Institute for Sustainability

Zinc oxide in photocatalytic cementitious materials for environmental remediation and self-cleaning: Performance, limitations, and critical research gaps

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising functional additive for cementitious materials due to its photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties. While numerous studies have reported positive outcomes in terms of pollutant degradation efficiency, antimicrobial performance, and, in some case...

Analysis of rain-on-grid modeling tools for simulating flood risks in urban-coastal landscapes

ABSTRACT Floods are increasing globally, causing significant economic strains on cities. This study evaluates the trade-offs between computational efficiency and model accuracy in flood prediction using rain-on-grid approaches. We compared two open-source rain-on-grid models (LIS...

Grounds for comparison: linking Arabica cup scores to soil fertility and plant nutrition in rust-resistant cultivars and traditional American coffees

Abstract The cup quality of rust-resistant Arabica ( Coffea arabica L.) × Robusta ( C. canephora Pierre ex Froehner) cultivars is thought to be inferior to traditional Arabicas, but few studies have examined the extent to which coffee cup scores are affected by local variation in...

Reallocating fossil subsidies via social assistance reduces poverty and preserves emissions cuts

Fossil fuel subsidies are widespread, regressive, and environmentally costly, yet abrupt removal can raise poverty. To identify a practical reform pathway, we evaluate the effectiveness of compensatory policies grounded in existing national social protection systems. We develop a...

CAP regime shifts, institutional quality, and technical efficiency in agricultural land use across the EU: A panel stochastic frontier analysis

This study examines how Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payment intensity and national governance quality jointly shape technical efficiency in agricultural land use. The sample covers the 27 EU member states over 2005–2022, giving 486 balanced observations. We estimate a per-he...

Soil storage changes enzyme activity magnitudes but preserves activity sensitivity to long-term crop rotations and tillage practices

Abstract Soil samples are often stored prior to enzyme activity assays, but storage-induced changes could compromise the ability to differentiate activities among management practices. We used two field experiments in north-central USA – 27 y crop rotation × tillage on an Endoaqu...

Living and sacred Territory is a victim of Colombia's armed conflict: Indigenous legal systems, self-determination and co-theorising law beyond the eco-centric turn

This article examines the recognition of Indigenous Territory as a living, sacred, and sentient victim within Colombia's transitional justice process, centred on the landmark 2019 decision of Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) recognising the Awá Territory, Katsa Su...

Ligand Recognition Directs Functional Ionic Layer Construction on Metal Nanoclusters for Electrocatalysis

Abstract Cation effects are central to electrocatalytic CO2 reduction, but freely dissolved cations lack positional control, defined function and persistent coupling to surface motifs. Precise regulation of such ionic microenvironments remains difficult in ligand-stabilized metal...

Protocols on X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Measurement and Interpretation

Abstract Understanding the local electronic and atomic structure of materials is central to modern physics, chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides element-specific insight into these local environments through core-level X-r...

Transition without transformation: net-zero industrial policy, green path diversification and creation

The development of new pathways for industrial decarbonisation is a formidable task demanding highly coordinated action. While industrial clusters are potentially key sites for low-carbon transitions, embedded regional structures if not fully understood may constrain green transf...

The UK Clean Air Act at 70: An interdisciplinary analysis of historical air quality change

Abstract 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the first UK Clean Air Act, a pivotal moment for air quality in modern British history. Previous narratives on this legislation have largely centred on pollution in London and monodisciplinary perspectives. This article integrates histo...

Biochar as a Modulator of Soil Microbial Diversity and Enzymatic Function: Critical Insights and Ecological Implications

Biochar amendments can modify soil microbial communities and extracellular enzyme activities, but reported responses remain heterogeneous across soils, biochar types, and management contexts. This review critically synthesises current evidence to identify the conditions under whi...