Given Indonesia’s abundant biomass resources, co-firing biomass presents an opportunity to reduce coal plant carbon emissions. However, the emissions profile of this strategy depends upon biomass sourcing, which, if derived from non-waste biomass (purpose-grown at plantations), could induce substantial land use change emissions, shifting emissions offset from coal plants to land. Here we use a pla...

India faces significant air quality challenges, contributing to local health and global climate concerns. Despite a national ban on agricultural residue burning and various incentive schemes, farmers in northern India continue to face difficulties in curbing open-field burning. Using data from 1021 farming households in rural Punjab in India, authors examine the patterns and drivers of the adoptio...

More than five billion metric tons of agricultural residues are produced annually worldwide. Despite having multiple uses and significant potential to augment crop and livestock production, a large share of crop residues is burned, especially in Asian countries. This unsustainable practice causes tremendous air pollution and health hazards while restricting soil nutrient recycling. In this review,...

Deliberate open burning of crop residues emits greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. This study investigates the environmental impacts (global warming potential, GWP) and economic impacts (net cash flow) of nine agricultural residue management schemes, including open burning, fertilizer production, and biochar production for corn residue, rice straw, and sugarcane leaves. The ...

Despite bans and air quality concerns, farmers continue to burn crop residues; an integrated response that applies systems thinking across economic, regulatory, and information policy is needed for change....

The inclusion of environmental criteria in microfinance products to promote sustainable activities, access to clean or more efficient use of energy or to reduce climatic and environmental risk for low-income households or microenterprises (i.e., green microfinance)—is a dynamic and growing market in LAC, with existing and forthcoming opportunities. However, client outreach, clear strategies and in...

This blog discusses agroforestry and sustainable land management in Haiti.Land conversion of forests to agriculture and pastureland is a major threat to biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean. Deforestation and slash-and-burn practices also strip the soil of its nutrients and of its capability to retain water. This results in soil erosion and watershed degradation, which in turn ultimatel...

India is developing its bioenergy resource to provide affordable energy while reducing fossil fuel imports, improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Modern bioenergy today accounts for 13% of India’s total final energy consumption and is expected to grow by up to 45% between 2023 and 2030. However, to meet India's longer-term bioenergy ambitions, it will need to deploy new tech...

Air pollution poses a significant environmental risk to large cities worldwide, including New Delhi, India’s capital. The occurrence of frequent episodes of elevated levels of air pollution during October–March in Delhi and National Capital Territory (Delhi–NCT) chokes its ∼32 million residents every year. Current air quality models lack the ability to accurately predict severe air pollution event...

The milpa system is the basis of traditional agriculture in Mesoamerica. It is based on a polyculture of maize (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus spp.) and squash (Cucurbita spp.) and is associated with a great diversity of crops and wild species. The milpa has great cultural and historical importance but can also be highly productive and provide sufficient and healthy diets for smallholder farmers. T...