This study examines the implementation challenges of the carbon tax and related mechanisms and governmental initiatives (such as the border carbon tax) within the framework of the World Trade Organization. As these issues are relevant to Kazakhstan as well, the mentioned problems are considered from the perspective of potential complexities for the country. The research suggests that accusations of protectionist policies by the European Union (EU) may escalate, although there is currently no compelling evidence that the decision to introduce them was a deliberate protectionist measure. Based on the research findings, it is evident that the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will increase costs for EU importers, which are likely to be passed on to consumers, especially due to the gradual phasing out of free emissions trading quotas.

The rapid advancement of satellite-based monitoring technologies and niche modelling present unprecedented opportunities to enhance conservation efforts, especially over large areas, yet their practical application in guiding conservation strategies remains limited. This study examines how land-use changes affect ant diversity in the Acre River basin, south-western Brazilian Amazon. Using niche modelling with climatic, environmental and land-use data, we examined species distributions for three ant guilds – forest specialists, generalists and open-habitat specialists – across 1985, 2019 and 2050. The results show that forest specialists are concentrated in the eastern regions but are projected to decline, while open-habitat specialists – dominant in the south-west – are expected to increase in distribution. Generalists displayed broader, stable distributions. These patterns highlight the critical role of forest conservation in preserving the diversity of forest-specialist species and the threat posed by Amazon forest conversion, and they point to the need for strategic landscape planning to mitigate deforestation impacts.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) in preventing forest degradation and land-use changes within communal lands in the context of limited public consultation and the transformation of communal forest governance. We analysed forest-cover changes over 50 years using a multi-temporal approach, integrating aerial photographs, orthophotographs and satellite imagery. We obtained contextual knowledge through our long-term research engagement with the region and interviews conducted during participatory fieldwork. We analysed land-use changes in a watershed within the MBBR in Mexico before and after its designation as a protected area. Despite the reserve’s protected status, nearly half of the study area experienced forest-cover changes. Surprisingly, the most intense deforestation occurred after conservation decrees, as some communities engaged in pre-emptive forest clearing in response to anticipated restrictions. However, in later periods, forest recovery – driven by payment for environmental services, natural regeneration and community participation – began to outpace degradation. Nonetheless, the fir forest that is essential for monarch butterfly habitat was reduced by 43.3%, with illegal logging being one of the leading causes. This study highlights the importance of community involvement when establishing protected areas, as it can help reduce environmental impacts and ensure conservation success.

The European Green Deal (EGD) provides a strategic framework for the European Union’s (EU) transition to climate neutrality by 2050. Yet, limited integration of socio-economic dimensions may hinder its long-term success and fairness. This study investigates the indirect impacts of socio-economic factors on EGD performance by constructing a Green Deal Performance Index (GDPI) using a multi-criteria decision-making approach for 22 EU countries over 2010–2020. We then apply an instrumental variable regression approach to estimate how emissions, shaped by structural socio-economic conditions, affect the GDPI. Our results show that the negative impact of emissions is nearly 47 times larger when socio-economic dynamics are ignored. These findings underscore the necessity of inclusive policymaking for achieving carbon neutrality, contributing to discussions on ensuring a just transition by highlighting the critical role of socio-economic dynamics. We also present implications for policymakers developing fair and equitable strategies promoting sustainability and social justice in this context.

Climate-smart agriculture that promotes climate change adaptation and mitigation while improving livelihoods is being advocated to smallholder farmers. Most studies in this area focus on the yield and income impacts of practices, but we explore farmer well-being impacts. Using a multi-criteria analysis embedded in an in-person questionnaire, our findings suggest that smallholder farmers in Southern Malawi have diverse preferences for climate-smart practices based on location, access to markets and resources and importance placed on climate adaptation. The use of multidimensional well-being criteria provides deeper insights into the motivations and priorities of farmers, revealing trade-offs between immediate food needs and climate adaptation concerns, as well as between the need for incentives versus the risk of conditional credits. Our study calls for tailored climate-smart agriculture projects that allow farmers to adopt practices that meet their needs.

The drivers of the unsustainable consumption of animal products have been researched, but, to date, no studies have specifically examined the interplay between perceptions of biodiversity loss consequences, beliefs in its existence and significance and the consumption of animal skin and fur products. We explore how people’s perceived consequences of biodiversity loss are associated with their consumption preferences and behaviours related to animal fur/skin products in varying scenarios of biodiversity loss beliefs. Applying Bayesian mindsponge framework analytics to a dataset of 535 Vietnamese urban residents (with 85.05% holding an undergraduate or higher degree), we found that, for people viewing biodiversity loss as real and significant, perceived consequences of biodiversity loss were negatively associated with the preference for animal skin/fur products. Conversely, when they viewed biodiversity loss as unreal or real but insignificant, the association was the reverse. Regarding the ownership of skin/fur products, among those who considered biodiversity loss insignificant, perceived consequences of biodiversity loss were correlated with owning more such products. However, for individuals who saw biodiversity loss as a major issue or denied its existence, ownership remained unaffected by perceptions of its consequences. These findings underscore the need for interdisciplinary research in sociocultural and environmental psychology to improve our understanding of the human–nature relationship and inform evidence-based policies integrating science and humanistic values.

The Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by 196 countries including South Korea, aims to protect at least 30% of the world’s land, inland waters and marine areas by 2030 as part of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Beyond increasing protected areas (PAs), promoting biodiversity by protecting different ecosystem types is crucial. We investigated whether South Korea’s PAs evenly cover various ecosystem types. We examined overlaps between the Korean Database of Protected Areas (KDPA) and the Korean adapted Ecosystem Typology (KET) map, which modified the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology (GET) three-level ecosystem functional group map based on South Korea’s land cover. Compared to the biogeographical ecoregion map, the KET map provides finer ecological detail on representation within PAs and reveals the under-representation of human-influenced ecosystems; eight human-influenced ecosystem functional groups, including rice paddies and urban and industrial ecosystems that may contribute to biodiversity or cultural value, had <10% protection. The T2.2 deciduous temperate forest type dominates, covering 54.79% of PA area across 18 of 27 PA categories. This concentrated protection has led to up to 24 overlapping PA designations in certain locations. Expanding protection for under-represented ecosystems and diversifying governance could help South Korea align with global biodiversity goals.

Amid China’s goals to reach peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, along with its ecological civilization agenda, the synergy between the digital economy (DE) and environmental quality (EQ) in Chinese cities has become increasingly vital. Using panel data from 285 cities between 2016 and 2021, this study constructs an integrated framework to examine the level of coordinated development between the DE and EQ, measured through the coupling coordination degree (CCD) that captures the strength and harmony of their interaction. It further analyses spatial–temporal heterogeneity and influencing factors. The results reveal: (1) both the DE and EQ have improved steadily, with the CCD rising to a moderate level and showing clear spatial clustering; and (2) economic development, educational investment and industrial upgrading boost the CCD, whereas average years of education and government intervention may hinder it. Additionally, economic development and industrial upgrading have positive spatial spillovers, and a threshold effect of government intervention is observed.

As apex predators, giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) are susceptible to the bioaccumulation of heavy metals, particularly in regions where gold-mining contributes to mercury (Hg) pollution. This is the broadest-scale study assessing Hg and selenium (Se) concentrations in the Pantanal. Samples from 10 sites across the Pantanal were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We constructed a two-factor generalized additive model (GAM) to investigate the relationship between Hg concentrations in giant otters and their location along river courses in gold-mining areas. To determine the feasibility of merging the dataset from the present study with the dataset of a previous study carried out by our group during 2016–2017, we included the datasets as a factor in the analysis. The GAM results supported the feasibility of merging the datasets. Additionally, we measured Se concentrations due to their potential to mitigate Hg toxicity. Higher Hg levels were found in otters from watercourses near gold-mining areas, with concentrations decreasing downstream, revealing a contamination gradient and the extensive impact of local pollution on wetlands. The highest Hg concentration was recorded in the Bento Gomes River, within a gold-mining area, whereas otters from unconnected sites exhibited lower Hg levels.

Macrophytes serve as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health and are often employed in monitoring the condition of water bodies. Traditionally, such observations are conducted in situ, but remote sensing offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative. Here, an algorithm for macrophyte detection using satellite data was created; we utilized clustering, with its results serving as target labels for building a machine-learning model. We developed a model for macrophyte identification using reflectance data in the near-infrared band during spring and summer. The derived algorithm, employing Sentinel-2 satellite reflectance data, enables the identification of open water, submerged and floating macrophytes and emergent macrophytes. This approach enhances the efficiency and applicability of macrophyte assessment, bridging the gap between field observations and remote sensing for comprehensive aquatic ecosystem monitoring.

The successful colonization of invasive plants (IPs) may be facilitated by their nutrient release during decomposition, which alters soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial metabolic processes and the diversity of soil microorganisms. This study aimed to examine the effects of co-decomposition of four Asteraceae IPs (Conyza canadensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Erigeron annuus and Solidago canadensis) along a gradient of invasion and a native plant (Pterocypsela laciniata) on decomposition rate, soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities and the diversity of soil bacterial communities (SBCs). Leaves of C. canadensis with heavy invasion and S. canadensis with light and heavy invasion decomposed more slowly than P. laciniata. Leaves of C. canadensis with full invasion decomposed more rapidly than P. laciniata. Pterocypsela laciniata and C. sumatrensis had synergistic effects on each other’s decomposition, whereas P. laciniata and S. canadensis displayed an antagonistic effect. Decomposition of the four IPs increased soil microbial carbon content but reduced soil fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolase activity compared to P. laciniata. Thus, invasion degree and species identity of IPs modulate the effects of the four IPs on the decomposition rate, mixed-effect intensity of co-decomposition, soil microbial carbon content, soil FDA hydrolase activity and SBC structure.

Residents’ attitudes towards wildlife and their management can be crucial in population control. Using a novel approach, we examined East Tennessee residents’ tolerance for American black bears and attitudes towards hunting. Most residents viewed black bears positively, tolerated their presence and preferred seeing them in their area. Attitudes were influenced by concern about future encounters, the values and benefits attributed to bears, prior experiences and perceptions of human–bear conflict and conflict frequency, whereas sociodemographic factors were less influential. Support for regulated hunting was influenced by sociodemographic factors more so than cognitive factors. Our findings suggest opportunities for managers to increase tolerance of black bears among residents through outreach emphasizing the benefits of living with the bears and guidance for avoiding negative encounters. Greater trust in the wildlife agency may result from such outreach, potentially leading to greater levels of tolerance among residents of bear-inhabited areas.