Ecological Sustainability Research Articles

The New Qualitative Ecology of Cultural Studies and the Diverse Pathways of Inquiry within Museum SEZs

The intricate interplay between human economic and social constructs and the cultural milieu engenders a multifaceted and dynamic ecosystem. Within the perpetual evolution of nascent economic urban centres, cultural ecology underscores the imperative of harmonizing and mutually reinforcing economic frameworks with cultural landscapes. This investigation advances a novel conceptual framework delineating the economic-cultural interplay within contemporary Chinese burgeoning urban landscapes, particularly emphasizing the sustainability of cultural ecology. Pioneering in its approach, this research offers a groundbreaking analysis unprecedentedly through the prism of museums. The findings elucidate that museums exhibit remarkable adaptability to emerging urban economic paradigms, thereby catalyzing the enhancement of cultural ecosystems and emerging as verdant bastions fostering the endurance of urban cultural landscapes.

The ecological and socioeconomic sustainability of organic agroforestry: a systematic review

The ecological and socioeconomic sustainability of organic agroforestry: a systematic review

Action or reaction? Entrepreneurial and Market Orientation for Implementing Circular Economy Practices in German SMEs

Circular Economy (CE) is one of the most promising practices in sustainable business development and achieving climate targets. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in this context due to their predominance in many countries and their associated ecological impact. Although studies indicate that CE offers various environmental and economic benefits, its implementation within SMEs remains relatively low. While SMEs face multiple challenges and barriers, there remains a lack of insights into the factors that can accelerate CE practices. A promising approach to overcoming these challenges involves strategic orientations. This study examines two specific strategic orientations, market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation, and their relationship with CE implementation in SMEs. Therefore, survey data from 757 German SMEs were analysed using multiple linear regression, which resulted in multifaceted insights. Both market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation positively influence CE implementation. Market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation demonstrate varying joint relationships, with entrepreneurial orientation acting as an enabler in the mediation between market orientation and CE. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationships between various factors influencing the implementation of CE practices in SMEs. In particular, it provides the basis for further research into the interplay between market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation and their joint influence on CE. Practitioners in SMEs should not only integrate market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation as a holistic approach but, more specifically, seek to establish a culture that encourages innovativeness and risk-taking and deepen further marketing efforts throughout the organization to facilitate CE implementation. This ultimately leads to ecological sustainability and financial improvements in SMEs.

Agricultural City – its Formal Shape in the Light of Historic Theoretical Designs and Emerging Technologies

The progressive degradation of environment and urban sprawl inspired the search for alternative ways of urban development. In this context, the concept of a “regenerative city” has gained significant traction in the field. It encompasses a variety of principles and strategies to ensure that cities can function sustainably and do not just consume resources but also actively regenerate them. In this context, the role of urban farming is particularly relevant. Urban farming, as a multifunctional tool, can contribute to food security, ecological sustainability, community resilience, and social cohesion. By integrating nature into the very fabric of urban design and ensuring that cities can sustainably support their inhabitants, we move closer to a vision of cities that are not just places of residence but thriving ecosystems in their own right. To achieve this goal we need not invent urban theories de novo. Throughout the decades, researchers have proposed cities encompassing agrarian land. The present study aims to present three lesser-known theories of W. Czerny, L. Zimowski and O. Hansen on the backdrop of theories by i.e. L. Migge, F.L. Wright, particularly focusing on the role of agriculture within city framework and their implications for the built structure of cities in the future.

The Geoeconomic Turn in International Trade, Investment, and Technology

This thematic issue brings together a set of articles that empirically map the state of the ongoing geoeconomic turn in the global political economy from an international political economy (IPE) perspective. Changes in the modus operandi of the global political economy urge the development of new conceptual and theoretical tools to grasp the new geoeconomic reality of world affairs. At the same time, the contemporary study of geoeconomics remains theory-centred and focused on its security dimension, thereby underplaying the empirical nuances and variegated aspects of these developments. We therefore make the case for an empirically grounded study of concrete cases and instances of the geoeconomic turn, which can then deliver insights for further theory-building. Likewise, many aspects of the geoeconomic turn cannot be explained by security logics only, but have political economy roots that need to be brought to the foreground. Our thematic issue excavates these dynamics across four key challenges for the global economy: the role of states and firms in a geoeconomic world; global technological competition; the green transition; and implications of the geoeconomic turn for the non-Western world. Collectively, the contributions demonstrate that the geoeconomic turn is only starting to concretely (and partially) materialize and that these transformations, in many cases, tend to replicate existing power structures that prioritize capital(ist) interests related to profit-maximisation over societal interests, ecological sustainability, or social equity. We close by delineating prospects for further IPE research into the ongoing geoeconomic turn in the global political economy.

The Role of Social Inclusion in Restoring Communal Rangelands in Southern Africa: A Systematic Review of Approaches, Challenges, and Outcomes

Rangeland restoration in southern Africa faces complex challenges that require the involvement of diverse social groups to ensure both ecological and social sustainability. This systematic review focuses on the role of social inclusion in rangeland restoration across multiple countries in the region, specifically examining the engagement of marginalized groups such as women, youth, and indigenous communities. We conducted a comprehensive search using the PRISMA approach, utilizing Scopus and other literature sources. Initially, we found 853 articles published between 2000 and 2024, which were subsequently screened down to 20 studies that met stringent inclusion criteria. This review identifies key strategies and outcomes associated with social inclusion in restoration efforts. Our findings reveal that participatory planning, gender-inclusive strategies, indigenous engagement, and capacity building are crucial for gaining community support, promoting social equity, and enhancing ecological resilience. However, challenges such as power dynamics, cultural norms, and resource constraints often impede the full realization of these inclusive practices. Despite these barriers, integrating local and indigenous knowledge and empowering marginalized groups significantly strengthens governance structures and leads to more sustainable restoration outcomes. Our review highlights the necessity of adopting holistic and inclusive approaches in rangeland restoration where social inclusion is not just a component but a central pillar of successful ecological management. It emphasizes the importance of social inclusion in the restoration of communal rangelands in southern Africa and provides insights into the approaches used, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved in incorporating social inclusion in rangeland restoration efforts. Our findings underscore the significance of collaborative efforts and social inclusion among local communities, policymakers, and stakeholders to achieve the sustainable restoration of communal rangelands in southern Africa.

Insights into the occurrence, distribution and dissipation of widespread agrochemicals in celery agrosystems for joint risk assessment

Elucidating exposure risks associated with the most widely used agrochemicals and their metabolites in celery agrosystems are vital for food safety and human health. The occurrence, distribution, dissipation and metabolism of imidacloprid (IMI), acetamiprid (ACE), thiamethoxam (THM) and difenoconazole (DIF) in celery tissues reflected by initial depositions, uptake characteristics, half-lives, concentration variations. DIF exhibited unacceptable ecological risk to soil organisms under multi-risk evaluation models, including toxicity exposure ratio, risk quotient, and BITSSD model. The joint dietary risks of target pesticides were 37.273–647.454% and 0.400–2522.016% based on deterministic and probabilistic models, with non-carcinogenic risks of 30.207–85.522% and 1.229–2524.662%, respectively. Children aged 1–6 years suffered the highest exposure, with the leaves posing higher risk than other tissues. Long-term exposure risks should be continuously assessed for ecological sustainability and human health, given the widespread usage and cumulative effects of target pesticides, especially for rural children.

Greening the procurement: a SMART evaluation of environmental sustainability in Australian government purchasing policies

PurposeThis study evaluates how well Victorian local councils’ procurement policies align with the sustainable and circular economy (CE) approach that prioritises sustainable and regenerative practices. It proposes a set of criteria designed to effectively integrate environmental sustainability issues into purchasing policies.Design/methodology/approachEmploying the Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART) framework, a multi-dimensional content analysis guided by the goal-setting theory was applied to evaluate all 79 Victorian local councils’ procurement policies. This approach provided an assessment of policy specificity, measurability, assignability, realism and time sensitivity in promoting environmental sustainability through purchasing policies.FindingsThe findings underscored a significant deficiency in policy adherence to all SMART criteria concerning environmental sustainability, hindering the effective green purchasing decisions within government entities. This lack of integration of greening in purchasing policy poses challenges for manufacturers of waste-derived goods, obscuring the procurement objectives of these critical public sector customers.Practical implicationsThe paper contributes to the sustainable procurement (SP) discourse by proposing guidelines aimed at improving the efficacy of governmental purchasing of sustainable products. These guidelines address the broader imperative to mitigate the environmental impacts of governmental spending on less sustainable goods, thereby fostering ecological sustainability and promoting responsible consumption.Originality/valueWhile past studies have often relied on subjective content analysis methods, the SMART assessment used to develop the environmental sustainability criteria for purchasing policies, which distinguishes this study from previous governmental policy evaluation studies. This approach marks a departure from traditional governmental policy evaluation studies, offering a more structured analysis of policy effectiveness in promoting SP practices.

Transition toward a sustainable future: Exploring the role of green investment, environmental policy, and financial development in the context of load capacity factor in G‐7 countries

AbstractEnvironmental sustainability holds evident significance since it is intricately connected with attaining sustainable development. However, the pre‐requisite of ecological sustainability is the higher ratio of biodiversity to ecological footprint, called the Load Capacity Factor (LCF). Literature is quite scant on the drivers of LCF and the study in hand is the attempt to find the viable policy instruments of this important sustainability indicator. For this purpose, the study has explored the role of green investment (GI), environmental policy (EP), financial development (FD), and natural resources rent (NRR) in the context of the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis for G‐7 countries from 1990 to 2019. Considering the co‐dependence among economies, the study has employed a Cross‐sectional Dependence Autoregressive Distributive Lag (CS‐ARDL) technique to investigate the impact of each variable along with other econometric techniques. The observed outcomes suggest that green investment and environmental policy stringency both contribute to improving environmental quality by increasing LCF. Whereas financial development and natural resources rent significantly, reduce the LCF and enhance environmental degradation. Additionally, the findings also validate the LCC hypothesis in the G‐7 context. The study advocates the need for green investment and policy stringency to achieve ecological sustainability and adequate consideration to transform financial development toward sustainability. Finally, the study has presented in‐depth ecological solutions so that G‐7 economies can take possible action to acquire the targets set in COP26.

The contingent role of state capacity on the impact of e-government on environmental sustainability in developing countries

E-government is a prominent approach in environmental sustainability as it brings various arrangements that allow for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. The article explores two main objectives. Firstly, the direct impact of e-government on ecological sustainability and secondly, whether e-government enhances environmental sustainability indirectly by improving state capacity. By understanding this nexus, we believe that states in LDCs will seek to explore the maximum potential benefits of ICTs in government operations to establish a more responsive, open, and people-oriented government. The paper utilizes a balanced macro-panel sample of 45 United Nations classified least developed countries from 2003 to 2022. To ensure the reliability of empirical findings, three econometric methods—system generalized methods of moments (GMM), instrumental variable GMM (IV-GMM), and bootstrap ordinary least squares (BOLS) are employed. The results of the entire sample model reveal several key findings. These findings are that e-government development has a direct and positive impact on environmental sustainability, secondly state capacity negatively influences ecological sustainability, and lastly e-government development indirectly affects environmental sustainability by enhancing state capacity. Additionally, intriguing sub-sample findings for least developed countries in Africa and Asia are observed, with notable lessons from the latter, where environmental performance is improving at the expense of a high volume of carbon emissions. However, these overall findings underscore the importance of considering how governments can address environmental sustainability requirements by managing e-government programs and enacting responsible ICT-enabled transformations.

Adapting engineering design thinking for sustainability

AbstractThe nature of engineering design thinking needs to change drastically to address the climate crisis, as the technologies and activities that damage the environment are generated by engineering design. Current engineering design practices, as well as engineering design education (EE) pedagogies, are driven by formal knowledge structures, such as mathematical models and optimization techniques, that are far removed from concerns about the environment. To adapt engineering design thinking for sustainability, a clear characterization of the thinking roles played by various design components, including the role of formal structures in sustainable engineering design, is needed. As a first step towards developing this characterization, we investigated the way sustainable micro-hydro power systems were designed by two grassroots technology designers. Our analysis indicated that artifact-based imagination (mental simulation of material structure and dynamics), including artifact-based reasoning (manipulation of imagined artifacts), and synthesis (of requirements and constraints) were key to integrating the eco-social context into the design. Formal structures played a supportive role to these core design thinking processes. To examine the validity of this analysis, we studied two engineering design cases from other areas, exploring whether the patterns we identified using the micro-hydro turbine cases extended to these cases. Results suggested that artifact-based imagination and reasoning and synthesis are common threads across different kinds of engineering design. Based on this finding, we suggest that the ongoing redesign of EE—to support ecological sustainability—needs to focus on artifact-based imagination and synthesis of eco-social factors, in addition to formal structures.

Impact of titanium dioxide/graphene in polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposite membrane to intensify methylene blue dye removal, antifouling performance, and reusability

AbstractThe development of efficient water purification technologies is a critical research focus driven by the crucial role of clean water sources for ecological sustainability. This study explores the strategic incorporation of nanoparticles within polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes as a promising approach to enhance membrane performance for wastewater remediation. PVDF membranes containing varying ratios of graphene (GR) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites were fabricated via phase inversion method. Characterization techniques including XRD, FTIR, and FESEM‐EDX revealed that the 80% GR nanocomposite membrane exhibited desirable structural and functional properties with pronounced sponge‐like morphology and homogenous nanoparticle distribution. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and x‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed the 80% GR membrane retained PVDF crystallinity while uniquely eliminating TiO2 crystallinity. Subsequently, performance testing demonstrated the 80% GR nanocomposite membrane had the highest water flux and methylene blue dye rejection rates compared to other ratios and the pristine PVDF membrane. Both fabricated membranes exhibited sufficient reusability and antifouling properties. However, 80% GR ratio exhibited superior antifouling properties, indicating its potential as an optimal material for improving membrane hydrophilicity and overall water purification technologies. These findings underscore the strategic utility of GR‐TiO2 nanocomposites for enhancing PVDF membrane performance in sustainable wastewater treatment applications.

Developing green finance in Vietnam towards sustainability

Green finance is a global trend involving international financial institutions, governments, and the financial systems of individual countries and regions. The term "green finance" refers to the synchronized development of the financial sector while improving the environment and fostering economic growth. Its goal is to mobilize financial resources to benefit the environment while minimizing harm and managing environmental risks. Green finance is becoming increasingly crucial for Vietnam, especially with its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 and reducing methane emissions by 2030. Consequently, investment demand for projects that mitigate environmental impacts will grow, making green finance vital for Vietnam's sustainable development goals. A green or clean economy aims to harmonize economic growth with ecological sustainability. Its fundamental growth strategy includes environmental protection, clean production technology, and clean energy, rapidly achieving sustainable growth. However, raising awareness about green finance for sustainable development and identifying opportunities and challenges in its application in Vietnam is essential. Keywords: Green Finance, Vietnam, Sustainable Development

Implicit ecological considerations on Paris Agreement

The object of this study is the structure of the Paris Agreement on the attribution of transparency, the Nationally Determined Contributions, support for the economy and reduction of the emission of polluting gases with consequences of environmental constitutionalism in the Risk Society. The method used to approach is the inductive, through the investigation of bibliographies, rules and laws. The Paris Agreement has not favored mitigation by the international cooperation, although it does offer financing strategies for development projects. Sophisticating documents is not showing the ecological sustainability of human rights as a relationship between all forms of life. Everyone involved in this process needs to have a true and cohesive democratic participation, favoring a new conscience, access to information, popular participation in legislative processes, in decision making and access to environmental justice strengthen the environmental preservation in all its levels.

The influence of selected grain size fractions of coal fly ash on properties of clay-cement mortars used for the flood levees construction

This study examines the influence of different grain size fractions of coal fly ash on the properties of clay-cement mortars used in flood levee construction. Dry aerodynamic separation and mesh sieving were used to obtain ultrafine, fine, and medium fractions of high-calcium and silica fly ash. The experimental results reveal that the rheological properties of fresh mortars are significantly influenced by these fractions. High-calcium fly ash mortars exhibit high reactivity and rapid increase in viscosity, with finer fractions showing the highest reactivity. Silica ashes show increased reactivity in the later stages of suspension hardening. Their spherical shape contributes to reducing internal friction during flow in initial technological operations. Furthermore, the compressive strength of hardened mortars improves as the particle size decreases for both ashes, resulting in a dense and uniform microstructure. The separation and fractionation of fly ashes contribute to the obtaining of fractions that influence the parameters of clay-cement suspension application on different scales. The results show the potential benefits of ash separation, which can bring advantages in terms of economic viability, engineering performance, and ecological sustainability.

Human impact on the scenic quality of coastal dunes: A study of the central Caribbean coast of Colombia

This paper provides a scenic assessment of 19 dune sites using the Dune Scenery Evaluation System (DSES). The DSES assesses values from a checklist of 18 physical and 8 human parameters and allows the calculation of a scenic evaluation index (D Value), which classifies D sites into five classes: Class I, usually natural areas of top scenic characteristics, to Class V, poor scenic dune areas with a greater impact of human interventions. Our findings reveal a predominance of coastal dune systems falling into middle to lower scenic quality classes (III, IV, and V), indicating considerable degradation due to intense human activities. Notably, these activities have adversely impacted the structural integrity and scenic value of these dunes, leading to a loss of biodiversity and increased vulnerability to natural hazards. This paper highlights the critical need for integrated coastal management strategies that balance conservation with sustainable development. Furthermore, our study proposes the enhancement of existing regulatory frameworks, community engagement in conservation efforts, and the implementation of ecological restoration projects aimed at reversing the degradation and restoring the ecological and scenic value of these vital landscapes. The findings underline the potential of using scenic quality as an ecological indicator to guide conservation and management practices, ensuring the preservation of coastal dunes, which are essential for ecological sustainability and local economic benefits. This multidisciplinary approach not only enriches our understanding of the complex interactions within dune ecosystems but also sets a precedent for future research and policymaking in coastal zone management.

An integrated framework for measuring sustainable rural development towards the SDGs

Rural areas are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), necessitating the evaluation of rural sustainability transitions. A precondition for evaluating sustainable rural development is to adapt the SDGs to rural contexts while maintaining global comparability. Besides, tradeoff relationships among evaluation indicators should be captured to overcome the limitations of traditional weighting aggregation methods. In this study, we propose an integrated framework that incorporates the SDGs into a composite indicator system for assessing sustainable rural development. Our framework quantifies these indicators using the index thresholds outlined in the SDGs dashboard, along with customized rules that reflectrural contexts. Furthermore, we employ the Pareto ranking approach to evaluate the sustainable development potentials of rural areas regarding tradeoff relationships among different indicators. In a case study of Zhaoyuan City, China, our findings indicate that only 20 % of the sustainable development goals are achieved on average across all indicator dimensions. The economic and social dimensions are closer to their ideal targets and more compatible with each other, while the ecological dimension remains relatively unsustainable. Sustainable rural development depends primarily on natural resource endowment, ecological sustainability, and residential sustainability of villages. Understanding tradeoff relationships among different indicators enables us to better adapt rural policies to the specific contexts of villages.

Spatio-temporal interplay between ecosystem services and urbanization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: A new perspective for considering the scarcity effect

The expeditious trajectory of urbanization has profound ramifications on the configuration and functioning of the natural milieu. Given the constrained opulence of natural capital and its indispensable bestowal of ecosystem services in different regions, meticulous contemplation of the relationship between urbanization and the ecosystem service scarcity value (ESSV) while formulating decisions is imperative. This study focuses on the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), where ESSV is quantified by combining the dynamic changes in market supply and demand factors. The influence of supply and demand changes on the ESSV is discussed and analyzed in four scenarios. Subsequently, a multidimensional urbanization comprehensive evaluation index system was established to explore the spatiotemporal interactive response mode between ESSV and urbanization. Our findings manifest a notably augmented ESSV in the YREB from 1990 to 2020, particularly prominent between 2000 and 2010. Moreover, the growth in public goods services outpaced that in private goods services within the same period. Demand-driven scarcity has emerged as the foremost determinant of ESSV. Urbanization levels gradually increased from 1990 to 2020, with a uniform allocation of heightened ESSV and urbanization throughout the region. The urbanization level of YREB, as a whole, exhibited conspicuous spatial heterogeneity, with the downstream region significantly surpassing the middle and upper reaches, and the downstream Yangtze River Delta city cluster and the middle reaches of the Chengdu-Chongqing city cluster notably outpacing that in the surrounding region. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) between the ESSV and urbanization in the YREB develops in a harmonious direction during the study period, accompanied by palpable spatial disparities. The area of unbalanced development gradually decreased, and the area proportion of the coordinated development type of ESSV and urbanization increased continuously. Overall, this study elucidates regional disparities in the reciprocal relationship between the ESSV and urbanization in the YREB, thereby unveiling the extent of incongruity between regional urbanization and the ecosystem. It serves to identify the juncture at which ecological sustainability and urbanization converge harmoniously, thus offering novel insights in achieving comprehensive, high-caliber, and synchronized development in the YREB.

Patch shape, connectivity and functional groups moderate the responses of bird diversity to agricultural diversification — A meta-analysis

Agricultural expansion and intensification pose significant threats to global biodiversity. However, the conservation of agricultural biodiversity is essential for harmonizing agricultural production with ecological sustainability. Agricultural diversification can mitigate the negative impacts of agriculture on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Characteristics of the broader landscape may also play an important moderating role in diversified agricultural landscapes, but are not fully solved. To bridge this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed studies to compare bird abundance and species richness in diversified agricultural landscapes compared to those in simplified farmlands and natural landscapes. We also explored the moderating role of species functional groups and 11 metrics of landscape composition, configuration and heterogeneity. We found a generally positive effect of perimeter-to-area ratio of farmland patches, connectivity within farmland patches, and connectivity within patches of natural and semi-natural habitats on bird abundance and species richness. Responses to other landscape metrics were less consistent. For pollinators, the abundance was higher in diversified agricultural landscapes compared to control groups, and particularly when compared to natural landscapes. For natural enemies, the species richness was significantly lower in diversified agricultural landscapes than in natural landscapes, while their abundance was not. The overall abundance and species richness of granivores and frugivores in diversified agricultural landscapes were comparable to those in control landscapes. These results indicated landscape type of control groups, species functional groups, and their interactions had consistent impacts on the responses of bird diversity. We found a vital role of farmland patch shape and connectivity within farmland and habitat patches for bird conservation in diversified agricultural landscapes, which has been rarely reported in previous studies. These insights underscore the need for policymakers and managers to develop farmland management and planning strategies at multiple scales to fulfill growing human demands while achieving biodiversity conservation objectives.

Safe and just housing for all–Towards establishing a sustainable consumption corridor for housing

This paper introduces a sustainable consumption corridor (SCC) framework designed to define a ‘safe’ and ‘just’ space for housing provisioning, integrating social equity with ecological sustainability in the housing sector. It proposes a comprehensive set of ecological ceilings and social foundations, providing actionable threshold indicators for measuring and guiding sustainable housing practices. Through the SCC, this work addresses the pressing socio-ecological challenges the housing sector faces, especially the need to balance housing expansion with environmental limits. In doing so, this work provides a platform to discuss the consumption-based versus absolute limits for social and ecological thresholds, the need to integrate social and environmental thresholds, and the need to model the provisioning system dynamics which in turn influence the social and environmental performance of housing provisioning systems. This provisioning includes both the physical and political economic factors which influence these outcomes. The study sets the stage for future empirical research and the refinement of indicators that can be adapted across different contexts to ensure relevance and applicability. The ultimate aim promote policies to reconfigure housing provisioning systems to meet human needs within the planetary boundaries.