Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410844

Authors: Hongsi Zhang Haixia Huang

This study introduces and develops the concept of low-carbon transformational leadership (LCTL), focusing on leadership behaviors essential for achieving carbon reduction objectives within organizations. Addressing gaps in current green leadership research, this study distinguishes LCTL from broader green transformational leadership by emphasizing carbon reduction goals rather than general environmental aims. Using a grounded-theory approach, this study conceptualizes LCTL across three core dimensions: fostering a collective vision and alignment in low-carbon transition opportunities, strategic steering and feedback for an effective low-carbon transformation, and adaptive integration and iteration for a resilient low-carbon transformation. To ensure empirical rigor, a comprehensive LCTL scale was developed and validated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, demonstrating strong internal consistency and construct validity. The predictive validity of the LCTL scale was further tested, showing a significant positive impact on green innovation and green product development outcomes, particularly in carbon-intensive industries. This research provides a nuanced and practical framework for leadership in low-carbon transitions, offering new insights into green leadership by highlighting the role of leadership in advancing climate-centered corporate innovation. The findings underscore the critical importance of adaptive, visionary, and strategic leadership in aligning organizations with carbon-neutral goals and enhancing corporate sustainability practices. These results suggest that companies can embed LCTL principles into their daily operations by setting clear sustainability visions, investing in leadership training, and prioritizing collaborative strategies. Future research could explore sector-specific applications of LCTL, particularly in emerging economies, to further expand its theoretical and practical implications.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410842

Authors: Yidan Gao Yixiang Zong

The accelerated development of economic globalization has given rise to the formation of supply chain networks for cross-regional agricultural products. However, the unequal rights and status of the partners and an imperfect benefit linkage mechanism have made it difficult to reasonably distribute and share benefits. Understanding how to establish a benefit-sharing mechanism among partners has been a popular topic in the industry, but thematic research and discussions are lacking in the academic community. Therefore, in this study, we utilized a grounded theory approach and selected five supply chain master enterprises with different supply chain systems as samples. We constructed a theoretical model of a benefit-sharing mechanism and systematically revealed the key elements and theoretical logic of benefit sharing. The results of this study showed that (1) the five elements of benefit creation, benefit integration, benefit distribution, benefit constraint, and benefit coordination have important impacts on benefit sharing in the supply chain; (2) the dimensions within these five elements are independent of each other, and these elements can be combined to demonstrate a common impact on benefit sharing. The dynamic interaction among the five elements constituted a self-regulating and self-optimizing cyclic system; (3) benefit integration and benefit distribution have a dynamic cyclic facilitating effect on benefit sharing. This study has refined the key elements of the benefit-sharing mechanism, and the results provide theoretical references for benefit sharing and in-depth collaboration among supply chain members.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410840

Authors: Yoshinori Nakagawa Masami Mori Masahiko Yamada Yuko Hata Takayuki Sugimoto Tatsuyoshi Saijo

Infrastructure decommissioning refers to retiring infrastructure at the end of its useful life. Since all types of tangible infrastructure have a finite lifespan, the challenges of decommissioning are as significant as those of its creation. Despite this, there is an insufficient accumulation of knowledge regarding decommissioning. Given the intergenerational nature of this issue, the current brief report explores how the methodology of Future Design and its key concept, ‘imaginary future people’, can transform the perspectives of individuals involved in infrastructure decommissioning. In 2018, Uji City Hall in Kyoto Prefecture invited 32 citizens to participate in a series of 4 workshops contemplating the future of local communities and the 132 public assembly facilities, constituting 47.3% of the city’s public facilities. Future Design methodology and the concept of imaginary future people were adopted. Then the workshop discussions were transcribed and analyzed to compare how participants’ perspectives changed when they embraced the concept of imaginary future people, as opposed to when they did not. The analysis revealed that the concept encourages individuals to envision the future broadly. Based on this envisioning, they derive answers about the role of public assembly facilities, often considered peripheral. The paper concludes that Future Design is effective in exploring how ‘value’ can be created in decommissioning, motivating individuals to address infrastructure decommissioning. To elucidate the mechanisms by which Future Design produces such effects, further and more thorough research is required, which falls outside the scope of this report. Nevertheless, reporting that such an effect has been observed in a single case is considered to have both social and academic value.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410835

Authors: Nermeen Gamal Rezk Samah Alshathri Amged Sayed Ezz El-Din Hemdan Heba El-Behery

Air pollution has exceeded the anticipated safety limit and addressing this issue is crucial for sustainability, particularly in countries with high pollution levels. So, monitoring and forecasting air quality is essential for sustainable urban development. Therefore, this paper presents multiclass classification using two feature selection techniques, namely Sequential Forward Selection (SFS) and filtering, both with different machine learning and ensemble techniques, to predict air quality and make sure that the most relevant features are included in datasets for air quality determination. The results of the considered framework reveal that the SFS technique provides superior performance compared to filter feature selection (FFS) with different ML methods, including the AdaBoost Classifier, the Extra Tree Classifier, Random Forest (RF), and the Bagging Classifier, for efficiently determining the Air Quality Index (AQI). These models’ performances are assessed using predetermined performance metrics. The AdaBoost Classifier model with FFS has the lowest accuracy, while the RF model with SFS achieves the highest accuracy, at 78.4% and 99.99%, respectively. Based on the raw dataset, it was noted that the F1-score, recall, and precision values of the RF model with SFS are 99.96%, 99.97%, and 99.98%, respectively. Therefore, the experimental results undoubtedly show the supremacy, reliability, and robustness of the proposed approach in determining the AQI effectively.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410838

Authors: Daqian Yang Masaaki Minami Ashraf Uddin Fahim Toru Kawashita

An earthquake and tsunami on 1 January 2024, caused extensive damage across Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. This study systematically examined the recovery process. It aimed to analyze the initial stages of recovery and highlight the lessons learned from these efforts. By collecting data from Ishikawa’s post-disaster records, including government reports, reconstruction plans, local news, and observational records, we compiled the first “Early Reconstruction Timeline for Ishikawa”. This timeline divided the recovery process into four phases: disaster occurrence and emergency response (January), reconstruction preparation (February–April), the beginning of early reconstruction (May–September), and the beginning of mid-reconstruction to the present (October–Present). Analysis of this timeline revealed several significant findings. First, Ishikawa’s reconstruction efforts were structured into three key phases: ‘Post-Disaster Relief and Emergency Response’, ‘Post-Disaster Reconstruction Preparation Period’, and ‘Infrastructure Reconstruction and Emergency Housing Construction Period’. This phased approach highlights an efficient and organized recovery process, distinguishing Ishikawa from other disaster-affected regions. Additionally, the housing reconstruction model showcased an innovative balance between emergency housing as a public resource and the specific needs of displaced residents. These findings not only establish a timeline-based framework for Ishikawa’s reconstruction but also provide practical insights for guiding early post-disaster recovery efforts in various disaster-affected contexts worldwide.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410837

Authors: Raniero Sannino Laura Ronchetti Silvia Di Turi

In recent years, energy efficiency and the decarbonization of the building sector have become key goals in Europe. However, substantial efforts are still needed to support the increase in on-site energy generation from renewable energy sources (RES) and to phase-out the use of fossil fuels. Moreover, this challenge must be backed by financial mechanisms provided by Member States. In this context, the aim of this work is to investigate different RES generation layouts for a reference office building in Italy and to determine whether it can achieve the goal of a net zero energy building (net ZEB) or a positive energy building (PEB). Different layouts are analyzed from both energy and economic perspectives through dynamic energy simulation, considering different financial schemes, such as “net metering” (SSP) and “premium tariff” (RID). The results show that the energy performance improves due to the size and the characteristics of the PV system. However, the avoided operating costs due to RID increase linearly, while the economic benefits provided by the SSP scheme encourage an appropriate design of the renewable energy system, avoiding oversizing for economic profitability.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410836

Authors: Joina Ijuniclair Arruda Silva dos Santos Alan Bandeira Pinheiro Paulo Henrique Muller Prado Marconi Freitas da Costa

This article offers a comprehensive analysis of consumers’ perspectives towards plant-based meats, utilizing insights derived from a systematic literature review (SLR). The primary objective is to identify the specific areas of focus in studies pertaining to plant-based meats that address consumer preferences, as well as the prevailing methodologies employed in those studies. To accomplish this objective, the authors conducted a rigorous systematic literature review (SLR) adhering to established guidelines and employing quality assessment parameters for a set of eighteen selected studies. The findings of this SLR bring 18 primary works that deal with acceptance, barriers, environmental concern, and brand preference, among other aspects related to the consumer. Regarding the research methods most used in studies, some research uses the qualitative method, but predominantly the quantitative method is found. By synthesizing the findings of rigorous and high-quality peer-reviewed articles, this study offers insights that have the potential to advance the field. The derived insights not only contribute to the formulation of strategies aimed at enhancing consumer acceptance of plant-based meats but also hold promise in addressing the critical issue of reducing animal meat consumption and mitigating the associated negative environmental impacts.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410834

Authors: Bojana Kalenjuk Pivarski Dragan Tešanović Stefan Šmugović Velibor Ivanović Maja Paunić Dragana Vuković Vojnović Vesna Vujasinović Snježana Gagić Jaraković

Gastronomy is a key driver of regional tourism development. Despite growing recognition of its role in enhancing tourist experiences, the specific contributions of food-related factors remain insufficiently explored, especially from the perspective of hospitality and tourism employees. To address this gap, an investigation was carried out in the tourist region of Srem (A.P. Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia) through the perspective of employees in the hospitality and tourism sector. The custom-made GastroRegDevelop scale, developed for the purpose of this research, was used to comprise the food-related factors. The scale was carefully crafted through expert consultations, pilot testing, and its adaptation to the specific features of the gastronomy of the Srem Region, to ensure its clarity and validity. From a sample of 254 respondents, the survey identified four key food-related factors that contribute to tourism development: authenticity, events, quality, and food offer. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to analyze the collected data to reveal the initial factors, followed by the ordinal regression to evaluate their impact on employees’ satisfaction with the role of food in tourism and its economic effects in the region. The results indicated the importance of these factors for economic growth and tourist attractiveness, where the respondents singled out the authenticity and quality of local products as key elements in attracting tourists and increasing tourism-related income. This study not only highlights the urgent need for addressing specific food-related factors to maximize visitor satisfaction and regional economic impact, but also underscores the critical role of gastronomy in fostering sustainable regional development and establishing a unique regional identity within the global tourism market.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410833

Authors: Mario Stipanov Josip Dujmović Vladimir Pelić Radoslav Radonja

Shipping, as the most efficient, cheapest, and most widespread mode of transporting goods, also generates significant exhaust emissions. This has led to the adoption of stringent regulatory restrictions on emissions from ship propulsion systems. Consequently, the education and training of marine engineers can significantly impact their understanding of how emissions are generated and their potential for reduction. The engine room simulator is an indispensable tool in the training of marine engineers. Since operating conditions and parameters have the greatest impact on NOx emissions, this forms the primary focus of this research. This study tests the accuracy and precision of the engine room simulator in simulating emissions and evaluating the influence of operating conditions on them. Furthermore, the implementation and testing of NOx emission reduction technologies are vital for promoting sustainable shipping, ensuring regulatory compliance, and training personnel to support environmentally conscious maritime operations. Using the example of a two-stroke marine diesel engine, the results obtained are compared with test bench data from similar engines. Special emphasis is placed on simulating the operation of a two-stroke diesel engine at low speed, or low load, where secondary NOx reduction methods cannot be used. Therefore, the simulator is tested using two available technologies: water–fuel emulsion and altering the fuel injection timing to reduce NOx emissions. The simulation results for the water–fuel emulsion show high accuracy in predicting NOx emission trends when changing the water content in the emulsion at nominal power. However, at low load, the results show significant deviations. Testing the effect of altering fuel injection timing under low load using the engine room simulator shows significant differences compared to available research. Nonetheless, research on NOx emissions in this engine mode is limited, presenting a potential area for further study. When comparing the results for nominal power operation, the simulation provides more accurate results, particularly in terms of the influence of fuel injection timing on NOx emissions. However, engine tests on the test bench still reveal more substantial changes in emissions than those obtained using the engine room simulator.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410832

Authors: Xianda Ren Yongli Xie Fan Ding Dazhao Sun Haiyang Liu

With the advancement of tunnel construction, the load-bearing capacity of shield tunnel segments is diminishing, while issues of deformation and fissuring are becoming more conspicuous, posing direct threats to structural integrity and functionality. Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is considered a prevalent material, endowed with high strength, excellent crack control, fracture toughness, and remarkable economic advantages. This paper surveys the state-of-the-art research on SFRC, systematically encapsulating key aspects regarding its composition, attributes, methods of segment reinforcement, constitutive models for SFRC segments, and performance enhancements of SFRC segments. By optimizing steel fiber content, aggregate preparation, and selection of chemical admixtures, the mechanical performance of SFRC can be augmented, among which the aspect ratio (l/d) and volume fraction (Vf) of steel fibers exert the most significant influence. Compared with conventional reinforcing materials, SFRC possesses benefits of low cost, uncomplicated fabrication, and superior durability. As a heterogeneous multiphase composite, SFRC exhibits high strength, stiffness, and excellent crack resistance, which can amplify the load-bearing capacity and deformation resistance of the segments, defer damage inception, and thereby enhance the safety and durability of tunnel-lining segments. This study assists in redressing the deficiencies of current shield tunnel segment reinforcement technologies and further facilitates the extensive employment of SFRC in tunnel segment strengthening and restoration.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410831

Authors: Jorge Alberto Cárdenas Magaña Marco Antonio Celis Crisóstomo Juan M. González López Sergio Sandoval Pérez Daniel A. Verde Romero Francisco Miguel Hernández López Efrain Villalvazo Laureano Emmanuel Vega Negrete Jaime Jalomo Cuevas Ramón Chávez Bracamontes Paulina Barragán Sánchez

This paper presents a comprehensive holistic methodology implemented for sustainable lighting systems in educational institutions. The proposed methodology is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), and it follows international standards. The six-step process includes viability analysis, project design simulation using DIALux 4.13 software, the installation of LED lighting systems, and the redesign of some electrical circuits, followed by an analysis of return on investment and the monitorization of CO2 and energy consumption. The proposed methodology results in significant return on investment (ROI), primarily achieved through energy savings and reduced maintenance costs. The implementation of LED tubes, combined with occupancy and natural light sensors, leads to a 66% reduction in energy consumption and a reduction of 15.63 tons (metric tons) of CO2 annually, translating into a quick payback period of approximately 2.36 years. Additionally, the system includes Long-Term Monitoring, which ensures that energy consumption and lighting levels are continuously tracked.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410830

Authors: Yuhan Zhang Yuankang Zhang Zichen Wang

Promoting the realization of sustainable development goals is an important aspect of the national audit’s work. In practice, the digital transformation of the national audit, which emphasizes the integrated development of digital technology and traditional auditing methods, has emerged as a significant tool for advancing regional sustainable development. Based on the quasi-natural experiment of the establishment of a national audit digital department, the impact of national audit digital transformation on the effectiveness of regional sustainable development and the mechanisms through which it operates is empirically tested in this study. The findings reveal that national audit digital transformation significantly promotes regional sustainable development. A mechanism analysis indicates that national audit digital transformation promotes regional sustainable development by improving the performance of the government’s environmental governance and corporate green innovation. A heterogeneity analysis further demonstrates that the positive effects of national audit digital transformation on regional sustainable development are more pronounced in regions characterized by a high reliance on secondary industries, intense government competition, and elevated public concern for environmental issues.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410829

Authors: Fernanda Pacheco Hinoel Zamis Ehrenbring Roberto Christ Rodrigo Périco de Souza Regina Celia Espinosa Modolo Victor Hugo Valiatio Bernardo Fonseca Tutikian Zemei Wu

This paper aimed to evaluate two self-healing mechanisms of concrete exposed to chloride ions and carbon dioxide environments using chemical and bacterial solutions, contributing to understanding the real scenarios of concrete structures application. Expanded perlite (EP) impregnated with chemical and bacterial solutions with the aid of either a vacuum chamber or immersion was used in partial substitution of fine natural aggregate in ratios of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Samples were characterized by a compression strength test. Healing efficiency was evaluated with high precision in stereo zoom microscopy. Further characterization of the samples was obtained from SEM/EDS, and mineral content was determined from XRD. Samples impregnated with a chemical solution formed healing products identified as C-S-H, CaCO3, and SiO2 across and overflowing the fissure. Samples impregnated with the bacterial solution presented a maximum continuous healing region of 1.67 mm and an average of 0.514 mm. A comparison of submersed and wet curing yielded an equal number of results between the techniques. Overall, the products formed were mostly calcite (CaCO3) and C-S-H, while the presence of CO2 and Cl− corrosives did not affect healing, with concentrations of 5% and 3%, respectively.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410828

Authors: Carlos Salvador Peña-Casillas Rodrigo Espinoza-Sánchez José Alejandro López-Sánchez Adriana Yunuen Dávalos-Pita

Magical town designation is a distinction granted by the Mexican government to different areas that meet certain requirements that favor tourist activities. Some of these magical towns, as in the case of San Sebastian del Oeste, in Jalisco, have had different outcomes because of this distinction, and a very important one is the quality of life (QOL) of the local inhabitants, who have modified their traditional lifestyles oriented to rural activities by including tourism and all that it implies. For this reason, it is necessary to ask the following question: What has been the impact of tourism on the QOL of the local inhabitants of San Sebastian del Oeste? To answer this question, a qualitative–phenomenological methodology was used, based on interviews with local inhabitants to identify the impact of tourism on their QOL. This study found that tourism has answered some of the needs of the local population, such as economic and public services, but it is not the solution for all areas considered in QOL.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410827

Authors: Throstur Olaf Sigurjonsson Einar Jónsson Svala Gudmundsdottir

This study examines municipalities’ challenges in digital transformation, focusing on an Icelandic municipality. It aims to determine whether these challenges align with those reported in academic literature, particularly in public service delivery and the sustainability of digital initiatives from an operational perspective. A mixed-methods approach, including interviews with municipal employees and a survey, was used to analyze the municipality’s experiences. An evaluation framework introduced by Lafioune et al. guided the analysis. Key findings highlight the importance of senior management support, adequate funding, staff collaboration, and effective data management for making successful and digital transformation sustainable in the long run. Resistance to change, especially among staff, emerged as a significant obstacle to long-term sustainability. The study reveals that the challenges Icelandic municipalities face are consistent with broader research on digital transformation in public administration. The research emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach integrating technological, organizational, and cultural changes to ensure a sustainable result from these initiatives. It also underscores the potential of digitalization to enhance public service accessibility and efficiency, promoting social cohesion, equity, and long-term sustainability. Practical recommendations include fostering strong leadership, securing strategic funding, and promoting a collaborative culture to ensure the success of digital initiatives in public services.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410826

Authors: Xudong Li Chuanrong Li Shouchao Yu Lijuan Cheng Dan Li Jiehui Wang Hongxia Zhao

Analyzing and monitoring land use/cover (LULC) changes is critical for improving regional ecosystem service functions and developing strategies for long-term socio-economic development. Exploring future changes in land use and carbon storage under different scenarios is important for optimizing regional ecosystem service functions and formulating sustainable socio-economic development policies. In the present work, we evaluate LULC changes and carbon storage changes in the Rapid Urbanization Area (RUA) of Weihai City from 2000 to 2020 using satellite images. Using five Landsat images, the spatio-temporal dynamics of the LULC changes were measured, using a supervised classification algorithm of the neural net and the intensity analysis techniques in GIS. The Landsat images from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were categorized into five main land use categories in the researched region: urban areas, woodlands, cultivated areas, bare soil, and water bodies. Our results reveal that urban areas, woodlands, and bare soil increased by about 129.63 km2 (13.29%), 53.07 km2 (5.44%), and 40.99 km2 (4.2%) from 2000 to 2020, respectively. On the contrary, the cultivated areas decreased by 218.35 km2 (22.36%) and the water bodies decreased by 5.44 km2 (0.56%). To summarize, the conversion of cultivated areas into urban areas has been the most significant transformation in the RUA during the period 2000–2020. Regarding carbon storage, in the study area, it decreased by 14.92 × 104 t from 2000 to 2020. Moreover, according to the prediction of the LULC changes for 2030 by the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model, the cultivated areas and carbon storage will continue to decline. The slow increase in woodland brings good ecological benefits. But the sharp reduction in the per capita cultivated areas will bring environmental and socio-economic problems to the RUA. Therefore, it is time to strengthen the implementation of cultivated area protection policy. Monitoring and managing LULC changes are critical for establishing relationships between policy choices, regulatory measures, and future LULC operations, especially because many potential concerns remain in the RUA territories.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410825

Authors: Abubakari Malik Peter B. K. Mbewe Neema Kavishe Theresa Mkandawire Pelumi Adetoro

Sustainable practice is considered a significant practice in modern construction for infrastructure development as it promotes economic growth and improves quality of life. Despite the importance of sustainable practices in construction, few studies have explored the implementation of these practices in low-income countries like Malawi. Therefore, this study aims to assess the extent of the implementation of sustainable construction practices (SCPs) in building infrastructure projects in Malawi. Following an in-depth literature review, 22 sustainable construction practices and 13 drivers were identified. A survey of 193 construction professionals was conducted, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Relative Importance Index (RII). The findings revealed that economic practices such as efficient allocation of resources, use of quick construction tools and a coordinated supply chain in the construction process are widely implemented with emphasis on the economic aspect of sustainability for infrastructure projects in Malawi. The study further identified global trends and industry standards, social and health benefits, market demand and awareness and access to green technologies and innovation as the main drivers for adopting and implementing SCPs in Malawi. This study provides policymakers and stakeholders with valuable insights to develop policy regulations that would improve the sustainability performance of infrastructure projects.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410824

Authors: Inmaculada C. Jiménez-Navarro Catia Prandi José Giner Pérez de Lucía José M. Cecilia Javier Senent-Aparicio

The Mar Menor (Murcia, Spain) has faced a eutrophication crisis in recent decades, significantly affecting local residents, including children. Considering the importance of involving children in scientific activities and the potential societal benefits of working with them, we conducted two environmental citizen science activities with students from the Los Nietos school. The study aimed to evaluate their knowledge about the Mar Menor crisis, understand their opinions and experiences, and assess the broader social impact of these activities. The children first created drawings related to the Mar Menor during a visit to Los Nietos beach, followed by a survey completed weeks later. Analysis of the drawings and survey responses revealed that while children may not fully grasp the causes of the ecological catastrophe, they are aware of its existence and maintain a hopeful perspective on the lagoon’s future. Additionally, a social network analysis of texts referencing children highlighted the societal reach of their actions and voices regarding the Mar Menor crisis. Our findings demonstrate that citizen science activities not only engage and educate children but also position them as influential communicators within their communities. This underscores the potential of such initiatives to amplify environmental awareness and drive social change by empowering younger generations as advocates for ecological sustainability.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410823

Authors: Han-Na Chu Eun-Suk Jung Mi-Kyung Seo Jae-Sin Lee Haeng-Ran Kim

Soybean leaves, by-products of soybeans, are functional food supplements for overall health, displaying nutritional superiority and various functionalities; they are widely used for both consumption and as functional materials. This study analyzed the physiological activity (efficacy) of 47 soybean leaves harvested in 2019 and 2020. Differences based on cultivation year (2 years), seed coat color (three varieties), and the interaction of soybean cultivation year × seed coat color were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). DPPH radical scavenging activity varied with seed coat color, while uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) and nitric oxide (NO) exhibited significant differences by cultivation year. Items that displayed greater increases in 2020 than in 2019 among the six measures of physiological activity (efficacy) were estrogen receptor alpha, UCP-1, and NO production inhibitory activity, whereas ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities as well as estrogen activity declined. ANOVA confirmed significant differences in DPPH radical scavenging activity according to seed coat color as well as in UCP-1 and NO production inhibitory activity by cultivation year. Annual comparisons in the correlations of efficacy with ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities exhibited strong correlations at 2 years, despite climatic variation, thus potentially being classifiable as analysis items with high cultivation stability. However, other efficacies displayed vast differences in correlation between years. Climate change may affect the added value of agricultural products by reducing the production of by-product soybean leaves and changing their bioactive properties, so various countermeasures are needed. This annual variation may largely be attributed to climatic variations owing to open field cultivation. Geomjeong Kong-5 (black color), B16 Neoljeokseoritae (black color), Sorok Kong (yellow color), and Gangwonyanggu-1994-3709 (green–black color) were selected as superior soybean leaf sources with minimal annual variation and high stability against cultivation environments. Further research is needed to ensure that the leaves of the soybean can be used as a sustainable resource for the agricultural industry. The data from this study can be used as a basis for breeding and cultivating soybean leaves while maintaining high efficacy, regardless of the instability of the growing environment due to climatic variations.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410822

Authors: Katarzyna Mazur-Włodarczyk Agnieszka Gruszecka-Kosowska

Background: Human population has been overexploiting natural resources for many decades. Consumerism drives a strong economy, but at the same time it degrades the environment. The solution is to turn it into sustainable development. In this study, our aim was to determine how the quest for sustainable consumption was perceived in the current scientific literature; Methods: A total of 712 papers from the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were investigated. Descriptive statistics and VOSviewer (version 1.6.18.) and Wordcloud software were used for further analysis. The analysis involved investigating publication trends over time, engaged countries and funding agencies, co-authorships, document types, thematic categories, sustainable development goals orientation, and the most frequently occurring words. Results: Word clouds created in the WordArt program based on the titles and abstracts indicated “food” to be the most frequently occurring word. The content of the articles was analyzed based on three term clusters: (1) “food waste”, “waste”, “food security”; (2) “agriculture” and “vertical farming”; and (3) “energy”. Conclusions: Analyzed articles surpassed the European Union, indicating the global range of striving for sustainability. The co-occurrence of the following sustainable development goals (SDGs) was indicated in the study: no. 1 (“no poverty”), no. 2 (“zero hunger”), no. 3 (“good health and well-being”), no. 6 (“clean water and sanitation”), no. 7 (“affordable and clean energy”), no. 8 (“decent work and economic growth”), no. 9 (“industry, innovation and infrastructure”), no. 10 (“reduced inequalities”), no. 12 (“responsible production and consumption”), no. 13 (“climate action”), no. 14 (“life below water”), and no. 15 (“life on land”).

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410820

Authors: Rodica Siminiuc Dinu Țurcanu Anna Vîrlan

Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, poses a critical global challenge, with household energy use as a significant contributor. In the Republic of Moldova, stark urban–rural disparities in fuel consumption and emissions necessitate _targeted research to inform effective energy policies. This study analyzes GHG emissions from household fuel consumption, focusing on the differences between urban and rural areas, using a quantitative approach guided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodologies. The findings reveal that rural areas, heavily reliant on traditional fuels like firewood, contribute disproportionately to emissions compared to urban areas, where modern energy sources such as natural gas dominate. Nationally, the research provides critical data to shape energy transition strategies, promoting renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency in rural areas. Internationally, it offers a valuable case study on household emission dynamics in developing countries, contributing to the global understanding of energy use patterns and their environmental impacts. Recommendations include enhancing access to cleaner energy, modernizing infrastructure, and encouraging sustainable practices to align with Moldova’s commitment to GHG reduction goals and serve as a model for similar contexts worldwide.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410821

Authors: Ermias Tesfaye Teferi Tigist Damtew Worku Solomon Bizuayehu Wassie Bernd Muller Abdul-Rahim Abdulai Céline Termote

This study investigated vegetable farmers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for private agricultural advisory services in northwestern Ethiopia. Understanding farmers’ preferences is a crucial step for modernizing agricultural advisory services and transforming smallholder agri-food systems into a sustainable path. Discrete choice experiment data from 393 farm households were analyzed using a random parameter logit model (RPL). The results revealed that vegetable farmers are willing to pay for practice-oriented private advisory services. The result also showed the existence of heterogeneity in farmers’ preference for features of vegetable advisory services. Household heads’ educational status and age influenced preferences for advisory service features. The result is substantiated by the fact that merely 25.5% of the sample households acquired formal education. Farmers in general preferred extension services with frequent expert visits and practical engagement on-farm as opposed to digitized options that rely on short message service (SMS) and voice-based guidance. Additionally, farmers are willing to pay an ETB 120.89 and ETB 203.94 monthly fee for an extension service that emphasizes fruity and root and tuber vegetables, respectively, as opposed to leafy vegetables. The findings imply initiatives that push for commercializing agricultural advisory services should strive to achieve a balance between the practical application and digitization of extension services accounting for the heterogeneous preferences of smallholder farmers.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410816

Authors: Garima Doina Olaru Brett Smith Kadambot H. M. Siddique

Grain supply chains (GSCs) are crucial for global food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. This study investigates the complexities and challenges of enhancing the resilience of GSCs. The research unravels decision-making intricacies, assesses post-harvest risks and stakeholder interactions, and identifies future research avenues. This systematic literature review (SLR), following PRISMA guidelines, and conducted with two search rounds, addressed questions of resilience and efficiency of post-harvest GSCs, key decision factors of stakeholders influencing the sustainability and operational success of GSCs, and methods that can be used to develop robust decision-making for managing risks and uncertainties in GSCs. A comprehensive database of post-2000 journal articles from the Web of Science and Scopus was analysed using bibliometric and content analysis. This research identified five key themes: (1) operational complexity requiring strategic resilience, (2) comprehensive risk management strategies, (3) critical role of transport and storage infrastructure, (4) significant impact of stakeholder decisions on GSC dynamics, and (5) diverse methodological approaches for robust analysis. These themes illustrate the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within GSCs, suggesting that integrating operations research with behavioural economics is vital for improving strategic decision-making. The results advocate for adopting advanced technologies and innovative multidisciplinary methods to improve GSC efficiency and resilience, which are essential for navigating geopolitical tensions, market fluctuations, and complex stakeholder behaviours. It identified under-researched areas such as farmer transport decisions and logistics provider selection, and integrated emerging themes (such as resilience and behavioural aspects), contributing to the body of knowledge and supporting enhanced decision-making in GSCs for a stable global food supply system.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410819

Authors: Yusra Hasan Poritosh Roy Bassim Abbassi

This study evaluates the environmental burden of organic and conventional coffee systems with a functional unit (FU) of 1 kg for market-ready, dried coffee. The ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 framework and guidelines are applied to organic and conventional coffee systems, using a cradle-to-grave approach and the methodology of ReCiPe Endpoint 2008, cumulative energy demand (CED), and the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). Superior sustainability was achieved for organic coffee compared to the performance of conventional coffee, with values of 218.50 mPt (conventional) and 146.10 mPt (organic), and a global warming potential (GWP) of 2.12 kg CO2 eq FU−1 (organic) and 1.44 kg CO2 eq FU−1 (conventional). CED fossil-based consumption totalled 25 MJ and 35 MJ for organic and conventional coffee systems, respectively. Conventional and organic coffee system hotspots stemmed from the planting (chemical fertilizer), drying, and packaging processes. This study emphasizes the environmental benefits of organic practices and their relatively lower impact than conventional methods. Within a growing sector, best management practices in the form of actionable insights from a life cycle assessment must be sought to ensure environmental sustainability in parallel with the UN’s goals.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410818

Authors: Wenhong Huang Ahmad Rizal Abdul Rahman Sarjit S. Gill Raja Ahmad Azmeer Raja Ahmad Effendi

The Peranakan Chinese, formed through intermarriage between Chinese immigrants and Southeast Asian indigenous people, represent a unique example of cultural amalgamation. As modern society evolves, the conservation of their culture faces significant challenges, particularly in balancing heritage preservation with contemporary relevance. Addressing how Peranakan cultural products can meet the functional and emotional needs of modern audiences while achieving sustainable cultural development is a question worthy of in-depth exploration. This study uses the “SR” furniture series from Singapore’s “I” brand as a case study to examine how cultural products can integrate Peranakan heritage into modern life while promoting cultural conservation. Guided by affordance theory and thematic analysis, this research identifies four key strategies: (1) Cultural Integration and Expression; (2) Modern Innovation in Furniture Design; (3) Promotion and Sustainability; and (4) Social Engagement and Education. Based on these strategies, this study proposes a framework for cultural conservation in furniture development. This framework offers actionable strategies for designers, businesses, and policymakers to create products that meet both functional and emotional needs while fostering cultural conservation and adaptation in a globalized context.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410817

Authors: Jun Chen Asma-Qamaliah Abdul-Hamid Suhaiza Zailani

Although the potential of the blockchain has been extensively recognized by scholars and practitioners across multiple fields, research on its adoption in the framework of the circular economy (CE) is still scarce. In this context, this study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) by integrating the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework to holistically understand how technological perception factors (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) interact with organizational and environmental factors in influencing the intention to adopt the blockchain in the CE within the context of the Chinese automotive supply chain. Based on survey data from 305 respondents from Chinese automotive companies, the proposed hybrid TOE-TAM conceptual model was validated. The results indicate that, except for the effects of the knowledge management capability on the perceived ease of use and regulatory support on blockchain adoption intention, all of the other hypotheses are deemed significant. Moreover, by conducting an in-depth analysis of the evolution of blockchain adoption intention in the CE, this study not only deepens the understanding of how the technology is disseminated but also provides valuable insights to theory and practice within the Chinese automotive value chain.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410815

Authors: Guowen He Lehua Bi Xuehui Yang

To explore how firms’ network connections improve product innovative performance (PIP) for sustainable development, this study takes 230 firms involved in product innovation as the research object, and uses the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method to explore how strong ties, bridging ties, technology exchange, technology transfer, and innovation resource interaction can stimulate product innovative performance. This study has found that firms have three configurations to achieve high product innovative performance and two configurations to achieve non-high product innovative performance. Only appropriately matched types of strong ties, bridging ties, technological exchange, technological transfer, and innovation resource interaction can promote product innovative performance. The findings enrich the theoretical understanding of the relationships among network connections, knowledge flow, innovation resource interaction, and product innovative performance.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410814

Authors: Ming Luo Ruihao Zheng Ruguo Fan Yingqing Zhang Min Yang

This paper uses the multi-regional input–output model to measure China’s interprovincial embodied carbon transfer and constructs an interprovincial network; then, the temporal exponential random graph model is applied to analyze the spatial correlation characteristics and endogenous evolutionary mechanism of the network. The results show that interprovincial embodied carbon transfer relationships are increasingly close in China, but the weak symmetric accessibility between the eastern and central regions leads to less reciprocity in the embodied carbon network, and carbon emission inequality still exists. Based on the identification of networks, it is shown that the global network structures are stable, with obvious small-world characteristics and a core–periphery structure. And a structure-dependent effect and time-dependent effect also exist in the formation and evolution of the interprovincial embodied carbon transfer network in China. The popularity, multi-connectivity, and path-dependent effects among the provinces are significant, but the imperfection of interprovincial communication and the cooperation mechanism leads to the failure to form stable structures of ternary closed loops. Interprovincial embodied carbon transfer relationships tend to occur between provinces, with large differences in energy consumption structures, while geographical distance can hinder the formation of embodied carbon transfer relationships. Consequently, considering the spatial network correlation and its endogenous dynamic evolutionary mechanism, it is important to implement policies to guide coordinated carbon reduction among the provinces and to improve the fairness in embodied carbon transferring, in order to promote the fine governance of all links in the transferring process of embodied carbon.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410813

Authors: Lorena Mulero Dolors Grau Jordi Cunill Anna Fàbregas Josep M. Rossell

This project studies how to raise awareness of the environment and sustainability among secondary school students. The goal is for them to become aware of their role in transforming the world, in order to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into students’ daily educational environment. The goal is to attain the highest possible level of diversity in terms of age, possible knowledge of the SDGs, and environmental awareness. Another important factor is geographical distribution, with the inclusion of students from rural and urban schools. The study was developed within the framework of Forest and Sustainability, a project designed for secondary schools in Catalonia, using interactive learning tools. Survey participants (a total of 1106) are asked to choose and prioritize five SDGs. To obtain information on the trends in the responses, the program Minitab Statistical Software (v.22) was used. The SDGs with the highest score are SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The humanitarian and health factors concern members of the sample group most, with very interesting results when comparing the responses by gender, educational level, and rural or urban schools’ participants.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410812

Authors: Haishun Xu Huiying Chen Chen Qian Jining Li

Previous research has demonstrated that the multiple environmental benefits of green roofs are primarily associated with their evaporative cooling effect. However, current studies on green roof evapotranspiration (ET) mainly focus on extensive green roofs, and the evaporative cooling effect of intensive green roofs is still unclear. Using the intensive green roof of AQUA City in Nanjing as a case study, this research employs the three-temperature (3T) model combined with high-resolution thermal infrared imagery obtained via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to estimate the ET of different vegetation types. The study aims to explore the spatiotemporal variations in surface temperature, evapotranspiration (ET) rate, and evaporative cooling rate for various vegetation types under typical seasonal (summer and winter) and weather conditions (sunny, cloudy, and rainy before and after rainy days). The results showed that: (1) the ET rates and evaporative cooling effects of different types of vegetation differed significantly, with shrubs having the fastest ET rates, followed by arbors, and grasslands having relatively low ET rates. (2) Solar radiation and air temperature are the most crucial meteorological parameters for inducing ET on green roofs. In this study, the evaporative cooling performance showed the patterns of summer > winter and sunny > cloudy > rainy days. (3) In the spatial distribution of tree and irrigation plant groups, some low-temperature diffusion phenomena to the adjacent small microenvironments were evident, while the diffusion effect in winter is smaller and mainly shows the opposite warming characteristics. This study offers a valuable reference for quantifying the ET and evaporative cooling effects of various vegetation types on intensive green roofs, facilitating the optimization of vegetation configuration and supporting sustainable urban development.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410811

Authors: Piotr Dąbrowski Ilona Małuszyńska Marcin J. Małuszyński Bogumiła Pawluśkiewicz Tomasz Gnatowski Aneta H. Baczewska-Dąbrowska Hazem M. Kalaji

Significant efforts have been made to develop environmentally friendly remediation methods to restore petroleum-damaged ecosystems. One such approach is cultivating plant species that exhibit high resistance to contamination. This study aimed to assess the impact of petroleum-derived soil pollutants on the photosynthetic performance of selected plant species used in green infrastructure development. A pot experiment was conducted using both contaminated and uncontaminated soils to grow six plant species under controlled conditions. Biometric parameters and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements were taken, followed by statistical analyses to compare plant responses under stress and control conditions. This study is the first to simultaneously analyze PF, DF, and MR820 signals in plant species exposed to petroleum contamination stress. The results demonstrated that petroleum exposure reduced the activity of both PSII and PSI, likely due to increased nonradiative energy dissipation in PSII antenna chlorophylls, decreased antenna size, and/or damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Additionally, petroleum contamination affected the electron transport chain efficiency, limiting electron flow between PSII and PSI. The most resistant species to petroleum-induced stress were Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, and Trifolium repens.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410810

Authors: Hadi Sutanto Saragi Joko Siswanto Fitriani Silalahi Titah Yudhistira Nathan Saputra Sitohang

The Business Model Canvas and value chain have significantly impacted how companies and entrepreneurs develop their business strategies. Both the Business Model Canvas and the value chain provide a simple, visual approach to effectively map out the key elements of a business. They have also been used as foundational models for ecosystem business models. Ecosystem business models are created by integrating the Business Model Canvas and the pie model, known as the Integrated Business Model. Another method for generating an ecosystem business model is integrating the value chain and the pie model, known as the service-dominated business model radar. Ecosystem business models with an organizational approach also provide a broad view of the roles of each organization, divided into five actors: governor, input provider, aggregator, enabler, and end user. In this research, the perspective of the ecosystem business model originates from an ecological analogy. The ecological concept consists of community ecology and ecosystem ecology. Community ecology relates to the types of actors that play roles in the ecosystem, while ecosystem ecology pertains to the value chain processes within the ecosystem. This research will discuss the advantages and limitations of the Business Model Canvas, the value chain, and organizations as foundational models for ecosystem business models, as well as opportunities to create new ecosystem business models based on the concepts of community ecology and ecosystem ecology. The new business model developed will be applied to electric vehicles in sustainable tourism areas.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410809

Authors: Behnam Asadieh Paulina Maria Neisch

External events and crises significantly influence urban development. This study primarily aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on city development dynamics through structural change and spatiotemporal analysis, focusing on the Hong Kong SAR as a case study. The analysis revealed disruptions across the office, residential, and retail property sectors during late 2019 and early 2020. The findings emphasize the “Polycrisis” concept, where overlapping social, economic, and health crises amplify impacts. The office sector demonstrated greater vulnerability, particularly in higher grade offices in and near central business districts. In contrast, the residential sector showed greater resilience overall, with smaller, centrally located units being more vulnerable, while larger, peripheral units exhibited a stronger resilience. The retail market responded distinctively, with peripheral areas experiencing a greater impact than the city core, reflecting pandemic-related restrictions. In general, the findings show that the recovery from the crises is slow and might affect future land use and urban planning norms. Additionally, population trends highlighted a shift toward suburban living, with recent rising densities in peripheral districts and population declines in central areas. This study’s insights contribute to policymaking, urban planning, and discussions on understanding the evolving city dynamics.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410808

Authors: Yu Tang Iftikhar Yasin Khaliq ul Rehman

This research explores the least explored domain concerning the impact of monetary tactics on carbon dioxide emissions in China, thereby adding depth to environmental economics. The analysis spans 1982–2022 and explores the interplay between monetary instruments, ecological footprint, CO2 emissions, and factors like human capital, GDP per capita, remittances, urbanization, and fossil fuel dependence. The investigation utilizes a multifaceted approach, including wavelet analysis techniques, like wavelet power spectrum, wavelet coherence analysis, quantile on quantile, and quantile regression. The findings unveil critical insights. The results demonstrate that monetary policy has had differing effects on emissions depending on the time. Contractionary policies are good for lowering medium- and long-term emissions, even if they cause a short-term increase in emissions. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the beneficial impact of human capital development on CO2 emissions. Fossil fuels, per capita income, and population significantly contribute to environmental damage beyond monetary policy. This research contributes original insights by integrating monetary policy and socio-economic factors in a comprehensive, multi-methodological framework, offering valuable guidance for crafting policies that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410806

Authors: Jhon Wilson Mejía Montoya Steveen Alexander González Jimmy Jolman Vargas Richard Rios

The Zapatosa Marsh Complex (ZMC) is a strategic ecosystem in Colombia, under threat from human-driven factors such as population growth and subsistence extraction activities. Local residents experience high poverty levels and low educational attainment, exacerbating conflicts between their socio-economic needs and marsh conservation efforts. This study aimed to present a participatory approach to prioritize actions for sustainable development in Chimichagua, the municipality encompassing the largest part of the ZMC. We identified and characterized local stakeholders, engaging them in a participatory action research project to determine barriers and opportunities for economic growth and food security. The insights gathered were collaboratively used to formulate actions that balance the sustainability of the ZMC with local economic development. Stakeholders identified the ZMC as an opportunity for employment and raw materials, while pointing to poor support from territorial entities as the central barrier. A prioritized action was the construction of a concentrate feed production plant utilizing local raw materials. This work offers a methodological contribution that could be applied to address socio-economic and environmental conflicts in other strategic ecosystems.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410807

Authors: Chaonan Hu Nana Luo Chao Cai Yarui Cui Hongtao Gao Xing Yan

Currently, China’s urbanization has entered a stage of high-quality development, and rapid urban growth has led to a series of environmental pollution issues, with haze pollution caused by delicate particulate matter (PM2.5) increasingly becoming a focal point for scholars. This paper focuses on Xi’an, Wuhan, Taiyuan, and Lanzhou, exploring the relationship between PM2.5 concentrations using methods such as the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), dominance analysis (DA), and ordinary least squares regression (OLSR). The results indicate that (1) Xi’an’s built environment is distributed radially, Wuhan is circular, Taiyuan is grid-like, and Lanzhou is strip-shaped; (2) Xi’an, Wuhan, Taiyuan, and Lanzhou exhibited different development patterns between 2014 and 2022, with Xi’an experiencing rapid urban expansion but lagging infrastructure, while Wuhan focused on improving post-urbanization quality. Taiyuan and Lanzhou advanced expansion and infrastructure construction simultaneously. (3) The regression coefficients of PM2.5 concentration concerning factors such as building density, green space density, road density, and water density in Xi’an are relatively high. In contrast, the regression coefficients of urban spatial structure factors in Wuhan, Taiyuan, and Lanzhou show consistency. This study provides a basis for reducing PM2.5 and explores the interaction and contribution relationship between urban spatial structure and PM2.5, offering a new research perspective for promoting urban sustainable development.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410805

Authors: Chuhan Chen Syarmila Hany Haron

While identifying firms’ green motivation for responsible innovation is a hot topic in the literature, many questions about these drivers in developing countries still need to be answered. This study aims to empirically influence Chinese construction firms’ primary motivations for adopting responsible innovation. To achieve this goal, a conceptual model was developed using partial least squares analysis and tested on data from contracting firms in the construction industry. This study shows that a combination of green intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors triggers responsible innovation. However, in the Chinese construction industry, extrinsic incentives, such as recognition, subsidies, and reputation, partly influence responsible innovation through intrinsic motivation. The analysis further suggests that corporate social responsibility moderates the relationship between green motivation and responsible innovation through the ability to adopt appropriate responsible innovation responses by combining intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Furthermore, firms with more effective resource commitments tend to engage in more responsible innovation activities. This study contributes to a more detailed understanding of the factors that drive responsible innovation.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410804

Authors: Mariusz Jaworski Ewa Chojnowska Leena Viitaharju

This study aims to evaluate the impact of using the ‘Getting Involved in a Change Process (ECP)’ tool in promoting sustainable eating practices. A total of 16 public educational institutions (5 primary schools and 11 kindergartens) participated, with interventions spanning six months. Methods included regular workshops with kitchen staff. These workshops focused on optimizing food resources, improving meal quality, and promoting environmental awareness. Of the institutions involved, 87.5% (14 out of 16) completed the intervention, and 68% successfully implemented at least one sustainable change, ranging from increasing plant-based options to reducing food waste (Z = −2.971; p = 0.003). The findings suggest that, while the ECP tool is effective in motivating staff and reducing the environmental impact of public meals, full integration requires a supportive organizational structure and continued education. These insights contribute to the growing body of research on sustainable food systems in public institutions and their role in climate change mitigation.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410803

Authors: Qinjian Wang Marie-Paule Delplancke Didier Snoeck

Sulfur mortar hardens quickly, shows a high chemical resistance, and can be recycled, making it ideal for construction and rehabilitation in extreme environments. Despite its potential for sustainability, current research lacks sufficient characterization of sulfur mortar’s performance during recycling, particularly regarding the physical and chemical changes when iron oxide is introduced. This study investigates the replacement of conventional siliceous sand with high-iron-content sand in sulfur mortar, through a series of five break–recast cycles. The results demonstrate an 11% increase in compressive strength and a 26% increase in flexural strength after five recasting cycles. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that recasting improved the distribution of the sulfur binder, while the formation of iron sulfates filled the gaps between aggregates and the binder. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of iron sulfates, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that high-iron-content sulfur mortar narrowed the phase change temperature range, preventing uneven solidification within the samples. This study sheds light on the strengthening mechanisms that occur during the recycling process, enhancing the material’s durability and recyclability. This aligns with circular economy principles, contributes to resource efficiency, and supports sustainable construction practices.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410802

Authors: Yuanwei Du Yiwei Zhang

To mitigate the conflict between ecological restoration and the pursuit of economic benefits in characteristic agriculture within plateau regions, this study proposes a theoretical framework for supervising plateau-characteristic agroecological security (PCAES). Initially, characteristic agriculture is conceptualized as an artificial ecosystem resulting from the complex interactions between the ecological environment and specific agricultural resources in a given plateau region; thus, PCAES is defined as a sustainable developmental state of plateau-characteristic agriculture that ensures a high-quality resource supply without compromising ecological integrity. Subsequently, a theoretical framework of PCAES is constructed by analyzing supervisory subjects, objects, and their interrelationships, followed by an in-depth study from three different perspectives. At the foundational level, the monitoring and evaluation mechanism focuses on gathering data regarding resource composition and environmental conditions to assess ecological security. At the intermediate level, the early warning and decision-making mechanism aims at estimating potential ecological security issues and then designing and selecting optimal measures. At a higher level, the control and assurance mechanism directs stakeholders toward compliance with ecological safety regulations via resource allocation and macro-policy interventions while ensuring effective system operation. This study holds significant implications for advancing green development initiatives, enhancing agricultural scientific innovation, and promoting sustainable practices in plateau agriculture.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410800

Authors: Xue Guo Mengyang Li Qingyue Liu Zimo Mao

Recently, China has advocated for the comprehensive implementation of the new development concept and the enhancement of the national governance system and capacity, particularly in the area of ecology and environmental management. Environmental fee and tax reform has improved China’s modern environmental governance system and deepened the concept of sustainable development of enterprises. In the background of China’s strong call for green transformation and sustainable development, enterprises, as micro subjects in the operation of the market economy, are obliged to balance the concepts of business operation and sustainable development, and to practice and implement the ESG concept. Using a sample of A-share listed companies in China from 2014 to 2022, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the impact of environmental protection tax reform on corporate ESG performance through the difference-in-differences (DID) empirical approach. The results show that (1) the environmental protection fee and tax reform enhances the ESG performance of heavy polluters, and the impact coefficient is around 1.7 to 2.0. The reform exerts the strongest stimulatory effect on the environmental impact (E), with the stimulatory effect being about five times that of the aspect of social responsibility (S). (2) The environmental protection fee and tax reform enhances the ESG performance of heavily polluting firms by promoting green transformation of firms, investor attention, and the government’s focus on the environment. The impact mechanism passes a series of robustness tests, such as the parallel trend test, placebo test, and exclusion of other policy interferences. (3) The environmental protection fee and tax reform enhances the ESG performance of government-owned heavy polluting firms more than private firms. Among different regions, the ESG performance of enterprises in the central region has witnessed the largest improvement margin, while that of enterprises in the western region has the smallest improvement margin.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410801

Authors: Lutfi Tolga Gonul

Caged mussels enable biomonitoring investigations due to their tendency to absorb contaminants in industrial zones. This study aimed to investigate the levels of seven indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (i7PCB) congeners in the biomonitoring organism Mytillus galloprovincialis over two years (2016–2018) after transplantation from three stations in the Eastern Aegean Sea industrial zone. Additionally, i7PCBs were found in Nemrut Bay’s surface sediments. The highest PCB level was found at Site 5 located near a petroleum refinery of the Petkim Port. According to sediment quality criteria, PCB levels at Sites 1, 4, 5, and 6 may have an adverse biological impact. PCB concentrations varied among samples; congeners 28, 153, 101, and 118 were most prevalent in sediments, whereas congeners 138, 153, 101, and 118 were most prevalent in mussels. i7PCB concentrations were below the maximum residual levels permitted in fishery products. In addition, calculations of the hazard ratio and estimated daily intake show no potential negative impacts from PCB exposure. Significantly positive correlations appeared between PCB (28, 52, 101, 118) levels and the condition index of the mussels. The highest amounts of ∑i7PCB in mussels were identified in September 2016 at Site 2 and in October 2017 at Site 1. Industrialization around the Port of Nemrut had a harmful impact on Sites 1 and 2. Preventing marine pollution plays a key role in ensuring the sustainability of marine living resources and sustainable coastal management.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410799

Authors: Hari Prasad Pandey Tek Narayan Maraseni Armando Apan

The environmental justice (EJ) movement has evolved over five decades, encapsulating diverse theories, principles, frameworks, and practices. Despite considerable advancements in this field, the nuances of EJ in the Anthropocene era, along with its monitoring and evaluation, remain ambiguous. This paper endeavors to bridge this gap by amalgamating more than 200 review and empirical articles and theoretical literature to delve into a comprehensive exploration of the EJ discourse to date, utilizing the Planetary Justice Research Framework (PJRF). First, we build on the existing knowledge by using three dimensions of EJ from the PJRF, acknowledging historical legacies, and explaining them with practical examples. Second, we create a comprehensive framework to evaluate (in)justice in real-world applications, highlighting the contextual relationships (intra-, inter-, and transdisciplinary) and the role of spatial, temporal, and contextual factors. Finally, we explore the complex connections between living beings and non-living components, showing how (un)just actions impact the balance within and between planetary systems. Consequently, the newly devised monitoring framework highlights potential instances where questions of (in)justice may arise in practical settings, thereby guiding the formulation of measuring indicators and procedural methodologies.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410798

Authors: Rimvydas Adomaitis Kęstutis Valančius Giedrė Streckienė

To build a sustainable building, we need to assess a range of sustainability aspects and design them correctly, which is why building performance simulation (BPS) at an early stage of project development is critical and relevant for many professionals. This paper presents an extended analysis of the monitoring results of the first single-family Passive House (LT-PH3) in Vilnius, Lithuania, certified by the German Passive House Institute in 2015 for 2016–2020. It was based on measured data on heat pump electricity consumption and outdoor and indoor air temperature. This study evaluated the seasonal performance (SCOP) of the heat pump using the Passive House Design Package 8.5 (PHPP 8.5) and Aquarea Designer Online Simulation Software Tool 2013 (Aquarea 2013) and compared the performance of the building with the PHPP 8.5 designed in 2013 and Swegon ESBO Light 2.4.0.3 (Swegon 2.4.0.3), Aquarea 2013, and the results obtained using the Lithuanian National Building Energy Performance Certification Programme NRGsert edition 3 (NRGsert 3). The analysis showed that the heat consumption of the building modelled during the design process is close to the operational heat consumption, which increases the confidence in the BPS modelling software, the modelling process itself, and the results.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410797

Authors: Olegario Alonso-Pandavenes Francisco Javier Torrijo Echarri Julio Garzón-Roca

The present work explores the use of geophysical surveys as valuable tools for the study and sustainable management of landslides, with a particular focus on Ecuador. As an Andean country, Ecuador’s geomorphology and geology are dominated by volcano-sedimentary materials and processes, which confers a high susceptibility to landslides. In the last few years, a number of landslide events (such as those at La Josefina, Alausí, and Chunchi) have given rise to disasters with significant material damage and loss of life. Climatic events, affected by climate change, earthquakes, and human activity, are the main landslide triggers. Geophysical surveys, like seismic refraction, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR), are easy and low-cost techniques that provide valuable and critical subsurface data. They can help define the failure surface, delimit the mobilized materials, describe the internal structure, and identify the hydrological and geotechnical parameters that complement any direct survey (like boreholes and laboratory tests). As a result, they can be used in assessing landslide susceptibility and integrated into early warning systems, mapping, and zoning. Some case examples of large landslide events in Ecuador (historical and recent) are analyzed, showing how geophysical surveys can be a valuable tool to monitor landslides, mitigate their effects, and/or develop solutions. Combined or isolated geophysical techniques foster sustainable management, improve hazard characterization, help protect the most vulnerable regions, promote community awareness for greater safety and resilience against landslides, and support governmental actions and policies.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410796

Authors: Hadjer Didouh Fadi A. Al-Badour Faiza Khoukhi Omar Bouledroua Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Arumugam Madhan Kumar Rami K. Suleiman Mohammed Hadj Meliani

Microbially influenced corrosion poses a significant threat to the integrity and longevity of carbon steel infrastructure, particularly in environments conducive to biofilm formation by thiosulfate-reducing bacteria (TRB) to carbon steel. This study explores the potential of Portulaca oleracea, an edible plant species, as a dual-action biocide and green corrosion inhibitor for mitigating MIC adhesion. Through a comprehensive suite of experimental and analytical techniques, including electrochemical analysis, microbial analysis, gravimetric methods, and surface characterization, the efficacy of Portulaca oleracea extract is evaluated for its ability to inhibit TRB growth and biofilm formation while concurrently providing corrosion protection to carbon steel substrates. The electrochemical analyses reveal the extract’s capacity with the anodic reaction inhibition achieving 80%, thereby reducing the overall corrosion rate of carbon steel in the presence of TRB biofilms. Complementary microbial analyses, such as viable cell counting using test kits, elucidate the biocidal action of the extract, effectively suppressing TRB growth and biofilm development, with the presence of 20 ppm of the extract reducing bacterial growth. Surface characterization techniques provide insights into the adsorption behavior of the extract’s constituents on the carbon steel surface, forming a protective film that mitigates corrosion and biofilm adhesion. The adsorption of the extract at the interface between mild steel and the formation water adheres to Langmuir isotherm. Overall, the biocorrosion issue we are addressing in this work is crucial for ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of equipment, pipelines, and other metal-based systems.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410795

Authors: Palanichamy Naveen Mary Posonia Antony Balaji Venkatesalu Ramasamy Dipak Kumar Sah Rajagopal Maheswar

The advent of flying taxis, also known as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, presents a revolutionary approach to urban transportation by offering faster, more flexible, and less congested travel options. This research aims to explore the potential impact of flying taxis on urban transportation systems, focusing on their implementation, regulation, and benefits across various industries. This study investigates the role of government in monitoring and regulating flying taxis to ensure safety and compliance with regulations, addressing key considerations such as licensing, air traffic control, safety standards, insurance requirements, and privacy concerns. Through a comprehensive review of the existing literature and case studies, this paper presents the advantages of flying taxis, including time savings, accessibility to remote areas, reduced traffic congestion, and enhanced travel experiences. Additionally, the economic benefits of manufacturing flying taxis, such as job creation and technological advancements, are discussed. The findings suggest that flying taxis have significant potential to transform urban transportation, but their adoption requires collaboration among stakeholders, robust regulatory frameworks, and substantial infrastructure investments. The conclusions highlight the practical application value of flying taxis in promoting sustainable urban mobility and driving innovation in transportation.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162410794

Authors: Valeria Serrano-Núñez Karolina Villagra-Mendoza Natalia Gamboa-Alpízar Miriam Miranda-Quirós Fernando Watson-Hernández

Urbanization increases the number of impervious surfaces in watersheds, reducing infiltration and evapotranspiration, which increases runoff volumes and the risks of flooding and the pollution of water resources. Nature-based solutions (NBS) mitigate these effects by managing water volume and quality, restoring the hydrological cycle, and creating sustainable livelihoods that can promote socioeconomic equity by providing green space. In light of the aforementioned information, this study analyzes the hydrological response of NBS in La Guapil, a densely populated and socioeconomically vulnerable area of Costa Rica with approximately 80% impervious surfaces, focusing on their effectiveness in stormwater management and improving hydrological conditions. Field data from the study area’s storm drainage system, as well as hydrological analyses, were collected and processed to evaluate RCP8.5 climate change scenarios using the Clausius–Clapeyron (CC) relationship. Three scenarios were proposed: (1) the “status quo”, reflecting current conditions, (2) green roofs and green improvements, and (3) detention ponds and green improvements, evaluated using the SWMM, with the latter scenario also using the Iber model. Simulations showed that Scenario 2 achieved the greatest reduction in peak flow (53.74%) and runoff volume (57.60%) compared to Scenario 3 (peak: 28.37%; volume: 56.42%). Both scenarios demonstrate resilience to climate change projections. The results of this study provide a foundation for further research into NBS in Costa Rica and other comparable regions.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310793

Authors: Peng Chen Jia Fang Zinong Zuo Chengzhuang Zhang Kejian Wang Zhiqiang Han Wei Tian

The problem of removing NOx and carbon particle emissions from diesel engines has been a challenge in the field of environmental protection, which is prompting people to actively explore ways to improve the efficiency of pollutant emission treatment. Due to the high price of precious metals, developing an alternative catalytic material with high catalytic activity and stability is a difficult task. Perovskite, with its stable and flexibly variable crystal structure, has become a research hotspot in the field of catalysis. This paper discusses the structure of perovskite catalysts and the mechanism behind the simultaneous catalytic oxidation of diesel engine soot and NOx. Meanwhile, it provides a comprehensive review of the preparation methods and A/B site modification strategies, establishing a foundation for the synthesis and A/B site modification of perovskite catalysts capable of catalyzing the oxidation of soot and NOx simultaneously. Additionally, this article offers an outlook on the challenges and future development of perovskite catalysts in this field.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310792

Authors: Adam C. O’Donovan Fergus Delaney Taïna Ouvrard Paol Geoffroy Paul D. O’Sullivan

The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant and accelerated developments in ventilation practises, where the need to ventilate buildings has been put centre stage. Longer-term ventilation approaches are now more likely to utilise hybrid ventilation strategies to address the challenge of ensuring resilient indoor thermal environments that are carbon neutral while also minimising the risk of long-range airborne infectious spread of viral pathogens. In the short term, there are many existing buildings which may not undergo retrofit for some time, and consequently, risk mitigation strategies have been implemented in these buildings by utilising existing systems. This paper will present an indoor environmental quality evaluation of ten university lecture rooms both before, during and after changes in ventilation management behaviour and systems that were accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate a mean reduction in internal carbon dioxide levels of between 46% and 67% when pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 datasets are compared and between 11% and 62% when pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 datasets are compared. Changes in behaviour and systems have reduced the time spent above thresholds conducive to virus growth by between 8% and 54%, depending on the lecture room. Despite this, a “rebound” can be observed in many rooms, with CO2 levels appearing to be trending toward pre-pandemic levels. This work indicates the effect of behavioural and system changes on ventilation and the potential risk for virus spread. The results indicate a need to retrofit existing lecture rooms with more advanced natural or mechanical systems to ensure consistent indoor environmental quality.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310791

Authors: Nouha Mansouri Abderezak Lashab Majid Ali Chokri Bouchoucha Josep Guerrero Juan Vasquez

The increasing integration of sustainable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, into the national electricity grid presents significant challenges in terms of frequency control and grid stability. Additionally, the imbalance between electricity supply and demand introduces dynamic frequency variations. However, according to the literature, the impact of high penetration of renewable energy sources on the Tunisian grid has not been extensively analyzed using power system simulator for engineering (PSS/E). This research paper explores how the primary reserve technique participates to maintain frequency within acceptable ranges in the Tunisian electrical grid. Individual generators contribute to the total power output, thereby influencing frequency deviation. The primary frequency control action by each generator is proportional to its frequency deviation and inversely proportional to its governing drop, which measures the generator’s sensitivity to frequency changes. This paper analyzes frequency stability in the Tunisian grid under scenarios with and without different rates of sustainable energy source penetration, which barely reached 3.5% in 2023. In Tunisia, the use of sustainable energy is essential not only for ensuring grid stability but for combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the country’s environmental goals. The transition to sustainable energy significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the power sector, offering a sustainable solution for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Dynamic simulations were conducted for the isolated Tunisian system, separate from the interconnected grid, focusing on the critical scenario of the loss of a large electricity production unit. This study also examined the absence of sustainable energy integration and the effects of integration of different rates of renewable energy to evaluate the impact of reserves on the continuity of the Tunisian electrical service. Simulation results, which considered a 2023 grid model, show that with an integration trial of 20% renewable energy and, in the worst-case scenario, which represents the loss of the largest production group in the grid, the primary reserve of a given group—defined by the quantity of active energy—can be rapidly deployed to restore the balance between electricity supply and demand. Thus, reserves are a crucial solution for maintaining frequency within reasonable limits and ensuring the continuity of electrical services in Tunisia with varying rates from 10% to 20% integration of different sustainable energy sources.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310788

Authors: Yanwei Sun Shengjun Xiao Jilong Wang Junjie Yu Bo Peng

Ecological compensation is one of the important measures to coordinate regional ecological protection and economic development. As the only inter-provincial river in Fujian Province and the second inter-provincial watershed of the eco-compensation pilot in China, the Tingjiang River basin has attracted increasing attention from policy makers and scholars. This study aims to systematically analyze the ecological compensation mechanism and improve the effectiveness of ecological protection in the Tingjiang River basin. In this paper, ecosystem service value (ESV) is used as a criterion for establishing ecological compensation standards. Based on the land cover datasets from 2010 to 2020, the spatial distribution and the dynamic changes of ESV were determined. Subsequently, the priority and standards of ecological compensation were established according to the level of the socio-economic development. Finally, the horizontal ecological compensation was determined by combining the actual benefits and willingness-to-pay of downstream beneficiary regions. The results indicate the following findings: (1) The ESV of the Tingjiang River basin exhibited a decreasing trend over the past decade. It decreased from CNY 70.72 billion in 2010 to CNY 69.05 billion in 2020, with a rate of change of −2.37%; (2) The growth of GDP in the research area has led to a decrease in the priority and standards of ecological compensation. The ecological compensation quota shows a decreasing trend from upstream to downstream, that is, Changting county (33%) > Wuping county (27%) > Shanghang county (21%) > Yongding district (19%); (3) The amounts of horizontal ecological compensation that Guangdong province need to pay are CNY 224 million, 166 million, and 109 million in 2010, 2015, and 2020, respectively. The findings of this research can not only optimize the allocation of ecological compensation, but also provide a reference for other countries/regions to carry out relevant research work.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310790

Authors: Catalin Popescu Hiranya Dissanayake Egla Mansi Adrian Stancu

Interest in the sustainable materials sector is growing and accelerated. These materials are designed to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and be recyclable or biodegradable, making them highly attractive to both academia and industry. Constantly updating on innovations in this field is essential to speed up the transition to a circular economy and significantly reduce environmental impact. The paper analyzes the current status and future trends of the scientific literature for seven sustainability-related materials categories, such as sustainable materials, green materials, biomaterials, eco-friendly materials, alternative materials, material recycling and material recovery from complex products, and sustainable applied materials. Next, it assesses the impacts, benefits, and challenges associated with sustainable materials from the scientific literature according to six research fields (impact on the environment, performance and durability, economic efficiency, health and safety, social sustainability, and implementation and use). Furthermore, the paper outlines recent advances in sustainable material design, including biomimicry, nanotechnology, additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and sustainable composite materials. Additionally, a bibliometric analysis of 545 studies on sustainable materials published between 1999 and 2023 was conducted based on eight criteria, namely trend, source, author, country, keywords, thematic, co-citation, and content. The findings show that the sustainability-related materials categories have a particular distribution among the domains. Also, the thematic map analysis outlines that biopolymers, nanocellulose, and biocomposites are critical research areas for developing sustainable materials.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310789

Authors: David Ernesto Salinas-Navarro Jaime Alberto Palma-Mendoza Eliseo Vilalta-Perdomo

This work integrates the circular economy (CE) into experiential learning in higher education, focusing on industrial and systems engineering. It addresses the need for suitable learning experiences and pedagogical strategies to enhance CE and sustainability education in active learning research. Accordingly, this study proposes integrating Kolb’s experiential learning cycle with the ADDIE model into an instructional design framework for reflective and active engagement in learning activities within realistic circular supply chain scenarios. The methodology demonstrates this framework through a case study of an undergraduate module for CE problem-solving, focusing on waste reduction within small and medium enterprises in Mexico City. Based on student surveys and achievement metrics, results show positive student feedback and evaluation results, meeting module _targets. This work’s main contribution offers a framework for creating novel experiential learning cases and cultivating sustainability-related and disciplinary learning outcomes. It also recognises valuable links for citizenship commitment, problem-solving, community engagement, and CE education. However, this work acknowledges limitations in complex problem-solving difficulties, a resource-demanding nature, restricted transferability, and the limited evaluation of learning effectiveness. Future research will explore this work’s relevance across Kolb’s learning styles and diverse industries, focusing on student interest and motivation, and evaluating its impact on student outcomes in various educational contexts.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310786

Authors: Xiao Yao Xianjun Bao

Corporate environmental protection investment is crucial for reducing pollution levels and controlling harmful substance emissions. We examine the relationship between corporate environmental protection investment and debt financing costs, utilizing a sample of A-share listed companies in China from 2011 to 2020. We find that debt financing costs are negatively related to corporate environmental protection investment. Green technology innovation and ESG performance are the main channels. Environmental regulations, air quality, and green finance impact the interplay between corporate environmental protection investment and debt financing costs. Moreover, our heterogeneity analysis underscores that enterprises facing looser financing constraints and low levels of pollution are more likely to mitigate debt financing costs by investing in environmental protection. The conclusion provides policy implications for guiding enterprises to consider environmental investment as a long-term strategy and provides a theoretical foundation for the government to enhance its guiding role.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310787

Authors: Yajun Jiang Wei Wu Yu Guo Huiling Zhou Ke Wu

In the realm of tourism intervention and the reconfiguration of social networks among residents in ethnic villages, research on tourism support behavior is pivotal for comprehending the motivations behind resident participation and fostering sustainable tourism development. This study carried out a survey of 440 residents from Huangluo Yao Village and Jinkeng Dazhai Village in Longsheng County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, using a questionnaire and explored the influencing mechanism of social networks on tourism support behavior based on the cognitive–affective processing system (CAPS) theory using structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that both strong and weak ties exert direct impacts on tourism support behavior while also indirectly influencing it via cultural identity. Furthermore, government governance capacity serves as a positive moderating factor in the relationships between ethnic village residents’ social networks—both strong and weak—and cultural identity, as well as between weak ties and tourism support behavior. The conclusions drawn from this study not only enhance the understanding of the formation mechanisms underlying tourism support behavior but also offer valuable insights for local governments aiming to implement effective strategies to promote tourism development.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310784

Authors: Yeşim Tarhan Nuriye Kabakuş

The materials traditionally used in the construction of flexible and rigid pavements in modern road infrastructure present challenges in achieving sustainable development goals. Advances in technology have introduced the use of different pavement material mixes, leading to the introduction of earth-based alternatives. These materials are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, recyclable, and offer excellent insulation properties. Stabilization of earth-based materials improves their mechanical properties, reducing road construction costs and increasing durability. The present study investigates the mechanical and durability properties of earth-based materials stabilized with various additives, including cement, lime, polymer, and biopolymer, over 28 and 56 days. Fresh properties are assessed using unit volume weight, flow table, air content, and fall cone tests, while hardened properties are assessed using flexural strength, compressive strength, and water absorption. Microstructural analysis is carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The cement-stabilized samples show improved strength and durability, with the 5% cement group showing a 67% increase in compressive strength over the control group and the 10% cement group showing over 200% higher compressive strength. These results suggest that stabilized earth-based materials could provide a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional pavements for low-traffic roads.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310783

Authors: Xiaoxue Liu

With the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the demand for reliable and user-friendly charging infrastructure has increased significantly. However, user dissatisfaction with public EV charging stations has also intensified, and the level of satisfaction with charging stations directly influences the development of the EV market. This study aimed to identify and prioritize user needs for EV charging stations to improve their design and functionality, ultimately enhancing user satisfaction and effectively promoting the sustainable development of the EV market. Using the KJ method, this study identified 23 key user needs and categorized them into must-be, one-dimensional, attractive, and indifferent requirements using the Kano model. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was subsequently applied to rank these requirements by their importance. The results indicate that, in the optimization of charging station functionality, the most critical user requirements include C1 charging gun stability (0.3176), C2 system stability (0.2822), C7 safety performance (0.0885), C15 payment convenience (0.0648), and C8 accurate feedback on charging station status (0.0501). This study provides valuable insights for designers and developers, offering a user-centered approach to optimizing public EV charging stations and improving the overall charging experience.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310785

Authors: Jinfang Sun Wenkai Li Kaixiang Zhu Mengqi Zhang Haihao Yu Xiaoyu Wang Guodong Liu

As global climate change becomes increasingly severe, industrial CO2 emissions have received increasing attention, but the impact factors and driving mechanisms of industrial CO2 emission intensity remain unclear. Based on panel data from 2010 to 2021 in Shandong Province, a key economic region in eastern China, the industrial CO2 emission intensity under China’s dual carbon _target was analyzed using multivariate ordination methods. The results showed that (1) total CO2 emissions from industry are increasing annually, with an average growth rate of 3.74%, and electricity, coal, and coke are the primary sources of CO2 emissions. (2) Total CO2 emissions originated primarily from the heavy manufacturing, energy production, and high energy intensity industry categories, and the CO2 emission intensity of different types of energy increased by 21.24% from 2010 to 2021. (3) CO2 emission intensity is significantly positively correlated with the proportion of high energy intensive industry, energy consumption intensity, and investment intensity and significantly negatively correlated with gross industrial output. In addition, the effects of different types of energy on industrial CO2 emission intensity varied, and coal, coke, electricity, and diesel oil were significantly positively correlated with CO2 emission intensity. Therefore, to reduce the CO2 emission intensity of the industrial sector in the future and to achieve China’s dual carbon _target, it is necessary to adjust and optimize the industrial and energy structure, strengthen technological progress and innovation, improve energy utilization efficiency, improve and implement relevant policies for industrial carbon reduction, and then ensure the sustainable development of the economy, society, and environment.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310782

Authors: Ruizhi Ji

Investigating the determinants of global carbon emissions and developing carbon emission models are essential to meet the 2050 carbon neutrality goal. This paper initially examines the primary factors shaping global carbon emissions over the past two decades, employing case studies and panel data analysis. Subsequently, a CNN-LSTM carbon emissions prediction model is established using data from Hebei Province, China, spanning from 2005 to 2022. This study reveals that global carbon emissions are predominantly affected by elements such as population, economic growth, industrial activities, energy consumption, environmental conditions, and technological advancements. By incorporating these variables, the CNN-LSTM model proposed in this research significantly enhances the average relative accuracy of carbon emission forecasts, thereby contributing substantially to global efforts in energy conservation and emission reduction.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310780

Authors: Amany Al-Dokhny Omar Alismaiel Samia Youssif Nermeen Nasr Amr Drwish Amira Samir

The current study highlights the potential of multimodal large language models (MLLMs) to transform higher education by identifying key factors influencing their acceptance and effectiveness. Aligning technology features with educational needs can enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The study examined the role of MLLMs in enhancing performance benefits among higher education students, using the task–technology fit (T-TF) theory and the artificial intelligence device use acceptance (AIDUA) model. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the perceptions of 550 Saudi university students from various academic disciplines. The data were analyzed via structural equation modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS 3.0. The findings revealed that social influence negatively affected effort expectancy regarding MLLMs and that hedonic motivation was also negatively related to effort expectancy. The findings revealed that social influence and hedonic motivation negatively affected effort expectancy for MLLMs. Effort expectancy was also negatively associated with T-TF in the learning context. In contrast, task and technology characteristics significantly influenced T-TF, which positively impacted both performance benefits and the willingness to accept the use of MLLMs. A strong relationship was found between adoption willingness and improved performance benefits. The findings empower educators to strategically enhance MLLMs adoption strategically, driving transformative learning outcomes.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310781

Authors: Zexin Lei Shifang Zhang Wenzheng Zhang Xuqiang Zhao Jing Gao

The gullies and valleys of the Loess Plateau, as key ecological zones for soil erosion control, play a critical role in the region’s sustainable development under increasing urbanization. This study employed the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to analyze the impacts of land use/cover changes (LUCC) on runoff at multiple spatial scales and locations within the Sanchuan River Basin (SRB) in the loess hilly and gully region. The methodology integrates SWAT modeling with LUCC scenario analysis, focusing on spatial and scale effects of land use changes on hydrological processes. The results revealed distinct spatial differences, with diminishing LUCC impacts on streamflow from the upper to lower reaches of the basin, regardless of land use type. Scale effects were also evident: grassland effectively controlled runoff within 300 m of riparian zones, while forest land was most effective beyond 750 m. A relatively insensitive range for runoff changes was observed between 300 and 750 m. These findings highlight the critical role of LUCC in influencing runoff patterns and underscore the importance of region-specific and scale-sensitive land use management strategies. This research provides valuable guidance for sustainable land planning, particularly in riparian zones, to enhance runoff control and optimize ecological benefits.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310779

Authors: Wen Dong Bohan Niu Huaien Li Dandan Yan Jiake Li Zhiqiang Xu Dongqi Wang Xiuying Yang Yakun Zhang Yutong Chen Hui Wang

The riparian ecosystem is highly susceptible to pollution, particularly heavy metals (HMs), due to its unique spatial position and landscape characteristics. Therefore, assessing the risks of HM pollution and identifying potential sources are crucial for formulating effective prevention and control measures. This study investigates the characteristics of HMs (Ni, Cr, Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb) pollution in the Weihe River riparian zone, identifies their sources, and assesses the associated ecological and human health risks. The results indicate that Ni, Zn, and Cd are the primary pollutants in riparian soil, with the average Cd concentration being 5.64 times higher than the background value, indicating a high potential ecological risk. Spatially, the average HM concentrations in the middle and upper reaches are higher than in the lower reaches. Vertically, as the distance from the riparian increases, the HM content exhibits a “U”-shaped pattern (increase-decrease-increase). The Absolute principal components multiple regression (APCS-MLR) receptor model identified four potential pollution sources: traffic sources; agricultural sources; industrial sources; and natural sources. Additionally, the Monte Carlo simulation-based human health risk assessment indicates that the non-carcinogenic health risk indices for all HMs are within acceptable ranges. For carcinogenic health risk indices, there is a 1.14% probability for children. However, the vast majority of the risks fall within acceptable or no-risk categories.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310777

Authors: Abdessalam Laoufi Abderezzak Boudjema Sabrine Guettaia Abdessamed Derdour Abdulrazak H. Almaliki

This study employs an integrated numerical modeling approach using MODFLOW and MT3D to simulate groundwater flow and nitrate transport in the alluvial aquifer of Hennaya plain. The groundwater flow model was calibrated and validated against observed hydraulic heads, showing excellent agreement in both steady-state and transient conditions, with a correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.99 and 0.987, respectively. Meticulous calibration yielded adjusted hydraulic conductivity values between 10−1 and 10−11 m/s, with effective porosity ranging from 0.03 to 0.34 and total porosity values varying from 0.29 to 0.38 across the aquifer. Water budget analysis revealed that the aquifer’s primary recharge occurs from the southern side. Nitrate transport modeling indicated that advection is the dominant process, with contaminants migration predominantly occurring from south to north, following the groundwater flow direction. Pollution levels were found to decrease gradually with distance from sources, confirming agricultural activities and sewage disposal as primary contributors to nitrate contamination. Predictive scenarios over a 40-year period explored various management strategies, which suggest that maintaining current nitrogen input rates will lead to continued increases in nitrate pollution, while a 50% reduction in agricultural inputs could significantly improve groundwater quality. However, even with substantial reductions, nitrate concentrations are not expected to reach levels safe for drinking within the simulation timeframe. This study underscores the need for immediate and sustained action to address nitrate pollution in the Hennaya Plain aquifer, emphasizing the importance of stringent nitrogen management practices, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310778

Authors: Adam K. Williams James K. Summers Linda C. Harwell

Extreme natural hazard events are increasing across the globe, compelling increased climate research on resiliency. Research concerning issues as integrative as climate change and natural hazard resiliency often requires complex methodologies to account for cumulative influences. Indicators can be used to parse complex data to assess the intersection of inputs and outcomes (i.e., cumulative impacts). The Climate Resilience Screening Index (CRSI) is a good example of an indicator framework as it integrates indicators and their associated metrics into five domains (e.g., natural environment, society, and risk), enabling the index to accommodate a variety of inputs in its assessment of resilience. Indicator research, however, is generally limited by the availability of pertinent data. Natural hazard data concerning exposure, loss, and risk are routinely collected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create and update the National Risk Index (NRI), a composite index. The NRI can be disaggregated to obtain individual underlying metrics about natural hazard exposure. Quantifying natural hazard exposure requires extensive computation, with each hazard type requiring multiple modifying considerations, such as meteorological adjustments made by subject matter experts. Commonly available natural hazard exposure data, like that from FEMA, combines the spatial extent of historical natural hazard events and the determined value of the affected area. Exposure-related data were retrieved from the National Risk Index and used to create a new composite value to represent only the spatial extent of natural hazard events. Utilizing this new methodology to represent natural hazard exposure alleviates the burden of complex computation. It allows exposure data to be more expeditiously integrated into research and indices relating to natural hazards.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310776

Authors: Alexander J. Robinson Elisabeth A. Ryan Qingpu Wang David Greene Chinmayee V. Subban

Seawater electrodeposition is gaining renewed interest in the context of sustainable development, both to build climate-resilient coastal infrastructure and for ocean-based decarbonization applications. Most of the applications benefit from CaCO3-rich deposits, but constant-voltage electrodeposition results in a mixture of CaCO3 and Mg(OH)2, especially at higher voltages where precipitation rates are more desirable. The use of pulse voltages can help control interfacial pH that dictates the precipitation reactions. Here, we explore the use of pulse electrodeposition as a function of pulse frequency and duty cycle to control deposit composition. The most CaCO3-rich deposits were obtained under 10 Hz frequency and 10% duty cycle conditions for the voltage window investigated (−0.8 V to −1.2 V vs. SCE). While pulsing the voltage increases the amount of CaCO3 deposited, the energy required per gram of CaCO3 is significantly higher (14.5×) when compared to the base case of applying a constant voltage of −0.8 V vs. SCE. Further optimization of pulse conditions, electrode materials, and system configuration could lead to finding parameters that result in exclusively carbonate deposits without compromising precipitation rates, which may prove to be more useful for corrosion protection, coastal infrastructure, and other applications in sustainable development.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310775

Authors: Ying Qin Shouliang Guo

The efficiency of scientific and technological innovation in universities is strongly influenced by both institutional structures and policies. However, existing research predominantly emphasizes the role of internal factors—such as resource allocation, management efficiency, personnel systems within universities, and education-sector policies—on innovation efficiency. This focus often overlooks the significant impact of regional factors on innovation outcomes. This study compares and analyzes the scientific and technological innovation efficiency of universities, growth rates, sources of inefficiency, inter-regional disparities, and intra-regional differences between universities in three strategically important regions in China, namely the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, based on their respective regional planning from 2007 to 2017. Additionally, it employs the Tobit model to explore the pathways to improve the scientific and technological innovation efficiency of universities within these three major strategic regions. This study finds that the implementation of _targeted regional policies significantly enhances the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation in Chinese universities. Furthermore, it reveals that this positive impact also exhibits differences between universities and regions. The promotion effect of _targeted regional policies on the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation in universities shows a high degree of similarity. In more developed cities, however, the scientific and technological innovation efficiency of universities tends to be lower. Both the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta regions within the three major strategic areas are significantly affected by the negative impact of financial assets, while the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, although affected negatively, is not significant. Moreover, this study uncovers that population density and fixed assets also serve as factors that can enhance the scientific and technological innovation efficiency of universities.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310774

Authors: Junfeng Liu Shiwen Wang Jianwen Ji Zizhen Chen Shengyu Li

Frontier research has focused more on the sustainable economic development (SED) of developing countries, with slightly less attention paid to the SED of underdeveloped regions in developing countries, especially without analyzing their driving factors from the dual perspectives of domestic and international capital. In fact, as an important factor in economic growth, capital is also the core driving force for achieving SED. This paper takes the five provinces (autonomous regions) of northwest China (NC) as a case study based on unbalanced panel data from 26 cities from 2000 to 2020 and employs the dynamic degree and MSAR model to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of SED; the results indicate that the SED of NC exhibits an irregular pattern overall, the differences between provinces at the same time point are relatively small, and the same applies to prefecture-level cities. The spatial agglomeration characteristic of SED in NC is evident, with significant room for improvement. Additionally, this paper evaluates the impact of capital on the SED of NC through the two-way fixed effects model and the mediation effect model and finds that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have a “first-rising-then-declining” impact on the SED of NC, while financing constraints (FC) play a promoting role in the SED of NC. Furthermore, FDI inflows subsequently impact the SED of NC by affecting regional FC, with FC acting as a mediating variable in the influence of FDI on the SED of NC. In terms of policy implications, NC should make rational use of FDI, control the pace of easing FC, and precisely promote the SED of NC from a capital-driven perspective. Other underdeveloped areas in developing countries can take this as a reference to promote SED.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310773

Authors: Vera Marcantonio Lucrezia Scopel

In the delicate context of climate change and global warming, new technologies are being investigated in order to reduce pollution. The SOFC stands out as one of the most promising fuel cell technologies for directly converting chemical energy into electrical energy, with the added benefit of potential integration into co-generation systems due to its high-temperature waste heat. They also offer multi-fuel flexibility, being able to operate on hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, and more. Additionally, they could contribute to carbon sequestration efforts and, when paired with a GT, achieve the highest efficiency in electricity generation for power plants. However, their development is still challenged by issues related to high-temperature materials, the design of cost-effective materials and manufacturing processes, and the optimization of efficient plant designs. To better understand SOFC operation, numerous mathematical models have been developed to solve transport equations coupled with electrochemical processes for three primary configurations: tubular, planar, and monolithic. These models capture reaction kinetics, including internal reforming chemistry. Recent advancements in modeling have significantly improved the design and performance of SOFCs, leading to a sharp rise in research contributions. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of SOFC modeling, highlighting key challenges that remain unresolved for further investigation by researchers.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310772

Authors: Katalina Salas Deana Pennington

In addressing complex water management issues, participatory modeling (PM) and scenario analysis (SA) have emerged as pivotal tools for fostering stakeholder engagement, social learning, and collaborative decision-making. This study explores the efficacy of integrating PM and SA within a series of online workshops focused on the Middle Rio Grande River Basin. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, workshop transcripts, and participant outputs from workshop activities. Through these workshops, participants from diverse backgrounds engaged in collaborative scenario-building exercises, interactive discussions, and hands-on simulations using the SWIM 2.0 model, fostering shared learning and deeper insights into regional water challenges. Our findings highlight the importance of group-level activities in enhancing participants’ understanding, engagement, and trust in modeling tools, which can lead to more informed decision-making processes. The workshops demonstrated significant improvements in SA completion and a deeper connection between participants and policy discussions. However, challenges remain in bridging the gap between SA and active decision-making, particularly in contexts where participants do not perceive themselves as decision-makers. This study underscores the potential of participatory approaches to address complex environmental issues, while also identifying areas for further refinement to enhance stakeholder empowerment and tool usability in collaborative settings.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310771

Authors: Yuheng Sun Zhengyuan Feng Fangtao Liu Yuanhang Li Jun Ning Hang Fu Shoujuan Tang Guangxin Liu Yang Li Lei Shi

Climate change is seriously threatening ecological environments essential for human survival. Achieving the carbon neutrality goals of industrial parks (IPs), the gathering places of industrial activity, plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation and in promoting sustainable industrial development. In this study, we use an AI-facilitated literature review and empirical research to analyze and classify the 12 pathways for carbon neutrality for IPs based on the development nature and carbon flow framework. In addition, the carbon emission reduction potentials of various pathways are quantified using a case study. The results of the literature analysis show that, in terms of IP carbon emission reductions, most research has focused on the energy infrastructure related to energy management and utilization, as well as the service infrastructure related to the carbon footprint and industrial symbiosis. Among the 148 studies, “industrial symbiosis” and “carbon footprint” appeared with frequencies of 1278 and 474, respectively. Additionally, 102 of these studies mentioned decarbonization of energy infrastructure. In total, 11 of the carbon neutrality pathways existed in the empirical research, with the exception of carbon storage, and among them, 7 pathways are applied across all 104 IPs. Case studies indicate that the pathways with greater reduction potentials were the energy infrastructure, carbon capture, and the product and waste infrastructure, with potential reductions of 250,000 tons, 200,000 tons, and 145,080 tons of CO2 emissions, respectively. This study provides valuable references for IPs to achieve their carbon neutrality goals.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310770

Authors: Nicolás M. Clauser Cintia G. Fit Rocío E. Cardozo Johana A. Rivaldi Fernando E. Felissia María C. Area María E. Vallejos

New biobased processes and products are emerging to replace conventional ones in the search for sustainable development. Xylitol is one of the most commercially valuable products from xylan-rich lignocellulosic biomass. Xylitol has multiple applications in the pharmaceutical, food, nutraceutical, and beverage industries. Recent research focuses on obtaining xylose from low-cost lignocellulosic materials through the biological route, optimizing xylitol conversion, improving byproduct removal, and increasing crystallization speed. The biological route can be an environmentally friendly alternative due to the possibility of lower energy demand and utilizing renewable feedstocks which are key factors to reach sustainability. Several integration strategies are being evaluated and are critical to developing a commercial platform. Process integration can considerably reduce the demand for energy and reagents. Also, the value-added products produced alongside xylitol are crucial, and these products are usually energy generation and bioethanol. Further, new value-added products show promising results and are relevant to improving the economic performance of the processes. The market trends of xylitol are expected to reach close to USD 1.5 billion in 2030. In addition, the improvement needed in the conversion steps and obtained yields, producing commercial-scale xylitol through the biological route, is a promising alternative to finding a more sustainable way to produce xylitol.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310769

Authors: Michael W. Mehaffy

This Special Issue is based on the premise that urban sustainability (or the lack of it) is a prerequisite for all other efforts toward sustainable development [...]

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310768

Authors: Song Gao Yuqi Wang Yang Li Tianbao Liang Kun Liu

Renewable energy systems have emerged as a crucial research area due to the escalating demand for sustainable energy solutions. With the advancement of renewable energy, the electric-thermal coupling within multi-energy systems has become more intricate. Bi-directional electric-thermal storage and conversion technologies have emerged as a potential solution to address the challenges associated with efficient energy utilization. This paper focuses on the joint planning and operation optimization of renewable energy systems considering bi-directional electric-thermal storage and conversion. The integrated framework for renewable energy systems incorporating a bi-directional electric-thermal storage and conversion unit is designed, and the joint planning and operation optimization method is proposed. Case studies are conducted based on typical annual energy demand and solar radiation characteristics in Beijing, China. Numerical results show that the proposed method can effectively handle the coupling and bi-directional conversion characteristics of electrical and thermal energy, achieving energy cost savings while fulfilling the energy demands of the system. The proposed system has a capital expenditure of USD 261,251.4 and an operating expenditure of USD 177,007.1, which shows a total cost reduction of 12.28% compared to the lithium-ion battery system, providing better economic performance while further enhancing the flexibility of energy utilization. These research findings contribute to the development of more efficient and sustainable renewable energy systems, providing a valuable reference for future research and practical applications within the energy field.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310766

Authors: Giovanni Baldissarro Maria Elena Bruni Gianpaolo Iazzolino Donato Morea Stefania Veltri

There is a growing awareness of the need to integrate non-financial information arising from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into corporate strategies, processes, and credit risk assessment to generate long-term value. Our paper aims to develop, through a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-based approach, a credit risk assessment tool that could be used by banks in constructing an efficient and sustainable investment portfolio, able to maximize banks’ probability contemporaneously minimizing corporate inefficiency. This study was carried out on a sample of publicly traded energy companies in Europe, with the energy sector being highly environmentally sensitive. Our portfolio selection model proves to be a valuable tool for building an efficient and sustainable investment portfolio because it leads, within a budget constraint, to selecting both the most efficient companies in absolute terms and those for which ESG scores significantly improve corporate financial efficiency. Additionally, our results show that ESG ratings at high or low levels do not affect overall company efficiency, but at a middle level, they increase it. Findings contribute (and provide suggestions) to policymakers, credit risk managers, and academics.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310767

Authors: Wenjian Luo Ziqin Yu Panling Zhou Yuanyuan Ren Hua Lv

Segregation of household waste is an important means of achieving resource recovery, minimization and harmlessness of waste, which is of great significance in addressing the dilemma of the “rubbish siege”. However, at present, urban community residents still face many challenges in the practice of household waste classification, such as lack of classification knowledge, imperfect classification facilities and weak and persistent classification behavior, which seriously restrict the effective promotion of garbage classification work. In this paper, a model of the factors influencing community residents’ willingness to separate household waste was developed based on the theory of planned behavior and tested by using structural equation modeling (SEM) with a sample of 218 surveys conducted among residents of community X in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. It was found that urban community residents were generally willing to sort their household waste subjectively. The five factors of waste sorting recognition, intrinsic moral constraints, group behavioral incentives, time and space factors and waste sorting facilities positively influenced urban community residents’ willingness to sort household waste. Government job satisfaction and legal and regulatory constraints had no significant influence on urban community residents’ willingness to sort household waste and did not reach a statistically significant level. Based on this, in the future, we should strengthen public education, enhance group behavioral incentives, improve supporting infrastructure, standardize and improve laws and regulations to improve residents’ willingness to separate household waste and promote the process of urban household waste segregation in China.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310765

Authors: Nur Fatma Fadilah Yaacob Muhamad Razuhanafi Mat Yazid Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud Shabir Hussain Khahro Yasir Javed

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are a significant global environmental concern, widely notable as a major cause of climate change. Meanwhile, transportation is the main sector contributing to CO2 emissions, which are escalating at a faster rate than Gross Domestic Product Growth. This study attempted to evaluate the spatial–temporal pattern of CO2 emissions from vehicles using the Sentinel 5P satellite image. The Sentinel 5P image was acquired from the European Space Agency from 2019 until 2022. Utilizing ArcGIS 10.5, these data were analyzed to extract the CO2 values, which were then displayed as the total column amount. Thereafter, the extraction by point method was conducted on road features based on the Mukim Kajang basemap to obtain the value of CO2 emissions from transportation. Spatial–temporal mapping was then accomplished through kernel density analysis, enabling the identification of CO2 emission hotspot areas. The findings show that the spatial–temporal pattern of CO2 emissions was higher in September 2019 (0.06964 mol/m2), March 2020 (0.03596 mol/m2), December 2021 (0.0437 mol/m2), and January (0.03384 mol/m2), respectively. Based on eight cities in Mukim Kajang, Bandar Kajang has been a hotspot area for carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles for four consecutive years, starting in 2019 until 2022. In summary, the results of this study could provide guidelines to researchers and policymakers to develop effective strategies to reduce the level of CO2 emissions from transportation in urban areas.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310764

Authors: Kaijie Liang Jinguang Liang Guowei Li Zhengri Shao Zhipeng Jiang Jincheng Feng

The sustainability of diesel engines has come to the forefront of research with the growing global interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency. The aim of this paper is to support the goal of sustainable development by improving the volatile properties of diesel fuel to promote cleaner combustion in engines. In order to study the effect of diesel fuel volatility on spraying, combustion, and emission, the tests were carried out with the help of the constant volume chamber (CVC) test rig and an engine test rig, respectively. CVC test: A high-speed video camera recorded the spray characteristics of different volatile fuels in a constant-volume combustion bomb. The effects of different rail pressures and ambient back pressures on the spray characteristics were investigated. Engine test: The combustion and emission characteristics of different volatile diesel fuels under different load conditions (25%, 50%, 75%) were investigated in a four-stroke direct-injection diesel engine with the engine speed fixed at 2000 rpm. The test results show that as the rail pressure increases and the ambient pressure decreases, the spray characteristics of the fuels tend to increase; for the more volatile fuels, although reducing the spray tip penetration, the spray projected area and spray cone angle increase, which is conducive to improving the homogeneity of the fuel and air mixing in the cylinder. The improvement of fuel volatility can form more and better-quality mixtures within the ignition delay time (ID), resulting in a 1–2% increase in peak cylinder pressure and a 2–4% increase in peak heat release. For different loads, pre-injection heat release is generated to redefine the ID and combustion duration (CD). Improved fuel volatility effectively reduces carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by about 8–10% and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions by about 13–16%, but it increases nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by about 8–11%. Analyzing from the perspective of particulate matter (PM), combined with the aromatic content of volatile fuels, it is recommended to use fuels with moderate volatility and aromatic content under low load conditions, and at medium to large loads, the volatility of the fuel has less weight on particulates and more weight on aromatics, so it is desirable to use the fuel with the lowest volatility and lowest aromatic content of the fuel selected.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310763

Authors: Anna María Polanía Rivera Jhennifer López Silva Laura Torres-Valenzuela José Luis Plaza-Dorado

Utilizing coffee by-products in the fermentation process of coffee offers a sustainable strategy by repurposing agricultural waste and enhancing product quality. This study evaluates the effect of applying a starter culture, derived from coffee residues, on the dynamics of reducing and total sugars during coffee fermentation, as well as the composition of aromatic compounds, organic acids, and the sensory profile of coffee inoculated with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus), in comparison to a spontaneously fermented sample. Volatile compounds were identified and quantified using dynamic headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS), with predominant detection of 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-methyl; 2-furanmethanol; and furfural—compounds associated with caramel, nut, and sweet aromas from the roasting process. A reduction in sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) occurred over the 36 h fermentation period. Lactic acid (2.79 g/L) was the predominant organic acid, followed by acetic acid (0.69 g/L). The application of the inoculum improved the sensory quality of the coffee, achieving a score of 86.6 in evaluations by Q-graders, compared to 84 for the control sample. Additionally, descriptors such as red apple, honey, and citrus were prominent, contributing to a uniform and balanced flavor profile. These findings indicate that controlled fermentation with starter cultures derived from coffee by-products enhances sustainability in coffee production. It achieves this by supporting a circular economy, reducing reliance on chemical additives, and improving product quality. This approach aligns with sustainable development goals by promoting environmental stewardship, economic viability, and social well-being within the coffee industry.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310762

Authors: Ayman Al-Quraan Ibrahim Athamnah Ahmad M. A. Malkawi

Renewable energy has been widely used in grid-connected and standalone hybrid renewable energy systems. These systems require a hybrid energy storage system due to the unpredictable climate and the inequality between the produced energy and the consumed energy. In this paper, a tri-level optimization method is used to optimize the sizing and the energy management of a standalone HRES, simplify the proposed optimization problem, and speed up the convergence process. Horizon prediction and weighting factor strategies are combined with the tri-level technique to find the most appropriate quantity of each element in the project and find the best energy management strategy. The objective function of the proposed methodology aims to minimize the total cost and improve the efficiency of the whole system. The proposed method was investigated on a standalone PV-WT with battery-hydrogen storage in different scenarios. The simulation results from the Matlab toolbox show that the performance indicators (cost and efficiency) are affected by the combination of the weighting factor and the forecasting index. The total productivity was improved by more than 2.5% in some scenarios while the investment cost and the running cost were reduced by values of 49.3% and 28.6%, respectively.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310760

Authors: Jawaher Binsuwadan

This paper analyses the asymmetric effects of air transport on CO2 emissions from transport in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The analysis utilises CO2 emissions from transport, which are more relevant and critical for assessing the environmental performance of transport. Moreover, the current paper has examined this relationship with further macroeconomic variables within the Gulf Cooperation Council context. This paper uses a significant sample of six nations and spans an extensive period from 1990 to 2020. The second-generation Auto Regressive Distributed Lag model was applied to enable the examination of regional heterogeneity and the assessment of transport’s effect on CO2 emissions across several countries. The intensity of environmental degradation may differ among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, hence, environmental policies should include trends in transport emissions. Long-term estimates based on the ARDL technique suggest that energy consumption, economic growth, and air travel exacerbate the ratio of CO2 emissions from transport and pollution levels. The results can be utilised to develop a transport-related environmental strategy that aligns with the sustainable development goals. The paper proposes strategies for achieving a sustainable environment and energy future.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310761

Authors: Carolina Gallego-Ramírez Edwin Chica Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente

The presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems is an issue of increasing concern. Regardless of the low concentration of pharmaceuticals in water, they can have a toxic effect on both humans and aquatic organisms. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been described as a promising technique for eliminating pharmaceuticals due to their high efficiency. However, the cost associated with the application of these processes and their high reagents and energy requirements have affected the implementation of AOPs at large scales. Biochar has been suggested to be used as a catalyst in AOPs to overcome these limitations. Biochar is considered as an alternative heterogeneous catalyst thanks to its physicochemical characteristics like its specific surface area, porous structure, oxygen-containing functional groups, electrical conductivity, persistent free radicals (PFRs), modifiable properties, and structure defects. This carbonaceous material presents the capacity to activate oxidizing agents leading to the formation of radical species, which are needed to degrade pharmaceuticals. Additionally, AOP/biochar systems can destroy pharmaceutical molecules following a non-radical pathway. To enhance biochar catalytic performance, modifications have been suggested such as iron (Fe) impregnation, heteroatom doping, and supporting semiconductors on the biochar surface. Although biochar has been efficiently used in combination with several AOPs for the mineralization of pharmaceuticals from water, further research must be conducted to evaluate different regeneration techniques to increase biochar’s sustainable applicability and reduce the operational cost of the combined process. Moreover, operational conditions influencing the combined system are required to be evaluated to discern their effect and find conditions that maximize the degradation of pharmaceuticals by AOP/biochar systems.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310759

Authors: Mohammed Alenezi Fatih Anayi Michael Packianather Mokhtar Shouran

The reliable operation of power transformers is essential for grid stability, yet existing fault detection methods often suffer from inaccuracies and high false alarm rates. This study introduces a machine learning framework leveraging voltage signals for early fault detection. Simulating diverse fault conditions—including single line-to-ground, line-to-line, turn-to-ground, and turn-to-turn faults—on a laboratory-scale three-phase transformer, we evaluated decision trees, support vector machines, and logistic regression models on a dataset of 6000 samples. Decision trees emerged as the most effective, achieving 99.90% accuracy during 5-fold cross-validation and 95% accuracy on a separate test set of 400 unseen samples. Notably, the framework achieved a low false alarm rate of 0.47% on a separate 6000-sample healthy condition dataset. These results highlight the proposed method’s potential to provide a cost-effective, robust, and scalable solution for enhancing transformer fault detection and advancing grid reliability. This demonstrates the efficacy of voltage-based machine learning for transformer diagnostics, offering a practical and resource-efficient alternative to traditional methods.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310758

Authors: Yaomin Zheng Minghan Wu Jinlian Shi Huize Yang Jiaxin Wang Xiaoyuan Zhang Xin Zhang

The Chinese economy has shifted towards a stage of high-quality development, and promoting high-quality development of tourism is of great significance for its sustainable development. Based on the new development concept, using Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis, Moran’s I Index, and the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model, this paper analyzes the spatial–temporal evolution of tourism development in 31 provinces in China during 2010–2022. The findings are as follows: (1) the overall tourism development level of China from 2010 to 2022 was at a medium-low level, showing a spatial distribution pattern of “higher in southeast and lower in northwest”; (2) from the perspective of the Quality–Quantity relationship, the quality of tourism development in China has gradually improved, the regional gap between the east and the west and the internal gap among western regions/provinces have gradually expanded; and (3) tourism innovation and internationalization level are the main influencing factors of high-quality tourism development in China’s provinces, providing practical decision-making references for advancing the high-quality development of tourism.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310757

Authors: Renz John R. Estrada Tomas Ralph B. Tomon Rubie Mae D. Fernandez Christine Joy M. Omisol Gerard G. Dumancas Arnold C. Alguno Maria Sheila K. Ramos Roberto M. Malaluan Arnold A. Lubguban

In this research, a new method of treating wastewater is introduced using a highly recyclable and sustainable material derived from coconut oil. This material aims to address the issues commonly faced by conventional sorbents, such as limited performance and costly production. These challenges impede a sorbent material from unlocking its full utility in treating wastewater. An exceptional sorbent material was synthesized by incorporating coconut shell-based activated carbon (AC) into a coconut oil-based polyurethane matrix to produce an activated carbon-infused polyurethane (ACIP). The effective adsorption was elucidated by the synergistic interaction between the ACIP material and methylene blue (MB) through electrostatic attraction, π-π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. To provide an exhaustive analysis of the ACIP material, several analytical techniques were employed, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A detailed assessment using a fixed-bed column setup investigated its adsorption behavior by encompassing various factors such as inlet concentration, adsorbent bed height, feed flow rate, and solution pH. Results revealed that the ACIP composite exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 28.25 mg g−1. Empirical evidence with a high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.93) obtained from the Thomas and Yoon–Nelson model suggests the suitability of the composite material to operate efficiently under these diverse circumstances. Notably, after five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles, ACIP demonstrated its remarkable reusability by maintaining 86% of its regeneration efficiency. Given its outstanding performance and potential for scalability, this innovative ACIP composite presents a more sustainable approach to addressing wastewater issues within industrial environments.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310756

Authors: Ümit Işıkdağ Gebrail Bekdaş Yaren Aydın Sudi Apak Junhee Hong Zong Woo Geem

This study aims to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide and the production of hydrogen through an investigation of the photocatalytic reaction process. Machine learning algorithms can be used to predict the hydrogen yield in the photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction process. Although regression-based approaches provide good results, the accuracy achieved with classification algorithms is not very high. In this context, this study presents a new method, Adaptive Neural Architecture Search (NAS) using metaheuristics, to improve the capacity of ANNs in estimating the hydrogen yield in the photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction process through classification. The NAS process was carried out with a tool named HyperNetExplorer, which was developed with the aim of finding the ANN architecture providing the best prediction accuracy through changing ANN hyperparameters, such as the number of layers, number of neurons in each layer, and the activation functions of each layer. The nature of the NAS process in this study was adaptive, since the process was accomplished through optimization algorithms. The ANNs discovered with HyperNetExplorer demonstrated significantly higher prediction performance than the classical ML algorithms. The results indicated that the NAS helped to achieve better performance in the estimation of the hydrogen yield in the photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction process.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310755

Authors: Anam Jalil Zhisheng Yu

Hydrogen is becoming recognized as a clean and sustainable energy carrier, with microbial fermentation and electrolysis serving critical roles in its production. This paper provides a thorough meta-analysis of BioH2 production across diverse substrates, microbial populations, and experimental settings. Statistical techniques, including ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA), and heatmaps, were used to evaluate the influence of various parameters on the hydrogen yield. The mean hydrogen generation from the reviewed studies was 168.57 ± 52.09 mL H2/g substrate, with food waste and glucose demonstrating considerably greater hydrogen production than mixed food waste (p < 0.05). The inhibition of methanogens with inhibitors like 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) and chloramphenicol (CES) enhanced hydrogen production by as much as 25%, as demonstrated in microbial electrolysis cell systems. PCA results highlighted Clostridium spp., Thermotoga spp., and Desulfovibrio spp. as the most dominant microbial species, with Clostridium spp. contributing up to 80% of the YH2 in fermentation systems. The study highlights synergistic interactions between dominant and less dominant microbial species under optimized environmental conditions (pH 5.5–6.0, 65 °C), emphasizing their complementary roles in enhancing H2 production. Volatile fatty acid regulation, particularly acetate and butyrate accumulation, correlated positively with hydrogen production (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). These findings provide insights into optimizing biohydrogen systems through microbial consortia management and substrate selection, offering a potential way for scalable and efficient H2 production.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310754

Authors: Piotr Durajczyk Natalia Drop Piotr Niedzielski

This study explores the potential of inland navigation as a key component of Poland’s sustainable transportation strategy, focusing on the Opole–Szczecin route. It emphasizes inland waterways as an eco-friendly and efficient alternative to road and rail transport, potentially revitalizing local economies and reducing dependency on more traditional transport modes. The use of the River Information Service (RIS) system is highlighted as to its role in enhancing the logistical efficiency and safety of inland water transport. The research includes a comparative analysis of cargo transport on the Opole–Szczecin route, using road, rail, and inland-waterway options, revealing the advantages of inland-waterway transport in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental impact. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges and opportunities for the development of inland navigation in Poland, advocating for greater integration with other transport branches through innovative technologies like RIS.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310753

Authors: Luning Tong Maowei Chen

As global focus persists on gender variety and corporate social responsibility, the participation and influence of women in corporate governance, particularly their effect on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of corporations, have garnered extensive scrutiny. Given the significant differences between China and the West in terms of institutions and culture, it is highly valuable to explore the unique relationship between gender diversity and ESG performance in the Chinese context, especially in the high-risk and fast-growing technology industry. This study explores the impact of female director background on ESG performance and the moderating effect of risk appetite. The findings suggest that the proportion of female directors has a significant positive impact on the ESG performance of Chinese technology companies. Furthermore, the corporate risk appetite has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between the proportion of female directors and ESG performance. Female directors with higher education levels, financial professional background, and long-term tenure can more effectively promote the company’s ESG performance. This study enhances the theoretical framework of corporate governance and ESG studies while also offering innovative guidance for firms to enhance their ESG scores and develop effective risk management strategies.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310752

Authors: Ioan Bogdan Bacos Cristina Veres Petru Alexandru Curta Manuela Rozalia Gabor Flavia Dana Oltean

This critical review examines the interplay between air pollution and community well-being within the tourism industry. Utilizing a systematic literature review methodology, the study focuses on three domains: air quality, tourism, and sustainability. Employing VOSviewer for bibliometric analysis, the research identifies key themes and trends. The findings reveal that air pollution, particularly in urban tourist destinations, negatively impacts tourist behavior, reduces visitor numbers, and threatens the economic sustainability of tourism. Additionally, it highlights health risks to both tourists and local communities, underscoring the need for adaptive strategies and sustainable practices. The study prioritizes articles employing statistical methods and incorporates geographic visualizations using GeoPandas and Matplotlib to illustrate research distribution. By synthesizing the existing literature, this review emphasizes the importance of effective policies that balance tourism growth with environmental protection amidst escalating ecological challenges.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310751

Authors: Yu Yan Yansong Wang

Calcareous stones, such as marble and limestone, have been widely used in ancient architecture due to their durability, abundance, and ease of extraction and workability. However, their chemical nature renders them vulnerable to atmospheric pollutants. With industrialization and socio-economic growth, air pollution has severely impacted built heritage, including numerous historical buildings and monuments, particularly under changing climate and environmental conditions. Various forms of degradation, such as acid corrosion, mineral crystallization, and black crusts, are widespread and typically driven by atmospheric pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), ozone (O3), and particulates (PM), which accelerate the deterioration of stone surfaces. To develop sustainable mitigation strategies, it is essential to gain an in-depth understanding of these deterioration mechanisms and current technological advancements. This paper first reviews the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms of atmospheric deterioration of calcareous stones. Subsequently, it discusses the advantages and limitations of traditional and advanced conservation and restoration techniques at the micro-level, as well as pollution management strategies that can be adopted. Finally, the challenges of research in this field are highlighted, and directions for the sustainable conservation of calcareous stones are proposed.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310750

Authors: Elda Du Toit

This paper examines the progress, key themes, and future directions in sustainability reporting, aiming to identify critical insights, gaps, and research opportunities to enhance its effectiveness and impact. A comprehensive review was conducted, analyzing peer-reviewed articles on the evolution, implementation, and outcomes of sustainability reporting across various sectors and regions over the past thirty years. This review highlights a shift from an initial focus on environmental disclosures to a broader inclusion of social and governance issues. Despite advancements, notable gaps persist, such as the lack of standardized reporting frameworks, challenges in data collection and comparability, and limited understanding of the relationship between sustainability reporting and corporate financial performance. Emerging areas of future research include the need to develop standardized measurement tools tailored to different industries, explore the long-term effects of sustainability reporting on corporate behavior and performance, and investigate effective strategies for stakeholder engagement to enhance the credibility and relevance of sustainability reports. The introduction of IFRS S1 and S2 offers opportunities to address some challenges, but their full impact requires further exploration. This paper synthesizes existing literature, outlines significant challenges, and offers a roadmap for future research that will help scholars, practitioners, and policymakers advance sustainability reporting practices.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310749

Authors: Luciana Di Gregorio Lorenzo Nolfi Arianna Latini Nikolaos Nikoloudakis Nils Bunnefeld Maurizio Notarfonso Roberta Bernini Ioannis Manikas Annamaria Bevivino

European policies on climate change (CC), food security (FS), and biodiversity (BD) represent the EU’s commitment to a sustainable agri-food system, highlighting the interdependence between environmental health and food security. By analyzing key drivers and indicators, the present study evaluates the effectiveness of existing measures and identifies gaps in the policy framework. A Scoping Group activity facilitated dialogue between policymakers, industry, and farmer representatives to gather feedback and strengthen the data–policy link. The results highlight progress in areas such as promoting sustainable agriculture and biodiversity, while pointing out unresolved issues like the challenges faced by smallholder farmers. The study emphasizes the need for real-time monitoring tools and tailored solutions to address the complexities of the agri-food system. It also encourages the integration of emerging technologies, such as IoT and AI, to enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices. Ultimately, the findings call for a landscape-specific approach to maximize biodiversity gains, mitigate climate impacts, and ensure food security within the broader context of the EU’s ecological and socio-economic challenges.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310748

Authors: Chitralada Chaiya Pichate Pinthong

This study fills a significant research gap by examining the factors influencing the circular economy in Thailand, particularly within the context of developing countries. Utilizing regression and correlation analysis, we investigate key environmental and socioeconomic variables: greenhouse gas emissions, forest area percentage, income levels among the poorest 20% of the population, access to electricity, and income inequality. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive integration of these dimensions to identify barriers and sustainable circular economy. Key findings reveal that higher greenhouse gas emissions correlate with increased recycling, underscoring the need for stricter emission controls and cleaner technologies. Conversely, greater forest coverage is associated with reduced recycled waste, highlighting the importance of forest conservation and sustainable land use. Economic disparities significantly impact recycling efforts, necessitating supportive policies for lower-income groups. Increased access to electricity correlates with higher waste generation, emphasizing the need for sustainable consumption practices. Although income inequality correlates with recycling rates, it is not a significant predictor, indicating the necessity for broader economic and environmental policies. This study offers novel, comprehensive recommendations for advancing Thailand’s circular economy. Strategies include implementing emission controls, enhancing forest conservation, promoting economic empowerment, encouraging sustainable consumption, and developing integrated policies. These recommendations aim to address identified challenges and support sustainable growth in alignment with circular economy goals.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310747

Authors: Yao Li Siyuan Ni Xi Tang Sizhe Xie Peng Wang

With increasing global attention on carbon emission control and sustainable development, the carbon market has become an important tool for promoting environmental sustainability and carbon emission regulation. As an important part of energy trading, the electricity market is closely related to the carbon market and their effective coupling is critical for achieving sustainable energy transitions. Power generation can effectively link carbon prices and electricity prices. Through the promulgation of reasonable policies, we can promote the coupling of the carbon market and the electricity market, and then, through macro-control, promote the steady and joint development of the carbon and electricity markets, improve the construction of the carbon rights market, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create a sustainable future for humanity. Given the relative maturity of the EU carbon market and electricity market, this paper identifies key points of market volatility through the coupling coordination model analysis and uses the GPT large model analysis to analyze policy factors that have a greater impact on carbon market and electricity market transactions. The research results show that market-regulating policies and expectation management policies have the greatest impact on the degree of coupling between the carbon and electricity markets. The impact of secondary policies such as international cooperation policies and structural adjustment policies is relatively insignificant. Although the development of China’s carbon market faces many challenges, reasonable policy interventions are expected to achieve significant results in the domestic carbon market. Finally, this paper also draws on analogy analysis to draw corresponding implications for China from the EU’s carbon–electricity coupling policy promulgation.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310743

Authors: Jassiel V. H. Fontes Irving D. Hernández Edgar Mendoza Rodolfo Silva Elvis J. O. Santander Ricardo Almeida Sanches

The Brazilian Amazon has one of the largest river networks in the world, connecting riverine communities, many of which have no roadways. The use of high-speed vessels, including those that are locally made, is necessary for the transportation of people to perform their day-to-day activities. However, regional news and social media data have shown that these vessels are involved in accidents. This work describes some of the key challenges to improving the sustainability and safety of regional high-speed vessels. Field research was performed in the state of Amazonas to document regional vessels and provide graphic evidence of the possible risk factors that could cause accidents as the path to prevent them. Some risk mitigation alternatives were discussed. Cameras and a drone were used to capture information either from the shore or from small boats. The main challenges are related to the adequate management of seasonal changes in river depths; wave and wind behavior; wave wash effects; the interaction of vessels with rocks, sand banks, mud, and vegetation; embarkation and disembarkation activities; the monitoring and regulation of safety requirements and dangerous operations; and the slowness in implementing technological advances that would improve vessels’ safety. It is hoped that the work in this paper will contribute to improving the sustainability of marine activities in the Amazon and similar regions worldwide.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310745

Authors: Manuel de Jesus Chinchillas-Chinchillas Horacio Edgardo Garrafa Galvez Victor Manuel Orozco Carmona Hugo Galindo Flores Jose Belisario Leyva Morales Mizael Luque Morales Mariel Organista Camacho Priscy Alfredo Luque Morales

Aguama (Bromelia pinguin L.), a plant belonging to the Bromeliaceae family, possesses a rich content of organic compounds historically employed in traditional medicine. This research focuses on the sustainable synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles via an eco-friendly route using 1, 2, and 4% of Aguama peel extract. This method contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the use of hazardous chemicals in nanoparticle production. The optical properties, including the band gap, were determined using the TAUC model through Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using three widely studied organic dyes (methylene blue, methyl orange, and rhodamine B) under both solar and UV radiation. The results demonstrated that the ZnO nanoparticles, characterized by a wurtzite-type crystalline structure and particle sizes ranging from 68 to 76 nm, exhibited high thermal stability and band gap values between 2.60 and 2.91 eV. These nanoparticles successfully degraded the dyes completely, with methylene blue degrading in 40 min, methyl orange in 70 min, and rhodamine B in 90 min. This study underscores the potential of Bromelia pinguin L. extract in advancing sustainable nanoparticle synthesis and its application in environmental remediation through efficient photocatalysis.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310746

Authors: Hengshuai Gao Dongyu Xue Wenbao Li Sheng Zhang Yujiao Shi Boyao Zhang Yulong Tao

Lakes in cold zones have common characteristics of long frozen periods and fragile water ecosystems. More and more lakes in cold zones have been experiencing water quality deterioration due to eutrophication with climate change and human activities. Lake Hulun is located in the cold zone of northern China, in which Cyanobacterial blooms frequently occur. The excessive nutrient input with inflowing river water and the change in lake hydrodynamic condition might be the main factors affecting this. To obtain a better understanding of the effects, the input loads of nutrients from the inflowing rivers were analyzed. A field test of freezing concentration combined with microbial activity regulation was carried out at a river–lake confluence. The results showed the following: (1) Lake Hulun receives a large amount of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from river runoff every year, and the water quality of these river is inferior Grade V, which greatly increases the difficulty in ecological purification of cold zone lakes. (2) The microbial activity control technology has a high purification rate for water during the unfrozen period. The order of purification rates for each hydrochemical index was TP > TN > COD > NH4+-N, and the purification rates of TN and COD were between 35% and 36%. Compared with the water before purification, the water quality grade improved from Grade V to Grade III. (3) The composite technology of freezing concentration–microbial activity regulation has a general water purification rate during the frozen period. Under the low-temperature condition, the TN and COD nutrient fluxes in the water were reduced by 9.38% and 9.36%, respectively. After purification, the water quality grade of the ice body was above Grade II, and the water under the ice layer was above Grade IV, which was one grade higher than the water quality grade of the original lake water. This water treatment and purification process is a green, low-energy consumption, and low-cost technology. This study can provide reference for the integration and demonstration of lake water ecological governance and water resources security technology in cold and arid regions. It is beneficial to the sustainable development of the lake.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310744

Authors: Ya-Lun Chou Chen-Yueh Chen Ting-Hsiang Lin Yi-Wen Zhou Yuan-Fu Lee

This study explored how fans’ perceptions of sponsor participation in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities influence attitudes toward the sponsor, sponsor image, electronic word of mouth (eWOM), and purchase intentions. Limited research has focused on the interactions between sports sponsorship and ESG activities. This study filled this research gap by considering the case of the Rakuten Monkeys, a professional baseball team in Taiwan, and its sponsors. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, this study investigated how fans’ perceptions of sponsor participation in ESG initiatives affect their purchase intentions through sponsor attitudes, sponsor image, and eWOM. A total of 800 Rakuten Monkeys fans were recruited for this study, and the study hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that all investigated paths were significant. That is, fans’ perceptions of sponsor participation in ESG activities significantly enhance their attitudes toward the sponsor and sponsor image, which in turn positively influence their eWOM and purchase intentions. This study has theoretical and practical implications for enhancing brand image and consumer purchase intentions through ESG activities. The study contributes valuable insights that can be used by sports sponsors for developing marketing strategies.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su162310742

Authors: Kexin Wei Zhaoxing Wang Yuxiang He Ziyang Wang

The long-term interplay between rural handicraft industries and village development has resulted in imbalances such as the disorder of living spaces, misalignment of production spaces, and ecological space disruptions. Comprehensively analyzing village landscape elements and actively maintaining their coordinated development are the keys to the transformation of handicraft villages. This study firstly introduces the theory of landscape genes and the concept of “Production–Living–Ecology Spaces” (PLESs) and then constructs the identification system of PLES landscape genes. The system starts from the three dimensions of the production, life, and ecology spaces of the village, identifies the landscape elements that have been passed down from generation to generation, and realizes a comprehensive interpretation of the landscape elements of handicraft villages. Using YaoTou Village in Shaanxi Province as a case study, this study illustrates its landscape characteristics, based on the genetic form of PLES landscape genes, using the G1-FCE method to collect evaluation data from both tourists and residents. These data help to identify the genetic status of the PLES landscape genes of YaoTou Village and propose _targeted inheritance mechanisms. The results enable the comprehensive identification of production, ecological, and living landscape elements in handicraft villages, evaluating their inheritance status to carry out _targeted modern innovative transformation. This study will provide a reference for identifying and preserving the landscape elements of YaoTou Village and more handicraft villages and contribute to rural revitalization.