Cross-sector Analysis Research Articles

Place-based and sectoral patterns in urban experimentation: Implications for deep transitions research

Transforming critical infrastructure systems, such as water and energy, is crucial to achieving global sustainability and climate change targets in many cities. Whilst experimentation has been studied extensively in urban sustainability scholarships, there have been no large-N cross-sector comparative studies. Existing research is potentially blind to different patterns of urban experiments across multiple sectors. This is particularly relevant to advancing deep transitions thinking, which has increasingly foregrounded the notion of multi-system alignment across socio-technical domains. Our research aims to fill this knowledge gap using a database to characterise urban experiments across water and energy domains while integrating sectoral and place-based perspectives. We analysed 40 experiments across Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia. Our results show that on a collective level, these experiments skew towards technological interventions, while their transfer and impact trajectories are underpinned by distinct territorial and sectoral logics. We show that cross-sectoral analysis can reveal plurality in urban experiments across multiple systems and places while offering a more refined understanding of multi-system alignment requirements for deep transitions.

Pathways towards net-zero emissions in Indonesia's energy sector

This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the transition pathways towards net-zero emissions in Indonesia's energy sector by 2050, focussing on overcoming the country's fossil fuel dependency. Utilising EnergyPLAN and MultiNode simulations across three scenarios: Nationally Determined Contribution, High Electrification and Moderate Electrification, the paper presents thorough scenario development and cross-sectoral analysis to capture future energy systems from both supply and demand sides. It contributes notably by detailing scenario-specific energy demands, such as industry sector energy efficiency and electric vehicle penetration and introducing a novel modelling approach that segments the Indonesian energy system into five regional systems. Modelling results indicate the necessity of transitioning towards 100 % renewable energy, emphasising the central role of electricity in future energy systems and the importance of regional connectivity in achieving net-zero emissions. Results also reveal that the Moderate Electrification scenario offers a cost-effective route to net-zero emissions by reducing energy demand and fully exploiting renewable energy sources. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to boost energy efficiency, accelerate electrification, initiate interconnected regional energy systems, and leverage carbon capture and storage as a supplementary measure.

Interconnectedness between Islamic and conventional banks: a multilayer network view

PurposeThis study aims to examine information (stock return, volatility and extreme risk) spillovers and interconnectedness within dual-banking systems.Design/methodology/approachUsing multilayer information spillover networks, this paper conduct a deep analysis of contagion dynamics among 24 Islamic and 46 conventional banks from 2006 to 2022.FindingsThe findings show the network’s rapid response to financial shocks. Through cross-sector analysis, this paper identify information spillovers between and within Islamic and conventional banking systems. Furthermore, this research illustrates distinct roles played by Islamic and conventional banks within the multilayer network structure, contingent upon the nature of the financial shock.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the differential roles of Islamic and conventional banks in information transmission can aid policymakers and financial institutions in devising more effective risk management strategies, thereby enhancing financial stability within dual-banking systems.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the necessity of examining contagion mechanisms beyond traditional single-layer network structures, shedding light on the shadow dynamics of information transmission in dual-banking systems.

Epidemic intelligence in Europe: a user needs perspective to foster innovation in digital health surveillance

BackgroundEuropean epidemic intelligence (EI) systems receive vast amounts of information and data on disease outbreaks and potential health threats. The quantity and variety of available data sources for EI, as well as the available methods to manage and analyse these data sources, are constantly increasing. Our aim was to identify the difficulties encountered in this context and which innovations, according to EI practitioners, could improve the detection, monitoring and analysis of disease outbreaks and the emergence of new pathogens.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study to identify the need for innovation expressed by 33 EI practitioners of national public health and animal health agencies in five European countries and at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). We adopted a stepwise approach to identify the EI stakeholders, to understand the problems they faced concerning their EI activities, and to validate and further define with practitioners the problems to address and the most adapted solutions to their work conditions. We characterized their EI activities, professional logics, and desired changes in their activities using NvivoⓇ software.ResultsOur analysis highlights that EI practitioners wished to collectively review their EI strategy to enhance their preparedness for emerging infectious diseases, adapt their routines to manage an increasing amount of data and have methodological support for cross-sectoral analysis. Practitioners were in demand of timely, validated and standardized data acquisition processes by text mining of various sources; better validated dataflows respecting the data protection rules; and more interoperable data with homogeneous quality levels and standardized covariate sets for epidemiological assessments of national EI. The set of solutions identified to facilitate risk detection and risk assessment included visualization, text mining, and predefined analytical tools combined with methodological guidance. Practitioners also highlighted their preference for partial rather than full automation of analyses to maintain control over the data and inputs and to adapt parameters to versatile objectives and characteristics.ConclusionsThe study showed that the set of solutions needed by practitioners had to be based on holistic and integrated approaches for monitoring zoonosis and antimicrobial resistance and on harmonization between agencies and sectors while maintaining flexibility in the choice of tools and methods. The technical requirements should be defined in detail by iterative exchanges with EI practitioners and decision-makers.

Tanzanian social policy in the new millennium – a cross-sectoral analysis from a gender perspective

PurposeMainland Tanzania has seen two decades of significant social policy reforms and transformations in its social and economic structures, whilst the country continues to grapple with persisting gender inequalities. This article examines Tanzania's social policy developments from a gender perspective. The authors analyse the level, reach and quality of social policy delivery to working-age women across the areas of health policy, social protection and employment policy during 2000–2021.Design/methodology/approachThe article draws on qualitative research deploying the scoping review method. The data consist of diverse secondary materials, including academic publications, government policy documents, relevant statistics and other types of “grey” literature.FindingsTanzania has made significant advancements in the legal frameworks around welfare provision and has instituted increasingly gender-responsive government policy plans. The health and social protection sectors, in particular, have witnessed the introduction of large-scale measures expanding social policy implementation. However, social policy delivery remains two-tiered, with differences in provisions for women in the formal and informal sectors.Originality/valueSocial policy delivery and implementation have increased and diversified in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) during the new millennium, with a growing integration of gender-specific policy objectives. However, limited social policy scholarship has focused on the gendered effects of broader social policy models in SSA. The article remedies the concomitant knowledge gaps by examining various social policies and their impacts on working-age women in Mainland Tanzania. The authors also engage with the theoretical welfare regime literature and present an analytical framework for gender-sensitive assessment of emerging social policy models in the Global South.

Will technological factors promote the decoupling of emissions? A cross-sectoral analysis of Chinese industrial listed firms

The firm-level emission characteristics across China's industrial sectors are not yet thoroughly acknowledged, with limited prior research focus. To fill this research gap, we have constructed a dataset of Chinese industrial listed firms during 2010–2019 to analyze the emission characteristics of Chinese firms using Tapio's decoupling method, the extended logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) approach, and scenario analysis. Results show varying characteristics across sub-periods, transitioning from recessive decoupling (RD) during 2010–2012 to expansive negative decoupling during 2012–2015, and reverting to RD during 2015–2019. Sectors such as Mining, Textile, and Production and Supply mirrored the overall sample's decoupling pattern in these sub-periods. However, Mechatronics Manufacturing and Resource Processing consistently exhibited strong decoupling throughout all three sub-periods. Research & Development (R&D) intensity mainly drove emission increases, while R&D efficiency contributed to emission reductions. The mitigation effect of R&D efficiency varied across regions, sub-sectors, and sub-periods, indicating disparities in technological innovation for carbon efficiency improvement. Scenario analysis suggests aggregated emissions may increase to 21.69 Bt in 2030 in scenario S1. With varying degrees of improvement in firm-level decoupling states, overall emissions could decrease by 87.7% and 94.98% in scenarios S2 and S3, respectively. Based on these findings, we propose policy implications for mitigating China's industrial emissions at the firm level.

Vertical agrivoltaics and its potential for electricity production and agricultural water demand: A case study in the area of Chanco, Chile

This paper presents a cross-sector analysis of a 100 kWp vertical agrivoltaic (AV) case study in Chanco, Maule, Chile. Maule is an agricultural region facing recurring droughts, which put pressure on irrigated lands. The study investigates the potential of vertical AV in two ways: comparing the energy yield prediction of the photovoltaic component with a typical north-tilted PV plant and comparing the water demand of a reference crop in vertical AV with open field conditions. A PVLib and PVFactors python tools were used to evaluate energy production, while spatial evapotranspiration prediction incorporates wind speed and solar irradiation heterogeneities. Results for the climatic year 2021 indicate that a north-tilted power plant produced more energy than a bi-facial vertical AV plant, but the latter represents a significantly less impact on agricultural activities. The analyzed vertical AV presents a lower impact to the grid due to the two peaks in daily power production that spread the generation over the day and does not contribute to the overproduction in the midday that is currently being curtailed when high solar irradiance is present in Chile. Water savings of up to 1410 m3/ha were found in the study with the vertical AV installation mainly due to the reduced irradiation combined with windbreak effects.

The dynamics of sustainability transitions: An archetype for transformation

Significant global sustainability challenges include among others, energy, climate, and sanitation. Previous Sustainability Transition research has attempted to understand transformation complexity and interdependence, primarily through single-case methodological studies or large-scale analytical frameworks such as the Multi-Level Perspective. This leaves a knowledge gap on common dynamics underlying transition processes and emergent behaviors. To fill this gap, we conducted a cross-sectoral analysis of five system dynamics sustainability transition models with the objective of finding a common system archetype. An archetype emerged from a multi-step, mixed method structural analysis of these models. The extracted archetype captures generalizable sustainable transition dynamics across a diversity of research domains and temporal scales. The structural drivers of sustainability transitions within this archetype are used to discuss future research and practice that seeks to provide insight on common transition dynamics, deeper clarity on leverage points capable of managing transitions, and a framework for subsequent transition modeling archetype analyses.

Cross-sectoral analysis on the implication of ASEAN road transport electrification policies on energy security and climate

Road fleet electrification is one of the key strategies of the ASEAN region in decarbonizing the transportation sector. Electric vehicles (EVs) are seen to be more efficient compared to their conventional counterpart. Moreover, reduce pollution and emission which results in negative externalities like respiratory deceases and global warming. This study aims to perform a cross-sectoral analysis of the implication of ASEAN road transport electrification policies on energy security, climate, and societal welfare. Results show that ASEAN could reach 641 million passenger vehicles by 2050, and the implementation of ASEAN countries’ EV targets increases the penetration of technologies up to 9% penetration in both private cars and buses, 13% in motorcycles, and 4% in taxicabs. Significant petroleum savings can be expected with the deployment of e-vehicles but would increase end-user electricity demand. As the region could remain highly dependent on fossil-based power generation considering the historical trend in electricity dispatch, it was found that EV deployment could rather result in GHG being emitted than mitigated. However, the technology use could still result in significant pollutants reduction improving urban health and welfare. Thus, social cost savings could be expected with the implementation of ASEAN road transport electrification policies.

Финансовое заражение отраслей российской экономики от нефтяных шоков в период пандемии

Финансовое заражение отраслей российской экономики от нефтяных шоков в период пандемии

A cross-sectoral analysis of energy shortages in Pakistan: based on supply-driven input-output model

The impacts of energy shortages characterized by regular blackouts, natural gas, and electricity load shedding in Pakistan affected each economic sector, causing an energy-induced crisis and ecological sustainability issues. This study was conducted to reveal the benefits of renewable energy and describe the economic losses associated with electricity unavailability using supply-driven input-output as a price model across 34 sectors. The results revealed that exogenous shocks in electricity prices are responsible for bringing significant fluctuations across the business cycle in the country. Similarly, the overall output of Pakistan’s economy will decrease by 24.89 rupees due to a 1-kilowatt-hour reduction in electricity supply. Moreover, both forward and backward linkages of Pakistan’s economy revealed that higher electricity allocation coefficients pose significant output impacts on most sectors. We conclude that indirect output impacts require due consideration to avoid the underestimation problem due to total electricity shortages. It is recommended that the government provide a social and legal framework to boost the environmental sustainability and economic activities in the textile, oil refining, production of cement, and fertilizer sectors for sustainable economic growth.

Differences in science-based target approaches and implications for carbon emission reductions at a sectoral level in Germany

As climate change becomes more apparent, companies increase their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission, both on a compulsory and voluntary level. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) provides methods and guidelines for companies to align voluntary emission reduction targets with climate goals of the Paris Agreement. Two different approaches are provided: the absolute contraction approach (ACA), which aims for linear reduction in absolute emissions, and the physical intensity convergence approach (PICA), which targets equally reduced emission intensities within sectors. This paper examines how the interplay of ACA and PICA influences reduction targets and overall emission reduction levels. A cross-sectoral analysis is carried out to derive near- and long-term emission reduction targets for sectors specified in the German Climate Change Act. This is followed by a sector-specific analysis for the sectors residential and service buildings. To investigate the interplay of ACA and PICA within these sectors, a case study is carried out. By analysing several sectors, it was found that the combined SBTi budgets of the individual sectors lead to a range of 6.7 % by 2030, which could be as low as 333 MtCO2eq in the best case or as high as 355 MtCO2eq in the worst case. The sum of all sectoral science-based targets developed in the cross-sectoral analysis undercuts the overall emissions budgets for 2030 and 2040 specified in the German Climate Change Act by 16.3 %. The sectoral analysis complements these findings by showing that the interaction of ACA and PICA within a sector can lead to an increase in permitted future emissions, which would result in a slight exceedance of the 2040 emissions budget of 0.2 %. The co-existence of ACA and PICA can also lead to the 2040 emissions budget being undershot by around 24 % in the best case scenario. This paper shows that allowing companies to choose between ACA and PICA to develop emission reduction targets can lead to emissions exceedances. The SBTi should therefore consider approving only one approach for each sector.

A network approach to analyse Australia’s blue economy policy and legislative arrangements

Governance systems are complex adaptive systems where multiple components interact extensively. This is the case for governance of the blue economy, focused on sustainable development of marine resources. Here, the relevant policy and legislative arrangements are fragmented, and marine uses, activities and resources are generally managed on a sectoral basis by independent entities from multiple jurisdictions. In Australia, for example, complex arrangements have created uncertainty in relation to what, when, how, and by whom blue economy activities are possible. Network approaches to map and analyse complex systems could potentially improve our understanding and facilitate management of policy and legal complexity. Yet, there are few studies that have adopted such approaches in ocean governance. Our research demonstrates the application of an innovative approach based on network graphs and text mining to analyse a policy and legislative system associated with Australia’s blue economy (i.e., policy and legal arrangements applicable to the coastal and marine areas within the seaward boundaries of the continental shelf around the State of Tasmania). Using a database of over 2000 international, federal, state policy and legislative arrangements, cross-sector analyses were undertaken to identify potential gaps and overlaps that may hinder the deployment of blue economy activities, particularly those relating to integrated seafood and energy production systems. Our graphs allowed quick and easy visualisation of policy and legislative clusters around government entities, relationships between those entities and clusters, as well as potential gaps and overlaps in the existing policy and legislative landscape. Results point to a lack of integration and a need for fit-for-purpose policy and legislation, particularly for the development of co-located blue economy activities. Our approach may be used in research of other complex governance settings to inform policymaking as well as for communication and educational purposes.

Understanding demand and supply side factors: a cross-sector analysis from Saudi Arabia

PurposeIntegrating demand with supply has always been an evolving research area, which is affected by different factors including, but not limited to, sustainability, changing consumer demands and emerging supply chain practices. However, most of the research targeted developed countries due to better data access and enhanced information visibility. The research on supply and demand integration in Saudi Arabia is still in its infancy. This study explores this gap by providing a comprehensive analysis of demand and supply chain integration in the context of sustainability. This is done by first creating a developing countries-based research framework and then validating it through surveying 162 Saudi companies operating in multiple sectors like food, fashion and retail. Results suggest that there is more emphasis on supply-side factors relative to demand-side factors in the context of integration. Demand side factors only marginally impact waste reduction efforts. Similarly, the food sector is most sensitive to integration efforts attaching high importance to sustainability and efficiency initiatives. These results can be a useful guide for managers and policymakers who are planning and executing at the interface of demand and supply chains in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachCross-sector analysis by survey questionnaire of 162. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed on the data for the study participants. Continuous variables were summarised using mean and standard deviation (SD), median and IQR; and proportions were used for nominal and ordinal variables. A total score measuring perception of employees towards supply–demand integration was analysed and compared by company-related factors (sector/industry, length of service in firm (years) and the number of employees). Comparisons were made using the chi-square test or ANOVA. A linear regression model was utilised to examine the independent effect of supply and demand side factors on employees' perception of integration. The model controlled for the sector, length of service and number of employees. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05.FindingsThe linear regression results showed that supply items significantly predicted integration. That is, higher supply–demand integration scores were significantly related to indicators for using supply variables in supply chain management (SCM) improves operational efficiency (OE), integrating supply variables at the execution stage reduces overall waste and including at least one supply-side variable in supply planning (p < 0.05). The indicator for integrating demand variables at the execution stage reduces overall waste was only marginally related to an increased integration scores (p = 0.089). Lastly, a significantly better perception of supply–demand integration was reported by employees in the food sector compared to those in the fashion sector (p = 0.018). Length of service or number of employees in the firm was not related to perception towards supply–demand integration.Research limitations/implicationsThough accessing 162 companies in the Saudi market is a significant sample size given the fact that they are quite conservative in sharing supply and demand information. However, for better generalisation and richer insights, more sectors like manufacturing, oil and gas and hospitality should be added in future. Cross-country analysis from developing countries can be another interesting future direction.Originality/valueThis empirical paper draws its strength from the scale and depth of empirical data collected from Saudi companies belonging to multiple sectors to better understand demand and supply chain integration, especially from sustainability and waste reduction. This is true in the era of the pandemic and its associated risks for both upstream and downstream. The developing countries' perspective is important as not enough is written in the literature given the difficulties in accessing the information and subsequent analysis. The insights are bound to be unique as a consumer in these countries is undergoing significant socioeconomic changes affecting the supply chain of the companies.

Priority Products for Sustainability Information and Recommendation Software: Insights in the Context of the EU’s Action Plan Circular Economy

The diffusion of sustainable products is a global objective, particularly reflected by the UN’s vision of ensuring sustainable development. Mobilising the potential of product information’s digitalization is an important topic in this context, particularly in the EU’s circular economy plan CEAP. Cross-sector analyses on the need for digital sustainability recommendation systems and related product-specific requirements do not yet exist. Questions: This article aims to deepen the insight of information requirements and recommendation software to facilitate sustainability-oriented product decisions based on three questions: (1) to identify products specifically requiring four types of sustainability information, (2) to unveil needs for software that recommends sustainable products, and (3) to specify the information it shall provide. Method: As part of the ConCirMy recommendation system project, we conducted an exploratory survey among 134 sustainability experts from 5 circular and bio-economy networks, mainly from Germany. The results show priority products regarding four sustainability information needs and recommendation software, making specific relations between European regulation and stakeholders’ interests visible. In addition, ten factors influencing these needs and facilitating further product-related sustainability classifications were unveiled. Conclusions: Our findings reflect the significance of CEAP’s priority products regarding the need for sustainability information and provide conclusions for four target groups.

Cross-sectoral urban energy–water–land nexus framework within a multiscale economy: The case of Chinese megacities

Energy, water, and land (EWL) are finite, critical, and intertwined resources in urban system, and the resource management of EWL plays a key part in urban sustainable development. Previous studies lacked a general framework and a deeply cross-sectoral analysis that simultaneously considered all the sectors within the urban economic system of multiple resources. This study introduced an urban ternary multidimensional nexus (UTMDN) framework for modelling complex urban EWL nexus, connecting in- and trans-boundary interactions by the environmental extended multiscale input–output (EE-MSIO) model. We applied this approach to a comparative study of four Chinese megacities in different economic sectors. Results showed that the top-consuming sectors of EWL were heterogeneous and the impacts of urban consumption-oriented behaviour extended beyond the urban boundaries. In particular, the sectors of construction, electricity, gas & water, and others were the main consumption-based energy consumers. The agriculture and food sectors were the major consumption-based water and land consumers. These sectors mostly relied on domestic imports for the four megacities. By contrast, Chongqing's embodied water and land flows in the agriculture sector relied more on local (in-boundary) supply. The obtained results proved that this framework could constitute a solid foundation for assessing the cross-sectoral, in- and trans-boundary EWL nexus of critical sectors centred on cities. These sectoral-based analyses can support industrial restructuring and collaborative management of EWL resources for future urban development.

European administrative networks, private networks and agencies: coexisting, cooperating or competing?

ABSTRACT Little attention has been paid to the relations between European agencies and regulatory networks in existing research, and the role of private networks has not been considered. This article fills this research gap and examines when sectoral bodies coexist, cooperate or compete. It develops a conceptual framework to map the diversity of sectoral bodies, and identifies mission- and resource-related explanatory factors for types of interaction. The qualitative comparison analyses a case with multiple public bodies (banking), as opposed to a case with agency and network structures as well as public and private bodies (electricity). The findings support arguments in existing research, namely that cooperation is driven by resource complementarity and mission overlap. Further, they point to the relevance of mission and resource rivalries as explanations for conflictual relations, and show that resource- and mission-related factors materialise very differently across distinct institutional settings. The conceptual framework paves the way for further cross-sectoral analysis of inter-organisational relations in the European administrative space.

Planetary Boundaries: Disclosure Quality of Sustainability Reports

This study develops a new framework to analyze the disclosure quality of planetary boundary information in firms’ sustainability reports. Specifically, we construct a comprehensive disclosure index by mapping each planetary boundary to existing Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and by deriving a set of criteria to measure the quality of disclosure. Next, we employ a text mining technique to apply the disclosure index to analyze the sustainability reports lodged by the top 100 companies listed on the Australian stock exchange (ASX100) over the period from 2016 to 2020. We find an increase in reporting quality across the nine Planetary Boundaries over the five years of our analysis. A cross-sectoral analysis shows that firms in industries with a higher environmental impact, such as those in the Materials and Energy sector, tend to have a higher reporting quality. We validate our text-mining results against a manual analysis and examine the robustness of the results by showing positive associations of our disclosure scores with environmental performance measures from other data sources. This is the first academic study to examine planetary boundary disclosures of large, listed companies. Researchers and decision-makers may consider using the framework and method to identify potential planetary boundary risks for decision-making purposes.

COVID-19 Shock and Sectorial Index Response in South Africa: A Cross-sector Analysis

The prime objective of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 shock on sector returns of the South African Stock market. The study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model estimated with a Pooled Mean Group estimator on a sample of daily stock returns of 10 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) sectors. The results indicate a heterogeneous behaviour in sector stock return response to COVID-19 shock. The study shows that the Pandemic negatively impacted the majority of the sectors. However, some sectors were positively affected by the outbreak, while some were resilient to the shock. The pooled ARDL panel results show a negative relationship between COVID-19 and stock market returns in the short run. The study found an insignificant relationship between stock market returns and COVID-19 cases in the long run. The study also shows that sector and stock return response to different factors is time-varying. The results imply that COVID-19 shock is short-lived, the negative impact of the Pandemic is corrected in the long run. Stock market investors should thus focus on the long-run behaviour of stock returns. The results evidence the significance of diversification in different stock market sectors for investors

Türkiye’s Water Security Policy: Energy, Agriculture, and Transboundary Issues

Water security refers to the availability of adequate quantities and qualities of water for societal needs and resilient ecosystems in the context of current conditions and future global change. Achieving water security is directly linked to food and energy security, protecting and preserving ecosystems, and addressing key vulnerabilities and risks from climate change. Good water governance –including transboundary cooperation– is a critical feature of any effort to achieve water security. Yet the concept of water security remains abstract and broad. In an attempt to make the concept of water security-relevant in practice, this paper delineates Türkiye’s water security policy and practices through institutional and cross-sectoral (energy and food) analysis. Specific attention is paid to Türkiye’s transboundary water security policies.