Publications

The global trade of solar photovoltaic (PV) products substantially contributes to increases in solar power generation and carbon emissions reductions. This paper depicts global PV product trade patterns, explores emissions reduction potential, and evaluates the impeding effect of tariff barriers on global PV product trade and emissions reductions...

In this novel and integrated MAR approach, an offsetting scheme under the concept of payment for ecosystem services (PES) is used to enhance groundwater recharge along the Shirakawa River in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The scheme gives a cash incentive to farmers who pond their abandoned rice fields for groundwater recharge. For a specified period...

Integrating climate actions and the SDGs poses some major governance-related challenges, in the forms of horizontal integration across different governmental agencies and vertical interactions among different levels of administrative decision making, while at the same time ensuring effective participation of relevant stakeholders in the...

Between the 1990s and early 2000s, large-scale illegal dumping and improper treatment of medical waste was a common occurrence in Japan, and became a serious social issue owing to the potential human health risk and environmental damage resulting from the waste itself, which could be infectious or contained sharps or chemical and toxic substances...

This case study reports on the development of a healthcare waste management (HCWM) system at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Nepal where the intervention began in 2014 with support from HECAF 360, a local NGO, and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), an international NGO, and WHO Nepal. It describes the approach and path followed by...

For cities to meet the challenge of reaching carbon neutral by 2050, one option is to promote a renovation wave for buildings. A literature review of the initiatives, standards and regulations for energy savings and the renewable energy deployment in buildings in the EU, US and Asia shows the complexity of the effort, and the need to integrate...

This study aims to assess the water quality of the Mahananda River in Bangladesh and its suitability for drinking and agricultural uses. For water quality determination, 15 samples were collected from different sites of the Mahananda River to calculate Water Quality Index (WQI) and Entropy Water Quality Index (EWQI). Result shows that among...

This year's biggest climate change pilgrimage, the UNFCCC COP26 , concluded with several decisions, including the “Glasgow Climate Pact ”, and other announcements on the sidelines. These came after two weeks of long discussions and heated negotiations amid youth-led mass protests outside the COP venue. COP26 ended by disappointing those...

Food, energy, and water (collectively referred to as ‘FEW’) security forms the key to human survival as well as socioeconomic development. However, the security of these basic resources is increasingly threatened due to growing demand. Beyond the widespread implications on public health, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has further raised additional...

The flood vulnerability assessments conducted in Lao PDR and Myanmar inform us of at least eight messages to strengthen the flood risk reduction. These messagfs are 1. Stilted houses are the backbone of flood resilience, 2. Design of early warning should take into consideration the mobility of humans, assets and health facilities, 3. Flood...