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In recent years, paper‐based functional materials have received extensive attention in the field of energy storage due to their advantages of rich and adjustable porous network structure and good flexibility. As an important energy storage device, paper‐based supercapacitors have important application prospects in many fields and have also received extensive attention from researchers in recent years. At present, researchers have modified and regulated paper‐based materials by different means such as structural design and material composition to enhance their electrochemical storage capacity. The development of paper‐based supercapacitors provides an important direction for the development of green and sustainable energy. Therefore, it is of great significance to summarize the relevant work of paper‐based supercapacitors for their rapid development and application. In this review, the recent research progress of paper‐based supercapacitors based on cellulose was summarized in terms of various cellulose‐based composites, preparation skills, and electrochemical performance. Finally, some opinions on the problems in the development of this field and the future development trend were proposed. It is hoped that this review can provide valuable references and ideas for the rapid development of paper‐based energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry plays an important role in the global economy and is inextricably linked to human life. Due to its large scale, the production process generates a large amount of wastewater, which poses a major threat to the environment. The sustainable utilization and safe treatment of pulp and paper wastewater can effectively reduce environmental pollution, improve resource utilization efficiency, protect water resources, provide economic benefits for pulp and paper enterprises, and thus promote the green and sustainable development of the pulp and paper industry. Therefore, this study discusses the pollution components of pulp and paper wastewater and their impact on the environment and human health. In this review, we aim to explore the sustainable development of pulp and paper wastewater by summarizing the characteristics of current pulp and paper wastewater, the commonly used treatment methods for pulp and paper wastewater, the application of pulp and paper wastewater recycling, and the future development direction of pulp and paper wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock dung, discarded crop straws, and residual plastic film are the primary agricultural non-point sources of pollution. For livestock dung and discarded crop straw, the general treatment focuses on compost, animal fodder, industrial raw material, and new energy. The development of degradable mulch film is the main way to solve pollution from residual plastic film. However, an effective way to solve the above three types of pollution simultaneously and use them for ecological circular agriculture has been less studied. In this study, using cow dung and flax straw wastes as raw materials, we prepared natural, fibre-based paper mulch using the rapid-Kothen method and analysed the film-forming mechanism. Based on the Van Soest method, the cow dung and flax straw waste contain abundant cellulose fibres: 36.75% and 54.69%, respectively. The tensile strength and tear strength of fibre paper mulch are 1.87 kN/m and 19.91 N/mm, respectively. To enhance the adaptability of the fibre paper mulch in humid environments, the surface of the mulch was treated with alkyl ketene dimer (AKD). The AKD-coated fibre paper mulch displays hydrophobic properties, indicated by a contact angle of 128° ± 2°. It has a wet tensile strength of 0.64 kN/m and a wet tear strength of 8.23 N/mm. Additionally, it exhibits a dry tensile strength and a tear strength of 2.13 kN/m and 16.43 N/mm, respectively. Notably, the dry tensile strength is increased by 16.31%. In this way, the livestock dung and discarded crop straw can be reused, reducing dung pollution and straw burning in livestock farms, and the final products can alleviate the residual film pollution simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between environmental regulation and firm productivity has been widely debated but inconsistencies in findings across different studies. Using detailed firm-level micro-data from 2000 to 2007, this paper employs difference-in-difference combined with matching based on entropy balancing method to explore the effect of environmental regulation on firm total factor productivity (TFP) in pulp and paper industry in China. Our main findings are as following: Firstly, stricter environmental regulation, as represented by the Wastewater Discharge Standards for Pulp and Paper Industry in Shandong province, increases firm TFP significantly. Moreover, the coefficients of interest are robust to multiple robustness checks. Secondly, dynamic effects estimates reveal that when faced with this phase-in environmental regulation, firms take the foreseeably increasing strictness into account from the very beginning and prefer to take one-step adjustment to reach full compliance. Thirdly, potential mechanism analysis finds that the positive effect mainly comes from the improvement of resource allocation efficiency within firms. Fourthly, the heterogeneity test indicates that the effect of environmental regulation on firm TFP is heterogeneous across firms with different sizes, ages, ownerships, capital intensity, and export status. Finally, this paper provides convincing and insightful evidence that environmental regulation has the potential to achieve the dual goals of environmental sustainability and economic growth and is thus of broader significance for understanding the enforcement of environmental regulation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of fiber modification methods and beating degrees on the properties of paper sheets. Two different methods were used to modify fibers: NaOH + urea and TEMPO ((2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxidanyl) and blended with traditional paper fibers. Subsequently, we evaluated the resulting sheets for their optical, strength, and thermo-mechanical characteristics. Notably, we also scrutinized sheets created exclusively with 100% TEMPO-modified fibers. The addition of modified fibers led to improvements in several strength properties, but it had a noteworthy negative impact on the optical properties of TEMPO-treated fibers compared to the other papers. Furthermore, thermal analysis revealed that the contraction rates of the samples increased considerably up to 40–50 °C for the out-of-plane direction and surpassed 130 °C for the in-plane direction. In general, the inclusion of modified fibers had a significant effect on thermo-mechanical properties. Specifically, TEMPO modification resulted in an increase in the maximum in-plane contraction ratio, shifting it from −0.40% to −0.59%, along with its corresponding temperature. This research underscores the potential of modified fibers to enhance paper properties and contribute to the development of more sustainable paper-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric wet-strength agents are important additives used in the paper industry to improve the mechanical properties of paper products, especially when they come into contact with water. These agents play a crucial role in enhancing the durability, strength, and dimensional stability of paper products. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the different types of wet-strength agents available and their mechanisms of action. We will also discuss the challenges associated with the use of wet-strength agents and the recent advances in the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly agents. As the demand for more sustainable and durable paper products continues to grow, the use of wet-strength agents is expected to increase in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faculty mobility is one of the most important research issues in the field of higher education. Reasonable faculty mobility can actively promote the fair, coordinated, balanced, healthy, and sustainable development of higher education. Scientific impact is the best proof of faculty members' research abilities and is often represented by the quality of their articles. In particular, the gradual increase in citations of high-quality papers is undoubtedly an important reflection of healthy development in the academic field. This paper aims to explore the influence of faculty mobility on scientific impact, while comparative analysis is used to investigate whether there are disciplinary differences in the relationship between faculty mobility and scientific impact. Four major disciplines—sociology, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and philosophy—are selected as the scope of this study. Articles in these four major disciplines from 2000 to 2020 are obtained from the Web of Science, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test are used to analyze the collected data. The results indicate the following: (1) faculty mobility has increased, with differences across disciplines; (2) mobility leads to a decrease in the number of citations, which decreases significantly with increased mobility frequency; and (3) the impact of mobility has disciplinary differences, with a relatively obvious decrease in mechanical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to highlight the current trends in the literature on sustainability by applying a bibliometric review of papers on sustainability published in Environment, Development and Sustainability. Bibliometric analysis is a quantitative approach to bibliographic materials that highlights the core theoretical and empirical research on a specific field. In addition, it allows the classification of previous studies. Previous bibliometric reviewers were limited to sustainability papers in specific industries, while this study considers all papers on sustainability to provide further insights on overall sustainability topics. The analysis was based on keyword cartography analysis, bibliometric authors' citation analysis, bibliometric papers' citation analysis, bibliometric references' co-citation analysis, journals' co-citation cartography, and qualitative content analysis. A total of 997 articles on sustainability were reviewed. Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer and content analysis was performed using WordStat. Six major clusters were identified: environmental sustainability, sustainable development, urban sustainability, ecological footprint, environment, and climate change. In addition, the results reveal that Environment, Development and Sustainability has increasingly experienced important growth in research papers and citations, reflecting its significant contribution to the sustainability research field. In addition, this study presents recommendations for future research opportunities in the field of sustainability. The findings of this study have implications for sustainability research, such as the assessment of environmental and social sustainability in multinational institutional contexts and across industries as well as the examination of the impact of environmental and social sustainability on different corporate aspects and decisions. This study is the only one to review the key topics on which papers published in Environment, Development and Sustainability are focused and can be largely used for sustainability practices. This study provides an overview of how the literature on sustainability has developed, as well as a summary of the most productive authors, along with countries, organizations, and journal sources. This offers an opportunity for future research to focus on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fly ash–lime–gypsum bricks are an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient alternative to burnt clay bricks. Nowadays, the scarcity of fly ash and lime adversely affects the production of fly ash bricks. To mitigate this, the current study examines incinerated paper mill sludge ash as a supplement to fly ash and lime. In the current study, in blend 1, coal fly ash is replaced by incinerated paper mill sludge ash (2.5–30 wt%), and in blend 2, lime is completely replaced by incinerated paper mill sludge ash (2.5–15 wt%). Based on Indian standards, bricks were tested for compressive strength, water absorption, weight density, percentage voids, efflorescence, drying shrinkage, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and impact energy. Before developing bricks, the materials have to be examined by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscope techniques. Results from X-ray diffraction showed that higher replacement of incinerated paper mill sludge ash does not produce any phase transformation and merely improves porosity, which reduces weight. Higher replacement of incinerated paper mill sludge ash leads to a reduction in strength and a higher water requirement. The study found that incorporating incinerated paper mill sludge ash at replacement 2.5–15 wt% in blend 1 and 2.5–5 wt% in blend 2 satisfied the building brick requirements. By incorporating incinerated paper mill sludge ash into bricks, the brick industry can produce sustainable bricks that utilize resources effectively. Graphical abstract illustrating the reuse of incinerated paper mill sludge ash in the manufacturing of building bricks to minimize the demand for fly ash and lime. The visual shows the drawbacks of paper mill sludge in land dumping, the suggested methodology for reusing incinerated paper mill sludge ash to minimize environmental degradation, improved sustainability through waste utilization, its benefits, and the characterization of bricks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to make a first step toward monitoring the sustainability of wood as (one of) the main element(s) of the EU biomass supply, a novel approach combining a physical accounting model with a material flow–life cycle assessment approach was used to trace the locations of origin of the wood and the associated sustainability impacts. Applying this approach to EU trade data from 2018, we found that around one-third of the wood fiber input in finished paper products consumed in the EU was imported. The main countries of origin were Brazil, the United States and Uruguay. We used Uruguay as a case study of an important country that provides wood pulp to assess the associated sustainability impacts. The results reveal synergies and trade-offs between employment, value added and environmental impacts. We highlight the need to analyze sustainability impacts in different dimensions of sustainability and consider not only territorial impacts in isolation but also from a global perspective in order to have a more holistic overview. Future extensions of the approach could include the coverage of other commodities, additional impacts along the global supply chain (e.g., post-use) and additional sustainability indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the ways in which sustainable development can be understood is through the efficient management and systematization of indicators. For this reason, the study of ecological footprints is important, given that this concept integrates the different types of environmental indicators and, from the results and their interpretation, explains the total environmental impact generated through the development of daily human activities. The objective of this research was to quantify the total ecological footprint of the National University of the Altiplano in 2023. An application-type quantitative approach was considered, and the study utilized a descriptive, non-experimental design in which source data were used. The data were obtained from a primary sample through applying a survey to teachers, students, and administrative staff. The questionnaire included questions about the operations and functioning of the university, allowing us to calculate and analyze the components of its ecological footprint. It was determined that, in 2023, the university entity generated 4721.20 t CO2 in carbon dioxide emissions due to the use and operation of infrastructure, buildings, mobility, electricity consumption, paper consumption, and water consumption. The findings indicate that the university's operations require approximately 915.67 hectares of forest annually to offset its carbon emissions and that it has an ecological footprint (in global hectares) of 1172.06 hag/year, suggesting important sustainability challenges. Finally, it was determined that the ecological footprint per capita at the National University of the Altiplano in 2023 was 0.04 ha/person/year and 0.06 hag/person/year, due to CO2 emissions, thus generating a greater ecological footprint of the university. These results underline the need to improve sustainable practices and review policies at the university level in order to better align with the objectives of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The severity of plastic pollution is increasing, and delaying sustainable development is not an option. China is a large consumer of plastic, so it is essential to encourage the use of eco-friendly shopping bags there. The paper focuses on the recognition and use of eco-friendly shopping bags among young people in Guangdong Province, China, and determines what factors can lead to a rise in the use of these bags. A questionnaire was utilized to gather data from 392 young people in Guangdong Province using a quantitative research approach. According to the data from the questionnaire, they generally are supportive of eco-friendly shopping bags. Ultimately, the paper's data emphasize the positive effects of materials (paper material), function (internal compartment), and design (green label). For the purpose of advocating sustainable development, this paper provides helpful guidance for the design of eco-friendly shopping bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years neural networks have been used to achieve all 17 SDGs. This paper is directly related to SDG 9. In particular, the application of neural networks in statistics indicates the creation and development of a scientific research infrastructure (including encouraging innovation, SDG 9.5). Also, this paper shows the possibility of the mass practical application of neural networks for statistics in the context of sustainable development (with the possibilit of increasing the number of researchers, SDG 9.5). The paper aims to test the following two hypotheses in the context of SDG 9.5: (1) The rapid growth of scientific interest in neural networks will lead to a decrease in the number of scientific publications in statistics. (2) It is possible to use neural networks for calculating statistical indicators. Bibliometric analysis, mathematical modeling, the calculation of statistical indicators using the new prompt and Excel table z-statistics were used. The scientific novelty lies in the new knowledge obtained by the author for the first time. This study integrates advanced technologies (neural networks) and a traditional field (statistics), which is a significant contribution to innovation and infrastructure development (Indicator 9.5.1). The practical value lies in the ease of the mass use of neural networks for statistical data processing of more than 100,000 units, which is related to Indicator 9.5.2. Thus, this paper represents an important contribution to the stimulation of innovation, thereby building up technological potential and leading to a significant increase in the number of researchers (SDG 9.5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to initiate academic discussion on the European Union (EU) social taxonomy for the purpose of promoting sustainable economic activities that ultimately contribute to achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the EU. The paper examines the historical evolution of the social taxonomy concept and presents the chronological order of the regulatory advancements that have paved the way for the establishment of both the EU environmental and social taxonomies. This study emphasizes the role of the EU environmental taxonomy as the frontrunner and highlights three fundamental distinctions between taxonomies in terms of objectives, foundations, and measurability. By defining the key performance indicators applicable to entities engaged in taxonomy-aligned economic activities, the paper offers a tabulated framework to understand the core focus areas, sub-objectives, and types of substantial contributions related to each of the three social objectives outlined in the EU taxonomy. Moreover, this paper aims to emphasize the contemporary challenges and the prospective avenues for future research in the field of social taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global financial ecosystem undergoes a paradigm shift toward sustainability, platforms emerge as instrumental intermediaries, connecting diverse stakeholders, facilitating information flow, and catalyzing impactful investments. This paper analyses the evolving landscape of sustainable finance and investigates the role of platforms in fostering its growth. Sustainable finance platform-based enablers were determined using a systematic literature review and bibliometric techniques on a sample of papers retrieved from the SCOPUS database, and included crowdfunding platforms, impact investment platforms, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms, blockchain-based financing platforms, and ESG data platforms. The analysis showed that platform-based solutions act as accelerators of sustainable finance mobilization, by enhancing transparency of the processes, and by improving dissemination and accessibility of the funds needed. Thus, platform-based solutions help a broader set of stakeholders direct the potential of platforms to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and inclusive global financial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital transformation of the manufacturing industry is closely linked to green credit policies, which jointly promote the development of the manufacturing industry towards a more environmentally friendly, efficient and sustainable development. Based on the research sample of China's manufacturing A-share listed companies from 2008 to 2022, this paper uses the difference-in- differences (DID) method to analyze the impact of green credit policies on the digital transformation of heavily polluting enterprises. The results show that green credit policies significantly inhibit the digital transformation of heavily polluting enterprises. In terms of the adjustment mechanism, the R&D investment of enterprises and the financial background of senior executives have weakened the inhibitory effect of green credit policies on the digital transformation of heavily polluting enterprises. When the R&D investment is low, the inhibitory effect of the policy is more significant, but with the increase of R&D investment, the inhibitory effect of the policy gradually weakens, indicating that there is a substitution relationship between the two. Enterprises with senior financial expertise have a deeper understanding of financial feasibility and benefit analysis, and are more receptive to the high-risk investment of digital transformation, while their financial network resources can help broaden financing channels, reduce financing constraints, and further reduce the financial difficulty of digital transformation. In addition, the green credit policy has a stronger inhibitory effect on the digital transformation of non-state-owned enterprises and enterprises that do not hold bank shares. The conclusions of this paper are expected to provide some policy implications for the subsequent green credit policies in promoting the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment (NSA) has become an important topic of interest in promoting sustainable cities. It is the suitable scale of a neighborhood that allows meaningful evaluation of social, economic, and environmental impacts. Also, a neighborhood's representation of the link between the city and an individual further adds to its popularity. In an era of growing interest in socio-spatial measures for addressing sustainable neighborhoods, this paper explores the significance of measuring spatial configurations through the Space Syntax method for NSA. The study provides a bibliometric overview of Space Syntax research and a systematic literature search to review 13 research articles that use Space Syntax as part of the NSA. The review identifies integration and connectivity as the most frequently used metrics in NSA and finds that linking Space Syntax to neighborhoods' sustainable development, especially environmental sustainability, is a newly emerging topic. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion on the significance and limitations of Space Syntax as a spatial assessment method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding eco-friendly products that are beneficial to the environment and serve as tools for sustainable development is a contemporary challenge. This work illustrates the recovery of bio-waste-based materials, which not only improve the hygrothermal properties of gypsum but also promote the paper and wood recycling processes in a circular economy approach. The samples were subjected to tests for density, water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity, flexural strength, compressive strength, and thermophysical property characterization. A statistical analysis of variance was used to study the impact of waste on the physico-mechanical behavior of gypsum, leading to the development of predictive models that can be used to predict and optimize the performance of bio-composites in various applications. The results revealed a reduction in mechanical strength with the addition of waste, but the samples still exhibit superior insulation properties, surpassing commonly used standard boards. By adding ouate and wood wastes to a mass of 20% in its natural state, the gypsum becomes lighter and acts as a better insulator with a reduced density, thermal conductivity, and ultrasound velocity of up to 50%, 57%, and 83%, respectively. These findings show the significant implication of reducing environmental impacts while contributing to the promotion of sustainable building practices, both in new construction projects and in building renovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's manufacturing industry needs to change from a high-emission model to one that is more environmentally friendly to reduce air pollution and achieve sustainable growth. Therefore, it is important to decrease manufacturing waste gas emissions by improving green productivity. This paper expands on the theories of green economic growth and sustainable development to present a framework for analysis of manufacturing green productivity at various levels of air pollution. It applies the Metafrontier Malmquist Luenberger index and SBM model to data from 30 Chinese manufacturing sectors from 2012 to 2022 to identify the obstacles to developing green productivity in the manufacturing sectors. The results show that: (1) From 2012 to 2022, the overall waste gas emission efficiency and GTFP of China's manufacturing industry showed an increasing trend. (2) The manufacturing industry with light air pollution had the fastest growth in GTFP, followed by manufacturing with heavy air pollution, and manufacturing with moderate air pollution had the lowest. (3) The primary driver of GTFP growth is technological progress, while technical inefficiency has severely hindered GTFP growth. (4) There is a "Matthew effect" in the green productivity of China's manufacturing industry. High waste gas emission efficiency often accompanies high levels of GTFP, and vice versa. Finally, this paper proposes policy suggestions to improve the green productivity of the manufacturing industry and reduce air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper quantifies the economic impact of regime changes and macroeconomic indicators on debt stress in Zambia using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds test. A 1% short run increase in gross domestic products (GDP) increases debt stress by 3.16% and in the subsequent year lowers it by 7.21%; in the long-run the 1% GDP increases lowers debt stress by 22%. In the long-run, a 1% rise in inflation and the lending rate negatively and positively impacted debt stress levels by -1.52% and 3.90%, respectively. Short-run shocks culminated regime change had short-run adverse impact on debt stress by 3.45% in one year and in the subsequent year by -10.35%, with the variables adjusting to long-run equilibrium at a speed of 71.5%. This is the first paper to quantify the empirical effect of macroeconomic indicators and change in Presidents on debt stress, especially in Africa were the problem of the debt trap is perpetuated. The results from the study implies that to deescalate the impact of debt stress on the economy, the electorate should vote in governments that will not fall short on growth driven macroeconomic policies, making it possible for economic sustainability to prevail; and paper seeks to promote good governance and good economic policies as a premise for sustained macroeconomic stability and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Urban Research is the property of Journal of Urban Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the global trade landscape, ports are not only critical nodes for the transportation of goods but also increasingly recognized as key factors driving sustainable development through their green competitiveness. This paper takes a green competitiveness perspective to delve into the interactive relationship between port development and the hinterland economy, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and policy recommendations for the green development of ports. An evaluation index system for green competitiveness of ports was constructed, and a combination of the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) and the Entropy Weighted-Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (EW-TOPSIS) method was employed to quantitatively measure and assess the 25 major coastal ports and their hinterland economic systems in China. The study reveals that the overall green competitiveness of these major coastal ports is on the rise, yet notable disparities exist among individual ports. Regionally, the green competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta port group stands out, while that of the Bohai Rim, southeastern, Pearl River Delta, and southwestern coastal port groups is relatively low. Empirical analysis conducted in this paper demonstrates the positive impact of port green competitiveness on the hinterland economic system, particularly its significant role in enhancing the total and quality aspects of the hinterland economy. Furthermore, it was found that the green competitiveness of ports exerts a more pronounced promotional effect on the hinterland economies of the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta port groups compared to that on the Bohai Rim, southeastern, and southwestern coastal port groups. The results of this paper also hold important guiding value for optimizing the allocation of port resources, promoting port technological innovation, and improving port environmental management, contributing to the harmonious coexistence and long-term development of ports and their hinterlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of waste has a profound impact on the environment, prompting a crucial discussion about effective waste management strategies aligned with Oman Vision 2040's sustainability goals. The consequences of municipal solid waste generation have multifaceted impacts on the environment, public health, and overall well-being of communities. Addressing these consequences requires a holistic approach that includes the integration of sustainable waste management technologies to foster a circular economy. This paper emphasizes the necessity for a paradigm shift in waste management methodologies, emphasizing the importance of Hyperspectral Imaging and Big Data Analytics into municipal solid waste management processes. This paper explores the synergistic relationship between hyperspectral imaging which is capable of precise material identification, and big data analytics to facilitate comprehensive data analysis. The integration aims to optimize waste segregation, resource recovery, and recycling processes. The utilization of data-driven insights enables predictive modeling and the identification of trends thereby facilitating more efficient and sustainable waste management practices. The harnessing of big data analytics empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions in waste management to achieve long-term environmental, and economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the panel data of 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China from 2012 to 2022, from the perspective of harmony between man and nature, this paper selects 20 indicators to measure the level of agricultural green development from five dimensions such as ecological conservation and resource conservation by entropy weight method. On this basis, taking the implementation of green industrial policy in the Yangtze River Economic Belt as a quasi-natural experiment, the policy effect of green industrial policy on agricultural green development was analyzed by using the difference-in-difference method. The study found that: (1) the green development of agriculture is basically increasing year by year in each province, but there are some differences in the green development of agriculture among provinces; (2) Compared with the non-implementation areas of policies, the green development of agriculture in the implementation areas of policies has been significantly improved, and has passed a series of robustness tests; (3) The mechanism analysis shows that the green industrial policy has a crowding-out effect on industrial development, but significantly enhances the ecological construction and protection, thus promoting the green development of agriculture; (4) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the policy has a significant positive incentive effect on the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the incentive effect on the middle reaches is not significant; (5) The impact of technological level on agricultural green development shows a positive U-shaped relationship. The improvement of education and information development levels also effectively promotes the green development of agriculture. This paper provides important empirical evidence and factual references for further promoting the green development of agriculture and the improvement of green industrial policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The integration of the health insurance fund pool may threaten the sustainability of the fund by increasing its expenditures through the exacerbation of the moral hazard of participations. The purpose of this paper is to assess and predict the impact of the single pool reform of China's Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) on the expenditure and sustainability of the health insurance fund. Methods: In this paper, we consider the pilot implementation of the single pool reform in some provinces of China as a quasi-natural experiment, and develop a staggered DID model to assess the impact of the single pool reform on medical reimbursement expenditure. Based on the results, an actuarial model is developed to predict the impact on the accumulated balance of China's health insurance fund if the single pool reform is continued. Results: We found that the medical reimbursement expenditure would increase by 66.4% per insured person after the unified provincial-level pool reform. There is individual heterogeneity in the effects of the unified single pool reform on medical reimbursement expenditure, and the reimbursement expenditure of retired elderly has the largest increase. If the unified single pool reform is gradually promoted, the current and accumulated balance of the UEBMI pooling fund would have gaps in 2031 and 2042, respectively. Conclusion: We verified that a larger fund pool will bring unreasonable growth of fund expenditures, which will threaten the sustainable development of health insurance. To minimize the impact of the unified single pool reform on the sustainability of the health insurance fund, we suggest strengthening the monitoring of moral hazard behavior, promoting the delayed retirement system, and encouraging childbearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The primary function and spatial layout of agriculture are essential foundations and prerequisites for achieving green development. This paper explores the growth drivers for the green transformation of agricultural production in Guangdong, China, aiming to guide the continuous green and low-carbon development of agricultural productivity in Guangdong. Methods: Based on the panel data of 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong, China, from 2004 to 2022, this paper uses DEA-BCC and DEA-Malmquist to measure the agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) and its decomposition efficiency in Guangdong China. The SDM is employed to analyze its spatial spillover roles of the agricultural industrial structure (AIS) innovation. Results: The results show that the AGTFP varies with an overall fluctuating upward trend, but the imbalance of regional differences still exists, characterized as "Pearl River Delta > Eastern Wing > Western Wing > Mountainous Area," indicating the siphoning role from Pearl River Delta. There is a strong spatial correlation between the AGTFP and the AIS. Discussion: Our evidence suggests that the AIS innovation improves the AGTFP and can have positive spatial consequences in neighboring areas. Besides, human capital hinders AGTFP, accounting for the self-exploitation in agricultural production driven by the excessive labor force input. Our findings highlight the spatial impact of the AIS innovation on the AGTFP when greening agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the development of carbon finance can promote sustainable economic growth in China through spatial spillover effects. On the basis of a theoretical analysis of this mechanism, this paper takes 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China as the research object and uses a variety of spatial econometric analysis techniques to empirically test them. It assesses sustainable economic development measured by green total factor productivity (GTFP). This study documents a significant and positive impact of province-level carbon finance improvement on sustainable economic growth through improving technological progress and increasing technological market turnover. The economic influence of carbon finance on sustainable economic growth is still positive after considering possible endogeneity concerns. Results reveal heterogeneity and spatial spillover effects of carbon finance on GTFP, notably stronger in eastern regions compared to central and western ones. We find that the technological progress and technological market turnover have significant and positive promotional effects on GTFP with increasing levels of carbon finance. This paper provides policy implications for improving sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate green investment is the key driver for achieving low-carbon transition and sustainable marine economy. Existing literature has identified several influencing factors of corporate green investment, but there is still limited research on the relationship between climate policy uncertainty and corporate green investment. To fill this gap, this paper innovatively explores the nonlinear impact of climate policy uncertainty on corporate green investment, simultaneously focuses on the moderating role of corporate financing constraints and analyzes the coastal characteristic heterogeneity. Using the sample of listed companies in China from 2014-2020, we find that climate policy uncertainty has an inverted U-shaped impact on corporate green investment. From the perspective of heterogeneity, the inverted U-shaped effect is more significant in coastal areas. Moderating effect test indicates that corporate financing constraints strengthen the inverted U-shaped relationship and shift the turning point of curve to the left. Additionally, we further find that climate policy uncertainty has an inverted U-shaped impact on environmental performance of companies in coastal areas through green investment. Our research will provide some potential insights for China's climate policy making and corporate green transformation, so as to contribute to sustainable marine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, with a growing emphasis on sustainable economic development, corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance is attracting increasing attention and favor from investors. This triggers a question: can good ESG performance of listed companies mitigate the "up and down" of the stock market by drawing investor attention? This paper utilizes the data from China's A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020, with investor attention as a mediating variable, to explore how the ESG performance of listed companies influences abnormal stock price volatility. The findings suggest that stronger ESG performance of listed companies significantly reduces abnormal stock price volatility, in which investor attention plays a partial mediating role. This paper confirms the robustness of the findings through multiple robustness and endogeneity tests. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that listed companies with good ESG performance during the growth period are more likely to significantly mitigate abnormal stock price volatility. Similarly, firms that maintain commendable ESG performance in bear markets significantly reduce abnormal stock price volatility. These findings enrich the theoretical research on the impact of ESG performance on abnormal stock price volatility, provide empirical evidence for listed companies to emphasize ESG investment and encourage investors to consider ESG ratings. Additionally, the study provides a new perspective for government agencies to utilize corporate ESG performance to maintain the sound development of the capital market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption has risen much more while the economy has expanded so quickly. As a result, significant environmental contamination is created, which causes public worry. Under this background, enhancing energy efficiency and lowering pollution is particularly crucial for the fulfillment of sustainable economic development. Efficiency evaluation for energy and environment is an effective measure to achieve both energy saving and emission reduction as well as sustainable social development. In this paper, energy and environmental efficiency consists of energy utilization efficiency and pollution treatment efficiency. An improved two‐stage DEA model is proposed, which takes into account how stochastic and environmental factors affect decision‐making units (DMUs). Finally, the author analyses the panel data of 15 cities in Southwest China from 2010 to 2018, which proves the feasibility and effectiveness of this study. The results show Southwest China's poor energy and environmental efficiency as well as the stark differences among its cities. The scientific value revealed by this paper is as follows: (1) for the study of energy and environmental efficiency, this paper is more targeted at the differences between cities and (2) using an improved two‐stage DEA model to consider the effects of stochastic factors on DMUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological innovation is changing the way maritime transport is done, and automated driving is one of the hot topics, including unmanned ships that use automated driving technology, but legal challenges to the application of unmanned ships in the shipping industry must be resolved before that happens --whether and how the principles of existing international conventions regarding unmanned ships. To deal with this problem, it is far from enough to rely on the efforts of international organizations or the revision of international conventions. The paper analyzes several typical legal issues faced by unmanned ships: the legal definition of unmanned ships, the seaworthiness of unmanned ships, the master and crew rules, and the collision and rescue of unmanned ships, taking China as an example, the paper explains reasonable and effective legal path of domestic and international laws, trying to seek solutions at the level of domestic law beyond international convention. The paper concludes that the traditional navigation rules have largely been developed to meet the needs of manned transportation, and cannot be fully applied to unmanned ships. Therefore, until there is an international regulation specifically for unmanned ships, it would be appropriate to interpret or revise existing international conventions to apply to unmanned ships. And for countries including China, it is important to consider the improvement of domestic laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines big data analytics implications on the central banking financial system's technological progress. A digital technological progress framework and model is established to analyze the economy's aggregate supply via covering the monetary policy, big data analytics, pollutants emissions as independent variables and the economy's aggregate demand as a moderating variable in a modified extensive growth theory framework and model to compute the productivity indicators and the total factor productivity (TFP) as the central banking technological progress that combined the mentioned variables qualities contribution. Besides, data analytics positive and negative externalities that include data analytics shortcomings as unpriced undesirable output in the form of cybersecurity and pollutants' emissions among other proxies are internalized in the framework and the model to integrate the digital technology innovation with digital technology shortcomings and climate change. This revised extensive theory framework and model is a remarkable technique comprehensive of the technological progress matters and sustainable economic development and is considered one of the most important sustainable development and long-run economic growth proportions in the central banking financial system functions to manage the economy's aggregate supply and demand that unnoticed by previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against a backdrop of rapid environmental degradation and increasing pressures on natural resources, a broad list of innovations has emerged to support the vision of the post-2020 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and strengthen regional and country-level biodiversity strategies along the interface of protected areas and non-protected lands. The success of these strategies depends in large part on science-informed consideration and approaches to the underlying and indirect drivers of change for natural systems and ecosystem services. This paper aims to inform future strategies and action plans for conservation efforts and sustainable practices globally and regionally, with a specific focus on Latin America's environmental challenges. Bibliometric analysis, covering two decades from 2003 to 2023, focused on global and Latin American research trends related to the indirect drivers of change for natural systems and ecosystem services at the interface of protected and non-protected lands. Through structured analysis, key opportunities for increased collaboration, impact, and research focus are identified, highlighting the need to expand research collaboration strategies and reach, enhance research dissemination through open and equitable innovations, and strengthen capacity to the complex and interrelated challenges underlying accelerated change in natural systems, which affects biodiversity and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses four relevant climate actions in Indian agricultural sector through the lens of United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to understand how climate actions (SDG 13) are linked with other SDGs and their targets and what measures can be taken to scale up these actions. Four board categories of climate actions are considered for this exercise: shift to less-flooded paddy water management practices; minimizing overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizer, system of rice intensification and climate smart agricultural practices. A mixed method has been followed: first, scoping review of literature between 2010 and 2022 is undertaken to capture the growing body of literature and then a normalized weighted score is used to understand the net strength of the linkages. Scoping review helped in identifying 100 studies spanned across Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) and the eastern part of Peninsular India. Findings from the scoring method suggest that these practices have linkages with 15 SDGs and as many as 43 SDG targets. Almost all linkages are positive (synergy) but there are a few negative linkages (trade-offs) as well. Trade-offs include exacerbating inequalities including gender, high upfront cost, requirement of skilled labor, lack of access to information and finance. This paper provides a detailed description of these trade-offs and suggests measures to tackle and minimize them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Eradicating poverty is the primary objective of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While China has achieved great success in achieving poverty reduction targets, reducing the poverty vulnerability of rural households is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of poverty reduction gains. The purpose of land transfer is to ensure the continuous increase of farmers' income through efficient land use; it has become an important initiative for poverty alleviation in rural areas. Existing studies have confirmed the positive effect of land transfer on poverty alleviation, but few have explored the difference in the impact of land transfer on poverty vulnerability of households with different income structures. Methods: Using data from the China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) from 2010 to 2020, this paper empirically examines the impact of land transfer on poverty vulnerability. Results and discussion: The results show that land transfer has a significant positive impact on poverty vulnerability alleviation among rural households. Further comparing households with different livelihood structures, we find that land transfer is more effective in reducing poverty for non-farm employment-oriented household. Therefore, we suggest that the government should improve the land transfer system, increase agricultural subsidies, and consider the occupational differentiation among farmers to improve the poverty reduction effect of land transfer. These suggestions also provide a reference for promoting sustainable agricultural development and consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital economy is an important direction of the new round of technological revolution and a key driving force for realizing the "double control of carbon emissions". This paper utilizes the panel data of 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2011 to 2021 to measure the development level of the digital economy, total carbon emissions, and carbon emission intensity and explores the impact of the digital economy on the dual control of carbon emissions and the mechanism of its effect by applying the mediating and moderating effect models. The results show that the digital economy can play a significant inhibitory effect on total carbon emissions and carbon emissions intensity, and this conclusion is still robust after a series of tests. From the government level, there exists a transmission path of "digital economy → environmental regulation stringency → dual control of carbon emissions"; from the enterprise and research organization level, there also exists a transmission path of "digital economy → R&D intensity → dual control of carbon emissions". From the perspective of regional imbalance, there are large regional differences in the impact of the digital economy on the dual control of carbon emissions, and there are also large differences in the impact of the various subdivided indicators of the digital economy on the dual control of carbon emissions. In addition, this paper also finds that the positive effect of the digital economy on the dual control of carbon emissions is more obvious in regions with a smaller proportion of SOEs. These findings add new evidence to the study of "the impact of the digital economy on the dual control of carbon emissions" and provide new ideas for accelerating the realization of green and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rurality is an important indicator to reflect the development of villages and reveal internal differences in rural areas. The unbalanced development of transportation infrastructure in the current period of rapid urbanization has become one of the principal elements triggering spatial differences in rurality and changes in rural territorial characteristics. However, there are few studies on the impact of transportation infrastructure accessibility on the multidimensional characteristics of rurality from the perspective of heterogeneity. This paper analyzed the spatio-temporal characteristics of transport accessibility (TA) and the county rurality index (CRI) in Guangdong in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 using an accessibility model and the rurality index and explored the clustering characteristics and interactions of TA and the CRI through exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and geographic weighted regression (GWR) modeling. The findings showed that (1) TA and the CRI in Guangdong were significantly unbalanced in terms of space. The CRI showed a weakening trend in general, forming a distribution pattern of "high in the north and low in the south, high in the west and low in the east", while TA was on the rise, maintaining a stable pattern of "high in the middle and low in the periphery". (2) Both TA and the CRI in Guangdong had a Moran's I value greater than 0.6 during the study period, exhibiting strong spatial agglomeration, while the two showed a significant spatial negative correlation. (3) The influence of TA on the CRI in different dimensions showed dynamic changes in stages, with TA having a higher intensity of effect on society rurality and land rurality in 2005, while on society rurality and industry rurality in 2020. (4) This paper grouped 77 counties in Guangdong into four types of policy zonings—coordination types, lagged types of accessibility, lagged types of rurality and double lagged types—and put forward corresponding development recommendations. The study conducted in this paper contributes to an in-depth understanding of the impact of transportation infrastructure development on the multidimensional characteristics of rurality and provides a basis for policy formulation for coordinated urban–rural development and sustainable rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, ecology, energy and food are indispensable resources for human survival and social progress, as well as the core of the regional sustainable development. They are interdependent and closely related. The importance of ecology support and feedback capability has been overlooked in traditional studies of the water–energy–food nexus. In this paper, the concept of water–ecology–energy–food (WEEF) nexus was proposed. Then, a comprehensive evaluation indicator system of WEEF nexus was established from three criteria of stability, coordination and sustainability based on synergy theory. A comprehensive variable fuzzy evaluation model was constructed to evaluate the coordinated development level of WEEF nexus in Tianjin, China. And the main obstacle factors that constrained the coordinated development of WEEF nexus were analyzed through the obstacle degree model. The results showed that: from 2010 to 2021, the comprehensive coordinated development level of the WEEF nexus showed an upward trend, with an average growth rate of 4.0%. The stability, coordination and sustainability all significantly affected the comprehensive coordinated development of regional WEEF nexus. The coordination of water–ecology, energy–ecology and food–ecology subsystems was relatively low. Food self-sufficiency rate, average water consumption for energy production, annual rainfall and ecological environment index were the main obstacle factors of WEEF nexus. In summary, the nexus framework and evaluation method proposed in this paper can provide a new perspective on the basic theory and application of regional WEEF nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime industry is integral to global trade and heavily depends on precise forecasting to maintain efficiency, safety, and economic sustainability. Adopting deep learning for predictive analysis has markedly improved operational accuracy, cost efficiency, and decision-making. This technology facilitates advanced time series analysis, vital for optimizing maritime operations. This paper reviews deep learning applications in time series analysis within the maritime industry, focusing on three areas: ship operation-related, port operation-related, and shipping market-related topics. It provides a detailed overview of the existing literature on applications such as ship trajectory prediction, ship fuel consumption prediction, port throughput prediction, and shipping market prediction. The paper comprehensively examines the primary deep learning architectures used for time series forecasting in the maritime industry, categorizing them into four principal types. It systematically analyzes the advantages of deep learning architectures across different application scenarios and explores methodologies for selecting models based on specific requirements. Additionally, it analyzes data sources from the existing literature and suggests future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate evaluation of green innovation efficiency is a critical prerequisite for enterprises to achieve sustainable development goals and improve environmental performance and economic efficiency. This paper evaluates the green innovation efficiency of 72 new-energy enterprises by using a hybrid method of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and a random forest model. The non-parametric DEA model is combined with the parametric SFA model to analyze the real green innovation efficiency on the basis of removing environmental factors and random factors. Then, the random forest model based on a nonlinear relationship is used to evaluate factors impacting green innovation efficiency. This paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation method designed to assess the green innovation efficiency of new-energy enterprises. By applying this method, companies can gain a comprehensive understanding of the current performance in green innovation, facilitating informed decision-making and accelerating sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between environmental regulation and firm productivity has been widely debated but inconsistencies in findings across different studies. Using detailed firm-level micro-data from 2000 to 2007, this paper employs difference-in-difference combined with matching based on entropy balancing method to explore the effect of environmental regulation on firm total factor productivity (TFP) in pulp and paper industry in China. Our main findings are as following: Firstly, stricter environmental regulation, as represented by the Wastewater Discharge Standards for Pulp and Paper Industry in Shandong province, increases firm TFP significantly. Moreover, the coefficients of interest are robust to multiple robustness checks. Secondly, dynamic effects estimates reveal that when faced with this phase-in environmental regulation, firms take the foreseeably increasing strictness into account from the very beginning and prefer to take one-step adjustment to reach full compliance. Thirdly, potential mechanism analysis finds that the positive effect mainly comes from the improvement of resource allocation efficiency within firms. Fourthly, the heterogeneity test indicates that the effect of environmental regulation on firm TFP is heterogeneous across firms with different sizes, ages, ownerships, capital intensity, and export status. Finally, this paper provides convincing and insightful evidence that environmental regulation has the potential to achieve the dual goals of environmental sustainability and economic growth and is thus of broader significance for understanding the enforcement of environmental regulation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is considered a complete meal that requires supervision to determine its suitability for human consumption. The development of sustainable devices that evaluate food properties has gained importance due to the necessity of integrating these instruments into the production chain. However, the materials employed to develop it, such as polymers, semiconductors, and glass, lack sustainability and require specialized equipment to fabricate them. Different chemical techniques have been used to miniaturize these detection systems such as microfluidics, which have been used in milk component detection using colorimetry. In this work, a cantilever beam paper-based microfluidic system is proposed to evaluate differences in milk, according to nutritional information, using its electromechanical response. A 20-microliter milk drop is deposited in the system, which induces hygroexpansion and deflection due to liquid transport within the paper. Likewise, a conductive path is added on the beam top surface to supply a constant current that induces heat to evaporate the solution. According to the results obtained, it is possible to point out differences between trademarks with this microfluidic system. The novelty of this system relies on the paper electromechanical response that integrates the hygroexpansion-induced displacement, which can be used for further applications such as milk microtesters instead of colorimetric tests that use paper as a property-evaluation platform in combination with chemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, elevated urban linkages (EULs) have emerged as crucial components of urban development, cutting through the cities' urban fabric to accommodate the rapid expansion of urban cores and to facilitate traffic flow. However, these massive infrastructures have inadvertently given rise to urban lost spaces—vacant, inefficient areas within the urban fabric. Recognizing these lost spaces as untapped public assets, the paper explores sustainable development strategies to reclaim them into the urban fabric, transforming them into vibrant, multi-functional public spaces. The paper aims to achieve a set of urban design guidelines for rehabilitation design interventions which will be deduced into a comprehensive framework. This framework encompasses criteria for selecting appropriate approaches and types of rehabilitation design interventions, as well as design principles ensuring the desirability of the reclaimed space. The paper applies this framework to assess the El Sawy Cultural Wheel in Egypt, revealing it as a successful example of a reclaimed space. While positive aspects of rehabilitation design interventions are evident in terms of the approach and type of intervention in this case study, there are identified areas with shortcomings in fully implementing the design principles, if enhanced, could elevate the overall quality of the reclaimed space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, digital transformation is having various impacts on enterprises around the world, including the green innovation. However, the current literature on the relationship between digitalization and green innovation in enterprises is scarce. What is the relationship between them, and whether heterogeneous environmental regulation has mediating effects, are questions that are worth exploring. Using a sample of listed manufacturing enterprises in China, this paper empirically tests the impact of digital transformation on enterprise green innovation. The results show that: (1) Digital transformation has a significant positive impact on green innovation, including green innovation output and green innovation capability. (2) Diverse environmental regulation may have mediating effects of digital transformation's influence on green innovation. (3) After a number of robustness tests, the conclusions are still valid. This paper can provide a reference for developing green development strategies for manufacturing enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy shortage and excessive carbon emissions have become the main constraints to the sustainable development of China's logistics industry. Improving the efficiency of the logistics industry is crucial to promoting regional ecological environment protection and sustainable development of the logistics industry. In this paper, the efficiency of China's logistics industry in 2013–2019 is evaluated by using the non-oriented EBM model considering the unexpected output, and then the influencing factors of the efficiency of the logistics industry in the central region are analyzed by using the panel Tobit model. The results show that the logistics industry in the central region is at a low efficiency level. Factors, such as the level of economic development, industrial structure and technical level have a significant positive impact on the efficiency of the logistics industry in the central region, while factors such as government support and logistics infrastructure have a significant negative impact on the efficiency of the logistics industry in the central region. Finally, the paper puts forward some targeted recommendations for the sustainable development of the logistics industry in the central region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prominence of climate change, geopolitical crises, and global economic slowdown highlights the challenges and structural deficiencies of traditional cross-border agro-food supply chains. As a result, there has been a growing consensus on the need to leverage digital technology to rebuild and innovate a safe, stable, and sustainable global food system. This study assessed the knowledge progress and development trends in the sustainable development of cross-border agro-food supply chains enabled by digital technology. A total of 352 authoritative papers from the core Web of Science database were selected for analysis. The Citespace tool was utilized to visually examine research elements. The findings reveal that research outcomes in this territory experienced a significant period of rapid growth, particularly after 2020. Sustainability and IEEE Access are the journals with the highest and second-highest number of publications. China and the France National Institute are the countries and research institutions with the largest number of publications in this field. The research hotspots are mainly the application of digital technologies, food safety, and supply chain system model innovation. In the past ten years, the research in this territory has gone through three stages: precise timeliness orientation, intelligent strategic decision-making orientation, and model predictability orientation. We further construct the 'antecedent–practice–performance' conceptual framework of the sustainability of the digital technology-enabled cross-border agro-food supply chain. Finally, this paper presents the potential research directions in this territory, focusing on four aspects: research method, research mechanism, research topic, and research frontier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented scientific paper arises mainly in the context of solving current issues, problems of theory and practice of entrepreneurship. In particular, in the field of dispositional solutions, dimensions of the formation of normative basis of sustainable development in the field of production and logistics. It is an expression and continuation of the previous opinion, thought march, experiential expression of the authors on the issue. It focuses mainly on the current challenges associated with the development management of production and logistics, on the parameters that will need to be respected and, to a greater extent, applied in the future. It is also a response to the fact in the sense that the results of research, predispositions in the field are insufficient. Especially in terms of the approach to solving the problems of the normative base, not only in the responsible authorities, institutions in this area, but also in the business units themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) is consistent with the spirit of sustainable development, it is useful to elevate ESG performance to realize the sustainable development of enterprise and society. Using the data of Chinese A-share listed firms in the period of 2011 to 2019, this paper takes the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone policy as a quasi-natural experiment and uses the difference-in-differences method to assess the effect of digital economy development on ESG performance. This paper reveals the following: (1) the digital economy can facilitate ESG performance; (2) digitalization of the economy helps enterprises to propel digital transformation, which in turn lifts ESG performance; (3) digital economy development has a deeper impact on private enterprises, especially for those in China's capital cities; and (4) digital economy development moderates the inhibiting effect of ESG performance on corporate financial constraints. The findings of this paper indicate that digitalization of the economy can help to achieve sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]