Sustainable Actions Research Articles

Conflicted epistemologies in secondary school environmental education: implications for sustainable climate action in Uganda

ABSTRACT Transformative secondary school environmental education is likely to impact climate action by producing environmentally responsive citizens. We present a case study of environmental education in northern Uganda, and how learners’ intended actions are moderated by their exposure to both formal and non-formal indigenous environmental knowledges. Guided by the Critical Place Inquiry theory, we undertook a pragmatism paradigm where a mixed methods approach was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 1,282 secondary school learners and 12 teachers in 30 rural and urban schools. Individual interviews, focus group discussions, document reviews, questionnaires, and arts-based scenarios were used to collect data. Findings revealed that learners’ school-acquired environmental knowledge is not transforming them into environmentally responsive citizens because formal and non-formal knowledges are conflicted across pedagogy, curricular, and textbooks. We propose a harmonisation of the two epistemologies so that learners can relate school knowledge with their every-day environmental realities for climate-smart citizenry.

A social identity approach to understanding sustainability and environmental behaviours in South Africa

ABSTRACT In recent years, change in behaviour towards the environment has gained prominence as a policy tool to influence positive environmental value. Simultaneously, the role played by social identity in promoting pro-environmental action is gaining recognition. Within this work, the intersection between collective group identity and environmental behaviour has received very little attention. Group norms are considered a strong predictor of pro-environmental behaviour, yet the influence of social identity and collective action on environmental action has not been adequately investigated in a multi-ethnic setting. Within this context, this study examines the affective component of social identity influence on pro-environmental action. More succinctly, this study demonstrates how outgroups and in-groups’ relations and broader sociocultural structures, values, interest, and norms impact environmental and sustainability transitions behaviours. Through interviews with participants across the four dominant social groups in South Africa, this study provides compelling evidence that country-wide expressions of social identity and ingroup dynamics shapes the individual behaviour regarding environmental and sustainability concerns and further strengthen the individual’s perspective for social environmental transformation. This study advances the need for a social-identity centred approach to foster pro-environmental and sustainability outcomes. Highlights The influence that social contexts and social group memberships have on individual perception and behaviour provide important insights to build an empirical base for an inclusive environmental and sustainable action. We applied the theory of social identity to explore these processes and how normative group values and group interest shape environmental behaviour.

How does energy intensity impact economic growth for the case of a small island country

AbstractIn this article, we explore the relationships between economic growth and energy intensity in Bahrain, and we analyse how energy intensity, population, and other macroeconomic variables are associated with each in the short and long run. In the empirical section we use data span from 1980 to 2019 and we perform a vector error correction model and cointegration technique to detect causality between the variables used in the model. The main findings of this article show that economic growth, population and FDI increased energy intensity in Bahrain in the short run. Therefore, an urgent need to be embedded in the sustainable energy action plan to limit the harmful effects of economic activity on the environmental quality in Bahrain and to ensure environmental sustainability.

Perceived Status and Sustainable Actions: How Subjective Socioeconomic Status Drives Green Energy Consumption in Chinese Households

Household energy consumption plays a critical role in the context of global climate change. Utilizing data from the 2018 China Social Survey (CGSS), this study empirically examined the impact of subjective socioeconomic status (SES) on household green energy consumption behaviors using probit and ordered probit models. The mechanism of influence was further analyzed through the mediated effect approach. The results found include the following: (1) Although the proportion of households participating in green energy policies is similar to those not participating, the proportion of households deeply participating in multiple policies is very low; (2) subjective SES significantly influences both the rate and depth of household participation in green energy policies; (3) internet usage and understanding of green energy policies serve as mediating mechanisms for the promotive effect of subjective SES; and (4) subjective SES showed significant heterogeneity in its effects on different gender and education level groups. These findings contribute to the understanding of the drivers of household green energy use decisions and provide an important reference for governmental policymaking to enhance participation rates and degrees in green energy participation. Implications of these findings highlight the potential for targeted policies that address internet accessibility and educational outreach, which could significantly enhance the effectiveness of green energy initiatives across diverse socioeconomic groups.

Enhancing participatory governance in biosphere reserves through co-creation of transdisciplinary and intergenerational knowledge

In the context of the current global climate and biodiversity crisis, urgent action is needed to improve participatory and co-productive governance in territories under sustainability directives, such as biosphere reserves. These territories comprise a global network with the potential to apply and replicate sustainability actions, improve livelihoods, and boost climate change resilience while reducing impacts on the environment and the biodiversity in all continents. In the biosphere reserves network’s 50 years of existence, progress and setbacks have been reported in different regions around the world, and there is an urgent need to envision alternative futures. In this contribution, we describe the results and reflections of our ‘Open Academy’ that enhanced the participatory governance in La Campana–Peñuelas Biosphere Reserve in Central Chile. We crossed the traditional assessment with the principles of transdisciplinary and intergenerational knowledge co-creation. The results show that the traditional performance assessment shows a generally poor performance and reveals the weaknesses of the governance system of the reserve’s management. The extraction of water by mining and agroindustry, uncontrolled urbanization, wildfires, weak social participation, and low integration of indigenous communities are crucial issues for the performance of biosphere reserves. On the other hand, these territories have the potential as models toward post-extractive economies. Enhancing participatory governance, biosphere reserves shall serve as a) agents for configuring the future as an eco-social pact with the territory; b) pilot test areas for alternative futures; and c) places to promote the social collective as a conscious agent of the future.

Strategies for reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases in the United Arab Emirates

This commentary outlines the strategies implemented by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) through national health policies and initiatives. These strategies aim to enable sustainable actions for CVDs prevention and control by addressing key risk factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy dietary habits, and physical inactivity. Assessment of cardiovascular risk is fundamental for early detection and timely treatment. The UAE has reported the availability of essential medicines and basic technologies for preventing heart attack and stroke. Future directions include improving data reporting systems to provide up-to-date statistics on CVDs prevalence and risk factors, including diet, physical activity, body weight, smoking, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol control. In addition, these efforts will cover data on the quality of care, procedures, and economic costs. Strengthening collaboration between academic research institutes and government policymakers is crucial for shaping the UAE’s research agenda. Key steps to further reduce the burden of CVDs in the UAE include enhancing primary health care and emergency medical services, building health-care worker capacity, and improving the accessibility and affordability of priority interventions.

Sustainable Action and Transformation of Change in Teachers Learning Leadership Model: Promoting Students Independent Learning

Teachers’ learning leadership is one of important facets to students’ quality of independent learning. This should be well constructed by sustainable action and transformational of change. The aims of this research are: 1) to measure how valid and reliable both sustainable action and transformation of change are in the construction of learning leadership model and 2) how learning leadership correlates to independent learning. This is a case study which applies quantitative descriptive method. The data were collected by using a 5--Likert scale questionnaire comprises the indicators of sustainable action, transformation of change and independent learning. This questionnaire was distributed to 59 Elementary teachers of three areas in West Jakarta, Indonesia. The data were analyzed by using SEM PLS and statistical analysis of regression. The findings revealed that both sustainable action and transformational of change were valid and reliable in the construction of learning leadership model. Besides, the analysis of regression showed that learning leadership was significantly correlated to independent learning.

2022 개정 실과 교육과정 의생활교육 내용요소에 대한 예비교사의 교육요구도 분석

This study analyzed pre-service teachers’ educational needs regarding the content elements of clothing life education included in the “human development and leading life” and “living environment and sustainable choice” areas of the 2022 revised Practical Arts Education curriculum. The study employed Borich's calculating model using the score gap between the required competence level (RCL) and their present competence level (PCL). The survey included 18 content elements related to clothing life education: 4 items in the knowledge and understanding category, 7 items in the process and function category, and 7 items in the value and attitude category. The data were collected through a survey of 413 pre-service teachers at J University, with additional questions on sex, school year, major, and experience with clothing life lectures. The study used SPSS Statistics 24 to statistically analyze the data. The main findings are as follows: First, pre-service teachers tended to value the teacher's ability and highly rate their abilities in the values and attitudes categories of clothing life education. There were statistically significant differences according to gender and experience with clothing life lectures. Second, educational needs for clothing life education content elements tended to be concentrated in the “living environment and sustainable choice” area, especially in the process and function categories, and encompassed elements from the value and attitude category. The highest needs were for planning and implementing sustainable actions in everyday life, followed by exploring ways to increase the value and use of living resources, sustainable food, clothing, living life, self-made, and creative attitudes, attitudes toward cherishing living resources, and understanding the impact of one's choices on the community’s life and environment. Based on these results, the conclusions and suggestions are as follows: First, the clothing life education for pre-service teachers should prioritize and balance content elements in the “living environment and sustainable choice” area. It is necessary to devise integrated programs that cultivate practical values and attitudes through activities in the process and function categories. Second, strategies should be planned considering the gender of pre-service teachers, and efforts should be made to expand and implement clothing life education. Third, it is essential to further study the educational needs related to the specific textbook units, including input from field teachers, and the results should inform teacher education and retraining programs.

Investigating Online Fraud with the BRI Mobile Mode : Modus Operandi and the Gaps in Law Enforcement

<em>Cyber universe was made uproar by the actions of fraudsters posing as bank employees. Fake advertisements are a 'cover' for fraudsters in their efforts to 'drain' victims' money. In 2023, the South Jakarta District Court sentenced 9 perpetrators. this article, we will examine in depth the modus operandi used by the perpetrators, related to legal regulations. a critical assessment will be carried out regarding law enforcement carried out by the Public Prosecutor and the Panel of Judges. The author uses a legal research with statutory and regulatory policies and case approach to answer the problem. The results of the research show that the perpetrators used various modes, where each of these is an independent criminal act. It was found that there were gaps in the legal enforcement of this case, especially by the prosecutor, which included a lack of understanding regarding the ITE Law and other related regulations, as well as inconsistencies in the application of the concurus realis doctrin and sustainable actions, and there were indications of lack of seriousness in handling it, where Article 36 of the ITE Law which is the severity of punishment, is not applied in the indictment</em>

Public perceptions on solar geoengineering from focus groups in 22 countries

Solar geoengineering maintains a vocal presence as a stop-gap measure in assessments of climate and sustainability action. In this paper, we map prospective benefits and risks, and corresponding governance approaches, regarding three major proposals for solar geoengineering (stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening, and a space-based sunshield). We do so by engaging with 44 focus groups conducted in 22 countries split between the global North and South. We compare results against previous research on the public perceptions of solar geoengineering as well as wider activities in assessment, innovation, and decision-making. We find that global South groups exhibit greater hope but an arguably richer range of concerns for solar geoengineering, in the context of observable inequities in climate action and potential geopolitical conflict. Meanwhile, a strong, global preference for multilateral coordination and public engagement from the conduct of research onwards is offset by skepticism of effective multilateralism and public discourse.

Strategic Digital City: Multiple Projects for Sustainable Urban Management

In the last two decades, sustainable urban environments have been predominant, meaning that knowledge production has accompanied this growth. The objective of this study is to present multiple projects for sustainable urban management applied in cities, based on the original Strategic Digital City (SDC) concept, model, and project. The research methodology included an SDC systematic literature review, highlighting the sustainability and respective action research of 11 doctoral theses and multiple projects. The obtained results highlight a set of published multiple projects that form a practical analytical cycle of sustainable and interconnected urban processes through the original SDC framework proposition, SDC, which can be applied in different cities in different countries. The innovations present in the SDC multiple projects propose a theoretical–empirical debate in the interdisciplinary areas of urban management, municipal administration, and sustainable public innovation, with a focus on local government and democracy studies, prioritizing sustainable strategies in cities and not just technologies. The conclusion reiterates that the original multiple projects, created and applied in different cities, present an interdisciplinary advance in sustainable urban management areas and public administration, focused on sustainable urban studies.

Using a sustainability measurement metric to assess a campus of the federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Mato Grosso (IFMT)

In this paper, we propose using a sustainability measurement metric to evaluate a campus of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Mato Grosso (IFMT), aiming to strengthen practices and ensure greater transparency of related actions to the topic. Sustainability refers to the ability to create means to meet the basic needs of the present without affecting future generations, relating economic, social, cultural, and environmental actions to preserve natural resources. Therefore, actions need to be taken to make this happen today. However, today, sustainability is not yet a vanquished topic, but work like this can contribute to improving and measuring sustainability. To develop this Index, the dimensions characterizing sustainability and the relevant variables were identified, after which the Index was developed, and its validation was conducted through its application using structured interview techniques with on-site visits. Data were spreadsheeted and analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel software. As a result, the institution received a score of 48.15%, which indicates that sustainability actions are considered deficient. However, it is expected to provide the institution with data to support new strategic decisions regarding investments and resource allocations to strengthen the institution's performance in the field of sustainability.

Sustainability-oriented service innovation and customer satisfaction in hospitality: Assessing the impact of value co-creation, ecological knowledge and gender

In response to recent research calls on sustainability, innovation and consumer behaviour, in this article, the following objectives are pursued: (1) to empirically test the relationships between the newly introduced variable, the so-called ‘sustainability-oriented service innovation’ (SOSI), ecological knowledge and value co-creation; (2) to observe whether SOSI, ecological knowledge and value co-creation boost customer satisfaction; and (3) to examine the moderating effect of gender on the proposed relationships. The data were collected through a panel of hotel guests applying quota sampling in Spain in 2020. In total, 405 valid questionnaires were obtained. The partial least squares structural equations modelling was used to analyse the data, test hypotheses and conduct a multigroup analysis. The results allow a contribution to the body of knowledge by observing the advantages of simultaneous implementation of sustainability and innovation in the hotel industry through a novel approach such as SOSI. The finding supports the SOSI effect of SOSI on value co-creation. However, it is shown that the effect of SOSI on satisfaction is significant only if value co-creation acts as a mediator. Ecological knowledge is also a significant antecedent of SOSI and satisfaction; however, it impacts value co-creation indirectly through SOSI. Furthermore, significant moderating effects of gender were found in the relationship between SOSI and value co-creation, highlighting the more robust relationship between variables for women. Finally, regarding practical implications, the results reinforce the importance for hotel managers to develop innovative and sustainable actions and interact with the clients to increase their satisfaction.

How does green entrepreneurial orientation improve enterprises' sustainable performance? Evidence from agricultural sector in China

AbstractSustainable development of enterprises has attracted the attention of scholars and practitioners. Green entrepreneurship, as an important way to provide eco‐friendly products and solve environmental problems, is a key way for the sustainable development of enterprises. However, due to the disadvantage faced by enterprises in pursuing costly sustainable actions, existing research on whether green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) can bring about sustainable performance improvement has not yet reached a consensus, and the path and mechanism of transforming GEO into sustainable performance also need further exploration. Based on the Natural‐Resource‐Based View (NRBV), Entrepreneurial Orientation Theory and Dynamic Capability View (DCV), this study examines the impact of GEO on sustainable performance, the mediating role and chain mediating role of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition (EOR), and business model innovation (BMI). The results based on 207 agricultural enterprises reveal that: (a) GEO positively influences economic performance, environmental performance, and social performance; (b) EOR and BMI play mediating roles in the above relationships; (c) GEO can also indirectly affects sustainable performance through the chain mediating effect of EOR and BMI. The research results provide a new theoretical perspective for understanding the key antecedents of sustainable performance of enterprises, further open the “black box” of the mechanism between GEO and sustainable performance, expand the NRBV, Entrepreneurial Orientation Theory and DCV, and provide practical implications for green transformation in the agricultural sector and promoting its sustainable development.

Advancing Green Communications: The Role of Radio Frequency Engineering in Sustainable Infrastructure Design

A thorough examination of the role of radio frequency (RF) engineering is crucial for promoting sustainability in communications infrastructure. This review explores the complex interplay between environmental concerns in communication systems and RF engineering. It examines RF engineering approaches and strategies that support the design, implementation, and preservation of environmentally friendly infrastructure, including the integration of renewable energy sources into RF systems, and the prospects and challenges associated with employing RF technologies for fostering sustainable actions in the communications industry. The major findings revealed the importance of RF engineering as it relates to reducing carbon footprints, lowering energy consumption, and enabling environmental sustainability in communication networks. RF engineering is an essential driver of sustainability in the communications industry, considering that it supports the integration of renewable energy sources, optimization of power usage, and improvement of spectrum efficiency. Therefore, the adoption of eco-friendly practices and utilization of RF technological innovations can potentially support a more sustainable and greener digital ecosystem.

Collective sustainability competences of universities as a nested institutional space

AbstractSustainability action at universities is complex and requires engaging multiple competences that reside on different levels outside and inside the organisation. In addition to individual competences, social communities also possess collective resources and characteristics that do not translate into a sum of individual abilities. Based on a qualitative small‐n comparative study of four universities in Spain, Portugal, Finland and Romania, this paper explores the concept of collective sustainability competences as enablers and constraints of sustainability action at universities. Drawing from institutional theory and nestedness in organisations, the article poses the following research question: How can the collective sustainability competences of universities be conceptualised? The article develops a conceptual understanding of regulative, normative and cultural‐cognitive elements of collective sustainability competences as a nested institutional space. In so doing, the article contributes to the discussion on the capacity of universities to act as key organisations in sustainability transitions.

Defining Sustainable Priorities and Actions for Storage of a Public Archive: A UK Case Study

ABSTRACT Storage facilities often comprise the most energy-intensive burden within archives. One green solution is a passive building with high thermal inertia and airtightness, to create stable environmental conditions without mechanical intervention, and provide appropriate temperature and RH ranges and good air quality for preservation. However, where airtightness is concerned, there is potential for accumulation of pollutants within densely occupied repositories such as library and archive stores. This risk is not addressed by current requirements for greener operation, because operational conflicts arise when balancing these three environmental parameters. This article discusses air quality and its effects on archive materials. It contributes to better understanding of green operation for archives. It presents a preliminary study carried out at Norfolk Record Office in the UK on options to increase archives storage capacity whilst improving both public access and preservation. This concluded that an initial programme to replace low-quality packaging which is a generator of VOCs, and the building of on-site passive storage, were the most sustainable solutions.

How are the SMEs Committed to their Local Communities in the Term of Sustainability?

Abstract Research purpose. Local communities play a crucial role in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. The role and massive influence of the local environment raise several questions. This paper aims to answer the following questions: (1) how and why the local communities affect SMEs’ sustainability, (2) which pillar of sustainability plays a stronger role in this matter, (3) which internal and external motivators drive a firm’s sustainability actions, and (4) whether company and personal characteristics have a significant effect on local patronage. Design / Methodology / Approach. A representative sample of leaders (n=300) from the Hungarian SME sector was investigated through a validated survey. The survey explored activities, motivations, organizational characteristics, and leadership factors in CSR and sustainability in the SME sector. Both Likert scaled statements and reasonings for open-ended questions were examined using qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings. SMEs regularly support various organisations, and communities, mainly if those are in the close region of the enterprise. They regularly promoted culture, education, youth, sport, and vulnerable groups in their local area. Moreover, businesses feel an obligation to support the local communities in which they operate. This activity seems to be divided into a conscious and a hidden part. When we asked for the reason for activities, most answerers expressed that donating to healthcare organisations or education institutes is an obvious civic duty (i.e., pressure from society) but in terms of local communities, the motivation is rooted in personal engagement (i.e., an essential part of social sustainability). Originality / Value / Practical implications. SMEs poorly express their sustainable activities; they adopt more informal strategies in comparison with large companies. SMEs’ social sustainability lies in engagement and close links with local communities, where companies are targeted towards supporting charitable projects in their surroundings. Even though these actions are less formalised or strategically planned, that is why this research provides a better understanding of the integration of environmental and social concerns of sustainability reflecting all of those benefits.

A link between evolution and society fostering the UN sustainable development goals.

Given the multitude of challenges Earth is facing, sustainability science is of key importance to our continued existence. Evolution is the fundamental biological process underlying the origin of all biodiversity. This phylogenetic diversity fosters the resilience of ecosystems to environmental change, and provides numerous resources to society, and options for the future. Genetic diversity within species is also key to the ability of populations to evolve and adapt to environmental change. Yet, the value of evolutionary processes and the consequences of their impairment have not generally been considered in sustainability research. We argue that biological evolution is important for sustainability and that the concepts, theory, data, and methodological approaches used in evolutionary biology can, in crucial ways, contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We discuss how evolutionary principles are relevant to understanding, maintaining, and improving Nature Contributions to People (NCP) and how they contribute to the SDGs. We highlight specific applications of evolution, evolutionary theory, and evolutionary biology's diverse toolbox, grouped into four major routes through which evolution and evolutionary insights can impact sustainability. We argue that information on both within-species evolutionary potential and among-species phylogenetic diversity is necessary to predict population, community, and ecosystem responses to global change and to make informed decisions on sustainable production, health, and well-being. We provide examples of how evolutionary insights and the tools developed by evolutionary biology can not only inspire and enhance progress on the trajectory to sustainability, but also highlight some obstacles that hitherto seem to have impeded an efficient uptake of evolutionary insights in sustainability research and actions to sustain SDGs. We call for enhanced collaboration between sustainability science and evolutionary biology to understand how integrating these disciplines can help achieve the sustainable future envisioned by the UN SDGs.

Widening the gap? Evidence from Germany for changes in the attitude behaviour gap for transportation during COVID-19

Transportation is a main contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. For a sustainable transformation, consumers play a crucial role. While sustainability gains importance and is reflected in consumers' attitudes, consumers' behaviour does not always align with their sustainability attitudes - a discrepancy called the attitude behaviour gap. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted people's daily lives and transport choices, potentially altering their attitude behaviour gap. Thus, the pandemic presents a unique opportunity to understand how crises and disruptions can lead to changes in the alignment between sustainable intentions and actions. Using local survey data from Germany, we identify socio-economic factors and transport infrastructure as key contributors to misalignments between attitudes and behaviour. Notably, during the pandemic, this gap widened, particularly among women and those with children, increasing inequalities among different socio-economic groups. This highlights the need for tailored policies to address the distinct mobility needs of these groups to allow them to act according to their attitudes and counteract increasing inequalities. Moreover, our findings underscore the importance of transitioning from individual motorized transport to public and more active modes of transport. This transition is particularly crucial in the German context, where levels of individual motorized transport are exceptionally high.