Evaluation of a Low-Cost Air Renewal System for Indoor Air Quality Control in a Climate Chamber

There is a growing concern about Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in buildings as humans are spending longer in indoor environments, whether this is associated or not with climate change and vulnerability to extreme weather events. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, the need for indoor air quality control is likely to increase, the result of many adaptations in home environments to switch to remote work. In hot countries in the Global South, one of the alternatives is split A/C units with limited air renewal. While, odorless and colorless CO2, commonly generated by occupants through respiration, is among the relevant indoor air pollutants. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a low-cost, responsive air-renewal system in a climate chamber equipped with a standard split A/C unit. The results show the system's feasibility in curbing IAQ concerns and also highlight the risk of negative impacts on indoor thermal conditions and on energy consumption on using A/C. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Probabilistic Forecasting of Electricity Demand Incorporating Mobility Data

Due to extreme weather conditions and anomalous events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, utilities and grid operators worldwide face unprecedented challenges. These unanticipated changes in trends introduce new uncertainties in conventional short-term electricity demand forecasting (EDF) since its result depends on recent usage as an input variable. In order to quantify the uncertainty of EDF effectively, this paper proposes a comprehensive probabilistic EFD method based on Gaussian process regression (GPR) and kernel density estimation (KDE). GPR is a non-parametric method based on Bayesian theory, which can handle the uncertainties in EDF using limited data. Mobility data is incorporated to manage uncertainty and pattern changes and increase forecasting model scalability. This study first performs a correlation study for feature selection that comprises weather, renewable and non-renewable energy, and mobility data. Then, different kernel functions of GPR are compared, and the optimal function is recommended for real applications. Finally, real data are used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed model and are elaborated with three scenarios. Comparison results with other conventional adopted methods show that the proposed method can achieve high forecasting accuracy with a minimum quantity of data while addressing forecasting uncertainty, thus improving decision-making.

COVID-19 Plus: Addressing Food Security (SDG 2) and Malnutrition Within a Web of Disasters in the SADC Region

Despite the progress made to attain the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: zero hunger in other regions of the world, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation notes that Asia and Africa are still lagging in this regard. The advent of COVID-19 is exacerbating the situation. This study examines how the impact of natural disasters compounded by COVID-19 (COVID-19 plus) affected the state of food security and nutritional status of the populace in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the consequences of these on development. The study used secondary and archival data from field assessments conducted by SADC member countries and other critical secondary data sources. The study found that extreme weather patterns, such as droughts, flooding and intense rainfall, coupled with sociopolitical instability and the outbreak of COVID-19 would further limit the region's ability to meet targets set under SDG 2 (zero hunger) and other SDG targets it has synergies with, particularly those related to health (SDG3). Increased food insecurity is a threat to the health, social and economic well-being of the region's population, with detrimental implications for the present and future security of the region. The study calls for support, such as extended social safety net programmes to deal with food insecurity challenges in the short to medium term, if the situation is to be harnessed from further deterioration. There is also a need to put in place measures to address increasing poverty and inequality meted on the populations by COVID-19 induced lockdowns. Such interventions must be sensitive to gender and prioritise the needs of the youth population. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

New Developments in Climate Change, Air Pollution, Pollen Allergy, and Interaction with SARS-CoV-2

In recent years, the environmental impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident. Extreme meteorological events are influenced by climate change, which also alter the magnitude and pattern of precipitations and winds. Climate change can have a particularly negative impact on respiratory health, which can lead to the emergence of asthma and allergic respiratory illnesses. Pollen is one of the main components of the atmospheric bioaerosol and is able to induce allergic symptoms in certain subjects. Climate change affects the onset, length, and severity of the pollen season, with effects on pollen allergy. Higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) can lead to enhanced photosynthesis and a higher pollen production in plants. Pollen grains can also interact with air pollutants and be affected by thunderstorms and other extreme events, exacerbating the insurgence of respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. The consequences of climate change might also favor the spreading of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 one.

Marginalizing Misinformation - The Fast-and-Frugal Way

What is the evidence for a consensus among the relevant scientific community? [...]if the source proves credible, ask yourself, "Do they exhibit relevant expertise?" Namely, does the person have the depth of knowledge to vouch for this claim? [...]if you have a credible and expert source, is there evidence that the majority of scientists concur? (Time will vary depending on the depth and complexity of the issue.) Possible scientific claims for students to evaluate include * Do cell phones or 5G communication towers cause cancer? * Can ivermectin prevent COVID-19? * Can earthquakes be precisely predicted? * Are GMO foods safe to eat? * Are recent extreme weather events (hurricanes, droughts, floods) related to climate change? *

When green recovery fails to consider coal pushback: Exploring global coal rebounds, production, and policy retrenchment post Covid-19

The global green recovery is facing a significant threat due to the escalating consumption of coal and the announcement of new coal development plans by several leading nations. This study presents an overview of post-pandemic coal activities and identifies three types of coal rebound, namely coal use rebound, coal production or power plant expansion, and climate change policy retrenchments, that pose a challenge to global green recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. We delve into the major short-term and long-term factors that underlie the coal rebound by analyzing case studies from eight countries, namely Vietnam, Zimbabwe, China, India, the United States, Germany, Australia, and Indonesia. The findings indicate that in the short-run, energy price volatility induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crises are the primary factors driving the coal rebound in most countries. We also highlight that the climate-induced coal rebound due to extreme weather could backfire and emerge as a major short-term factor to impede decarbonization efforts. This round of coal rebounds can be attributed to several long-term factors, including the anticipated economic growth in phase-in and established countries, the abundance of coal endowment, the reliance on the coal economy resulting from it, the political influence of coal sectors, the resurgence of geopolitics, and concerns around energy security. It is noteworthy that the return of geopolitics is likely to impact the energy transition for decades to come. The study provides policy recommendations to mitigate coal rebound and enhance the post-pandemic green recovery.

CRISIS & EMERGENCY RISK COMMUNICATION: Six Principles for OSH Professionals

[...]as of this writing, the last complete revision to the CDC's CERC framework took place in 2014, and the last update to the web page where it is housed was in 2018 (CDC, 2018a). While OSH professionals may not find themselves as the face of a response effort, their subject matter expertise is essential to helping their organizations identify potential hazards and implement appropriate controls using effective communication (CDC, 2018b;Loon, 2020). [...]it is critical for OSH professionals to apply these six principles of CERC to remain accurate, credible and timely in their risk communication. In situations such as serious injuries and fatalities, extreme weather events, environmental or property damage, or even infectious disease outbreaks, OSH professionals are well positioned to be the source of immediate subject matter expertise even if the situation is not fully understood. [...]while establishing their position as the first to present the information relevant to their subject matter expertise, OSH professionals must accurately present what is known, what is not known and the processes in place to fill any knowledge gaps (CDC, 2018b).

IMPLEMENTATION INSIGHTS from SITE CHAMPIONS and STATE LEADS POST-ROLLOUT of the SAFER BABY BUNDLE

Background: National rollout of the Safer Baby Bundle (SBB) is recommended by the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan for improving the standard of antenatal care at scale to reduce stillbirth. Progressive implementation over 2.5 years, commenced from mid-2019. This qualitative study aims to understand the process enablers and barriers influencing the effectiveness of SBB implementation. Method(s): Semi-structured interviews with SBB site leads/champions (17 maternity services) and state program leads across Queensland (QLD), Victoria (VIC) and New South Wales (NSW) were conducted post-implementation of SBB to explore local, regional, and state implementation strategies, processes and experiences. Normalization Process Theory was used as an analytic framework for thematic analysis to understand different approaches and contexts for SBB implementation. Result(s): 17 site leads (6 VIC, 5 NSW, 6 QLD) and 6 state program leads were interviewed from Sept to mid-Nov 2022. Findings indicate strong local leadership, shared regional and state-based learning opportunities, consistency of information and endorsement by clinical networks were key implementation supports. Barriers included limitations and inconsistencies across data and information systems, and constraints with protected time for training and improvement activities. High turnover and re-deployment of leads due to external factors (e.g., COVID, extreme weather events) disrupted timelines, impacting commitment and engagement with the initiative. Conclusion(s): Despite differences in resources, approaches, and timelines between sites and states for SBB implementation, similar key barriers and enablers were identified. An in-depth understanding of the factors underpinning successful implementation of the SBB will guide future activities to support sustainable change.

Bioprotection of Transportation and Facilities from SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has led to a nearly world-wide shelter-in-place strategy. This raises several natural concerns about the safe relaxing of current restrictions. This article focuses on the design and operation of heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the context of transportation. Do HVAC systems have a role in limiting viral spread? During shelter-in-place, can the HVAC system in a dwelling or a vehicle help limit spread of the virus? After the shelter-in-place strategy ends, can typical workplace and transportation HVAC systems limit spread of the virus? This article directly addresses these and other questions. In addition, it also summarizes simplifying assumptions needed to make meaningful predictions. This article derives new results using transform methods first given in Ginsberg and Bui. These new results describe viral spread through an HVAC system and estimate the aggregate dose of virus inhaled by an uninfected building or vehicle occupant when an infected occupant is present within the same building or vehicle. Central to these results is the derivation of a quantity called the "protection factor"-a term-of-art borrowed from the design of gas masks. Older results that rely on numerical approximations to these differential equations have long been lab validated. This article gives the exact solutions in fixed infrastructure for the first time. These solutions, therefore, retain the same lab validation of the older methods of approximation. Further, these exact solutions yield valuable insights into HVAC systems used in transportation.

The three A's of social capital in crises: Challenges with the availability, accessibility and activatability of social support

Social capital has become a major factor for analysing vulnerabilities and resilience in the context of disaster studies in recent years. Usually, it is studied along its three forms of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, and it is often framed as a static characteristic that a person either has at his or her disposal or not. Based on the results of case studies conducted in Germany and Estonia focusing on four different crises (floods in Germany;long-term disruption of electricity due to a major storm in Estonia;a cyber-attack in Estonia;as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in both countries) we claim that this description and analysis of social capital does not allow for a comprehensive understanding of all the challenges disaster management has to deal with to decrease vulnerabilities and increase resilience. Using qualitative content analysis, we present a heuristic framework which not only asks whether bonding, bridging, and linking social capital is available to individuals, but also whether social capital is accessible and activatable when responding to or recovering from a disaster. In doing so, the paper helps to improve the overall usability of official or unofficial social support to cope with crises.

Growing Divides between Establishment and Climate Justice Proponents: A View from the Extremes of South Africa

The failure of elites negotiating global public goods - e.g., ending COVID-19 "vaccine apartheid,"forging geopolitical stability, reducing inequality, regulating international financial flows, and avoiding world recession - is nowhere more dangerous than the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's refusal to cut greenhouse gas emissions deeply and fairly. "Climate Justice"principles are ignored, so divisions grow between what ruling elites consider possible, and what activists demand. This is evident in a South Africa suffering among the world's highest emissions levels, extreme weather events, the worst inequality, and a neoliberal, carbon-addicted corporate power bloc determining most of the policy terrain. But activists are forcefully resisting. © Patrick Bond, 2023.

Improving Short-Term QPF Using Geostationary Satellite All-Sky Infrared Radiances: Real-Time Ensemble Data Assimilation and Forecast during the PRECIP 2020 and 2021 Experiments

The Prediction of Rainfall Extremes Campaign In the Pacific (PRECIP) aims to improve our understanding of extreme rainfall processes in the East Asian summer monsoon. A convection-permitting ensemble-based data assimilation and forecast system (the PSU WRF-EnKF system) was run in real time in the summers of 2020–21 in advance of the 2022 field campaign, assimilating all-sky infrared (IR) radiances from the geostationary Himawari-8 and GOES-16 satellites, and providing 48-h ensemble forecasts every day for weather briefings and discussions. This is the first time that all-sky IR data assimilation has been performed in a real-time forecast system at a convection-permitting resolution for several seasons. Compared with retrospective forecasts that exclude all-sky IR radiances, rainfall predictions are statistically significantly improved out to at least 4–6 h for the real-time forecasts, which is comparable to the time scale of improvements gained from assimilating observations from the dense ground-based Doppler weather radars. The assimilation of all-sky IR radiances also reduced the forecast errors of large-scale environments and helped to maintain a more reasonable ensemble spread compared with the counterpart experiments that did not assimilate all-sky IR radiances. The results indicate strong potential for improving routine short-term quantitative precipitation forecasts using these high-spatiotemporal-resolution satellite observations in the future.Significance StatementDuring the summers of 2020/21, the PSU WRF-EnKF data assimilation and forecast system was run in real time in advance of the 2022 Prediction of Rainfall Extremes Campaign In the Pacific (PRECIP), assimilating all-sky (clear-sky and cloudy) infrared radiances from geostationary satellites into a numerical weather prediction model and providing ensemble forecasts. This study presents the first-of-its-kind systematic evaluation of the impacts of assimilating all-sky infrared radiances on short-term qualitative precipitation forecasts using multiyear, multiregion, real-time ensemble forecasts. Results suggest that rainfall forecasts are improved out to at least 4–6 h with the assimilation of all-sky infrared radiances, comparable to the influence of assimilating radar observations, with benefits in forecasting large-scale environments and representing atmospheric uncertainties as well.

Eco-Friendly IoT Solutions for Smart Cities Development: An Overview

The last three years showed global systems' fragility in different disciplines, such as medicine, travel, and trade. Moreover, environmental changes are still happening in extreme weather phenomena, exacerbating COVID-19 in the world health sector. Therefore, the world needs to work hard in both traditional and modern technological ways to develop smart solutions for the development of smart cities to create open, interconnected networks for everyone. The focus of intense research worldwide is the development of standardized eco-friendly sensor networks enabled by IoT technology. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing the world and humans in the current era and how modern technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), can make a real change in smart city development and save the global environment. These technological solutions and frameworks help to achieve innovative administration, high adaptability, better efficiency, and productivity. In particular, the paper spots light on top environmental challenges according to impact and likelihood classifications. Also, it discusses recent green technology solutions for smart city development in many applications, such as e-waste management, climate change adaptation, water crises, and natural disaster management. © 2023 IEEE.

Rethinking local resilience for extreme heat events.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide insights into how local resilience structures in England can be leveraged to deliver a whole-of-society approach to managing a national response to extreme heat events during summer months. STUDY DESIGN: A communication based on the literature review of currently available research on health emergency response and extreme heat events in England. METHODS: This communication draws insights from the authors' research programmes, which examined national-level public health emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic and literature review of the latest available English research on health and extreme heat events. RESULTS: Periods of extreme heat are on the rise in England. Local resilience forums (LRFs), due to their multiagency nature, offer a shared situational awareness and understanding of the need in their local communities. Such information is critical to ensure messaging about heat risks and available resources are tailored to reach specific targeted groups within their communities. Scenario planning and adaptation efforts require a more local articulation which LRFs are well placed to manage. CONCLUSIONS: LRFs are well suited as key structures in the English emergency response to extreme heat events. We suggest that English public health and hospital organisations, working with community partners via the LRFs, must develop their thinking about pressures from adverse weather in the summer months.

Minors Can Have Major Effects: Household Hurricane Preparation Insights from Alabama

While debate about large-scale climate change policy continues, household protective responses to climate-related risk are an increasingly important, potentially less contentious, tool to mitigate some climate impacts. Household actions to prepare for disasters like hurricanes are likely important for personal protection in geographically and socially vulnerable regions with less political appetite for government intervention. To understand social vulnerability in household-level hurricane preparation in this context, residents (n = 915) from the United States Gulf Coast state of Alabama were surveyed about their extreme event experiences, attitudes, and behaviors following the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season. On average, two-thirds of respondents took at least one hurricane preparedness action. Lower levels of preparedness were found for women, and higher levels for households with children, as well as changes in event-related climate change concern, personal harm, and disruption from COVID-19. Race/ethnicity, educational attainment, nor income was related to preparedness. © 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Participatory evaluations reveal positive impacts for small-scale fishing communities in Indonesia and Honduras

Small-scale fishing communities are often particularly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks, as exemplified by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, extreme weather events as a result of climate change, and rising costs associated with the war in Ukraine. These positive impacts were experienced in vulnerable communities facing several external stressors, thus highlighting the benefits of strengthening community governance and supporting improved and diversified livelihoods to increase resilience to threats. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Oryx is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The reshaping of the future by the Covid 19 pandemic: an assessment of the impact on population and resources

The WHO declared Covid 19 as a pandemic on the eleventh of March, 2020. This led to individuals, governments, institutions and businesses asking what impact this pandemic would have on the future. What imprint would this outbreak leave on human civilisation? Pandemics can alter the course of history. Pandemics impact people, governments, policies and economies. The pandemic has broken out at a time of significant demographic transition. 2020 was the first year in documented human history where the global population of people over the age of 60 is more than the population of children younger than 5 years of age. The richer countries have high concentrations of aging populations. Historically, pandemics have had significant impacts on cities and urban areas. Public health institutions, garbage collection, sanitation, scientific drainage and hospitals all developed to varying extents in urban responses to epidemics. The covid 19 pandemic has also brought about changes. In 2019, the United Nations reported that there had been a 33 percent increase in the population of migrants across the world. The international migrant population was put at 270 million. The previous forecast was for this population level to be attained in 2050. But the pandemic has slowed the growth of migration. The impact of the pandemic on energy markets was immediate and cataclysmic. Large parts of the global economy were forced to close down. The demand for petroleum fell by 25 percent in the United States. The demand for public transport fell by 70 percent in San Francisco, 60 percent in London and 80 percent in Italy and France between March and May 2020. Pandemics and changes in climate are inextricably linked. As humans encroach further into the wild, the United Nations expects more animal viruses to infect and affect humans. 75 percent of all emerging infectious diseases originate in animals. 60 percent of viruses infecting humans come from wildlife and livestock. Zoonotic epidemics are triggered by flooding, climate variability and other extreme weather events linked to climate change. Climate change has also expanded the span of geographies susceptible to zoonoses. Even though this pandemic has brought to the fore these dangers, steps to effectively tackle climate change and to implement practices in agriculture that are more sustainable have halted. The global food system is responsible for fulfilling the nutrition requirements of 80 percent of the world's population. This system has been greatly disturbed by the pandemic. 4 shocks account for this great disturbance: 1. The movement of agricultural goods has been disturbed by restrictions on transport. 2. Supply chains have been seriously damaged by borders being sealed and bans on exports. 3. Overall production has been reduced because of major disruptions in the supply of agricultural raw material, labor and services. 4. Food purchasing power has reduced dramatically because of job losses, especially among the socioeconomically disadvantaged sections of society.Copyright © 2020 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

A Framework for Resilient City Governance in Response to Sudden Weather Disasters: A Perspective Based on Accident Causation Theories

With climate change, urban resilience is becoming a critical concept for helping cities withstand disasters and accidents. However, current research often focuses on concept identification, leaving a gap between concept and implementation. This study aims to investigate the lack of urban resilience in the face of sudden weather disasters, with a focus on the inadequate capacity of urban systems to effectively govern such events. The Zhengzhou subway flooding accident on 20 July 2021, serves as a case study for this research, and the accident causation theories, such as the Swiss cheese model, Surry's accident model, and trajectory intersection theory are used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the accident's causes. Through this analysis, the paper identifies vulnerabilities in the natural, technical, and man-made systems of the urban system, and reveals deficiencies in four aspects of urban resilience: natural, technological, institutional, and organizational. Based on this analysis, the study proposes a resilient city governance framework that integrates the "Natural-Technical-Man-made” systems, offers relevant recommendations for urban resilience governance, and discusses potential challenges to urban resilience implementation.

Deployment and training for end-users of a decision support system for water resources planning and operations for Greater Sydney

Management, operations, and planning in water resources management are required to respond to a multitude of challenging problems that may arise due to rapid change in climate conditions, extreme weather events, frequent and unforeseen incidents or on the other hand, long-term structured management decisions. This paper reports on deployment of a decision support system (DSS) for Greater Sydney supply systems known as the CARM Greater Sydney Project. Development and deployment of the DSS tool currently being undertaken by WaterNSW is based on integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic water quality models. The system architecture of the tool is underpinned by a set of baseline catchment models developed using eWater's Source modelling suite. Catchment modelling outputs are then fed into reservoir models as input which are housed in the AEM3D (a 3-Dimensional coupled Hydrodynamic- Aquatic Ecosystem Model) platform;providing a set of base cases to represent the fundamental catchment/lake conditions. Mike Workbench - an application developed by DHI is used as the DSS tool. Building on the baseline model, users can generate multiple scenarios with varying complexity by manipulating different parameters of the tool specific to a problem at a scale and level of complexity suited to the problem and needs of decision makers via Mike Workbench. Users can also compare the outcomes between different scenarios, facilitating the decision making for increasingly complex water resources management issues. An integral part of the project is to roll out a suit of comprehensive training on using this tool to different groups of users/stakeholders tailored by their needs and interest. The training and deployment of the new system were started during COVID shutdowns. The paper will provide an overview of the new system and how training was developed as part of the project and embedded through the deployment of the new DSS tool in a fully on-line mode. The lessons learned include providing training specific to user needs, time for practice and one on one support, but also cover planning and integration of the training throughout the project development and deployment. © Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, HWRS 2022. All rights reserved.

Flooding and climate change: the impact of flooding on hospitals

Climate change is expected to increase the risk of extreme weather conditions (and the associated risk of flooding). This means that hospitals must explicitly take into account a situation in which severe weather jeopardizes continuity of care. They must therefore include a water test in their technical design and take this into account in their contingency plans, whereby an evacuation is only proposed as the very last. Coordination with other hospitals, the government, the fire service, the Red Cross, the military and other actors in the emergency services, as well as multidisciplinary exercises are crucial. In the summer of 2021, this turned out not to be a distant future, but pure reality. This article describes the impact of an imminent flood on Belgian and Dutch hospitals along the Meuse, as well as their experiences and approach to this precarious situation in the summer of 2021. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the contingency plans and evacuation protocols used must also take into account specific hygiene measures, which makes the response to such calamities even more complex. In this article, the authors discuss the risks of flooding for the healthcare sector and make policy proposals for day-to-day practice.