Consideration Of Sustainability Issues Research Articles

Mitigating the adverse effects of AI with the European Union's artificial intelligence act: Hype or hope?

AbstractIn light of the rise of generative AI and recent debates about the socio‐political implications of large‐language models, chatbots, and the like, this paper analyzes the E.U.’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA), the world's first comprehensive attempt by a government body to address and mitigate the potentially negative impacts of AI technologies. The paper critically analyzes the AIA from a business and computer ethics point of view—a perspective currently lacking in the academic (e.g., GBOE‐related) literature. It evaluates, in particular, the AIA's strengths and weaknesses and proposes reform measures that could help to strengthen the AIA. Among the AIA's strengths are its legally binding character, extra‐territoriality, ability to address data quality and discrimination risks, and institutional innovations such as the AI Board and publicly accessible logs and database for AI systems. Among its main weaknesses are its lack of effective enforcement, oversight, and control, absence of procedural rights and remedy mechanisms, inadequate worker protection, institutional ambiguities, insufficient funding and staffing, and inadequate consideration of sustainability issues. Reform suggestions include establishing independent conformity assessment procedures, strengthening democratic accountability and judicial oversight, introducing redress and complaint mechanisms, ensuring the participation and inclusion of workers, guaranteeing political independence of the AI Board, providing enhanced funding and staffing of market surveillance authorities, and mandating “green AI.”

Sustainability evaluations on material consumption for terawatt‐scale manufacturing of silicon‐based tandem solar cells

AbstractHigh‐efficiency silicon‐based tandem solar cells will likely drive the push towards terawatt (TW) scale PV manufacturing on the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. In this work, we provide a comprehensive analysis of material consumption and sustainability issues for future tandem solar cells. First, we analyse the material consumption and sustainable manufacturing capacity of a variety of potential candidates for the top cell in a silicon‐based tandem cell. We show that III‐V, CIGS and CdTe are not suitable to support TW‐scale manufacturing. Perovskites thus present the most sustainable approach, as long as indium is not required in the cell structure. Next, we turn our attention to the silicon bottom cell architecture by comparing PERC, TOPCon and SHJ. Although tandem cells can generally reduce silver consumption relative to single junction silicon cells due to the more favourable JMP/VMP ratio, the PERC cell architecture could allow for significantly reduced Ag consumption compared with both TOPCon and SHJ by relying on Al for the rear p‐type contact. In order to drive a rapid shift towards TW‐scale manufacturing, a rapid upscaling compared with the current production capacity is needed. The results presented herein highlight the need for careful consideration of sustainability issues when designing future high‐efficiency tandem cells that will help the world mitigate the dangers of climate change.

Sources of challenges for sustainability in the building design – The relationship between designers and clients

Sustainability demands have changed the building design nature, which gained complexity due to the increased diversity of requirements, activities, agents, and tools. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has a potential to contribute to sustainability enabling the building integrated design, performance simulations, life cycle assessment and information use throughout the building life cycle. The aim of this paper is to investigate the sources of challenges in the relation between architectural and engineering (AE) design firms and clients (developers or private individuals) for promoting sustainability in the building design. Also, it is investigated if BIM has been implemented by the firms and how it relates to management and sustainability. The research method adopted is qualitative and participatory based on focus groups. Two groups were interviewed: eight AE design firms and six developers and/or construction companies. Analysing the research findings, the sources of challenges that were identified are the lack of definition and communication about the stakeholders’ sustainability approach; the lack of a more detailed design scope and required qualifications by the clients, but also the lack of business management and firm’s performance evaluation processes by designers; the traditional project delivery systems, traditional work relationships, tools and processes that do not support the collaboration needs. In addition, AE design firms’ organization affects the client relationship and design quality including the consideration of sustainability issues in the design solutions. The sources are found in the AE design firm’s processes of strategy planning, business and marketing, design, people, and knowledge management. So, further research will be carried out about managerial and organizational capabilities of AE design firms for sustainability and BIM.

Sources of Challenges for Sustainability in the Building Design—The Relationship between Designers and Clients

Sustainability demands have changed the building design nature increasing the diversity of requirements, activities, agents, and tools. The aim of this paper is to investigate the sources of challenges in the relationship between architectural and engineering (AE) design firms and clients for promoting sustainability in the building design. Additionally, this study investigated the building information modeling (BIM) deployment by the firms that supports sustainability. The research method adopted is qualitative and participatory, based on focus groups. Two groups were interviewed, eight AE design firms and six developers and/or construction companies, gathering the points of view of service providers and their clients. The identified sources of challenges around sustainability include lack of communication and imprecision of definition, requirements, and scope. Additionally, management issues include performance evaluation, traditional work relationships, tools, and processes that do not support collaboration needs. In addition, AE design firms’ organization affects the client relationship and design quality, including the consideration of sustainability issues in the design solutions. The sources are found in the AE design firm’s processes of strategy planning, business and marketing, design, people, and knowledge management.

An integrated decision making approach for the selection of battery recycling plant location under sustainable environment

Growing economic crisis and strict government policies and regulations regarding the environment have forced the battery industries to practice the recycling process for both economic and environmental benefits. Moreover the consideration of sustainability issues makes the recycling process more significant, successful implementation of recycling activity in the battery industry requires several strategic decisions. Among these decisions, a complex decision faced by the management is to identify the suitable location for the establishment of a formal Battery Recycling Plant (BRP). In this research work, a three-stage hybrid methodology with the combination of ISM (Interpretive Structural Modeling), fuzzy AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), and fuzzy COPRAS (Complex Proportional Assessment of Alternatives) methods was proposed to select the best sustainable location from the available options for BRP in India. In this study, a total of eight experts were selected from both academia and industry. Initially in this paper, 4 main sustainable criteria and 20 sustainable sub-criteria were considered from the literature review and field visits along with experts’ opinions for evaluation of alternatives. This work contains three stages. In the first stage, the ISM method was used to filter 18 important sustainable sub-criteria from the primary list of 20 sub-criteria, based on its higher driving power. Then, fuzzy AHP was applied in the second stage to compute the criteria weights. In the last stage, the fuzzy COPRAS was used to rank and choose the best sustainable location for BRP. The findings emphasize that the Environmental protection level, Distance from residential areas, Distance from water source, Capital investment, Government policies, Social acceptance, Availability of scrap batteries, and Availability of utilities were the most significant criteria in the sustainability dimension. Thus, the present work helps the management in the selection of an appropriate sustainable location for BRP.

Sustainable and Special Economic Zone Selection under Fuzzy Environment: A Case of Pakistan

The establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is a lengthy, expensive, and long-term orientated endeavor. Proper selection of SEZs is indispensable to meet the objectives of export-led growth and value up-gradation. Consideration of sustainability issues in such planning under the Zone 3.0 paradigm is critical to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Multiple key factors such as location, linkages, labor force, suitability of industries, incentives and facilitation, and market orientation are important in decision-making process of establishing SEZs. Furthermore, environmental conditions and resource availability need to be considered in the planning and policy making processes to keep symmetry in the natural environment and ecosystem of the areas under consideration for SEZs. The present study uses Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods in the perspectives of green industrial zone planning and development in Pakistan under the flagship project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This research uses Delphi method, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the Fuzzy Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR). The Delphi method has been used to identify the main criteria, sub-criteria, and their weights for 3 SEZs under consideration. The results of AHP analysis unfolded that the majority of the experts believe the location and land aspect is the most pivotal criteria in setting SEZs followed by linkages, subsidies, and facilities criteria. Finally, the results of Fuzzy VIKOR analysis considering environmental sustainability reveals that Faisalabad SEZ is the best suited under given criteria and sub-criteria.

Corporate social and environmental reporting in the Caribbean

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the extent to which publicly‐listed Caribbean companies provide social and environmental disclosures (SED), and the factors related to their disclosure practices. It is motivated by the dearth of studies of SED among publicly listed Caribbean firms.Design/methodology/approachAll 55 companies with common shares listed on the main tier of one of the three major Caribbean stock exchanges in December 2010 were included in the study. The comprehensiveness of SED was measured using an unweighted 43‐item disclosure index. The research hypotheses were examined using multiple regression analysis.FindingsThe level of SED in the Caribbean was relatively low (M=33.7 per cent, SD=25.3 per cent). The amount of SED was positively related to firm size, industry affiliation, foreign influence and organizational culture. Firm profitability, national culture, importance of public equity financing, gender diversity, and director independence were not statistically related to SED comprehensiveness.Practical implicationsTo promote the consideration of sustainability issues in national, corporate and individual investment and administration decisions, Caribbean governments may need to implement incentives for public companies to participate in targeted development initiatives and to provide more comprehensive social and environmental disclosures.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine the comprehensiveness and determinants of SED by publicly‐listed Caribbean companies.

Socially responsible property investment (SRPI)

PurposeSocially responsible investment (SRI) is now a well established part of equities investment. Questions are now being raised over property investment and whether similar attempts to be “socially responsible” should be incorporated into investment practice. This paper aims to examine the investment practices of large fund managers for both equities and property in order to identify products and activities which are contributing to the progress of SRPI.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis was conducted of equities SRI, and potential SRPI activities, for the top ten UK property fund management using publicly available company literature. This was analysed using simple matrices to understand common activities, industry application, and market‐leading innovations. Relationships between progress in SRI and SRPI, are also explored, along with the consideration of SRPI actions in the context of SRI concepts.FindingsMarket leaders were established in terms of their equities SRI products and services, though this did not necessarily equate to progress in the field of SRPI. Only one potentially SPRI product was identified. However this does not represent the overall consideration of sustainability issues in relation to property investment practices. Half of the companies studied were found to be taking actions which demonstrate attempts to consider the impacts associated with property investment.Originality/valueThis paper reflects a call from key SRPI thinkers to assess the current extent of SRPI practices, which will be a useful starting point for further analysis/debate of the most appropriate SRPI methods. It should therefore be of interest to both SRI and general property investors alike.

The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard as a Framework for Eco‐efficiency Analysis

SummaryTo provide valuable support for successful decision‐making, managers need a balanced set of financial and nonfinancial measures that represent different requirements, strategic goals, strategies, resources, and capabilities and the causal relationships between these domains. The balanced scorecard is such a measurement system. As an open system the balanced scorecard facilitates the consideration of sustainability issues. But enhanced balanced scorecards require a new type of data. This is where eco‐efficiency analysis comes into play.This article discusses the relationship between so‐called sustainability balanced scorecards and eco‐efficiency analysis. Eco‐efficiency analysis not only provides a data source for sustainability balanced scorecards; in the perspective of environmental information systems it also serves as a link between the balanced scorecard and corporate environmental accounting systems so that eco‐efficiency as a component of an environmental information system becomes an adapter with two interfaces, which are characterized in this article. The main focus is on the principle of cause and effect, its different forms, and the implications for the design of appropriate information system components.

The contribution of life cycle assessment to global sustainability reporting of organizations

PurposeAims to investigate the contribution of life cycle assessment to global sustainability reporting of organizations.Design/methodology/approachAssesses the current state of global sustainability reporting and points out future trends of reporting within the three dimensions of economy, environment and society.FindingsThe internal and external communication of the corporate performance is a very important company way to sustainable development. The communication of the corporate performance comprises the strategic and operational goals, the corporate performance data on inventory level, the translation of the inventory data to sustainability core indicators as well as the performance evaluation in terms of sustainability. The future trends on policy level and in customer demands are moving towards a product‐related consideration of sustainability issues, the inclusion of indirect effects over the life cycle in addition to the site‐related effects of companies’ activities, the analysis of results on impact level as well as the automation of data administration.Originality/valueThe methodology of life cycle assessment (LCA) provides the main starting‐point for global sustainability reporting including the emerging future trends in this context. This paper shows that results of impact assessments as central parts of an LCA are a good basis for creating significant indicators for sustainability reports.