Abstract

Industrialization being advanced from the 18th century has improved a lot of material affluence, and has polluted and/or destructed the original quality of nature in the processes of extracting resources from nature, and producing/ distributing/ consuming goods and services. The current status of nature being polluted/destructed is termed the crisis of nature. The crisis of nature does not end in itself, but is linked to the crisis of human survival on the earth in that nature can exist without humans, but humans can’t survive without nature.

A wide range of human activities from lots of sources such as government, academia, enterprise, and NGO, etc. are promoting to continue the improvement of material affluence while maintaining the original quality of nature. In a word, this is the human activity toward co-existence between humans and nature being promoted in the name of sustainable development. In a broad sense, CCET 2025 is also one of them.

In such a context, this paper aims at explaining human impact on nature and its implications. In order to achieve the objectives, this paper will be composed of four parts as below.

Part 1: Human being is a species living with other species on the earth. The position of humans on the earth will be explained in relation to other species in order to identify what humans is on the earth.

Part 2: The effect of nature on humans will be explained. This is for understanding why humans can’t survive without nature. Two effects of nature on humans will be explained. One is the ecosystem services nature provides to humans, and the other one is how nature determine the mode of human existence on the earth.

Part 3: As the main component of this paper, human impact on nature will be explained. This is the explanation about the emergence of environmental problems leading nature to be polluted and/or destructed. Two issues will be explained. One is the mechanism of nature being polluted and/or destructed by human activities in the process of improving material affluence. The other one is the current status of nature being polluted and/or destructed in terms of individual indicator and synthetic indicator.

Part 4: As concluding remarks, the implications of polluted/destructed nature will be examined in terms of two aspects. One is to review the implication of industrialization. The other one is to review the concept and implications of sustainable development.

Biography

Prof. and Dr. Dai-Yeun Jeong is presently the Director of Asia Climate Change Education Center and an emeritus professor at Jeju National University in South Korea where he served as an environmental professor from 1981 until his retirement in 2012. He received BA and MA degree in sociology from Korea University (South Korea), and PhD in environmental sociology from the University of Queensland (Australia). Throughout his distinguished career, he has held key leadership and advisory roles, including President of the Asia-Pacific Sociological Association, Teaching Professor at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, and the Acting Director of the Jeju Secretariat for the UNESCO World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves. He has also contributed to national policy as a member of the Presidential Commission on Sustainable Development of the Republic of Korea, and as Research Associate of the Environmental Policy Commission for Sustainable Development at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. He has represented the South Korean government delegate as a delegate to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to the OECD Environmental Meetings. An esteemed academic and researcher, he is the author of 13 books including Environmental Sociology, and has published 60 academic papers in both domestic and international journals. He has conducted over 100 environmental research projects supported by domestic and international organizations.

Abstract

The increasing generation of industrial waste and the need for more sustainable construction practices are driving research toward resource-efficient and environmentally responsible materials. This work explores current challenges and emerging possibilities for integrating waste streams—specifically grit waste and microplastics—into road construction materials. The study focuses on the partial replacement of natural sand with grit waste obtained from industrial surface-treatment processes, as well as the incorporation of controlled percentages of microplastic particles into asphalt mixtures.

Grit waste, characterized by high mineral content and favorable mechanical properties, presents a promising alternative to natural aggregates, potentially reducing extraction pressures and contributing to circular economy goals. Its use in asphalt mixes raises key research challenges related to grading compatibility, binder interaction, long-term durability, and environmental risk assessment. In parallel, microplastic incorporation is examined as an innovative strategy to enhance certain functional properties of asphalt—such as stiffness, rutting resistance, and thermal behavior—while simultaneously diverting plastic waste from landfills. However, this approach also introduces design considerations, including optimum dosage, dispersion uniformity, potential microplastic release, and implications for long-term pavement performance.

By addressing both the technical and environmental dimensions, this study outlines the constraints, opportunities, and design requirements for safely and effectively integrating industrial waste into road construction. The findings highlight the potential of grit waste and microplastic additives to contribute to sustainable pavement engineering, provided that material compatibility, mechanical performance, and environmental safety are rigorously evaluated. The work positions these waste-derived materials as viable components in next-generation asphalt mixtures, supporting the transition toward greener and more resilient road infrastructure.

Biography

Prof. Habil. Dr. Eng. Buruiana Daniela Laura is a remarkable personality in the fields of industrial engineering and materials engineering. As director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Eco-Nanotechnologies and Innovative Materials (CC-ITi), she coordinates research projects that integrate advanced and sustainable technologies in the development of innovative materials. With extensive experience in coordinating research projects, she guides young researchers in exploring innovative solutions and implementing them on an industrial scale. In addition to her research, she is actively involved in publishing scientific papers, obtaining national/international patents, and participating in international conferences. She stays up-to-date with the latest discoveries in the field and contributes to the global scientific evolution.

Abstract

The global transition towards renewable energy must be understood not just as an environmental or technological challenge, but as a multidimensional process with profound implications for human rights and social equity. Energy poverty persists as a critical concern in Europe, particularly in Portugal, where economically disadvantaged populations are disproportionately impacted by constrained access to affordable, sustainable, and clean energy resources. This communication examines the interconnections between renewable energy, community empowerment, and the human rights framework, with particular emphasis on the contributions of social work to fostering inclusive and participatory approaches. The "100 Villages" project exemplifies the efficacy of renewable energy in addressing energy poverty, generating economic savings for social institutions, and fortifying community resilience. The integration of renewable energy within the overarching agendas of social justice and sustainability signifies the recognition of access to clean energy as a fundamental human right and a prerequisite for dignified living. Additionally, it underscores the potential for social work principles, namely, participation, advocacy, and empowerment—to facilitate communities' navigation of the energy transition, thereby ensuring that no individuals or groups are marginalized or left behind.

Biography

Elsa Justino, holds a PhD in Social Work, with a master’s degree and a degree in the same area. She's an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science and Public Policies at the University Institute of Lisbon (Iscte-IUL) and an integrated research member at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES/Iscte - IUL).

Abstract

Presentation reviews the current situation and the urgent need for renewables and storage in the future. Is The California Grid Ready for What Is Coming? Presentation identifies the major barriers to the deployment of solar and storage in California and presents thoughts and solutions to the barriers.

Biography

Fred Schwartz is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University in Toronto, and is Executive Director of York’s International Renewable Energy Academy. He is also Executive Director of the Solar Valley Consortium at the Center for Environmental Research and Technology at the University of California, Riverside. He has worked in the field of renewable energy since the late 1970’s, and has received awards from the President of the United States, US EPA, and the United Nations.

Abstract

Energy poverty remains a persistent global challenge, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and deepening existing social inequalities. This presentation explores how renewable and sustainable energy solutions can serve not only as technological advancements but also as powerful tools for social transformation. Through the integration of social justice principles and the practice of Social Work, we propose a multidimensional approach to address energy poverty that centers on community empowerment, equity, and participatory development.

Drawing on case studies and interdisciplinary research, this work highlights how decentralized renewable energy systems, such as solar microgrids and community-owned wind projects, can enhance energy access, reduce economic vulnerability, and foster local resilience. Furthermore, it examines the critical role of social workers in facilitating inclusive energy transitions, advocating for policy reforms, and ensuring that the voices of the most affected populations are heard and respected.

This contribution aims to articulate the gap between technical innovation and social intervention, emphasizing that a just energy transition must be both environmentally sustainable and socially equitable.

Biography

Helena Belchior Rocha, PhD in Social Work, is an Assistant professor at ISCTE- University Institute of Lisbon in the Department of Political Science and Public Policies and subdirector of the Soft Skills Lab and Director of the Transversal Competences Nucleos. Integrated researcher at CIES, Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology, linked to national and international research projects, namely 3 from Marie Curie Actions. She was pionner in Ecology and sustainability in Social Work creating the EcoSocial Model for intervention. Coordinator of the 1st year of Social Work Graduation,. Scientific Coordinator of the Cost Action Line - Digital Human Rights, and member of K-Peritia (culture ex pertize) Cost Action Line. Author of papers and communications at national and international con gresses, in the areas of social work theory and methodology, environment, sustainability, community Intervention, ethics, human rights, social policies and Well-being, education and soft skills. Member of the Editorial Board of national/international journals. Member of Inclusive Policy Lab UNESCO. Award of the Development Networks Award - Project "Promotion of Education for Global Citizen ship - UN17" (ISCTE-IUL / COI Foundation).

Abstract

The observation that sea waves are an untapped energy source inspired our SEWAT (Sustainable Energy by Waves Trap) project. Wave energy is constantly wasted producing coastal erosion.

The key words are therefore:

• exploitation of a new energy source;
• fight against energy waste;
• sustainable use of natural resources and territory.

With the SEWAT project a plurality of goals are pursued, including:

• contribute to the energy transition by making sustainable energy available at low cost;
• effectively protect the coast from erosion;
• collect waste transported by the sea, helping to clean the marine environment;
• monitor the fish species trapped in the device before their release into the sea.

The characteristics of the SEWAT project are such that:

• fully reflects numerous Sustainable Development objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda (1.4 - 6.3 - 7.2 - 8.4 - 9.1 - 9.4 - 12.2 - 14.1);
• place it in the field of low carbon emissions technologies, due to the absolute lack of production of waste, waste water and CO2;
• it is absolutely free from risks, even accidental, for the environment and for the community and involves the use of easily available common materials;
• it is scalable and replicable. Modularity allows the creation of systems of any power, combining individual independent and autonomously productive modules;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT:

the construction of a succession of modular tanks placed in the sea, partially submerged, is planned.

Each tank is equipped with a wall exposed to the waves, suitably equipped, capable of capturing the water of the waves crashing on it. The collecting wall has numerous openings equipped with mobile gates which, under the action of each wave, open allowing the water to enter the tank which is then filled.

During the ebb phase of the wave, the gates close, preventing the water from exiting the tank.

ENERGY PRODUCTION:

energy is produced in three ways with the same device:

• exploiting, through turbines, the flow of water accumulated in the tank towards the sea, as happens in hydroelectric plants;
• exploiting the movement of mobile gates;
• exploiting the water hammer that is generated in the moving mass of water;
• using floats to exploit the variation in the water level inside the tank.

The system is innovative. We estimate that a 50-meter module can produce 5,500 MWh/year of sustainable energy.

Biography

Giulio Teodoro Maellaro was born in Brindisi (Italy) in 1955. He graduated in mechanical engineering from the University of Padua (Italy). He was an officer in the technical services corps of the italian army in the motorization sector. He taught thermotechnics and heating systems in industrial technical institutes. At the “Carnaro” Nautical Institute in Brindisi he taught marine machinery, on-board technical systems and mechanical technology. Expert in sustainable energy and energy transformations. Freelance designer engineer in the construction, plant engineering and energy saving fields. Convinced advocate of the need to immediately implement the energy transition. He created the SEWAT (Sustainable Energy by Waves Trap) device to obtain sustainable energy from sea waves.

Abstract

Hydrogen is widely discussed as a cornerstone of Europe’s sustainable energy transition, yet its economic and environmental viability remains a challenge. This work analyzes the trade-offs between domestic production and imports of hydrogen, focusing on costs, efficiency, and carbon emissions. While hydrogen offers potential in hard-to-electrify sectors such as industry and long-haul transport, as well as a storage option in the electricity system, a large-scale hydrogen economy in Europe faces significant barriers. The most important are high investment costs across the entire supply chain, moderate overall energy efficiency, and the limited availability of renewable electricity for large-scale electrolysis.

Given these constraints, many European strategies now consider imports of green hydrogen, particularly from regions with abundant renewable resources such as North Africa. This work compares domestic production pathways with import options via pipelines and shipping. The analysis highlights that both domestic production and imports will likely play complementary roles in Europe’s decarbonized energy system. However, the environmental benefits are only fully realized if hydrogen is produced from renewable energy.

The findings underscore that Europe’s hydrogen future will depend strongly on clear, long-term policy frameworks to reduce investment risks, support infrastructure development, and establish international markets. Ultimately, the balance between domestic production and imports will be determined not only by economics but also by Europe’s strategic priorities for energy security, sustainability, and climate neutrality.

Biography

Amela Ajanovic is Professor in Energy Economics at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). She is a lecture and faculty member of the postgraduate MSc Program “Renewable Energy Systems”. Her main research interests are alternative fuels and alternative automotive technologies as well as sustainable energy system and long-term energy scenarios. She has been involved in many research projects, and her work has been published in the leading scientific peer-reviewed journals. She has served as a guest editor on several occasions and is an associate editor of different scientific journals. She is an active member of various academic and scientific committees and associations.

Abstract

Advanced materials based heterogeneous catalysis involving photochemical and photoelectrochemical water splitting is an ultimate source of hydrogen generation as renewable green energy for tackling the ongoing fuel crisis. Carbon based materials are ideal for overall water splitting as a result of the excellent alignment of its band edges with water redox potentials. However, a single catalyst with a limited number of active sites does not exhibit significant photo/electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen production. Therefore, we have developed the semiconductor heterostructures of carbon materials with oxides, sulphides, selenides, other TMCs/TMDs NPs and QDs as the highly efficient nanocatalysts for enhanced hydrogen evolution reactions. The monophasic heterostructures have been designed in different weight ratios with fairly uniform distribution of nearly spherical particles and high specific surface area which creates an interfacial charge transfer between two semiconductors. As prepared heterostructures showed significant hydrogen evolution which is evident by observing high apparent quantum yield, low onset potential, lower overpotential and high electrochemical active surface area that will be presented in detail.

Biography

Prof. Tokeer Ahmad is graduated from IIT Roorkee and Ph.D. from IIT Delhi. Presently, he is full Professor at Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi since 2019. Prof. Ahmad has supervised 16 PhD’s, 88 postgraduates, 10 projects, published 228 research papers, one patent and three books with research citation of 10,010, h-index of 60 and i10-index of 186. Prof. Ahmad is active reviewer of 206 journals, delivered 220 Invited talks, evaluated 70 external doctoral theses and presented 139 conference papers. Prof. Ahmad is the recipient of CRSI Bronze Medal, MRSI Medal, SMC Bronze Medal, ISCAS Medal, Inspired Teacher’s President of India Award, Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Award, DST-DFG award, IIT Delhi Alumni Faculty Award, Distinguished Scientist Award, Dr. S. S. Deshpande National Award, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Excellence Award of Education, Teacher’s Excellence Award, Elected Member of National Academy of Sciences India and Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), UK. Prof. Ahmad has been figured in World Top 2% Scientists for consecutive five years since 2020 in both coveted lists including career long by Stanford University, USA.

Abstract

Dry locations with high solar irradiation experience double-digit daily temperature fluctuations. These temperature changes are used as passive solutions for cooling buildings. However, this resource is substantially underutilized for other cooling services. Daily temperature fluctuations can be harnessed to provide sustainable and affordable cooling services, particularly in regions with low access to electricity. This paper introduces a novel method, daily temperature fluctuation cooling (DTFC), that extends the concept of passive thermal storage beyond buildings to deliver low-cost cooling services. Predictable cold air at night cools a rock pile, and then the cooled rocks are used to chill air during the day. The paper explores the system's design, including rock size, rock pile height and fan energy consumption. Results show that DTFC provides 10°C of cooling in locations where the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures is 14°C, at a cooling cost of 8.84 USD MWth-1 and a coefficient of performance of 80. DTFC has demonstrated potential as a renewable, low-cost cooling solution for desert areas, particularly those located far from existing grid connections.

Biography

Dr. Hunt is a research scientist at KAUST, working on water, food, and energy inventions for Saudi Arabia. He holds a chemical engineering degree from the University of Nottingham and a D.Phil degree from the University of Oxford and worked for 7 years at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis prior to joining KAUST.

Abstract

2025 is on track to once again be the hottest year in human history and the coolest year in the foreseeable future until humanity reverses climate change. All educators in all subject areas must teach their students about the consequences of climate change and how to prevent climate catastrophe. Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Month March 2026 provides teachers from elementary school to higher education to Make Climate A Class by teaching about the connections between the topic of their class and climate change, solutions, justice and careers. Educational institutions and educators in every continent can Make Climate An Event by organizing Interactive events to bring together students, parents, educators, professionals, decisionmakers, and other community members in new ways to spark cross-disciplinary dialogue and action. March 27 is the second Worldwide Climate and Justice Games Day. People around the world are encouraged to play virtual and physical games to learn about climate change, clean energy and other climate solutions and climate justice. We encourage teachers to Become a Climate Classroom by teaching about climate issues throughout the year.

For six years, working with partners, our Solve Climate by 2030 educational project has reached more than 175,000 college and high school students, faculty, and community members through 1000 educational events and more than 500 classroom educational activities in more than 80 countries.

Biography

David Blockstein, Ph.D. co-directs Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week for Bard College (New York) in partnership with the Center for Climate Literacy at the University of Minnesota. He has a PhD and Masters in ecology from U. Minnesota and a BS in wildlife ecology from U. Wisconsin. He is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) with more than 35 years of national leadership at the interface of science and environmental policy. He co-founded and led the US National Council for Science and the Environment, the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, Council of Energy Research and Education Leaders, US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences. Dr. Blockstein co-authored The Climate Solutions Consensus: What We Know and What to Do About It (2010).

Abstract

Current commercial projects of tidal current energy converters (TCECs) are still in the demonstration phase. While many drivetrain designs and configurations of TCECs inherit from those of wind turbines, different operational constraints, e.g., high-torque and low-speed conditions, make TCECs potentially suffer from high failure rates in harsh deep-sea environments. High operation performance of a TCEC requires a gear transmission with a continuously variable speed ratio for high-torque and low-speed conditions. A nonlinear closed-loop control combined with an integral time-delay feedback control is developed to adjust the speed ratio of an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) system for TCECs. A speed ratio control for the IVT system involves a forward speed controller and a crank length controller for different tidal current speed ranges. A time-delay control is designed to reduce speed fluctuations of the output speed of the IVT with an accurate speed ratio. Experimental investigation was carried out to test validity of the proposed control strategy for the IVT system. An instrumented rotation speed measurement system is designed so that quantities needed for the time-delay control variable can be measured. Experimental results show that the speed ratio of the IVT with the proposed control strategy can achieve an excellent tracking response for the desired constant output speed and reduce speed fluctuations of the output speed of the IVT by the time-delay feedback control. The methodology is validated on a real horizontal-axis wind turbine system in water tank tests.

Biography

Weidong Zhu is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the founder and director of its Dynamic Systems and Vibrations Laboratory and Laser Vibrometry and Optical Measurement Laboratory. He received his double major BS degree in Mechanical Engineering and Computational Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1986, and his MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and the University of California at Berkeley in 1988 and 1994, respectively. He is a recipient of the 2004 National Science Foundation CAREER Award. He has been an ASME Fellow since 2010, and has served as an Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Vibration and Acoustics and the ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, as a Subject Editor of the Journal of Sound and Vibration, and as a Topical Associate Editor of Nonlinear Dynamics. His research spans the fields of dynamics, vibration, control, structural health monitoring, renewable energy, and metamaterials, and involves analytical development, numerical simulation, experimental validation, and industrial application. He has published 334 SCI-indexed journal papers in these areas and has ten issued U.S. patents. He is a recipient of the 2020 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and the 2024 ASME Rayleigh Lecture Award.