This article was published in the Journal, Desalination [© Elsevier]. The definitive version is available at:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.01.046Baja California Sur (BCS) is an arid sparsely populated coastal state in northwest Mexico. Population\ud growth, agriculture and booming tourism have lead to severe overexploitation of underground aquifers and\ud saline intrusion. This paper reviews the current water and energy situation in BCS. The state enjoys very\ud high levels of solar radiation, typically above 5 kWh/m2/d, and the suitability of renewable energy powered\ud desalination for BCS is discussed, including past efforts in BCS and present challenges for this technology

The Clark pump reciprocating pressure intensifier is a well established mechanism for highly efficient brine stream energy recovery in small scale seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination systems. This article describes operation of a modified Clark pump in which the roles of the two pairs of chambers are reversed and the general arrangement of the complete RO system is substantially altered. In particular, the low-pressure motorised pump that feeds into the standard Clark pump is replaced by a high-pressure motorised pump that sits in parallel with it. A conceptual comparison of the original and modified arrangements is presented, followed by a discussion of the practical modifications made to a standard Clark pump in order to test the concept. The initial tests were successful and results indicating specific energies in the range 3.5–4.5 kWh/m3 are presented.

El clima integra procesos que permiten la existencia de la vida, pero las actividades antropogénicas lo han modificado. El presente tiene como objetivo analizar los factores, con énfasis el cambio climático (CC), que impactan en la interacción humano-animal (IHA) y modifican las zoonosis, así como examinar los compromisos internacionales adoptados. Se realizaron búsquedas sistemáticas a través de plataformas y bibliotecas digitales con apoyo de palabras clave, se analizó la información y se generaron conclusiones. El efecto del CC en la zoonosis se aprecia en cambios en la distribución de vectores y patógenos, aparición de enfermedades emergentes y reemergentes, alimentos contaminados. Los compromisos internacionales enfocados al CC y la salud son diversos; van desde la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático y las Conferencias de las Partes, hasta el Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica y las Conferencias de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible. Se concluye que el CC cambia la IHA y exacerba las amenazas por enfermedades zoonóticas especialmente en países vulnerables, en virtud de lo cual se necesitan políticas climáticas y de salud basadas en las necesidades de cada país, pero vinculantes. La biósfera se mantendrá si la cooperación entre los países asegura la conservación y uso sostenible de la biodiversidad.

Global energy supply remains, to this day, mainly dominated by fossil fuels, aggravating climate change. To increase and diversify the share of renewable energy sources, there is an urgent need to expand the use of biofuels that could help in decarbonizing the energy mix. Biomethane, obtained by upgrading biogas, simultaneously allows the local production of clean energy, waste valorization, and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. Among various upgrading technologies, the use of activated carbons in adsorption-based separation systems has attracted significant attention due to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability potential. The present review offers a comprehensive analysis of the factors that influence the efficiency of activated carbons on carbon dioxide adsorption and separation for biogas upgrading. The influence of activation methods, activation conditions, and precursors on the biogas adsorption performance of activated carbons is revised. Additionally, the role of adsorbent textural and chemical properties on gas adsorption behavior is highlighted. By synthesizing current knowledge and perspectives, this work provides guidance for future research that could help in developing more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable adsorbents for biogas upgrading.

Mangroves are a type of vegetation distributed in warm areas of the planet. Despite their importance, this flora is seriously threatened by both human activities and climate change. One of the main benefits provided by mangroves is carbon capture and storage, which is key for climate change mitigation. The main objective of this study was to identify the potential distribution and carbon sequestration potential of Rhizophora mangle L. in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. Potential distribution models were obtained for Baja California Sur, Mexico, using the MaxLike algorithm. For each projection, we used bioclimatic variables from the WorldClim project for current and future conditions (2050 and 2070), two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) and three General Circulation Models (ACCESS-CM2, EC-Earth3-Veg and MPI-ESM1-2-HR). The potential distribution models were developed within the perimeter of El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve as a case study to establish the potential for carbon sequestration under different climate change scenarios. Our results show a possible future carbon sequestration from 10,177,174 Mg of CO₂ and up to 14,022,367 Mg of CO₂ for the ACCESS-CM2 SSP5-8.5 to 2070 and MPI-ESM1-2-HR SSP2-4.5 to 2070 projections, respectively. Mangrove species such as Rhizophora mangle can be an important part of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Por su posición geográfica costera y condición árida, la ciudad de La Paz, Baja California Sur, es extremamente vulnerable a los impactos del cambio climático. Este trabajo presenta los principales hallazgos del Plan de Acción ante el Cambio Climático para La Paz y sus Zonas Colindantes (PACCLAP) incluyendo el proceso de elaboración del plan y los principales resultados de sus dos grandes secciones: primero, la vulnerabilidad al cambio climático en la zona y las medidas de adaptación sugeridas; y segundo, el inventario de emisiones locales de gases con efecto invernadero y las medidas de mitigación recomendadas. Las acciones propuestas tienen además importantes efectos relacionados directamente con prioridades del Plan Municipal de Desarrollo, por lo que el PACCLAP es un instrumento valioso para apoyar a tomadores de decisiones actuales y futuros en la elaboración de políticas públicas que fomenten un desarrollo más sustentable y eleven el bienestar de la sociedad paceña.