment from the perspective of heritage conservation and management is scarce. Taking the Libo-Huanjiang Karst World Natural Heritage Site as the study area, this paper discusses an assessment method focusing on protecting its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and draws three conclusions: ① The risk pattern features local high concentration and overall low risk: extremely high-risk areas account for 2.32% (sporadic in the northwest), low-risk areas 68.29% (covering the core zone), and high/medium-risk areas concentrate in the west with developed faults and intense human activities. ② It clarifies the non-linear synergistic mechanism of susceptibility-hazard-vulnerability, with stratum lithology, distance to roads and water systems as core drivers, and low vulnerability acting as an ecological buffer. ③ It correlates risk patterns with heritage protection, verifying the overlap between high-risk areas and key karst landscapes, and defines key prevention zones. The results support risk management and heritage protection, providing a replicable reference for similar World Natural Heritage Sites globally.
creator: Yuping Ding
creator: Kangning Xiong
creator: Ruonan Fang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Yuping Ding, Kangning Xiong, Ruonan Fang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-23
publication date: 2026-03-23
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 108
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p108

Study on Ecosystem Regulating Services in Karst World Heritage Based on Partial Correlation Analysis
type: item
description: Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics and interactions of ecosystem regulating services (ERSs) is crucial for safeguarding ecological security in karst world heritage (KWH) sites. Each KWH comprises two functional zones: the heritage site and the buffer zone. This study quantified three key ERSs—water conservation (WC), soil retention (SR), and carbon sequestration (CS)—from 2000 to 2020 within China's Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang KWHs. Results showed increases in SR and CS but a decrease in WC; heritage sites exhibited higher WC and SR but lower CS compared to buffer zones, with WC-CS hotspots located in buffer zones and SR hotspots in heritage sites. Slope, DEM, and mean annual temperature drove ERSs in Shibing, while slope, soil bulk density, and annual precipitation dominated those in Libo-Huanjiang. Strong WC-SR synergies occurred in buffer zones, accompanied by weak SR-CS and WC-CS tradeoffs, with heritage sites showing more pronounced weak SR-CS tradeoffs but fewer WC-CS tradeoffs than buffer zones. This research clarifies the spatiotemporal drivers of ERSs and their interactions, proposes a “heritage site-buffer zone” framework for tradeoff management, and provides a scientific basis for enhanced conservation.
creator: Qingqing Xie
creator: Kangning Xiong
creator: Yating Mu
creator: Qian Zhai
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Qingqing Xie, Kangning Xiong, Yating Mu, Qian Zhai http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-23
publication date: 2026-03-23
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 129
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p129

Water Conservation Mechanism and the Function Improvement of the Ecosystem in Karst Desertification Control
type: item
description: Water source conservation (WSC), as one of the most important ecosystem services (ES), playsa critical role in promoting the restoration of ecosystem structure. Severe soil erosion in karst regions has led to the continuous degradation of soil conservation services. Understanding the current research status and evolutionary trends in this field is crucial for establishing a theoretical foundation for future rocky desertification control in karst areas. This study collected 175 articles on WSC based on the Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Through systematic reviews and qualitative analyses, this paper summarizes research progress, achievements, and development trends from multiple dimensions, and employs spatial visualization and analytical tools (such as SATI and Gephi) to present the research findings visually. It addresses key scientific issues and future trends in existing water source conservation measures, aiming to enhance water source conservation capacity in rocky desertification areas. This study provides significant guidance for optimizing the layout of ecological engineering projects and rocky desertification control in karst regions.
creator: Mao Chen
creator: Kangning Xiong
creator: Ziqi Liu
creator: Lulu Cai
creator: Shenhui Yu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Mao Chen, Kangning Xiong, Ziqi Liu, Lulu Cai, Shenhui Yu http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-03-25
publication date: 2026-03-25
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 152
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p152

Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Driving Factors of Drought in the Pearl River Basin Based on Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index
type: item
description: Using the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI), Sen’s slope estimation, and the Mann-Kendall test, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics and trends of drought in the Pearl River Basin from 2001 to 2023, and examined the influences of temperature and precipitation on TVDI. The results indicated that the average TVDI over the study period was 0.6607, with a standard deviation of 0.0186, reflecting a general state of moderate drought and a significant downward trend in drought severity. On average, the proportions of areas with no drought, light drought, moderate drought, severe drought, and extreme drought were 1.09%, 11.36%, 78.85%, 8.33%, and 0.37%, respectively. Over the past 23 years, drought severity has generally increased from north to south. Extreme drought was concentrated in the southern Leizhou Peninsula (Guangdong), while severe drought mainly occurred in the Leizhou Peninsula, the Pearl River Estuary, and parts of eastern Guangdong (Jieyang, Chaozhou, Huizhou), as well as Nanning, Baise, and Qinzhou in Guangxi province. Gejiu City in Yunnan also experienced frequently severe droughts. In contrast, lower TVDI values were primarily found in southeastern Guizhou, northeastern Guangxi, and northwestern Guangdong. Drought severity in the eastern Pearl River Basin exhibited a worsening trend, whereas conditions in the west tended to improve. Approximately 70% of the basin showed a gradual decline in drought intensity. At a 0.05 significance level, significant drying was noteworthy in the Pearl River Delta, eastern Leizhou Peninsula, northern Guangdong, Jieyang (Chaozhou), and eastern Yunnan. In contrast, significant drought alleviation occurred in Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, and Baise (Guangxi), the border region of Yunnan–Guangxi–Guizhou, as well as Yangjiang, Maoming, eastern Meizhou, Shanwei, and Huizhou in Guangdong province. Regionally, TVDI was significantly and negatively correlated with air temperature, suggesting that rising tempera…
creator: Yanqun Liu
creator: Lifang Li
creator: Shuxiao Peng
creator: Min Wang
creator: Guanrong Huang
creator: Xiaoyuan Luo
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Yanqun Liu, Lifang Li, Shuxiao Peng, Min Wang, Guanrong Huang, Xiaoyuan Luo http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-02
publication date: 2026-04-02
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 171
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p171

The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Environmental Pollution in Gulf Countries: Evidence from Panel Data (2004-2023)
type: item
description: This study examines the environmental impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Gulf countries using panel data from 2004 to 2023. Based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework and the Pollution Haven and Pollution Halo hypotheses, the analysis explores the scale, structural, and technological channels through which FDI influences environmental quality. A two-way fixed-effects model is employed, complemented by robustness and heterogeneity analyses. The results reveal a nonlinear relationship between economic growth and environmental quality, supporting the EKC hypothesis. While baseline estimates suggest that FDI is associated with improvements in environmental quality, extended results indicate that its overall effect is environmentally adverse, driven primarily by scale expansion and insufficient green technological spillovers. Significant cross-country heterogeneity is identified, with stronger institutional capacity mitigating negative environmental impacts. These findings highlight the importance of directing FDI toward environmentally sustainable sectors and strengthening regulatory frameworks to promote green economic transformation.
creator: Mohammad Waleed Abdelraheem Atrash
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Waleed Abdelraheem Atrash http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-07
publication date: 2026-04-07
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 184
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p184

Impact of Microplastics on Sulfate Formation via Different Oxidation Pathways
type: item
description: In this paper, the effects of microplastics on sulfate formation under different oxidation paths in atmospheric media were studied. Based on two typical oxidation pathways of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3), the regulation of microplastics on sulfate formation mechanism was investigated. The effects of pH value, microplastic dosage and the ratio of S (IV) to oxidant on the promotion of sulfate formation by microplastics were analyzed. The promotion mechanism was discussed by measuring the active species such as hydroxyl radical (•OH) and superoxide radical (•O2-), combined with material characterization methods. The results showed that both polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) could promote the formation of sulfate in different degrees under the oxidation conditions of H2O2 and O3, and showed different rules under the influence of the above factors. Both of them can promote the decomposition of H2O2 and O3 to generate free radicals, and the formation mechanism of sulfate is driven by adsorption and free radical reaction. In terms of adsorption characteristics, PVC is more likely to adsorb S (VI), while PS shows a stronger adsorption tendency for S (IV).
creator: Xuexue Bai
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Xuexue Bai http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-04-10
publication date: 2026-04-10
volume: 11
number: 2
starting page: 203
doi: 10.22158/se.v11n2p203