ICTA - Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals

The Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) is a multidisciplinary centre that promotes academic research and postgraduate education on environmental sciences. It aims to improve our understanding of global environmental change, and the nature and causes of environmental problems. In addition, it studies policies, strategies and technologies to foster a transition to a sustainable economic and societal model.

The ICTA-UAB addresses major global environmental and sustainability challenges related to anthropogenic climate and global change. Researchers at ICTA-UAB undertake advanced research in specific areas of environmental science, divided into three general areas, namely “Earth and life sciences”, “Social environmental sciences” and “Technology, environment and society”.

About the Unit of Excellence María de Maeztu ICTA-UAB is the only research centre in environmental sciences to be identified as a Unit of Excellence by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), the highest institutional recognition of scientific research in Spain.

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Latest additions:
2024-11-24
00:02
22 p, 1.1 MB Assessing roles and strategies of public sector stakeholders in an evolving (lifestyle) migration industry : The case of the Dutch Emigration Expo / Eimermann, Marco (Umeå University) ; Hochedez, Camille (University of Rouen Normandy) ; Kordel, Stefan (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) ; Morén Alegret, Ricard (Universitat de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Nijhoff, Karijn (The Hague University of Applied Sciences) ; Tomazeiu, Daniel (University of London) ; Torkington, Kate (University of Algarv) ; Weidinger, Tobias (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)
This study focuses on local and regional governments using place-branding strategies to attract intra-EU inward migration for demographic and/or economic purposes. This forms an important aspect of contemporary migration industries, whereby the interlinking of lifestyle, work and economic investment is pivotal. [...]
2024 - 10.1080/04353684.2024.2405671
Geografiska Annaler, Series B: Human Geography, (September 2024)  
2024-11-21
06:02
13 p, 2.9 MB New evidence on the spread in Catalonia of the invasive longhorn beetle, Xylotrechus chinensis, and the efficacy of abamectin control / Sarto i Monteys, Víctor (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Savin, Ivan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Tutusaus, Glòria Torras (Ajuntament de Barberà del Vallès) ; Balsach, Mònica Bedós (Adalia)
The invasive wasp-mimicking Tiger Longicorn Beetle, Xylotrechus chinensis, a potentially lethal pest of mulberry trees (Moraceae: Morus spp. ), was first reported in Europe in 2018. In Catalonia its spread has been impressive: one district, four towns, 44 km2 in February 2018; four districts, 12 towns, 378 km2 in July 2020; seven districts, 65 towns, 1134 km2 in December 2023. [...]
2024 - 10.1038/s41598-024-78265-x
Scientific reports, Vol. 14, Issue 1 (November 2024) , art. 26754  
2024-11-21
06:01
16 p, 9.7 MB A Neanderthal's specialised burning structure compatible with tar obtention / Ochando, Juan (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Vegetal) ; Jiménez-Espejo, Francisco J. (Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra) ; Giles-Guzmán, Francisco (The Gibraltar National Museum) ; Neto de Carvalho, Carlos (University of Lisbon) ; Carrión, José S. (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Vegetal) ; Muñiz, Fernando (Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Cristalografía, Mineralogía y Química Agrícola) ; Rubiales, Juan Manuel (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales) ; Cura, Pedro (Universidade de Coimbra) ; Belo, João (Universidade de Coimbra) ; Finlayson, Stewart (Universidad de Gibraltar) ; Martrat, Belen (Institut d'Avaluació Ambiental i Recerca de l'Aigua) ; van Drooge, Barend L. (Institut d'Avaluació Ambiental i Recerca de l'Aigua) ; Jiménez-Moreno, Gonzalo (Universidad de Granada. Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología) ; García-Alix, Antonio (Universidad de Granada. Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología) ; Lozano Rodríguez, Jose Antonio (Universidad de Alcalá. Departamento de Historia y Filosofía) ; Albert Cristóbal, Rosa Maria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Prehistòria) ; Ohkouchi, Naohiko (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) ; Ogawa, Nanako (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) ; Suga, Hisami (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) ; Camuera, Jon (Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra) ; Martínez-Ruiz, Francisca (Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra) ; Villanueva, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Teruel, Oriol (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Davtian, Nina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Moreira, Noel (Universidade de Évora) ; Belaústegui, Zain (Universitat de Barcelona. Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l'Oceà) ; Rodríguez-Vidal, Joaquín (Universidad de Huelva. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra) ; Munuera, Manuel (Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. Departamento de Ingeniería Agronómica) ; Menez, Alex (The Gibraltar National Museum) ; Finlayson, Geraldine (Universidad de Gibraltar) ; Finlayson, Clive (Liverpool John Moores University)
Here we present multiproxy evidence of a new type of Neanderthal hearth discovered in Vanguard Cave (VC) (Gibraltar), which is dated ∼ 65 kyr, and associated with Middle Paleolithic stone artefacts. [...]
2024 - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109025
Quaternary Science Reviews, (November 2024) , art. 109025  
2024-11-15
05:08
12 p, 3.3 MB Thermal seawater desalination for irrigation purposes in a water-stressed region : Emerging value tensions in full-scale implementation / Gamboa, Gonzalo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Palenzuela, Patricia (Universidad de Almería) ; Ktori, Rodoula (Delft University of Technology) ; Alarcón-Padilla, Diego C. (Universidad de Almería) ; Zaragoza, Guillermo (Universidad de Almería) ; Fayad, Samar (Universidad de Almería) ; Xevgenos, Dimitros (Delft University of Technology) ; Palmeros Parada, Mar (Delft University of Technology)
Water scarcity in arid regions has driven the spread of desalination. These systems contribute to water access but come at an intensive energy cost, and lead to brine discharge and associated environmental impacts. [...]
2025 - 10.1016/j.desal.2024.118213
Desalination, Vol. 593 (January 2025) , art. 118213  
2024-11-15
05:08
6 p, 498.2 KB Large inequalities in climate mitigation scenarios are not supported by theories of distributive justice / Millward-Hopkins, Joel T. (University of Lausanne) ; Saheb, Yamina (University of Lausanne) ; Hickel, Jason 1982- (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Existing global climate mitigation scenarios perpetuate large inequalities in energy and income between countries and regions for the rest of the century, and modellers have recently begun to assess these dynamics in light of distributive justice theories. [...]
2024 - 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103813
Energy research & social science, Vol. 118 (December 2024) , art. 103813  
2024-11-15
05:07
What drives inequalities in Low Emission Zones' impacts on job accessibility? / Liotta, Charlotte (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Low-emission zones (LEZs) aim to improve urban air quality and reduce emissions but often face public opposition due to their regressive impacts on accessibility. However, the causes of these regressive impacts remain poorly understood. [...]
2025 - 10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.10.029
Transport Policy, Vol. 160 (January 2025) , p. 29-41  
2024-11-15
05:07
10 p, 2.6 MB Urine luck : Environmental assessment of yellow water management in buildings for urban agriculture / Maiza Pavez, Maria Virginia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Muñoz Liesa, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Petit Boix, Anna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Arcas Pilz, Verónica (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Gabarrell Durany, Xavier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
The increasing global demand for agricultural production poses challenges to maintain the needs for critical fertilizers such as nitrogen. This study explores the potential of human urine as a source of renewable nitrogen for fertilizer production. [...]
2025 - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107985
Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 212 (January 2025) , art. 107985  
2024-11-15
05:07
19 p, 3.4 MB Narratives, expectations, and policy criteria for a democratic and socially engaging energy transition / Campos, Inês S. (University of Lisbon) ; Centeno Brito, Miguel Centeno (University of Lisbon) ; Pfenninger-Lee, Stefan (Delft University of Technology) ; Fazendeiro, Luís M. (University of Lisbon) ; Luz, Guilherme Pontes (University of Lisbon) ; Lombardi, Francesco (Delft University of Technology) ; Lima, Aías (University of Lisbon) ; Madrid, Cristina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. LIVEN Lab
Energy transition policies can be translated into narratives about how energy systems should change (e. g. , towards a centralised or decentralised system). These narratives tend to reflect expectations, priorities, and perceptions on feasibility and the social acceptability of different policy options, as well as long-term goals and trade-offs, all of which influence policy criteria. [...]
2024 - 10.1016/j.futures.2024.103496
Futures, Vol. 164 (December 2024) , art. 103496  
2024-11-14
05:43
1 p, 278.3 KB Corrigendum to "Perceived urban ecosystem services and disservices in gentrifying neighborhoods : Contrasting views between community members and state informants" / Kathryn Rodgman, Mary (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Anguelovski, Isabelle (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Perez del pulgar, Carmen (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Shokry, Galia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; García-Lamarca, Melissa (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Connolly, James J. T. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Baró Porras, Francesc (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Triguero-Mas, Margarita (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
2024 - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2024.101674
Ecosystem services, Vol. 70 (December 2024) , art. 101674  
2024-11-13
05:03
17 p, 9.4 MB Disentangling seasonal and annual precipitation signals in the tropics over the Holocene : Insights from δD, alkanes and GDGTs / Hällberg, Petter L. (Stockholm University. Department of Geological Sciences) ; Smittenberg, Rienk (Stockholm University. Department of Geological Sciences) ; Kylander, Malin E. (Stockholm University. Department of Geological Sciences) ; Villanueva, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Davtian, Nina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) ; Hapsari, Anggi (University of Göttingen) ; Sjöström, Jenny K. (Stockholm University. Department of Geological Sciences) ; Axelsson, Josefine (Stockholm University. Department of Physical Geography) ; Jarne-Bueno, Guillermo (Stockholm University. Department of Geological Sciences) ; Yamoah, Kweku (University of York. Department of Archaeology) ; Rifai, Hamdi (Universitas Negeri Padang. Department of Physics) ; Schenk, Frederik (Stockholm University. Department of Geological Sciences)
Rainfall seasonality in the tropics has a substantial impact on both ecosystems and human livelihoods. Yet, reconstructions of past rainfall variability have so far generally been unable to differentiate between annual and seasonal precipitation changes. [...]
2024 - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108948
Quaternary Science Reviews, Vol. 344 (November 2024) , art. 108948  
Focus on:
The Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability (48)
Environmental and Climate Economics (ECE) (83)
Integrated Assessment: Sociology, Technology and the Environment (IASTE) (63)
Integrated Earth System Dynamics Laboratory (IESD) (27)
Observatori de la Tordera (15)
Sustainability and Environmental Protection (Sostenipra) (129)