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Resilient post-disaster recovery is crucial for the long-term sustainable development of modern cities, and in this regard, predicting the unusual flows of human mobility when disasters hit, could offer insights into how emergency responses could be managed to cope with such unexpected shocks more efficiently. For years, many studies have been dedicated to developing various models to predict human movement; however, abnormal human flows caused by large-scale urban disasters, such as urban floods, remain difficult to capture accurately using existing models. In this paper, we propose a spatiotemporal hybrid deep learning model based on a graph convolutional network and long short-term memory with a spatial heterogeneity component. Using 1.32 billion movement records from smartphone users, we applied the model to predict total hourly flows of human mobility in the "7.20" extreme urban flood in Zhengzhou, China. We found that the proposed model can significantly improve the prediction accuracy (i.e., R 2 from 0.887 to 0.951) for during-disaster flows while maintaining high accuracy for before- and after-disaster flows. We also show that our model outperforms selected mainstream machine learning models in every disaster stage in a set of sensitivity tests, which verifies not only its better performance for predicting both usual and unusual flows but also its robustness. The results underscore the effective role of spatial heterogeneity in predicting human mobility flow in a disaster context. This study offers a novel tool for better depicting human mobility under the impact of urban floods and provides useful insights for decision-makers managing how people move in large-scale disaster emergencies. • Spatiotemporal patterns of human mobility change significantly during a disaster. • A novel spatiotemporal hybrid deep learning model considering spatial heterogeneity. • Enhance the prediction of human mobility flows during extreme urban floods. • The proposed model can significantly improve the prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively balancing carbon emission reduction with economic viability through regional forest management is a significant challenge for global ecosystems. This paper introduces an innovative multi-modal forest decision-making system, integrating deep learning and natural language processing technologies, aimed at optimizing forest management strategies. Experimental validation of this system was conducted in three distinct forested regions. Utilizing a deep learning model, the system analyzed and predicted daily carbon emissions data. The experiments demonstrated remarkable accuracy, with the model achieving a coefficient of determination (R 2) of up to 0.94, 0.98, and 0.99 across datasets from all three regions, thereby justifying its use for forecasting carbon emission trends over the following months. Subsequently, the system employed natural language processing to assess the importance of various collected forest management strategies. Finally, the system fine-tuned these strategy combinations in response to the predicted carbon emission trends, ensuring flexibility and effectiveness in addressing the complex dynamics of carbon emission fluctuations. • A new multi-modal decision-making model integrates carbon emissions and management strategies in forest management. • Carbon emission datasets from diverse regions across three continents were analyzed using deep learning models. • An evaluation method identified forest management strategies balancing ecological sustainability with economic viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been widespread debate about whether the way in which we measure economic activity is fit for purpose in the twenty-first century. One aspect of this debate is to move away from measuring a nation's income (GDP) towards monitoring a nation's assets (their inclusive wealth), as a better indicator of sustainable economic development. We provide the first critical comparison of the approaches of leading international organisations – the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – to estimating changes in wealth. Our paper reveals important inconsistencies in how these organisations measure sustainability and the conflicting messages that policy makers receive, despite a common underlying conceptual framework linking changes in a nation's wealth to future well-being. We attribute these differences to methodological (applied theory) choices made by researchers at the respective institutions. These choices matter. At the most extreme, countries that perform the worst according to the UNEP are shown to perform well according to the World Bank. This confusion in signals makes better policy making more difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the literature on consumption reduction as one potential strategy for addressing environmental sustainability. Consumption reduction for environmental sustainability refers to individuals' voluntary reduction in consumption across acquisition, usage, and disposal phases to benefit the environment. This paper provides an updated overview of the research in this area and introduces a new typology of consumption reduction, that distinguishes it from the more general sustainable consumption practices. It presents an integrated synthesis of the drivers and barriers to consumer engagement in consumption reduction. The review proposes research directions that could advance the current knowledge on consumption reduction research. The findings categorize consumption reduction into five distinct types: changeover, circular, strict, lifestyle-based, and preventive. The synthesis also identifies three primary drivers and barriers to consumer engagement in reduction practices: SELFish interests, environmental knowledge misconceptions, and sociocultural expectations. The review discusses theoretical and practical implications for researchers and policymakers and suggests strategies to more effectively engage consumers in consumption reduction, thus contributing to sustainable development goals. • The typology of consumption reduction: changeover, circular, strict, lifestyle-based, and preventive. • The main drivers and barriers: SELFish interests, environmental knowledge misconceptions, and sociocultural expectations. • Future research propositions is presented to advance the current knowledge on consumption reduction research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring pathways for China to achieve the dual goals of stabilizing economic growth and promoting green development provides important reference value for countries worldwide. This is particularly crucial in addressing global climate change and achieving carbon neutrality. This paper focuses on 108 cities within the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China, employing the Generalised Spatial Two-Stage Least Squares (GS2SLS) method to conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of manufacturing agglomeration on green development performance. This study finds that, at the current stage, manufacturing agglomeration can effectively promote green development performance; however, the impact exhibits a U-shaped relationship. This means that the effect of manufacturing agglomeration on green development performance initially decreases and then increases. Additionally, knowledge spillover effects, resource allocation effects, and structural upgrading effects are important channels contributing to this nonlinear relationship. Extended analysis reveals that in the cities of the lower Yangtze River region, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between manufacturing agglomeration and green development performance, while in the middle and upper reaches, the relationship is U-shaped. Furthermore, the expansion of city size positively promotes the green development effects of manufacturing agglomeration. These conclusions not only provide important guidance for China in achieving high-quality green development but also offer significant insights for developing countries worldwide in attaining the dual goals of economic growth and green development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PM 2.5 is the primary pollutant that worsens air quality and has many adverse effects on human health and the social economy. Measures to reduce CO 2 can synergistically reduce PM 2.5. This paper focuses on the transportation industry in China, which has high carbon and high pollution emissions. It initially evaluates the synergistic effect of CO 2 emissions and the impact of other socio-economic drivers on PM 2.5 emissions. Subsequently, it provides a comparative analysis of the projected trajectories of PM 2.5 emissions, along with the associated health and economic repercussions, across three scenarios from 2021 to 2030. The results show that: (1) The synergy effect of CO 2 reduction emerges as the primary driver for mitigating PM 2.5 emissions, whereas economic growth stands as the primary contributor to their escalation. (2) Both the green development (GD) scenario and the technological breakthrough (TB) scenario forecast a continuous decline in PM 2.5 in 2021–2030. By 2030, the GD and TB scenarios forecast a reduction of 32,000 and 39,500 tonnes of PM 2.5 , respectively, compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. (3) By 2030, in contrast to the BAU scenario, premature deaths will be reduced by 39.55%, and economic losses will be reduced by 234.738 billion CNY in the GD scenario; premature deaths will be reduced by 50.04%, and economic losses will be reduced by 263.107 billion CNY in the TB scenario. [Display omitted] • Explored the impact of carbon synergies on PM 2.5 emissions. • Modeled future trends in PM 2.5 evolution in the transportation industry. • Assessed the health effects of future PM 2.5 from the transportation industry. • Green development and technological breakthroughs may reduce 0.32% GDP loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Establishing an indicator system for evaluating green development levels. • Evaluating water resource depletion values in urban agglomerations. • Analyzing the size structure of urban agglomerations. • Green economy indicators explain spatial variations in green development. • A weak leading advantage of the top city in the Triangle of Central China. Green development is one of the core elements of high-quality regional development. The Yangtze River Economic Belt stands as the primary area for China's pursuit of sustainable development. This study analyzes the changes in water resource depletion values within the urban agglomeration of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, as well as the overall scale structure. A total of 44 indicators were selected from the three dimensions, namely green environment, green lifestyle, and green economy, to establish an evaluation index system aimed at assessing the level of green development. Through the application of the entropy-TOPSIS method, geographical detectors, and spatial autocorrelation analysis, the spatial and temporal differentiation variances in green development levels were examined, as well as the influencing factors across 73 cities situated within the three major city clusters from 2000 to 2020. The results show that: (1) The total value of water resource depletion in the three major urban agglomerations exhibits a fluctuating downward trajectory, reaching its lowest point in 2020. (2) City sizes within these three major urban agglomerations are relatively centralized, with high-ranking cities exhibiting limited prominence, showing weak leading advantages. (3) The green development level exhibits an overall upward trend from 2000 to 2020. Cities with higher levels of green development are mainly concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta and the capital cities are situated in the upper and middle reaches. (4) Key influencing factors of the green development level include carbon emissions per unit of GDP, length of drainage pipe per capita, gross domestic product per capita, disposable income of urban residents per capita, and water consumption per unit of GDP. The spatial variance in these indicators explains over 60% of the green development level. Based on the research results, this paper puts forward three policy recommendations: first, to grow the green industry. The second is to promote green municipal infrastructure planning. The third is to encourage regional synergistic cooperation and play the role of radiation leadership of core cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Examine the regional and temporal evolution of LCEE and its influencing factors. • Investigate LCEE on a global scale and analyze LCEE for each country. • Add carbon dioxide emissions as an undesired exportation to the LCEE evaluation indicator system. • Propose countermeasures to improve global LCEE. Nations worldwide must collaborate to tackle the challenge of improving carbon emission efficiency and optimizing land use effectively. This study extends the study area from provinces and cities, regional city clusters, and countries to 136 major countries in the world, and shows the differences between countries. The paper analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of land use carbon emission efficiency (LCEE) in these 136 countries from 2000 to 2019 using the super-efficiency slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis (Super-SBM DEA) model, global malmquist index, spatial autocorrelation measurement tools and Spatial Durbin model. It can help to promote low-carbon and green development while simultaneously improving the global LCEE. The findings indicate that: (1) Over the study period, there is a trend toward a decline in the LCEE worldwide. (2) The primary cause of the worldwide LCEE's declining trend during the study period is the reduction in technical efficiency. (3) The low-low cluster type accounts for more, while the high-high agglomeration type accounts for less and exhibits a sluggish growth pattern. On the whole, there is a phenomenon of non-aggregation and non-uniformity. It is necessary to increase the driving effect of high-high cluster radiation. (4) Economic development level, investment level, population size, public service level and environmental sustainability level all have a significant impact on LCEE, while industrial development level has no significant impact on LCEE. From a global perspective, the radiation driving role of countries with high LCEE should be increased. Improve the efficiency and technological level of land use emission in light of local conditions, and promote independent innovation in green and low-carbon technologies. This is conducive to the establishment of long-term low-carbon growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyses empirically the role of FDI as an interactive factor in the democracy, corruption, economic growth, ICT and carbon emissions nexus in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We use the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) technique with data from 37 SSA countries covering the period 1970–2019. We find evidence that corruption and democracy create a significantly negative association with carbon emissions across most quantiles for the SSA countries. Conversely, economic growth, ICT and FDI develops a significantly positive relationship with environmental quality. Thus, the paper confirms validity of the Pollution Haven Hypothesis in SSA countries. More results demonstrate that the interaction variables, corruption × FDI, democracy × FDI, economic development × FDI also produces positive and significant links with carbon emissions, but the link between ICT × FDI and emissions is insignificantly negative. In conclusion, our findings indicate the need for a targeted approach towards improving FDI to fight corruption, enhance democracy, ICT and economic growth in pursuit of green economy and sustainable development in SSA. [Display omitted] • Both corruption & democracy have a significantly negative association with carbon emissions (across quantiles). • Economic growth, ICT, and FDI are linked to higher environmental quality. • The Pollution Haven Hypothesis in SSA countries is validated. • Corruption, democracy & growth affect emissions more with high FDI. • FDI interactions with ICT has minimal negative effect on emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity of making reliable decisions is exceptionally important in the field of sustainable development, particularly when evaluating the management of renewable energy sources. A thorough analysis becomes imperative in complex decision problems where various factors influence outcomes. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods have emerged as valuable tools for addressing such challenges, enabling decision-makers to navigate through conflicting criteria and make informed choices. Combined with sensitivity analysis approaches, comprehensive assessments can be achieved, ensuring the robustness of decision-making processes. To increase the reliability of the results, different aspects of input data fluctuations should be examined to provide a broader view of the stability of the results. This paper proposes a comprehensive multi-dimensional sensitivity analysis approach to assess the robustness of renewable energy source (RES) development in selected European countries. By evaluating RES management in terms of electricity and energy consumption and generation, the study addresses key components of sustainable development. It offers a holistic perspective on result reliability and stability by analyzing five sensitivity dimensions: a comparative analysis of four MCDA methods, varying criteria weights scenarios, probabilistic modifications, criteria relevance identification, and ranking stability. This approach enhances decision-making in sustainable energy development, providing valuable insights for policymakers on prioritizing sustainable technologies. The provided open-source implementation promotes transparency and accessibility in decision support systems. • Novel sensitivity analysis for robust RES in Europe. • Advances decision-making in sustainable energy. • Guides policy with insights & open-source framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between air pollution and corporate investment strategy has significant implications for both environmental sustainability and economic development. Utilizing data from China's A-share listed companies spanning from 2014 through 2022, we investigate the causal relationship between air pollution and corporate allocation of financial assets. Using an instrumental variable approach, we find that worse air quality has a positive effect on corporate financial asset allocation. Specifically, a 1% increase in the number of air pollution days tends to result in a 0.002% increase in the share of financial assets held by firms. This effect prevails through diverse robustness tests. Furthermore, as companies encounter more stringent financing constraints and environmental regulations, the trend of air pollution promoting the increased financialization of assets becomes more pronounced. Based on the findings, this paper suggests providing more support for enterprises to facilitate the upgrading of production and operation to meet environmental standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While exploiting natural resources, human beings have also left irreversible damage to the environment. The salt caverns left behind by the mining of salt are one of them. With the proposal of the "dual carbon" background, clean power and energy storage power stations have also become one of the focuses of sustainable development. The abandoned salt cavern is combined with the energy storage power station, and the excess electric energy is used to compress the air during the low power consumption period through the non-supplementary combustion mode, and the air kinetic energy is converted into electric energy during the peak power consumption period to realize the zero-carbon salt cavern energy storage conversion. This method can not only achieve zero carbon utilization of the abandoned environment, but also achieve energy storage and conversion, which is a very meaningful research. Based on spherical fuzzy sets, cumulative prospect theory and VIKOR, this paper constructs a novel combined research framework to analyze the risk of zero-carbon salt cavern compressed air energy storage (SAES) power station, and takes China 's first zero-carbon SAES power station project as an example. The results show that the overall risk of the zero-carbon SAES power station is 0.3467, which is a low risk. The key risks are non-supplementary combustion thermal energy storage technology risk, salt cavern creep and leakage risk, and the risk tolerance limit is +31.54 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for high purity V 2 O 5 was increasing, yet the V 2 O 5 preparation process was time-consuming, consumed a significant quantity of large alkali, and generated a considerable amount of neutralisation slag. This paper presents a novel method for preparing V 2 O 5 from complex and highly acidic vanadium-containing solutions without pH adjustment using modified resin. Under specific conditions of pH = 0.6, the adsorption percentage of V exceeded 99.8%. The 3 mol/L NaOH solution exhibited a desorption percentage for V above 99.7%. It was found that VO 2 + and VO 2 SO 4 − could chelate with the resin or be adsorbed by an electrostatic action. During desorption, the vanadium ion was converted from VO 2 + to VO 4 3−, which resulted in a sharp decline in the affinity with the resin. We proved that the method could selectively extract V at low pH. Our study made a valuable contribution to the environmentally responsible and sustainable development of the vanadium extraction industry, and it was a promising method for improving the adsorption system of complex solutions. [Display omitted] • The resin with high selectivity and good pH adaptability was prepared. • Efficient separation of V(V) without adjusting the pH of the solution. • Clean and short process to prepare high purity V 2 O 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of future multiple ecosystem services (ESs) is of great significance to regional development. However, future data simulation and climate change impacts still need further research. This paper constructs an assessment framework for future ESs based on the earth system model, which can comprehensively analyze and trade-off carbon storage (CS), water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), habitat suitability (HS), potential production of cereals (PPC), potential production of roundwood (PPR), and potential production of livestock (PPL). Furthermore, we carry out a case study in Central Asia. Based on IPSL-CM6A-LR model, we evaluated the levels of multiple ESs and their comprehensive tradeoffs in 2050 under five shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, SSP460, and SSP585). The results show that (1) with the increase in carbon emissions (from SSP126 to SSP585), the terrestrial CS and WY in Central Asia will first increase and then decrease in 2050. Notably, SC and HS experience a significant decline under SSP585 (7.76% and 2.20%, respectively), indicating environmental risks associated with high-emission scenarios. (2) Among the five pathways, the middle path (SSP245) strikes a better balance between development and environment. It demonstrates the highest levels of SC, HS, PPR, and PPL. Additionally, CS and PPC witnessed an increase of more than 4%. (3) SSP370 achieves the highest comprehensive trade-off score (1.087), slightly surpassing that of SSP245 (1.086). It exhibits the highest CS and WY among the five pathways. However, its SC, HS, PPR, and PPL are comparatively lower than those of SSP245, being at the intermediate level. We propose directions for the development of Central Asia: A middle pathway should be taken, as well as necessary climate and sustainable policies should be formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trusted sync in production logistics in Industry 3.X, redefining traditional model. • BCDT-PLSS: A novel blockchain and digital twin integration for advanced logistics. • Unveiling BCDT-PLSS's three key technologies for synchronized logistics. • Real-world BCDT-PLSS application, ensuring trusted resource and decision support. In response to the personalized and dynamic product demands facing modern manufacturing, this study delves into the issue of production logistics trusted synchronization (PLTS) within an open production logistics environment and proposes an innovative solution to enhance the manufacturing industry's rapid response capabilities. This solution emphasizes efficient and flexible resource management and collaborative decision-making in production logistics. We introduce a blockchain and digital twin-based framework for a production logistics trusted synchronization service platform (BCDT-PLTSS), aligning with the novel product-service system mode. This framework integrates the efficiency of blockchain in resource management with the precision of digital twin technology in production control, offering a transformative paradigm for resource organization and decision support in production logistics. Additionally, this paper elaborates on the key enabling technologies for implementing BCDT-PLTSS. These include blockchain-based production logistics resource management, real-time modeling using digital twin technology, and open production logistics trusted synchronization services enhanced through analytical target cascading. The integration of these technologies significantly enhances system transparency and operational efficiency while also bolstering manufacturers' adaptability and flexibility in the face of rapidly changing markets. A case study, conducted in cooperative manufacturing enterprises, demonstrates the practicality and superiority of the BCDT-PLTSS approach. The results reveal significant improvements in system reliability and reductions in production logistics operation costs, thereby strengthening the competitive and sustainable development capabilities of manufacturers in a dynamic social manufacturing environment. This research not only highlights the immense potential of innovative technologies in addressing the challenges of modern manufacturing but also paves new directions for future developments in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heating uniformity is a major challenge to scale-up of microwave processes. • Novel hybrid convective-microwave heated toroidal fluidised bed reactor presented. • Rapid uniform volumetric heating of process material is achieved. • Robustness, scalability and high-temperature operability built in reactor concept. • Flexible platform technology for development of sustainable processes. Challenges exist to implementing high-temperature microwave processes with changing dielectric properties that achieve uniform processing. This paper presents a new high-temperature hybrid microwave processing system which overcomes these challenges in a robust, scalable way, integrating a slotted waveguide ring microwave feed into a toroidal fluidised bed reactor and maintaining its fluidisation behaviour. The prototype operates at a frequency of 2450 MHz with a maximum power of 10 kW and within a temperature range of 50–300 °C, though it is scalable to industrial levels. Electromagnetic simulations of the system were experimentally validated using a range of agri-crop feedstocks. Hydrodynamic and thermodynamic reactor characterisation was performed, and treatment performance was quantified regarding surface bed temperature variation. Excellent treatment uniformities were found under microwave and hybrid regimes, with a temperature coefficient of variation (CoV) across the bed's surface below 2 %, an order of magnitude better than existing microwave processes, generally regarded as highly uniform with CoV of approximately 20 %. The integration of microwaves and toroidal fluidised beds, without exposed moving parts, potentially unlocks a range of applications previously inaccessible to microwave technology or fluidised bed technologies on their own. Future work involves process development, techno-economic studies, and large-scale pilot trials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• From the perspective of spatial cross-sectional data, this study explores causal inference in the ecological environment. • Two primary causal pathways are identified. • The study unveils the intricate mechanisms among diverse factors within the ecological environment system. The ecological environment is closely related to natural conditions, climate change, and human activities. However, existing research predominantly concentrates on evaluating the direct impacts of various factors on the ecological environment, yet lacks an in-depth exploration of their causal relationships and pathways. This paper introduces a new perspective to research in this field by incorporating spatial cross-sectional data analysis methods. The study utilized the 2020 China's High-resolution Eco-Environmental Quality (CHEQ) dataset to evaluate the spatial differentiation characteristics of Ecological Environmental Quality (EEQ) within the western urban agglomeration of Guangdong Province. A framework of "terrain-urbanization-climate" influencing factors was constructed, and the Geographical convergent cross mapping (GCCM) method was employed to infer the causal relationship between EEQ and influencing factors. Additionally, the spatial distribution characteristics of influencing factors on ecological environment quality were studied using the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression Model (MGWR). The results indicate that seven influencing factors including Elevation, Population, Precipitation, TEMP, TMMX, TMMN, and Slope have clear causal relationships with EEQ and exhibit bidirectional coupling relationships. There exist complex causal relationships among influencing factors, revealing the interaction mechanisms and causal pathways among multiple factors in the ecological environment system. These analyses enrich our understanding of the intricate and complex relationships between the ecological environment and influencing factors, providing a valuable reference for ecological protection and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Full of Economic-Environment Linkages and Integration dX/dt (FeliX) model is a System Dynamics-based Integrated Assessment Model (IAM), explicitly incorporating human behaviors and their dynamic interactions among global systems. This paper presents FeliX 2.0, describing the detailed framework and key interactions among nine integrated modules. FeliX 2.0 refined its original version in population dynamics, food and land use systems, and socioeconomic settings for poverty analysis. Robust calibration is applied to key variables against their historical data since 1950. Future projections of multiple variables up to 2100 demonstrate coherences between FeliX 2.0 and the IAMs used in IPCC assessments. Both outputs (the robust calibration results and future projections) underscore the efficacy of FeliX 2.0 in capturing complex interdependencies within global systems. FeliX 2.0 stands as an informative tool and offers insights into interactions within the human-Earth system and the analysis of complex economic-environmental-social challenges in short- and long-term future. • A SD-based IAM model—FeliX 2.0—integrating human behavior for the human-Earth system simulation. • FeliX 2.0 refines FeliX 1.0 in population dynamics, food and land use, and poverty modeling. • Coherent projections up to 2100 for key variables in human-Earth systems by FeliX 2.0 • FeliX 2.0 stands as a pioneering tool for analyzing economic, environmental and social challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private commercial space tourism carrying passengers to outer space is no longer a distant or far-fetched fantasy, rather it is at verge of becoming an affordable reality with exponential development in space technology including development of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), increasing involvement of private companies like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Blue Origin etc. into research and funding of space tourism explorations and applications. It is also receiving huge attention from the public. These developments reflect the infinite possibilities and inevitability of space tourism in near future. However, space tourism may also pose many critical legal issues which must be addressed to ensure the consistent and sustainable development of space tourism, and to secure the rights of all stakeholders involved including operators, passengers, launching State etc. The research paper would highlight the crucial legal issues associated with the space tourism. The paper would critically analyze the efficiency of the present international space treaties in dealing with these issues. At the end, the paper would also attempt to provide few suggestions and solutions to these legal conundrums relating to space tourism. • Commercial space tourism • Legal framework governing space tourism • Sustainable development of outer space • Space tourism and international law [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Anthropocene era, characterized by sustainability and environmental challenges, the Metaverse emerges as a virtual alternative with the potential to reduce the ecological footprint while enhancing human experiences. However, the development of Metaverse encounter unprecedented technical, social, and ethical challenges. Bioinspired technologies, referring to those developed with inspiration from the biological world, have demonstrated successful applications across various fields and show potential in addressing challenges within the Metaverse. This paper explores the integration of bioinspired technologies with the Metaverse, focusing on its social and ethical implications. It proposes a conceptual model for a bioinspired Metaverse, elucidating how bioinspired technologies may shape the evolution of the Metaverse through four dimensions: Enhancement of User Interaction, Promotion of Digital Inclusivity, Advancement of Sustainable Development, and Guidance of Ethical Considerations. This paper makes a significant contribution by adopting an innovative context - the bioinspired Metaverse - that facilitates a deeper reexamination of the relationship among technology, nature, and human society through interdisciplinary discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology, with its peer-to-peer trading feature, influences the management of energy consumption by offering the potential to transform transparency, efficiency, and sustainability within the energy sector. Nonetheless, there is a need to develop analytical decision-making models tailored for managing peer-to-peer energy transactions to improve energy resilience. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to address the research question: How can energy distribution systems be protected via blockchain technology to enhance energy resilience and mitigate vulnerabilities to disruptions ? This paper employs a conceptual research model design and a mathematical decision-making model to address the research question by capturing the peer-to-peer trading capability of blockchain technology. The theory of planned behavior provides theoretical explanations for the proposed model. The sample includes longitudinal energy consumption data from 2015 to 2023 in Texas. The findings indicate a significant improvement in energy efficiency along with a considerable decrease in total electricity consumption. Post hoc analysis results reveal that the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average algorithm is effective as a reliable input for the proposed mathematical model. The significant implications are to implement blockchain-based smart grids in which energy systems become more resilient to disruptions, as the peer-to-peer capability enables users to trade energy. The proposed model suggests that energy will be used more efficiently and effectively. This paper contributes to prior works by introducing a mathematical model that captures the trading behavior of energy consumers. Moreover, this paper proposes the SARIMA algorithm to predict energy demand. • A mathematical peer-to-peer trading model is presented to improve resilience. • A blockchain-based smart grid is presented for consumer energy consumption. • Five machine learning algorithms are presented in energy demand management. • Longitudinal energy consumption data of Texas is used in the model. • Theoretical support is provided using the theory of planned behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine and port economy estimation is conducive to the understanding of the development law of marine economy degree. This study proposes a neural-learning network estimation model of the marine economy degree based on a priori architectural knowledge and adopts time-combined class array columns and multivariate modeling methods to estimate the indicators reflecting the development level of the marine economy degree in the ZJP region. The study adopts the PK_NN multivariate modeling method, taking cargo transportation volume, cargo turnover, cargo carrying value of ports near the sea, foreign trade throughput, port container throughput, and port container throughput as multivariate model inputs, and compared with the other modeling methods, the model of the time combination class array columns of type GM_11, which has a better comprehensive performance. Finally, the PK_NN time-combined class array column model is used to estimate the development level of the marine economy in the ZJP region near the seaport from 2011 to 2020, and the results show that the estimated value of the marine economy in the ZJP region is close to the actual planning value of the ZJP region. The algorithm was applied to estimate the economic degree curves of the five near-seaport areas of ABCDE under different harbor head construction art modes, and the results showed that the relative value error of the estimation was controlled between 4% and 10%, and the fluctuation ranges of each month's specific growth value area estimation were comparable. This proves the effectiveness and accuracy of the a priori marine neural-learning-based network algorithm in this paper. • The algorithm was applied to estimate the economic degree curves of the five near-seaport areas of ABCDE under different harbor head construction art modes, and the results showed that the relative value error of the estimation was controlled between 4% and 10%, and the fluctuation ranges of each month's specific growth value area estimation were comparable. • This proves the effectiveness and accuracy of the a priori marine neural-learning-based network algorithm in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental protection and sustainable development are now profoundly ingrained in the public consciousness in the modern era of the global green revolution. First, this paper uses an evolutionary game model to theoretically analyse the impact of environmental regulation and green finance on enterprises by dissecting the game behaviour between local governments, banks and enterprises. Then, we incorporate entrepreneurial spirit into the model to determine whether entrepreneurial spirit accelerates the achievement of green sustainability objectives. Environmental regulation and green finance are found to contribute substantially to the innovation of green technologies by local enterprises, while entrepreneurial spirit accelerates this process. Finally, we empirically test the findings based on a prefecture-level panel dataset from 2007 to 2020. We find that green finance has a positive impact in Central and Western cities of China, while Eastern cities are in greater need for government environmental regulation controls. For entrepreneurial spirit, the incentive effect of entrepreneurial spirit on the level of green technology innovation is more significant in Central and Western regions of China. This paper enriches the field of research on entrepreneurial spirit and regional green sustainable development by providing empirical evidence for the evaluation of environmental regulatory and green financing policy impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to the strategic planning of the supply chain for lime cultivation. The uncertainty associated with lime production due to factors such as transportation, crime, and water availability, among others, represents different challenges. To address these challenges, the authors propose the use of machine learning tools coupled with deterministic optimization to obtain optimal solutions for the supply chain for future years. This paper highlights the use of justice schemes to ensure an equitable distribution of lime production between farmers and learning machines to quantify the insecurity impact on lime production in Michoacan. The problem can be solved using a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model that focuses on maximizing economic benefits, minimizing the use of irrigation water in crops, and minimizing Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO 2eq) emissions within the supply chain. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively address the challenges facing the lime production supply chain, resulting in an optimized and equitable lime production and distribution between farmers using the Social Welfare Justice scheme. Scenario A presents a utopian viewpoint with maximum benefits and minimum CO 2eq generated emissions, corresponding to $ 4.08 × 109 and 1.94 × 106 tons of CO 2eq , respectively. This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in supply chain management, specifically in the optimization of supply chain processes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the dual challenges of food security crisis and environmental costs, promoting agricultural green development (AGD) is an urgent need. Agricultural cleaner production place-based policy (ACPBP) is an important tool for promoting AGD. Based on the entropy value method to measure the AGD, DID is applied in this paper to investigate whether ACPBP can promote AGD. The conclusions of the paper are as follows: (1) The AGD is impacted differently by various types of ACPBP. The policy of replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers for fruits, vegetables and teas (RCFOFFVT) can inhibit AGD, national agricultural green development pioneer zone policy (NAGDPZP) can promote AGD. There is persistence in the effects of both RCFOFFVT and NAGDPZP. (2) There are regional heterogeneities in the effects of RCFOFFVT and NAGDPZP on AGD. The RCFOFFVT has a stronger inhibitory effect on AGD in low economic development counties and major grain-producing counties. The NAGDPZP has a stronger promotional effect on AGD in high economic development counties and non-major grain-producing counties. For low-carbon policy counties, the inhibitory effect of RCFOFFVT is insignificant and the promotional effect of NAGDPZP is weaker. (3) Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation (ASTI) moderates the impact of RCFOFFVT and NAGDPZP. ASTI would weaken the inhibitory effect of RCFOFFVT on AGD, and would strengthen the role of the NAGDPZP in promoting the AGD. (4) There is a policy mix effect of RCFOFFVT and NAGDPZP that can jointly promote AGD. The conclusions of the paper indicate that ACPBP are effective approaches to deal with the food crisis and environmental pressures, but in the process of policy implementation, different types of ACPBP need to be implemented based on the realities of the situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the direct and indirect impacts of the Carbon Emission Trading System (CETS) on the green transition development (GTD) of Chinese cities. This paper constructs a GTD evaluation system from the perspective of prevention and governance at the source, in terms of carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth, and measures the GTD performance of 281 cities based on the EW-TOPSIS model. It is found that the average increase in GTD of the sample cities from 2006 to 2020 is 3.40 %, the GTD progress of the 281 cities has a considerable positive spatial autocorrelation, with the GTD progress of the CETS pilot cities being significantly bigger than that of the non-pilot cities. Further this paper adopts the spatial difference model (S-DID) to scientifically identify the influence mechanism and heterogeneity of the direct and spatial effects of CETS on city GTD, and the results show that CETS has a positive effect on the GTD of both local and neighboring cities. Propensity score matching (PSM) is used to further corroborate these findings. The study also shows that CETS improves local GTD by promoting green innovation, rationalizing industrial structures, and enhancing energy efficiency in cities. Nevertheless, the ensuing siphon effect hinders nearby cities' levels of energy efficiency, industrial structure rationalization, and green innovation. The policy effects of CETS are more significant in large cities, eastern cities, old industrial areas, and non-resource-based cities. CETS can work in synergy with smart city construction, low-carbon city pilot policies, and emission trading policies to accelerate the process of GTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reviews the green hydrogen uptake policies in the United States and the European Union. While the EU has a rather broad public support strategy that envisages the entire hydrogen value chain, the U.S. policies are more focused on hydrogen research hubs and subsidies having electric vehicle applications. From the experience of the solar and wind power rollout of the past three decades, we know that the subsidization schemes of the end product play an important role in the transition to renewables. These kinds of subsidization schemes are still lacking for clean hydrogen both in the EU and the U.S. This paper provides a brief overview of selected subsidization schemes from other renewables markets, which are then applied to define an exemplary subsidization path to empower large-scale growth in a market for green hydrogen. Here is proposed a long-term subsidization scheme – deemed as an adequate strategy for the expansion of clean hydrogen in an electricity mix. The suggested exemplary subsidization path recommends shifting from feed-in tariffs to direct marketing with market premiums once a certain threshold is reached, while both can be flanked by the issuance of a Guarantee of Origin for green hydrogen so that there is one market for hydrogen and another market for the certificates. • -A long-term subsidization scheme for the rollout of green hydrogen in the electricity mixes is proposed. • -An exemplary subsidization path to empower large-scale growth in a market for green hydrogen is drafted. • -U.S. and EU are used as case studies to capture lessons for subsidization of green hydrogen economy uptake. • -The U.S. has more centralized green hydrogen rollout policies, whereas the EU has a wider policy toolkit. • -Shifting from FIT to direct marketing with market premiums is key once a certain pre-defined threshold is reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the backdrop of the high-quality growth of China's Yellow River Basin (YRB), Henan Province as a significant resource, population, economic, and grain-producing province, the contradiction between the finite availability of natural resource supply and ecological environmental capacity and the socioeconomic development has become more and more prominent, which significantly restricts the healthy sustainable development of Henan Province. Thus, it is essential to precisely assess the Resource and Environmental Carrying Capacity (RECC) for Henan Province and control the scale of cities within the regulating capacity of the ecological and resource system. Therefore, based on the evaluation system composed of natural resources, ecological environment and socioeconomic subsystems, the method of substitutability of indicator information is applied to screen the indicator system. Determine the integrated weight value of each indicator based on the Ordinal Relationship-Entropy Weight-Game Theory model. To identify the spatial-temporal progression law of RECC in 18 cities in the province of Henan from 2005 to 2020 and to forecast the development trend of RECC in each city from 2021 to 2026, the GMD-GRA-TOPSIS-Holt model was constructed. The research findings show that (1) the development of RECC in Henan Province is divided into two periods: the period of slow development (2005–2011) and the period of rapid enhancement (2012–2020). Shangqiu (SQ) and Puyang (PY) were the two cities with the largest and smallest increases in the province, with a difference of up to 51.59%. (2) There are significant regional differences in the RECC and the subsystem carrying capacity in Henan Province. Except for the resource subsystem, the carrying capacity levels of the remaining three systems are improving, and the differences among cities are gradually decreasing. (3) The vitality and strength of the future development of RECC in Henan Province will continue to increase, characterised by "accelerated advancement in the early stage and steady improvement in the later stage." Overall, this paper provides a theoretical basis for the scientific understanding of RECC in the cities of Henan Province and a scientific basis for optimising the allocation of resources and environmental capacity. Furthermore, the evaluation model constructed in this paper expands the space of theoretical application and has a popularisation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pretreatment is a critical process for biohydrogen production from biomass. • A distinction should be made between the initial pH and the pH of the process. • Dissolved bio-H 2 concentrations are not always in equilibrium with the gas phase. • The combined fermentation methods offer advantages compared to dark fermentation. • Iron catalysts are attractive due to high abundance and relatively low toxicity. Biohydrogen is a green energy carrier with the potential to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. The production of biohydrogen from lignocellulosic materials may be low cost, but commercial production has not been realized. The issues to be addressed include screening and construction of microorganisms that meet industrial requirements, optimization of bioreactor designs, and novel hybrid fermentation systems such as combining dark fermentation (DF) with methanogenic systems and doping nanomaterials to increase biohydrogen yield. This paper focuses on the biohydrogen production, highlighting various fermentative bioreactor types, influential factors in dark fermentation, and pretreatment techniques. Besides, current strategies to produce biohydrogen, including synthetic biology approaches and metabolic engineering, are assessed for their potential to contribute to net zero carbon emission. Pretreatment of biomass using dilute acids is the most common technique to destroy the complicated structure of lignocellulosic biomass. Mesophilic temperatures (37 °C), HRT of 72 h, and pH near 7.0, are recurrent parameters of biomass fermentation. The combined approach of electro-fermentation and dark fermentation produces a higher yield of biohydrogen compared to the single dark fermentation. Furthermore, additives (mainly iron-based materials) have been investigated to improve the efficiency of biomass pretreatment as well as biohydrogen production. Finally, this paper points out that the vigorous development of novel engineered strains is an important part of achieving commercial-scale production of biohydrogen. Overall, considerable efforts are needed from both technical and managing aspects to achieve a full-scale application of biohydrogen production to make this technology economical, efficient and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the applications, impact, and development of green cross-coupling reactions in academia and industry are discussed. Specifically, we discuss the translation of the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry and their applications in pharmaceutical organometallic chemistry to stimulate the development of cost-effective and sustainable catalytic processes for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The evolution of the process for the synthesis of 3-ethylnyl aniline, a key intermediate for the synthesis of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib, was described as an example of the application of this translation guide. [Display omitted] • Evolution of Pd‐cross coupling applications from the seventies. • Translation guide for cross coupling reactions of the 12 principles of green chemistry for the pharmaceutical industry. • PMI/PMIr and TON/TOF as key metrics to guide the greening and optimization of catalytic methodologies. • Erlotinib intermediate optimized process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As an integral part of individual lives and one of the strongest inputs to global economies, tourism is affected by such social tensions and can play an important role in reducing them; therefore it offers an interesting challenge for serious discussions regarding tourism and regional sustainability. Tourism is traditionally associated with pleasure, leisure and escape from the ordinary world and is often contrasted with other, more serious economic activities such as manufacturing and extraction. As a result governments and planners often ignore tourism; furthermore, outside of the field of tourism academic research, the relationship between tourism and sustainability received too little attention considering that tourism can play an increasingly integral role in regional sustainable development processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

When we talk about Space, our interlocutors think about planets, stars, asteroids, astronauts and, sometimes satellites. But, only a small percentage is aware of what satellite technology can do and the relevance of satellite applications in our everyday life. From satellite communication, to navigation and to earth imagery, satellites data and technology are contributing in improving our daily life, or businesses or helping the management of our cities. Often, the end users come across an obstacle in communicating their needs to the service providers. On the other side, the service providers themselves are not fully aware how to communicate with the end-users. In some cases, this lack of communication makes difficult to meet the demand of space applications from the user side with the supply from the service providers. Eurisy, an association of space agencies established thirty years ago, works to put the end users at the core of the space value chain. In this last decades, Eurisy has been attentive and responsive to the changes of the space sector trying to picture how end users are becoming familiar with space technology. In particular, how the democratisation of space is turning space, especially satellite technology, into an enabler to guarantee the development of a sustainable living, accessible to everyone. Eurisy recently started a review of the case studies collected over the last ten years thanks to direct testimonials, event and conferences, publications and surveys. The user-centred approach adopted is innovative in the space sector and over the years proved to be effective in connecting users and service providers in different contexts. The paper aims at: 1- Identifying challenges and barriers that characterise the relations between service and/or information providers and end users. 2- Analysing the changes occurred in the relations between end users and service providers from 2007 to date in Europe. 3- Presenting the reasons that motivates the use of satellite data and technologies and which of these is the most used. 4- Presenting Eurisy's approach as an applicable model outside the European borders and the benefits deriving from connecting space and society. Furthermore, the paper will briefly present the ongoing activities as examples of the work put in place by the organisation and how the user-centred approach is applied. • The so-called democratisation of space has consequences on the downstream sector. • End users are mostly local and regional public authorities. • Central Europe seems to be the most fertile area where to find use cases. • The main technology adopted is Satellite Navigation. SatComs are not common. • Eurisy works putting the end-users central in the space value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• OHS behavior in the construction industry. • Corporate Social Responsibility reports and OHS of construction industry. • Multinational construction companies and OHS issue. • Transparency of OHS issues in construction industry. Introduction: The aim of this paper is to examine Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) behavior in the construction industry through the assessment of Corporate Social Responsibility reports. The level of accident rates in the construction industry place OHS issues at the heart of their strategic management. Method: The assessment of OHS issues was made by drawing appropriate data from the Corporate Social Responsibility reports of 19 multinational construction companies published on a voluntary basis. Results: The findings show a low response rate by the companies sampled to the requirements of stakeholders for responsible organizational behavior and accountability for their consequences. Most of the companies sampled have only focused on a small number of OHS issues to assure the transparency of the information published such as OHS governance, accident and illness rates, training hours, third party assurance, and membership of externally developed OHS charters. Similarly, other important OHS issues seem to be less covered by the companies sampled such as the representation of total workforce in OHS committees, the percentage of high risk occupations, and OHS practices in the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the nexus between the efficiency of carbon emission allocation and the efficiency of green development within the context of innovative city construction. Leveraging data from 283 prefecture-level cities and corresponding provincial-level panel data spanning the period from 2005 to 2019 in mainland China, the research employs the zero-sum gain DEA model to compute provincial carbon emission allocation efficiency and allocate allowances. Furthermore, it utilizes the all-factor non-radial directional distance function and the SBM-DEA model to gauge the green development efficiency of prefecture-level cities. The double-difference method is applied to evaluate the impact of innovative city construction on regional green development efficiency. The results indicate that an imbalance between carbon emission allocation efficiency and emission quotas detrimentally affects urban green development. However, technological progress, factor accumulation, and the institutional environment associated with innovative city building mitigate this negative impact. Heterogeneity analysis reveals a differentiated effect of innovative city building on regional green development efficiency. This paper not only explores the concept of achieving an equitable distribution of carbon emission allowances but also examines how innovative city building influences regional green development. By establishing connections between urban policies, the equitable distribution of carbon emission allowances, and regional green development, it introduces a new perspective for promoting high-quality development at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative networks (CNs) are joint entities of autonomous partners that work towards a common goal with shared resources and roles. In 2016, the United Nations announced 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as part of the 2030 agenda. SDG 17 is "Partnerships for the goals" highlighting the importance of cross-country and cross-company collaborative action. Although the link between CNs and sustainable development is frequently declared, no study in the literature investigates the connection between CNs and the SDGs. This systematic literature review (SLR) follows the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Based on the SLR results, a context-interventions-mechanisms-outcomes (CIMO) framework for CNs is proposed, serving as a tool to comprehend the types of CNs to achieve the SDGs. Only 10 out of 77 articles mentioned the SDGs they address. The norm is to focus on a single SDG per study and not assess the dimension of the impact on the SDGs or the trade-offs that can be established between them. The most frequently mentioned SDGs in the text are SDG 9 and SDG 12, with only 2 articles focusing on the social dimension. SDG 10 and SDG 16 were not mentioned in any of the articles. The majority of articles are case studies and technical papers, developing scale-up solutions and creating value from waste. The identified gaps lead to the proposition of several potential research areas: 1) the need for developing mechanisms that allow CNs to effectively implement interventions that achieve specific SDGs; 2) the lack of studies incorporating the social dimension given the social nature of the SDGs; 3) few SDGs are addressed by CNs (particularly SDG 9 and SDG 12) and majority of SDGs are ignored; 4) there is a scarcity of studies targeting the tertiary sector; 5) the need for alignment of CNs' business models with the SDGs; 6) a lack of studies addressing specific SDGs (6, 10, and 16); and 7) the necessity of studies demonstrating collaboration between industry and academia for systemic change. The study aids decision-makers in identifying policies that facilitate the formation of CNs aligned with the SDGs. • This review of the state-of-the-art of CNs research within SDGs establishes a foundation for future research. • A conceptual framework for research on CNs within SDGs is designed. • A research agenda was presented based on what is emerging and what is missing from the literature. • Using the CIMO framework, prescription rules are established to guide actions or decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Microwave-assisted pyrolysis is a promising method for biomass/waste valorisation. • Life cycle analysis shows reduced energy consumption, low global warming potential. • Innovations in reactor design and operation parameters aids in cost reduction. Microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) has been perceived as a promising technology for biomass and waste conversion due to its distinctive features, including fast, even, and precise heating. This results in higher energy efficiency when compared to conventional pyrolysis via thermal heating. However, the scaling up of MAP of biomass and waste poses challenges, with investigations ongoing to uncover not only the technological aspect, but also both the environmental impacts and economic feasibility associated with this process/technology. The possible environmental impacts associated with MAP processes can be analyzed through systematic life-cycle assessment (LCA), while the economic feasibility can be evaluated via techno-economic analysis (TEA). This paper presents an overview of the current research trend in MAP and the products produced, as well as the LCA and TEA of the pyrolysis technologies. The LCA study reported a 2.5 folds reduction in energy consumption and up to 62% reduction in global warming potential. TEA study revealed that conventional pyrolysis has a greater profit for long-term assessment due to a higher maturity and less complexity technology; however, MAP may be more economically feasible in the future owing to the increased maturity and more established technology. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for LCA and TEA in MAP are elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular automata (CA) based models are practical tools to simulate the spatiotemporal landscape evolution induced by the land use/-cover change (LUCC). Existing models are struggling to comprehensively handle the spatiotemporal driving relationships amid the nonlinear LUCC process. Besides, the landscape patterns are not considered in most models, making them struggled to support the development strategies. Aiming at overcoming these obstacles, a novel land use/-cover change model concerning spatiotemporal dependency and properties related to landscape evolution (STAPLE) is proposed in this paper. A potential generating module establishing the nonlinear spatiotemporal driving relationship and a spatial allocating module employing a landscape-based CA are integrated for realistic LUCC simulations. As a case study, the proposed model is applied in Zhengzhou, China to assess its performance. It is indicated that the STAPLE model achieves a higher simulation accuracy, and the landscape properties are effectively manipulated. It provides a reproducible tool for policy-makers to explore a low-ecological-risk landscape under different future scenarios and achieve sustainable developments. • Propose an LUCC model concerning spatiotemporal dependency and landscape evolution. • Control the spatial evolution of landscape using a novel CA algorithm. • Promote accuracy by employing ST-CNN to assimilate the latent spatiotemporal dependency. • Provide a reproducible tool for policy-makers to achieve sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textiles and apparel industry is a major contributor to economic development while at the same time being one of the most polluting industries due to its lengthy supply chain and resource intensive production operations. To address these sustainability challenges, digitalization is seen as one of the potential solutions. Using the lens of sustainability and digitalization in Supply Chain Management (SCM), this paper analyses the sustainability and digitalization status of Dutch textile and apparel firms. We used a mixed methodology of quantitative text mining of 94 Dutch textile and apparel firms as well as qualitative thematic and coding analysis of experts' views and opinions on sustainability and digitalization in the Dutch textiles and apparel industry. Quantitative analysis of website data shows that Dutch textile and apparel firms predominantly communicate the environmental, to a lesser extent social, and least of all economic sustainability factors. Keyword analysis also shows that the use of technological keyword indicators is less prominent, while certain technologies such as IoT, sensors and blockchain correlate mostly to environmental sustainability factors. Moreover, qualitative analysis reveals that to address sustainability via digitalization, it is important to link sustainability goals to Key Performance Indicators, which requires data for traceability. We recommend firms to: (1) re-evaluate their business models and assess the extent traceability can be incorporated in their sustainability strategy; (2) enhance stakeholder collaboration within and outside the supply chain to utilize traceability; and (3) proactively use traceability information to improve transparency and accountability to meet legal requirements and address greenwashing. This study contributes to literature by showing the importance of traceability for (a) linking sustainability and digitalization in SCM, b) achieving the ultimate goals of transparency and accountability, and c) predicting demand and supply to address overproduction and waste in the textiles and apparel sector. • This study analyses the sustainability and digitalization status of Dutch textile and apparel firms. • Firms predominantly communicate environmental, followed by social and least of all economics sustainability, in their websites. • To address sustainability via digitalization, it is important to link sustainability goals to Key Performance Indicators. • Traceability data can improve transparency and accountability, as well as predictability of demand and supply in the chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While existing literature acknowledges the development of digital capabilities as essential for enterprises to achieve digital transformation, it falls short in offering comprehensive theoretical insights into the dynamic evolution of these capabilities, especially in the field of environmental and sustainability issues. This paper addresses this gap by employing an exploratory single-case study methodology to investigate the intricate process through which an ecological restoration enterprise in China updates its digital strategy, facilitating the dynamic evolution of its digital capabilities from a resource orchestration theory perspective. Our findings reveal a sequential evolution from digital strategy renewal to resource orchestration and, ultimately, the advancement of digital capabilities. Specifically, the enterprise engages in a co-adjustment and co-creation process, aligning its resources with a digital strategy refresh and fostering the emergence of digital integration and innovation capabilities through effective resource management. This includes the accumulation and divesting of resources as part of the construction process, alongside the enrichment and bundling of resources. This research bridges the gap in the current literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms that drive the evolution of digital capabilities, and it offers a theoretical framework that integrates strategic renewal with resource orchestration for environmental and socio-economic sustainable development. Furthermore, the insights gained provide vital managerial implications for the governance, corporate social responsibility and policy of industrial digitalization towards global environmental practice and sustainable development goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the idea of green coordinated development and green co-evolution, the system of green co-evolution composed of government, financial institutions, enterprises, and the public is constructed, using Functional Data Analysis combined with CRITIC weighting, Dagum Gini coefficient and Kernel density estimation to measure the green co-evolution level (GCEL) and the regional disparity based on data of 31 provinces and 992 enterprises from 2010 to 2021, it finds: (1) At the turning point of 2015, the GCEL has been from declining to rising, and the poor performance of enterprises and the public is main factors. (2) The GCEL of regions shows a distinct non-balanced development trend, with the middle- and low-level provinces accounting for the largest proportion. Moreover, the rising of Gini coefficient means that provincial synergy is weaker. (3) Since 2012, the disparity between eight comprehensive economic zones has increased, mainly due to the polarization of the performance of the main players, such as the rising gap in the allocation of government and financial resources. Regional differences have always been dominant, with the largest disparity between Northwest China and the three coastal economic zones. (4) The total distribution tends to converge to lower level, but has no significant convergence. From the perspective of green co-evolution, this paper measures the green co-evolution level, temporal and spatial evolution, and regional disparities, providing a reference for promoting regional green coordination and sustainable development. • A system of green co-evolution composed of government, financial institutions, enterprises, and the public was constructed. • Using Functional Data Analysis combined with CRITIC weighting, the dynamic green co-evolution level (GCEL) was captured. • The overall GCEL shift from decline to rise is mainly due to the poor performance of enterprises and the public. • Due to the widening gap in government and financial resource, regional disparites have intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the spread of green building development in China by analyzing the implementation of the LEED certification system across 31 provinces from 2006 to 2022. To investigate spatial differences, spatial-temporal evolution, and spatial spillovers of green building development in China, we employed various statistical methods, including Standard Distance Ellipse, Dagum's Gini Coefficient, Kernel Density Estimation, Markov Chain Analysis, Moran's I Exponential Analysis, and Social Network Analysis. The findings reveal the formation of a green building cluster in a northeast-southwest orientation, at the core of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta regions. There is compelling evidence of substantial regional disparities in green building development, primarily driven by inter-regional differences, which has resulted in a significant gap between the eastern and non-eastern regions. This study identifies the presence of "club convergence" and the "Matthew effect" in China's green building landscape, where spatial factors play a crucial role. Furthermore, a distinct and stable spatial clustering is observed, indicating a complex and multi-faceted spatial association network that goes beyond geographical proximity and neighborhood effects. This network reveals diverse positions and roles for provinces and cities. The eastern provinces and cities are found to exert strong control and dominance while also playing a significant siphoning role. On the other hand, the western provinces and cities have been marginalized, experiencing minimal dividend spillover from the development of other provinces. • Green building cluster with a northeast-southwest orientation has been formed. • Inter-regional differences are the main spatial source. • "Club convergence" and the "Matthew effect" are observed. • Regions demonstrate "Spatial spillovers" and "Relative maintenance". • Major green building cities form "Siphon plateau". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations represent a blueprint for the adoption of global practices and policies to foster sustainability in societies and increase efficiencies in resources uses. The Italian National Trust, FAI, has embraced these goals, developing a holistic and transdisciplinary methodology to promote a more sustainable approach to preserve its natural and built heritage. This methodology combines heritage protection with the SDGs in various macro-areas of interventions, including energy, water, biosphere, responsible consumption, and sustainable communities. The aim is to increase access to affordable and clean energy, reduce water, waste, and soil footprints, promote responsible consumption, and develop human capital. The paper proposes a set of strategies to achieve the SDGs in heritage, involving the collaboration of several stakeholders, ranging from institutions to citizens. The methodology is applied to a specific Italian case study, Casa Macchi in Morazzone, to highlight the challenges in achieving the dual objective of preserving the historic building and promoting sustainability in the built environment. [Display omitted] • We propose a trans-disciplinary methodology for sustainable heritage preservation. • The heritage preservation project is analyzed in five macro-areas of intervention. • Assessment of effects on energy, water, biosphere, resources, and sustainability. • Casa Macchi preservation project to apply methodology and prove effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging industries and technologies are made up of objective, practical requirements and ideas that encompass broad hopes for what future newness might enable. The bioeconomy is one such emerging industry. Its recent evolution has involved a complicated and dynamic mix of promises, reality checks and subsequent ambivalences. This article frames and investigates the emerging algae-based bioplastics industry as one niche within this broader system envisaged for social, technological, economic, political and ecological change. As such, our paper presents two categories of knowledge that in practice interrelate: 1) specific and practical recommendations that can assist a future algal-based bioplastics industry to develop in Australia in ways that are conscious of socio-ecological and socio-cultural dimensions, and 2) critical extensions that go beyond the attributes of newness, impact, suddenness and universality often emphasised in both popular and scientific research into emerging green technologies. In particular, our analysis highlights the importance of specific temporal, tonal and spatial factors when framing the contextual factors associated emerging industries, technologies and the different pathways for change they might help support. • Pathways and enabling factors for a algal-based bioplastics industry in regional Australia are presented. • The 'social idea' of the bioeconomy is analysed with reference to algal-based bioplastics. • The algal-based bioplastics industry is contextualised in relation to transition pathways literatureon the bioeconomy. • Themes and recommendations are synthesised from literature review and semi-structured interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green finance is a financial innovation that directs capital allocation towards green industries. How will this affect regional carbon emissions? Based on the data on green finance and carbon emissions of 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2019, this paper employs a multivariate linear regression model and a spatial econometric model to empirically study the impact of green finance on carbon emissions. The results find that (1) green finance significantly reduces provincial carbon emissions, specifically through promoting a cleaner energy structure and an advanced industrial structure, as well as improving the quality of green innovation. (2) Heterogeneity exists between regions. In eastern regions and areas characterized by high levels of marketization and minimal fiscal pressure, the role of green finance in promoting provincial carbon emission reduction is more pronounced. (3) Spatial econometric analysis found that green finance has a significant spatial spillover effect on carbon reduction in adjacent regions. Specifically, the flow of green resources and green ideas between provinces facilitates the formation of regional radiation, while green competition generates a siphon effect on neighboring regions. These findings provide some meaningful policy implications to achieve China's dual-carbon goal by promoting green finance. • Green finance has significantly reduced China's provincial carbon emissions. • The upgrading of energy structure and industrial structure is a positive channel to reduce carbon emissions. • Green innovation strengthens the carbon reduction effect of green finance, but reveals the potential "greenwashing". • Green finance has a significant spatial spillover effect on carbon reduction in adjacent regions. • Policymakers should develop flexible, dynamic and coordinated green finance development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology has the potential to address sustainability challenges in the agri-food industry. This scoping review analyzes 72 papers and finds that blockchain technology can enhance economic, environmental, and social sustainability. By reducing transaction costs, improving transparency, and empowering consumers, it contributes to economic sustainability. Environmental sustainability is enhanced through carbon emissions reduction, waste management, and better environmental impact monitoring. Social sustainability is promoted through food safety, consumer trust, and financial inclusion for small farmers. However, unexplored avenues like obstacle identification, localized solutions, consumer trust factors, crisis resilience, environmental implications, and fair market access require further research. The transformative potential of blockchain in the agri-food industry requires interdisciplinary collaboration to fully harness its benefits for a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pilot Free Trade Zones (PFTZ) can promote green technology innovation efficiency. • Providing reference for developing countries to develop green economy. • Proposing a more holistic index system of green technology innovation efficiency. • The impact of PFTZ exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity. • Market potential affects the green effect of PFTZ. The Pilot Free Trade Zone (PFTZ) policy represents a significant step in China's institutional innovation and broader opening-up, crucial for fostering green and high-quality economic growth. The existing literature has conducted in-depth studies on the economic effects, energy conservation, emission reduction and green innovation of PFTZs, but the effect on green technology innovation efficiency (GTIE) remains underexplored. Institutional innovation in the PFTZs will profoundly affect regional green development, and green innovation, and will certainly affect the regional GTIE. Based on this, this paper uses the city-level data of prefecture-level cities in China from 2005 to 2020 to empirically test the impact of PFTZ establishment on GTIE. First, the Super-SBM model was applied to evaluate the GTIE across 281 Chinese cities. Then, taking the establishment of PFTZs as a quasi-natural experiment, the multi-stage differentially differential model is constructed to empirically assess PFTZ policy's impact on GTIE. The findings indicate that PFTZs can significantly enhance the GTIE. This improvement is facilitated through four pathways: the digital economy, the high-tech industries agglomeration, innovation agglomeration, and talent agglomeration. The results offer strategies for balancing external openness with environmental protection in developing countries and furnish empirical support for creating high-quality development frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A water security evaluation framework was established based on the DPSIR. • Five-element connection degree method was used to evaluate the water security. • Northwest China's water security developed to a very high level. • Five dimensions of water security showed a steadily improving trend. Since the the dawn of the 21st century, water security has occupied a pivotal position in fostering sustainable development. However, frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change and higher intensity of anthropogenic events, water security problems in Northwest China are becoming increasingly prominent. This paper elucidates water security levels and predicts future trends of Northwest China. Firstly, the Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) conceptual framework served as the foundation for the establishment of the water security evaluation index system. Then used the entropy weight method to calculate the weight of indicators and the five-element connection degree method was used to assess the water security levels. The period for the data used in the study was from 2010 to 2019. Finally, a grey prediction model was employed to forecast the water security levels from 2023 to 2030. The findings showed that: (1) From 2010 to 2019, the water security situation gradually developed to a very high level in Northwest China: Shaanxi Province mostly attained a high level, and the water security grades of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were mostly at a very low level. (2) Generally, from 2023 to 2030, the water security level will continue to improve. The water security grades of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai will mostly be at the medium level, while that of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will be at the low level. (3) The five dimensions of water security in Northwest China demonstrated a fluctuating yet consistently upward trend. (4) Based on the results, suggestions were put forward regarding water security and sustainable development in Northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of flax fiber reinforced epoxy composites (FFRCs) under realistic environmental conditions, contributing to the development of sustainable composite materials for semi-structural outdoor applications. For this purpose, the reversibility of FFRC performance under consecutive and repeated humid-dry aging cycles was investigated for the first time. In particular, FFRCs were exposed to three cycles (total aging time of 12 weeks), with each cycle (duration 4 weeks) comprising 10 days of wetting (salt-fog spray; 35 °C, 95 % RH, 5 wt% NaCl solution) and 18 days of drying (22 °C, 50 % RH). Three-point bending tests were carried out up to 18 days of drying within each cycle to monitor changes in the mechanical performances of composites. Water absorption capacity, density and void content were also assessed by tracking weight changes throughout the aging campaign. The experimental results highlighted that the humid phase of each cycle causes degradation of FFRC materials, even though they are able to fully recover their flexural strength during each dry phase, indicating reversible aging. On the other hand, a stiffness permanent reduction was observed due to irreversible degradation phenomena. • Flax fiber reinforced composites (FFRCs) was exposed to repeated salt fog-dry cycles. • Flexural tests and water uptake measurements were performed. • FFRCs experienced mainly reversible degradative phenomena. • FFRCs showed complete recovery of flexural strength at the end of the dry phase. • The stiffness recovery was found to be less relevant than the strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing urgency of environmental problems, such as climate change, pollution, and waste management, has highlighted the importance of eco-innovation. It includes the development of sustainable solutions for goods and services. As corporations adopt sustainability practices, governments are increasingly essential in propelling eco-innovation. Innovation and economic growth are inextricably linked since innovation helps reduce costs, increases productivity, and builds knowledge. Eco-innovation, requiring stakeholders' collaboration and knowledge sharing where public policy plays a critical role in fostering eco-innovation, is frequently catalyzed by climate change and environmental issues. This paper provides an assessment of the public policy of several countries and its part in promoting eco-innovation. It explores how policy tools such as research and development investments, regulations, incentives, and infrastructure can be used successfully. It also explores how such instruments influence small and medium enterprises due to their importance in environmental sustainability policy. This research contributes to knowledge and adds to the literature by offering a global approach to the subject, complementing previous regional/single-country studies. It demonstrates the worldwide consequences of policy actions on eco-innovation and provides recommendations for policymakers, businesses, academics, and environmental stakeholders. The results highlight how governmental support is integral to ensuring the sustainability of a green future with economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propulsion of economic growth is a multifaceted construct, influenced by technology, capital, and resource management, with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) being a significant contributors to innovation and employment. This study examines the growth of Scottish SMEs across four sectors over a 14-year period (2008–2021) by employing a novel statistical approach to understand their development trajectories within the framework of open innovation. The paper engaged in a longitudinal analysis to assess trends and inform policy for sustainable growth by the utilization of open-access data. Theoretical metrics such as the Average Growth Rate, Compound Average Growth Rate (CAGR), and Year-Over-Year (YoY) Growth were applied to evaluate sectoral performance. The findings revealed varied growth patterns; the information technology sector exhibited a robust increase, while the telecommunications sector showed significant percentage growth. Conversely, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector experienced a decline that suggests a potential market gap. An affirmative trajectory in CAGR was observed in most sectors except ICT, which corroborates a shift in technological evolution and market needs. The study illuminates the dynamic economic landscape of Scottish SMEs, with telecoms emerging as the most prosperous sector in terms of growth rates, thus indicates a shifting economic focus. The study's limitations are briefly discussed, in addition to the need for updated databases and further research employing predictive modeling with machine learning to enhance forecasting capabilities and foster open innovation for sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]