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To overcome the human and animal survivability risk, sustainable development is the only option on earth that can be achieved through the maximum use of renewable environmental resources. Recycling of waste paper is an emerging waste management approach to conserve natural resources. Herein, we studied enzyme-mediated process to recycle the xerographic paper by using the crude fungal extract from indigenously isolated fungi identified as Aspergillus assiutensis. The fungal enzyme cocktail has been characterized for the production of multiple enzymes namely cellulase, amylase, xylanase, pectinase, and protease. All these enzymes have pH optima in the acidic range and except cellulase and all the enzymes are stable from 10 to 80 C. In the zymogram analysis, pectinase, xylanase, amylase, and cellulase were detected at 68 kDa, ~ 54 kDa, 38 kDa, and 30 kDa, respectively. Also, the presence of protease was confirmed by the clear zone at 68, 31, and 16 kDa. A 26% decrease in the kappa number and reduction in Hex A of the pulp was observed on the treatment of the pulp with enzyme as compared to the control pulp without any treatment. The physical and chemical properties of the pulp were also improved by enzyme-mediated pulping as compared to the control The physiochemical parameter of the effluent like TDS was reduced (397 ppm) significantly in comparison to chemical deinking process and it was within the permissible limit. BOD and alkalinity were reduced when the enzymes and chemical dosage were used in combination. These results indicate that chemi-enzymatic deinking is most promising to reduce or remove the pollution parameters including ink and this approach can be used in the paper and pulp industry for sustainable development. [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]

China's pulp and paper industry (CPPI) has been always the main carbon emission source in recent years. However, the analysis on influencing factors of carbon emissions from this industry is insufficient. To address the issue, the CO2 emissions from CPPI are estimated in the period of 2005–2019, the driving factors of CO2 emissions are investigated by the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method, the decoupling state of economic growth and CO2 emissions is determined by Tapio decoupling model, and finally, future CO2 emissions are predicted under four scenarios by the STIRPAT model to explore the potential of carbon peaking. The results show that CPPI exhibits a rapid increase and a fluctuating downward trend in CO2 emissions during the period of 2005–2013 and 2014–2019, respectively. The main promoting and inhibiting factors to the increase of CO2 emission are per capita industrial output value and energy intensity, respectively. There are five decoupling states of CO2 emissions and economic growth during the study period, and the CO2 emissions exhibit a weak decoupling state with the industrial output value growth in most years of the study period. It is very difficult to realize the carbon peaking goal by 2030 under the baseline and fast development scenarios. Therefore, efficient low carbon and strong low-carbon development policies are necessary and urgent for the realization of carbon peaking goal and the sustainable development of CPPI. [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]

Due to the growing understanding about interactions between human and nature, scientists certify that consuming the construction materials from non-renewable resources has caused serious environmental damages. Recycling has turned into a considerable and debatable issue over recent years as a highway for sustainable development toward preserving the natural heritage of the planet. For sustainable waste management, reduction, reuse and recycling of waste paper are the most preferred options considering its environmental benefits. With a special focus on recycled paper, the present study investigates how it is applied and focuses on its environmental benefits and effects as a sustainable material in landscape architecture. Furthermore, it is attempted to investigate the Iranian and global examples and experiences of using recycled paper in creating architectural works. In this study, the process of designing revitalization project of Ayatollah Saeedi School, located in Tehran, Iran, has been deeply investigated using the recycled paper as an effective material in the revitalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employing historical case study methodology, this paper examines the transition towards renewable energy and increased energy efficiency in the Swedish pulp and paper industry (PPI) during the 1970s and 1980s. Between 1973 and 1990, CO emissions were cut by 80 % in this sector, and this was mainly achieved by substituting away from oil to biofuels in the form of by-products from the pulp manufacturing process. The CO reduction was also a result of energy efficiency improvements and increased internal production of electricity through back-pressure turbine power generation. Sweden was highly dependent on oil at the advent of the first Oil Crisis in 1973, and the increased oil prices put pressure on the Swedish government and the energy-intensive PPI to reduce this oil dependency. Of central importance for the energy transition was the highly collaborative strategy of the PPI, both internally among pulp mills as well as between the sector as a whole and the corporatist Swedish state administration. The Swedish government chose a proactive strategy by emphasizing knowledge management and collaboration with the industry along with the substitution of internal biofuels for oil. The transition was also characterized by a strong focus on unutilized potentials in the PPI; a previous waste problem now could be transformed into energy savings and improved energy efficiency. Energy taxes and fees also played an important role in Swedish energy policy during the 1970s and the 1980s. All in all, the study illustrates the central role of governments and their ability to push industrial sectors into new technological pathways through a wide palette of mutually reinforcing policy instruments. The results further point at the importance of a more holistic understanding of the interplay between different policies and their impacts in the longer run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal waste management is a major challenge for local governments in South Africa and Namibia, as in other developing countries. The circular economy concept in waste management is an alternative sustainable development framework that has the potential to combat resource depletion, pollution, and poverty while achieving the SDGs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current waste management systems in Langebaan and Swakopmund municipalities resulting from municipal policies, procedures, and practices in the context of a circular economy. A mixed method approach was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data through structured in-depth interviews, document analyses, and direct observation. The study found that the Langebaan and Swakopmund municipalities have not yet fully implemented the circular economy concept into their waste management systems. A mix of waste consisting of papers, plastics, cans, tyres, and organic products is dumped into landfills weekly at a rate of about 85%. The main challenges to implementing the circular economy concept include: lack of technical solutions, inadequate regulatory frameworks, insufficient financial resources, lack of private sector involvement, insufficient human resource capacity, and inadequate information and knowledge. A conceptual framework was therefore proposed to guide the municipalities of Langebaan and Swakopmund in implementing the circular economy concept in their waste management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high density of users hosted everyday, public buildings are important producers of waste and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Public restrooms play an underrated role in waste generation and GHG emissions, especially if paper towels are used as the hand-drying method. The choice of the hand-drying method (i.e., paper towels vs. electrical hand dryers) also affects the economic balance of a public institution, involving costs for the purchase of hand-drying materials/apparatuses, energy and waste disposal. The present paper aims at evaluating the economic and environmental impact of the introduction of electrical hand dryers (alternative scenario) in place of paper towels (reference scenario) in a public building. The paper presents a solid methodology, based on a numerical experiment approach, to identify a decision criterion for establishing the economical convenience of adopting the alternative scenario in public restrooms. Key factors affecting the choice between the proposed alternatives are presented and discussed in a dedicated sensitivity analysis. From the environmental point of view, this study evaluates the impact of each scenario in terms of GHG emissions, related to multiple waste treatment options and different electric grid mixes. Based on the experimental assumptions, the method allowed concluding that the alternative scenario becomes economically convenient when the number of daily usages (N) is > 57 ± 4. The environmental convenience of the alternative scenario is visible even at N < 10. The method here described can be successfully used to support strategic decisions for cost optimization and environmental mitigation in institutional buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the application of chemical surfactants, including cooking aids, detergents, surface sizing agents, and deinking agents as core components, is introduced in the wet end of pulping and papermaking. This method for the combined application of enzymes and surfactants has expanded, promoting technological updates and improving the effect of surfactants in practical applications. Finally, the potential substitution of green surfactants for chemical surfactants is discussed. The source, classification, and natural functions of green surfactants are introduced, including plant extracts, biobased surfactants, fermentation products, and woody biomass. These green surfactants have advantages over their chemically synthesized counterparts, such as their low toxicity and biodegradability. This article reviews the latest developments in the application of surfactants in different paper industry processes and extends the methods of use. Additionally, the application potential of green surfactants in the field of papermaking is discussed. Key points: • Surfactants as important chemical additives in papermaking process are reviewed. • Deinking technologies by combined of surfactants and enzymes are reviewed. • Applications of green surfactant in papermaking industry are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their intrinsic properties of wide availability, low cost, portability, environmental friendliness and degradability, paper and paper-based materials are receiving increasing attention since birth. Recent increasing studies suggest that paper and paper-based materials possess bright application prospects for the purpose of realizing sustainable development and green circular economy soon. Under this background, more and more correlated application fields for paper and paper-based materials, such as advanced paper-based packaging, writing paper (paper-based transistors), environmental protection (oil/water separation), interface sensing (paper-based sensor devices and microfluidic platforms), energy conversion/storage devices (paper-based triboelectric nanogeneration, paper-based bio-batteries and supercapacitors) have been emerged. In addition, the challenges faced in utilizing the current paper-based materials are analyzed, including fundamental problems, practical applications, and development prospects. The current review not only provides theoretical guidance for the construction of functional paper-based materials, but also helps to expand their application scope and extend their lifespan. It is expected that this review will inspire future research regarding the novel practical applications of paper-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambio is a leading journal in environmental science and policy, sustainable development, and human-environment interactions. The paper at hand aims to run a bibliometric analysis to inspect the main publications features of Ambio in Science Citation Index Expanded SCI-EXPANDED. For this scope, a bibliometric survey has been carried out to investigate the journal's historic characteristics in the Web of Science (WoS) categories of environmental sciences and environmental engineering for Ambio from 1980 to 2019. These are the categories for which the journal has been indexed throughout the indexed time frame. The paper proposes technical and methodological innovations, including improvements in the methods and original characteristics analyzed. Documents published in Ambio were searched out from SCI-EXPANDED. Six publication indicators were applied to evaluate the publication performance of countries, institutes, and authors. Three citation indicators were used to compare publications. As a parameter, the journal impact factor contributor was applied to compare the most frequently cited publications. The journal impact factor contributing publications were also discussed. Results show that Sweden ranked top in six publication indicators and that the top three productive institutes were located in Sweden. A low percentage of productive authors emerged as a journal impact factor contributor. Similarly, a low relationship between the IF contributing publications and the highly cited publications was also found. Less than half of the top 100 highly cited publications in Ambio did not lie within the high impact in most the recent year of 2019. Three members of the advisory board in Ambio were the main productive authors. T.V. Callaghan contributed to most of the publications while papers published by J. Rockstrom as first and corresponding author contributed the most to the journal impact factor. An article authored by Steffen et al. (2007) scored the highest total citations in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper begins with a recognition that questions of climate change, environmental degradation, and our relations to the natural world are increasingly significant and requiring of a response not only as philosophers of education but also as citizens of the planet. As such the paper explores five of the key journals in philosophy of education in order to identify the extent, range, and content of current discussions related to the environment. It then organizes and summaries the articles that were located while seeking to identify the extent, possibilities, and limitations of current discussions relating to the environment in the philosophy of education community. The hope is that ultimately this work is an invitation to anyone, regardless of tradition, orientation, and expertise, to contribute to the expansion and deepening of both theory and practice in the face of this most serious of challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action addressed not only to governments but also to businesses and civil society. In this scenario, Universities play a key role in achieving the SDGs and, also, in creating awareness about these global issues. As an example, the University of Bologna is carrying out several initiatives related to sustainability matters. Considering, in particular, the environmental dimension, the University undertook different strategies to reduce the waste of paper, embracing the dematerialization and paperless movements. To make these initiatives visible to the University community and to increase awareness about these issues, we designed a system that intends to provide data related to the implications of such initiatives in terms of paper waste avoided and benefits for the environment, to be exploited using different devices. In particular, this study focuses on the design and the evaluation of two infographics, conceived by two different groups of experts and researchers: one "animated" and one "aesthetic". The evaluation intends to present the differences in terms of perceived design and informative dimensions, with the final aim to present insights on the design of infographics able to foster awareness, targeting specific communities. [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]

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]

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]

Logistics sustainability is increasingly becoming a central focus of businesses, when most societies are aware of the influence of industry on both the environment and human health. To address the drawbacks of the way logistics systems have been designed, a new logistics system called Physical Internet has been proposed. This system relies on the creation of hyperconnected logistics systems. It aims to improve in an order of magnitude the way physical objects are transported, handled, stored, supplied, realized, and used to be more sustainable and efficient economically, environmentally, and socially. This paper focuses on the product realization using a hyperconnected mobile production mode in the context of Physical Internet, an open global logistics system. It addresses its dynamic deployment of production modules and resource allocation and sharing. It then proposes a make-to-order bi-objective optimization model which minimizes costs and greenhouse gases (GHGs) related to the product realization of a manufacturer to serve its customers given the availability of the open fabs. Experimental results are presented to identify the computational performance of the established model, as well as the economic and environmental benefits of using the facilities enabled by the PI. Finally, it concludes and provides directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile, apparel, and fashion (TAF) industries contribute significantly to global environmental pollution at every point of the supply chain. Clothing manufacturing and transportation produce a large volume of waste and high greenhouse gas emissions, often taking advantage of cheap labor in developing countries. As a result, stakeholders are becoming more aware of the effect of the textile, apparel, and fashion industries on the climate and human rights, thus pushing businesses to mitigate their environmental damage. This paper offers a systematic literature review of sustainability trends in the TAF industries in the last 20 years. Bibliometric tools are also used to support the content analysis of the papers. The findings reveal three primary research areas in the TAF context: consumers' behaviour towards sustainable clothing, circular economy initiatives, and sustainability challenges across the whole supply chain. As a result, this study highlights literature gaps and provides future research suggestions for each identified research cluster. In addition, drivers and barriers to implementing corporate social responsibility and circular economy practices are identified. Consequently, this study will help researchers and academicians work in this area to identify unexplored sub-fields, which reflect some potential investigation areas for expanding scientific literature on the topic. Finally, this study supports practitioners and managers in exploring the main research themes addressed in the scientific field, providing knowledge to improve and align business models with current sustainability trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural wastes have severely polluted the environment and obstruct the sustainable development of modern agriculture due to a lack of effective disposal methods. The present study conducted batch experiments in which rice straw (RS) and pig manure (PM) mixtures were pretreated with a previously developed cellulolytic microflora prior to their mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion. Optimal anaerobic digestion (AD) performance of RS and PM could be achieved after biological pretreatment with this specific cellulolytic microflora for 30 h. Under this condition, the filter paper cellulase (FPase) and carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activities in RS and PM degradation broths reached maxima of 2.25 and 2.58 IU/mL, respectively, and the weight loss ratio reached 39.4%. After the subsequent AD process, the methane yield of RS and PM mixtures reached 263.69 mL/g-VS, which was 47.6% higher than that of the control group (CK) without biological pretreatment (178.66 mL/g-VS). In addition, the daily methane production peak duration (3 day) of the anaerobic co-digestion of RS and PM after 30 h of biological pretreatment with this microflora was longer than that of CK (1 day). The above results further indicated that pretreatment of RS and PM mixtures with microflora greatly enhanced the methane yield and prolonged the peak period of methane production in the subsequent anaerobic co-digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and policy on sustainable development (SD) and entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE), the most prevalent policy to enhance entrepreneurship, has increased dramatically in the last 20 years; in particular. Yet, as this paper shows, their relationship is unknown to date. We aim to answer if and how entrepreneurial ecosystems foster sustainable development. To this purpose, we develop a framework linking EE and SD integrating existing models and suggestions for further research and policymaking. Theoretically, we draw on three different disciplines and four distinct theories to propose how and why EE impact SD. Methodologically, we suggest system dynamics as the most appropriate method for theoretical modeling and empirical analysis. Policywise, we suggest how and why policy needs a new approach to leverage EE to enhance SD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial article discusses recent findings in the optimization and engineering for sustainable development. The current Special Issue (SI) of the Optimization and Engineering journal stems from the 2022 Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems Conferences. These events included the 5th South East European, 3rd Latin American, and 17th SDEWES Conferences. Being selected from conference presentations, the papers in SI represent the main topics in optimization approaches that integrate various life-supporting systems discussed during these three events. After careful selection, the current SI accepted ten excellent papers summarized here. These contributions use differentiated modeling approaches and supporting tools, such as P-graph and network-flow modeling, computational fluid dynamics, pinch analysis (PA), and the Geographic Information System. The range of optimization methods includes mixed-integer linear and mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MILP and MINLP), dynamic programming, stochastic optimization, and PA and P-graph extensions. [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]

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]

Continuous enhancement of sustainable development capacity is one of the goals of building a well-off society. In order to understand the development of each region, it is necessary to make a comprehensive evaluation of their sustainable development capacity. This paper presents a study of the 11 regions of Hebei Province, China. Considering the influence of time on urban development, this paper comprehensively evaluates the sustainable development ability of each region in Hebei Province from three dimensions of society, economy and environment based on panel data. The evaluation results show that Shijiazhuang has the strongest sustainable development capacity. On this basis, the promoting factors and restricting factors of sustainable development in each region are found by using grey correlation analysis method. This study provides a reference for the future sustainable development of each district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key objective of global policies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is to foster AI research for sustainable development (SD). In this paper, we analyze the inclusion of SD in AI research indexed by the IEEE Xplore database from 2000 to 2019. We address three critical questions: (1) To what extent is AI research addressing the sustainable development goals (SDGs)? (2) Which subject areas of AI show an emerging interest in SD? And (3) What patterns of collaboration between regions of the world are being stimulated by AI? Our scientometric analysis consists of (1) Identifying the number of AI papers that address SDGs in their titles, abstracts, and keywords. (2) Developing a composite indicator based on the number of documents produced, scientific impact, and inventive impact to distinguish areas with an emerging interest in SD; (3) Exploring co-authorship networks at three levels: region, income group, and country. The overall results show that a small share of papers is explicitly focused on SD. Our composite indicator allowed us to identify an emerging interest in SD from Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, Education, Consumer Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetic Compatibility and Interference. Specifically, on AI subjects, we found emerging interests in Prediction Methods, Computation Theory, Machine Learning, Learning (artificial intelligence), and Biological Neural Networks. Inter-regional and inter-income group collaboration are limited, and network power is concentrated in a few countries. The results could be useful to improve the connection between technical knowledge, strategic planning for S&T investment, and SD policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green development is the main theme of modern development in China and even the world. Green development depends on green technology innovation (GTI). Therefore, for developing countries like China in the stage of economic transition, it is urgent to accelerate GTI to gain sustained advantages in the new round of international competition. As an important representative of contemporary rapid transportation, high-speed railway (HSR) can not only alleviate the rapidly growing transportation demand of the public, but also have potential benefits to the energy consumption structure and environmental quality. Whether and how HSR affects GTI has become the focus of this paper. Hence, by employing the panel data of 286 cities in China from 2007 to 2018 with the time-varying DID model, this paper verifies that HSR development can contribute to GTI. The main findings of this paper are as follows: (1) The operation of HSR can not only make the incremental development of GTI, but also improve the quality of GTI simultaneously. Moreover, the quality improvement effect of HSR is greater than the quantity increment effect. (2) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive effect of HSR on GTI is more significant for cities that have implemented LCCP. (3) This paper verifies the mediating effect of high-quality human capital. The opening of HSR further stimulates GTI by improving the level of high-quality human capital in cities and increasing the opportunities for knowledge exchange and diffusion. Based on the above findings, this paper proposes some policy recommendations to help developing countries achieve GTI with positive externalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain a deeper understanding of the collaboration status in the big data field, we investigated the author collaboration groups and the core author collaboration groups as well as the collaboration trends in big data by combining bibliometric analysis and social network analysis. A total of 4130 papers from 13,759 authors during the period of 2011-2015 was collected. The main results indicate that 3483 of the papers are coauthored (i.e., 84.33% of all papers) from 12,016 coauthors (i.e., 87.33% of all authors), which represent a reputable level of collaboration. On the other hand, 91.83% of all the identified coauthors have published only one paper so far, reflecting a poor level of maturity of such authors. Through social network analysis, we observed that the author collaboration network is composed of small author collaboration groups and also that the authors are mainly from the computer science & technology field. As an important contribution of our study, we further analyzed the author collaboration network, culminating in the generalization of four subnet modes, which were defined by some papers: 'dual-core', 'complete', 'bridge' and 'sustainable development'. It was found that the dual-core mode stands for the stage that researchers have just begun to study big data. Beginning of big data research, the complete mode tends to joint research, both the dual-core and complete modes are mostly engaged in the same project, and the bridge mode and the sustainable development mode represent, respectively, the popular and valued directions in the big data field. The results of this study can be useful for researchers interested in finding suitable partners in the big data field. By tracking the core authors and the key author collaboration groups, one can learn about the current developments in the big data field as well as predict the development prospects of such a field. Therefore, we expect with the results of our study summarized in this paper to contribute to a faster development of the big data field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper uses the exogenous shock of China's formal implementation of the environmental information disclosure system in 2008 to construct a quasi-natural experiment. Based on the panel data of prefecture-level cities from 2003 to 2019, the propensity score matching and difference in difference (PSM-DID) approach was used to systematically evaluate the impact of environmental information disclosure on energy efficiency. Overcoming the difficulties in measuring environmental information disclosure and the endogenous problem, this paper investigates the energy-saving effect of environmental information disclosure and illustrates its mechanism for the first time. The results show that environmental information disclosure significantly improved energy efficiency, and public participation played an important role in energy conservation, a conclusion that remained true after a series of robustness tests. The test of the impact mechanism shows that environmental information disclosure can achieve the goal of improving energy efficiency by promoting industrial structure upgrading and technological innovation. This paper enriches the discussion on the relationship between environmental information disclosure and energy efficiency, and provides useful policy inspiration for improving the level of energy efficiency and achieving sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper combines work to use a decision support tool for sustainable economic development, while acknowledging interdependent dynamics of population density, and interferences from outside. We get new insights derived from experimental approaches: analytical models (optimal dynamic control of predator–prey models) provide optimal dynamic strategies and interventions, depending on different objective functions. Our economic experiments are able to test the applicability of these strategies, and in how far decision-makers can learn to improve decision-making by repeated applications. We aim to analyse a sustainable environment with diametrical goals to harvest as much as possible while allowing optimal population growth. We find interesting insights from those who manage the dynamic system. With the methodology of experimental economics, the experiment at hand is developed to analyse the capability of individual persons to handle a complex system, and to find an economic, stable equilibrium in a neutral setting. We have developed a most interesting simulation model, where it will turn out that prices play a less important role than availability of the goods. This aspect could become a new important aspect in economics in general and in sustainable environments especially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep integration of digital technology and the real economy not only affects the production and operation mode of enterprises, but also becomes the promoter of service-oriented transformation and the driving force of sustainable development. Based on the text analysis method, this paper uses the data of Chinese listed manufacturing enterprises from 2011 to 2020 to study the impact of digital technology application on the service-oriented transformation and sustainable development of enterprises. It is found that digital technology application significantly improves the environmental performance and economic performance of enterprises by driving their service-oriented transformation and technological innovation, and then enhances their sustainable development. The improvement effect of digital technology application on the sustainable development of resource-based enterprises and capital-intensive enterprises is more significant. The conclusion in this paper provides micro-evidence for understanding the role of digital technology in addressing environmental issues and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of global urban development, there are urgent ecological security and environmental pollution problems, green development is the fundamental way for urban sustainable development, economic transformation and mitigation of ecological and environmental problems. Based on the panel data of 283 cities at prefecture level and above in China from 2003 to 2017, this paper analyzes spatial–temporal evolution characteristics of urban green development efficiency (UGDE) and the peer effects of UGDE between cities of different grades. It is found that during the study period, in terms of temporal evolution, the average UGDE in China increased from 0.47 in 2003 to 0.61 in 2017, with a cumulative growth rate of 29.79%, showing a rising trend in general. In terms of spatial evolution, the number of low-efficiency cities and medium-efficiency cities continued to decrease. The eastern region has always been the main distribution area of higher-efficiency cities and high-efficiency cities; in the central region, UGDE in most cities improved significantly; in the western region, UGDE has always lagged behind that in the eastern and central regions. In addition, the center of gravity of UGDE presented a trend of northwest migration in general, with a total displacement of 100.07 km, and UGDE showed a spatial dispersion trend. The empirical results indicate that the improvement of UGDE in large cities has a driving effect on that in neighboring medium cities and small cities through the positive peer effect, and the growth of UGDE in medium cities has a promoting effect on that in neighboring small cities through the positive peer effect; the increase of UGDE in medium cities has a positive peer effect on that in neighboring large cities, and the growth of UGDE in small cities has a positive peer effect on that in neighboring medium cities; UGDE promotes each other between large cities through the positive peer effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue of the Eurasian Economic Review delves into the critical relationships between macro-financial policy frameworks and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the urgent challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. These environmental crises pose significant threats to global economic and financial stability, underscoring the necessity of integrating environmental considerations into macro-financial policies to foster sustainability and resilience in economic policymaking. Through a collection of research papers, this issue explores innovative strategies for developing comprehensive policy frameworks that harmonize monetary, financial, and fiscal policies with environmental objectives. It emphasizes the need for advanced methods to assess and manage the financial risks of climate change and environmental degradation. Underscoring the need for a multidisciplinary approach, the research advocates for the collaboration of economists, environmental scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to develop effective macro-financial policies. These policies aim to mitigate environmental risks, enhance environmental sustainability, and preserve biodiversity. The issue calls for further research to refine models that accurately predict the macro-financial impacts of environmental risks and assess the effectiveness of policy measures, paving the way for a sustainable future in the face of escalating environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the effect of highways on economic growth has been widely discussed, its role in green technological innovation has not yet attracted attention facing today's strong emphasis on the green economy. To fill this gap, this paper aims to provide empirical evidence by investigating the effects of highways on regional green technological innovation in China. The paper elaborates theoretically on three mechanisms through which the development of highways may influence regional green technological innovation, namely the agglomeration effect, spatial spillover effect, and network effect. To advance the empirical analysis, this paper constructs a spatial Durbin model accounting for spatial interdependencies among regions. Unlike previous literature, this paper uses "the strength of economic linkage" to indicate the development of highways in each city and discusses geographic distance and time-distance effect (spatio-temporal effect) resulting from highways. Using panel data of 105 prefecture-level cities in China's Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2001 to 2013, we find that: (1) highway has a significant role in promoting regional green technological innovation; (2) significant spatial spillover effects resulting from highways exist and the magnitude of the influence varies with geographical and temporal distance effect. Our findings provide references for developing transportation infrastructure and green innovation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is it possible to measure the green performance of the manufacturing sector? Which world regions are doing better in terms of green industrialization? This paper develops a novel methodology to respond to these questions by improving the green industrial performance (GIP) index through the refinement and expansion of the green product list that lies at its core. The paper constructs a new database using international comparable data sources such as the UNIDO's industrial statistics database and the UN COMTRADE, to compute the GIP index and rank 116 economies in terms of their ability to produce and export green industrial products. The paper shows that industrialized economies outperformed other economies with Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Czechia and Austria topping the GIP ranking of industrial green performance in 2019. Then it estimates and compares the relative green industrial performance of eight country groupings to conclude that Northern America, Europe and Eastern Asia perform significantly better than the other country groupings. Our analysis of Europe and Eastern Asia serves to display significant differences in green industrial performance of economies even within these two leading country groupings. Finally, the paper puts forward recommendations for future research and measurement of the green performance of the manufacturing sector of the world's economies and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper merges the literature on green and high-quality entrepreneurship by introducing environmental orientation as an unrecognised characteristic of start-up quality and the three quality dimensions innovativeness, growth orientation, and international orientation. Entrepreneurship literature argues that only high-quality start-ups contribute to sustainable development and that a better understanding of what determines the quality of start-ups is required. Empirical research has recently shown that the environmental orientation of start-ups is one such determinant, as it significantly predicts their innovativeness. This paper pursues this novel research avenue on the importance of environmental orientation for start-up quality in two ways. First, this paper evaluates and extends this initial evidence on environmental orientation and innovativeness by examining a three times larger sample, covering additional countries and entrepreneurial stages. Second, this paper also analyses the impact of environmental orientation on the quality dimensions of growth orientation and international orientation. Investigation using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data on 9650 entrepreneurs from 51 countries revealed that start-ups with a higher environmental orientation are of superior quality regarding their innovativeness, growth expectations, and exports. These results remain robust for start-ups at different entrepreneurial stages, and tests employing different methodological approaches and variable definitions. However, the categorisation into factor-driven, efficiency-driven, and innovation-driven countries showed that greener start-ups are more innovative in countries at all three levels of development, while the relationships with growth orientation and international orientation remained significant for only two of the three categories. The findings of this paper provide a new approach for practitioners to identify the small number of high-quality start-ups and an economic reason warranting intensified efforts to support green start-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green economy is the core content of the high-quality economic development, and the digital economy is the new driving force to accelerate the realization of high-quality economic development. In this regard, this paper selects 248 resource-based cities in China from 2011 to 2019 as the research objects and uses the fixed effect model and mediation effect model to test the relationship between digital economy and regional green total factor productivity. We get the following conclusions: First, there is the nonlinear relationship between digital economy and regional green total factor productivity, and this relationship shows the inverted U-shape. Secondly, digital economy can influence regional green total factor productivity through the path transmission mechanism of regional technological innovation, industrial structure, and environmental regulation. Finally, the effect of digital economy on regional green total factor productivity is heterogeneous, especially in the eastern region and cities with high human capital level. Based on the digital economy, the findings of this paper provide theoretical basis and reference suggestions for promoting the green development of regional economy. The government should attach importance to regional green development, actively guide the digital economy to promote green development, accelerate the development of the digital economy, and achieve high-quality economic development finally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide an extensive analysis of the indicators that have been used for measuring industrial sustainability. To achieve this objective, a systematic review was carried out to explore the indicators in peer-reviewed articles relevant to industrial sustainability performance measurement. A total of 1041 indicators were identified and analyzed, with 290 for economic, 410 for environmental, and 341 for social dimensions. The majority were mentioned only once in the reviewed literature, showing a lack of consistency in their application (i.e., a lack of consensus regarding a single set of indicators) for measuring sustainability performance in different manufacturing industry contexts. Few of the indicators had been frequently used to measure industrial sustainability performance. These indicators had been used to measure industrial sustainability performance associated with financial benefits, costs, market competitiveness, resources, emissions, wastes, employees, customers, and community. This paper links the different indicators to the potential organizational goals used to improve industrial sustainability performance and contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals. It provides a comprehensive view of the indicators considering the triple bottom line approach. Our results have significant implications and will provide a strong basis for future academic and practitioner work on measuring industrial sustainability performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is essential for the survival of the planet. The massive increase in GHG emissions due to human activities has put the world in unrest. The Indian construction industry is emerging and evolving at a rapid rate and has understood the grave situation, and for saving the environment has come up with innovative solutions for developing green buildings or sustainable construction. In this paper, the two different (the GRIHA Rating System and the IGBC Green New Building Rating System) of India were studied. The sample size was 40 construction professionals working on green building projects. An interview schedule was used for data collection. The data was subjected to a suitable analysis and the AHP method was applied. Based on the research findings, strategies to go green has been suggested for the IGBC and GRIHA rating system which may serve as a ready reckoner for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the construction management process. Therefore, keeping in mind the above view this research paper "Review of Indian Green Building Rating Systems by Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) on Various Parameters" becomes indispensable. Hence, this research study can be considered an effort to empower construction professionals to create an extensive analysis of green building concepts and develop sustainably in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the stakeholder theory challenged the neoclassical shareholder theory, it was a step forward in the theoretical and practical debate about the role and responsibility of businesses in society and how wide the responsibility is. Today, neither of these theories go far enough to explain the responsibilities of businesses in society and neither do corporate social responsibility nor corporate sustainability given the complexity of the business environment in which companies operate and how far they are going, or how far they are pushed, to respond to grand challenges or the opportunities they may entail. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretical exploration and a critical appraisal of the need for a paradigm shift from shareholders and stakeholders to future successors. This is grounded in a discussion about corporate social responsibility/corporate sustainability, and the relevance of environmental constraints, multilateral sustainability policies and pathways, and needs and requirements of corporate future successors that are important for businesses that want to prosper in the long-term. The findings suggest that forward-looking supranational political and economic unions, intergovernmental organizations, regional and local governments, and leading businesses have moved ahead of theory towards including intra- and intergenerational interests and the natural environment into their policies, regulations, and strategies. In doing so, they even go so far as to grant personhood to the natural environment, thereby recognizing the importance of the natural environment for their own and the prosperity of present and future generations who will be future successors of businesses. Consequently, the implication of the paper is to suggest a new theoretical lens which has a much wider scope than shareholder and stakeholder theories currently do, and a strategic roadmap, emphasizing the importance of future successors for corporate responsibility and successful business operations in the long-term and pinpoint ways forward in doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power industry's low carbon transition is pivotal for achieving carbon reduction and sustainable development. This study uses the super epsilon-based measurement (Super-EBM) model and the Malmquist index to evaluate the power industry's low carbon transition efficiency using data from 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, and utilizes the Tobit model to comprehensively analyze the factors affecting the low carbon transition of power industry. In addition, this paper examines the spatial differences in the power industry's low carbon transition efficiency as well as its distributional characteristics and dynamic evolutionary patterns. Conclusion is drawn as follows this paper analyzes the regional differences, spatial distribution characteristics and dynamic evolutionary trends of the power industry's low carbon transition. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The power industry's low carbon transition efficiency in China shows an uptrend, with the western China region having the highest overall level of efficiency, greater fluctuations in the central China region, and more stability in the eastern China region, technological progress is a central factor in increasing total factor productivity, the efficiency of the power industry's low carbon transition is positively influenced by the electricity prices, and negatively influenced by the energy structure, environmental regulations and economic structure; (2) the Intraregional differences and hypervariable density are the main reasons sources of the overall differences in the efficiency of the power industry's low carbon transition; Intraregional differences in the eastern, central, and western China regions are decreasing year by year, but the efficiency of the power industry's low carbon transition in the western China region is still distributed in a multipolar way; (3) The dynamic evolutionary trends of the efficiency distribution of the low carbon transition in power industry is influenced by the type of spatial lag in the neighboring area. Where areas with low efficiency makes it difficult to achieve short-term leapfrog development, and areas with a cluster of high-efficiency provinces are prone to "Siphon Effect". The findings provide a theoretical basis for promoting the efficiency of the power industry's low carbon transition and coordinating the strategic adjustment of economic and environmental green development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs a comparative analysis to investigate the state-led use of industrial heritage in major Chinese mega-events, delving into the three cases of the Guangzhou Asian Games, the Shanghai Expo, and the Beijing Winter Olympics. Examining the evolving practices led by Chinese governments reveals unique pathways for industrial heritage and showcases its diverse roles in economic development and societal transformation. The three cases illustrate the nuanced dynamics between market forces and state interventions, emphasising the importance of strategic planning and long-term considerations in mega-event-induced heritage practices. Mega-events serve as catalysts for urban regeneration, allowing governments to allocate substantial resources to conserve and repurpose industrial heritage. However, the current paper contends that the sustained benefits of industrial heritage hinge on thoughtful planning for long-term economic and social sustainability, emphasising the need to constrain a focus on short-term gains through land revenue. These reflections contribute to a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between heritage preservation, economic development, and sustainable urban planning in the context of China's mega-events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Bangladesh is the world's seventh most climate-vulnerable nation. Being on the verge of facing extreme climatic backlash emerging from unwitting economic development, Bangladesh must comprehend that the current economic growth is not a panacea for its environmental integrity. However, considering Bangladesh's recent economic sustainability, curbing economic development will be uninviting. As such, we propose a conceptual framework to obtain environmental integrity without decommissioning economic development. Deploying data from 1972 to 2020 and novel econometric methodologies, we unearth that FDI ameliorates Bangladesh's environmental quality, whereas export with no comparative advantage jeopardizes it due to its redundancy issue. Considering export and FDI as substitutionary in Bangladesh, we support for FDI-led development for an interim period until the redundant export issue is resolved. Furthermore, exchange rate depreciation increases CO2 emissions. We advocate an exchange rate appreciation policy that will curb redundant exports and improve environmental quality. Findings also validate the EKC hypothesis in both the short run and long run. Turning point estimation indicates that Bangladesh is still below the required income level to phase out growth-induced CO2 emissions. Moreover, natural resource rent improves environmental quality, whereas consumption of non-renewables degrades it. Besides, gross domestic savings (GDS), agricultural value-addition (AVA), and primary schooling increase emissions. We propose GDS and FDI be channeled into the AVA sectors to equip them with green technologies. This paper further suggests including fundamental concepts of climate change education in pre- and secondary-level textbooks to indoctrinate the younger section of society on environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information asymmetry is a prominent problem in the advancement of green finance, and because of the difficulty of capturing "information", research on the role of information factors in green finance has been limited. In this study, a quasi-natural experiment based on China's environmental information disclosure system in 2008 is conducted to investigate the effect of information factors on green finance. Using the panel datasets of China's 107 cities and 173 environmental protection firms from 2005 to 2015, this study, respectively, adopts the difference-in-difference (DID) method and triple difference (DDD) method to examine the effect of environmental information disclosure on regional green finance development and the utilization efficiency of green funds. According to the results, public disclosure of environmental information can promote both regional green finance development and the efficient utilization of green funds by energy-based environmental protection enterprises. Heterogeneity analysis at the regional level suggests that environmental information disclosure has a greater impact on green finance in regions with lower resource endowments and stronger environmental regulations. Heterogeneity analysis at enterprise level shows that compared to state-owned energy-based environmental firms, the efficiency of green capital utilization of non-state-owned energy-based environmental firms is more sensitive to the disclosure of environmental information. The findings of this paper provide a theoretical and empirical foundation for developing green finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy (CE) regenerates nature by introducing circularity in economic systems. It tackles various global challenges of sustainability, specifically in the agriculture and food sectors. Digital technologies support its implementations; especially, artificial intelligence (AI) is acquiring momentum. In this regard through algorithms, remote sensors, drones etc must be incorporated to achieve the desired target. The current studies provide bounded investigations of AI-driven CE exclusively in Pakistan. The main purpose of this paper is to elaborate on AI support in the implementation of CE practices and to explore the current waste situation in Pakistan and the implementations of CE and AI-driven CE practices in it. Inductive research is conducted in two stages. On the one hand, the theory is developed to evaluate the CE concept and AI techniques to strengthen its practices. On the other hand, a framework is proposed for multi-purpose case studies in the agriculture and food industries of Pakistan to integrate capabilities of CE and CE driven by AI. The outcomes of this research reveal that the true value of AI lies in the transition of CE and recommends that Pakistan must take some crucial measures to boost these practices to achieve sustainable development goals. Some limitations and future research proposals are also provided. The study helps researchers, companies and institues to participate positively towards the Circular Economy goal achievement by imlementing the AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth in the green jobs sector has increased demand for college graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce with interdisciplinary sustainability skills. Simultaneously, scholarly calls for interdisciplinary collaboration in the service of addressing the societal challenges of enhancing resilience and sustainability have also increased in recent years. However, developing, executing, and assessing interdisciplinary content and skills at the post-secondary level has been challenging. The objective of this paper is to offer the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus as a powerful way to achieve sustainability competencies and matriculate graduates who will be equipped to facilitate the transformation of the global society by meeting the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The paper presents 10 curricular design examples that span multiple levels, including modules, courses, and programs. These modules enable clear evaluation and assessment of key sustainability competencies, helping to prepare graduates with well-defined skillsets who are equipped to address current and future workforce needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization will cause various land use changes and the vast occupation of green spaces, a critical factor in the deterioration of biodiversity in urbanized areas. Some species of wildlife are endangered due to habitat shrunk and fragmentation. However, Malaysia's current biodiversity protection range is still limited. The Ecological Network (EN) refers to a framework of ecological components, which can be obtained by geographical and technical approaches to support more ecological diversity ranges. Furthermore, little research has been found on EN in Malaysia and the impact of land use change on EN. Therefore, the Selangor region is selected as the study area. This paper quantifies land use change and measures the extent of land use change to obtain the EN's change. The result has shown that forestland has decreased, explored by people for housing and agriculture from 2000 to 2020. The EN has a trend of fragmentation. Overall, this study's results imply that the land use change led to EN's worsened performance from 2000 to 2020 in the study area. This paper hopes that this research could help supply information on conserving biodiversity in future development and urban sustainable planning in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing global concern about climate change and the circular economy have successfully established itselves in international and national policies over the last decade, with the aim of reshaping the production and consumer behavior. The circular economy is one of the core pillars of European Union policy and its success depends on the energy efficiency, reducing production costs, and maintaining employment levels by ensuring continuous strong economic independency of the region. While crises are unavoidable and continue to appear, this paper aims to project the impact of any crisis on sustainability transitions using data analysis of the Global Financial crisis from 2008 to 2009 and discuss how the success of the circular economy implementation and environmental policies could be affected. The paper notes that the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 had a short-term positive impact on environmental degradation and that economic interests overshadowed environmental goals. Due to the recent events of the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war, COVID-19 societal and industrial behavior has shifted from sustainable to linear and has taken a step backward in reducing environmental pollution and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Analysis of already present data and the context of the 2008–2009 global financial crisis, reviewing of COVID-19 impact on the global economy, health sector, and environmental policies allows us to predict the consequences, as it relates to the future of circular economy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability has become an extensive concern in biological and social research. As for urban–rural development, narrowing the disparities between urban and rural areas and leading to urban–rural integration is a tendency of urban–rural development worldwide and an inevitable way to create a sustainable human society. China is in a critical stage of significant challenges and opportunities with a scale and pace unique in history. Although some studies have begun to focus on sustainable urban and rural development, they have often neglected to assess issues related to rural areas. China has undergone the adjustment of rural structure and development policies, and the sustainable development of rural areas should be given enough attention. This study constructs a system of indicators related to rural public resources, aiming to assess whether there are distributional inequalities in spatial allocation. The calculations show that: (1) China's rural public resources allocation coefficient is stable at 0.2 to 0.3 at the national level. (2) Even under policy support, a significant decline rate change still occurs. (3) Western education resources are allocated relatively compared with eastern provinces, but resources are rarely in medical and social security. China has implemented a firm macro-control policy regarding resource allocation in rural areas. Furthermore, the government should continue to increase investment in human resources and public facilities to adjust regional differences. This paper analyzes the allocation structure of rural resources based on China's new policy theory. It has opened a new path in sustainable rural development governance and public resource allocation to provide constructive suggestions for sustainable rural development in China and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]