Global Sustainable Development Agenda Research Articles

Advancing quinoxaline chemistry: Sustainable and green synthesis using L-arabinose as a catalyst

In the present study, an innovative and eco-friendly methodology for synthesizing quinoxaline derivatives has been introduced, leveraging L-arabinose as a novel catalyst. This approach not only underscores the feasibility of green chemistry in synthesizing high-purity quinoxaline derivatives but also highlights the enhanced sustainability of the process. Detailed mechanistic investigations revealed the synergistic interactions between L-arabinose and the reactants, providing a deeper understanding of the catalytic process. The synthesized compounds, due to their unique structural and electronic properties, may find promising applications in life and material sciences such as optoelectronics. Furthermore, our environmental impact assessment demonstrated significant reduction in generated waste, solvent use, and overall carbon footprint, aligning with the global agenda for sustainable development. This research marks a significant step forward in quinoxaline chemistry, promoting the adoption of green synthesis pathways while reinforcing the principles of sustainable and environment-friendly chemical practices.

Practices and Challenges on the Relationship to Support the Goals of Impact Ranked Universities in the Philippines

This study investigated the collaborative efforts of Philippine Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) with NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By leveraging their academic capabilities, PHEIs ranked by the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking played a crucial role in addressing global challenges through a multi-sectoral approach. This study emphasized the importance of collaborating with regional NGOs and government agencies for policy-making and multi-sectoral dialogue in promoting participatory decision-making. It also highlighted the significance of international collaborations in standardizing data gathering and sharing best practices, thus enhancing the quality and impact of research related to public policy and sustainable development. PHEIs' engagement with NGOs was pivotal in mobilizing resources for community-targeted projects, including disaster risk reduction, health and well-being, educational outreach, and environmental conservation. These initiatives contributed to immediate community needs and built long-term resilience and sustainability. Findings revealed that PHEIs were not only centers of learning but also key players in the global sustainable development agenda. Their ability to bridge knowledge gaps, coupled with the operational reach of NGOs and the policy influence of government bodies, formed a powerful force for societal transformation. As the world progressed towards the 2030 Agenda, it was essential for PHEIs to strengthen partnerships, expand research scope, and enhance community engagement practices. This would not only advance the SDGs but also shape an inclusive and resilient sustainable future. The study called for continued innovation in partnership models and inclusive strategies that engaged all societal sectors, ensuring substantial and measurable progress towards the SDGs. The ongoing commitment of PHEIs would be crucial in achieving a sustainable world for future generations.

Quantifying energy transition vulnerability helps more just and inclusive decarbonization.

The COP28 agreement signals "beginning of the end" of the fossil fuel era, calling on countries to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner. While a quantitative assessment of country's vulnerability in energy transition is a prerequisite for national and international policy makers to ensure a just and inclusive transition, it is notably absent in the existing research. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on the vulnerability scoping diagram (VSD) method to assess differences in energy transition vulnerability across countries, with a specific focus on the challenges associated with transitioning away from fossil fuels. The resulting energy transition vulnerability index (ETVI) scores reveal that countries in the Global South generally exhibit higher vulnerability in their energy transition compared to those in the Global North, and this gap has widened over the past decade. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the decade-long trend of continuous decline in global energy transition vulnerability. This study also provides two important applications of ETVI scores, aligning them with major global sustainable development agenda. Firstly, we identify substantial differences in the dynamics of transition vulnerability across seven major party groups in the international climate change negotiations and distinguish four energy transition statuses in relation to achieving global climate goals: Stressful, Leapfrog, Potential Challenges, and Less Painful. Secondly, we demonstrate crucial synergies between energy transition resilience and the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Investigating the relationship between health and gender equality: What role do maternal, reproductive, and sexual health services play?

Examining the causal nexus between health services and gender equality is of paramount significance in policy formulation and academic inquiry. This paper concentrates on maternal, sexual, and reproductive health, offering a critical narrative review of empirical research exploring the causal relationship between enhanced women's health, stemming from either overall healthcare amelioration or specific interventions, and broader gender equality objectives. A conceptual framework is devised to elucidate the causal pathways between health and gender equality across various dimensions. The final review encompasses 30 empirical papers, revealing both direct and indirect effects of improved maternal, reproductive, and sexual health outcomes on labour participation and educational investment, with fertility decisions and autonomy serving as primary intermediary factors. Evidence predominantly indicates that interventions like contraception, family planning, and abortion policies yield enduring effects beyond health, influencing reproductive choices. Specific medical procedures, such as caesarean deliveries and sterilization, also impact fertility and labour market outcomes. Furthermore, public healthcare infrastructure contributes to combating gender-based violence by facilitating incident reporting and access to protection. Recognizing, documenting, and monitoring these co-benefits arising from improved women's health are pivotal for delineating future health sector priorities and advancing the global gender equality and sustainable development agenda.

Understanding Ethiopia’s maize innovation system: Application of integrated innovation system and sustainability transition perspectives

Agricultural innovation is a top priority on the global sustainable development agenda to solve food insecurity, land degradation, climate-change issues, poverty, and unemployment. This paper aims to identify systemic problems and socio-technical transition factors that hinder the development, dissemination, and utilization of improved maize varieties in Ethiopia. Primary data were gathered through structured and semi-structured interview schedules, and then analyzed thematically. Results show that systemic failures such as the absence of key actors, institutional problems, lack of interaction between actors, and inadequate infrastructure are the major hindrances to the systems functioning. Three functions, including entrepreneurship, knowledge development, and creating legitimacy, were found to be weaker than others in the case of improved maize varieties released by Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds Ethiopia Plc. However, these functions were stronger in the case of improved maize seed varieties released by public research centres. Knowledge dissemination and resource mobilization were the stronger functions of Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds Ethiopia Plc., which were found to be weak in the public research centres. The result also shows that policies and governance affected the sustainable development of improved maize varieties released by Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds Ethiopia Plc. Promoting knowledge development and resource mobilization within networks of policymakers, the public sector, and local and foreign private sectors, and a regulation on breeders’ rights to encourage the involvement of private companies in the sector are recommended to enable the innovation system to function sustainably.

Legal Transformation for the Achievement of SDGs: Integration of Multidisciplinary Approaches towards 2030

This research aims to investigate and analyze the transformation of law in an effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the integration of a multidisciplinary approach. Along with dynamic global changes, the challenges in achieving the SDGs require innovative and adaptive legal strategies. This dissertation focuses on two main problem formulations: first, how the integration of multidisciplinary approaches in legal reform can support the achievement of SDGs; second, how the evaluation and monitoring of legal policies implemented can ensure the achievement of SDGs targets. Through literature review and case analysis, this research reveals that incorporating various disciplines-such as economics, sociology, environmental science, and politics-in the legal policy-making process is key to creating comprehensive and responsive regulations. A multidisciplinary approach not only broadens perspectives in the legal field, but also ensures that the resulting policies are able to address the complexity of sustainable development issues. The research further proposes that an effective evaluation and monitoring system is an essential element to ensure legal policies can be optimally implemented and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Suggested measures include the development of relevant performance indicators, stakeholder engagement, and the use of information technology to increase transparency and accountability. With this approach, it is expected that legal reform can adapt to changing conditions and make a positive contribution to the achievement of sustainable development goals, creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for all. This research makes important theoretical and practical contributions to the development of legal policies that are in line with the global agenda for sustainable development.

Leveraging ChatGPT for Sustainability: A Framework for SMEs to Align with UN Sustainable Development Goals and tackle sustainable development challenges

Abstract The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outline a global agenda for sustainable development, but need more detailed implementation guidelines for businesses, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Given their limited resources, SMEs face significant challenges in adopting sustainability practices aligned with the SDGs. This study explores the potential of ChatGPT, a large language model, to assist SMEs in overcoming these challenges. The research introduces a ChatGPT-aided framework through a novel methodological approach to help SMEs develop sustainability roadmaps, engage stakeholders, and identify key sustainability goals, risks, opportunities, and Key Process Indicators (KPIs). The case study of an SME in the electronic measurement equipment industry is used to validate the framework. The findings, corroborated by a Focus Group with the participation of academics and SME top managers, demonstrate the framework’s potential to enhance SME sustainability practices, contributing to academic discourse and offering practical insights that will inform and empower industry stakeholders. Furthermore, several actions are presented to respond to concerns about the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated recommendations. Finally, future research should seek to validate the proposed framework across a broader range of industries and SME contexts and assess this methodology’s application with organisations other than SMEs.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Goals and the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development: Progress, Prospects, and Challenges

Today it is globally recognized that sexual and reproductive health is a human rights issue critical to economic growth and stability, ending poverty, and fostering sustainable development. Calls for improving sexual and reproductive health, including a spotlight on adolescents and young women, are highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. In this commentary, we aim to (1) briefly review the history and objectives of global development goals (2) review the adolescent health related SDG targets and indicators with focus on sexual and reproductive health (3) discuss global progress and challenges in achieving target measures and (4) examine action steps that clinicians can take to accelerate progress.

Disparities in public transport accessibility in London from 2011 to 2021

Addressing urban inequalities has become a pressing concern on both the global sustainable development agenda and for local policy. Improving public transport services is seen as an important area where local governments can exert influence and potentially help reduce inequalities. Existing measures of accessibility used to inform decision-making for public transport infrastructure in London show spatial disparities, yet there is a gap in understanding how these disparities vary across demographic groups and how they evolve over time—whether they are improving or worsening. In this study, we investigate the distribution of public transport accessibility based on ethnicity and income deprivation in London over the past decade. We used data from the Census 2011 and 2021 for area-level ethnicity characteristics, English Indices of Deprivation for income deprivation in 2011 and 2019, and public transport accessibility metrics from Transport for London for 2010 and 2023, all at the small area level using lower super output areas (LSOAs) in Greater London. We found that, on average, public transport accessibility in London has increased over the past decade, with 78% of LSOAs experiencing improvements. Public transport accessibility in London showed an unequal distribution in cross-sectional analyses. Lower income neighbourhoods had poorer accessibility to public transportation in 2011 and 2023 after controlling for car-ownership and population density. These disparities were particularly pronounced for underground accessibility. Temporal analyses revealed that existing inequalities with respect to income deprivation and ethnicity are generally not improving. While wealthier groups benefited most from London Underground service improvements; lower income groups benefited more from bus service improvements. We also found that car ownership levels declined in areas with substantial increases to public transport accessibility and major housing developments, but not in those with moderate improvements.

Measuring transport-associated urban inequalities: Where are we and where do we go from here?

ABSTRACT Reducing urban inequalities is at the forefront of the global sustainable development agenda, as well as national and local policies. While existing measures of inequality are mostly focused on income and wealth, it is widely recognised that non-monetary disparities such as in health, education, and housing play a crucial role in creating and reinforcing inequalities. Transport plays a central role in mitigating inequalities by enhancing access to employment, education, and essential services. It is also directly and indirectly related to disparities in housing, neighbourhoods, and health. Policymakers increasingly recognize the potential of transport policies in addressing inequalities; however, the effects of interventions need to be understood beyond the transport sector only and should consider wider impacts. In this review, we concentrate on three interlinked sectors – housing, land-use, and transportation – where local governments possess some capacity to influence the processes by which inequalities are created and exacerbated. Currently, empirical research on inequalities within these domains is fragmented. Models and datasets used for scenario testing, planning, and intervention evaluation are often disjointed, sector-focused, and rarely consider distributional effects. Our aim is to critically review the literature across different disciplines and perspectives and propose future interdisciplinary directions towards better measurement and modelling of transport-associated inequalities.

ESG Rating Divergence: Literature Review and Research Prospects

ESG (Environment, Social and Corporate governance) has become the core of the global sustainable development agenda, and the issue of rating divergence has increasingly attracted the attention of academia and industry. Compared to the international market, the research on ESG rating divergence in China is still in its infancy, and there are significant differences in the standards and systems adopted by different rating agencies. This article aims to comprehensively review and analyze the current situation of ESG ratings at home and abroad, the influencing factors of rating differences, and their economic consequences, and provide suggestions for the construction and optimization of China's ESG rating system. It is hoped to provide valuable references and guidance for further research and practice of domestic ESG ratings, thus providing effective guidance for stakeholders' decision-making.

“Going beyond the call of duty”: academic agency and promoting transformation for sustainability in higher education

Purpose In the past decade, against increasing global inequality, higher education has grappled with increased demands for social justice, transformation and decolonisation. While a lot of research in South Africa has focused on the (im)possibilities of fostering racial, gendered, socio-economic and cultural change, the connection of such change to questions of sustainability has been less explored. The purpose of this paper is to specifically explore the agency of academics to foster transformative initiatives for sustainability within the context of institutions historically serving under-represented populations. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative methodology, this paper highlights the importance of considering sustainability in processes of transformation. This paper is specifically interested in how academic faculty and those in assigned leadership positions view their agency in relation to promoting transformation for sustainability at the institutional level. Drawing on data generated from semi-structured interviews with 13 participants at an historically Black university in South Africa, this paper details academics' and leaders’ experiences and perceptions of their agency. Findings This study reveals the adverse interactional dynamics within higher education institutions, which negatively impact academics’ participation as key agents in change processes. Positional and identity challenges faced reveal the persistence of colonial and apartheid legacies of racism, sexism, Afrophobia and xenophobia – which casts a shadow on possible trajectories of transformation and sustainability. This has serious implications for the common good, given South Africa's regional import for knowledge production and decolonisation within universities; its key role in the African 2063 Agenda; and the wider global Sustainable Development agenda. Originality/value This study highlights insufficient engagement with the sustainability of transformation efforts within the context of South Africa. This study also emphasises the relation between transformation imperatives and racial, socio-economic, gender and epistemic justice imperatives of sustainable development.

IMPROVING COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION FOR MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION TO ACHIEVE

The document describes an international community service program that focuses on multi-stakeholder participation in achieving Development Goals. Sustainable for Indonesia and Malaysia. SDGs represent the global agenda for sustainable development. To achieve this goal requires collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society organizations and the community. Both Indonesia and Malaysia face challenges such as poverty, inequality and environmental degradation in their efforts to achieve the SDGs.

Assessing ecopreneurship impact on composite sustainability in the food and beverage industry: A holistic AHP approach integrating economic and environmental dimensions.

The implementation of ecopreneurship is evolving to address environmental sustainability challenges posed by industrial pollution. Scholars are exploring ways to enhance ecopreneurship implementation globally. However, there's a gap in understanding how ecopreneurship affects sustainability across economic and environmental dimensions. This study aims to explore the impact of ecopreneurship on sustainability, considering both economic and environmental indicators. The investigation was conducted through Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) methodology covering 102 ecopreneurs operating in the Tanzania food and beverage industry. The results of the study showed that implementation of ecopreneurship results in the attainment of sustainability through composite scores of 79.5%. In conclusion, this study underscores the significant impact of ecopreneurship implementation on composite sustainability, as evidenced by notable reductions in environmental emissions and improvements in economic performance within the studied industries. The findings highlight the importance of integrating environmental considerations into entrepreneurial endeavors for achieving sustainability goals. It is recommended that stakeholders actively promote and incentivize the adoption of ecopreneurship practices, invest in eco-friendly technologies, foster collaboration, implement effective monitoring mechanisms, and integrate sustainability into business strategies. The study recommends stakeholders' efforts directed towards enhancing the implementation of ecopreneurship practices in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2015–2030), specifically goal nine (9) on pollution prevention through the implementation of Eco practices-based solutions to foster innovations and sustainable industrialization. Thus, strategizing the implementation of ecopreneurship practices is considered to have an essential contribution to addressing the challenges of sustainability and therefore enriching the realization of the global sustainable development agenda.

E-commerce and foreign direct investment: pioneering a new era of trade strategies

This study explores the dynamic interplay between foreign direct investment, e-commerce, and China’s export growth from 2005 to 2022 against the backdrop of the rapidly evolving global economy. Utilizing advanced analytical models that combine province- and year-fixed effects with fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least-squares methodologies, we delve into how foreign direct investment and e-commerce collectively boost China’s export capabilities. Our findings highlight a significant alignment between China’s export expansion and the global sustainable development agenda. We observe that China’s export growth transcends mere international investment and digital market engagement, incorporating sustainable practices such as effective utilization of local labor resources and an emphasis on technological advancements. This study also uncovers how knowledge capital and educational attainment positively impact export figures. A notable regional disparity is observed, with the eastern regions of China being more responsive to foreign direct investment and e-commerce influences on export trade compared to their western counterparts. This disparity underscores the need for region-specific policy approaches and sustainable strategies to evenly distribute the benefits of foreign direct investment and e-commerce. The study concludes that while foreign direct investment and e-commerce are crucial for China’s export growth, the underlying theme is sustainable development, with technological innovation and human capital being key to ongoing export success. The findings advocate for policies that balance economic drivers with sustainable development goals, ensuring both economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

Investigation into the Impact of Pika Population Dynamics on Grassland Degradation and the Development of Management Strategies: A Case Study Conducted in Sanjiangyuan National Park

This study focuses on the dynamic changes of pika and rabbit populations in Sanjiangyuan National Park and its impact on grassland degradation. The Sanjiangyuan region, as an important part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has a unique ecosystem and rich biodiversity. As a key species in the area, the pika's activities play an important role in loosening the grassland soil and retaining moisture. However, due to the dual impact of climate change and human activities, the excessive growth of the pika population has led to the severe degradation of the grassland ecosystem and the formation of “black soil beaches”, which not only destroys the natural recovery ability of the grassland but also affects the livelihood of local herders had a negative impact. In the context of global sustainable development, this study proposes a series of scientific and reasonable management measures, including the implementation of dynamic rotational grazing, returning grazing to grassland, forage planting, and green prevention and control of pikas, etc., to achieve the goal of realizing cattle, sheep, and pasture and ecological coordination among pikas. At the same time, the study emphasizes the in-depth understanding of the role of pikas in the ecosystem and their relationship with grassland degradation through scientific research, providing a scientific basis for formulating effective ecological protection and restoration strategies. In addition, the study also puts forward suggestions for establishing a sound legal and regulatory system, strengthening protected area management institutions, and promoting public participation, publicity, and education. These measures aim to ensure that ecological protection work in Sanjiangyuan National Park is effectively implemented and to promote the sustainable development of local communities. The case of Sanjiangyuan National Park has important reference significance at the global level, demonstrating how to achieve a balance between economic development and environmental protection through ecological protection and restoration work. This has a guiding role for other regions around the world facing similar ecological problems and will help promote the implementation of the global sustainable development agenda. In short, the ecological protection and management of Sanjiangyuan National Park requires the joint efforts of the government, scientific research institutions, local communities, and the international community to achieve long-term ecological security and sustainable development.

Sustainable development goals and good governance nexus: Implementation challenges in central Asia

AbstractThe Transforming the World 2030 agenda stresses the interconnectedness and indivisibility of sustainable development goals. This presents a major challenge for authoritarian states, specifically in implementing SDG16: promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing justice for all, and building effective and inclusive institutions. Existing research points to good governance as a sine qua non for implementing SDGs. Using Central Asia as a case study, we investigate the link between good governance and the implementation of SDGs in authoritarian states. We find variable but overall weak performance on governance indicators across Central Asia. If SDGs are indivisible, then autocracies are destined to fail the global sustainable development agenda because SDG16 challenges the type of regime in place. This is not to deny the SDG commitments made and some progress that has been achieved in these autocracies but rather to highlight that weak governance in autocratic states and those characteristics which define them are major impediments to long‐term sustainable development.

Enhancing Paper Packaging's Wet Strength Using the Synergy between Chitosan and Nanofibrillated Cellulose Additives.

The demand for eco-friendly packaging materials has urged researchers to look for alternatives to petroleum-based polymers. In this regard, paper-based products have turned out to be a promising choice; however, their weak resistance to water has limited their application. The use of various additives to enhance paper's moisture resistance is a common practice. However, considering the growing global agenda for sustainable development, the search for new bio-based paper additives has become increasingly important. This study investigated the potential synergistic impact of the addition of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and chitosan additives (CHIT) to different fiber combinations to improve paper's properties, in particular, their wet strength. The efficacy of the additive application order was examined and was found to be crucial in achieving the desired outcomes. The results showed that incorporating CHIT after NFC enhanced the paper's tensile and burst indicators, as well as the paper stretch in the dry state, by 35-70%, 35-55%, and 20-35%, respectively. In addition, the tensile index and stretch in the wet state improved 9-13 times and 2.5-5.5 times over, respectively. The air permeability decreased 2.5-12 times over. These findings demonstrate that the sequential addition of the NFC and CHIT additives yield a greater enhancement of paper's properties than using each additive separately.

Is CSR still optional for Luxury Brands, or can they afford to ignore it?

Can we learn survival and success in isolation? Can Luxury Companies afford to think of Corporate social responsibility (CSR) as an optional aspect? This paper discusses pioneering steps towards CSR in the context of the rapidly expanding luxury market. This further impels these brands to tradeoff between Profit-Planet, revisiting the initiatives and impediments pragmatically. The scholars have advocated the inspirational forces behind CSR contributions varying from the environment's need to strengthen goodwill to serve sustainability/existential crisis to institutional expectations. The stakeholders have augmented expectations from luxury brands towards society with each passing year in proportion to the revenue. This shift not only bags goodwill and promotes positive word-of-mouth in the industry but also enhances the brand's reputation. Luxury brands, often seen as symbols of opulence and exclusivity, are inherently expected to demonstrate social and environmental responsibility. Additionally, there is a growing awareness among consumers who seek brands that align with their values, making CSR a strategic imperative for luxury companies to maintain their brand reputation and customer loyalty. CSR is crucial for luxury companies, especially from a long-term sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) perspective. These market giants are at par with the SDG goals: SDG 1(No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (Reducing inequalities), SDG 12(Responsible Consumption and Production), etc. In essence, CSR is not just a moral imperative for luxury companies, it is a strategic necessity that aligns their business objectives with the global agenda for sustainable development, ensuring long-term viability and relevance in a rapidly evolving world.

Alignment of India's National Education Policy 2020 with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals: A Path towards Quality Education for All

This research paper endeavors to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the intricate alignment existing between India's National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) and the globally endorsed United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus of this analysis is directed towards the concerted pursuit of furnishing universally accessible quality education, transcending all barriers. Through a meticulous dissection of NEP 2020's fundamental tenets and an astute juxtaposition with pertinent SDGs, this paper strives to offer profound insights into the trajectory of India's advancement in its mission to establish an educational landscape characterized by inclusivity and equitable opportunities for all learners. The elucidation of this alignment underscores the symbiotic relationship between national policy frameworks and the overarching global agenda for sustainable development. Moreover, this exploration sheds light on the strategies and paradigms that underpin India's multifaceted efforts to forge a cohesive pathway towards fostering an educational milieu that is not only conducive to learning but also empowers individuals to become active contributors to the sustainable development narrative.