Sustainable Development Goals Agenda Research Articles

Local context mapping and promotion strategies for actions aimed at sustainable development goals in schools in the Paranhana Valley‐Brazil

AbstractEconomic, social, and environmental aspects improvement on a global scale underline institutional based programs importance aimed at the long‐term activities proposed by the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This perspective offers an approach based upon planning, executing, controlling and improving social actors' performance in this dynamic relationship. As schools play an important role in this scenario, actively participating in the structuring of sustainable development’ conscious citizens, this study sought to identify the existence of Programs, Projects and Actions (PPA's) focused on the 17 SDGs of the United Nations (UN) in public and private schools in the Paranhana Valley, a region located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, which is of uttermost importance to local performance for more than 200 thousand inhabitants, clustering six cities whose economy is mainly based on the footwear production chain. The study also addresses the existing limitations for PPA's implementation, aiming to understand how schools articulate them with different stakeholders. The research was based on the survey of 156 educational institutions located in the region, through structured interviews with open and dependent questions. The study identified that Paranhana Valley schools' existing initiatives must be diversified into long‐term programs, expanding their scope to each sustainability pillar. They must better articulate with local context, increasingly involving students' families, the students themselves, teachers, and the community. With such results, a report proposing initiatives encompassing each of the 17 SDGs in schools' scope was built. Such an approach can be implemented by other educational institutions in different contexts.

Advancing sustainable development goals: embedding resilience assessment

Accelerating challenges to cities and communities have triggered a growing interest in the assessment of resilience and sustainability of future developments. For this purpose, many countries have adopted the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for sustainable development goals (SDGs), in which resilience has been incorporated as a component of sustainability. However, the framework has been criticised for not undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of resilience. This study, in an analytical scheme, examines the extent to which the SDGs incorporate measurement of resilience. Here, the SDGs indicators have been compared with the most recent comprehensive baseline resilience framework (BRF) through three stages: (a) thematic coding of the SDGs and BRF indicators; (b) developing matrices of coding for each resilience dimension; and (c) evaluating resilience measurement in terms of coverage by the SDGs. Results showed that although the SDGs indicators have a high level of coverage for resilience measurement through all 17 goals, some aspects are nonetheless overlooked. In this study, by categorising the goals into five groups based on their coverage of each resilience dimension, a guideline is created, demonstrating the goals relevant to each resilience dimension. Furthermore, a systematic framework of resilience indicators is also proposed to integrate the overlooked aspects of resilience into the SDGs and the post-2030 agenda. The advanced SDGs can serve as a joint framework to measure resilience and sustainability.

A comprehensive model for quantifying construction waste in high-rise buildings in India.

The construction industry plays a vital role in the economic development of any country. Concurrently, the sector also generates enormous quantities of construction and demolition waste (CDW) that damages the ecology causing environmental pollution and deteriorating human health. Recently, various governments and other organizations realized the importance of implementing construction waste management (CWM) practices to attain sustainability in construction. The current decade can be called a pathway for achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals in which CWM plays an inevitable role. However, accurately quantifying construction waste is necessary to successfully implement any CDW management plan. A detailed literature review for the current research revealed that limited information on the magnitude of construction waste is available in India. Therefore, the current paper proposes a practically viable model to estimate the waste generation index (construction waste generated per total floor area) of high-rise residential buildings in India. The waste quantification is being done based on the project documents and expert interviews. The methodology is later validated through a high-rise building with G + 18 stories located in Kerala, India. The study indicated that a high-rise concrete framed structure generates 122.3 kg m-2 of waste during construction. It was also noted that, concrete, aggregates and blocks constitute 92% of the total waste generated in the project. The developed model can also be used as a cornerstone for establishing a construction waste database at the regional level.

PERUBAHAN BATAS USIA MINIMUM PERKAWINAN SEBAGAI UPAYA MENCEGAH DISKRIMINASI GENDER TERHADAP PEREMPUAN

Gender discrimination can be seen from the number of underage marriages by girls which is influenced by society's stigma against women. Their rights as children are difficult to fulfill like boys. The psychological immaturity of children triggers the occurrence of domestic violence. Global data show that girls who marry before the age of 15 experience a 50% increase in the like chilhood of experiencing domestic violence (KDRT). Every child has the right and the right to protection at an early age and treat equally, without discrimination on the basis of sex. Previously, minimum marriage age for women was 16 (sixteen) years old while men's 19 (nineteen) years of age became 19 (nineteen) due to changes in the regulation on Minimum age of marriage in Law No. 16 of 2019 On marriage as an expression of gender equality as an objective of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda.

Pengetahuan, sikap, dan tindakan dalam implementasi SDGs umat Buddha di Provinsi Papua Barat

ABSTRACT: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals is to end poverty, reduce inequality and protect the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes and action of Buddhists towards the Sustainable Development Goals based on the characteristics of the regencies in the province of West Papua. Respondents consisted of Buddhist figures and people in Sorong City, Sorong Regency, Manokwari Regency, Fakfak Regency and Teluk Bintuni Regency in West Papua Province. Data analysis using a Likert scale which is divided into 5 categories The results showed that the knowledge, attitude and action with a range of categories from good to very good with each value of from the highest in Sorong City (84%) followed by Manokwari Regency (82%), Teluk Bintuni Regency (80%), Fakfak Regency (76%) and Sorong Regency (55 %), respectively. Education is the biggest factor on the level of knowledge, attitudes and actions. The higher the level of education, the better the level of social life and the more advanced the culture of a region has an effect on the high knowledge, attitudes and actions in implementing the SDGs of Buddhists in West Papua Province.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Development of Childrens Executive Functions Implications for School-Based Interventions

The pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on children’s lives. Worldwide, there has been evidence of a decline in children's mental health, well-being, and quality of life. Few studies, however, have reported the pandemic's impact on children's cognitive functioning. Executive Functions (EFs) are a set of high-order cognitive functions involved in behavior and emotions self-regulation. EFs are powerful predictors of school performance, child’s well-being and health. During crisis and disaster, EFs are critical resources to cope with unusual and complex situations, and to find novel solutions to problems. Because of EFs’ extensive growth, there are many time periods during which experience has the greatest effect on brain development. Therefore, EFs are among the cognitive systems that are most vulnerable to environmental stress. As a result, children's emotional distress has been related to concentration and memory problems, difficulties managing impulses and emotions, and difficulties in planning ahead. Recent research has found executive dysfunction in children and adolescents during pandemic. Adopting an ecological contextual model, this study aimed to identify factors associated to pandemic that may affect children's performance and development of EFs, as well as, to propose a set of evidence-based strategies for teachers to assist children manage stress and promote EFs during crisis. Peer-reviewed academic articles, books, and web resources published between 2010 and 2023 were chosen for review in this study. As a result, child stress, family stress, school closure, changes in child-teacher interactions, and unhealthy habits are highlighted as potential factors influencing child EF development. In response to the Sustainable Development Goals agenda, a set of strategies was developed that may be easily included into the school curriculum. Creating school-based interventions to develop students' EFs is one approach to improve children's crisis-response resources.

Implementasi Kebijakan Perluasan Kesempatan Kerja Bagi Fresh Graduate di Masa Sebelum dan Saat Pandemi Covid-19 di Kota Tangerang


 The open unemployment rate and the low number of jobs have become the main concerns in labor issues and the targets of the sustainable development goals agenda in Tangerang City. The Covid-19 pandemic also has an impact on the employment sector, namely limited job vacancies and limited work experience, which also affects fresh graduates. This study aims to describe how the Implementation of the Employment Opportunities Expansion Policy in Tangerang City before and during the Covid-19 pandemic is seen from several programs that have been issued before and during the pandemic. The method used in this research is qualitative using interview and documentation techniques. This research uses the Dennis A. Rondinelli and G. Shabbir Cheema Implementation Model, which is a theoretical framework used to examine how decentralized government initiatives are implemented. The environment, notions of interorganizational linkages, organizational resources for program implementation, and the traits and skills of implementing agents are four variables that may have an impact on how a policy is implemented. The findings show that the program was not implemented as well as it should have been in order to improve career possibilities for Fresh Graduate both before and during the Covid-19 outbreak at the Tangerang City Manpower Office many differences were towards better services. However, there are still problems in the provisions for participants who join the program that should be improved so as not to hinder other participants.
 Keywords: Job opportunities, Unemployment, Fresh Graduates, Covid-19

Threats to sustainability in face of post-pandemic scenarios and the war in Ukraine

As the World slowly emerged from the then-ongoing pandemic, War broke out in Europe with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The enduring military conflict in Ukraine has had sweeping consequences at the human, social, economic, and environmental levels, not only for the nations involved but across Europe and globally. Damaged infrastructures, severe disruption of economic activity, and forced migration have led to negative impacts on sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of complexity to this already challenging situation, as the virus has further disrupted economic activity and strained healthcare systems.Herein, we examine how the intersection of war and COVID-19 affect the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. How these intersecting challenges have impacted efforts to build a more sustainable future, and how these impacts have a global reach are also assessed. The broader implications of this case for understanding the linkages between conflict, pandemics, and sustainability more generally are also considered, relating these with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Agenda for 2030.

Inequality and prosperity challenges in Bangladesh: experiences from Singapore

PurposeInequality is increasing in Asia and the Pacific. This paper examines how inequality is affecting governments, communities and people in the Asia-Pacific region, given the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals and the agenda's commitment to “leave no one behind.” Income inequality is just one element of larger economic and social inequalities in both developed and developing countries. Over the past decade, Bangladesh's economy has experienced one of the fastest growth rates in the world, supported by a narrowing demographic gap. The study focuses largely on the challenges of inequality and wealth distribution and uses the Singaporean experience to reduce inequality.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on the review of secondary literature and an insightful analysis of the review.FindingsThe Singapore Government has adopted four special budgets coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to help businesses cope with the economic difficulties caused by the epidemic, protect lives and create an economically and socially resilient Singapore. To sustain this increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, the Singapore Government continues to pursue growth-oriented policies. Importing technology and skilled labor, investing heavily in research and development, importing technology and developing export markets are some examples of these growth-oriented policies. The Singapore Government is committed to improving human capital through retraining and lifelong learning, which can be seen in all these growth-oriented policies. Bangladesh can learn more about reducing inequality and put these policies into practice.Originality/valueThis study has frankly revealed the inequality issues in Bangladesh. This study has spotted the scarcities of development and the accurate picture of achievement from the perspective of inequality and prosperity dissemination.

How to Ensure the Development of SMEs in Post-Pandemic Economy? A Start-ups Case Study

Abstract After the humanitarian crisis, caused by COVID-19, enterprises have to face a post-pandemic economic crisis. As small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 99% of EU enterprises and create every third workplace (European Parliament, 2021), it is important to monitor their situation not only to survive but also to develop and build strong economies in the future. The aim of this research is to investigate development trends and opportunities in (SMEs’) development, with a special focus on start-ups (STPS) as representative of these. Also, special attention is paid to the concept of sustainable development (SD), which fulfils the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The proposed methodology consists of three stages: desk research, in-depth interviews, and primary data analysis, and uses a qualitative method. The article describes the findings of recent Polish studies undertaken to verify and augment earlier pilot research. The novelty of the article is the examination of the dependence between the STPS survival rate and the SD as a measure of SDGs’ fulfilment. The limitation may be the specificity of the pandemic, as well as the study of post-pandemic trends that shows a strictly binding need to have a stable strategy for establishing, managing and developing enterprises and increasing their survival rates.

Neglected burden of injuries in Ethiopia, from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis of the global burden of diseases study 2019.

The 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals has given injury prevention new attention, including halving road traffic injuries. This study compiled the best available evidence on injury from the global burden of diseases study for Ethiopia from 1990 to 2019. Injury data on incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years lost, years lived with disability, and years of life lost were extracted from the 2019 global burden of diseases study for regions and chartered cities in Ethiopia from 1990 to 2019. Rates were estimated per 100,000 population. In 2019, the age-standardized rate of incidence was 7,118 (95% UI: 6,621-7,678), prevalence was 21,735 (95% UI: 19,251-26,302), death was 72 (95% UI: 61-83), disability-adjusted life years lost was 3,265 (95% UI: 2,826-3,783), years of live lost was 2,417 (95% UI: 2,043-2,860), and years lived with disability was 848 [95% UI: (620-1,153)]. Since 1990, there has been a reduction in the age-standardized rate of incidence by 76% (95% UI: 74-78), death by 70% (95% UI: 65-75), and prevalence by 13% (95% UI: 3-18), with noticeable inter-regional variations. Transport injuries, conflict and terrorism, interpersonal violence, self-harm, falls, poisoning, and exposure to mechanical forces were the leading causes of injury-related deaths and long-term disabilities. Since 1990, there has been a decline in the prevalence of transport injuries by 32% (95% UI: 31-33), exposure to mechanical forces by 12% (95% UI: 10-14), and interpersonal violence by 7.4% (95% UI: 5-10). However, there was an increment in falls by 8.4% (95% UI: 7-11) and conflict and terrorism by 1.5% (95% UI: 38-27). Even though the burden of injuries has steadily decreased at national and sub-national levels in Ethiopia over the past 30 years, it still remains to be an area of public health priority. Therefore, injury prevention and control strategies should consider regional disparities in the burden of injuries, promoting transportation safety, developing democratic culture and negotiation skills to solve disputes, using early security-interventions when conflict arises, ensuring workplace safety and improving psychological wellbeing of citizens.

Higher education as public good, sustainable development goals, and crisis response in neoliberal political economy

Global higher education, including that of Asia, has been facing many challenges, notably declining government funding and simultaneously increased influences of neoliberalism on its outlook, aspirations, policies and practices. This reality has put the role and purpose of higher education (HE) under testament, particularly in unprecedented crisis-induced situations such as natural catastrophes and pandemics. This article, while focussing on an Asian context, is situated in the larger picture of HE’s responses to crises and what transformations that may be enabled in the process. In unprecedented crisis-induced challenges, how does HE serve the interests of the public and society? Likewise, in this context, how can HE maintain equity and social justice as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda? These very questions are critical for many societies and invite serious scholarly examination. Engaged with the literature on HE as a public/private good, HE and neoliberalism, and HE in times of crisis, this article discusses the case of the University of Dhaka – the leading university in Bangladesh – in its responses to the COVID-19 crisis (2020–2022). We show how HE as a public good is utmost important as governments everywhere are finding ways to incorporate the SDGs into every aspect of their HE systems. We also posit that the COVID-induced transformations of higher education in the case of the University of Dhaka have proved HE as a public good to be a robust and resilient pillar for fulfilling various stakeholders' needs and aspirations. Such transformations have affirmed the values of humanity, access and equity in HE, and these values are here to stay.

Should Asia Pacific economic cooperation countries put all their eggs in one energy basket? Examining the linkage between energy diversification and sustainable development

Energy diversification is critically important from an economic, political and environmental point of view. In this research, we try to investigate the role of energy diversification for sustainable development in Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC member countries. We utilize data from different sources which range from 1990 to 2020. Apart from energy diversification, other independent variables such as public sector corruption, ICT, economic globalization and social globalization are utilized according to the theory and empirical literatures which utilize these parameters in order to see how growth or environment of an economy is affected. The study implements second generation econometric methodologies in order to tackle the cross sectional dependence issue among the countries. The result reveals that energy diversification positively and significantly affect sustainable development in APEC nations. ICT and economic globalization were also found to be positively affecting the sustainable development. However, social globalization negatively affected the sustainable development while the effect of public sector corruption was not significant. Bidirectional causality was revealed between sustainable development and energy diversification. The study recommends diversifying energy sources for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda for these economies.

Model of implementation of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) through the procurement of TPST in Jimbaran, Badung Regency

The concept of implementing waste disposal at the final level generally uses the landfill method. As a result, because the accumulation of garbage that resembles a mountain causes the need for land capacity used to dispose of waste to become wider. The composition of waste in TPA is dominated by organic waste, inorganic waste that can be recycled, and inorganic that cannot be recycled. In this article, the author collects data obtained through a literature study and analyzes qualitatively the role of PT. Youth and PT. Tirta Investama (Aqua Group) in providing Integrated Waste Treatment Sites (TPST). The steps of the two companies are a concept of sustainable development contained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. The method used in the analysis is to use quantitative methods. The analytical technique used is qualitative. Secondary data collection techniques are carried out by collecting data from related agencies, then analyzing these data using the SWOT method, which aims to describe the situation and explain the facts of the conditions being faced in a company. The results of the research are based on the synthesis of the four SWOT elements of facts that support the truth of the Strengths-Oppurtunities synthesis strategy, namely, in operating heavy equipment, a company must have an operational license and must have strict protocol and safety standards. This is implemented by the company in law no. 1 of 1970 concerning work safety. The results of the synthesis of the two Weaknesses-Opportunities elements factually explain that the company facilitates the community through areas that can be visited, in the form of booths filled with information. The Booth Area which contains this information is presented in an informative and imaginative way for the public to get to know how integrated waste management works. The application of waste at the Samtaku Jimbaran TPST has the goal of preserving the environment with the Zero Waste To Landfill Principle, which means that the waste collected at this facility will later be managed and can be fully reused so that nothing is wasted into the environment or ends up in the Final Processing Site (TPA).

THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES ON SUPPORT FOR TOURISM IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITY: AN INTERVENING EFFECT OF TOURISM RESOURCES

The focus of the study is on social and economic inequalities that influence tourism resources and support for tourism. Social and economic influence has dramatically affected the modern tourism industry and the achievement of the sustainable development goal (SDG) agenda. The aim of the study was to explain social and economic inequalities and tourism resources’ influence on tourism support at the national level. The study applied a quantitative research method, and data were collected through a questionnaire from 470 respondents in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. Data were analysed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics using statistical package for social science (SPSS V-28) and analysis of a moment structures (AMOS V-28). The study found that social and economic inequalities have no direct association with tourism support, and indirectly tourism resources have a significant negative influence on support for tourism. The study concluded that a more reflective view is necessary for the tourism industry to fully comprehend the consequences of social and economic inequalities, tourism resources, and action to support tourism. A practical policy-wise effort would be needed to address all social and economic inequality national-wise issues related to tourism support.

Prevalence and risk distribution of schistosomiasis among adults in Madagascar: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe goal to eliminate the parasitic disease of poverty schistosomiasis as a public health problem is aligned with the 2030 United Nations agenda for sustainable development goals, including universal health coverage (UHC). Current control strategies focus on school-aged children, systematically neglecting adults. We aimed at providing evidence for the need of shifting the paradigm of schistosomiasis control programs from targeted to generalized approaches as key element for both the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem and the promotion of UHC.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study performed between March 2020 and January 2021 at three primary health care centers in Andina, Tsiroanomandidy and Ankazomborona in Madagascar, we determined prevalence and risk factors for schistosomiasis by a semi-quantitative PCR assay from specimens collected from 1482 adult participants. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed to evaluate odd ratios.ResultsThe highest prevalence of S. mansoni, S. haematobium and co-infection of both species was 59.5%, 61.3% and 3.3%, in Andina and Ankazomborona respectively. Higher prevalence was observed among males (52.4%) and main contributors to the family income (68.1%). Not working as a farmer and higher age were found to be protective factors for infection.ConclusionsOur findings provide evidence that adults are a high-risk group for schistosomiasis. Our data suggests that, for ensuring basic health as a human right, current public health strategies for schistosomiasis prevention and control need to be re-addressed towards more context specific, holistic and integrated approaches.

Assessing the nexus between human capital, green energy, and load capacity factor: Policymaking for achieving sustainable development goals

Climate control is one of the important targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which along with other SDGs plays an imperative role in environmental sustainability strategies. Recently, studies on the driving forces of climate change and environmental quality focus on using environmental indicators like CO2 and ecological footprint (EF). Evidently, CO2 emissions have been criticized on the ground that they cannot indicate environmental deterioration to a large extent. EF also focuses only on the consumption of resources and overlooks biocapacity (supply side). The adoption of green energy, which is the fundamental agenda of SDG 7, is the most practical solution toward energy transition and controlling fossil fuel consumption. Also, human-induced environmental challenges require considering factors like education and awareness to cultivate a green society. Against this background, this study employs the load capacity factor (LCF), which considers both supply and demand sides to gauge the environmental quality, and inspects the human capital (HUC), green energy (GEN), and environmental quality nexus using the data from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 1986 to 2018 in the context of the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis. Results of the cross-sectionally augmented ARDL, robust to heterogeneity, fractional integration, endogeneity, and cross-sectional dependence (CSD), established that the load capacity curve holds in the context of ASEAN. Thus, achieving a higher income level will support ASEAN to expand LCF and increase environmental quality. HUC is found to expand LCF and promote environmental quality. Similarly, green energy is found to stimulate LCF. However, population density and economic globalization expand environmental deterioration. The paper is concluded by providing detailed policies to enhance environmental quality.

Who are the vulnerable, and how do we reach them? Perspectives of health system actors and community leaders in Kerala, India

BackgroundAmong the core principles of the 2030 agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the call to Leave no One behind (LNOB), a principle that gained resonance as the world contended with the COVID-19 pandemic. The south Indian state of Kerala received acclaim globally for its efforts in managing COVID-19 pandemic. Less attention has been paid, however, to how inclusive this management was, as well as if and how those “left behind” in testing, care, treatment, and vaccination efforts were identified and catered to. Filling this gap was the aim of our study.MethodsWe conducted In-depth interviews with 80 participants from four districts of Kerala from July to October 2021. Participants included elected local self-government members, medical and public health staff, as well as community leaders. Following written informed consent procedures, each interviewee was asked questions about whom they considered the most “vulnerable” in their areas. They were also asked if there were any special programmes/schemes to support the access of “vulnerable” groups to general and COVID related health services, as well as other needs. Recordings were transliterated into English and analysed thematically by a team of researchers using ATLAS.ti 9.1 software.ResultsThe age range of participants was between 35 and 60 years. Vulnerability was described differentially by geography and economic context; for e.g., fisherfolk were identified in coastal areas while migrant labourers were considered as vulnerable in semi-urban areas. In the context of COVID-19, some participants reflected that everyone was vulnerable. In most cases, vulnerable groups were already beneficiaries of various government schemes within and beyond the health sector. During COVID, the government prioritized access to COVID-19 testing and vaccination among marginalized population groups like palliative care patients, the elderly, migrant labourers, as well as Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes communities. Livelihood support like food kits, community kitchen, and patient transportation were provided by the LSGs to support these groups. This involved coordination between health and other departments, which may be formalised, streamlined and optimised in the future.ConclusionHealth system actors and local self-government members were aware of vulnerable populations prioritized under various schemes but did not describe vulnerable groups beyond this. Emphasis was placed on the broad range of services made available to these “left behind” groups through interdepartmental and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Further study (currently underway) may offer insights into how these communities – identified as vulnerable – perceive themselves, and whether/how they receive, and experience schemes designed for them. At the program level, inclusive and innovative identification and recruitment mechanisms need to be devised to identify populations who are currently left behind but may still be invisible to system actors and leaders.

Evaluation of cut-off values in the control of land take in Italy towards the SDGs 2030

Over the last few years, land take monitoring in Europe and in Italy has become increasingly accurate and detailed owing to improved technologies that help acquire and make available free, easily accessible and high-resolution data. Nevertheless, the key issue is controlling this phenomenon, long considered pathological in its current form and scale, in order to mitigate / reverse it and achieve the 2030 containment targets set in international guidelines. To attain these results, firm regulatory action is certainly needed, underpinned by thresholds and reference limits to regulate the development of transformation activities planned by local authorities. In 2015, the United Nations Global Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put forward a parameter for this purpose, namely the "Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate" (11.3.1 LCRPGR). It monitors the ratio between the extent of urban development and demographic dynamics in spatial-administrative units in order to link the growth of urbanized areas to actual population growth. This paper sets out a reconnaissance experiment to identify LCRPGR cut-off that can be used in legislation in relation to life quality indicators calculated repeatedly for Italy at the provincial level. The conclusions highlight the considerable difficulty inherent in identifying normative thresholds for the containment of negative spatial and social phenomena, and the need to develop scientific methods that are more reliable and robust than what is present in current practice.

Implication of electricity taxes and levies on sustainable development goals in the European Union

The current high electricity prices in the European Union (EU) are in part due to the high electricity taxes. United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda with its global vision of attaining sustainable development especially seeks “to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services” (SDG 7). We investigate the synergy and trade-off effects of electricity taxes on sustainable development goals (SDGs) for the EU. Using panel data and panel vector autoregressive estimation approach, we find that higher household electricity taxes reduce both carbon emission and unemployment. Higher levels of industry electricity taxes, increase responsible production and consumption (SDG12) and reduces unemployment (SDG8). Furthermore, there is evidence for a strong synergy effect between electricity taxes, unemployment and carbon emission but a trade-off between tax and SDG9 (innovation and sustainable infrastructure). The taxes contribute more to the future variation of unemployment and responsible production and consumption in the EU, but these contributions are much larger for the industry as compared to the household sector. Our results confirm the double-dividend hypothesis, which implies that the policymakers can achieve environmental goals with higher electricity taxes, especially on household electricity. In the industrial sector, our findings suggest that there is a need for tax reform, to encourage innovation and adopt production processes that are less polluting to the environment.