Global Goals Research Articles

Power to the People: Advancing Resilient and Sustainable Decentralized Energy Distribution Systems

This research explores decentralized energy distribution systems (DEDs) as a transformative approach to modernizing power grids. DEDs, including solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, microgrids, and battery storage, offer localized, resilient, and sustainable alternatives to traditional centralized power systems. This study examines the technological components, economic and environmental impacts, policy frameworks, and the challenges associated with DED implementation. Through a comprehensive analysis of case studies and current advancements, we highlight the potential of DEDs to enhance energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and promote economic development. By addressing technical and social challenges, this paper underscores the critical role of innovative solutions, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, in optimizing decentralized energy systems. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how decentralized energy can support global sustainability goals and pave the way for a resilient and efficient energy future.

Ecosystem accounting as a component of managing Ukraineʼs recovery on the basis of sustainable development

In the context of global and national goals of sustainable development, the data of the traditional accounting system is not enough to assess the benefits that society receives from ecosystems and their services, as well as the analysis of anthropogenic impact on the natural environment. In this regard, the international communityʼs efforts formed the concept of ecosystem accounting, the data of which characterize the importance of ecosystems for national economies and humanity. The article aims to reveal the conceptual foundations, objects and accounts of ecosystem accounting and identify the factors that determine the need for its implementation as an essential component of managing the recovery of Ukraine based on sustainable development. The research is based on the method of analogy and abstract thinking. The research hypothesis – the feasibility of introducing ecosystem accounting in Ukraine – was proven using the methods of analysis and synthesis, induction, deduction and comparison based on the results of previous studies on the assessment of the effectiveness of ecosystem accounting concepts in some countries and information requests from the government, investors and international partners regarding the state of ecosystems in Ukraine in wartime. The article reveals the principles that are the basis for the development of national concepts of ecosystem accounting. The key objects of ecosystem accounting are ecosystems as a set of assets that form natural capital and ecosystem services, i.e. unique public goods. The structure of ecosystem accounts was presented, accumulating the information necessary to measure natureʼs contribution to the economy and human well-being. This approach allows taking into account the many advantages of nature, which are often not valued in the market in the traditional accounting system and, accordingly, are ignored when making economic decisions. The factors determining the need to develop a national concept of ecosystem accounting and its practical implementation as soon as possible have been identified. The flexibility of the ecosystem accounting concept, which consists of the possibility of forming ecosystem accounts according to the specifics of the countryʼs natural capital, taking international principles as a basis, will allow for an objective assessment of the national wealth and ensure its restoration, rational distribution and accumulation.

Evaluating Policy Efficacy in Higher Education: A Synthetic Control Analysis of Ecuador’s Higher Education Law on Research Productivity

Background: This paper investigates the impact of Ecuador’s Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), enacted in 2010, which mandated comprehensive reforms in higher education. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether the implementation of the LOES has led to a significant increase in academic publications in Ecuador, thereby contributing to sustainable educational practices and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, sustainability refers to the ongoing capacity of higher education institutions to generate research that contributes to the long-term development of knowledge, aligns with global sustainability goals, and ensures educational practices that are responsive to societal needs. Methods: Using a synthetic control method, this study evaluates the impact of the LOES on the number of academic publications recorded in Scopus. A synthetic control consisting of data from countries with similar educational and economic profiles serves as a counterfactual to Ecuador’s situation. Results: Before the LOES, the average annual number of publications was stable at 253.4 per year. Post-2010, this number surged, reaching an average of 3645.84 publications per year, representing a 358.41% increase. By 2023, the actual number of publications in Ecuador rose to approximately 6584, significantly surpassing the synthetic control estimate of 1431 publications. Conclusions: The findings confirm that the LOES has been effective in increasing research output and advancing educational sustainability in Ecuador. This analysis not only contributes to the literature on the impact of educational policies but also demonstrates the utility of synthetic control methods in assessing policy effectiveness, underscoring the potential of targeted interventions to promote academic excellence and sustainability in education.

Deep learning analysis of green ammonia synthesis: Evaluating techno-economic feasibility for sustainable production

This research presents a comprehensive optimization of green ammonia synthesis in Morocco by leveraging advanced deep learning techniques to maximize the utilization of the country's abundant renewable energy resources. By employing deep learning models such as LSTM and LSTM_adv, we forecast ammonia production over the next decade, improving strategies for production and energy storage. Our findings confirmed the viability of sustainable ammonia production in Dakhla and highlighted its transformative potential for global sustainability goals. Under the optimal scenario of 20 % photovoltaic and 80 % wind energy, the production cost was US$575 per tNH3, delivering an energy output of 8916.64 GWh and a daily ammonia production of 2503.36 tNH3. Shifting to 100 % wind energy further enhances the potential, increasing daily ammonia production to a maximum of 3090 tNH3 while reducing the production cost to US$376 per tNH3. These results demonstrate the significant economic and environmental benefits of using renewable energy sources for ammonia production in Morocco. By leveraging a country's abundant wind and solar resources, we can contribute to a sustainable and energy-independent future.

PSLBII-6 Measuring greenhouse gas emissions from biogas facility as manure treatment and comparing with 2006 IPCC guideline calculation

Abstract To achieve global net-zero emission goals by 2050, Korea government announced 2050 carbon neutral scenarios. Substitution of fossil fuel power plants to renewable energy plants is the main strategic long-term vision. It included increasing the number of a biogas facility to retrieve methane (CH₄) for energy sources from manure. As increasing the biogas facility with using manure, it is important to quantify and monitor the greenhouse gas (GHG) such as CH₄ and nitrous oxide (N₂O). The objective of this research was to measure the GHG emissions from the biogas facility as the baseline to construct the country-specific emission factors, and to compare the emissions between site measured data and 2006 IPCC guideline (2006 IPCC GL). This facility was constituted with feedstock, anaerobic digestion, biogas storage, and liquid fertilizer storage. The facility treats 70 tons of swine manure from 20,000 pigs and 30 ton of food waste per day and generates 3,000 m3 /d of biogas. All gases were vented by negative pressure from the odor treatment tower, except the generator and its blowers. Quantification of the total GHG emissions from the biogas facility was conducted for 24 h every 2 wk, from July 2022 to October 2023, using CH₄/N2O Analyzer (Los Gatos Research, San Jose, CA). The total emissions of CH₄ and N2O were 12,545 ± 2,297 kgCH4/yr and 442 ± 1,123 kg N2O/yr. To compare total GHG emissions from the facility, it was changed by carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. The results showed that when the system of biogas facility operated normally, it can reduce the total GHG emissions by up to 60% compared with 2006 IPCC GL calculation. However, if the system does not circulate properly, it can result in 18 times greater emissions due to N2O, leading to significant increase in GHG emissions. To reduce GHG from biogas facilities, it is crucial to ensure continuous operation of organic matter in and out, and increase the amount of sufficient aeration in liquid fertilizer storage.

Distribution and drivers of co−hosts of antibiotic and metal(loid) resistance genes in the fresh−brackish−saline groundwater

Groundwater is an essential source of drinking water and agricultural irrigation water, and its protection has become a global goal for public health. However, knowledge about heavy metal(loid) resistance genes (MRGs) in groundwater and the potential co−selection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have seldom been developed. Here, during the wet and dry seasons, we collected 66 groundwater samples (total dissolved solids = 93.9−9530 mg/L) adjacent to Baiyangdian Lake in Northern China, which presented the few metal(loid) and antibiotic contamination. We identified 160 MRGs whose composition exhibited significant seasonal variation, and dissolved metal(loid)s (particularly Ba) played a determinative role in promoting the MRGs proliferation though with relatively low concentrations, suggesting the relatively vulnerable groundwater ecosystems. Moreover, 27.4% of MRG−carrying metagenome−assembled genomes (MAGs) simultaneously carried ARGs, with the most frequently detected MRG types of Cu, Hg, and As, and ARG types of multidrug and bacitracin. Physicochemical variables, variables related to total dissolved solids, metal(loid)s, and antibiotics synthetically shaped the variation of MRG−ARG hosts in groundwater. We found that the increase of MRG−ARG hosts was critically responsible for the spread of MRGs and ARGs in groundwater. Our findings revealed the widespread co−occurrence of MRGs and ARGs in few−contaminated groundwater and highlighted the crucial roles of salinity in their propagation and transmission.

Stakeholder dynamics and territorial disputes in nature reserves management: A case of Cwebe community, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Nature reserves are important ideational spaces where global goals on environmental conservation can be achieved. However, their management is complex and challenging when multiple stakeholders claim ownership and control. This study was centered on this debate and explored stakeholder dynamics and territorial disputes around nature reserves, with a focus on Mhlanganisweni and eLalini Villages situated adjacent to Cwebe Nature Reserve (used interchangeably with 'the Nature Reserve') in South Africa. The aim was to understand the dynamics of the relationship between local communities and the Nature Reserve management, and to investigate how these factors contribute to territorial disputes and their consequences. Qualitative data was collected from women, youth, the elderly, and traditional authorities on one hand, and the management of the Nature Reserve on the other. The study found complex stakeholder relationships among stakeholders, with local communities frequently losing out in territorial disputes. This outcome is evident from the territorial disputes that arise over exclusion in decision-making, natural resource exploitation, and conservation policies within and around the Nature Reserve. The study recommends the implementation of a more inclusive conservation framework that acknowledges the perspectives of multiple stakeholders.

Enabling the circular nitrogen economy with organic and organo-mineral fertilisers

AbstractThe circular nutrient economy repurposes organic (formerly alive, containing organic carbon) and inorganic (mineral) recycled materials as fertilisers and soil ameliorants, and halving nitrogen (N) waste is a global goal. Our focus was unavoidable food waste and garden waste (FOGO food organics garden organics) as suitable feedstock for compost and use for cropping. We hypothesised that to realise benefits of compost, organic and organo-mineral fertilisers (OF/OMF) must be optimised for target crops and biophysical environments. We explored compost and organic recyclates (dried bacterial biomass PPB, chicken litter manure) as N sources for vegetable, fruit and grain crops in controlled experiments with single or combinations of contrasting N release and carbon-to-N ratios of 20, 13.5 (compost), 13.5 (poultry manure), 6.1 (PPB) and 0.5 (mineral N). With standardised N input (0.5–1 g N/pot and plant), compost as the sole N source resulted in less yield than all other N sources, while suitable mixtures of organic recyclates with/without added mineral N matched the yield of crops grown with mineral N. Adding 5% compost to sand growth substrate modulated crop growth and phenology, increased tillering and panicle production, or accelerated fruit ripening. This confirmed effects beyond nutrient supply, likely crop-growth modulating substances are present. Exploring effects of crop species, N source and water supply confirmed statistically significant interactions on yield, biomass and N use efficiency (NUE). This means a robust strategy for optimising OF/OMF is testing target crops with compost and recyclates to identify crop-specific responses. We recommend that applying such strategy allows manufacturers targeting N-efficient OF/OMF to service the expanding market for recyclate-based organo-mineral fertilisers and soil ameliorants for the circular N economy.

Inclusive assessment in health professions education: Balancing global goals and local contexts.

In this article, we draw upon diverse and contextually different experiences of working on inclusive assessment, with the aim of bridging and enhancing practices of inclusive assessments for health professions education (HPE) within universities. Instead of juxtaposing our views from three countries, we combine our perspectives to advocate for inclusive assessment. Creating an inclusive assessment culture is important for equitable education, even if priorities for inclusion might differ between contexts. We recognise challenges in the enactment of inclusive assessment, namely, the notion of lowering standards, harming reliability and robustness of assessment design and inclusion as a poorly defined and catchall term. Importantly, the lack of awareness that inclusion means recognising intersectionality is a barrier for well-designed inclusive assessments. This is why we offer considerations for HPE practitioners that can guide towards a unified direction of travel for inclusive assessments. This article highlights the importance of contextual prioritisation and initiatives to be considered at the global level to national, institutional, programme and the individual level. Utilising experience and literature from undergraduate, higher education contexts, we offer considerations with applicability across the assessment continuum. In this state of science paper, we were set the challenge of providing cross-cultural viewpoints on inclusive assessment. In this discursive article, we focus on inclusive assessment within undergraduate health professions education whilst looking to the wider higher education literature, since institutional policies and procedures frequently drive assessment decisions and influence the environment in which they occur. We explore our experiences of working in inclusive assessment, with the aim of bridging and enhancing practices of inclusive assessments for HPE. Unlike other articles that juxtapose views, we all come from the perspective of supporting inclusive assessment. We begin with a discussion on what inclusive assessment is and then describe our contexts as a basis for understanding differences and broadening conversations. We work in the United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia, having undertaken research, facilitated workshops and seminars on inclusive assessment nationally and internationally. We recognise our perspectives will differ as a consequence of our global context, institutional culture, individual characteristics and educational experiences. (Note that individual characteristics are also known as protected characteristics in some countries). Then, we outline challenges and opportunities associated with inclusive assessment, drawing on evidence within our contexts, acknowledging that our understanding of inclusive assessment research is limited to publications in English and currently tilted to publications from the Global North. In the final section, we then offer recommendations for championing inclusion, focussing firstly on assessment designs, and then broader considerations to organise collective action. Our article is unapologetically practical; the deliberate divergence from a theoretical piece is with the intent that anyone who reads this paper might enact even one small change progressing towards more inclusive assessment practices within their context.

Social enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a means to an end

AbstractGhana is regarded as one of the main nations driving social enterprise development in all of Africa, despite the lack of a policy for the social enterprise sub-sector. Regardless of these trailblazing initiatives, the sub-sector is still young and vulnerable. As a result, the time is right for the government to implement policy reforms to expedite the growth of the sub-sector, which offers an alternative business model for the achievement of the social and environmental goals embodied in the global goals. All nations are urged to take immediate action in response to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which offer a global framework for achieving global development while balancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The methodology adopted is qualitative in nature, whereby focus group discussions were held, bringing together key stakeholders from the social enterprise sector, industry, academia, and civil society organisations (CSOs) to provide insights into how social enterprises will contribute to SDG achievement. This paper aims to generate new insights into how social enterprises can provide a solution to the UN’s SDGs from the Ghanaian perspective. Our findings reveal a strong link between solving social problems through social businesses and achieving the SDGs, and that social enterprises represent an ideal business model for achieving the SDGs. Their mission-driven approach, innovative solutions, focus on empowerment and inclusion, utilisation of market mechanisms, collaboration and partnership, and understanding and knowledge of local contexts collectively position social enterprises as powerful catalysts for sustainable development.

Development of Ecological Low-Carbon Agriculture with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era: Features, Practical Issues, and Pathways

Agriculture is not only the source of carbon emissions, but also an important carbon sink. The development of low-carbon agriculture in China is closely related to achieving the national strategic goal of “dual carbon.” Reducing carbon emissions in China’s agricultural sector and accelerating the development of ecological low-carbon agriculture (ELA) are extremely important and urgent, both from the perspective of the long-term common welfare for mankind and from the perspective of maintaining the sustainable development of agriculture itself. However, ELA is still an emerging concept in China, and its connotation and characteristics are not yet clear. There is a lack of effective paths for orderly and scientific promotion of the development of ELA in China. Based on this, this paper focuses on the emerging concept of ELA and examines ELA with Chinese characteristics from the dimensions of connotation, features, practical issues, and pathways, aiming to provide guidance for the sustainable development of ELA in China. The research results indicate that there are regional development imbalances, low willingness of farmers to participate, insufficient technological reserves, and difficulties in realizing the value of ecological products in China’s ELA. It is necessary to improve the modern agricultural production and operation system, tap into the potential of agricultural emission reduction and carbon sequestration, build a technical system to support the development of ELA, and establish a sound mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products. By continuously improving the regional organizational capacity and performance of ELA, accelerating the advancement of ELA technology and demonstrating its regional promotion, and by establishing and continuously improving the support system for ELA, one can promote the sustainable development of ELA in China. In addition, the research findings of this paper can also provide reference for the ecological low-carbon development of the global agricultural sector, supporting the contribution of the agricultural sector to achieving high-quality global sustainable development goals.

Metrics for quantifying the efficiency of atmospheric CO2 reduction by marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR)

Abstract Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) is gaining interest as a tool to meet global climate goals. Because the response of the ocean–atmosphere system to mCDR takes years to centuries, modeling is required to assess the impact of mCDR on atmospheric CO2 reduction. Here, we use a coupled ocean–atmosphere model to quantify the atmospheric CO2 reduction in response to a CDR perturbation. We define two metrics to characterize the atmospheric CO2 response to both instantaneous ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) and direct air capture (DAC): the cumulative additionality (α) measures the reduction in atmospheric CO2 relative to the magnitude of the CDR perturbation, while the relative efficiency (ϵ) quantifies the cumulative additionality of mCDR relative to that of DAC. For DAC, α is 100% immediately following CDR deployment, but declines to roughly 50% by 100 years post-deployment as the ocean degasses CO2 in response to the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. For instantaneous OAE, α is zero initially and reaches a maximum of 40%–90% several years to decades later, depending on regional CO2 equilibration rates and ocean circulation processes. The global mean ϵ approaches 100% after 40 years, showing that instantaneous OAE is nearly as effective as DAC after several decades. However, there are significant geographic variations, with ϵ approaching 100% most rapidly in the low latitudes while ϵ stays well under 100% for decades to centuries near deep and intermediate water formation sites. These metrics provide a quantitative framework for evaluating sequestration timescales and carbon market valuation that can be applied to any mCDR strategy.

Development and calibration of a mathematical model of HIV outcomes among Rwandan adults: informing equitable achievement of targets in Rwanda.

We developed and calibrated the Central Africa-International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (CA-IeDEA) HIV policy model to inform equitable achievement of global goals, overall and across sub-populations, in Rwanda. We created a deterministic dynamic model to project adult HIV epidemic and care continuum outcomes, overall and for 25 subpopulations (age group, sex, HIV acquisition risk, urbanicity). Data came from the Rwanda cohort of CA-IeDEA, 2004-2020; Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys, 2005, 2010, 2015; Rwanda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment, 2019; and the literature and reports. We calibrated the model to 47 targets by selecting the 50 best-fitting parameter sets among 20,000 simulations. Calibration targets reflected epidemic (HIV prevalence, incidence), global goals (percentage on antiretroviral therapy (ART) among diagnosed, percentage virally suppressed among on ART) and other (number on ART, percentage virally suppressed) indicators, overall and by sex. Best-fitting sets minimized the summed absolute value of the percentage deviation (AVPD) between model projections and calibration targets. Good model performance was mean AVPD ≤5% across the 50 best-fitting sets and/or projections within the target confidence intervals; acceptable was mean AVPD >5% and ≤15%. Across indicators, 1,841 of 2,350 (78.3%) model projections were a good or acceptable fit to calibration targets. For HIV epidemic indicators, 256 of 300 (85.3%) projections were a good fit to targets, with the model performing better for women (83.3% a good fit) than for men (71.7% a good fit). For global goals indicators, 96 of 100 (96.0%) projections were a good fit; model performance was similar for women and men. For other indicators, 653 of 950 (68.7%) projections were a good or acceptable fit. Fit was better for women than for men (percentage virally suppressed only) and when restricting targets for number on ART to 2013 and beyond. The CA-IeDEA HIV policy model fits historical data and can inform policy solutions for equitably achieving global goals to end the HIV epidemic in Rwanda. High-quality, unbiased population-based data, as well as novel approaches that account for calibration target quality, are critical to ongoing use of mathematical models for programmatic planning.

Analysis of Indirect Costs of Absence Associated with Mental Disorders on the Basis of Social Security Data (2012-2023).

Mental and behavioral disorders significantly impair psychophysical functioning, leading to challenges in daily activities. The increasing recognition of the importance of mental health in global development goals has resulted in its inclusion in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The burden of mental disorders has grown worldwide due to demographic changes, with substantial economic and social impacts. This study aimed to examine the indirect costs of mental disorders in Poland by analyzing the expenditures by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) on work incapacity benefits and disability pensions from 2012 to 2023. The goal was to identify trends, dependencies, and the economic impact of policy changes. Data were collected from ZUS reports on annual expenditures for work incapacity benefits and disability pensions. Advanced statistical methods, including linear regression and Pearson correlation, were employed to analyze trends and relationships. Student's t-tests assessed the statistical significance of the observed trends. The expenditures on benefits for work incapacity due to mental disorders increased significantly over the past decade, particularly from 2020 to 2023, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-term absenteeism due to mental disorders accounted for 10.5% of the total sick leave days. A strong positive correlation was found between years and benefit expenditures. Conversely, the disability pension expenditures exhibited a downward trend, potentially reflecting improvements in public health or policy changes. The significant increase in expenditures on benefits related to mental disorders may reflect greater awareness, improved diagnostics, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, the decline in disability pension expenditures could suggest improved mental health or effective policy measures. However, it is important to emphasize that the presented data are not the only factor influencing this situation. Multiple variables, including societal, economic, and healthcare system changes, contribute to these trends. Therefore, further research is necessary to fully understand the underlying causes and to guide effective policy development. Regular monitoring and continued investment in mental health are essential to managing indirect costs such as absenteeism and presenteeism efficiently.

Environmental Impacts of Household Solar Energy Use Adoption in Murang’a County, Kenya

Although Kenya enjoys an abundant of sunshine throughout the year, most households in counties like Murang’a still use non-renewable sources of energy for their energy needs. Globally, households account for approximately 40% of energy consumption per annum with most needs being heating, air conditioning, cooling and lighting. Environmental management is now a global goal with over 197 nations endorsing a framework that promotes positive environmental impact through renewable energy and reduced C02 emissions during COP21 in Paris. This research mainly focused on positive environmental impacts of solar energy use adoption within households in Murang’a County, Kenya. Guided by the transition theory, the research applied anticipated transitions to discuss different aspects of solar energy use adoption in the county and the impact they have on the environment. This qualitative and quantitative study sought to explore perspectives of various households on solar energy use and how the adoption has positively impacted the environment. The data used for the study was collected from 384 randomly selected households in four constituencies in Murang’a County. The findings of the study established low adoption rates of households’ solar energy use and a direct correlation of adoption levels with the awareness levels for most of the study population. Moreover, the study confirmed the hypothesis that solar energy use adoption in households positively influenced environment through management strategies and improved livelihoods. Furthermore, policy measures to support training as well as financial support would go a long way in increasing uptake of solar energy use in households in Murang’a County thus positively influencing the environment through management strategies such as renewable energy use

The Relationship Between Three-Dimensional Spatial Structure and CO2 Emission of Urban Agglomerations Based on CNN-RF Modeling: A Case Study in East China

Good urban design helps mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and is important for achieving global low-carbon goals. Previous studies have mostly focused on the two-dimensional level of urban socio-economic activities, urban land use changes, and urban morphology, neglecting the importance of the three-dimensional spatial structure of cities. This study takes 30 cities in East China as an example. By using urban building data and carbon emission datasets, four machine learning algorithms, BP, RF, CNN, and CNN-RF, are established to build a CO2 emission prediction model based on three-dimensional spatial structure, and the main influencing factors are further studied. The results show that the CNN-RF model performed optimally in both the testing and validation phases, with the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and residual prediction deviation (RPD) of 0.85, 0.82; 10.60, 22.32; and 2.53, 1.92, respectively. Meanwhile, in the study unit, S, V, NHB, AN, BCR, SCD, and FAR have a greater impact on CO2 emissions. This indicates a strong correlation between urban three-dimensional spatial structure and carbon emissions. The CNN-RF model can effectively evaluate the relationship between them, providing strategic support for spatial optimization of low-carbon cities.

Meeting Linnean, Wallacean, and Darwinian shortfalls in global biodiversity hotspots: A model study from the Indian Himalayan Region

AbstractDespite recent efforts to make large‐scale biodiversity datasets available, several data shortfalls still exist that preclude our progress in achieving global conservation and sustainability goals. In this study, we present a comprehensive native tree dataset (1689 species) from the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)—home to two global biodiversity hotspots—assembled from an extensive data synthesis. Based on this database, we investigate the geographic patterns and drivers of α‐ and β‐taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of the native trees among 13 different provinces of IHR. Our results revealed a considerable variation in the α‐ and β‐taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity among the provinces of IHR, with the highest values in eastern provinces. We found phylogenetic clustering mostly in the western provinces, and phylogenetic dispersion in the eastern provinces. We found a positive correlation between the taxonomic and phylogenetic dissimilarity across the IHR. Also, the different sets of explanatory variables explained the variation of tree species richness, standardized effect size of phylogenetic diversity, net relatedness index, and nearest taxon index, with maximum contribution by temperature seasonality (Bio4). Furthermore, temperature‐related climatic distance individually explained most of the variation in the taxonomic and phylogenetic dissimilarity between the provinces of IHR. Overall, our findings unveil the patterns of taxonomic, biogeographic, and phylogenetic dimensions of tree flora in the IHR, which in turn can help in formulating scientific data‐based regional policy and conservation strategies. Looking forward, we presented a model study for bridging the Linnean, Wallacean, and Darwinian shortfalls in the globally data‐deficient biodiversity‐rich regions.

Innovations in HIV Prevention and Treatment: The Future of HIV Care

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to pose a significant global health challenge, despite substantial progress in treatment and prevention. This review explored recent innovations in HIV prevention and treatment, highlighting advancements such as long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (ART), and emerging research into potential cures. It also examined integrated care approaches, digital health innovations, and innovative financing models that are shaping the future of HIV care. The review synthesized recent research, evaluated the impact of these innovations, and discussed future directions to advance global health goals. The methodology for this review involved a comprehensive analysis of current literature, clinical trial data, and expert opinions to provide a holistic overview of how these advancements are transforming HIV care and addressing existing challenges. Keywords: HIV Innovations, Prevention Strategies, Long-Acting ART, Integrated Care Models, Digital Health Technologies.

Sowing green seeds of mind: exploring the determinants of green mindfulness among university students

Purpose This study aims to investigate the determinants influencing green mindfulness among university students in Malaysia within the context of the Malaysia 2030 Agenda, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 17 attainment. Design/methodology/approach The research uses a quantitative approach with a sample of 203 young adults. It explores the factors of goal difficulty, knowledge and awareness, spirituality, values and perceived university environmental responsibility (PUER), using a novel theoretical framework termed universal identity theory (IT). Findings Values, knowledge and awareness and PUER significantly contribute to green mindfulness, whereas spirituality and goal difficulty did not exhibit a substantial relationship to green mindfulness. Research limitations/implications Limited representation of diverse age groups and the potential influence of seniority on spirituality. Future research should expand the framework to include green behavior and performance, increase the sample size and consider a broader age demographic. Practical implications Universities play a crucial role in promoting green mindfulness through the establishment of rules, regulations, environmental initiatives, incentive systems and the introduction of a green mindfulness course. Clear communication channels and top-down approaches are recommended. Social implications This research contributes to understanding the mechanisms that induce green mindfulness among university students in Malaysia, aligning with national and global sustainability goals. Originality/value The universal IT provides a comprehensive understanding of how personal, social and community-based identities collectively influence green mindfulness. This theoretical perspective contributes to the environmental psychology and sustainability studies field, offering a culturally sensitive approach.

Ghana’s Free Senior High School Policy within the Spectrum of the Focal Points of Curriculum Development

This study performs a meticulous examination of Ghana's Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, considering the focal points of curriculum development. Ghana has significantly augmented its financial commitment to the educational sector, recognising the pivotal importance of education in sustainable development. Despite this monetary dedication, the government has implemented the FSHS policy to guarantee the extensive availability of high-quality education. The study seeks to thoroughly analyse the policies of curriculum development, assessing its influence on access, fairness, curriculum content, educational excellence, stakeholder engagement, and long-term viability. The research aims to provide detailed insights into the effectiveness of the FSHS policy by thoroughly examining various aspects. It goes beyond just looking at enrollment numbers and evaluates how the policy contributes to a well-rounded educational experience that aligns with both national and global educational goals. The expected results are positioned to offer useful insights for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders, enabling continuous improvements to the Free Senior High School project and the overall educational environment in Ghana.