Environmental and Earth Sciences

Abstract: Nighttime light (NTL) remote sensing provides a globally consistent observation of human activity after dark and has become increasingly relevant to sustainability monitoring. This study evaluates how Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band (VIIRS-DNB) nighttime light observations can complement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The empirical component analyzes annual VIIRS nighttime lights from 2015 to 2023 for 467 urban centers with populations of at least one million, delineated using the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL). City-level aggregate radiance (Sum VNL) was calculated using zonal statistics and evaluated through longitudinal rankings, regional comparisons, and detailed contrasts between the highest- and lowest-emitting cities. The results reveal a pronounced global lighting divide. Los Angeles recorded the highest cumulative Sum VNL (approximately 1.92 million), followed by Chicago, Houston, New York, and Dallas, whereas Beni, Amaigbo, Massawa, Mbuji-Mayi, and Bangui recorded values several orders of magnitude lower. The temporal record also captures broad expansion before 2020, pandemic-period stagnation or decline in many cities, and a rebound by 2022–2023. These patterns demonstrate that NTL can identify both development gains and sustainability trade-offs. Low radiance may indicate limited electricity access, weak infrastructure, or conflict-related vulnerability, while high radiance may reflect urban prosperity but also over-illumination, wasted energy, ecological disturbance, and human exposure to artificial light at night. The study therefore argues against treating brightness as a monotonic measure of sustainable development. Instead, NTL should be interpreted as a contextual indicator in which the sustainability objective is adequate, efficient, spectrally appropriate, and well-directed lighting. A practical indicator framework is proposed for integrating NTL with energy-access, urban, ecological, and health datasets in SDG monitoring. Limitations related to static urban boundaries, satellite viewing geometry, atmospheric effects, and the reduced sensitivity of VIIRS-DNB to blue-rich LED emissions are explicitly considered.

Abstract: The decarbonization of the transport sector represents one of the main challenges in the global energy transition, particularly in developing countries with a high dependence on fossil fuels. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of green hydrogen (H2V) production for urban mobility in Loja, Ecuador, using wind energy as the primary source. Using HOMER Pro V3.14.2, a hybrid renewable system was modeled incorporating a 23 MW PEM electrolyzer, wind power generation, storage systems, and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The analysis estimates an annual hydrogen production of 550,181 kg, sufficient to supply a fleet of 50 fuel cell electric buses (FCEVs). The levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) was calculated at 6.25 USD/kg, demonstrating competitive potential compared to regional benchmarks. The results indicate that system viability strongly depends on capital investment and renewable energy costs. The study concludes that Loja presents favorable geographical and energy conditions for implementing green hydrogen solutions, although regulatory, infrastructure, and financial challenges persist. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable urban transport models in intermediate cities in Latin America.

Abstract: Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) is an electro-membrane separation technology used for over 20 years to treat liquid wastes, including wastewater from various industrial processes, municipal wastewater, and animal farms. This technology has been developed for its ability to dissociate H₂O into H+ and OH⁻ ions and to convert cations and anions in the feed solution into bases and acids, respectively, by applying an electrical potential. In comparison with alternative treatment technologies, BMED has some advantages, such as no need for chemical reagents, high degrees of efficiency, and straightforward operational procedures. However, BMED has been limited by a high level of preparation expense for BMs, membrane deposition, and ion loss during operation. This review mainly describes the principles and designs of BMED, their compositions along with their advantages and disadvantages, the membrane fouling and cleaning, and also the trend of their application in wastewater treatment. Finally, the results on nutrient recovery by BMED show that the performance of BMED depends on the nature of the ion exchange membranes used, the composition of the sample solution, the process conditions, and the configuration of the membrane stack.

Abstract: Poverty is closely associated with environmental conditions and access to essential environmental services, particularly in rapidly developing local communities. This study examines the relationship between environmental service conditions and poverty across 31 subdistricts in Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia, focusing on waste collection, access to safe drinking water, access to healthy sanitation, and slum settlements. The study employs a quantitative cross-sectional design using secondary subdistrict-level data for 2024. Multiple linear regression using the Ordinary Least Squares method was applied to examine the partial and joint relationships between the environmental indicators and poverty, complemented by diagnostic and sensitivity analyses. The results indicate that the environmental indicators are jointly associated with poverty, while waste collection is the only individual indicator showing a statistically significant negative relationship with poverty. Access to safe drinking water, healthy sanitation, and slum settlements do not exhibit statistically significant partial relationships with poverty. Sensitivity analysis further indicates that the negative relationship between waste collection and poverty remains stable after potentially influential observations are examined. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating environmental service provision, particularly waste collection, into locally targeted poverty reduction and public health strategies. Further research using longitudinal, household-level, and spatial data is needed to clarify the pathways linking environmental conditions and poverty.

Abstract: Supply chain management (SCM) optimisation is a critical but under-examined pathway for delivering circular economy outcomes in the construction sector, particularly in geographically remote and small and medium-sized enterprise dominated markets such as New Zealand (NZ). This study investigates how SCM practices, such as digital tools, early contractor involvement, strategic partnerships, and reverse logistics, can be optimised to improve circular performance in NZ built environment projects. A pragmatist, abductive mixed-methods design combined 75 case studies, a 28-case quantitative subset, 15 elite semi-structured interviews and documentary evidence. Reflexive thematic analysis was integrated with descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, Pearson and Spearman correlation testing, and configuration archetype analysis. Findings show that coordination and partnerships are the dominant SCM lever. The article applies a Waste Hierarchy Index (WHI) and a new Digital SCM Adoption Rate (DSAR) to quantify SCM configurations; WHI of 77.6 and DSAR of 15.1% indicate upstream but uneven digital optimisation. The study delivers the first empirical construction SCM configuration analysis for NZ circular construction projects and offers actionable implications for procurement reform, construction economics policy, and future research.

Abstract: Rapid urbanisation in secondary cities across sub-Saharan Africa increasingly challenges the effectiveness of urban land governance systems and sustainable spatial planning. This study assessed the interactions between urban expansion dynamics and land governance performance in Mzuzu City using an integrated geospatial and institutional analytical framework. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery from 1990, 2000, 2010, 2020 and 2025 was classified to quantify land use and land cover (LULC) changes, while alluvial transition analysis examined land conversion pathways. Spatial determinants of urban growth were investigated using road proximity buffers, directional expansion analysis, slope suitability assessment and zoning overlay analysis. Institutional performance was evaluated through policy review, stakeholder assessments, governance network analysis and the development of an Urban Land Governance Index (ULGI). The results revealed substantial environmental transformation, with forest and vegetation declining by 47.9% and 45.5%, respectively, while built-up land and bareland increased by 384.6% and 239.4%. Urban expansion exhibited a strong accessibility bias, with 34.2% of new developments occurring within 200 m of major roads and growth concentrated towards the northern (31.4%), north-western (24.7%) and eastern (21.3%) urban fringes. Approximately 18.6% of residential developments encroached upon commercial, industrial and forest-designated land, while 23.6% expanded onto slopes exceeding 7°, increasing environmental vulnerability. Governance assessment produced a moderate ULGI score of 55.73, characterised by high tenure security (74) but weak enforcement effectiveness (43). The findings demonstrate that urban governance challenges in Mzuzu are fundamentally institutional rather than legislative and highlight the need for integrated land information systems, stronger development control and improved coordination between statutory and customary institutions.

Abstract: The rapid expansion of hydrogen production from low-carbon sources requires large-scale, flexible and reliable storage solutions to balance supply and demand and support the integration of hydrogen into future energy systems. Underground hydrogen storage, and particularly storage in salt caverns, offers significant potential due to the favourable characteristics of salt formations and the possibility of storing and recovering large quantities of hydrogen. However, identifying and comparing prospective storage sites requires the simultaneous consideration of geological suitability, uncertainty in the available data, operating characteristics, and project-specific requirements. Existing screening approaches generally address only subsets of these aspects, limiting their applicability to comprehensive site comparison and ranking. This study develops a holistic Decision-Making Tool (DMT) for the preliminary screening and comparative ranking of potential hydrogen storage sites in salt formations. The methodology integrates four complementary information categories: Static, Static-probabilistic, Dynamic, and Operator’s data. Deterministic suitability assessment, Monte Carlo-based uncertainty propagation, engineering feasibility calculations of hydrogen storage performance, and operator-defined requirements are sequentially combined into a scenario-dependent final ranking. The methodology has been implemented in an Excel-based, transparent tool, allowing multiple candidate sites and alternative storage scenarios to be evaluated without changing the underlying calculation framework. Application to three prospective evaporite areas in western Greece demonstrates the ability of the tool to distinguish between sites not only according to geological suitability, but also according to data confidence, storage performance and proximity to hydrogen production and consumption hubs. The resulting framework provides a practical bridge between early-stage geological screening and engineering-oriented site selection, while retaining the flexibility to adapt the ranking to different project objectives and levels of decision-making.

Abstract: Over 1 billion metric tons of food are wasted globally and over half of that is generated in households. While composting can be an effective strategy to manage household food waste, there are many barriers, including lack of knowledge, time, and space. A potential solution may be electric composters, which are advertised as odorless, effortless, and quick. Our research objective was to survey the electric composters currently available on the market in the US. We collected publicly available online data about the product attributes to understand the types of machines for sale and customer reviews to assess how users are experiencing them. We found 25 models available for purchase as of February 2024, and we identified the price, interior and exterior volume, noise level, cycle time, and percent food reduction for each. We also found most machines included 'composter' in their name or website, yet only one-third refer to the output as 'compost.' This may reflect that the process and output is distinct from traditional compost and composting. Additionally, we found ease of use as a frequent positive theme in customer reviews. Yet there was also high variability in reviews, with several factors identified as both positive and negative themes, potentially reflecting variability across models. Understanding electric composter attributes and reviews can help researchers and policymakers understand if and how these technologies can play a role in reducing waste sent to landfills and help address the larger complex global challenge of reducing wasted food.

Abstract: Feeding the growing global population without permanently overshooting local-to-planetary boundaries demands a transition from conventional resource extraction to holistic models. Current digital twin applications in (sea)food systems primarily focus on predictive monitoring but fail to holistically integrate socio-economic-ecological systems (SEES) and their emergent properties (e.g., sustainability, stability, dynamism, and circularity). However, it remains unknown whether a unified cybernetic architecture can simultaneously satisfy SEES-level properties by bridging asynchronous global supply-demand chains through embedded spatiotemporal feedback loops. This conceptual review argues that a cybernetic twin—defined as the continuous, bidirectional fusion of a SEES and its digital counterpart via recursively coupled algorithms—can bridge this gap by operating across seven interacting phases of the global food continuum at multiple spatiotemporal resolutions. By integrating ecosystem dynamics with real-time simulations, the twin would interact with decision-making processes by rendering transparent and dynamic interactions among SEES-level pathways across aquatic-terrestrial food systems. We propose how a cybernetic twin can be leveraged to achieve sustainable (sea)food quantity and quality in SEES.

Abstract: The concession system for construction aggregate extraction plays a key role in ensuring the sus-tainable use of mineral resources while balancing economic development, environmental protection, and public revenue generation. This study presents an integrated framework for evaluating the ef-ficiency of construction aggregate concession systems, using the Prijedor Region (Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina) as a case study. The proposed framework integrates fiscal, administrative, and environmental performance indicators within a mixed-method approach combining legal and institutional analysis, quantitative economic modelling, comparative analysis, and an exploratory statistical assessment based on ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Empirical data were col-lected from official government registers, concession records, inspection reports, and production statistics covering the period 2023-2025. The results suggest a positive relationship between public infrastructure investment and construction aggregate extraction, indicating that infrastructure development is associated with extraction dynamics during the observed period. At the same time, the analysis identifies structural weaknesses of the existing concession system, including limited inspection capacity, insufficient technical verification of reported extraction volumes, delayed land reclamation, and a fiscal imbalance associated with fixed concession fees. Comparative analysis with contemporary European regulatory practices highlights the importance of digital monitoring technologies, automated production verification, and strengthened institutional capacity for im-proving concession system governance. The proposed integrated evaluation framework provides a practical analytical tool for assessing construction aggregate concession systems and supports ev-idence-based policy development aimed at enhancing the sustainability, transparency, and gov-ernance of mineral resource management in transition economies facing comparable institutional and regulatory challenges.

Abstract: Compact development is often treated as a low-carbon strategy, yet high-density cities may face new carbon pressures as vertical development, agglomeration, and cross-district commuting intensify. This study examines Taipei using 27,239 100 m × 100 m grid cells and 1980–2025 data integrating Historical GIS, remote sensing, official LOD1 building models, energy statistics, and anonymized commuting origin–destination data. XGBoost, TreeSHAP, multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR), CASA, and network analysis served as complementary instruments. The carbon-emission compound annual growth rates of existing built-up cells were 2.994% in the historic western districts and 2.890% in the emerging eastern districts (p = 0.104); the larger long-term increase in the east (approximately 195% versus 166%) is more consistent with extensive-margin expansion. TreeSHAP identified breakpoints at 12.83 for nighttime lights, 197.67 buildings/km² for building density, and 99.61 for FAR × Nightlight. MGWR achieved an adjusted R² of 0.886 and revealed marked multiscale spatial non-stationarity. Commuting flows further indicated cross-boundary carbon-burden asymmetry. The findings recast compact-city benefits as contingent on development margins, morphological thresholds, spatial scale, and functional urban networks. As an observational reconstruction, the study supports predictive and spatial associations rather than strict causal effects.

Abstract: The preventive conservation of ground-level archaeological sites requires not only protection from direct weathering but also effective control of the surrounding micro-climate. Conventional archaeological coverings generally fail to provide adequate environmental stability while generating significant physical, visual, and environmental impacts. This study presents an integrated methodology for the design, optimization, and validation of a lightweight double-layer covering conceived as a climate-responsive environmental system rather than a passive protective shelter. The proposed workflow integrates parametric optimization of geometry and materiality, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), environmental monitoring, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, and experimental validation. The methodology was applied to the 1st c. CE Roman Tomb of the Two Families, located within the Carmona Archaeological Complex (Spain), where the environmental performance of the covering was evaluated through more than one year of in situ monitoring and numerical simulations. The results demonstrate that the proposed solution effectively moderates the site's microclimate while significantly reducing environmental impacts and material consumption compared with conventional protective structures. The close agreement between monitored and simulated data validates the proposed design methodology and confirms the reliability of the environmental models. This research demonstrates that lightweight archaeological coverings can be conceived as climate-responsive environmental infrastructures, providing a transferable methodological framework for preventive conservation that integrates structural efficiency, environmental control and sustainability from the earliest stages of the design process.

Abstract: About 60% of global warming effects are attributed to carbon dioxide emission. The global carbon dioxide discharge is over 38 billion tons per year, primarily from burning fossil fuels. Any methods for carbon dioxide removal could not be a thorough and feasible approach if carbon dioxide is not converted to a stable and valuable substance. To deal with the enormous amount of discharged carbon dioxide, we present a new process to split carbon dioxide and convert it to graphite, i.e., to utterly stop carbon recirculation in the form of CO₂ in the environment, using active metal liquid such as liquid magnesium, where the metal can be recycled within the system via metallurgy approach. As the graphite produced is a critical mineral and material with extensive applications, e.g., as raw material of graphene and diamond production, the economical viability of this CO₂ reduction technology can be highly secured. From current knowledge, this is one of the most efficient and practical technology for carbon dioxide removal with zero waste discharge. Combined with this carbon dioxide conversion method, the steam-methane-reforming (SMR) process, which accounts for 95% hydrogen production, could become a greener or totally green hydrogen production technology if clean energy is employed to maintain and initiate the processes involved. The entire process is commercializable for hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, and graphite production with the combination of chemical engineering and metallurgy technologies. There are no technological barriers for the presented process as all the chemical engineering and metallurgy sub-processes involved are proven and feasible. If hydrogen is adopted as the major fuel in the future, the problems arisen from carbon dioxide emission could be largely solved.

Abstract: Lignocellulose must be pretreated to digest efficiently, yet the residence time of hydrothermal treatment is seldom isolated as a variable, least of all without acid. Willow (Salix viminalis) and maize silage (Zea mays) were treated by microwave autohydrolysis with explosive decompression at 130 °C, held for 0, 5, 15 or 25 min without acid, and assessed for solubilisation, by-products, methane potential, kinetics and net energy balance. Extending the hold to 25 min raised methane potential by 81% in maize silage (to 193.8 ± 11.5 NmL CH₄ g^-1 VS) and by 142% in willow (to 154.8 ± 6.9 NmL CH₄ g^-1 VS), the larger gain going to the more recalcitrant feedstock. Solubilisation was front-loaded into the first 5 min, whereas the methane gain was back-loaded to 15–25 min and correlated most strongly with continuously released xylose (r ≥ 0.95), not the early COD or glucose burst. The acid-free route formed negligible furanic inhibitors and only sub-inhibitory phenolics, so yield rose monotonically without turnover. The incremental energy balance stayed negative (−5.4 to −8.7 kJ g^-1 DM), dominated by the heating ramp; because the hold consumes no energy, longer holds improve the balance at no marginal cost.

Abstract: The transition to renewable-energy-based mobility is shifting environmental burdens from vehicle operation towards material production, component manufacturing and post-consumer management. This study evaluates how powertrain architecture, prospective material substitution, energy-system decarbonisation and end-of-life pathways affect the life-cycle performance of C-segment passenger cars. Internal combustion engine vehicles powered by gasoline, diesel and compressed natural gas, a gasoline plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) were compared for 2025 and 2050. Vehicle materials and components were assessed using ReCiPe 2016, IPCC 2021, Cumulative Energy Demand, CML-IA baseline and Ecological Scarcity 2021 under landfilling and recycling scenarios. Well-to-tank and tank-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions were evaluated separately, including a Paris Agreement-aligned 2050 scenario. Recycling reduced vehicle-related global warming potential by 9.5–25.2% and cumulative energy demand by 15.4–28.4%, with the largest net ReCiPe 2016 credits obtained for BEVs and FCEVs. In the Paris Agreement-aligned scenario, manufacturing represented 95.6% of total greenhouse gas emissions for the BEV and 72.6% for the FCEV. Energy-carrier decarbonisation should therefore be integrated with lightweight multi-material design, secondary-material use, design for disassembly and high-quality recovery of structural, battery, electronic and fuel-cell materials.

Abstract: Urban waterfront spaces that are ecologically sensitive often remain visually prominent yet inaccessible, creating a challenge for environmental management: how to generate public engagement and economic value without physical access. This paper proposes a four-stage socio-ecological framework integrating sensory restoration, behavioral transformation, economic generation, and ecological reinvestment. Using Xianyang Lake in China as a demonstrative case, the study applies six years of phenological records from 36 plant species. Analytic hierarchy process and k-means clustering derive four seasonal sensory palettes ensuring year-round visual, olfactory, and auditory engagement. A WeChat-based guidance system converts passive sensory exposure into active behavioral engagement across walking, bridge viewing, and boating. The framework links enhanced experience to a dynamic revenue model and closes the loop by reinvesting proceeds into maintenance and sediment reuse for greenbelt expansion. The findings shift the paradigm from physical to sensory accessibility, offering a replicable pathway for managing inaccessible urban blue-green spaces.

Abstract: In the context of increasing energy demand and limited access to clean cooking and heating fuels in the Republic of Congo, agricultural and forestry residues represent a promising resource for energy production. The aim of this study is to identify, quantify and assess the energy potential of the residues generated across eight departments of the Country. Ten residues were characterized: sugarcane bagasse, peanut shells, corn stalks and cobs, rice husks, cassava stalks and peelings, sawdust, wood chips and wood slabs. Proximate analyses were carried out using a muffle furnace and an oven, while the calorific value was estimated using empirical formulas. Results of proximate analysis showed that moisture content ranged between 8.80 ± 0.14 % and 45.17 ± 1.57 %, ash content from 1.00 ± 0.23 to 15.07 ± 0.15 %, volatile matter content from 67.86 ± 0.02 to 82.14 ± 0.14 % and fixed carbon content from 12.13 ± 0.33 to 19.87 ± 0.37 %. The lower calorific value ranged between 14.98 and 18.04 MJ/kg. Approximately 137 921.16 tonnes of available residues were generated in 2025, representing an estimated energy potential of 1876.78 TJ/year. These residues constitute a significant resource for solid biofuel production and decentralized electricity generation.

Abstract: The use of outdated fuel consumption standards reduces the economic efficiency and environmental sustainability of modern agricultural production. This study aimed to refine fuel consumption standards and evaluate the energy performance of tractor–machine combinations during major agricultural operations using telemetry-based monitoring. Field experiments were conducted under real production conditions using DFM electronic fuel flow meters integrated with the CAN bus and BLE wireless data transmission. Comparative analyses of conventional and minimum tillage systems were performed using real-time telemetry data collected during plowing, harrowing, seeding, spraying, cultivation, harvesting, and transportation operations. Statistical and regression analyses revealed significant relationships between operating speed, fuel consumption, and specific energy consumption. Minimum tillage reduced useful specific energy consumption by 5.7% (543.5 kWh/ha) and total specific energy consumption by 17.1% (1078.3 kWh/ha) compared with conventional tillage. A strong non-linear relationship R² = 0.985 was identified between operating speed and process energy consumption. The proposed telemetry-based methodology improves the accuracy of fuel consumption assessment and provides a practical basis for developing adaptive fuel consumption standards under actual operating conditions. Furthermore, the transition to minimum tillage and telemetry-based monitoring enables significant carbon footprint reduction, mitigating CO₂ emissions by over 560 tonnes per 10,000 ha annually, thereby supporting the decarbonization of mechanized agricultural operations.

Abstract: Territorial space use efficiency (TSUE) is a core indicator characterizing regional sustainable development. Nevertheless, existing studies have not established a systematic quantitative system to assess sustainable development status based on TSUE. From the perspective of production-living-ecological spaces, this study constructs a multi-dimensional efficiency evaluation framework for sustainable territorial management. This study adopts geographic data envelopment analysis (GeoDEA), spatial autocorrelation analysis and multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR). It calculates TSUE, uses efficiency levels to characterize and identify territorial sustainable development status, and further reveals the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of regional sustainable development. The results indicate that the regional sustainable development level reflected by TSUE generally shows fluctuating evolution, with distinct phase transitions emerging around 2010. Merely 20% of cities attain medium-high or higher sustainability levels, and spatial imbalance is prominent nationwide. Areas with high-efficiency production and living spaces are mainly clustered in eastern and central China, while highly sustainable ecological spaces concentrate in western and northeastern China. In addition, driving factors exert significantly heterogeneous effects on the three types of territorial functional spaces. This study provides scientific references for implementing differentiated territorial spatial governance and advancing sustainable territorial development.

Abstract: Extreme heat is an escalating climate-health hazard in the United States. However, its health effects remain uneven because exposure intersects with housing quality, energy insecurity, chronic illness, outdoor work, transportation barriers, limited tree canopy, and historical disinvestment. This study combines an integrative evidence synthesis with an exploratory ecological secondary analysis of publicly reported Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data for the 10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regions. The analysis examined regional mean warm-season 2023 heat-related illness emergency department (HRI ED) visit rates, 2018–2022 baseline rates, and the number of 2023 days above each region’s historical 95th percentile. Elevated day counts and 2023 regional rates were strongly correlated (Pearson r = 0.874, p = 0.001; Spearman rho = 0.924, p < 0.001), as were baseline and 2023 rates (Pearson r = 0.938, p < 0.001). Conventional ordinary least squares models showed strong associations, but heteroscedasticity-robust estimates and influence diagnostics indicated that the adjusted elevated-day coefficient was unstable in this small sample. The analysis therefore demonstrates regional clustering in the surveillance measures rather than causal or independently predictive effects. The evidence synthesis supports a five-pillar framework linking hazard anticipation, social vulnerability mapping, targeted intervention, adaptive risk communication, and ethical governance. Artificial intelligence can strengthen heat-risk management when it is locally validated, transparent, privacy-protective, and connected to funded interventions such as functional cooling, energy assistance, worker protections, transportation, wellness checks, resilient housing, and urban heat mitigation. AI should operate as accountable decision support rather than replace operational meteorology, public-health expertise, or community knowledge.