Sustainability

The continuity of activities and projects is important for sustainably developing organizations, especially universities. The purpose of this study is to establish university development guidelines regarding waste management according to the green university ranking criteria for sustainable development by studying and collecting the data for Mahasarakham University covering the last five years (2019–2023). We also analyzed and synthesized lessons learned from the details of the operations and the factors involved in the university’s successes while comparing and providing suggestions for its operations in the coming year. This study found that effective waste management led to continuous improvements that achieved the goals of Mahasarakham University. These consisted of five guidelines, as follows: (1) making green university policies and using them as a KPI (key performance index) of the administrative divisions and also announcing the university’s waste management policies by applying the principles of 3R (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle); (2) allocating budgets supporting the projects’ activities according to the evaluation criteria; (3) driving operations through student and personnel participation as well as the mechanisms used by the committees from various administrative divisions, such as the Student Council, the Student Association and clubs; (4) identifying the main responsible individuals and committees for the green university who communicate and drive the operations while collecting, analyzing and preparing the data; and (5) performing follow-ups and evaluations of the project’s activities with the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) processes, facilitating continuous and sustainable developments and improvements leading to a green university. With the above operations, Mahasarakham University’s waste management scores for the six indices during the period 2019–2023 increased annually as follows: 900, 900, 1050, 1275 and 1350.  Full article

The community in the oil palm planting zone experiences intragenerational disappointment, due to feelings of alienation that add to the complexity of conflict resolution. We employed an experimental conflict resolution approach utilising Latent Class Analysis and ANOVA hypothesis testing to summarise research findings, a method which involves selecting descriptions of conflict classes and member variables, in order to depict intragenerational community characteristics that concern the perceptions and experiences of conflict within oil palm planting zones. The results indicate that groups categorised as “aggressive habitat threats” reflected concerns about environmental degradation and the potential eviction of small landholders. Meanwhile, the “job transition” group presented a potential for conflict in proportion to their aspirations for a decent life. However, conflicts do not always result in direct clashes. Conversely, community empowerment, including circular dimensions and human resources, acts as a catalyst that motivates intragenerational individuals to actively accelerate efforts to increase their capacity. Full article

We propose a method to identify the congestion driver sources contributing to the major traffic congestion of a regional (Hunan province) freeway network. The results indicate that the congestion driver sources are mostly observed during heavy traffic periods and mainly distributed in the regions surrounding Changsha (the capital of Hunan province) and the regions adjacent to other provinces and freeway interconnecting hubs. Moreover, we develop a method to analyze the major driver sources of a local freeway section. Using the method, the trips affected by traffic accidents or road maintenance works can be identified well. Our findings and the proposed methods could facilitate the deployment of effective traffic control countermeasures and the development of sustainable regional transportation. Full article

Regarding the large-scale heavy metal pollution in farmland, China has innovatively explored a farming measure governance approach of “production while repairing”. However, due to farmers’ difficulty breaking through conventional planting habits, the governance effects need to be more sustainable. Based on 447 survey data of farmers in 14 cadmium-polluted counties (cities) in Hunan Province, this paper uses the Bootstrap method to explore the impact of environmental regulation, technical cognition, and self-efficacy on farmers’ adoption of “variety–irrigation–pH” (VIP) technology. The results show the following: (1) Environmental regulation can effectively improve farmers’ adoption of VIP technology, and different types of regulation are classified as guidance regulation, constraint regulation, and incentive regulation according to the size of their impact. (2) Technical cognition mediates the environmental regulation process influencing farmers’ adoption. (3) In the process of environmental regulation influencing farmers’ adoption of irrigation and pH through technical cognition, the moderating effect of self-efficacy was positive. Enhance the strategic planning of environmental regulation, bolster technological research and development efforts, and nurture innovative agricultural entities that can promote the adoption of VIP technology. The results have practical significance for further guiding farmers to participate in treating heavy metal pollution. Full article

As the use of handheld devices continues to proliferate in both private and educational sectors, critical questions emerge concerning the end-of-life management of materials and strategies to curtail waste generation. Augmented reality (AR) technology presents novel avenues for engaging students in science education. This paper presents a novel didactic methodology through a tablet-based, digitally enriched learning scenario that focuses on the properties, synthesis, substitution, and recycling of plastics, particularly in the context of iPads. The scenario utilizes AR technology to provide new perspectives on plastics’ chemistry, fostering interest and understanding. Additionally, the present study employs quantitative methods to investigate the impact on situational interest and understanding concerning learning with iPads and learning about plastics used in iPads on students. The analysis also includes an examination of attitudes toward learning experiences based on AR. A total of 65 secondary students participated in the study. The findings contribute to the ongoing debate on context-based learning and its impact on students’ interest and engagement in science education. Full article

The black soil region of northeastern China, one of the world’s major black soil belts, is China’s main grain-producing area, producing a quarter of China’s commercial grain. However, over-exploitation and unsustainable management practices have led to a steady decline in the quality of arable land. Scientific and reasonable zoning of arable land is the key to ensuring that black soil arable land achieves sustainable development. In this study, the 317 districts and counties under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Provinces in the northeast region and the four eastern leagues of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were taken as the study area, and arable land zoning in the northeast black soil region was explored through group analysis. Ten types of indicators were selected according to the four levels of climate, soil, vegetation, and topography of the northeast black soil region, including average precipitation and average temperature for many years at the climate level, organic matter content and soil texture (including clay, silt, and sand) at the soil level, NDVI and EVI indicators at the vegetation level, and DEM and slope indicators at the topographic level. In accordance with the principle of distinguishing differences and summarizing commonalities, nine scenarios of dividing the northeast black soil zones into 2 regions to 10 regions were explored, and these nine zoning scenarios were evaluated in terms of zoning. The results showed that (1) the spatial variability of cropland zoning in the northeast black soil zone based on four indicators, namely climate, soil, vegetation, and topography, was significant; (2) the results of the nine types of zoning based on cropland in the northeast black soil zone showed that intra-zonal zoning was optimal when zoning the northeast black soil zone into six types of zones, which enhanced the variability between the zones and the consistency within the zones; and (3) the assessment of large-scale cropland zoning using the pseudo F-statistic and area-weighted standard deviation methods revealed similarities in their outcomes. The results provide a scientific basis for the subregional protection of arable land in the black soil zone and help to formulate effective policies for different regions. Full article

Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals have put forward new requirements for the development of sustainable energy. As an important part of the energy system, the power system plays an important role in achieving sustainable energy development. Future power systems will be sustainable, with a high proportion of renewable energy such as photovoltaic and wind power. With advancements in technology and the sustainable development of power systems, the construction costs of wind power, photovoltaics, and other renewable energy sources will continue to decline. At the same time, in order to cope with the uncertainty of renewable energy, more flexible resources need to be built. Under a high proportion of sustainable energy penetration, the utilization rate of flexible resources is low, which will lead to an increase in adjustment costs. Economic issues have an important impact on the development of new power systems, and power system construction will in turn affect social and economic development. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze changing trends in electricity prices in the process of power system sustainability from a quantitative perspective, so as to provide guidance for future planning. In view of the above problems, this paper takes Gansu Province as an example, predicts future power installation trends, by analyzing the power system form evolution, and uses production operation simulation technology to determine the power generation and consumption situation. On this basis, the costs of various power supplies and power grids are calculated, and trends in electricity prices in Gansu Province are forecast. Full article

Many countries around the world are rapidly advancing sustainable development (SD) through the exploitation of clean energy sources such as solar and wind energy, which are becoming the core of the sustainable energy transition. In recent years, the continuous advancement of Earth system models (ESMs) has facilitated numerous studies utilizing them to predict long-term and large-scale meteorological elements, consequently enabling forecasts of wind and solar energy. These forecasts provide critical guidance for formulating national renewable energy policies. Nevertheless, the current literature on ESMs predicting wind and solar energy lacks sufficient integration. Hence, to comprehend the focal points and future research prospects, we conducted this systematic review, employing four academic search tools to comprehensively analyze the relevant literature from the past five years. We summarized the general analytical process and compared the content and conclusions of the literature. The study reveals that future photovoltaic (PV) potential for electricity generation may increase in certain regions but decrease in others, while the global potential for concentrated solar power (CSP) may diminish, influenced by diverse factors and displaying significant regional disparities. In addition, wind resource trends vary in different regions, and forecasts exhibit considerable uncertainty. Therefore, many studies have corrected wind speeds prior to predicting wind energy. Subsequent research endeavors should concentrate on optimizing ESMs, investigating the impacts of technological innovation, and enhancing the prediction and analysis of extreme weather events. Full article

The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has underscored the paramount importance of regional economies’ capacities to withstand and adapt to external shocks. Enhancing regional economic resilience and mitigating the adverse impacts on both the economy and society have emerged as critical imperatives for ensuring the sustainable development and transformation of the national economy. This paper employs an improved counterfactual method to measure the economic resilience index across 31 Chinese provinces and cities from 2001 to 2021, coupled with empirical analysis using a dynamic panel model to identify the influencing factors of regional economic resilience. Building upon this foundation, the study delves into the heterogeneous effects of various factors and different degrees of marketization on economic resilience across different regions. Research Findings: (1) There has been a significant improvement in the economic resilience levels of China’s 31 provinces, with differences in economic resilience between regions far exceeding those in economic development levels, indicating substantial internal regional disparities. (2) Factors such as the marketization index, industrial structure, level of informatization, labor force size, labor quality, innovation capacity, and degree of government intervention all impact regional economic resilience and exhibit regional heterogeneity. Policy Recommendations: (1) It is crucial to address regional disparities while formulating regional development strategies and enhancing regional economic resilience. (2) Regions should accelerate market-oriented reforms, promote rational labor mobility, strengthen investment in human capital, foster innovation, and adjust the degree of intervention. Full article

Seaweed has historically been essential for coastal communities worldwide. Following a period of decline in the last century, Ireland has seen a recent resurgence in the appreciation and use of seaweed. This research explores the evolution in seaweed foraging practices, with a specific focus on gastronomical uses in two Irish regions: the southwest and the west and midwest. It examines the diversity of seaweed and its present and past uses, comparing abandonment, continuation and revitalisation trajectories. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 27 individuals who forage seaweed for commercial or personal use. We identified 22 seaweed species across the study areas, predominantly from the Fucaceae, Laminariaceae and Ulvaceae families. There was a fair divergence between the seaweed species used in the two study areas (16 seaweed species in the southwest region and 17 seaweed species in the west and midwest region), with 11 species mentioned in both areas. Different trajectories of resurgence were identified. In the west and midwest region, the revitalisation of local ecological and gastronomic knowledge related to seaweeds seems to be deeply entrenched in the territory’s historical legacy, showing a sort of continuation with the past and having followed a more commercially oriented path. Conversely, in the southwest region, the revival seems to be fostered by new knowledge holders with a contemporary interest in reconnecting with the marine landscape and promoting educational activities centred around seaweed. This research contributes to discussions on sustainable food systems and food heritage promotion, emphasising seaweed’s potential role in Irish coastal communities’ foodscapes. Full article

This study assessed the cleaner and sustainable environment by measuring emission levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) from informal food traders using charcoal as the primary source of energy at a flea market in Fordsburg, Johannesburg. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured using a real-time monitor (MiniRae 3000 photoionization detector); an indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor was used to monitor environmental parameters and passive samplers in the form of Radiello badges, which were used to determine BTEX emissions from charcoal used during food preparation. Measurements were taken at 1.5 m above ground assuming the receptor’s breathing circumference using PID and Radiello. PID data were downloaded and analyzed using Microsoft Excel(Version 2019). Radiellos were sent to the laboratory to determine the BTEX levels from the total VOCs. The total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentration over the combustion cycle was 306.7 ± 62.8 ppm. The flaming phase had the highest VOC concentration (547 ± 110.46 ppm), followed by the ignition phase (339.44 ± 40.6 ppm) and coking with the lowest concentration (24.64 ± 14.3). The average BTEX concentration was 15.7 ± 5.9 µg/m³ corresponding to the entire combustion cycle. BTEX concentrations were highest at the flaming phase (23.6 µg/m³) followed by the ignition (13.4 µg/m³) and coking phase (9.45 µg/m³). Ignition phase versus the flaming phase, there was a significant difference at 95% at a p-value of 0.09; ignition phase versus the coking phase, there was a significant difference at 95% at a p-value of 0.039; and coking phase versus the flaming phase, there was a significant difference at 95% at a p-value of 0.025. When compared to the occupational exposure limits (OELs), none of the exposure concentrations (BTEX) were above the 8 h exposure limit. The findings of this study suggest that charcoal, as a source of energy, can still be a useful and sustainable fuel for informal food traders. Shortening the ignition and flaming phase duration by using a fan to supply sufficient air can further reduce exposure to VOCs. Full article

Safety is the foundation of urban sustainable development. The urban construction and operation process involves a large amount of multidimensional time series data. By detecting anomalies in these multidimensional time subsequences (MTSs), decision support can be provided for early warning of urban construction and operation risks. Considering the complexity of urban infrastructure, there is an urgent need for fast and accurate anomaly detection. This paper proposes a real-time anomaly detection algorithm based on improved distance measurement (RADIM). RADIM retains the relationships between dimensions in multidimensional subsequences, using an Extended Frobenius Norm with Local Weights (EFN_lw) and a Euclidean distance based on multidimensional data (ED_mv) to measure the similarity of MTSs. Moreover, a threshold update mechanism based on First-order Mean Difference (TMFD) is designed to detect real-time anomalies by assessing deviations. This method has been applied to tunnel construction. According to comparative experiments, RADIM exhibits better adaptability, real-time performance, and accuracy in risk warning of tunnel boring machines and construction status. Full article

Existing studies on electric bus (EB) scheduling mainly focus on the arrangement of bus charging at the bus terminals, which may lead to inflexible charging plans, high scheduling costs, and low utilization of electricity energy. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a dynamic bus replacement strategy. When the power of an in-service EB is insufficient, a standby EB stationed at nearby charging stations is dispatched in advance to replace this in-service EB at a designated bus stop. Passengers then transfer to the standby bus to complete their journey. The replaced bus proceeds to the charging station and transitions into a “standby bus” status after recharging. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is established to determine the dispatching plan for both standby and in-service EBs while also designing optimal charging schemes (i.e., the charging time, location, and the amount of charged power) for electric bus systems. Additionally, this study also incorporates the strategy of time-of-use electricity prices to mitigate the adverse impact on the power grid. The proposed model is linearized to the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model and efficiently solved by commercial solvers (e.g., GUROBI). The case study demonstrates that EBs with different energy levels can be dynamically assigned to different bus lines using bus replacement strategies, resulting in reduced electricity costs for EB systems without compromising on scheduling efficiency. Full article

Transportation infrastructure plays a crucial role in economic development and significantly influences climate change, providing direct and indirect benefits towards the attainment of Goals 8 and 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the impact of railway infrastructure on the level of economic and environmental coordination development in the Chengdu–Chongqing economic circle, using panel data from 16 cities spanning from 2010 to 2020. The analysis employs a coupled coordination degree model and a panel fixed effects model. The findings reveal a gradual increase in the level of economic and environmental coordination development in each city during the study period. Notably, Chongqing and Chengdu exhibit significantly higher levels compared to other cities. Railway infrastructure construction can significantly promote the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment. In areas with a high level of coordinated development of the economy and environment, the promoting effect is relatively small, while in areas with a low level of coordinated development of the economy and environment, the promoting effect is relatively large. Over the long term, railways continue to significantly promote the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment. The construction of railways can stimulate the development of the urban private economy and marketization, thereby facilitating the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment. Full article

Ljubljana was the first post-socialist city awarded with the title European Green Capital. The title awarded by the European Commission is given to a city that is achieving high environmental standards, is setting ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development, and can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to all other European cities. The article is based on a hypothesis that at the moment when Ljubljana applied for (and was awarded) the European Green Capital title, it had strong strategic spatial planning and successful territorial governance, as well as the interweaving of both. To prove the hypothesis, the timetable and characteristics of the strategic spatial planning and territorial governance in Ljubljana are presented in this article and critically evaluated. Critical evaluation and analyses are also assessed using a qualitative research method, i.e., semi-structured in-depth interviews among experts from four professional fields including spatial planning, urbanism, architecture, and management. The results confirmed the hypothesis: Ljubljana’s sustainability-oriented strategic spatial plan prepared by a variety of stakeholders, experts, and citizens, as well as the effective governance system established by the mayor, a manager by profession, were two factors that coincided at a crucial moment. This was recognized by the European Commission and Ljubljana was awarded a prestigious title. Ljubljana can therefore serve as an excellent sustainable example for other post-socialist cities in terms of strategic spatial planning and governance. Full article

Approaches for evaluating integrated sustainability impacts in forest management enable the harmonization of environmental, social, and economic considerations. Here, we present a methodological framework for quantifying and balancing impacts on widely different aspects of sustainability of different future scenarios for forestry in managed forests in Sweden. The method includes indicators for impacts on climate change, biodiversity, and social and economic values. The indicators were normalized to a standardized scale using reference scenarios and target values. The proposed method was applied for three different future scenarios for forestry over a 100-year period in two different counties in southern and northern Sweden, respectively. The results show the importance of evaluating indicator performance in forestry across diverse regions of the country and tailoring assessments of individual forest owners to their specific local conditions. Long-term assessments are also crucial due to the varying impacts of indicators over time. The methodology requires continuous refinement and can be used as a basis for disclosing the environmental performance of a product based on forest raw materials. It also facilitates the assessment of sustainability in alternative future forestry scenarios and is adaptable to other countries with comparable forestry and forest characteristics. Full article

The use of decentralized wastewater treatment technologies is a reasonable solution for rural areas. As a decentralized treatment technology, the multi-soil-layering (MSL) system has recently drawn an increasing amount of attention owing to its merits, such as a high hydraulic load rate, small land area occupation, low probability of clogging, low investment, and low operation cost. This review summarizes the progress in MSL systems in the past decade, focusing on the directions of efforts for system optimization, the latest applications of MSL systems to various wastewater treatments, and the integration of MSL with other technologies. The great application potential of MSL systems is illustrated, and future research directions regarding better application of MSL systems are provided. Full article

This paper analyzes the effects of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance on corporate financial performance (CFP), enriching the research on the intrinsic mechanism between ESG and financial performance in developing countries. This study uses a data sample of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China from 2009 to 2021, and adopts a two-way fixed effects model research methodology with fixed time and industries to explore the relationship and intrinsic mechanism between the two in conjunction with relevant basic theories. The study findings indicate that ESG performance exerts a positive influence on CFP by fostering corporate innovation. Corporations with good ESG performance in the long term may be more conducive to good CFP. When corporations face financial constraints, the role of ESG performance in enhancing CFP weakens. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that ESG performance contributes more to the CFP of non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs). The negative moderating influence of financial constraints is more pronounced in non-SOEs. Additionally, ESG performance promotes the improvement of CFP in non-heavy polluting corporates. This research study extends a scientific foundation for how corporates can improve CFP and increase market competitiveness. Full article

Geopolymer-based concretes have been elaborated among others for their potential to lower the environmental impact of the construction sector. The rheology and workability of fresh geopolymers make them suitable for new applications such as 3D printing. In this paper, we aim to develop a potassium silicate- and metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar with sand and local earth additions suited for 3D printing and an environmental assessment framework for this material. The methodology aims at the optimization of both the granular skeleton and the geopolymer matrix for the development of a low-environmental-impact material suited for 3D printing. Using this approach, various metakaolin/earth geopolymer mortars are explored from a mechanical and environmental point of view. The environmental assessment of the lab-scale process shows an improvement for the climate change category but a degradation of other indicators, compared to Portland-cement-based concrete. Several promising options exist to further optimize the process and decrease its environmental impacts. This constitutes the main research perspective of this work. Full article