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Industries consume 20% and 50% of global water and energy, contributing 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions. They strive to become more efficient in water and energy usage and reduce carbon emissions. This study analyzed water, energy, and carbon footprints of five manufacturing industries—automobile, cement, chemical, pulp and paper, and steel. Multi‐linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between production, water use, energy use, and carbon emission. The study also explored the potential to reduce carbon emissions by reducing water and energy usage. Among the selected industries, pulp and paper, and steel industries have higher water, energy, and carbon footprints. On average, it takes 5.58 m3 of water and 17.11 GJ of energy to produce a ton of paper, and 4.03 m3 of water and 19.52 GJ of energy to produce a ton of steel. The analysis also shows that water and energy use are closely related to production in all industries. Carbon emission is closely related to the production processes in cement, pulp and paper, and steel, and to reduce the emissions, both water and energy usage have to be reduced. The automobile industry has the highest potential to reduce carbon emissions by reducing water and energy uses, followed by steel and cement industries. By reducing 3% of their water and energy uses, automobile and steel industries, on average, have the potential to reduce 11% and 2.6% of their carbon emissions, respectively. The study explored the existing policies and recommendations for industries to achieve sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green credit policy, as an environmental regulation instrument in the financial sector, is gradually having an impact on corporate performance in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). Based on the implementation of the Green Credit Guidelines policy, this paper investigates the impact of green credit policies on corporate ESG performance from 2011 to 2019 using the double‐difference propensity score matching method (PSM‐DID) and the Heckman two‐stage method, using a sample of A‐share listed companies. It was found that the implementation of the Green Credit Guidelines effectively improved the ESG performance of firms in green credit‐restricted industries relative to non‐green credit‐restricted industries. It is further found that this is mainly due to the increased green focus of corporate executives, while the incremental effect of green credit policies on corporate ESG performance is further strengthened by the increased quality and quantity of corporate green technology innovation. Finally, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the boosting effect of green credit policy on ESG performance of enterprises in green credit‐restricted industries is more prominent in the sample of enterprises with more analyst attention, less financially developed regions and private ones. How to leverage the green credit policy dividend to enhance the ESG performance of enterprises, further refine, and improve the green credit policy to help enterprises' sustainable development are the most direct policy implications of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concepts of sustainable development (SD) and sustainable communities (SCs) are firmly on policy agendas. Conceptual clarity is essential for the selection of high‐quality indicators to monitor progress in these areas. However, there are very mixed views about the nature of social sustainability (SS), and SC is rarely defined. Definitions that exist are extremely limited. This paper addresses these deficiencies by presenting a new definition and conceptualisation of SC in which addressing both social and environmental needs is critical. SS is clearly defined as addressing basic human needs, so that the criterion of sufficiency is met. Ensuring 'sufficiency' is crucial to ensure the provision of welfare within planetary boundaries, firmly integrating the social and environmental in conceptualising and operationalising SS. Using the new SC framework, the paper illustrates how regeneration programmes targeting housing could simultaneously address many social and environmental problems contributing to more progress on many dimensions of SD and the UN SD goals (UNSDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a systematic exploration of the linkages between environment impact assessment (EIA) and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Indian context through a critical analysis of the socio‐ecological impacts of development projects and the policy climate for environmental clearances. A conceptual framework portraying the interlinkages of the systemic disruptions in the socio‐ecological realms, policy challenges, and SDGs is developed, which argues for integrating the SDGs into the EIA framework in India. The paper argues that the legal fluidity and dilution in the design and enactment of EIA retrogrades the crucial socio‐political transformation required for achieving sustainability. The systematic literature review of empirical, conceptual, and grey literature, undertaken on Indian EIA, highlights its instrumental role as a political tool for achieving developmental sustainability. The paper concludes by highlighting the urgent need to mainstream ecological decision‐making into all governance processes for achieving the SDGs in a transforming society like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a regional government considers investing funds for the sustainable development of its region, it must consider the real needs of the population and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The identification of needs should be carried out with the support of local stakeholders representing various social groups. This paper seeks to answer the question of how to guide public investment policies at the local level, such as improving education, health, transportation and others, to better meet the SDGs. To answer this question, a multi‐criteria decision‐making process is followed, whereby, once the needs are classified by investment areas, they are prioritized based on criteria derived from the SDGs. The problem is complex because of the difficulty of the local stakeholder engagement process and also because of the interrelationships and influences that arise between all the elements of the decision problem: criteria and alternatives. To address this complexity, the Analytical Network Process method combined with DEMATEL will be followed. This process is applied to the case study of the distribution of funds allocated by the Government of Colombia to the Meta Region (Colombia) with the participation of 48 stakeholders to identify needs and the support of six experts in sustainability and project management for their prioritization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to cleaner energy technologies and sustainable development requires the commitment and collaboration of the public and private sectors. Among such collaborations, public-private partnership (PPP) refers to the convergence and complementarity between public and private actors and represents an organizational arrangement for addressing strategic sustainability challenges such as reducing carbon emissions and plays a relevant role in transforming the sector after energy reforms. The rigidity of PPP schemes introduces certain limitations in adapting to the energy transition and sustainability needs. As a result, several hybrid schemes have emerged from PPPs, which are focal points in this paper. This article aims to contrast PPPs with emerging hybrid PPPs to facilitate their understanding. It contributes to the academic dialog on recognizing the relevance of emerging forms of collaboration in tackling contemporary issues. The review's primary outcome is a framework of PPPs and hybrid PPPs and the critical challenges for advancing the energy transition and sustainable development. The contributions from this study may help policymakers to design suitable tools for incorporating hybrid PPPs in climate change policies and institutional frameworks. The findings suggest developing mechanisms through which PPPs and hybrid PPPs foster cleaner technologies, thus improving energy efficiency and access and strengthening energy security strategies. Further work is needed to address key research issues related to (i) mechanisms for the institutional alignment of hybrid PPPs, (ii) assuring reciprocity and commitment, (iii) knowledge management, and (iv) capacity-building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of financial inclusion along with environment related technological innovation has been ignored by previous studies, especially, in terms of tradeadjusted carbon emissions. Unlike previous studies, this study aims to test the role of financial inclusion and eco-innovation on trade-adjusted carbon emissions or consumption-based carbon emissions for a group of seven economies over the period 2004-2019. Further, this study also tests the role of exports, imports and gross domestic product. We develop an index using principal component analysis to measure financial inclusion. The study utilizes the novel method of moment quantile regression to obtain the results. The results indicate that eco-innovation reduces consumption-based carbon emissions at 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th quantiles, respectively. Moreover, financial inclusion and exports also reduce emissions at 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th quantiles. In contrast, gross domestic product and imports cause trade-adjusted emissions to increase. Moreover, a bidirectional link is established between all variables except for financial inclusion. Finally, this study provides relevant policy implications for trade, eco-innovation, and financial inclusion in the group of seven economies for sustainable trade development. This paper further provide relevant environmental policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on value‐belief‐norm theory and the perspective‐taking approach, this paper aims to explain the attitude‐behaviour dilemma facing the implementation a pro‐environmental action in a nature‐based tourist destination. This research seeks to provide a better understanding of the patterns behind a behaviour intention, by focusing on value orientations and awareness of the adverse environmental consequences. Based on a specific pro‐environmental policy to foster tourism in the Gili Islands, Indonesia, participants were randomly exposed to three scenarios that might affect their behaviour intention with the destination. The findings revealed that differences can be found in their environmental concern and awareness of adverse environmental consequences as well as in their behaviour intentions subsequent to exposure to different scenarios. The study contributes to the extant literature on identifying cognitive and affective mechanisms that affect behaviour intentions and provides relevant insights for governments and Destination Marketing Organisations to promote a tourist destination implementing a pro‐environmental action for a sustainable tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Accord has brought the world's governments together to begin implementing plans for their individual economies to become carbon‐free. The goal of attaining low‐carbon growth is not, however, as simple as it would appear since the world economies, which are dependent on fossil fuels and are fast expanding, are concentrated on accelerating economic expansion at the price of worse environmental effects. In light of this, the study aims to investigate the combined effects of the composite risk index (CRI), green innovation (GINOV), and environmental policy stringency (EPS) on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the context of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries while controlling for gross domestic product (GDP) and renewable energy research and development (RERD) over the period from 1960 to 2020. The research addresses the problems of cross‐sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity in the data set used for analysis by using the second‐generation cross‐sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lags framework to evaluate long‐ and short‐run models. The corresponding findings show cointegrating relationships between the research variables. Additionally, the results of the regression demonstrate that EPS, GINOV, and RERD contribute to a long‐term decrease in CO2 emissions. CRI and GDP, however, increase CO2 emissions. It is suggested that environmental policies be tightened, GINOV and RERD expenditures be promoted, political stability and institutional quality be maintained, and clean economic growth strategies be adopted in order to help the BRICS countries reduce sectoral risks, create a sustainable environment, and decarbonize their respective economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines two major policy frameworks for achieving sustainable development: the market‐based 'Green Economy' approach (exemplified by South Korea), and the redistributive 'Living Well' approach (exemplified by Bolivia). We compare the two paradigms in qualitative terms using document analysis, and we assess quantitatively how they have fared in terms of delivering progress towards sustainable development in each country. Time series data for the Sustainable Development Index and the Gini index were examined. The results show that, since 'Living Well' was initiated, social outcomes have continued to improve in Bolivia and, while emissions and material footprint have increased, they remain low and within or near sustainable boundaries. By contrast, South Korea has regressed in terms of sustainability. Social indicators have improved, but the Green Economy policy has failed to reduce ecological pressures. This raises significant questions about the legitimacy of the Green Economy paradigm as a model for achieving sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food, when wasted, reaches landfills and emits greenhouse gases. The impact of greenhouse gases (GHGs), in turn, is felt by even those who do not waste food in the place. Externalities thus created are known to distort market efficiency and the most widely discussed externality is climate change. This study takes the case of United States of America (USA) to ascertain the GHGs resulting due to food wastage. The difference between cost per capita due to emissions from animal‐based products and emissions from plant‐based products comes out to be $122. In the year 1997 total GHG emission for the entire population of the USA due to food wastage was 401.98 billion kgCO2eq, costing the country 45.42 billion US dollars. Two decades later, in 2017, the food waste costs went up by 6 billion US dollars amounting to 51.14 billion US dollars and 452.64 billion kgCO2eq of GHG emissions The novelty of this research lies in highlighting the carbon footprints of food wastage in terms of GHG's and monetizing these emissions. The study proposes an integrated response through a mix of environmental policy instruments of economic incentives, command and control and moral suasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary era, tackling climate change‐related problems has become a vital environmental policy agenda, especially for realizing the targets related to SDG‐13. Therefore, this study aims to check the efficacy of scaling public investments in research and development for renewable energy development in countering the causes and effects of climate change in leading renewable energy‐investing countries. Overall, the findings verify the climate change‐inhibiting impact of such investments. By contrast, consumption of natural resources and urbanization are identified as factors responsible for piling up climate change‐related concerns in the long run while no impact of net exports, in this regard, is evidenced. Moreover, the long‐run results affirm that public investment in renewable energy development projects also exerts moderating effects for partially neutralizing the adverse climate change concerns associated with natural resource consumption and urbanization. Furthermore, such investments are also evidenced to mediate the repercussions of net exports on the causes and effects of climate change in the long run. Based on these key findings, it is recommended to scale budgetary allocations for financing renewable energy technology development‐oriented initiatives, enhancing the efficiency rate of natural resource utilization, and deploying environmentally sustainable urbanization policies for achieving the targets concerning objectives of SDG‐13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change caused by carbon emissions has brought severe challenges to the sustainable development of global economy. In this context, this study constructs a weighted and directed carbon emission network for the European Union (EU). We use social network analysis to measure the indicators of the structural characteristics of the EU carbon emission network, and employ cluster analysis to investigate the role of countries in the carbon emission network. Furthermore, we use linear regression to explore the impacts of structural characteristics of carbon emission network on carbon emissions. The results show that, first the carbon emissions ties among the EU countries show a typical network structure during the sample period. Countries such as Germany, France, and Belgium are at the center of the carbon emission network, while Malta, Cyprus, and Croatia are at the edge. Second, different countries play the roles of "net spillover," "broker," "two‐way spillover," and "net receiver" in the EU carbon emission network. Last, the increase of network density, the decrease of network hierarchy and the decrease of network efficiency all significantly reduce the carbon emission intensity of the EU, and narrow the spatial difference of carbon emissions among countries. Improving the weighted centrality indicators of nodes in the carbon emission network is helpful to reduce the carbon emission intensity of the EU countries. Based on the findings, this article puts forward policy suggestions for the collaborative governance of EU carbon emission abatement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on field of sustainable development has shown that individuals' systems thinking competency promotes and predicts their sustainability competency and pro‐environmental behavior well. Systems thinking competency also enables us to focus more on large‐scale climate change mitigation actions. Previous surveys indicated that Finns have changed their behavior for mitigating climate change, but this has been not reflected in decreased consumption‐based calculated carbon footprints because large‐scale mitigation measures have not materialized. The present study assessed Finns' systems thinking competency (n = 2006) and knowledge of how to reduce their household carbon footprint. The survey data collected were analyzed using explorative factor analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, t‐test, and analysis of variance. The results indicate that Finns view their own systems thinking competency related to climate change as not very high, and heir assessments vary widely. Moreover, their knowledge of how to reduce their household carbon footprint is somewhat low and is geared toward small‐scale mitigation actions. The results can be used to inform environmental policy and sustainability education priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving citizens' water literacy level has gradually become one of the key elements to solve or alleviate water problems, which is of great significance in building a social water security system and promoting the harmonious development of man and nature. A fusion method—grounded systems analysis based on grounded theory and event systems theory is proposed in this study, which is used to explore the representation factors of water literacy and construct the main category chain through reverse tracking interview data and revealing each factor's mechanism. The research results show that: After encoding the original data, the water literacy characterization factor system including 4 main categories, 12 key categories, and 110 conceptualized sentences was obtained. The interaction between water knowledge and other main categories has a positive impact. There is no apparent direct relationship between water skills and water attitude, however, it can affect the implementation of water behavior. Water attitude can positively influence water behavior and has a moderating effect on each main category. The research conclusions can provide theoretical and decision‐making references for water literacy research, exploration, and practical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to investigate the possibility of achieving Chinese climate and sustainable development goals (SDGs) with technological innovations and renewable energy policies. Currently, China is ranked first in global emissions. Hence, we utilized Chinese data of 1996Q1 2018Q4 to investigate the policy implication of technological innovation and renewal energy towards its climate goals. Economic development, technology, energy and environmental policies are incorporated in our study for clear insight on the impact of technology and renewable energy on China's climate goals. We adopt different scientific approaches (structural break, bound method of co‐integration, autoregressive dynamic lag‐ARDL dynamics and granger causality test) for both quantitative and theoretical analyses. Our discussions and policy inference are based on the findings from ARDL and granger causality analyses. Findings from ARDL tests debunk the inverted U‐shape EKC hypothesis for China. Technological innovations and renewable energies are found impacting favorably on Chinese environment by reducing carbon emissions. Output derived from Causality supports the results from ARDL with nexus established amongst the selected instruments. From the findings, we conclude by advocating for policy to be framed on renewable energy sector through investment and technological boosting towards a SDG for China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require the implementation of 167 targets aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and improving the quality of life of humankind. The United Nations calls for uniform sustainable development at the global, local and individual levels. This research pursues a twofold objective: first, to obtain evidence on the extent to which the achievement of the (SDGs) may be uniform across territories; second, to identify the socioeconomic characteristics that contribute to sustainable development. The empirical analysis has been carried out using clustering, cross efficiency and contingency tables applied to statistical information from 101 municipalities in Spain and Italy. The results provide evidence of inequalities between territories, revealing that only in the dimensions People (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) and Prosperity (SDGs 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11) has the desired homogeneity been attained. Notable differences are found in the degree of compliance with the other SDGs. Furthermore, it is shown that the socioeconomic characteristics associated with the geographical location contribute substantially to the gap between municipalities. In order to ensure countries' sustainable development, there is a need for environmental policies adapted to the specific features of each region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Next 11 countries are among the world's most rapidy emerging economies that are poised to becoming key drivers of the global economy. Nonetheless, despite progressing economically, these nations have experienced persistent deterioration in their environmental conditions. Hence, this study specifically investigates whether energy productivity gains, controlling for financial inclusion, renewable energy use, economic growth, international trade, and urbanization, can harness the carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E)‐inhibiting objectives of the Next 11 countries. The empirical analysis, using annual data spanning from 2004 to 2020, involves the application of advanced econometric tools that are robust to handling the cross‐sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity‐related issues. The results from the econometric analysis indicate that although energy productivity gains and greater renewable energy consumption reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, making the financial system more inclusive tends to amplify the emission levels. More importantly, energy productivity gains and financial inclusion are observed to jointly reduce the CO2E figures of the Next 11 countries. Thus, it can be said that making more productive use of energy can, to some extent, neutralize the adverse environmenntal impacts of financial inclusion. Additionally, higher economic growth, greater international trade participation, and urbanization are evidenced to boost CO2E in these countries while higher renewable energy use is observed to curb the emission levels. Furthermore, heterogeneous country‐specific outcomes are also witnessed. In particular, energy productivity improvement is seen to curb CO2E in eight of these nations while a simultaneous rise in the levels of energy productivity and financial inclusion is found to jointly mitigate and boost CO2E in 55% and 18% of the Next 11 nations, respectively. Hence, in line with these key findings, a set of critically important environmental development‐related policies are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the differences in CO2 emissions from fuel combustion per capita between developing countries and how these are influenced by a series of affluence, structural, demographic, and climatic variables. First, a regression analysis provides new evidence on the determinants of CO2 emissions in developing countries. We find an N‐shaped relationship with GDP per capita and a negative impact of the agriculture share and average daily minimum temperatures, while urbanization and the share of potentially active population would be positively correlated with emissions per capita. Second, by using the regression‐based inequality decomposition method, we indicate the weight of each significant determinant in explaining the inequality in CO2 emissions per capita between developing countries. The main contributors are economic affluence and the potentially active population, in this order. We study the relevance of each factor in the changes experienced by inequality over time. Some of our results contrast with previous evidence for more heterogeneous samples. We derive some relevant implications for environmental and energy policy in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to extract, model, and rank reference groups on green consumer behavior to achieve environmentally sustainable development. This research was conducted in Iran in four stages. In the first stage, thematic factors were extracted through the research literature. These factors were expressed in 26 factors using expert opinions. A questionnaire containing 26 factors affecting the subject was designed in the second stage. This questionnaire was distributed among 404 people in the Iranian consumer community. In the third stage, the results of the questionnaires were reviewed, and the relevant model was presented using exploratory factor analysis. Finally, the factors were ranked using a neural network toolbox in MATLAB software and a random forest algorithm. Twenty-six factors were extracted in the effect of reference groups on green consumer behavior. The results of the statistical sample showed the effect of these factors on the research topic. With studies performed by exploratory factor analysis, a model related to how factors affect the subject was presented in seven applied components. Finally, they were ranked to evaluate the effectiveness of the factors. This study attempts for the first time to investigate the impact of reference groups on green consumer behavior with such a wide range of factors to promote sustainable environmental development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets proposed in 2015 are wide ranging and achieving them before 2030 may require extraordinarily high costs. Prioritizing a more manageable and logical sequence of SDGs targets based on national conditions is critical to reduce the complexity of SDGs, lower costs, ensure transitions are efficient, and accelerate implementation. Researchers have proposed a range of methods to rank the prioritizations of SDGs from different perspectives. Unfortunately, prioritizations of SDGs arising from different methods are not entirely consistent due to the limitations of each method. Therefore, an integrated methodological framework is required to reconcile these inconsistencies. To fill this research gap, we synthesized several methods to create a new composite assessment framework to prioritize SDGs targets. The framework consists of assessment models from three perspectives, including the impact of targets in a network composed of the interactions between targets, the gap between the targets' current and ideal performances, and the urgency of improving participation by government and society in achieving the targets. We then tested the effectiveness of this assessment framework empirically by ranking prioritizations for six targets of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) in Southeast Asia. Empirical results show that target 6.5 has the highest priority, followed by targets 6.4 and 6.6, while the lowest ranking target is 6.1. Finally, we outlined the advantages and limitations of each assessment method to assist stakeholders in using and broadening this composite assessment framework in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries enact environmental regulations to achieve sustainable development and ecological sustainability. However, environmental regulations do not guarantee environmental sustainability unless implemented efficiently. Furthermore, political institutions play a key role in the formulation and management of environmental regulations. This research examines the relationship between democracy, environmental regulations, economic growth, and ecological footprint (EF) in the panel of G7 nations from 1985 to 2017. Second generation econometric techniques are used to analyze the data. The empirical evidence indicates that economic growth enhances EF while democracy and environmental regulations positively contribute to ecological sustainability by reducing EF. The causal outcomes reveal that democracy Granger causes EF and renewable energy indicating that democracy curbs environmental degradation and stimulates the share of renewables. Further, democracy and environmental regulations Granger cause each other. Lastly, the implication of these findings for sustainable development and ecological sustainability are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the scientific community presents a relatively uniform conclusion on the ongoing global warming and the policies that are essential for sustainable development and the mitigation of the negative effects of climate change, the public opinion on the topic is far from uniform. This article studies the factors related to public awareness of climate change and environmental policy, public ideas on the supposed effects of climate change, the belief on whether climate change is caused by human activities, and the perceived possibilities to alleviate climate change by humans. We employ a set of ordinal multinomial regression analyses with spline corrections for ordinal predictors on a representative sample of 1021 respondents (aged 15–86 years, M ± SD: 47.15 ± 17.46; 19.4% with higher education, 50.60% women) from the Czech Republic. Our results suggest that life satisfaction, belief in God, interest in climate‐related issues, and the attitude to the European Union were the most relevant factors. Older people were less interested in climate, less aware of sustainable development and climate change, and less willing to take action. Women were more concerned with climate change compared to men. The effect of traditional mass media, Internet‐based social networks, and discussion forums, and personal discussions outside of the internet were less significant than expected. The article provides policy suggestions for enhanced stakeholder engagement as well as suggestions for further research on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]